A/N: okay now I'm kinda on a roll. this drabble is set when Lin is about 8 years old, or a few years after she's started learning earthbending. and this isn't really tokka. and I wanted to show how Sokka keeps Toph sane. and I wanted to show Toph's flaws too. and Lin and Sokka's relationship. and and and FEELS.
Trial and Error
"Try again, Lin!" Toph Beifong bellowed at her sweaty daughter. "And make sure you keep your muscles tense this time!"
Sokka watched from under the shade of a papaya tree in the Beifongs' backyard. He had been watching Toph's training session with Lin for almost four hours and he was beginning to become worries. Lin didn't seem like she'd hold on much longer.
"We've spent the whole morning going over forms and proper stance and you still can't seem to get it right!" Toph all but screamed.
Lin bit her lip. She knew better than to talk back.
Sokka removed himself from his viewpoint and placed an arm on Toph's shoulder.
"Toph, lay off her," he said firmly. "She's tired."
"She hasn't been able to move a single piece of metal this whole day!" Toph answered defiantly. "She can rest when she's got it."
Sokka gave Lin a knowing smile and a wink. She gave a hesitant smile back.
"She has to rest now," he insisted. "You once told me your experience with metalbending was trial and error. Your pushing her too hard. She should find out how to metalbend herself and find out what works for her."
Toph fumed. A terrifying growl rose from the back of her throat.
"FINE. Go take a bath or something, Lin, you smell like Sokka's dirty socks," the chief of police said before storming back through the metal back door of the house.
"C'mon, kiddo," Sokka said as he lent his arm to the now grinning Lin. "Let's go wash you off."