"Kaldur!"

The rain was lashing down on the cliff over looking the sea near the cave. Rocket ran through the storm to a familiar figure with his back turned. Kaldur turned around slowly as his girlfriend threw herself into his arms and gave him a hug. After a few moments hesitation, he returned it to her.

"Kal... They said you attacked Atlantis..." She told him pulling away "That you almost killed Tula."

"I did merely what I must for my family."

"But they're dead..." She state taking some steps back and gasping "Who's blood is that?"

She hadn't noticed at first but the teen was soaked not only with the rain but also blood. He had several scratches and cuts on him but not nearly enough to account for all the stains. Her eyes widened with horror.

"What have you done Kaldur?" She asked him in shock

"I avenged my parents..." He muttered

"You're saying you did do all that?" Kaldur didn't respond "But- You're on you're our side... I thought that- You're like a brother to us..."

"Consider me no longer a member of the team Rocket. I am leaving..." He declared

Rocket looked at him in disbelief for a moment. Then she let herself get angry, she clenched her fists and shaking from rage. Kaldur remained passive simply looking at her blankly. That was the final straw... Using her powers, Raquel sent her ex-friend flying backwards through the air. He landed harshly against the ground but picked himself up.

"Get out..." She told him "If I ever see you again I swear I'll kill you! Now go!"

Rocket woke up in a cold sweat. She looked around her bedroom in a panic, trying to remind herself where she was. That was right... She was in Venice. She wondered what time it was, it was still dark... Something shifted next to her. It was Kaldur, he was still sleeping quietly with his arms around her.

Ok... Rocket thought to herself. How dead am I? I've just slept with a traitor, so the league's gonna kill me. Icon's gonna kill me sleeping with anyone period. And I'm gonna kill myself for being so weak... Yep, she was seriously dead. With a sigh she rolled over to look him in the face.

Nobody could of guessed that he was a traitor or evil from his calm and gentle face, currently occupied by a vague smile. The memories of what happened the night before were coming back to her. Thinking back to it, she only really had herself to blame. With a sigh, she turned back over and picked up the TV remote making sure to mute it first.

She was already trying to come up with an excuse if the league found out. Or trying to think of something to say to the Atlantean when he woke up. Neither seemed obvious. She flicked around the channels most of which were full of junk at such an early hour in any case. She didn't speak Italian either.

"Raquel, S-soh-meh… ah-gah-PAH-oh seh..." Muttered Kaldur

"I hope that was something friendly..." Whispered Rocket who's only understood her name.

She looked back at the screen and her eyes widened in surprise. She might not understand Italian but the words Roma; Klairon; KOBRA and Intergang were pretty much transparent. She looked at the pictures of some kind of museum that had been broken into in Rome. Just great, she was the only league operative currently working in Italy and she'd missed a supervillain crime because she was 'otherwise occupied'.

Wanting an explanation, she elbowed the young villain in the ribs. He groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He gave her a faint smile but soon saw her unamused look and caught on. He yawned and looked at the screen.

"What is it?" He asked

"Did you know about this?" She asked him accusingly

"I do not speak Italian."

"Klairon, KOBRA and the Intergang just robbed a museum and stole an ancient and mystical artifact... At least I think they did... Did you know this was going to happen?"

Half asleep Kaldur looked somewhat confused but soon realised what she was going on about. Seeing a seriously annoyed Rocket was enough to make him not want to tell any lies ever again. She seemed to think that he had known this was going to happen and was keeping her occupied.

"I was unaware that this could take place, Raquel... You have my word..." He was about to say something else when Rocket cut in

"You used me!" She accused him "You knew I was here and needed to keep me out of the way..."

"No! Raquel! I would never use you... I love you..." He declared

"Cut it out Kaldur! Get out of here before I call the league!"

Kaldur frowned. He knew that she couldn't do that any more the repercussions for her wouldn't be all that different from the ones he'd have to suffer. However she could quite legitimately 'kick his butt' as she would phrase it from one side of the room to the next. He took the hint and got up.

"Might I at least be allowed to have a shower." He requested some what annoyed

"Ok!" She said reluctantly "But after that you're out of here!"

Kaldur disappeared into the bathroom leaving Raquel alone, feeling betrayed for a second time. How could she of trusted him again? The answer she sensed was simple, in her heart she still loved him too... But that would soon change. You could trick her once, not twice. She'd never believe Kaldur'ahm again. He'd come here probably sent by his father and she'd failed to think of that possibility... To make things worse due to her own weakness calling the league or team for back up was only going to get her in more trouble...

Her communicator started buzzing, slowly she reached over to the table and picked it up.

"Nightwing?" She asked tiredly

"Yeah... You seen the news. It's half five in the morning here but yeah... Looks like Black Manta pulled a fast one on us."
"I don't think he had anything to do with it..." Nightwing said "It's not his style attacking surface dwellers. Any sign of him by the way?"

"No... None... Do you want me to head over to Rome."

"Nah... The police can handle there, you get some more sleep then rendez-vous back with us later on."

"Ok..."

With that she hung up and got out of bed, quickly changing into her clothes before Kaldur finished his shower. Tiredly she walked over to Kaldur's armour currently piled up in the corner of the room. It was mainly out of curiosity that she examined the various pieces. She picked up one of the gauntlets almost dropping it as she was surprised by the shier weight of it. Black Manta's men were like tanks! Then again they'd have to be to survive the high pressures under the ocean but Kaldur was an Atlantean he could survive those anyway perhaps his armour was special, she doubted that most humans would be able to bare such a weight and fight in it.

She examined his helmet. It was somewhat different from those of the other soldiers. It was then that she noticed something else on the floor, a piece of paper neatly folded. She carefully picked it up and opened it. Her eyes widened as she remembered the photo. It was taken 3 days before Kaldur had turned traitor. She was busy hugging him round the neck and smiling. The young Atlantean was smiling warmly.

She sat down on the bed and pulled out an identical photo from her own pocket. It looked like both of them still looked back on those days favourably. How could things of changed so suddenly? It was literally one day he'd been there and the next she'd been yelling at him on the cliff and he'd disappeared for four years... And now, they'd just spent the night together and he was having a shower in the room next to hers.

"What have you gotten yourself into Raquel?" She asked herself

She let out a deep sigh and tried to decide if she could or couldn't trust Kaldur. He had just abandoned her and everyone who he'd held dear to suddenly become evil. Then he'd turned up out of the blue in her room and held her captive. While at the same time a group of villains which he almost certainly knew had robbed a museum...

On the other hand, if he truly meant her harm he could easily of killed her, he could also of run off before she woke up... Instead he'd stayed... And for some reason, when he said that he loved her – she was kicking herself for believing so but... She believed him. Raquel placed her head in her hands, trying to figure everything out.

...

Kaldur stepped out of the shower and examined his various battle scars. He wasn't a vain man at all but was capable of remembering how he'd got almost all of his various cuts. Most of them were barely visible but a few still remained easy to see. Least of which was a large one all across his chest which he had received from Garth after attacking Tula. That blow had almost killed him, were it not for his father's intervention, he would almost certainly of bled to death.

He spotted a new mark scratch mark on his back and let out a sigh. He was going to miss Raquel... Even if she didn't believe that he would and that hurt him more than any wound given to him by a sword. The idea that the girl he loved thought that he was using her for his own purposes. He was as surprised by the attacks as she was and would be asking his father many a question when he got back.

Still it had been good to love someone and perhaps for a moment be loved back...

He put back on the thin black suit that went on under the armour. He placed his hand on the door-nob but hesitated. He had to find something to say to Rocket before he left her again. No matter what you think of me, I still love you; seemed like something appropriate. He opened the door, readying his courage to confront her for the last time.

"Raquel, no matter what you think of me... I still love you..." He declared out loud

The girl turned to look at him. They exchanged glances. Slowly Rocket got up and stood in front of him. It seemed like time had stopped, they stayed without moving looking at each other. Then Raquel smiled, a wonderful smile that made Kaldur smile too. She ran straight into him, sending her lips crashing into his. Somewhat surprised, it took him a second before kissing her back. She pulled away a moment later.

"This is your last chance..." She told him

They kissed again.