Chapter Text
Kyoshi was having a pretty good day! A good chunk of why was in no small part because the little red terror and little green menace were away on some mission. The first mission for the Avatar! At least she thought it was? She was a little spotty on the details. She supposed it was some kind of meet and greet with the leaders of the Earth Kingdom, she didn’t really care because it didn’t involve her. She only cared that they weren’t there!
The only downside was that Kelsang had to go with them (flying bison and all), so that did dampen her mood a tad. She didn’t really have a lot of chances to spend time with him since she started working. At least, not as much as she’d like…
But she had to earn her keep! He stuck his neck out for her, and she was going to prove herself!
And prove herself she did! Since they’d all left, she’d been scrubbing the entire estate (what’s been built so far that is) from top to bottom! There shouldn’t be an ounce of dust within a mile of the premises, especially with how diligent Kyoshi had been! Even the dirt sparkled!
Kyoshi was now in the middle of scrubbing one of the engawa floors zokin-gake style. She was at a full sprint when a figure came into view just around the corner, but she was going too fast to stop!
Kyoshi’s shoulder hit the figure’s knees and the two toppled to the ground. Over the chorus of their moans and groans, Kyoshi recognizes the voice. Lee, one of the kitchen hands. He was only two or three years her senior, one of the few people in the estate who were close to her in age.
He must be goofing off again, or he’s on his break. The guy was nowhere near the kitchen, so it had to be one or the other.
“Ugh, where’s the fire bender, Kyoshi?” Lee laughs through his pain.
Kyoshi instantly shot to her feet at the word ‘firebender’ and looked around frantically. “WHERE?!” Had Rangi returned already?
Lee laughed again. “If ya lookin fer the Cadet, she’s not back yet.” He got to his feet, a teasing grin on his face. “By the way, it’s just a saying. It’s usually ‘where’s the fire’ but you always bolt when you see that lass, I figured ‘firebender’ was more fitting.”
Kyoshi’s bottom lip jutted forward into a sullen pout, she didn’t like the wordplay or his insinuation. “I’m aware of the original saying, Lee. I’m not completely hopeless.”
Sure she was an uneducated orphan, but Kelsang taught her a lot of things! Such as common sayings and phrases! Plus her parents had taught her to read amongst a few other things… So, yes , she wasn’t as hopeless as most people probably thought she was!
“Ok ok, I’m sorry,” he grinned at her, then he leaned over conspiratorially. “Listen I have a favor–”
“I’m not doing your work,” Kyoshi said deadpanned. Auntie Mui told her to say no to him at every turn, otherwise she’d never see an end.
Lee waved his hand and shook his head. “No no, ya gotta let me finish! I’m still working, but it’s a tad hard for one person.” He put a hand to his opposite shoulder and rolled it. “If only a big… strong–” He looked at Kyoshi’s lanky body, sure she was tall but it didn’t mean she had muscle to accompany it. “Did I mention big?”
“You did. Twice.” She may have been failing to not let her annoyance leak into her voice.
“Aw, shucks. Don’t be like that, listen! You’re so good at carrying all those buckets of water–”
“What do you need, Lee?” Kyoshi was getting impatient. She had her own personal schedule to keep.
“Ok ok! You drive a hard bargain! I’ll give you all my side dishes for a month! A month, Kyoshi! Just–”
“Lee.” Side dishes did sound nice… But if he was going to make her do all the work… And not tell her what said work was… Well…
“Ok ok! I just need a teeny-weeny little favor of…you helping me cleanthewholekitchen,” he coughed.
Kyoshi blinked. “What?”
He rocked back on his heels, looking away and all innocent like. “Just you know…cleanthewholekitchenwithme…”
Kyoshi blinked again. “You want me to…clean the whole kitchen?”
“With me,” he clarified. "Together."
“What about the rest of the kitchen staff? This seems like a big job…”
He waved his hand as if it didn’t matter. “They’re busy.”
“Busy?”
“Yeah, busy!”
Kyoshi gave him an unimpressed, measured look. “Why are you the only one cleaning?”
“I lost a bet.”
“Gambling isn’t a virtue, you should know what bed you’re making before you get in.”
Lee got on the ground and started crying at her feet. “Please Kyoshi! I’m not going to finish in time if I don’t get some help!” He grabbed at her legs, cheek resting on her foot. “Please! I’ll never gamble again!”
“Really?” Kyoshi asked dryly.
Lee instantly stopped his crocodile squirrel tears and stood up in a flash with a smile. “Yup! At least for the next month! That way I can bribe you with side dishes again!” He snapped a finger at her with a wink.
Kyoshi gave him an unamused look and sighed. “Ok.”
Lee clapped his hands together and fist pumped the air. “Alright! You’re the best, kid!”
Before leaving for the kitchen, the two of them finished what Kyoshi was doing and picked up the cleaning supplies.
To Lee’s credit, he was a hard worker. And a pretty good cook from what Kyoshi had seen. Probably why Auntie Mui kept him around despite her gripes.
He kept his word, not slacking off and helping scrub the entire kitchen down from top to bottom. They worked so well together, and so fast, it looked like they were going to be done around dinner time!
Luckily, because the Avatar and his entourage were gone, the only people the kitchen needed to cook for were just the staff. Which they got by with a large pot of jook they had sitting on the back burner. Because of that, their time limit wasn't as strict. Thank the spirits for small miracles!
Tomorrow, when everything returned to normal, the kitchen staff would have a pristinely clean kitchen to work with! And Kyoshi would have a few more side dishes to work with!
“Kyoshi!” Lee called out, his head poking up around the corner, face full of grime. “Can you throw this bucket out? I’m almost done scrubbing this one spot and I don't want to stop, it's really stubborn...”
Kyoshi got off her knees and made her way to the grimey bucket filled with dirty water. “Sure, just throw it out by the door?”
“Yeah, sounds good!” He gave her a thumbs up as his head disappeared behind the stove he was working with.
Kyoshi made her way up the staircase, making sure to duck her head so it didn’t hit any of the low hanging beams. The door to the outside was straight ahead of the staircase. Kyoshi looked to the side and saw some open windows, and noticed how low the sun had fallen in the sky.
She shifted the bucket into one hand, preparing to throw the contents out, as she swung the door open.
“Kyoshi!” Lee’s voice called down from below.
Kyoshi turned her head towards the staircase as the door swung open and she threw the contents of the bucket out the door. “Yeah?”
“There’s another bucket–”
Kyoshi didn’t hear the rest of what Lee was yelling, the sound of a gasp in front of her stole her full attention.
Kyoshi’s head whipped forward, her fear of accidentally dousing someone with the dirty water was quickly squashed by the fear of who she just doused.
In front of her stood a very wet Rangi. Eyes closed and face of shock, until her hand swiped down the length of her face ridding what water it could. Now her wide eyes were trained onto Kyoshi, accompanied by an irate scowl.
Kyoshi dropped the bucket as she registered the scene. Her ears began to hum and her eyes began to spin. There was someone calling to her, perhaps Lee, but she couldn’t focus…
“I– I–... I–” Kyoshi could only stutter. She wanted to run, but she had no right. Not when she wronged someone this badly.
Kyoshi tried not to think about how this was at least the second time she’d mucked up Rangi’s armor. The fear of not getting fired didn’t even enter her mind this time, she was afraid she’d be set on fire.
“You–” Rangi gasped, she seemed at a loss for words as well.
Instead of being a coward, she went headfirst into making things right. She surged towards Rangi and grabbed the smaller girl by the shoulders.
“I am so, so sorry! Here, get this off, I’ll clean it for you!” Kyoshi’s eyes spun as she gripped the shoulder pads of the armor, and attempted to lift Rangi out of it.
Rangi’s face blazed so fiercely, Kyoshi could still make out the red under all the muck. “Wha– Wait! What are you–”
Kyoshi was attempting to find the tie on the side of the chestplate. “Your armor– I’ll clean it! I didn’t mean to– I didn’t see you– I didn’t think you’d be back–”
Rangi grabbed Kyoshi’s wrists, trying to stop her from undoing the armor plates. “Wait! You don’t need–”
Rangi attempted to take a step back, but she must’ve slipped. She lost her balance and fell backwards. Kyoshi attempted to catch her, but lost her own balance on the slippery surface and fell right after her.
Kyoshi’s cheek hit a hard surface, and it took her a second to gain her bearings. She pushed herself up, her hands sinking deep into a glob of mud.
This must’ve been what we slipped on. Kyoshi thought. It made sense, water plus dirt equaled slippery mud. She should’ve realized sooner.
She pushed herself up to her hands and knees, and as she looked down, her heart stopped. Beneath her, hands on either side of the girl, was a very pissed off looking Rangi.
Even though Rangi was caked in muck and mud, it gave her usually delicate features a more rugged feel. Like she came fresh from a battlefield. More handsome. If she was a boy, she would probably be really popular with the ladies. Kyoshi would groan about how unfair it was for Rangi to still be good looking even when she was dirty, but a certain threat of death kept that part of her inner voice silent.
Rangi’s angry face stared back at her, face somehow even redder than before. And now? There was steam rising up off of her being and on the ground, turning the mud and gunk dry.
She’s steaming mad! Kyoshi realized with wide eyes, blood draining from her face.
“I–I’m sorry, I just wanted to help… I didn’t mean to make it worse–”
Rangi’s hands were balled into fists and her forearms were pressed up against Kyoshi’s chest, pushing her away. Her lips parted, about to speak–
“Kyoshi! Didn’t you hear me calling? I said there was another bucket– Oh.” Lee’s voice came from the doorway behind them. Kyoshi and Rangi quickly looked behind and saw Lee standing there, bucket in one hand, his other hand covering his mouth in astonishment. “What happened here?”
“I got Rangi wet…” Kyoshi said pathetically.
Lee’s eyes widened and she felt Rangi still underneath her.
“You– Ahem – Did?” Lee asked, he sounded like he was choking the question out. His mouth was still covered, but he started to shake and his eyes started to crinkle. Was he in pain?
“Yeah, and then I was trying to get her armor off–”
Lee and Rangi both made a choking sound. What was going on?
“I–is that true? Miss Cadet? Snrk , did Kyoshi make you wet? And now she’s trying to strip you of your armor?”
Kyoshi looked at Lee like he lost his mind. Yes, that is what happened. She threw a bucket of water onto Rangi, and now wanted her to take her armor off so she could clean it. Why was he–
But before Kyoshi could finish her train of thought, she felt something dangerous. She felt like she was kneeling above a bonfire. And now the bonfire was pushing at her.
“Get off!” Rangi yelled, pushing her forearms into Kyoshi’s chest a little harshly. “Off! Now! You idiot!”
“Gah! Wait! Ok I’ll–” Kyoshi fell over from the force. “Ow!”
Rangi scrambled to her feet, huffing and puffing. “You– you– you dumbass! You suck! The both of you!”
Kyoshi watched with her mouth hanging open as Rangi ran away from them. She knew Rangi didn’t like her, but it was the first time she hurled those kinds of words at her… Not that Kyoshi could say she was in the wrong, at least not this time...
Behind her, Lee appeared to have completely lost all sanity, and started laughing so hard he dropped the bucket he was holding and had to brace against the door. She had no time to worry about him, though. Kyoshi knew she was going to spend the next week wondering when Rangi was going to get back at her.
“You’re as tense as an erhu string. What’s the matter?” Kelsang asked, handing Kyoshi an onigiri and taking a bite of his own.
Apparently the Avatar and his entourage had returned a day early. Would’ve been nice for Kyoshi to know, she would’ve been more careful not to fling water at people.
She and Kelsang were having a late dinner, it took some time to finish cleaning up the rest of the kitchen (Lee was too busy laughing, and now owed Kyoshi two months worth of side dishes). Then she had to tend to cleaning herself up with a quick bath.
Kyoshi sighed. This might be the last dinner she’d have with Kelsang. Rangi was sure to get her revenge at some point… Kyoshi figured she had less than a week to get her affairs in order. Hell, maybe less than a few hours.
“I made Rangi wet,” Kyoshi mumbled. She wondered if it was a big faux pas in the Fire Nation? Did it inhibit their firebending? Maybe that’s why Rangi didn’t burn Kyoshi where she stood? She couldn’t firebend because of the water?
Beside her, Kelsang spewed the onigiri he’d just taken a bite of all over the grass, and started choking.
Kyoshi, who would’ve been horrified at the wasted food, was concerned he may need help. “Kelsang! Are you ok?!”
“I’m fine, Kyoshi,” he coughed out, grabbing some tea to drink. “It just went down the wrong pipe– But, um. Can you repeat what you just said? What happened with you and Rangi that is?”
He was fanning himself, face red. Probably from almost choking to death.
Kyoshi didn’t see why what she said earlier was important, they should go to the healers station… But it’s what Kelsang wanted, so she recounted the events with Rangi in full detail.
“Oh .” Was all Kelsang had to say for a while. “So you just…dumped a bucket of water on her?”
“Yes,” Kyoshi confirmed sullenly. He now understood the severity of the situation. He may not have much time with Kyoshi going forward.
But what Kelsang did next surprised her. The sound came like thunder, and his body shook the earth like an earthquake as he bellowed out a deep laugh. Kyoshi looked at him shocked. Once again, she was telling him some earth shattering news and he was…laughing!
“T–this is serious, Kelsang!” Kyoshi protested, cheeks puffing up into a pout. How dare he laugh at her misfortune?!
“You got her– oh! Oho! And then you–” Another string of booming laughter escaped from the giant monk.
“Wha– Why are you laughing?!” Kyoshi cried as her fists pounded gently against his shoulder, trying to get him to take her woes seriously. But soon, her own sides started to shake with her own laughter. His laughter was infectious.
Kelsang wiped tears away from his face as he tried to catch his breath. “Oh! Ohhhh. Oh my. That was. Well… That reminds me I need to have a talk with Mui.”
“Really? About what?” Kyoshi said through her own stray giggles.
Kelsang coughed. “Oh, you’ll find out later.”
“Kelsang…” She didn’t like him stringing her along with secrets.
Keslang ignored her, apparently thinking about the story again. “Oh, snrk . Poor little Rangi…”
Kelsang flopped over onto his back, another bout of laughter hitting him.
Many Years Later…..
Kyoshi’s eyes shot open from her dream, Kelsang’s laughter still ringing in her ears as she gazed at her bedroom ceiling. Kyoshi was on her back in bed, and she could feel a familiar, consistent warmth clinging to her side.
Kyoshi looked down to see Rangi in her usual position, cuddled up against Kyoshi’s side, head on chest, and arm and leg possessively thrown over her. Kyoshi was pretty sure Rangi used Kyoshi’s chest more than she used her own pillow. Kyoshi had her own arm wrapped around Rangi, hand resting on her hip, keeping the firebender welded into place beside her.
Rangi’s soft, steady breathing indicated she was still fast asleep. Kyoshi pressed a small kiss to the top of her head before training her eyes back to the void called the ceiling.
“I made Rangi wet!” Kyoshi’s younger self’s distressed voice echoed in her head again.
Embarrassment hit her like a bolt of lightning that would rival what Xu had done to her years ago. Fast and painful. She did her best not to cry out loud from embarrassment.
Her free hand went to her head and gripped at her hair as she silently groaned.
Why the hell did I phrase it like that ?! Am I an idiot?!
Kyoshi apparently didn’t know as many phrases and sayings as she thought she did back then…