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dickmedowndc · 1 month ago

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Protective - Jaime Reyes/Khaji Da x Reader

Word Count: 3,196

Summary: Some things were easier than others to say – Jaime could tell you any day of the week that he thought your smile was one of his favorite things, or that he looked forward to your good morning texts. Others were not as easy; like telling you that Khaji Da was sentient, that the scarab – though too worried over your reaction to introduce himself – was incredibly fond of you and had a major protective streak. It comes to a head though when you see firsthand just how willing Khaji is to protect both you and Jaime.

Notes: “100 kisses” Prompt #49: tending to your lover's wound, placing a kiss on top of their head, grateful they're still alive

Tagging @heckzprince as was asked.

…★…

You had been so lost in your thoughts as you seemed to flit from space to space in the living room of your shared apartment. Jaime had surprised you with some decorations that you had been eyeing but had not been able to justify buying and you seemed more than ecstatic to set them up.

But it was that same thought that suddenly had his expression darkening. Because Jaime had bought them, sure, but he had not been the one to form the idea – that was credited to Khaji Da, his scarab, who had wanted to surprise you after noticing your dower mood the last few days. There was an electric chirp somewhere in the back of his mind as he thought about it, a soothing gesture from his alien partner.

“I do not mind, Jaime. They are happy to think the gift is from you.”

Jaime narrowed his eyes at that, looking away from you and off into space as he began to converse with the scarab under his breath. “You say that, but I can feel that it bothers you.” He glanced at you, thankfully too occupied with trying to move some of the items just right that you had not noticed his behavior.

“I am willing to accept this feeling, so long as we both get to keep them in our life.”

“We need to tell them eventually.”

The scarab was silent for no more than a heartbeat before answering. “One day.” That was all he said before he slipped back from Jaime’s consciousness and walled himself off. The act had become a habit when Khaji Da did not want to confront telling you he was sentient, or when it bothered him that your sweet words and acts excluded him by virtue of not knowing of his existence. It was logical, he knew, but it was a hurt he was unfamiliar with. Just as telling you about his presence was a fear he had never been confronted with until he began to grow into his own will and personality.

Jaime sighed, noting that it caught your attention, though he tried to wave it off.

You narrowed your eyes, staring him down with one hand on your hip before setting aside the item in your other and moving to stand in front of him. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” he assured, taking one of your hands in his own and running his thumb over the back.

“Jaime,” you begin, moving to sit beside him so your legs are flush against one another, “you know you can tell me anything.”

It was a half-hearted smile on his face before he spoke, but no less sincere. “I can tell you that I love the way you smile.” In truth, Jaime knew that you would be okay with Khaji – that you would adore him just as much as you did Jaime himself – but without the scarab's approval, he would not reveal the truth to you yet. He knew it would take some time for you to adjust, maybe, but you wouldn’t leave over it.

You only sigh in response to his comment, leaning forward to place a kiss on his cheek. “I won't pry it out of you.” You stand, arms above your head as you stretch and feel your joints relax. “But thank you for the compliment anyways, amore.”

“We’ll be running late if we do not leave for patrol soon.” Khaji Da warned with a chirp in Jaime’s mind.

“I’ll be back later tonight; I just have some stuff to take care of. Don’t worry about leaving the light on, it’ll be late.” He chimes, moving to stand beside you, pulling your hand once more to his lips to place another kiss.

You hum, waving him off and already knowing what work will be keeping him from your shared bed once again – he had told you he was Blue Beetle long before the pair of you had moved in together. “You can make it up to me by buying breakfast next time.” you promise for him. “Come back safe, please.”

“I’ll do my best.” Jaime swears, stepping past you after squeezing your hand once more and heading for the door.

For now, you could only wait and watch as he left, finishing what decorating you could and heading off to sleep. Unfortunately unaware of the danger Jaime would be in, and later yourself.

The danger did not come on the patrol itself, that had gone by with little more than petty robbery to stop. No major activity, no movement. It had been an easy night. And while Jaime had been more than happy to call it at that, Khaji Da had stayed silent for far longer than normal.

“Are you okay, hermano?” Jaime asked, finally breaking the blistering silence.

A minute ticked on before khaji Da responded, Jaime had almost thought he had not heard him. “Scans of the area near our apartment are... perplexing.”

Jaime was still at that, slowing on his walk. His scarab was never confused about scans, not enough to be so deep in thought. “Meaning?”

“The majority of the scans show the area is clear. However, my sensors must be damaged, as scans keep flickering and briefly picking up additional signatures, unknown to us.”

“There are people around?”

“Hard to tell – the extra signatures are surrounding our apartment, but they only appear briefly before I lose them once again.”

“Do you think it’s because of how far away we are?” Jaime was growing tense – despite the calm tone, he could feel the concern beginning to radiate from the scarab.

“Negative, I have never had an issue similar to this before. I may need to do internal checks once we are secured at home.”

“Better safe than sorry.” Jaime comments, letting the armor burn hot over his body and re-suit him as he slips into one of the alleys, deciding to take the long way back. He can feel the way Khaji Da prods at the sensors, trying to make those blips reappear once again or find their origin.

“Jaime, if there are people there, then our partner is likely in trouble.”

Jaime makes no comment on Khaji Da’s use of “our”, or the tense edge in his voice as he warns him. The scarab is unable to get a reading on the signatures once again, but it provides no peace to either half of the hero. Jaime quickens his pace before even realizing, hurrying forward but careful to keep out of sight.

It's too late, they find, after they arrive. He has no need to enter, because coming around the back way means that Blue Beetle has a clear line of sight on the open window of their apartment. Something you have not done since you moved in with him.

Khaji Da is silent, and Jaime almost has to call for him before he can feel a surge in the back of his mind when the scarab kicks on power. “I cannot get a signal off the others, but I have picked up on our partner’s. They have just reached the city limits.”

That isn’t too far away, Jaime realizes. Living on the outer limits had been a perk that he had sought out to help with leaving in his suit if ever the need arose.

“We can still reach them if we hurry.” Khaji Da stresses, beginning to push to free the wings of the suit.

“Don’t need to tell me twice, Khaji.” Jaime wastes no time in taking off into the sky, determined to reach you before anything bad could happen. Or worse than already had – being kidnapped while you slept certainly wasn’t high on the list of good things to go down while dating a hero.

Jaime was tired, but the moment he was in the skies and scanning ahead of him he could feel the adrenaline rushing through him. And the anger. He knew that he as well was not the only one - he could feel, at the very edges of his consciousness, khaji Da was trying to keep himself under control, that he was itching to get his hands on whoever had taken you. And if he did, it was not going to be a pretty fight.

Their search did not last long, with how fast they were flying it was in no time that they were right above the two suspicious dark SUVs driving west out of town – the only vehicles on the road, right on top of one another.

“They are in the second vehicle.”

Jaime gave no response, descending in front of the first car as fast as he could, bracing for impact when they only barely hit their brakes to try and avoid him. It mattered little to either of the Beetle pair, their sights were set on the tinted windows of the second vehicle that was quicker to react.

Jaime straightened, feeling Khaji pulling for control, anger still hot in his mind as he scanned for their partner. “Let them go,” he narrowed his eyes, already in position to rush them if he needed, “before this gets ugly for you.” The hiss on the edge of his words, the venom that dripped from them was Khaji, though Jaime understood the anger. But in moments like this the two would bleed together until you could hardly tell where one ended and the other began.

The back door opened and Khaji Da crooned in the recesses of Jaime’s mind, just for a moment, knowing you could at least walk. But that lasted no more than seconds when they saw the blood from your cut lip and the limp in your step. The wide-eyed look you gave, staring right at him and pointedly trying to ignore the gun just centimeters from your temple. You looked terrified, and rightfully so. All Jaime and Khaji Da want is to grab you, but for the time being nobody moves.

At least until a moment later when Jaime doubles over, an ear-splitting sound ringing in his head like chalk on a board. Distantly he can make out your own body hitting the ground before the assailants leave your side and move towards him. He’s barely on the verge of consciousness, already losing to the black when he feels Khaji Da surging forward in his mind to take control. It’s a burning hot rage that feels like fire in Jaime’s numb limbs, but he trusts his partner to protect them both.

Khaji Da is exactly that, full of rage and a deep-seated drive to guard Jaime and yourself. The small black device that likely served as the source of the attack is much closer to the pair, but the man holding it can’t react fast enough before he’s pinned to the car with a staple. It’s automatic for him, even with how few times he had needed to take control of Jaime’s unconscious body.

The pair spend so long intermingled that it’s just an extension of the physical scarab body. Not that Khaji Da is stopping to appreciate how fluid the fight is. He can see you on the ground, barely moving but still trying – you were further away when the pulse went out, which thankfully seemed to lack a powerful enough range to do permanent damage to you. All he knows is he needs to get rid of these attackers and grab you so you’re both safe.

It leaves him distracted however, something he’ll later grow agitated with, and one of the men are behind him, sharp metal dug into the joint of his armor and peeling it up. It isn’t much, but it sends alarm bells ringing because these people were too well versed in his defenses for this to be some thrown together kidnapping. An issue for later, when you’re all safe.

The fastest way to end this, just long enough to escape, is a major sonic pulse, but it risks injuring you further. It’s a decision he tries to weigh when he grabs one of the men who has jumped at his back, swinging him full force through the windshield of the further car, and then making eye contact with you.

You’ve turned over, watching him with a look that Khaji Da does not recognize. But he does see the cuts, the new gash on your forehead from the ground, and bruises that are still darkening from when you had been taken. Khaji Da didn’t have to wonder if you had put up a fight, he knew that you had, and you had likely paid the price for it more than he could see.

It’s a thought – one of them hurting you, dragging you out the window, and the chance that they could have been too late to find you in time – that has him reacting without hesitation.

Anyone smart would turn away and run if they saw the suit charging up – especially if there was nothing to block the blast. But for all their planning, their assailants seem stupidly determined to take in the Blue Beetle. Stupid enough that they rush at him.

In the corner, on the outskirts of the fight, you put your face to the dirt and cover your head with your hands, bracing for whatever is to come. It pays off moments later when the charge is done and an energy pulse lashes out wildly.

You don’t even look up until the oddly warm metal is wrapping around your torso and hoisting you up as gently as he can. Blue beetle is acting fast, wasting little time before taking you in his arms and taking flight.

All you do for the time being is wrap your arms around his neck, staring at him from the corner of your eye as you watch the men below get smaller and smaller.

The flight back is silent, and you don’t ask questions when you pass by your apartment. Jaime had told you once that there was a safe house if things ever got too bad, and you assumed now that it was your destination until something could be worked out.

Khaji Da, for his part, did not want to slip up. He did not want to give himself away, and he did not want you to worry too much about Jaime. He was good, a little banged up, but his host would be okay. But this was never how he wanted you to learn.

It took longer than expected to arrive and land at the safe house – Khaji Da did more than one fly around to ensure there was no living soul on the premises before he even dared to bring you down near it. He ushers you inside as fast as he can, mindful of the limp you still sported.

“Let me help,” he asked, his voice soft but cracking as he sat you down, already making a b-line for the first aid kit. As he moved the armor fell away to reveal Jaime’s body underneath, with the hope it would put you more at ease. “It’s been a long night.”

You were still silent when he turned around, fixing him with a sharp look. Khaji Da felt like you could see right through him, and he tensed with the little med kit in his hands, almost scared to walk near you.

“Come here, you’re hurt.” You motion him over next to you, making a grab for the box when he steps close enough.

Khaji Da keeps it just out of your reach. “So are you.”

“Let me do this.”

He opens his mouth to stop you before you huff.

“Please, if they come back at least you’ll be ready. Just,” you stop, lowering your hand and fixing him with a pleading look, “just let me do this.”

He just nods silently, handing over the aid kit before turning his side to face you. There is a wound in the crease of his arm where the joint of the suit had been pierced, but it was nothing compared to the cuts and bruises you wore. He had the armor, but it was of little use to you. It left a sour taste in Khaji Da’s mouth, but he would be able to tend your own soon enough.

“You’re not him, are you?” You ask, finally willing to break the question as you dab at the cut. You can feel the way that he tenses under your touch, see the flicker of his eyes as he looks for a way out.

But Khaji Da cannot lie to you – not like this. “No.”

“The scarab then?”

He only nods his head yes, diverting his eyes from your own and fixing them on the floor. If it was not for your touch on his arm then he would pull away from you completely, but he doesn’t want to upset you when you are already shaken.

“What’s your name?”

“Khaji Da.”

You smooth the bandage out over his cut. He doesn’t need it, but it's an excuse for a little more contact. The action seems to sooth him, and with a small confidence you reach for his hands. “I like that name.”

He looks at you, like he’s searching for something specific, but he can’t find it. “You knew?”

“I had my suspicions for a long time. But in that fight? That isn’t how he moves. But you do. I've seen it sometimes, when it’s late or you two think I won’t notice. I just thought it was a trick of the mind for a while.” You clasp his hand tighter, pulling it into your lap. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” An echo of earlier that has Khaji Da almost melting.

“I didn’t want to scare you. Or for you to leave because of me – I did not want us to lose you.”

“I’m just grateful you’re here. I won't go anywhere, as long as you stop hiding from me.” You assure, leaning forward to place a kiss on his forehead. The act makes him shy away, but he tightens his grasp on your hand.

“Never again,” he promises.

“Good. Is Jaime okay too?”

“Unconscious, but I can heal the physical damage while we wait for the others to arrive.”

You cock your head to the side at that. “The others? Are those guys coming back?”

Khaji calms you before you can spiral, bringing your hand towards him and placing his lips against it as he had wanted to do so many times before. “No, no, not them. I put in a call for backup to this place as soon as we landed. They’ll search for the cars and then come here.”

You can relax at that, nodding along before you shift so you can sit curled against his side.

You’re tired, Khaji Da can see that – the bags under your eyes and the tremor that wracks your body from fatigue. “Sleep, I’ll still be here when you wake.”

You give a hum that you hear him, thankful for his guard before you finally close your eyes to rest. You’ll have time tomorrow to speak more and let him tend to your injuries.

#nicole writes #dc x reader #jaime reyes x reader #khaji da x reader #blue beetle x reader #jaime reyes/khaji da

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