Thanks for all the reviews guys/girls!
…...
Artemis with the rest of the team was busy searching the beach. The cave's systems had detected five objects heading towards the beach at an unusually fast speed, so Red Tornado had sent them out to investigate. So far... Nothing. To make matters worse it was a rather cold October's day and Artemis really didn't feel like searching the beach for what was likely to be some stupid fish.
"Can we go yet?" Asked Kid Flash "There's nothing here!"
"Well something set off the detectors!" Artemis responded with the hope of starting up an argument
"Those things are always malfunctioning! They were convinced that I on fire the other day and the sprinklers turned on!" Complained Wally
"To be fair, Megan had burnt the cookies..." Robin pointed out
"And I was eating them! So there was no need to hose me!"
"Does it matter?" Artemis asked "For once Kid Blunder is right! Nothing's here!"
"Wolf doesn't seem to think so..." Said Superboy
Sure enough the white wolf was running down the beach whining. The teens watched puzzeled until Wolf stopped and started howling. Sensing that something was wrong the team sped up. As they came closer, a human figure became visible in the sand. When they reached the body a mix of horror and fear gripped them.
"Aqualad!" Yelled Robin
The team leader was lying motionless face down on the sand. Around his face, the sand had been stained red by blood. Instantly worrying, Robin turned him over. He was covered in sand and socking wet and his face was covered in blood. To everyone's surprise however his eyelids lifted slowly.
"Hang on, Kaldur we'll get you into the sea..." Said Wally, knowing it was best for an Atlantean Kaldur however didn't respond
"Ah... He's exhausted..." Said Miss Martian reading his mind "But you can't take him into the sea."
"Why not?" Asked Connor
"I can't tell... His mind's in such a mess and he's not thinking straight..."
"So then back to the cave." Said Robin
Aqualad tried to stand himself but was too weak and his legs gave way leaving him lying in the sand. Superboy picked the team leader up and carried him towards the cave at a quick pace with the rest of the team following. They entered surprising Black Canary who was busy talking to Red Tornado. She took one look at the boy before saying :
"Take him to the infirmary now."
Once Aqualad was resting on the bed. Black Canary quickly hooked him up to an IV filled with water. He seemed to look a bit better but not much. Artemis knew a bit of first aid and took about cleaning her leader's face. She gasped at the sight of the gruesome wound as she cleaned around it with a wet cloth. What on earth had happened to him?
"He'll need time to recover." Said Black Canary "He's completely exhausted... You say you found him on the beach?"
"Yeah." Said Wally. "Just lying there... But he didn't want to go back into the water..."
"That is very strange... Normally a wounded Atlantean heals much faster in the ocean so why would he refuse?" Canary wondered "I'll call Aquaman and see what's up. One of you watch him."
"I will." Said Artemis
She didn't need to be home for the next few hours and had plenty of free time on her hands. She pulled up a chair and sat by Kaldur's bed, watching him sleep. This was the second time she'd seen him like this, the first time was in Bialia.
"What did you do to yourself?" She asked him not expecting an answer, to her surprise he opened his eyes and turned to look at her "You're awake. What happened?"
There was no response instead the hero just looked at her. She couldn't read much in the way of emotions inside his usually king and gentle silver eyes, instead they were just blank. She hoped it was just exhaustion.
"I'll go tell Black Canary, ok?"
Again no response. Artemis left the room after a heavy sigh. She walked out into the Zeta tube room where one of the tubes was currently teleporting someone. Black Canary and the team were waiting.
"Recognised 06 Aquaman."
Aqualad's mentor stepped through the portal. At last, they would be able to get some answers... He looked somewhat tired himself. Had Atlantis been attacked or something?
"Aquaman the team found Kaldur'ahm on the beach..." Said Black Canary "He was completely exhausted and is currently resting."
"Not to mention the fact he's missing half his face!" Yelled Artemis "What happened down there?"
"I must tell you something..." Said Orin looking uneasy "Kaldur'ahm is not who he pretends to be... He is something else... He is black Manta's son."
There was a pause. Artemis spent a few seconds trying to remember just who exactly Black Manta was. When it struck her that he was Aquaman's arch nemesis, an even worse thought struck her. She was about to question Aquaman when Superboy stepped in :
"So? The guy make Santa Claus look mean."
"His father was recently involved in a large attack on Posidonis. My wife was wounded during that attack and it just so happened to coincide with my absence as did the attack before that... Both times Aqualad was left alone at the capital."
"You don't think that he could of done it! I mean come on if you suspected Red Arrow I might understand but..."
"Artemis this is not helping!" Canary cut in "Orin why was he on the beach."
"I cannot run the risk of having a traitor in my mist..." Aquaman started
"You did it, didn't you?" Artemis' eyes widened as she realised. "You hurt him... You hurt your own apprentice."
"Please try to understand..."
Before Aquaman could finish his sentence. Red Tornado came walking in. He looked around and seemed to realise that something was up. The robot didn't leave as he usually did however instead he stayed and it looked like he wanted to say something.
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation..." Said Red Tornado.
"Yeah, we know Kaldur's in the infirmary." Said Wally
"I'm afraid you are incorrect. I opened the cave doors for him only moments ago."
"Please tell me he didn't..." Robin said
"Aqualad or as it would appear Kaldur'ahm now, left on his bike."
"Great!" Said Wally.
The team all rushed to the infirmary to see that the bed was empty. Artemis wondered just how on earth he had managed to leave in that state of exhaustion. Running as fast as they could they got to their bikes in the hangar. Aqualad's was missing. They all grabbed their helmets and jumped on their bikes.
"Tornado!" Said Wally "Next time you see one of us on the verge of a mental breakdown don't let them out of the cave!"
"I'm calling the league!" Canary declared giving Aquaman a cold glare "This needs to be sorted out..."
"We'll call you when we find him..." Said Robin.
The doors opened allowing the teens to speed out. The sky was dark and it looked like rain was on it's way, maybe even a storm... Artemis pondered the new discovery. Aqualad hadn't told them about his relation, not something that a good leader should of done but she could understand why he would choose to do so... Of course, that was assuming he even knew. They arrived at a fork in the road.
"We need to split up." Said Robin.
"What if Aqualad really has you know..." Wally paused "Turned to the dark side... I'd rather not pick a fight with a mad Atlantean..."
"It's Kaldur..." Said Robin. "He wouldn't hurt us..."
"Yeah... Besides it's not as if he ran away. I mean... He came to the cave." Said Miss Martian
"Come on we're wasting time..." Said Artemis
They split up. Again a bit further along the road. Artemis chose to stick to a cliff road over looking the sea. She figured, that no matter who his father was; he'd still like the sea. Then it started to rain and not just a little bit either. The blonde archer was drenched to the bone, the noise of the rain on her helmet was deafening. Still something stopped her from turning back... She knew what he was going through and she might actually be the only member of the team able to help.
Suddenly a light up ahead caught her attention. She sped up as the shape became clearer. It was a motor bike! Accelerating suddenly she sped up, hoping it was her team leader and not a lone Hell's Angel. She pulled up the biker's side. Sure enough it was Kaldur'ahm. The team leader turned his head and looked at her.
"Hey Kal, how about pulling over?" She said, Aqualad accelerated without warning. "So you want to be like that do you?"
Artemis sped up as well. If Kaldur'ahm wanted a race, he sure as hell was going to get one. Within a matter of moments she was by his side again. He gave her an annoyed glare, his still bleeding wound made it hard to read his expression and it was hard to make it out through his helmet. He sped up again and she mimicked him. So he let his bike drift away to the right, Artemis followed.
It was like a game, he would make a move and she would recreate it to remain by his side. She kept up and after a very impressive sudden burst of acceleration caught Aqualad for the 34th time. He gave her another glance as he always did and she smiled warmly. Kaldur's response was to slam on the brakes and drive off road towards the edge of the cliff. Artemis braked hard and did a U-turn.
She was relieved to see that Aqualad hadn't driven off the cliff but instead was sitting down cradling his legs over-looking the sea. He too was socking wet, clothes and all. His face was smeared with the blood from his wound now exposed to the rain. Artemis took her helmet off and sat down by his side ignoring the mud.
"Kaldur..." There was no response, he continued to stare into space "Kal... Come on. You haven't said a word since, we picked you up.
Still no response. Artemis toyed with the idea of giving him a slap but decided that it wouldn't help much. "He leaves me no choice..." She thought to herself. She got up and sat in front of Kaldur, close to his face. Before distorting her mouth and pulling out her tongue, she also went boss eyed. Not getting a response she changed silly faces going through her entire repertoire.
"What are you doing?" Asked Kaldur'ahm finally acknowledging the presence of the Archer.
"Trying to make sure you could still talk..." Said Artemis sitting next to him "I'm no clown but... The kids in Kinder garden used to like it."
"Do not give up your day job..."
"Kal, how about going back to the cave?" Artemis said
"No!" He snapped startling Artemis "I am not returning! I am a traitor! The son of a villain! You should have nothing more to do with me!"
Aqualad let his head fall into his hands and formed a little ball. Artemis remembered doing the same as a little girl when she needed a hug but no one was there for her. She drew herself a little closer to the Atlantean.
"If one bad family member makes you a traitor... What does my family make me?" She asked him, Aqualad didn't move but his gaze shifted to her
"You do not fully understand..."
"I think I do... You going to talk about it?" Aqualad turned away. "Well then, let's play a game. I ask you a question, you answer. Then you get to ask me whatever you want and I'll tell the truth."
She waited for a response after a few seconds curiosity seemed to get the better of the young hero and he nodded to her.
"Ok... Obvious ones first... Did you do what Aquaman said you did?"
"No I have always stayed out of my father's... Work..." He said. "My turn... Roy told me you are not Green Arrow's niece. Why lie?"
"Because it's a lot easier than telling the truth..." She muttered "Why didn't you way anything?"
"I believed... It would seem rightly so. That you and Orin would judge me that I would be nothing more than a traitor..." He sighed "Who are your real parents?"
"Oh... Kal, we wouldn't judge you... Well I wouldn't anyway... Believe me." She paused at his question, it would be wrong to someone to lie to someone who was revealing himself so openly "My parents were both assassins... Working for the shadows but my mom... Well she got hurt... Dad left and now it's just me and her."
"That is, hard..."
Artemis nodded. Remembering her childhood all the pain of it. She wondered just how similar she was to Kaldur'ahm. Had he been forced to train since she could walk?
"So, I take it you knew then." Kaldur nodded in response "So why go to Atlantis in the first place?"
"I was raised... On the surface, for a large part of my life. Till I was six. Both my parents took care of me but... I was different from the other surface dwellers, you must remember this was before superman and Aquaman walked the earth and a boy with gills was a... Freak... I went to Atlantis for my own protection... Not by choice. Artemis why are you on our side?"
"I guess... I made a choice... My own choice. Not what dad wanted. Or what mom did..." She said looking at him. "But I try not to look back."
"You make a choice and do not regret..." Aqualad paused
The rain had stopped and the sun was coming out. Artemis wondered if she would get a cold. There was a sudden buzzing in her ear. It was Black Canary calling her through the radio.
"Artemis?" She asked
"Yes. I found Aqualad... He's fine, but a little shaken up..." She kept her gaze on the other teen "What's going on there?"
"Well... Let's just say, Aqualad's not going back to Atlantis anytime soon... And I don't think it's a good idea if he comes back to the cave."
"No can do..." Said Wally over the radio "I've already got visitors at my place..."
"Robin?" Black Canary Asked
"Secret identity remember?"
"He can come home with me..."
"What?" Asked Aqualad, Artemis stopped talking on the radio
"You can't go back to Atlantis yet." Said Artemis "So unless you want to live on the streets for the next week..."
"No it was just... Very generous of you... Are you sure your mother will not be bothered?" He asked
"Mom? No... Not will a tall, handsome guy like you around. She'll be thrilled..."
Artemis wasn't so sure herself. She mother was naturally weary around strangers. So how she would react to her youngest daughter bringing a complete stranger home. Artemis turned her radio back on.
"Yeah, he'll come home with me..."
"Artemis that's very..." There was a loud crash in the background "Diana put Orin down!"
The radio cut suddenly. Artemis turned to Aqualad and sighed, she was already imagining what she'd say to her mom.
