Rayllum February Ficlet Fest
“They deserve each other.”
It’s not the first time Callum has heard this.
Certainly not with this attitude.
He has read enough books, the epic ones especially, to know that when people say this, it’s usually meant well. A compliment of sorts.
That’s not what people mean when they say it about him and Rayla. Even if he couldn’t see the sneers on their faces, it’s obvious from their tone.
Elves look at the white streak in his hair and their upper lips curl. Their eyes darken.
Once, someone even spat on the floor by his feet.
Hated by humans for freeing the king slayer.
Distrusted by elves for betraying her band, even if her Ghosting is lifted.
She acts like it doesn’t bother her, but he can see her face fall when children are hurried away from her or prices at the market inexplicably go up.
Ezran tries to insist that it’ll take time. This strange shaky peace is new, fragile. Humans and elves don’t truly like each other, and they certainly don’t trust each other.
It’s more than that though. It’s not centuries of prejudice slowly being overcome.
People dislike him and Rayla in particular.
“She tried to kill him, you know?”
Callum can’t help but overhear the drunken earthblood slur, his mead sloshing over the side of his tankard as he watches the dancing from a dark corner.
From the twitch of Rayla’s ear, Callum knows she’s heard too.
“Probably just biding her time now,” the elf continues, stumbling into the man pretending not to listen to him. “You can never really trust moonshadows, especially ones hated by their own kind—”
Callum’s had enough, dropping Rayla’s hand as he turns to shut the idiot up—
She steps between him and the drunk, caressing his face as she smiles sadly at him. “Ignore him, Callum.”
“Rayla—” He huffs, eyes darting to the man in question before Rayla runs her fingers through the lock of hair framing his face.
“What do you care what he thinks? He’s just some pathetic idiot angry at other people having harmless fun. Leave him to his bitterness.”
Rayla smiles at him, wide and bright and brilliant. So beautiful and loving that any and all negative thoughts immediately vacate his mind, his heart solely focused on her.
They do deserve each other.
