Work Text:
Pulling her hood tighter over her head, adjusting the headphones as the music blared, distracting her as she strode the stone streets, the building shadowing from ahead as she quickens her steps, the fire crackling around her feet with every step she takes. Ignoring the vague glances her way, some recognizing her and others wary or intrigued.
The building of city hall came to view as she approached the entrance, passing a vendor that gave her a faint wary expression and leaned towards his vendor as though protecting it. Ember smiled vaguely at the memories of the last time she was here, ducking her head.
Ah...to think it was not long ago I was chasing him and he was running like the devil was after him...maybe I was a little bit.
I have to admit, the chase was fun. Though, Wade might disagree...
Lowering her hood, the flames around her face and head crackling as they expanded freely into the open air and she eyed the mostly empty lot that still held clients coming out of the building or workers leaving for the day on a Friday. Glancing at the clock tower that stood in the middle of the courtyard that showed it was almost three and Wade would finish soon. Smiling lightly, she took a seat on the stairs on the far edges of the building entrance, the section shaded from the sun. There really weren't many places where she could surprise her partner.
Checking her phone, the last message from Wade that was sent earlier this morning and her lips curled upwards, belying her giddy nature when it came to her boyfriend.
Hey Em!
I miss you! :D Can't wait to see you! I'll be at Alkali food court at 3:15!
Love you!
Ember couldn't help rolling her eyes but still kept the goofy smile as she placed her phone back in her pocket. Her water guy is such a sap but in the best way. She wouldn't have it any other way. And he wouldn't expect her to be here since it was closer to meeting in the food court but today she felt caught up in a fling of mischief and any extra she could spend with him made the time together priceless.
They'd meet each other almost every day during the week, whether it was during his lunch break and her father gave her that time to go on break and see him. And he'd sometimes come over her to place after he was finished work or she'd go to his and they would spend the hours together. Lately, Wade had a few extra shifts since someone was on leave and he took the extra hours.
Ember tried to ignore the way he'd be keen to spend money on her and refuse to let her do the same until she enforced it, citing it was even that way.
With a yawn, stretching her neck as she leaned back on her palms, her legs stretched out as she gazed skyward with a lazy smile, tapping her feet as the music continued to blare from her headphones, loud enough for her to hear.
When the next song played, feeling a little achy from sitting on the uncomfortable stone steps, she checked the clock's time and found it was just past three. Straightening up, she shut her music off, standing up as she straightened out her chain-mail skirt and waited for Wade to exit the building.
Hopefully, he won't notice me right away.
It would be a nice little surprise.
Watching the people exit the building one by one, water, earth, air but not a particular water person she was impatiently waiting for.
That's odd...
Glancing at the clock, seeing it was the time they were supposed to meet right now and knowing without a doubt he hadn't left without her seeing him and he'd have texted as soon as he was leaving.
Honestly, it was odd he hadn't even texted her throughout the day as well. He often did with the occasional text about something shocking or some silly pun he'd get from his co-workers. Since it was radio silent, she couldn't help being a little confused. Definitely not like him at all.
Should I go in?
The courtyard was mostly empty, with only a handful of workers lingering about speaking to each other so it was quiet and no one looked her way anyways. Figuring he must've been caught up with some work, maybe it was best she just waited for him at the food court instead.
Next time then, haha. She sighed in disappointment as she bent down to pick up her fire-protective jacket.
"-oh don't be big baby!"
"-It's just an itty bitty thing-"
"For the love of Waves, would you just piss off already!"
Hm?
Straightening up, brow arching at the strangely angry and wobbly voice. A voice that lo and behold belonged to Wade Ripple.
Wade who suddenly strode out of the building, brows furrowed in frustration and usually cheery, warm expression that seemed to permeate his face was taut, like the water was becoming solid ice with every second.
"Oh come on big baby!"
"Yeah, come on Wade it's nothing bad! Just toughen up buddy." A smiling water guy said, following close behind him that was a similar height to Wade, pointed nose and short flowy watery hair, a snarky grin on his face as he laughed close behind Wade. The other element laughing behind Wade was a larger earth element, a body formed of mostly solid earth and jagged crystals. The button shirts and ties along with the name badge of Inspector on the front of their suit meant they were Wade's co-workers.
Not close from the looks of it.
Ember tensed, brow quirked a the tense conversation, a little confused by the situation as Wade turned sharply, snapping at the pair that hung close behind him, teeth clenched but his features wobbled as he stumbled on the last of the steps.
"Enough! For goodness sake, it's not the least bit funny!" Wade swiped his hand across, voice deep with frustration and anger and something else that tugged at Ember's heart. He seemed to pushing the earth guy's hand that was holding something up to Wade.
Is that...a sponge?
Something hot blared within, purple grazing the edges and her vision.
"-Oh, is Weepy-Wade crying again! Hahaha!"
Ember tensed, face growing slack as she stood there. She was ashamed to admit she realized she didn't move as soon as she should've but instantly a blazing heat seeped through her and all she could see was raging purple. With a clink, the jacket and headphones slammed on the ground as she chucked them aside, fire crackling loudly as she stormed forwards.
Oh, HELL NO!
Roc laughed brazenly as he held up the sponge in his hands, shaking it in front of his face with a teasing grin. "Come on man, it's funny as! Spongey Wade, come on it's just a joke man! You're not gonna get sucked in"
"But if you did, it'd be funny as!" Blizz sniggered, water droplets falling from his hair as he chuckled. Wade's emotions heightened, finding the laughter highly despicable.
"And again, not the least bit funny." Wade snapped louder, hiking his bag higher over his shoulder as he glowered at the two chuckling elements. "I can't believe you would tell them!" He glowered at Blizz who just shrugged as if it wasn't an issue.
"Come on, we went to school together, Wade. It's hilarious! Of course, I had to tell the others once I remembered you."
"You're a bastard. Please, leave me alone. I'm late as of now in meeting my girlfriend-" Blizz whistled loudly and Roc awed loudly, almost childishly.
"Awwwww, Wadey the sponge boy has a girlfriend!"
"What a shocker. Does she know about your irrational fear of a simple sponge?"
"It's not irrational! For god's sake, I was stuck in there for hours!" Wade threw up his hands in frustration, ready to yell and wanting to smack them in the face so badly. No, deep breaths Wade. They aren't worth it and Ember's waiting. I'm not gonna let these idiots ruin my day when I have someone to look forward to. Sighing, pinching the bridge of his nose before taking a deep breath, chest puffing out slightly as he glowered at the two coldly. "You're not worth wasting my time with. I'm leaving, so do me a favor and just stay away from me." With a final look at them, he turned away, striding down the stairs with a quick glance at his watch.
Dang it, I'm really late and she must be wondering where I am.
Until something strange touched the back of his neck and he yelped, almost falling onto his back as he leaped away in shock, immediately terrified by the strange, spongey substance touching him.
"HAH! Oh my god, that was a good one!"
"Awww, is Weepy-Wade crying again!"
Wade tensed, a sickening feeling in his stomach at the name that stung deeply but he desperately pushed it aside, except for the sting in his eyes.
"I'm not crying!" He snapped in anger. "I'm angry-"
"Oh, just touch the damn thing you weepy baby!" Roc moved towards him, smiling slyly as he held up the green sponge with excitement and Wade was ashamed to realize he froze a little in terror, feeling icy as he remembered those horrific hours stuck in a sponge as a child. He was sweating a little from the cold terror and blazing heat-
Wait! Heat?
With a hiss of fire crackling, earth, and water stumbled back as a sudden heat wave kicked them right in the face. The water guy felt himself begin to boil slightly and the earth guy shuddered as he began to sweat a little, both stared stunned at the person that swooped in out of nowhere like a menacing spirit.
Wade stepped backward, eyes widening as a blast of heat made steam drift from him quickly, and bubbles flowed through him as the heat worked harshly against his usually cool self. He stood up slowly, the purple flames reflecting over his blue form and adding a wave of malicious anger to the scene and he froze in shock.
Where did she come from?
"You wanna do that again!?" Ember hissed, her voice deep and seemingly echoing out to them and sending shudders through them both as Ember reared up taller, her flames standing high on the entirety of her body, making her appear taller and larger. The angry purple replaced the red and most of the yellow-orange.
Roc and Blizz gaped silently at the purple flame before them as did Wade who stared at Ember's back, her top and skirt disappearing thanks to the blazing fire lashing over her form as she stood in front of him, almost protectively, her shoulders drawn back and arms tensed up, fists clenched as she stood tall on her feet, taller than even him now.
Her voice carried judgment from the depths of hell and was full of icy anger that echoed dangerously.
"You wanna say that again?" She snapped again, demanding an answer.
"W-who the hell are you-" The guys backed up nervously, glowering back but nerves starting up.
"Hey! B-back up..."
"Why should I? You seem eager to make Wade uncomfortable! I thought I'd return the favor! So, do you wanna do that again? I dare you!"
Oh dang! Ember don't! They aren't worth your attention.
"Ember, don't-" Wade started, approaching his girlfriend, not wanting her to get in trouble and not finding it worth it but Ember continued to stand straight in front of him like a wall of flame protecting him.
"Oh damn! You're his girlfriend!"
"Not that it's your business but yes, she's my girlfriend and Ember we should go." Wade stepped forward, intending to leave right now with Ember.
"So, weepy-Wade needs his girl to fight his battles-AYE!"
"DON'T YOU DARE," Ember's voice resonated louder as she snapped her hand across, steam fizzling as she held up the sponge in her hands which immediately disintegrated before their very eyes, smoke puffing skywards. His co-workers jumped back in shock and terror, disbelief amassing in their faces as was Wade's. "Assume anything. I'm not fighting his battles. I've just got his back. Pathetic bullies and idiots like yourself would have nothing akin to such loyalty!"
Wade's eyes popped wider, mouth dropping in shock and utter awe as he gazed at Ember, stunned and deeply moved, his heart wavering.
"What did you just call me!?" Roc snapped in anger and Ember responded, leaning forward and coldly snapping.
"A...Bully!" She huffed loudly and her flames reared up, almost roaring with her. "Now...BEAT IT!"
Faces in the purple glow of her anger, and not wanting to stick around any longer, the guys quickly scrambled away, running wide around Ember to leave, avoiding looking at Wade who watched them a little surprised and relieved.
"Woah..." He murmured before whirling around to Ember who was staring in the direction they had gone, her flames had quietened down but were still purple, amber eyes glittering angrily. "Em..." Her gaze flickered to him and immediately the purple faded, replaced by that warm red glow and she let out a deep breath. Wade stared at her quietly as Ember shook her head.
"Sorry," She murmured. "I couldn't help myself," Ember grumbled darkly. "I'm not really sorry actually. " She muttered darkly. "But they deserved it. No one talks to you that way." With a glance at him, she strode back to where she left her things behind, leaving Wade staring at her, a strange emotion bubbling up within him.
And releasing.
"Huh?" Ember who was bending down to pick up her jacket and headphones was immediately crushed from behind in Wade's tight embrace. "W-Wade!"
Wade didn't say anything, standing behind her as he embraced her tightly from behind, face buried in her shoulder, comforted by the warm feathery flames tickling his face and allowing his eyes just to water lightly. His heart wobbled like jelly, unable to hold back the deep, pained feelings he had. The luck he had to have such a person in his life. He couldn't remember anyone ever standing up for him like that. So fierce, so...so intense and angry on his behalf.
It made him emotional...feel so utterly lucky.
And worthless.
"Wade..." Ember frowned when she felt something wet drop on her shoulder, sizzling, and realized his eyes were watering though she couldn't see it. "Hey, are you okay?" Ember turned around in his embrace, leaning happily into his hold but a little distraught at the expression on his face. "Wade..."
"I'm sorry," Wade mumbled, smiling weakly. "It's just...it's been a bit of a bother with those guys lately. It was just a lot right now and you..." His brows furrowed, his face drooping into a more angry and saddened expression. "I feel so worthless."
Ember started, backing up quickly in shock, her brows lowering in shock. Worthless? How could he feel worthless?
"I don't get it. How can you feel like that when you shouldn't?"
"Because...I just let them get me riled up and bully me, and you had to see it. I thought I could ignore it but as you can see," Wade laughed weakly, rubbing his cheek tiredly. "I'm still scared silly by a little old sponge. But those things...I really don't like them." He mumbled quietly. Still feeling Ember's gaze on him and unable to meet her beautiful amber eyes, afraid they might look at him with pity or disgust. "It's been...a sore topic since I was a kid. I got bullied often for it." He shrugged as though it was nothing. "I just...didn't want you to think less of me." He stared at the ground, lightly kicking at the pebbles with a forlorn expression.
Ember stared at him quietly, flickers of purple flaming through before she let out a calming breath.
This guy...he doesn't seem himself clearly.
"I'm scared of balloons."
Wade started, gazing snapping back up to Ember who gave him a gentle smile.
"I don't like when they pop suddenly, especially as a kid I despised them. Am I foolish?" She questioned and he immediately shook his head and Ember nodded. "Neither are you. There's nothing wrong with you or anything to ashamed about. I think more of you because you're brave and I'm glad you told me how you feel." Wade's eyes began to water, water almost spilling out and Ember smiled gently, reaching up to wipe his eyes. "I promise, no sponges anywhere. And if they give you trouble again-"
Wade chuckled nervously, shaking his head. "It's okay Ember. Don't worry, I've already made an appointment with HR to discuss it." Ember sighed in relief for him but he reached up to clasp her hand in his, hearing the gentle sizzle, and kissed her palm. "Thank you, Ember. For having my back."
Ember smiled gently. "Always. Besides," She chuckle, stepping back as she swept up her jacket and headphones, and they started to leave the yard. "If that was me, you'd do the same." Ember said it so simply and easily and Wade immediately came to a stop, staring after her at her words so easily said without hesitation. She was so right.
"I would." He immediately hurried to her, lacing his fingers with hers and gaze intense as he looked into hers. "Nothing would stop me."
Ember chuckled and yanked him forward. "Let's go get lunch. I'm starving, plus my treat." Wade watched her laugh and talk about her day, his dampened mood fading and quickly replaced with a deep warmth as he looked at his flame.
I'm so lucky.