Chapter Text
“Thanks to Oracles facial recognition program, I have found the true identity of your apprentice, you have just hired a criminal runaway teenager Pennyworth” Damian slid the evidence across the bat computer desk for Pennyworth to examine.
“I am now aware of his identity Master Damian, but thank you for the assistance. I do not regret my hiring decision” Pennyworth did not move the papers of evidence in Pennyworth's hiring mistakes.
“I don’t understand. Why would you just hire someone who had a fake ID and is very obviously a young teenager?” Damian turned to the cameras to see the fraud still in Pennyworth's office, seeming to be talking to himself. Great, Pennyworth hired a mentally ill fraud, this could not get any better.
“…He simply reminded me of Master Jason in his youth. Although he was a much more well-mannered young man than your brother was, he had the same sort of charm. A young man done wrong by the systems of life. Master Damian, you are very well aware that nothing is black and white. Billy’s charges such as trespassing and running away, only tell me the story of a survivor, I believe he is just the apprentice I need, a hard worker… Also, he has over 37 ‘hits’ on the dark web so I am a bit frightened to fire him if he leaves the security of this house he is- as the youths say ‘cooked’”.
“Pennyworth, please never say that word again… I’m sorry 37 ‘hits’ on the dark web?” Damian was equally confused and intrigued. How could a boy who’s barely had a record of existing in the past few years have such an extensive amount of enemies?
“I insist I watch him to make sure of the protection of the manor and its residents,” Damian commanded as Pennyworth finally took his eyes off the screen.
“Thank you, Master Damian, but that is my job. If you would like to help, could you please show Billy to the servant's quarters, he can stay in room 101. I’m sure you could use more friends” Alfred patted the top of Damian’s head.
That passive-aggressive -UGH. All Damian could do is hope Billy acted nothing (and Everything) like Pennyworth.
“I will go -but not because you said so. Also, I have many friends!” Damian saw Pennyworth smile through the corner of his eyes as he reached for the entrance to the manor.
Damian was sure he could easily solve this “Billy Batson” case.
Billy was immersed in the retellings of Hercules' twelve labors. Forget all the stuff he said about his patrons, they provided him with great entertainment! Also, superpowers- that should probably be the more notable anecdote.
“Then young champion, I was faced with my fourth labor capturing the Erymanthian Boar!-“
“Aarons.” That was not Alfred’s voice. Billy turned his chair toward the door and- oh my gods.
Billy just found the love of his life.
Mr. Cute Guy was standing with crossed arms straight, glaring straight at Billy. His green gaze was piercing, reminding Billy of this black cat back home that would always scratch Billy if he got too close, even after months of trying that cat would not get even an inch closer to him. Anyways- Billy swore he’d seen that face before- but he couldn’t place just where. But Billy didn’t think it was possible to forget a face like that.
“Is that not your name?” Mr. Cute Guy sneered as Billy broke out of his trance and quickly stood up. “Yes sir, I mean yes sir my name is Aarons, not not Aarons”. Billy stood up straight trying to look confident after that disaster of a sentence.
“That gives me very little confidence, just in case you change your mind on your “last name” I shall call you Billy. Anyhow my name is Damian Wayne, child of Bruce Wayne, master of the house. Pennyworth asked me to lead me to your quarters.”
Billy felt under a spell, he’d always been very alert, always searching for every minuscule detail, but he’d barely heard any word spoken over his frantic heartbeat. He did catch Mr. Cute Guy’s name
Damian.
Damian made a motion Billy assumed meant “follow me”, that was no problem for Billy so he did as asked. They walked into the waiting room, where Billy spotted his borrowed suitcase, quickly grabbed it and continued to follow.
They walked through more neverending mausoleum hallways “That small suitcase has all of your belongings?” Damian pointed out. Which was strange, Billy never saw Damian turn around. Also, Billy hoped that wasn’t a subtle way of Damian calling Billy poor. Well, Billy is poor- But it's a little rude to point it out. Please Damian, don’t end up being a rich asshole.
“I’m not much of a materialistic person, I just carry what I need” Billy shrugged. Damian still didn’t look back.
Billy was mesmerized by the historical paintings scattered across the hallways, Billy couldn’t believe he’d be living in this practically museum! Even if just to temporarily clean.
As they went down the staircases and the walls got duller, Billy took his sights to Damian, how did a kid his age have so much muscle? “How long have you been a butler?” Damian finally turned around to face him, probably to make sure he was still following. Billy trained himself to be very light-footed. It's never useful for everyone to hear you running a mile away when you're on the run.
“Oh I’ve never officially worked as a butler, but I’ve spent years as a cleaner. But hopefully, I can learn quickly!” Billy cheerfully replied. Damian turned back around. “Billy, I don’t believe that but it’s a free country, say what you’d like”.
“It's the cause of the baby face, isn't it?” Billy tried to make conversation but Damian ignored his cues.
A moment later Damian found the room and opened the door. “Well here’s your closet of a room”. Thank the gods, Damian had a personality.
Billy then proceeded to enter a room twice as big as his apartment and old foster home rooms. What kind of closet did Damian have? This was no closet, Billy would know, one time he lived in a cupboard under stairs.
Billy dropped his suitcase and fell backward onto the bed. Damn, it was comfy. Damian stood by the doorway, he looked almost weirded out by Billy’s earnesty.
“Thank you for leading me here” Billy smiled, and Damian grimaced back.
“You will regret working here, honestly everyone in my family should be in a mental ward, your life will become hell. I’d quit if I were you” Damian calmly shut the door.
Okay so maybe this guy wasn’t the love of his life. Damian was handsome but that personality is… not Billy’s cup of tea that’s for sure.
“You know when me and Patroclus first met, he thought the same of me!” Achilles chimed. This might be a little different than that situation.
Billy looked up and looked around his new arrangements. He had a real bed, twin-sized, with clean white sheets. The room had a window that had a first-story view of the beautiful gardens. The walls were light blue, it was simple but clean. There should be no possible way he is living here. Yet maybe Billy’s luck was looking up! Even though the only reason he’s here is the worst thing that’s ever happened in his career as Captain Marvel.
Billy looked at the sun slowly setting, trying to ignore the mess that his head had been recently. Until he felt a vibration in his pocket. He pulled out his busted-up, pre-paid Nokia flip phone to answer the call.
“Hi, Billy!” He could hear his sister’s smile through the phone. She never failed to make his day better.
“Hi Mary Barry-“ Billy joked “Did you get the job?!” Mary cut in as Billy giggled. “Yes I got the job” They both cheered, Billy wished he was there in person with Mary, so they could spin hand in hand like they did when they were kids.
“I’ve always wondered what it’s like to have a job. How is it- being in Wayne manor?” Billy loved Mary more than anything, but sometimes she was just a… little ignorant, which is expected with her upbringing.
“Well, the job technically doesn’t start until tomorrow. But I think I’m gonna like it here. My boss, Alfred, seems nice, he’s like the greatest stereotype of a butler, he’s even British! I haven’t done much exploring but I was walking through and- oh my gods Mary, it was like your house 10 times fancier! I didn’t think that was possible?!”
“Well the Waynes are old money billionaires, The Bromfields are just oh so lowly new money millionaires” Mary mocked and Billy paced around in circles. “I’m a little worried”
“What for?” Mary sounded worried, Billy didn’t want anyone to pity him.
“Nothing really, I just think they might be into -onto me. Mr. Cute Guy- Damian,” Mary laughed “was showing me where my room was and said that he didn’t believe my fake backstory. Hopefully, he’ll just forget about it before he looks too much into it” Billy downplayed his anxiety, and he started picking and his fingernails again. The Wayne’s were rich, if they suspected anything they could hire a PI. They're so rich they could probably hire Batman himself as a PI.
“Well, this job is just temporary right? With Solomon and everyone else I’m sure you’ll come up with a way to solve this in less than a few weeks. Try to make the best of it, maybe talk to Mr.Cute Guy more "-Mary shut up "I met him at a gala once, kind of prickly but I wish you the best.”
“Yeah, I don’t think he likes me much he- and I quote told me “You will regret working here life will become hell-I’d quit if I were you” So yeah, I’m not gonna deal with that, what I will deal with is finding more cool paintings- Mary I wish I could send photos, I think I might have seen the actual Madame X!- anyways also see if they have a library, cause it's a mini city, it’s a crime if they don’t have a library!” Billy continued rambling and so did Mary, Billy continued staring at the windows' sights until it got too dark to see a thing.
“So- it’s crazy- right after I won the spelling bee, again, this girl-“ Billy heard a door crack “Mary Sweetie, it’s ten and you have to get up at four for tennis, you should go to sleep” Mrs. Bromfield, Mary’s adopted mom, ushered her daughter to sleep.
“Goodnight Billy Bear” Mary yawned, sad they had to say bye. “Goodnight Mary” Billy waited for Mary to hang up before he did a deep sigh.
He was happy for his sister, he would feel horrible if she had to go through everything he did. He was so happy to have Mary in his life again after their parent's death. Billy got sent to evil old Uncle Ebenezer and foster care, Mary went missing and got adopted by loving millionaire parents.
Sometimes Billy couldn’t help but feel a little lonely. While he had great friends Freddy, Tawny, and Cissie, he didn’t have parents like Mary, someone to check that you went to sleep on time, that you didn’t get illegal jobs at fourteen, someone that would worry when you’d be missing for days at a time on league missions.
Billy changed into his pajamas and hid under his covers. As if he was sleeping tonight. Billy felt the cool air of the A/C in his room and began to think again. Billy wanted a room, a family, he didn’t want to feel alone anymore, and he didn’t want to run away from CPS- and now mercenaries every day.
But being the Champion of Magic was more important than Billy’s selfish desires. Billy had a duty, Being Captain Marvel was more important than stupid things like A/C.
Billy jumped off the bed and out of his window and whispered “Shazam”.
“I don’t think whispering did anything Billy, the lighting woke up half the neighborhood.” Solomon needs an afterlife hobby, out of all his patrons Solomon was the biggest stalker.
Billy ignored him and started the flight to Fawcett.