Hate was a new approach into this pairing, what if the characters can't be together? What if something forces them to be apart? I worked with something alike in Secrets but not in this way, I added some things and I prepared the follow-ups turning this angst dramatic scene into something much more funny and comic.

Disclaimer: See 01

37: Hate

Zuko hated.

That was one of the emotions he knew and felt a lot of time in his short life.

He had felt hate when Azula taunted him when they were kids; he felt hate against Zhao before he saw him die at the hands of the water spirit (AKA Aang's Avatar mode power); he hated his father after he tried to kill Toph; he hated his stupid council for their decisions and plans; he hated the North Water Tribe when they accepted the propose of his council; he hated Hahn because he was dead; he hated himself for not doing the correct thing; and he hat… no, he couldn't hate her, she wasn't responsible of this, they were simply tools of their nations.

He also hated himself, for doing an action that brought him to that moment; he turned his back to the army of his father, all because his hate against Zhao; that action was the one who made him an 'ally' to the Water Tribe Nation; he had saved the moon spirit when he attacked Zhao, and then the Avatar defeated the army and took Zhao's body to the deepest part of the ocean.

Zuko never really understood what really happened that day, he was too tired and he simply wanted to rest; the rest of the adventure went so fast, and the next moment he was already Fire Lord, and then… this.

He turned around to see the dark-haired blind bender at the door; she was one of the few who could go into his room so freely, she have been doing that for so long, the same as the rest of the group, just that she did it with other things in mind since she usually went to his room at the middle of the night.

"Everyone's waiting for you" she said with a smirk in her face, it was like she was mocking the situation, still not really believing what was happening; Zuko sighed before placing one hand over her cheek, caressing the soft skin before she slapped away his hand with a frown in her face; that simple expression hurt even more than the slap for Zuko but knew there was a reason for that.

"How's Sokka?" Toph only shrugged, she haven't heard of him since the two nations made official the engagement, probably somewhere alongside the Earth Kingdom, maybe Kyoshi Island; Toph also wanted to avoid the celebration, but she still had some pride, she wasn't going to let this defeat her, even if she wanted to scream with all the strength of her lungs and cry until she didn't have any more tears but she had an image to maintain and she didn't want to lose face in front of him, the person who's opinion was the most important for her; that's why this whole day was such a nightmare, just like for two other people.

"You have to be ready quickly, your girlfriend won't be waiting for you all day" she said with her beautiful grin, or at least in Zuko's opinion; he could also see how she was struggling with herself to show that mask.

"Do we really have to do something like this? I don't want to lose you" Zuko said before Toph turned around and opened the door.

"Is not like if you ever had me" Toph said getting out of the room; she knew her heart was broken after those last words, but he had to go up there; Toph cleaned her eyes with the sleeve of her dress, she wasn't going to cry or let a simple tear show up; with her best cold face she walked to the place the altar was, after all, this was a glorious day, the day when Fire Lord Zuko and Princess Yue were going to join in matrimony.