Chapter Text
Rayla, who had really just been dozing for the past ten minutes since hearing him begin to stir, felt the dip in the end of her mattress as Callum sat down. He clearly thought she was still sound asleep, so he very tentatively and gently placed a hand on her shin on top of the yellow quilt, trying not to startle her awake. She smiled to herself, her face buried in the sleeve of his pajamas that she been borrowing for the past week. He started rubbing his hand against her leg in an attempt to gently wake her.
“Good morning,” he said. She peeked open an eye, then rolled over onto her back and stretched her arms above her head. She rotated her still-stiff wrist a few extra turns.
”Hey,” she yawned. “What time is it?” Everyday since they’d arrived back in Katolis she’d slept in later and later, like her body was trying to catch up on all the sleep she missed while staying up to keep watch over the past few weeks. True, Callum had been the one to stay up some nights, but on those nights, she had still always been just barely asleep, still on high alert.
It helped that in the mornings, the light fell on Callum and Ez’s side of the room first and they even left the curtains closed for her. On her first day here, he had gotten her up early to show her around. Since then, Callum had gotten up each morning and went about his day, letting her sleep, and she didn’t see him until lunch, which had become her first meal of the day.
“Mmm...not that late. Just past nine, I think,” he responded. She groaned. She sat up in bed, and reached behind her head to smooth down her hair.
”I guess that sleeping til noon wasn’t going to work forever,” she sighed, throwing off her blanket.
”Sorry, I would’ve let you sleep,” Callum started, “but, I was wondering if maybe we could...do an activity together?” He seemed to be unable to look directly at her as he spoke. He fidgeted with his fingers, staring up at the ceiling.
”Do a what?” Rayla raised an eyebrow, smiling at him. She had an idea of what he meant.
“Uh,” he stammered, still not making eye contact. She reached down to where he sat at the end of her bed and put her hand on his, stopping his fidgeting. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes incredulously. They’d confessed their love for each other, and now he was nervous about hanging out? Not even that...nervous about asking her to hang out? He looked at her, finding her staring at him encouragingly. His breath caught in his throat. “A date! Do you want to go on a date with me?” He immediately closed his eyes and looked away, cheeks pink. She could hardly stand how cute and dorky he was.
”Why didn’t you just say so? Yes!” Rayla practically jumped in his lap, looping her arms around his neck, purposely over-enthusiastic. She kissed his cheek, then rested her forehead against his temple. “What are we going to do?”
”Wouldn’t you like to know?” He teased. “Let’s go get some breakfast first.” She untangled herself and they stood up. She reached for her clothes on her nightstand.
”You go on ahead. I’ll be there soon.” He placed a hand on her waist, and then they both leaned in for a short kiss before he departed.
Rayla looked unhappily at her pile of clothes as she discarded the pajamas. Now that things were settling down and she didn’t need to be ready for danger at a moments notice, she’d grown a little resentful of this being her only set of clothes. They’d been specially made for her first mission, perfectly fitted, practical, and protective. What did she need to protect herself against now? Everything had been so peaceful around the castle since they returned. She slipped her shirt over her head, then pulled up her leggings.
She decided to at least forego the armored pieces of her outfit. With no place to tuck them, this meant leaving her blades behind too. She placed her blades and her black pieces of armor on her nightstand and turned to look in the mirror. She fastened her belt a little higher than usual and pulled at her collar, pleased, at least, by its decorative swirls of lighter green. She scoffed at her appearance, wishing she had some piece of clothing that wasn’t solid teal to wear. Maybe something a little prettier too. She turned and looked at her bare shoulders in the mirror. This was a date—their first real one—after all.
She looked sourly at her boots too, feeling the same disdain for their practicality. Seeing the canvas slippers someone had found for her on her first night here, she brightened a little and slid them on her bare feet. She looked in the mirror again with an attempt at a smile. She rolled her eyes at her own reflection and made for the door to go find breakfast.