A/N: I come bearing gifts! It's not quite what you all want, but it'll make sense soon, I promise. This one is heavy dialogue, but you'll like the new character entries. Happy reading!


CHAPTER 9

"Bolin… Where are we?" Asami was exceedingly confused. The direction's her animated friend had given her took them into the ghettos of the city. All around them were run down buildings with boards over the windows, people sitting on various stoops and ledges in worn clothing and solemn looks on their faces, and raggedy animals digging through trash cans. Several times they witnessed fights breaking out over who knows what. The sight was something she'd seen many times before, but it wasn't a place that she generally frequented on her own.

"Welcome to the 'Slums'," he stated flatly. "This is where the poorest people in the city live. Lower class, criminals, elderly, children, multi-national… It doesn't matter down here. Everyone is stuck with very few means to get out."

She looked around, taking in more of the scene as she drove slowly. Children ran around playing with makeshift toys, mothers hung clothes on lines stretched out between buildings, homeless folks crawled out of cardboard shelters… It was difficult to see, knowing that she never had to struggle like that. Asami had tried to be a part of the movement to clean the Slums up at one point, having made her way to a few soup kitchens to volunteer. However, one night, as she was walking to her car, she had been mugged by a group from a local gang. She'd been beaten pretty severely, which was something she could handle, but what prevented her from coming back was that they recognized her and threatened to come after her father if she returned to the area. That had been some time ago, but even now, she was nervous to show her face.

"What's wrong?" The woman looked to her friend as he stared at her, noticing that she had zoned out.

"Nothing, I just –" she paused and sighed. "I've been down here before. A few times, actually, trying to make things better. I didn't go well."

Surprised, Bolin asked, "What? Really? I didn't peg you for the type."

"No one ever does," she responded, slightly irritated.

"Ah, sorry! That's not how I meant it." He shook his head trying to wave off his blunder. "I meant that you seem like you're so busy all the time that you wouldn't have a chance to come down this way."

She shrugged. "There's some truth to that, but I really do care about this city. I became a lawyer for other reasons besides taking over for my father one day. I want to be able to help clean up the city, make it better."

"Intersting…" Bolin trailed off as he looked out the window. "Take a right up there into the alleyway," he stated, pointing towards a turn just past a small stop shop. The alley went a ways until it came to a dead end. "You can park at the end along the wall."

"Um – before I step out into a place I'm obviously not familiar with, can you tell me what we're doing here?" She stopped the car and killed the engine, her hand resting on the door handle.

"Don't worry," he began as he opened the door and climbed out, turning then to lean his head in as he held onto the roof and door. "I promise it's safe. I have some people I want you to meet."

"I thought we were here for you to show me something?"

"We are! But that something comes with people, as well. It all ties together. You may not understand at first, but you will, in time." He stepped back and closed the door, waving his arm and yelling, "Come on!"

Hesitantly, she stepped out of the vehicle and locked the doors. Walking around, she asked, "What is this place?" There was a sign above a pale blue door, which looked freshly painted, donning the name 'The Lower Clinic'.

Bolin didn't answer, and instead opened the door to reveal a small reception desk and sitting area that was packed with people. Mothers held their babies on their laps and children played on the floor. Some coughed, others had makeshift crutches. One little boy has bandages wrapped around his head and eye. A smaller framed woman with short black hair was behind the desk, moving papers around and hurriedly gathering small pieces of equipment in a basket.

"Opal!" Bolin exclaimed excitedly. The woman looked up, bright green eyes shining from the lights above and a gleaming smile growing across her face.

"Hi, Bo." She greeted. "What brings you here? Usually you're only here on the weekends."

"Yeah, well, I brought someone with me so I could show her the place."

Green locked on green, as the two women looked at each other, Opal just the noticing Asami's presence. After a moment, her attention snapped back to Bolin, who was holding a goofy grin on his face. "Bo! What are you doing?! You know this place has to stay quiet!"

Asami stepped forward, cutting in quickly. "I won't tell anyone," she started. "I don't even know what there is to tell, but Bolin said it was important to see this place, and I don't even know why. But, I can guarantee you that I know how to keep a secret."

Opal studied her for a moment, obviously debating whether to trust her or not. "Who are you?"

"My name is Asami Sato."

The young woman's eyes widened, recognizing the name immediately. She looked back at the now sheepish looking man attempting to hide behind a few patrons. Looking back, she began once again, "You realize that your father isn't exactly a favorite to those who live in the Slums, right?"

The raven-haired woman looked downcast at the comment. "Unfortunately, I'm aware. He ruined a lot of people's lives for money, and now he's in jail, living out his punishment for his crimes." She attempted to compose herself, straightening up and looking into the other woman's eyes determinedly. "I'm not like him though. I want to do more for this city, but I can't until my father's shadow over me is gone." She took another step forward, placing her hands on the desk. "Look, I don't know why Bolin brought me here, but if it has something to do with Korra then –"

She was cut off immediately at the name. "You know Korra?!"

Stunned, Asami stepped back. "Um – Yes. I assume that's why I'm here."

Two sets of eyes turned to Bolin, his attempt to remain hidden failing miserably as he stepped out from behind an older woman. He coughed and cleared his throat. "Uggh-hugghhh… Yeah. I, uh – huuggh. Yes?" He rose his hands in front of his chest and tapped thick fingers against each other nervously. "I thought this would help her to understand."

Once again, Opal's attention snapped back to the frail woman in front of her. "Wait, are you bay #5?"

Confused, Asami looked at her with a cocked brow. "Are you referring to the garage? In which case, I guess so?"

Supposedly understanding something that Asami was at a complete loss to, Opal turned on her heel and glanced back briefly, stating, "Follow me, then!"

Asami and Bolin followed Opal through a set of doors and down a hallway. Each room door was closed, but voices could be heard from behind them. Some had people chatting, another was a woman crying, and the last, before walking through a set of double doors, bore a child yelling "Mommy, wake up!"

Once through the doors, a bright light shone in Asami's eye, causing her to squint as she waited for her vision to clear. Upon dulling, the scene before her was… indescribable. A large room, with what seemed like hundreds of occupants, was set before her. Beds were scattered everywhere, a few riddled with patients sleeping while others had one or multiple sitting upon its mattress. Nurses ran around from spot to spot, speaking with patients, taking care to wounds, distributing medication and accomplishing check ups as necessary. Various levels of disease and injury floated across the crowd. Many people were dirty, their clothes ragged and look unwashed. It was a hospital… or, it would be, if it were taken care of as such.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Opal began again, seeing the look of shock on the ivory woman's face. "This is where people without means to get typical treatment come, for various reasons. Either they don't have money, they don't have protection, or their have ailments that others won't touch." She walked forward, grabbing a couple of utensils from a table. "Our supplies our limited, and so ability to do such much for these people are limited. We have to turn many people away because we can't do enough."

Asami's eyes scanned the room as she listed, eventually landing again on the saddened girl holding an assortment of supplies poorly. "What happens to the ones you turn away? How do you pay for all of this?"

"The city gives us a small stipend to run this little clinic, but my brother seeks donations for… other means." The voice came from a new person to their little party and the raven-haired woman turns her attention to it. An older woman, darker skin with longer silver hair spoke once more. "Sorry, I don't mean to just cut in. My name is Kya. I'm the lead nurse here." She stuck out a hand in greeting, which a slender hand took graciously.

"Asami."

"I know who you are, doll." A sly, yet comforting, smile danced across the woman's lips. "I pay close attention to what happens throughout the city. I'm surprised you're hear, seeing as you've been warned to vacate."

Emerald eyes widen and eyebrows shoot towards the sky. "How do you know about that?!"

Bolin cut in, seemingly out of nowhere. "What?! You were told to stay away from the slums? Why didn't you say something before we came down here?"

Asami turned to look at his terrified and apologetic expression. "It's fine, Bolin. I didn't know where we were going, and by the time we were down here, it didn't make sense to turn back."

"Not much scares you, does it, Ms. Sato?"

She turned again to look back at the older woman. "I've dealt with worse than a few muggers and idle threats."

"I wouldn't exactly call them idle, but I'm impressed by your reluctance to let them get to you."

Asami gazed around the room again, taking in the sights as she sighed. "Unfortunately, I did let them get to me. I haven't been back here since then. But, not because I was afraid of them harming me, but because I was afraid of them hurting my father." She paused for a moment before bringing her stare back to Kya. "I didn't know what he was doing at the time."

"It's alright, dear. None of us hold that against you in this place," Kya stated, reaching a hand out to place on the girl's shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze in the process.

Opal chimed into the conversation again, changing the topic. "Kya, do you happen to know where Katara is?"

"Who is Katara?" Asami asked.

"She's only the best damn doctor on the planet!" Bolin cut in again. He was obviously getting antsy that no one was paying attention to him. "Well, except for –"

"BOLIN!" Opal yelled.

"What?" the burly man questioned as he shrugged his shoulder. "She's going to find ou–"

"BOLIN! SERIOUSLY! You need to stop talking!" He quickly shrank under the little woman's glare, backing away towards a wall, whistling to himself as if he'd never been in the conversation at all. Turning back to Asami, she continued what she was going to say before her friend had cut her off. "Katara is the primary, and only, doctor for the clinic. She overseas everything. This place wouldn't even be here if not for her."

Kya stepped in once more. "And, unfortunately, she's not here at the moment. She's seeing to a few patients elsewhere, today." For a split second, Kya and Opal locked eyes, seemingly having a silent conversation of their own.

"I'm sorry but, I still don't understand why Bolin brought me here," Asami quizzically stated.

All three women looked back towards Bolin, who was still leaning against the wall uncomfortably. "I – well… You see, I thought, or, was thinking… I'm not sure if this is a past or present thing? Um –"

"Oh, just spit it out, sweetie," Opal stated in an irritated and endearing tone. Asami chuckled, finally piecing together their intriguing tension.

"I thought that maybe she could help us… you know. Make things more manageable."

"You want my help here?" Asami asked, confused by his intentions.

"Or with other endeavors…"

Another glare shot from fierce jade eyes towards the broad man that quivered under her stare. "Surely Asami has better things to do than hang around a disease infested clinic in the Slums."

"Not necessarily," the lawyer spoke up once more. "I was spending what little spare time I had at the garage, but seeing as Korra doesn't want to talk to me, I haven't exactly gone back. That leaves me with a bit of time that I'd prefer not to be taken up at the office to do other things."

Kya sighed at the comment. "You should go back, dear. I'm sure she'd like to see you."

Asami put up her hands and shook her head. "Okay, you're all seriously confusing me." She looked to Opal first. "How do you know I was from the garage?" Then she turned to look at Kya. "And, how do you know Korra wants to see me?" Lastly, she looked at Bolin. "And, why are you being so cryptic?" The confusion at the situation had begun to boil into anger.

"You'll understand soon enough," Kya responded in kind. "Right now, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that there's someone waiting for you at the garage, and I can tell you miss her by how agitated you are at the moment."

Utterly fuming at this point, Asami threw her hands up once more before they came falling down at her sides in a huff. "Now you're all being cryptic! And I don't miss Korra; I barely know her."

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Bolin noticed the time and decided it was time to go. "Asami, we should probably head out if you want to make it back for your meetings."

Realizing he was right, she agreed. "Alright. Well," she looked at the others, "it was nice to meet you both. I'm sure I'll be back again."

They all said their goodbyes and Bolin and Asami were back in the car, heading towards the firm. The two remained silent for some time, neither sure of what to say. Eventually, the brilliant woman's curiosity got the better of her. "I still don't understand what that place has to do with Korra. You told me you'd tell me what was going on with her."

Maintaining his gaze out the window, Bolin shrugged at the question. "It has everything to do with Korra, you just don't have all the pieces that put it together yet."

"So give me the pieces."

"I already told you I can't; that's Korra's choice. But, to get them, you have to go back."

She studied him from her peripherals for a moment, trying to gauge his intentions. "You planned this to get me to go see her, didn't you?"

He finally looked over, a stupid grin showing off a set of pearly whites. "Maaaayyybe! Is it working?"

She groaned at him for using her curiosity against her. "Yes… But I'm mad at you! This was completely unnecessary."

"Wrong. It was entirely necessary."


A/N: Quick reminder - I mentioned multiple huts behind the garage. Keep that in mind.