Work Text:
Rayla wasn't attractive. Callum refused to admit it. Why? Because she wasn't. Sure, the way her eyes sparkled when she was around him made him smile, and her laugh was like the fairest of elf music or perhaps a stream tumbling over rocks, but she wasn't attractive. And sure her smile could cheer him up on the darkest of days and her hugs smelled faintly like moonberries and vanilla, but she wasn't attractive. Maybe her hair was as soft as the morning sunrise over Xadia, and maybe she was the only person he could confide in at times when Ezran wasn't available, but she wasn't that attractive.
Okay so maybe, just maybe, she was attractive, but that didn't mean he was in love with her, right? He looked down. His sketch had become a scribbled mess of emotion. Callum sighed, staring wistfully up at the sky laced with lilac and cornflower dusted clouds. He was in love with Rayla, but what would that matter when he would probably never see her beautiful elven face again? When he would never re-braid that stray lock of hair that had always fallen where her original braid had been cut off like he intended every time it drifted into her line of concentration? He was tugged out of his thoughts when a shout rang out behind him.
"Callum!" Ezran cried. "Callum, Rayla's here. She's here!" Callum turned towards the castle gates and spotted a group of elves walking into the courtyard. Leaping up with a massive grin on his face, his sketchbook fell to the ground. He faltered. What if she didn't feel the same way about him? It had been 3 years - an eligible and much more attractive elf had probably found his way into her heart by now. She probably thought of him only as a friend. Why would she think of him as anymore than that anyway? Kissing him was probably one of her biggest regrets. Why wouldn't it? Who would ever love someone as awkward as him?
"Come on Callum!" Ezran interrupted his thoughts again, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the stairs and into the courtyard.
As Rayla stepped down from her horse Ezran let go of Callum and ran into Rayla's open arms.
"Ezran!" Rayla laughed. "It's so good to see you again!" Callum watched as she released his younger brother from her embrace and looked up at him with her sparkling violet eyes.
"Hey Callum," she said softly.
"Hi Rayla," he replied, taking tentative steps towards her. A slight pink graced her cheek, the sun making her hair shine a soft white. She looked so beautiful, and it made him realise just how much he missed her. But should he hug her? What if she didn't want to hug him? He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her but did she want him to? Doubt filled his mind but he cast it aside and held out his arms. Beaming she ran to them, and Callum welcomed smell of moonberries and vanilla that came with her. After a long embrace they pulled apart slightly.
"I missed you," Rayla murmured.
Callum's heart soared. He leaned in closer and whispered into her lips. "I missed you too."
"Get a room!" They pulled apart at Ezran's voice. "Seriously, no-one wants to see you guys kissing," he said, but in actual fact, he was glad to see them together again.
And they lived happily ever after.