Chapter Text
She thinks he’s talking to himself at first, which isn’t unusual for him.
Or rather it wasn’t.
He used to mutter to himself while drawing or reading his big dusty books and she’d find herself sitting and watching him, laughing quietly if he got particularly animated.
And so she thinks it’s sweet he’s kept this endearing trait after two years, but then it turns out he’s actually talking to Bait and Stella.
Which is somehow sweeter and more endearing.
She hangs back in the hallway, peering around the corner as he chats to the two creatures. They are both perched on the camp kitchen table and it looks like he’s cutting up fruit for them. Janai has found a little pavilion for them to congregate in for the few days they will be staying at the Sunfire camp.
“Bait!” He whines when the glow toad slurps a piece of some bright pink fruit. “Seriously! Let me finish. I’m hungry too, you know?”
Bait croaks grumpily, pouting in an exaggerated fashion.
Stella takes advantage of Callum’s distraction, darting forward and snagging half a of large berry. She gives herself up with her happy chittering though and Callum turns to find her nibbling happily.
“Oi!” He puts his hands on his hips and looks at her pointedly. “You’re new, you know? I haven’t made up my mind about you yet and this thievery isn’t doing you any favours.”
Stella looks up at him with her big, sad eyes pondering for a moment and then offers him the remains of the half eaten berry.
“I don’t want that!” Callum turns up his lip, snorting. “I want you both to wait two minutes while I finish cutting this up. Can you do that? Can you do that for me please?!”
Stella looks at Bait and they seem to have a silent conversation before Bait huffs and groans and Stella plops onto her little bum. Simultaneously, they sigh, seeming to signal they will give him a moment to finish preparing the assorted fruits.
“Thank you.” Callum sighs, shaking his head as he goes back to cutting up fruit. “Now, I don’t really know what most of this is, but we’re just going to have to be adventurous, okay?” He looks between his companions. “Give everything a try and not just wolf down the sun melons… I’m looking at you, Bait.”
Bait grumbles, covering his eyes with his scaly front legs.
Callum snorts, and continues cutting. He plops the last of the fruit into a bowl and looks back at the animals. “Done!” He smiles brightly. “You guys are going to help me clean up, right?”
Stella twitters, jumping up and leaping onto his shoulder. Callum picks up the bowl and she grabs him around the neck with her tail, leaning forward to swipe at the pile of fruit.
“No! Stop!” Callum tries to shrug her off. “I’m not done done. Let me at least sit down!”
Stella ignores him, her little hands grabbing fruit and stuffing it into her face.
Seeing her lose her resolve spurs Bait into slow action. Grumbling a battle charge, he leaps from the table and begins pawing at Callum’s leg as Callum tries to fend Stella off and make his way to the chairs.
“Oi!” He hops around Bait, clutching the bowl. “Stop ganging up on me! Traitors! I didn’t even want to share this with you!”
Stella drops a large berry and before she can react, Bait catches it with his grasping tongue. She screeches loudly, dropping from Callum’s shoulder and landing on Bait’s head. Using all four of her arms, she attempts to pry his mouth open and retrieve her berry.
“Stella, no!” Callum drops to his knees, gently holding her back. “Here.” He holds out a large berry for her and she pouts for a moment before taking it. Seeing her appeased, Callum looks at Bait. “And you!” He narrows his eyes dramatically at Bait who looks away. “Don’t you tease her. She’s only a baby.”
Bait grumbles, eyes moving between Callum and Stella before he rolls his eyes and shrugs.
“Thanks Bait.” Callum grabs a large piece of sun melon and presents it to the little glow toad.
Bait’s eyes sparkle for a moment before he grabs the melon with his long tongue.
“Ew, gross.”
Callum sighs and it’s all too much. Rayla can no longer contain her giggles.
Jumping a little, Callum looks over his shoulder, blushing brightly to find her watching him. “Eh, hi.” He gets to his feet, still clutching the bowl. “You, em, been there long?”
“Long enough.” She hangs back in the pavilion entrance, waiting to gauge his reaction to her. “You doing okay there?”
“Well, I’m managing.” He smiles a little, looking between Stella and Bait. “It used to be hard enough stopping Bait stealing my lunch.”
She laughs softly. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
They wait in an awkward silence for a moment and she wonders if she should leave him to it.
“Em, you hungry?” He awkwardly holds the bowl out to her. “I’m not sure how much there will be but…” He nods at the fruit. “If you’re hungry…?”
They eat a pleasant lunch together, still that distance between them but less than yesterday and that less than the day before.
And he smiles at Stella as she begins to fall asleep, tummy full and looking content. Bait is napping in her lap and perhaps they don’t have to sit in silence to let the animals sleep but they do and for once it’s not awkward. It’s pleasant.
And when she looks at him and hazards a small smile… well, he smiles back.