So, it's a little (okay, a lot) later than promised, but it's finally here. The updated and improved Literally Billy Batson. I'm very proud of it so far. I think my writing has improved quite a bit since I first wrote this, and what better way to showcase it than rewrite my first ever fanfiction? Hopefully you all enjoy it.
Side question, should I change the title? I'm considering something different, but I'm also very attached to the original title.
Lima, Peru
February 11th, 2000
Peru is one of the nicest places Bruce has been in recent years, he'll admit. He's still training, but it was better than Nanda Parbat, which is always either a biting cold or an evil heat. His trainers here are more forgiving than Ra's al Ghul too. Kinder. Softer, though not weaker.
The reprieve from Ra's League of Assassin's is welcome as well. Here, Bruce isn't required to stay hidden in the mountains with them and just live with the fact their job, all of their jobs, are to kill. Here he can wander in his spare time, enjoy the people and the city. Practice his language skills. Simply be.
The main market is exceedingly busy today, Bruce notes absently. It's a Sunday afternoon, so he supposes it can be explained away, but still. Even for a Sunday, it's busy. The streets are crowded and Bruce finds himself having to push through people to get anywhere. No one else seems very surprised by the crowd and all are holding their things tightly. Bruce counts on that as he bumps people out of his way.
Until someone he bumps into drops something large. He turns around at the sound of a large thud on the cobblestone streets. A woman is standing there, face surprised and frustrated. She turns to glare at Bruce.
"I hope you realize what you made me drop," she says, scowling and leaning down to open the top of the box. Bruce spies a small vase inside before she slams the top of the box down.
"I'm sorry," Bruce replies, also in Spanish. "Do you need any help carrying it?"
He offers because it's polite. Because he does feel guilty for making her drop something obviously important to her. There are a lot of reasons, and another one, Bruce realizes absently, is also that she's very beautiful. And serious as Bruce may be, he is only twenty-one. Also, she seems nice. Intelligent. That's arguably more important to him that beauty. He can't help but slightly lose his common sense.
"From you?" She snorts. "I'd be lucky if you don't just drop it again and break it. I'm good."
She leans over and grabs the box, slowly lifting up and adjusting her grip. As soon as it's secure she begins walking quickly. Bruce follows her.
"Is your vase alright?" he asks. He doesn't know why he's bothering, but something about her intrigues him. "I didn't break it?"
"It'll be even better if you leave," she says without looking at him, keeping her walking pace brisk.
Bruce runs a hand through his hair and speeds up a little. She's still ahead of him slightly.
"Is there anything I can do to make up for almost destroying it?" he asks, a touch desperate. "Maybe lunch?"
Smooth, Bruce. Real smooth.
The woman stops and turns around suddenly. This time she doesn't look angry. She looks confused. Bruce smiles hopefully at her.
"Okay?" she says, though it sounds more like a question to Bruce.
Bruce smiles crookedly at her. For the first time in a long time, his smile is genuine.
"No more touching my box though. If I break it the museum will never hire me again."
Bruce files away the information about a museum for later
"I think I can agree to that."
"Good," she says. "I wouldn't go out with you if you didn't."
Bruce laughs. Actually laughs. He really can't remember the last time he laughed like that.
"You can follow me back to the museum. After I drop this off we'll go out?"
"Yes," Bruce agrees. "By the way, I'm Bruce. Bruce Wayne."
She shifts the box in her arms again and holds a hand out. Bruce takes it.
"Nice to meet you, Bruce. I'm Marilyn Ordway."
Lima, Peru
February 13th, 2000
They go out to lunch together and have a great time. For the first time in a very long time, Bruce actually finds himself listening to what she has to say with his full attention. Marilyn is witty and smart. So very smart Bruce has trouble keeping up with her.
He finds out she's been hired to lead an archaeological dig. She was offered the job last year but had turned it down at first.
"Why?" Bruce finds himself asking.
"I was… engaged," she says wistfully. "We didn't want to spend time apart with the wedding in only a year."
"You came anyway," he observes.
"I'm pretty sure things are over between us," she confides. "We had a fight, I don't even remember what it was about, really. But it's over between us. For good. I don't think either of us will come back. We both said some very hurtful things."
C.C. Batson, Bruce decides, is a fool to let someone as amazing as Marilyn go over a little fight.
"I'm sorry," Bruce says honestly. "I suppose you're not ready-"
"Please," Marilyn scoffs. "I'm not stuck on him. What's over is over."
Bruce, selfishly, finds himself very glad C.C. was dumb enough to let Marilyn slip away from him.
Lima, Peru
April 2nd, 2000
They meet at the edge of the city. Marilyn is in a white sundress and her floppy hat is in her arms. Bruce is wearing a loose white shirt and khakis. The wind is whipping at both of them. It makes Marilyn's hair fly behind her. Bruce imagines she's a goddess, right now.
"I'm leaving," she says, coming to a stop next to him. They're both looking out at the ocean.
"I know," Bruce tells her. He can't stop himself from asking: "Wait for me?"
"No."
"I knew you'd say that."
"We both did, Bruce."
She's right. They have both known this would end like this. The stolen kisses and the warm nights together had no ending other than heartbreak. Bruce accepts that. He should have known better than to ask for a happier ending.
They've told each other everything. Bruce has told her about his parents. About his desire for revenge. About growing up lonely in Gotham. About Alfred. He's told her about how he wants to make a difference in Gotham. He's even told her about his quest to learn everything he can from the best teachers in the world.
She's never been scared by his intensity before.
She's only loved him. He, in return, knows everything about her and has loved her back with an intensity that scares even him.
He knows about her perfect life with C.C. Batson. He knows how scared she is of starting a family and being like her own mother, cold and cruel. They comfort each other.
And now it's all over. These blissful two months are done with. Bruce doesn't think he'll ever have two months where he's this happy again.
It's the end of the moonlit walks and candlelit dinners. The end of picnics in fields of flowers and days spent on the beach simply being. No more walking through the various markets and trying every type of food they can.
"It could be different," Bruce offers.
"No, it couldn't. Not really." Marilyn finally turns to him. Bruce turns and meets her eyes which are glistening with unshed tears. "We both know that even if you give all this up, training to save Gotham, you'll never be at peace again. Gotham needs you, Bruce. I would take you away from Gotham."
"Screw Gotham," he whispers tremulously. "Screw it all. I love you, Marilyn."
"I love you too, Bruce. That's why we can't be together. We're not meant for each other. You need someone who won't take you away from Gotham. I need someone I don't have to worry about ruining what could be their life."
"You wouldn't ruin my life. I would be happy with you. I would never look back on what could be."
Marilyn laughs, light and airy, turning to look at the ocean again. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Bruce. You would always wonder 'what if'." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "I called C.C. and said we could work things out. It's for the best."
Bruce is quiet for a moment.
"I suppose this is goodbye then."
"It is."
"One more night and we'll never see each other again." Bruce turns to her. "One last walk?"
Marilyn smiles sadly.
"One last walk," she agrees, taking his offered arm. "And one last kiss at my door."
Bruce wakes up the next morning alone in Marilyn's bed. There's a lengthy note on the bedside table. All her things are gone.
Bruce dresses and puts the note in his pocket. He doesn't open it. He can't open it. Not this soon.
Fawcett City, U.S.A.
April 4th, 2000
Marilyn is sad, leaving Bruce behind. She's heartbroken about it. She loves him and he loves her. It should be simple. She knows this. He wouldn't have offered to give everything up just for her if he didn't love her. She knows though. She knows he'd be unhappy, or at least not content with just her. She also knows she couldn't stand watching him go out every night by herself without know whether he'll make it home safely or if she'll wake up in the morning and he'll be dead.
She could have promised to wait, she knows. But even if he does manage to escape what he so deeply wants right now, even if he does stop needing to save everyone so badly, she can't promise she'll still be waiting for him. She loves him, but she still loves C.C. Batson.
The love she has for Bruce is hot and passionate. It burns brightly and flickers out quickly. It always comes back. The love she has for C.C. is different. It is always there, warm and inviting. Steady. Trustworthy.
She loves them both and she can't choose. But she has. She's not sure it's the right choice for her, but it is for Bruce. Somehow, she knows he needs to save Gotham. He needs it more than he'll ever need her. So even though she thinks she loves him, wants him, more than she'll ever want or love C.C., she chooses C.C. For Bruce.
Fawcett City, U.S.A.
May 17th, 2000
Her and C.C. get married on a blustery spring day. Right after they say their vows and arrive at their hotel in Metropolis, she tells him about Bruce. Not everything. Not Bruce's secrets. But she tells him about falling in love. She tells him she's still in love. She also tells him she loves him.
C.C. says he loves her back and he tells her whatever she did while they weren't together is her business and he has no right to be upset with her over it. Marilyn knows C.C. is far too good a man for this world.
One week after their wedding, Marilyn finds out she's pregnant. The baby isn't C.C.s'. She knows without a doubt that the child is Bruces'.
She tells C.C. everything right away. There's no way she could hide it from him. She loves him too much to ever do such a thing. He doesn't care, really. He just seems excited about the child. He does take a moment to ask whether she's going to tell Bruce.
If she has a choice, not until Bruce is much older and so is her child.
The tells C.C. that.
"A man deserves to know his child," C.C. responds. Marilyn kind of hates that he's right.
"You're right," she admits. "I know you are. Just… give me a bit. Please?"
"Of course," C.C. says, voice softening.
Fawcett City, U.S.A.
October 1st, 2000
Marilyn goes into labor on October 1st, a whole three months early. Her son is tiny and quiet and perfect. For the first time in a long time, she finds herself wishing Bruce were with her. But he's not. She doesn't know where he is. But she has C.C., and that's enough.
They name him William Thomas Batson. Thomas for Bruce's father and William for C.C.'s father. She thinks Bruce will appreciate it.
She writes a letter while she's in the hospital before she can back down. C.C. mails it for her, to Wayne Manor. Even if Bruce isn't there now, he will be eventually. She doesn't exactly want to send it. She doesn't even want to write it in the first place, but C.C. is right; Bruce deserves to know he has a child.
She just hopes he can forgive her for everything else she writes in the letter. For telling him not to come. For telling him she doesn't want him in William's life.
Gotham City, U.S.A
October 6th, 2000
Alfred Pennyworth goes and checks the mailbox, just like every other day. Mostly it's bills and other things of the like. But there is one letter that is slightly different. It isn't from a Wayne Enterprises. Instead, it's labeled as being from someone in Fawcett City, a woman named Marilyn Batson. Alfred takes a moment to wonder how they met, why she's trying to send him a letter. He sets it aside on the desk in the study and takes care of the others as he usually does. When Bruce comes back - If Bruce comes back, a traitorous part of Alfred's brain whispers - he'll give it to him.
Bruce comes back four days later and in the insanity of Bruce's whole idea, the Batman, Alfred forgets to give it to Bruce. Instead, the letter is pushed inside a drawer in the bottom of the desk and forgotten.
Gotham City, U.S.A.
April 1st, 2006
It's ruled an accident. Terrible and tragic, but an accident. Bruce knows better though. He knows ropes don't just snap like that. And the little boy is screaming and crying about someone touching the wires, too. A nine-year-old-boy who just saw his whole family die.
He resolves to get the boy somewhere safe, somewhere people will help him. The Gotham foster system won't help him. Somehow, he knows the little boy will end up with him. Somehow, he's okay with that. More okay with it that he expects to be, honestly.
Bruce sees a life lost with Dick Grayson. He sees a life he could have had, with children chasing each other in the Manor and settling in next to Marilyn every night. He sees laughter and smiles and huge family gatherings. It's all in his head as nothing more than a wish he's never really dared to wish for fully. Still. It is nice to dream.
Al Omraneyah, Giza Governorate, Egypt
December 3rd, 2006
When William turns three he tells her and C.C. in no uncertain terms that he wants to be called Billy. By the time he's six, she and C.C. are in high demand as archeologists. They go on digs all around the world, bringing Billy with them. It's definitely good for him, to get to explore the world with them.
As he gets older she sees more and more of Bruce in him. It's hard, she won't lie. But she knows this is all for the best. Bruce never did get in touch with her after he arrived back in Gotham only a week or so after Billy was born, so she assumes her letter warned him off enough. Either that or he just doesn't care. She prefers the first option.
They go to a dig near Giza at the beginning of December. Billy is sick, at the time. He's usually such a healthy child, but she doesn't want him to be sick on the plane. Her and C.C. decide to leave him in Fawcett City at their house with a caretaker until he's better. They have a ticket waiting for him to come over once he's healthy again.
But plans change, she realizes. She only hopes that Billy is okay. It's all she has time to think before she's dies.
Fawcett City, U.S.A.
December 6th, 2006
Billy doesn't go to Giza that December. Instead, Billy is picked up by his uncle - Ebenezer Batson - while he's still recovering from influenza. He doesn't really like Uncle Ebenezer, never has.
Billy misses his parents so much.
But they're gone, as Uncle Ebenezer tells him so often now. They're gone and there's no use crying about it.
Billy cries, but he's quiet about it, and only ever cries late at night when he can hear Uncle Ebenezer snoring from his room a floor below.
Uncle Ebenezer is mean. He doesn't hug him like Billy's mom used to. He doesn't make him feel better when he falls and scrapes his knee. He doesn't help Billy with his homework when he can't solve a problem. He locks Billy in his room and makes Billy get rid of everything except clothes, pretty much.
(Billy hides a few things, including a photo album with pictures of him and his parents.)
The summer of 2007 Billy runs away. He has a backpack, three pairs of jeans, two sweatshirts, a t-shirt, one pair of pajamas, a toothbrush and his parents' photo album.
Billy doesn't go to school that autumn. He sleeps in an abandoned subway. He goes to the library and tries to read what he thinks would be school books because even if he's not going to school he knows his parents would want him to keep learning.
Then Billy saves a homeless man and takes a ride on a magical subway train. He gets superpowers. He can be a grown-up. A hero. One who protects people. People who haven't had anyone to protect them in a long time. He's only seven, but he knows how to tell if someone hasn't had anyone in a long time. He knows how to tell if they need help.
Billy joins the Justice League only a few weeks after getting powers. Somehow, he knows telling them he's a kid probably won't go well. He keeps that to himself.
He keeps living in his subway. But with his new powers, with the magic, he's able to go back to school. No one in charge ever asks about his parents or his address. No one tells him he hasn't filled out the right paperwork.
No one tells him he isn't allowed to do anything.
Gotham City, U.S.A.
October 3rd, 2010
Bruce sighs deeply. He knows it needs to be done. That doesn't mean he has to like it though. He just needs to do it. Clean out his desk. Waiting will only increase the amount of work.
May as well get started then.
"Italics" are Spanish. In other chapters, they may be different languages. I'll try to make sure it's always clear what language the italics stand for.
Also, don't think badly of Marilyn. She does love Bruce, but both of them are young. Bruce is only 21 when he meets her, 22 when she leaves. She's only 25/26. They make mistakes.
