The Flight of the Blue Beetle 9
"First of all, my mom knows I am alive. I am not that heartless as to let her think for long that I was dead. I was the one who actually asked her to move away. I didn't want La Dama trying something against her in case she found out I was alive. Now, why didn't I tell you guys," Paco paused for a moment to look at the two teens give him an incredulous look, "what?"
"I don't think this is him," Tye said to Jaime as they sat in the living of the Posee the morning of the following day.
"I know, he is actually making sense," Jaime said before Paco threw his arms into the air.
"You," he said to Tye, "have been a bad influence on him."
"Don't blame me," Tye said with a smirk, "he actually started acting like that when he started hanging out with the sidekicks."
"Whatever," Jaime said rolling his eyes, "also, it doesn't matter what excuse you give us for not letting us know you were alive. We will still kick your butt."
"Actually, I agree with that," Tye said crossing his arms.
"C'mon chief," Paco said with a smirk knowing Tye disliked the nickname, "if Jaime didn't have his armor neither one of you would stand a chance."
"We are not little kids anymore," Tye reminded him, "and you might have gotten smarter but we got stronger." Tye said flexing his arm so he could see the toned muscled.
"Right," Paco rolled his eyes at them, "anyways, that's the reason why I didn't tell you I was alive. I knew that the moment you two learned what was going on you would try to follow me. And before you say anything about that, yes, it was because you were just a pair of little kids. You were what? Thirteen, fourteen-years-old?"
"Alright, we understand," Jaime sighed. He couldn't deny they would have indeed done just that.
"I don't. I am still going to kick your ass," Tye said standing and stretching, "now, what do we do?"
"We don't get a break," Jaime said with a short laugh before explaining to Tye what they had found out once they pulled their intel together.
La Dama was targetting young meta-humans in the streets and the youth center. Once she detected them she would take them somewhere they hadn't found out yet. Jaime had not been aware at the time, but when she had attacked the warehouse, there had been more than one Coyote. The ones that had already left had taken some of the young meta-humans who had tried to fight back. Now, besides having to find evidence against her, they also had to find where she was keeping all the young she had taken already.
"Jaime bugged her house," Tye told them as the Posse and them gathered in the kitchen.
"But she never says anything incriminating," Jaime sighed, "I also got hired by one of the clubs, the same one you guys attacked."
"Oopsy," Probe said not looking sorry at all. "I guess I should have spoken up when I detected you inside."
"The place is going to be closed for a while," Jaime said with a sigh, "but I think there is something better we could do." He explained to them his plan in short, "of course, only if you are up to it Tye."
"Me?" asked his friend before everyone in the room looked at him.
"La Dama already knows the Posee, and I am not actually a meta-human." Jaime explained, "and you sort of have a record already, so it shouldn't be that hard for you to blend in."
"Gah! I knew something like this would happen!" Tye said crossing his arms, "Fine, but you owe me big time for this."
"Now," he said turning to Probe, "I need you to help me find this kid." He showed her a picture of David, "he shares a power with his twin brother. I am not sure if he is still in the streets, but I need you to try to bring him to the youth center once Miguel and the rest have done their part."
"Don't say more," Probe said with a pained smile, "no kid should be in the streets on his own."
"Now how do we get proof against her. We might be able to free the rest, but it will be for nothing if captures them again," Damper said with a sigh.
"That's where Bonita and Esteban come in," Jaime turned to the blond woman.
"Me?" she asked shocked. Bonita was just as her name meant, pretty. But, her ability was one which Jaime believed would be indispensable.
"I know where you are going with this," Damper said with a frown and placing a protective arm around his girlfriend, "believe me, we tried. La Dama would kill anyone who talked shortly after."
"But not if La Dama was the one questioning them," Jaime said looking at Esteban.
"Eh," Esteban was handsome young man, but appearances meant little with him since he was shapeshifter.
"Okay, that sounds better, but she still usually doesn't deal with those guys on her own. She is too careful. They will know something is up the moment she shows up unannounced."
"That's why we are going to give them something to panic over," Jaime said looking a little stressed, "I am going to try to get a few friends to help us. We are also going to break into her office."
They stared at him as if he had gone mad. La Dama's office was known to be the place she guarded the most.
"Alright, when do we start?" Paco had asked before they turned to look at him, "what? This kid has always been smart. I am sure it will be okay."
Jaime nodded at him thankfully, "this upcoming Saturday. I know from Brenda that she will be going to a dinner party. It will increase our chances if she is not in the mansion."
888
By the time Jaime made it home he realized a crucial fact. He never made it home the night before. He stood at the door with this realization and looked around searching his furious parents. He only found his father sitting in the kitchen with an elderly woman he knew too well.
"Abuelita?" his grandmother gave him a look which could wither flowers.
"Jaime, I thought you would never make it home. What shame you decided stay at your friends place the night I arrived. Now, come here and give your grandmother a kiss."
He kissed her cheek before serving her some tea just as he was taught as a child.
"Really Alberto, I don't see why you seem so bothered that I came to visit you. I am still your mother," the old matron said before thanking her grandson for the tea.
"I love you mom, but you know I don't like it when you make Bianca upset" Jaime's father said with a sigh.
"Is not my fault you married a woman of such short temper," his grandmother said.
Actually, that was the reason why Alberto married Bianca. He liked her vividness and reactions. Still, he didn't expect his mother to understand this as she married a very mellow fellow.
"Hay mijo," said the grandmother, "you look so skinny. Let me cook you something and I won't take a no for an answer. You too Jaime, I bet you have been eating only junk food with your friends."
"Thank you, grandma," Jaime said because that was actually true. Then, he whispered to his father, "sorry."
"Don't worry. We contacted your friends and they were able to track your cell phone down. Interesting stuff they got there," Alberto whispered back to his son. "Still, remember to apologize to your mother a few times."
"Got it," Jaime laughed.
"What are you two whispering about there?" called Jaime's grandmother.
"Jaime has a girlfriend," Alberto said before his son gaped at him, "what? You two have been going out for three weeks, right?"
"That's not the point," Jaime whispered hoping his grandmother wouldn't hear.
"Well boy, you better be a gentleman with her because I am not ready to be a great grandmother just yet!" the old lady shook a wooden spoon at him. Then in a way a grandmother only be she hit the top of his head, "and no cheating or double crossing, or whatever you want to call it. I will disown you if you hurt this a maiden's tender heart."
"That's why," Jaime whispered to his chuckling father.
888
Jaime waited for the response of the teens from the youth center. They weren't actually saying anything, but they gave each other questing looks.
"I am in!" David said standing up first, "if it means I can find my brother and go back home…"
"Me too," Miguel said with a frown, "if we can give her a heart attack in the way it will be even better."
"Are you guys crazy," Francisco said shaking his head, "do you know they are going to do with our files if they find out what we can do. The FBI or some other organization will hunt us for life."
"Actually, I already got that covered," he said before someone appeared before them, who closed the door behind him.
"Hello there!" Kid Flash said to the gaping teens, "Kid Flash. I will be taking care of any written records in the building, actually I already took care of some at the police station and the courthouse" he shook their hands incredibly fast as he said this.
"And Robin will be taking care of any digital records so at the end of this you will be left with a clean slate," Jaime said offering them a smile.
"Including, let's say, I don't know. Any joy rides the law doesn't approve of?" Mikey asked.
"Only once," Jaime said with a sigh.
"I like these guys," Bart said laughing.
888
Jaime sat in the backyard of his house looking up at the start. The following day was the big day. All week he had been pushing his feelings aside. He had never been so close to Brenda, yet he felt so far. Soon he would be bringing her only living relative left to the law. He sighed wondering if she would ever forgive him. He heard the rustling of grass before his little sister sat next to him and then laid her head on his lap. Her bright brown eyes looked up at him and the sky.
"Tell me the name of the constellations again," she said looking up at little dots covering the sky.
"You already know them," Jaime said passing hand through her dark locks, "what if you tell me their names for once."
"Not fair, you are my older brother," she pouted at him before he sighed.
"Fine," he started naming and pointing each constellation. She would say their name at the same time with a smile. Once he was done, they were quiet for a long time.
"Do you really have to be a hero?" she asked him before Jaime looked down with her eyes full of un-shed tears, "can't you just be my brother?"
"I am sorry Milagro," Jaime said leaning down and kissed her forehead. "I need to to do this not just those who are victims of that woman's cruelty, but also to protect you and our family. She will try to hurt us again if I don't stop her."
"Do you promise to come back?" she asked sitting up and facing him.
"I promise I will do everything in my power to get back home," Jaime told her.
"Milagro! Time for bed!" his mother called from the door before his sister threw a shaky hug around him and then ran inside. He and his mother stared at each other for a moment. Bianca Reyes had never felt so old as she watched the young man, once her little baby boy who he could hold on her arms, walk towards her with a serious expression. She knew she was not going to like what she was going to hear.
Once Milagro and grandmother Elena had gone to bed Jaime sat with his parents and told them what he and the others had planned. He told them who La Dama was. He told them what to do the following day in case La Dama tried anything against them. But most importantly he told them how much he loved them and how thankful he was for the life they had given him.
"Stop this nonsense," Bianca snapped at her son, "don't make it sound like you aren't coming back."
Her husband placed his hand over hers and then said to his son, "we are proud of you son. Having said that, we want you to come back home as soon as possible and well."
Jaime then watched as his mother let her tears fall with a shaky breath. There was nothing they could do to stop their son. Actually, soon enough he would be turning eighteen. He would not be her little boy anymore. Even now with his height and mature demeanor he already looked like an adult. Soon, he wouldn't need them anymore and would be going to the college of his choice. Bianca wanted him to go to a community college close to their home, but knew that was selfish of her. Her son could go to just about any school he wanted. He had to make it count.
She was startled when he felt her son's arms wrap around her, "thank you for teaching me there is no shame or fear when it comes to doing the right thing. You and dad are the ones who taught me to have strength to do what I believe is right."
Bianca buried her face on her son's should and help back her whimpers. She wished she was stronger.
888
He stayed in his room until midday. When he got out his family was gone, grandma Elena included. He found food in the fridge with a note of 'return soon' from his mother. Though he had little to no appetite, he ate the food. He then took a shower and dressed well before the bell to his house rang almost making him just out of his skin. He opened the door to find Bart in his civilian close along with Paco.
"Probe called a while ago. She is close to the kid," Paco said with a smile.
"And Tye is all set," Bart said before they walked outside. Jaime locked the door to his house before walking to the driveway where Paco had parked a small car
"Everything seems to be going according to plan," Paco told him, "are you ready?"
"Not really," Jaime said with a sigh, "but is now or never."
The others nodded.
"Well, see yah later then Blue," Bart said before leaving to meet with Probe.
"You sure make friends fast," Paco said looking at the spot where the kid had disappeared.
"If that was supposed to be a pun, is not a good one," Jaime said with a smirk. However, it didn't last long "you know you don't have to do this."
"Hey, just because I am normal it doesn't mean I can't help," Paco said getting on his car, "remember who I am."
"The guy that got his ass kicked by a girl three years younger than him," Jaime recalled the time Brenda flipped him on his back.
"Besides that," Paco said with a smirk, "I am the guy that came back from the death. I am not going down so easily. See you later Super Geek!" he called as he pulled off the driveway and then left to meet with other members of the Posse.
Jaime took a deep breath and then got walking. On his way to Brenda's home, he made a mental note of all the things they were going to do. He had to trust the rest on this. He realized he had been wrong for wanting to do everything on his own at first. That's why the League and the Team existed. No matter how powerful, even heroes needed people they could trust. Though he had found them in the oddest of places, he trusted them. Conner had trusted the Posse to help him, just like Paco had trusted them to help him. Miguel and the rest of the kids from the youth center trusted him with their secret, and now they were trusting him with their lives.
Before he realized it, he had already made it to the mansion. The guards didn't pay him any mind as he went in. Brenda was standing by the pool, her bathing suit on. He did his best not to stare, but it was hard not to. It was a bikini which had him blushing from head to toe.
"I thought we were going to watch a movie, you know? The one I slept through last time" he said trying to offer a smile, but came out awkward.
"Let's go for a swim first," she said before pointing at a pair of swimming trunks, "no excuses Jaime. Don't think I didn't notice you didn't get into the water last time."
Jaime had nodded before he went to change inside. They had to hurry. It wouldn't be any good if they were caught outside when everything started. He battled with the idea of leaving his undershirt on, but decided against it. If Brenda asked him about the beetle mark on his back, he would say it was a bad decision that he was still paying for.
When he came out Brenda was already swimming in the pool. Her shoulder length red hair looked like an exotic flower floating under water. When she emerged and spotted him, he couldn't help finding a bit of pride in seeing her gawk at him. Last time she had seen him without a shirt she had called him a skinny shrimp. Not just because of the scarab, but also the training he had undergone with Black Canary he now could show off a good set of abs and muscles.
He jumped into the water not too far from her. When he turned around, she was no longer there.
"Brenda?" he called before something pulled his legs and his head went underwater. He looked down and spotted Brenda swimming up towards him with a smile. Before he knew it, she had her lips against his. Their heads emerged from the water, lips still locked and moving restlessly. She wrapped her arms around his necks and his around her waist as they swam back to the shade of a tree close to the pool. His mind was a foggy mess as she leaned her back against the wall and pulled him closely.
"You have changed," she said stopping to gasp for air.
"It has been three years," he gasped back trying to push their urges to the back of his mind. "Let's go inside before I do something your aunt's guard would throw me into a ditch for."
"They aren't that bad," laughed Brenda before leaning her forehead on his chest. "Just a little more. Knowing you, I won't get to see you like this again for a long time."
Jaime indulged as they pushed their bodies together until there was almost no space in between. He tilted her head to the side before laying soft kissed on her collarbone and then up her neck until he reached her jaw. He gasped when she wrapped her legs around him provoking a part of his body that didn't need any more provoking.
"Remember the mission Jaime Reyes," Khaji-Da said when it sensed Jaime's control slip even further, "remember those depending on you."
Jaime cursed in his thoughts as he pulled back from Brenda, "I think it will be better if we go inside," he said before she nodded a little crestfallen.
She got out first before giving him a curious look.
"Would you please turn around," he told her before her she understood and blushed even further. She turned around to face the house with a self-satisfied smile. She knew she hadn't imagined that. Jaime took one of the towels and ran inside the how not letting her spot his awkward state. Nonetheless, this allowed her to see the blue mark on his back.
By the time was changed back to his own close he didn't find Brenda in the living room, but standing by the stairs.
"Let's go watch it in my room. That way if you fall asleep it will be at least somewhere comfortable," she told him with a smirk. She knew he wouldn't be falling asleep anytime soon which with her in her room.
Jaime could only nod not trusting his voice. Actually, this worked in their favor. The deeper they were inside the house, the better. He checked his watch and saw it was almost time that Tye started things in motion.
888
Tye had been eating lunch on his own at the youth center. He didn't know how, but Robin had hacked their system so that when he showed up with the new kids they didn't question his being there. Thankfully, he was given an alias. He was fast to find the four kids who were helping Jaime and gave them the signal to get ready. He had made quite a show to tell the guards how he had knocked out a cop and flipped a car. Immediately he saw a few stare at him like prey. The same guard was watching him even then. It wasn't long before the man walked up to him and called him over. He followed him to the laundry room, supposedly to give him his assignments while there.
He wanted to roll his eyes at the guy for thinking him so gullible but held back. When they made it to one of the emergency exits, he turned to him with a plotting smile.
"I have a friend out there looking for a guy with your skills. You get out of here and make some real cash, what do you say?"
"Fine, I guess," he said before the man smirked and opened the door. Once outside Tye waited for the inevitable. He felt a syringe go through his arm and he was out. Jaime really owed him for this.