Chapter Text
Sunday morning was usually reserved for sleeping in and lazying around in his bed. Juggling school and Justice League duties meant he didn't get a lot of rest in-between. Recently however, Uncle Dudley had found a new hobby in the form of weight loss shows on the TV. Billy didn't mind being a test subject for the man's recipes, but new dishes meant new ingredients, and new ingredients meant the supermarket was practically their second home with how frequent the two of them went there. And so, here Billy was on a good Sunday morning, standing behind Uncle Dudley at the cashier. Yawning. Fiddling. Dying out of boredom.
And then there was a boom.
"Billy!" Uncle Dudley pushed him down to hide behind the couter while the supermarked turned into chaos. People ran left and right, hitting each other to run from the villain. When Billy's surprise wore off, he managed to peek from their hiding spot to see a group of men with guns
"Villains..." he muttered, which turned to be a bad move when one of them had their eyes zeroed on him. Oh-oh.
"Sha—" he panickedly tried to cast the transformation spell when he was raised by his collar, Uncle Dudley desperately trying to pull him back. But something— someone else was faster. Because in a blink, the villain was gone and he was being carried bridal style by a boy in yellow.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kid Flash, the Flash's sidekick, looked at him with the most beautiful shade of green Billy had ever seen. He barely registered his coworker, the aforementioned Flash, also pulling his uncle to safety beside him, too lost in the boy's bright green eyes.
"Yeah... Yeah." He nodded dumbly as Kid Flash dropped him down. In another blink, both mentor and sidekick had dashed away.
"Billy, you're not hurt, are you?" Uncle Dudley pulled him up and held his shoulders.
Billy didn't reply, only looking over his shoulder at the destruction the speedsters had chased the villain away from.
〚⚡〛
Neither Flash nor his sidekick lived close enough to Fawcett for their heroics to happen there a second time, but Billy's duty as Captain Marvel did give him some insight into Kid Flash's personality.
Billy and Flash liked each other enough to be on friendly terms. Once, when they were paired together for a mission, Flash formally introduced him to Kid Flash.
"Cap, this is Kid Flash, my nephew. Thought to introduce you sooner when we went to Fawcett but you weren't there." Flash gestured to the now empty spot beside him. Billy helpfully pointed out the group of girls a certain boy was flirting with at the edge of the park. Flash rubbed his temple and shook his head. "Kid! You come back here this instant!"
"Alright, alright. Sheesh." Kid Flash rejoined them but not before throwing some kisses that had the girls swooning. He didn't seem to care his uncle was giving him a death glare when he announced himself. He held out a hand, smirking. "Hello, Captain. Name's Kid Flash and I'm the fastest teenage hero there is. I'll be a celebrity soon, so if you want my autograph, now's the best time."
The smug way he spoke would probably make Billy's ten-year-old self look at him weird, annoyed even. But as the big guy, the teen's behavior was rather... "Cute," he said before he realized it.
"W-what?!" Kid Flash sputtered.
Flash who was in the middle of chiding his nephew stifled back a chuckle at the boy's heating up face. "H-he called you cute, Kid."
"I-I am not cute," Kid Flash stomped his foot and glared at his uncle.
Billy thought back to the older kids he met in Fawcett. They didn't appreciate being called cute, or adorable, or anything that detracted from their manliness. Obviously he upsetted the boy, so he did what he could as damage control. He addressed Kid Flash again.
"I apologize, that was very rude of me. I meant, you are a... very handsome young man." Billy patted Kid Flash's head. "I have no doubt you'll be a great hero one day."
He was expecting to cheer the boy up by praising him, but when he pulled his hand back, the boy's face was fully red and looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"Uh... Kid?"
"Gottagobye!" Aaaand he was gone.
Billy looked at the guffawing Flash next to him.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"N-nothing.... wrong... hahah! I can't!" His coworker was struggling to catch his breath and had to use Billy as a crutch. "Gimme... a sec... P-please," he thumped, his fist against Billy, wheezing.
"Boy, haven't laughed that hard in awhile." When he got most of his laugh out of his system, Flash stood straight back up again and looked in the direction his nephew had gone to, smiling.
"That boy's a good kid, but he's still young. Between the hero stuff we do, lots of people forget— I forget that he's just a kid." He turned to Billy. "He's probably gonna be embarrassed about your compliments for awhile, heh."
Billy grimaced. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I can use it to blackmail him later." Flash winked. "Thoooough, I think you just made his day. Hard to not feel overwhelmed when the Captain Marvel himself says he believes in you."
"Oh?"
Flash snorted. "Kids admire you, Cap, don't sell yourself short. Anyway, I gotta go before mine causes trouble somewhere. See you later!" Aaaaand he was gone too, leaving Billy alone in the park with a passing stray cat.
Billy pulled out a cat treat. "Want some?"
〚⚡〛
"You are immature," was not what exactly Batman said during their League meeting, but the message was clear. They didn't like him.
Billy left the Hall of Justice on auto flight mode, dejected, only stopping at a nearby park when he heard the call of a familiar cat.
"Awh, sorry, I didn't bring any treat today." He landed and picked up the cat. He'd never seen a tabby closely resemble a tiger before. Her red eyes were scary to look at too, but she really was a gentle cat. She purred when he lifted her up.
Billy looked around, noting the lack of people in the park.
"Hey, can you keep a secret?"
"Mrow?"
Putting her down, he stepped back and whispered, "Shazam."
When the lightning faded, Billy Batson smiled and picked up the strangely unbothered cat again. She didn't seem to mind the loud noise.
"You're a weird cat." He laughed and went to look for a seat to plop on. "...well, I'm weird too I suppose, so we're the same in that regard."
While petting his new companion on some Luthor-brand marked bench, his body relaxed enough for the emotions he'd been bottling as Captain Marvel to hit him full force.
"He said I'm immature, that I need to grow up." He sniffled and hugged her close. Tears pricked his eyes, remembering the disapproving looks on the league members' faces. It wasn't his fault he was a kid. Solomon's Wisdom could only do so much to provide him with adult insights. He whined to the cat. "It was some dumb mission about a dumb robbery. I was being friendly with the criminals, so what? They resorted to crimes because they have a hard life. The least I can do is make them realize what they're doing is wrong, but nooo, it's all about putting criminals behind bars with no thoughts about what comes after. Adults suck..."
The cat rubbed its nose against Billy's cheek, as if understanding his words.
"Hey, you okay?" A voice that definitely didn't belong to the cat addressed him. He looked up to see a teenage boy with some of the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. The same green eyes he'd gazed into back in Fawcett. With the same puberty-stricken voice too.
This was Kid Flash, Billy realized, in his civillian attire.
"No. I hate adults. Except my uncle, he's cool." He pulled his legs up onto the bench. He'd expected the boy to try to just cheer him up and leave, but the hero in disguise simply took the empty spot beside him and smiled in that adorably smug way of his. Not that Billy would say it outloud.
"Is that your cat?"
Billy shrugged with as much energy he could muster. "For today, yeah," he answered weakly, running a finger over his companion's ear.
"I don't get my uncle sometimes, and definitely other adults too." Kid Flash followed up Billy's lamenting earlier, his smirk turning soft. His eyes looked more kind too. "But that's just the way adults care I guess. They're weird, but they get upset at us because they worry."
Batman? Worrying about him? Billy thought with humor. The man liked kids, but he didn't even know Billy's identity to see him as one. To the guy and the rest of the league, he was nothing but a manchild.
"Hey, hey, what's with the downer face?" There was genuine panic hidden Kid's Flash ever confident voice.
Billy chuckled, but it didn't stop the tears trailing his cheeks. "Sorry, I'm just... having a bad day. I'll be okay soon."
The cat in his arms mewled, purring as if trying to comfort him.
"I uh..." Kid Flash rubbed his neck, looking unsure about what to do. Billy didn't blame him. A crying kid couldn't be solved by punching it away like with villains and criminals. But A plus for effort, Kid Flash did try. "Say uh... Do you want ice cream? There's a truck over there."
That was the last thing Billy wanted, but the sincerity behind the boy's voice made him chuckle through his sobs. He kept the fact that he knew there was no ice cream truck here to himself.
"Sure. Why not?"
"Alright, wait here."
It was obvious that he kicked in full gear after running far enough from the bench. Billy stroked 'his cat for today' while he waited for Kid Flash. When the speedster came back about five minutes later, he brought with him a tub of ice cream plus a cat treat.
"Wow, didn't know ice cream trucks sell ice cream in tubs." He rubbed his dried tears and took it, along with a metal spoon that couldn't have been from an ice cream man.
"I know, right?" Kid Flash lied smoothly while he fed the cat some of the treat.
Still, Billy appreciated the boy going home just to fetch him this.
"Thanks." He took a spoonful and shoved it into his mouth. Knowing it was fresh from the freezer, he was careful not to devour it in one go lest he get brainfreeze. Yum, strawberry. He then noticed the uncomfortably laser-focused eyes on him. "...want some? You look hungry."
Billy knew his coworker Flash burnt a lot of calorie due to how the speedster's metabolism worked, so it should be the same for the boy too.
Kid Flash waved his hands, embarrassed.
"No, no. I just—" his stomach betrayed him. "—ate..."
Billy snorted. Shifting enoigh so he could sit on his knees, he turned around to face the boy. "Open your mouth."
"Wha—"
Without waiting, he scooped another spoonful and drove it into Kid Flash's opened mouth.
"There." He chuckled at the boy's flushed face. He honestly didn't expect the boy to just wait and accept his fate, knowing the his supposed quick reactions and all. But because Kid Flash did, Billy was able to witness this adorable side of him again.
"You're..." Billy was about to say cute, but remembered their previous conversation. "...handsome."
Again, like before, Kid Flash's face went full on red. But this time, he couldn't use the Speedforce to escape to protect his identity.
Billy honestly didn't know what he was doing wrong.
"Did I say something bad?" He frowned, hand still holding the spoon stuck in Kid Flash's mouth. The cat had finished her treat so she just rested by the bench's foot as she groomed herself.
Kid Flash gently unclasped Billy's fingers to take the spoon and swallow the ice cream at his own pace.
"You didn't say anything wrong." The boy said so casually as if the several seconds of silence just now never happened. "It's just that's the second time someone called me that. I'm not used to it."
"You mean handsome?"
The boy cringed.
"Yeah, that. Usually people say I'm cool. Handsome's a first though." Kid Flash shrugged. There was something he didn't say between the lines, but Billy didn't push. Kid Flash was nice to him. He didn't want to overstep. "I'm Wally by the way," the boy changed the topic.
"Billy."
Kid Flash smiled and returned the spoon. "Feeling better now, Bill?"
Billy accepted the spoon and stared into the gradually melting tub of ice cream in his hands. His chest felt lighter now. "You know what, yeah. I do feel a bit better. Thanks, Wally."
"Nah, just doing my job."
No doubt about that, Billy thought with a smile.
After the two of them finished their ice cream, Billy jumped down the bench. He handed the cat to his new friend.
"I should be going now. She might have an owner so just leave her here when you're heading home."
"You live around these parts?" Wally asked as he played with the cat's paws.
"No. But someone will pick me up." With the boy sitting down, Billy was able to stand at his eye level. He smiled and leaned in, his lips leaving a quick peck on the stiffening boy's cheek. "Thanks again."
"Y-you're welcome." Wally squeeked out, face red. Flash did say his nephew got overwhelmed by compliments, so Billy probably shouldn't have given the thank you kiss. But the boy didn't seem to mind much, if a bit embarrassed.
Billy pulled back and smiled. "Bye, Wally. Bye to you too, cat."
"Mrow."
When he was far enough to not be seen, he summoned Shazam's lightning and flew away, glancing down briefly to watch Wally being joined by a certain coworker in red.
"U-Uncle Barry, how long have you been there?!" the faint embarrassed shout came from the boy down below.
Billy didn't stick long, otherwise he'd have seen the Flash teasing his nephew for the kiss and chasing the boy when he tried to run away.
"Leave me alone, Uncle Barry!"
"Not until you tell me the whole story!"
〚⚡〛
That wasn't the last time Billy met Kid Flash in civillian attire.
In fact, it was not a few days later in the park that he saw Wally crumpled in the same bench holding the same cat. Billy had just come back from another boring League meeting so seeing a familiar face was just what he needed. He landed nearby, intending to greet the boy like he was just a friendly stranger passing by. Well, a superhero stranger.
"Hey—" Billy paused midway when he noticed the scene before him. "Kid Flash?"
Wally looked up at him, pitiful bloodshot eyes staring weakly into Billy's own. The boy then blinked, the fact he had an audience gradually dawning on him.
"Cap! What are you doing here?" Wally tried to fake a smile, his lips shaking with every word. His cheery voice did nothing to hide his broken state. "Wait, did you just call me Kid Flash? Oh no, did I just out myself?" the boy panicked, searching around his person for anything that might have exposed his hero identity.
Billy tuned out the boy's rambling, only thoughts of the boy crying disturbed his conscience.
A simple "Are you okay?" would have been enough, and as Captain Marvel, that was all that was expected of him. But Billy remembered how the boy went out of his way to comfort him. He wanted to repay that.
He knew Wally was proud, so he didn't offer even a warning when he sat down and hugged the surprised boy. The cat too took initiative to climb onto Wally's shoulder and rub against his cheek.
"C-Captain?"
"It's okay." Billy replied to the croaked voice, gently holding the boy in his arms. "You can cry. I won't laugh."
As if his words were the permission Wally needed, he buried his face into Billy's chest, sobbing. The cat purred against his heaved breaths as it helped in its own way.
By the time Wally had calmed down enough, Billy's suit was wet with tears and snots. But that was the least important thing right now.
"Does that feel better?" he smiled.
Wally didn't respond right away, but he did pull back from the hug to look at the ground below them.
"Captain, Can I ask you for advice."
"Of course. I'm all ears."
"Do you think... Do you think I'm a jerk?"
"No?" Billy tilted his head, carefully catching the cat in his arms when it suddenly jumped towards him.
"Of course not." Wally chuckled with none of the warmth Billy had come to know him for. "Remember when we first met? When I flirted with those girls? That's how I usually am when I try to impress them. But... it only ever works when I'm Kid Flash. Wally West... only get rejected."
He rubbed his palm over his neck, lips tight as if ashamed of what he was about to say.
"A girl I liked said that I'm... shameless. Like I'd go for anyone as long as they're a girl." He looked at Billy with his sad eyes. "What if... what if she's right?"
Billy trod his answer carefully, Solomon's wisdom aiding his every word, as was the purrs that accompanied it.
"Whether she's right or not, it seems to affect you a lot. I don't know you enough to judge your character, but I think the better question to ask yourself is, why is it bothering you? Why does it matter if she's right about it?"
"...because if she is, then I'm just a loser." His shoulders sank.
Billy hummed. "And who decides that?"
"I mean, everyone?" Wally replied back with the wisdom of every teenager his age. "Can't get girls, need to wear costumes to even be noticed. I'd just be the guy who's desperate enough to beg for someone to be his girlfriend..."
"Does having someone to call a girlfriend matter that much to you?"
Wally hesitated, as if not wanting to answer. "...what if it does?" he cringed.
Billy smiled. "Then you should think over her words and figure out what you can do to improve yourself. To get the girl you like to take notice of you."
Wally responded in kind to his smile, if a bit a rueful and lacking its usual cheeriness. "You don't think I'm, I don't know, lame? That I only care about girls?"
Billy lifted his gaze towards the sky, fingers absentmindedly stroking the cat.
"I'm sure other adults in your life have given you advice, so you should do best to take heed of them. But I'm not here to judge your character. If you feel shameful for your behavior, then do well to change that. If finding a girlfriend is what you want, then see what you're doing wrong." He grinned. "Though, if you ask me, I don't think those two things are mutually exclusive."
When he looked back down to meet Wally's gaze, he saw the bright green eyes he'd come to adore return onto the boy's face.
Wally sniffled, smiling. "You really have ways with words huh, Captain."
Billy tapped his temple. "Hey, Wisdom of Solomon."
Wally had a really cute laugh, Billy thought to himself as he watched the boy became himself again.
"Mrow..." a certain creature whined.
"Alright, we'll get you a cat treat." Billy tickled the cat's nose. He turned to Wally. "Say, Kid. Have you ever flown before?"
The boy gasped, beaming. Not a trace of his previous somber state remained. "You're taking me flying?! Ohh, I've always wanted to fly!"
Not a trace of his previous somber state remained. Billy hoped it stayed that way.
He left the bench and bent down, gesturing for the boy to climb. "Come on. Then you can brag all you want to your Uncle Barry." He then added, winking, "Oh, I mean the Flash."
"...do you know every League member's identity or something?" Wally narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
Hah! If only. Making sure his two passengers were safely seated, he readied himself for flight.
"Alright, hang tight. Off we... go!"
Wally cheered as they flew over the city's highrises, arms locked around Billy's neck, all the while their cat curiously only mewled in what seemed to be boredom. Still, Billy commited the sound of Wally's laugh to memory. It made him feel warm inside, for whatever reason.
It was a newspaper worthy headline that Captain Marvel himself was accompanying a fan and his cat to grocery shopping. Billy didn't have much use for his League card — Batman threatened him to have an account for his salary that he had many times refused — so he used it to buy Wally food that should sustain him for the next month.
Wally's parents thanked him for taking the boy home. When they asked about the shopping bags, he lied and said he'd owed Barry before. He did ask them to keep the fact he knew his coworker's identity a secret, however. For now anyway. He wanted to surprise the guy.
〚⚡〛
"Where have you been? You missed out on all the fun."
"Mrow."
"You were having fun on your own? Without me?
"Mrow!"
"Right, right. I had my fun without you too. Hm... How about this. You tell me where you've been and I'll see if I should join you in this fun little adventure of yours."
"Mrow."
"...yeah, I understand nothing from that. Don't roll your eyes, you know I don't speak pussycat. I'm a Chaos Lord, not a Cat Lor— Oh. Oh my."
Klarion smirked at the new knowledge he gained from reading his partner's mind.
"The Champion of Magic is... a child. Now that's something worth looking into."
"Mrow."
"Yeah, yeah. I won't hurt him. Just curious is all. Just curious is all..."