Jaya seemed content with Kasai’s answer, simply smiled and returned her attention to her tea. Avani doubted it was the last she’d heard about it, unless she left right now and avoided her cousin for the rest of her life. Ekta may take Kasai’s side to defuse a situation, but she wouldn’t protect Avani much. Besides, she’d feel like a child if she went crying to one of her elders. She assigned herself to drinking tea, and praying that Kasai wouldn’t somehow find another way to make Avani’s first visit to her relatives in a long time even worse.

The conversation went on for a while without any further incidents, and Avani told them about how she’d come to visit because they were traveling the world together. The Earth Kingdom just happened to be their first stop. Ekta offered them to stay in one of the available guest rooms, as it would be cheaper than renting a room somewhere. Avani said they’d need to discuss it, which of course made Ekta insist that they stay with them. The kids wouldn’t be too loud. Avani was still hesitant. Ekta seemed to approve of Kasai at least, acting friendly and trying to get to know her, while Jaya had excused herself after she’d heard one of the kids crying.

Eventually Ekta got tired, as any old person due to age. Avani saw it as a good opportunity for her to drag her girlfriend away so she could ask her what she wanted to do. If they stayed they’d likely meet more of Avani’s relatives.

She grabbed Kasai’s hand and headed back out the front entrance. That way she could make sure her motorcycle was still around too. While the motorcycle was still where she’d left it, someone was investigating it. A lightly clad woman that was too familiar to her. Damn, she must have recognized her motorcycle. She’d thought Iluq would have moved away after all these years. She wasn’t an earthbender after all. 

Avani tried to turn Kasai so that her back was against the motorcycle, before she spotted what might look like a thief. To be fair, Iluq was a thief, but she doubted she’d steal from her. Honour among thieves, and a shared history. 

“What do you want to do?” Avani asked, and placed her hands on Kasai’s shoulders. As she looked Kasai in the eyes she remembered that she should be angry with her and not worry about her opinion, or that others were causing her headaches as well. It made her want to put a gag on her, tie her up and use her as a toy until she felt better about the whole day.

Iluq noticed her at that point, and waved. Avani felt her eye twitch. When her ex took steps in their direction, Avani kissed Kasai forcefully while keeping her eye open to glare at the ex. The waterbender stopped and frowned, then returned to the motorcycle and straddled the seat, leaning back. Oh joy, she had to be made to leave.