Chapter 29

“Hey Jinpa” Kyoshi said awkwardly, as she pulled her hand over to cover the bandaging on her side.

“I already know it’s there. I just need an explanation” Jinpa said as he set down a basket.

“Still bringing care baskets are we?” Kyoshi asked, laughing awkwardly.

“Answer, go”

She sighed as she began to explain the whole thing from the beginning. Jinap only interrupted when she started to explain the failed meetup.

“Your firebender was pissed you know, fired the whole crew who went to help us find you after you weren’t there”

“You did not,” Kyoshi said, turning to glare at Rangi. “They were talking shit about you”

“I recall some of them weren’t they were-“

“They were being disrespectful and you know it, plus I got you without their help didn’t I?” Rangi argued, crossing her arms.

Kyoshi just shook her head, “Anyways, they had moved my body once I was in the spirit world-“

Now Jinpa was starting on a lecture similar to Rangi’s when she was done explaining. Something’s long the lines about safety, and not being reckless, it honestly went in one ear and out the next.

“Just give me a little slack here, I already had Rangi lecture me. I just want to go to sleep”

“It’s not nearly noon, and you’re this tired. What the hell did you really do?” Jinpa asked, confused at the statement.

“Well she nearly worked herself dead and looked like it too, she has about ten times the amount of color in her face than yesterday.”

“Kyoshi” Jinpa sounds like a disappointed parent. Kyoshi thought to herself.

“I’m so glad I have the two of you again to nag at me about my safety.” Kyoshi mumbled, but apparently it was a little too loud.

“Oh I’m sorry for giving you so much grief but just correct me if I’m wrong here so I can get this all straight. You took an invitation with the hope that you could meet us at that meditation spot. Which you almost did, but they caught on, and took you hostage. We all thought you were missing, which you totally were. They were keeping you until you created a portal which you denied to do at first. Staking your life on it. But then they got Rangi’s pin you gave her, and you thought they had her so you went ahead and created it anyway, is that it?” Jinpa asked, pinching his temple.

Kyohsi shrugged, “Yeah pretty much”

Rangi couldn’t help but flinch as Jinpa explained his own summary of the events. It’s my fault she had to create the portal, all of this pain. It’s my fault.

“And you don’t think any of that was reckless” Jinpa exhaled, as he started to walk the length of the room. Kyoshi shrugged.

“Fine since you don’t see the issue I guess we’ll focus forward. So outside of getting you out of the hospital, how are we going to fix this?”

Rangi and Kyoshi just looked at eachother, before either one of them could answer Kenna had returned.

“Oh I wasn’t aware there were going to be other visitors” She smiled as she walked into the room. “I’m sorry, this is Jinap, he works with us.”

The monk bowed at his introduction. “Sorry for barging in, but as soon as I heard of Kyoshi’s whereabouts, especially hearing that it was a hospital, I came as soon as it was convenient.” He explained.

“No problem at all really. I just hoped that you have a better visit than Beq.”

“What the hell happened to Beq?” Jinpa snapped, spinning back around to Kyohsi. She just pointed to the indent in the wall.

“So that was you, who am I kidding of course it was you” He grumbled.

“We will be paying for that” Jinpa said pinching his temple.

“Of course I am! You don’t think that I was going to pay for that. Even though it wasn’t really my fault. ” Kyoshi huffed.

“I’m not all that worried about the wall, or the broken door.”

“So they aren’t all open door frames?”

Kyoshi looked away.

“No, but it’s not my job. I just want to help you in any way I can. So if you’re ready I can start stitching up the gash now. Then you can be on your way”

Shit I was so focused on Jinpa I completely forgot that I had to get stitches.

Rangi caught sight of the look on Kyoshi’s face, and tried to switch gears, steering away from the safety lectures for now. “Jinpa, could you find her something to eat, while we get started here?”

With one glance at Kyoshi Jinpa had taken the hint, and set off out the room.

“Nervous?” Kenna asked, Kyoshi felt embarrassed to answer. The Avatar, afraid of some stitches, it felt pathetic. “I guess”

“Have you ever had them before?” Kenna asked calmly as she walked over with the kit, setting it down on the bedside table. “Once I’m pretty sure, but I wasn’t conscious, I don’t think,” Kyoshi explained as she fidgeted with her hands.

“Well that counts for something I suppose, would you mind laying down for me.”

Kyoshi nodded as she took off the tunic covering her wraps, resting her head on Rangi’s lap. Kenna simply smiled as she began to undress the bloodied gauze.

“I’m just going to get started if you’re ready,” Kenna replied. “Go ahead,” Kyoshi responded, trying to avert her eyes from the scene.

“Are you by any chance together?” Both of their eyes went wide at the question. That’s fair. Rangi thought to herself. It’s not like we were being discreet about it. Closets made of glass at this point. But I wasn’t just going to stand there if she was scared.

“I’m not one to judge if that’s what you’re worried about” Kenna commented in the silence. Kyoshi looked up to Rangi who gave her a nod. “We are actually” A smile creeping across her face, one she felt like she couldn’t hold back, even if she tried.

“So how did you meet?”

Rangi couldn’t help but notice how Kyoshi’s face seemed to light up at the chance to answer the question. Plus how it would definitely distract her.

“We worked together in Yokoya, at the Avatar mansion back when Yun was thought to be the Avatar.” She explained

“I forgot about that, there was another Avatar, or claimed avatar I guess”

“Yeah, after people found out I was the real one things got kinda crazy, and I tried to leave but Rangi followed me” She winced at the first sensation of the needle, choosing not to look.

“I was hired as the Avatar’s body guard, of course I followed. Plus do you know how accident prone she is? I think I would have been insane if I didn’t follow her.”

“Sounds like you made the right choice” Kenna commented.

“The rest I guess kinda wrote itself. I’ve been trying to train and keep peace as best as I can, and I have her at my side” Kyoshi explained.

Kenna looked up, “So that’s it, there was no romance or anything, no big moment”

“You really want to know?” Rangi asked, it seemed odd she was so invested.

“My coworkers don’t have the most interesting social lives. I’ll probably just hear Beq milk that whole incident from earlier on repeat. You can totally not answer but I was just curious.”

“Well she purposely almost threw a fight to prove a point to me, and admitted how much she cared for me in a criminal run town.” Kyoshi mentioned it casually. “Then I kissed her”

Rangi had to stop herself from laughing at the look on Kenna’s face. “It’s not the most traditional I know”

“Certainly a bit unconventional” Kenna looked back down to refocus on her work.

“I guess but I think that’s just how everything kinda is. I mean like she acts all scary like a bodyguard is supposed to, but I know she still cares even when she’s mad. Like when she brought me the plain noodles”

“She doesn’t know what that means idiot” Rangi said from behind her hand, she wasn’t expecting this to be so embarrassing.

“Oh yeah, when Rangi was really mad at me this one time she brought me some plain noodles but they were special because I knew there was no heating there so she had done it herself.”

“That literally makes no sense, you need more sleep” Rangi grumbled. For the love of Rava is Kyoshi just going to keep exposing me?

“How? You’re the one who did it” Kyoshi argued as Kenna wrapped the now stitched gash.

Rangi exhaled slowly, “Yes I did it because I care about you, and Kenna knows little odd parts of the story. Are you happy?”

“I just think everyone deserves to know what a big softy are at times”

“Kyoshi shut your mouth, and take a nap. Kenna knows plenty now”

“Fine, after Jinpa gets back. He’d probably be mad if he went out to get food and I was sleeping.” Kyoshi argued, sitting up.

“Great, I’m just going to see Kenna out. Stay here” Rangi loved how much Kyoshi seemed to love explaining how they met, but did she really have to make her sound like such a softy. I guess Kyoshi really has made me into a softy.

“Will she be able to go home soon?” Rangi asked as Kenna and her left the room. “She could probably go home today, just keep a close eye on her”

“I was already planning on it”

“I figured” Kenna paused for a moment. “Is there something wrong?” Rangi asked as they began to walk down a hallway.

“I guess I just never really felt like I knew the toll of being the avatar before I met her, it almost looks painful” Kenna said softly looking down, Rangi knew the feeling all too well.

“Well, she puts more on her plate than she should, but I know what you mean.”

“I’ve just never treated a body so tired, and beat up.” She paused. “I’m sorry these things rarely get to me”

“It’s fine. So would she really be okay to go home, or were you just saying that cause she was in earshot?” Rangi asked.

“No I did, I mean like there’s nothing more I can do for a tired body, she’d probably rest better at home anyways” Kenna smiled as she placed a hand on Rangi’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine, take her home. Plus then I can have some people come in and replace the door.”

Rangi nodded as she went to return to the room. Why did she have to fall for the most self sacrificing idiot of all people? But that’s also why I love her I guess, I just hope I can stop her from going too far.

“Rangi there you are” Kyoshi cheered as she saw the fire bender enter the room once more. She had a bowl of soup between her hands, and Jinpa was sitting on a chair beside her with a couple of scrolls out. “We were just getting started on making some kind of plan to deal with this spirit group.” He explained.

“I see, well can we work on that later, Kenna said you’re all good to go. You can rest at home.”

“Finally, please let me out of here”

Rangi laughed as she grabbed Kyoshi’s fan and headdress, packing it into the basket Jinpa had brought before taking out a green tunic. The firebender had always found it sweet that when Jinpa came to visit Kyoshi at the hospital he always brought her some things, like clean tunics that weren’t blood covered.

“I hope you heal quickly,” Kenna said as she smiled.

“Thank you, I know I caused a lot of trouble, but thank you for treating me regardless. And give my condolences to Beq for any injuries I may have caused.” Kyoshi said attempting to bow her head, although the stitches in her side made her incredibly stiff.

“Kyoshi” Kenna called before the group had turned to leave. “I think you’re a wonderful Avatar, this era is lucky to have you”

Kyoshi smiled brightly, bowing her head once more. “I will try to live up to that”

“I think you already have.” Kenna said as she waved. “Oh well thank you”

Kyoshi smiled more stiffly this time. It always felt weird when people acknowledged her in a positive sense, normally there were just more issues upon issues or complaints.

The walk home started out pretty quiet, it was between the lunch rush, and the time that children were out of school. So it was easy to spot the man following them.

“Someone’s following us.” Kyoshi said under her breath.

“I know, I saw them a couple of corners ago”

“I had hoped they turned back”

“Try again” Apparently he had been eavesdropping too.

Kyoshi turned around and rolled her eyes looking at the scrawny man, who she recognized from the spirit meetings. Probably trying to prove himself or some shit from trying to capture her. “I really don’t feel like dealing with this now”

“Too bad, cause I’m here to put an end to this” He called.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, I know you’re a part of the group. Just leave us alone, and you can walk away”

She started to walk away again, as a small piece of earth got launched at her.

“Okay I’m done here” Kyoshi mumbled, turning using the tossed piece of earth and launching it towards the man. Only as it flew it became a spike of sorts pinning the man’s shirt to the wall behind him. “Now be thankful I missed”

Kyoshi had spun back around as they started walking again.

“Holy shit” Rangi felt like she had to stop her jaw from dropping, which it probably already did. Having the avatar as a girlfriend is so fucking cool.

“What?” Kyoshi turned to look at Rangi who was recomposing herself. “Nothing, just a nice shot. Let’s go home”

Okay guys what do we think? Kinda a filler chapter, but you get what you get, sorry if it’s boring tbh. BUT I promise to keep going, there will probably be like quite a bit of fluff in the next chapters so just a heads up before things get going again, anyways thanks for reading! Have a good day <3