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Kyoshi is terrified.
She's stuck in yet another party full of holier-than-thou politicians & nobles. Each vying for the attention of her, the local king, or someone else they need to either suck up to or condemn for petty false-reasons.
There's loud music, & bright lights, & so, so much crosstalk.
& worst of all, Rangi's been ushered away by some military official, so now Kyoshi is all alone in a sea of bodies.
Then, as if solely to spite her, one of the many Beifong kids fills her now-tunneling vision as he shouts hollow niceties at her face.
Her heart's racing.
Her body's shaking.
She can't breathe.
Kyoshi bolts. The only thoughts in her head being 'Away! Away! Away!' & 'Too much! Too much! Too much!' until she finds some secluded corner, & it becomes. 'Hide! Hide! Hide!'
'Breathe!'
'Breathe.'
'Why can't I breathe!'
She curls into herself, shutting her eyes so tight they hurt, & covering her ears with her gloved hands.
It isn't enough.
But it's better.
_╲\│/╱_
"Kyoshi?" a crackly voice says. It's barely above a whisper, yet still too loud.
Light footsteps piercingly clack against the stone floor of wherever Kyoshi's sanctuary wound up being.
A shallow breath, seemingly accompanied by thunder.
Gentle hands, pleading with armored ones to disentangle themselves from the Avatar's hair. They brush off the few loose strands she couldn't help but rip out.
"Can I touch you, Kyoshi?" is said on a cackling whisper.
She nods weakly. It's almost imperceptible.
Strong, yet small arms wrap around her. Kyoshi lets herself be enveloped by the warmth. Her flame is always a great comfort once she passes through the heat.
The hands from earlier rest against her cheek. Thumbs ever-so-gently wipe away tears still lingering on her face.
Kyoshi hazards a glance at the world. At her world. Rangi's face might be just a little too bright, but that's what happens when one gazes at the sun.
Her worried frown morphs into a smile just as warm as the rest of her.
"Better?" She whispers.
Kyoshi flinches away, furrowing her brow so much she shuts her eyes. But she nods. It is better, now that Rangi's here.
The firebender guides the Avatar's head to rest against her chest.
The beating of Rangi's heart isn't too much. It's just right. It's comforting.
_╲\│/╱_
Kyoshi slowly raises her head. She's managed to keep her eyes open for a short while, & is no longer overwhelmed. Though, none of her emotions have faded.
She grimaces at the new stain on Rangi's fancy robe. Despite her protests, Kyoshi insisted on wearing her daofei makeup, & now her tears have left a large, white stain, with some elements of pink all over the garment.
"Hey" Rangi says quietly, but doesn't whisper. "Don't worry about that. It isn't important."
"But-"
"Kyoshi." Rangi says in a stern tone. "Clothes don't matter nearly as much as you do. It's fine."
Kyoshi frowns, having lost enough iterations of this same argument to know not to protest.
"How are you feeling?" Rangi asks.
"... Better. Tired."
"Let's get you home." 'Home' being one of the many places Jianzhu left her in his will. This one being in the same city as the party.
"What about the-"
"Jinpa has everything handled. We're going home."
"... But- People can't see the Avatar like this."
"Then be just Kyoshi right now."
Rangi pulls out a cloth that had been tucked away in her belt, then opens the front of Kyoshi's robes & grabs a water skin Kirima had forced her into the habit of carrying. Rangi pours just a little onto the cloth, proceeding to wipe the pigment off her face. Kyoshi could have easily bent it off with the same water, but she doesn't pass up the moment of intimacy.
Not a second after her cheek is exposed, Rangi presses a kiss to it. "Once I'm done, change out of your armor & I'll get it to Yingyong."
"I can carry it."
"Are you sure?"
Kyoshi nods.
╲\│/╱
"How are you feeling?"
"Good. Still tired, but good."
Rangi makes sure they hold hands the entire way back.