Though it may not do much for her, for Ryan it's so incredibly new that he feels a rush of warmth immediately. He forces himself to stay close, even playing his lips over hers a couple times until he feels like he can stand without wobbling. The avatar even reacts, flinching enough to allow the other fighters a brief opening.

Ryan pulls away, lifting his arm to his face in an attempt to cover up how ridiculously red he is.

"Thank you," he says again, somehow even more strained than before.