Scene 25 - Uncertainty: Part III

It was no surprise that The Team noticed that their beloved team leader and pyro had stopped going on their dates and even the double date they had planned with Garth and Tula was scrapped. A fortnight had passed and while the younger team members thought that maybe the couple's period of quiet silence was just a passing phase, Tula sensed something was not right. Call it a woman's sixth sense but Brianna's emotions had been very unusually subdued lately.

Worried for her friend, the red-head knocked on the brunette's door and Brianna opened it shortly after, "Hi, Tula! What can I help you with?"

The Atlantean girl took a step into the room, giving her human friend a wordless signal that they wanted to talk in private. Ember closed the door wordlessly and Tula inhaled a breath before saying, "I have noticed that you and Kaldur have not been talking much. Did something happen? You can tell me, I will talk some sense into him."

Brianna turned her head away at the mention of Kaldur's name, suddenly taking interest in wiping off imaginary dirt on her table, "We're fine."

There was no mistake about it, her voice was strained and she was not making eye contact.

Tula reached over to grasp the brunette's fingers reassuringly, "Come on, I know we are not that close yet but you're a dear friend to me. It is not like Kaldur'ahm to be un-gentlemanly."

There was a pained expression on the pyro's face and she bit her lip nervously, "Everything would have been a lot better if you and Garth stayed underwater."

The red-headed Atlantean looked up at the girl with confusion, "What do you mean?"

Brianna slid her hand out of Tula's grip with some irritation, "Kaldur still loves you."

Blue eyes widened in shock and a gasp escaped from the Atlantean's mouth, "What?!"

The pyro nodded limply, "It's true. He still has feelings for you. Ever since both of you showed up, he has been behaving rather favourably towards you and he has admitted to me that he loves us both. I know you don't seem him in a romantic light but it is just heart breaking to see him showing so much affection to someone else that isn't his girlfriend!" Tears were threatening to spill out from her eyes again and she wiped her nose with her sleeve.

"I… didn't know. I thought he was over me when he got together with you. Those gestures towards me, I should have noticed that. I am so sorry, Brianna. I never meant for my presence here to cause you pain." Tula explained earnestly and the brunette could only nod numbly and whispered, "I know… but it hurts so much. You're a lovely girl, Tula and I don't want to hate you."

Without another word, Aquagirl pulled Ember into a soothing hug, "It's okay. I will help you make things right. Besides, if Garth was to learn of this, he will never forgive Kaldur. I don't want another friendship broken because of me."

Brianna pulled away with a puzzled look, "You're going to talk to him? He needs to figure it out on his own."

The red-head gave her a small smile, "Sometimes we need help to see our way." Brianna looked into Tula's eyes, searching for an answer and she saw the sincerity that the Atlantean exuded that she decided to trust her.

"Alright, thank you."

Kaldur was alone in the lounge again, sorting through his thoughts which had been an emotional rollercoaster the past few days. One moment he finally decided that he loved Brianna wholeheartedly but whenever Tula walked by, his feelings for the red-head got rekindled over again. It was a never ending vicious cycle.

The glass sliding door whooshed open and he could hear the light sounding footsteps entering the library. "Kaldur? I think we should talk," A familiar voice rang out in the Atlantean language and he looked up to see Tula taking a seat across him.

His breath hitched in his throat and he could only manage a quiet reply, "Alright…" It was a nice touch to be conversing in his native tongue up on the surface.

"I don't know how to start this conversation but you need to get over me, Kaldur. It is unlikely that I would return your feelings any time in the future and it is unfair to Brianna who loves you so much. Please, move on." Her words stung but made sense.

He exhaled a sigh, "It is not that easy, Tula. I've known you since we were children. My feelings for you had lasted for years before your rejection. It is difficult to push aside all those feelings and memories I have of you. You were my first love."

"And that's what it shall be, Kaldur. A first guppy love, a passing phase, nothing more."

He squeezed his hands together in frustration and looked at her angrily, "So you have never treasured our friendship at all? Am I supposed to lock it up in a box and ignore them?"

Tula shook her head, "That's not what I meant. I do value our friendship, I will always remember the times we played together and how we pulled through thick and thin. I'm just saying that we should stop dwelling on the past and look towards the future. Those memories will forever be there to comfort you but don't confuse the feelings you had then with the feelings you have for me now."

Those words were somewhat true and he closed his eyes to think. What did Tula mean to him? She was a beloved childhood friend, a strong and beautiful girl who will support her friends no matter the odds. He would protect her just like he would protect his… teammates. Brianna on the other hand, he would protect her with his life to ensure that she would never be hurt at all even though she had an above average tolerance of pain. His eyes opened again to new light and he said with determination, "I understand now."

Aquagirl gave him an encouraging smile and said, "You looked at me differently just now."

The blonde nodded in response to her statement and before he could make his next move to go to Brianna's room, The Caped Crusader's voice rang out, "Report to the briefing area now."

Author's Note: Another short chapter and another cliffhanger! All will be resolved in the next chapter.

Now Tula really knows what Kaldur's feelings were and turns him down for the second time but this now, Kaldur willingly accepts it and finally treats her as a friend. I've always wanted to include Tula into the story and I know that conflict between her, Kaldur and Brianna, would be inevitable but I wanted to write it in a way that didn't have to involve unnecessary drama and angst. I hope this method is satisfying. The love triangle has been resolved as last and we can move past this plot point. =)

To murdercrowther: Thanks! I hope this chapter eases the tension.

To piggythelaw: Yeah, love makes us do crazy things...

To Eszra: Thank you!