Wade picked up some more debris in the street and stuffed it in a trash bag. The flood that had ravaged Fire Town a few hours prior had strewn trash everywhere. He didn't feel like it was his place to help people find their belongings, but he still wanted to help.

"So . . ."

Wade turned to the voice behind him to see a Firish person approaching him, a short, stout male. "Oh, hello," Wade said innocently, setting the trash bag down temporarily.

The Firish person turned to another that trailed up behind him and the two scoffed, causing Wade to frown. The other was much taller and thinner.

"H-How are you?" Wade asked, trying to be friendly. "My name is –"

"Wade," the short Firish person interrupted. "Oh, trust us, your name has made its way pretty quickly through Fire Town with everything that's happened in the past couple of days."

Wade nodded slowly, shifting on his feet uncomfortably. "Well, I'm happy to make your acquaintance," he said.

The Firish people laughed and exchanged a few words in Firish he couldn't translate. Wade started to get the feeling that this wasn't a friendly visit.

"So, you touched her?" the tall one asked him, folding her arms.

Wade shifted uncomfortably again. "Yes. We held hands."

"I hear you did much more than that," the other chimed in. "I heard there was kissing."

Wade looked between them, feeling that they were not questioning him in good faith. He picked the trash bag back up. "Look, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this conversation anymore. My relationship with Ember is none of your business."

The two Firish people laughed.

"You sure made it everyone's business when you made out with her in front of the entire town," the short one said.

Wade exhaled and turned on his heel, trying to remove himself from the conversation.

"Wait," the taller one said. Wade hesitated, but slowly turned back. "I just gotta ask you something."

Wade studied her for a moment. "What?" he asked.

"Do you really think you're good enough for her?" she asked. "You're a water person. You don't even know any of our customs, or have any of our experiences. You're nothing like us."

Wade opened his mouth to respond, but another Firish person walked between them with a wooden crate, stopping between them with a roll of her eyes. "Is Blazel and Johnfire bothering you?" she asked knowingly.

Wade once again was cut off before he could answer when Blazel spoke up.

"Look, Coallette" she said, "I'm just saying. It's not right for elements to mix. Our culture is personal to us and I don't like others thinking they can just waltz in and be a part of it uninvited."

Coallette sighed exasperatedly. "Well, I think it's cool when people's cultures mix. It brings . . . perspective. And besides, it's their life and they can do what they want," she said, propping the small wooden box on one hip and putting her other hand on her hip.

"Whatever," Johnfire responded. He and Blazel turned on their heels and walked away.

Coallette turned to Wade. "Sorry about them," she said with an apologetic look. "Some people just don't get that times are changing."

Wade nodded slowly. "Yeah," he said with a nervous laugh. "I guess so."

Coallette smiled sadly. "Don't let them get to you. Live your own life," she said before turning and continuing on her way.

Wade watched her leave, feeling unsatisfied with the encounter's resolution. While Coallette was right about the time's changing, he started to have doubts about whether Blazel and Johnfire had a point. Ember had all but told him herself that he would never really understand her, and it really wasn't an incorrect statement.

"Hey."

He turned to the voice behind him, feeling immediately calmer upon seeing Ember.

"Ember," he said softly, a smile pulling at his lips.

"Everything okay?" Ember asked, not hesitating to move directly into his arms, putting her hands on his chest.

Wade dropped the trash bag again and put his hands on her waist. "Yeah," he lied. "Everything's fine."

Ember studied him carefully. "Are you sure?"

Wade nodded. "Yeah. Especially now," he added, holding her closer, causing more steam to gently waft from their bodies.

Ember smiled and pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss him again. She laughed slightly against his lips as he greedily pulled her in, his grip on her waist tightening. Wade quickly pushed away.

"Sorry," he said, "you have no idea how much I've been craving your kiss since we learned that we even can."

Ember shook her head. "Don't apologize," she said, "it's sweet. And I can't say I don't feel the same way."

Wade smiled and they held eye contact there for a few moments.

"It's almost dinnertime," Ember said. "Most people are calling it a day with the cleanup. Thank you for helping us."

Wade nodded. "Of course," he responded. "I just want to help."

Ember smiled and rested her head on his chest under his chin. Wade leaned against her, embracing her warmth. "You should come say goodbye to my family before it's too late. I'd invite you to dinner, but we don't really have anything you could eat."

Wade's smile faded, Blazel's and Johnfire's words ringing in his mind again. You don't even know any of our customs, or have any of our experiences. You're nothing like us. Already, it was creating a barrier between him and Ember. He couldn't even join family dinner.

"I can still come to dinner, if the invitation stands," Wade said before thinking through what he was saying.

Ember pushed away enough to look up at him, but remained in his arms. "Wade, you couldn't even eat our kolnuts. You understand that we don't have anything much cooler than that right?" she asked.

Wade nodded. "Yeah, I understand. But . . . don't knock it till you try it?" he tried.

Ember shook her head with a smile. "Wade, I'm not letting you torture yourself like that again," she said. "Maybe another night, when I have the time to bring something that you're able to eat."

Wade felt a disappointed pang in his chest, but he tried not to show it. He decided it best to not argue with her. "Okay," he said finally, "let me go throw this trash in a dumpster and I'll meet you back at the Fireplace."

Ember nodded. "Okay. See you in a few minutes."

Wade watched her turn and leave, feeling sullen. Blazel's and Johnfire's words were starting to get to him.

Was he good enough for her?

Letting the question mull over in his mind on the way back from the dumpster, he started to look around at the other Firish people as they started to turn in for the night. Many blew out lanterns that were outside their doors. Others finished their conversations, speaking in Firish. Firish children threw a flaming ball back and forth, eventually abandoning their games when their parents called them back home. He noticed one that seemed to be in his teens sitting in an upstairs window, blowing smoke rings into the air like Ember had done once.

He started to wonder if he would ever be able to fit in with the Firish.

If he would be able to fit in with the Lumen family.

If he would be able to fit in with Ember's life.

Pushing through the fireproof tarps at the front of the Fireplace that temporarily took the place of the doors since they'd been destroyed, he stopped at the threshold. Ember and her parents were at the blue flame, which Bernie and Cinder had spent all afternoon kindling back to full strength with the flame he and Ember saved in a lantern. They were saying a short prayer before they started preparing for dinner, throwing in a small wooden tribute after their prayer. Ember noticed Wade after she'd thrown hers in and smiled.

"Wade," she called, walking over to him. Bernie and Cinder turned to him and followed.

"Hey," Wade responded. He reached out instinctively to wrap his arm around her, but quickly stopped when he remembered her parents were right behind her and respectfully clasped his hands in front of him awkwardly.

Bernie chuckled softly, small puffs of smoke escaping his mouth. "You already kissed my daughter in front of me, I don't think putting your arm around her is much worse than that," he joked.

"Ashfa," Ember complained as Cinder jabbed Bernie with her elbow.

Bernie chuckled again. "I'm only poking, daughter."

"It's joking, dad," Ember corrected, leaning against Wade and looping her arm around his.

Bernie sighed. "Yes, my Elemenglish is still a work in progress," he said, looking at Wade.

"You don't have to justify yourself to me, sir," Wade responded. "It's hard learning a language. And you're very clearly an intelligent man, being able to build this entire place on your own."

Bernie studied him for a moment, then smiled. "I like him," he said, "he pets my ego."

Cinder rolled her eyes. "You mean strokes your ego," she corrected. She turned to Wade. "Don't encourage him."

Ember put her hand to her forehead, cringing at her parent's behavior. Then she looked back up. "Wade just wanted to come say goodbye," she said with a forced smile, trying to move the conversation along.

"Yes," Wade responded, "I hope you all have a great night."

"Now, hold on," Bernie said, holding his hand up. "No rush. I have something to discuss with you before you go. Alone."

Ember and Cinder exchanged a glance. Then Ember looked over at Wade, who looked like he wanted to evaporate into condensation again. She turned back to her father.

"Ashfa, why –"

"Don't worry, daughter," Bernie said with a chuckle, "I won't boil him." He paused for a moment, then looked at Wade. "For now," he said with a wink. Cinder jabbed him with her elbow again and he coughed a few times, smoke billowing out of his mouth. "Now, go help your mother with dinner."

Cinder and Ember looked between Bernie and Wade a few times before Cinder started making her way to the stairs.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Ember asked Wade.

Wade nodded. "Of course."

Ember smiled and followed her mother up the stairs.

"Yes . . . sir?" Wade asked nervously.

Bernie moved forward and passed him. "Come with me, child," he said before pushing through the tarp.

Wade reluctantly followed. Bernie stood on the front stoop, watching the sun dip behind the horizon while other Firish people prepared dinner with their families. Wade stood next to him, looking around to watch them too. A few minutes of silence passed before Bernie finally spoke.

"Thank you," he said, frowning and not looking at him.

Wade looked at him. "For what, sir?"

Bernie looked over at him. "For many things," he responded, resting his hands on his stomach. "For saving my homeland's blue flame. For saving my daughter's life. And the most important . . . for making my daughter happy."

Wade studied Bernie as he finally smiled softly at him. He smiled back. "There's no need to thank me for any of that, sir."

Bernie turned to face him fully. "Not true, child," he responded. "I immigrated here many years ago. I left everything I knew to bring my family and my culture here to start a better life. When you saved my daughter and our flame, you saved everything I have lived my entire life for."

Wade felt himself tearing up. Bernie had truly given up everything for his family. It was beautiful and sad.

Bernie shifted uncomfortably at Wade's unfiltered emotions and continued. "I am also sorry for the way I treated you. I was . . . very ignorant and old-fashioned. I see now that you bring my daughter much happiness. She has been calmer, brighter, and more in control of her temper. You have given my daughter a safe space to change, to become herself and follow her dreams. More than I have given her."

Bernie looked down sadly. Wade wiped his tears away with the back of his arm.

"Sir, I don't think you understand just how much Ember loves you. You two may have miscommunicated all these years, but you're not a bad father," Wade said.

Bernie looked back up at him. After a moment, he smiled. "You're a good man, Wade. I see that now."

Wade smiled back, tears forming in his eyes again. "Thank you, sir."

Bernie turned back to the opening of the tarp. "I hope you have a wonderful night, Wade," he said. "But one more thing before you go."

"Yes, sir?" Wade asked, turning back to face him.

"As my duty as a father, I must warn you that if you hurt my little girl, I will boil you," Bernie said, stopping just as he pushed the tarp open.

Wade laughed nervously, but stopped when he realized Bernie wasn't laughing. Bernie gave a soft nod and disappeared through the tarp. Wade shook his head after a moment, releasing some of the nervous tension that had built. He started making his way to the bus station so he could make his way back to his apartment. As he left Fire Town, he glanced over at one of the homes. Through the window, he saw a Firish couple share a kiss at the dinner table before they continued eating their various piping hot dishes.

Again, he couldn't help but think of what Blazel and Johnfire said to him earlier. Even Bernie clearly had his own doubts about whether he was worthy of Ember. His face went serious for a moment, and he turned on his heel, determinedly heading home.

He was going to make himself worthy of her, and he didn't care what that would take.

— § —

Wade sat in his apartment, reading a book he'd spent two hours finding in the local library to learn Firish. Why there seemed to be hardly any literature on Firish culture in the library, he didn't understand. Nonetheless, he wanted to learn Ember's language. The only problem was that the book did a decent job of teaching him the written language, but it was hard to understand how to pronounce it, even with the phonetic key.

His doorbell rang and bookmarked his page. He opened his door to reveal his friend and downstairs neighbor, Noah Ark.

"Bro!" he said as he stepped over the threshold without waiting for an invitation, the door swinging shut behind him. He had a few inches on Wade and picked him up in a big hug. Wade hugged his friend back until he was put back down. "I heard the news! Congrats!"

"Thanks, Noah," Wade said with a nervous smile. "Thanks for coming over."

"Of course, dewd," Noah responded. "You wanting to go get some drinks to celebrate or something?"

Wade inhaled and exhaled slowly. "Well, while I'm not suggesting that making it official with Ember isn't worth celebrating, I actually needed some advice."

"Oh?" Noah asked, walking toward one of the floating chairs in his indoor pool. "What about?"

The two took a seat on floating chairs, the chairs gently bobbing up and down as they settled. Wade sighed and leaned back in the floating chair, staring at the ceiling and draping one arm over his stomach, the other hanging limp over the side of the chair and dipping halfway into the pool.

"I don't know, I . . . I just want to be good enough for Ember and her world is so different from mine," Wade said, continuing to stare up at the ceiling longingly.

"Well, yeah," Noah responded, leaning casually against the back of the floating seat. "She's fire. Of course she's different."

"Fire person," Wade corrected. He was too busy staring at the ceiling to see Noah roll his eyes. "And that's what worries me. What if she decides that I'm not good enough for her because I'm not Firish?"

Noah chuckled. "She'd be crazy to think that," he said.

Wade looked over at him with a small smile. "You think so?"

Noah bobbed his chair closer to his. "Of course," he replied. "You're a way better option than some fire guy."

Wade watched him for a moment, having a hard time processing what he'd said. "What do you mean by that?" he asked slowly.

Noah laughed and leaned back. "Don't take it the wrong way. I'm just saying. Firish people are very . . . weird. Aggressive. Ember's better off with you."

Wade slowly sat up, studying Noah as if for the first time. "My girlfriend is Firish, if I must remind you," he said, his inflection growing.

Noah's smile faded and he sat up straighter. "No, of course, man. She's one of the good ones."

Wade blinked in surprise at the comment. He opened his mouth, trying to figure out how to respond. Finally, he stood with his face falling into seriousness. "I think you need to leave," he said sternly.

Noah moved to the edge of the floating seat, spreading his hands. "What? What did I say?" he asked defensively.

Wade moved past him without responding and opened his door, standing to the side and glaring at him, waiting for him to leave.

Noah scoffed as he got to his feet. "You asked for advice, man. You're really gonna end our friendship over an opinion?"

"Your opinions are no longer valuable to me," Wade said harshly.

Noah stared at him incredulously. He moved toward the door. "You know what, man? Whatever. When she gets all emotional and boils you or something, don't come crying to me," he said as he stormed out of Wade's apartment.

Wade slammed the door shut behind him. He had been friends with Noah for a long time, but he had never revealed himself to be elementist like this before. He had no idea he felt that way about the Firish people. But then, he realized, they'd never had much reason to discuss the Firish people before.

He frowned, realization dawning on him of just how disconnected from the Firish people he is. He'd had very limited interactions with the Firish. Ember was the first Firish person he'd had an actual conversation with, let alone associated with and eventually become the boyfriend of.

At every turn, he was reminded of just how unworthy he was to be in Ember's life.

— § —

"Wade Ripple?"

Wade stood upon hearing his name from the pickup counter. The Firish man behind the counter eyed him suspiciously as he approached the counter.

"That's me," Wade said awkwardly.

The Firish man looked from Wade to the to-go box. "Are you sure this is . . . your type of cuisine, son?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Wade nodded. "Yep," he said, a few beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The Firish man studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said. "I'm not liable for any . . . accidents."

Wade shook his head as he took the small box from the counter. "No worries," he said, failing to feign confidence. He turned and left the small Firish restaurant before any of the Firish people staring at him could say anything. It was one of the only Firish restaurants in the heart of the city.

He found a bench in the park and carefully picked up the cup of lava java. Its heat made the surface of his hand start boiling slightly. He swallowed hard. In order to be worthy of Ember, he needed to be able to love and embrace all of her culture, which started with its food.

He took a deep breath and put the cup to his lips. Heat wafted through the small opening in the lid. Slowly, he tipped the cup back and felt a small amount of lava java drip into his mouth. Immediately, he felt his face boiling and he doubled over, the cup falling from his grip to the ground. He coughed several times, steam puffing out of his mouth. After he had composed himself, he grunted in frustration.

"It's just heat!" he said angrily, staring up at the sky. He sighed and looked back in the box where the kolnuts were sitting, still steaming. He remembered how unpleasant it was to eat them. Maybe it's just an acquired taste, he thought to himself. He remembered how upset Bernie got when he "watered down" the kolnuts, so he knew that in order to gain approval, he had to learn to love them as is. He took a spoon and another deep breath, then spooned a kolnut into his mouth.

Just as it had last time, it immediately set his insides boiling as it trailed down his throat. Again, he erupted in a fit of coughs and when he had composed himself again, he grunted in frustration. He needed to find a way to enjoy Firish food without nearly causing himself to explode.

This was going to be harder than he thought.

— § —

The box read "Scorchin' Style."

Wade stared at the box for a very long time. He wasn't sure what was making him hesitate to open it. Perhaps he knew something wasn't right about it, but wasn't sure what.

Finally, he inhaled sharply and shook his head. He was doing this for Ember.

Opening the box, he removed the fire resistant single-use plastic and pulled out the heat resistant shirt, a shirt that was part of the fashion in Firish culture. He took off his T-shirt and put on his new shirt.

The mirror showed a man Wade wasn't sure was quite yet worthy of Ember. On him, the shirt seemed out of place. He tried to bring himself to smile, but failed. It seemed he couldn't get anything right.

A knock at the door startled him and he rushed over, not sure who it could be. He cracked the door open and was surprised to see Ember.

"Hey," she said with a smile. She held up a heat resistant bag. "I got you some icicle pops."

Wade smiled softly. "Ember, you didn't have to do that," he said.

"I wanted to," Ember said, rubbing her arm. "You gonna invite me in?"

Wade hesitated, but then opened his door fully. Ember's face fell as she took in his new shirt. "Well," he said, spreading his arms. "What do you think?"

Ember stared for what felt like a long time, and Wade's arms slowly drooped to his sides. Beads of sweat formed on his head as he started to realize he had severely screwed up in some way.

Ember shoved the icicle pops in Wade's arms and then turned on her heel, storming away without saying anything.

"Ember!" Wade called after, dropping the bag on the ground. "Wait!"

Wade chased Ember back to the hallway and grabbed for her shoulder, but she pushed his hand away and turned sharply back, her flame going purple.

"What, Wade?" Ember yelled. "You really think this is funny?"

Wade shook his head, panic taking over. "No, no! This isn't – I wasn't – I thought –"

Ember balled her fists. "You finally realize we can touch without hurting one another, and now you're making fun of it and my culture? What's wrong with you?" she yelled.

Wade fumbled innocently. "Ember, I didn't mean – I was just trying to –"

"Trying to what, Wade?!" Ember screamed, her flame growing.

"Trying to be worthy of you!" Wade screamed back, tears forming in his eyes.

Ember slightly cooled as she processed his answer. She cocked her head in confusion as her fists relaxed. "What?"

Wade started sobbing uncontrollably as he spoke. "It's just that I don't know anything about your culture and I can't have dinner with your family because I can't eat your food and I can't make smoke rings or fire balls or understand anything you've ever gone through! And I just cut off one of my best friends because I found out he's elementist and how did I never even know that? I'm so far disconnected from everything that makes you special and how can I ever be worthy of that?"

Once he had finished, he gasped for air since he hadn't breathed since he started talking. Then he collapsed to his knees and sobbed, streams of his tears flowing out of his eyes.

Ember had completely softened by this point, not sure how to respond. Finally, she dropped to her knees in front of him. "Wade, I don't understand. Where is this coming from?"

Wade choked a few times until he composed himself enough to respond, though tears still flowed down his face in streams. "I don't know," he started. "You had some Firish neighbors that commented on how little I know about the Firish people. It made me start to doubt that I'm worthy of you. They made me feel like I can't be worthy of you if I can't even be a part of your culture. I tried to get this book to learn Firish but none of it even made sense to me and I just felt like even more of a failure. Then one of my best friends whom I've known for years came over and made some really rude remarks about the Firish people and I had to cut him out of my life completely. And I just thought, how have I known him for so long without knowing he was this way? And I just started to realize how disconnected I've been to the Firish people. And I tried to make myself eat your food but I couldn't even get one kolnut or one sip of lava java down. So then I bought this thinking maybe it would make me seem more attractive to you."

There was silence for a while. When Wade looked up finally, Ember was just staring at him. Wade let out a shaky exhale. "I'm sorry, Ember. I just wanted to –"

Wade was cut off when Ember quickly moved forward and pressed her lips to his. He was caught off guard and his eyes widened for a moment, but he couldn't help but lean in and savor her taste. They kissed for several moments before Ember finally pulled back and Wade realized she had started crying too.

"Wade," she said softly, "I fell in love with you for who you are. I don't want you to change everything you are for me because then you wouldn't be you anymore. I don't expect you to take part in everything in my culture, especially if it will hurt you. You can be a part of my life and appreciate my culture without being involved with every piece of it."

Tears continued to stream down Wade's face, his jaw slacking. "Really?" he asked softly.

"Wade," Ember started, her hand on his face, "would you ever expect me to cool myself down enough to fit into your world?"

Wade held eye contact as he shook his head. "I would rather be condensation for the rest of my life than ever demand you dim your light," he responded.

Ember smiled and shrugged slightly. "Then why would I ever expect you to heat yourself up enough to fit into mine?" she asked.

A moment of silence followed before Ember continued.

"We each bring something really special to this relationship. We complement each other. I don't want you to change, Wade," she told him, bringing her other hand up so she was holding both sides of his face. Steam gently wafted up from where her hands met his face.

Wade reached up and put his hands over hers, closing his eyes for a moment to appreciate her warmth.

"You really dumped a friend because of me?" Ember asked, her smile dropping.

Wade looked down. "Technically, I dumped him because he's elementist. He believes all Firish people are aggressive. I wouldn't want to be friends with someone like that regardless of our relationship."

Ember put her forehead to his. "Sadly, some people choose to believe stereotypes instead of opening their worldview. I'm sorry that happened, Wade. Even still, it's hard to lose a friend."

Wade held her close. "It would be nothing compared to losing you," he said softly.

Ember lowered her lips to his once again, and Wade tightened his grip on her waist, wishing he could spend every second feeling her lips against his. When they parted, Ember got to her feet and held her hand out to help Wade up.

"Come on, let's go put your shirt back on and get rid of this," Ember said, grabbing the hem of his new shirt and feeling the material. "Where did you get this anyway?"

"Some place called Scorchin' Styles," Wade answered as they moved back into his apartment.

Ember slapped her hand to her forehead, laughing. "Wade, most Firish people wouldn't even buy their stuff. They use cheap material that doesn't last and they exploit the labor of Firish people who just need to get by. We always shop local."

Wade nodded as he removed his shirt and grabbed his regular T-shirt, slipping it back on. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, Ember. I didn't even think about it coming off the wrong way."

Ember stepped forward into his arms. "No, I'm sorry. I let my temper get the best of me. I should've known you'd never make a mockery of me or the Firish people."

Wade shook his head. "It would be completely justifiable to evaporate me again if I ever did that," he said with a sideways smile.

Ember laughed slightly, then narrowed her eyes. "So, who was it that made you start having doubts about us?"

"Someone named Blazel and Johnfire," Wade answered.

Ember erupted into laughter, pushing away from him and doubling over. Her flame flickered and faltered as she stumbled to the side.

"What?" Wade asked defensively. "What's so funny?"

Ember composed herself and stood up, wiping a tear from her eye. "Wade, no one listens to those boomers. They're so old-fashioned."

Wade spread his hands. "They were very persuasive!" he said defensively.

Ember laughed again and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You want persuasive?" she asked coyly. Without letting Wade respond, she raised her lips to his once more, pressing her body into his and wrapping her arms around his neck firmly. Wade didn't object and kissed her back. They stayed like this for a long time, moving their lips in rhythm with each other. Finally, Ember pulled back and raised an eyebrow.

Wade, recovering from the drunken feeling of her kiss, realized he had completely forgotten what she had even said. "Wh-What was the question?" he asked nervously.

Ember laughed again and rested her head on his chest. "I love you, Wade."

Wade held her close and smiled. "I love you too, Ember."