Cassie had heroes classified under two categories: "normals" and "supers."

The titles were obvious: normals were those without powers (or "an enhanced metagene," as the newscasters were so fond of calling it) and supers were the ones with. Simple, yet effective.

Tim was a normal. Diana was a super. Mal was a normal. Conner was a super. She kept her list on the second to last page of her old history notebook, the ends a little yellowed after years of slipping behind Cassie's bed. The list was pretty evened out by now, and Cassie hadn't had much time to ponder what that meant.

Everything changed when Cassie met Jaime, however.

The older boy was as normal as any human could be. A scrawny sixteen year old that loved to skateboard and play video games with his best friend. Even if it was only at quarter strength, any punch Cassie threw his way would send the boy flying right into a hospital bed. He didn't have the training that Tim or Barbara had endured nor the expertise that Karen used to her advantage.

And yet, within seconds, he could possess some of the world's greatest powers. His strength quintupled, his senses heightened. The ability to transform any part of his armor into anything he could possibly imagine…

Jaime Reyes was an anomaly, thrown into the vigilante lifestyle through a series of unfortunate events. And Cassie had no idea what to classify him as.

He was normal and he was super. The power attached to his back far exceeded anything Cassie could ever do. Plus, it wasn't like Karen or any of the Green Lanterns' - their suit and rings could slip off at the end of the night. Jaime was stuck with his Scarab and all the "joyful" conversations that came along with it.

The Scarab was a part of him, just as much as his heart was. Without it, he would die.

"I just can't figure you out," Cassie sighed, her fingertips gently raking the older boy's thick hair. Moonlight streamed from the window across the room, highlighting his long lashes and full lips, "Stupid boy."

Three years had passed and the boy was now transforming into a man. Arms lean, shoulders broad…nowhere compared to Cassie's in tone, but it sated her just fine. Especially when he went without a shirt to bed. Sure, the corners of her eyes would catch onto the Scarab (now insisting it be called Khaji Da) every so often, but the sight was Cassie's reminder. Her boyfriend bridged the gap between the ordinary and extraordinary; he was just as much a college student-civilian as he was the brave and noble Blue Beetle.

He was captivating; and in being so, Jaime Reyes had captured Cassie Sandsmark's heart.