A/N: Day 19 - Childhood. Yeah, I made another one a lot sooner than expected. But I had fun. So... enjoy
Chapter Summary: Rayla didn't know why Callum stopped showing her his sketches. She also didn't know why everyone else seemed to know what they were. Maybe it's time she asked. Childhood AU.
Word Count: 1,766
Secrets
"Hey Runaan," a young Rayla addressed.
The older Moonshadow Elf seized his training, halting mid swing, and turned around to look at his student. "Yes Rayla?"
"Do ya think Callum doesn't like me anymore?"
His brows flew up in shock. "What? That's absurd! Of course he does! Why would the young prince think otherwise of you?" he inquired.
Rayla sheepishly rubbed her arm. "I dunno. He doesn't like showing me his sketchbook anymore."
Runaan's face contorted into confusion. "What? How is that relevant?" He sheathed his swords behind his back and crossed his arms.
"Before, he'd let me look through it myself!" Rayla explained. "He always just handed it to me and said, 'Ya can look. Have fun!' And I would!" She smiled. "But now? He's been so secretive 'bout it. And everytime I ask him he just says no. He only shows me when he's sketching something we just talked 'bout. But he won't let me see his other drawings."
Runaan's expression shifted. The very same drawings Sarai told them about the other day. That made sense. Rayla's brows rose, obviously making note of his face's change. "Oh, uh," he casually shrugged, "Maybe he's shy. He's usually reluctant to show his work, is he not?" he lightly suggested.
Rayla shook her head. "Not with me! He always shows me first!" she proudly stated.
Runaan smirked. "Because he trusts you," he concluded, kneeling down before her. He placed his hand on her hair and ruffled it lightly, much to her refusal. "I'm sure Prince Callum has a good reason. And in time, he will share it with you."
Rayla's face squinted into suspicion.
Something was up.
::::
"Ahh, young Rayla!" Harrow greeted upon crossing her paths within the hallways of the castle. "How was your training session with Runaan?"
Rayla shrugged. "It was fine. Nothing new."
Harrow smirked. "I assume you're off in a hurry to find Callum? He's in his room last I heard."
"I was actually on my way to ya, King Harrow!" Rayla innocently corrected.
Harrow's brows raised. "Really? What for?"
"I had somethin' to ask ya," she answered.
The idea of Rayla inquiring about his son's hand in marriage flashed across the King's mind, but he shook off his fantasies. "Oh? And what is it?" he smiled.
"What's Callum hiding from me?" she bluntly asked.
The King's brows rose. "Wh-What?"
"Callum, he's hiding somethin' from me," Rayla explained, crossing her arms, "he won't let me see his sketchbook anymore and Runaan won't tell me why!"
Harrow's confusion faded into worry. So now he was stuck with this. He mentally sighed—after all that bragging, Runaan dropped the ball and now Harrow's left to clean up. He cleared his throat as he knelt down to Rayla, matching his eye level with hers. He could lie to a child. He was a king, putting on an act was simple and required the most sleek and clever minds. He could handle this.
"Well uh...he… is shy!" Harrow concluded. "Yes! He's just shy. Perhaps. Maybe he is shy of his new drawings and isn't ready to show you!"
Rayla pouted as she soaked in his words. "But," she thoughtfully looked up at him, "he always shows me his new drawings. He likes doing that. He's never had a problem with it before! So something must be up!" the young elf declared. "And I'll get to the bottom of it!" she triumphantly shouted.
"Oh, I uh—" the King's words died in his mouth as he watched the Assassin-in-training race off, darting down the corridors.
It turned out he wasn't as smart as he thought.
::::
The sudden knocking at the door of the study startled Sarai. She glanced up from her book and raised a brow at the noise. Attempting to compose herself, she cleared her throat. "Um, come in?" she suggested. The door creaked open a crack and soon enough a set of small horns poked through, with an adorable head of white hair and a wide smile. Sarai couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Ahh, Rayla!"
"Afternoon Queen Sarai!" she greeted. "I hope I'm not botherin' ya!"
"Nonsense my dear," Sarai assured her, patting down the book on the table. "Just some light reading is all. How can I help you? Are you looking for Callum?" she inquired with a pitch, raising some sly brows at the young elf.
She merely pouted as she stepped into the room, lightly stomping her feet as she did so. She was upset. "No…" she sadly said. "I just wanna know what's wrong with him."
Sarai's eyes went wide as her maternal instincts kicked in. "Something's wrong with Callum?" she harshly whispered.
Rayla seemed put off by her shock, and shyly shrugged. "I think so. I think Runaan and Harrow know what's wrong but nobody's tellin' me for some reason!"
Sarai switched into confusion. "What?"
"Callum doesn't let me see his sketches anymore!" Rayla whined. "And he gets so flakey 'bout it too. It makes no sense!" she complained. "He shys away from it so much I'm starting to think I did somethin' wrong."
Sarai smiled at the young elf. Bless this poor girl's heart. "Aww, Rayla," she softly spoke, "you did nothing wrong my child." She rushed over to the elf, kneeling down as she embraced her in a quick hug. As she pulled away she met her eyes. "Callum's just… really private about his drawings. Perhaps it's 'cause these latest ones mean much more to him than the others? He might feel more of a personal attachment to them, so he's more shy about it."
Rayla pondered her response, still holding her pout. "Hmm," she skeptically said. "But I've seen all his drawings! Personal, funny, or whatever! He's always showed me! And I want to see them!"
Sarai chuckled. "I know you do, but keep in mind to respect his privacy," she lightly advised. "If he's not ready to show you—"
"Then I take it from him when he's not looking!" Rayla interjected, eyes bulging with excitement. "Yes!" she cheered.
The Queen's face shifted into horror. "Now, now—"
"Just like Runaan taught me!" Rayla proudly declared. "I stick to the shadows, blend, observe, and attack!" she shouted, hopping into the air. "But instead of attacking I just take his book!"
"Now Rayla—"
"Thanks Queen Sarai! Ya've been a real help!" she hurriedly urged as she sped out of the room.
Sarai sighed. This was definitely not going too end well.
::::
Rayla knew how to be stealthy. Granted, she was only eight and a half, but in all the time she's been training and learning, she understood the basics. And the basics were enough to get her close to Callum. To catch him off guard. She knew how to blend into her surroundings. How do disappear. How to be one with the shadows. How to be silent as a whisper. She knew how to be an Assassin. This time? Her target wasn't death. No, it was thievery.
And her plan was foolproof.
With an excited and hearty bounce, Rayla skipped toward the bench where callum was sat. As typical, he was sketching. His attention flew upward in a panic as he noticed she was approaching, leaving him to shut his but instantly. "Hi-hi Rayla!" he nervously greeted.
Rayla grinned. "Hi Callum!" she chirped. "How's your afternoon been?"
"Good, good," he nodded, "just… sketching." He shrugged. "How was training?" he smiled.
Rayla shrugged. "Oh, nothin' new. Just—oh my goodness!" she suddenly shouted.
Startled, Callum flinched his whole body as he exclaimed, "What? What is it!"
"I dunno somethin' over there!" she pointed over his shoulder.
"Huh?" Callum whipped his head around instantly.
Immediately, Rayla darted for the book in his hands, swiping it away and triumphantly running back a few feet. Of course, all the while cheering, "Ah hah! Ha ha! I did it!"
It happened so fast Callum's reaction was merely a few seconds delayed. "Hey give it back! Don't look!" he shouted, racing after the girl.
The two launching into a circular battle—literally. Rayla began running around the courtyard, whilst Callmu gave chase, sprinting after her as she flipped through the pages. Sure enough, the boy's worry increased with every passing second as she turned each page. Eventually she'd—
"Wow, are these me?" She came to a stop.
A very sudden stop.
It caused Callum to collide into her and sent them both to the ground. Thankfully, the book cushioned Rayla's face (and was unharmed too) and Callum fell on top of her, also free from harm. He rolled off and simply fell onto his back beside her, lightly releasing a groan.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah? Ya?"
"I'm fine. Sorry about that."
"It's fine," she shrugged as she turned over and sat up. "Sorry I stole this, but I had to see! And everyone around here has been so secretive I wanted to know what's up!" She turned the page and showed him. It was two pages, both filled with sketches of Rayla's faces, laughing, smiling, pouting, nearly every expression. "If ya were embarrassed to show me these, ya didn't have to be."
Callum's eyes went wide. "Really?" he quietly asked.
"Yeah! I think these are pretty cool! Accurate too!" she complimented with a genuine smile. "I can see ya're getting better with hair!"
The artist blushed as he averted his gaze. "No, no, they're not… they're not that good," he shyly whispered.
Rayla scoffed. "Duh," she bumped his elbow, "that's because ya've been sketching them without me!" His eyes lit up. "C'mon, let's do one now! I'll pose!"
Callum's face shifted into excitement as he eagerly nodded. "Yes, yes! C'mon, I know the perfect spot!" The two rushed out of the courtyard, completely oblivious to the three adults lurking at the windows above.
"They're… they're oblivious!"
"They're children Harrow," Runaan reminded him, "You can't expect so much of them."
"Funny coming from either of you," Sarai chided lightly crossing her arms at them. They merely stared at her in confusion. "Rayla practically danced around you guys so easily, you essentially helped her!"
They glanced at each other, then simultaneously shrugged.
"Runaan, remind me again who gave Rayla the idea to steal from Callum?"
"Ahh, I believe it was our dear Queen?"
Sarai rolled her eyes. "Knock it off," she warned, "I can kick both your butts with one hand." She raised a finger at the two, silencing their smirks. Satisfied, she turned out the window. "Well, it's no secret they like each other. That's for sure."
A/N: I had delays because I had plans all day for the 23rd, and well, I kinda wanted to make this one into another Childhood after I saw all the positive responses. And because I thought it'd be fun! And because my other ideas were kinda... lame? eh, it's not important.
Review Responses:
1228248: Ask and you shall receive! This has been real fun to write, so hope you like this one too!
Griff-FanFic1933: Oh you best believe childhood best friends Rayllum are gonna get into some mischief. No doubt about it. The whole chill and niceness of it, is kinda the theme I wanted to give! Like, let's just let kids be kids!
SassySapphire: The adorableness of this is what really sold it for me to start a new AU for the collection. It didn't occur to me until near the end that I realized, I could write Sarai for once, AND have her with Harrow AND Runaan, just chilling and having a chat. It makes sense that they'd all be good friends in their off time.
Next prompt is hurt... yeah...
Until next time,
- Bleh