Take A Dive [AquagirlxAqualad]

~3~

"A giant echidnoderm," Prince Orm was saying excitedly, "frozen, yet still alive. Of course at this point, our data is quite limited."

La'gaan and Lorena weren't paying too much attention. They were too busy trying to eat as much as they could of the fancy rich food without looking rude.

Kaldur wasn't paying attention either.

"I am considering rejoining you at the conservatory," he whispered to Tula.

La'gaan swallowed his crab leg. "Really?" He hissed, red eyes aglow. Lorena wasn't the only one who missed the beloved Aqualad.

Queen Mera turned to Kaldur, leaving  King Orin as the only one still interested in what his brother was saying.

"You realize you left your studies some time ago," she reminded Kaldur, "You would no longer be in Tula's class, or Garth's."

Kaldur looked at Lorena for help. Her mouth was full, but she gave him a thumbs up with her fist wrapped around her fork.

"Then perhaps I will require a tutor." Kaldur suggested, looking at Tula hopefully.

"Do you think you would be in my class, though?" La'gaan was talented, and very skilled with his magic, but he wasn't even on Kaldur's level, much less the level of Tula and Garth, who tirelessly dedicated themselves to studying all that Mera had to teach about magic. They ended up studying together a lot, just the two of them, while the rest of their friends hung out or they studied in a group with Lorena to help them.

Grumpily, Lorena stabbed a crab with her fork, the great green monster of jealousy rising up. She wouldn't ever be able to be on their level. She could swim, she was strong, and she could breathe underwater, but she would never have magic like Kaldur and Tula, or even La'gaan's strength-enhancing magic.

She sunk into her seat, a position hardly becoming of an honorary Atlantean noble, while Tula and La'gaan began to elaborate on what they were studying at the conservatory not only for Kaldur's benefit, but also for the king and Prince Orm, who had concluded their science discussion. It wasn't that science was boring, marine biology fascinated Lorena much like it did her mother. But when it was all that mom talked about, Lorena greatly looked forward to a bit more variety of conversation in Atlantis, conversation she could be included in.

"And what are you doing on the surface world, Lorena?"

Lorena jolted up. She expected Kaldur to spend the whole dinner talking with Tula and deciding whether or not it was worth it to rejoin the conservatory.

"Oh- well, it's okay. Boring, mostly. I'm trying to find new hobbies that I can do in the water. Like disrupting overfishing attempts."

Kaldur snorted into his calamari, and even King Orin had a laugh. 

"You were never one for quiet tasks," Queen Mera agreed. She nodded to the King, both of them with smiles that were growing every second.

"On that note, we have an announcement to make," Orin took Mera's hand, and the two stood, looking out over their students.

"I am with child!" Mera exclaimed, unable to control her excitement.

Tula squealed, leaping from her seat to hug her mentor. "That is wonderful!"

"Congratulations!" La'gaan applauded.

"An heir to the throne at last!" Kaldur and Lorena shook Aquaman's hand.

Kaldur blushed as he glanced at the Prince. "Apologies, Prince Orm, I did not mean-"

"Nonsense, Kaldur," Orm said quickly. "There is none who could be happier than I at this news!" He embraced his half-brother fondly.