#slight spoilers for Legacy of Yangchen

[junipernight]

I love them, your honor

[swiftsaltsweet]

Two Knives Chapter 6: Kyoshi- We Didn't Start the Fire

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi

Rating: M

Summary:

Things have been stressful for Kyoshi. First, she sang a poem and now the whole kitchen staff thinks it’s about Rangi, and is sure that there will be gossip. Then, Yun asks her to join him for the Fifth Nation treaty signing. Now Rangi’s acting strange. It’s becoming a bit much for Kyoshi’s small corner of the world.

(Canon Divergent AU- Kelsang wasn’t the one who heard the poem?….aka What if it took longer for them to realize Kyoshi was the Avatar?)

Other Sites: AO3 

A/N: I really like the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire”~! :3c

Slight spoilers for Legacy of Yangchen. The spoiler is a reference to a play in the novel. It’s very minor and not….really plot relevant. But I wanted to warn in case someone wants to go into Yangchen 100% spoiler free.

Hey, weird question. Y'all ever had an idea and thought 'lol this is fun/funny' then you got to it and like....now you're unsure but hey you're here now and it's everyone's problem? No reason, just asking for a friend hahah >x> *sprints away to the end notes*

And slight trigger warning for possible slight/mild homophobia. I left it up to interpretation tbh. 

_____

“Your mother’s gotten really fixated on hot squats recently,” Kyoshi mused as she held the firebender close. Her head rested on top of Rangi’s, carefully avoiding the pins on her head. The only sharp object on the girl at the moment. 

The spiked armor laying on the floor of the carriage. Thanks to the carriage, the two girls could be as close as they wanted without anyone bothering them.

Not like they had much of a choice to spread out in the carriage with all the cargo they had packed in there. But they would use whatever excuse they could use.

Kyoshi and Rangi were well on their way back from Hongcun Village, a village north of Qinchao Village. Iit was known for being a hot spot trading post as well specializing in weaponry dealing and repairs. They had to ride with another passenger to Hongcun, but on the way back they had the whole ride to themselves and they were making the most of it.

Rangi hummed thoughtfully. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She never cared that much about hot squats before, she was more of a horse stance fanatic.”

Kyoshi had seen Yun have to do horse stance a few times, but today it seemed like it was hot squat hell for him. Yun hadn’t had a chance to see them off, all thanks to Hei-Ran wanting to begin his training before the sun even came up. 

Kyoshi shuddered, thankful she never had to do either training exercise in her entire life, and was hopeful she never would.

Rangi suddenly laughed. “What’s got you all shaken up?”

“Just thinking about the nightmare of horse stance,” Kyoshi mumbled. It was a popular form for earthbenders, she used to see the villagers perform competitions for who could hold it the longest. It looked like hell.

Rangi detangled herself from Kyoshi, and readjusted in the seat so her head was laying on Kyoshi’s lap. “It’s not the worst thing ever.” Then she thought about it for a moment. “Ok, it’s up there.”

Kyoshi started to run her fingers through Rangi’s hair. “If it’s only ‘up there,’ then what’s the worst thing ever?” she chuckled.

Rangi looked at Kyoshi then turned her head and looked away, deeply troubled. She seemed to have taken Kyoshi’s question a little too seriously.

“Sorry, that's…..not something I want to think about.”

Kyoshi bit her lip, she had a distinct feeling of what might’ve been the source of Rangi’s uneasiness. The words came out before she could stop them. “Is this about Yun asking me to join as a companion?”

She cursed herself in her mind, she wanted to enjoy the day with Rangi, not upset her!

But instead of making her more upset, Rangi's tense face softened a bit, to Kyoshi's surprise. “In a way.”

“I won't do it if you don't want me to!” It had been what she wanted to say to Yun back when he first made the proposition. 

Rangi blinked, and then finally looked back at Kyoshi. Her eyes glistened with a far away look in her eye. Rangi wrapped her arms around Kyoshi’s waist, and buried her face into Kyoshi’s belly. 

Kyoshi did her best to hug Rangi back, considering the awkward angle. “I just want you-no, us to be happy. So, if you don’t want me to become a companion, I won’t do it.”

Kyoshi didn’t really need the glory of Avatar companionship. She was just happy in the section of the world she carved out for herself. If she had to wait for Rangi and Yun to come back every so often so that Rangi felt at ease, then it would be an easy trade.

They stayed like that, Rangi grabbing Kyoshi like her life depended on it. Kyoshi rubbing soothing circles into Rangi’s back.

Rangi let out a sound of air, it almost sounded like a laugh. “I’m not sure.”

Kyoshi blinked. “Huh?”

Rangi let go of Kyoshi and sat back up, she took one of Kyoshi’s hands and started tracing the lines of her palm. “I’m not sure….. if you should take him up on his offer.”

Kyoshi felt her eyes start to spin, the contradiction coming from Rangi overloading her brain. “I-I thought you were livid at the idea….” She distinctly remembered the firebender shaking with anger when it was first brought up.

“I was, but then he raised a good point.” Rangi took a breath. “It might be good for you to learn how to defend yourself. I’d rather you didn’t have to learn because you were becoming a companion, but….” She sighed.

Kyoshi’s eyes stopped spinning, the contradiction was unraveled and solved.

She turned to Rangi and gave her a lopsided smile and jokingly said, “But I have you to protect me.”

She expected Rangi to roll her eyes and push her, maybe even make a disgusted noise like she did when Kyoshi said something similar after the jar incident. But instead Rangi shook her head with a saddened expression as she looked at the ground. “But what if I’m not there to protect you?”

Kyoshi moved her hand so Rangi wasn’t playing with it anymore, but to hold it instead. “What do you mean?”

Rangi sighed. “Well, what if I go on the mission with Yun, and someone attacks his home? What if you got hurt because of that?”

Kyoshi squeezed Rangi’s hand and laughed. “That wouldn’t happen.”

“But how can you know that?” Rangi looked at her with a worried expression.

Kyoshi didn’t. “So you want me to join you on your adventures so that won’t happen?”

Rangi shook her head. “No, that's……more terrifying. The Avatar has to confront some of the worst people and situations imaginable, I don’t want you near that.”

Kyoshi sighed. “So you just want me to learn how to defend myself?” She could do that, within reason. But she wondered how it would fit into her schedule. Kyoshi had a feeling more sleep would be sacrificed.

“If that isn’t too much trouble……”

“Are you going to train me?”

Rangi raised an eyebrow. “I’m not an earthbender, Kyoshi.”

Kyoshi shook her head. “No I-.... I don’t think earthbending is in the cards for me. But maybe some hand to hand? To start off? Then I’ll look into what I can do about my earthbending.”

Rangi tilted her head and closed her eyes in thought for a moment, then opened them. “I suppose that could work. But what is it with you and earthbending? You always avoid it.”

Kyoshi sighed. She avoided the topic for the past two years, it was about time she explained herself. At least of all her secrets and issues, this one wasn’t that hard to talk about.

“I can’t really……bend….well.”

Rangi snorted. “I figured as much when you refused to stop the jar from falling!” She gave Kyoshi a playful shove. “I’ll have you know, your little stunt almost gave me a heart attack. You really know how to make a girl fall for you.”

Kyoshi stared at Rangi surprised, Rangi’s joke sailing right over her head. “Wait, you’ve liked me since back then?!”

Rangi's face fell in horror. “Kyoshi!”

A grin grew across Kyoshi’s face. “Just kidding!” She pulled Rangi into a hug before the firebender could get back at her. Kyoshi had pieced together that Rangi had liked her as far back as that. She just wasn’t sure exactly when the firebender had fallen for her. 

The jar…. Come to think of it, that was the same day I sang that poem. 

“I can’t bend small objects,” Kyoshi continued as Rangi struggled against the snuggle. “I can only, uh, ‘go big’?”

Rangi stopped struggling and looked at Kyoshi. “Isn’t that a little backwards?”

Kyoshi nodded.

Rangi thought about it for a moment. “No, I don’t think that’s the best way to describe it. You just need to learn control. Sure, that level of control needed might not be common, but everyone needs to learn control regardless. You just…. need it more than others!”

Kyoshi never thought about it like that, she just thought she was a lost cause. Leave it to her super talented bender girlfriend to make it easier to digest.

Kyoshi hugged Rangi harder as the firebender cuddled in closer. “That being said,” Rangi started, “I feel like you exercise a bit too much control in some aspects of your life.”

Rangi pressed her hand to Kyoshi’s chest, and proceeded to trail it down the length of Kyoshi’s body, searching for the opening in Kyoshi’s robes. When she did find it, she planted a warm kiss on Kyoshi's jaw as her fingers raked soft skin. Rangi’s fingers were warm on Kyoshi’s bare skin.

Kyoshi groaned at the sensation. She lowered her body down the length of the seat so Rangi could climb on top of her. She needed more of the firebender's contact on her. “Trust me, I don’t want to exercise any control when it comes to this.”

“And yet you do,” Rangi hummed, her lips making her way to Kyoshi’s neck.

Kyoshi responded by grabbing Rangi by the hips and grinded hard against the firebender. Rangi let out a moan into the crook of Kyoshi’s neck, causing them both to press in harder against each other for more friction. 

“It’s not me, it’s the people who keep interrupting us,” Kyoshi forced out in low gasps.

Rangi snaked her free hand to Kyoshi’s hair and gave it a tug, making Kyoshi expose more of her neck’s pulse point. “Well it’s a good thing we’re alone now, with a lot of time until we arrive back at Yokoya.”

Kyoshi squirmed delightfully when Rangi’s lips made contact, warmth radiated through Kyoshi’s body with each pulsing beat. She was going to enjoy every moment of this bumpy carriage ride. She was just thankful that the road had smoothed out for the last few minutes. It was so smooth, it was like they weren’t even moving at all!

Wait…..

“Rangi, stop,” Kyoshi forced out the words she would never want to say. She had a bad feeling.

Rangi did as she commanded, but she gave her a disapproving look.

“Are we still moving?” Kyoshi asked.

Before Rangi could answer or question, there was a knock at the door and the driver’s voice could be heard. “Misses? I’m sorry but we need to st-”

The look of fury that Kyoshi saw flash across Rangi’s face could’ve melted a volcano. Like a flash of lightning, Rangi quickly straightened her clothes, grabbed her armor, donned it, and ripped the door open before the driver could finish his sentence.

“WHY?!” 

The driver flinched, not expecting such a reaction. Kyoshi would’ve felt bad for him if he didn’t just interrupt a possibly life changing moment for Kyoshi…. And if she wasn’t so preoccupied with staying out of his line of sight and readjusting her clothes to look presentable again. 

“T-the, uh, the spokes-I mean the wheel? It’s busted we need to replace it-”

“Again?! This is the second time! Just replace it and don’t bother us!”

“Second? Oh, that was a different carriage! I-I mean! It will be! It’ll just take a few hours to get the part. In the meantime, we’ll be in Qinchao Village while we wait-”

Rangi slammed the door shut. Took a few breaths. Then turned to Kyoshi with the saddest deer puppy eyes Kyoshi had ever seen.

“I think the universe hates us.”

Kyoshi laughed, in a sense relieved to see Rangi was just as frustrated as she was. She finished straightening up and took Rangi’s hand. She gently rubbed the top of it with her thumb. “Let’s try to not make the driver hate us too.”

_____________________________

Qinchao Village was a strange place. Most residents belonged to the Chin Clan, which made most people feel like outsiders as they walked through the same-faced streets. They had strange holidays not celebrated anywhere else in the Earth Kingdom, and made it known their loyalties lied with the village over the Earth Kingdom as a whole. Only their wealth allowed most to overlook its strangeness.

Kyoshi had only been there once before, with the other maids on a day off. While Master Jianzhu had told them to be careful, nothing bad had happened and they got home safely. However, Kyoshi couldn’t help but shake a strange feeling of dread she had the entire time she was there.

And the same feeling started to overcome her as she and Rangi crossed the threshold into the village. She looped her arm around Rangi’s, and pulled her close as she did.

“Everything alright?” Rangi asked. 

Kyoshi sighed and whispered. “Master Jianzhu warned us this place can be a bit…..interesting. I just can’t shake the feeling that these guys are just waiting for an opportunity to burn me alive.”

Rangi snorted. “I’d like to see them try.” Right, Rangi would probably redirect the flames back at the village if they tried to burn either of them. Still didn’t mean they shouldn’t be careful.

The dread subsided a bit upon seeing how relaxed Rangi was, but it still hung deep within her being. It most likely wouldn’t leave until the girls left the village. 

The two decided to wander the village. Enjoying various wares at the bazaar. Enjoying tea at a nice teahouse. They even watched a small puppet show of an old story called ‘The Lost Slipper’ that was in the central square. The group of children let out an uproarious cheer when the hero was revived at the end and the evil minister had to dedicate his life and fortune to repent.

Rangi took Kyoshi’s hand as they left the crowd, heading back to the carriage to see if it was ready yet. “You know, legends say that Yangchen herself changed the ending to that play.”

“Really?” 

“Yup, apparently she hated the original ending, so she boo’d it.”

Kyoshi giggled. “Hard to imagine an Avatar such as herself doing such a thing.” Kyoshi tried to imagine the perfect, holy Avatar booing a puppet play and throwing a tomato at the stage.

Rangi laughed back. “I know, right?”

“So what was the original ending?”

Rangi pursed her lips. “I think the hero dies? So the hero’s life is traded so the evil minister can be taught a lesson? I don’t remember, the original ending is only survived by word of mouth nowadays, but it’s not very popular anymore.”

Kyoshi grimaced. “I can see why, doesn’t seem like a pleasant ending. Not a fair trade.”

Rangi nodded in agreement. 

They kept walking hand in hand, ignoring the stares they got. Kyoshi wondered if it was because she was holding hands with Rangi, an act that didn’t seem out of the ordinary for two girls to do. Or if it was because they were obvious outsiders in the village. 

As they rounded a nearby corner, something collided with Kyoshi's side. Kyoshi’s stumbed a bit as someone was knocked to the ground. “Gah!”

“Hey! Watch where you're going!” Rangi yelled at the person who ran into Kyoshi.

Kyoshi looked down and saw a square-faced boy with a sullen expression.

“Rangi, it's ok,” Kyoshi pulled Rangi behind her, still not letting go of her hand. Kyoshi then held out her other hand to the boy. “I'm sorry about that. Please be careful, you could hurt yourself.”

Kyoshi tried giving him the kindest, softest expression she could muster. Regardless of how kind her face may look, people tended to assume she was overly aggressive just based on her height alone. She tried to overcompensate to not scare the boy.

The boy looked at Kyoshi's hand that was extended, then at the one that was still being held by Rangi. From where he sat, the boy took his wooden sword and slammed it into Kyoshi’s shin. Kyoshi let out a high pitch noise. She released Rangi's hand as she clutched at her shin and bounced on one leg.

“Quick, Chin! Let’s get out of here!” one of the other boys called after the one with the sword.

The boy named Chin scrambled to his feet as he ran off, yelling about how he’d conquered a giant. She had a feeling her stature wasn’t the cause of his outburst, but that he was just spoiled brat.

As he ran away, a part of Kyoshi couldn’t help but think his name was stupid. Did those kids just call him Chin, when they’re also part of the Chin clan? Or was Chin his first name? So his name was Chin Chin? The strangeness of it all was about to give Kyoshi a headache. 

“Hey! Get back here!” Rangi yelled at the boy, but Kyoshi grabbed her by the shoulder. Partially to keep Rangi from making a scene, but mostly for Kyoshi to keep her balance.

“Rangi, it’s fine. Don’t leave me here alone,” Kyoshi said pitifully. 

Rangi sighed, annoyed, and helped hobble Kyoshi over to a nearby bench. “You know this is just reinforcing why I’m afraid to leave you alone. First Earth Kingdom peasants can out bend you. Now random eleven year olds with wooden swords are ready to take you out!”

Kyoshi grinned. “Oh no! Looks like I’m just going to need to be glued to you at the hip at this rate.”

“I bet you’d enjoy that,” Rangi smirked at her. “Wait here, I’m going to get some ice.” Kyoshi gave her a pitiful look in response. “Really, it’ll only be a second, I’m going right through this door.”

Kyoshi sat on the bench, trying to block out the pain of the welt forming on her leg. She looked around, and had a distinct feeling villagers of the village were staring at her. Among groups, from their stalls, and even through their windows. So many eyes, hidden in various crevices. And they felt like they were multiplying.

We should get out of here…..soon. Kyoshi thought. She didn’t have scopophobia, but most people started to develop some anxiety similar to that the longer they stayed in the village. 

When Rangi came back into view, Kyoshi’s worries didn’t ease as much as she thought they would upon seeing the firebender. If anything, she got more anxious. Afraid of what they could do to Rangi.

Rangi held some ice wrapped in cloth. Without being prompted, Kyoshi began to roll up her pant leg, a nasty bruise started to form, it hurt as badly as it looked. Rangi knelt down and gently pressed the ice to Kyoshi’s leg.

“Tch, that brat, why I-”

“Rangi, it’s fine,” Kyoshi tried to soothe. It really wasn’t but…. she really didn’t want either of them to get into a fight with a child. Especially if it got back to Jianzhu and Hei-Ran.

Rangi moved the ice around, trying to find the best angle that would cover most of the wound. “I have half a mind to drop him into the ocean……”

“Rangi…..” Kyoshi bemoaned. “Dropping people into the ocean is bad.”

Rangi gave Kyoshi a deadpanned look. “Not for me.”

Kyoshi needed to come up with something to distract Rangi. Lest her girlfriend spent the nights delivering sweet justice to annoying children as the local boogeyman. 

Kyoshi looked down at the injury on her leg and started to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Rangi asked.

Kyoshi took her injured leg and tapped Rangi lightly with it. “Hey look, we match,” Kyoshi laughed.

“This isn't something I want to match,” Rangi pouted. 

Kyoshi ignored her. “It’s the same leg and even the same spot. The only difference is that you’re the one on your knees this time.” Kyoshi couldn’t help but smirk a bit at her little innuendo at the end, waiting for Rangi’s reaction.

Rangi bit her lip, as if biting back a smile. “Ok, I’ll admit, I do like seeing you on your knees.”

“Is it because it makes you feel taller?” Kyoshi couldn’t help but joke. Rangi lost her fight and smiled, then she smacked Kyoshi’s good knee.

“Though, I do wish we were in your room doing this. I kind of like this new angle of you.” Rangi tilted her head to accentuate her point. Kyoshi watched as the angle moved the dark tressels of her hair to the side, and revealed her smooth, pale neck. Almost like she was offering it to Kyoshi.

“Oh?” Kyoshi inquired. Pleased to see where this conversation was going.

“It makes me want to try something,” Rangi batted her eyelashes at Kyoshi. She placed one hand on Kyoshi’s knee, to onlookers it looked like it was an act to steady herself as she remained squatted down. But she let her thumb wander farther in to graz Kyoshi’s inner thigh.l

Kyoshi’s face blazed a glowing red as she stood up suddenly, ignoring the pain in her leg. She was excited to find out what it was. “Will the carriage do?”

Rangi’s smile grew. “It’s a little cramped but maybe we can make do? I’m sure we can find something else to do if it’s not possible.” 

Kyoshi grabbed Rangi’s hand, and the two hurried back to the carriage. The pain in Kyoshi’s leg quickly became an afterthought.

_____________________

“Kyoshi, your hands are…. so…. warm!” Rangi moaned into the crown of Kyoshi’s head as she gripped Kyoshi’s hair tightly, pushing the maid’s head harder into her chest. Kyoshi was thankful the firebender removed her armor again, it was a lot more pleasant for her to have face shoved into Rangi’s soft chest rather than a metal plate.

Unfortunately for the two of them, the carriage was too packed to try what Rangi wanted to do. But Kyoshi had found she was able to continue where she left off from the night prior. Which was a good trade all things considered.

And that’s how they got into this new position. Rangi straddling Kyoshi’s lap, and Kyoshi’s hand down Rangi’s waistband. Trying to keep the firebender anchored was about as much of a struggle as keeping her quiet.

The carriage hit a bump, which caused fingers and other body parts to slam into new spots, and shift a little harder than the rhythm was previously established. Rangi let out another moan, this one much too loud.

Kyoshi made a mental note of where her fingers were, so she could try to recreate that again at a later time.

“Rangi,” Kyoshi pulled her face away just enough so words could be heard and formed. “You…. need to be…more…quiet…. Or the driver might stop us…..again!”

She felt Rangi’s chin bob up and down, but Kyoshi had a feeling she wasn’t really listening. Kyoshi should probably change tactics before they had another close call. 

If the small sane part of Kyoshi was keeping track of time correctly, and she probably wasn’t, they were about an hour away from Yokoya. Which meant…..they had an hour to look presentable again. Which meant….they should stop. 

With a forlorn sigh and great difficulty, Kyoshi removed her hand from Rangi’s pants.

“Don’t stop!” Rangi whined, and Kyoshi almost complied. She felt Rangi pull away and lift Kyoshi’s face up to look at her. “Please, don’t stop.” As she spoke, a small puff of steam escaped her lips.

Kyoshi gazed at Rangi revantly. Rangi’s eyes were soft and melting like liquid honey, her hair was loose and coming undone, and her face had a light sheen from sweat and steam that she had been creating. She looked like a mess, and Kyoshi loved it. 

“You’re a mess,” she smiled, breathless. 

“Only because you made me like this,” Rangi whispered back. 

Kyoshi forgot what she was supposed to not do, and leaned up to kiss Rangi. Rangi met her halfway with a steamy, open mouth kiss. It felt like they were exchanging the steam between them. Exchanging their heat. If Kyoshi had the ability to think at that moment, she would’ve wondered how she could be matching a firebender’s warmth like that. 

The kiss broke when the carriage hit another rough bump, sending Rangi almost flying. Kyoshi snagged her around the waist and kept her anchored with one hand, and used her other hand to stop one of the stacked packages from falling on them with the other. And then had to repeat the process when the carriage hit another bump.

“He could make the ride a little smoother,” Rangi grumbled as she shifted off of Kyoshi.

Kyoshi laughed as they began fixing themselves up. She leaned over and drew the window curtain back and opened the window to let the heat escape. 

“Maybe we should open the door too? Just a crack?” Rangi proposed as she tied one of the knots on her armor in place. Then she started fanning herself.

Kyoshi did as she asked. “What? Can’t take the heat? Then why do you generate so much?” Kyoshi laughed.

Rangi blushed. “I-I don’t know, I’ve never emitted this much before. Not even when I was angry.” 

So Rangi was like this because Kyoshi had that effect on her? Well that was some of the best news Kyoshi had heard in the past month.

Kyoshi finished propping the door open. Just as she opened her mouth to tease Rangi some more, she felt her body fly back from the sudden jolt in the carriage as it started barreling down the road. 

Kyoshi threw herself over Rangi as packages started to fall, the door to the carriage flinging open and closed until it finally stayed closed from a stray package falling in front of it. 

The vehicle felt like it was out of control, or maybe something worse.

“What’s going on?!” Rangi bellowed to the driver. Kyoshi hoped the man was still at the helm

“D-daofe!” He screeched.

Kyoshi felt Rangi throw them to the ground, or really on top of the sprawled out packages. There was a twump on the seat they were just sitting on, and Kyoshi looked up to see an arrow poking through the seat. 

“Kyoshi, whatever you do, do not leave this cart!” Rangi whispered in Kyoshi’s ear. Then she twisted around, threw her leg forward, and kicked the carriage door back open before jumping out before Kyoshi processed what was going on.

Before Kyoshi could decide if she wanted to follow Rangi’s order or not, the carriage took a hard turn and flew her to the other side away from the door. She caught a long box that landed on her stomach. The carriage kept moving side to side, flinging Kyoshi all around, until the feeling of weightlessness hit her. 

She and the packages started to float and then gravity kicked in. The cart and everything inside slammed to the ground, Kyoshi becoming sandwiched between the cart and multiple packages and crates. 

Kyoshi felt the carriage wobble left and right. It wasn’t going to remain upturned for long. When the carriage started to tip towards the door, she threw herself out of it, taking some of the packages with her. 

Kyoshi hit the ground with a hard thump, the long package that she caught earlier falling out of her arms next to her. Not long after she hit the ground she heard a crash. Kyoshi looked up and saw the carriage a splintered mess against a boulder and a tree. 

Kyoshi tried to sit up and found herself extremely dizzy. She felt something warm running down her neck and put a hand to her head. It was wet. 

Not good. She thought as she pulled her hand away and saw the red on her hand.

The sound of a tree branch snapping caught Kyoshi’s attention. Her head whipped around to a treeline, hoping to see Rangi. Instead, a tall tattooed man brandishing a bagua dao sword stepped out from between the bushes. 

The daofei grinned wildly when his eyes fell on Kyoshi. Dread shot through Kyoshi, not because a daofei was approaching her, but because she saw him wipe blood off of his sword. 

Where’s Rangi?! She screamed in her head, trying to strain her ears for the familiar blast of fire being combusted through the air. But all she could really hear was the ringing in her head. 

“Well look what we have here,” the daofei snickered as he approached Kyoshi. Kyoshi was able to get into a sitting position, but she was in no shape to stand just yet. 

The man raised his sword above his head. “I’m going to have fun with you.”

Kyoshi quickly grabbed the long box that was near her, and held it above her head with both hands. The sword came down and the box stopped it with a metal clang!

“What?!” the daofei yelled. And then he proceeded to let off a series of swings at Kyoshi. Kyoshi tried her best to block each one, fairly easy since the barrage came down at similar angles. As if he was just playing with her, wanting to tire her out. But each hit was met with another metal clang, and the blade never slashed through whatever was blocking the sword. 

The man stopped, breathing heavily but with a smile still on his face. Kyoshi felt her grip on the package slipping and realized he’d decimated the box completely. She tried to regain her grip on the box, but cut her hand on the object inside, causing the box to drop on her lap.

She looked down, and saw Tagaka’s iconic green jian sword. Kyoshi’s eyes widened as she realized this must’ve been what Jianzhu made Rangi drop off the day prior. He wanted it to be looked over by the expert smithies from Hongcun. 

Kyoshi began to pick the sword up by its hilt as she crawled away. She was going to need more space if she was going to have a chance of standing up to fight back.

The man let her crawl away while laughing, it was obvious he didn’t see Kyoshi as a threat. She stood up and held the sword out in front of her.

The daofei’s laughter grew more boisterous as he saw her ready the sword, and slowly started walking towards her. “Aw, that’s cute. You think you can fight back?”

He quickly rushed her and swung his sword at hers. She barely had to move to block the oncoming attacks, he was hitting her sword on purpose. After a few hits, Kyoshi understood why. The vibrations of the metal hitting each other were too foreign and numbing for her as it radiated through her arms. She wasn’t going to be able to hold the sword for much longer.

“You’re holding out longer than that firebender!” the daofei jeered gleefully at Kyoshi.

Kyoshi felt a surge of fury rise through her at the mention of Rangi. She slammed her foot down to anchor herself, and pushed with the sword. “What did you do to Rangi?!”

To the man’s surprise, he started to be pushed back, but only a little. While Kyoshi had height on him, he had more muscle than her.

The daofei’s smirk became strained. “Oh the firegirl? Don’t worry, you’ll see her soon. We’re all going to have a lot of fun-argh!”

Kyoshi’s eyes felt like the sun glared right into her eyes, and a surge of strength hit her as at that instant. She threw her whole weight and strength against the man and flung him back.

She went to pursue the man, to follow up her attack, but when she put her other foot forward, her leg buckled. It was the leg she’d injured earlier. 

She caught herself by stabbing the ground with Tagaka’s sword. Her legs bent into a deep stance as her arms gripped the sword for support.

The daofei picked himself back up, but instead of readying his sword, he dropped into a stance himself. “I like a girl with a little fight in her!” He thrusted his arm forward and a large boulder soared through the air at Kyoshi.

Kyoshi felt the sun’s blinding light hit her eyes again, and the surge of strength hit her once more. She took one hand off the sword’s hilt, and thrusted a palm outward. She felt a push as she made contact with her natural element, stopping the boulder midair. 

“Geh?! What?!” the daofei yelled, unable to budge the earth she now controlled.

Kyoshi clenched her hand into a fist, and with the last of her strength, twisted her torso and the rest of her body downward, her fist colliding with the ground below her.

The boulder slammed into the ground with ease, and soon sank into the pit that was created by a fissure that appeared in the ground. A fissure that started at Kyoshi’s fist, and branched outward as the earth shook. 

The daofei screamed in terror, and scrambled to get out of the way of the growing hole. She watched through blurred vision as the man ran off into the forest. Kyoshi wanted to find Rangi or go after the man, but she felt her body slowly sinking to the side. Exhausted. 

As her vision started to waver further, she saw fur Water Tribe boots walk into the corner of her vision.

“Don’t worry, kid,” a gentle, deep voice with a thick accent spoke to her. “Everything’s going to be just fine. Rest.”

Kyoshi lost consciousness just as she was hit with intense déjà vu.

_________

A familiar brown ceiling came into view as Kyoshi opened her eyes. Déjà vu.

She felt warm, warmer than usual. Déjà vu. 

But it wasn’t the air, this time it felt like it came from the weight of something on top of her. Multiple blankets. Not déjà vu. 

She turned her head to find someone familiar sitting there. Déjà vu. 

But it wasn’t Rangi this time. Not déjà vu. 

“Kyoshi!” Kelsang cried as she turned to him. He looked like he’d aged since she last saw him. Strange….. He looked better this morning.

“W-he-” Kyoshi’s voice cracked. Dried out. Déjà vu. But she pushed through. “Where’s Rangi?”

Kelsang took a glass from nearby and helped Kyoshi drink it. Déjà vu. “She’s fine, she’s resting in her room. I’ve ordered her and Yun to stay out of here until you’ve recovered.”

Kyoshi felt her being lightened a bit, knowing Rangi was alright. Then her morale sank when she realized she couldn’t see the girl just yet. 

“I’m awake now, so can I see-”

Kelsang shook his head. “No, Kyoshi. We need the healer to look you over first.”

“Why? I feel fine!” That was a lie, she felt tired. Very tired. She was fighting a war against sleep and was losing. Stupid body, stay awake. You just woke up!

“Kyoshi, you’ve been asleep for three days!” Déjà vu.

Hasn’t this happened before? What’s going on?

“Kyoshi, what happened?” Kelsang asked. He placed his hand over hers in a soothing fashion. 

Kyoshi’s mouth started to speak before her murky mind caught up to her. “Our carriage was attacked by daofei? Rangi and I got separated. I was in a crash…. Then a daofei caught up to me, and we fought. I think I used a sword to defend myself at some point? And then we fought with earthbending. And I….I guess I used up too much energy?” 

Kelsang pursed his lips and nodded. “Do you know who made that fissure?”

Fissure? Kyoshi wracked her brain, but nothing came up. “The two of us? I’m not sure. A lot was happening really fast.” 

Kelsang nodded and smiled, then he stroked the top of her head. The sensation made her relax, but that relaxation made her slip more into sleepiness.

“I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Safe. Right, she couldn’t sleep until she saw Rangi. She needed to see with her own eyes that she was safe too. “Kelsang, please, I need to see Rangi.”

Kelsang’s smile grew a little sadder. “Kyoshi, I think even if I ran to get her right now, you’d fall back asleep before she’d arrive.”

Kyoshi shook her head, the energy it took made her eyes feel heavier. “No, I’ll stay awake. Please, go get her….”

“She’s busy at the moment, Kyoshi.”

Busy? But I thought you said she was in her room resting. Kyoshi could feel the world dizzying around her. “Bus-but….you said she was-” she slurred

“Shhhh,” Kelsang hushed. He pulled one of the blankets back over Kyoshi’s shoulders. “She’ll still be here when you wake up. Just rest for now, dear.”

The panic in Kyoshi’s being was taken alongside her consciousness, as sleep hooked its claws into both of them, and sunk them down to the dark abyss.

_______________

The people who were there when Kyoshi woke up were Auntie Mui, a Water Tribe woman, and, once again, Kelsang.

According to Kelsang, Kyoshi and Rangi were lucky that one of their visitors to the mansion had happened to be a healer. That was the reason Kyoshi didn’t have any major wounds when she woke up. He consoled her that Rangi had also gotten her own treatment as well.

The Water Tribe woman stated she couldn’t find anything wrong with Kyoshi, only that her chi had been diminished to a dangerous state the other day. Which is why she was unconscious for almost four days straight. 

So Kyoshi really had just exhausted herself. Considering she wasn’t a fighter, that alone explained itself.

Kyoshi spent the rest of the day in the infirmary, attempting to grill Kelsang and Auntie Mui about what had been going on while she was asleep.

The two remained tightlipped regarding most things. And they still wouldn’t let Rangi nor Yun come in and visit her. 

The only thing she got out of them was that because of the attack, they’d found out there were daofei skulking about the area much closer to home than Jianzhu was comfortable with. So he was out leading a charge to find their hideout.

Yun was training with Hei-Ran, or he was talking to the Water Tribe ambassadors that had come to visit for tips on waterbending. Kyoshi could only assume Rangi was either with Yun, or still in her room.

But now, Kyoshi had to sit in the infirmary, while she watched Kelsang and Auntie Mui play pai sho. 

“Did I do something wrong?” Kyoshi asked the two elders in front of her. She couldn’t help but feel like she was on house arrest. This entire thing felt like a punishment.

“Goodness! No! Why would you think that?” Auntie Mui comforted her.

Kyoshi’s brow furrowed. If Kyoshi wasn’t the one being punished then….. “Then, did Rangi do something wrong?”

The two went silent and looked at each other. Kyoshi could feel each individual hair on her skin prickle. A foreboding sneaking up on her. One that had been in the room with her for a good while, but she was only now fully realizing its presence. 

“No,” Kelsang said, resolved in his declaration. “No she didn’t, Kyoshi.”

 Kyoshi’s heart began to speed out of control. Something didn’t feel right in that statement. Something had been off in the estate for a while, and she just didn’t understand it yet. She still didn’t understand it. “Then, do other people think Rangi did something wrong?” 

Kelsang’s face faltered. “Well-”

“Why? What happened?!” Kyoshi made a move to jump out of the bed, but Kelsang put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back in.

“She let the daofei go,” he sighed.

Kyoshi blinked, confused. “Why?” Rangi hated daofei about as much as Kyoshi did, it didn’t make sense she would let any of them slip by her. 

“To save you. She went to get help because she wanted to save you,” he said warmly, but there was some sadness in his eyes. “She chose to save a companion rather than exact revenge, or to save some meaningless cargo.”

“Not meaningless to some, unfortunately,” Auntie Mui grumbled. Auntie Mui slammed a tile down onto the pai sho board. “She saved two lives, but-” She didn’t finish her sentence, just let out a stream of grumbles as she massaged her temple. 

Kyoshi’s eyes widened. Two? “The driver’s ok?” 

Kelsang nodded with a warm smile. Kyoshi breathed a sigh of relief, then a wave of remorse flooded her. She had forgotten all about the man. 

Kyoshi’s hands curled into fists over her blanket. “I don’t understand, why is she in trouble?” Saving a comrade, or just anyone’s life in general, shouldn’t that be rewarded? Not punished?

Kelsang sighed. “She was assigned to protect the cargo first, and hunt down enemies second. Anything else was supposed to be ranked last in her duty.”

Kyoshi’s jaw flexed. She was angry. Angry at what Rangi’s duty entailed for that mission. And angry at herself, because she had caused issues for Rangi……

If only Kyoshi knew how to fight, then today might’ve gone differently. It most certainly was a wake up call for her. 

Kelsang put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Just a little reprimand. If it makes you feel better, I’ll throw all this weight around just to make sure she gets off easy!” Kelsang stood up and swung his body side to side, making a show to grab at his stomach. 

Kyoshi and Auntie Mui laughed at his antics. And Kyoshi let the gnawing sensation subside. At least, until later.

_______________________________

That night, once everyone was asleep, Auntie Mui and Kelsang helped Kyoshi back to her room. Auntie Mui made a show to tuck her into bed, and told her if she needed anything to just knock on her door. 

Kyoshi went along with it, and pretended to fall asleep. She waited until they left, and she heard their footsteps disappear down the hall.

When she knew the coast was clear, her eyes flew open, and she hurried to get ready. If Rangi couldn’t come to her, then she was going to Rangi! She was going to try her own hand at sneaking to Rangi’s room.

Kyoshi flung her door open, and almost screamed as she almost barreled into someone in front of her.

Rangi took a step back in shock, her hand was raised to knock on the door. The same hand flew to Rangi’s heart as she gasped, “You scared me-”

Before Rangi could finish her sentence, Kyoshi grabbed the firebender by the tunic, and comically yanked her into the bedroom; right into a crushing hug. 

Kyoshi felt Rangi’s arms flail about for a moment as she buried her face into Rangi’s soft hair. Then once Rangi regained some of her footing, she returned the hug just as fiercely. She wrapped her arms around Kyoshi and clutched at her back.

“I’ve missed you…..” Kyoshi whispered.

Rangi’s response was just one sharp intake of breath, then her body shook. Kyoshi hugged her tighter until the tremors subsided.

“Kyoshi….” Rangi began, breathless. “I keep messing things up…..”

Kyoshi shook her head. “No, you haven't.” Maybe there was more than what Kyoshi knew what was going on, but she would fight anyone who made Rangi feel like she did anything wrong.

Rangi hiccuped out a sob. “No, I mean it, I-”

Before Rangi could finish her sentence, Kyoshi dipped her head down and silenced Rangi with her lips. It was wet, and definitely the coldest kiss the two had shared yet. But it didn’t diminish any of the comfort that it gave. 

Rangi returned the kiss as delicately as Kyoshi had given it, but then gently pushed Kyoshi away when she started sobbing into her lips. 

“You haven’t messed anything up,” Kyoshi reassured her. 

Rangi brought her forearm to her face, and tried rubbing the tears away. Her sobs were broken up with bubbles of laughter in between breaths, “I’m such a mess.”

“I don’t mind. I kind of like it,” she chuckled.

Another hiccup. “You deserve better.”

Kyoshi frowned, not that Rangi could see it. Kyoshi wasn’t sure if she even deserved Rangi. A ray of sunshine that did nothing but provide warmth and light for her. Better? How could anything be better than Rangi herself? 

“I don’t think there’s anything better, cause you’re the best!” Kyoshi said enthusiastically, trying to cheer Rangi up. 

Rangi let out a scoff so poignant, Kyoshi could visualize an eyeroll. “‘The best,’ what kind of best can’t even protect her own girlfriend?”

Kyoshi took one of Rangi’s hands and held it. “You can say the same about me,” Kyoshi laughed. “I was trying to make my way to you and I ended up snoozing on the forest floor.”

“You wouldn't have had to try to get to me if I wasn’t such a-” Rangi stopped herself. Kyoshi had a feeling Rangi was going to call herself a ‘failure,’ and that alone twisted Kyoshi’s heart into a knot. “Mess. If I wasn’t such a mess.”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. “You keep calling yourself that, why?”

“You don’t like messes,” Rangi mumbled. “You’re such a clean freak….”

“A clean freak?” Kyoshi asked with amusement.

“I like that about you. Your tidiness. It’s nice. Very orderly.” Kyoshi could hear a pout in her voice.

“Well, this clean freak still wants this mess,” Kyoshi giggled and kissed the palm of Rangi’s hand. “I still want you.”

Rangi finally pulled her face away from her arm and looked at Kyoshi. Kyoshi’s breath hitched. The tears had stopped but it left behind a sheen that made her face glow. The flush from crying painted her face with a pretty shade of pink, and it accentuated the darkness of her eyelashes. It was so unfair, having a girlfriend who was such a pretty crier. 

But behind the tear stained pretty face, laid eyes that were still unsure and full of fear. Kyoshi wanted to incinerate that fear off the face of the planet.

She placed Rangi’s hand over her chest so she could feel her steady heartbeat. To let Rangi know what she was about to say was the complete and whole truth. “I don’t care. I don’t care if you’re a mess. I wouldn’t care if you went and messed up the entire world. I love you, Rangi.”

Maybe she was jumping the gun on what this new feeling was. But Kyoshi knew deep in her being, what she felt for Rangi was love. It was new. It was reckless. It was foolish. It was raw. But it was true.

Kyoshi watched as the fear and anxiety left Rangi’s eyes like dust in the wind. Then she watched as her face melted into unbridled joy. And then watched as that same face disappeared into Kyoshi’s chest as Rangi wrapped her arms around Kyoshi in a tight embrace.

“Oh, Kyoshi!”

Kyoshi laughed as she hugged Rangi back, she felt almost like air itself. “Hey, I just poured my heart out, don’t leave me hang-”

Rangi pulled away and leaned her face upwards as she caressed Kyoshi’s cheek. Then she pulled Kyoshi’s face down into a deliberate, slow kiss. A smoldering warmth slowly but surely spread out from where their lips met to the rest of their being.

“I love you, Kyoshi,” Rangi whispered into Kyoshi’s lips when she pulled away for some air.

The smolder turned into a spark and quickly became a wildfire. Kyoshi quickly used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, spurred on even more with the way Rangi tangled her fingers into Kyoshi’s hair. The temperature in the room started to rise rapidly, and with it, each kiss felt like a hot brand. 

Kyoshi pushed Rangi up against the door, letting their bodies mold into one another. Kyoshi felt Rangi’s hands fumbling with the front of Kyoshi’s nemaki. Kyoshi took a step back, with one hand she helped Rangi with the obi, and the other found its way to the door’s lock. She didn’t want anyone interrupting them tonight.

______________________________

Kyoshi laid in her bed a changed person. She was certain of it. She remembered how the other maids talked and gossiped about how sex, love and intimacy could do such a thing. And now Kyoshi was certain……….

Kyoshi was certain this isn’t what they had in mind.

“Kyoshi…..” Rangi’s voice whispered, a bit frantic. 

Kyoshi couldn’t move. She forgot how to move. She was feeling too many things at the moment, good and bad, euphoria and dread. So she just continued to stare at the ceiling, horrified. She could feel something gnawing at the corners of her mind, a realization she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“Kyoshi!” Rangi harshly whispered, a bit louder, as she shook Kyoshi. Kyoshi laid there, limply, still afraid to move.

“Kyoshi, look at me,” Rangi pleaded, gently placing a hand on Kyoshi’s cheek and forcing Kyoshi to look away from the scandal that laid above them on her ceiling. “What-”

“Rangi, please tell me that was you,” Kyoshi whispered. 

Rangi’s face relaxed, relieved to see Kyoshi wasn’t broken and could talk. Then she closed her eyes and sighed, a little exasperated. “Kyoshi, my face was down there.”

Kyoshi groaned. “Well….could it be some kind of…..special firebending technique?”

Rangi scoffed. “Like what?”

“I-I don’t know! Maybe you did something and firebended through me?”

“From down there?”

“Y-yes?”

“I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure whatever you’re thinking would’ve resulted in burnt innards.”

“But it doesn’t make sense! Y-you’re the only firebender here! Why is my ceiling scorched?!” Kyoshi cried, a little too loudly. Eyes flitted to her ceiling where a new black circle resided directly above Kyoshi’s head.

Rangi cupped Kyoshi’s cheek with her hand, and rubbed soothing circles with her thumb. “Shh, I know it doesn’t make sense…..” she trailed off. Possibly trying to figure out how to make sense of what happened herself. Apparently, she couldn’t come up with anything.

They laid there like that for a while. Kyoshi, too scared to move. Rangi, rubbing soothing motions along Kyoshi’s cheek. Finally, after gathering her thoughts, Rangi found the courage to speak again. “Kyoshi…..you…. You firebent!”

Kyoshi didn’t say anything. Kyoshi thought the thing she had to worry about coming out of her mouth most were moans, not fire! This wasn’t in any of ‘The Talks’ she had with Auntie Mui or the other maids!

“But….how?” 

Rangi inhaled. “Do you…. Do you know if one of your parents were firebenders?”

Kyoshi shook her head. “No, my father was an Earthbender, and my mother was an Airbender. I’m pretty sure there’s no firebending lineage in my family.”

Rangi looked at Kyoshi, shocked. “Wait, airbender?”

Shoot. Kyoshi had slipped up. This was a wound Kyoshi didn't like to acknowledge, nor was she in the mindset to open up about it yet. Especially not right now.

“Why haven’t you ever mentioned this before?”

Kyoshi looked away, ashamed. A secret Kyoshi didn't want to share. One she was comfortable taking to the grave.

Something in Kyoshi’s expression must’ve discouraged Rangi from pressing further. “Nevermind, we can discuss that later. First we need to figure out this whole firebending fiasco.”

Rangi rolled onto her back, her arm snaked its way under Kyoshi’s neck, and urged Kyoshi to cuddle into her. Kyoshi complied, nuzzling into Rangi’s neck. 

Rangi stared up at the ceiling, as if the scorch mark that she coaxed out of Kyoshi moments earlier would be able to tell her the answers. After a few moments, Rangi gasped. “Spirits above! Forget firebending. How is it you can both earth and firebend?!”

Kyoshi grew stiff. The nagging feeling that had been gnawing at her, had finally clamped its jaws down fully. 

“I….I don’t know!” Kyoshi forced out. 

No one in history had been able to bend more than one element…..except for one person. 

“Kyoshi I think you’re-”

“Don’t say it,” Kyosh nuzzled harder into Rangi. She could feel herself leaving the ground, and needed her girlfriend to be her rock.

“But then that means…..” Rangi didn’t finish the sentence, but there was a seriousness in her voice. Kyoshi could feel Rangi’s body tense as she gripped Kyoshi tighter. More secure. Then she rubbed small soothing circles into her back, as if she could feel Kyoshi’s anxiety rippling out of her. 

A lot of time passed before Rangi spoke up again.

“Come on, let’s get dressed,” Rangi said as she rolled out from under Kyoshi, and off of her bed.

Kyoshi stared at her bug eyed. “W-what? Where are we going?”

Rangi placed a hand on her chin, thoughtfully. “We’re going to…..do a little experiment.”

End Arc 1: The Poem 

Interlude: Rangi’s Side 

_____

A/N: Me, writing the phrase "firebending fiasco”: hey that kinda sounds like “fire sage fiasco”.......this was unintentional but I'm not gonna change it.

Y’know, it HAS been bothering me with the whole Chin thing…..esp after reading RoK. I always thought Chin was his first name, but then there’s the whole “Chin Clan”....so is it a Mario Mario type deal? Or do we not know his first name? I have so many questions u_u

………….. Oh that’s NOT what everyone wants to talk about? “Salty, was that a …fire orgasm? WHy?????” Eyyyyyyy gotta keep you on your toes! >:3c Bet you weren’t expecting this plot development/twist! jaksdfj Fiiiiiine. I thought it’d be funny. (ﾉ≧ڡ≦) (no come back I have a lot of legit serious reasons TT0TT/ but first…..)

Listen, everyone always uses “fire coming out of the mouth” for orgasms in the spicy Rangshi fics, so I decided to play it for a little dramady…… cause I have the humor of a high schooler I guess. TT0TT (in my defense, whenever I see it I tend to cackle cause I can’t really take it seriously dsiljfaklj *sobs* not to discourage from people from doing it, I get the intent and roll with it….but I also think it’s kiiiiiiinda funny)

“So why was this T before M?” Cause alluding to sex is “T” I believe, but then I needed to like…….build up to that moment….. And building up can easily cross it over into M territory (even if I didn’t feel like I was getting that graphic….at first…. u_u). Amazing how I could forget I should do such a thing! :’D Tbh the build up moments weren’t fully conceptualized until I was in the middle of writing so ummmmm yeah. 8U Oops. orz

I mean, I guess I could’ve just jumped to that scene after a “after a few weeks passed” but….that didn’t seem like it was good narrative build up….but I already committed to the twist, which mean slowly building up to that part TT0TT Which meant....~spice~ (I'm not used to writing spice TT0TT)

OK OK BUT FOR REAL FOR REAL! Other than it being kind of a humorous/unique/surprising way of finding out your the Avatar, and integrating it deeply with the Rangshi love story (which is the main focus of this fic, even more so than the other ones I’ve written imo). It was also one of the few ways I could see a reveal happening between the two without other witnesses around. So while I did all that, it was in service to the plot/characters for a reason.

*inhales*.......Ok time to see how much of a mess Rangi’s side is! ─=≡Σ ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

[avatar-wtf]

Kavik is so sassy!! He’s awesome! 😂

I love them, your honor