'aqualad filled a void in arthur’s life.'

(id in alt)

Doomed love of the God of Death

There is ONE moment where Arthur calls Garth his son, which is after a very exhausting event including Atlantis.

JLA #75

This is the only moment where Arthur clearly states that Garth is his son. In the Aquaman run after this (Aquaman (2003)), they fight and it isn’t even clear what they think of eachother afterwards because Garth (?) dies (?) (he’s at least dead until the end of the run).

Otherwise. HOW WOULD THESE TWO EVER CONSIDER EACHOTHER FATHER OR SON? Arthur does THIS—

Adventure Comics #452

—and makes it very clear that he never viewed Garth as a son before that. Garth could’ve viewed Arthur as a father figure regardless, but keep in mind that Garth had no father figure prior to that, he doesn’t know how a father is supposed to act. After this, Garth continues his search in finding his biological family. And it isn’t out of sheer curiosity.

Adventure Comics #453

He basically had no family now, to himself at least.

I get that with the Aquafamily it gets confusing because of the whole ‘king/prince/heir’ aspect. Otherwise, especially when Garth is Tempest, I think it’s clear that they’re best friends in a way only brothers could be. Constantly disagreeing with eachother (and physically attacking one another a concerning amount of times), but still willing to move the moon for the other.