Running into the Fire (Skye Blue x OC)

xix

"You alright?" Ryder quietly asked Skye as she heavily leaned into him. When her head shook his arms wound around her. "You sure you should be wrestling?"

"I'm just cold. I'll be fine." She replied before her chin moved to rest along his chest so their eyes could meet.

"How long are you going to put off changing until they get mad?" She laughed lightly at his words.

"Just a few more minutes. You going out into the crowd?" He shook his head at her words. "You sure? It's always a better experience out there."

"I'm sure it is but the crowd out there is not my thing." He could tell she was studying him. "I'll be fine back here." He said with a smile.

"As long as you're sure...." He nodded as his hand lightly ran along her back.

"I'm sure." Her head moved back to rest along his chest and he could tell that she was sucking every bit of comfort she could out of their embrace. "You wanna just go back to the hotel and chill tonight?"

"Please. I might ask Tony if I can leave early so I can sleep." She said before she could see Kris approach them.

"You still look like hell.... Are you sure you should be doing this?" Skye nodded at the older woman's words.

"I'll be fine. I just can't shake this stupid fever." Kris' eyes met hers before flicking towards Ryder. "Oh.... Shit I'm sorry...." Skye carefully pulled away from him and could see his hands slip into his pockets. For the first time he actually looked nervous. "Kris, this is Ryder. Ryder, Kris." The two women's eyes met and Skye knew the question Kris wanted to ask. Thankfully though Kris never asked as she knew Skye didn't have an answer. They hadn't defined the relationship yet.

"Nice to meet you." Both women could hear the hesitation in his voice. Skye took a careful step towards him before her hand landed along his arm. His eyes met hers and she could see the fact that he seemed scared. Almost like he was terrified to meet Kris.

"Nice to meet you as well. Skyes talked about you a lot." As the younger woman hit her side they could both see Ryder turn slightly red.

"I do not. Would you stop you're acting like my mother." Kris couldn't help her laugh before she turned on her heels and walked off with a wave as she was called by Willow. "God she's so bad...." Skye turned back towards him and could see him taking a few slow breaths. "Ryder.... Are you alright?" She questioned before she carefully took his hand and brought him more down the secluded hallway they had been standing in.

"I-I...." When his voice cracked she took a step forwards, wrapping her arms around him gently. He almost instantly returned the hug, his head tucking into her shoulder. As her fingertips found their way into his hair she could hear him let out a breath. "I'm sorry...."

"For what Ryder?" She gently questioned.

"I-I.... It's hard for me to meet new people. I know it seems weird because I was fine when I met you but...." Her lips gently met his cheek.

"It's different when you're meeting friends of someone you care about." He nodded at her words as he released a sigh. "Ryder.... I have a question for you but please don't feel offended by what I'm about to ask...."

"Just ask Skye." He replied quietly.

"Are you autistic?" He nodded slowly at her question.

"I.... I should've told you sooner." She lightly laughed before her lips pressed to his cheek.

"I can only imagine it's not the easiest thing to share." He nodded at her words.

"It's really not.... I'm not severely autistic but there are things that set it off. Don't like crowds. Not the best with meeting new people and as you've probably realized I can't really hold my tongue when it comes to saying things." She couldn't help her laugh.

"That's alright Ryder. It's what makes you, you and I wouldn't change anything about you." His arms tightened around her before his lips met her cheek.

"You call me perfect when you're the perfect one." He said quietly earning the right squeeze he got.

"You're still perfect Ryder." He chuckled before his lips met her shoulder.

"I wish that were true." He said quietly. "You're going to have to change soon aren't you?" Her lips pressed to his cheek.

"I am but then I can just chill with you until I have to go out." He nodded at her words before he felt her arms tighten around him once more. "Also.... We are getting food and then just cuddling the night away."

"I'd like that." Her lips met his.

"See.... Perfect." He chuckled as his head shook.

"You wish." It was her turn to laugh.

"I know Ryder...." Before she could say anything else Julia was calling her.

"Skye you need to change!" Skye groaned before her lips pressed to Ryders cheek.

"That's my cue." He chuckled as he nodded. "You want to chill here or...?" As his hand took hers she knew the answer. A smile appeared along her lips before she effortlessly guided him to where she needed to be. "I'll probably be like twenty or so...."

"That's fine. I'll just be chilling here." She took a quick second to look around before she tiptoed and her lips met his. "Don't blame me for you being late." She giggled at his words.

"Oh I'm going to but they won't believe me because they all know me." He couldn't help his chuckle.

"If you're five minutes late you're early." Skye laughed as she nodded. "Well let my on timeness rub off on you for once. I'll be here you go do what you need to."

"I'll be as quick as I can." He nodded a small smile appearing along his lips before she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and disappeared into the room. As Ryder waited his hands shoved into his pockets while he leaned against the wall waiting for her to return.

"Well fuck...." Skye almost instantly laughed at his words as she walked out nearly thirty minutes later. "That was definitely worth the extra wait." A smirk appeared along her lips as she turned towards him. "I thought you weren't doing the hat?"

"It's getting replaced with this in my entrance...." She said as she showed him the crown that had been behind her back. She could see him just barely pull his lower lip between his teeth. When Ryder replied Skye couldn't help the smirk that appeared along her lips.

"I can't wait to see it."