Chapter Text
His feet pound against the hard packed snow, breaths puffing out in white clouds. If it wasn't so cold he’d be able to escape. Billy ducks under an old chain link fence. Running out of the alleyway he makes it to one of the main streets. There’s an old dinner at the end of the streat. They’ll let him hide, the owners have a soft spot for the ten year old.
Panting he looks up and just barely stops in time to avoid running into a reporter. The man had come into town to do a piece on Fawcett city and to see why the crime rates are so low and to see the locals opinions on things. Billy had run into him a few days before and had answered a few questions that Mr. Kent had about the city and about the resident superhero. Normally he would have steered clear from adults but the man felt familiar and paid him for his time, and since he was out of money it was his only choice if he wanted to eat this week.
“Billy?”
“Hi, uh sorry, iv-”
“There!” One of the teenagers yells, as they start heading over to where Billy is standing frozen in fear.
Mr. Kent frowns and steps in front of Billy, “What are you doing.” It’s not a question.
The teens balk away slightly then run off. Not before glaring at Billy and mouthing a promise of revenge.
“Thank you,” Billy grins, shivering slightly as he shoves his hands in his pockets.
“So why were they chasing you?”
Billy shrugs, “I got in their way… they keep trying to mug old guys. So I tried to stop them.”
Frowning to himself Clark sighs, “Do you do this a lot?”
Billy tenses, “I try to help where I can,” At his look Billy stutters and tries to back out of the hole he’s getting into, “I can normally run away from them just fine, but it’s cold and, I uh don't have warm clothes so i couldn't get away.”
“Follow me,” Clark shakes his head, “I’ll get you some food.”
“You aren't mad?” Billy asks slowly. Adults normally don't react well when you tell them you've been fighting.
“I would be a hypocrite if I told you not to protect others, but do try to be safe yourself.”
Billy nods and starts to back away, “Thanks for the offer for food, but I’ve got to get going, my, uh, my parents are expecting me back soon.” Lying to the man that helped him hurt but he can’t take anymore of his generosity. Not to mention if he stays around him too long he might call CPS, then he would be in some serious trouble.
Nodding Mr. Kent gives him a smile, “I understand. Be safe.”
Waving Billy grins, “Thank you for helping me.”
And with that he runs into an alleyway and scrambles over the fence.
Clark watches as he runs away, he was lying about something, but nothing there was particularly dangerous. Turning to get back to his hotel room he shrugs to himself. If the kid wanted to get out of talking, that's his business.
Billy sighs, he stills bad about lying to get away. But sometimes it’s what he has to do. Stopping at the thrift store he looks around in the new arrivals area. It's always worth checking if they got new blankets or something warm for cheap.
As he shops the two teens lean against the walls on either side of the doors.
After a few minutes of wandering the store Billy heads back outside empty handed. They had some gloves but they were all way too big and out of his price range.
“Well well well,” One of the teens snears, “Took you long enough.”
Billy backs up right into the other teen. A cold hand grips the back of his neck as they pull him behind the store.
Trying to wiggle out of his grasp Billy squirms around and flails while screaming. The teen clamps his hand over his mouth to silence him. Biting down hard Billy tries to twist out of his grip.
It works for a moment, then the other teen slams him into a wall.
“We were just going to take your money,” The first teen spits, “But since you took a chunk out of his finger,” He gestures to his friend who’s wrapped his thumb in his shirt, blood slowly leaking through the fabric, “Ima make you wish you were never born.”
Eyes darting between the teens Billy considers shouting out the champions name, no one would believe it if the teens who routinely get wasted and high were saying this scrappy little homeless kid was Captain Marvel. But he can’t, he won't use his power to hurt them and at this range, he would probably electrocute them. He won't hurt them like that.
The instant the first punch lands he starts regretting his decision slightly. Hit after hit lands and after a few minutes he’s got his back against the wall and is curled up to protect his face and chest. The blows slow down and footsteps echo down the alleyway. Billy looks up, tear tracks making their way down his cheeks.
A foot smashes into his shoulder, crying out, Billy muffles a scream. Something in the back of his mind whispers that nothings broken and that the next time he turns back from the champion form he’ll be ok. Of course that means nothing to him at the moment.
“What are you boys doing?” A voice, a very familiar voice asks.
“Oh shoot…”
“Run.”
Picking his head up Bill feels a rush of relief as well as a hint of dread, “superman,” He whispers, the other member of the Justice League looks down at him with concern flickering in his eyes.
“Why did they do this?” He asks as he helps Billy sit up.
“We, uh, they know that I wont tell the cops…”
“And why not. You don't break the law do you?”
Billy clamps his mouth shut as he shakes his head no, he had stolen a few pieces of fruit before but if he hadn't he would probably be dead so he’s not counting that, “No.”
“So why not tell the cops?”
Billy shrugs, “I've got my reasons.”
“Do you need medical attention?” Superman asks after a few moments.
Shaking his head, Billy rubs his arm, “No, I’ll be fine.”
“Alright then,” Superman stands up, “I think i'll have a talk with captain marvel about these boys.”
“He knows…” Billy sighs, “I, I’ve uh seen him talking to them a few times. They don’t listen.”
“Then I might talk to them myself.” Superman mutters and he stands up and starts walking away, “You be more careful.”
Billy watches then scrambles back to the abandoned apartment he calls home.
Once he’s dropped his stuff off and hidden his valuables in the floorboard he runs out back.
Lightning strikes.
“Hi ya Supes,” Captain Marvel waves, landing on the roof next to him, “What brings you here to Fawcett?”
“Work,” Superman shrugs, “Sorry I didn’t clear it with you before I came.”
Marvel waves his hand, “don’t worry about it, I trust you.”
“I wasn’t planning on doing hero stuff but there was this kid, his name’s Billy.”
Marvel nods, “Billy? Yeah he got beat up by the twins…”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“I saw him on his way home,” Captain Marvel sighs, “He was terrified…” he remembers just how hard his heart was pounding, how he thought just for a few seconds there, that he was going to die.
Superman nods, “He clearly didn’t want me to follow him, so I didn’t. But is he alright?”
Cap grins, “He’s fine, I have some minor healing magic I’ve been learning so I fixed him up.”
“He said you talked with those teenagers who were hurting him.”
“I have,” Captain Marvel sighs as he sits down, legs over the ledge, “They don’t have a good home life. If it were anything else I would do more, but their parents can’t fully provide for them. There’s no abuse or anything like that, they just don’t have the money to take care of their family… and the foster care system around here. Well I’ve got first hand experience on just how bad it can get around here and… no one deserves that.”
Superman frowns, “but what about Billy? They beat him up.”
“Yeah, uh that’s not normal,” He shudders, “Normally they’re all talk , never seen them go that far before.” He stops himself from rubbing at his shoulder, that could give him away. Sure he trusts the League, but his identity carries a lot of weight.
The wizard didn't do the best job of explaining what the guardian of the Rock of Eternity meant before passing his power on to him. John Constantine had explained what he could about the source of magic and all but it still took weeks of meditation and learning though Solomon to figure out just what the job meant.
“Try to figure out what’s wrong, we don't want anyone getting hurt,” Superman hums.
“Yes sir,” He grins, “I’ll keep my city safe.”
With a nod superman takes off into the night.
Deciding that tonight would be quiet he heads back for his apartment. After he transforms he crawls into his pile of blankets on the ratty old mattress and looks up at the ceiling, “Wait… how did he know my name.”
Anxiety floods his brain but after a moment he calms down slightly. He has super hearing, he probably just overheard the reporter from, Metropolis . Gasping slightly, Billy grins he might have figured out Superman’s identity. Wouldn't that be fun to hang over their heads…
Laying back down he frowns, it’s quiet, and just a bit lonely. Freddie and Darla had gone back into the system a few weeks earlier. Freddy's leg reacted poorly to the growing cold and Darla had caught a cold. He can't blame them for heading for shelter. Neither of them had been through the hell he had. They’re with a good family now. Billy’s watched them and from the conversations he’s had with Freddy' outside of their school and at the park, they’ll be just fine. But that doesn't change the cold more easily seeping into his bones and the eerie silence of the room.