Work Text:
Rayla heard a single knock, and then another one, and another, until it formed a chirping, ear-crushing noise. Reluctantly, she stood up from her spot on the couch, Stella chittering. They’d been so entertained playing all afternoon.
“Rayla, it’s me, Astrid, are you home?” The elf asked from behind the door.
Rayla’s eyes widened as she rushed to the entrance. Now that she knew it was Astrid, opening the door didn’t seem as tedious.
“Astrid!” She greeted her “What are you doing here?”
She entered the house hurriedly and walked from side to side in the living room. Rayla closed the door and lifted an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry. I saw Callum and Ezran at the market, but you weren’t there so I asked them where you were and they said you’d be here,” Astrid explained.
Rayla grinned. Something about Astrid’s personality was refreshing and funny. Perhaps it was the fact that she was always excited about anything but also knew when the situation required a more serious tone. Or perhaps it was due to Rayla, who had never been actually friends with a girl before. Maybe a little bit of both.
Though she’d to admit not that many things changed between talking with Soren and with Astrid, maybe she was a little less stupid.
“Anyway,” resumed the celestial elf. “Umm,” she fidgeted, no longer looking at Rayla “I came here to ask you for a favor.”
“Oh?”
“You see,” Astrid started pacing again “You and Callum are basically relationship goals to anyone who knows you, sooo I wanted to ask for your help with my date!!!”
Rayla raised an eyebrow, curiosity and disbelief clinging onto her. “You want my help?”
Astrid stopped walking and looked at her, emerald eyes gleaming, she nodded eagerly.
“I mean… Sure,” Rayla started to say, sounding in fact, not sure “Just a little warning, not because I’m dating Callum means I know how I did it.”
“Whatever you have is better than Kosmo.”
“What did he say?” Rayla asked.
“‘Just follow your heart, sister, everything will work out in your favor’” she imitated Kosmo’s voice making Rayla chuckle. “Like, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Rayla hummed in agreement. “Well, then, who’s the fortunate person?”
Astrid’s cheeks turned a slight tone of pink “Nyx.”
An incredulous laugh escaped Rayla before she could even try to stop it. “Oh, you’re serious,” she noted when her friend didn’t burst out laughing. A pang of guilt expanded in her “No, I mean, that’s great! I’m sure Nyx has… Some good qualities beyond stealing.”
“She does! She’s very cute and funny, and she’s always bringing me little things.” Astrid gave little jumps in her place. “The other day, she brought me a nice emerald hairpin because it reminded her of my eyes. Isn’t that sweet?”
Rayla nodded, not wanting to imagine where Nyx found that.
“So you two are going on a date?” Rayla rectified.
Her friend nodded, her bangs and ponytail shaking.
“Nyx was the one to invite me.”
“Right. So, when is it?”
“This evening.”
Rayla’s mouth hung open. “What do you want my advice for?”
“What do you do on a date?”
She bit her lip “I mean, if Nyx invited you, she must have a plan for what to do. I don’t think you should worry yourself with that.”
Bouncing she opened her mouth again “Also I wanted to wear something special, and maybe a different hairstyle, but I don’t know if it’ll be too much.”
Rayla pondered it for a moment, having no idea what to do about the outfit but more or less having an idea about the hair. Usually on her dates with Callum she didn’t think too much about what to wear, she chose it based on what they were going to do: a dress if it was a picnic, pants if it was walking through the forest, normal clothes if they were going for lunch, etc.
Yet with the hair, lately Rayla had tried different hairstyles, a single braid, ponytails, small braids, leaving it down, buns, she even considered cutting her hair again. So maybe she should focus on that with Astrid.
“If you don't know what Nyx planned we should stick to casual and comfy clothes.”
Astrid looked down at the blue robe she was wearing. It was like the clothes of the celestial elves but without many ornaments. “Is this okay?”
Rayla’s mouth twisted, unsure. “Yeah, though we could go shopping, you know since this is a special occasion."
Her friend gave small jumps on her place “Okay, then, let’s go!”
To Astrid’s petition, Stella and Sneezles accompanied them. Stella on Astrid’s shoulder and Sneezles on Rayla’s.
Luckily the market wasn’t busy at all. The streets were almost clear and many merchants were trying to catch the girls’ attention.
“Come, come, amazing charms of love,” chanted one.
Astrid spared a quick glance to Rayla, who apparently wasn’t paying attention to that stall.
“Hey,” she said, pointing at the multiple charms on the table “Wouldn’t be cute if I gave her something that reminded me of her?”
Rayla raised an eyebrow. Astrid asked for her advice because of her relationship with Callum. Still, honestly, Rayla wasn’t too invested in gift-giving or what to do on first dates.
“I suppose so.”
With a big smile, she dragged her to the stall. The two women there received them. The charms displayed on the table were beautiful, and Rayla could see why Nyx would like one of them. Shiny things probably were her kind of thing.
Astrid’s eyes skimmed the table. There was a teal heart-shaped charm. Around it, there were many other figures. Wings, animals, flowers, the sun, a book, and many others.
“I think I like this one,” she whispered to Rayla who was inspecting the trinkets too.
“All of it is made of the most exquisite Xadian crystals. You can wear it all the time and no matter what it won’t break,” said the merchant, who was a tide-bound elf.
“How much for it?” Astrid asked taking the heart figurine.
The elf raised an eyebrow. “Two gold coins.”
Rayla suppressed a gasp. Never in her life had she paid that much for anything. Though pondering it, maybe it was because Ethari’s job was to make that kind of thing so it was basically free for her. She remembered many birthdays and even random days when he gifted her small figurines from the material that was left over.
She was about to offer Astrid to pay for it, considering she’d the small sac of coins Ezran gave her and told her to spend on anything she wanted. But she didn’t need to. Astrid was already paying.
When they left the booth, Astrid looked at her. Her cheeks flushed.
“I may or may have not grabbed some stuff on my way out of the Star Scrapper,” she confessed. “You would be surprised to see all they keep in the basement.”
Rayla giggled. One more thing why she liked Astrid. And Stella seemed to agree, she chittered and clapped her paws together.
“I didn’t know you had it in you,” Rayla said, her voice betraying her surprise.
Astrid looked at Rayla, then her gaze returned to the pendant in her hand. “You know, I always dreamt of having a friend like you,” she confessed cheerfully. "Someone to do these silly things.”
Now it was Rayla’s turn to flush and realize she was also enjoying this whole ‘Impress Nyx’ thing. “I didn’t think too much about it till now you've mentioned it, but as a child, I also wished to have a friend to hang out with like this.”
And it wasn’t like the boys didn’t make great friends, but Astrid had something refreshing to it. Maybe it was the fact that she was also an elf and she hadn’t had an elf friend since Suroh.
With that, they continued walking down the street. Rayla pointed at some booths that may interest Astrid, she didn’t know exactly which type of clothes she would like to wear so she suggested whatever she found cute.
“Look!” Astrid tugged Rayla’s sleeve to direct her attention to the booth she was inspecting. They moved across the street and entered the place.
Astrid ran to a gray vest that was floating a few inches over the floor. She stood at its side, her arms stretched out in its direction, presenting it to her friend.
“It goes with your hair,” Rayla complimented “Plus, it’s really pretty.”
The vest was corset-like with no sleeves and an ankle-long skirt fell down on the back.
“It surely would go great with a beautiful girl like you,” said a merchant. The woman was small, the white hair product of her age, and not dark magic, Rayla could tell. “Do you want to try it on?”
Astrid nodded eagerly, her hands already grabbing the cloth.
“Follow me. And by the way, my name is Flora.”
“Nice to meet you, Flora.” With the vest hanging over her arm, Astrid still managed to shake Flora’s hand. The merchant smiled at the gesture. “I absolutely love your store.”
Flora’s lip could almost reach her eyes at the compliment. “I’m honored you say that. Not many people are coming, I get it of course, with winter approaching there’s more important stuff to buy than clothes.”
Rayla tilted her head, confused by the statement, just last week Ez along with Soren and Corvus went shopping. Till she remembered the ones they bought were exactly winter-wear.
The seller opened the fitting room’s door for Astrid, she immediately went in. Her happiness was contagious because Rayla hadn’t stopped smiling the whole time. Even if it was simply a slight curve of her lips.
Small noises could be heard from the inside, giggles and knocks. Probably due to the reduced space Astrid had to change.
“Wouldn’t you want something, young lady?” Asked her Flora. Rayla looked down at her before inspecting the room.
She didn’t want anything for her, soon she and Callum would travel to the Silvergrove and she preferred to wait until then and there to buy new clothes. If she needed to, that was it.
At the other side of the store, a pile of what appeared to be gloves, hats, and scarves caught her attention. She walked to them, skimming through the pile until her fingertips grazed a soft fabric. She grabbed it and took it out.
The scarf was soft blue, with snowflakes embroidered. Ezran would like it, she thought. Plus then, he, Callum, and her could match with the scarfs. Since Ezran also gave her one the same day he went shopping with Soren and told her it was so she and Callum could match.
“That’s one of my favorite designs,” noted Flora “Unfortunately I only got enough blue fabric to do one.”
“I think I’m ready!” Astrid called. “Though I think pink tights would go great, and maybe some boots.”
Mere seconds later, Flora was sprinting through the store grabbing what Astrid wanted. She knocked on the door, and Astrid extended her hand out to grab the items.
“Thank you!” She closed the door again.
Flora inspected Rayla again, her eyes fixing on the scarf she was holding. Rayla bit her lower lip, feeling the weight of the coins in her bag.
Even after months of living with Ezran and Callum, it still felt wrong to use part of their money, though every time she brought that up, they always told her it was okay.
She deserved it and it was fair with everything she did for them. Saving them during their journey to Xadia and then with Aaravos, though her stomach turned at the memory of herself holding the arrow that could’ve killed Callum. ' Saving' wouldn’t be the term she would use for that situation.
Yet there weren’t many jobs she could do to contribute to their little family's economy. In a new peaceful city, an assassin didn’t have much to do. And her experience working as a waitress in taverns during the years she was gone wasn’t the best either.
The sound of Astrid’s footsteps, redirected her attention to the door in time to see her friend come out with the complete outfit.
Rayla’s jaw hung open for a moment or two. Astrid really looked amazing in those clothes. It suited her style.
“You're definitely buying that,” Rayla sentenced.
Astrid was beaming, she spun and jumped on her tiptoes. Her eyes glinting.
Once back in her usual blue robe, Astrid paid for the clothes and before leaving Rayla also decided to get the scarf. Even if she felt a bit uncomfortable using money she had done nothing to get only than being friends with the king of Katolis.
“Would you mind coming to my house to help me get ready?” Astrid asked her.
Rayla pretended to consider it, even though she already knew the answer.
“If you don’t have anything else to do…”
“Of course I’ll go!” Interrupted Rayla.
All the way Astrid’s smile didn't falter. Not even when she found out she forgot her keys and would need to wait until Kosmo opened and let them in.
Though, to be fair, with Astrid’s insisting knocking it didn’t take more than five minutes.
“Daughter of the moon, what are you doing here?” He asked as he stepped to the side to let them in.
“Good to see you too, Kosmo,” Rayla answered a bit sarcastically.
“I asked for her help since you don’t know about this stuff,” clarified his sister, making her way upstairs and to her room. Kosmo and Rayla followed.
“No offense,” he turned to Rayla, it was still strange to look him in the eye. “But what does she know?”
“Rayla has a boyfriend, she must know something.”
Rayla wanted to feel flattered but it wasn’t like she had helped a lot today by just going along with what Astrid wanted, she hadn’t actually given her any advice because she didn’t know what to say that wasn’t cliche.
Communication is key , you need to be honest, support each other, don’t lie, and especially, don’t leave in the middle of the night … Nothing of that sounded like first-date advice.
“Whatever, I don’t have long, so I’ll start getting ready.”
Kosmo and Rayla nodded and left the room.
They stayed in silence in the hallway until Astrid yelled it was okay to go in. She needed help to tie the corset from the back, Rayla helped her do it while Kosmo and Astrid decided on the hairstyle.
“I don’t want to wear it loose, that’s too boring for a date.”
Kosmo’s lips twisted “What about two small buns and the rest of your hair loose.”
“You could add small braids around the buns or dangling out of them,” proposed Rayla as she was done doing the tie.
“It sounds good, and I know braids are kind of an affectionate symbol in some cultures, right?.” Her eyes met Rayla's through the mirror, the Moonshadow elf nodded.
Astrid brushed her hair quickly, telling Kosmo about their day, from the moment she found Callum and Ez at the market until a few minutes ago when they appeared at the doorway. All the while they worked on Astrid’s hair.
Rayla would’ve offered to do the braids, but in Moonshadow culture doing braids for another person was one of the greatest displays of love and until this moment she’d only braided small strands of Callum’s and sometimes Ezran’s hair. She liked Astrid, just not to that point yet.
When the hair was done Astrid cheered. “Thank you, Kosmo,” she threw herself in her brother's arms. Rayla looked away, feeling like she was an intruder in the siblings' moment.
“That’s what I’m here for.” Astrid pulled away and smiled. “I’ll leave you to discuss whatever you want,” he said. “If you need me I’ll be in my room across the hallway.”
“Kosmo can be absurd and too quizzical sometimes,” Astrid continued talking once he was out. “But it’s nice having him around.”
Rayla smiled, letting herself fall into the bed. “I don’t have any blood siblings, but if I think about Soren or Ezran I get you.” She sat down and looked at Astrid. “You look great. Do you feel comfortable or…”
“Yes! Absolutely. I’m just nervous.” Astrid rubbed her hands together. “Did you ever feel nervous around Callum?”
“Oh, you don’t even know. Many times, in fact, yet as nervous as I was I knew I could trust him, that’s the important part, I guess.”
“Trust,” she remarked. Rayla nodded.
“Once someone told me love is not enough, you also need to trust that person to share your burdens,” Rayla recalled Amaya’s serene expression and the warm, almost maternal hug afterward. “Though that may come later. Today your only homework is to enjoy the date.”
Just as she finished saying it, someone knocked. Astrid’s heart fluttered. She peeked a final time in the mirror. Her hair fell perfectly over her shoulders and the two buns were still in place.
Kosmo was already rushing down the stairs.
“Kosmo wait!” Astrid grabbed his wrist, barely stopping him from opening the door. They exchanged a glance. "I'll do it."
“Good luck, sister,” he smiled, his hands squeezing her shoulders in a reassuring gesture before going upstairs again.
Taking a deep breath Astrid looked at Rayla “How do I look?”
Rayla grinned “Spectacular. Now go, you won’t want to keep her waiting.”
Exhaling, Astrid’s slim fingers wrapped around the handle and pulled it to her. A cold breeze entered the house, making her shiver.
On the other side of the door, Nyx was standing awkwardly. The same distrust as the previous time she had encountered Nyx made Rayla stay on her tiptoes.
The Skywing elf didn’t wear her usual clothes. She was wearing black pants and a fitted coat.
“Umm, hi, Astrid,” she waved her hand. Her eyes spared Rayla a quick glance before returning to her date. “You look gorgeous.”
Astrid’s cheeks were redder than Callum’s scarf.
“You look nice too,” she answered.
Nyx face was suddenly red too. Rayla bit her tongue to hold back a burst of laughter. She wondered if she ever appeared this awkward with Callum.
“We should get going.” Nyx extended a hand in Astrid’s direction, she took it and stepped outside, only turning to close the door. Rayla did a thumbs-up before Astrid went away with Nyx.
It was the only time she hadn’t found Nyx even slightly annoying.
Rayla was glad to find out Ezran was asleep when she returned home, which gave her time for a make-out session with Callum and also to wrap up the scarf she had bought for the kid.
Of course, Callum helped because she didn’t have any idea how to wrap up a scarf (neither did he, but at least they were struggling together.) All the while Rayla recounted her day with Astrid, adding her thoughts on the topic, which in general were cute little things she noted, and how surprised she was to see someone like Astrid have a crush on someone like Nyx.
When the story was over, she was sitting on the couch, while Callum prepared tea. Rayla waited for him to sit next to her to formulate the question that had been haunting her mind almost all day.
“Do you ever wish we could’ve met under a more normal situation?” She took a sip of her tea, her mind imagining how normal Astrid's and Nyx's first encounter might have been compared to her's and Callum's.
Callum seemed to have not expected the question. “I mean… Maybe? Some part of me says it could’ve been nice to get to know each other without needing to save the world. Nonetheless,” he looked at her with eyes full of love “I can’t imagine our story any other way. It was, for some reason, meant to happen this way. Though, I wouldn’t mind if it could’ve been a bit less chaotic.”
Rayla chuckled. She definitely would want to change a thing or two in their story if she had the opportunity.
“It’s fine,” she rested the back of her head on his chest, careful not to slip any tea onto the couch. “Now we have time to do all the things we didn’t back in the day.”
“We never had a first date,” Callum noted.
“I mean, at some point I considered our evening in the Adoraburr meadow our first date.”
She felt Callum nod. “Yeah, that’s a nice first date.”
“Also your surprise with the baitlings, Terry’s birds, Bait, Stella and the adoraburrs was quite nice,” she recalled.
Callum blushed. “I’m glad spending the whole day away from you to prepare it was worth it.”
Rayla rolled her eyes. “Of course it was worth it, dummy.”
“So those two are good enough to be considered first dates?”
“Yup.”
"We have a total of two first dates then," he joked.
She hummed in agreement. As Callum said that, Rayla could tell a plan was forming in his mind. Even if he didn’t say it out loud, she was sure in the next few days she would be hearing the words ‘Would you go on a date with me?’ from her adorable dorky mage.