#zuppi fanfic

[zuppizup]

Linger

Her left hand isn’t right, and she wonders if it ever will be. It’s been funny since the binding, obviously, but she’s noticed it’s been worse since Sea Legs.

It’s not all the time but it’s enough that she can’t help but notice.

Worry.

Her strength and athleticism have always been her most valuable traits and if she can’t rely on them, well then, what use is she?

To be fair, this new issue hasn’t really affected her ability to fight. Not yet anyway, but she can’t help but worry that it might let them down at the worst time.

That sort of thing seems to happen to her.

She could be worrying about nothing, of course. It wouldn’t be the first time she let anxiety get the better of her, but she has noticeable difficulty doing the tricky little buttons of her tunic with her left hand... Even later in the day, after they’ve warmed up by the fire and the pins and needles have gone away, there’s this lingering... numbness, this insensitivity, that she just cannot shake.

“Rayla, are you all right?”

She looks up and finds Callum watching her, a concerned look on his face. His black eye and healing cuts are faint, but still visible even in the low light of the dying fire and he’s worried about her…

“I’m fine,” she waves him off, changing hands as she finishes her buttons with her right hand. “Tired, I guess. Long day.”

Callum nods, sitting down beside her. He pauses for a moment, eyes briefly on the others sleeping on the far side of the fire. “It still bothers you?” He nods to her left hand, as he turns to look at her fully.

She’d told him about the lingering pain back before, but she’s surprised he’s noticed anything now. She thought she was being careful to cover any discomfort.

For a moment, she considers lying to him. He doesn’t need this additional concern but, well, trust and that. “Not all the time,” she concedes. “In the morning,” a shrug. “Sometimes when it’s cold.”

He frowns initially, then smiles softly at her as he reaches for the hand in question.

She gives it to him without hesitation, feeling herself relax immediately as he squeezes her fingers gently and rubs his thumbs across her knuckles.

Feeling herself relax, she finds she can push away the weird sensations in her hand, electing instead to concentrate on the feeling of his skin against her own.

He smiles a little wider, squeezing her fingers gently as he moves closer to her. “We better keep it warm then.”

Linger II

[blutopaz15]

📚(I feel like I've read ALL rayllum fics i'm starving)

📚 Is there a fanfic or fanfic writer you recommend?

omg, SO many. seriously...I need to limit myself XD Linking ao3 profiles and then a couple of fave fics for each author below...also these are mostly fics written in hiatus...idk if that's helpful in your particular search for fic but since I joined the fandom during hiatus, these are the fics that stick out to me!

@numptypylon - downtime in wartime series & cottage cuddles au are amazing <3 love lots of numpty's oneshots on ao3 too!

@zuppizup - purgatory is a fave of mine (tho I am admittedly behind in my reading) & how can I not mention zoom-mates ?? again, lots more excellent stuff on zuppi's ao3 profile

@raayllum - this fic was one I read when I was brand new to the fandom and has stuck with me ever since & their post-ttm reunion fic is excellent too (SO much more to read too of course-> wordswithdragons on ao3)

fanfic writer ask game

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

23 for the fanfic ask game?

Is writing the beginning, middle, or end of the story easiest? Hardest?

Zuppi! Uhhhhh.....UHHHHHH.....

*looks at my huge list of WIPs* I'm gonna say starting a story is easiest. As for the hardest, I'm gonna go for the middle. I usually have a super strong idea of what the ending is supposed to be and I know what the story wants to do, but I'm a pantster/gardener so sometimes, writing is figuring out what the story even is/who the characters are. And it's like 'oh...OH....dammit.'

[lovelysheree]

I finally got to reading @zuppizup‘s story, And They Were Zoom-mates. And now I’m a big fan. Callum and Rayla have such a great dynamic in it!

[numptypylon]

Little illustration from @zuppizup’s wonderful canon divergence fanfic, Purgatory

I don’t wanna say anything else because of spoilers, go read the fanfic if you haven’t, it’s all the soft rayllum you could want with an intriguing depth of character exploration and plot underneath.

Thank you for sharing your amazing writing with us, Zuppi ❤️

[zuppizup]

Better the devil

Callum clawed at the vines encasing him, desperate. Wild.

He had to get to Rayla. He had to.

She hung limp over Terry’s shoulder as he and Claudia rushed to the corrupted dragon awaiting them.

“No!” Callum cried out, wrenching his hand from the tangled web and hearing a number of sickening cracks. He’d freed himself enough to draw a rune, but his fingers wouldn’t obey him, wouldn’t extend to perform the magic. “Rayla!” He cried out, thrashing against the thick vegetation that held him firm.

Terry turned back to look at him, his eyes wide and terrified.

“Terry, hurry up!” Claudia grabbed him by the wrist.

Moment hesitation seemingly over, Terry climbed on behind her, Rayla still lifeless in his arms.

“No, no, no!” Callum continued to fight as the shadow beast began to beat it’s wings, pelting him with rocks and sticks. “No, Rayla!”

His breath caught in his throat as he continued to struggle. The vines around him seemed to grow tighter, strangling his chest, cutting off his air.

“Rayla!” He gasped, collapsing to the forest floor as the dragon gained altitude, moving above the trees, into the air… away.

She was gone.

He tried to draw breath, but his chest wouldn’t move, wouldn’t obey. Air caught in his throat as he tried not to think of Rayla at their mercy… a mere collection of parts to be catalogued.

Used.

“Callum!” Ezran’s voice somewhere behind him…

His vision was going black as his heart ached in his chest. They had her, they had her… He’d let them take her away.

“Get these off him.” Soren now.

Two sets of hands pulling at the vines wrapped around him but it did nothing. His chest seized, like it was trapped in a vice. He could hear his own strangled breath as he gasped for air.

“He can’t breathe!” Ezran cried out. “What did they do to him?”

“What sort of Dark Magic is this, Viren?” Soren’s voice was harsh, like it had been ever since Viren had shown up.

He’s the last person Callum wanted to see.

“This isn’t Dark Magic.” Viren’s voice sounded clipped as it moved closer.

Ezran gasped. “What do you mean-”

Callum lay in the dirt, limbs heavy and unresponsive. Oh Sources, Rayla. They had her. He let them take her away. What were they going to do to her? What did Claudia want with her? He needed to get up, go after them, save her-

“Callum, you need to breathe.”

He wanted to push Viren away, scream and rage at him. Hit him. Make the bastard hurt, like he was hurting now. His chest burned and his heart ached. This was all Viren’s fault, they took her, they had Rayla. If he’d just stayed dead they would never have ended up in this situation.

She would have stayed. They’d be together now.

He gasped again, a sob making it even harder to breathe.

“In through your nose. Out through your mouth.” Viren continued. “Breathe.”

He needed to help Rayla, he had to save her… he needed to breathe.

“That’s it.” Viren continued, and Callum became aware of a gentle pressure on his upper arm.

Slowly, he felt air returning to his lungs. His vision came back. Viren was sitting next to him, a hand on his arm.

“Good.” He smiled sadly. “Breathe.”

————

So, as usual, I feel I was enabled into this. More to come, perhaps? Callum & Viren teaming up to save Rayla and Claudia. Callum hating every minute of it? Mayhaps…

[zuppizup]

Trying to have a productive writing weekend but looming season 6 news has me too distracted 😭

Wanna help me focus... not promising anything...

[zuppizup]

"do you want me to wash your hair?" oooor "you need to eat something" maybe. Fits the little idiots (all you write is cool anyways ehe)

Aw, thank you! I wrote hair washing not that long ago in Rumour has it, so how about the second prompt?

———

A strong breeze buffeted their camping spot and Rayla hurried to shield the fire from the wind. Glancing over her shoulder, she was unsurprised to see Callum touching down on the forest floor. She was surprised to see him almost immediately collapse to his knees the moment he dismissed his mage wings.

“Callum!” She rushed over to him, falling to her own knees by his side. “What happened? Are you okay?”

He nodded, struggling to catch his breath. “Pushed myself... a little-”

“Dummy,” she cut him off, not wanting him to push himself any more. “Come on,” she helped him up and guided him over to their little campsite. “Dinner is almost ready.”

“Thanks, Rayla,” he breathed, slumping down onto his bedroll.

She’d propped them up against a log, something that would offer protection from the elements as well as comfort while they were awake. They weren’t even far north yet but even the days had started to feel chilly.

“Hope your okay with root soup again for dinner.” She smirked at him, checking the pot.

“Anything sounds good right now.” He smiled, leaning back against the log and closing his eyes.

She watched him for a moment, frowning. He looked utterly exhausted, his once fine clothes dirty and crumpled and what looked to be a bunch of twigs and dirt sticking out of the side of his head. After what had happened with Zym, she hadn’t exactly liked the idea of him scouting from the air but reluctantly she had to agree, it did make the most sense.

She really wasn’t built to sit idly by and wait for him all day, making soup and fluffing bedrolls. Stirring the pot, she decided it wasn’t getting any better and began to fill a bowl for Callum. Pushing herself to her feet, she joined him by the log.

“Dinner,” she proclaimed, presenting him with the bowl of soup.

“Thanks,” he smiled, his eyelids heavy. His hands shook as he reached for it and he almost spilled the entire contents over his already dirty clothes. “Oops,” he chuckled, resting the bowl on his leg and attempting to lift the spoon to his mouth. If anything, his hands shook more and most of the soup ended up on his lap or back in the bowl. “Damn it.” Snorting, he used his trembling hands to put the bowl on the forest floor, leaning back against the log and closing his eyes. “I’ll have it later.”

“What, is my cooking that bad?” Rayla tried to cheer herself up. She did not like seeing Callum push himself this hard.

He snorted, but didn’t reply, electing to continue to lounge with his eyes closed.

“Come on, Callum, you need to eat something.” She picked up the bowl, stirring it. “Here.” Lifting the spoon, she held it up for him.

Callum cracked one eye, laughing softly at her. “Are you offering to feed me?”

“Are you going to be a baby about it?”

“Well, it would be fitting, I guess-”

He was cut off by Rayla taking advantage of his open mouth and shoving the spoon in there.

[zuppizup]

For the ficlet prompt: got anything from your Bloodmoon Rayla au in the works?

How’s this little snippet from some of what I’ve been working on? Works as a little stand alone, I think.

———

Rayla walks through the Sunfire camp, eyes resolutely ahead as she tries to pretend she can’t see the suspicious looks from elves and humans alike. Steeling her face, she swallows as parents pull their children inside their tents and priests make wards of safety and protection.

It is understandable they are afraid of her. All they know of Moonshadows cursed like she is, are what they’ve heard in stories and myth. Blood thirsty fiends, unrepentant killers.

Darkness come to life. A threat to all things living, elf and human.

She sighs as her and Callum’s tent comes into view. Her home, her refuge. For now, at least.

Rayla smirks as she sneaks up behind Callum, running her fingers through his hair and laughing softly when he starts. “Got your book.”

Perhaps he is at a disadvantage, clearly engrossed in whatever he was doing, his back turned to her as she’d entered their tent, but frustratingly she’d never been that good at sneaking up on him of all people.

Not until recently…

“That was quick.” He turns into her touch, eyes bright and welcoming as he smiles widely at her. His hands immediately reach for her, and she drops the book on his makeshift desk in favour of embracing him.

The scorn of the outside world melts away when they were together. He never looks at her with fear or disgust, his smile always quick and welcoming.

Being with him, it’s like she can momentarily forget what she has become.

“There’s not exactly a good reason to hang around Lux Aurea, you know?” She teases, continuing to caress his scalp, licking her lips at the soft sigh that escapes his throat.

She hasn’t been gone long, only overnight but any time apart from him is too long.

“Still no trouble?” He frowns, eyes moving over her body, clearly looking for signs of injury.

“Nope,” she answers quickly. The fact the corrupted creatures in Lux Aurea seem entirely disinterested in her is still unnerving, but considering the circumstances, they need to use every advantage at their disposal. And it is a small comfort that she can get whatever books he needs without having to put him at risk. He’d obviously objected to these solo missions in the beginning, but eventually she had proven it made more sense to go alone. The propensity for self sacrifice when it came to each other resulting in both of them making risks they wouldn’t if she could just walk in there without incident.

And so, she’s amassed a small library worth of books for Callum during her reconnaissance.

“How are you feeling?” Clearly concerned, he tucks her hair behind her ear.

“Fine,” she insists, rolling her eyes.

“I’m just checking.” He sighs softly, cupping her cheek. “You didn’t run into any trouble? Didn’t exert yourself? There was some big celebration last night, so lots of food and meat-”

“Callum, I said I’m fine.” She insists, pushing down her irritation at his fussing. He is only trying to help. “Literally nothing happened during my trip. Anyway, the full moon is still a week away. You know-”

“I know.” He looks at her earnestly, thumb moving across the markings on her cheek bones. “I know you still don’t like to ask though, so, like I said, I’m just checking.”

Rayla smiles, swallowing past the lump in her throat. He is right of course. She doesn’t like to ask, but he can always tell when the thirst begins to creep up on her, when her mind starts to wander and her attention wane. She’s only been cursed a few months, but exerting herself, using her new, dark powers makes her thirsty too. It isn’t as predictable as in the beginning when only the full moon made her hunger.

“Thank you,” she presses her forehead against his, kissing him softly.

“Anytime,” he answers without hesitation. “You know I’d do anything for you.” He pulls her closer, pressing his lips to hers.

- Excerpt from my work in progress follow up to my Bloodmoon Huntress AU, Bloodthirsty

Prompts Post

[zuppizup]

15. My mom used to do that

However you feel inspired to do it

Sorry it’s late. December and January have been madness but I got there in the end. Tried to keep it between 300-500 words. Failed but only just.

———

A voice cries out in the darkness and Rayla bolts awake, instinctively reaching for the blade under her pillow, before she realises where she is.

Mid-night awakenings have become routine since they returned to Katolis.

She slips from her blankets, padding silently to the door that separates Callum’s room from hers. She doesn’t hesitate to cross the threshold, that apprehension left behind days ago.

Reaching for him, her hand is firm but gentle on his shoulder. “Callum,” she breathes, trying to gently rouse him.

Sometimes he wakes suddenly from these nightmares, scared and confused. She knows by now it’s better to wake him slowly, even as his distressed cries tear at her chest.

He whimpers, frowning in his sleep as he continues to toss and turn.

“Shush, Callum, it’s all right.” She moves closer to him, sitting on the bed by his pillow. “You’re safe.” Reaching out, she touches his furrowed brow.

He gasps, lurching forward suddenly.

“Callum!” Rayla jumps up, getting to her feet and pulling her hands back. “You were having a nightmare-”

“Rayla?” He looks at her, his eyes wide and fearful as he reaches for her hands. “You’re… I…”

“Shush, it’s okay.” She takes his hand, letting him guide her to sit by his head again.

He squeezes her fingers tight, almost painfully so, crushing them against his chest as his breath still comes in unsteady pants.

“You’re safe, Callum.” She reaches forward, guiding him to lay down, smoothing her fingers across his forehead. She has vague memories of her mother soothing her after nightmares this way. How calming and relaxing the simple gesture felt. “You can sleep. I’m here. I’ll wake you…”

He sighs, pressing himself into her touch and some of the tension seems to leave his body. “That’s… nice.” He shudders, gazing up at her.

She smiles softly in response, her heart skipping a beat at the thought she’s capable of soothing him in some small manner.

“My mom used to do that,” he sighs as he closes his eyes. “Whenever I had a bad dream.”

“Mine too.” Rayla whispers, her fingers gentle across his skin.

He opens his eyes, watching her for a moment before he speaks. “Will you stay with me?”

“Of course,” she smiles, not unfamiliar with this request. She usually sits with him after a nightmare, until he manages to fall back asleep.

Taking a shaky breath, Callum shuffles to the far side of the bed and she’s stunned speechless when he pulls back the covers in a clear invitation. Looking between him and the empty side of the bed, she finds her voice fail her, nerves robbing her of coherent thought. They’ve slept in the same bed before, but that was a long time ago. Looking back at him she finds Callum still watching her. He looks nervous too.

Nervous and scared.

Without a word she slips under the covers, Callum holding the blanket while she makes herself comfortable, tucking her in once she’s settled. He lies beside her then, his brow once again furrowed as he takes a deep breath.

Without comment, she resumes stroking his forehead and it seems he relaxes just that little bit more. Smiling softly at him, she does what little she can to ease his burden, even if it’s something as simple as this. “Sleep, Callum. I’m here, I’ll wake you.”

She’s tempted to promise, to reassure him she’ll be there for as long as he’ll let her, but he smiles at her, leaning in a little closer and seeking out her other hand under the covers.

He knows.

Squeezing her fingers, he closes his eyes.

Hurt/Comfort Dialogue Prompts

[zuppizup]

The Christmas Break - Chapter 2

Summary: Callum wasn’t expecting much from his time spent in the mountains. Work in a soulless cafe, up-date his portfolio, and decidedly not ski.

That is until he runs into a particular instructor.

AO3 Link: The Christmas Break

Pairing: Rayla/Callum

Chapter: 2/3

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

“You, eh, managed to get home, okay?” Rayla asked, biting her lip, which only served to distract Callum more. “Yep.” He fixed his eyes firmly on hers and not on her mouth or her lips or whatever. He was doing terribly. All day practicing talking normally and actively to her, and it was like his brain forgot how to have a conversation. Drawing desperately on the various topics he had shortlisted as “useful”, he went with the one that seemed less jarring. “Is Soren okay?” Rayla chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Well, I’m not sure if I’d ever describe him as okay, but he did manage to get up for work today.” She smiled a little wider. “Though he did go with something a little less sickly than that whole gingerbread latte thing this morning.” “Probably for the best.” Callum found himself relaxing a little. He could talk about coffee. That was a relatively safe, normal subject. “Not a weird coffee guy?” Rayla asked, playing with the jacket in her hands. “Na, I don’t really like overly sweet things. Those weird lattes or, em, cakes and stuff.” Callum shook his head, turning up his nose a little at the idea of those sugary concoctions. “Just a latte kinda guy.” “Oh, em, well… maybe…” Rayla paused, her eyes leaving his and darting to the menu above his head. Shaking himself, Callum took a deep breath. He was getting too comfortable, obviously… waffling on about cakes. What was he thinking? “Sorry, em, what can I get you?”

The Christmas Break - Chapter 2

[zuppizup]

Experimental sketch to go with the Snake Boi Callum vibes of my fic Anything. Everything.

[zuppizup]

Conservation of Energy

Summary: Apparently, one of the most effective ways of keeping warm is sharing body heat.

For survival purposes, of course.

Pairing: Rayla/Callum

Rating: Teen And Up

“Couldn’t you have connected to the S-sun arcanum or something?” Rayla huffed, hood pulled low over her face as she cradled Stella under her cloak and slowly put one foot in front of the other. The snow was at least hard and compacted here, making progress somewhat easier than the deep drifts of yesterday.

“Well, maaaaybe if someone hadn’t upset my f-future aunt-in-law I could have asked her for some pointers.” Callum grinned despite the clear shake in his voice. He was using his staff for support, but even so, he looked to be struggling.

“That wasn’t all m-me…” Her teeth chattered and her hands felt numb. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she tried to push the thoughts of the last time she felt so bitterly cold from her mind, an image of Finnegrin flashing before her eyes before she pushed it away.

“We s-should find shelter for the night.”

The mirth had left Callum’s voice, and she opened her eyes to find him watching her, a concerned look on his face.

AO3 Link: Conservation of Energy

[zuppizup]

Cold Feet

Summary: He’d sort of assumed their wedding would be a whole thing. He got it, he really did. Prince of Katolis marrying one of the assassins sent to kill, well, not him but close enough. Fairy story stuff. Of course people were going to romanticise it. He hadn’t expected festivals and the like though.

This big crazy wedding? It didn’t exactly feel like them.

But it would be fine. It was just a day, a far bigger day than he’d anticipated but a day all the same. The important thing was they were getting married. Officially setting in stone their whole thing thing. The rigmarole surrounding it was what it was.

Pairing: Rayla/Callum

Rating: G

“Eh, hey,” Soren looked Callum up and down, smiling awkwardly and giving him two thumbs up. “Looking sharp!”

“Soren?” Callum didn’t bother wasting time on small talk. He knew Soren well enough to know he was nervous. This close to the wedding, it could be any number of things and they didn’t have much time to spare on problems. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing!” The blonde man raised his hands, clearly trying to appease Callum. “Well, I don’t think it’s likely to be something, but I don’t know magic so, who knows. But you’re the only other Moon connected person around here so-”

“Something’s wrong with Rayla?” Callum stepped forward, ignoring the startled gasps of the tailors still working on him. “What’s going on?”

AO3 Link: Cold Feet

[zuppizup]

First Kiss (again)

Previous ficlet - Swords

The first thing Callum feels when the world comes back is pain.

Blinding pain.

His body quivers and jerks, and he cries out as every muscle constricts in agonising cramp.

“Shush, Callum...”

Soft hands across his brow, soothing his tight, painful muscles with a gentle caress.

“Rayla?” His voice quivers and shakes as he forces his eyes open. Or rather, eye open. One of them seems swollen shut.

The world beyond her face is dark and blurry, but he figures out she’s sitting cross-legged, his head cradled in her lap.

“Hi.” She smiles shakily at him, her hands still gentle on his face. She’s pale and tired looking, eyes red and glassy.

“What happened?” He croaks, trying to look around, but his vision swims... confusing shafts of light against deep shadow. The continuing pitch and roll of the ship. A persistent smell of mould and damp.

“I don’t know.” She swallows, her voice tight. “I woke up in here with you.”

“Where are we?” He closes his eyes against the rising nausea.

“The brig.” She sighs, and it is only then he becomes aware of the heavy biting shackles on his wrists and ankles.

“They hurt you.” He opens his eyes again, blurry vision just able to make out the trail of dried blood snaking it’s way around her neck and down her throat.

“I’m fine, Callum.” Her fingers smooth his brow as she smiles softly at him. “You’re the one who was struck by lightning.”

Frowning, he reaches for her, wanting somehow to wipe away the blood, but the shackles pull at his wrist, and he doesn’t have the strength to fight against them.

“Rest, Callum.” She takes his hand in hers, squeezing his fingers as she lays them both gently on his chest.

“We have to get out of here.” He pushes himself up, but his muscles won’t obey him, and he crashes into her, gasping in pain.

“Callum!” Rayla grabs him by the shoulders, their chains echoing loudly.

“So, he’s alive then?”  

Rayla turns to face Nyx, shielding Callum with her body. “What do you want?”

“Not as scary as usual, love bug number one.” Nyx smirks at them through the bars. “Maybe if you both didn’t look like you were about to puke.”

“You double crossed us.” Callum tries to glare at her, but he can barely remain upright, which Rayla clearly spots. Attention no longer on Nyx, she encourages him to lean into her, any other position too awkward around their shackled wrists.

“As much as I like you guys, I’m not exactly willing to get myself killed for you.” She frowns at them, then glances over her shoulder. “You need to rest. You’ll need to be in better shape than this if you want to make a run for it.” Her voice is lowered, barely audible over the creaking ship.

“What are you talking about?” Rayla still sounds annoyed at Nyx, but Callum can detect the faint hint of hope in her voice.

“Just be ready.” She steps away from the bars once again. “Or as ready as you can be.”

They hear a door open and close, and then they’re alone again.

“Think we can trust her?” Rayla sighs, shifting a little so she can look at him.

“I’m not sure we have a choice.” His eyes fall to the dried blood on her neck, and he reaches out to touch the back of her head, wishing he could do something about the cut that caused it.

Despite their dire circumstances, Rayla blushes a little, leaning forward to rest her head against his. “You should rest.”

Her breath tickles his cheek, and he wants to protest, but he’s so tired, even from this small exertion. Rayla looks like she’s about to fall over too though. “We both should.”

“I’ll keep watch.” She encourages him to lay down, leaning back against the wall as she does so.

“Rest, Rayla.” He reclines in her lap again, fingers seeking hers. “What else can they do to us?”

“I’m watching you, dummy.” She smiles softly, squeezing his fingers with one hand while the other begins to brush the hair back from his forehead. “Just struck by lightning? Remember?”

“No.” He attempts to smirk at her, and from the genuine smile on her face, it seems he makes a passable attempt.

“Well, thanks for proving my point.” She raises an eyebrow, ruffling his hair a fraction.

Callum smiles at her, raising their joined hands and pressing his lips to her fingers. She takes a shaky breath, biting her lip as she tries to blink back tears.

Unsuccessfully.

One lands on his cheek, warm and wet.

The illusion of cool, controlled Rayla is cracking. Breaking.

Bending over, Rayla kisses the spot where it lands. He lifts his other hand and wraps it around her shoulder as much as the awkward position allows.

It’s hardly comfortable for either of them. The brig is cold and wet and smells foul. They’re both hurt, tired, and hungry. He wants to kiss her properly, but she seems to be crying more now, and so he holds her instead.

She might be watching over him, but he’s going to watch over her, too.

Next prompt - End of the world

[zuppizup]

Fuel the Pyre - Chapter 5

Summary: For almost a decade now, life has been peaceful for the royal family of Katolis. All out war is becoming a distant memory as efforts to unite the continent continue. Open borders let more than friends in, however, and whispers of dangers lurking in the shadows are growing louder and more insistent.

Callum, Rayla and their adopted daughter Tio have bee trying to ignore the growing unease as best they can, but when the threat comes banging at their door, they can no longer turn a blind eye.

Pairing: Rayla/Callum

Rating: Mature

AO3 Link: Fuel the Pyre

They exited the throne room, Rayla still carrying Tio. She had perked up a little since Callum had calmed down, but she was still pouting and looking grumpy. She did go to him when he reached for her this time, and he relaxed a little as he held her.

“I’m assuming I missed out on a lot.” Rayla reached for one of his hands, her head moving in the direction of the dungeons. “Care to fill me in?”

“Yeah, of course.” Callum nodded, shifting Tio on his hip, his mind still reeling. “There’s, yeah…a lot.”

“Let’s swing by the kitchen and see if Barius has some jelly tarts.” Rayla grinned at Tio, then smiled warmly at Callum. “I know I need something sweet and delicious to take my mind off that whole mess. And we probably need some treats to keep this little crazy busy while we talk.”

Read More On AO3 – Fuel the Pyre: Chapter 5