my brain couldn't stop thinking about this so
Zuko & Azula used to high-five each other like it was a competition
i mean, it was a competition and the winner was whoever inflicted the most pain on the other
this would be normal sibling behavior if that attitude stuck to high-fives but as we know.... it didn't
but unlike all the other ways the Fire Siblings were pitted against each other growing up, the competition of high-fives was just between them
high fives were fleeting moments of competition and comradery judged only by themselves
so over the years as the siblings grew apart and were forced against each other, giving high fives was one thing that remained the same for them
like, Azula would see Zuko looking extra sad and thats not right because she wasn't the cause of it, so she says "high five looser" and they slap hands and she refuses to admit that it hurts and just calls him a weakling
but its fine. they don't hug anymore, not since mom left, but they have this
flash forward a few years to when Zuko joins the gaang
Zuko comes up with the idea to hide out at his family's old beach house on Ember Island
Sokka says 'nice thinking dude!' and holds out his hand for a high five
Zuko instinctually slaps Sokka's hand so hard he nearly takes his arm off
Everyone is like ???? 'why are you mad at Sokka???'
Except Toph, who is cracking up
Zuko doesnt understand the issue so he says 'wtf kind of high five was that, why didn't you hit back'
So Sokka & Katara demonstrate a normal high five thats just a friendly slap of the hands and Zuko is more confused
because it's become a sign of affection between him & Azula to hit their hands as hard as possible
and Katara & Sokka are siblings so.... ? what gives?
Aang explains that most people do not high five with this same competitive mentality
Zuko is like 'sounds fake but okay'
Then Aang patiently teaches Zuko how to nicely high five people
'dont hit with your whole palm Zuko, here-' and 'dont wind up for the hit like a punch just bend your elbow-'
Her way of showing affection is exactly what Zuko is used to
So while he now gently and cautiously high fives the rest of his friends
Him and Toph slap each other's hands as hard as possible
It reminds Zuko of family. And its what Toph imagines family to be like
So it doesn't come as a surprise, years later, when Toph casually refers to him as 'her brother'
and then they high-five so hard it hurts and he thinks 'yeah. thats one of my sisters all right'