"How can you say that I am a good person…when you can't even see me?" Zuko said frustratingly. He was angry that she had followed him, but more angry that he didn't even know. He looked at the strong tiny girl in front of him, shorter dressed in green traveling clothes, with dirty hair, but a reassuring smile. She seemed happy with herself for some reason, but she also seemed sad. Zuko didn't know what to say, and so for a moment he was silent.
"Is that what defines a person? Their Looks?" Toph said, biting her tongue. Zuko could tell he'd struck a nerve "Look at me Zuko, I know I'm not the big tough earth bender on the outside, but on the inside I'm on of the strongest in my kingdom, all my life I was in my house forbidden to do anything because of my blindness"
"Toph…" Zuko started
"And now look at me!" She continued, brushing his voice aside "I am strong! And you are good! Looks don't define someone, and I can see you in my mind Zuko" She surprisingly walked over to him, sitting down next to him and reaching out her surprisingly rough hand to his scar, she traced it with her fingers and Zuko could almost sense her laughing "It's not that bad, it doesn't define you at all, and it almost tickles actually"
"Tickles?" Zuko couldn't believe what he was hearing
"Yeah" She said, brushing over his scars, a certain deep ridge over his cheek that stretched to his eyebrows "Right there it tickles" She was smiling, trying to give him a reassuring look "I can sense you Zuko, I know for a fact you have changed, when a person is angry and tense it shows through their body, they shake and it seems physically heavier, Zuko ever sense you came back your steps are not as profound, your a lot more care free, and so the place where you stand isn't as heavy and warm to the touch."
"Your able to see all that with eyes?"
"Yeah" Toph said, and Zuko could see a little pink rise up in her cheeks, it was absolutely adorable. He had to admit, he'd always respected the earth bender, but his respect was now replaced by pure adoration. Toph had been able to see what he himself couldn't see, he wasn't a monster, he wasn't a disgrace, and like his uncle had been telling him, he was now a free man
"You're a good person Zuko" Toph said, kissing his cheek as she got up and left.
"Thank you…Toph" He whispered "You make me feel ….whole again"