Chapter Text
“Callum, you home?”
Callum frowned, looking up from his painting. What was Soren doing in his apartment? And how had he got in?
“Soren?” He called out, dropping his paintbrush and grabbing the damp rag hanging off the easel. Wiping at his paint stained hands, he exited his bedroom and hurried down the hall.
Soren was helping Rayla limp down the corridor, while she protested the entire time. Callum’s heart lurched at the sight of her. She was clearly grimacing, her movements hesitant and awkward.
“What happened?” Callum asked, rushing forward to help. He took Rayla’s free arm, slinging it over his shoulder to take her weight.
“Ugh, nothing.” Rayla rolled her eyes grumpily, an adorable pout on her lips. How could someone look so cute while also looking so sullen?
“Some kid and their puppy ran out in front of the group.” Soren explained over the back of Rayla’s shoulder. “It was take a dive or take them out, I guess.”
Callum snorted softly as they guided her to the couch. “Do you want to go to the hospital?” He asked, rubbing her upper arm soothingly.
“No!” Rayla answered decisively. “Its just a sprain.”
Soren crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head at her. “You really should, you know? A sprain can be worse that a break.”
“Really?” She rolled her eyes, moving forward to unlace her shoes. “It’s fine. Seriously. I just need to rest.”
Soren and Callum exchanged a look while Rayla huffed on the couch.
“Okay, well, I’ll leave you to it, I guess.” Soren shrugged as he turned to walk down the hall. “Let me know how it’s feeling later.”
Callum followed him out to the door. “Thanks for helping her home.”
Soren arched an eyebrow, smirking. “Home?”
“Back.” Callum flushed as Soren continued to grin at him. “Whatever. Anyway, thanks.”
“No problem.” Soren chuckled, a funny little smile on his face before he grew serious. “Honestly though, try and convince her to go to hospital. It was a nasty fall.”
Callum sighed, exhaling through his teeth. “I’ll get working on that.”
“Good luck.” Soren did not sound convinced as he moved down the hall.
Sighing, Callum turned back into the apartment. Rayla was still pouting on the sofa, leaning forward awkwardly as she tried to remove her running shoes.
“Here, let me.” Callum insisted, crouching down before her.
“Seriously, Soren’s being a baby. It’s fine.” She continued to pull at her laces, avoiding eye contact.
“Please, Rayla.” He put his hands over hers, quelling her movements. “Let me help.”
Rayla glanced at him, then sighed. “Fine.” She slouched back into the couch cushions, looking more than a little displeased.
As gently as possible, Callum undid her laces and pulled the shoe and sock from her injured foot. He winced, surveying the damage, running his fingers over the skin as gently as possible. Purple bruising was already blossoming around the ankle and he could tell it was beginning to swell. “Are you sure you don’t want to get this x-rayed? It looks pretty nasty.”
“You’re calling me nasty?” Rayla tried to tease but Callum could see the strain on her face. She was clearly in pain. When he didn’t laugh, she continued. “I’ve done worse. It’ll be fine.”
“I’ll drive you to the hospital. We’ll eat snacks and stream something on the iPad. It won’t be that bad.” Callum tried to convince her.
“I am not going to the hospital on a Saturday morning. Do you know how many kids will be screaming in there?” Rayla returned to pouting mode.
Callum shook his head, sighing at her stubborn nature. “Rayla-"
“I’ll ice it for twenty-four hours and if its still looking really bad tomorrow, I’ll go the stupid hospital.” She offered in way of compromise.
“Twelve hours.” Callum responded, raising a hand when she went to argue. “And I’m putting my foot down. Which you can’t do.”
Rayla snorted, rolling her eyes and grinning. “Fine.”
“Okay, wait here and I’ll get some ice.” He instructed, getting to his feet. He returned quickly with a bag of peas wrapped in a tea towel, along with the first aid kit. Gingerly, he pressed the cold bundle to her ankle, moving it around until it rested without assistance. Ice pack secured, he held out his hand. “Let me check the rest of you over.” He nodded at her hand, cradled against her stomach.
Pouting once again, Rayla placed her hand in his and Callum winced at her palm. The skin was broken and torn from her collision with the ground. He could see her elbow and forearm was similarly cut up. Grabbing some antiseptic and gauze, he began dabbing at the damaged skin.
Rayla hissed dramatically and he glanced up at her. “Really? That bad?” He tried to keep the skepticism out of his voice.
“Na.” Rayla grinned. “It’s what all the heroes do when their love interest is tending to their booboos, isn’t it?”
Callum snorted at her, happy to see her mood improving. “Well, it does sound like you heroically saved a kid and a puppy from a stampede.” He smiled fondly at her.
“And what was I supposed to do? Use them to cushion my fall?” She chuckled as he finished cleaning her hand, inspecting it closely. “Not all lawyers are evil, you know?” She smirked flirtatiously at him.
“Oh, I know that all too well.” Callum pressed his lips to the back of her hand, smiling broader when she flushed brightly. “You’ve been saving my ass since we met.”
Rayla chuckled, relaxing a little more. “Yeah, well you have a cute ass so...”
“Oh and you could tell that from a face to face video conference, could you?” Callum glanced up as he moved his attention to her injured forearm.
“I had my suspicions.” Rayla grinned.
Shaking his head happily, Callum continued to tend to her various cuts and scrapes. Injuries attended to, he moved back to check her ankle. “How is it?” He asked, looking up at her.
Rayla shrugged, sighing. “It’s okay.” She paused. “I guess.”
Callum fished around in the first aid box. “Here.”
Rayla frowned at him, clearly confused.
“Ibuprofen.” Callum explained. “For the pain. And swelling.” He got up and made his way to the kitchen, glancing at her over his shoulder. “I’ll grab you some water.”
He returned quickly, frowning to find Rayla looking discontent once again. “Here.” He handed her a glass, then sat next to her on the sofa.
Rayla smiled at him softly as she took the glass, swallowing the tablets and the entire glass of water. Sighing, she reclined against him, shuffling around with a small whimper of obvious pain.
Callum wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Seriously, I don’t mind going to the hospital. We should get that looked at.”
“It’s fine.” Rayla paused. “I’m sure the last thing you want to do on your day off is wait around a hospital for hours.”
“Rayla.” Callum struggled to keep the impatience from his voice. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t care about that.” He attempted to look at her but she pushed her face into his chest. “I just want to make sure you’re not in pain.”
She sighed heavily but didn’t respond.
“Seriously.” He pulled her close against him. “Hours at the hospital with you is still infinitely better than… anything with anyone else.”
Rayla snorted, looking at him shyly. “Jeez, I think we should definitely go the hospital then.”
“Really?” Callum piped up, happy she was seeing sense.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to be sick from all that cheese.” She snickered, poking him in the ribs.
Callum chuckled, poking her back. “Hey, as long as a doctor looks at you!”
Rayla smiled, leaning forward to kiss him softly. “Thanks.” She sighed, once again looking sweet and sincere. “Seriously.”
Callum sighed happily. “Never a problem.” He squeezed her injured hand, pressing it to his lips.
“Kissing it better?” She teased.
Callum kissed her forearm, next to the various cuts and scrapes. “Trying.”
Rayla smirked, her eyes moving to her foot briefly. “That’s not where I’m really hurt, you know?”
“Hmm…” Callum glanced at her ice-wrapped foot. “Jeez, I dunno. You did just go for a run.”
“Hey!” Rayla clearly pretended to be offended. “If you really loved me, you’d kiss my stinky foot better.”
Callum wrinkled his nose. “Maybe that’s crossing a line?”
“I did dramatically throw myself in front of a kid and a puppy.” Rayla pouted.
“Shouldn’t they be the ones to kiss it better then?”
Rayla snorted. “You want to track them down?”
“Well, it’s not like you can!” Callum grinned goofily at her.
Rayla sighed, kissing him on the cheek. “Thanks.”
“For refusing to kiss your foot?” He teased.
“For… being you, you know? “She shrugged. “Kind. Understanding. I know we had a nice afternoon planned, all of which involved me being able to walk places.”
Callum stroked her hand, smiling soft. “Hey, it’s an afternoon together. It’ll be fun regardless.”
Rayla snorted, ruffling his hair. “You dork.”