~ What if the Mechanist's deal with the Fire Nation had been different? ~
It had barely been a year since the refugees took up residence in the Northern Air Temple. They were still living out of tents set up in the vast halls of the abandoned structure. The winter had been harder than they thought and food had been scarce. It was only now that the hunting party was able to go down the mountain path to look for food.
The man only known as the Mechanist looked down on his sleeping two year old son. The child had finally fallen asleep with the aid of some herbs and watered down spirits. Their healer, Nala had had to re-break the child's legs again with the hope that they would heal well enough for him to walk when he is older. The Mechanist gently pulled the blanket over his son, praying that this was the last time such a pain would be inflicted upon him. Hoping that Teo was still too young to remember.
The Mechanist had found a modest set of rooms for himself and his son among the abandoned temple. Though the distance from the mountain spring that served as their water source was becoming problematic. He hurried through the empty hallways, not wanting to leave Teo alone for very long.
A sound caught his ear, the echoes of boots scuffing across stone carried along the hallways. Very few of the refugees had boots and those that did, had gone with the hunting party. He quieted his steps and stuck to the shadows. When he reached the main hall, where most of the others still set up camp, he nearly dropped his bucket in horror.
A squadron of Fire Lord soldiers were quietly murdering them in their sleep! Torn between running back to Teo and escaping, and running out to help his community. He was just about to turn when he'd been spotted. He ran down the corridor, and the chase was joined by three other Fire soldiers. The Mechanist swung his water bucket, distracting one of the soldiers that was now drenched in water. It was a shame he hadn't been a bender, or been bending. He swung the bucket at the second soldier, but the man was ready with his sword, the blade connecting with his hand and neatly severing three of his fingers.
The Mechanist cried out and dropped the bucket, clutching his injured hand to his chest. He was cornered now and closed his eyes, praying that someone would save Teo. He closed his eyes and prepared for the final blow... hoping he would get to see his wife on the other side.
"Is this him?" One of the soldiers asked.
"Yes. It is. The rest of the refugees have been eliminated. Bring him." The words shocked him, the others were gone? Slaughtered? They had survived the worst flood of memory but were just culled in a short night.
"No! No, I refuse to leave without my son!" He shouted, without any survivors, Teo would die for sure. He had to let them take him.
The soldier that had him by the arm looked at his commander, who nodded. "Where is he?"
"Down this passage, to the left, third door on the right. He's two years old, but can't walk. His legs are broken. I'll carry him." He found himself babbling to the guards, in near hysterics at the thought of what these men would do to Teo.
Another soldier grabbed his injured hand and started wrapping bandages around the bloody stump of his hand.
He saw the soldier with his son and was relieved that the boy still slept. Teo was normally a mild tempered boy, but the Mechanist was afraid the soldiers not hesitate to use force on him if he cried.
Soon, the father was cradling his son in the back of a prison cart, headed towards the borders of the Fire Nation.
"Papa?" a small, sleepy voice asked.
"Yes Teo?" The Mechanist fought to keep his voice quiet and even.
"We go to a new home now?" The boy shifted in his father's lap, trying to be comfortable despite the splints that held his legs.
"Yes, my son. We're going to a new home now. The journey might be long. But I want you to try to be brave and not cry. Do you understand?"
The boy nodded and wrapped his arms around his father's waist, burying his face in the Mechanic's side.
He could only hope that whatever may happen, the two of them would be together.
After the long journey, the Mechanist and Teo were ushered from the cart and into the palace. The Mechanist carried his son the entire way, following the captain and was flanked by two other soldiers. Fire Lord Azulon sat on his throne, looking down on the simple inventor.
"Mechanist. You have refused me for the last time. You will work for me now. I own you. And your weak son! You will obey me, or the child will be punished." The Fire Lord laughed and Teo whimpered, holding tightly to his father's shirt.
"It is unnecessary, Fire Lord. I will do as you command. I have nothing left but my son. Please, I will create anything you can imagine, so long as he is unharmed." The Mechanist pleaded.
A general stepped close to the Mechanist. "He will not be harmed unless you try to escape. I will see to it that he is cared for." The general was imposing, regal, when he turned to the Fire Lord, his face was impassive. But when he gently took Teo from his father, he did so with gentleness. His own son was too old to be carried, but he had not forgotten.
"Be a good boy, Teo." The Mechanist attempted to smile for the boy as he was taken away.
Once the General left, the other soldiers grabbed him roughly.
"How shall I punish you for running away from me? Twice now it seems! First to that Earth Kingdom village and then to the Air Temple? You have been clever avoiding me, Mechanist. But that is over now. You belong to me and those wonderful inventions of yours will make my kingdom powerful."
A signal from the Fire Lord and the guards beat him. The last thing he thought of, before passing out, was that he was grateful to the general for taking Teo away.
Iroh carried the child through the hallways of the palace. It was late enough at night that he knew he wouldn't run into anyone. The boy looked exhausted and was trying to be brave.
"Are you hungry, Teo? I'm sure you missed supper."
The boy nodded sleepily.
Once they arrived in the kitchens, Iroh settled the boy on the counter top. He made sure Teo was stable and wasn't about to fall off. "There we are. Do you like sandwiches?"
The boy nodded again. "Is Papa gonna die?"
Iroh stopped his sandwich making and looked at the boy. "No. He will not die. Your father is strong. You will see him soon. In fact, why don't I take you to your new home and we can wait for him together?"
"Okay!" Despite being exhausted and in obvious pain, the child was worried for his father. Iroh couldn't understand why his father insisted on torturing this child's father so much. Sure, the man was a genius. And he had the potential to revolutionize the kingdom's economy, but to slaughter a second village to bring the man in alive? It seemed... excessive. Irrational.
But Iroh was not the Fire Lord. And all he could do was to take the child to the small living area just off of the workshop. The workshop that had remained empty since the Mechanist had last resided in the palace.
edited: changed Ozai to Azulon because when this chapter takes place, it would be before Ozai takes the throne.