Chapter Text
Landing in the cave, Wally whoops before speeding to the kitchen for ‘celebratory cheese fries’. The rest of the team laughs and follows.
As I head down the ramp, my arm is caught by none other than Kaldur'ahm. He pulls me to the side. “You did not tell me who you are.” He points out.
“Well, duh.” I scoff, “That’s why it’s a covert team.”
“I have not shown you due deference.” Kaldur replies, “I cede my position as team leader to you as the more experienced and higher ranked.”
A cold chill runs down my back. No, I can’t lead again. I don’t want that responsibility, that guilt. “No.” I bark, turning harshly. “You are Team Leader, you are who they respect. We are not in Atlantis. My title is honorary anyway.”
Kaldur straightened into an alert position. “Yes, General.”
I pouted. Damn Atlanteans, always so stuck on titles. Yes, technically Dad declared me general in absentia. If he’s not there, Atlantis’ forces fall to my command. That was mostly in case I needed soldiers for some quest or something. As General, they’d have to do what I say. “No, not General, Nightshade. Your teammate who you give orders to, not the other way around. Non-fish me, this is why I didn’t tell you.”
“Non-fish me?” A slightly confused look made it through Kaldur’s schooled impassivity before he shook it away and refocused. “May I just say, General, it is an honor to meet you. We learn about your battle techniques in the academy. To get to meet one of the Giant Slayers, it’s more than I imagined. You are truly a titan of your field, pun not intended of course.”
I groaned. What do they learn from my battle tactics? Flying by the seat of your pants? Or would it be swimming by the seat of your pants? I don’t exactly do well flying, as this week has shown. I can’t believe that Zeus actually went through with his threat and shot me out of the sky. And why do people never understand my Fish Jesus jokes? “You were doing so well, Kaldur. You think I don’t get enough ass-kissing in Atlantis? Move past it.”
Kaldur blinks, refocusing on me and straightening back to attention. “Right, of course. If you wouldn’t mind giving me som pointers though and maybe a spoiler on the second book in the series written on you. Big fan, I don’t know why they made you male though.”
I sighed. “Let me just be another teammate and I will get you a pre-release copy. Capisce?” I think I’ve been spending too much time with Falcone, if I’m saying Capisce.
Kaldur nodded like his head was going to fall off. I took the opportunity to drag him towards everyone else. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day. I can feel it in my gills. Well, I would if I had gills. My collar bones twinge a little at the thought.