Two Knives Chapter 14: Rangi- Surprises
Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)
Pairing: Rangshi
Rating: E
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: “It’s back?!” Nope, I just finished Hunt’s latest chapter and was like “I feel like misbehaving :3c” so because of that y'all getting a new chapter early \uwu/
Let’s see…. anything new happened since my last update here? …..….oh right, I read a new “Modern Romance novel” from Disney about Mulan. :) …..It made me realize….. I *could* make these two hornier. :)
Haha I’m over here like “Is this too much?” oh no. I know what “too much” Is now. And I’mma fix that right now uwu (maybe not this chapter or this fic, but I'm keeping it in the back of my mind jdkasljf)
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Jianzhu’s mouth pulled to one side. “You both look dead on your feet. Haven’t you both been sleeping heavily the past few days?”
Rangi and Kyoshi had heavy circles under their eyes. They, in fact, did not get to sleep in today. Less than an hour after Rangi had snuck back to her room, someone was at each of their doors to fetch them to get cleaned up and see Jianzhu in the morning.
“Sorry, Master Jianzhu. I think I’m still recovering from the ordeal,” Kyoshi lied. Yes, Kyoshi had driven herself to exhaustion fighting off daofei in the forest. But that wasn’t why she was tired. Rangi fought to keep the satisfaction from slipping onto her face.
Jianzhu turned to look at Rangi. “And you?”
Rangi weighed her options and decided that the partial truth, while a little embarrassing, would be the best way to go about it. “I haven’t been sleeping. I’ve been staring at a wall for the past few days, reflecting on my failure.” No need to elaborate she was staring at her walls through tears, let her keep some dignity at least.
Jianzhu nodded, “I see. I’m sure you two can guess why you're both here today?”
Rangi tensed slightly. It was obvious he wanted to know what happened in the forest, but a part of her worried he knew about last night. They had no recourse if he began asking questions, no way to legitimize Kyoshi’s Avatar status without some form of embarrassment they were trying to avoid.
“You want to know my side of things?” Kyoshi asked.
“Yes, I’ve already gotten Rangi’s testimony, but I have her here in case anything you say may jog her memory.” He sat back in his seat, hands folded over his lap.
Kyoshi didn’t waste time regaling them both with her side of the story. There wasn’t much, a lot happened in a short amount of time in the heat of battle. Rangi had to fight the nausea that threatened to spill out of her. Just the thought of Kyoshi in battle and vulnerable made her woozy. She was going to need to find a way to deal with it when Kyoshi started her Avatar duties.
Once Kyoshi was done, Jianzhu leaned back and closed his eyes. “I see.”
Rangi bowed. “It’s my fault, I accept full responsibility.”
Jianzhu opened his eyes and waved his hand at her. “That’s not why you’re here.” He stood up and began pacing around his office. “I just wanted to get an idea of what they may have been targeting, what else was stolen. That sort of thing.”
He paused in front of a piece of artwork, leaning forward just slightly to take in the minute details. “The objects you were in charge of escorting were gifts for the bureaucrats. Well, bribes really.”
Rangi tensed. She really messed up, more than she realized.
Jianzhu turned back to the two girls, and gave them a small, calm smile. “Needn’t worry, this may work out in our favor still.” He walked back over to his desk and began fiddling with various objects. “You see, people like their things. Even if it’s not theirs yet.”
He started casing the room, leisurely strolling with his hands behind his back, taking in the various art pieces hanging on his wall. “I had plans to expedite eradicating the daofei from the Earth Kingdom. However, I needed support to push it through. I want the daofei gone, the bureaucrats want their gifts. They’re oozing with motivation now.”
He stopped by a small bonsai tree, and levitated a small pebble from the planter with his earthbending. “In a way, this is allowing me to kill two birds with one stone.” He gently lowered the stone back into place. “Since a lot of them are already upholding their ends of the bargain, in regards to the original bribe. And now there’s this…”
Rangi snuck a glance towards Kyoshi, wondering what her reaction to all of this was. She was just a humble maid, not used to these types of corrupt dealings. Her work made it so she was never stationed in the shadows of these types of conversations, but maybe she had heard a thing or two?
The way Kyoshi’s face was perfectly sculpted into neutrality seemed to give Rangi some sort of answer. Kyoshi may not have been around this type of stuff as much as Rangi had been, but Kyoshi knew enough to stay silent and observe.
Her eyes flitted back over to Jianzhu as he made his way back to his desk and sat down. “Thank you for indulging me, it’s been very informative.” He folded his fingers together and rested it on the table in front of him. “You may return to your rooms for the day, but I expect you both to be at your posts tomorrow. Understood?”
___
Rangi and Kyoshi awkwardly made their way back towards Kyoshi’s room. Their footsteps were heavy with exhaustion.
“So, that was…interesting?” Rangi eyed Kyoshi.
“Was it? Just sounded like normal Earth Kingdom shenanigans to me,” Kyoshi shrugged with a smile. So she was informed on Earth Kingdom corruption…not that the Fire Nation was a gold standard in this case. They loved their bribes too. Regardless, Rangi filed it away.
The duo stopped in front of Kyoshi’s door, and the taller girl’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “So, are you going back to your room or…”
Rangi cocked an eyebrow at her. This girl really liked pushing limits it seemed. And Rangi knew she was way too lenient with her in this regard.
Kyoshi put her hands up in surrender. “I’m going to sleep, I swear!” She brought her hands back down in front of her, twisting them in worry. “I just…like…having you next to me is all.”
Then she hit Rangi with the saddest deer puppy eyes and almost made her crumble fast. But Rangi steeled herself. Instead she distracted herself, taking a step forward and fixing the front of Kyoshi’s robes.
“As much as I’d love to just sleep–” She made a hard tug and deliberately looked into Kyoshi’s eyes for a moment, “–or…not sleep.” Her eyes drifted back down and smoothed the fabric, both palms running themselves down the length of Kyoshi’s chest. She could feel her girlfriend’s heart beating erratically. “I think it’s better if we stay in our own rooms for tonight. Get some well needed rest.”
Kyoshi’s shoulders drooped and she could only imagine the sad look she had on her face. “Okay…”
Rangi bit back a smirk, hands back at the top of Kyoshi’s chest, playing with the crease of the robes. “We’re going to have a long day tomorrow, so really, we need to sleep.”
Kyoshi’s only response was to nod sadly at her. Then Rangi roughly pulled her down, in the process messing up her work, and had Kyoshi’s ear flush against her lips.
“And you’re going to have an even longer night. With me,” she breathed hotly, letting steam escape past her lips.
Kyoshi audibly swallowed, much to her satisfaction. Rangi released her girlfriend and sauntered away, not bothering to spare a glance at the wreck she just left.
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The next day had been rough. The place was busy in general, but the real issue was that people wanted to talk and interrogate the girls.
Whatever was going on, it meant it was easier for Rangi to sneak in and gather the supplies she needed to make the special tinder balls her nation used to determine if infants were firebenders. She would’ve used this method the other night… But between needing to gather the materials and how panicked they were, and how short on time they were… She had to use other alternatives.
Many hours passed and the two girls soon found themselves sneaking out to the same mountain cave that night. It was there, as they were climbing up the mountain again, that Rangi felt comfortable explaining her plan.
“So, how exactly are you going to help me firebend? Without…you know–” Kyoshi waved her hand in the air.
Rangi raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I know.” She cleared her throat. “Actually, I was going to see if we can use a method from my nation. It allows us to see if an infant is a firebender so that… Well… Babies… Unfettered access to open flame… You know. Catch my drift?”
“Certainly caught,” Kyoshi mumbled, obviously thinking about the dangers of something like that happening. “So how do you do that?”
“Simple. I’ll heat up an area until the air is hot and dry, and then put a ball of tinder to your nose. If it lights up, you’re a firebender.” She held up the satchel she was carrying to emphasize that’s what she had in the bag.
Kyoshi nodded along. “Ok. But are you sure it’ll work?”
“Infants, Kyoshi.” She paused and narrowed her eyes good naturedly. “Then again, you are a special case. Even if it doesn’t, we’ll find a way to make it work. It’s a much safer alternative than you making open flame at the moment.”
Kyoshi coughed. “That’s fair.”
“Of course, we can try airbending and waterbending… They are certainly safer than fire.”
“Um…” Kyoshi got into a stance and thrusted her palms out. Nothing happened. “Well, airbending is out of the question…”
Rangi frowned. “I suppose we can try waterbending by the spring.”
Kyoshi sighed. “I have a feeling we’ll be met with a similar roadblock.”
The girls continued on their way, only stopping when they were near the spring. Kyoshi attempted to waterbend but nothing happened, so they continued their way into the cave. Rangi lit the same torch she left the night before, and the two sat cross legged on the floor facing each other. Rangi quickly started heating and drying a small area around them by taking deep and slow breaths.
Once the air was deemed dry enough, Rangi took out an oil scented ball and held it up to Kyoshi’s face. Nothing happened. She frowned and turned up the heat, after another minute of nothing happening she pulled away and sighed. This wasn’t working, they needed a way to tap into Kyoshi’s inner fire… Perhaps some breathing exercises?
“Quick question,” Kyoshi blurted out while Rangi was deep in thought. “Why didn’t we use this last night? Instead of…you know.”
Rangi blushed furiously and looked away. Kyoshi stared at her for a moment, then a grin slowly spread across her face.
“You just wanted to do it!”
“NO!” Rangi instantly replied, fifty shades redder.
“I knew it!” Kyoshi giggled. “Just admit it!”
“No, that’s not it!” Rangi repeated. “I– These take a minute to make, and I didn’t know where the ingredients were and– Damn it! We were short on time, and–”
Her initial intent wasn’t to do it in a cave, she really did have pure intentions. Coaching Kyoshi on making a firefist, or using the assisted dragon’s breath technique… Which she supposed she did perform the latter, just not in the most school appropriate way.
“Sure sure, just admit you wanted to keep going too,” Kyoshi smiled smugly at her.
Rangi grumbled, annoyed and embarrassed. But decided the truth would ultimately set her free.
“Fine! Maybe I wasn’t finished with you just yet!” she said in a low voice.
It was Kyoshi’s turn to go instantly red, hearing Rangi’s unfiltered desires must’ve set her off. Suddenly, the ball of tinder burst into flames.
“Oh look. It works!” Kyoshi said, coughing. Probably trying to divert attention from her own embarrassment.
“Kyoshi, you only firebending when you’re horny is not the goal here.”
“Well, when you put it like that, it makes me sound like a degenerate,” Kyoshi pouted. She wasn’t even going to deny the accusation.
Rangi sighed. “I guess that means you’re a perfect fit for me. A degenerate who partially used an ‘experiment’ so we could have sex again.”
Kyoshi laughed again. “So you do admit it.”
“I admit I had pure intentions in the beginning, but I quickly got distracted by a certain someone,” Rangi smirked, letting her eyes roam over her girlfriend’s frame.
Kyoshi scooted closer to Rangi, knees now touching, and smiled at her bashfully. “Any chance you can get distracted again?”
Rangi started to feel her heart pound hard in her chest. She quickly flung the sack of tinder to the side, she didn’t need it all accidentally being set on fire.
“I don’t know, you might need to get a little closer. Then I might have no choice but to let my mind wander a bit.”
Kyoshi leaned forward, one hand resting on Rangi’s knee. “I think I can do that.”
Rangi grabbed Kyoshi by the lapels of her robe, and pulled the taller girl on top of her.
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It took a week, but the two girls were soon able to get Kyoshi to set the tinder balls on fire without needing to do anything intimate. It took many deep breathing exercises and lots of patience, she even taught Kyoshi a few firebending forms to try to help kick start something. But what ended up tipping the scale was Kyoshi’s out of the box thinking, apparently she’d just…figured it out!
Something about using her imagination, whatever that meant, she didn’t want to explain it to Rangi. And Rangi was…just happy they figured something out, she had bigger things to worry about.
Regardless, Kyoshi was now able to make a fire fist about sixty percent of the time, and set the tinder balls on fire ninety percent of the time. They decided to put all their picken eggs into one basket with the tinder balls, since it was safer and had a higher degree of success.
Now it was time to break the news to the Masters and Yun…at least…they would later that day. First they needed to rest. It’d been a long week.
The two girls were on their way back from the mountains, a little later than they usually planned, but daybreak still hadn’t arrived. They would be fine.
At least they thought they would.
Rangi attempted to open the servant door near Kyoshi’s sleeping quarters, but it didn’t budge. She looked at Kyoshi with concern.
“We didn’t lock this, right?”
Kyoshi shook her head. They considered trying Kyoshi’s window, or even Rangi’s window, but realized they latched them both. They made their way around the estate, trying various doors and windows but they were all shut and latched… Except for one.
The main entrance.
They held their breaths as they silently opened the door and made their way through the grand opening hall into the guest hall (the only area that was open). Kyoshi gripped the fabric of Rangi’s tunic as she led the way. Just when they felt like all was well, a light flickered on, followed by various lanterns, illuminating the entire guest hall. The two girls froze as they looked around to see a bunch of stern faces watching them.
It was Yun and the Masters. They had been waiting for them.
“My, my,” Jianzhu drawled out, taking in the girls’ dirty appearance from the chair he was sitting in. “What were you two doing out so late?”
Rangi could feel Kyoshi tense by her side, but didn’t dare look at her expression. Instead her eyes drifted over to her mother’s and Kelsang. Kelsang bore a stern expression, albeit one with worry. Her mother’s was displeased? Livid? An icy knot formed at the pit of her stomach.
Rangi felt Kyoshi’s grip on her tunic tighten, she could imagine the stress on her face. Even if they blurted out she was the Avatar right now, Kyoshi would surely be too frazzled to make any flame. Rangi needed to say something! But what? She and Kyoshi were still unsure how to approach them, but it would certainly be strange to just blurt out that Kyoshi was the Avatar.
“We were just…looking around,” Rangi forced out. “I was on a night patrol–well, I guess it’s early morning now, and heard something, Kyoshi happened to hear it too so she followed me.”
Jianzhu folded his hands in front of his lap. “I see. And you’ve been hearing strange noises every night? For almost a week? Just the two of you?”
Rangi’s jaw tensed as her lie was called out. So they’d known they’d been sneaking out? How much did they know? That Kyoshi could firebend? That–
Jianzhu sighed when neither girl spoke again. “I suppose you’re wondering how we’ve known. You see, Yun brought it to our attention three nights ago–”
Rangi physically turned to stone, it was all she could do to not rip Yun apart right then and there.
You smarmy tattletaling bastard! Rangi roared in her head. Was he really bringing the adults into this?! Trying to force Rangi’s hand? Maybe even get her own mother to demand they stop their relationship at once?
Rangi’s eyes met Yun’s and she saw just a slight twitch of a smile form on his face, before going back to neutral. The bastard really was trying to split her and Kyoshi up–
Wait!
Rangi realized through her own heated rage. He…was acting cocky. Like he didn’t realize his whole life was a lie yet. Which meant, while they knew they were sneaking out, they didn’t follow them. They didn’t know where they went. Which meant they didn't know Kyoshi was a firebender! Was the real Avatar!
Rangi felt herself relax just a tad. Relieved she knew they didn’t have the full picture, and thus had her own cards to play.
So what did they think? And could Rangi handle it?
“–he attempted to visit the two of you, but found neither of you were in your rooms,” Jianzhu continued.
Rangi pressed her tongue to her teeth, hard. Had he walked into Kyoshi’s room? She could’ve sworn they made sure to lock it each time. Did he see the mark on her ceiling? How would they explain that? No, it’s simple, they could say Kyoshi made it–but– They were trying to avoid letting them all know about their relationship. Maybe they could lie and say Kyoshi sneezed late one night and came running to Rangi? No, that might not work, Yun had been keeping tabs on who was going in and out of Rangi’s room for awhile–
That’s it! His weird earthbending seismic sense or whatever hooey! That’s how he was able to tell Kyoshi wasn’t in her room without opening it! So it was very possible they hadn’t seen the mark yet!
Unless…he did open it and saw the burn mark… And thinks I did it? It was also possible, Yun was aware of her and Kyoshi. He could put two and two together. He’d still be wrong, but that didn’t matter.
Then a horrible thought ruptured into her mind. If it was seismic sense, and he came in the dead of night to talk with Kyoshi… How long had that been going on? Her last conversation didn’t indicate he’d seen anything near their room, but what if… What if this was some new horror?
What if he had decided to do this the night she and Rangi had become completely intimate?
She could feel bile sneaking its way up her throat, from the stress of it all. The lack of privacy. The complete and utter intrusion. She swallowed and forced it back down. No, she’d have to wait until later to confront this possible nightmare.
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but I can’t have two of my employees running off in secret to do… Spirits know what!”
So they didn’t know anything. Nothing concrete, or they were keeping it close to their chest. Maybe they were insinuating something salacious? Regardless, Rangi wouldn’t fall into their trap.
“I apologize, I wasn’t aware we were both under curfew,” Rangi replied calmly, attempting to not let her voice become monotone nor disrespectful. “And I apologize for lying just a second ago, I didn’t think us meeting outside the estate would cause this much of an uproar.”
Jianzhu slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair. “Of course it would cause an uproar!” he bellowed. “Sneaking in and out of the estate? It’s a huge security issue! I’m disappointed in you, you should know better!”
He looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself after one of her mother’s pointed glares. Rangi figured she was in for a hurting later. Fire Nation lectures were the worst…
“I’m sorry, we should’ve revealed that sooner–”
“Yes you should have! Now tell me, how did you do it?”
Wait, they don’t know? Yun really didn’t get all his turtle ducks in a row for this intervention did he?
Well for one, we scale the wall. I’m agile enough to get up there on my own, and strong enough to pull or push Kyoshi up. Something in Rangi’s gut made her weary about revealing the real security issue.
She decided a half truth was in order. “We timed it when the guards were swapping out and went out the main gate.”
While they had timed the guards, it was more when they were cleared to jump down from the wall’s roof, not through the gate itself. But they didn’t need to know that…yet.
Jianzhu frowned. “Then I will beef up security then.”
“Understood.” Rangi bowed. “If that’s all, may we go back to our–”
“You may not.”
Rangi sighed internally. “I understand, what more is there to discuss?”
Jianzhu folded his hands on his lap, and stared her down. “What were you two doing off the estate?”
Of course. Of course that was the real issue.
What the hell do you want me to say? ‘Well it’s as you all have assumed. Yes, we were out screwing in the middle of the woods. Me and Kyoshi, the Avatar. Having sexual relations. Oh, did I mention I was banging the Avatar? Yeah, it seems you guys got that little detail wrong. Oh no, trust me, I was surprised too! So I decided to help train her so we could reveal that she really is actually the Avatar without having to, at bare minimum, make out in front of you all–’ LIKE HELL I’D SAY ANY OF THAT!
Rangi took a deep breath.
“I don’t see why that’s anyone’s business, nor an issue.”
Jianzhu’s knuckles cracked as his fingers pressed together. “Of course it’s an issue! Yun and I are in the middle of intense diplomatic relations! Ones that cross borders, ones that could save lives! We need to know who can and cannot be trusted in this estate! We–”
Jianzhu went off into a rant of all that was at stake. All the dealings that were common knowledge within the estate.
Right, those dealings with all those officials they’ve been talking about for almost a month straight, maybe even before they faced Tagaka? Rangi had been so caught up with her feelings for Kyoshi, the stress of Yun, and Kyoshi being the actual damn Avatar! She’d completely forgotten about it. Something about making sure the Southern Water Tribe got a loan from the Earth Kingdom? Plans to help curve daofei issues across the Earth Kingdom? And other such dire plans. There were too many to keep track of.
Unfortunately, it was very possible those dealings would go up in smoke the second that Kyoshi was revealed to be the real Avatar. They would have to start everything at square one.
But that would be for Jianzhu to figure out. This was his fuck up to begin with after all. Him and all the other Earth Sages.
She was here, right under his nose the whole time. Rangi thought, remembering the horror stories Auntie Mui revealed to her about Kyoshi’s upbringing. Him, my mother, and Master Kelsang. Some friends they were to Avatar Kuruk. Shouldn’t they have instantly realized she was his reincarnation the second they laid eyes on her?!
She forced the thought from her head. She’d have to address it later. Right now? She’d have to come up with something, until Kyoshi calmed down enough to firebend.
“What’s in the bag?” Jianzhu asked, eyeing Rangi’s satchel.
Rangi frowned and pulled the strap off of her, then threw it at his feet. “A waterskin. You know, for when we’re thirsty.”
All of the tinderballs had been burnt up earlier. There may be a scented oil in the bag, but it smelt of pine. There may be little tinder scraps, but they were in the woods, nothing to raise an alarm at.
Jianzhu picked up the pack and rummaged through it, indeed, that was all there was. He stared straight into Rangi’s eyes, cold and hard. A slight shiver went down her spine as she was reminded of a two headed viper snake.
“Who did you meet?” he asked, cold and slow.
“Jianzhu!” Kelsang and her mother both shouted at him.
Jianzhu held his hand up to them, eyes not leaving Rangi’s. “This is beyond someone sneaking out past curfew, this is about the security of the Four Nations.”
He stood up, bringing himself to this full height and began to walk towards them. “Now tell me.” He bent down and got in Rangi’s face. “Who did you meet?”
Rangi’s jaw tensed. Out of her peripheral, she could see Yun’s stunned look. The idiot didn’t even calculate that Jianzhu would react this way. She understood why he would, and couldn’t find it in her to hold it against him. But this wasn’t a turn of events she could foresee, at least…not until the moment the lights came on. But that still wasn't enough time to come up with a plan!
Rangi had no idea what to say. “We–”
“I’m so sorry it’s my fault!” Kyoshi suddenly announced, stepping in front of Rangi and bowing.
“Ah– Wha– Kyoshi!” Rangi exclaimed. What was she doing? They were going to assume the worst with how she phrased that! Was she planning to firebend now? Or reveal their relationship?
“Kyoshi, what are you saying?” Kelsang said, looking worried.
“Hm?” Jianzhu looked down at her. “What is it, girl? You can tell me. Did I not tell all of the staff they could come to me with any grievances?”
Rangi felt her spine tingle. She remembered when he did that. And the chaos and firings that happened not long after. He was trying to root out spider snakes then too.
Kyoshi stood up but kept her eyes fixated on the floor, hands fidgeting. “I… I needed Rangi’s help…”
“And that was?” His eyes seemed to sharpen, a predator ready to strike. “What were you two doing together?”
“It’s because I– Because I’m–” she stuttered, she was pale and clammy and sweating. Then she bowed deeply again. “Because I wanted help with training!”
Rangi could feel the tension in the air come to a halt, a strange stillness hung over everyone.
“T…training?” Even Jianzhu was taken aback slightly.
“Yes!”
“Why?”
Kyoshi stood up, her face filled with resolve. “I wanted to take Yun’s offer seriously! I wanted to become an Avatar’s companion! To be his other bodyguard, like Rangi.”
Rangi couldn’t stop her eyes from bulging out of her head. That wasn't what they talked about!
The tension in the room broke, relief flooding everyone’s features but Rangi and Yun’s. Yun had the biggest, shit eating grin anyone could ever see. It only grew more smug when he locked eyes with his rival. He took her shocked expression as a revelation that she wasn’t expecting Kyoshi to say yes to his offer. Which was partially true. But there was so much more to it. So many layers of betrayal.
“I won't do it if you don't want me to!” The voice of Kyoshi from not even two weeks ago echoed in her head. “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.”
Rangi could feel a sore ball forming at the base of her throat, making it difficult to swallow or speak. Her heart began to ache, it felt like her chest was caving in. It was getting harder to breathe.
So that was a lie?
Jianzhu raised his eyebrow at Kyoshi. “Rangi seems a little put out by your answer.”
“I didn’t tell her my real reason,” Kyoshi informed. Sneaking a glance at Rangi, pleading. But pleading for what? “I only told her I wanted to improve my bending under the pretense I wanted to better myself. Not because I wanted to take Yun’s offer seriously.”
Rangi’s eyes met Kyoshi’s, her eyes shining with hurt while Kyoshi’s seemed to resonate something akin to understanding. Rangi didn’t understand the sudden change. If it was just to delay until later that day or… Well… It didn’t matter.
Maybe this was fate getting back at Rangi? For wanting too much? For not being good enough?
She tore her gaze away from Kyoshi's and looked at the floor. Steeling her features.
“Yeah,” Rangi finally replied, voice hoarse. “I thought she was training to stand up to those bullies in Yokoya…”
“And we snuck out because we weren’t sure if you all would approve of our late night training excursions,” Kyoshi continued to clarify. “But night time was the only time we had free time and… Well… My earthbending is a little wonky, as Kelsang could testify… So we needed to go somewhere far away so no one would hear or get hurt…”
“Her earthbending is… Well, it makes sense she would want to practice away from the mansion,” Kelsang said, coming to Kyoshi’s defense.
Jianzhu sized them both up. Something in their demeanor must’ve seemed like they were telling the full truth. “I see. Well, we’ll discuss the offer later today. As well as…your nightly arrangements.”
He turned to his pupil and friends. “I think it’s best we all head to our quarters, it’s been a long night.”
Rangi didn’t waste a second, she instantly started storming off to her room, distinctly aware Kyoshi wasn’t calling after her.
As she moved, she could feel a familiar heat billowing behind her. Her mother was following, yet she didn’t demand her to stop. Nor did she make any attempts to talk with her. Rangi made it all the way to the door to her room, slammed it shut, locked it…and did breathing exercises. So that she didn’t burn the mansion down.
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A/N: I know I know. You probably have a few things going through your head right now. “Salty! Why don’t they just reveal she’s the Avatar now!” I want DRAMA! TT0TT I want melodrama! I want melon drama! Melon lord drama! \uwu/ (wait I’m losing the plot here! *cough* anyway) Them both having to keep their mouths shut while sneaking around and trying to train? Too juicy to pass up! (plus Rangi’s paranoia/issues ramping up? I can’t just drop it sadly TT0TT)
And now y’all realized why I started “Fork in the Road” jklasdjflka So I can explore Kyoshi being found out RIGHT THEN. uwu With a bit more of an absurd comical beat but…well..hsfjlkasdjf C’mon! Finding the Avatar because of a little sexcapade??? What isn’t a little bit funny about that? TT0TT I’m sure there will be some drama there too (my ass wavers between drama and comedy like a fucking pendulum I know u_u).
“How did Kyoshi just figure it out?” We’ll get a little glimpse into her mind, trust fjkdslajfaj
“I’m sorry, how does ‘Modern Mulan Disney novel’ mean horny?” Y’all should read “A girl worth fighting for” :) Then you’ll understand :)
