Chapter 3: Hate
Sokka had begun writing a letter to Suki by the time Toph made it to the kitchen. She sat down across from him, determination permeating every fiber of her being.
"So, do you have a minute Sokka?" she asked, a speech already forming in her mind. Sokka didn't look up, but uttered a sound of annoyance.
"Can't you see I'm busy Toph?" Toph froze; why was Sokka being hostile?
"Actually, I can't see anything." Sokka looked up, embarrassed by his outburst.
"I'm sorry Toph. I just have a lot on my mind right now. I'm writing a letter." Toph nodded as Sokka rubbed his temples.
"Why, what happened? Did Suki the fun-sucker break up with you?" Sokka glanced up, not in the mood for Toph's jokes, but mentally storing the name to laugh at later.
"Actually, I'm breaking up with her." Toph nearly squealed with glee. It was like all the pieces were clicking into place. Maybe she had a shot after all. Besides, she was Toph Bei Fong, she was not about to give up.
"Wow. That's deep Snoozles. Are you okay?" Sokka glanced up again and sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it. What did you want anyway?" he asked, hoping that he could multitask long enough to get Toph off his back.
"Well, the truth is, I really like you Sokka. And I think that you like me back." Sokka dropped his brush, effectively ruining his letter.
"Wait, what? What makes you think that?" Sokka couldn't say that he was surprised that Toph liked him, but he didn't think that he was giving mixed signals. Toph rolled her eyes.
"Are you or aren't you breaking up with Suki?" Sokka glanced around the room, praying for the patience to get through this extremely awkward conversation.
"Toph, I'm breaking up with Suki because she won't marry me." Toph nearly fell out of her chair. She couldn't believe that he had proposed to that…that…woman!
"Yeah, but whether you like it or not, we have something that goes deeper than friendship. How could you give that up to be with someone that is constantly trying to change you?" Sokka sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Toph, you can't force someone to love you. That isn't how it works." Toph could feel herself losing, but pushed on because that's what she was known for.
"Sure I can. I mean, probably not with any guy off the street, but we're talking about you. There's already something there." Sokka pushed back his chair, annoyed at Toph.
"Toph," he began, but she cut him off.
"No, listen to me. I know you for who you are and I love you. I don't want you to change. We fit together so perfectly." Sokka felt his anger melt away and become replaced with sympathy.
"Toph, I'm sorry. We are great friends, but that's all I want from you." He put a hand on her shoulder, but she wrenched away from him.
"You'll regret this. One day, you'll realize that I was right and it will be too damn late!" Toph stood and stormed out of the kitchen, fighting back tears. Sokka stared after her, torn. He wanted to run to her, to make her understand that he did love her, just not the way she wanted. But at the same time, he didn't want to encourage her fantasy. So he let her go.
Toph padded up the steps to Zuko's palace with tears fresh on her cheeks. She would show Sokka. He would miss her and realize that he loved her, but it would be too late. There was no way she would ever give him a chance after all of this.
Toph threw open the doors and stepped into the foyer, trying to sense where Zuko was. Luckily, he and Mai had just come in from another room. Zuko walked towards her, concerned by her tears.
"Toph, is everything alright?" Toph glared in the direction she heard his voice come from, and shoved a finger into his chest.
"You're going to put me in charge of the prisoner release mission!" Zuko and Mai exchanged a glance, but Toph could feel the change in their heart rates. "Don't treat me like a child! I can handle this! I want to do this." Toph looked away and Mai nodded to Zuko.
"Did you have anyone in mind that you wanted to take with you?" Toph's head jerked towards Mai, and she smiled.
"No, whoever you previously selected will be fine." Mai glanced at the seventeen year old and nodded.
"Did you plan on taking anyone from the group?" Toph shook her head.
"I'm going solo." In the five years since the war had ended, Zuko had never seen Toph apart from Sokka. Mai put a hand on Toph's shoulder.
"Alright, we need to brief you and you can select some weapons to take." Toph nodded and followed Mai and Zuko, hoping that somehow she could leave her love for Sokka behind as easily as she could leave him behind.
A/N: So, this was another short-ish chapter. Hopefully it was in character. I always worry about that. Anyway, thanks for reading, please continue to do so. Please review. ~Kirsten