Burn baby burn! (Raylor)

[Ruby]

Ruby sat in the library, tapping her pencil lightly. She stared at the book, trying to memorize the information she needed for her test. Her pencil scratched as she wrote down another fact from her textbook.

She stifled a yawn and glanced at the time. "Just ten more minutes..." she mumbled to herself. But the words on the page were starting to blur together. She rubbed her eyes and rested her head against her hand. Slowly her eyes began to droop as she started to fall asleep...

[Ray]

It was the perfect day for this. The punk crept up to the library, gas can in one hand, matchbook in the other. No one was around.

He didn't know why he was doing this, he just wanted to. He covered the area in gasoline before throwing match after match onto the gassed-up building. It burst into flames. The punk ran off before he could be connected with it. The college library was soon engulfed, smoke filling the sky.

[Ruby]

Ruby's head had fallen onto her textbook. She was dead asleep until something caused her to start choking. She woke up and looked around, coughing. She was surrounded by black smoke.

She pulled her shirt over her mouth and dropped to the ground, trying to figure out what to do. She was still coughing. She couldn't think strait. Her vision blurred, making her dizzy.

[Ray]

Raylor was walking around in his human morph. He walked with his head held high, finally having met the perfect girl for him. He wasn't so down on himself anymore.

He neared the library, knowing that Ruby had told him she had to study. Nonetheless, he wanted to surprise her. Upon getting within view, he saw smoke pouring from the burning building. The library was on fire!

"RUBY!" Raylor shouted, and without thinking, ran into the flames. There was no time to demorph, as he put his shirt over his face, looking for her. "RUBY!" No...I'll be damned if this happens to me again. I won't lose another one.

[Ruby]

Ruby's eyes flickered as she heard her name. "Raylor..." she called out quietly.

She reached a hand out to where the voice was calling from. Then she passed out from lack of oxygen.

[Ray]

Even over the crackle of the flames, Raylor heard his name. He was coughing, and the heat was starting to get to him. But he pressed on, he had to get her out. That, or die trying.

Through the thick blanket of smoke, he saw a silhouette lying motionless. It was her. His eyes burned as he picked her up, going for the exit, struggling with every ounce of energy in him.

He'd chosen not to demorph, and his time was running short as he made it outside and lay her down on the grass, falling down next to her, lungs aching, eyes burning, coughing uncontrollably.

Three. Two. One....

[Ruby]

Ruby's eyes fluttered. She opened them and coughed again. "Wha...what's going on?" she asked, sitting up.

She frowned, looking at the burning building. Her eyes widened with recognition. "Oh, no! The library!" She saw the firetrucks driving up. A frowned creased her features.

"How...how did I get out?" She turned to see Raylor. "Raylor!" she shouted.

[Ray]

Raylor sat up quickly when he heard Ruby call his name. He threw his arms around her, tears welling up in his eyes. "Ruby, are you alright?" he asked.

He looked her in the eyes. It had dawned on him that he was a nothlit when his time had first run out. He just didn't care. All that mattered was her. Then, he planted a passionate kiss on her lips, pulling her close, happy she was alive.

[Ruby]

"I'm fi--" Her words were cut off by him kissing her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed back passionately.

She pulled back. "I'm fine. How...how did you find me?"

[Ray]

"Well," he said, "I was already hanging around nearby, eating and whatnot. I remembered you saying you'd be studying today, and thought I'd drop by just to see if you wanted to spend time together afterwards."

His eyes softened. "And I'm glad I did...."

[Ruby]

She hugged him. "I'm glad you did too..." she said.

Tears started running down her face as the reality of what happened set in. "I was so scared..." she whispered.

[Ray]

He hugged her back, tears rolling down his own face. He rubbed her back soothingly, trying to calm her a little.

"I know," he whispered softly. "So was I." He lay his head on her shoulder.

[Ruby]

She calmed down after a few minutes. "Thanks," she said, pulling back and sniffing. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at him. "Why haven't you demorphed yet?" she asked with a small smile.

[Ray]

The realization of what Raylor had done had sunken in, but he didn't regret it in the least bit. He was proud to have done what he did for her. He loved her.

He smiled back weakly, unsure of how accepting Ruby would be of this. He put a hand on her cheek. "I can't," he said calmly. His grin widened and became genuine. "I...I love you...."

[Ruby]

Her eyes widened as she took his hand. She started crying again. She kissed his hand before placing it against her cheek again.

"You...you're trapped?" she stammered. "How...? I mean...was it...because you saved me?"