Title: The New Life Story of Aquagirl 3
Characters: Roy/Red Arrow, Kaldur/Aqualad/ Aquagirl, Robin, Wally/Kid Flash, M'gann, Conner/Superboy, Artemis, and Black Canary.
Genre: Friendship, Drama/Angst, Hurt/Comfort, & Slight Humor.
Length: 2,104 words.
Pairing(s): None so far.
Rating: PG.
Summary: Black Canary listens to the explanation from Kaldur, still thinks Roy is guilty, and waits for Batman to arrive. Meanwhile after Kaldur and Roy are done explaining, Kaldur's reason makes the team think a bit deeply about how easily Kaldur sacrifices himself for them, and they don't like the feeling of Kaldur possibly never coming back because of that habit of his. Roy thinks back on his friendship with Kaldur, and everything just falls into place from there.
Author's Note: I've been so distracted with everything honestly, like other ideas for YJ stories, and other fandoms, my birthday (last month on the 24th, since I had written this about then), and my friend's birthday. So, I'm sorry for the delay. I'm hoping this long chapter will make up for it. Enjoy! And once again thank you all for reviewing. I've delayed the Batman meeting again, because this part was getting too long, and I kinda want to try and grasp Batman's character before writing about him.
This chapter was also supposed to be funny, but the story just kinda took over from here. I was always scared I'd never be able to tap into the YJ character as I do with other fandoms despite how well I understand them, so I'm glad this didn't turn out too bad.
Kaldur and Roy are a bit dark in here, because despite how YJ doesn't mention the comic book fact about Wally getting abused, they didn't remove the fact that Roy was an orphan when Green Arrow took him in, and they never mentioned what Kaldur went through in Atlantis during his childhood years up to becoming Aquaman's protégé, so I decided to make up, and include some true facts.
Random Note:
And then there's the fact that I'm obsessed with 'As Long As You Love Me' by Justin Bieber, because of a certain part and how he sings it especially, where he says:
"As long as you love me~
We could be starving,
We could be homeless,
We could be broke."
I mean usually I'm not that much of a Bieber fan, since I prefer rock and other types of music more, but this song is really a nice change. I like it more than Boyfriend though...
Part 3
"So what you're saying is that Roy dived in to fight the bad guys, even though you told him that you guys shouldn't take the enemy lightly since they were wizards, and Roy ignored your warning, so you went to help him, took a hit that was meant for Roy, and became a girl, right?" Black Canary asked with a dubious look on her face.
When Kaldur nodded, Black Canary glared at Roy again, and sighed. "Roy, we talked about this, when you're not going solo, you should listen to somebody with more experience in leading and planning than you." her tone angry, and disbelieving.
Roy only looked slightly embarrassed as he uttered "Well, how was I supposed to know they wanted to turn me into a girl? And it wasn't my fault Kaldur took the hit for me, I told him not to do that before we even entered that creepy warehouse, but noooo Kaldur ignores that, gets himself hit, and the fault becomes mine. It's not fair that I get blamed, again, for something Kaldur did~" his tone annoyed, and slightly childish.
Wally snickers instantly, before shutting up as Roy sends him a mean glare from over Black Canary's shoulder. Artemis is actually amused, M'gann and Conner watch with interest, while Kaldur only sighs, and Robin is trying hard not to laugh or smile, not wanting to get on Roy's bad side today.
Black Canary looks at Kaldur and asks gently "Is that true?" and Kaldur utters "Yes, but let me ask you this, if Robin or any one of us was about to get hit and there was no time to spare, would you allow us to get hit, instead of taking the blow for us?" her tone serious, and very much like Kaldur when he was right.
Black Canary said "Well yes, of course I would." her face expression full of seriousness and understanding, but her tone stated something like 'How could you think otherwise?' Kaldur smiled and told her "That is why I took the hit, Roy had been distracted by the wizards he had already been fighting, as his best friend and partner I couldn't allow him to get hurt, and he was also carrying the information needed for our mission to be a success".
Roy almost looks flattered that Kaldur would care so much, even though Roy had gotten him turned into a girl, because he was careless, until Kaldur said "...and he was also carrying the information needed..." he scowls, and begins sulking inwardly.
Wally doesn't agree with what Kaldur is saying, but it was just like the mission with Captain Marvel, Kaldur was wrong in not telling them, and right because in the end, they reacted just like he thought they would, but mostly right, so he couldn't get angry at Kaldur and it always faded away instantly –he also figured out that no one could ever stay angry at Kaldur, except maybe Roy, because the elder was one stubborn ass.
On the other hand, Boy Wonder agreed with Kaldur, making sure your partner was safe, and that the mission would remain a success was more important, but a little part of him was angry, happy, and sad that Kaldur would always take a hit for them, girl or not.
Artemis didn't agree at all, she hated it whenever Kaldur got hurt because of them, I mean they were a team for Pete's sake, and what good would a team be if they always let their leader take their blows for them, and remained frowning from where she had been standing.
M'gann's face contorted into a slightly bothered expression with a forced smile on her lips, as she inwardly thought about the time Kaldur protected her with his body, -because his body was cool, he could help her body against the fires the robots had created- she also remembers how angry Roy had gotten with all of them, Black Canary as well focused her anger on Kaldur, and told him "You shouldn't sacrifice yourself so easily, as if your life meant nothing to any one of us!" Kaldur had looked so ashamed, and the sadness she felt from him radiated in waves that overwhelmed her so much, she had stayed kept up in her room for a long time, and didn't sleep until the next night. Kaldur had always cared for them, even when she revealed her true form to the team, only Kaldur and Conner were not bothered, Conner because he had known, and Kaldur because he trusted M'gann beyond what words could express. And M'gann felt grateful for such a team, for such wonderful friends, and disagreed with Kaldur's words, no mission was ever worth losing their only leader.
Conner frowned, he had noticed their leader's habit of self-sacrifice in almost most of their missions, and was bothered. Kaldur was Kaldur, and despite him being a girl right now, the familiar gentleness was still there, the kindness and understanding that he always showed Conner was there, and Conner cared too much to lose a member of his new family to missions that could be replaced by other missions, because Kaldur couldn't be replaced, he knew that and so did the team who looked bothered by Kaldur's words.
Roy just glared at the Atlantean boy-girl, and sighed feeling irritated, he hated this part of Kaldur, despite the boy being his friend, and Roy didn't want to lose him in such a way. He'd rather die than have to watch Kaldur die, the guy-girl now, had so much going on for him. The Kaldur who stood by Roy despite whatever decision he'd made, whether it was right or wrong, Kaldur never told him no, and was always there for him. Roy felt fear gnaw at his gut, losing Kaldur like he lost his parents wasn't something he ever wanted to live through. It was bad enough he didn't get enough time to spend with Kaldur ever since he went solo, the idea of never seeing his best friend fluster at his crude comments, or remind him to calm down, or even not hearing Kaldur reprimand him politely for not taking better care of himself was terrifying. He hated the feeling, he knew he was getting attached to Kaldur, and that was never good, it was easy to get along without Green Arrow, -because before he'd become his protégé, and took the name Speedy- Roy knew how it felt to work solo. But with Kaldur entering his life as Aqualad, everything fell into place.
Roy had found his best friend then, the one who'd understand him despite his angry moments, the one who'd have his back even if the rest of the world would walk out, Kaldur would stay, the guy's, –he sighed feeling annoyed at having to change his words, even in his mind- girl's loyalties knew no boundaries, even to the ones who'd hurt him/her –and Roy thinks of Tula and Garth, distaste filling his lips-, Kaldur could never be cruel. Out of all of them, Roy knew Kaldur was the saint, and he was sure Rob, KF, Artemis, and some of the League members knew that.
He was close to Wally and Robin as well, but the thing the two had between each other, Roy would never understand, well, not until he had met Kaldur. But even when Kaldur appeared with Aquaman as his protégé, Roy felt something click right then, like he'd found the person who'd understand him most in the world. It was a weird sensation at times, that Roy would sometimes avoid Kaldur during his first weeks as Aqualad, until Green Arrow forced or rather ditched him with Kaldur to help show him 'round Star City, Roy found out that they had more in common than he'd like to admit to anyone, except for Black Canary, which goes back to his current situation, Kaldur's words, and lack of love for himself.
And something twists painfully inside of Roy; he wonders if Kaldur has the same self-loathing moments that he has at times, and knowing Kaldur, Roy is sure that Kaldur has more than Wally, and his azure eyes flickered to the scowling red-head, and wondered if they all –Justice Leaguer's and Young Justice- hated themselves, and almost laughed at the dark humor in the whole situation, and remembers a quote Kaldur had told him when Roy felt like despairing at times because of the overwhelming burdens of being a Hero. "Show me a Hero, and I'll write you a tragedy" by F. Scott something, one of Kaldur's most loved quotes, because heroes –despite being the good guys- always had sad pasts.
The same moments when Roy feels as if he's useless and very easily disposable to the League, and even Green Arrow, and scowls as his gaze upon Artemis, he doesn't hate her, on the contrary, if he wasn't so angry at Green Arrow for replacing him, he thinks Artemis and him would have been able to understand one another quite easily, and become friends. But for now, he'd rather cling to the anger; it kept him motivated during missions.
His teeth tugged hard at the lower lips, wondering why his mind is focusing on such dark thoughts, and he notices Kaldur's eyes glance at him, shame, and worry filling the pale blue-gray. Roy inwardly berates himself, because despite how much he hated showing his emotions to anyone, Kaldur didn't need that to know how Roy felt –they always could read each other by one glance as easily as one could read a book that was spread wide open.
Kaldur's nails are longer now, and hurt more as they dig into the palms of his now-female hand. He's nervous at the unusual silence, because everyone looks slightly bothered at his words. And he feels shame fill him, as he remembers the awful years of military school in Atlantis.
"Get up Kaldur'ahm! Don't slack off"
"You're such a disgrace to Atlantis! How could you not even tolerate that shark bite, it was only a Hammer Shark?!"
"Goodness Kaldur, it was only one jellyfish sting, stop acting like such a child!"
"You're an impure thing; I don't even know why they even let you in here with us."
And Kaldur began shivering slightly, not noticeable to only those who knew him well, or were good at observing.
He felt like he was suffocating, he was wondering why the emotions were so powerful, they hit him directly in the heart, drowning him in the past, and as he was breathing heavily, he wondered if this was a side-effect of being a girl. Girls did tend to feel more strongly than boys, which was why they either had to toughen themselves up like Artemis did, or the boys had to treat them gently, like how they always treated M'gann.
His eyes stung with tears, which he blinked back, and bit his lip harshly drawing blood, the coppery taste filled his mouth, but before he could lose himself with the powerful emotions, he felt Roy's hand on his arm, grabbing him gently, and Kaldur looked into the azure eyes he knew were covered by the white-lens. And Kaldur knew that look, it was the look that Roy always gave Kaldur when treading into unfamiliar grounds, the look that said 'Trust me', and Kaldur did.
Roy enveloped him into a hug, strong arms clasped around his hard-yet-soft Atlantean skin. Kaldur let out a deep breath, and before he could even try to explain himself, Roy looked at him. And Kaldur knew it was okay, that everything would be okay between them, despite how they'd argue at times, Roy was his best friend, and that Kaldur could lean on the elder, whenever Kaldur felt his burdens to be a bit whelming at times.
Kaldur smiled at Roy, and mouthed "Thank you Roy" the elder only smiled brightly, and shrugged as if to say "It's cool Kal" or "I'll always be there for you". He didn't notice the slight flush in Roy's cheeks, but he did notice the comforting waves M'gann was giving him, and he turned his smile at her, glad to see her looking at him in something other than hurt or worry.
But before Kaldur or Black Canary can say anything, they hear a slight yet familiar cough, and Kaldur flushes instantly, cheeks turning red, as he pushes Roy away from him.
Wally's scowl turns into an amused grin, while Robin's frown curves into a smile, Artemis smirks, Conner raises an eyebrow, but stays silent, while M'gann looks embarrassed as well, and Black Canary still seemed slightly lost in her thoughts..
Special Note:
I have created a poll for all who are reading this on my profile, so vote while you can. Because I was trying to keep this story general and without romance at all, only slight hints at Rob/Zatanna, Conner/M'gann, Wally/Artemis, Iris/Barry, and Dinah/Ollie. I was wondering if I should pair up Roy with female Kaldur, I don't mind keeping them only close friends, or making them a couple.
But I'd rather like to know what my readers think, as your opinions are very well appreciated. And I do apologize for cutting it off here, I've been having problem writing Batman interacting with Kaldur and Roy, as they haven't done much in the show as well.