A/N: So day 18, childhood. I tried to think of something else, mainly in regards to the Future AU, but I think I wanted ot try a new AU out for a change. So hope y'all enjoy!
Chapter Summary: So, here's an a completely, totally, original idea. What if? Now hear me out, what if, Rayla and Callum, were childhood friends?
Word Count: 1,355
Childhood
"Runaan says learnin' to fight is important!" Rayla claimed.
Callum hesitantly gripped onto his wooden blade. "I dunno Rayla," he nervously replied as he rubbed his hands up and down the handle, "I'm not really… good at this."
"Well, duh," she said dumbly. "That's why ya're learnin'!" she emphasized, proudly placing her hands on her hips.
The young prince sighed as he looked around them. "Ar-Are you sure about this?" he whispered. "What if we get in trouble?"
"Pfft," the young elf dismissed as she waved her hand. She quickly rushed over to the nearby bench, which consisted of Callum's sketchbook, her bag, and another wooden sword. "Nobody'll know," she assured him. "And besides, they're just trainin' swords! The worst they'll do is splinter your fingers," she teased, wiggling her four digits at the boy as she picked up the spare sword with her free hand.
He frowned. "I'm not sure…"
Rayla frowned back as she narrowed her eyes at the boy. She noticed his gaze lingering near her area, and trained its sight toward the bench. She nodded in realization as she understood what he was looking at. His sketchbook. The one his dad gave him. She smiled as she turned back at him, crossing her arms with a pride. "How 'bout a deal?"
"A deal?" the young step-prince echoed.
"Yeah!" she excitedly cheered. "Ya try this whole sparrin' thing with me, and then ya can show me some of your drawings!"
His face flushed. "O-Oh, we… we don't have to do that."
Rayla frowned. "C'mon, ya rarely let me see them nowadays."
He sheltered his head into his shoulders as he shook his head.
"Callum, c'mon," she whined. "Ya hardly ever wanna spar with me." She stomped her foot. "And I've seen ya do it with your brother!"
Callum sighed. "That's different Rayla, we're play fighting. Just messing around. You know how to fight. I don't—"
"I'm not gonna hurt ya," Rayla immediately interjected. "I'll go easy on ya, and besides, it's trainin'." She stepped onto the courtyard's ring and readied her wooden blade. "I wanna teach ya some moves Runaan taught me!"
"But I don't care about all that," her friend simply replied.
Rayla frowned as she visibly deflated. "But how are ya gonna defend yourself?"
Callum shrugged. "I'll worry about that later. For now, you can protect me!" he teased, pointing his sword at her chest.
She laughed. "Don't be silly. I can't always protect ya!" she argued, "Learn how to fight for yourself!"
Callum pouted. "Can I do that without swords?" His shoulders dropped as he began making his way over to the bench.
"Ooh! And be like, a Mage?" Rayla excitedly suggested.
Callum snorted as he tossed his sword onto the bench. "Don't be silly, humans can't be Mages!" he chuckled. "We don't have Primal connections like you guys do." He sat down and began flipping through his sketchbook.
"Why not!" Rayla pouted as she walked over. "If ya won't try learnin' how to fight using swords, then learn how to use magic!" She waved her fingers around with a smile. "Ya can be the first human Mage!" she shouted, pumping her sword into the air. "C'mon, we'll be a party! Me, the Assassin, you, the Mage!"
Callum's brows raised as a smile dared onto his lips. "Oh! Oh! And we can travel the lands, saving people! Adventurers!"
"Magic Heroes!" Rayla cheered.
"That's a lame name," Callum admitted.
Rayla's shoulders shrunk. "How 'bout… Mystic Marauders?"
The prince's head tilted in confusion. "Aren't marauders bad people?"
"Okay how 'bout ya come up with something then!" she snarked, pointing her wooden hilt at him.
Callum shook his head. "I'm the artist! I'll sketch our adventures!" he declared, already treading his pencil across his sketchbook.
"Does that mean ya'll let me see them?" Rayla excitedly asked, bouncing in anticipation.
Callum glanced up and nodded. "These drawings? Sure!"
"Promise?"
"Promise!"
::::
"I looked through his sketchbook," Sarai suddenly spoke up.
Runaan and Harrow glanced away from their meals and stared at the Queen in shock.
"Sarai," Runaan scolded.
"And?" Harrow inquired. When Runaan shot Harrow a look, the King of Katolis simply shrugged. "He's our kid! We gotta make sure!"
"Invasion of privacy," Runaan muttered under his breath, sipping his tea.
"You're occupation literally calls on you to infiltrate private estates!" Harrow incredulously shot back.
Runaan smirked. "But I can recognize when to respect my ward's personal life."
Harrow merely scoffed as he waved off Runaan's judgment. "So, the details?" he excitedly leaned forward.
Sarai chuckled at their contrasted responses. Their back and forthcoming were always a highlight during Runaan and Rayla's visits. "He has dozens of pages of her! Smiling, laughing, posing like a warrior—and they're all so well done! Our young boy is smitten," she proudly swooned.
"I knew it!" Harrow whooped, happily slapping his hand against the table. Sarai laughed at his outburst whilst Runaan steadied the teapot. "I knew he was sketching her, I swear I saw once when I walked by! He got so flustered!"
Runaan chuckled as he shot him a look, sipping his tea in delight.
"Oh knock it off, I wasn't spying," Harrow explainer, rolling his eyes. "I just happened across his room and noticed for a split second."
He parted his cup from his lips. "Their quarters are a ways away from anywhere of significance to your regular routine," the Assassin quipped.
"Fine I was spying."
Runaan shrugged with a small smile. "I suppose I can't really be talking. Rayla's been constantly badgering me about the next time we can visit each and every day. At this point I'm nearly convinced we should just stay here!" The three shared in a small fit of laughter. "I think she just likes to show off. He really does swoon at her when she trains. The poor boy doesn't mask his amazement at all. Bodes well for her ego," he mused. His smile grew. "Still, it's nice knowing that even after all that training, he still knows how to make her feel like a kid."
"It's adorable," Sarai commented. "She loves his attention because he gives it openly so easily." She released a content sigh. "And he's been so much more talkative! I think she's boosting his confidence!"
Harrow shot straight out of his seat. "I'm arranging a marriage!"
Sarai groaned, "Not this again."
Runaan chuckled. "Good luck convincing her parents."
"Honey," Sarai patted her husband's arm. "We should probably wait till they're older?"
He nodded with a shocked face. "Of course! I'm not marrying children Sarai! I'm not insane!" he stated as if it was obvious.
The two muttered simultaneously, "Debatable."
Harrow frowned. "I'll arrange it for their sixteenth birthday! They share the same month, it'll be perfect!"
Runaan shook his head as he took another sip. "Shouldn't we wait until their actual feelings come into play?" he suggested. "For now all it may be is that young Callum has a crush!"
Harrow's excitement deflated almost instantaneously. "I suppose you're right," he wisely considered as he sunk back down into his seat. "Still, I've got my fingers crossed!"
Runaan smirked. "As do I, all four," he jested as he raised his free hand.
The two exchanged a fit of laughter as Sarai rose up from her seat, sauntering over to the window sill to peek out into the courtyard. Their children had no idea they all knew they were there. But they were desperately trying to be secretive about their playtime together. Sarai couldn't help but smile at the sight. Rayla was sitting close to Callum, looking over his shoulder as she watched him sketched. She occasionally pointed at his book, no doubt adding her own commentary or opinions on his art. Her son simply nodded along and smiled. Callum suddenly turned and raised his pinky finger at her. Rayla eagerly wrapped hers around his. They shared a nod and laughed, quickly returning to their work. The way they embraced each other's presence so easily, was adorable. Crush or not, Sarai knew they had chemistry.
And a darn good childhood in store.
A/N: Sorry for all the delays! I had really hoped I would've caught up at least one day behind by Sunday, but I really slacked this weekend. Anyways, I'll try to keep up the quality you all enjoy! And I'm grateful everyone's stuck around!
Review Responses:
Griff-FanFic1933: Love all your reviews! And appreciate your love for the AU! And yeah, the summary kinda gave away what to expect. I'm glad you could relate to my Dreams oneshot, it was fun to write because as I said, I had my own turmoil going on too.
SassySapphire: Rayla's knitting struggles are my fave headcanon for her. And of course, expect the unexpected! When have I ever delivered on proper prompt expectations? Sorry not sorry. Love your reviews!
Next prompt is Secrets!
Until next time,
- Bleh