Chapter Text
It’s about a week after Dexter pushed his way into Billy's life, and it’s time for the next Justice League meeting.
There’s the customary chatting and comparing notes about what the villeins were up to this month. Making sure they aren’t planning anything. Once everyone has arrived the real meeting starts. Finances, zeta upkeep, staff, are discussed in detail. Then partner assignments go out. Partners are used for things like monitor duty and getting emergency call outs.
For missions Captain Marvel is normally paired with people who know his identity, (most reserve league members don’t), are at least decent with children, and are willing to help him with nonhero stuff. Oh, and be a friend, Stargirl’s commonly paired up with him, they became friends after Billy was in Blue Valley investigating some magical stuff, and they are the two youngest members of the official league. S.T.R.I.P.E since he’s Stargirl’s stepdad. Booster Gold, he knew of Billy’s identity since he came into the past, and when Bill’s identity was revealed he just kept treating him the same as ever. Plastic Man, the two are a chaotic force of power when working together and Plas has a soft spot for the kid, not to mention he knows just how to get him laughing.
If it’s a day that Cap’s only allowed to do monitor duty, most school nights, barring emergencies. He’s normally paired with a main member. Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash, Cyborg, and a few others.
Today he’s partnered with someone new. Hal Jordan, one of the Green Lanterns. Sure he’s worked with the lanterns before, but he’s not met this one before.
“Hey, i don't think i’ve properly met you,” Hal Jordan extends his hand, “Hal Jordan.”
Captain Marvel shakes his hand, “Billy Batson.”
Snorting Hal shakes his head, “Oh spooky must like that.”
Laughing Cap shrugs, “He deals… do you know about… golly this never stops being awkward, do you know about my age?”
“Based of the fact you look like a guy in his late twenties, i'm going to say no. I've been off world for a while, and the other Lanterns don't share identity stuff over the rings.”
“No problem… uh,” He looks around, “Ok.” Everyone left in the watchtower already knows about his identity, “ SHAZAM .”
“I'm Billy Batson and I'm twelve years old.”
Hal freezes, “Why?”
Billy bounces around a little then explains. He helped this old wizard guy who didn't explain his magic, and basically just shoved it onto Billy, who proceeded to become a hero with the power to turn into an adult, with a minor side effect of trapping him at eight. “The league found my identity out, and couldn't just tell me to stop. I wouldn’t listen to them anyways. So after a lot of arguing I was allowed to stay a member. Better to keep me where they have an eye on me.” Billy shrugs.
“Batson.”
“Robin.”
“I don't know why you were paired with Jordan.” Robin grumbles.
“Well I know why he’s paired with me,” Hal grins, ignoring Robin being the demon child he is, “There’s a red lantern ring in Fawcett. You know the town the best of anyone here so i requested you.”
“Why not just tell the league?”
“Eh, most red lanterns are just hurting. And sometimes if you try leading without an argument or a fight you can just ask them to leave.”
“Tc- That is acceptable. Now batson, what's this I hear about a cat?”
Billy looks back at Hal, “Give me a text and I'll help you look.”
As they walk away towards the kitchen area Billy pulls his phone out and shows Damien his new cat.
Half an hour later one of the other Green lanterns, Guy Garder, Billy thinks. He hasn’t talked to him very much but he seems ok to work with. He’s much better with kids than adults. He shared part of a moneter duty with him once. It got cut short.
“Billy.” Hall calls as he floats into the dining hall. “We have more information. The red lanterns from earth. And I know of one.”
He holds up a photo of a fluffy cat, the color of his fur impossible to tell in the red lighting and the fact it’s floating in space.
“Why would the Red Lanterns have a cat?” Robin asks, “It doesn't deserve to fight.”
“The ring chooses the wearer…” Hal shrugs, “the Blue Lanterns have a Corgi.”
“Holy Moly,” Billy gasps. “I’ll keep an eye out for the cat.”
“Thanks, i’ll send a message,” Hal waves, “Since it’s Dex Star i’ll bring the other lanterns along, cat bites suck and it’s better to over prepare then under.”
“What happened to talking it out?” Robin asks, turning his nose up slightly.
“Oh I'll still try that Star can be reasoned with. But he’s also pretty scary.”
And that’s that. Billy heads home with Robin for dinner and to hangout for a bit, before heading home to his bed. The thought crosses his mind that Dexter, his loveable cat could be Dex Star the feared red lantern. But then Dexter runs into a wall as the moth he’s chasing suddenly flies into his face.
Yeah, no way that’s one of the scariest forces in the galaxy.
_________
A few days pass and Billy keeps an eye out for any cats that even remotely match Dex-Star’s description. He finds a few but none of them are quite the right cat.
Anyways it's time to meet the lanterns. Three out of the four lanterns of Earth are there. Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, and Jon Stewart. The other one’s off world at the moment.
Walking up to them Billy yawns, “Hey.”
“Hey.” Hal nods, “You mind powering up, i think you’ll be much safer that way.” At Billy's pout he crouches down, “It’s not just because I don’t want a kid getting hurt.”
Guy snorts as Jon raises an eyebrow.
“It’s mostly why,” He amends, “Look, the Red Lanterns might come for Dex Star, if he feels too threatened his ring will call for backup. We’ll try to talk it out but if things turn violent I don’t want you hurt.”
“I met you last week, why would you care?” Billy huffs. Oh shoot the look on Hal’s, all the lanterns faces isn't good.
“Why wouldn’t we care?” John asks.
“Kid, you’re a ray of sunshine, and with this job we need someone like you.” Guy rolls his eyes.
Hal crouches down to meet Billy’s eyes, “You’re a good kid. I don’t think anyone in our community would be happy if you ended up dead.”
“Oh…” Billy looks at his feet, “Yeah I’ll transform… Can you guys move to the other side of the roof?”
They do and a few moments later Captain Marvel is standing on the roof, “So how do you want to look?”
“I’d say go about patrol as normal then see if he shows up since we’re here?”
Captain Marvel nods, “Alright, I've got school in a few hours but I should be good for a bit.”
“What grade are you in?”
“Third,” Cap shrugs, “Im technically too old for that but… I don’t age… and Fawwcet’s got a lot of temporal anomaly stuff anyways so people not looking their age happens.”
“Why third?” Guy asks as they start a wide loop over the city, “If you don’t minde me askin?”
“When my parents died, I was in second grade, I was almost eight. Got bounced around in the start of third grade, then I ran away. This is my first year back in school since then. So third grade.”
Hal cuts into the conversation, “What do you mean temporal anomalies?”
“Yeah, time’s a little weird from all the magic in the air, most of it's good. People live longer. Bullets are slower, the zoo animals rarely die. The bad parts when the people who are more sensitive to this stuff get trapped… it rarely happens but sometimes they’ll look forwards in time and get transported to that time or something. It’s weird but a pretty easy fix. I don’t think it’s happened since I took over the Rock.”
The lanterns continue to grill Marvel about his town and its magic, but school starts soon and they decide to pick up after school.
________
Billy practically runs out of the school gates. He’s got to meet up with the lanterns.
Then he’s jerking forwards as some of the middle schoolers grab the handle of his backpack, “Where’d you think you’re goin twerp?”
“Home?”
“Nice try, we know you don’t got one,” The bully sneers down at him, “Now pay up.”
“Wh-what makes you think I’ve got any money?” Billy stammers as he backs into the corner.
“I’d bet you’ve got something- hey!” A box made of glowing green light encapsulates the bully.
Guy Gardner stands at the mouth of the ally, “Scram.” The construct shatters.
The bully squeaks and bolts. Scrambling over the wall and falling with a solid thud.
“You ok kiddo?”
Billy meets his eyes and scrubs tears out of his eyes as the other lanterns land next to him, “Im ok… thanks.”
“You let me know if he bothers you again alright?” Guy frowns.
“Yes sir.” Billy laughs, “I’ll do that.”
“That could compromise Billy’s identity,” Jon says, the corner of his lip twitching.
“I’ll ask Batman then.”
“Spooky? Why him?” Hal asks, laughing slightly.
Billy grins, “No one would believe him.” It’s true, a green lantern stepping in works since they've been seen all over town, but then showing up out of the blue, that might be a stretch. But using Batman, the Justice League's local cryptid ( who really is just a nerd once you get to know him ) if the bully said Batman defended Batson, it’s far too outrageous to even consider thinking it happened unless you saw it.
With that all three lanterns are laughing.
A hiss comes from the mouth of the alley.
The lanterns freeze as a blur of red and bluish gray fur streaks towards them
“Dexter no!” Billy snaps as he catches the boiling mad cat mid air, “The lanterns are friends, yeah? Shhh it’s ok, we like them… they’re nice, they helped me. Yeah, that's a good kitty.”
“Found him.”
“Billy.” Hal starts slowly.
“Yeah?”
“Put the cat down.”
“He’s dangerous.”
Billy frowns, eyebrows knit in confusion. “But, he’s Dexter, not Dex-Star… oh.”
“Didn’t click?” Guy snorts.
Billy shakes his head no… “Dex, is it true?”
Dex Star blinks slowly and a flash of red later he’s in the red lantern jumpsuit.
“Aww, that’s adorable,” Billy scratches behind his ears, “You won't hurt anyone right?”
Dex meows, nodding slowly, not taking his eyes off the other lanterns.
Hal slowly steps forwards, “Dexstar?”
The cat turns to look at him.
“I don't think you want to lose Billy. Can I tell him your story?”
He seems to consider this for a moment then nods.
“Can we go to my apartment first?” Billy asks, blushing slightly he shrugs, “I'm hungry.”
Ten minutes and a snack later they’re ready to start the story.
“So Dex’s owner, she was a good pet owner and Dexter here loved her. Then there was a botched robbery. She was killed.” Hal pauses as Dexter tucks his head into Billy’s side. “When the cops came Dex was kicked out onto the street. Then some kids grabbed him. Hurt him, in some sick game. Then put him in a sack and tried to drown him.”
Billy gasps and hugs the cat. ‘Im sorry, that shouldn't have happened.”
Pawing at his face Dexter worms his way out of the hug. Standing on the table he nudged Hal’s ring with his nose and looks pointedly at Billy.
“Why give? Ohh, you want to talk?”
Dex nods.
Hal frowns, “We’re really not supposed to share the rings.”
“Oh,” Billy grins, “I’ve got a spell for that, Mr. Constantine showed me it so he could talk to Tawny.”
“Who’s Tawny?” John asks, confused.
Billy bounces over to his bed and holds up an old stuffed tiger toy, “He’s my familiar. He normally stays in the stuffed animal form but if I need help he shows up.”
Dexter meows loudly for attention and steps towards Billy. He wouldn’t do anything to endanger this kitten.
The other lanterns look surprised at the emotion flooding through the ring.
“Really?” Hal asks as he kneels next to the cat, “You won’t hurt him. Or anyone else in this town?”
Purring Dex bumps his head into Hal’s hand.
“He’s a cat.” Billy grins, “Just give him love and he’ll work with you.”
Standing up the Green Lanterns nod, “I think we’re done here. Dex-Star be a good kitty and we won’t bother you.”
With a murp of supriese Dex looks up to the Lanterns.
“I’m not about to put a cat in Jail,” Hal grins, “Besides, we know a bunch of detectives that can help you out. Maybe even get rid of the ring, if you want…”
Cursing his tail around himself Dex watches as they start to file out of the house.
“Oh and Dex,” Guy crouches down next to the cat as Billy moves to get the door, “Make sure you protect Billy, he’s a good kid.”
Dex mews happily and leans on Billy’s ankle. His entire body vibrating from the force of his purr.