AN: We're steadily moving towards the end. There are only a few chapters left but I promise that everything will come together. We'll end this story with a bang.
20. Kaldur
Kaldur laid the flowers at the feet of Tula's hologram. It was made up out of seaweed and tulips. The most beautiful flowers of the land and sea, just as Tula had liked them. He had visited her memorial every day since her death.
Kaldur felt like he couldn't breathe when he looked at her face. It was his fault that the League had to built her a memorial in the first place. If he had been a better leader, she wouldn't have been forced to sacrifice herself. They hadn't even been able to bury her. There was nothing left of her to honor. Only her legacy.
Kaldur should have noticed the explosive when Bane had planted it. He should have been able to take out the gunmen allowing Dick to disarm the bomb with enough time left. But he had failed his team.
"Why did you have to die for me?", Kaldur asked the hologram, "I could have done it. I should have."
Tula stayed still. A frozen image of a person that was far too beautiful to capture. The hologram would never do her justice.
"She loved you", Dick appeared beside him in Nightwing-gear.
He took off his mask. Kaldur hadn't seen his bare face in the last weeks.
She loved Garth more, the insecure voice within Kaldur said.
He shoved it aside. Dick was right. Tula had loved him like a brother. Why couldn't he have protected her like one? Tula's memorial was no place for petty jealousy.
"She was a true hero. We should all strive to be like her", Dick said.
"Why are you here?", Kaldur sounded harsher than he meant to.
He felt like he was breaking apart and Dick's melancholy made it worse. Kaldur wanted to act. He needed Nightwing right now – not Dick Grayson. Grief was making him selfish.
Dick seemed unsure. He frowned and started to say something. Probably tell Kaldur his condolences. But he closed his mouth and looked downwards.
Dick put his mask back on and returned to his Nightwing persona: "I found out who Bane's business partner was after some hacking. Lex Luthor. But he didn't act alone. He was working with-"
"The Light", Kaldur balled his fists.
Nightwing nodded: "Bane was ready to ship the Kryptonite off to them. Transactions had already taken place. We foiled it."
"And Tula paid with her life."
Nightwing stayed silent.
Kaldur turned to him: "The Light has been getting more dangerous."
"And personal", Nightwing tensed, "Their methods are extreme and they will only increase. They already managed to tear the League apart. Without Batman and Wonder Woman it has lost much of its public standing."
"It's time that we strike back", Kaldur said.
Dick nodded: "We are missing information. The Light is too efficient in hiding. If we don't get dirt on them, we'll never catch them. The League is at a huge disadvantage because it operates in the open."
"But we don't", Kaldur said.
"If we could get someone inside", Dick trailed off - still in thought.
Kaldur took a deep breath. This decision would change everything. Its consequences could easily crush his soul. But Tula's death had thrown him over the edge. He had already lost who was most dear to him in the world. Kaldur needed to see her murderers brought to justice – whatever it took.
"There's something I never told you, my friend", Kaldur's throat was dry, "I found out something a few months ago that changed my perception of myself."
Dick frowned but he listened attentively.
Kaldur felt the weight in his chest lessening. It was easier when he could concentrate on solving a problem. And Nightwing was the perfect partner for that. Kaldur had always respected his professionalism and experience even if Dick had gone overboard in the last few months. And now Kaldur was enabling Dick's horrible coping mechanism. He really was a terrible leader.
Kaldur said: "Black Manta cornered me during our mission in Costa Rica. He told me that he was my biological father and even gave me some of his blood to prove it."
"The favor you asked from me."
Kaldur nodded: "I didn't tell you at the time whose blood you were testing but it was Manta's and mine."
"You could have told me", Dick's voice was soft, "I would never judge someone for their family."
Dick reached out as if to put his hand onto Kaldur's shoulder but lowered it. Under his mask of professionalism, Dick was terribly unsure.
Kaldur should have supported him more as his team leader. But he had waited for Dick to work it out like he always did. Now, months had passed and Dick was still struggling. Now, it was too late.
They had aimed to keep their team together even if the Justice League had broken apart. But they had failed miserably.
"I know but I needed some time to come to terms with it myself."
"I understand."
"Manta said that he was proud of me. Of my power. He said that he regretted leaving me when I was young."
"Do you believe him?"
"He seemed genuine. But I would never betray my King by aligning with a murderer – even if this murderer is my father."
Realization dawned upon Nightwing's face: "You plan to use your connection to him and get close to the Light."
"Manta aims to become a part of the Light. He's trying to prove himself. And his ruthlessness will allow him to be seen as worthy."
"Do you believe you can stand the pressure? Undercover work is though stuff, Kal."
Kaldur put a hand on Dick's shoulder: "I need to know that I'm leaving my team in capable hands. And that I have someone on the inside who I can trust as a reliable contact."
Dick bit his lip. He seemed to hesitate but he nodded: "I'll do it."
"Are you sure? I don't want to ask too much of you. Especially after Batman-"
"I still miss him", Dick lifted his chin, "But I'm my own hero now. And I don't need him."
Kaldur wondered if his friend realized how much he was acting like Batman right now. It was concerning. But Dick was the only person on the team Kaldur trusted to back him up.
His contact needed to be able to hide secrets from others – even their own friends. They needed to be calm and quick-thinking. To be able to sacrifice certain things for the mission just as Kaldur was.
Connor had evolved over the last few years and had become far more controlled. But he still had a tendency to lash out and to be rash. M'Gann wore her heart on her sleeve and it would destroy her to lie to her friends. Wally was similar. Artemis had left the Team and Kaldur wouldn't pull her back in. Not for this mess.
Dick was the only and best option left. Kaldur hoped that his friend wouldn't break under the additional burden Kaldur shifted onto him. Two burdens really. Team leader and secret contact to a high profile undercover mission with too much at stake. Just thinking about it made Kaldur sick. But Nightwing seemed determined. His insecurity had seemingly vanished.
"We'll stage a fight", Nightwing said, "I visited you at Tula's memorial and you lashed out. You blame the team for not saving her. And you are angry that Aquaman lied about your relation to Manta. You feel betrayed and therefore you are joining him."
Kaldur nodded. He held out his hand. Dick took it. It was a promise to go through with their elaborate scheme.
"The Team can't know", Kaldur said, "The League can't."
"And Batman can't", Nightwing added.
Kaldur looked at Tula's memorial. He would make sure that her death wasn't in vain. They would end the Light once and for all.
"I'll manipulate the footage", Nightwing nodded into the direction of the camera.
"You ready, my friend?"
"Are you, fishboy?", Dick grinned.
Kaldur took a deep breath. This would be the beginning of months of soul-crushing undercover-work. But he would go through with it to honor Tula, his King and his team.
Aqualad punched Nightwing in the face.
AN: This chapter was actually inspired by a scene from season 2. When M'Gann invades Kaldur's mind and rips it apart, you can see an image of Kaldur and Nightwing shaking hands before Tula's hologram. It's a really cool detail and I had a lot of fun writing a scene around it.
A virtual cookie for anyone who noticed it. That's like next-level Young Justice trivia-knowledge which I can never hope to match. ;)
