I pressed past Spike, but didn't make it. He casually picked me up and carried me to the kitchen to resume his work with me in his lap.

Part of me was annoyed at being so casually grabbed, but another was crazy happy... because I had been so casually grabbed. "What brought this on?"

"I'm cooking." Which he did with soft whistles. "And I want my kirin around." He gently stroked over my mane. "Is that wrong?"

"I suppose not." I touched my nose to his arm as it went around, working on the food. "I'm just not used to it."

"Get used to it." He tickled under my chin. "You're mine."

I colored at that. "Spike, a question."

"Mm?"

"You don't have those parts." I curled in his lap to confirm as best I could that he had none of those parts. "You are, biologically anyway, not a boy or a girl."

"Nope." He slapped his tail down lightly. "But I have a guy voice and I'm happy being a guy, so keep that up, kindly."

"So... I can't be yours, that way, can I?"

"Hmmm." He casually nipped at my neck, sending a jolt through me. "I guess not, but I don't need you that way." He tickled along my barrel slowly. "I just want a creature that cares, and is open for cuddle time."

"I'm still learning how different relationships can work," I replied thoughtfully to Spike as he cooked. "But I appreciate you wanting me close by. As long as we talk openly about what we both want, we'll be alright."

Spike nodded, placing a claw gently on my back. "You got it. I want you feeling safe and happy however this unfolds..." He trailed off, focusing on seasoning the vegetables perfectly as the comforting scents of dinner preparation filled the kitchen.

I snuffed gently at those aromas. "You're pretty good at this." My tail swished against his belly. "I really do want to take a turn or two sometimes."

"You're bad at it." He pat me on the head. "You're busy, with work, with school, with being chased by angry kirin... A lot of stuff. I'm not mad. Cooking's my job, and I like doing it." He lifted a pan to another burner and brought a new one in. "Now, tell me how it went. Did you run into that jerk again?"

"Actually, it went better than expected," I replied. "He gave me a book on kirin lore instead of attacking again. Still not thrilled with me being an 'impure' kirin, but it's progress at least."

I nestled comfortably against Spike as he cooked, the scent of sizzling onions filling the air. "Gallus was with me too this time. Get this - I helped him tap into some fledgling fire magic! So now maybe I've got a partner to train elemental abilities with."

I grinned up at Spike, imagining his mentorly pride. "You should've seen Gallus preening when he managed little puffs of flame. Like a chick with his first feathers!"

Spike chuckled at the apt analogy, spikes glinting in the kitchen's glow. "Nice job nurturing that spark - gotta grow your gifts wisely." He added spices with a flourish. "So what'd that book say then? Some stuffy lore I bet."

I magicked it over from my bags, only to remember that I had given the book away. "Twinkle has it. Oh! Spike, you helped me. Wanna help Gallus? Now that he's broken through, he's ready to try more fire magic out, and you're the local expert."

"I was wondering if you'd ask." He nipped at my closer ear gently, grooming at it quietly a moment. "I'd be honored. Tell him to stop by and we'll hurl some fireballs around."

"He'll love that." When the grooming stopped, I flopped against him. "I'm going to try to relax now."

"You're not already?" He started adding ingredients to the new pan with fresh hisses and sizzles.

"You're missing all the parts, I'm not." I didn't go into more details, just relaxing with closed eyes. "Um, but... just to get out there, I appreciate this. You're awesome."

"Thanks." Things grew quiet, save the sound of his little whistles and the clink and clank of cooking as he went on cheerfully.

"Oh, you could help him learn some fire, like you did me." I nodded at my own thought.

Spike chuckled, spikes glinting in the firelight. "Happy to pass some pyro tricks to another student itching to jump in! Gallus'll eat up the razzle-dazzle for sure."

He kept up a rhythmic chopping, vegetables scattering neatly into the sizzling pan. "And you just park yourself here awhile, buddy. No running off into looming battles today, doctor's orders!"

I grinned at the playful prohibition, muscles unwinding. The scents of simmering spices joined the chopping's steady beats, kitchen symphonies soothing away stress. Questions still burned but drowned for now in humble domesticity's simple comforts. I nestled closer, tension fleeting. "Maybe just a short nap wouldn't hurt. You'll rouse me for dinner though, right?"

"You know it!" Spike shot me a wink over the vegetables. "Can't have you missing my five alarm chili!"

That worried me. "I can handle all the sour you have, but hot I have limits on... I'll try my best."

"All I ask." He didn't bother me, and I did fade away, only waking when he put me in a chair. Twilight and Twinkle were already there.

Twilight had her eyes on me. "What's this I hear about Gallus learning fire magic?"

I jumped in surprise. "Oh! He wanted to learn fire, so I helped him get into it, and he did. Nothing but that, but he's the one that jumped into it so eagerly."

Twilight tapped at the table. "First steps... If he stops there, charming and harmless. If he fully embraces it, this will be historic... What did Starlight get up to? She was just supposed to be a sub teacher!"

Spike began serving bowls of exceptionally spicy smelling chilli. "It's best when it's hot!"

"Oh, yeah - Starlight was subbing and offered bonus points if anyone accessed new elemental talents..." I explained through a wide yawn. "So Gallus asked me to help stir up some sparks. Just baby steps so far!"

I smiled sheepishly their way. "Guess word spreads quick about fireworks, huh?"

Spike slid a generously brimming bowl my way, steam fragrant with spices rising. "Careful now, hot stuff coming through!"

I eyed the brooding crimson contents warily. "Woah...you weren't kidding on heat levels!" Tentatively I lifted a spoonful, bracing for fiery impacts. "Hope becoming a kirin boosted my tolerance..."

The first taste exploded gleefully across my tongue, rich flavors dancing. My eyes widened in surprise. "Oh wow, it's got kick but you can still taste the textures!" I swiftly scooped up more beaming Spike's way. "You're a genius chef, you know that?"

Twilight just looked amused, levitating the first aid kit nearby in case of spontaneous novella combustions. "Well, as long as everycreature minds safety measures we'll sort things out." She took delicate nibbles unruffled by the rising spices. "Do pass Gallus my compliments though - two elements is remarkable!"

She inclined her head. "Keep in mind, learning a few tricks of a new element is easy enough. I know a few elements myself." She brought up a hoof, water swirling around it briefly. "But I can't claim mastery over them. We'll see how far Gallus goes."

Twinkle curled on herself and pulled out the book with her magic. "The kirin book is fascinating! There's a whole ritual for 'sudden kirin'." She pointed at me. "That's you. First, fire with fire. You experienced that. If that doesn't work, fight fire with water. Hot, then cold, just like their names." She tapped her chin. "Though their names are usually the other way around."

Twilight tried some chilli herself, only for her face to go a bright red, tears leaking from her eyes as she danced in her seat. "Hot! Hot!" She chugged down some water with a relieved sigh. "Spike... Not all of us are dragons..."

Spike inclined his head at me. "He handled it."

Twinkle laughed at that. "He's a kirin! Fire element, a little heat won't bother him."

I had resistance to cooked heat too? I counted that as a score, even as I took another spoonful, enjoying the heat that brought no pain to my mouth. "Is this what it's like, for the people out there that just... like heat?"

Twilight shook her head quickly. "No, it still hurts them, but they like it anyway. You're enjoying food in a different way."

I grinned, savoring another spicy mouthful. "True, kirin fireproofing is handy avoiding pain here - I'm just tasting the zing!"

Twilight fanned herself desperately, muzzle still scarlet from incendiary impacts beyond tolerances. I magicked her bowl aside with concern. "Maybe break time on that?"

Spike just looked inordinately pleased by the reactions to his handiwork, puffing tiny flames happily. "All part of the fun! Nice seeing if people can handle the sizzle." He leaned my way conspiratorially. "But yeah, you're catching a legit fire-breather's buzz from those peppers now probably."

I blinked thoughtfully through the pleasantly tingling haze of delicious demolition dancing on my tongue. So these were faint hints of sensations sought by those embracing blistering treats? What blazes beyond braved the boldest foodies testing limits for that elusive perfect burn?

But Twilight's visible relief as water soothed cooked tissues reminded me to respect differences in our frames now. "Well I better rein it in - don't wanna accidentally torch taste buds we can't repair later right?" I raised my refilled glass her way smiling ruefully. "Here's to enjoying spice life safely!"

Spike reached across the table to swat at me. "You're a flamie, like me. Eat up. We could bury ourselves in the stuff without hurting ourself. Watching a not-flammie get scorched isn't a good measure of it."

Oh, well... I took up another spoon to savor those flavors. "Mmm...."

"Yeah, exactly." Spike looked over to Twinkle. "How are you holding up? You've been quiet about it."

Twinkle took a bite of hers and considered it a moment. "New, but not bad." She took another bite, unbothered by any heat in it.

Twilight peered skeptically. "How are you...?"

"I was a doll, then I was a pony." She took a fresh bite. "I was made differently. It's not bothering me that much." Her spoon fell out of her magic suddenly. "Oh."

Twilight looked smugly pleased. "Just caught up to you, did it?"

But Twinkle firmed her jaw, clearly stubbornness warring with the urge to pant. She lifted the spoon again for another defiant bite, eyes watering but resolute. We kept quiet - no interfering in this battle of wills waged one searing spoonful at a time!

I grabbed a glass of water and slid it closer to Twinkle in a quiet offering of succor.

She took another bite with a forced 'Mmm' of false delight. I let her struggle, actually enjoying my next bite. Being resistant to chemical heat was kinda great. "Good job, Spike. But, I'd vote, you ease up a bit. We have two ponies we could singe with the flames turned up that high."

Spike snickered softly. "What? I just wanted to see how it'd turn out, at least once..."

Twinkle made a visible effort to relax her rigid pose, tension unwinding a hair at my gently teasing tone free from judgments. With a shaky exhale, Twinkle managed a faint grin my way before sipping the cool water gratefully.

"We still respect your moxie, no sweat." I raised my refilled glass towards persistent Twinkle before glancing Spike's amused way. "But yeah, maybe go easier on non-dragons next round!"

He rolled his eyes in mock annoyance but obligingly toned down the lava levels on the backup pot. And the rest of dinner proceeded pleasantly enough for all diners' tolerance levels present at our humble table built on bonds beyond mere biology.

Twinkle cleared her throat. "As I was saying! Expect cool. Cool is an older kirin to speak gentle and kindly to the unexpected kirin and try to talk sense into them."

I blinked at that. "Couldn't they do that the other way around!?"

Author's Note

The kirin aren't done, but who cares, chili time.

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