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Unknown Feelings

Bart would admit he didn't know what he was so nervous about. It was just Jaime, Jaime Reyes!

Okay, it was because it was Jaime Reyes that he was… mode. Jaime with his dark eyes, that black hair, handsome face, and dreamy eyes. So dreamy! Bart didn't even know what dreamy was but since hearing Zachary Zatara describe Raven as 'dreamy' Bart had to admit that it worked well for describing Jaime.

Not that Bart was ever going to be stupid enough to say 'dreamy' aloud. Zach had when Raven walked by in her mini-shorts, and her guard had heard it. Yeah, Bart had learnt yet another lesson as Jason Todd had kicked Zach's ass, publicly, openly, and in front of all of them for calling Raven 'dreamy'. Apparently, it was inappropriate, and Raven hadn't even heard the comment.

It also didn't help that his grandmother had clarified what a crush was. Further debilitating Bart as there was a name for the weird affliction he felt whenever in the presence of one Jaime Reyes.

Bart had been secretly concerned that he was dying, or something, or that Jaime was a disease. A terrifying thought, which had been put to rest by his grandmother. Iris had clarified what crushes were and since then Bart was hopeless with Jaime.

But that brought him to today as he nervously walked through the El Paso mall with Jaime, and his sister Milagro.

It wasn't exactly a break from the Titans, but the Titans weren't parents nor were they a school, and Jaime's civilian friends had invited him to the Winter Formal, which Bart had no idea was about, and Jaime in turn had invited him. Iris had insisted he go, saying that Central City would still be there, and she didn't need him, and that the whole Flash family would be there for the holidays, and he needed to hang out with kids his age, as she ushered him out of the house. Bart didn't get what that was about, but Jay and Joan had also insisted that he go to this Winter Formal.

So here Bart was, in El Paso, Texas, which had only been a thirty minute run from Central City, Missouri.

"This is a waste of time, sis," Jaime whined.

"You're going to the Winter Formal, you need tuxes!" Milagro snapped.

"You're not going," Jaime pointed out as he ruffled his little sister's hair only for her to swat him back.

"That's not the point!" she snapped, Bart thought it comical as Milagro was so small. She was a fiery tempered, slightly spoiled, a bit bratty girl, but he thought her entertaining all the same.

"¿Para qué sirve?" Jaime asked.

"What if BART doesn't have a tux?" she demanded shrilly.

"What's a tux?" he whispered to Jaime.

"Cruel and unusual punishment," was Jaime's answer. The bug chirped a bit, Bart assumed in agreement.

"Idon'tneedatux!" he blurted out then. He'd had enough cruel and unusual punishment.

"Hermano, you need one for a Winter Formal," Jaime replied softly.

"But…!" he started only for Milagro to grab his wrist and Jaime as she dragged them along.

Jaime had decided to take Bart with him from the Winter Formal, as the future apparently doesn't have Winter Formals.

Bart was kind of weird. But hey, Jaime had met weirder. His Titans Team Captain was an interdimensional demon, her brother was a giant cyborg, her father was imprisoned in a gem on her brow, and she had all the Bats on her speed dial. And that was just his Team Captain. Do Not Get Him Started On His Teammates!

So, in terms of weirdness he didn't think Bart was horribly out of character. Just an odd one. One who wasn't making many friends.

Bart was pretty cool though. Energetic, excited and happy, also never ceasing curiosity, and this… distance. Jaime just wanted Bart to feel at home in this era, and he clearly wasn't. Despite everything that though, Bart always seemed lonely. Jaime didn't get that. Bart was the friendliest people he had ever met.

Also, Bart had these eyes, pure gold, Jaime liked looking at them and felt he could watch them for hours. His auburn companion never sat still long enough for him to make a fool of himself though. Gracias a dios!

Jaime was a bit worried, he had a tendency to get distracted whenever Bart was involved, and he really liked Bart. Like really liked.

He was well aware of HOW he liked Bart, he just didn't really know what to do about it as Bart was the best friend he had ever had. And Jaime was keen on embarrassing himself with admitting he had a crush on Bart when Bart probably thought he was just a friend. Besides that, Jaime wasn't sure he wanted to have that talk with his parents.

Ever.

Jaime was perfectly content leaving his feelings for Bart alone.

Even as his brat sister dragged them through the mall for the men's clothing store for tuxes.

"You two do not get to ruin this by not dressing up!" Milagro snapped.

"Fine! Fine! Deja de tirar!" he snapped pulling from her grasp.

Milagro stuck her tongue out.

"Are sisters always this pushy?" Bart sighed.

"Don't you have a sister?"

"No," Bart grimaced. Jaime felt like kicking himself as if he had just stepped into a mess he didn't know about. "But that's okay!"

"You're cool Bart, I like you," Milagro decided as they walked into the store. Jaime and the bug weren't happy about the arrival which had Jaime groaning. "And you're totally coming to my Quinceañera."

"What's a Quinceañera?" Bart asked.

Milagro giggled hysterically as she walked off.

"It's her fifteenth birthday party," Jaime filled in.

"Oh, crash," Bart grinned. Jaime felt a bit of heat rising to his cheeks as he looked away and started looking at the shirts and jackets.

"You'll come," Jaime said. It wasn't really a question.

"Yeah, sounds crash," Bart decided.

"Cool," Jaime smiled as he looked over at Milagro walking towards them with shirts.