Disclaimer: A:TLA is not mine.

"I see you so differently then you see yourself." Toph laughed bitterly from the door, "And I can't even see."

Zuko looked bored, he sat at his desk with piles of paper surrounding him. "What do you want Toph?" He sounded just as bored.

"I don't want anything Zuko." She moved away from the door stepping close to his desk. "Just wanted you to know that as the new Fire Lord, you are perfect in so many people's eyes. But I can tell, even without seeing that you don't think like that Zuko, you don't think you're perfect. I don't know if you feel pressured to be perfect or… something, but you're hurting those closest to you because you can't think that way. You're not horrible or evil."

He said nothing.

"Uncle Iroh thinks you're perfect, and Katara, Suki, Mai, and Ty Lee. Even the Avatar thinks your perfect, isn't that good enough?"

"No." He finally spoke.

"Why not."

"Because." He looked towards the window. "Go away Toph."

"Is there some person that you want to think that you're perfect? Because if there is I can go talk to them and-"

"No Toph. There's only two people that I want to think I'm perfect. My mother; who knows where she is. And my father," Zuko pointed to his scar, "Obviously he thinks I'm anything but perfect."

"Why do you hate your scar so much? It's a story telling what you've survived."

"It's weakness written on my face."

"You aren't weak."

He exploded, standing up, fire coming out of his hands now. Toph did nothing. "Yes I am!"

She stood silently, unmoving.

The fire ceased and his hands flew to his face. "I hate myself!"

Toph moved towards him, slowly reaching out to his face, "can I?" she whispered.

Zuko only mumbled inaudibly but removed his hands.

Her finger tips rested for only a moment on his scar, it was like nothing she had ever felt before. Toph's hands dropped to her side. "You have no reason to hate yourself. Not when so many people love you."

He mumbled again. "Who loves me."

"I do." It was about time someone told you, She thought to herself.

Not sure how I feel about this… Toph seems kinda out of character and Zuko seems pre - book 3, when obviously this is set after that… I dunno. Anyway review please!