Attention
Attention
Toph was not an attention seeker; in fact, she just wanted everyone to leave her alone.
At least that was the way it was when she first started out on her journey with Aang.
She was traveling with Twinkle Toes for a specific reason: teach him Earth bending and help him defeat the Fire Lord or die trying.
But somewhere along the way, her reason changed.
She was traveling because of Sokka.
Yeah, Sokka.
He couldn't take care of himself Toph kept repeating in her mind.
That's why she was here.
What would he do without her?
He needed her.
Toph always smiled to herself when she thought about that last part.
She needed him too.
Toph needed him to need her.
The blind girl had always been protected and it felt good to be protecting someone else.
But then Suki came back.
And suddenly, Sokka changed.
Or maybe he'd always been that way and Toph just never noticed.
He began acting manly and holding Suki close as though he could chase away all her nightmares just by surrounding her with his biceps.
Toph could feel their every vibration, and it didn't help that everyone seemed amused with this romance and encouraged it.
Not that Toph would ever admit that she needed Sokka (needed not liked).
Soon, Sokka just stopped talking to her.
Well like they used to talk anyway.
She was his best friend.
How could he just cast her aside?
More and more time was spent with Suki, and Toph was just left to feel their vibrations.