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Rayla was back. Finally. She had it all planned out. Swoop in, sweep her favorite human off his feet. Everything back to normal. Sure he might be a little cross but he'd get over it right? It's Callum.
Rayla had severely underestimated how mad he would be. Less mad, more just... hurt. Rayla would have almost preferred anger. Because he's Callum, he's putting his own feelings to the side for the sake of everything else going on but Rayla knows there's still something between them. There had to be. She's missed him so much and she knows he's missed her too.
Something else she underestimated was how much he'd changed in two years. Whenever she thought about him while she was away, she still pictured the goofy, awkward amateur mage, but seeing him again. While, he's still absolutely goofy and awkward...it's less so. And... he's...Erm
Grown.
She had been making herself scarce. Keeping to herself. Sticking to shadows and rooftops. She wasn't uncomfortable in Katolis per se. She knew she was safe adjacent. But she could do without the stares. So as she sat on the roof overlooking the courtyard of the main gate of the castle, Callum entered from one side, making his way across the open area, nodding and smiling to workers and servants.
Rayla felt her face heat up just letting her mind wander. A reluctant fire rising up from her neck to her ears any time she watched him do anything. He was still lean, without a hint of muscle, but he'd filled out somewhat? Or maybe he was just standing taller? Maybe it was the way he carried himself that Rayla was so drawn to now?
She considered what was different about him now compared to before. She examined him from her perch in a purely fascinated way and definitely not just checking him out.
She swallowed softly, eyes trailing over his skintight black shirt over his stupid, beautiful, skinny arms. She bets absolutely nothing would happen if he flexed. And yet she traced over every natural muscle that had formed from basic day to day Callum stuff. It was his face too. He'd grown into his features a little, his jaw was more defined. His eyes looked brighter. Were his eyelashes thicker?
She gazed down his form in its entirety. Maybe it was that before he was a cute, skinny kid, but now he's...a handsome...slender... young man.
Rayla couldn't put her thoughts into words. Her mind was a slurry of garbled imaginings where Callum enters her vision surrounded by sparkles and butterflies-
what is WRONG with me? Rayla gave her forehead a firm smack with her palm, and then again for good measure.
He was literally her boyfriend for months, she's acting like he's some unrequited crush. But she couldn't help it.
Rayla couldn't take her eyes off him...-
...-And apparently neither could anyone else.
Her trained eyes locked in on the figures surrounding her target. Figures that had been there all along.
She couldn't ignore it. Every shy smile, every wave, every longing, lingering stare and touch coming from everyone from servants and handmaids, to knights and nobles. Walking up to him, acting like they had something important to tell him but conveniently forgetting and just chatting to him instead. It was infuriating to watch those humans fawn all over HER human.
As she was watching from above. Callum tripped, barely a stumble actually. But one of the knights standing watch over the courtyard made such a show about catching him. Grabbing his hand and his waist from behind and righting the slightly wide-eyed prince.
Once he was stood upright again, he glanced up over his shoulder at the knight, before turning around. "Oh, thanks! Ignore me, tripping over my own feet again." He gave a little nervous laugh at nearly face planting in public for what was likely not the first, second or even third time. The knight, who Rayla had very clearly noticed was still holding Callum's hand, their palm up so Callum's gorgeous, slender, nerdy fingers were gracefully draped over their gloved hand.
"I could never my Prince." They bowed, STILL holding his hand, before releasing it and standing to attention once again, leaning forward to open the door to the inner courtyard for Callum. The prince gave a thankful nod and disappeared behind the door.
As if him being in her direct eyesight was the trigger for her feelings, she felt some of her rage subside. She took a deep breath and pouted quietly, indignantly pressing her palm into her jaw and cheek, leaning her elbow on her leg. As much as she hates acknowledging it. They aren't together anymore.
Yet.
For now.
They're taking a break or whatever. She had no right to be jealous. Or perhaps, she could be jealous but had no right to this... possessiveness she felt rising in her chest.
But she decided to stay mad regardless. Especially at the human nobles. Specifically the ones old enough to be Callum's parents, sizing him up like a slab of meat at the market. Whether they were doing it for their children or themselves, Rayla wasn't into it. She didn't bother hiding her violent intent whenever she came face to face with with some old human, watching Callum as they thought of all the ways to use him.
She somewhat shamefully, felt a hint of happiness that Callum didn't have any older guardian figures to arrange a nice, suitable human marriage for the young, desirable prince. Although Opeli might be the first to fill that role once things settle down.
She took a calming breath and released it, un-tensing her shoulders. It didn't matter. She's back now. She's not going anywhere again. Not anywhere Callum isn't going too.
Hours dragged on as Rayla gave Callum his space. Her return had shaken him to a degree but he was putting his head down and trying to focus regardless.
The worst part was how Callum treated her. He missed her too. That much was obvious. But he was just being so...polite. Hey Rayla, good morning Rayla. How ya doin' Rayla? Stab anything interesting lately Rayla? They really were just back to being friends. More like acquaintances honestly.
He insisted that he wants to spend time with her but he very pointedly avoids being in direct physical contact with her like she's gonna electrocute him if he does.
She stood at the back of the council room, every point of discussion bouncing off her skull and disippating into the air as she was more focused on the way Callum was styling his hair nowadays, swooping it to one side. It looked good. Made it look fluffy. Rayla had a distinct urge to pet him.
Rayla wasn't officially on the council of course but Ezran let her sit in on a meeting, saying he values her opinion. It's nice that the younger brother was still as honest as always. When it was over, she walked with Callum back to High Mage's quarters because she had convinced him she was interested in some book and definitely didn't just love how excited he got over talking about it. They only bumped into three of his fifty admirers. A handmaid, a messenger and that... Crow handler
That Crow Master, associate...lord person or whatever. Whoever they are, they're way too eager for Rayla's liking.
Why does everyone sound out of breath when they talk to him? Get a grip. Do some cardio.
Rayla learned something today. Callum has personal man-servants. People who do everything for him, make his bed and help him put on complicated formalwear. He chats with them, all smiles and pleasantries and they smile back of course asking if he needs anything. Bright eyes directed at their prince. Rayla folded her arms behind them, impatiently tapping her foot. She could see them looking at her nervously. And for what? She's just standing here.
Callum gave a glance at her over his shoulder before turning back to his admirers, saying goodbye, that they had things to do. They continued walking through the castle and Rayla made small talk. Asking him questions, trying to get him to ramble again so she can just stare at him as they walked.
Gods he's so fucking pretty
How is this fair? He's not allowed to strut around looking like that and not even let Rayla touch him.
Rayla almost laughed at the thought of Callum strutting anywhere. She's not sure if he's capable of moving with that much confidence.
His new outfit pulled in around the lower half of his torso, accentuating everything there was to accentuate. His shoulder, to waist, to hip ratio was making Rayla feel feral.
She found herself glowering at him and his slutty little waist.
"Are you ok?" Callum's voice knocked her out of her thoughts and her expression softened.
"Huh?" She said ungraciously, genuinely unsure of what he means.
He gave an awkward look. "You looked mad... Did I say something?"
Her mouth fell open at the realisation she was letting her thoughts show on her face and she pressed her lips together, straightening her face before retorting. "I'm not mad!" She said more defensively than intended. "I was just...thinking!"
"Oo-kay." Callum chimed. Seemingly eager to drop the topic instead of getting into it.
They were almost at their destination when the royal tailor found them. She gave a polite nod to Rayla before addressing Callum, speaking of needing to take measurements for a new outfit for some event or ceremony. The assassin didn't hear much else of the conversation because her mind was swarmed with the imaginings of hands all over her Callum.
She felt herself ready to pop. Couldn't they go the minutes without being swarmed by his fans!?They were all so casual with him. Where are the boundaries!? He's the prince, not their friend.
The poor tailor went wide eyed as Rayla let out an angry grunt. "Do you people have no shame!? Are human kingdoms just filled with drooling sycophants masquerading as loyal servants!?"
Staring down the person who was ultimately receiving the backlog of Rayla's frustration and not the sole cause of it. "You'd keep your hands to yourself if you knew what was good for you."
With that, she swiftly grabbed Callum's arm and effortlessly pulled him away, the remainder of the way down the hall, pushed open the heavy door with ease and closed it behind them.
"What was that for!?" Callum was stunned, looking purely confused and flustered as she released her grip on him.
She didn't hold back. All of the frustration that had been building all came pouring out. "You could stand to be a little distant with someone y'know? Do you want everyone thinking the High Mage- The Prince! ...is some kinda hussy?"
"Wha- excuse me!?" Callum sputtered. Offended. Adorable. "What are you talking about?"
Rayla scoffed, waving her arms. "How can you be so oblivious? You're not dense Callum. Someone wants you, they're standing right in front of you and you can't even see it?!" She incidentally gestured to where she was standing, right in front of him.
Callum stared forward at Rayla, face slowly being overtaken by a deep flush, stunned into silence by Rayla's apparent boldness.
It was her turn to sputter once she realised. "Not me! Everyone else! All the knights and servants with their; 'of course my prince, anything for you Callum, your highness.' don't pretend you didn't notice!"
The flush on his face drained somewhat and was replaced by genuine confusion. "No...can't say I've noticed anything like that." He had furrowed his eyebrows the tiniest bit, giving Rayla a subtley scrutinizing stare.
Rayla folded her arms with a dry smile. "Oh so the way everyone's so obsessed with you just went right over your head then? I guess you're just used to it aren't you." Her bitterness was on full display at this point.
Callum paused for a moment before responding. Trying to meet Rayla halfway. "I guess the knights can sometimes come off kinda touchy-feely but I'm like ninety-nine percent sure it's your classic devoted knight stuff. I mean... It makes sense that they're protective." He shrugged his shoulders, making a face to reference his dead parents without directly mentioning his dead parents.
Rayla supposed that was fair enough. If she was a knight of a kingdom with two dead rulers, she'd be protective of the remaining royal children too. "Well, what about the servants and all them giving you their undivided attention?"
Callum shrugged again. A smile edging on amused trickling onto his face. "Again. Sorta their job Rayla. And this is them holding back. Believe me." He gestured behind him and continued.
"I told them not to spoil Ezran so he learns to do stuff on his own." He let his head fall to the side, considering his own reasons. "And I just don't like people in my business all the time. Even if they're being helpful. They're doing the bare minimum I let them do."
She bristled at the reasonable response again. "And it's helpful to dress you?" She muttered, trying and failing to not be visibly irritated at the idea.
The prince stared directly at her, though she was glancing off to the side. "Rayla have you seen those formal suits? There's so many buckles and sashes, I'd like to see you try and get it on by yourself. I assure you my servants are are perfectly professional." He was smiling now. Where does he get the gall to smile at her when she's annoyed?
Her eyes snapped back to him, chest puffing out. "Alright then. What about the nobles."
He pointed a lazy finger gun in her direction. "Ok now that one might actually be valid. But I am sorta used to it. I've been getting weird marriage proposals since I was like, eight." He gritted his teeth, noting the way Rayla grimaced. "That sounded bad. I mean people offering their kids to me- Ok nope, there's no way to say that in a way that isn't gross is there?"
He chuckled and fiddled with his scarf before trying again. "My point is that there's a lot of politics to those offers. Making an alliance through marriage is a whole thing. And Katolis isn't really in the need for anything right now. Unless Ezran decided to offer me up to a kingdom with an army of bakers or a jelly lake."
Rayla would have chuckled if she weren't feeling absolutely beside herself with embarrassment. Did she make it all up in her head? Was everything she had witnessed just totally normal human subordinate behaviours? She stood in silence, pressing her lips into a thin line, taking a great deal of interest in a chest behind Callum on the ground, slightly off to the side.
Callum waited for a few moments before speaking. "So your weirdness has been because...you thought the staff was flirting with me?" He tentatively poked the proverbial bear, face turned off to the side, but eyes still on her.
Rayla face tightened further, clenching her fists at her side. "Maybe! I mean... Can you prove none of them are even a little interested?" She was just trying to save face now. Callum sighed.
"I guess not, but...You don't think maybe being an assassin has sort of trained you to see the worst possible outcome in order to prepare for it?" The prince offered gently and Rayla chose to ignore the hint of an amused smile on his face.
She sighed heavily, forcing her tensed limbs to relax. "It's... Possible I may have....spiralled. A tad. Perhaps..." She murmured with her head down and gaze cast off to the side. She couldn't see what Callum was doing, but heard him take a single step forward. There was still some distance between them. Had he intended to come closer? Did he change his mind?
"I'm glad you're back. Really. I am. But if you could avoid threatening the castle staff, that would be huge." She could hear the smile in his voice. "If you're ever curious about a human behaviour or weird social thing, you know you can ask me."
She gathered all her strength to stand up straight and look somewhat in his direction. Though Rayla could do nothing to stop the humiliated burning across her face and ears. She had some people to apologise to. "Right. Can do." She strained, still refusing to look at the prince who hadn't yet taken his eyes off her.
But she could feel his eyes. Soft and unguarded. Endeared and loving. As always.
She sighed, more successfully composing herself. Finally managing to glance at his face. "Don't go getting full of yourself." she warned, giving him a final once over.
"Physically impossible. I overthink too much, you know this." He said flat-out, no sign of sarcasm.
She laughed and so did he. There's one thing she knows for sure. He doesn't look at anyone else the way he is now.