"What is the emergency?" Zuko was trying to contain his temper, knowing Iroh only interrupted because he had a genuine concern.
"There is an epidemic in Ba Sing Se. King Bumi has sent word that they have a health epidemic going around and they've not been able to find a cure for it. Apparently the illness is not native to their land, so it's running rampant with no one having built up an immunity."
"Oh. Well, I'll summon a Parliament meeting at once and dispatch the royal physician to collaborate with Bumi's physician. What are the symptoms?"
"It initially starts with a fever and a purple rash on the forearms, then it quickly turns into sores that burst. Nobody that has been affected by the illness has survived."
Fire Nation Capital (Firelord's Chambers)
Katara didn't want to eavesdrop, but if there was an emergency her husband had to address, she too wanted to be prepared. Katara quickly wiped the remaining maidenhead blood and fluid from her privates, making sure to be gentle from still being a little sore. She quietly put on her shift and leaned her ear against the door to listen. After hearing the symptoms, Katara couldn't help herself. They won't know how to treat it. The heat will make it worse. Katara wrapped herself in a blanket and opened the door.
Fire Nation Capital (Firelord's Chambers - Hallway)
After hearing Iroh's description, Zuko's face went pale. "I don't know how we could treat this, but, I mean, we have to try. It could spread to other regions." Zuko then turned his head to hear his wife open the door. Iroh noticed too and after realizing his niece was hardly clothed, averted his eyes to stare at the ceiling.
Zuko spoke quietly, trying to restrain himself from raising his voice in response to his wife's brazen entrance. "Katara, what are you d-?"
Katara raised a hand to stop Zuko's questioning. "I know how to help. I'm sorry for eavesdropping, but we need to stop this illness while we can. Gran Gran taught me how to heal it."
Iroh continued to stare at the artistry on the ceiling while saying, "Have you encountered this illness before?"
"Not myself, no. Master Iroh,"
"Please, call me Uncle Iroh."
Katara blushed at the familiarity, and chuckled at the situation. "Uncle Iroh, thank you. But no, I haven't encountered it, at least not when it was advanced enough to create the sores. It's surprisingly easy to treat if you catch it early enough, but it spreads very quickly if the sores burst. It plagued the Southern Tribes when Gran Gran was little so she taught the treatments to me when I became a healer."
Zuko stared in wonder at his wife. Who is this woman I married? Is there anything she can't do? "What do you need?"
"I need at much clay as we can get, it doesn't matter what kind. And charcoal ground up really fine, into a powder. That's the most important part. Send a hawk as soon as you can and tell King Bumi to keep all the sick quarantined out of the sun. Heat makes the illness progress more quickly. If they can be somewhere cold it will slow down the deterioration. If you treat it before the rash turns into the sores, there aren't any lasting effects outside of some scarring."
"Do we need physicians?" Normally Zuko would be worried having someone else take the lead, but he felt entirely safe entrusting Katara to head this mission.
"Not specifically, but we do need help. The more people we can get to volunteer their time, the quicker this can be resolved."
Iroh interjected, "Zuko, this is going to involve multiple nations. I think we should ask the Avatar to aid us in this mission."
Katara added, "I think we should ask the other air benders too. They can help block the wind from blowing away the charcoal dust. I'll speak with Suki before her and Sokka leave for Kyoshi Island this afternoon. She told me last night the Kyoshi warriors have almost 600 members which could be the labor force we need. They don't have any boats though, Zuko. How would we get them to the mainland?"
"If I petition the parliament, they should agree that sending ships would be fine."
"Nephew, this is time sensitive. I'll go to the naval general straight away and have him dispatch the ships needed. Parliament can be skipped for an urgent matter like this."
"You're right, Katara and I will get ready and meet you at the docks as soon as we can."
"Okay, and Zuko, you need to ask the kitchen staff to pack a crate of provisions for us. The trip will take two weeks. I'll send a hawk to King Bumi to collect the supplies we need." Iroh left down the hallway, grateful to look at something besides the ceiling.
Zuko looked to Katara, "Okay, what do we need to pack? Anything besides basic clothing and toiletries?"
Katara dropped the blanket and shift concealing her body, "The Firelord is still needed."
"Katara, we don't have time."
"Oh Zuko, please? We can be quick."
Zuko spun Katara around, pinning her to the bedroom door. With her back to his front, Zuko reached his left hand to hold onto a breast. He snaked his right hand around Katara's front to tease her still swollen clitoris between his thumb and forefinger.
Katara gasped, "Zuko, we're still in the hallway. Someone could see us."
"Mmm, wouldn't that be fun? But no, it's too early for any servants to be out here yet. If you can stifle your glorious moans, nobody will know." Zuko pinched Katara's clitoris and tugged on her pubic hair. Her legs started to buckle and she started moaning. "Uh uh, you have to be quiet. Katara, put your hand on your mouth." Katara obeyed, putting her left hand on her mouth and the right on the door to stabilize herself. Zuko stepped back, slapped Katara's ass with both hands, and became fully erect at the sound of her muffled whimper and the sight of her ass cheeks become pink with his hand prints. Zuko dropped his pants to his ankles, grabbed Katara's hips, and thrust the entire length of his erection into her depths. Katara had to bite the inside of her hand to keep from screaming in pleasure.
Katara whispered, "Please. Pull my hair." Zuko obliged and wrapped the entirety of Katara's hair around his wrist and pulled her hair enough that it jerked her head to look at the top of the door frame.
"Katara, you're already so wet. You're always longing with desire for me, aren't you?" Katara responded by reaching a hand down to gather some of her fluids and suck it off of her fingers, keeping them in her mouth to muffle her moaning. Zuko responded by thrusting deeper into Katara's core and using his free hand to stimulate her clitoris again.
"Yes, yes. Zuko, harder. Faster. Spill your seed inside me. Please, give it to me rough. Harder, harder." Zuko bent Katara over, putting both her hands on the door to stabilize her. Zuko anchored his hands on her hips and pulled all the way out. Katara waved her bottom side to side, trying to entice Zuko. He slowly put the tip of his erection into her, let Katara squirm, and trusted as hard and deep as he could. Neither could last much longer at this rate. Zuko grunted and Katara whispered with the voice of a seductress, "No, Firelord. We don't want anyone to know our secret." Zuko pulled Katara up again, laid one hand on her clitoris and the other on her throat. Zuko bit into her shoulder as he spilled his seed into Katara's core. Zuko's used his finger to circle and press Katara's nub until she orgasmed, with her leaving bite marks on her knuckle in an effort to be quiet.
Zuko pulled up his pants as both partners situated themselves. He kissed Katara when she turned around and when Katara tried to deepen the kiss, Zuko pulled away. He smiled, poked her nose, and said, "No ma'am. We're on a time crunch. You'll have to wait."
Katara groaned and playfully stomped into the room. Zuko patted her butt to hurry her along. "Hey! What was that for?"
"What can I say? It's irresistible. You have a fine ass Katara. You know what else I like?" Zuko pulled Katara into him, wrapping his hands around her lower back.
"Hmm? And what's that?" Katara stood on her tiptoes to quickly peck Zuko on the lips.
"I love when you call me Firelord. Why do you do that?"
"I find your power incredibly attractive. Also," Katara turned her head to nestle it in Zuko's chest, "because you're the Firelord it's as if you're this huge giant that nobody can take down. That's my husband. It makes me feel safe."
"You are safe. I promise. I will always try to protect you however I can."
"I love you Zuko."
"And I love you. Come on, we need to hurry. Iroh is probably waiting by now."