They considered it. “We have some stuff in common, at least, and I have enjoyed talking to you. Seems like we’re compatible on that level. Next question is, what’re you like in bed?”

His cheeks were heating up again. “Well, there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?”

“Guess I have no choice, then.” They slid their hand onto his thigh. “Want me to take you through my apartment? I’ve been told the guided tour has a very satisfying climax,” they purred.

He nearly choked. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d love to come and… um. Sightsee. Snorkel.”

“Wonderful.” Coral leaned in, and Eric followed suit. Heat spread through his body when they kissed. When they pulled away, Coral fumbled for their wallet and put a hundred dollars on the table – more than twice what the bill would be. “Let’s get out of here.”

***

Eric looked at the world through illusory flames. Real flames didn’t work too well, it turned out – having an oxygen-consuming substance by his oxygen-consuming nose was a bad idea – but he did have his lightbending powers to deal with it. Coral was beside him in her new costume. Still blue, but the cut and helmet were different.

They flew through the heavy clouds to the country club, alighting in a tree just outside the golf course. “Coast is clear,” Coral said, her voice coming through in an oddly clear voice. Apparently, she could direct sound in a narrow beam, so only he could hear it. “Let’s do this.”

Coral pulled out a slingshot and some seed bombs. As she fired them, Eric drew a line of fire in the grass and shut it down instantly after the grass died. Stop polluting our river, he wrote. It was surprisingly difficult, at least to keep it in check. The fire just wanted to spread.

“Done,” Coral said, putting away her slingshot. “Let’s see if that made an impression.”

“Wait. One more thing.”

“All right,” Coral said, glancing up at the sky. “Looks like the rain’s about to start, though.”

Eric added a tag to the message. Love, Echo and Couronne. He added a heart on the end. “Perfect,” he said.

“Good work, Couronne,” Echo said, reaching out her hand.

“Same to you, Echo,” Couronne said, taking it.

They flew off together, hand in hand, as the first drops hit the ground and awakened the seeds they’d sown.