Grew up with Green. To love Aqua. (A YJ fanfic/ Kaldur: Aqualad Love story.)

A Bad Misunderstanding

Time stamp people! Tis very important. ⬇️

~ 08:11. August 28th, 2010. The Cave. Happy Harbor, RI~

The Young Justice League had just returned from Gotham City after a hard battle with Clayface. A battle which had embarrassingly ended with the intervention of Batman as the rest of the team had forcefully been knocked out cold.

Nearly everyone was covered in the slowly hardening substance the villian was drenched in as they passed through the Zeta tube. Disappointment obvious in all their expressions.

Batman had already beaten them back to the cave, his face as stoic as always. "Everyone hit the showers and head home. I need to have a word with Aqualad." The Dark Knight stated.

Of course, the leader of the Young Justice stood before his mentor. The girls separated from the boys towards their designated shower rooms. "Home? I am home." Superboy sneered in front of the Bats while joining up with the rest of the boys towards the male shower room.

However, Robin had decided to stay behind as well. Perhaps think about whatever the Batman would give Kaldur as advice for being the responsible one for the team and a failed mission.

But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case. "Just Aqualad." Batman specified. Robin's eyes widened a bit, transferring between his leader and mentor before walking off as well.

Kaldur knew his faults, his mind wandering to their recent battle where he remembered how many times he was caught off guard and, in turn, kept his team out of line due to his crashing train of thought. It was all of her, all of Astral. He worried about her and couldn't stop worrying about her since they came back to the cave and she was gone. Plus the disappointment that came with Hal Jordan's refusal to tell them where she went.

"I am sorry you had to intervene." Kaldur confessed. "I know the team preformed poorly-"

"The team preformed adequately." Batman corrected, taking a step up to the Atlantean. "The problem was you." The words struck hard enough to make Kaldur flinch slightly. "You're their leader and you head wasn't in the game." The Dark night darkened his voice with the last few words. His mentoring, as it normally was, as a tough love that needed to be spoken aloud.

Kaldur's eyes widened and his heart jumped a bit. He didn't want to admit it. He wanted people to be proud of his position as team leader. But after this incident, that image was dwindling. "No. you are-" But the truth weighed so heavy that he finally confessed with a heavy sigh. "...correct."

Batman stood ramrod straight, allowing Kaldur to explain himself. "Of late, I have questioned my ability as leader. My head has been clouded, my dreams filled of Atlantis and....." The Atlantean had to check himself. The name was so close to escaping his tongue. Her face so clear in his minds eye.

"Astral." Batman supplied so calmly that it took Aqualad off guard. His gaze snapped back up to the Bat. Was he so obvious? Did the thought of Astral consume him that much? "This problem needs to be solved, Kaldur. So I'm sending you to Atlantis to retrieve Astral. She has been training there since you're mission with Kent Nelson."

At first, Kaldur couldn't register what emotion he was feeling. Surprised? Excited? Happy? Relieved? He really didnt know. But happiness was in there somewhere and it set him heart a flutter.

"I expect you and Astral back here in 24 hours." Batman ordered, turning swiftly to exit the cave, his cape slapping together in his movements.