He isn't certain just what had fueled this particular fire in Ram, but he won't be complaining. Not as he feels the heat from the kiss start to make other parts of him light up, not as he starts to feel things he hasn't felt in years and years begin to churn within him, not as Ram's possessive hold on his shirt makes him feel so wanted an loved. A youth spent traipsing about the Arctic left little time for romantic ventures; he hadn't known the best years of his life were over until he was reminiscing about Antarctica with a very much engaged James Clark Ross.

He'd hoped that Sophia would see the years still ahead of him, that she'd understand he still had more to give, but he doesn't begrudge her for seeing reality where he only spoke of dreams. He can dream here though, in between back breaking work and freezing nights, he can live a sort of in-between life that had potential of being rich and beautiful despite all the hardships.

He digs his fingers through Ram's hair and pulls back, seeing their breath rise from the space between them. Or maybe it's steam.