Wade laughed after a funny scene in the James Pond movie played, then looked over at Ember to see her reaction. He frowned as she held her hand over her mouth and tried to stifle her laughter, pulling her hood tighter over her head. He glanced up at the other moviegoers and noticed a few casting a hard stare at her for a few moments. He glared back at one until they noticed him and looked away uncomfortably.

After the movie, Wade and Ember walked out from the theaters hand in hand, which earned them some judgemental stares from a few of the other moviegoers. A Firish person and a water person being this intimate was almost unheard of, and while many were open minded, many others still stayed steadfast in their ignorant opinions. It wasn't until they were outside that Ember finally let her hood back down.

"So . . ." Wade started. "What did you think of the movie?"

Ember smiled at him, but Wade couldn't help but feel like it was forced. "The movie was great, Wade," she responded.

Wade slowed to a stop, bringing Ember to a stop with him. "But you don't enjoy the theaters, do you?" he asked sullenly.

Ember let her smile fade and she looked down. "It's not that I don't enjoy the theaters itself. It's just that it's a dark room and I burn so brightly. I know that when I'm there, I bother other people. I can only dim myself so much."

Wade's expression went serious. "Ember, you shouldn't have to dim your light for anyone."

Ember laughed slightly. "It's okay, Wade. It's just who I am. When you've lived your whole life being fire, you get used to it."

Wade looked down for a moment, searching for the words to say. He knew that it was wrong, but couldn't explain how. What she had told him many months ago still rang true, he would never understand her life experiences. But still, he felt that something had to change.

One way or another, he never wanted Ember to make herself smaller for anyone ever again.

— § —

Several months later, Wade and Ember returned to the theaters for a showing of Star Wars Episode VII: The Flame Awakens.

"It's about time they let a Firish person be a main character in a big franchise," Ember commented as they waited in line for their tickets. "I just hope the movie does her justice."

Wade smiled and wrapped his arm around her as the group in front of them grabbed their tickets and moved aside, and guided her forward to the movie usher's desk, a tall earth person with thinning leaves.

"Two for Episode VII please," Wade requested.

"Will that be two dome seats?" the usher asked.

Ember opened her mouth to ask him what he meant, but Wade interrupted before she could.

"Yes, please," Wade responded.

The usher accepted his payment and handed over the tickets. As they moved away from him toward the concessions stand, Ember turned to Wade.

"What's a dome seat?" she asked.

Wade smiled down at her. "You'll find out," he said coyly.

Ember watched him curiously. "Why so secretive?" she asked.

Wade chuckled. "It's a surprise."

After buying a bucket of kolnuts for Ember and a bucket of ice chips for Wade, the two made their way to their designated theater. At the door, Wade stopped and faced her.

"I'll take your coat, my light," Wade said, holding his hand out.

Ember flickered in surprise. "But Wade, I have to wear this. I'll distract others with my light," she insisted, pulling her hood up and clutching it around her flame.

Wade stepped closer to her. "Not anymore," he said. "Trust me?"

Ember stared at him for a few minutes, studying his calm expression. He had this way with his eyes when he looked at her. She had no idea what Wade had planned, but he would never ask her to do something like this unless he was sure he knew what he was talking about. Slowly, she unzipped her jacket and slipped it off, handing it to him. Suddenly, she felt very naked, having never been in the theater without her jacket. Wade didn't wait for her to start changing her mind, however, and looped his arm around hers as he led them forward into the theater.

When they reached the seating area, Ember had to stop for a moment to process the changes that had been made to the theater. She watched as another Firish person took her seat. The seat was inside of a structure that looked like a translucent plastic dome that had an opening at the front. Hers was a single seat, but there were others that had multiple seats within one dome. Wade led her to one of the domes that had two seats.

"Wade, what is this?" she asked, touching the edge of the dome.

"The surprise," Wade responded, smiling down at her. "My family helped me pay for some modifications to the theaters. The plastic is heat resistant and filters the light out to patrons behind you, but allows you to still be able to see the movie."

Ember looked at him, her hand dropping to her side. "You did this . . . for me?" she asked breathlessly.

"Actually," Wade began, looking behind her, "I did it for all the Firish people."

Ember looked behind her and saw more Firish people coming in, some alone and some with loved ones. She realized how rare it was to see Firish people in the theater. She observed the ones who were sitting. Some had water people directly behind them, but their light barely punctured the dull-colored plastic. She turned back to Wade, but wasn't sure what to say.

"This city wasn't made with the Firish in mind. It's time that changed. It's time you stopped dimming your light to make others comfortable," Wade said gently.

Tears welled up in Ember's eyes and she moved forward, wrapping her arms around Wade. Wade returned the hug and held her close, steam gently rising from where their bodies met.

Finally, Wade gently pushed her away and tilted her chin up to look at him. "I can't stand the thought of you ever dimming your beautiful light."

Ember smiled. "Thank you, Wade," she said before rising up to connect her lips with his.

"Hey," a voice said from behind. The two parted and turned to find themselves greeted with an angry air person pushing her small child behind her. "Do you mind? There are children here."

Wade rolled his eyes as Ember's flame flickered dangerously between orange to lavender. Wade held her closer. "We have just as much a right to be a couple in public as any same-element couple," he snapped before turning and guiding he and Ember to their seats. The air person mumbled something behind them but they ignored her.

"Thank you," Ember said as they sat, "for always taking up for me."

Wade wrapped his arm around her as the movie started, causing steam to collect in their dome. "You don't deserve to be treated differently just for who you are. And neither of us deserve to be treated differently for who we love."

Ember smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, and the two of them enjoyed the movie together.

— § —

"I thought this chapter was really good," Wade commented as they walked out of the theater. "And I thought Ray was a great character."

"Oh, please," a nearby earth person with glasses stated. "Media doesn't need forced representation," he added, barely even acknowledging Ember.

Wade sighed exasperatedly. "She did great in the role. There was nothing forced about her casting. Why even go see it if you're going to be elementist?"

"Elementist?" the earth person responded, putting his hand on his chest. "How am I elementist for having an opinion?"

Ember pushed Wade aside, flickering between orange and lavender. "Look, I don't care about your insignificant opinion about 'forced representation.' The movie meant something to me and that's all that matters. We didn't ask for your input and we don't need it."

Ember turned on her heel and grabbed Wade's hand, pulling him away before he could say anything else. When they were far enough away, she slowed her pace and wrapped her arms around Wade's.

"I just don't get people like that," Wade said. "I don't get how anyone can hate someone for what they look like."

"It's just the story of my life, Wade," Ember said silently.

"It shouldn't be," Wade said sternly. "It's just not right."

Ember sighed. "Look, Wade. I appreciate that you feel that way. But you need to recognize that you have a lot of privilege being wealthy and . . ." Her voice trailed off and she broke eye contact.

"And water?" Wade finished for her, looking down.

"Yeah," Ember responded, looking back up at him. "And the Firish people, they're okay. It's not always perfect, and I know that we all appreciate what you did in the theater, but we don't need a savior. We're already breaking the status quo. Even my Ashfa thinks that our relationship is going to be the start of a new era."

Wade sighed and nodded. "I get that. I just wish that I could do more."

Ember smiled and placed a hand on his face. "You're doing plenty, Wade. Thank you."

She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He sighed into her lips and greedily leaned in, holding her close. They parted after a few moments.

"I'll never get tired of that feeling," Wade said with a smile.

Ember smiled back. "You truly take my smoke away, Wade."

Wade touched his forehead to hers. "And you take my vapor away, my light."

Author's Note: One of my favorite allegories in Elemental is the idea that the city wasn't made for the Firish people, much like the world isn't made with minorities in mind. I may or may not do more with this story to navigate these challenges more. I'm marking this as completed for now, and if I change my mind or there's demand for more, I may change that.