A/N: One-shot crossover piece, slightly AU, but enjoy! Entry for Firebender of the Mo Ce Mongoose Lizards of the Probending Circuit.

Words: 1651

Prompts:

(word) jumping

(emotion) regret

(character) Ozai

Main Task: The AtLA and LoK character have a huge argument.

Year: 172 AG – Mako is 20, Ozai is 117.

"Chief, please, come on!" he pleaded as Lin sat at her desk, arms crossed. She hadn't looked forward to delivering the news that Mako had been re-assigned, but she knew she had to rip the band-aid off quickly.

"It's above my head, Mako." She softened, genuinely feeling bad for the kid, "It's only temporary, until they find more guards in the Fire Nation. And you come highly recommended…"

Mako stood up from where he was sitting, obviously frustrated. "This is the second time Raiko has used me as some political pawn! First, it was Wu, and now, this?!" He pleaded with his eyes, but knew that his ranting would get him nowhere. She understood his frustration, hell, she was upset that she was down one more officer, and a damn good one at that.

"Take it as a compliment kid, that's all you can do."

The journey to the Fire Nation had been long. Volunteering him to serve Fire Lord Izumi was no problem for Raiko, but sparing the expense to send him by airship instead of by cargo ship was apparently out of his reach.

The capital was nestled in the bed of an inactive volcano, but his assignment was further inland. He landed at the port and watched as it swirled with business and organized chaos: fishermen haggling, vendors trying to sell trinkets, and sailors unloading cargo onto the docks. Mako tried to take in what he could of the city while finding his way to the train station to get to his final destination: the Royal Palace.

Mako watched through the train window as the Palace drew nearer. He had never been to the Fire Nation, let alone to its epicenter of commerce and innovation. Capital City had always been a center for technology, only rivaled by Future Industries of Republic City and the Cabbage Corporation of the Earth Kingdom, but it was something one had to see to believe. As the Royal Palace came into view, the train came to an abrupt halt. Mako disembarked, looking for the greeter. A man dressed in deep red robes walked towards the young firebender.

"Welcome, Mako, to the Fire Guard."

He clasped his hands in traditional Fire Nation form and bowed deeply.

The robed figure bowed back, before extending his hand, urging Mako to follow.

Neither had said much as the pair wandered through the crowds until finally making their way up the palace stairs. Mako followed the guard through a maze of hallways and rooms that only an expert could navigate before reaching a sealed off room, that held nothing but an elevator.

The guard nudged him to board the elevator, and he did so with unease in his stomach. The thing looked rickety, made of old wooden planks and metal hastily thrown together. He felt the lift shift as he boarded, not helping his anxiety. Then, they dropped, faster than he would have liked, watching lights come into view then suddenly disappear into the ceiling as they tunneled deeper and deeper into the secret cavern below the palace.

Much to his stomach's approval, the elevator stopped. Another officer, dressed in the same dark red uniform, greeted the detective. He went through the necessary formalities, before the guard started to reveal his mission.

"You are to guard our most dangerous criminals," Mako thought back to fighting P'li, and how tough she was to handle, "and this one doesn't even have bending."

Mako looked puzzled before the he continued, "Are you familiar with the 100 Year War of this nation?" He nodded. How could he not? It was integral in Avatar Aang's journey to stop the war, and Korra had had enough nightmares from her past self about the atrocities. "The man you are guarding was critically involved. Even without his bending he is a lethal force."

"Who am I guarding? I thought most people have passed away since then…"

"Former Fire Lord Ozai."

Waves of emotions overcame the young firebender: shock, followed by disbelief, and finally dismissal. There was no way that Ozai was still alive! But then again, why would the guard lie? And why would Raiko send him to this fiery inferno to guard an imposter. He regretted not fighting Raiko more about this assignment.

"We understand this must be a shock, we will lead you to your quarters for the evening and you will start guard duty tomorrow, second shift."

The prison was located deeper under the Palace. What struck Mako the most was how hot it always was. He wore his uniform, which had been laid out in his quarters, but quickly realized the other guards wore a relaxed version of the uniform, due to the humidity. As he entered the holding cell for Ozai, he noticed the man didn't look much different than the portrayals he had seen coming in. Although Ozai had been a war-monger, he wasn't the worst Fire Lord in history, and his portrait still hung in the halls of the Royals. His hair was greyed, as well as his clothes were ratty, but the man who was once the Fire Lord still had an intimidating stature, even in his lotus position on the floor.

He opened an eye, before smiling, baring all of his teeth, no doubt trying to intimidate the new guard. He raised his arms in mock surprise as he exaggerated his speech, "Why, what have I done to be graced by the presence of the great detective Mako!?"

Suddenly defensive, he faced the man behind the bars accusingly, "How do you know who I am?"

"News travels fast when you are involved with the Avatar."

Mako blushed at the statement. It was true that he and Korra had had a short relationship a few years prior, but he wasn't sure to what extent the Fire Nation was aware that Korra and Asami were now together: not that they had made it any secret. Obviously gossip still made its way from the outside world to this secluded prison that housed Ozai.

"Just my luck they send colony trash." What a first impression.

"Actually, I'm from the United Republic…"

"You look like one of my people, but my people would never lower themselves to wearing the colors of another nation!"

He looked down at his outfit, confused as to what the former Fire Lord was referring to in his presentation. The firebender drew closer to the cage, studying the man. Ozai stood, and in an instant he was slammed against the bars, causing Mako to stumble back. Trying to regain his composure, he decided it was better to play this little game with his prisoner, and asked the question that had been bugging him since he had learned of his assignment.

"How is it even possible for you to be alive?"

There was a cynical gleam in his eyes as he started to answer, "Oh, my dear peasant, don't you know that in order to take, you must give. The Avatar took my bending, but in turn, he gave up some of his life. I don't know how much longer I'll live for, but I know the Avatar died young, so I should be around for a while."

He grunted his acknowledgement. Ozai seemed to quiet down, and sat again, muttering to himself. He must have been going insane being in isolation for so long. He stared at the guard, who seemingly lost interest in the prisoner. Apparently, the man wasn't finished with his ranting. "You dare to tell me my great nation has come to this? Having mixed children who know nothing of the greatness they were born into?!"

"Are you done?" He raised his arms in mock defeat, his eyebrows knitted together in frustration.

"You insult this nation." The man waved hands in dismissal.

"Thanks."

"You have no honor, like my low-life of a son."

Mako didn't answer. Ozai leaned against the bars, trying to taunt the young man further. "Say, boy, you may defend your honor, in let's say, an Agni Kai?"

"You don't even have your bending, it'd be unfair."

"Oh, you think because I can't bend, I can't kill 'he with impure blood' who insults the nation of Fire with his weakness?"

Mako knew he shouldn't give in to the taunting, but a fire boiled within him. He yearned to prove his worth to the former Fire Lord, even if for his own satisfaction that he was better than this man. Against his better judgment, the guard looked around, and entered the cell, locking it behind him.

"Oh, so you take my challenge? That was easier than I thought!"

"No, I'm going to restrain you for being disorderly." He flashed his handcuffs. Mako put a hand on Ozai's shoulder, and before he could register what had happened, Ozai had the young benders arm bend around his back, with the former Fire Lord sandwiching Mako between himself and the bars.

"You are not a smart man, are you?" He whispered into Mako's ear, before throwing him on the ground. He already had regretted not thinking about this scenario more thoroughly.

The bender had had enough, losing his temper and warning, "How dare you?" as he summoned the fire within him to manifest itself in his hands. He tried to calm his mind, and willed a small bolt of lightning towards the prisoner.

"Oh, my, my, what a skill you've learned? Do you think you're special now?" The last shred of sanity escaped his mind, and the bender was now throwing fireballs in a blind fury at the prisoner.

Ozai easily dodged, jumping away from the weak punches. He smirked wickedly, before honing in on his final attack, sweeping the bender off of his feet with a quick but powerful kick. He stood, and looked down at the guard.

Mako met Ozai's gaze, "Learn your place, peasant," and sauntered off, back onto his bed.