A/N: I wrote this a while ago, and was planning to post it earlier, but I've really never had the… motivation. This will be a bunch of drabbles/one-shots mostly focused on Toph and Sokka and their relationship and adventures. Sorry if I don't post for a while, because I'm letting you know now that I'm very inconsistent! :/ Anyways, critique is always welcome! (meaning please review!)

Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA, as depressing as it is… *sigh* .

A/N 2: This is set like 5-ish years after the war. I'm not going to even try to calculate the ages… Sorry it's so short! Future chapters will be longer. Just bare with me. :)

96. In the storm.

"SOKKA!"

The clouds rumbled loudly as they dumped their contents on the landscape. A young adult shifted in his sleep, trying to ignore the thunder and the girl who was racing down the hall to his room.

"Sokka! We're being attacked!"

Sokka pried open his eyes and groaned as another loud rumble shook the air. The girl shrieked and he automatically shot up. She flung open the door.

"Toph…what?"

"Sokka! Something's attacking us! Take evasive moves, form a plan of action…" she yelled and then mumbled off groggily. Sokka rolled his eyes and got out of his bed. He quickly strode over to the door, closed, and pulled the girl back with him to the bed.

"Toph, just sit down. It's only thunder, it's okay."

Sokka was being gentle. He remembered (how could he forget) that Toph never cared for loud noises. Because of her sensitive hearing, and because of the more painful memories it brought back.

"Sokka… it hurts my ears," she moaned and grabbed her head. The thunder rolled again, and Sokka could make out Toph's delicate form shaking even harder in the darkness. He wrapped his blanket around her and tucked her head under his chin, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

"It's okay. It's just thunder, just thunder…" He repeated the soothing words over and over while he rocked her gently back and forth in his arms. They tended to make a habit of this, whenever there was a storm. But, surprisingly enough, he didn't mind.