Chapter Text
“Any sign of life?”
“None yet, Jaime Reyes,” the voice echoed back in his head.
They had spent enough years together that it was white noise in his mind by now – the feeling of Khaji Da scanning the area for any sign of attack or threat. A constant source of vigilance that Jaime had long since learned to trust with his life. They were so regularly, deeply, integrated that when they were on the field it became hard to tell where one of them started and the other one ended.
Neither seemed to mind. It just made them a more formidable opponent in battle.
Outside of a fight, though Khaji Da was on regular alert, they were easier to tell apart. Jaime had grown, and Khaji Da had learned over the years what his personality was. It had been a long road for both, but they were better for it.
A clicking sound, just a small warning trill somewhere at the edges of his thoughts brought Jaime back to the present.
Khaji had caught him wandering and pulled him from his own head.
“The leak said that the meeting was supposed to be happening tonight, but this doesn’t seem like their normal drop-spot.” Jaime scanned the area, eyes darting along shadows and thick branches that swayed above crumbling stone walls.
The whole area was falling apart this far out of town. The only common residents among the decaying architecture tended to fall into a small demographic: bored teens looking to tag the old walls, get away and hang out to act a bit stupid, or just making out. It wasn’t the same secure locations that you would normally frequent.
Too many things could go wrong. A bystander could show up – not that you would be unable to handle something so small – or a drone could spot you and your newest client out in the open.
In all the time that he and Khaji Da had been facing you, attention to detail and a vicious fighting strategy had kept you just out of their reach. Nothing more than a taunt away always.
But this wasn’t right.
It felt more like the hero was waltzing open-armed into a trap.
Even Khaji Da seemed more on edge – locked on to each snap of a twig or sway of a branch that cast a shadows’ puppet play against the cold earth around them.
Their information had seemed pretty solid however. While you often worked alone – leaving less room for error when you handled things yourself – occasionally outsourcing was required. And unfortunately for you, not all your chain had as much of a backbone. The most recent investigation had lasted less than two minutes before the sniveling man had recounted every tid-bit of information he knew about you and your dealings.
Tonight was supposed to be a big one – a huge client for you and an even bigger payday if what they had learned was true.
It was just one more reason the feeling of unease prickled along Jaime’s spine. You wouldn’t be so careless with such an important meeting.
Just then Khaji Da pulled them both to a halt, taking control of Jaime’s body for a second and forcing their suited self to a stand-still. “Faint signs of life detected just ahead.”
“How many,” Jaime asked, eyes narrowed at the decrepit building his scarab had faced them directly towards.
There was a moment of silence as Khaji Da focused in on the area, trying to find anyone or anything that could be awaiting them. “Only one, it’s them, but their vital signs are low – from what I can currently determine. Proceed with caution, Jaime.”
“You read my mind.”
They changed tactics, moving in slowly from the side and scaling the building to come in from above – a section of the wall and roof was rotted away and caved in, but between the darkness and the walls that remained barely standing it provided them enough cover.
Khaji Da took over the suit visors once inside, illuminating the area in tints of yellows and oranges as they scanned – flashes of numbers, letters, and more complex measurements moving by in the blink of an eye to Jaime as the scarab ran through calculations and possibilities. “Our target has not moved from their spot since I located them. I need a visual to determine their current state.”
Jaime didn’t need to answer, nor would he risk it. While you were unable to hear the regular feed of information that echoed inside of his head, you would certainly hear any response that the host of the duo returned. Carefully, and following the path laid out on the suit monitor, Jaime made his way around the beams and to scan the ground floor.
The sight below gave him pause, and even Khaji Da’s calculations seemed to halt.
The inside of the building was destroyed. Far beyond the damage of nature and time alone.
Whatever had been left furniture wise in the house had been thoroughly demolished. Old wood that had once been the tops of tables and chairs was scattered and splintered around the room, buried under the rubble of drywall and crumbled stone. Metal bars and other rusted items were either bent or shoved deep into walls and the floorboards. Much of the flooring itself had been broken and dug up, as though something had been beaten against it until it gave way. Old fabric chairs were overturned and crushed against the far sides of walls. Cabinets hung on unsteady hinges. The toppled couch had long gashes along the pillows and back of it.
It was a warzone. Nothing inside the house had been spared. Graffiti was illegible, even that which looked new from the colors and designs.
But Jaime realized something as he unceremoniously dropped from the rafters and onto the creaking floor: he didn’t see you anywhere.
He shifted his arm to a blade, ready for you to leap from the shadows – amused that the hero had fallen so easily for a distraction. But no attack came as he scrounged through the wreckage.
A minute passed before Khaji Da audibly beeped, pulling the suit to the left and laying directions over the screen.
Jaime followed without argument, heart still pounding and nerves on fire as he prepared for a fight. If the house looked like this, he could only imagine what you had done to the assailant. Yet a part of his brain corrected him; Khaji Da had picked up your unique signature, so why would you still be in the old home? As he stepped closer, he could hear it, the labored rasp of breathing from under a thick beam and a large section of stone from the wall.
If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t believe they had survived. But you were never that easy to get rid of.
A warning flashed before his eyes – Khaji Da could tell that vitals were dropping faster, and they got to work shoving away the debris. Piece by piece they moved stone and wood, slowly able to make out the tattered sight of your uniform, until finally your upper body was in sight. That left your legs trapped, but the stone was loose on you from the waist down and it took no time to dig you out, soon flipping you onto your back and shifting to a clear section of flooring.
Jaime didn’t need to ask, allowing Khaji Da to do a more in-depth scan of your condition.
“They’re lucky they can handle as much as they do or they would be dead,” Khaji’s voice chirped in Jaime’s mind as he finished scanning. There was plenty of damage, but nothing you would be unable to heal from given your abilities and experience. It seemed more likely that the debris had just knocked you out and your opponent had taken it as your final loss, leaving you for what likely would have been death, had you not been found and dug out.
“So what do we do with them?” Jaime asked, looking around to ensure they were still alone. For all he knew it could still be a trap.
“We need more information on what happened.”
“We need to take them into custody.”
There was silence before Khaji spoke, unease at the idea of handing you over to anyone. “Prior incidents prove that is unwise. They were taken into custody at the beginning of their career multiple times, when less of a threat, and injured many people during their escapes. A hospital will be unable to secure them properly.”
“And with how much more dangerous they’ve gotten it’s sure to get someone hurt or killed trying to hold them,” Jaime spoke, finishing khaji Da’s thought before his shoulders slumped in defeat. “We won't be able to get them to talk either – they never did in custody.”
“Correct, Jaime Reyes.”
Their conversation was cut short when you groaned, arms twitching before you moved them to cover your eyes, forcing a sharp breath when the pain hit you in waves.
The world was spinning and you tried to recall what had happened. Your new deal had gone wrong – had been a setup entirely. Someone had taken a hit out on you and you, though unaware of it, had let yourself get carried away. The supposed client was one that could normally be trusted, at least as far as black-market dealings went, and you had tried to accommodate their request, even if changing your location left a bitter taste in your mouth. That was the last time you listen to the possibility of money over your own gut, you thought.
It meant that now you had some blows to return when you could get up, and a new goal to hunt down whoever had been just stupid enough to put a price on your head.
You had a reputation to uphold, after all.
But then the realization hit you. The last thing you could remember was being slammed into the old wall, before the stone had finally given way in the fight and buried you. But there was no pressure, no dig of rock into flesh. Your limbs could move freely – though the pain begged you not to. And you were just aware enough to know that someone was standing beside you.
You dreaded opening your eyes and finding out who.
Regardless, you needed to know your situation. So, rubbing the dust from your eyes you opened them, squinting up at the figure that stood before you.
He was easy enough to figure out, even without your full ability to see for the moment. The distinct pattern of blue and black on his armor giving him away even as a fuzzy blob. You grimaced, spitting his name out with venom as though you could puff up and bluff your way out of a fight or capture. As though you weren’t laying on the ground at his mercy.
“You’ve seen better days,” he chimed, crouching down close enough for you to fully see him. “You’ll be fine, by the way.”
“Of course I will,” you snapped back, pushing up with unsteady arms as you got in his face, silently daring him to make one wrong move.
“But you’re not much of a threat right now.” His voice shifted as the scarab took over for a moment, thoroughly undeterred by your aggressive display. His mouth set in a thin line as he shifted to grab hold of you, pulling you up to your feet as he stood.
You didn’t have the strength to complain when you were finally moved, the process of standing enough to send the world around you spinning before your vision went black. He said something, you know that, but despite straining you were unable to make out the words, only giving a half-hearted grumble in response.
Blue Beetle stood and watched as your head lulled forward. You had slipped right back into unconsciousness, and Khaji made quick work of scanning you to further assess for additional damage he might have missed. “They’re fine, likely just overwhelmed from the fight. I am unsure how long they were stuck under the rocks as well, but we should keep an eye on them incase their condition worsens.”
“The best way to do that would be to take them back to our place then.” It wasn’t Jaime’s favorite thought, but there were few other options that would keep you from harming someone else and still allowed the hero to keep an eye on you.
“Other arrangements could be made with the league for a temporary holding cell and medical treatment.”
“Then we still have the issue of them refusing to speak to anyone,” Jaime reminded. “But I don’t like the idea of them knowing where we live.”
“Assessment, they already know.”
“What.”
“They are already aware of where we live.”
“Since when?” Jaime shot, alarmed at this information.
“Scans have indicated them far too close to our apartment on more than one occasion, though they always remain right on the edge of my range. The most likely explanation is that they believed they were too far out of range to be detected. But they are aware of where we live.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“It would be more concerning for you to know, and I remained vigilant to their location. If they had come closer, I would have alerted you.”
“We could have moved!”
“We can’t afford that.”
That was true, Jaime sighed, shifting so you were resting more comfortably. Being a hero meant cut hours and unsure paychecks sometimes. They really couldn’t move, at least not without moving somewhere that put them more at risk of being found out. “We’re talking about this later though, m i media naranja.”
For now, that left the hero transferring their temporary guest from the abandon building to their apartment without drawing too much attention.
While carrying you did slow them down, being out cold and unable to argue with them was more of an aid than expected. Along with years of practicing quick arrivals and departures without being seen meant that in no time at all, you were inside the dark living room along with them.
“We should just set them on the couch for now, I guess, at least until they wake up.”
“Scans indicate they will be waking momentarily, Jaime Reyes.”
“Great,” he grumbles, setting you down on the cushions before standing, feeling his back pop as he straightened it back out.
True enough, after setting you down you began to stir, squinting at them in the darkness before taking in your surroundings. “Did you seriously bring me back to your place?”
“Did you seriously get your ass kicked tonight?”
You bit your tongue; not sure you had the energy or patience to joke about what was sure to become a personal sore subject. Instead, you folded your arms over your chest and let yourself sink back into the couch. “Dick.”
“Well, we couldn’t leave you there for dead, and you’ll attack some poor nurse if we try to take you to a hospital or jail.” They would need to contact the League later about a proper cell to hold you – but this development certainly hadn’t been expected.
You hummed, shrugging your shoulders with a proud smirk on your face. “I like my freedom.”
There was a tone switch, and you knew it was no longer the host that spoke. “Have you considered not being a mercenary then.”
“I’m not a gun for hire, and I’m a little hurt you think so lowly of me.”
“I wasn’t aware of where they sat on your hierarchy,” the scarab shot back.
“You wound me.”
“It looks like someone else beat us to it first, actually.”
You ignore that, though the grimace on your face would give you away if they had turned around to catch it in time – instead you watch them close the window and shut the curtains. “You say that like you haven’t been chasing me since we were teens.”
Jaime switches over this time with a deep sigh. “You guys are just gonna do this all night, aren’t you?”
“What can I say, you guys bring out the worst in me.”
He gives an unimpressed humming, fixing you with a steady gaze. “Somehow I doubt that.”
You hesitate, shrugging it off before changing the subject. “Are you gonna turn the lights on or not?”
It seems to click in his head that the room is tinted in yellow still from his visor, prompting the hero in blue to finally flip the switch, watching as you shut your eyes and flinch at the sudden onslaught of light.
“They need to clean up or they’ll bleed all over our home,” Khaji Da quips in Jaime’s head, a subtle clicking emanating from the scarab under the armor as he takes in the state of the upholstery.
“I’m sure if we just move everything out of the bathroom, we’ll be fine to let them use it,” he murmured under his breath – though he could see you turn your head to study him as he spoke.
“An oversight, Jaime, they are unable to stand without assistance and have limited mobility in their right arm and leg. Most of their injuries are located on the right side of their body. They will not be able to get clean and tend to their wounds without aid.”
Jaime didn’t need to ask what Khaji was clarifying, it was easy enough to figure out even if he was still tired. Instead, he turned to focus his attention on you. “We need to get you cleaned up and take a look at your injuries.”
“Just point the way,” you said, readying yourself to stand.
Jaime just raised a brow, unsure if you could even tell with the armor covering his face. “Try to stand and let me know how that goes.”
You did as he asked, seemingly ready to disprove him. It lasted until you attempted to take your first step, your leg giving out under you from the weight and pain. Only leaving you to find that you had grabbed onto Blue Beetle, who had moved to catch you as soon as he had seen you attempt to walk. “I see what the issue is now.”
“We’re going to move you to the bathroom and run a bath – we'll look at the worst of your wounds while it’s filling up, and handle the rest afterwards.”
“Aye-aye Captain.”
Jaime could only shake his head before pulling you along to the small bathroom – knocking the toilet seat and lid down before letting you sit on it and busying himself with the bath. He was less concerned with you reaching anything dangerous when Khaji Da was keeping a lock on you, and considering your current sorry state.
Once the water was started and at what he deemed an acceptable temperature, Jaime turned back to you. This was the part he wasn’t ready to handle. “Alright, we need to get you out of your suit.”
“So, I get to be naked and you get to stay in your armor?”
“They have a point, Jaime.”
He turned his head as he addressed the comment that had come from his partner. “Whose side are you on right now?”
Khaji Da gave no answer, instead peeling back the armor. It wasn’t the first time that you had seen him without – a particularly nasty battle in the past had caused enough damage to the armor that Khaji Da had been forced to recede.
Jaime still felt safer this time, knowing his scarab would be fast enough to help him if needed. “Better?”
You gave no answer, waving him off for the moment before turning to pull off your gloves. More than ready to have the suit off so you could begin to feel clean. As it stood now, it was an attack of grime and dust that sat in-between the tattered fabric and in the gashes on your body. Never had this outfit felt so suffocating than it did now.
Jaime motioned for you to stand, hooking his hands under the collar of your shirt, or what was left of it hanging off you now, and began to peel it away – focused more on trying to do so as gently as possible without looking directly at you. It wasn’t like there was a guide to handling aiding your injured and attractive nemesis out of their tattered suit. He wished there was. But even the scarab had gone silent, Jaime guessed because he felt just as awkward about the situation – though Khaji Da would likely detach from Jaime’s spine before he would ever admit that he found you attractive as well. The train of thoughts and repetitive mental chants not to look came to a screeching halt when Jaime pulled too hard, earning a pained whine as the threads pulled against the tender flesh of one of the worst open wounds. “Sorry,” he mumbled, lifting the fabric up directly before continuing to pull it down.
There was a half-hearted grumble in response and nothing more as you allowed him to continue.
Finally, after what felt like too long, the suit had been removed, leaving you standing in front of the hero undressed.
Jaime’s flustered expression must have been more obvious than he thought, because you seemed all too amused with by it. At least until he let go to stop the water and you began to sway in place.
Jaime remedied his mistake, sitting you on the edge of the tub this time before turning to reach under the sink and pulling out an emergency first-aid kit. “We’ll just clean around this one on your hip first that’s the worst, and we’ll deal with the rest after you’re clean.”
“I don’t think sitting in a bath is the best choice then.”
“I figured the hot water would help with the pain for a bit, and we can clean off most of them. The shower head detaches, so we can spray the rest off when the water drains. You’re not going to be able to stand long enough for this.” He didn’t wait for an answer, pulling you up once more after determining the water was hot enough, letting go of you reluctantly when you swatted at his hand.
“You know,” you rasped as you eased your battered body into the bath, “when you finally got me naked, I was imagining a much sexier situation.”
“Cierto, pequeña amenaza.”
It took you a moment after you were comfortably back in the tub to look up at him. “Did you just call me a menace?”
“A little menace,” he corrected, ignoring the way he felt flushed as he knelt beside the side of the bath.
You laughed at that before closing your eyes and leaning back against the wall of the tub. “Yeah, I can get with that.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t been more.... I don’t know, quippy.” Jaime admitted, reaching for a clean cloth and turning the faucet on once more to wet it.
“The closest thing you’ll get to a thank you.”
Khaji Da switched over, unable to pass up a chance to tease back, as had become tradition in their interactions.
“Careful, you make it sound as if you like us.”
“I do,” you responded, lazily turning to look at them.
Khaji Da retreated back, unable to handle the embarrassed emotions that came with taking center stage, leaving Jaime to handle the aftermath. Not that he was doing much better.
“I’ll try to be as careful as I can.” Gently he moved closer, leaning over the side before beginning to wipe away the blood and dirt that still covered your skin.
Despite keeping his word, the pressure still brought an increase in pain, leaving you to turn your head away, jaw clenched and eyes closed as you allowed him to work. And you had to admit, when you did finally look back over at him, he was completely focused on the wounds; the hero was meticulous as he cleaned them off, forgetting the situation for the time being. You turned away again, relaxing under his attention and letting the hot water chip away at the pain that clung to your sore body.
“Will you tell us what happened?”
His voice jolted you awake, catching you off guard that you had even let your defenses down enough to begin falling asleep. Lips pursed in a thin line, you glared daggers at the wall before you, gritting out a no before returning to silence once more.
“We can help,” Jaime began again, only to be cut off.
“I can handle this on my own.”
Jaime stopped, pulling the rag away before staring you down. He didn’t expect you to answer so quickly, or to spill out your plans, but given the situation, nor had he expected you to throw your walls up so fast – it was bound to turn hostile if it progressed. “Si quieres dejar de ser obstinado, elige un día para comprometerte a hacerlo para ver cómo se siente.”
You hesitated before turning to face him. “If it comes down to it then Blue Beetle will be the first I come find.”
“If whoever it was doesn't kill you first,” Khaji Da interjected, pushing forward enough to be a part of the conversation.
“I’m not easy to kill.”
It was true, they had to admit. Even after the fight earlier most of the damage came from however long you had been under the rubble and a lucky blow to the head knocking you unconscious. But you were not invulnerable. Though, it was not as if you could leave for the time being, so they backed off. It was always something they could confront you on later.
Assuming you didn’t make a half-baked escape attempt in the middle of the night.
Before they could continue however, or even change the subject, they realized your breathing had slowed. You had fallen back asleep. Between the constant ministrations that came with your wounds being tended to, and the warm water, it had been just enough after a long day.
Jaime stopped for a moment before relaxing back. “We didn’t just bring them here because it was safer for civilians, did we?”
Khaji Da returned his question with a series of clicking, almost reminding the other of a child caught in a lie. “Affirmative, Jaime.”
Jaime said nothing more, not that he needed to, before pushing himself forward again to continue cleaning out the wounds in silence. They would wake you later when it was time to drain the water. For now, though, both partners of Blue Beetle were content to let you rest as long as you needed – knowing the nap would likely also pacify you when you did finally return to the world of the waking.