Work Text:
Some days Katara felt pulled by a force greater than herself. She could never predict them ahead of time, never knew what it was that would be asked of her in the end but she knew well enough to trust her feelings when they came about.
Because they were more than just feelings, they were nudges from the universe with the powers that she possessed. Powers that were illegal to have and that needed to be hidden, or else she’d find herself dragged into the Empire for suspicion of being a Jedi.
Not that she was a Jedi.
The Jedi had all died out very soon after her birth, wiped from the universe by the Emperor and his fearsome sons, as well as the clone army. All that remained of them were whispers of what used to be.
She hadn’t told Sokka why she wanted to go into town, knowing that if she mentioned the draw toward it he’d shut down the idea.
He didn’t trust her powers, even though they’d saved his life, even though they always protected them. He wanted her to avoid using them as much as possible.
They’ll only bring us trouble, he always insisted.
But what Sokka didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
The walk into town wasn’t too terrible, by Kijimi standards. It was snowing, on the ice planet it often was, but with her thick outer gear and locally made boots she even found it enjoyable.
Her cover story for going had been to do some trading with the excess furs from the last hunt that her brother had gone on. Sokka usually preferred to do the trading himself, but she’d argued that it was good practice for her to do it from time to time.
After she’d made it into town, she walked around and slowly looked over the goods that people had for bartering. Much of it was the same as it always was.
Still, she looked at it all anyway in order to catch anything that might be new or interesting.
Nothing caught her eye after the first walk around, so she headed toward the grain seller to barter for some of the staple. They had enough at home to last a few weeks but one never knew when the storms or a blockade could stop more from coming in. It was always better to have a store for emergencies.
The bartering was familiar, as was the humanoid that ran the stall, the two of them going back and forth in the rhythm natural to these interactions.
When they'd finally agreed upon a price she put her purchases onto the hover sled that she'd brought along.
"I'm certain this is where we're meant to be," a young teen's voice carried in the wind.
Katara caught herself looking for the source and her breath caught as she spotted him.
He was short, a bit underdressed for the cold, but with wide eyes and a sort of energy around himself that called her to him immediately.
His companion was an older humanoid, similarly underdressed but carrying himself in a way that seemed to set him apart from anyone else in the market. "And I agree," he answered. "But you must be patient. Things will reveal themselves in due time."
The way he spoke was odd, but not odd enough to scare her away.
Instead, she decided to follow the feeling that was drawing her and slowly moved to a stall that would allow her to observe them while pretending to look over the scarce selection of body care products. They were all imports and Katara preferred to buy the ones made locally, but occasionally could splurge for a nice scent for special occasions.
“I’m just excited,” the teen sighed, but he didn’t sound put out.
People were eyeing the odd pairing, distrustful in the way that they always were of strangers and even more so of those who didn’t seem… right. Like these ones, they weren’t the typical lost travelers stopping off for an emergency or those on the run doing their best to blend in to lay low.
“Is there anything I can offer you, young Katara?” the stall runner asked, drawing her full attention.
“My father’s lifeday is coming up, I was thinking of getting him a scent,” she lied. His lifeday was coming up but she had already made him a new blanket that would be small enough to easily transport with him but warm enough to stand up to even Kijimi winters.
“Ah, yes, Hakoda is a man of good taste,” the seller, who had lived on the planet long before Katara had been born, agreed. “Might I suggest this one?”
Katara reached for the sample that was offered, it was a non-offensive sort of scent, not too heavy and almost earthy in a way that seemed foreign to her. “It’s nice.”
“Very nice,” the seller nodded. “I see you have some furs with you, I could trade for them.”
Even though Katara hadn’t been planning on buying something she did find herself drawn into the exchange and was two furs lighter by the time that she had finished.
She’d also lost track of the interesting newcomers. Trying not to let herself get too disappointed, so turned and decided that it was time to head home.
Except she only made it a few steps before the strangers appeared directly in front of her.
“Hello,” the older one said. His tone was friendly in unaccented Basic, a sort of generic sound that Katara associated with holonews reporters. “I hate to trouble you but my nephew and I are looking for a place to rest for a few hours. I checked with the inn and they informed me that they are full. Do you happen to know of anywhere else we could go?”
Usually Katara would be wary of a stranger that approached her, especially with such a question but something about the man seemed to be friendly. Not in the way that most would consider it but something deeper that she couldn’t exactly put her finger on.
She looked at the teen and felt something when their eyes met. Not that kind of instant physical attraction that she occasionally felt toward other sentients but something different. A pull about him, a lightness that seemed to expand from him and draw her in with its warmth.
Her sense of the Force seemed to be nudging her toward him, he felt strongly of it and she knew that she had to talk more to them.
Sokka was going to absolutely hate this but she nodded. “If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, I would be honored to host you for a brief time.”
“You are most kind,” the older man said.
The younger one gave a grin that was so blinding that Katara’s breath hitched for just a moment. “I’m Aang,” he said.
“Katara,” she answered with a small smile of her own. “If you’ll follow me.”
It was too windy to really speak once they got away from the market, but that was just as well it did allow Katara to keep her sense in the Force attuned for any problems that might arise.
As she expected none did, the two foreigners only followed her diligently. Even through the snow goggles that they all wore she could tell that Aang’s eyes seemed to follow her more intently than his uncle’s did but Katara had a feeling that had little to do with ill intent.
When they approached the settlement Katara turned to face the men, raising her voice so she’d be heard clearly. “Please stay close, the doors close quickly.”
Katara used the code to open the door in the entryway. As in most Kijimi dwellings there was a corridor from the outside into the main dwelling. A place to transition from the bitter cold into something warmer while not risking letting all the cold into the main space. It was also where one would either put on or take off their snow gear.
“Please, take off your boots and gear. I shall grab you something for your feet.” Next to the indoor shoes that the entire family kept there were several sets for visitors. Katara grabbed two pairs and presented them to her guests.
“We thank you again for your hospitality,” Aang’s uncle said, accepting the footwear and taking a seat on one of the long benches that were on either side of the corridor so that he could trade his boots.
“I’ve never been to an ice planet before,” Aang said brightly as he did the same. His face was flushed a deep red that Katara knew came from him not having any proper facial shielding. “It’s a lot more varied than I thought it would be.”
“Snow and ice come in many forms,” Katara said as she diligently folded her outside gear and placed it where it belonged. “Outsiders usually do not appreciate the variety the landscape and weather can hold.”
“I’d like to see more of it,” Aang commented hopefully. “If you could show us around?”
“Aang,” his uncle said with a hint of reprimand in his voice. “Young Katara has already been kind enough to offer us warmth and shelter for a time, do not infringe on her hospitality.”
“Sorry, Ma- Uncle,” Aang shifted as he caught himself misspeaking and then turned to look back at Katara. “I did not wish to apply pressure. I appreciate your generosity.”
There was something that she was missing, it felt obvious but she couldn’t figure it out.
“Let’s see how things progress after a warm meal,” she suggested. “Wait here a moment. I should let my brother know that we have guests.”
“Sokka, I’m home,” she called loudly when she stepped in.
“Did you get anything good?” he called back, slightly muffled. “I’m almost done with the food!”
“Uh, some things. I did bring home guests!” She waved at Aang and his uncle to let them know that they could enter.
Sokka came out from the pantry where he had been before. “Guests?” he asked, immediately on the defensive.
[You brought foreigners?] he signed incredulously, upon realizing that they weren’t anyone local.
[I have a good feeling about them] Katara signed quickly to her brother while he was eyeing the guests she’d brought with distrust.
The problem with Sokka, Katara often thought, was that despite being only 17 he had no faith in the galaxy around them.
He didn’t trust anything.
Not even Katara’s power in the Force, which often told her ahead of time if she could trust someone or not.
Sokka only ever told her that she wasn’t supposed to be using her powers, that it was too dangerous and they didn’t understand them. He was convinced that there would come a day when she could be tricked.
Since dad and Bato were away on merchant business, which was mostly merchant business and somewhat rebellion business, Sokka was even more on edge.
He bordered on hypervigilant even.
“I didn’t make enough for guests,” Sokka said, still looking at Aang and his uncle like he expected them to start trouble.
“That’s fine, a cup of tea would be much appreciated to stave off the chill,” Aang’s uncle answered with a serene smile.
“Besides,” Aang added brightly. “We’re not really here for food! We wanted to talk more to Katara.”
In the blink of an eye Sokka had a blaster pulled from under the counter and aimed at Aang’s uncle, much to the horror of both Aang and Katara. “I think you should leave.”
Instead of panicking, the older man simply raised his hand and made a waving motion as he spoke, an energy of persuasion leaking into the Force. “You want to put down the blaster and hear us out.”
“I want-” Sokka started, beginning to lower the blaster with a slightly dazed look but then he came back to himself and aimed the blaster for a clearer shot, lining it up for a headshot, switching off the safety with a hard look in his eye. “I want you to leave and forget you ever saw either of us.”
Katara pushed herself in front of Aang’s uncle, absolutely appalled by her brother. “Sokka!” she cried. “What are you doing? I told you I have a good feeling about them!”
Sokka adjusted the blaster so that it aimed past Katara and still toward Aang’s uncle. “What have I said about your feelings? That man just tried to mess with my brain, Katara!”
“Maybe because you were pointing a live blaster at him!” she snapped in frustration.
“No one messes with people’s minds with good intentions!” Sokka argued, not backing down. “Get out of the way, Katara.”
She set her jaw, standing taller and reaching for the power that she knew she held but couldn’t control. Items around the room started to levitate in response. She knew that it unnerved Sokka when she did this and knew that he found it dangerous.
But the Force was screaming at her that these people were important, that they were meant to be here and she wasn’t going to let Sokka’s stupid overprotective nature ruin it.
“They’re meant to be here,” she said forcefully, meeting Sokka’s eyes and putting all of her emotional weight behind it.
“Perhaps,” Aang’s uncle began from behind her. “We should all take a moment to let calmer heads prevail. Young Sokka here is clearly worried for your safety and he is not wrong to do so. However, I do urge you to at least hear what we have to say. I apologize for my attempted manipulation of your mind.”
Sokka snorted and shot a cold glare toward the old man. “You’re not forgiven.”
“Sokka, please listen to us? The Force led us here to meet Katara. I’ve had dreams about both of you. We’re fated to meet,” Aang spoke up, full of confidence.
Aang mentioned the Force by name, spoke of it as if he could interact with it, they must be Jedi. Or Jedi devotees, someone who could help Katara get a grip on her own Force sensitivity.
It all made sense now.
That was why she’d felt so drawn to them, it was the Force pulling her toward her destiny. Toward learning how to use her powers. Everything was finally going to be okay.
“There’s no such thing as fate,” Sokka snapped.
Right, there was that problem.
Her brother was such a skeptic that there was no use trying to appeal to him with ideas of fate or destiny. If she didn’t have the Force she was certain that he wouldn’t believe in it either.
“Sokka,” she drew his gaze back to herself and then signed. [I trust them. They can help]
[We don’t need help] he was firm and sharp with his movements, his displeasure clear. [A Jedi will only bring us trouble. We’re supposed to be laying low.]
[I don’t care] she signed stubbornly. [They’re staying and if you try to make them leave I will follow them.]
Sokka let out the deepest of sighs, full of frustration as he narrowed his eyes in contempt toward their visitors. “You may stay for one cup of tea,” he said begrudgingly. “We will hear you out but then you’re leaving.”
“But-” Aang began but was cut off by his uncle.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Katara led the two over to the cushions around the table nearby the fire, allowing Sokka to serve the tea and looking at them in open curiosity.
“You can use the Force?” she asked.
“Of course!” Aang chirped happily.
“And you could teach me?” She couldn’t control the desperate sort of hope that bled into the words. She’d wanted a teacher for so long, wanted to learn to control this power ever since she realized that she had it.
“Absolutely not!” Sokka interrupted before anyone could answer. “Learning these things will only put you on their radar.”
He didn’t have to say who, they all knew it was the Empire he referred to.
“It is true that learning to connect more with the Force could make a target of you, Katara,” Aang’s uncle said.
Sokka shot a smug glance her way, but it melted off his face as the older man continued.
“However, I fear not learning it could make a bigger one yet. You are strong already. If someone was looking hard enough, they would find your presence and if you know not how to yield the Force you would struggle to stand against them.”
“And you could teach me that?” she repeated, shushing Sokka when he went to speak. “To be a Jedi?”
A said look passed over his face. “To be a Jedi is to sign up to be hunted by the Empire,” he explained. “I should know as one of the few remaining Masters.”
Katara’s heart soared at the idea that there was a Jedi Master in her home. The idea that there were still Jedi out there at all when the Emperor tried to proclaim that they were all gone proved that things were not as gloom as they seemed.
“I want to learn from you. I need to learn to control my powers. I want to become a Jedi.”
“Katara,” Sokka said urgently, pulling at her hand and looking at her. “Don’t make rash decisions. Please.”
“It’s not that dangerous,” Aang protested. “I’ve been a Jedi my whole life.”
“You are still a Padawan, Aang.”
Aang’s lips pulled into a pout. “But someday I’ll be a Jedi, Master.”
“If the Force allows it,” the older man agreed. “But Young Sokka is correct.”
“Stop calling me that,” Sokka grumbled.
“Entering Jedi training is not to be taken lightly. Nor will I accept you as a student at this very moment. I think perhaps, we should have that tea and I will explain the different options that we have from here.”
Katara tried not to deflate too visibly at the rejection. Instead she steeled herself, knowing that she was going to prove to the Jedi before her that she was a worthy student.
And someday, when she was a Jedi, she’d defeat the Empire that killed her mother.