A/N: Hi, all! Jericho is my absolute favorite Teen Titan, and I just wanted to write a story about him. This is actually intended to be a prequel to my next story, Teen Titans: Keepin' It Real, based on my ATF 2005 experience. Ok, this fic is going to be very Christian in later chapters, I'm just warning you now. If you don't like that kinda stuff, either just deal with it or put this story down, but I can't help it. It's what I believe and I just can't keep it quiet. Ok, enough talk, let's get to the good stuff. The story!
Disclaimer: Ok, I don't own Teen Titans or Jericho, or his family, but I have tweaked the storyline so that it's mine! NO TAKING!
Behind the Music: A boy named Joey
Chapter One
Sometimes, I seriously wonder if maybe I was adopted. I know that, yeah, I look like Mom and Dad, but I really DON'T act a thing like them. Mom and Dad are both soldiers, (well, ex-soldier in Mom's case.) Even my older brother Grant is a fighter, but not me. I'd rather paint, or write music. Whenever I talk to Mom about my idea about me being adopted, she always says, "I was there sweetie, I should know," and changes the subject.
Mom says that I take after Grandma as far as personality goes. I have to agree with her. I love painting and drawing and music; pretty much all of the fine arts. A few years ago, my music teacher said I had a really nice soprano. I know, boys aren't supposed to be sopranos, but my voice still hadn't changed.
When I was little, whenever I'd show a sketch or painting to my family, I could usually predict their responses. Daddy would make some comment about his son being the next Michelangelo. Grant would call me a sissy, but never in a really mean voice. Mom would say that I wasn't a sissy, I was just creative. But still, I always felt as if Daddy was disappointed in me. He always seemed to spend more time with Grant. But I don't mind anymore. To tell the truth, I don't care if I never see my dad again. Not after what happened.
In case you don't know, my parents are divorced. As I said, my dad's a soldier. Well, he started taking some experimental drugs as a test for the Army. It increased his mental usage to 90, but I think it also really messed him up. He never told us about it, and he also took a secret identity as a killer(which is always a good thing to have.) I noticed that a few years before Mom divorced Daddy that Daddy tended to get angrier easier. The bad thing was, he seemed to take it out on me, the big disappointment in his life. Then, one day, I was kidnapped by some people that wanted to give Daddy a weakness. Daddy and Mommy both came and rescued me, but . . . those guys severed my vocal cords. So now, I can only talk through my hands. My voice is completely gone. Well, Mommy got really mad about that. She yelled at Daddy for getting me in danger. The two only stayed together for a few months, then Mom came home one day and told me that she and Daddy were no longer married, and she had custody over me. Daddy got Grant.
Mommy and I went to go live with Grandma. That's where we are now. It's been a year since we came here. I really like Grandma. She's so much fun, but somehow I miss having a real family, one that loved each other, not just living with my mom and Grandma. Grandma has helped me with my drawings, and I get music lessons each week. But no matter how much love I get, I still feel so empty. There's something that's missing; something that I just can't find. I don't mention this to anyone. Mom and Grandma have enough to worry about. Like, is Daddy still a psychopathic wierdo who might be coming after us because of Mom's leaving. Stuff like that. They don't need to worry about me.
In the meantime, I'm in fifth grade. I'm not doing too bad either, grade-wise that is. My teacher, Miss Rogers, says that I'm a very smart boy. But it's not all fun. Since I'm one of the shortest in my class, and I don't talk, I get picked on constantly. That's the low point of my day. It's hard for me to talk to the other kids, and I don't really have any friends. But I'm used to being lonely. It's just another part of me. No matter what I do, I'm always going to be an outsider. I never really belong anywhere.
To top this all off, I have been discovering something that I haven't told anyone about. If I look into someone's eyes, I can kinda take over their body. It's really kinda freaky. I have to be careful of this. I worry about being able to control it. But I guess it's just another burden I have to bear. All alone. No one can help me with this. I just don't know if I'm ready to have all of this on me.
I worry about Daddy too. I remember him when I was little. He was really nice to me. He always told me that I was a smart little boy. I loved him. But he betrayed my trust. I don't know if I can love anyone like that. I also worry about him maybe coming after us. I always feel so scared. And frankly I don't like it.
Lonely
I don't know why I feel so lonely.
A black hole opening up inside of me.
I need something to fill this void,
But I just don't know what that might be.
Is there more to this life that I am living?
Is there someone who loves me and is forgiving?
Why do I feel so empty inside?
Is there someone who knows every time I've cried?
What are the answers to the questions that I ask.?
I tell you, it seems like a hopeless task.
Searching for love in a world that is empty,
Searching for someone whose love I can see,
Someday I'll find it, I know I will.
Until that day comes I'll be searching still.
J.W.W.
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So, how'd you like it? In keeping with the musical/poetic nature of Jericho, I'm ending each chapter in a piece of original poetry. I have high hopes for this story, and it will become VERY Christian later on. But, to me, Joey just seems to work that way. And besides, he's just sooo cute! Ok, that's all for now. Tune in next time! Bye all!