Chapter Text
Bart had some time on his hands again. He had harassed Jaime to get some school related stuff done but Jaime refused, so where did he go next?
Of course, the research lab. He definitely wasn’t there to check up on someone… Ever since their last training and the simulator training, he felt closer to the teen. As if they had removed some cemented walls between them.
As usual, he waltz into the research lab in his hero attire and found Ed inside a lab room with wide screen windows that showed the inside of the room from the hall. His father and other scientists were inside with him, pushing his abilities further.
However, it didn’t go as smooth as they planned. Ed’s ability started to overpower the machines, and he started feeling extremely hot, face turning red with his body burning. He couldn’t think straight for a moment and the machines started blinking and beeping.
‘Uh oh.’ Bart straightened his posture from the wall, getting ready to head in there any moment to help the situation in any way he could. The scientists attempted to turn the machines off. Those machines were meant to put stress on his cells and help him perform better. Albeit, they may have pushed too far too fast.
The brunette dashed inside the room. “Ed! Ed! You need to calm down!” He tried. The electrodes were impossible to take off like this. Due to the high energy and high temperature from both sides, they were practically glued to his skin and force removal would end up tearing skin.
Ed either didn’t hear him or willfully ignored so Bart tried again. “Hey~! Amigo~ You’re burning the machines and wires at this rate, you need to find your ground—”
“Shut up! And leave me alone! You’re not helping!” Ed yelled back, not seeing his actions or words at all in this moment. It was as if his brain was being controlled by the high pressure system, clouding all judgement and reducing his tolerance. The taller teen was also very confused and internally fretting.
The younger didn’t allow his words to cut him at all. Ed had never faced such situations or his body acting like this. It was all very new to him so his outburst was understandable.
“Eduardo! You don’t have to do this alone! We’re all here to help you. So please, take my hand, and find your breath. You need to calm your nerves first before anything else to happen.” Bart looked at him seriously and extended a hand. It was a bit risky touching his body like this, but he was willing to take that risk. This was also him we were talking about—his cells could endure through a lot. Ed stared at him, finally giving him a chance and hesitantly took the hand. Bart’s hand felt so cool, even though it wasn’t. It was the massive temperature difference that made it feel so. This also awakened the ravenette to how much he was burning up, in reality.
Ed closed his eyes and tried to think of something peaceful, tried to focus on the coolness and smallness of the hand in his grasp. He took deep breaths, recalling the speedster’s wide grins, random comments, playful demeaner and lastly, but most importantly his genuine warm smile from last time. He took another breath, squeezing the hand ever so gently.
“You’re doing great, you really are, keep it up. Just like that, come back to us.” Bart reinforced with gentle soothing words, keeping his tone deliberately low and slow. Ed could feel himself slowly letting go of his frustrated and agitated emotions, along with the heat and electrical pulses that were causing such turmoil to begin with.
When it was all said and done, and they were finally able to read normal temperatures on him, the other scientists removed the fried electrodes. Ed continued to stand there in awe.
‘Did he really…just use Bart as a means to calm himself down?’ Thank God, the other couldn’t read minds.
Glad that it all worked out, Bart stood by him, hand still in hand. Ed stood guarded and stiff, genuinely forgetting about the hand. “Not so bad right? It feels good to be in control, heh.” The brunette broke the silence first.
Ed glanced at him, finally realizing the hand as well. Quickly but softly retracting his hand, he agreed. “Yeah…”
“So, what do you say? Try that again one more time? This time keeping better control?” Bart encouraged.
“Fine I’ll do it.” Ed gave in rather easily and went back towards a different machine. Meanwhile, Bart went back outside the room, looking through the window and gave him a thumbs up when they’re eyes met. Ed gave a barely existing nod, but it was enough.
The speedster took his eyes away for a brief moment when his communicator went off.
J: Let’s grab some tacos
Bart beamed at that.
B: u had me at tacos
J: where u at ?
B: the metacenter research lab
J: bro ur always there these days
B: not my fault ~
Ed finished up, he was exhausted but glad it was over. He walked out of the room, curiously wondering where the optimistic younger was. The teen finally noticed the back of Bart’s head a couple feet away with Blue Beetle. The teens shared a hug as a greeting, a tight, lingering embrace. It was nothing romantic, but it was clear how comfortable and affectionate they were with each other. It seemed like Jaime had just gotten there.
Ed felt odd right off the bat, an unexpected twist forming in his chest, something that made him want to turn away but also freeze in place. He didn’t care. He shouldn’t, but for a while now Bart had been all eyes on him with undivided unconditional attention, so this felt like a mini-betrayal. He didn’t know what to make of the feeling initially.
“Wow you actually brought them?” Bart lit up at the bag of tacos.
“Yes, yes, you’re welcome. I was flying over anyway, so bought them—it made no sense to go back with you a second time.” Jaime explained.
“Aw you’re the best!” Bart cheered and Ed twitched, wanting to barf.
“Just the work of a hero. I somersaulted into the sky and back, you should’ve seen me, I looked so cool.”
The younger laughed. “Yeah, right her-man-o, I can see you trip first before all that.”
Jaime bumped his shoulder. “I did it last time in Star City, didn’t I? Just admit it, I’m cool— I even carried you.”
“You! I literally saved your butt that time!” Bart pointed, shocked. Ed leaned against the wall next to the door frame of the lab room he had just come out from, studying them with crossed arms. His eyes narrowing slightly every time Jaime touched Bart. The Argentine teen had better things to do in this moment, yet he couldn’t take his eyes off them or leave them alone either.
Jaime noticed Ed just watching and waiting on them, uncharacteristically. He smirked at Bart, voice low but loud enough. “You know you’d be lost without me.”
“In your dreams.” Bart playfully pushed him away.
“Hey, you free tomorrow?” Jaime asked and Ed blinked, ears propped up. “I was thinking we hit that old rooftop—get a better view of the city before patrol."
“Ooh, that place? Yes—sunset watch squad!" the brunette looked excited. Here and there they would go to their usual rooftop, enjoy a nice meal while watching the sunset.
Ed finally pushed off the wall and walked over. Upon seeing that, Jaime waved at him nonchalantly. “Didn’t realize the team had so much time for sightseeing." Ed commented.
“Oh—hey, Ed! You finished?" Bart was startled but his smile soon softened upon seeing him.
“We were just talking about how nice it would be if you joined us more often. Bart was saying you’ve been avoiding him.” Jaime teased. The brunette shot him an embarrassed glare. Jaime was pulling his leg but something about his tone rubbed Ed the wrong way.
“I don’t really care about going or being part of…whatever group.” Ed just told uncooperatively, his voice a bit cold and defensive. Bart glanced at Ed, feeling a tad hurt.
“Are you sure?” Jaime asked. Ed ignored him and turned to Bart.
“Don’t get distracted.”
“What? I didn’t—” Bart started.
“Apparently you did and Jaime had to carry you right?” The ravenette spat and Bart stared at him confused by the tone. Ed was also confused by his own tone. Why was he so bothered by the other? It wasn’t normal.
“Hey, don’t hate me ‘cause I’m useful.” Jaime smirked, surrendering his arms up.
“Sure, if you say so.” The tone felt like ‘whatever, not impressed.’
Bart looked between the two, sensing some odd tangible tension. “Are you okay?” He finally asked Ed.
“Fine.” Ed responded a little too quickly that it sounded harsh. With that, he began to walk past them.
“Wait—Ed…do you …want to join us tomorrow?" Bart called out once. Ed paused but didn’t turn back.
“No. I wouldn’t want to interrupt.” Ed voiced and left.
‘Did I…mess up?’ the brunette couldn’t help but think, though he didn’t know how. The younger felt conflicted as he stood there. He didn’t know what to deduce from the other’s withdrawal and coldness. He thought they were fine. Jaime noticed the predicament on his face and chimed in.
“Don’t sweat it, he’s not the easiest to get along with. Maybe he’s just afraid to let anyone in, even you.” Blue Beetle voiced.
Ed wrestled with his own emotions for the rest of the day, trying to convince himself that he didn’t care about Bart’s closeness with Jaime. It wasn’t anything new after all. However, deep down it gnawed at him.
Why did he feel so upset when he saw them together?
Maybe, for the first time, he started to realize that he possibly did care about Bart—more than he was willing to admit. That was Bart’s fault, why did he make him feel special in the first place? No matter how many times he pushed him away, he would still be back at his corner, trying to become friends and even tolerating his nasty attitude.
Of course, that would make Ed feel special and like the odd one out. Like he was the only one that existed. Even his dad didn’t give him that type of undivided attention.
At the said rooftop, Bart arrived early, waiting on Jaime to bring the food, feet dangling off the edge. He heard a soft landing behind him, and assumed it was the other.
“Hey, finally—oh,” Bart swung his head, expecting Jaime but registered someone totally different. “Ed? W-what are you doing here? I didn’t think you’d come…”
“Wasn’t planning to.” Ed shrugged a shoulder, as he walked over.
"Then why did you…?" The brunette genuinely wanted to know. Ed didn’t respond immediately, sitting down beside Bart, not too far but not too close.
“What about you? I thought you’d be here with Jaime." The ravenette flipped the question while he stared off into the horizon.
“I am… he’s running late.”
Ed raised a brow, glancing at him. “Of course he is.” It sounded sarcastic.
“Okay, what is going on here?” Bart had to ask. Ed was acting too confusing for him. “Do you have something against Jaime? Not that I can think of any interaction—”
“It’s nothing.” The elder cut him off before he continued his ramble.
“Is it really nothing? You snapped at me, you were glaring at Jaime like you wanted to fry him with your eyes alone. And then—well let’s just say you stormed off—did I do something wrong?”
Ed sighed, feeling backed into a corner he didn’t want to be caught in. However, he couldn’t deny those allegations. “I didn’t come here to talk about Jaime.”
His reaction was telling Bart a lot. “But this is about him, or me, isn’t it?"
“It’s about nothing.”
“…You know, you don’t have to hide behind that anger all the time. I already told you that…” Bart slowed down.
“You mean like you don’t have to be hiding behind that laughter?” That sounded like a jab but Ed’s lips twitched up once, making it known he was mocking in a friendly way.
Seeing that relieved Bart who played along. “Yes, yes, nice try but we already talked about me. This is about you, mister.”
“Force of habit. I don’t know how to be anything else than how I already am.” Ed wasn’t used to talking about his feelings.
“Like I said, I’m here to help. You don’t have to do this alone. I hope you can trust me?”
Ed paused. “Yeah, that’d be nice. Maybe I can…” He pulled on a smile, not as closed off as before. There was another awkward pause. “Also…” The elder teen rubbed the back of his neck, averting his eyes, brainstorming a way to say the next few words. “I…didn’t mean to snap at you earlier, or during the training…I’ll try to do better next time…”
‘Next time.’ Bart noticed. This was a big step forward. It truly felt like they trusted and held mutual respect for one another. He was loving this so much that he couldn’t hide the ear to ear grin on his face. Ed wanted to look at him like there was something manic about him but he let it be this time.
“That sounds great! I’m in! You can totally count on me! We’re going to make a great team—I can already see it!” Bart liked Jaime a lot, sometimes even physically attached to him but he felt more emotionally closer to Ed—as implausible as that sounded.
“Okay, calm down.” The elder said but internally he was flattered by the attention. For once, he didn’t mind the other’s eager energy.
The brunette raised a fist and Ed quietly bumped it.