A/N: So this is part two of the oneshot titled, "Confession." So, enjoy!

Chapter Summary: After the spectacle of Callum's confession, Rayla's left to sit by and watch as Callum tries to redeem himself for his mistakes. The only issue is that it's just as hard on her as it is for him, to watch.

Word Count: 1,696

Sharing is Caring

Rayla wasn't exactly big on revenge. Or rather, she just had a strong sense of justice. She had never taken a life before, even though she knew that the reasons she fought for were justified, she also knew balance would never be restored. She understood that punishment must be dealt to people who commited ill deeds, but acting out of spite of revenge would only loop an endless cycle. Callum taught her that. He taught her that change has to start somewhere, and while it may be difficult, some have to start changing things even if it's harder on them. And right now, things were especially hard on Rayla.

It was late into the night. This time, they decided to go the extra mile and really push themselves before taking camp, and so they continued walking well into the evening. The moon was bright out, and the land around them illuminated from its reflected light as well as the natural lighting from the plant life. They had taken shelter in a small cave, just at the foot of a hillside. Rayla had taken the opportunity to keep watch whilst Callum set up a campfire. But alas, the moment Rayla dreaded had come, dinner.

Due to their limited amount of resources and time, food had always been a second priority in travelling. They usually made room for about two to three meals a day, but what those meals often lacked… satisfaction. They would be enough to get the nutrients needed to get them energized and going, however, saying they were pleased with their meal would be a stretch. Feeding Zym was never really an issue as wherever they spent the night, there was almost always a nest of insects or a group of bugs ripe for Zym's taking. It was only a matter of looking away when he feasted on the insectoids. Their usual routine would be picking the berries around their area, and since they were in Xadia, they had a large spread of moonberries at their disposal.

Or at least, that was the plan.

But a recent discovery ended with… a drastic change in meal plans. And now? Rayla just couldn't help but feel guilty for what she was putting her boyfriend through. Their current situation stood as this, Zym was off nearby a small crack in the wall, pestering a swarm of ants he'd seen upon entering the cave. Rayla was enjoying herself to a baked sunberry bread she had heated over the campfire, courtesy of her Callum—for both the bread and the campfire. As she munched on her chewy soft bread, she chewed with a frown as she heard the discomforted noises erupting behind her. Guilt eating up inside her, she couldn't fight her urge to look back at him. And she instantly regretted it.

Rayla was met with a very pitiful sight. Callum, who was sat beside the campfire, was in the middle of downing another bottle of moonberry juice. Or rather, forcing himself to. Upon reaching halfway of his recent bottle, Callum's face scrunched up as he removed the drink from his lips, gagging at the opportune moment of air. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve as he launched himself into a coughing fit. Wincing at each cough, Rayla let out a deep sigh.

"Ya know… I do have sunberry bread to spare," she spoke up. Picking a piece off and gesturing toward him, she offered, "Ya can have some."

Instantaneously, Callum glanced over at Rayla and rapidly shook his head. Smiling apologetically, he raised the half empty bottle and said, "No, no! This is fine! I just… drank too much too quickly is all. Went down my throat roughly." He let out a laugh and then proceeded to chug the bottle whole. "Besides, it's like you said, these have all the basic nutrients needed to get through a day!"

Rayla managed a small smile as she watched him pop open another bottle. Any thoughts or words she had in mind dissipated at the sight of Callum reluctantly downing another bottle of moonberry juice. Rayla let out another sigh as she chewed on the piece she picked off. He had been like this ever since the night she learned he hated moonberry juice. Ever since, Callum started giving Rayla his sunberry bread and as well let her have full rights over their spending, allowing her to buy whatever she wanted to eat. Callum on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it. It seemed like he was suddenly very adamant about ingesting moonberry juice and moonberry juice alone. He told Rayla he learned to make it himself from watching her, and started going off on escapades to satisfy his quench.

In actuality, Rayla knew he just felt guilty. And it hurt her that he was being so stubborn about it. Another cough echoed throughout the cave, causing Rayla to release an annoyed groan.

"Callum for the love of Xadia, just have some of my bread!" she shouted, whipping her body around as she waved the loaf in the air. "Ya're practically choking yourself over there!"

Callum desperately shook his head as he raised the bottle at her. "No, no, no, I'm—"

"Not fine," Rayla interjected. "Ya're not fine in any way! Honestly, just have some of my bread, ya bought this too!"

"It's for you though, and Zym, if he wants some," Callum pointed out. "I can," a cough escaped him, "I can handle… this." He cleared his throat and smiled at Rayla, proud as ever.

"Ya make it sound like ya're dying," she stressed with a blank face. "I get it, ya don't like moonberry juice! Stop suffering over there and makin' me feel bad and we'll swap!" She gestured her bread toward the boy, and with a free hand, motioned him to come forward.

"No," Callum persisted. "I might not like the flavour, but I can learn to love it."

"Callum, that's the dumbest thing ya said today," Rayla monotonously fired back. "Ya don't have to force yourself to like or love anythin' if it's hard for ya. Besides, I prefer moonberry juice over this sunberry bread anyways, so…"

"But I was hiding it from you for weeks," Callum addressed, with a small voice. "And… that was a very stupid thing for me to do. You were out foraging and collecting food for us and I spent our money on food for myself because I couldn't stomach something that saved us money." He sighed as he sunk his head. "I… need to make it up to you, so…" he raised the bottle high. "Bottom's up!" Before Rayla could even stop him, he chugged the remainder of the drink, letting it pass deep into his throat. Not even a second had passed, and the poor Mage's face instantly filled with a repulsive look, almost as if he was wishing he could vomit. Rayla winced at the very audible gag he released, and sighed as he threw himself into another coughing fit.

Having enough of his stupidity, Rayla walked over to Callum. She sat before him and gestured the bread toward the boy. "Eat this," she ordered.

"But I'm—"

"Not fine at all," Rayla interjected. Trying again, she shook the bread in his face and narrowed her brows. "Eat this," she sternly spoke, "Or so help me Thunder, I'll shove it down your throat!"

Immediately the Mage swiped the bread out of her hands and munched away. As he chewed his bread, Rayla let out a sigh of relief as she watched him eat and savour his meal for a change. She glanced down at the pack of bottles laid out beside him. It was a simple three by six, tied together by thread. The same six bottles they washed and reused for the countless refills of moonberry juice. The same bottles that started this whole fiasco. Rayla picked up a spare bottle and observed it, smiling at the familiar item.

"It's really rough on your throat, isn't it?" she stated nonchalantly.

Callum swallowed, and with much reluctancy, nodded. "It feels too… viscous, it's so thick but bitter, I just, I can't enjoy the taste."

Rayla scoffed as she placed the bottle back on the ground. "Because it's like medicine. Good medicine tastes bitter."

Callum chuckled. "Is that your way of saying you're taking care of me?"

Rayla laughed in response, throwing a light punch against Callum's shoulder. "Hah! When ya do dumb stuff like this it's kinda hard not to!" The two shared another laugh that seemed to peak Zym's interest, causing him to retreat and return to their sides. They dwelled in a comforting silence before Rayla spoke. "I… I appreciate that ya wanted to make it up to me," she lightly began, "but, don't go forcing yourself to do anything ya don't like. Especially if it's for me." Her eyes remained heartfelt and soft as she pierced through Callum's hesitance. "Because I want ya to enjoy your own things too."

He smiled at her. "I… it was just about that. I think as a well… what we are now, travelling together as… a couple, I need to step up," he admitted earnestly. "I wouldn't mind suffering if it was for you."

A brief flash of Dark Magic and passed out Callum flew into Rayla's mind for a moment.

She frowned. Shaking her head, she placed a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder, staring into his eyes. "Thank ya…" she smiled, "It means a lot to me that ya'd be willing to do that, because I would too… for you." Callum seemed to brighten at the reply and motioned to take another bite, but was stopped by Rayla's grip. He confusedly glanced at her soft eyes. "But," she added, "I'd appreciate it if suffering wasn't a necessity…"

Callum opened his mouth then stopped himself. He looked contemplative but managed a small nod. "We'll see." It was a safe response. It was a reasonable response. It made Rayla happy. "We'll try."

With a smile, she followed up with a wink as she raised the moonberry juice once more. "Aye, I'll drink to that."

A/N: This kinda turned out into a mess in the end, but I'm happy with out it worked out. Sort of. I dunno, but I hope you all enjoyed it! Because I've got bad news! My Mac's getting repaired and the ETA of its return is to be determined, so I've been relying on a family computer, meaning my occupying time on it is very limited! And so, the rate of churning out these fics might dwindle late into the nights, like probably just before midnight-at best at least. This will be a small setback, but not for all of July! That aside, tomorrow's prompt is Fireflies. And boy, are these getting harder for me.

Until next time,

- Bleh