okay so this is what people don’t understand about toph’s arc. when you’re disabled, you don’t want to accept help from anyone; you don’t want their pity, you don’t want to feel like a burden, you don’t want to be belittled, you don’t want to be “special” in all the wrong ways. toph was always closest to sokka, and her putting her full trust in him as she is completely helpless is a far greater sign of emotional growth than had she been able to figure out the situation on her own. keep in mind that toph is still very active and capable and badass in the scenes leading up to the climax, and moments before they crash and fall, sokka praises her for her talent and genius. it’s that balance that makes this important. she knows that when sokka shields her from falling rubble, or guides her across the airship, he still knows her to be capable, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t also recognize her weaknesses. in this moment, toph does need protection, and to ignore that in favor of her pride would be folly. but toph doesn’t feel patronized. she knows that sokka knows that she is a whole human person, which is all she’s ever wanted to be seen as. she’s letting herself be helped, and she’s letting herself be loved.
