The way these two scenes are back to back make me sick, the way Sokka is putting on his face paint alone and preparing himself for a one-man fight against what he thinks are ruthless Fire Nation soldiers while Zuko is having his armor put on by his crew, even having them tie the shoes while Sokka does his on his own. Sokka puts on his facepaint alone with his fingers while Zuko gets his helmet put on by the crew. How Sokka has to tie his own armband with one hand and teeth because nobody else is there to do it for him. He has only himself to rely on in this fight, but is completely willing to ready himself like he saw the men of his tribe once did and fight for his tribe despite being knocked down multiple times.
It was a losing battle and he knew it. These people killed his mother, sent his father away and nearly ruined the South. He wasn’t expecting to win.