Emma: So, I know that our avid readers all know who AJ, Falcon, Joy, and Aaron are. Liv and I use them enough that you all should know them at least. But, what no one- even Liv yet -knows is how AJ, Joy, and Aaron started. We've heard Jhonen and Flacon's beginning, we know how Arrow, Apollo, and Jessi got introduced. We even know how the Charmers and Yori came about; but AJ Joy and Aaron are a mystery in their origins. So, I decided to dig up the first story I ever wrote about them, and edit it to their present character, and post it! Of course, Liv will be helping me out and there will be about three chapters before the Titans meet AJ. Another five or six until Joy and Aaron join her for good. Because AJ started alone, separated from Joy a year ago- well, why don't I just get going?
I don't own Teen Titans, but I own AJ, Joy, and Aaron ^_^ enjoy!
Odd Beginnings
Chapter One: Red Eyes
The sun was higher then she had ever seen it; it seemed to be directly over her, but not like at high noon. Where she came from, the sun barely shone at all, here it was stifling and she regretted wearing the outfit she had; now instead of glamorous, the black corset top, red skinny jeans, and black combat boots were hot and stood out more then needed. Not that anyone would notice, out here in the desert, no one would see her outfit. She tried to remind herself why she had decided to go into the dessert between Arizona and Nevada, but she couldn't remember. Her body was growing faint now, and she felt a fool for thinking her powers and her water would sustain her through a desert. She found a small clump of Cacti and sat below one, for the shade. She seemed even smaller compared to the large barrel cacti as she leaned into the shade and felt herself dozing form exhaustion.
"Hola?" A voice asked calmly. She couldn't move, her body was too tired, too deprived of water." ¿Senorita? ¿Estás bien?[1]" She still couldn't answer, but she opened her eyes to the shape of a man. Her vision didn't permit her to see any specifics about him, only his outline in the hot sun. He gasped lightly at her eyes; beautiful pools of crimson ruby, with brown flacks splattered around artfully, as if on purpose." ¿Cuál es su nombre?[2]"
She didn't know exactly what he was asking, she still only knew about two or three Spanish words. But, she knew the word "nombre" meant name. She turned her eyes to his hazel ones and tried to form words.
"Soy Argyle…[3]" She said. Then the darkness took over. The boy smiled and picked up the slight girl and began off towards a large mesa in the distance.
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Argyle awoke to the smell of spiced breakfast and rain. She tried to sit up, but her head spun and she let her head fall back against the down pillow.
"Oh, estás despierto![4]" The boy from before- because Argyle now realized he was only a little older then herself -was standing in the door to the room she was in. He was gorgeous ; Dark brunette, kind emerald eyes and mocha colored skin. She was confused by his words, because they were in Spanish, but she thought they sounded happy." ¿Te sientes mejor?[5]"
"I'm sorry I- um no hables- ugh wait," AJ said standing. She wobbled over to the boy and then stood on tiptoe to touch his forehead with her fingertips- he was so much taller then her; Argyle chuckled at this and shook her head, everyone was taller then her. She only stood at 5'0" on a good day, and almost everyone who wasn't a child was taller then her. She closed her eyes as an onslaught of information slid from his mind into hers." Ah, that's better. Mi nombre es Argyle, viajé por el desierto con la esperanza de encontrar las antiguas ruinas de civilizaciones pasadas. Estoy buscando la Gema Jungle, en Argentina. Gracias por salvarme, lo aprecio mucho.[6]"
" I speak English, you just had to ask," The boy said as Argyle fell back to flat foot." You're tiny Y'know that?" Argyle huffed at that and blushed at her mistake on the language." You don't have to be embarrassed. Everyone makes mistakes. My name is Aaron."
"Aaron," Argyle said. She tested the name on her lips and smiled. He shook his head at her and said it again. She tried once more but couldn't pronounce it right, as he had said it.
"Ah-Run," Aaron pulled out the vowels so Argyle could get it. She scrunched her brows in concentration and tried forming the vowels silently before trying again. Aaron couldn't stop the burst of laughter that bubbled from his lips and Argyle gave him an odd look." You look like a child, Argyle. A child who can't figure out a math problem, but is so determined to figure it out."
"Was that a crack about my size?" Argyle asked. Aaron let out another peal of laughter and wiped at his happy tears.
"No, if I was making a joke about your size," Aaron said with a grin," I would call you a pixie. You look like the stories my abuela used to tell me about little girls with wings who sat on flowers and threw dust at people."
"I'm not a pixie," Argyle said. She huffed and jumped up to sit criss-cross style. Aaron went to catch her, frantic that the girl would hurt herself, but Argyle was floating now in midair, her legs crossed like a child's." Oh, sorry, usually I warn people about my powers…"
"Argyle why are your eyes red?" Aaron asked suddenly. Argyle was startled by this question and gave him an odd look.
"Well, it's part of my powers…" Argyle said softly," I have- had… A sister. Her eyes were ice-blue. A blue I've never seen before… She, well I lost her in our last raid, it was near Mexico City… I came here in hopes that someone would know where she was. And because I know there are ruins nearby that have information on the Jungle Gem… We need to find it, because bandits- ones who killed our parents -are after it, and they know how to harness its power… We can't let them…"
"And why is that?"
"It would give them control of us. They'd use us as puppets to do their biding, pinning us as the criminals while they reap the benefits. And it wouldn't stop there, the Gem gives the user control over reality itself." Argyle's ruby eyes were full of worry and stress.
"Then we'll stop them." Aaron announced confidently, smiling down at the small magical girl. She gave him a startled look and stood on her feet again to meet him." I have a cousin in Steele City that may be able to help you. Ever heard of the Teen Titans?" Argyle shook her head. "They're a group of super powered teenagers who banned together to protect the world. Thiers dozens of them in each country."
"Is your cousin a Teen Titan?"
"Kind of, Karin, or rather Bumble Bee, is leader of Titans East," Aaron said trying to explain," They're a branch of the real Titans. I'll take you there tomorrow." A small smile lit the young girl's face, causing her burgundy eyes to shine brilliantly.
'Almost like garnets...' Aaron thought to himself. In fact, the rest of her was just as mesmerizing. Short and cropped dark ebony hair and skin a few shades darker than his own. Exotic wasn't a strong enough word to describe her. And just for a moment, Aaron wondered if this beautiful and majestic stranger was slowly creeping her way into his heart. Then, suddenly Argyle shook her head and her burgundy eyes shone sad again.
"I can't let you," Argyle said." I wish I could, but I can't get you tangled in this Aaron." He was momentarily startled that she managed to pronounce it right this time." I can't… You've been so nice to me already, and if you get caught up in this mess with the Gem, they'll kill you… I can't let that happen… I'm sorry, forgive me when you wake up."
Aaron didn't have time to ask what she was apologizing for; she brought a hand up, now glowing with golden energy, and touched his cheek. Aaron relaxed to her touch, but then his gaze began to grow fuzzy.
"Argyle- what?"
"I'm using manna in the air," Argyle said softly, her eyes sad. She was the only thing still focused in Aaron's vision. Even in his fuzzy mind he could tell how beautiful she was." I'm going to put you to sleep… When you wake up, I'll be gone and hopefully you can forget me… Goodbye and thank you."
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Argyle pulled her scarf closer around her as the rain poured down around her. She moved on through the sheets of rain and the occasional gust of wind. She finally came to the lake, and the island where the odd-shaped T-Tower was. The man form town had not been wrong in his directions. She floated up and over the water, erratically being battered from side to side by the weather. Finally she reached the tower and knocked at the door; she was soaked through to the bone and she was exhausted again. She felt like she was stuck in déjà vu; this felt like when Aaron had found her. Aaron; oh that boy had plagued Argyle's thoughts for days now. Days she had wondered why she hadn't let him in, why she had left him and ran. She wondered why she had ran from the man who had made her heart race and only wanted to help. Even now, as she felt her body fall into the door, it felt as if he were catching her and bringing her inside to the warmth of the tower. Saving her life once again.
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Translations: [1] Ma'am are you okay?
[2] What's your name?
[3] I'm Argyle
[4] Oh, you're awake!
[5] Are you feeling better?
[6] My name is Argyle, I traveled into the desert in hopes of finding the old ruins of past civilizations. I am looking for the Jungle Gem, in Argentina. Thank you for saving me, I appreciate it a lot.
