Chapter 10: Secrets and lies
"Supes you need to calm down," Nat said seriously while Connor just glared at her.
"You knew? Robin asked in disbelief.
"You didn't tell us?" Wally asked in disbelief.
"I sought to protect the team from…" Kaldur started only to be interrupted by Artemis.
"Protect us from what?" she demanded, "Knowledge that might've saved our lives?"
"You almost died?" Superboy said to M'gann who looked confused.
"Enough!" Batman said his eyes narrowing. Nat barely managed to push Connor off of Kaldur and she took her spot at his side turning to Batman.
"With Red Tornado… missing, the team will now be overseen by rotating supervisors, Captain Marvel has volunteered to take the first shift," Batman said.
"I'm really looking forward to hanging with you guys," the giant man said and Nat raised an eyebrow.
"After I dismantle Red Tornado you and I are gonna," Connor threatened turning toward Kaldur.
"Back off Connor," Nat said getting between the two males.
"Tornado is a member of the league making him a league responsibility, you will leave him to us," Batman informed the clone glaring. "I have another assignment for this team," Batman turned to the holograms, which popped up with stories of a gorilla attack.
"Gotham mayor attacked by Guerilla Gorilla?" Wally asked in disbelief crossing his arms.
'Was this the only thing he could find to distract us?' Connor asked with M'gann's link.
"Batman please, tell me you're not sending us on this joke of a wild ape chase," Robin said throwing his hands out in irritation.
"I never joke about the mission," Batman glared causing Robin to look away. "I've checked the sources and studied the patterns, Mayor Hill's encounter is only the latest in a series of incidents," Batman looked to Kaldur. "Aqualad you and your team will depart for India, and check this out."
Kaldur nodded and Nat rubbed the back of her neck as the team filed past them. "Huh your team," Wally glared and Nat grimaced.
"You need to shut them up now or this mission is going to be a disaster," Nat told Kaldur who looked at her and sighed.
"They are right, I should have informed the team, I just didn't…"
"You didn't want to alert the mole, and it was a logical reason not to tell us, they're just angry, and they'll get over it, but not if you continue letting them walk all over you," Nat said crossing her arms and Kaldur looked down at her.
"When did you get so wise?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Nearly dying twice, well it does that to you," Nat smirked as she pushed Kaldur's shoulder and started walking towards the bioship. She made a quick stop in her room and stocked up on ammo for her Jay guns. Reapplying her mask carefully and attaching her hood she checked to ensure her hair was still black and straight. This would be her first mission with the team since getting shot
Nat walked out to the bioship and stood stoically beside Kaldur as the team loaded up. She sighed when Connor told Sphere to go back running her hand over Sphere's metal surface as it instead rolled to her. "You heard him, you can't come with us on this one," Nat said and Sphere beeped pitifully before going back.
Captain Marvel flew up and grinned as Kid Flash and Robin walked up. "You're coming with?" Robin asked his eyes wide.
"Sure! We'll have a blast!" Captain Marvel grinned walking into the bioship.
"Translation he blames us for red fiasco, doesn't trust us," Robin said looking at Kaldur with Kid Flash.
"Yeah it's a big club," Wally spat.
Natalie didn't interfere it wasn't her place. The team didn't seem to even acknowledge the fact that she'd figured it out before them. They hadn't even responded to her once, but that was going to change. If Kaldur wouldn't get a handle on their team she would do it for him.
The flight was tense and silent, Nat sighed as she dropped down with Robin and M'gann. "All clear," Robin called to those on the ship.
"Switch to stealth, and we will review mission parameters," Kaldur said and Nat crossed her arms.
"Parameters? We don't need no stinking parameters," Kid said and Nat leaned forward.
"No wonder you're barely passing English," Nat said and Wally glared at her Robin getting between them.
"It's recon we know what to do," Robin said turning to walk away with Kid.
"Stop right there," Nat said glaring at the two as they turned towards her each of them irritated. "Look I get you two are upset, but stop acting like babies. As of this moment Aqualad is our leader, and we aren't reverting back to when you two idiots were trying to duke it out. We listen and take our direction from Kaldur," Nat hissed and the two boys glared.
"Why are you so hell-bent on defending him?" Connor asked glaring as he stood toe to toe with Nat who unsurprisingly didn't back down.
"Because we voted for him. At this point I don't care if he tries to kill me, he is our leader he's someone I put my trust into, and until proven otherwise I'm going to keep doing just that," Nat said and Connor glared.
"We're going!" he told M'gann and grabbed her arm not roughly, but in a surprising display of dominance. "I'll protect you," he said gently.
"She doesn't need you to protect her," Artemis snapped.
"Stop!" Nat said harshly causing everyone to look at her again. "Listen here, go off and do whatever you want if you think it'll help, but not before we establish the link. M'gann?" Nat asked while the Martian extracted herself from Connor and nodded setting the link up.
'Thank you,' Nat thought and Kaldur was silent watching her.
'Oh great now I get to hear Kaldur in my head,' Wally narrowed his eyes.
'Wallace I am going to kick your ass if you don't shut up,' Nat thought and Wally grimaced.
'Can we go now?' Robin asked huffing impatiently. Nat looked back to Kaldur who nodded and Nat sighed.
'Get out of here, stay in contact, tell us if you find anything weird,' Nat ordered and just like that the team was gone. Connor bounded off to pout about M'gann leaving to go help Artemis, and Wally and Robin went off together.
"Way to go Blue Jay!" Captain Marvel grinned and held his hand up for a high-five which Natalie promptly ignored turning on Kaldur'ahm.
"What are you doing?" she asked her eyes narrowed and Kal frowned tilting his head.
"I do not…" he began only to be silenced as Nat poked him in the chest.
"You're letting our team walk all over you! You are our leader Kaldur'ahm, you need to fucking act like it," Nat hissed and Kal's eyes widened.
"Woah that's a bad word," Captain Marvel said his eyes wide and Nat turned on him next.
"Yeah well you pick up a thing or two when you live with assassins," she spat and rubbed her face trudging forward through the dense jungle vines.
"Is she okay?" Captain Marvel whispered to Aqualad who was watching Nat with a quirk to his lips.
"She is taking charge and showing confidence," Kaldur said with a shrug and Captain Marvel frowned.
'I'm never going to understand,' Billy thought grimacing as Kaldur moved forward to catch up with Nat.
"Thank you for defending me to the others," Kaldur said awkwardly and Nat looked at him shaking her head.
"I'm just as pissed at you as they are," she told him sighing as she let Kaldur move forward to cut down the vines.
"You are not acting like you are," Kaldur qupped and Nat rolled her eyes.
"Because you're my leader, I know that whatever made you keep the mole thing from us it had to be good, and I'd probably do the same if I were you," Nat sighed as they got into a clearing. Looking down at the prints on the ground she looked back at Kaldur.
"I guess this is where Mayor Hill's monkey business went down…" Captain Marvel said looking at the tracks. Nat crouched down to study them when the ground below her feet rumbled. Jumping back she gasped as two huge elephant walked into the clearing.
They were bigger than normal elephants, and it seemed like they had spikes protruding from their thick skin. Not only that there were patches of skin missing and Nat felt for the poor animals even as she back flipped to avoid its trunk. Rolling she avoided being stepped on, and she looked up to see the inhibitor collar. Nat jumped grabbing ahold of the elephant's trunk and using her momentum to land on its back jerking the collar off with her as she jumped down.
Looking back she saw Aqualad rip off the other elephant's collar and she bit her lip. As soon as both animals were free from their collars they blinked and turned away. Captain Marvel was looking between the two young heroes his face set in a careless pout.
Nat sighed as she reached out with her link only to find it disconnected. "Dammit," she muttered rubbing her face.
"M'gann's disconnected the link," Kaldur announced and Nat looked up at him rubbing her face.
"I know I just figured it out… No doubt Artemis convinced her too, or she's unconscious…" Nat sighed and walked out towards the highest point she could reach touching her com and grimacing at the high pitched whistle. "Com's jammed," Nat told the other two and Kaldur sighed.
'Kon?' Nat reached out and grimaced as she hit a brick wall with Superboy too.
"These collars indicate an intelligence behind the attack…" Kaldur told Captain Marvel. "The rest of the team could be in danger, and if M'gann's link is down then she could be hurt."
"We don't even know where she and Artemis went," Nat sighed and Captain Marvel frowned.
"Well you two did let everyone run off without a game plan…" he said flinching as Nat glared at him while climbing up a tree to try and see if height would help her com.
"It was not our fault they wouldn't listen!" Kaldur said angrily.
"Well they at least listened to Nat, and she looked back at you before she let them go… Kaldur back at the cave Batman got everyone to listen with one word," Marvel said.
"Yes but Batman is Batman…" Kaldur grimaced.
"Yeah and believe me when I first joined the league all he did was boss me around, but Nat was able to silence everyone too, they didn't want to listen to her, but they did. They took control, and since Nat isn't the team's leader it seems like the team disobeyed. I never disobeyed an order that Batman gave me, and that's probably what kept me alive…" Captain Marvel said.
"Batman takes control for the good of the league… It didn't work with Nat because she isn't the team's leader, the team wasn't prepared to take orders from her… I think I understand now," Kaldur said looking at the older hero. "Thank you."
"Hey you know wisdom of Solomon," Cap shrugged and Nat dropped down beside Kaldur.
"Still jammed," she sighed meeting her leader's eyes. She stopped as she heard a growl and looked into the red eyes of a huge tiger.
"Cool a tiger!" Captain Marvel grinned moving forward watching the tiger take off through the jungle. "I've got him!" he told the two young heroes shooting after the animal.
Nat looked back at Aqualad who just shrugged. "Hey Speed of Mercury," he sighed and Nat groaned.
'Aqualad, Blue Jay can you two hear me?' M'gann's voice sounded through their heads.
"Yes Miss Martian, report?" Aqualad answered and Nat listened.
'Artemis and I were attacked by animals wearing inhibitor collars, like those used on convicts at Belle Reve prison.'
'M'gann re-establish the link,' Nat said standing at Aqualad's side.
'Link established,' M'gann answered.
'Should we really still be taking orders from you Kaldur?' Artemis asked.
'Wasn't Kaldur it was me,' Nat fired back.
'Oh great now we have to listen to both of them,' Wally grimaced.
'Hey Nat, Wally and I were just attacked by giant vultures, but I guess since Kaldur thinks we're moles he thinks we attacked ourselves," Robin said bitterly.
Nat was walking at Kaldur's side following the path Captain Marvel took. She grimaced at the voices in her head.
'If he did he wouldn't tell you,' Artemis fired back.
'Listen please…' Kaldur started.
'Superboy are you online or just pouting?' M'gann asked.
'Little busy, call back later,' Superboy answered and Nat sighed.
'What gets me is how nonchalant he is about not telling us,' Wally said and Nat broke through the thick cover of leaves looking at Kaldur as they found an obvious trap with signs of dragging.
'He should be chalant, way chalant, extremely chalant,' Robin answered Wally.
'How can we be a team if he doesn't trust us with his secrets?' Artemis asked and Nat bent down looking at a handprint imbedded into the ground.
'Should you be talking about that Artemis?' she fired back, and knew she hit the target when Artemis didn't respond back.
'Connor doesn't even trust us to take care of ourselves,' M'gann said and Nat looked at Kaldur. He grimaced and stood up from his spot crouched down beside her.
'Did he really think you or I could've been the mole?' Wally asked.
'We've known each other for years!' Robin answered him.
'Trust is a two way street,' Artemis finally answered.
'You know they'd hate it if we kept secrets from them!' M'gann said.
'Not that we'd do that,' Artemis answered and Nat gritted her teeth.
'We'd never do that,' M'gann answered far too quickly.
'Enough!' Kaldur finally yelled and Nat grimaced at the resonance in her head moving back as Aqualad pulled one of the large poles from the ground. 'Captain Marvel has been captured, and we must act as a team to get him back,' Kaldur said.
'Hah under your leadership?' Wally asked 'I don't think s…' he started.
'This is not up for debate,' Kaldur cut him off. 'You all chose me to lead. When the mission is over if you all want to select a new leader I will happily step down, but until that time I am in command here,' Kaldur threw down the twisted metal aware of Natalie's eyes on him. He looked at her unsure of what the look in her eyes (barely noticeable under her lenses) meant, but Nat just smiled her cheeks heating up as she walked beside him the two following the tracks left behind.
"What?" Kaldur asked and Nat looked over at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Nat said looking away as she kept walking.
"I saw that look, what did I do wrong?" Kaldur asked and Nat's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.
"You didn't do anything wrong Kal, it… it wasn't anything," Nat said quickly and Kaldur raised an eyebrow as he ducked down with his friend. He looked at the fortress and grimaced as Kid Flash and Robin showed up, and Artemis and M'gann were behind them. Kaldur climbed into a tree beside M'gann and Artemis while Nat stayed with Kid and Robin.
"Do you see what I'm seeing KF?" Nat asked as her lenses caught the glimmering of the shield around the compound.
"Yeah," Kid confirmed.
'I could just fly above it,' M'gann said.
'That's a negative ghost rider,' Nat thought to her and Robin groaned from her side.
'I've got a target,' Artemis said and Kid frowned.
'Pylons are insulated but one good shot could cause a temporary gap,' Robin confirmed.
'Artemis be ready to hit it,' Kaldur said making his way down the slope and towards the compound. 'All of you be ready,' Kaldur said and Nat put her hands on her Jay guns.
Kaldur ran down and his tattoos started glowing as he generated enough electricity to create a gap in the shield.
'Artemis now,' Wally said and Artemis released her arrow. Nat stood up as soon as the shield went down and was the first to reach Kaldur's spot.
'Supes make sure you're waiting, you should be able to get in from the back,' Nat sent to Superboy through the general link as a bunch of monkeys showed up on top of the roof.
'Got it,' Connor sent back and Nat grimaced as the lead monkey released a loud yowl and launched at her as a camera shot up from inside the fortress.
'Take off the collars," Nat said as her arms shot out and she pulled monkey down detaching the collar with minimal struggle.
"Blue Jay get down!" Kaldur yelled as he tackled her a monkey sailing through the air where she just was fangs extended. Nat looked up into the light green eyes of the Atlantean and blushed a deep red.
"You can get off now," she murmured as she pushed him off her and grimaced as a large gorilla walked out of the compound. "I hate monkeys…" she growled as the gorilla threw M'gann down.
"Leave her alone," Nat yelled running forward.
"Get your paws off her you darn dirty ape," Wally yelled running forward. The moment he hit the Gorilla he flew back with a groan.
Nat grimaced her worry for M'gann causing an accidental burst of power as she threw the gorilla through the wall. M'gann groaned managing to levitate and float into the room with Nat right behind her.
"Hey it's The Brain!" Kid said.
"Duh I can see it's a brain," Artemis grimaced.
"Not a brain The Brain!" Wally said and Nat shot explosive arrowheads out of her Jay guns causing the Gorilla's weapons to explode and break.
"In the flesh… Eh so to speak," the French brain said before turning to the Gorilla. "Mallah now," he ordered and Nat grimaced as the pylons came up and she went down.
'M'gann Superboy now,' Kaldur ordered and Nat stared at the blue shield surrounding her. She shot up as soon as M'gann managed to type in the code to the remote she stole from Mallah.
"Nice try," Nat called to The Brain as Superboy and a giant white wolf managed to bust in through the wall. Superboy ran at the monkey, and Nat pulled out her cry generator. She was running low and was trying to use them sparingly. Throwing the box onto the Brain's Helmet the sonic generator caused the glass to crack as Mallah roared throwing the generator against the wall. Aqualad managed to free Captain Marvel, who in turn freed the tiger.
"Mallah," the Brain called as the suit that encased him started building up and forming into what looked like a weapon.
"Everyone get ready!" Wally yelled and Aqualad for the second time that day shielded Nat with his own body as the lights went out.
The lights flickered back on and Nat frowned pushing Kaldur away. "I'm fine," she told him rubbing her face as she looked at the empty spot where the Brain and Mallah had vanished.
"So that big weapon, was a giant light switch?" Wally asked and Nat shook her head.
"It was a teleporter, like our Zeta tubes," Nat answered and she sighed looking down at the tiger that sat by her side. "Round up the other animals with inhibitor collars," Nat told the beast that roared it's agreement.
M'gann stretched and called the bioship to them rubbing her face. Nat walked with Kaldur by her side and grimaced as animals started pouring out of the jungle. She pulled sat beside Kaldur and Captain Marvel as one by one the animals got their collars removed.
"What are you still doing here boy? The pack's moved on," Nat said looking down at the White Wolf lying in the clearing.
The Wolf looked up at her and Nat bent down scratching behind it's ears. "Can we keep him?" Superboy asked looking at M'gann.
"Dude first Sphere now a wolf… You sure do have a habit of picking up strays don't you?" Wally asked and Nat smirked.
"Maybe it's because he's such a stray himself," M'gann smiled down at her boyfriend. Nat cleared her throat and looked away willing to allow them to have their private conversation. She was nearly knocked down as the tiger rubbed up against her legs.
"What do you want?" Nat asked with a smirk as the tiger purred. "Do you want to come live in the cave too?" Nat asked teasingly, but the tiger blinked up at her and Nat sighed. "I wish you could, but I don't even know how we're going to feed Wolf," Nat said and the tiger roared softly.
"I don't see why we couldn't keep him," Aqualad said from Nat's side and Nat looked at him.
"He's a big cat, and he deserves his freedom," Nat said scratching the tiger's jaw. The tiger butted it's head against Nat's and Nat smiled softly. "Don't you want to be able to run freely through the jungle?" she asked the cat who mewed at her.
"Aww but I saved him," Captain Marvel pouted, and Nat looked up at the large man.
"Sorry Cap, I have a way with cats," Nat said with a shrug as looked at the big tiger.
"Go take care of the other animals," Nat said and the tiger licked her nose purring as it stood up and rubbed against Captain Marvel's legs.
"I'll let you name him," Nat told Captain Marvel who looked like she just told him he'd won the lottery.
"I think I'll call him… Mr. Tawny," Cap said happily and Nat laughed.
"I'll call him Tawny then, you can visit him here more than I can so he's more yours," Nat promised the large male who picked Nat up in a big hug. Nat stiffened and awkwardly patted the large male's back.
"Cap I'd set Nat down if I were you," Wally called.
Captain Marvel did as he was told and bit his lip. "Sorry I've just never had a pet before!"
"It's fine I just don't like to be touched, by strangers…" Nat said and sighed awkwardly patted Cap's arm.
"Look I need to know why you kept the mole intel a secret?" Robin finally said and Nat looked up crossing her arms as she watched Kaldur closely.
"The source of the tip was Sportsmaster," Kaldur said and Nat's eyes went to Artemis.
"What! You can't trust him," Artemis gasped.
"I do not, it seemed possible even likely that he was trying to divide the team with false information," Kaldur said looking at his teammates.
"And given how this mission went he nearly succeeded," Robin said with a frown, "But you had to consider it might be true…"
"Yes, as leader I did in which case I did not want to alert the traitor," Kaldur sighed.
"I hate to say it, but makes sense," Robin sighed.
"I am still prepared to step down," Aqualad said.
"All in favor of keeping Aqualad as leader?" Wally asked smirking as the entire team raised their hands while Kaldur nodded in acceptance.
"Guess it's unanimous," Captain Marvel grinned moving forward to shake Kaldur's hand. "See you tomorrow?" he waved.
"You're not coming back with us?" Kaldur asked with a frown.
"Nope got to fly!" Captain Marvel grinned shooting off into the sky. Nat watched him with Tawny at her side. The tiger rubbed its huge head against Nat's leg one last time before bounding off into the forest.
"So what're ya going to call him?" Nat asked nodding to the wolf as she looked at Superboy walking with him and M'gann onto the bioship.
"What's wrong with Wolf?" Supes asked and Nat grinned.
"Generic, but acceptable," Wally sighed as everyone took their seat. Nat sat down beside Kaldur.
When the team got back to the cave Batman watched, as the wolf unloaded and stood by Connor's side. He looked at the team. "The Justice League has fixed the cave, everything should be dry, and in working order."
"Sweet!" Wally grinned while Nat breathed a sigh of relief.
"All of you should go home or hit the showers, you've all had a long couple of days," Batman said and Nat stretched. "You're monitor for tonight is J'onn," he added and Nat gave a thumbs up walking to her bedroom.
"Nat!" Wally called and Nat frowned turning around and looking at the redhead.
"What Wallace?" Nat sighed and Wally frowned at her.
"What's going on between you and Kaldur?" he asked and Nat narrowed her eyes.
"I don't know what you mean," Nat said her hands on her hips
"I mean I saw the way he was looking at you! I mean geez I knew he liked you, but we just broke up Nat… Shouldn't you give it at least a year before you're ready to date again?" Wally asked and Nat frowned.
"Wallace first of all you don't get to determine at what point I'm ready to move on from you. Second it's not like we were in love! We dated for a month not even a month more like three weeks… Third this is none of your business and it will remain that way from now until forever," Nat said and stalked away from her friend.
Wally frowned after her stiffening as he felt Oliver's hand on his shoulder. He looked back at the archer and bit his lip. "Hey GA," he grinned.
"You're damn lucky you didn't break her heart son, now be her friend and support her," Ollie said seriously before walking to the mission room where Bruce was.
"Natalie?" Kaldur asked from where he was waiting by Nat's door.
"Oh my God what is tonight bother Nat with stupid questions night?" Nat groaned as she walked into her bedroom.. Kaldur followed her inside and frowned as he saw Wally's face when he rounded the corner.
"What is wrong with Wally?" Kaldur asked and Nat grimaced.
"He's finally realizing that we're never getting back together," Nat said as she dug through her drawers throwing out a pair of fluffy Batman pajama pants.
"So it's official then?" Kaldur asked and Nat grimaced turning to face her friend.
"What do you mean official?" she asked pulling out some toner and carefully peeling her mask away from her face conscious of Kaldur's eyes on her as she rubbed the spirit gum off in the mirror.
"You and Wally are officially broken up," Kaldur breathed and Nat shrugged as she focused on changing her hair slowly back to the long sandy blonde ringlets.
"I mean we have been for a month…" Nat said turning to look up at the Atlantean that was suddenly much closer to her than she'd anticipated.
"Why did you break up with him? You two seemed so happy," Kaldur said and Nat grimaced rubbing her face.
"I've always loved Wally, and I thought that love would develop into a romantic love. We were comfortable with each other… heck he was my first kiss. I just…" Nat grimaced as she sat on her bed watching Kaldur. "There's no challenge with Wally. He's comfortable, and there's nothing wrong with comfort, but there's nothing on the line. I want someone who pisses me off at the best of times, someone who blazes through my night sky, and someone who has the ability to think of me as a best friend, and a girlfriend. I knew I'd never be Wally's firework either, so it was easier to call things off."
"Do you ever want to fight for him?" Kaldur asked watching her intently and Nat shifted under his gaze.
"I want him to get his head out of his ass and realize that Artemis is perfect for him. She could be the Yin to his Yang if he takes the chance. That's all I want for him, and myself. I want to find someone who compliments me for who I am now… I felt like with Wally he was to busy trying to complete me. I don't need anyone to complete me, I may be broken, but I'm complete just as I am now."
Kaldur moved forward and Nat bit her lip looking up at the Atlantean. She'd never realized how much taller her was then her, or how gorgeous his eyes were. Nat bit her lip as he sat beside her his shoulder brushing her own. "Sometimes I wish I had been enough for Tula," he admitted and Nat swallowed thickly.
"Kal… You are enough; any girl who doesn't think you're enough is crazy. The thing about Tula is that she found someone that she fell in love with. You can't blame her or Garth for that. I know it sucks, but one day you'll find that girl who you argue with, but that you can't help but love to hear her talk. She'll make her way into your life and set it ablaze, and you'll never want her to leave again," Nat smiled as she shoulder bumped her friend.
Kaldur'ahm looked into Nat's blue eyes. She was so different from the girls in Atlantis; so different from anyone he'd ever met. He just wished he could look into her mind to see why she was the way she was. She'd been a mystery from day one, and though she'd come such a long way her walls were still firmly in place. Walls that Kaldur wanted to take a sledgehammer to. Walls that no one else seemed to realize were there.
Nat pulled her knees to her chest and bit her lip. "I guess what the big thing with me and Wally was that he didn't see me," Nat said softly. "I mean he did, but he didn't… he doesn't. He sees what he wants me to be, he knows what he wants me to do, but as far as me the girl who has always been right in front of him, he never took the time to actually see what I'm all about." Looking at the ground she hugged her knees tighter. "I'm afraid no one's ever going to see me Kal."
Kaldur bit his lip and he put his hand on Nat's cheek gently he raised her face up so she was looking him in the eyes. "I see you," he whispered and Nat gasped like she'd been electrocuted. His thumb gently stroked her cheek and he bit his lip. "Not all of you, there are still parts of yourself you keep firmly hidden away… Nat help me see more, I want to know all of you…" Kaldur said slowly and Nat looked away.
"You just want a rebound girl," she murmured and Kaldur frowned.
"To be honest I felt… relieved when Tula told me she had started seeing Garth. While Atlantis started to fill my thoughts, I couldn't deny that the team kept me on the surface world, grounded to the surface world… until you started dating Wally. Then all I could think of was him kissing you. There was that night I came into check on you, and the two of you were in here. That's when Tula entered my mind again. Tula who I was supposed to love," Kaldur sighed. "I don't know what you are to me Nat, but I know for you I'd be anything… I'd be your rebound, I'd be your best friend, and your brother just let me in. Let me delve deeper into the mind you keep so guarded," Kaldur whispered wiping at the tears in Nat's eyes hoping he hadn't done something wrong.
Nat looked up at the Atlantean a man who she trusted with her life. She'd never allowed herself to acknowledge more than friendship where Kaldur was concerned. She'd always had Wally, she'd always tried so hard to impress Wally, save Wally, get Wally to see he didn't know her the way he thought. Now she was looking at Kaldur and she realized he'd done all of that and she hadn't tried to show him.
"Best friends first," Nat said looking at him causing Kaldur to smile.
"I think I can handle that," he said and Nat bit her lip.
"Alright well I need a shower so…" she said awkwardly and Kaldur blushed and stood up.
"Of course! Sorry I'll see you tomorrow then?" Kaldur asked and Nat rolled her eyes.
"Just try to keep me away," she teased opening her door with her PJs in hand and a towel over her shoulder.
ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'm pretty proud of this one… So I've decided Kaldur and Natalie are end game… Sorry folks I'm just to in love with spitfire, and Supermartian… Also Robin is two years younger then Nat and I didn't think that'd translate well at all…
Anime Hotty Lover 18: I hope this doesn't disappoint you!
Down2earth360: Thank you, but I find it still doesn't help, I just suck at comas and semicolons…
B00kfan: Thank you so much, I've really tried to make her believable, and hearing someone say she's a good character means the world to me!