#uggghhh rayla is so cute!!

[aetheternity]

Omg this is so pure!! I'm in love!! Thank @methargicism for this prompt. I changed it a little tho..

"Rayla." Callum called as they walked but was ultimately ignored.

"Raylllaa." He tried again dragging her name with a sing songy voice. He noticed the slight change in her shoulder blades the way they flinched up and ultimately relaxed back in annoyance.

"Rayla!"

"What?!" She screamed back, clapping her hands over her mouth immediately after. "Will you stop calling me. What'd you want anyway?"

"You were ignoring me." Callum replied with a soft shrug, quickening his pace to be right beside Rayla.

"I'm not ignoring you. I was just... thinking.."

Callum raise an eyebrow. It wasn't uncommon for Rayla to get lost in her thoughts so much so that everything around her disappeared but today it seemed less like harmless daydreaming and more like concern over something.

"What's bothering you? If you don't mind me asking."

Rayla's shoulders hunched up again before falling as if she was forcing them down. Her back slouched and her eyes darted away from Callum.

"I wonder how long it's gonna take.." Rayla started, "I mean for humans and elves to actually make peace.. Runan's gonna hate me for running off like I did.. If he even survived.... And how's he gonna feel about... about you."

She really did have a lot on her mind.

Callum rested a hand on Rayla's shoulder stopping her stride and turning her to face him. "Stop worrying about what you can't control. You'll make yourself crazy. We've done what we can so far and we're gonna keep working hard until elves and humans can be friends and work together. You'll see, it's me and you."

Rayla's face warmed with the sweet words, blush deepening with the last sentence. You'll see, it's me and you.

Callum seemed to pick up on it too because he quickly backed up, hands flying to his pockets with a need to cover them. "And Ezran." He added quickly though it was a little late.

Rayla smirked a soft chuckle cresting off her lips. "Yes of course and Ezran.." She giggled.

Callum didn't know what it was maybe the atmosphere or Rayla's little giggles but he found himself staring at her horns when she leaned forward and stood back up straight. Eyes enamored with the pointy tips and smooth purple color of them.

"Hey Rayla?"

Rayla smirked, hands on her hips. "Please Don't tell me you're gonna start that again." She joked

"No no I'm done with that." He assured, eyes moving back up to her horns. "I was just intrested in your horns. Can I.. touch them?" Nervousness peaked throughout his whole body as the question exited his mouth. Though it was definitely having a worse effect on Rayla.

Her eyes widened like saucers and her face brightened to the color of a newly ripe tomato. Callum didn't have time to even retract his question before Rayla was racing off past him. Up into a tree.

"Rayla wait!" He knew he wasn't supposed to yell as that could draw attention they really didn't need but he couldn't help it.

What had he done wrong? Were elves horns super sensitive or something? He probably shouldn't have asked.

Even though Rayla had lectured him on staying together when they'd first entered Xadia she wasn't against it now. She'd jumped at least 15 feet away from him climbing the tallest tree Callum had ever seen in his life.

"Rayla please!" He called, worry filling his voice against his own will. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I take it back!"

Climbing trees was no big deal for Callum when he was younger. Him and Ezran had begun a sort of competition between each other to climb to the highest branch they could. But the last time they'd done that he'd been at least 5 years younger and was in his city. Now he was in Xadia climbing a tree to get his moonshadow elf friend down after he'd accidentally hurt her feelings.

And nothing about that is normal in the slightest.

"Rayla!" He continued to call as he tossed his leg up to a branch near his shoulder. He was hoping for an angered response of lower your voice. Even maybe a Callum shut up if she really was pissed. But neither of that came as he climbed.

"Rayla.." He struggled, jacket getting caught on a branch. "I'm so sorry.." He whined unhooking himself and hoisting his arm up over a much smaller branch. "Please forgive me.. I take it back!"

Still no answer. All the leaves in the trees began to jumble, his breaths slipping out in heavy huffs. "Rayla.." He laid against the branch near his head all movements paused. His palms felt wet whether it was his own imagination or reality was unclear.

He shut his eyes, brain banging unsoothingly in his skull. The branch under his foot made a cracking noise, Callum felt his weight shift and bounce. He was gonna fall. The branch was gonna give way... But he couldn't bring himself to move. Couldn't even open his eyes.

When the branch broke he fell but not very far before a pair of arms were hoisting him up around the waist. A breathy groan sounded above him and his tired wet eyes opened to Rayla's frustrated face above him.

"You dumb human! What do you think you're doing? You could've died!" Callum grasped the branch Rayla was trying to pull him up to. Her hands were wrapped tightly around his waist in a way he found comforting on his hot skin. Once he was balanced and seated he shut his eyes again. Heart beat bouncing disturbingly fast.

"Are you ok?" Her breath tickled his cheek and his pulse flickered when he felt her soft fingers gently push his sweaty brown hair away from his face.

He sat still till his body cooled down before his eyes flickered open landing on the concerned girl in front of him. "Rayla I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

Rayla's fingers flinched on Callum's shoulder, but she didn't let go. "What're you talking about?"

"When I asked to touch your horns you ran away... I assumed I offended you or something."

Rayla's cheeks flushed again but she didn't run. Her eyes closed, quickly flicking open again but not looking at Callum. "Callum... You didn't offend me."

Her eyes stayed locked on the leaves below them, hands moving away from Callum's shoulders slowly like she was scared he'd fall.

"Callum.. When you touch an elf's horns... It's the equivalent of... Two humans kissing each other's foreheads.. Or Even cuddling..." Rayla informed.

Of course this information was a bit shocking but it didn't waver Callum's curiousity or make him uncomfortable.

"Is that bad?"

"Wh-what?!" If it were possible for Rayla to become more red then she already was it happened.

"Would it be bad.... If it was me?.."

"N-no! I mean! Callum!! Two elves rub each other's horns as a sign that they want to date!! It's before the first kiss! It's sacred!!" She squealed, arms cluched to her sides like she was her own lifeline.

"And You can't do it with a human.."

"Callum!"

"Rayla." He smiled all gooey in the face and warm in his eyes. "I won't force you. And if you say no I'll back off right now but.. Would it be that bad if it was me?.."

Rayla's face cooled from its bright red to a soft pink as she calmed. Her arms came down to grasp the branch in the space between them. She pushed up onto one knee other one balancing over the edge. Her fingers shook a little but Callum was there to catch her if she needed help.

Once she was less than 3 feet away, she bowed her head softly, pushing her head up close to Callum's. "Go.. Ahead.." Breath stuttering a bit where it left her mouth and bounced off the trees.

Now that she was this close Callum could feel his body warm and his fingers shook where he began to bring them up to the tip of Rayla's horn.

He started sweetly just gripping the hard apendage with two fingers at the tip before slowly petting her, running his fingers down the length of her whole horn. The branch they were sitting on shuttered with Rayla as she shivered almost purring a little.

Her hair fell back as she streched to look at Callum. "Sorry.. I've never had my horns touched like this before..." And Callum couldn't tell if it was his own imagination but Rayla definitely looked at his lips before her eyes flashed back up.

"It's ok. I think it's cute." Now it was Callum's turn to blush, Rayla joining him as she leaned back against the trees rough branch.

"Thanks.."

After a couple minutes of silence Callum smirked focusing on Rayla again. "So... I guess it's time for our first kiss."

"I will push you out of this tree."

I'm gonna fail math because I was writing this instead of doing my work.