Chapter Text
Toph is young. That is one of the first things Zuko realizes when he starts teaching Aang firebending.
They are all just kids and teenagers, something that is all too easy to forget. But Toph is young. She can't be older than twelve, Zuko knows, and she's probably only ten or eleven.
Toph may be young, but she is one of the strongest people Zuko has ever met. The girl Is the first metalbender for Agni's sake!
After the Ember Island play, Toph is... kind to him. Well, she punches him in the arm, then explains that that is how she shows affection. Zuko... Zuko appreciates that her way of showing affection doesn't involve actual bodily harm, or throwing countless cruel insults at him.
Toph stays with him at the palace, sometimes, now that the war is over. She enjoys giving him "advice"-which is 80% not helpful in the slightest.
Toph also enjoys "smacking some sense into your stupid head, Sparky!" ...usually, meaning that she both tells (and threatens) him when he is being dumb, and earthbends at him until he takes care of himself.
Zuko knows that Toph doesn't need protection, but that doesn't stop him from being protective.
Zuko is often the first to notice when Toph is upset. He doesn't often understand why or know what to do, so he starts by stopping her.
"Hey, you okay?" he says.
Sometimes she is silent. Sometimes she lies. Sometimes she just shakes her head.
He doesn't often know how to help, but he's always there for her.
Toph notices when Zuko is overwhelmed, and always makes up an excuse to get him somewhere else.
Zuko notices when Toph is overwhelmed or having a bad day, and he always tries to make it clear that he is here, and he will do his best to help. Eventually, she goes to the courtyard or his room. Sometimes they talk, about what's wrong, or just talk. Sometimes they sit quietly. Sometimes they spar. Sometimes they hug.
Toph takes care of Zuko, and he takes care of her.
Toph protects Zuko, and he protects her.
Toph is there for Zuko, and he is there for her.
Zuko is there for Toph, takes care of her, protects her, because she is like a little sister, and that is what big brothers do.