Rayllum Birthday Bash - Mistakes and Amends
This one is a few days late but guess what!? I got a new nephew! So I’ve been preoccupied, hopefully you can forgive me. No smut today, just angst ;)
“Callum?” Rayla spoke softly as she opened the door. The creaking of the hinges was the only thing to disrupt the quiet. “Callum?” she tried again. There was a heavy exhale and then his sketchbook was set down on a side table before he got up from the tall chair and revealed himself.
“Hi…” was all he said. Rayla was surprised, he didn’t seem angry. Just… tired.
“I’m sorry,” they said in unison and Rayla was taken aback. Nervously she closed the door and started fidgeting with her hands.
“Yer… You don’ have tae be sorr-,” Rayla started but he interrupted her.
“No no no no Rayla, are you kidding me? I, I never should have yelled at you like that,” he closed the distance and took her anxious hands. “And Rayla, I’m so sorry that I did that.” His eyes were so sincere, it soothed her nerves.
“What you said though, you were right, I was irresponsible and impatient. I put Ezran and Pyrrah at risk and things could’ve… Ezran’s goin’ tae be ok but… we... got lucky,” Rayla felt tears start to sting her eyes as the guilt twisted in her chest. Ezran’s broken arm was fairly minor and had already started to heal thanks to a little magic. But it shouldn’t have happened at all.
When Rayla and Callum had fought earlier the reality and weight of what she did hadn’t really hit her yet, she had still been running on adrenaline. They were going to be fine, they got what they needed, so she didn’t understand why he was so angry? Then she’d heard Ezran crying from down the hall when they had set the bone. Rayla wasn’t sure if she'd ever felt so ashamed of herself. “I was stubborn. I didn’t like yer plan but I still should’ve listened tae you,” the tears began to roll down her cheek and she stared at the floor. “Ez agreed with me but I should’ve known better and I never should’ve gone behind yer back like that… you were right tae scream at me... I deserved it,” her voice cracked with a sob. Rayla pulled her hands from his and covered her face, covered her shame.
“Rayla please,” he gently pulled her hands down to look at her. “I lost my temper and… you didn’t deserve that… you scared me and I was… Rayle I was terrifiedI should have taken a breath or two. And what I said… you aren’t stupid and I know you care about Ez,” he spoke softly and cupped her cheek. She mustered up the courage to look him in the eyes as he continued. “I’m mad at you, I’m still upset and I will be for awhile,” he didn’t sound mad but he was serious. “But I’m sorry I screamed like that.”
“That’s fair I suppose… you still being mad,” she tried to reign in her tears. “I want things tae be ok,” she looked away but he brought her attention back with a stroke of his thumb on her cheek.
“Rayla just promise me, next time you’ll wait for me or at least don’t go behind my back if you disagree.” Callum’s eyes were gently pleading.
“I promise,” she spoke softly, resolutely.
“If something happened to both you and Ezran, Rayla, I don’t know what I’d do,” his voice held desperation, begging for her understanding. “That would destroy me.” Callum held her face in both hands and kissed her. This really wasn’t how Rayla pictured this apology going. He was being so caring, so loving, so… him.
“I know it,” she whispered “I’m sorry, so very sorry,” then she pushed past his hands and hugged him. Rayla spoke into his neck “I won’t make that mistake again. I swear to you Callum,” He returned the embrace and it felt warm and comforting and safe.
“Thank you for apologizing,” he said as his hands intertwined in her hair.
“You too. I love you Callum,” she smiled, she was relieved and she felt the relief as a fraction of guilt lifted from her shoulder.
“For the record, I think I should just ban you from ever having your feet leave the ground,” he said with a smirk.
“Well that just doesn't seem practical,” she said through a combination chuckle sob. “How would I do mah slish jumps or mah slash flips?” she said in mock concern wiping her eyes with the heel of her hands. Callum laughed.
“Okay, okay, okay,” he conceded. “Just be more careful,”
“I’ll do my best…. So… could we maybe go cuddle now?” she still didn’t feel like she deserved that and waited for him so say no, but he smiled. “I’m supposed tae try not tae sleep fer a bit, but I feel like absolute shite,”
“Yeah, that sounds nice,” Callum smiled and took her hand. “Let's go relax for a bit, Ez’s sleeping so we’ll check on him later.”
The two of them crawled into their bed and held each other. They talked more about what happened and shared a few more big feelings. Eventually Rayla began to feel less nauseous and her head hurt a bit less. At that point she found she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Callum moved her out of his lap and retrieved his sketchbook. By the time he returned Rayla had already settled herself with her head on the pillow,
“All comfy cozy?” he asked with a soft smile.
“Yeah, I am. You just have tae wake me up every two hours so I don’ die,” she said with a smile and a yawn.
“I think I can manage that,” he smiled down at her and bent to kiss her. His lips were warm and gently on her injured head. When he began to stroke her hair she was helpless to stay awake. Things were going to be okay.
