"So you created your own android body so you could go out and interact with society?" I asked Red, playing with a strand of my hair. "So...you were lonely? You know, you could have just talked to me, or the team, hell even-well, not the league-but Dinah would have been happy to talk with you." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "However, I fully support your decisions as both your protégé and your close friend."
I was in Red's apartment, standing in front of a metal table with an Android body laying on it, compartments open. I ran a hand over the skin, and opened the eyes, studying them.
"Your support is appreciated, but there is an error in your statement." Red said and I furrowed my brow.
"And what is that?" I asked, looking over at Red.
"I believe, if I am correct, that I have come to see you as a...daughter, more then a friend." Red said, and I felt my heart squeeze before I zipped forward and wrapped my arms around Red. It hurt a little, flying into metal, but at the moment: I didn't care.
"Thanks Red." I said, my voice muffled by his chest and I smiled even more as I felt his arms go to my shoulders.
After a long moment, I pulled away and stepped toward the floor hatch which led to a drop, stopping at the main room of the cave.
"I'm gonna head out, maybe do some quick Christmas shopping trip before sun sets. Call me if you need me, okay? The team's shorthanded because Rob went on a secret mission with Conner, Megan, Roy and Artemis so if there are any problems: call me." I said before flying down the hatch and to the cave's floor.
"Lina." I heard and I looked over my shoulder to see Kaldur walking to meet me. "We're you on your way out?"
"Kinda, but I can stay back if you need my help." I said.
"I was just wondering...How's your wrist doing? I noticed you got your cast removed two days ago." He said.
I looked down at my now fully-healed wrist and smiled, spinning it. "It's all better know, thank goodness. I've had to do some pretty serious routines to get it back to tip-top shape."
"That's good to hear." He smiled. "So would you like to...Test it out in combat?"
He smirked as I rose an eyebrow, placing my hands on my hips.
"Are you asking me to sparring?" I asked.
"I believe I am." He said humorously and I smiled before walking to the ring, taking off my sweatshirt and throwing it to the side, staying in my skirt and contoured tank top. When I turned, Kaldur's eyes were slightly averted but I ignored it.
"Little-old me against an Atlantean with enhanced strength and minor invulnerability?" I asked, getting into a defensive stance. "That hardly seems fair." Kaldur chuckled before following me, taking a stance of his own and smirked.
"I assure you." He hummed. "You are no easy feat."
I smiled but stopped when I swung a kick at his head. He put up his arm to swat it away, meeting it with a jab at my side using his full arm which I grabbed and flipped over, surprising him.
"Interesting move." Kaldur complimented.
"Thanks, taught myself." I responded before Kaldur jumped at me, but I dodged and rolled under him, but landed on my left forearm and right hand before propelling my body forward horizontally and kicking at Kaldur's kneecaps, making his knees buckle before I leapt up, straightening myself. He stumbled forward a bit, giving me time to regain my stance and aim another kick at his body, which he was able to deflect with a follow-through-redirection. As I landed again, Kaldur was able to regain his footing.
"Come on Kaldur." I smiled. "I know you can do better."
Kaldur smirked before going at me again, this time in much larger stance and from a closer position, not giving me the ability to dodge. Unfortunately, I was forced I put my hands up and lock mine with him, slowing his attack and causing him to not actually make impact with me. Unfortunately, since I don't have nearly as much strength as Kaldur: I skidded a good two feet and lost my footing.
"Does that count as 'better'?" He asked, and his tone caught me off guard. It almost sounded...Primal? Less like Kaldur's nomal tone and more like something Roy would say.
To be honest...it was kind of...hot.
Kaldur must have noticed my shock and put his strength forward and hooking my feet from under me: causing me to fall back. Unfortunately since we were still locked together, he ended up falling on top of me.
Thankfully, do to my training I was able to angle my fall and land properly. However, I still groaned from the force of the fall hit me.
"Good one Kaldur..." I groaned, but all noise was caught in my throat as I looked up to see Kaldur's face two inches from my own, and realized the compromising position we were in, with his legs straddling my own, and his forearms balancing his weight beside my head.
Part of me laughed at how cliche this was, part of me wanted to push him off. But all of me couldn't stop staring into those eyes...
Wait, is he getting closer?
What should I do?
I don't know?! Everytime we've been kissed it's always been...Thrown onto us!
As all my different trains of thoughts swept through my mind, I found myself leaning in towards Kaldur. I expected this to entice a red flag in my head but...The closer our lips got together...the more butterflies fluttered in my stomache.
"Recogized: Kid Flash B03."
Kaldur and I suddenly sprang apart, realization washing over us like a bucket of ice water. Kaldur sprang up and I zipped to my sweater, rushing to get it on. I felt my face heat up more then ever before as I struggled to get my arm through the sleeve.
"Hey, has anyone heard from Ro-" Wally's voice stopped when he stepped through the tube and saw us, Kaldur at one end of the room rubbing the back of his neck and me struggling to get my sweatshirt on: both of us red in the face. "Did I...walk in on a moment?"
"No!" Kaldur and I blurt out at the same time before retreating again.
"Right..." Wally muttered before stepping completely into the room.
"I-I'm actually go-gonna...H-h-head out...So...S-see ya." I stutter before flying at top speed through the Zeta-tubes.
The moment I flew out of the tube and into France, I immideatly regretted it. Snow was falling from the sky and my heated body suddenly felt very cold.
As I evened out my breath, I ran my fingers you through my hair before digging them into my scalp as I began to pace.
"What was that Lina?! Were you seriously about to kiss Kaldur?! Your best friend?? I mean, sure; he's strong, smart, good looking, calming to be around, has a free spirit... commanding...has a lot of similar interests to you...And dear Lord that face..."
My hand swung, smacking myself out of my thoughts.
"No! Bad Lina! Those are bad thoughts! Like Batman said, having romantic feelings for a teammate can lead to hurt feelings and weakening dynamics: not to mention you'd be ruining your strongest friendship! ...But he leaned in first...So does that mean..?" I snapped out of it, laughing at myself. "Of course not! He still likes Tula, right?"
Suddenly, a weird feeling in my stomach began to form. It was almost like knots we're being tied in my intestines.
"What the hell is happening?!" I muttered as I begin to make the five minute walk home. "Maybe I should call someone? Well...Megan and Zatanna...we don't have that kind of friendship...And besides, Megan's on that mission with Roy and Artemis: my two other best friends! And this is kind of a girl thing...Dinah!"
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and pressed the third speed-dial button. It rang for a couple seconds before she picked up.
"Hey Kid, what's up?" Dinah greeted.
"Dinah: you've had romantic feelings before right?" I asked. I must have caught Dinah off guard as she didn't answer for a moment.
"Yes..." She replied, obviously confused. "Lina, what's this about?"
"Something happened between Kaldur and me and I don't know what the hell is going on." I blurted, pulling on my hair nervously again. "And you're the only female I know that I'm comfortable with talking to about this that's not on a mission."
Suddenly, I heard Dinah let out a squeal and I ripped the phone from my ear.
"Dinah? You okay?" I asked.
"You and Kaldur hooked up? Was it a romantic-haze make out session? Did you fall in the water and have one of those romantic under-water kisses?" She gasped. "Did he ask you out?"
"Dinah! No!" I yelled. "We just...Almost kissed..." I muttered quietly, feeling embarrassed.
She let out another loud squeal and I sighed.
"Dinah!" I groaned.
"Right, right! Calming down!" She muttered. "So...What's the problem?"
"I just...Don't know how I feel about this! There's butterflies in my stomach but also this weird...Clumpy feeling in my guts and I feel kinda nauseous... But don't inter-team romances always end badly? And won't it be ruining my best friendship?" I asked, and Dinah sighed.
"Honey...honey! You do realize Kaldur feels the same way right?" She says.
"What?" I asked.
"Look, who leaned in first?" She asked.
"Kaldur did, but-""No buts, except your and Kaldur's shot with Cupids arrow." Dinah cut me off. "Look, you two have amazing chemistry, and you two are obviously into each other, so I say: go for it. There are tons of great relationships between teammates: The Hawks, GA and I, Megan and Conner, what's stopping you and Kaldur from being one of those couples?"
"But...He loves someone else..." I muttered.
"Really? Who?" She asked.
"An Atlantis girl, Tula. He lives her but she's with Kaldur's best friend back in Atlantis: Garth." I said, and was surprised to hear venom in my words.
"Lina...Are you jealous?" Dinah asked.
"W-what? No!" I blurted.
"Honey, you are totally jelly."
"I have no idea what that means!"
"Lina!" Dinah cried. "Just...Trust me on this. Okay? I know Kaldur's into you, and I know he wouldn't use you as some sort of rebound. So go with your gut and DO! IT!"
And with that, the line went dead just as I stepped up to my apartment building. I sighed and ran another hand through my hair, this time downward before letting it flop at my side.
"I hate a lot to think about..." I mutter.
Is Seabreeze finally becoming canon? Stay tuned to find out!