Ember X Wade oneshots

Smoke addiction

Ember had always been a pillar of strength, driven by the sacrifices her parents made and her love for her family. She took pride in her hard work at Fireplace, helping her father run the business that had been in their family for generations. But there was one struggle Ember couldn't seem to overcome: her addiction to smoking.

It started innocently enough, a cigarette here and there to calm her nerves after a long day of work. But over time, the habit grew, and before she knew it, Ember was smoking a pack a day. It became her solace, a brief escape from the pressures of life. Wade, her boyfriend, was the complete opposite. As a Water element, he was transparent in every way—emotionally open, empathetic, and always concerned about Ember's well-being. He had tried to get her to quit smoking many times, but Ember would just brush him off, saying it wasn't a big deal.

However, things began to change. Ember started waking up in the middle of the night with violent coughing fits, her throat raw and her lungs burning. She found herself short of breath after simple tasks that once didn't faze her. Wade noticed too, his concern growing with each passing day. One evening, after a particularly bad coughing spell, Wade gently placed a hand on her back. "Ember, you need to quit. I'm really worried about you," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Ember, though stubborn, loved Wade deeply. She knew he was right, and the last thing she wanted was to cause him pain. Determined to quit for good, she threw out all her cigarettes the next morning. The first few hours were fine, but soon the cravings set in. Ember found herself irritable, snapping at customers at Fireplace for the smallest mistakes. She chewed gum obsessively, her jaw aching from the constant motion, but it did little to curb the urge. The smell of smoke seemed to be everywhere—on the street, wafting from neighboring houses, and even on her clothes despite having washed them.

Desperate, she bought nicotine patches, hoping they would take the edge off. But the patches only seemed to make her skin itch, and they didn't stop her mind from wandering back to the comfort of a cigarette between her fingers. The sight of someone lighting up outside the Fireplace would send her into a frenzy, her heart racing as she fought to resist the temptation.

One evening, after a particularly stressful day at work, Ember found herself outside a convenience store, her hands shaking as she reached for her wallet. She was just about to buy a pack when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass door—her face gaunt, her eyes tired, her lips dry and cracked. She looked older than her years, worn down by the habit she once thought was harmless.

As she stood there, Wade appeared behind her, his presence calming yet firm. "Ember, don't do this," he pleaded softly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to face him. "I'm trying, Wade. I really am, but it's so hard," she confessed, her voice trembling with frustration and despair.

Wade wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I know it's hard, but you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here with you, every step of the way," he reassured her, his tone soothing yet resolute.

Ember leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. She knew she couldn't do this for herself—not yet—but she could do it for Wade. For the future they wanted to build together, free from the chains of her addiction. The journey wouldn't be easy, and Ember knew she would face countless moments of weakness, but with Wade by her side, she found the strength to keep fighting, one day at a time.