Take A Dive [AquagirlxAqualad]

~12~

Barely even six hours later, King Orin had returned and the hubbub had died down. Somewhat.

"It's faster than the last disaster, huh, Kaldur?" Lorena tried to make a joke. They'd been standing for a majority of those six hours at the back of the throne room after only a few moments of rest. It was hard to know who could be trusted to protect all the citizens of Atlantis after the events of the past few days, and so it was up to the King and Queen's most trusted proteges to keep an eye on things. Lucky stiffs Miss Martian and Superboy got to sleep. Stupid honorary-noble-title.

Kaldur smiled weakly, and grabbed her hand, squeezing it for all the strength it could eek  out.

Sha'ark was not pleased when Wynnde was pardoned, and honestly, Lorena wasn't very happy either. She did, however, get the slightest bit of pleasure in seeing his three friends dragged off to the dungeons while their parents and other notable friends and family members offered dozens of bribes for their freedom. Orin finally commanded them to leave before they were added to the list of those who needed to be tried that day.

Wynnde stayed to watch Chian, M'Chiste, and Ronal be taken out in chains before he approached the back of the throne room. Lorena jumped in front of Kaldur defensively, and her former friend winced. 

"I...I just wanted to say that I am sorry."

"Well you said it." Lorena huffed.

"Lorena, do not be too hard on him," Kaldur chided, a hand on her shoulder.

Lorena bit her lip, but Wynnde shook his head. "No, she is right. I do not deserve your kindness, Kaldur'ahm. I was your friend, and I betrayed that friendship for flattery and the riches of the deep. I just hope I can warn others from going down the path I was blinded by." He swam away, probably to apologize to the Landlubbers if Sha'ark would let him. 

Lorena took a deep breath. "Do...do you believe him?"

Kaldur took a moment to answer. "I think I do. Anyone can change, Lorena, but he will definitely have to earn back the trust he has lost from so many people."

Miss Martian and Superboy found them just as Prince Orm brought in the last group of Purists to be sentenced. Miss Martian stretched leisurely in a way that made Lorena jealous. 

"Pleasant dreams?" She drawled.

"Not really," M'gann didn't seem to hear her sarcasm, "I have to shut my mind off so I don't pick up anyone else's thoughts while I'm trying to sleep, so I don't dream very often."

Superboy shrugged, wearing a new rebreather to replace the one Ocean Master broke.

When the last group was led from the throne room, King Orin summoned the young heroes forward with a kind smile.

"Once again, Kaldur'ahm and Lorena Marquez, Atlantis and its king owes you a great debt."

"And rest assured, I will deal with the traitorous "sources" that led us both into ambush," Orm said loudly, always trying to measure up to his older brother.

"Thank you both." Kaldur nodded to the King and Prince. 

"Now, we should return to the surface world, for these two begin Earth high school this very morning." He looked over his shoulder, back at his two friends.

Miss Martian smiled brightly at the idea of going home. "Aren't you dying to know what Robin, Kid Flash, and Artemis have been up to?" she gushed to Superboy as they began to make their way out of the throne room. 

Lorena's heart beat loudly as she watched how close the two were. Superboy might have reached out to hold her hand if he didn't need it to steer himself underwater.