Thinking about how Sokka sometimes seems like the only one who sees Aang as less than the avatar, as someone less than perfect, someone who needs help and something to watch their back.
Like, Sokka was the one to decide to leave during the Bato episode. He sees Aang as someone to be held accountable, whos capable of messing up, but he's also the one who realizes that Aang needs them.
He's the one who acknowledges that Aang's a kid in the beginning while everyone sees him as the avatar. He's the one who watches Aang face Hei Bai and decides he needs help. He's the one who decides to play air ball with him. He's the one who chooses to climb a fucking volcano just to back up Aang who wanted to get a flower for a girl.
But he also gracefully allows Aang to step into the avatar role and as the series goes on, allows Aang to start taking up the mantle of leadership. He sees Aang grow up and allows it, defering to Aang's judgment multiple times.
But still through it all, his plans for deafeating the fire lord always revolve around being there to back Aang up bc he doesn't see Aang as some inhuman being whos incapable of failure. He plans the invasion, he trains them against the melon lord, and at the end, when asked where he felt he needed to be, Sokka says they need to go after the air fleet and half his reasoning is so if Aang needs them, they'll be there.
Hell, he's the one who's all for Aang pretending to be dead because that keeps him safe until the invasion, because Sokka knows Aang's not infallible and the element of surprise could really help him.
And Aang trusts him so much. He believes in Sokka without question so many times. When Aang has failed to find the fire lord during the invasion, he turns to Sokka, because he knows he can always rely on Sokka to find a way through.
I love them so much. Aang deserves someone who sees him as something needing protection and Sokka deserves someone who trusts in his genius no matter how much stupid shit he does jsndjsndndnd
Not saying other characters don't do this, but they don't do it as much as these two. Sokka's arguably the most protective of Aang and Aang's arguably the most trusting and has the most faith in Sokka