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Jinpa deserved a pay raise.
It was really just a fact by now. The poor Air Nomad had walked in on Kyoshi and Rangi making out at least four times in the past month alone, and he had basically given himself a stroke trying to manage the scattered finances of the family.
He also lived in a household where Kirima and Wong existed, which was a recipe for disaster.
So after a few years of stressing Jinpa out, she handed him a large pouch of coins and told him to head back to the Southern Air Temple (and perhaps do whatever secret things the monk engaged in).
He gladly accepted the offer (no wonder) and took off on his glider.
And for the first time in years, the Air Nomad wasn’t there to temper the Flying Opera Company's chaos.
Koko, her poor daughter, had recently been caught in the crossfire of the Flying Opera Company’s new mission: becoming her favorite relative. Lao Ge was already behind, since he only visited once in a while to remind Kyoshi of her mortality, but Kirima and Wong were quite literally at each other's throats over it.
“Kirima,” she said absentmindedly, scrubbing a plate, “please don’t kill your sworn brother.”
The Waterbender snorted. “Nonsense. If I have a goal he’s no longer my brother. He is my sworn enemy.”
Kyoshi could feel Wong give Kirima a look, before he called out to her. “Koko’s in good hands, by the way! We’re not going to hurt her!”
From the other side of the estate Rangi shouted, “She’s not old enough to be scamming people with you! Koko needs a good example!”
As Kyoshi put the last plate away, Kirima asked Koko, “Isn’t Auntie Kirima so much fun? Uncle Wong just reads boring poetry.”
“For your information, the works of–”
“Mhm!” Koko unintentionally cut Wong off with a grin. “Auntie Kirima takes me on trips ‘n stuff!”
Kyoshi took a seat next to her daughter on the seating mat, a smile plastered onto her face.
Of course. The fastest way to win Koko over.
“Hey!” Wong pouted, looking genuinely hurt. “ I was supposed to be the favorite.”
Kirima stuck her tongue out, looking nothing like the adult she was supposed to be. “I’m clearly better than you– isn’t that right, Koko?”
Koko, ever the agreeable six-year-old, smiled and said, “Yeah, Auntie Kirima’s the best!”
“Auntie Kirima is what now?” Rangi happened to enter the room halfway through the conversation, her face a cross between anger and confusion.
Kyoshi started laughing. “Kirima is Koko’s favorite.”
“She’s what ?” Rangi seemed horrified. Appalled, even, as if the idea was so foreign that it physically repulsed her. “Koko, is this true?”
“Mhm!” Koko gave Rangi a smile. “Auntie Kirima’s the best!”
Rangi still gave her daughter a smile and a gentle kiss to the forehead. Her eyes, focused on Kirima, were the only indication of her fury.
Kirima was laughing her soul out. “No need to seem so horrified by that, Sifu Topknot. Or was it Sifu Firecracker?”
The temperature in the room jumped.
Wong wiped his eyes. “The tragedy!” he moaned, falling back. “The betrayal!”
“Stop being dramatic,” Rangi snapped, and her bronze eyes settled on Kirima. “Do we need another Agni Kai?”
Kirima seemed to have some sort of flashback, as if seeing Rangi throwing fireball after fireball at her again, and she swallowed. “No, thanks. But thanks for offering.”
Rangi finally loosened up, and Koko settled in her lap as she used her fingers to carefully brush out her hair.
A red-eyed Wong, recovering from his sprawled position on the floor, gave Kirima a piercing look, one that clearly read, How dare you steal the position of favorite relative from me?
He cleared his throat, and said in a deep voice, “Kirima, I demand you see me on the lei tai platform immediately for such an insult to my honor!”
Rangi gave him a look. “Since when did you care about honor?”
“Since Kirima became Koko’s favorite!”
Kyoshi intervened. “Guys, the Agni Kai was bad enough for Koko. She was trying to Firebend for a week. Please do not fight in a lei tai .”
The last one she saw had been the most frightful experience of her life, and ended with Kyoshi’s most memorable part of her daofei journey.
“I can Firebend,” Koko pouted, and Wong sighed, placing a gigantic hand on his chest. “Alas! I must live with this agony on my soul for all of my days!”
Kirima poked him with a chopstick (the lack of etiquette seemed to give Rangi a stroke) and said, “Come on. Just accept that I’m the favorite. It’ll be better for you in the long run.”
Wong groaned, and slumped as if his entire future was ripped out under him. That was probably what he felt. “I, Sparrowkeet Wong, will never let you steal this title from me permanently!”
Rangi silently stroked Koko’s back, who had been distracted from her earlier statement about Firebending and was now enraptured by Wong’s new, improvised tragedy. She whispered something in Rangi’s ear, and she struggled to school her expression.
Meanwhile, Kirima gave Wong a wolfish grin. “Good luck getting it back.” She set her chopstick back onto the table.
Wong took the challenge and took off, dusting his sleeve off and giving Kirima a look. “I accept your challenge,” he said with a sniff. “Mark my words, Sparrowkeet Wong will be back with that title in a week!”
“Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
-
Wong was dedicated to his new mission. He played pretend with Koko any day she asked, putting on a performance as if he were on the stage of the Royal Theater. He showed her how to use Kyoshi’s fans ( without asking, but there was no one she’d trust more with them) and there were a lot of excited shouts for a few days.
Uncle Wong, am I doing it right?
Ah, of course you are, Koko.
It warmed Kyoshi’s heart to hear her laughter.
Koko was actually making progress with her fans, and Wong was much more patient in showing her how to handle them correctly. There was no aggressive yelling like there was fr=or Kyoshi.
Kirima, on the other hand, was making a more-half hearted effort. Mostly she hung around Wong and made jokes at his expense. “Honestly,” she said, “I don’t even like kids and you’re still behind.”
With a huff, Wong would snap back at her, “I am giving my most genuine effort to earn her favor?”
“What is this, Earth Kingdom politics?” Kirima snorted. “No need to light a candle under her lantern.”
Tell me about it.
Offended, Wong gave her a look and picked up Koko, running away to his room with her. Koko laughed with glee the whole way.
-
Wong’s hard work paid off, because soon enough Koko was clinging to Wong’s leg whenever Rangi was away. Of course, she ran to Kyoshi when she wanted her hair done or wanted to brag about a new achievement, but Wong was always there to put on an act for her.
Rangi seemed impressed. “He’s actually working pretty hard.”
“Koko agrees with either of them with enough work.” Kyoshi shrugged, and then flashed a crooked grin.
Her wife laughed. “You know her so well, don’t you?”
The day arrived soon, and Kyoshi watched the two with amusement.
“So, Koko,” Wong asked casually, trying not to show his desperation, “who’s your favorite relative?”
Koko beamed, then giggled before pointing at Wong. “Uncle Wong!” She threw her arms around him and Wong smiled back at her before shooting Kirima a look.
“Yes!” He pumped his fists. “Take that!”
“Well.” Kirima cracked her knuckles. “Time for me to get to work.”