Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rangi had been sitting on the front steps of the Yokoya mansion, Kyoshi just inside the house. They were never far apart, and today wasn’t any different…at least it shouldn’t have been. Something *was* in fact, different with Rangi. Different with her mood, her attitude, everything.

Kyoshi, of course was the first one to notice this, putting aside her duties or anything else she had in favor of sitting beside her girlfriend, draping an arm across her shoulders. “Something on your mind?”

Rangi shook her head, but for once in her life she didn’t have a witty remark. She was just silent, except for her failed attempt at reassuring her. “Nothing important.”

“Which means it’s definitely something important.” Kyoshi clarified, using her other hand to take hers, carefully intertwining their fingers together.

The firebender was silent for another long moment, looking down at their hands. Their intertwined fingers. “Do you think we’ll meet each other again?” She asked finally.

“What do you mean?” Kyoshi questioned. “We’re already together.”

“I mean,” Rangi started off. “In another lifetime. Is this it? Is this the only time we’ll have? The Avatar will be reborn, but is the same to be said for me?” Her voice was soft, softer than Kyoshi had really ever heard it before.

Of course, she wanted to yell at her. Of course they would always find each other. Of course they would always be together. But…could Kyoshi really promise that? Even as the Avatar, she had no way of knowing if Rangi’s spirit would be reborn. Only her own. And what was the point of her spirit being reborn, if Rangi's wasn't right alongside her?

She looked down at their hands. At their intertwined hands. Slowly, Kyoshi lifted their hands, still not breaking them apart. “Think about it like this.”

“Like our...hands?” Rangi raised an eyebrow.

“They’re intertwined.” Kyoshi continued. “Just like our spirits, Rangi. No matter what life we move on into…we’ll find each other again. Our spirits will always be reborn…we’ll always find each other again.”

The Firebender was silent for several moments, before she gently wrapped her arms around her, smiling up at her perfect Avatar. Her perfect girlfriend.

“I’ll always find you again...” She breathed lightly, almost as if she was trying to make herself believe it. “We can be reborn.”

Kyoshi placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, as she stared down into her eyes. The amber eyes that she loved so much. “We will be reborn.” She declared firmly.

She didn’t know it at the time-or maybe she did-but those words were the words that had spoken it into existence. Once upon a time, Rangi had told her that only the Avatar could be reborn. And now, at Kyoshi’s declaration, little did either of them know that their spirits were intertwined. Locked across the timelines, so that no matter where they ended up-they would always find one another. Because their spirits would now be interwoven and intertwined forever.

Rangi leaned into her embrace, and two of them sat there for the rest of the evening in silence-just enjoying the time they had together in that life. The life that they could only hope was filled with so much love, that it lasted across lifelines.

Chapter Text

It had all begun the day before Avatar Kyoshi was expected to make an appearance at an Earth Kingdom banquet. Everything had been going smoothly, until a credible threat had been revealed. A threat that announced a plot against her life, to be acted upon at that very banquet.

Rangi had, of course, insisted that she cancel all appearances for the time being…until they knew who was out for Kyoshi’s life, it just wasn’t safe when there was a literal target on her back. But Kyoshi was…Kyoshi, and she had other ideas.

“This is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.” Rangi said bluntly, as she glared up at Kyoshi. “I’m not going to pose as the Avatar.”

“No, it’s one of the smarter things I’ve said.” Kyoshi admitted quietly to herself. “If there’s a threat against my life, what better person to use as bait than my own *bodyguard*? And I’ll disguise myself as your bodyguard, so nothing's going to happen to either of us.”

Rangi shook her head. “Or we both end up getting ourselves killed. You forget the most important thing-I’m from the Fire Nation. You’re an *Earth Kingdom* Avatar. How is this supposed to work exactly?”

“It’s a banquet, I would never be expected to bend elements in the middle of a party.” She shrugged her shoulders lightly. “Besides, if Yun could convince the world he was the Avatar for years, I’m sure you can do it for a night!” Kyoshi gave her a grin, to which the Firebender just scowled more.

“You’re not actually comparing me to Yun right now.” She said more as a statement than a question.

“Well, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to give you some tips on it. You learn from the best.”

“Oh for the love of Raava-“ Rangi put her head in her hands. “*Fine*. I’ll be the Avatar for a night.”

And oh. What a night it was. After hours of coaching sessions with Yun, which in Rangi’s eyes had been the most useless thing ever, *Avatar Rangi* was now descending the staircase of the Yokoya mansion, looking absolutely dead inside…but stunningly beautiful to Kyoshi.

She had what was essentially a modified version of the armored gown Kyoshi always wore, but despite this being a formal event, she also wore the signature Daofei makeup that her Avatar wore. They had to have some sort of excuse to hide her face, or else this cover wouldn’t last all too long.

For once on her own accord, her hair was down, and pinned elegantly behind her ears. Kyoshi’s fans were tucked into her belt, and as Kyoshi herself stood at the bottom of the stairs, all she could do was stare.

“You look incredib-“

“You can flirt with me all you want as soon as we’re done with this stupid banquet.” She practically shoved the headdress into her hands, muttering. “Can you help me with this?”

Kyoshi beamed, nodding as she tied the headdress around her head, spinning her around by her shoulders to face her again. “The perfect Avatar.” She grinned, leaning forward to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek.

“I hate you so much.” Rangi said full of disdain, her cheeks flushed as she reached up to push some loose hair behind Kyoshi’s ears. “I always keep my hair perfectly out of my face. Remember that.” Even if Rangi was completely against this idea…she wasn’t against the way that Kyoshi looked right now.

Kyoshi of course had disguised herself as her own bodyguard, with the help of Hei-Ran assisting her in dressing like a formal Fire Nation official. Her long hair was pulled back out of her face, part of it sectioned into a topknot, fastened with a pin like Rangi’s always was. In all honesty, the two of them were as far from each other’s roles as they could get…but they would make it work. They always did.

The carriage ride to the banquet was long, and not much was said-except for Kyoshi trying to show Rangi the proper forms to use for the fans, which she definitely didn’t want to know. The event was held in a smaller Earth Kingdom town, by a mayor who had never actually met either of the girls face to face. Perhaps that was the reason they’d get away with this-if they did at all.

“Are you ready?” Kyoshi asked, as the carriage pulled up to the mansion.

“Sure, let’s go with that.” Rangi stated in an unamused tone as she followed her “bodyguard” out of the carriage, and up to the house.

“Avatar Kyoshi!” One of the servants at the door bowed, stepping aside to let the two in. “It’s truly an honor to meet you, and this is…” they eyed Kyoshi with a slight brow raise.

“My bodyguard, Rangi Sei’Naka.” Rangi almost broke referring to Kyoshi as herself, but this was a good sign. They’d made it inside and so far, a single servant had believed them.

“You’re from the Fire Nation?” The servant asked, staring at Kyoshi for a moment. She certainly didn’t seem Fire Nation…but it wasn’t their place to ask. “Pardon, wherever are my manners! Right this way.” They led the two into the banquet hall, where all the guests immediately stopped to give a deep bow of respect to their Avatar-all of them bowing right to Rangi.

Rangi raised her hand in an awkward attempt of dismissal. “Everyone please, go back to the festivities. I’m just another guest as you are.” She swore she heard Kyoshi snicker from behind her, and it took all her power not to lose it.

From there, the party somehow went off without a hitch. The closest it got was when the Mayor asked for a demonstration of an element aside from Earth-which thankfully for Rangi, Fire was readily available for her.

“Incredible! Almost as good as a real Firebender!” Came one comment, and in turn a twitch from Rangi.

As soon as she had been able to without drawing too much attention, Kyoshi had leaned in, speaking barely above a whisper. “I haven’t clocked any threats…just keep it up. You’re doing great.”

“I’ll be doing better once I know who it is.” Rangi stated, glancing from side to side. “Stay close, we never know if someone figured out the plan.”

“Will do Avatar Kyoshi.” She said in a teasing tone. The Firebender just glared at her in return.

A little later into the party, the two of them were fairly bored at this point. Nothing had happened, except for people wanting “demonstrations” of the Avatar’s abilities, even though Kyoshi had assured her that this would never happen. Firebending seemed to satisfy them, but this was quite literally all they’d been doing all night.

“Would you like a drink, Avatar?” A servant asked, carrying a drink on a tray.

“Would love one.” Rangi stated dryly, taking the glass from her. It was just sparkling water-everyone knew the Avatar was underage-but it was still an excuse to stop talking to people.

Kyoshi had been watching silently, and an alarm went off as she suddenly swung her hand, knocking the drink out of Rangi’s grasp. “It’s poisoned!” She cried, much to everyone’s disbelief.

Guests screamed and moved away as the servant dropped her tray, and began to tear through the crowd. Rangi was right behind them however, and so was Kyoshi-who by now was throwing every element she could at them, surprising the crowd around them.

Rangi tackled the servant, holding them long enough for the guards to come, and take her away. Kyoshi offered her a hand back onto her feat, watching as she brushed the dirt from her dress.

“How in the world do you fight in this skirt? You do this and you don’t trip?” She muttered under her breath.

“I think it looks good on you, actually.” Kyoshi said with adoration in her voice.

“I didn’t ask if I looked good, I asked how you fight.” She huffed, looking up at the taller woman. “How did you know the drink was poisoned?”

Kyoshi took her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Honestly…I didn’t. But we hadn’t seen any other signs all night, and I knew if I said something and I was right, that they’d react-which they did.”

“Look at that, you actually did something smart for once.” Rangi said in a teasing tone, letting go of her hands in favor of wrapping her arms around her neck. “You know, you make a pretty good bodyguard.”

Kyoshi just smiled at her, before leaning down to give her a gentle kiss. “And you know, you make a pretty good Avatar…Avatar Rangi.” She decreed, with the biggest grin she’d ever given her.