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They’ve been walking through the desert and forests for over a week, now dangerously close to The Silvergrove. Runaan hates to admit to himself that he’s taking smaller steps and asking for breaks more often. He can tell he’s obviously not fooling Rayla. She’s standing with both hands on her hips and a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to catch up to her. He’s stalling. He knows that, thank you very much. He doesn’t need to be judged by a fifteen-year-old. Even though she really saved his ass.
“C’mon, you’ll have to tell him sooner or later.”
“I’d rather later.” He barely acknowledges the faint sting where his left arm should still be, winces and grits his teeth instead. He’ll manage for now, but he’d rather not deal with this situation so soon after regaining his freedom and physical form. Good job on ending the war, though.
“Ruuuunaan.” Rayla pushes him inside a tight hallway despite his stubborn attempts to oppose her strength. “Your husband is worried sick!”
He sighs. “I know. I still don’t believe I let this happen.”
“You couldn’t have predicted all of that! It’s not your fault. If anything… it’s my fault.”
“Let’s just get this over with.”
She skips into the view of a small kitchen, familiar scent of jasmine incense reaching her nose.
“Hullo, uncle Ethari!”
“What the fuck, Rayla,” Ethari deadpans. He sees the love of his life reluctantly walking behind her and his eyes go wide. With a once-over he notices a broken horn, missing arm and a bunch of hair pulled out. “Are you guys okay? You've been out on this mission for months! I thought you’re gone. I-I’ve seen your life drain!”
“It’s a little, uh…” Runaan looks down. Wow, he really hasn’t seen these tiles in a while... Was this stain always here?
“We’re fine now. I’m kinda hungry and tired but Runaan is all right~”
“I can assure you, he is DEFINITELY NOT ALRIGHT!”
She points at the missing body parts on his left side. “No, no. He is all right, Ethari.”
Runaan’s husband groans in exasperation. He mutters under his breath, “Okay, okay, good job.”
Rayla claps and snorts at the reaction. Runaan drags a hand down his forehead as he rolls his eyes with the tiniest of smiles on his lips. He’s a little torn between laughing at, admittedly, a brilliant joke and crying ‘cause his fucking arm.
She removes herself from the kitchen with an apple in her hand. The two men go for a tight hug after the initial sheepishness. “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Runaan.” He straightens and places a soft kiss on his lover’s forehead.
“Ethari, please. I am literally disarmed due to my own incompetence.”
Rayla groans in the distance. Runaan shoots her a finger gun with a smirk.
“Shhh. I can see that, dear. And I just might have a solution.” Ethari scratches his head and mutters to himself, “Never expected I’d actually have to touch those blueprints. But I sure do love a challenge...”