A/N: A few things to note for this chapter:

-As a little silly thing for this story I used an Avatar name generator to give some of the main characters a second, more in-universe appropriate name. I will be using their TD name 99.9% of the time for simplicity's sake, but yeah. That's a thing.

-Surprise, Mike has DID in this fic. I'm doing my best to portray it reasonably well while also making certain choices for the sake of story in this fantastical universe. I'm not an expert, but I am trying to improve.

Enjoy!

The room Mako found for questioning was a simple setup, an empty office with a table and chair. The main notable feature was the candle that had been lit in the center. The flame was small, a pleasant yellow, and flickered every so often.

"I'm sorry, I can't help you. I don't remember seeing anyone bending or doing much of anything. I kind of fell asleep before it happened…" the suspect in question apologized, leaning back in the chair he'd been sat in at the police station. "Which happens a lot."

"You didn't hear anything at all?" Mako pressed further. "It must have been loud, a roof practically exploded!"

He shrugged.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Mako replied.

Another officer opened it and handed Mako a folder. "Found some stuff for you in records." She peered over at the teen and narrowed her eyes; his shoulders tensed in response. "I'd be careful if I were you."

"Thank you, Sanders," he said, pulling papers out while she left the room.

For someone who was so tall, Mike had really shrunk into himself. His eyes were on the floor and his hands were fidgeting in his lap.

"Says your name's Mikkeq. Sixteen years old. Born in the United Republic, parents…Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom…no home address." Mako double checked that one. Yep, there was nothing written down. There was also nothing about him being a fire bender or having any family connection to the Fire Nation.

"I moved recently," he claimed, crossing his arms. "And I go by Mike."

"Two stints in the can for minor destruction of property, resisting arrest and petty theft."

Silence.

"Possible link to a triad that has since disbanded, no evidence though. That makes two of us, hmph…"

"Is this really necessary? I already told you what I know, which is nothing," Mike said impatiently. His posture had changed again, he was now sitting more forward with broader shoulders and frowning. "I need to go back and see if my boss needs help fixing the shop-"

"Why so eager to leave? Do you not enjoy my company?" Mako leaned forward. "Or is there something you're not telling me."

Mike stood up. Was he really that tall before? "This is stupid. I'm not your guy, okay? I'm not a bender, and I certainly can't bend multiple elements, that'd be impossible!"

"If you didn't know anything you wouldn't be acting so defensively," Mako pointed out, keeping himself standing straight despite having to look up a bit to see Mike's face. "Don't make me arrest you." It's getting warmer in here…and it's not me.

"Police have never sat well with me, you know, and now I remember why," Mike really went there. "It's hard enough for me to keep track of where I am around here; thanks for making my day worse." He made for the door, quickly blocked by the policeman. "Let me leave."

"No, I have some more questions for you. See, I myself am a fire bender. I know what it looks like, I know what it feels like." Mako jerked his head towards the candle on the table. "I'm sure you noticed that the flame has grown considerably since you've tried to leave." He smirked. "You can't hide it from me."

'Mike' stared at him; it was unlike any of his previous expressions. His eyes were somehow brighter, not so unlike Mako's in hue, and his pupils had shrunk despite the low light level of the room. His gaze was…intense. "I'll say it again: let me leave, officer. Let me leave, and nothing gotta happen here."

"What would happen? You said it yourself, you're not a bender. Right?" Mako challenged.

Mike blinked rapidly. "I didn't do anything," he said again, suddenly quiet again and taking several steps back. "I didn't do anything, why are you doing this to me, I—I need to get out of here." He was sweating. "Please, is there a window, or, I don't know, an air vent, I don't do well in small spaces—" His breathing rapidly quickened.

This kid was confusing. "There was no problem for the last hour, what changed?" Mako asked.

Mike shook his head, holding it in his hands and tapping the ground with his foot. "What changed, who changed…it's all the same everywhere. One more hole to bust us out of," he mumbled.

"What-?"

Crack!

The wall that faced the outside had a large line running through it.

"I can't stay here anymore, officer, I got better things to keep me than this."

Mike's voice had changed yet again. It was subtle, but Mako noticed.

He frantically opened the door before the wall caved in completely, somersaulting away as he heard more of the wall crumble.

He just managed to catch Mike jumping out of the building but didn't hear a landing sound. It was from the second story, he would have hit something.

"Flying hog monkeys, what is going on here? I leave for thirty seconds to talk to the president and now there's a hole in the wall?" Chief Beifong made her presence known. "Mako, why are you on the floor?"

"I have as many questions as you, Chief," Mako replied, standing up and looking out at the gaping hole in the wall. "I was questioning someone about an incident that happened earlier today and-"

Beifong gave him a look. "In the office? Really? We have an interrogation room for a reason."

"No, I couldn't do it in there. He wasn't a prisoner, and probably wouldn't have cooperated…not that he did regardless, but that's not the point?"

"And he bent the wall."

"Yes."

"Were you aware he was an earthbender?"

"That's the weird part, Chief…I actually caught him firebending during questioning."

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