Blue down

Hurt

Impulse smiled. Him and Beast Boy were playing video games with Beast Boy's new friend Raven in the HQ.

Impulse liked the goth girl. While she was dark and foreboding, she liked being herself.

After crushing the boys for the fifth time at Punchers vs Smashers, Beast Boy moaned.

"Am I so creepy now?" Raven asked.

"Oh come on," Beast Boy complained. "I said I was sorry!"

Suddenly, an alarm went out through the base. What was going on? The three were the only ones there, the other heroes were all on a mission--

"Prepare the medbay!" Nightwing's voice rang out.

The team had just returned from said mission.

"Who's hurt?" Raven asked.

Suddenly, the team came through the room on their way to the med-bay. Conner was gently carrying the wounded member of the team.

" Blue!" Impulse cried as he saw who they were carrying.

The blue beetle had deep scars that went through his armor into his skin.

"Jaime!" Beast Boy cried. Blue was one of his best friends too.

"Bluewhathappenedishealrightwhodidthis!" Bart speedied as he tried to reach Blue, but Aqualad held him back.

"Bart, we need to take Jaime to the medical bay." The elder hero said. "You 3 stay here. We'll come get you once Blue Beetle is stable."

Bart fell to his knees as Blue was taken away.

Blue no! Bart thought. You were safe now. No more reach to control you. I thought you were safe--I thought I could keep you safe.

Beast Boy and Raven helped Bart onto the couch. And then they waited. Waited for Blue Beetle to be all better. Or not.

Hours later, Beast Boy and Raven had fallen asleep but Bart was wide awake, staring at the door, waiting for Blue to come out and tell him everything was okay.

And then I'll run and hug him. Bart thought. Then I'll tell him I love. I love him and that I'm never letting him go again.

Bart had been harboring a crush on Jaime for a while now. He wasn't sure when it had started. The first time he could remember having feelings for Bart was when he saw Green Beetle "fixing" Jaime.

All he had been able to think about at that moment was Blue.

The reach he'd thought. The reach had him. Jaime! You won't have him! You won't get him! He's mine. Wait, mine?

After that, Jaime was a constant in Bart's mind. Not just because he had to stop him from turning evil and all but because he...loved him. A lot.

Bart had yet to work up the courage to tell Jaime his feelings, but once Blue was better.

M'gann walked into the room. Bart, carful not to wake Beast Boy or Raven, sped over to her.

"Blue? Where is he? How is he. What happened?" Bart struggled to talk at a speed M'gann could understand.

"Short story: villain had really tough shard swords. Jaime thought his armor would protect him but...it didn't." M'gann explained.

"Him and Khaji-Da are stable, but we're...not sure they'll make it through the night. A cut went very close to his heart."

"Jaime." Bart whispered as his knees gave out. "Jaime nonononononononono. Thiscan'tbehappeningyoucan'tdieican'tloseyou!"

"Shhh. It's okay." M'gann comforted him. "You can...see Jaime now. If you want."

Bart nodded as M'gann let him into Jaime's med-bay room. She left him alone.

Jaime was unconscious on the bed, still in his scratched-thru Beetle armor. Bart winched as he saw how deep in the skin those scratches went.

Bart ran beside Jaime and took his hand.

"Blue, wake up, please!" Bart begged. "I need you. I'll...I'll make sure you never get hurt again...I'll...I...I love you Jaime!" He cried in desperation.

"R-r-really Hermano?" Jaime asked as he weakly opened his eyes.

They were bloodshot, but as beautiful as ever.

Jaime tried to get up but Bart gently held him still.

"Shhh. Don't move Hermano. Everything is going to be okay." Bart whispered, emotion cracking into his voice.

"Did...did you mean it Bart? Do you really love me?" Jaime asked.

Bart gave him a big smile.

"Of course I do."