#But right now Billy Batson has taken over

[inioranackatori]

For Anyone Dropping By

for that DCxDP randomness I dropped on stealingyourbones’s prompt, hi. Hello. Can I interest you in some tangentially related shenanigans from the thing currently eating my brain?

[fryingpan1234567]

superheroes and social media

do you KNOW how often I see a cute trend on ig or tiktok or anything and I’m just like “man that would be cute for (insert hero ship)”

but that’s an issue because like… putting your face on the internet is DANGEROUS🙅‍♂️

I had. an idea. to solve all the issues!

as fun as it is to imagine the RobinOfficial account having 4 million followers, I think it’s more fun for everyone to have accounts that only follow and allow following in the caped community

so basically Instagram for just superheroes

the ones whose identities are known can post their faces, and the ones who are still under the radar have a close friends list that consists of the people who do know them

a very few amount of people who aren’t heroes are allowed on this Super IG

including Lois Lane, whose entire presence is standard mom posts but with like. Superkids and other Kryptonians. you get it

uhh Bernard Dowd too but he only follows Tim and Steph

Alfred, who only posts the Manor and London with captions like poetry

Selina Kyle because she already had a regular account but B was like “oh that’s dangerous now that we’re affiliated”

she was like “well how am I supposed to fuel my ego with no instagram for people to thirst after me”

B sighed and was like “well,,,,,”

Harley Quinn fluctuates between being banned and interacting with EVERYONE’S content with offensive amounts of emojis

anyways tell me WHY Conner Kent has the most iconic page on the internet

it’s full of these aesthetic photo dumps and crackhead videos of YJ doing dumb shit

also Tim. he’s got chaotic gen z billionaire vibes and most of his stuff is on his close friends list because B doesn’t need to see the REALLY dumb shit he gets up to

yeah they’re both hot and yeah they’re both elite pages. but Kon’s is Sabrina Carpenter energy and Tim’s is P!ATD energy so they’re different flavors of slay

on the opposite end of the spectrum we’ve got B, who has four posts, all exactly 365 days apart

it’s the yearly Father’s Day family portrait

Dick Grayson does that millennial vlog thing but Not

“a day in the life of a 24 year old cop (who also happens to be a vigilante)”

also a compilation of clips of him jumping off buildings, some taken by him and some by other people

can you IMAGINE this dumbass with a gopro

Red Bull wants to sponsor him what can I say

he lets his favorite villains follow him

WHEN I TELL YOU BILLY BATSON HAS THE MOST FAMOUS PAGE OF ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY

because he was a public figure ANYWAYS. this is the idiot who used to walk around charging people’s phones with his powers and taking selfies for cash. people know him

so Captain Marvel has this crazy account with him doing memes and slo mo compilations of him punching guys from his body cam

his most hit post is a video where he found a cop harassing a bunch of kids on the street (who he happened to KNOW) and without saying anything at first just kindaaaaa walked over and fried the cruiser’s entire inner workings

“yo, copper! I think somethin’s up with your system, man!”

while the cop was trying to figure out how to start his fucking car again, Billy herded the kids down the sidewalk and they all took off running, giggling like maniacs

Damian Wayne doesn’t post a lot, but when he does, it’s to match with Jon

I mean like taking pictures of each other from across the same table and the captions are each half of a whole song lyric, stuff like that

his personal favorite is actually their softlaunch— they found an entire wall of mirrors at the planetarium on a date, Jon had his right hand on Dami’s waist and the other in his pocket, and Dami was standing in front of him, holding the phone with his right and tilting Jon’s face down with his left to press a kiss to the underside of his jaw. neither of their faces are in it and it was Damian’s wallpaper for a WHILE

my babies ANYWAYS

Diana Prince posts exclusively about her favorite ice cream shops

Bart is the kid whose note is always like “in the hospital👍” / “sick again” / “hate broken ribs I can’t eat seven burgers in this condition” / “got possessed by a death god again :/ third time this week” and it’s like jesus man can you catch a break

can you imagine finding fucking Superman has a verified instagram account but it’s private so you can’t even follow freaking SUPERMAN

Duke Thomas is thoroughly over his siblings’ shit and there’s a ton of videos of them being dumbasses with captions like “someone save me it’s two in the morning”

anyways A COMPILATION OF TRENDS

“nobody move, there’s blood on the floor” for LITERALLY any ship it’s so funny

“what? you’re not coming to my tea party? Bethany, I made BISCUITS” with increasingly low res crack pics of Red Hood falling off of things, generously edited and posted by Tim Drake

dance trends with Steph and Cass

“guess which outfit is whose” with Tim and Steph but they’re both in their Robin uniforms

Tim making a cringey thirst trap edit of Jason who in response posted a clip of Tim tripping his own gear and setting off an alarm

“wearing the same outfit so no one can tell us apart” and it’s all the Batkids in their Robin uniforms (most of which barely fit) ((Bruce and Alfred cried))

the Superkids did the same thing a few days later and dragged Clark into it

not-quite-thirst-traps where they just kinda stand there over music but everyone in normal comments would’ve gone crazy

calisthenics trends. Thanks

it’s like a THING between all the Titans where they’ll sneak up behind each other, yell “THIS IS SPARTA,” and kick each other off roofs

someone sneaking up behind Jason while he’s belting Seasons of Love

MOTORCYCLE CONTENT

somewhere out in the world there’s a shaky, blurry video of Robin, Superboy, Spoiler, Blue Beetle, and Beast Boy dancing to and half-singing-half-yelling Tell Your Girlfriend

if you think of any more social media trends or videos or pics you see that remind you of a hero tag me because I’m obsessed with the idea of these idiots on socials

[billybatsonbrainrot]

Very interested in 4. from the WIP game!

Goodbye Marvel: Based on issue#4 of the current Shazam run but with a few changes.

Billy is homeless but still part of the Justice League. His reason for being on the moon is still the same. The gods have been fighting for control over Captain Marvel and putting Billy in danger against his will. And then Zeus was about to give Billy's first kiss to a grown alien woman and Billy freaks out. He transforms back, which leads him to getting blasted into space.

The whole experience was surreal to Billy. He never really felt like he was actual danger whenever he was Captain Marvel. This was different than all the other times he's fought in a battle. He's transformed in the middle of a fight plenty of times but he's always able to turn back into Cap without worry and in the nick of time. But at least back then it was his choice on what fight to pick. He was brought here and put in this situation against his will all because the gods wanted people to worship them again and decided that using him as their puppet was the way to do it. He's never felt more betrayed.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't feel safe as Captain Marvel anymore because he can't transform now even to save his own life. He can't breathe. He was blasted into space without a helmet on and he's slowly losing air. Anything that came out of his mouth were just gasps for air as he slowly drifted away. He didn't even get the chance to tell anyone in the Justice League where he was, so he knew no one was coming to save him. It was only thanks to Zeus, who threw a lightning bolt his way because he felt a tad guilty for almost inadvertently killing their champion.

After Billy deals with mess, because of course he had to clean after the gods after nearly dying, he flies back to earth and transforms back into Billy before the gods even have the chance to do or say anything. He then runs into any abandoned building he could find for privacy, and he just breaks down.

He thinks of the events that just happened in space. How he almost died, but mostly of how alone he felt. He was going to die surrounded by nothingness instead of people by his side. And he probably won't even be the one everyone remembers, that would be Captain Marvel, the one people would search for if he ever went missing. Billy Batson would just be forgotten, known by no one. Those were his only thoughts when he nearly lost consciousness.

Billy continues to cry with no one to comfort him until he is eventually found by someone and the police come, and Billy lets himself be taken away. He's too tired to do anything. He doesn't care if he's going back into a foster home, he'll figure that out in the morning. He just wants an actual bed to sleep in and eat real food. After the day he had, it was the least he could do.

He'll just have to suck it up and be okay with whatever family they put him with until he has to run away again. Except, the Vasquez's aren't like any family he's ever been with. They give him the space he needs when they see his tear-stricken eyes, and they're understanding about it too, not asking too many questions.

Billy meets the siblings in the morning and already feels himself getting attached. They're bonded pretty well over breakfast, best food he's had in a while. Mary is nice, Freddy is funny, Pedro is shy, Eugene knows a lot about video games, and Darla is adorable. They're all understanding too, they don't make Billy feel like an outsider despite being a newcomer.

Billy doesn't run away, he stays.

Billy is confronted by something he never knew he wanted. He wants to be a regular kid, be part of a family, go to school, maybe even college. For the first time in his life, he's actually thinking about his future, not how he's going to survive the following week but years ahead. Maybe it was because the foster care system actually did something right and put him in a loving family. He didn't think it was possible for him to even think this way, to hold out hope for a future.

Billy's only problem now was Captain Marvel, the one thing that bought joy to his life now brings misery. There was a good chance that being Captain Marvel would bring chaos to not just him but his new family. And an even greater chance that he'll die in battle one day if the gods decided to act stupid again. He knows he has responsibilities, but he was too young to know what he was getting himself into.

Billy makes a rash decision; he's going to quit being Captain Marvel.

[gay-dorito-dust]

hi homie! could you possibly write some romantic chaotic crackhead mayhem type shit with billy batson? i can’t stop thinking about it since S:FOTG came out and the hyper fixation on the lore has taken over me once more 😭

Ngl this was kinda crap.

However you were expecting your day to go, having your boyfriend Billy burst into the room with mischief written in his eyes as he moved himself behind you, his boyish laughter filing your ears, most certainly wasn’t on the agenda.

‘What’re you doing?’ You asked, looking over your shoulder at the smiling boy, smiling yourself as a result of how infectious his happiness was to you. ‘Hiding.’ He responded as his eyes remained glued the way he came; his hands resting warmly against your shoulders as his front was pressed firmly against your back as though he couldn’t get any closer. You found it highly endearing when Billy got the time to be in touch with his inner child, it made him look a lot more young and youthful from the boy with the rough edges you were introduced to.

You sighed, ‘what did my fugitive of a boyfriend done now.’

Billy looked at you, taken aback, but you knew it was all fun and games because with you, your boyfriend tended to act a tad more dramatic and carefree then usual. ‘Why you already speculating that I did something wrong? I could be playing hide and seek with Darla for all you’re aware.’ He huffs, dropping his chin fully on to your shoulder, giving you the chance to plant a kiss to his cheek, chuckling.

‘How dare I accuse you of such a vile thing, you’re just a big ol’ baby who can’t hurt a fly.’ You playfully cooed, moving your body so that you were forward facing him before reaching your hands to pinch at his cheeks much like a grandmother would but much softer. Billy groaned, trying to pull away but your hands merely followed after and after a couple of tries, Billy gave in to defeat and allowed you to continue pinching at his cheeks; that was until his eyes peered back the way he had came and spotted Freddy in the doorway, filming everything on his camera, smirking.

‘This’ll make for great blackmail material, thanks for lending a hand y/n.’ Freddy said smugly.

Billy’s eyes widened as they darted from you to his brother, then back to you again. ‘You’re helping Freddy?’ He asked incredulously. You merely shrugged, ‘it’s only fair that I lend him a hand after you glued pink glitter to his batarang replica.’ You reminded him, crossing your arms over your chest as Freddy only smirked like a smug cat at Billy from behind your back, though not before flipping him off when the subject of his beloved replica was brought up.

‘But I’m you’re-.’ ‘Don’t you use the boyfriend card with me Batson.’ You abruptly cut him off before he could finish his sentence, reprimanding him like a mother would with a disobedient child. ‘It’ll get you nowhere.’ Billy’s head perked up with an idea came to him, not knowing whether or not it’ll work but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to at least give it his best shot into getting back in your good graces again.

‘Not even if I asked you whether you wanted to see that new movie that’s debuting at the cinema tonight?’ He asked and Freddy groaned. ‘That’s cheating! You can’t just weasel your way out of this! Besides y/n is strong enough to resist your temptations! Right y/n!’

…

‘Y/n?’ Freddy tried again when you didn’t say anything.

‘Well…we haven’t been on a date for some time now…’ you muttered under your breath.

‘Really!?’ Freddy exclaimed as now it was Billy’s turn to act all smug as he tossed an arm over your shoulder, drawing you into his side. ‘What happened about our plan in getting even!’

‘Sorry Freddy.’ You said sheepishly, rubbing your arm.

‘I’m not.’ Billy said, rubbing his victory in Freddy’s face. ‘what’s the score now? Billy 2, Freddy 0?’ He made a face of false thought before looking entirely too pleased with himself, ‘yeah that sounds about right.’ Billy then looks to you, squeezing your shoulder, ‘c’mon y/n, we’ve got a movie to watch.’ He said as he lead you both out of the room, leaving Freddy alone.

‘Son of a- wait,’ Freddy checked his phone when he remembered that he still had the video of you pinching Billy’s cheeks and began to smirk again as he looked in the direction you both left. ‘That dumbass, thinking he’s ahead and shit but when it is I that has the high ground.’ Freddy mused to himself, ‘I’ll let him live in his delusion for now, for it’ll only make my revenge all the more sweeter.’

[blondie20000]

Birthday Boy - Billy Batson x Diana Prince

Billy couldn't believe this is happening.

He couldn't believe he is about to have dinner with Wonder Woman!

When Billy sent the letter asking if they could meet up he didn't expect a response. The day before his 18th birthday he received a letter from Wonder Woman and it said she has accepted his request and will meet with him on his birthday.

At first Billy thought he was seeing things he had to read it over and over to fully process the fact that he is going on a date with Wonder Woman!

Not a date. Billy quickly told himself. It is just dinner. Just two superheroes having dinner that's all.

When his birthday finally arrived Billy spent the day celebrating it with his family. When the evening came Billy got ready and he flew to the restaurant the two superheroes agreed to meet in.

Along the way Billy brought some flowers.

Roses Wonder Woman will like roses right?

He drops down in front of the restaurant entrance.

It's not a romantic gesture or anything I'm just being nice, polite, friendly. She will like them. She will like them!

He nods to himself.

Yeah just friends just friends. It is not a date not a date.

When Billy walked in he was met with whoops and cheers.

"SHAZAM!" One kid squealed.

Billy raises his hand and waves.

"Hey!"

"Shazam!"

"Holy shit it's him!"

"The Savior!"

"Our hero!"

"I love you Shazam!" A woman shouted out.

"I love you too." Billy smiled.

"Are you single?" The same woman asked.

"Uhh..." Billy laughs a little. "Well uh as you can see I'm um..."

He holds up the roses to make his point.

"You are meeting someone?" The Chef asked.

Billy nods.

"That's right."

The Chef raises his eyebrows.

"A special someone."

"A special someone indeed."

"Well well." The Chef rubs his hands excitedly. "We better get you seated."

Billy was escorted to the table. He accepts the menu and looks through it.

"It is on the house." The Chef nodded. "As a thank you for your services."

Billy places his hand on his chest and smiles.

"Thank you Mr..."

" Pascal. " The Chef bowed.

"Chef Pascal." Billy grinned .

"He knows my name." The Chef muttered.

In the end Billy decided to order steak, fries and a soda. He sucks on the straw and glances at the clock.

She should be here by now.

He looks outside and he starts to become nervous.

What if she changed her mind.

Billy sadly sighs.

Of course she would change her mind. Why would she wanna spend time with me? She's probably got better things to do.

Billy looks round the restaurant and grits his teeth.

A superhero being stood up that's um...that's embarrassing...really embarrassing.

What should Billy do? Just get up and leave? Come up with an excuse? Surely there has to be a robbery nearby that he can go and check out.

As Billy goes to check the recent news on his phone someone walks past him and goes into the seat opposite. They clear their throat gaining his attention.

Billy looks up from his phone and frowns.

"Sorry but this seat is taken..." His voice trails off as the person lowers their sunglasses. "Oh...OH!" Billy sits up straight. His eyes are wide with shock. "Wonder Woman!"

"Wonder Woman smiles at him.

"Hello Billy."

"Uh..."

Billy suddenly became speechless. He noticed Wonder Woman is not wearing her iconic armor instead she is wearing a black shirt with flared trousers to match, high heeled boots and a brown leather jacket. Her hair is tied back into a bun. This was all a fascinating sight to Billy it amazed him how a superhero like Wonder Woman can look so human right now.

"I like to keep a low profile." Wonder Woman said reading his mind. "You on the other hand." She looks round at all the staring faces. "I see we have ourselves an audience."

"Um..." Billy looked sheepishly at his suit. He and Wonder Woman always wore their suits in his dreams.

"So this is the lucky woman." Chef Pascal purred.

"Yes!" Billy replied. "Yes this is Wo..."

"Diana." She quickly cut him off with a smile.

"Diana. Lovely name for a lovely woman."

Diana kept her head down but Billy saw her cheeks blush pink.

"What would you like Madam?" The Chef asked. "You can pick whatever you like it is on the house."

"I'll have what he is having please." Diana replied as she pointed at Billy's plate.

"Coming right up."

As the Chef walks off he bends down and whispers in Billy's ear.

"I like her already."

Billy forced a smile.

If only you knew who she was.

"So Billy last time we saw each other. "

"I was dead." Billy laughed.

"Hey!" Diana smiles. "Not everyone gets to say that."

"True." Billy again laughs. "Very true...Oh!" Billy picks up the bunch of roses. "I uh I got these for you." He added shyly.

"Aww." Diana takes the roses. "That's very sweet Billy thank you. That reminds me." She places a little gift on the table. She grins. "Happy Birthday."

Billy quickly shakes his head.

"You didn't have to do that."

"It's your birthday I had to get you something."

Billy stares at the present with disbelief.

I got a present from Wonder Woman...Holy shit!

Billy didn't recognize the gift when he opened it. He examines the strange object in his hands. His frown deepens as he tries to work out what it is.

Diana then told him what it was. It is something to do with their culture, their beliefs, part of the Greek mythology. Billy pretended to understand he smiled and nodded as she spoke about it. Then a chuckle comes from Diana.

"You are puzzled."

Billy felt like he been caught out.

"No I'm not!" He quickly said.

"It's okay." She gives him an amused smile. "All I can say is it is harmless so you don't need to worry about it."

"Good." Billy places the item back into the box. "That's good you know where I'm from accidents can umm happen but thank you I really appreciate it I really do I never had a present from a superhero before. I feel honored. So umm..." He clears his throat. "How have you been? How's life?"

"All good." She nods. "Billy, why did you contact me?"

"I told you in the letter it's my birthday and it has been a while since we last saw each other and I thought we should catch up."

"I read the letter." She sighs. "Billy. " She leans forward. She raises her eyebrow at him. "Why did you really contact me?"

Shit!

Billy leans back in his seat. He bites his lip as he thought about how to respond to this.

"When we last spoke I said I would be 18 soon and maybe we could..." He does the phone gesture. "Do you remember that?"

"I do. So what you are saying is you want to have sex with me? "

"No not like that it's just..." He sighs.

Just spit it out.

"I have these dreams. Me, you together like this only difference is you were wearing your superhero stuff. We talk about things, get to know each other then...it's get more heated? Passionate but...every time we are about to...do it I wake up. It is annoying as Hell. I thought now that I am 18 I am now an adult I can do whatever the Hell I like I thought maybe I could finally finish that dream."

"So you do want to have sex with me?"

"Uh...yeah." Billy silently cursed to himself.

I must sound like a creep.

He can already imagine Freddy's face if he told him what he just confessed to Wonder Woman. If Wonder Woman decided to run out of this restaurant Billy wouldn't blame her at all. He made himself sound like a right weirdo. Instead Diana stayed in her seat. Her face is blank Billy didn't know what she is feeling right now. That made Billy feel even more anxious.

A minute later Diana sighs heavily.

"Billy. You are just a kid."

"18." Billy gestures to himself. "Not a kid anymore."

"Compared to me, you are very young."

"Well Freddy's girlfriend is over 6000 years old."

Diana couldn't argue with that.

The boy had a fair point.

"But still..." She again sighs. "It is not right."

"It's not like I look 18. I'm in a full grown man's body so it wouldn't look weird or anything...It never looks weird in my dreams. " He muttered the last part.

"How often do you have these dreams?" Diana asked.

"Every night." He answered without hesitation.

Now I really sound like a creep.

"Look. " Billy gives her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"Billy, I'm sure you are not the first person to dream about me." She replied with a slight laugh. "I know lots of men and women who wish to sleep with me."

"Men and women, you are very popular then."

Billy looks down at himself again. His cheeks go from pink to red. He is feeling embarrassed.

Diana tilts her head. She frowns.

"You really want this?" When Billy didn't reply Diana decided to ask another question. "Have you ever done it before?"

"Sex." Billy couldn't look her in the eye. "No."

"You are a virgin?" Diana shakes her head. "Wouldn't you prefer to lose your virginity to someone special?"

"But you are special." Billy looks up at her with wide eyes. "I mean you are Wonder Woman and you are...you are..."

Beautiful, hot, gorgeous.

Billy couldn't get the words out. Diana however seem to understand what he is trying to convey to her. At that moment Diana didn't see a cocky lad trying to get into her underwear instead she saw a boy with a crush. She is his first crush. While these dreams he had pleased him it also frustrated him as well.

Diana can already sense the sexual tension from him he couldn't even sit straight. As he spoke to her his legs shook under the table and his eyes kept going to her chest. While Diana is flattered by the attention part of her felt she needed to put a stop to it right now. If Billy was ever going to join her team one day they needed to be professional he couldn't follow her around like a lapdog with big heart eyes.

With a dramatic sigh Diana places her hands on the table.

"I usually don't allow this but as it is your birthday I am willing to make an expectation. I will help you finish your dream."

Billy's head shot up with surprise. His mouth hung open.

"You will?" He whispered in shock.

"There will be some rules." She answered with a stern tone. "This will be a one time deal. You are not getting anymore out of me kid once we do this it's over. We never speak of this again."

"Okay." Billy nodded.

"Two we'll do this my way. As it is your first time it is probably for the best if I take charge. "

"Yeah that makes sense."

"Three no kissing."

Billy's shoulders slumped at that.

"I would prefer it if we keep this mutual." Diana added. "No strings attached."

"Of...Of course." Billy replied respecting her decision. "But the rest is fine?"

"The rest is indeed fine my dear boy." She places her hand over his. Her lips form into a seductive smirk. "Whenever you are ready just say the word. "

"Oh..." Billy laughs. "Right umm wow okay straight to business I see um..."

He stands up. Diana follows shortly afterwards. She presses her body against his. Her smirk widens.

"Lead the way kid."

Without hesitation Billy takes Diana by her hand and takes her out of the restaurant. He gives the Chef a thumbs up along the way. Once they reached outside Billy wraps his arms around Diana and they both shoot up into the sky.

..........................

Diana stood in front of the bed with her hands on her hips. Billy is on the bed completely naked and still in his adult form.

"You know the password?" Diana asked.

Billy swallows and nods.

"Sunflower."

She smiles.

"That's right. Good."

Billy suddenly felt nervous. He has never done this before what if he screws up? What if he makes a fool of himself? What if he loses control of his powers and hurts someone?

Shit I didn't think about that!

"Billy?" Diana looked at him with concern. "You okay?"

He answered with a sigh.

"What if I mess this up?"

"You won't ." Diana assured him. "Because I will be here to help you."

Billy smiled sheepishly but the doubt remained in his eyes.

"Thanks."

"It will come to you." Diana nods. "It is an natural instinct." She suddenly reaches out and wraps her fingers around his cock. She then smirks. "I see you already halfway there."

She strokes his length. The touch caused him to shiver. She gives him another stroke before stepping back. She then starts to undress herself.

Billy straightened up as the layers of clothing slip of her.

A gasp escapes his lips as she removes her bra followed by her underwear. His eyes widen as she steps into the spotlight and peers down at him.

Holy fuck!

Billy eyes her up and down. He takes in every part of her. Her muscular toned body, her perfectly shaped breasts. He bit down on his lip hard as he looks at her vagina.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

His mind goes into overdrive. Scenarios of imagining himself in her raced through his mind. The thought of it both excited him and scared him.

"You like what you see?" She grinned.

He gazes up at her. His face full of wonder and awe.

"Mommy."

She raises an eyebrow at that.

She then removes the clip from her hair. Billy watched as her hair falls down on to her shoulders.

"Wow." He muttered to himself. "Can I?"

Diana leans forward. Billy reaches out and grasps on to a lock of her hair. He runs his fingers through it.

"So soft." He said with childlike awe.

"Billy." She cups his chin and gets him to look at her. "Are you going to be a good boy for me?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes ma'am."

"That's what I like to hear." She runs her hand along his chest as she climbs on to the bed. She sits on top of him and eyes his body up and down. "The Gods have blessed you. You do indeed look very well."

Billy smiles nervously.

"I work out."

Her hands return to his cock.

"Diana."

"Shh!" She places a finger on his lips. "Relax."

He nods a little.

Diana turns back to his length. She draws him into her mouth. Billy watched with a mixture of horror and fascination as she took him in whole. She at first choked as his length hit the back of her throat. She is surprised at how big he is then once Diana got comfortable she begun to suck his cock.

"Crap! Fuck!" Billy hissed.

Diana head bops up and down as she sucked and teased him. She then slips her hand around his balls and starts to squeeze them.

Another curse comes out of Billy's lips. The young superhero turns his head from side to side as he tried to process what is happening to him right now. He still couldn't believe this is truly happening he felt at any minute now everything around him will fall apart and he will wake up. This is all nothing but a dream, a fantasy.

No. This is real. He then pinched himself. Yeah I felt that. This is real definitely real.

He sighs with happiness. Pure joy shows on his face.

Hell yeah! Yeah...YES!

"Don't stop!" He quickly said as he saw Diana slowing down. "Don't."

He closes his eyes and moans with delight as she increased in speed again.

"Man that feels so good." He thought out loud.

Moments later Diana removes herself from him. She made a loud pop sound as she comes out. Billy groans at the loss of contact.

"No."

Diana goes back on top of him again.

"Did you enjoy that birthday boy?" She asked.

"Yes." He replied his voice high pitched.

"Hmm?"

"Yes...ma'am." He squeaked.

She strokes his hair and studies his face. His cheeks are flushed pink, sweat is forming above his brow, his lips are trembling and his eyes are pleading, begging for more.

"You want more?" She asked.

"Yes! "

"Yes what?"

"Yes please."

She smiles at that.

"I like a boy with good manners." She tilts her head. "Do you want me to be happy Billy? "

"Of course I want you to be happy. " Billy replied with a frown.

What kind of a question is that?

"Do you want to please me Billy?"

Please? Where is this going?

Billy gave her a cocky grin. He didn't want her to see his confusion.

"I aim to please. " He smirked.

Diana moves towards him. She then sits down on top of his face.

"Then please me!" She growled.

Her response sent a jolt of electricity through him. The rasp and growl in her voice sounded so hot!

Letting natural instincts take over Billy suddenly reaches out and latches on to her. He bites down on her folds and begins fucking her with his tongue.

"Fuck!" Diana cursed.

Diana throws her head back as Billy hungrily licked her up and down. He pushes his tongue deep inside her and slides it up, down and around her vagina.

Diana pushes herself down on to him. She moans as he sucks on to her wet folds.

"Good! So good Billy! Keep going! " She praised him.

He obeyed and kept going.

His hands go on to her ass. He squeezes her ass cheeks tight. Diana again moans and drops her head forward.

Billy brushed himself against her hair. He breathed in her shampoo and fragrance.

Smells like roses. He thought. Like the roses I gave her.

He then grins.

So she does like roses!

"That's it! " Diana sighs with pleasure. "You are doing well my dear boy so well!"

Eventually Diana climbs of the bed.

"For your first attempt you did very good I am impressed. Well done. " Diana said with a nod and smile.

Billy beamed back at her. He cherished the praise he received from her.

"Now." Diana continued. "Do you have a condom?"

"Condom?...Oh...Yeah! Yeah I do. Hold on."

Once Billy had the condom on Diana goes between his legs.

"Are you ready for this?" She asked.

He nods he now looked more confident.

"Yes ma'am."

Diana then lowers herself on to him. A sign escapes her lips as he goes inside her. She then starts to ride him.

Billy lifts his hips to allow him to meet Diana for each thrust. He gasps when he felt the first thrust. The feelings of pleasure and delight immediately course through his body.

"You want me Billy?"

"I do."

"You really want me? "

"I do I so do." He moaned.

She leans forward. Her breasts are inches away from his face.

"Show me!" She ordered.

Billy pulls her in by her waist and consumes her nipple with his mouth. He sucks hard on it and teases her other nipple with his hand. This caused Diana to pick up the pace. Billy quickly followed after her as he continued to bite her already swollen nipples.

"SO GOOD! FUCK!" Diana screamed.

Her scream made him turn feral.

He devoured her body taking in every part of her while she continued to fuck him. He sucked and teased all her sensitive areas. She responded by pulling at his hair hard.

That made Billy growl. He increases his grip on her when he felt her shaking above him.

"You enjoying that?" He asked sounding smug.

"Just shut up and fuck me!"

Billy laughs.

"You got it! Anything for you Wonder Woman."

The bed squeaked as the super powered couple poured all their energy and strength into this. Several lamps fall on the ground, books tumble of the shelves, clothes fly out of the wardrobe.

Suddenly Billy felt a strange feeling forming at the bottom of his stomach. He felt himself becoming full down there. It took several moments for Billy to realize what he needed to do.

"Diana!" He gasped. "I need to...I need to cum!"

He looks up at her seeking her permission. Diana nods at him.

"Do it."

When Billy let go Diana let go as well. Screams echoed around the room as the two superheroes let it all out.

"Fuck!" Billy cursed.

As soon as those words left Billy's mouth a bolt of lightning suddenly shoots out of his hand and blasts straight into the wall.

The wall crumbles and crashes down on the ground.

Billy grits his teeth.

"Whoops."

"OH MY GOD!" Someone yelled with horror.

A couple a man and a woman stood where the wall once was. They stared at the two superheroes in shock.

Billy is the first to scream. He jumps out of bed and grabs a blanket to wrap around himself. His reaction made the couple scream as well.

"WHAT THE HELL? "

"MY GOD MY GOD!"

"HEY CAN YOU LIKE TURN AROUND OR SOMETHING I'M NAKED!" Billy screamed at them.

"YOU JUST BROKE THE DAMM WALL! YOU SON OF A BITCH! " The man glared at him.

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

"YOU STILL BROKE THE FUCKING WALL!"

Diana quickly grabs the covers and wraps it around herself. She then runs over to the wardrobe and starts to push it.

"I'm sorry." She told the couple. "We'll pay for the damages I promise."

Diana does one final push and the wardrobe successfully covers the hole Billy caused.

"I'm sorry!" Billy yelled at the couple.

The young superhero again grits his teeth. He is blushing pink with embarrassment. He then gives Diana an apologetic look.

"I am so sorry." He sighs. "I knew I was gonna mess this up!"

"It's fine." She assured him. "And you didn't mess up. You did well. "

Billy smiles.

"Really?"

"Really what?" She frowned at him.

"The..." He then laughs. "Oh I get it, the deal never speak of this again. Got it." He does a zip gesture with his mouth. "My lips are sealed."

Diana places her hand on his shoulder. She beamed at him.

"Happy Birthday Billy."

Billy nods.

"Thank you Diana. Thank you for making my dreams come true. "

She slowly nods.

"Now... " She said changing the subject. She gestures to the room. "Are you going to help me tidy up?"

Billy responds with a cheeky grin.

"Yes ma'am. "

The End

[puppetwoman17]

So at first I was happy. I know it’s not a popular take, but I like it when Cap and Billy are one and the same. Not, mind you, what new52 and the recent movies have been doing, where he’s an goofball who says embarrassing stuff. I mean, for example, the JLI comics, Young Justice, JLU.

I like when Cap is Billy without his hard past. When he’s basically Billy, but with magic. He still as his childish charm, but he also doesn’t let it take over his hero persona. It’s a little more complicated than that. I don’t know how to word it right. Basically, he’s Billy+MORE. That’s all I can really say.

However, when it comes to the PHYSICAL forms, I’m in agreement with @captaineverypower. I love that the champion forms are what they see as the best versions of themselves. Freddy is already confident, he doesn’t care about growing up because he thinks he’s done good for himself. In the PoS comics, I see Mary as looking somewhat like Marilyn Batson, but she still looks like herself(which is not that big of a stretch because hello, that’s her mom).

Billy is where the concept really takes shape. In most comic continuities, even the new one, Cap looks exactly like C.C. Batson. Even in the Magiclands comics, I tell you! A little different, but mostly the same. He always saw his father as this perfect man, this hero. Even Shazam did.

Now, taking away that, since modern C.C. Is unfortunately a deadbeat, it could still work if Cap just looks like an older Billy.

While I’m not so happy that the forms have taken this turn, I have always enjoyed Cap and Billy being closer than just two different beings. Mostly because when it’s like that, I feel like Billy isn’t the one doing those things. I feel like viewing them as two separate people diminishes what Billy has done and sacrificed. Like he’s just a vessel and not the person doing these good deeds.

As always, I probably wrote this ina way that no one understands. That’s my bad😅.

Is it just me who doesn’t really like this change??

I feel like when they sub consciously chose their forms it fit better into their story’s than just them being their grown up selves for more wisdom. Ya get what I’m sayin?

[pegasister60]

NO. 16 NO WAY OUT

Mind Control | Paralytic Drugs | "No one's coming."

--

Billy's still in there. They've taken control of his body and thus his powers but he's not brainwashed. He knows right from wrong, he doesn’t want to do any of this. He just can’t move.

--

You feel like screaming.

You were so close, so fucking close, to breaking that dumb sorcerer of the week’s staff. 

If you’d managed to snag it you could’ve snapped it over your knee, charred the remains into some unrecognizable crisps, and then hit the guy through a wall and called it a day.

Instead, you’ve been crammed further into your own headspace than you’ve ever been in your life and you’re currently rushing back to front while your body probably moves without you. Which, y’know, wouldn’t normally be at all alarming—Marvel and Mercury take point by themselves in a number of do or die situations and you are comfortable with that—if it weren’t for the fact that the person moving you is about to make you kill your coworkers.

So, yeah, internal screaming is appropriate here.

You feel Solomon pull you to the front and it saves you from getting lost on your way back. You nearly slam into the controls but manage to keep from hitting them hip first.

You’re a little surprised Marvel isn’t here but it makes sense. You were both fronting when the spell made contact so it stands to reason you both got tossed to the back. Solomon can bring him to front, you’ve got to rip this fucker a new one.

Except you can’t.

Nothing’s working. You can’t move, you can’t speak, you’re not even sure the body’s breathing. The degree of control the spell has over you is fucking alarming and were it not for Achilles showing up to do his job you’d probably get pulled from front until you calm down.

There’s a bright side to this situation: the sorcerer probably can’t read your mind and thus has no idea that you’re about to conspire against him with your headmates instead of blindly following along. So you have privacy to think of a way out of this while Marvel appears beside you to keep an eye on the situation outside.

So, the facts.

Your body isn’t responding to attempts to front from you or Marvel at all. You don’t normally think about what it feels like to move an arm but having nothing happen at all is a deeply unsettling feeling. You feel Achilles brush that aside for you and focus on other aspects of your situation.

You call for the slightest bit of lightning and none crackles from your fingertips despite Zeus’ efforts. That’s a bummer because your body is currently being made to carry the sorcerer a state over and it’d be cool if you could shock him into dropping his staff or something. But that’s a no-go.

The guy can clearly make use of your blessings given that flight and the Speed of Mercury are active. Mercury himself is none too pleased about this and is swearing up a storm of curses in the corner. This is not reassuring.

Solomon reminds you that the League may not be a match for Captain Marvel but they’re certainly enough to handle the sorcerer. And with that there’s the start of a plan.

Marvel is still trying to use the controls and you just let him. Achilles will step in if he gets any more distraught about this and you’d gladly settle for the Courage of Billy Batson if Marvel needs the blessing more.

Instead, you focus on the outside. 

Of course this guy made you fly straight to Metropolis. He wants you to take out Superman before any back-up can come and then annihilate the back-up. You want to tell him to fucking shove it, but instead your arms set him down on a rooftop and you’re scanning the sky.

You reach forward in the hope that maybe now that you’re further from the staff that you can do something. No dice.

Instead, you feel a stab of helplessness that Achilles can’t touch as Superman comes in sight.

It’s an immediate shift. The air crackles with magic that should be yours alone and in a delayed reaction you are filled with rage. How fucking dare this guy do this to you, to Captain Marvel. The fucking audacity to think he can disrupt your headspace like this and keep his knees.

“When this starts working again I’m going to beat him into the ground.” You look at the room’s other occupants. “And you’re all going to let me.”

It’s not even a demand. It's a fact. This sorcerer’s a dead man walking.

Hercules claps a hand on your shoulder.

He moves back from where you hadn’t even noticed him trying to fight off the control. He can’t do it, it’s not control of the mind or of emotions. That guy is out there puppeting your body and powers only in such an infuriating loophole. But at least your head’s clear again. You’ll revisit your homicidal rage later.

Oh, wow, you didn’t even realize the body’s been fighting Superman for a hot second. Stuff is on fire and everything.

The other thing you can be grateful for is that the sorcerer clearly doesn’t know your real strengths. 

Yeah, he’s making the body sling the Power of Zeus’ lightning at Superman and that’s gotta hurt, but he’s not using it to power up the Strength of Hercules. 

The Speed of Mercury could definitely be stacked on both of them to make a flurry of devastating blows that would put Supes in the infirmary for days. Instead it’s just being used to make the body zip around and dodge blows.

And since the guy can’t read your mind, he can’t access the Wisdom of Solomon. Small mercies.

You’re not paying super close attention to the fight itself anymore—it’s too crowded in front now for you to see—and are instead hanging back with Solomon as you try to find flaws in the plan. Well, besides the glaring one.

You really, really don’t like this plan. It feels like it should be a last ditch effort, but with every grunt of pain you hear from Superman it feels more and more like your only option.

So much of it is just sitting around and waiting. Hoping that your teammates can get you the opening you need.

Because they’re here now. You’re in front again now that everyone else has stepped back to let you see. The Justice League is on the scene and the fight’s moved to the ground, which is great for the plan.

You can only catch glimpses of your teammates but it seems like they’ve engaged the sorcerer. They have correctly identified his bullshit staff as the source of the problem. Solomon offers to tell you its name but you don’t care.

Civilians must have been cleared out of the area and/or fled because now Flash has joined the fight. This is also good for the plan.

You just need two seconds.

You hate this plan, actually. It’d terrify you if Achilles wasn’t right behind you and if Marvel wasn’t right beside you. 

Solomon says it’s the best option. Marvel says it’ll be okay. Achilles tells you to be brave.

So, when the staff gets knocked out of the sorcerer’s hands, you don’t hesitate. You lunge forward for the controls and fight through the lingering stiffness to say the name.

“Shazam!”

Relief floods you as the lightning strikes and reverts you to your small form. You’ve never been more happy to be small and frail and malnourished than when you feel the spell take hold again.

You don’t even care that that asshole just made your small form break its good hand trying to punch the Man of Steel, though Atlas is certainly feeling it. You’re laughing and it’s edging towards sounding hysterical.

It’s a pyrrhic victory that feels more like a loss when you watch Superman process what just happened. What it means.

Achilles grips your shoulder tightly to keep you from freaking out at the look of absolute rage on Superman’s face. Supes turns that gaze on someone you can’t see behind you and walks right past your small form’s attempts to harm him.

Damn, the sorcerer might not even have knees by the time you get your turn.

--

Whumptober: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, ALT 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, ALT 1, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

[daydreamerdrew]

Some of various criticisms I’ve seen over the months since The New Champion of Shazam! was announced towards its premise of Mary becoming Shazam have really bugged me.

I really believe that New Champion is the first good direction the main universe Marvel/Shazam Family has been taken in for two decades.

There are of course people who are taking issue with Mary becoming the main hero because she’s a girl taking a boy’s title which is just… ugh.

Others who aren’t making it about Mary being a girl but prefer still Billy and want him to stay the lead, which I just can’t relate to. Obviously I am a Mary fan and so am happy that she’s getting the spotlight, but I absolutely adore Pre-Crisis Billy and also love 90s Post-Crisis Billy and do not care whether or not the current Billy lives or dies. He is not salvageable to me. Moving on to Mary, who is almost a clean slate, is the right choice for the brand.

I’ve also seen people who are happy with Mary getting the spotlight, but don’t like her as Shazam specifically and want her to still be Mary Marvel, which bugs me because I haven’t liked Billy as Shazam at all but the way Mary as Shazam has been presented so far seems really cool. And I love Mary, I love the name Mary Marvel, but it doesn’t make sense for her to be using that title right now. She’s using the name Shazam specifically because she’s becoming the new champion of Shazam, as in the main champion of Shazam. It’s the premise of the book, they can’t have this exact same comic but give Mary a different hero name.

I think the only fans that really have any grounds to complain about Mary taking over the main Shazam role in New Champion are the people who were genuinely enjoying Tim Sheridan’s writing of Billy Batson across his various books and wanted more of that instead.

Like, any fans who are exclusively classic fans that are only interested in comics starring the original version of Captain Marvel should just… shut up. They weren’t enjoying any of the New 52 or Rebirth comics anyway, so why complain about this new direction that is moving away from something you weren’t liking.

I’m not saying that the miniseries is immune from all criticism, just that these complaints that I’ve listed above bother me.

[precursorgod]

Robin Batson (no relation to Batman and Robin)

“If one more person goes ‘Hey, you should change your name’ I’m gonna mcfuckin’ lose it. Gonna become a Rogue. Gonna become No-U-Change-Your-Name-man. That’s my— that’s my Roguesona. No-U-Change-Your-Name-man. Makes people change their names at gunpoint. Nyehehe, you’ll never catch me alive, Batman! And my first victim will be the other Robin. I was here first, motherfucker! I’m not going through all the trouble of a legal name change just because ten, fifteen years ago some teenage fuckwit went ‘Oh, you know what would be a great idea? Making a common given name my superhero codename’!”

Bruce Wayne blinks down at me, nonplussed, as one does when some rando plops down in the seat next to them at a funeral wake and starts ranting about becoming a Rogue.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure, Mis…?”

He trails off, uncertain of what title to use. Gender is a social construct.

I flip my ponytail over my shoulder and stick my hand out. I smile.

“Hi, I’m Robin Batson. No relation to the vigilantes Batman and Robin. Yes relation to the corpse in the coffin and also your newly discovered biokid. Uh, relation to your newly discovered biokid; you and I, share nothing but space. And words too now, I guess.”

Recognition dawns on his face. Bruce breaks into a big himbo smile as he grasps my hand and shakes it enthusiastically.

“Ah, Dotty’s oldest! I was wondering when I’d get to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you!”

Dear gods, this man really does give off overgrown puppy energy. Enthusiastic husky vibes. If I didn’t know what I did, I’d also think someone insane if they tried to tell me Bruce Wayne was Batman.

“All bad things, I hope. I’ve heard lots about you too, Brucie.”

I’ve surprised him with my overfamiliarity. Teenagers don’t typically call people twice their age by a diminutive right off the bat. Heh, bat.

“Of course not! Dotty had nothing but good things to say about you. I’m sorry you couldn’t be there for her final moments.”

Ooh, is that passive-aggressiveness I hear? Why weren’t you there for her final moments?

Dorothy “Dotty” Batson, née Chang. Married to and widowed by Benjamin Batson, older brother of C.C. Batson, father of Billy Batson aka Captain Marvel. She would have taken my cousin in after he was orphaned, but as a single mother with two kids and related only through marriage, CPS wouldn’t let her. Two months ago, she was told she only had two months to live. One week ago, she died.

“Ah, well,” I shrug. “That’s life. Never where you need to be when you need to be. You know how it is.”

He does know how it is. I can almost see the flashback to Jason’s death playing in the man’s head.

“Robbie.”

It’s my younger sister. Half-sister. Finnley Batson. Black hair, hazel eyes, eleven years old. Like me, a halfie. Our asian mother had a thing for white guys. Her eyes are red-rimmed and her nails are ragged. She’s followed by twenty-something Dick Grayson and thirteen-year-old Damian Wayne. Two months ago, I received a message from Dotty informing me she’d told my sister about her biodad. I’d known from the start. It’s not every day someone you know has a breakdown about having been accidentally knocked up by a billionaire during an earlier breakdown. Check your condoms, people.

“Finny.”

I take off my sunglasses and hook them in my collar. With black hair and blue eyes, I probably look more like the stereotypical Wayne child than she does. The only red rimming my eyes is from the scarlet eyeliner I applied earlier.

I haven’t cried since I was a baby. All my tears were used up mourning my first life, probably.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Finny explodes.

“Where were you?! I sent that email asking you to come back two months ago! Mum held on as long as she could! She wanted to see you one last time! She wanted you to come back! She believed you’d come back in time. But you didn’t! You never do!” She sniffs and wipes her eyes roughly. “Did you care about her at all?”

I avert my eyes. I was fond of Dotty, but I never could let her be my mother the way she was Finny’s mother.

“Oh my god. You don’t.”

Finny’s crying again. Her hands are clenched and her face is flushed.

“You don’t care about her, you don’t care about me, you don’t care about anyone but yourself! I hate you! I hate you I hate you I hate you! I never want to see you again!”

What am I supposed to say to that?

“Yeah, that’s fair.”

Not that, apparently.

Finny screams and storms off. Damian throws me a glare and runs after her. Dick lingers. I put my sunglasses back on.

“Dick Grayson.” I nod at him.

“Robin Batson.” He nods back. There’s a strange look on his face when he says my name. Dick glances towards where Damian is comforting(?) Finny. He’s rubbing her back while leading her to a quieter place and sending me nasty looks. If looks could kill… Are double funerals a thing?

“She doesn’t mean that,” Dick tells me. I shake away the image of a double decker coffin and tune back in. “She doesn’t hate you. She’s just grieving. Give her a little time.”

I blink at him. I tilt my head.

“Whoa dude,” I say. “Ever heard of Eldest Daughter Syndrome?”

“I do not have Eldest Daughter Syndrome.” The denial is so quick in coming that there’s no way he’s not been told that before, many, many times.

“Do.”

Cassandra Wayne pipes up from the left, scaring the shit out of me. I clutch at my chest.

“Dear gods, where did you come from?” I wheeze.

“Sorry.”

She’s not sorry.

“I do not have Eldest Daughter Syndrome,” Dick repeats.

“You kinda do, Dick,” Tim Drake(-Wayne?) says, from the right. Him (my favourite boy!!!), I saw coming.

This is more canon characters than I am willing to deal with in my immediate vicinity. I stand up abruptly.

“Good chat,” I announce. “Thanks for looking after my sister, please continue to do so in the future, I don’t live in Gotham—or anywhere, really—but I’ll drop by once in a while to see Finny so make sure your security doesn’t shoot me on sight or whatever. See ya.”

I turn and walk straight into my social worker. Yelena Orlova glowers down at me.

“Robin Batson.”

Aw, fuck.

“Oh my god, what is that thing?!” I shriek, pointing over her shoulder. She doesn’t fall for it (again) but it does distract her momentarily. I bolt.

“Stop! Don’t let him—”

“Her!” I yell, dodging a guest.

“—her—”

“‘Him’ now.” I duck under someone’s arm.

“—him—”

“Whoops, ‘her’ again.” A security guard tries to straight up tackle me. I leapfrog over him.

“Robin!” Yelena finally settles on. “Don’t let Robin escape!”

That’s not an uncommon thing to hear yelled in Gotham. But in broad daylight, at a funeral wake, by a short blonde in a pencil skirt and heels?

I cackle. “Suck my dick, CPS!”

The wake is being held on the sixth storey of a hotel. I pass Finny and Damian in an alcove and backtrack while rummaging through my pockets.

“Hereasouvenirpleasedon’tbemadatmeokayBYE!”

I return to running after tossing a package crudely wrapped in newspaper at my sister. I hope she likes it. She yelps and fumbles it, but it’s safely caught by Damian.

I’m nearly at the stairs when suddenly:

Cassandra Wayne.

Where the fuck did she come from?

I scream as I grab a nearby doorway and launch myself back in the direction I came from. I zoom past Finny and Damian again.

Is that Jason fucking Todd?

The man nearly fills the corridor. His feet are firmly planted on the ground and his arms are loose at his sides. Around, under, over, through; whatever I pick, I’ll be caught. With the Red Hood in front of me and Black Bat behind me, there’s only one option left.

I jerk left, run up the wall one, two steps, and launch myself back first through the window on the right. Through the shattered glass falling with me, I see Cassandra, Damian, and Jason reaching for me, eyes wide and panicked. Finny, standing further back, just looks exasperated.

I twist in the air. I land, roll, and pop right back up, hands in the air like a gymnast.

Being invulnerable is great!

I spin and bow to my adoring (horrified) audience with a flourish.

The window I jumped through is near the windows of the room the wake’s being held in. Dick is half out the window, only held back by the hand Bruce has clamped onto his shoulder, and looking incredibly pale. Oops. Didn’t mean to trigger him.

They’re not the only ones looking at me. People in the hotel, people in the street, people in the nearby buildings; a lot more people than I thought witnessed my little self-defenestration.

More importantly, Yelena is also watching me.

“You’ll never catch me alive, CPS!” I say, flipping the double bird.

She mouths something that looks a lot like ‘We’ll catch you dead, then’. I’d like to see her try.

I shake the glass debris off my clothes, give my audience a two fingered salute goodbye, and run off in a random direction.

[pulaasul]

The Magic Word and the Triwizard Tournament

Billy covers the entirety of the Triwizard Tournament while he, as Captain Marvel, investigates the mystery behind Harry's inclusion into the said tournament.

Ao3 I FFN

---------

"Very Good Colin."

Colin preened at the praise as he and Harry got inside an empty classroom, desks pushed aside, leaving a big space in the middle apart from the velvet covered black board facing five velvet desks and chairs.

"I try to Mr. Batson sir."

Ludo Bagman stood at one end of the black board talking to a witch in green while Durmstrang's champion sat at the classroom's corner, silent as the grave. Beaxbaton's champion, Fleur Delacour was animatedly talking with Hogwarts's other champion, Cedric Diggory. In another corner, Colin was animatedly discussing things with William Batson, the writer from the Mudblood Magazine.

"Champion number four!" Bagman declared, gaining everyone's attention. "Come on closer Harry, we're here for two things, publicity and the wand weighing ceremony."

"Wand weighing?" Harry questioned.

"Wands are a wizard's or witch's most important tool, is it not?" Bagman grinned. "We're just checking if they're all fully functional," He assured. "The expert's with Headmaster Dumbledore, they will be here soon."

"Not going to introduce me Ludo?" The witch in green outfit prompted.

Viktor, interested at what was going on, stood behind Cedric and Fleur.

"Sorry, this is Rita Skeeter." Bagman introduced.

"I am Rita Skeeter, I write for the Daily Prophet." Skeeter pushed Bagman a little sideways and approached the three champions. "You probably heard of it." She smiled as she shook each champion's hand. "It's you we don't know." She approached the Potter, and dragged him towards the other three champions. "You're the juicy news."

Harry couldn't help but wince at the remark. He's been the 'juicy news' since he was a year old, supposedly killing Voldemort. He'd rather have someone else take the spotlight, someone have eternal glory, thank you very much.

"What quirks lurk beneath those rosy cheek?" Skeeter continued her spiel as she brushed Fleur's cheeks. "What mysteries do the muscles mask?" She squeezed Cedric's and Viktor's respective shoulders. "Does courage lie beneath those curls?" She ruffled Harry's already messy hair. "In short, what makes a champion tick? Me myself and I want to know, not to mention my rabid readers." She chuckled.

"That's all well and good Rita, but would you respect our champions' personal spaces?" William smiled. "Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter we meet again."

"Hello Mr. Batson." Cedric and Harry greeted.

"Because you're an 'oh so established news magazine'." Rita growled.

"We may have struggled for a few months Rita, but our article about Pettigrew and the subsequent articles has since turned out to be such a big hit that we had to reprint for more." William grinned at the witch. "But alas, today's not about us, it's about them." William gestured at the champions.

"For our lovely guests, I am William Joseph Batson, writer and editor-in-chief of the Mudblood." William smiled as he noticed the Bulgarian and Frenchwoman's narrowed eyes. "Yes, I am quite aware that it's a word not used in polite society." He assured the two champions. "However, it is my firm belief that I can turn something bad into something good, just like how we can make stones into a flock of birds."

"I'd like you four to meet my Photographer for this article and the subsequent articles for the Triwizard Tournament, Mr. Colin Creevey."

"You're having a child do an adult's work?"

"A professional starts somewhere Rita, why not have Mr. Creevey start as early as now."

"I really thank you for this opportunity Mr. Batson." Colin expressed his gratitude then flashed a picture of his mentor.

"Please Colin, you can call me William like we agreed to last year." The man simply ruffled Colin's hairs. "The Headmaster is already aware of this, the Triwizard Tournament won't be my article, it'll be nephew's, he's just using the loo."

"And where would you be?" Rita challenged.

"There are a lot of events happening in the Wizarding World Rita, hence we delegate." William smiled. "In any case, my nephew's at the same age as Mr. Diggory, Colin I trust that you take care of my nephew."

"You can count on me William."

"I'll be off now." William exited the room.

Rita was speechless at the man's audacity, trivializing the resurrection of a long time event such as the Triwizard tournament.

Well his loss.

A moment later, a boy entered the classroom, wearing muggle clothes to boot.

"Billy Batson at your service." The boy introduced himself with a salute.

Harry couldn't help himself but snort at the boy's antics. He could tell that he was mocking a lot of shows on the telly.

"Hey Billy, your uncle paired us up again."

"Holy Moley! That true Colin? Neat!"

"Batson sends a child to do his job?" Rita exclaimed. "How unprofessional can he be?!" She stomped her way towards the newcomer. "Aren't you supposed to be in a school young man?"

"Actually no Ms. Skeeter." Billy replied politely. "Uncle William is home schooling me using the things he learned at Ilvermorny, besides I'm already of age, hardly a child don't you think?"

"You're American? He attended Ilvermorny?"

"Born and raised." Billy shrugged. "Enough about me, this day isn't about me, it's about them." He gestured to the champions.

"If you don't mind Ludo, I'd start my interviews with the youngest champion." Rita humphed before she dragged Harry away from the group.

"If you don't mind Mr. Diggory." Billy smiled.

"Sure." Cedric shrugged.

---------

It was right after dinner that the four champions convened with Colin and Billy. The Creevey just got permission to be out past curfew for a magazine interview.

"Did you guys bring with you your garbs for the tournament?" Billy greeted the champions.

"Oui." Fleur frowned. "I still don't know why we need to bring our swimwear."

"Oh that's because we wanted to use stock photos of you in all your possible outfits during the tournament." Billy handed the champions a piece of parchment. "Historically speaking, the Triwizard Tournament features tasks from three of the four elements: air, water, earth and fire."

"I get it!" Colin exclaimed. "Since there's water involved, you think they'd have to be in a swimwear at some point."

"Correct Colin!" Billy grinned. "I would have given points for that answer." He chuckled.

"Vhat avut the dress roves?" Viktor raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing, just wanted to take a picture of the champions in dress robes." Billy shrugged.

"In any case, we'll have your pictures taken now, in lieu of everyone's curfew, which has long passed, my uncle has already talked to the Headmaster and Heads of Houses and has exempted you from the curfew." Billy took out a muggle pen and notepad. "So is Colin actually, but unlike you four, he's not a champion, so he needs to be back into the dorms after taking your pictures."

With everything out of the way, Colin took everyone's pictures with the all the outfits they brought. From their normal athletic wears to their formal garbs. He took the champions photographs individually and as a group.

Harry was about to change back into his Hogwarts's robes when Colin noticed a beetle on the Potter's hair.

"Hey Harry, you have a beetle on your hair."

"Really?!" Billy groaned.

Billy faced the four champions, at Cedric specifically.

"Mr. Diggory, my uncle told me that you are adept in revealing charms, able to undo someone's transfiguration spell, like those of the animagi."

"I won't say 'good' but Mr. Batson did have me use one on the rat that turned out to be Peter Pettigrew." Cedric humbly replied.

"Could you please use one on that flying beetle?" Billy pointed at the beetle that was flying away from the group.

"Revelio."

Soon enough, the beetle turned into Rita Skeeter, writer for the Daily Prophet.

"Holy Moley! William was right, he told me you'd stoop this low Ms. Skeeter, but wow."

"What my rabid readers need are juicy news, not like a child knows about that."

"True, William always told me that we don't really care about the so-called 'juicy news' Ms. Skeeter, we just care about the truth, and apparently you don't."

"This isn't over Batson!" Rita growled as she stomped inside the castle.

"Glad you noticed that Colin before the interview could get started." Billy praised. "That's how the one and only Rita Skeeter gets her scoops, through gossip and exaggerations."

"Just trying to do my best Billy." Colin grinned. "I still can't believe Mr. Batson offered me a spot on his news magazine."

"You have yet to process that? Holy Moley! It's been months!" Billy chuckled. "In any case, there aren't many kids your age able to develop moving pictures Colin," He ruffled the younger boy's hair. "My uncle always say, everyone starts somewhere, it just so happen you started early with us."

Colin preened at the praise, he's been doing that lately. He's been doing a lot of that whenever praises go his way.

Colin wasn't blind to all the things about him. He knows that everyone considers him an annoyance, even his hero, Harry Potter, even his younger brother, Dennis. It hurt sometimes but he still persevered and that got him where he was, as the Mudblood's intern photographer.

"It seems your Head of House has come to collect you." Billy pointed at the approaching Professor Mcgonagall.

After exchanging a few goodbyes, Colin went with Gryffindor's head of house and retired to bed, leaving the Triwizard champions with Billy.

"How'd Colin get in the Mudblood?" Harry was confused.

"Professor Mcgonagall endorsed him actually." Billy admitted. "She admitted to being annoyed at him but she also knew that it was one talent that can be developed."

"Good for him." Harry smiled.

"In any case, let's start with the group interview."

Everyone sat on the ground, waiting for the questions.

"What did you feel when it was revealed that there were four champions?" Billy questioned the four champions.

"Cheated." Cedric, Fleur and Viktor immediately answered.

Harry looked down, unable to meet anyone's eyes.

"Care to elaborate?

"'ogwarts 'aving two champions, is most injust!" Fleur declared.

"I agree!" Viktor nodded. "Headmaster Karkaroof vas very angry. Vhat I vant to know is vhy one of Hogvarts's champions feel cheated."

Everyone looked to Cedric, waiting for him to elaborate his answer.

"House Hufflepuff is stereotyped as an unremarkable house, not brave like Gryffindors, not ambitious like Slytherins, not even intelligent like Ravenclaws." Cedric began. "This was supposed to be a small step towards proving them wrong." He admitted.

"How very Hufflepuff of you, loyal to the core." Billy chuckled. "I guess, the Hufflepuffs' humble nature has its downsides."

"I guess it does." Cedric sighed.

"Although, make no mistake, there are a lot of successful Hufflepuffs." Billy grabbed two pieces of parchment from his pants and gave them to Cedric. "Theseus Scamander, the war hero, is a Hufflepuff, same with the author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', Newton Scamander. Both brothers were also present during Grindelwald and Dumbledore's fated duel, assisting your current headmaster."

"Were they really?" Cedric asked.

"For both Hufflepuffs, actions speak louder than words." Billy smiled at Cedric's reaction. "Make no mistake Cedric, Hufflepuffs are in no way weak, dumb or lazy, the mere fact that a Hufflepuff is in the tournament is a testament of that."

Harry couldn't help but sink even lower at the words exchanged. He knew of the stereotypes the Hufflepuffs were receiving, even Hagrid said that they were an unremarkable bunch.

"What about you Harry?" Billy turned to the youngest Champion. "What did you feel?"

"Scared." Harry immediately answered.

"That's new, even moreso from a Gryffindor."

"I did not put my name into the cup." Harry immediately followed up. "I'm more inclined to believe that someone set me up to die in this stupid tournament, like Professor Moody suggested."

Fleur gasped at the declaration.

"Who would want to kill a little boy like you?" Fleur questioned.

"I don't know. All I know is that I did not put my name into that stupid cup."

The three other champions looked at the youngest boy in their group. The fear Harry was projecting was very genuine in their opinion.

There was also the issue of the age line, the Weasley twins' aging potion did not even work and immediately expelled the both of them from the age line's premises.

"Okay, moving on." Billy shook his head. "What does everyone expect the tournament to be like?"

All four champions were silent for a moment, mulling over the question.

"Dangerous." Viktor grinned.

"Challenging." Fleur chirped.

"A Spectacle." Cedric nodded.

"Life-threatening, but I have faith in Professor Dumbledore to keep everyone safe."

"You do know that this tournament is infamous for its death toll, right Harry?" Billy questioned.

"I know that, but Professor Dumbledore won't let anyone get killed." Harry nodded.

Billy shook his head at the boy's blind faith on one man, one elderly man.

"So to summarize, the four of you expects the tournament to be a dangerously life threatening spectacle that challenges its participants?"

"Nice way to summarize our answers." Cedric chuckled.

"Looks like this concludes the interview everyone." Billy declared. "Although my uncle wants you four to meet him here tomorrow after dinner, he said about leveling the playing field."

---------

"And another reason why I like the Mudblood over the Daily Prophet." Hermoine declared as she read through two newspapers.

"Really? Why?" Came Dennis's exuberant question.

"They focus on facts over exaggerations." Hermoine shrugged. "Look." She handed Colin both newspapers for everyone in Gryffindor to see.

----------

The Daily Prophet

Hogwarts's Triwizard Champion – Harry Potter.

By: Rita Skeeter

Harry Potter was the name that the Goblet of Fire revealed to be Hogwarts's Triwizard Champion, despite there being an age line drawn by the Headmaster himself, Albus Dumbleddore. He was asked how he managed to pass through the headmaster's age line, he's tight-lipped and said along the lines of secrets being his to keep.

There is no denying you-know-who's killer is a powerful wizard in his own right, and he continues to astound us with his attendance at Hogwarts's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and his participation in the historical Triwizard Tournament.

When asked about the tournament, this was all he had to say. "I suppose I get my strength from my parents. I know they'd be very proud of me if they could see me now...Yes, sometimes at night I still cry about them, I'm not ashamed to admit it...I know nothing will hurt me during the tournament, because they're watching over me..."

On a different note, Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school.

Animagus Found Dead in Cell

By: Kikis Trecus

----------

The Mudblood

Four Champions, Triwizard Tournament.

By: Billy Batson

In a recent turn of events, the Goblet of Fire revealed four champions instead of three for the revival of the Triwizard Tournament: Durmstrang's Quidditch Sensation, Viktor Krum; Beaubaxton's Exceptional Witch, Fleur Delacour; Hogwarts's Golden Boy, Cedric Diggory; and The-Boy-Who-Lived himself, Harry Potter.

Investigations are still on going to determine who put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire. According to various sources, many underage Wizards and Witches attempted to pass through the age line, which Hogwarts's Headmaster drew around the goblet, through various means including aging potions and transfigurations, all of which were reportedly unsuccessful.

Harry Potter claims to not have put his name into the Goblet, making the reveal that he is school's second champion a surprise to him as anyone else's.

When the champions were asked how they felt about the reveal, all of them, felt cheated. Beaubaxton's and Durmstrang's respective champions felt that the Headmaster of Hogwarts himself cheated so that Hogwarts's can have two champions, the same sentiments were also aired by their respective School Heads.

Hogwarts's other champion, Hufflepuff's very own Cedric Diggory, claimed that this tournament may have been a stepping stone towards eliminating the stereotypes that plagued his house, with the addition of Gryffindor's champion, that all went up in smoke along with any chances to stop the stereotype that lingered.

Found Dead: Unlicensed Animagus

By: Frederick Fawcett

---------

"Are you sure-"

"-it's not-"

"-just your-"

"-bias showing?"

The Weasley twins questioned the Granger as they sat next to each other.

"I assure you, it's not my bias." Hermoine hugged. "Seriously, Harry and I have been on our separate ways a lot of times, I'm at the library, actually studying for my lessons and he's out there either playing Quidditch for the team or procrastinating."

"Someone's prickly." The twins chuckled in unison.

"This isn't fair." Colin whined. "I only told Billy that Harry and Hermoine were very close friends!"

"Exhibit number two." Hermoine gestured towards Colin with a raised eyebrow.

"The question is, how was she able to get these information?" Hermoine narrowed her eyes in concentration.

"She turns into a beetle." Colin calmed himself. "I saw Cedric use the revealing charm on a beetle that turned into her, Billy said that was how she got her scoops."

"She's an unregistered animagus?" Hermoine exclaimed.

----------

"I wasn't sure you four would come." William greeted the four champions.

"You said about leveling the playing field." Harry answered.

"Too true, Mr. Potter." William smiled. "I will admit this is for your benefit as you are two or three years younger than the other three champions." He admitted. "To make this a fair game, I'm offering to teach you some spells you may or may not know."

The four champions stood attentively at the offer, of course they were going to use this opportunity to learn new spells.

"Won't this be called cheating?" Cedric voiced his reservations.

"A Hufflepuff indeed," William chuckled. "No it's not, not only am I a third party, no allegiance to any of the participating schools, I am also offering this to all four of you." He smiled. "That and I would like for there to be no casualties in this tournament, known to have killed students much younger than you."

"What about Professor Dumbledore?"

"Your faith in your headmaster is commendable Mr. Potter, but I must say, he can't readily interfere with the tournament." William offered somberly. "You must understand that he's bound to the rules of the tournament as well."

Harry audibly gulped at William's words. If there was one thing that Harry was assured of in this tournament, is that Professor Dumbledore wouldn't let anyone killed in this tournament, but now? He felt like puking his insides.

"What I'm about to teach tonight is one you'll surely be glad to know." William smiled. "Tell me, Mr. Krum, Ms. Delacour and Mr. Diggory, do the three of you know what a bubble head charm is?"

Fleur nodded while Viktor and Cedric shook their heads.

"It will probably be taught as the year progresses, nevertheless, I will be teaching you four how." William smiled. "Point your wands towards your chins and repeat what I am doing."

William demonstrated the wand movement to the four champions and repeated them a few times for everyone to see.

"Now the incantation for this is, aera bulla."

"Aera bulla." The four simultaneously repeated after the news writer.

"Good." William nodded. "Now you four try casting the spell."

All four nodded as they pointed their wands on their respective chins and imitated William's wand movement from earlier.

"Aera bulla"

"Now to know if you correctly cast the spell." William levitated three dungbombs and dropped them near the champions.

The intended reaction came, apart from Fleur, all male champions immediately covered their nose in an attempt to stave off the putrid smell the dung bombs emanated.

"No smell Ms. Delacaour?"

"Non Monsiuer."

"C'est Magnifique!" William praised. "Boys, the only way to stop the smell is to cast the bubble-head charm correctly." He offered.

The boys immediately began their second attempt at casting the charm to varying levels of success. Sooner, the first of the boys to cast the charm correctly was Cedric, followed by Viktor and lastly, Harry.

"You four practice the charm and see if you can properly cast it in a short amount of time." William ordered. "Try using one whenever you use the bathroom… err… the loo."

-----------

The nightly training with William continued on until the week before the first task happened. They started with reviewing all the spells that the four were taught.

"Bubble-head charm." Cedric answered.

"Smoke-screen spell." Fleur added.

"Severing charm." Viktor stated.

"Mending charm." Harry nodded.

"Water making spell." Cedric smiled.

"Aqua Eructo." Harry grinned.

"Eradication spell." Viktor supplied.

"Shield charms." Fleur offered.

"Very good." William smiled. "I guess you four are taking this tournament seriously." He nodded. "This might be the last session we will have, and I will teach you one of the most difficult spells in Wizarding History, the Patronus charm."

"The Patronus charm?" Fleur tilted her head.

"The Patronus charm is known to defend against the Dementors and Lethifolds, both Dark creatures that have no other known defenses." William explained. "To cast it, you must think of the happiest memories of your life."

"Happiest memories?"

"Right!" Harry nodded. "Our happiest memories are what fuels our Patronus, they become our shields against Dementors and other Dark creatures, they will feed on the Patronus rather than feeding on the caster."

"Correct." William nodded. "Do you know the spell Harry?"

"Professor Lupin taught it to me when the Dementors were in the school." Harry admitted.

"Have you successfully conjured a corporeal patronus?"

Harry nodded.

"There are two types of Patronuses, Corporeal and Incorporeal." William stated. "An Incorporeal Patronus forms shapeless silver light from the wand and act as your personal shield from the aforementioned Dark Creatures, a Corporeal Patronus will be in a shape of an animal that best represents you."

"To successfully cast the Patronus charm. You can't use just any happy memory, it has to be the happiest memory." Harry added. "Or at least a memory that makes you very happy, at least that was what it took for me to actually cast an Incorporeal Patronus."

"Aren't the both of them just the same?" Cedric questioned.

"Maybe so, but for me they're different." Harry shrugged.

"Harry what do you say we cast the spell at the same time?"

Harry nodded in agreement.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Two white silvery animals came out of their respective wands, one Stag and a Tiger. Both animals seemed to run around the five of them before running onto the lake, as if playing around.

"A stag." William observed.

"A bloody tiger." Harry exclaimed. "Your patronus is a bloody tiger."

"A Bengal Tiger." William corrected.

"It's still a bloody tiger!"

"Gee whiz! What can I say? I love me some tigers" William grinned.

The other three champions looked at the silvery animals in awe.

Soon, the two patronuses vanished.

"Now I want the three of you to close your eyes and think of your happiest memory to date, lose yourself into those memories before chanting the incantation 'Expecto Patronum'"

The three champions nodded as they each thought up of their happiest memory.

The first one to open their eyes and say the incantation was Viktor. He drew a circle above him and a small white silvery mist appeared at the tip of his wand.

The second one to open their eyes was Fleur. She cast the spell and flicked her wrist, but the results she got were the same as Viktor's.

When Cedric opened his eyes, he first took a deep breath before casting the spell and drew a circle in front of him simultaneously. A silver orb of light appeared at the tip of Cedric's wand before it too died down.

"How come Potter can produce his easily?" Viktor questioned.

"Oui!" Fleur nodded.

"It probably has to do with the fact that the Dementors that seemed to fancy him," Cedric offered. "He lost his Quidditch match against me because the Dementors attacked him and fell unconscious in the middle of the game." He crossed his arms. "For the record, I called for a rematch."

"I agree with my fellow Gryffindors, you won that match fair and square." Harry objected.

"Born out of necessity?" Viktor raised an eyebrow.

"Most likely." Cedric nodded.

"The patronus is one of the most difficult spells to cast," William explained. "Apart from Harry here, I never expected anyone to cast a patronus on their first try, no, I didn't expect anyone to be able to cast the spell on their first try."

"I didn't get it at first either." Harry offered. "I learned this spell like a year ago."

"It is still impressive how you succeeded in producing a full body patronus in a span of a year, most wizards and witches take years to produce one, if at all." William praised.

----------

Time passed and the other three champions barely got any progress in summoning an incorporeal patronus, let alone a corporeal one. None of them were deterred however, they tried countless times to at least summon an incorporeal one.

"Mr. Diggory, Ms. Delacour, Mr. Krum and Mr. Potter, gather around for a moment." William called. "There's another use to the patronus. They can send messages to anyone anywhere."

"Like a telephone?" Harry questioned.

"Telephone?" The other champions.

"A muggle device capable of sending voiced messages to a specific person or location." William explained. "Although, I think it's comparable to a radio."

"Radio?"

"Right, English." William sighed. "I meant wireless, the patronus is comparable to a wireless, minus the animals."

"You mean to say that we can send messages to any one through our patronus?" Harry asked, giddy at the new option for communication.

"I'd simmer that anticipation if I were you Harry, you still have the Trace on you." William shook his head. "But yes, that is indeed the case."

"Brilliant!"

"However, I'm not teaching you four that particular ability just yet, not until you three can produce a corporeal patronus of your own." William stated. "You three are getting the hang of it, you just need to push through." He encouraged. "As for you Harry, I want you to practice that spell without shouting your heart out."

Harry had the decency to blush at the observation.

"Before we end this session, I am telling you of a word that may or may not be of use to you." William used his wand to write in the air.

The letters S, H, A, Z, A, and M appeared.

"Read this word." William instructed.

"Shazam?"

"With more conviction."

"Shazam!"

Suddenly lightning flashed from the sky as thunder roared.

"You may speak that word if you feel like your life is in danger." William stated.

"It's not a spell?" Cedric questioned.

"No it's not, think of it as a Taboo." William shook his head. "Once you utter that word, something or someone will help you in your time of need. It's like a call for help, only it won't be as obvious as shouting 'help me'." He chuckled.

"Why are you telling us this Monsieur Batson?" Fleur questioned.

"The entire World has lost a lot of people Ms. Delacour from the many wars the muggles and the wizards and witches have staged. Grindelwald's war alone cost the lives of many muggles and magical people be it adult or child." He sighed. "I am simply avoiding the worst case scenario."

----------

The tournament continued as scheduled. The first task was against dragons. Cedric was about to be burned by the dragon's fire when he expelled a pressurized jet of water from his wand, just enough for him to escape.

Vikor managed to save the other dragon eggs that would've been squashed by the dragon's stomps by firing off a shield charm above the aforementioned eggs.

After the scores were announced, Viktor and Harry tied in first place with Cedric in close second and Fleur in third.

"Hey Harry!" Billy greeted as he went inside the first aid tent.

"Hey Billy!" Harry waved.

"I just finished interviewing the other three champions and I'm sure Colin's managed to take a picture of each of your and your fellow champions' brilliant moments earlier." He chuckled. "Care to share what you felt?"

"Oh Harry?" One Rita Skeeter intercepted him. "May I have a word?"

"Sure!" Harry smiled. "Good-bye."

Billy snorted at the remark.

"Let's go somewhere Billy."

"Sure thing."

----------

The Mudblood

First Task: Nesting Mothers

By: Billy Batson

The first task for the Triwizard Tournament is getting through dragons. The main objective of the task is to steal a fake egg from a nesting dragon.

Various sources told the Mudblood about how it was dangerous to use dragons for a tournament with student participants.

Newton Scamander, a famed Magizoologist and author of a series bestselling of books 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', has condemned the use of nesting mothers and their eggs in the tournament. The unnecessary danger to the brood and their mother could have been prevented had there been no real eggs used in the task.

He does send his appreciations to Durmstrang's champion, Viktor Krum, for using a shield charm to protect the eggs, instead of letting them get squashed by their very own mother, trying to protect them.

The champions were asked before of what they expected this tournament going to be. The four of them were in agreement that it's "a dangerously life threatening spectacle that challenges its participants". We asked them now if that's what was still on their minds for the second and third task.

The four of them are also in agreement with what they thought of the tournament now. "This goes beyond dangerously life-threatening and challenging, this is survival."

-----------

Days passed and it was time for the Yule Ball.

Billy and Colin were busy with the Ball's attendees with Billy interviewing the guests and Colin taking their photographs.

Soon enough, Billy spotted the champions separately, along with their dates. He waited for the eight of them to converge before he ambushed them with an impromptu interview.

"Hey guys!

"Hello Billy." Cedric and Harry greeted.

Fleur simply nodded at the young journalist while Viktor acknowledged his presence by looking at him with mild interest.

"Could you introduce me to your dates for this lovely night?" Billy prompted.

"My lovely date is one Herm-own-ninny." Viktor introduced as Hermoine gave a bow.

"My date for this night is Cho Chang." Cho mimicked Hermoine's actions and bowed in front of the journalist.

"My date for tonight is Roger Davies." The Ravenclaw smugly nodded at Billy.

"O-oh! M-my date is Parvati Patil." Parvati bowed at the journalist and offered a smile.

"So what do you think of this night?" Billy asked.

"Exciting." Hermoine answered.

"Nervous." Harry offered.

"Come now mate, I'm sure everything will be fine." Cedric assured the Potter.

"Champions over here please!" Came Professor Mcgonagall's voice.

"Looks like the deputy Headmistress is calling for you." Billy grinned. "Colin take a shot of these eight would you."

"Sure thing Billy!"

The four champions and their dates positioned themselves comfortably before Colin took a picture of all eight of them.

---------

The Mudblood

Yule Ball: A Memorable Magical Night

By: Billy Batson

The recently concluded Yule Ball was the first time in centuries that the event has coincided with the Triwizard Tournament. As such Hogwarts has been made a witness to the interschool camaraderie between students from all participating schools. They can invite just about anyone to the school dance provided that they are students of the participating schools.

Durmstrang students can invite students from both Hogwarts and Beauxbaton, as was the case for the school's champion, Viktor Krum, who had the lovely Hermoine Granger as his date.

Beauxbaton's students were also in the same boat as they too can invite, or can be invited, students from Durmstrang and Hogwarts which was true for their champion, Fleur Delacour, who had the dashing Roger Davies as her date.

That is not to say that the respective schools cannot invite someone from the same school as them, like Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory, who had the beautiful Parvati Patil and Cho Chang as their respective dates.

For this one night, Hogwarts's staff, in collaboration with the Department of International Magical Cooperation, transformed the school's Great Hall into a ballroom made of ice. The Hall's enchanted ceiling were dropping snow while tables and chairs have their colors changed from wood brown to snow white and ice blue, giving off the illusion that they were also made of ice.

Icicles clung to the flame-lit and candle-lit chandeliers giving the Hall an atmosphere fit for royalty.

All of the guests in attendance agreed that venue and its ambience was a sight to behold.

The ball was opened by the four Triwizard Champions alongside their dates. The champions themselves were dashing and lovely while their respective dates were beautiful and handsome. The eight of them opened the celebration as they entranced the other attendees with their enchanting dance.

As the ball progressed, many other students and teachers danced. Headmasters Igor Karkaroff and Albus Dumbledore danced with their fellow teachers Professor Antonia Borislava and Professor Minerva Mcgonagall respectively while Headmistress Olympe Maxime danced with Professor Rubeus Hagrid.

The night progressed and the already memorable Yule Ball was graced with the performance of the Weird Sisters, who livened the event.

Both Percy Weasley, assistant to the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Batermius Crouch Sr., and Ludovic Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports has agreed that the Yule Ball was huge success. It was declared as soon as the ball concluded.

----------

The Yule Ball just ended, the four champions were just about to retire to their respective beds when a silver Tiger appeared by their bedsides.

"This is one ability of the patronus, sending messages. I would like to meet everyone on New Year's eve and good night."

As soon as the last word was stated, the silver tiger vanished.

----------

It was New Year's Eve, the four champions converged where they had been meeting William by the lake. Cedric and Fleur were talking with each other when Harry had arrived while Viktor simply stood to the side not caring of what was happening at the moment.

"Good you're here." William walked towards the champion. "I'm afraid this is no social call or another teaching session." He continued somberly.

"What happened?" Cedric immediately questioned.

"I have a lead to who put Mr. Potter's name into the goblet," William shook his head. "I'm still following it will go." He added. "Have any of the teachers been giving you 'helpful' hints past the first task?"

"Professor Moody was rather impatient to know if I had figured the clue just yet." Cedric offered.

"Same with me." Harry nodded.

"I see." William clicked his tongue. "I want the both of you to stay vigilant, especially around your teachers." He instructed both Hogwarts's champions.

"Vhat is going on? Vhy are ve suspecting Hogvarts's staff?" Viktro asked.

"Oui."

"If my suspicions are indeed true, this isn't the first time the Dark Lord has had his followers infiltrate the school to kill one Harry Potter." William looked at the youngest champion. "Mr. Potter?"

"Yes." Harry looked at his shoes.

"From what I gathered, Professor Quirrel was possessed by the wraith of the Dark Lord in an attempt to steal the Philosopher's stone." William stated. "Then the Chamber of Secrets, the heir of Slytherin was referring to one Tom Marvolo Riddle."

William wrote the name in the air before flicking his wrist to rearrange the letters to form 'I am Lord Voldemort'

"Voldemort has attended Hogwarts, but I'm going on a tangent." William shook his head. "Just last year, Black's escape from Azkaban and the reveal that Peter Pettigrew was the Weasley's pet rat."

"How, how do you know that?" Harry stared at the man.

"The ghosts here are loose lipped Harry." William knelt down to Harry's height. "I asked and they answered.

"The same thing will happen this year too?" Cedric gasped.

"I can't say for sure, but yes it's a possibility," William nodded. "Mr. Potter's name being revealed as the tournament's fourth champion, despite the precautions put in place fits the pattern."

"What are we to do?" Fleur panicked.

"As I said, I am still following the lead I have, however, I did not call you here simply to inform you."

The four champions narrowed their eyes in curiosity.

"I am here to cast protective charms on you." William gestured towards his wand. "You four might feel some shocks, but that's just my brand of magic."

"Can it block the unforgivable curses?" Harry asked.

"Unfortunately no, alongside the protective charms, I am also casting a compulsion curse on the four of you."

"Wha-no!" The four of them protested.

"It's not the imperious curse." William assured. "Remember the word I had shared to you the week before the first task? If you four are in any life-threating situation, you will be compelled to say the word."

"Wouldn't it be called cheating if we were compelled to say the word in a tournament known to have fatalities?" Cedric questioned.

"Of course, I have already taken that into account, the compulsion only takes effect if you hear the first two syllables of the unforgivable curses." William explained.

"What about ze times where we feel zat we are threatened but ze unforgivable curses weren't cast?"

"You are free to say the word as well."

The four champions looked at each other in contemplation. From William's words, it seemed like this protection would last a lifetime.

"I'll take it!" The four champions voiced out.

"Well then, all four of you surround me." William instructed. "You need to place the tip of your wands and your left hand anywhere on me and close your eyes." He added. "You might feel a bit shocked but don't open your eyes as soon as I tell you to."

The four champions followed the instructions presented and closed their eyes, anticipating whatever would happen.

"Shazam!" William muttered under his breath.

Lightning struck William and shocked the four champions. They persevered however and remained in their places with their eyes closed.

"Shazam!"

Another lightning struck the location where William once stood shocking the four champions unconscious.

----------

The Daily Prophet

Triwizard Champions Found Unconscious

By: Rita Skeeter

In what should have been a happy new year's celebration turned horrifying when yours truly, Rita Skeeter, found the four champions of the Triwizard Tournament by the school's lakeside. Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter were all found unconscious.

Headmaster Karkaroff and Headmistress Maxime all expressed disappointment with the school's rather lackluster security. They had a very thorough choice of words to express their disappointment.

According to various sources, it seemed like Mr. Potter had cast a sleep walking curse on his fellow champions as a prank and cast one on himself to avoid suspicion.

Mr. Potter was asked if the theory was true, as usual the boy-who-lived was tight-lipped and remarked about how secrets should stay a secret.

----------

Harry looked at the newspaper that Professor Mcgonagall had given him in her office.

"I swear Professor Mr. Batson had the four of us meet there like we used to." Harry justified.

"I know Mr. Potter, the headmaster and I received his message through a patronus and asked for permission." The Gryffindor's head of house. "I am simply here to discuss how you should address this situation."

"What do you think I should do?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing, you can be reckless and do stupid responses most of the time so I called you in here before you could even retaliate."

Harry had no words to retort with the Professor's logic. He knew it himself that he was tad bit reckless.

---------

Depending on how one looked at things, the weeks that lead up to the second task was either exciting or nerve-wracking.

Cedric had clued Harry in on how to actually get the clue from the golden egg that they had gotten from the first task.

Harry, Hermoine and Ron all worked together on deciphering the clue that he got but they were stuck how to breathe underwater for more or less than an hour.

The day of the second task came, and the champions found out that the clue was about their friends who they need to save from underwater.

Cedric and Fleur all used the bubble-head charm before diving underwater while Krum transfigured himself into an incomplete shark and gave himself gills.

Harry simply downed the gillyweed that Dobby had given him beforehand.

"Tied in first place are Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter! Both Hogwarts's champions!" Bagman announced. "Followed by Mr. Krum and then by Ms. Delacour!"

---------

The Mudblood

Second Task: Underwater Rescue

By: Billy Batson

The second task involved saving one of the champion's loved ones underwater. The champions were in a state of shock as soon as they found out what the second task entailed. Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour didn't waste any time and cast the bubble-head charm before diving down the lake, in an effort to save their loved ones who were unconscious underwater.

Viktor Krum transfigured himself into a shark in a bid to breathe underwater and swim faster to save his loved one underwater.

Harry Potter, without using his wand, suddenly gained gills and webbed limbs, both conducive for underwater travel. He immediately dove down the lake to see who his hostage was.

Some sources believed that Mr. Potter ate a gillyweed to turn himself into a sea creature for an hour.

The first one to surface was Fleur Delacour, she was unable to save her hostage, her younger sister Gabrielle Delacour, for she was attacked by a swarm of grindylows.

The next to surface was Cedric Diggory along with his hostage, Cho Chang, his date during the Yule Ball.

After Cedric was Viktor Krum alongside his hostage, Hermoine Granger, his date during the Yule Ball.

Harry Potter was the last to surface, even later than his hostage, Ron Weasley, his best friend, and Fleur's younger sister.

According to the merpeople, Harry had arrived to where the hostages were kept first but didn't surface immediately and waited for the other champions to rescue their hostages.

The second task ended with Potter and Diggory tying in first place, followed by Krum and then by Delacour.

Sirius Black Declared Innocent

By: Mary Atkinson

---------

Time passed and the reveal of the third task came. Viktor, Cedric and Harry were upset as soon as they saw that the Quidditch Pitch was turned into something unrecognizable. Something the three of them so loved was defiled to this degree.

"I assure you Mr. Krum, Mr. Diggory, Mr. Potter you'll have your Quidditch field back to the way it was, as soon as the third task is done." Bagman assured.

"A Maze." Viktor observed.

"Pretty hedges aren't they?" Bagman smiled. "Give it a few months and they'll be 20 feet high." He bragged.

"We seemply 'ave to get through ze maze?" Fleur questioned.

"There'll be obstacles and Professor Hagrid is providing us a number of creatures."

Harry winced at the information, he knew how dangerous some of Hagrid's creatures were.

"The champions with the highest amount of points will get a head start, meaning Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter will start first followed by Mr. Krum and Ms. Delacour." Bagman grinned. "Everyone should have a fighting chance depending on how one passes through the obstacles.

After the information dump for the final task, Harry and Viktor decided to talk for a bit while Fleur and Cedric went back inside the castle.

After walking towards the forest and talked for a bit, one of the judges, Mr. Crouch, turned up looking worse for wear. He was saying something along the lines of warning Dumbledore and it was his fault.

Harry ordered Viktor to stay while he got Professor Dumbledore.

Unfortunately by the time he and Dumbledore they only found Viktor sprawled to the ground and no sign of Crouch.

"What are you doing here gentlemen?" William walked towards the group.

"Harry claims to have seen Barty Crouch here in the forest, looking delirious." Dumbledore informed the journalist. "And Viktor claims that Crouch has attacked him." He continued.

"Appare Vestigium."

Lightning struck the tree that William faced and soon enough a visage of Crouch appeared on the tree alongside a visages Harry and Krum talking to him. After a few moments the Potter's visage vanished and a red circle hit the Krum's visage, before it fell beside the delirious image of Crouch.

A green beam hit Crouch's head before everything disappeared.

Skid marks that of a femur bone replaced the visages that lead towards Hagrid's hut before it disappeared.

Dumbledore pointed his wand at the point where the femoral skid marks stopped and that location exploded, revealing a human femur.

"Revelio"

The bone turned into Barty Crouch senior.

William looked at Hagrid and then at Dumbledore.

"No Hagrid can't be Crouch's killer." The Headmaster shook his head. "Hagrid was expelled from the school in his third year, transfiguring a human to a bone is far too advanced for someone of Hagrid's skill level."

"I'm sorry for that Headmaster, as a former auror, you know I had to scratch names from the list." William apologized.

"It's quite alright my boy." Dumbledore smiled.

"Hagrid, could you fetch Igor Karkaroof, he needs to be informed of this."

"A former auror eh?" Moody.

"Retired." William shrugged. "Now I'm just a journalist."

"Even still, one must exercise CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Moody exclaimed.

-----------

The Mudblood

Triwizard Tournament Casualty

By: William Joseph Batson

Bartemius Crouch Sr. was found dead at Hogwarts's grounds. People wonder if this was an assault or simply a casualty of the infamous tournament that was recently revived.

It is no secret that the Triwizard Tournament has an infamous death toll. The process of which the champions are chosen is through an ancient magical artifact, the Goblet of Fire. Little is known about this artifact, the Ministry and the School's involved are also in the dark as to what this magical artifact is capable of.

The Ministry claims that the champions selected by the Goblet were bound by a magical contract with failing to adhere to the contract, siphons the person's magic and/or life, hence the approval of Mr. Potter's participation, despite the new rule that underage students being ineligible to participate in the tournament, or at least submit their names to the said magical artifact.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement are hard at work at figuring out the cause of Mr. Crouch's death, whether it was mere happenstance or his death was part of the tournament altogether.

Despite the tragic passing of the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, the Ministry, by way of Minister Cornelius Fudge, has declared the third and final task to continue and he will take over Mr. Crouch's duties as judge.

--------

The Daily Prophet

HARRY POTTER: "DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS"

By: Rita Skeeter

---------

Witch Weekly

Harry Potter's Secret Heartache

By: Rita Skeeter

--------

The days leading up to the night of the third task was eventful, too eventful if you asked Harry.

Harry had been under Rita Skeeter's libelous attacks at the Daily Prophet ever since he and his fellow champions were found unconscious by the lake during New Year's Eve. During those days, Hermoine was hard at work to catch Rita Skeeter red handed and stop her from obtaining information through means that weren't ethical.

Even Hermoine fell to her libelous attacks and as a result, she was receiving many howlers for more than a day over the article about her supposed love triangle with Harry and Viktor

After the second task, Harry trained with Hermoine and Ron some spells that the Granger discovered in her research: the Impediment Curse and the Reductor Curse. He had even managed to surprise his friends that he already knew of the shield charms, but he was still having trouble with them, which was where they focusing their training most of the time.

"You're doing well considering things." Hermoine praised.

"I don't know." Harry shook his head. "When we champions trained with each other, Cedric's disarming charm could penetrate my shield charm and disarmed me of my wand."

"He is two years ahead of us." Ron offered. "As most of the champions are."

"I suppose."

None of the champions ever met with William after their meeting at during New Year's Eve. He had sent them a patronus to deliver a message, but those were simply well wishes and good lucks for the upcoming task.

In the same vein, the champions haven't met with Billy for an impromptu interview or otherwise. They still saw Colin who was taking photographs everywhere.

The day of the third task came and Harry found himself meeting with Professor Lupin and his godfather, Sirius Black, who was recently exonerated. It was a huge surprise to many to see the man who supposedly murdered his parents acting fatherly towards him. He couldn't bring himself to care because he finally have a family to call his own, one that would care for him.

The Weasleys also came to support Harry, as Molly and Arthur had come to see him as one of their own. Even when Percy was being a big prat, he knew that the former Gryffindor Head Boy, also supported him despite the other Weasley siblings sowing doubt about their brother.

As far as Harry knew, Percy was questioned about Mr. Crouch's death, or Ron claims, as he was doing Mr. Crouch's duties in the man's absence. It was probably a huge blow to him that the Minister of Magic himself has decided to take over Mr. Crouch's duties instead of Percy.

It was a huge miracle that Percy was even allowed to witness the third task altogether.

During his meeting with his godfathers and the Weasleys, Harry met the family members of his fellow champions: Fleur's mother, Viktor's parents and Cedric's parents. He had met Cedric's proud father back when he, Hermoine and the Weasleys watched the Quidditch World Cup alongside Cedric and his father.

Harry may not have shown it, he was a bit jealous of Cedric's relationship with his father. A father proud of his achievements, proud of him.

"Ignore him." Cedric offered. "Dad's been angry since Rita Skeeter's article about the Triwizard Tournament – you know, when she made out you were the only Hogwarts's champion."

"Didn't bother to correct her, though, did he?"

"Hasn't he read The Mudblood?" Harry questioned. "Hermoine says that paper has articles that reflect facts instead of Skeeter's gossips."

"Harry!" Molly admonished. "You know that's not polite."

Harry and Remus began to explain how a certain news magazine came to Hogwarts the year before and revealed Sirius's innocence and Pettigrew's betrayal.

"Remember a few months ago Mum? When Mr. Batson interviewed us?" Percy offered. "He's the owner of that news magazine."

"Really?" Molly's eyes widened. "Well then, he should've chosen a better name." She huffed.

"Can you give me that paper?" Cedric's father stated, not believing the claim until he'd seen it.

"All the students are subscribed." Cedric produced the paper in question, displaying the article about the Triwizard Tournament.

"Do you always carry that everywhere?" Harry elbowed the Hufflepuff.

"I knew something like this would happen, knowing my father." Cedric grinned. "So I made sure to bring my copy of the paper with me."

"Are you sure you're not supposed to be in Slytherin?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"I'm hurt." Cedric playfully clutched his chest. "I've been nothing but a loyal Hufflepuff, I'm not about to leave you in the lion's den."

"I am a lion though." Harry smirked. "Shouldn't I be left in a lion's den?"

"A badger's sett then." Cedric grinned.

"I'm surprised you know about muggle terms." Harry hummed.

"Remember when William first arrived?"

"Yeah?"

"The next few months after were spent learning about animals and what muggles do with them." Cedric informed. "Including what to call a group of them, their life spans, and what to call their homes."

"You're taking muggle studies?"

"I want to work at the ministry like dad, well after becoming a professional Quidditch player." Cedric admitted. "Dad has said that the Ministry had business with the muggle government, I think it'll be good to know how to blend in?"

"Are you sure you're not supposed to be in Slytherin, Cedric?" Harry teased.

"Oh hush you git!" Cedric elbowed the youngest champion.

"Aside from the news magazine's name, I quite like this article." The Diggory Patriarch declared. "I'll get a subscription."

"Later, Amos." Cedric's mother voiced out. "We're here to support our son."

"Right!" Amos nodded. "You'll show him Ced, Beaten him once before, haven't you?"

"That Skeeter woman goes out of her way to cause trouble Amos." Molly huffed. "I would've thought you'd know that, working at the Ministry."

"You know Amos Molly, Cedric is his pride and joy." Mrs. Diggory offered.

"I know that, Aria." Molly sighed. "It's not fair that he'd blame Harry for Skeeter's work, is it?"

"I suppose not." Aria shook her head.

---------

The big night came, everyone came to the Quidditch Pitch to witness the third task. Each student supporting their preferred champion, with Beauxbatons supporting Fleur and Durmstrang supporting Viktor.

Hogwarts's student population however was divided, two major houses supported only one champion, and those were Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, supporting their respective champions, Cedric and Harry.

Slytherins majorly supported Viktor while a few supported both of Hogwarts's champions Ravenclaws on the other hand weren't united on who to support, some supported Durmstrang, some Beauxbatons, some even supported Hufflepuff's Cedric and some had supported Gryffindor's Harry.

When the signal was given, Harry and Cedric went into the maze at the same time.

Time passed and all the Triwizard Tournament participants were inside the maze. They each navigated the maze on their own using a variety of spells, Wand-Lighting charms and a Four- Point Spell were among the spells cast by all four of them.

As Cedric dodged the Blast-Ended Skrewt's tail when he saw lightning struck one part of the maze. Suddenly, a violent gust of wind threatened to lift him off the ground, he managed to hold unto the maze's hedge but the creature that was blocking his wasn't so lucky as he saw it blown a few feet away.

Cedric converged with Harry to the place where lightning struck and found both Viktor and Fleur unconscious.

"William said, we won't say the word if we're in the tournament." Harry voiced out.

"Do you think an unforgivable curse was used?" Cedric questioned.

"Surely Krum or Delacour wouldn't cast that, would they?" Harry asked.

"I don't know." Cedric frowned. "We've never known them enough."

"Should we send Red sparks?"

"I think we should." Cedric nodded. "We'll know what happened after the task."

Cedric and Harry pointed their wands up and called the spell at the same time.

"Vermillous!"

Soon after, both Cedric and Harry went on their separate ways and continued to navigate through the maze.

The both of them were perplexed at the lightning that struck the maze, they knew the only way to have been forced to say the word during the tournament was if they heard someone say the first two syllables of any of the unforgivable curses.

As time went by, both Hogwarts champions met at a crossroads, with the Triwizard cup gleaming at the end of the corridor of hedges. Cedric was nearer to the cup so the Hufflepuff champion made a mad dash towards the prize.

Harry, never one to quit, immediately chased after Cedric, in the hopes of outrunning him.

That all changed when a huge spider dropped from above.

"Cedric look out!"

The Diggory was able to avoid getting flattened by the large spider and rolled backwards, just in time for Harry to arrive.

Cedric and Harry teamed up and cast jinxes, hexes and charms at the overgrown arachnid for little to no effect. It was so huge or so magical that none of their consecutive attacks were working against it. They wasted much time attacking one after the other that soon after the both of them were separated.

Harry was lifted in the air by the spider's pincers while Cedric continued to fire jinxes and spells at his gigantic enemy.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry's disarming spell worked but he was now dropped from high up.

"Arresto Momentum!"

Harry found himself suddenly suspended mere inches above the ground before he was unceremoniously dropped with a thud.

The large spider jumped and threatened to land where Cedric and Harry were standing

"Stupefy!"

The combination of both Harry's and Cedric's spells was just enough to throw the overgrown arachnid a few feet away from them, flattening some of the hedges as a result.

"You okay?" Cedric offered a hand towards Harry.

"I'll live." Harry breathed.

That was when both boys saw the gleaming Triwizard cup, and so started the argument of who should take the cup. They each listed reasons on why the other one should get it.

In the end, both of them decided to take the cup together and at the same time.

Cedric and Harry were unceremoniously dropped unto a graveyard as soon as they touched the Triwizard cup.

Said cup was flung away from them as soon as they arrived.

The boys took a small breather as they recuperated from the impromptu teleportation the two of them had been subjected to.

Harry looked at his surroundings, the sense of familiarity immediately hit him but he just can't place where.

"Where are we?" Cedric questioned as he looked around.

"I've been here before." Harry stated as the sense of dread was filling him.

Cedric looked at the cup then at his companion.

"The cup is a Portkey." Cedric informed the Potter. "Where'd you think this sent us?"

"I don't know." Harry shook his head. "I just know I've been here before, in a dream."

"Part of the task then?" Cedric questioned.

"I don't think so." Harry denied. "The tournament is supposed to take place at the school."

"Wands out then?"

"Yeah."

Harry and Cedric let out their respective wands and held them tightly, ready to defend themselves from any possible threat.

"Cedric, get back to the cup!" Harry ordered as he traced his wand on the name engraved on the grave – Tom Riddle.

"Wha-?" Cedric rushed to his companion's side. "What are you talking about?!"

"Get back to the cup!" Harry repeated before crumpling to the ground.

Harry was holding his head, the side where his scar was located, as he screamed in pain.

Cedric tried to help his companion when he saw a figure holding a bundle covered with a single robe getting out from the house he hadn't noticed before.

The figure began to menacingly walk towards both boys.

"Who are you?!" Cedric pointed his wand at the figure. "What do you want?!"

"Kill the spare!" A voice that came from the robed bundle, hoarsely ordered.

"Ava-"

"SHAZAM!"

"-da Kedavra!

Lightning struck the ground a few meters away from Cedric as the green beam of light was expelled from the figure's wand.

"Cedric! No!"

A huge shockwave flung everyone in the area away from where they once stood, barring the unknown figure. The figure was barely able to stand his ground but the hood came off of the figure and revealed his true identity – Wormtail.

Harry was flung to a statue before dropping to the ground, wincing in pain.

Cedric was flung a few feet away before he dropped to the ground, lifeless.

"You!" Harry gasped.

----------

Cedric regained consciousness when he felt someone stepping on his face. He made a small opening on his eyes, just enough to see who was stepping on him but not enough to clue anyone that he had regained consciousness.

He was about to gasp upon seeing Voldemort's face above him, that was when he found out that he couldn't move, apart from his eyes and eyelids.

Suddenly, he remembered that he should be dead. He remembered the killing curse cast, with him as the intended target.

The killing curse somehow paralyzed him.

Cedric was on the verge of panicking when he saw Voldemort's face float away from him on top surviving the killing curse.

The Hufflepuff forced himself to calm down and try to discern the situation he found himself in.

In trying to discern his situation, he briefly got a glimpse of Harry bowing towards the Dark Lord, as if someone was forcing him to bow down.

"Cruci-"

"Shazam!"

-o!"

Cedric could hear thunder roaring and see lightning flashes in the sky as Harry was on the receiving end of the Cruciatus Curse. He could hear the Dark Lord putting Harry under the torture curse multiple times, which would cause Harry to shout the word William had given the four of them via the compulsion charm William placed on them.

Harry was even placed under the Imperious curse from what Cedric could hear.

The Diggory figured that the word that William taught them summoned lightning and wouldn't be of much help if the spell's effect was instantaneous like the Imperious curse or the Cruciatus curse unlike the killing curse where the target has a small window of time to dodge the spell.

A moment later, a lightning storm happened. Continuous flashes of lightning lit up the graveyard before lightning struck a statue near the Dark Lord.

The next thing Cedric knew was Harry dueling against Voldemort, that was when he knew Harry didn't learn much about dueling, considering the incompetent teachers Hogwarts's has had. If the both of them would be able to come out alive from this mess, he swore that he would get Harry up to speed when it comes to dueling.

As Harry and Voldemort dueled, multiple places were struck by lightning, especially near where the Death Eaters were standing. Some graves and statues were even blown to pieces.

The place where lightning struck multiple times was at the center of the dome that was created when Harry's disarming charm collided with Voldemort's killing curse.

The Death Eaters were busy casting some protection charms in the area, which were ultimately useless the lightning continually shattered them.

"Do nothing! Unless I command you!" Voldemort shrieked at them.

Cedric tried to roll but his body still seemed paralyzed, despite that he desperately tried to move his body so that he could assist his fellow Hogwarts's student. Somehow, he managed to roll his body on his stomach and saw what was happening.

Apparently, there was a lot of details that Cedric has missed from his earlier observations. For instance, there were a few gray silhouettes of people.

Ghosts?

The Diggory can clearly make out the apparent ghosts' facial structure and body. He could even see their mouth moving as if talking to Harry, who was responding only with nods.

"Now!" Cedric heard Harry scream and charge towards him.

As Harry zigzagged across the graveyard dodging: curses; spells and; graves, lightning struck the places where Harry had stepped on, intercepting other spells coming the boy's way.

Cedric on the other hand, despite his paralyzed state, wanted to make things a bit easier for Harry, he desperately rolled himself on his back towards Harry's direction.

Harry threw himself on Cedric's body then pointed his wand at the Triwizard cup.

"Accio"

Cedric felt something bumped the back of his head when he heard an applause. It seemed like he and Harry arrived back at the school.

He was then lulled back to unconsciousness.

----------

"Harry!"

Cedric screamed as he immediately sat up on his bed.

"Relax my boy." The Headmaster announced his presence. "I don't think Madame Pomfrey would appreciate her patients getting disturbed." He offered.

"Headmaster!"

"Good Evening Mr. Diggory." Dumbledore greeted.

"You have to warn everyone! He's back!" Cedric scampered to the Headmaster, stumbling a bit. "You-know-who's back!"

"Calm down Mr. Diggory." Dumbledore ordered. "Shouting and panicking will only lead to rash decisions."

Cedric took calming breaths. He agreed with the Headmaster's words that panicking would lead to irrational actions.

The Hufflepuff just couldn't help the guilt that he essentially let Harry battle the Dark Lord all on his own. He was supposed to be older than the boy-who-lived, someone with experience and he just lied on the ground and watched Potter battle you-know-who.

"If it's not too much to ask, my boy, would you consent to giving us your version of the story?" Dumbledore asked. "Harry claimed that you've been hit by the killing curse."

"The boy just woke up!" Madame Pomfrey growled. "You're already questioning him?!"

"I'm afraid it is necessary Poppy." Dumbledore sighed. "It is of utmost necessity that we include someone else's testimony, seeing as Fudge got Crouch Jr. kissed by a dementor."

"Another Dementor inside the school." Madame Pomfrey seethed.

Cedric could only stare at the two adults in the room. As far as he can put together, it seemed like Harry has already warned everyone who were at the Quidditch field of you-know-who's return but the Headmaster just implied that the ministry won't believe it.

"Crouch jr.?"

"Polyjuice potion." Dumbledore answered the Hufflepuff. "He was teaching as Professor Moody in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Someone impersonated one of the Headmaster's closest friends?

Cedric knew that Mad-eye Moody and the Headmaster were close friends by way of his father. Amos had commented about that during his conversation alone with his parents before the third task. The Diggory patriarch even remarked that there was no better teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts than Alastor Moody.

"Harry already told you his version of the story."

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "What we want to know is how you survived the killing curse, Harry was convinced that you had actually died."

"I don't know myself Professor." Cedric admitted. "I knew that a hooded figure aimed the killing curse at me. I felt myself getting blown away from the hit, then I blacked out."

"Felt getting blown away?"

"Yes!" Cedric nodded. "The next thing I knew was you-know-who stepping on my face."

"Were there anything else that happened during when the killing curse was cast?"

"There was lightning." Cedric admitted. "At the same time that the killing curse was cast, lightning struck the grass a small distance in front of me."

"Curious, quite curious." Dumbledore smiled.

"Sir, what about you-know-who?"

"Would you be willing to corroborate your story with Harry?"

"Of course sir!" Cedric nodded.

"I must warn you, the minister does not believe what you saw was real, Skeeter's article paints Potter as delusional."

"The Daily Prophet's rubbish anyway, and so is she." Cedric growled. "Her articles only serve to divide us."

"Ah yes, her articles are enchantingly nasty." Dumbledore nodded. "You know what this entails right Mr. Diggory?"

"Smear campaign against me, or my parents would strongly suggest to denounce what Harry stated?" Cedric questioned.

Hufflepuffs had the reputation of being naïve, weak, dumb and everything in-between. Cedric can say without a doubt that the students he met in his house weren't what their house's reputation seemed to imply, he certainly wasn't.

If there's one thing anyone can describe Cedric, it's that he's loyal. He is not about to leave Harry in the air just like that. He knew his name would be tarnished if he would side with the Gryffindor Triwizard champion, but he doesn't care about that, what he cares is that Harry would have someone to support him, to be there for him in times of need.

It's only fair.

After having Harry duel against the Dark Lord in the graveyard, it's the least he could do.

His reputation can recover, but life can't be.

"Yes." Dumbledore nodded.

"Then I will tell everyone what I saw and corroborate with Harry's story."

----------

The morning after, Cedric was still bedridden. He can certainly stand, walk and run but Madame Pomfrey insisted that he stay for a few days.

Apparently, William had given Madam Pomfrey some theories of Cedric's unconsciousness and his apparent paralysis. She certainly wasn't shocked when the Diggory told her and the Headmaster of his predicament at the graveyard.

"You're alive." Cedric's parents sobbed on him in relief. "My boy's alive!"

"Happy to be dad, mum." Cedric smiled.

"I didn't know that Harry Potter wanted to win the Triwizard Tournament that he'd use the killing curse." Amos growled. "I will have him arrested."

"Amos!" Aria called out. "That was Rita Skeeter's speculation, we shouldn't be believing her words."

"What if it's true Aria?!" Amos countered. "He has the gall to blame it on someone dead like you-know-who."

"He really has risen dad." Cedric somberly admitted. "I was there, Harry was almost killed."

"Why're you defending your killer Cedric?" Amos asked.

"I don't know how I survived the killing curse, but it wasn't Harry who cast it dad." Cedric assured his father. "I heard Harry thought I was dead, wasn't it enough that he brought me back to Hogwarts, to prove his innocence?"

"Your son has a point Amos." Aria offered. "Had Potter actually tried to kill our son, he wouldn't have brought incriminating evidence against him."

"I… I guess you have a point." Amos conceded. "I… I was this close to losing our son Aria, I don't know what I would do if we really had lost him."

"Everything will be fine dad, mum." Cedric assured. "Since I'm of age already, I can practice magic back home."

"I'll be bring home some Auror friends to get you up to speed."

"Thanks dad."

----------

"Before we begin our end of year feast, I have some announcements to make." Dumbledore stood somberly in front of the Hogwarts's student body and staff. "As you know, the Triwizard Tournament was held over the course of this year, its aim was to further and promote international magical understanding.

During the third task of the tournament, both Cedric Diggory's and Harry Potter's lives were endangered when they were portkeyed out of Hogwarts's premises by way of the Triwizard Cup. It is fortunate that both boys were able to return to the school alive."

Dumbledore looked at his audience and noted their reactions. Some were looking down and some were nodding.

"The ministry would strongly discourage what I am about to tell you, I believe it is for the greater good, that everyone present, be informed of what Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter witnessed while away from Hogwarts."

Dumbledore noticed that Diggory and Potter were gulping, anticipating the information.

"Lord Voldemort has returned."

The occupants of the great hall gasped. Panicked whispers filled the Great Hall as they tried to process what the Headmaster has just stated.

"As stated, The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so – either because they do not believe of Voldemort's return or they think that I should not tell you, as young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is preferable to lies and to say otherwise would be an insult to the sacrifices people have done to this day."

Harry and Cedric had their heads bowed as they remembered what they experienced at the graveyard.

"Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again – in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

It is my belief – and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, we almost lost two students from our midst.

Remember the fallen. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to the people who were good, and kind, and brave, because they strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember the fallen."

Dumbledore ended his spiel and observed everyone's reactions.

Predictably, the panicked whispers did not cease nor did the fear in everyone's eyes fade. It was a natural reaction for students, who didn't know the horrors of the previous war, to react in such a way.

Dumbledore saw some Slytherin students roll their eyes and continued chatting with their peers.

"Yes, we all have a reason to be fearful that doesn't mean that our lives as we know it will cease." Dumbledore shouted. "We also have cause to celebrate, one of which is the conclusion of the Triwizard Tournament with no champion casualty."

The great hall clapped at the declaration.

"Another cause of celebration, is the awarding of victors to the Triwizard Tournament!" Dumbledore proclaimed. "Would the champions please join me here for the awarding?" The Headmaster called. "Would Beauxbaton's Headmistress join me please?"

With the Hogwarts's Headmaster's cue Cedric, Harry, Fleur and Viktor joined the staff and faced everyone in the great hall as Headmistress Maxime stood beside Dumbledore.

"To help me in awarding the house cup, please welcome Mr. Percy Ignatius Weasley!" Dumbledore announced.

Percy stood up from his table and joined Dumbledore and the Triwizard champions as the people in the great hall clapped.

With the absence of Durmstrang's Headmaster, Dumbledore and Maxime were left to award the prizes for the tournament's participants. They had awarded Fleur in third place and Viktor in second place.

"Before I proceed, Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter, the both of you touched the Triwizard cup at the same time." Dumbledore stated. "There's only one cup and two of you, how should we continue?"

"If I may headmaster, why don't we settle the tie with a duel?" Professor Snape suggested.

"What do you say Diggory? Potter?" Dumbledore asked.

"I refuse." Cedric declined the offer, to everyone's shock. "It wouldn't be fair to duel Harry as he is two or three years younger than me." He looked at the Potions master's eyes.

"According to your statement, you saw Potter duel you-know-who, wouldn't it be a fair assessment that he can hold his own against you?" Professor Snape offered.

"I'm afraid not Professor." Cedric shook his head. "Due to his inexperience, from what I witnessed, Harry's style of dueling is sloppy at best." He offered his assessment. "No offense." Cedric immediately added, facing Harry.

"None taken." Harry smiled.

"Considering the past three years of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers we have had, two of which were incompetent and from what I heard from my fellow Hufflepuffs, Professor Lockheart's approach to dueling wasn't ideal." He offered his assessment.

"How so Mr. Diggory?" Professor Mcgonagall questioned.

"People told me that Professor Lockheart failed to teach them how to block unfriendly spells." Cedric relayed. "From what I have seen Harry do, I can't help but agree with that assessment."

"I see." Professor Snape sat down.

"Magnificent Diggory!" Professor Flitwick praised. "Yes I remember, you were your year's most talented duelist, no doubt your parent's influence."

"I try my best Professor." Cedric blushed.

"That still leaves the matter of the winner." Dumbledore pointed out. "There is one cup and two of you."

"Professor, if I may." Cedric offered.

"Yes Mr. Diggory?"

"Why don't Harry and I tie in for first place?"

"Are you sure you want to split your victory?" Dumbledore questioned. "Glory cannot be split, you both will share that, however there's the prize."

"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed. "We can also split the prize between the two of us."

"Glad to know you agree with me mate, you're a good bloke." Cedric ruffled Harry's hair. "But yes Professor, we can split the prize." He nodded at the headmaster.

"Very well then." Dumbledore nodded.

Hogwarts's Headmaster urged the boys to take a few steps forward and raised and handed the boys the Triwizard Cup.

"I present you the Triwizard Tournament Winners: Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter!" Dumbledore declared.

The declaration earned a round of applause from the people present in the Great Hall from students – except from the Slytherin students –, teachers, staff and guests.

"On that note, let the feast begin!"

---------

"In a few hours, our guests from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will be returning to their homes." Dumbledore announced. "As a special treat, why don't we show them our yearly tradition of awarding the house cup?"

Every Hogwarts student stood up and cheered.

"The current point standing are: In fourth place, Ravenclaw with 390 points; third place, Slytherin with 406 points; in second place, Gryffindor with 439 points; and in first place, with 445 points, Hufflepuff house."

Every Hufflepuff, from the students to the staff, cheered loudly. Some had even lifted their Triwizard champion and hoisted him in the air in pure glee.

"Congratulations Hufflepuff! You win the house cup!" Dumbledore declared.

The Headmaster clasped his hands together and raised them towards the banners that hung from the ceiling of the Great Hall. The Gryffindor banners were now replaced by Hufflepuff colors and insignia.

Every student in Hufflepuff threw their hats in the air in celebration, and those that were carrying Cedric, they opted to jump up high with glee.

---------

The Mudblood

Triwizard Tournament Winners

By: Billy Batson

Unforeseen events during the Triwizard Tournament has left Wizarding Britain holding their breaths as they waited for the announcement of the winners for the much acclaimed contest between schools. The sudden kidnapping of both Hogwarts's champions and the disappearance of Durmstrang's Headmaster has forced the Department of International Magical Cooperation and the Department of Magical Games and Sports to postpone the announcement of the tournament's winners.

During today's End of year feast, Hogwarts's Headmaster has officially declared that both Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter winners of the Triwizard Tournament, a first since the tournament's creation. Various sources say that Professor Snape offered to have duel between the two participants' as tie breaker.

In true Hufflepuff fashion, Hufflepuff's champion, offered that both he and Gryffindor's champion be declared winners as the rules stated that whosoever touched the cup first shall be the winner of the tournament, and the both of them did touch the Triwizard cup at the same time.

It is unclear whether the recently concluded Triwizard Tournament signals the full revival of said competition as the champion's selection was rigged to gather four champions instead of three and the use of dangerous beasts, nesting ones, have been rather controversial.

We here at the Mudblood offer our sincerest congratulations to the participants of the Triwizard tournament and its winners Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter.

[losersclubbitches]

Cuddles After a Long Day is Just How Much I Love You Part 2

“Mark, have you seen my white shirt?” Freddy called out of his room. He was searching through his drawers, pulling out clothes to try to find aforementioned shirt.

“It’s still in the wash, remember,” Mark replied, appearing in the doorway.

“What? It can’t be in the wash. Billy’s gonna be here in an hour! It’s gonna take too long to wash and dry it!” Freddy exclaimed. Mark came closer as Freddy sighed in exasperation, sitting down on his bed with his head in his hands.

“Freddy, relax. This isn’t the first time you’ve been on a date with Billy,” Mark reminded. “Besides, you’re eating dinner here, remember? That’ll be plenty of time to get your shirt ready.”

“Right, but what if he thinks that it’s dumb that I’m not wearing the suit through dinner and breaks up with me?”

“Look, son. Billy’s not that kind of boy, trust me. He loves you even when you’re not wearing your fanciest outfit,” Mark assured. Freddy took in the information for a while, letting the words roll around in his head.

“Thanks, Mark.”

“Freddy, what’s going on? You’ve been uber stressed lately.”

“Well, some kids at school keep telling me that I don’t deserve a good family. Or Billy,” Freddy admitted.

“Freddy. You know that’s not true. The only thing you don’t deserve is the reason you’re in foster care. Junie and I love having you, you know that, but we wish we didn’t have to have you. We wish it were under different circumstances, but we love you,” Mark affirmed, placing a comforting hand on Freddy’s shoulder.

“I love you, too.” There was a pause and a question irked at Freddy’s mind until it pushed past his lips seemingly of its own volition. “Why’d you guys pick me?” he asked. He knew he should probably be embarrassed by the question, but his mind was too curious to care. Fortunately, Mark chuckled, a smile spread across his face good-naturedly.

“Well, you’re a good kid. Very smart, very kind, very passionate, and we have shared experience, in a way,” he told Freddy, indicating his own wheelchair at the end. Mark had lost movement of his legs in almost the same way Freddy had: a car accident. The only difference was Mark’s was in Afghanistan and he was fully paralyzed from the waist down.

“Right. Thanks.”

“Any time. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“Am I competing for your affections, Freddy?” a voice asked from the doorway of the room. Freddy looked up and saw his boyfriend all dressed up in a suit and tie and smirking at him. One hand was behind his back holding something Freddy couldn’t see.

“Billy!” Freddy exclaimed, jumping up off his bed, bounding over to Billy, and practically launching himself into the other’s arms. Billy stumbled back a step, but hugged Freddy anyway.

“Sorry I’m early. I was nervous about being late and I guess I walked here subconsciously. I also bought you flowers,” Billy spoke sheepishly, pulling away and holding up a bouquet of blue roses.

“Aww! My favorite! Thanks, Billy!” Freddy took the flowers and placed a quick kiss to Billy’s lips. “I’m gonna grab a vase for these. Be right back.” He left the room, going to the kitchen across the hall to fulfill his promise. Billy sat on the bed near Mark, smiling at the man.

“How are you doing, Billy?” Mark inquired.

“I’m doing very well. School’s going alright,” Billy replied. “How are you? How’s work?”

“I’m doing just fine, thanks. Work’s alright. We’ve got a big company we’re working with right now, so it’s a bit cramped at the office.”

“Oh yeah. Freddy mentioned something about that.”

“Yeah. I’ve been taking some time to work from home, because it’s hard to get around with double the people crowding the area,” Mark told him.

“That must me nice to work from home,” Billy mused.

“Yeah. I’ve been getting to spend more time with Junie and Freddy. Everything a guy can ask for.”

“You guys talking about me?” Freddy joked as he walked back into the room.

“All good things, Freeman. All good things,” Billy answered, standing up and walking over to wrap an arm around Freddy’s shoulder. Freddy hummed, smiling.

“Uh huh. Okay.”

“By the way, you look very handsome. I really enjoy the Superman shirt with the dress pants,” Billy remarked, tone joking, yet mostly sincere. He kissed the other's cheek.

“Ha ha. My shirt’s in the wash and I figured you didn’t want me in just my underwear at homecoming,” Freddy refuted.

“That would be bad.”

“You guys! Dinner’s ready!” Junie called from the kitchen. The three males left the room and headed to the kitchen across the hall. The lights had been dimmed and the flowers set out on the table, which had a white cloth and fancy place settings. The boys took a seat at the table and Mark handed them laminated pieces of paper that acted as makeshift menus.

“You have the option of spaghetti and meatballs or chicken nuggets as a main dish and either peas or broccoli as a side dish,” he told them.

“And whatever you don’t eat, we will, so no pressure,” Junie added, smoothing down Freddy’s hair gently as she smiled at Billy.

“Well, I think I’ll have the spaghetti and broccoli,” Billy decided.

“And I’ll have the chicken nuggets and peas,” Freddy declared. They handed their menus back to Mark, who took them and went into the kitchen. He came back a few minutes later holding the plates and set them down in front of the two boys.

“Thank you,” they said at the same time. They started eating, sparing glances at the other every so often.

“This is nice. Did you plan this all yourself?” Billy commented.

“Uh, yeah. I wanted it to feel like an actual pre-homecoming dinner since I don’t have any money to actually take you out,” Freddy replied, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

“It’s perfect. I love it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I told you, I don’t need anything fancy from you. Just hangin’ out on the couch is all I need from you and if we do anything else, you’ve already exceeded my requirements. You’re perfect.” Billy reached across the table and grabbed Freddy’s hand in his own and ran his thumb over the other’s knuckles, like he always did to comfort Freddy.

“I love you, Billy Batson.”

“I love you more, Freddy Freeman.”

“So not possible.”

“I’ll let you have this one ‘cause you’re cute. Now, eat your food.”

***

Once they were done with dinner, Junie and Mark drove them to Freddy’s school, where the dance was being held.

“You boys look so handsome with your matching outfits,” Junie gushed. “I can almost hear the wedding bells!” It was true, both boys had worn a suit with a white shirt and a black jacket and pants and Junie had cut two of the roses to attach to the suits. The only difference between their outfits was that while Billy’s tie, Converse, and pocket square were red, Freddy’s were blue.

“Junie, we’re not married,” Freddy reminded wholeheartedly.

“Not yet, anyway,” Billy added, a pink blush settling on his cheeks. Freddy blushed, too, shying away, but still holding Billy’s hand.

“I know, sweetie, but you guys are just so adorable together!”

“Thank you,” they answered.

“Okay, we’ll see you after the dance. 10 o’clock, right? Unless there’s an after party you’d want to go to,” Mark put in.

“I think I’ll be all partied out after this,” Freddy remarked as he and Billy clambered from the backseat.

“Me, too.”

“So, 10 o’clock, it is! See you then. Have fun, be safe, we love you!”

“I love you, too. We will!” With that, Junie and Mark drove away and Freddy and Billy walked into the school’s gym, where it was decorated with streamers, lights, and balloons. They gave the teacher at the door their tickets and went in.

“Freddy! There you are, did you just get here?” a voice called from the wall to their right.

“Hey, Lane. Yeah. We just got here,” Freddy replied. “This is my boyfriend, Billy. Billy, this is my best friend, Lane.”

“Nice to meet you, Lane,” Billy greeted, sticking out a hand. Lane shook it, smiling.

“You, too. Freddy talks about you all the time. I’m starting to fall in love with you.”

“Well, he’s taken, so…” Freddy responded jokingly, gripping Billy’s hand.

“I know, I know. Anyway, Lance is around here somewhere, let’s go find him.” Lane grabbed Billy’s other hand and pulled him away dragging Billy with them. They found Lance at the DJ booth, trying to bribe the teacher working there.

“C’mon, Mr Johns. I’ll give ya twenty bucks if you let me play just one song,” he offered.

“After the stunt you pulled with the projector, no way, Mr. Langston,” the teacher denied.

“He played a less-than G-rated scene last month during Movie Day,” Freddy explained into Billy’s ear. Billy nodded in understanding. Finally, they dragged Lance away from the DJ booth and went to get waters, as it was hot in the room. They danced around, Freddy never letting go of Billy’s hand.

“I gotta go to the bathroom, I’ll be right back,” Freddy spoke up after a while, leaning into Billy’s ear to speak again. Billy nodded and squeezed Freddy’s hand before letting go reluctantly. Without his anchor, Billy felt the room spinning slightly in his panic. Freddy was the only person he really knew here and without his presence, Billy was just like a lost puppy wandering around in the loud, dark area. He reached for his pocket, finding the present he’d bought and playing with it. Lance and Lane had found people to dance with a while back, but had stayed close enough to chat.

“Billy, are you alright?” Lane asked, leaning over.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. I’m just gonna get some fresh air,” Billy replied “Could you tell Freddy I stepped outside when he gets back?” Lane nodded, going back to the boy he was dancing with. Billy walked as calmly as he could out of the gym and through the doors without being noticed. When he was outside, he paced until his feet got tired and then he sat down with his back against the wall, still playing with the object in his pocket. That was where Freddy found him, against the wall.

“Hey. Lane said you were out here. What’s up?” Freddy queried, sitting down next to him.

“Just got a little too much,” Billy answered, looking at him. “You’re the only person I know here and when you were gone, I guess I just felt…”

“Lost?”

“Yeah. I know that sounds so clingy, but-” Freddy cut him off.

“Remember when I went to your school’s holiday party last year?” he asked.

“What?”

“Do you remember your school’s holiday party last year?” Freddy asked more pointedly. Billy nodded.

“Of course I do.”

“Well, you didn’t mind when I literally clung to your arm the entire time, did you?”

“No, of course I didn’t mind,” Billy told him, confused about why this mattered.

“Well, then why do you think I’d mind if you did the same thing? It’s not clingy, you have every right to feel out of place. I know I do sometimes,” Freddy declared.

“Right. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for feeling, you dork. Now, let’s go back inside. We’ve got an hour left of the dance.” Freddy made to stand up, but Billy caught his arm.

“Wait. I, uh. I have something for you,” he told the boy, letting go of Freddy’s wrist once he knew the boy had no intentions of leaving.

“What is it?” Freddy cocked his head to the side, brown eyes shining in the glow from the light of the moon.

“Well, I just, I uh.” Billy took a deep breath to prepare himself and looked Freddy in the eyes, emerald green meeting chocolate brown. “I really, really like you, Freddy. Like a lot and I wanted to show you how much I really like you, so I got you this.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed the present, holding it out to Freddy. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the disappointment on his boyfriend’s face, and was surprised when he didn’t hear anything for a while. He cracked an eye open to see Freddy’s thoroughly shocked face. There were tears shining at the edges of his eyes, but Billy could tell they weren't sad tears.

"Are." Freddy paused, swallowed thickly. "Are you proposing to me?" he asked. Billy scratched the back of his neck.

"Sort of. It's a promise ring."

"So, I promise to love you and you promise to love me?" Freddy clarified. Billy nodded, a pink glow kissing his cheeks in the moonlight.

"Y-yeah." Freddy smiled, hooking a finger under his boyfriend's chin and making the other look at him.

"That's beautiful. I love it," he assured. Billy slipped the ring onto Freddy's right ring finger. He slipped his own on and watched the matching silver rings glint in the pale light. Freddy laced their hands together and went back inside, dancing for the next 45 minutes. The last dance or the night was a slow dance and Freddy relished in the feeling of Billy's hands on his hips and one of his arms draped over Billy's shoulder. The dance was so slow that he didn't really need his crutch, but used it for support mostly. When the dance was over, Freddy nudged his nose against Billy's, their foreheads touching.

"I love you, Billy Batson," he promised.

"I love you, too, Freddy Freeman," Billy promised. Once they were home, cuddled up on the couch in pajamas with candy, popcorn, and an animated movie, did Freddy notice something.

"You got this engraved?" he asked, starting at the letters embedded in the ring.

"Yep. Cost me an extra 20 bucks, but it was worth it," Billy answered.

"You dork. You didn't have to spend that much on me." Freddy shoved Billy's shoulder with his own.

"I didn't say how much I spent. It could've been $21." Freddy snorted and tossed up a piece of popcorn for him to catch. Billy reached over, intercepting the piece of popcorn himself.

"Hey! I wanted that!" Freddy griped, though he wasn't really angry.

"Then come take it," Billy teased, sticking out his tongue as he held the popcorn up. Freddy smashed their lips together, popcorn forgotten. The two kissed, Freddy's hands making their way to Billy's hair to deepen the kiss. They pulled away, panting slightly and Freddy smiled, admiring the words in his ring and the ones in Billy's.

Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman.

@freddyfreebat @toesure @shazamfamily @cap-sparklefingers @dogglefoggle @lyrics-poems-other-musings @httpdaviddobrik @heartislubbingdubbing @billiesbatsons @maggotqu33n

[davidmann95]

Now that it’s been confirmed, thoughts, fears, hopes for 5G? Having Jurgens laying the foundation all but guarantees mediocrity imo. DC doesn’t really have the talent to pull this off imo, far too many mediocre writers running the show there right now, especially with Snyder stepping back.

No starting gun tepid quip to kick us off this time. This is a real shitshow, folks.

The timeline - albeit still heavily redacted - properly leaked recently too, and it’s about as weird and bad as could be expected. Nothing matches up with its actual year of publication (half the reason you’d want to do this in the first place, were you to for some reason think it necessary) and is sometimes out of order even beyond what’s demanded by the still very dumb conceit of there being pre-Superman public superheroes, Billy Batson should be in at least his late 20s and definitely joins the Justice League twice, Final Crisis is of course the one obvious major thing that’s dropped, and cruelest of all, Superman got his dumb Jim Lee armor the year I was born. At least the fact that everything happening ‘now’ seems to indeed be in 1997 as rumored - not that they’ll explore any of the potential implications of that - means they can redo Armageddon 2001 like everyone’s been clamoring for, but this is pure dumb nerd bookkeeping for bookkeeping’s sake. And not the fun kind like The Multiversity Guidebook, where it mashes existing concepts up against each other alongside whole new ideas to generate something original, this is so the kind of people who think that sort of thing matters can have a big ‘ol circlejerk over at long last knowing with certainty exactly what year Damian Wayne was born, at least until the inexorable march of time obviously renders the whole thing null and void. Nothing of substance is gained, much of the thematic underpinning and a chunk of the detachment necessary for proper suspension of disbelief is lost, and they can’t even do their dumb idea competently.

As for today’s more formal announcement, paired with Generation Zero, DC really does seem to have spent the lead time this clearly had compared to the New 52 or Rebirth to calculate how to botch this as horrifically as possible while still maintaining some thin veneer of professionalism. After Lobdell tees them up, they’re kicking off their big new official history with a guy who’s written 15 single issues lifelong, the last of which was a decade ago? And of the uninspired, uninspiring list of creators, in spite of trying to maintain some myyyysterryyyyy of who’s doing what, it’s painfully transparent what the creative teams are and where they’re going. Generation Two: Age of the Metahuman (such a perfectly dumb, unevocative name, which is also untrue because there were definitely superpeople around in the JSA, that’s kind of the point) is going to be Jurgens and Reis, because Jurgens is the boring ‘retro’ guy so they’ll put him on the Silver Age chunk where he can be trusted to not dare invite any questions like “hey wait if Superman debuted the year after Kennedy died, what’s the impact on the American psyche?” and Reis is classic in a way that fits. Generation Three: Age of Crisis is going to be Williamson and Marquez, because they’ve worked together and Williamson is a Flash/continuity guy. Generation Four: Age of Rebirth is Vendetti and Hitch because they’ve worked together and that’s the period where Vendetti became a name of note. And Generation Five: Age of Tomorrow is Bendis and Janin, because Bendis is other than maybe Tynion their headman with Snyder stepping down and Johns irrelevant - plus this’ll be about new kids, his jam - and Janin has a Bendis Legion issue coming up and has made clear he’ll have something big in 5G, I expect also with Bendis.

This has neither the consistency to be a detached historical overview, nor the talent to be a proper prestige showcase. Forget nabbing Orlando, or Taylor, or Visaggio, or Bennett, or Tynion, or Yang, or anyone else who could have taken this setup and maybe dragged something clever or charming out of it: we’ve got two journeymen, Bendis when he’s mostly turned in pedestrian work lately other than his lightning-in-a-bottle work on Superman, a guy who doesn’t seem to have written a comic in a decade and almost nothing back then, and Dan Jurgens. At least the art’ll slap, but if I didn’t know better I’d almost think the intended message here is “if you’re not the kind of junkie lifer who slurps this nonsense up or the folks who stick it out through the junk to reach the gems, jump off now”; more plausibly this is DC’s equivalent to Marvel panicking post-Secret Wars with the Image creator exodus, reverting to type, and rapidly blowing all their Marvel NOW! goodwill. The circumstances are certainly ripe, with the aforementioned absences of Snyder and Johns, Orlando somewhat divesting himself, King ending his time on regular monthly books for the foreseeable future, Black Label’s launch not going as likely hoped, and Way presumably stepping back from Young Animal for the MCR tour.

5G itself? I’ll get Bendis’s Superman and/or Justice League, I’ll try that rumored John Ridley Batman, I’ll pick up whatever looks interesting as usual. But while I think that in spite of recent losses they do in fact have the talent pool and the potential new hires waiting in the wings to put out a lot of good books in spite of the setup this has gotten, do I think they will recruit and deploy said talent properly? Absolutely nothing I have seen has given me reason to believe them capable of it right now. Why should I when once again Doomsday Clock, which as a DC book had reason to act optimistic about it, assumed this would last all of 5 years? Underneath all the circumstances surrounding it this kind of bold leap forward is a daring, fascinating idea, and I’m gonna be so disappointed when it plays out as catastrophically as it looks to.

[littlewheat]

Wally West Headcannons

Because I love him and I can:

- He plays the piano really well. He learned because of his superspeed; since his perception of time also got affected, Alfred suggested to Batman to suggest to Barry that he learns the piano in order to have a tangible outlet for staying in real time. Wally doesnt broadcast it that much since it’s more of a stress reliever/coping mechanism all his own- but it is an occassional party trick he’ll whip out to surprise and impress people. Also, Alfred most definitely went “undercover” to teach little, freshly speedstered Wally the piano (as that was just a few years before he knew Batman’s secret identity)

- Wally ( and Barry ) speak a lot of langauges. I mean, they run around the world a lot and Wally relies heavily on food to sustain his speeds. It makes sense that he would stop for food a lot and as Flashes, the two would like to chat or help out with some local trouble, etc. So every year, Barry and Wally learn a new language together. They started with the “love languages” and quickly broadened their horizons.

-The language thing is actually an unspoken competition for them to speak more languages than Batman (I looked it up- he speaks 24 languages including Kryptonian) So of course the majority of the Justice League wants to help out their favorite speedsters. Superman lets Wally study in his Fortress of Solitude, Wonder Woman teaches them Greek and Latin, Shayera teaches them Thanagarian, M’Gann teaches Wally enough Martian to get by, Green Lantern sends language videos/books from fellow Green Lanterns to help Barry and Wally learn random alien languages that Batman isn’t likely to speak, etc. By age 23 Wally can speak 32 languages with imperfect fluency ( he’s awful with proper accents but has impeccable grammar )

-Bonus: Shayera basically refuses to teach Batman her langauge and her and Barry mock Batman by speaking it together whenever he’s in the room.

-Before Wally got his speed, he had a motor tic where he would blink a couple times and duck his head occassionally with an arm twitching out.That tick transferred over after he got superspeed but now its really fast and looks like a really fast spasm/cold chill. No one mentions it but they all think its incredibly endearing.

- Sometimes Wally slips into “relative time” where everything slows down. This tends to happen most while he’s reading or problem solving or doing homework and things like that- Sometimes he’ll be reading a book at what seems like a normal pace for him... until the pages are burning from the speed he was flipping them at. From an onlooker, Wally will start to blur along the edges and books genuinely appear to spontaneously combust.

-For his birthday one year, Dick Grayson tried to get Wally a really fast kindle that could match Wally’s “relative time” reading speed- after three versions blowing up, Wally and Dick agreed that books might be safer/less expensive anyways.

-People quickly learn that if they loan Wally a book... its likely to come back toasted or in ashes. So... no one really loans him books more than once.

-Wally runs in his sleep :)

-It’s not so much a headcannon as it is pure cannon, but Speedsters can’t get drunk since their metabolism is so fast that their body runs right through it. On Wally’s 21st birthday, GL brings him some alien booze thats like crazy strong and Wally hoofs it (as he is used to doing with no repercussions. ) He’s drunk for, like, three days.

-Also, on a sad note: While Wally’s powers are on the fritz and sort of killing him, He doesn’t tell anyone about it. Dick Grayson figures it out when he plays a drinking game with Wally where he takes normal alchohol shots and actually gets a little tipsy. 

-Also, in regards to the Young Justice universe: I think Wally ( a guy who willingly got struck by lightning and doused in chemicals ) would not give up the hero biz. His powers were killing him and Barry and Artemis benched him- and out of solidarity, Artemis benched herself as well. Wally didn’t want to tell anyone - and as it was already majorly difficult for him and in the understanding that he deserves some control- Artemis and Barry agreed to keep it secret. Basically: Batman, Iris, Barry, Artemis and Hal Jordan know. Hence some frustration when he would jump in to help in “emergencies” - though anyone who knows Wally basically knew he did that with that exact reasoning in mind. That- in an emergency- he wouldn’t want anyone knowing he shouldn’t be helping...

- Wally can’t vibrate through solid objects for a while... He learns how to do so when he gets kidnapped or something and is super desperate. But when he does vibrate through things... they blow up. This is something he honestly can’t control for about as long as he couldn’t initially vibrate through things- but when he does learn to control it, he can still blow things up if he wants to ( eh, some pseudo science about speed and particles and things. )

- Wally is basically always covered in ice and plastic wrap, especially his shins.

- Wally is pretty nervous around storms. He sort of hates lightning. I suppose, if you were struck by it then it makes sense to understand and be wary of it happening again. That doesn’t stop Dick and Arty from making fun of him every time he flinches at a flash of lightning. It’s actually them trying to distract him as they know he’s low-key ready for it hit him (and with his enhanced perception, they know he watches the entire path the lightning takes to be sure it doesn’t arch towards them.)

-Wally loves Shazam and all but because of the lightning thing... the two have a sort of agreement ( enforced by a protective Robin ) where Billy/Shazam avoids switching personas near Wally. Or at least warns him when it happens.  This of course is after the first time Batson shows everyone how his powers work and Wally sprinted to another state leaving a lingering yelp behind.

-Wally carries a lot of static with him. He shocks people sort of a lot. He touches something metal? There’s a jolt. He tries to harness this “bonus power” as something he can do at will (like Barry can throw lightning if he runs fast enough type of thing ) and after some practice, Wally can do what Barry does. But he has terrible aim. And his intent was to not have to run to use it. At best, he just gives a really strong static shock. He definitely uses it to annoy everyone.

-Alternatively, Wally also shocks people when he’s nervous. Many of Artemis and Wally’s first kisses resulted in numb lips for our blonde archer.

-Wally also vibrates when nervous, angry or excited. Take that in as many directions as you’d like. ;)

-Wally is a little bit terrible at swimming. Like he won’t drown. But water isn’t the same as air and super fast water treading has mixed results and his accelerated heart-rate makes holding his breath difficult and also, it’s only fair to have this super world function as ours does where swimmers hate to run and runners hate to swim. Trust me on this. Even outliers have one they’re better at. I would know.

- Wally is sort of the couch-surfer of the hero world. Maybe a small part of it is rooted in him trying to dodge his parents, but he genuinely likes to visit his friends. And as a speedster, he really doesn’t do well with staying in one place. So as the Team and everyone gets older, Wally tends to pop into Roy’s apartment, Dick’s flat, Alfred always has cookies for him at the Mansion, M’Gann and Conner’s house (and so on) entirely un-announced. He brings random “souveniers” along the way and basically everyone has taken to keeping extra foods just in case.

- I honestly think Wally is bisexual but he just genuinely never realized it and doesn’t care much. Like, maybe I’m projecting, but I’m bisexual and I never realized it until my first kiss was a girl and I just rolled with it. Like I didn’t even bat an eye- I was just like, “oh, of course.”- I’d been saying how pretty girls are for years and always thought it was an artist’s eye for beauty in all forms or something but like... bruh, I am bi. But also, its not a huge deal. And I think Wally is the same? Like he doesn’t realize it but also- I think his first kiss was a boy. And he just blinked and rolled with it. I also think that he wasn’t all that good at committing to one person (speedsters got places to be and people to see or something) Like he is far from “getting around”- I think he had like three kisses before Artemis and that she was his first relationship. The first was a guy, the second was maybe some chick he kissed at a school dance, the second was a stranger that Dick dared him to kiss on some random summer day when they were in civvies hanging out together and the fourth was Artemis. I think he’s just so casually bi that no one else even suspects it except those who know his kissing history or whatever.

I could honestly go on forever! If you guys write or draw anything based on this please let me know! I just wanna see my ginger more, tbh.

[marybatson]

we can talk all we like about the “real” captain marvel/billy batson and how he should be depicted, but the truth is that ever since he was sidelined by dc back in the 50s and reappeared a whole 20 yrs later, his origin AND personality has been warped and changed by authors with different endgames in mind, so the “real” CM has been an obscure muddy picture for decades. doc shaner was correct to say benching billy during the silver age was the worst move for captain marvel because it reshaped every other hero in existence except him. billy was kept stagnant for longer than he’s been relevant in the dcu.

what i’m saying is that billy isn’t really like clark whose core character has taken root in different interpretations over time. the comic reader in 2019 already knows the basics of what makes superman superman without having to read his entire repertoire. knowing billy is a little harder because he doesn’t have the safety net of 50+ solid books that may differ slightly in process but are generally grasping at the same universal character. billy might be interpreted as bratty one day and a boy scout the next. his origin is basically retconned every time they need him to cameo as event fodder. and i don’t mean tht every superman writer never has it ooc, but the ratio of ppl who get it right are a bigger pool in comparison to the few solo dc books billy has had vs the tiny percentage of acceptable (imo) CMs. TLDR: writing captain marvel shouldn’t have to be so risky. a few essential ingrained traits notwithstanding, billy batson is free game. i wish one day there’ll be a captain marvel that’ll stick and play into all our hopes for The Final Form Billy Batson, but fingers crossed it won’t stem from geoff johns’s n52 billy, who youre free to police all you like and is not invited 2 the rave.

(also as wonderful and miraculous as it was, doc’s convergence shazam shouldn’t have to set bar for every future shazam book in existence either; it was meant to draw on those golden age elements as a throwback! we’re not in the golden age anymore. it has its obvious pros in terms of characterization, but billy + his family can grow even beyond that golden age-sparkly clean mentality as well. obviously this does NOT mean changing the base foundations for his character being justice-driven/inherently good-hearted/etc. it just means allowing room for the growth and potential that they’ve missed out on. it’s ok to let them exist outside of a bubble. they can have tragic arcs. they can have depth in emotion. they can have iphones now.)

p.s. just a sidenote while im at it but can dc quit with the infantilization already!!! the marvels were never meant to be particularly childish or innocent before, they were literally just existing as a golden age comic!! haven’t you seen batman in the golden age!!

[redrobin-detective]

Prompt: Billy Batson earlier in career so he's an established hero in Fawcett but hasn't met most of the heroes yet working with someone for the first time in like a stake out situation or investigating something magical? (the last Billy one you wrote was so great ty!)

Thank you, I love writing Billy, he’s such a fun, dynamic character both sweet and salty all wrapped up in one precious bun! 

Billy generally loved being Captain Marvel. He got all these cool magical powers and could go out and do some real, proper good for the people in his city. Secretly there was also something nice about being someone else for a little bit, no one gave a damn about homeless Billy Batson but Cap was big and friendly and loved by everyone. This part wasn’t exactly his favorite though.

He sighed heavily through his nose and tried to pay attention to what was going on across the street. There’d been a spike in child trafficking in Fawcett City, an international ring had recently set up shop a town over but had been making trips to Fawcett to grab kids. Normally Billy would go in and knock some skulls and be done with it, but this group was bigger than the usual creeps he fought. If he wanted to bring down the whole shebang, he needed to do some surveillance before he jumped in. 

But it was so boring.  

He tapped his fingers on the cold stone roof he was sitting on. He’s Cap right now, with a dark cloak being thrown over his costume to keep from standing out. Honestly, it’d probably be easier to keep an eye out as Billy but it’s below freezing tonight in Fawcett and Billy doesn’t have Cap’s immunity to the elements.  

“Mind if I join you?” Billy whirled around in surprise at the voice coming just behind him. He was greeted by none other than the Scarlet Speedster, the Flash, holding out two steaming cups. “Thought if I was going to crash your stakeout I might as well come prepared.” 

“You’re the Flash!” Billy exclaimed with excitement, barely remembering to keep his voice down. Central City wasn’t all that far from Fawcett so Billy often heard stories of the Flash. He was a simple, honest hero that Billy had always liked. He was friendlier than Batman and less terrifyingly powerful than Superman and he was standing in front of Billy right now. “I am a huge fan, have been for years, that fight last week where you pitted Mirror Master against Captain Cold was so awesome!” 

“Thanks man, I hear you do good work too and I love how open you are with your advocacy. That’s the mark of a true hero, I’ve actually been wanting to meet up for a while though I wish it were under better circumstances.” Flash said, handing Captain his cup. “You didn’t strike me as a coffee person so I got you hot chocolate, hope that’s alright.” 

“It’s perfect, I’ll pay you back,” Captain said, even though he had $9.67 to his name. He turned his gaze back to the warehouse. “You’re here about the trafficking?” 

“Yeah,” Flash sighed, settling next to him. “They’ve been making their way through the entire midwest. I’ve taken down their operation in Central but the big bosses managed to get away. I figured they’d be here as they set up shop, so I thought I’d check it out.”

“Nah, I appreciate it, I’m not real good at this stakeout stuff,” Cap admittedly sheepishly as he took a sip from his cocoa. Mmm it was the good stuff, he hadn’t had this high quality of cocoa in uh probably never. 

“Eh it takes some getting used to, punching bad guys is easy but this is really where heroes can make a difference,” Flash explained and Billy felt himself relaxing at the gentle but authoritative tone. If all adults were like this, the world wouldn’t be half as bad. “Still, it’s impressive to see you out here, shows you have what it takes.”

“For what?” Cap asked innocently, taking a sip of his drink.

“Well, you didn’t hear it from me but League membership recommendations are coming up and a certain magical hero is on the shortlist.” Flash teased, Billy spit out his cocoa.

“What, really!? But I’m just a k-” He coughed, cutting himself off before he accidentally revealed his age. “a-a clown, you know? I’m not nearly experienced or smart enough to be in the Justice League. I mean, that’s for the real heroes like Batman and Superman and well, you!” 

“Hey,” Flash soothed, putting a hand on his shoulder and Billy would be geeking out if his brain wasn’t mush. “You may be new but you’re powerful and the League is just as much about teaching up and coming heroes as it is fighting bad guys. With us, you’ll have credentials, resources, training, anything you’ll need to do your job. You’re right, we only take the best but we’ve seen you out there and you got twice as much heart as most folks.” 

“I-I don’t know,” Captain says, trying to tamp down the paranoid parts of Billy. Being in the League means being away from Fawcett, his home and responsibility. It also puts his secret on the line and the heroes might like Cap but no one has time for a street kid like Billy. 

“It’s not set in stone yet,” Flash added. “If you really don’t feel ready, I can tell the big boys to pass on you this go around. But the fact that you’re taking this opportunity so seriously tells me you understand the risks and responsibility.”

“I’ll uh, I’ll think about it,” Captain says quietly before, thankfully, he sees some movement within the warehouse. “Hey I think those bosses of your have shown up.”

“Alright, you mind if I jump in?” Flash asked draining his coffee. “I’ve been itching to get these guys for weeks now, it’ll help me sleep better tonight if I punch a few pedophiles out.”

“O-oh you don’t need my permission, sir!” Captain stuttered. 

“Course I do, this is your turf. Team-ups are fun but I can’t just waltz in and act like I own the place,” oh man, the Flash is totally his favorite now, sorry Superman. “Just think about what I said, I’ll stop by again before the nominations are out to see if you still feel unsure.”

“You’ll come back?” Cap asked with genuine surprise. No one came to Fawcett on their own, you either were born here or got stuck here. 

“Yeah, we’re friends now, I’ll swing by when I have five free minutes and we’ll have another cup,” he said gesturing with his now empty cup which he then disposed of in a garbage can on the first floor. 

“Yeah! Yeah I’d like that a lot,” Billy grinned, friends were a luxury he really couldn’t afford with his heroing but maybe having a few adult friends in the business would help him find his footing with these new powers. “Now let’s go kick some bad guy butt.”

[thefuriousstarlightstudent]

Literally Billy Batson chapter four is here! It’s a very long story why it took so long, but I do apologize. It shouldn’t (hopefully) take that long again. :)

Chapter Four Ao3 Link: Positive

Fawcett City, U.S.A.

October 5th, 2010

The car ride is silent. Billy isn't sure if it's because Mr. Wayne is a quiet person or if it's Billy's own hostile attitude towards… well, everything that's keeping everyone quiet. Billy's unwilling to break the silence, and it seems, so are they. The entire ride is - in a word - awkward. Tense is another word Billy might use.

It's almost worse because Billy is sitting in the back and both Mr. Wayne and Dick Grayson are sitting in the front seats, passing meaningful looks back and forth so smoothly that it reminds Billy of how Batman and Robin communicate. In fact, something about them is oddly familiar, and not just in how smoothly they communicate. But that's silly to think; Billy has never seen either of them before today.

It doesn't take long for Mr. Wayne to pull the car to a stop in front of what has to be the fanciest hotel Billy has ever seen in his short life. There's a man in a red uniform waiting by the door who takes the keys from Mr. Wayne and immediately gets into the car, driving it off towards a parking lot. Billy watches for a moment before following Mr. Wayne and Dick into the hotel.

Rich people are weird, he decides. Is it really that hard to park your own car? Or to have to walk more than fifteen feet in slightly chilly air to get inside a building? Mr. Wayne doesn't seem like the type of person to be so lazy. Billy doesn't really like Mr. Wayne at the moment, but he doesn't think he's so self-centered either.

As they walk through the hotel, Billy watches Mr. Wayne. He smiles a lot, more than Billy would expect. He also comes off as slightly goofy. But the thing is Billy doesn't think that's how Mr. Wayne really is, because as soon as they're out of sight of the hotel receptionist and other guests in the waiting room, he goes right back to being the quiet and introspective man who gave Billy his mom's letter and drove them here. Mr. Wayne puts on a very noticeable front, at least to Billy.

He files the information away for later.

They don't walk very far. In what feels like no time at all to Billy they arrive at a hotel room. Mr. Wayne slides a card and the door pops open, revealing a room that is at least as large as Billy's old house from when his parents were alive.

He snaps his mouth shut. He hadn't even noticed it had dropped. The whole place looks like it should be where a movie star stays, or even a king. Heck, some of the gods Billy has met would be happy to stay here, and they're the pickiest beings Billy has ever met.

Billy tries to keep his emotions in check. As cool as this is (and extremely extravagant), he doesn't want to be impressed or amazed. He doesn't want to acknowledge that any of this may be true. That maybe, just maybe, C.C. Batson isn't his biological dad. He just wants to go home and pretend that this isn't happening.

After a moment, Billy notices a woman near the back of the room. She has brown hair with grey streaks. She also wears a lab coat. This is probably Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Billy realizes.

"Hello," she says, looking up at the sound of the door closing and walking towards them. "I see you're back, Bruce. And you must be Billy. I'm Dr. Thompkins. How do you do?"

"I'm Billy Batson, but I guess you knew that."

Dr. Thompkins' lips twitch at his name as if he's told a spectacularly funny joke and she is trying her hardest not to laugh. Billy isn't quite sure what she finds so funny about his name, but she seems like an okay person. Something about her is just very soothing.

"Do you know what you're doing here?" she asks.

Billy scowls slightly. "Yeah. I do. Mr. Wayne told me he wants to do a paternity test because of a letter my mom sent him after I was born."

"Go ahead and sit down then," she says, gesturing towards a chair. "I'm just going to be doing a cheek swab. Then I'll use that. An analysis shouldn't take long; the equipment is all here."

Billy sits down. "Doesn't DNA analysis take longer to do than an hour? I thought it took a day or two."

Dr. Thompkins seems surprised by his question. She shoots an impressed look to Mr. Wayne.

"Normally it does," she concedes. "I have equipment that makes it a bit faster and easier."

"Ah," Billy says. It makes sense Mr. Wayne is able to have it done quicker and easier. He has money. Money makes everything easier and faster.

As Dr. Thompkins gathers what must be the proper equipment. Out of the corner of his eye, Billy sees Mr. Wayne sit down awkwardly on the end of a bed as if he's not quite sure what to do with himself. Something about that strikes him as funny, even if he doesn't laugh. Dick sits down on the floor at Mr. Wayne's feet.

Billy isn't quite sure what to make of Dick. The teen is so friendly it's abrasive. Billy's met his fair share of teens during his years being homeless. Most of them aren't this friendly. They're okay, sure, but they're also high half the time. It makes it hard to talk to them or enjoy their company.

"Open please," Dr. Thompkins says.

Billy drops his mouth open and lets her swab it with the cotton. The rubber gloves she's wearing are uncomfortable and feel strange when they brush the inside of his mouth. She removes the cotton after a moment, leaving his mouth dry.

She drops the cotton swab into a plastic bag quickly and zips the bag.

"The results should be back in about an hour. I'm going to go and run them in the other room."

As she leaves, Billy finds himself thinking that he hadn't even noticed the hotel room had more rooms. How big is it?

Billy hopes that the test comes back negative. He hopes that he's not Mr. Wayne's son. But the more Billy thinks about it the more he can see it being true. His mom wouldn't have written the letter if it wasn't the truth. And honestly, Billy looks like Mr. Wayne a lot. A lot more than he looked like C.C. Batson, at any rate.

The room is quiet. No one really talks or moves, nor do they make a move to do so. Billy thinks it's because they're not quite sure what to say to him. There's a moment where Mr. Wayne shifts as if to stand up or say something, but in the end, he stills again. Billy's thankful for that, in a way. He doesn't think he's ready to face this all, not fully, at least.

They all stay quiet for the rest of the hour until Dr. Thompkins comes back, lips thin and almost frowning. She's holding onto a small stack of papers tightly, knuckles white. Billy thinks he knows what she's going to say.

"The paternity results are here," she says, holding the papers out to Mr. Wayne, who is quick to snatch them and reads quickly. She retreats to the other room and closes the door, leaving the three of them alone.

Mr. Wayne's face is stiff. Billy finds himself unable to read the man's expression easily, which is beyond frustrating.

Finally, Mr. Wayne looks up at Billy. He feels his heart sink.

"I am, aren't I?" Billy asks. "Your son, I mean."

Wordlessly, Mr. Wayne stands up and gives the papers to Billy. Mostly they're full of techno mumbo-jumbo that Billy doesn't have a chance of understanding unless the Wisdom of Solomon is coming into play.

The chances of Doner 1 being the biological father of Doner 2 is 99.78%. This is considered a positive result because of-

Billy sets the papers down, hands shaking slightly. He drops his hands to his sides so no one notices. Mr. Wayne is his dad, biologically at least. The letter had said that his dad, C.C., knew about it, he knew that Billy was Mr. Wayne's son. Did he still love Billy? He remembers his dad loved him, but what if it was all a lie?

Well, it was, in a way. They hadn't told Billy. They'd lied about it and said he was C.C.'s son. Even his mom lied to him. And sure, maybe they'd eventually been planning to come clean, but they'd died before they could. They'd died and left Billy alone with Uncle Ebenezer.

(At least there's one positive, Billy finds himself thinking. He's not related to Uncle Ebenezer.)

Billy feels hot tears well up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He wipes them roughly with his sleeve.

A moment later, he feels a hand on his shoulder. Billy looks up into Mr. Wayne's eyes. He looks, not pitying, but understanding, which is a step higher than Billy had expected. It's strange. It's not exactly unwelcome.

"I am sorry, Billy," Mr. Wayne says sincerely. "If I had known…"

"What?" Billy asks dully, feeling drained and lifeless. "What would you have done? Taken me from them?"

"No. But I would have been there for you after they died. I would have been there instead of your uncle. Maybe I could have been there and you wouldn't have run away."

Billy stiffens. "You know about that, huh?"

"You aren't in a foster home. You haven't been adopted. Officially, you're still a missing person. The only reason was that I found your name on a school field trip checklist. Not in the system though…"

"So, what now?" Billy asks, trying to steer the conversation away from his magical attendance. "You're not going to leave me alone, are you?"

Somehow, Billy knows the answer. Mr. Wayne isn't anything like he seems to be on television. He's nice, kind, understanding. It's hard to be mad at him.

"No, I'm not."

"I can't leave Fawcett," Billy tries. He sounds desperate. He is desperate. Fawcett City is his life. It's his home. All his friends are here. His work is here. It's where he lived with his parents when they were alive.

"You can't continue living alone," Mr. Wayne argues. "It's not safe, especially not if you're only ten."

"I've been plenty safe so far," Billy mutters. "I don't need to be protected. I never have."

"You're ten. Wouldn't you like to feel safe? Have a warm place to sleep?"

Billy bites back the comment about his apartment being warm. He can't let them know about his magic. Not yet, at least. He doesn't want to put them in danger or make them think he's a bad guy.

"Billy, the point is Bruce doesn't want to hide you like an inconvenience or get rid of you. You're not a problem and he's not ashamed of you. He just wants you to be safe. He's just really, really bad with feelings," Dick finally bursts out.

"It's not that," Billy says. To be honest, the idea that maybe Mr. Wayne may have wanted him hidden so he didn't have to deal with a surprise son hadn't even occurred to Billy. It is nice to know that he doesn't want to hide Billy, though. "I just really love it here. It's where… it's where I lived with my parents."

Sure, now the tears are crocodile tears, but if it works… well, he's not exactly going to complain. And even though the tears are fake now, a big part of his words is true. He doesn't want to leave because it's the last place his family lived together, whole and happy. But he also doesn't want to leave because this city needs Captain Marvel. He can't just leave.

"I- I understand that," Mr. Wayne says awkwardly. "I do. But I can't just leave you alone. Please, understand your mother asked me to take care of you if anything happened to her or - or your father."

And Billy does. It's certainly nice to know that his mother didn't want him staying with Uncle Ebenezer, at any rate. That she had a backup plan.

"I understand," Billy says. He does, really. And he knows there's no possible way he's going to be able to convince Mr. Wayne to leave him alone. In a way, it will be nice. To not have to worry about money anymore. Or the other things he generally has to worry about.

Mr. Wayne doesn't say anything else and removes his hand from Billy's shoulder. He stays in place for a moment before wandering off after Dr. Thompkins, leaving Billy and Dick Grayson alone.

"Bruce can be a little rough around the edges," Dick says. "It doesn't mean anything though, so don't take whatever he says to heart, or do, depending. He's kinds of… weird."

Billy looks over at Dick. "Well, it's not like that's that strange. Grown-ups are always weird."

"That they are. I'm still trying to figure out why myself."

"Me too," Billy agrees.

"And about your parents, I'm sorry."

"It's been a long time."

"Still," Dick says, sounding much too knowing about the feeling of having your family die. "Sorry. I know how much it sucks. Especially when you have to go live with a stranger."

Billy studies Dick, who is no longer looking at him. And somehow, Billy can see himself living with them. He'll just need to figure out a way to keep working as Captain Marvel.

Fawcett City, U.S.A.

October 6th, 2010

Billy stays the night in the hotel with them. They let him have one of the many rooms himself, even let him lock the door. It makes him feel much safer. He may think they're good people, but he's not dumb. He's not just going to trust them completely.

The only issue is today is a school day. Billy can't just skip, but apparently, he's supposed to. He doesn't like that. Billy hasn't missed a day of school except for when he's been sick. It feels irresponsible to miss it today, even if it's for a good reason. Maybe he should make them think he's transferred. He's pretty sure he can cast a spell to do that.

Billy will have to somehow sneak away to cast another spell. Or maybe he'll just call in sick for now and let Mr. Wayne deal with it later. He's sure the man can for him. And that way Billy doesn't have to worry about getting caught sneaking away and/or using magic. Those are both things he really doesn't want to have to explain.

"Oh, you're awake," Dick says, emerging from the room he was sleeping in (seriously, four bedrooms! In a hotel!). "How did you sleep?"

Billy shrugs. "Okay, I guess. The beds are too soft."

"Yeah, I know, right," Dick agrees. "I hate sleeping in them too."

Billy hums in agreement. He wonders if he could make a run for it. Not that he wants to, of course. And even if he did Mr. Wayne could probably just have Superman come find Billy. He probably has access to him since he funds the League.

If Billy's being honest with himself, having someone alive who cared about him, like a parent, kind of, is going to be nice. It's exciting. Strange, but exciting.

The more he thinks about it, the more Billy realizes he looks like Mr. Wayne too. And not just because of similar hair color and skin tone. Billy really looks like him. He has the same eye shape, same nose, same mouth, same everything, really. Except for the eyes. He has his mom's eye color.

"We're heading back to Gotham City today," Dick says.

"I figured. I don't really want to. I like it here."

Billy really has to figure out how he can keep being Captain Marvel too. He'll just have to sneak away and transform, then fly to Fawcett City. Luckily, he can fly at the speed of sound, so it shouldn't take long. It is inconvenient though. He'll also have to find out some way to keep an eye on the news in case there's anything big that happens in Fawcett so that he can come and help, whenever.

"Fawcett does seem like a cool city," Dick agrees.

"It's just - Gotham is bigger. I won't know anyone. But everyone is going to know me, aren't they?"

"Probably."

"Here I'm a normal kid, but in Gotham, I'm going to be a billionaire's son. Or at least living with a billionaire. It's weird."

"I know exactly what you mean. But it's not as bad as it seems, I promise. You adjust, at least."

"I don't want to adjust. I want to have everything stay the same. And I know that's dumb," Billy says. "But I don't want to be a billionaire's son. I just want - I want…"

"Your parents back," Dick finishes softly. "It's cool, but you'd give everything up for your parents. Even a billion dollars. Or living with someone who has a billion dollars."

"Is that bad?" Billy asks, slightly desperate. "That I'd rather have them back than have Mr. Wayne know about me existing?"

"I think I would give anything to have my parents back," Dick says. "Even my friends. The life I have now. I think I'd probably give it all up in an instant if there was even a chance I could get them back. I miss them."

"Do you think - will I have to call Mr. Wayne dad?" Billy asks. He doesn't want to call the man dad. His dad is C.C. Batson and always will be, regardless of the information about having an alive biological father. "I mean, I guess he is, but he didn't raise me. My dad did. I don't want to call anyone else dad."

Dick laughs. It's a little thick like he's holding back heartbreaking tears. He looks at Billy with a grin so wide that Billy's surprised the teenager's face isn't split open in two.

"No, Bruce won't make you do that. I'm pretty sure he understand why you won't. He's pretty awesome like that. He wouldn't say no to being called Bruce though. Between you and me, being called Mr. Wayne makes him feel old."

"Thanks, Dick," Billy says.

"It's no problem at all. I get this is all pretty crazy and definitely not asterous."

Billy bites his tongue to keep from asking about that last word. He doesn't want to be rude. Not when Dick is being so understanding.

"Yeah," Billy finally says. "Not asterous."