Hello again, welcome back for chapter 4! I've been sick so I have more time on my hands right now, not COVID so that's good. I want to make sure you know Zuko and Katara will do the deed. But the suspense is part of the fun. Besides if I wrote it right off the bat it wouldn't leave much room for development. Enough of me, time for the story.

Rating… T maybe? Yeah probably T.

Katara followed the map the servant had given her to the hospital furthest from the palace. While he was getting the map she realized that's where people probably needed her help the most. She assumed it worked similarly to Ba Sing Se where the worst neighborhoods were the furthest from the heart of the city. And she was right. The longer she walked away from the palace the houses got smaller and closer together, the streets became more dirty, the smell got worse, and the colors less vibrant, until there was nothing more than grey dilapidated almost shanty like houses.

Katara got stares from the people on the streets, probably from her fancy clothes. Even though it was the simplest outfit she could find. It made her self conscious.

"You lost little lady?" a man with a seedy smile asked walking up next to her. She quickly scanned for water but saw and felt none. She decided there was enough moisture in the air today she could make do.

"Yeah, can we help you with anything?" a second man, obviously a friend of the first, walked up to her other side. She kept her chin up and false confidence.

"No, I'm just fine thank you," She stated, determined not to show her discomfort.

"You are just fine," The first one said in a mockingly seductive tone. His friend laughed. Katara was not amused

"If you'll excuse me I have somewhere to be"

"Oh I'll excuse you" the second man said and slapped her ass. Katara arced one hand over her head and the other by her abdomen gathering the moisture in the air, to condense it into a small water whip. She whipped the man who had just touched her in the face, knocking him out. Quickly she turned to his laughing friend, who had yet to realize what just happened. She whipped him in the balls causing him to double over. The water fell to the ground as Katara released it of her control. She silently thanked the spirits for the slight humidity. A satisfactory smile flashed on her face for a moment as she continued walking.

Katara had no idea the palace city had slums like this. It looked more like a refugee camp than part of a town. She'd have to ask Zuko about this later, and see what was being done to help these people. Arriving in front of a building that was supposedly the hospital she checked her map. Could it be wrong? Everything was so close together it was impossible to tell. She decided to take her chances and pushed through the curtains to go inside.

When she got inside she saw mostly children and elderly people. The majority seemed sick, a few injured, but mostly sick. Katara approached the lady at the wooden table.

"Excuse me, hi" she started "I'm a healer and wanted to know if I could help", the woman looked up at her.

"Sweety, we can use all the help we can get" and pointed at another curtain covered doorway.

"Thank you," Katara bowed. Hesitantly she pushed her way through to the back. It was chaos, one big room with beds anywhere they could fit, all of them full. There were people moaning and coughing. How have these people been forgotten? Left behind? Katara wondered. After a minute of taking it all in a nurse, or what she assumed was a nurse, approached her.

"You have to wait just like everyone else until your name is called. We don't prioritise based on status here," She explained clearly in a hurry.

"Oh, no. I'm a healer and I'm here to help," She clarified. The woman nodded and began to walk.

"What type of healer are you?" She stopped to look at an old man, taking his pulse and feeling his forehead.

"Um well, I'm a waterbender and have experience with many ailments" Though it wasn't a lie she mostly had worked on injuries and chi blocks. The woman paused.

"A waterbender, well that explains the necklace" she continued on to the next patient. "Alright come with me. I'll take you to our physician. I'm San Fan," She introduced herself. San Fan didn't seem like a very fire nation name to Katara, but what did she know? Looking at her she couldn't be much older than Katara.

"Ling," San Fan called for the physician's attention. He turned to look in their direction. "This is…" she looked at Katara who realized she hadn't properly introduced herself.

"Katara," she finished and bowed. Ling bowed back.

"Nice to meet you Katara" He turned to his assistant, "why is there a stranger in my hospital?"

"She's a healer, a waterbender healer who wants to help," Yeah, that pretty much summed it up. The man looked back to Katara.

"I don't like women taking any sort of physician rolls, you can stay and tend to patients. I make the diagnoses here and decide treatment. San Fan can show you around" Before Katara finished nodding he had turned away. Wow, what a sexist ass. Why were there so many of those? It didn't matter, she was going to heal people no matter what he said.

"We don't have much medicine, we've tried to order more but we aren't prioritized because of all the military medical centers needing the supplies. Even if we had access we don't necessarily have the funds. We do the best with what we have. Most patients are here due to sickness. Typically we are their last resort." as she explained this Katara's heart sank.

Zuko sat in the war room, which name needs to be changed, he noted. He was at the Lord's seat sitting behind flames overlooking the vast table that should host a full set of advisors. Most chairs sat empty. Uncle had a good friend, Zujan, that agreed to be on the council. Zujan was someone trustworthy, a connection Uncle had from the white lotus. He took a keen interest in economics so Zuko offered him the role of economic advisor. There was a general that Zuko's father had put in prison at the boiling rock for not wanting to burn down the earth kingdom, Admiral Liu. After interviewing him several times Zuko asked the admiral to be his military advisor. Thankfully Liu accepted. Now all he needed to do was find someone to keep track of foriegn relations, head of internal intelligence, a communications advisor, and a trade advisor. Agni. That's just his inner circle. Zujan started to speak, refocusing Zuko.

"As you asked I started analyzing the nation's past finances and found that 40% of the nation's jobs come from either industrial factories or the military." He explained. "With the war now over I predict it will be cut in half leaving at least 20% of citizens out of work" Zuko folded his hands and tested his chin on them while he thought.

"That would make 20% more of the population Ozsi supporters" he thought out loud. "Have you found another way to generate jobs?" He looked up at Zujan.

"This is where a trade advisor would be helpful, your highness. I'm not an expert on the land and will have to study its current agriculture capabilities. Though that is one place to create jobs and exports, there is the problem of convincing people to relocate and begin a new career. As far as generating in city employment, well, I'm still working on it." He bowed. Zuko nodded.

"Thank you Zujan, you have worked feverishly since you took on your position, I am truly grateful. Put together a small task force of those you trust to help with your research until we have the more senior role filled".

"Thank you my Lord"

"Zujan," Zuko started "let's focus on exports"

"Of course Lord Zuko" he nodded to his economic advisor and turned to Liu.

"Do you have an update on vetting the current royal guard and staff for Ozai supporters?"

"Yes my Lord," He began. "The palace is currently running on half staff. Azula seemed to turn most of the servants against her and Ozai." Zuko wasn't surprised, Azula had gone crazy. "I expect about 75% will be loyal to you." The man paused.
"Admiral Liu, please know you can speak truthfully and freely. You are part of my council of advisors and I need people who will tell me everything." Zuko let the flames die down so he could walk to the table. He didn't like the separation. His advisors needed to feel closer to his equal if they were ever going to tell him the truth of matters.
"Yes Fire Lord. Most of the guard is being held at the prison. They were brought up with the war, with your father's teachings, and refuse to recognize you as the rightful heir," Liu held an expression of concern on his face. Zuko couldn't tell if it was in anticipation of his reaction or because of the guards. "I estimate 15% are loyal to you".

"Thank you for the truth Admiral," He wanted to make sure the man knew his honesty was appreciated. "I want finding guards to be the priority. The positions need to be as close to filled as possible before the ambassadors arrive. I will not be the cause of another global war,"

"Yes my Lord".

"Thank you both for your time, I have other matters that need my focus. If you need anything else tell me. I mean… like later, not right now," Agni, he had been doing so well. Stupid, stupid.

"Yes my Lord" They parrotted in unison. With a bow, they left the young Fire Lord in the vast war room alone. He slumped into a chair and wished the room had windows.

"San Fan?" Katara asked "Can I get some boiled water?" She desperately wanted to be useful. They had been "monitoring" patients all day unable change wrappings or administer medicine without a direct order from the pig headed doctor.
"Sure, is it for tea?" She asked "we should make some for the patients as well"

"It's actually for bending, but tea for the patients sounds good, as long as I get some of the water," How could this sweet girl put up with this every day?

"Of course, let me show you the kitchen" As soon as they walked through the first real door in the building Katara couldn't hold her tongue any longer.

"How can you work under him?" She started. "He doesn't let you do anything!" it came out louder than she anticipated. They reached the kitchen.

"I can't do anything about it and I'm not going to leave these people," She looked down as her expression fell. "They didn't do anything wrong," She lifted her head that once again hosted a smile. San Fan was busy getting everything ready.

"How did you end up here?" Katara was slightly nervous about asking the question.

"Well, I trained at my village from a young age in medicine. Then I decided I wanted to come here and work in a fancy hospital in the capital city. My father grew up here and I wanted to see it for myself. When I saw this part of town I couldn't believe it so I applied here. They desperately needed staff. Once I started to know the people and the community I couldn't leave. So here I am a year and a half later." She finished.

"Wow, out of all the things you could have done," Katara was in awe of her selflessness and compassion. She looked out the window as she thought. Was the sun setting? Was it really that late? "San Fan," she said quickly "I am so sorry but I have somewhere I need to be right now. I'll be back tomorrow!" Katara grabbed a small flask and filled it with water, just in case. She secured it in her bindings as she left the kitchen and then the hospital."

"Katara!" Zuko was yelling "Where have you been?!"

"I went into town" she responded dismissively.

"Went into town? You can't do that. It's dark out!" She turned to face Zuko.

"First, the sun just set. Second, I rise with the moon, and most importantly you can't tell me what to do!" She yelled back.

"Ugh, you're so stubborn!"

"Want to know where I was?! At a run down sad excuse passing as a hospital at the outer edge of YOUR city!" His face immediately softened.

"What?"

"Yeah I wanted to do something so I figured I'd go help out at a hospital. Zuko," She met his eyes. "It was awful. Have you been out there? It's like a refugee camp in the outer ring of Ba Sing Se." He looked away.

"No, I-I haven't," She could barely hear him. Katara stepped closer to him, forcing him to look at her.

"It's not your fault," She said trying to comfort him.

"But it is my fault. Katara, those are my people my responsibility," She could see the pain he felt, what he said next seemed to break him even more. "I've already failed." Katara's heart sank. She grabbed his hands

"No, Zuko, you haven't failed. You'r forefathers did this and you are making it right. You are giving these people hope, you are going to show them, and the world, how truly great this nation can be." She hugged him "Will be." Her face was buried in his chest and she felt his arms wrap around her, a silent thank you.

So, should I do longer chapters and post less often or short chapters like the ones I have been and post more often? Let me know!

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