Chapter Text
They arrived just a few moments before the sun set. They were all exhausted from the long journey and felt like they were going to sleep for at least 24 hours. But first they needed to take a shower. All the diplomatic stuff can wait for tomorrow.
"You can take anything you want from my wardrobe until we get you some new clothes. Callum took out a loose shirt and pants for her to wear for the night. "Are these fine?"
"Thanks." Rayla took the clothes from him with a sad smile.
He took her hand after she set his clothes on Ezran's former bed which now was hers. "Hey... Are you alright"?
"Yes."
"Look... I know you don't like to talk about things"-
"Callum-"
"But if you want to you can. It doesn't even have to be a "big feelings time" you know."
She sighed. "I think you know what bothers me... anyway I'm just tired, I'll be okay tomorrow."
"I know." he hugged her a long hug and she didn't resist. She liked the comfort.
"Let's take a shower and get some sleep."
"I can't wait." Rayla said with a sarcastic tone to her voice.
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After she cleaned up and didn't smell like a fart flower anymore, Rayla sat on her bed, wearing Callum's clothes, thinking to herself. She liked wearing them, they smelled like him and were warm and cozy. It helped put her heart at ease while everything just sat there and made her heart feel heavy. She lost her family, her home, she now lived in a place she never thought she'd be again, she almost died, Callum almost died, Viren is nowhere to be found... it's too much...
Callum stepped out from the bathroom with matching pajamas and sat next to her. "I'm so exhausted! I want to sleep forever! …Maybe not forever but for a long time."
Rayla smiled. What a dork. "Go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
With a kiss on her cheek that gave her butterflies and a soft "good night", Callum snuggled in his bed and was fast asleep in seconds.
Rayla watched him as she settled for bed. She had lost a lot but she had him. And Ezran. And Soren. She'll have to get used to it. That her life is so different now. Three months ago she was training outside while Ethari yelled at her to get inside and eat dinner, or sneaking a few adoraburrs, using her stealth techniques Runaan taught her against him, or picking some moonberries with them. And she can't believe she waisted all that time hating her parents while they were actually heroes. Her heroes as well. She missed them. So so much! She missed Ethari's soft words that helped her calm her mind when it was restless like now. And Runaan... he wasn't always easy with her but the bond they had? She once thought no one could break. Apparently she was able to break it all by herself. She missed him. She missed all of them. She missed her home, the smells, her bed, the sounds of Xadian animals outside enjoying the moonlight.
She found a tear sliding down her cheek. She struggled to keep her breathing even, she didn't want to wake Callum. She didn't want him to see her like this. She was acting like a child. Instead of dealing with her problems she was crying. She was trying so hard not to but her stupid heart couldn't control it.
A soft sob came out and Callum stirred. She held her breath and watched him to make sure he continued to sleep peacefully. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
"Rayla?"
There was no answer. She hid her head under the blanket. Maybe if she pretended she was asleep he will go back to sleep. But she couldn't stay still. Her stupid body was shaking and her breath hitched again.
He got up from his bed and with bare feet he walked towards her. With her back to him, he set on the bed and put a hand on her shoulder. His thumb rubbing it mindlessly.
There was no need for words. She will talk when she's ready.
The touch of his hand made her heart crumple even more. But it was gentle so she wasn't overwhelmed.
After a few moments of nothing but soft sobs, she sat up next to him and rubbed her face with her hands to hide her tear marks and dropped them in her lap.
She didn't look at him. She just looked down on where her feet laid.
"I'm fine. It's fine." She whispered.
He took her hand in his. "What's wrong?"
"I'm just a little homesick" a tear dripped down again. She let it fall in her lap.
There wasn't a lot to say to this... he didn't know how to comfort her. Katolis was home for him, but for her... she is now living in a foreign place with foreign people who once wanted to kill her. He knew she missed her family. The least he could do is try being her family now and help her feel as comfortable as possible. He squeezed her hand and proceeded to sit closer to her.
"I'm pathetic."
"What?? Why are you saying that?"
"Because I'm crying for no reason. I'm being a child."
"Rayla you have all the reasons to cry about. I mean... you've been through a lot, you're allowed to cry if you need to. And you're not being a child, everyone needs to let it out sometimes. When you saw me cry did you think I was acting like a child?"
"No…"
"See? It's okay. I know everything feels like a mess right now, but you're not alone and you'll never will be. Whatever and whenever you need, I'm here for you."
She rested her head on his shoulder and let herself break. He hugged her. He realized that she was tired and that is what she needed right now. Just him to be there next to her. Maybe in the morning, when she's rested enough, she will be able to talk about what's on her mind. He knew what's bothering her, they had big feelings times before.
Their journey together made her realize that every time they talked about their feelings, Callum never judged her. He listened to her and made her feel safe. It's never easy at first but she always felt relived after big feelings times. She decided she will talk to him in the morning. Right now she was so tired her eyes began to drop and her brain felt fuzzy.
She fell asleep on Callum's shoulder and he decided to stay there for a few minutes just to make sure she was truly asleep. He watched her and he knew she is going to go through a hard time. But she is strong. Probably the strongest person he ever knew. She's going to be okay, that's how amazing she is. And he will be there for her at the times she’s not. He rested his head on hers. He will always be there for her. No matter what.
He didn't even noticed when he fell asleep.