Chapter Text
Pain. Unimaginable pain and the ever encroaching, unfamiliar, cold . Rangi knew this was going to be the last thing she felt. Unless she did something. She was defiant like that, even in her dying moments.
With the last of her strength she looked up to the one she loved the most in the whole world. Kyoshi’s eyes were slammed shut, tears of light spilling from the cracks. Even when she was crying she was still so beautiful. But beauty or not, she couldn’t bear to see Kyoshi in pain. She knew what her last act needed to be.
“Kyoshi,” she rasped. She barely had the strength to talk, but she needed to power through it.
Kyoshi’s eyes opened in surprise and looked deep into Rangi’s. Despite the godly light that spilled from them, Rangi could only see the humble maid she fell in love with all those years ago.
Rangi slowly reached her hand up to Kyoshi’s face, intending to wipe away the tears.
“Stay here with me,” she whispered. She gave Kyoshi her best smile, one filled with reassurance and love. To tell her it would be alright. To tell her everything she couldn’t say with what little words she had left. She wanted to say more, but a sudden shudder took her body and darkness started to flood her vision.
The last thing Rangi felt before slipping into the darkness was not pain, or cold, or fear. It was love.
The sound of a pigster crying jolted her awake. She unceremoniously rolled out of bed and onto the floor from the start it gave her. Despite landing face first, she clutched at her lower back in pain.
Wha–what the hell? What’s going on? Where’s Kyoshi? And Yun? Jinpa? Kirima? Wong– AH!
Forehead pressed to the floor, she shook her head the best she could, trying to get her thoughts in order. When the pain in her back finally loosened, she gathered the strength to finally sit up.
She was in the Avatar’s estate. But, instead of the ruins of the training ground surrounding her, she was back in her own private room from when Jianzhu was in charge. In fact, she could hear the nostalgic commotion that the mansion used to exude just outside her window.
People? But…how?
She attempted to gather strength to her legs, but flopped back down onto the ground. A wave of nausea rolled over her as she attempted once again. Finally, she decided to forgo her dignity and crawl on the floor to her vanity table. When she got there, she used all her strength to pull herself up to look at herself in the mirror.
The first thing Rangi noticed was that she was pale. Well, she was always pale, but this was the sickly kind. Her skin was underline with a green tint rather than her usual pink. And she had heavy, dark circles under her eyes. The second thing she realized was…despite only minor changes occurring in her body between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, they were still noticeable enough.
Her face had fewer edges… Her limbs, despite being unable to stand, felt a tad shorter. She’d comment on how her hair was shorter, it would’ve been…if not for the impromptu haircut of dishonor she was wounded with at the age of sixteen. It took a year for most of her hair to grow back. Most didn’t notice the length change, but she did .
What’s going on? Why am I… Why am I fifteen again? Pain throbbed in her head. Maybe she wasn’t fifteen? Maybe this was the aftermath of being stabbed by Yun? Maybe she was just delirious and the changes in her limbs and hair was just her mind playing tricks. The changes in her face were just swelling from a fever and infection?
She finally pulled herself up to a standing position, and half leaned against the table. She pulled her tunic up the best she could, angling her body so she could assess the wound on her back in the mirror. Her eyes widened when she saw not a stab wound, but a nasty looking bruise in its place instead.
What in the– Her thoughts were cut off by an intense throbbing sensation that slammed against her temples. She doubled back over onto the floor, clutching at her head in pain. She let out haggard gasps, trying to right herself again.
I need to find Kyoshi… Questions alone weren’t getting her anywhere, she needed to get out of this room and find some answers! She gritted her teeth and attempted to stand up again, she didn’t care how much pain she was in, or how broken she felt. If Kyoshi was in trouble, she needed to get to her!
On her fifth attempt to stand, she heard a brief knock at her door, and the door clicking open.
“ Cadet !” a familiar voice roared sternly.
Rangi flinched slightly. Her old title…from two years ago. Indeed, this was the past. She stopped her attempt at standing and looked towards the door.
“What in the blazes are you doing?! You’re late–”
Hei-Ran, Rangi’s mother, stood before her with wide eyes, taking in the sight of her ill daughter. Her long hair was still pulled into a topknot, still honorable. She looked healthy and strong and vibrant, just like she had been before was poisoned. A small bubble of happiness floated about inside Rangi, her mother was healthy again!
“Rangi–” she breathed, all military formality and stiffness seared away from her voice in an instant, all that was left was a mother’s worry.
“Mother…” Relief flooded through her, and with it, the rest of her energy.
Rangi was out before she hit the floor.
Visions of the past two years, mostly Kyoshi’s stint as the Avatar, played in front of Rangi, sped up and slowed down all at once. Even in her dreams she knew, she knew they were real . But she didn’t know how this was happening. She died from Yun’s stab wound…right? How was she in the past?
Perhaps it didn’t matter? Maybe a kind spirit took pity on her and her alone? The thought was laughable enough, but she was connected to the Avatar. Maybe something out there in the cosmos deemed her worthy of instigating a re-do of some sorts? To help Kyoshi?
Well…she could do that. She didn’t need to be told twice. If she could stop the trauma and pain that would befall the girl she loved in a year, she’d do it gladly.
But before she could do any of that, she needed to wake up first.
She fought her way upwards, towards consciousness. Barreling past memories that threatened to drag her back down.
Finally, she opened her eyes. It was a semi-familiar ceiling that laid above her, it must’ve been the infirmary. She felt something cool on her forehead. She attempted to sit up, but her body refused to listen. She was out of energy.
Come on… Mind over matter… Move! She growled at herself. She didn’t have time to lay around! She needed to–
“Rangi!” Kyoshi’s voice cried out just out of Rangi’s field of vision. “Spirits, you’re awake!”
Rangi’s eyes widened and somehow found the energy to flick her head in the direction she heard Kyoshi’s voice. All the air left Rangi’s lungs when she saw her.
Kyoshi stood there with her hands over her mouth, eyes shimmering back tears. Beautiful as always. Her dark umbre locks framed her elegantly long face, with deep bronze skin star dotted with freckles across her high cheekbones.
Not much had changed for Kyoshi in two years. The only difference is she lacked the scars, the marks of her strife. Her scars didn’t tarnish her beauty in any way, despite what Rangi’s initial reaction to Kyoshi’s injured hands may have sounded like. But Rangi was still determined to make sure Kyoshi didn’t have to face the same trials this time, to bear the same pain.
Rangi felt a lump form in her throat, Kyoshi and her mother were safe and well. She’d really gone back in time. And that meant even Master Kelsang…and… Lek . Yes, she was going to do everything in her power to protect them all .
Something slid from Rangi’s forehead and covered her vision. She was in the middle of sending energy to one of her arms when it was removed from her face. Kyoshi plucked a damp cloth away from her face, it was probably used to help with a fever.
“Oh thank the spirits, thank Yangchen! You’re ok!” she cried, placing the towel in a bowl of water to soak. “Do you have any idea how long you’ve been out?”
Rangi shook her head, not trusting her voice just yet. Please don’t say a week…
“You’ve been out for basically a whole week !”
Damn it… Just her luck. Well, that would explain why her body felt so stiff . She closed her eyes and grimaced. This was going to set her back physically. She didn’t want to think about how many extra minutes of horse stance she’d need to catch up to her regiment.
The sound of movement near her caused her to open her eyes again. Kyoshi was there with a gourd of water in one hand. Her free hand hovered over her shoulder, ready to help Rangi sit up. Rangi used what strength she had, and lifted her neck and shoulders to help Kyoshi’s hand get under her back.
As she drank, a brief feeling of embarrassment overcame her. She could tell that her back was soaked with sweat, and she felt all grimy. If she and Kyoshi were dating this wouldn’t have been an issue (they’d seen each other at their worst), but now… She wasn’t sure she remembered where she stood with the maid, and it made her self-conscious.
Rangi had a feeling she would’ve acted more pridefully and refused the help. Probably would've yelled at Kyoshi for helping her. Then she would’ve pouted about how she did that and how she probably ruined her chances with Kyoshi. Then the cycle would repeat.
Her younger self was a real idiot. Because, really ? Wanting the girl she liked to notice her, but self sabotaging her own chances at every turn, and then pouting about it later? It was a real wonder that Kyoshi still ended up liking her. It was, however, no wonder that Kyoshi ended up confessing first. Considering Rangi’s track record, it all made sense. Even Rangi knew she was too pig chicken to confess.
But Rangi was different now! She’d matured. A lot! She ignored the fact she’d reverted back to her old childish habit of wrecking every nearby furniture she could get her hands on back during the Szeto festival. She was under an insane amount of stress at the time, that’s why she regressed. She’d kick the habit once already, and she could do it again!
Besides that, she didn’t think she could just…fall back into how she used to act around Kyoshi. They’d both changed too much since the whole Jianzhu incident. Kyoshi had to toughen up, and Rangi in contrast softened up. That version of Kyoshi may not be here right now, but that didn’t mean Rangi hadn't changed.
But if Rangi started acting differently, acting softer than she used to…wouldn’t that raise suspicion? She mulled it over for a moment, and decided to not attempt to act how she used to. The fever…the minor coma… Yes, she would use that as an excuse for her sudden change. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to change after experiencing an illness like this. She’d use the excuse of having a new outlook on life now.
Kyoshi finally pulled the gourd away from Rangi’s face when she finished drinking and placed it back on the shelf.
“Is that enough? Do you want more? Wait! Food! You need food!” Kyoshi shot up out of her chair. “And your mother! I should inform her that you’re awake too!”
Kyoshi started moving away, and Rangi quickly grabbed her hand before she got too far. The motion made her dizzy, clearly, Rangi still hadn’t recovered fully.
“W–wait!” Rangi said, her voice cracking from misuse.
Kyoshi stopped and stared at Rangi, surprised. She definitely wasn’t expecting Rangi to act this way, so vulnerable. Nevertheless, Kyoshi returned to Rangi’s side.
“What is it?” she asked, worried. She squeezed Rangi’s hand. “Are you in pain? Do you–”
Rangi shook her head. “Just…don’t leave…”
Kyoshi furrowed her brow. “But… Rangi, you need food. And Hei–I mean, your mother has been beside herself since you collapsed. She’s not here right now only because we begged her to get some rest in her room…”
Rangi felt a pang of guilt hit her, but she really didn’t want Kyoshi to leave. “It’s fine, let her rest.” She worried her lip, trying to gather the courage for what she was about to say. “What about you?”
“Huh?”
“Where have…you…been? During all of this…I mean…” she slowly got out.
Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Kyoshi’s cheeks tinted slightly and looked away. She scratched at her cheek, a little bashful.
“I’ve been here…with you and your mother…” She gestured behind her. Sure enough, it looked like there was someone else who had used a nearby cot. “We were trying to sleep in shifts but she… She was adamant on staying awake for long periods of time.”
Rangi bit her lip and nodded. She understood what her mother was probably feeling, and doing. She’d done the same while she sat bedside, waiting for her mother to recover from her poisoning.
Rangi absentmindedly interlaced her fingers with Kyoshi’s, looking for comfort.
“A–anyway!” Kyoshi said abruptly. “I’m so glad you’re awake! Do you know what happened?”
Rangi shook her head. “I don’t know, I just woke up like that.”
“A–ah…must’ve caught the latest bug…” Kyoshi trailed off. Her eyes were darting between their hands and random parts of the room. “Are you feeling better now?”
Rangi looked down at their joined hands, and noticed how much cooler Kyoshi’s skin felt against her own. She considered what she was about to do briefly. She didn’t know when Kyoshi started to return her feelings, they’d been too distracted at the time for her to ask. So anything too aggressive may scare Kyoshi away… But she also knew Kyoshi responded very well when she’d been the forward one. Of course, they were dating by that point…but… still . Maybe a toned down version would work in her benefit? Couldn’t hurt to try, anything was better than her disastrous previous attempts in the past.
She rearranged their hands and brought Kyoshi’s hand up to cup her cheek, and nuzzled it. They were just as soft and smooth as she remembered. She couldn’t help but sigh in content.
She felt Kyoshi tense under her hold, and saw her eyes widened. Kyoshi knew that touching a Fire National’s head was off limits, so she was probably surprised by Rangi’s lack of decorum. Delirious out of her mind with a fever to notice her own transgression.
Damn decorum! And damn propriety too! Rangi nuzzled her face more into the palm of Kyoshi’s hand.
“I am now,” she said. Then she noticed the lack of breathing coming from Kyoshi. “Your hands are cold, it feels nice,” she added quickly, and noticed the tension retreated from Kyoshi’s body.
She snuck a peak at Kyoshi, the maid looked uncomfortable. However , the slight reddening of her cheeks, and her biting back a smile made Rangi think she made the right move.
“G–good, I…uh…kept them cold just for you!” she attempted to joke.
Rangi’s lips curved upward into a small smile. “My hero.”
Kyoshi coughed at the praise. “Are you sure you don’t need something to eat?”
“I know what I need , Kyoshi,” she whispered. “Just…stay here with me.” It may have been unfair, repeating her dying words to the girl she loved yet again. But it was what she wanted.
She felt Kyoshi tense again for a moment. No doubt, her mother probably personally asked Kyoshi to fetch her if Rangi woke up. Kyoshi was always good about following orders, but apparently, it only took one plea from Rangi to undo all that training.
“Alright,” she said softly, sitting down in the chair next to the bedside. Careful not to move her hand away from Rangi’s cheek. “I’ll stay.”
They stayed like that for a good while, until Rangi slowly started to drift back to sleep.
However, her nap didn’t last for long. She was soon jostled awake by her mother, disheveled (by her standards), shaking her shoulders hard and yelling at her to wake up. The second Rangi’s eyes were open, Hei-Ran was attempting to shove Fire Nation style of samgyetang down her throat. Kyoshi, who must’ve gone to fetch her mother while she slept, did all she could to keep Hei-Ran from accidentally putting Rangi back into a coma.