"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!'' The elderly woman kept kissing Billy's cheeks as if her life depended on it. Her bag did actually; who did even decide to rob an old woman in the morning with a gun? "This world needs more men like you, mister!'' She kissed the man/boy one more time, leaving him dazed while she waved him goodbye, her purse in hands.
'Does it really?' was the question which kept repeating itself in his mind. Did the world need people like him? Him, who was still scared that he will end up alone again, but continued to push his family away. Who couldn't believe what an incredible gift he had, but sometimes wished he did not. Who finally found a place he could call home, but whenever things got rough, he just ran away.
With a sullen expression Billy returned to his own self and started walking slowly towards the school. He was still pissed off at Freddy, but knew the other boy had his own insecurities. Everybody had.
Maybe his frustrating urges were finally going to calm down now when he and Freddy weren't on speaking terms. But who was he even kidding, Billy knew the moment he crossed paths with the shorter boy, Freddy wouldn't shut his mouth about something. He was always talking and although Billy did not want to admit it, it did calm him down whenever he listened to Freddy's voice. It had a feeling of familiarity and contentment.
Billy sighed and started walking faster. He was really loosing his mind.
Freddy sat down at the lunch table alone and started munching on his fries. He had told Darla and the others that there was no need to always come and eat together. They had tried to tell him they did not do it for him, but Freddy was having non of it. And Billy was always there, sitting next to him, listening quietly why he explains yet another crazy theory, right? Well, apparently not this time.
Even the fries tasted bad that day, and Freddy loved fries. Not as much as oranges, tho. But you couldn't get delicious oranges throughout the year. No matter that some stores were selling them during the summer, for him oranges were seasonal fruit. Nevermind, off topic. But before his brain could start simulating another 'deep' conversation with itself, something loudly fell on his lunch platter and Freddy almost fell out of his chair in surprise.
Billy sat on the chair to Freddy's right, munching on an apple.
"We cool?'' The taller boy said between bites.
"You better hope it's good, dude,'' Freddy said nonchalantly, pretending of course. "If not, you'll be sleeping on the couch.''
Billy could feel the cold shivers running down his back. That coach was the most uncomfortable place he had ever sat down, and he had sat down upon a lot of uncomfortable things, unfortunately. God forbid, to sleep on it.
"Dude, I'm kiddin','' Freddy bumped his small fist against Billy's shoulder. "For a second you looked paler than Martha when she found out her markers had been used for all the shit written on the stalls in the boys' bathrooms.''
"Well, that couch is no laughing matter,'' both boys laughed and continued eating.
"Aren't you going to eat something else?'' Freddy asked the older boy after his dramatic explanation of how the presentation of his project went. At the end Billy wasn't sure if the smaller boy had really fought during the Second World War or he had time-travelled back in time to experience it firsthand. Whatever it was, he had surely been present at that time if he judged by the way Freddy explained everything.
"Dude, you've nailed the project,'' Billy smirked as Freddy almost chocked on his water.
"Flattery won't make me write your own,'' Freddy said fumbling to close the water bottle. The tips of his ears as red as they could get. "Which, by the way, is due to next week. A small reminder, Captain Sparklefingers.'
Billy laughed at the old name, but his eyes were glued to the the dark-haired boy's red ears.
"It has nothing to do with that, dude, you know me'' the taller boy inclined his head towards the shorter one. "It's not like I give a shit about it, but yours does actually sound interesting. I always knew you were some secret genius.''
"Took you long enough to finally admit it,'' Freddy tried to joke, but his whole face flushed. Pupils dilated a bit. Billy took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. It was barely a compliment. Fuck.
"You got an A, didn't you?''
To stop hyperventilating, Freddy started fumbling with the orange, trying too peel it without much success.
"Everyone got good grades,'' Freddy said, not knowing what was even happening. Why he suddenly couldn't breath? And he felt so hot, as if he had temperature.
"But not excellent, Mr. Holland hates everybody,'' Billy wanted, no, needed more. "You're just a really smart boy, aren't you?''
Freddy practically whimpered. The half peeled orange rolled away from his fingers, dropping on the table. Glassy, unseeing eyes. Uneven breath. Trembling hands.
Yes, that was the reaction Billy craved so much. His friend was so...responsive.
Billy had to grip the table or else the shorter boy would be plastered on it in no time. For him to feast upon. Billy couldn't stop his hand from running through the dark locks of the other boy. He then suddenly gripped harder, pulling backwards, exposing the boy's pale throat. Shit.
Freddy opened his mouth in silent moan. Billy released his grip so fast as if he was struck by a lightning. He was disgusted with himself. What was he even doing? What had gotten over him? Thank God they they were ignored by the majority of the student as usual, sitting at a secluded corner in the school's cafeteria, or that would have been pretty embarrassing.
Billy grabbed the orange and continued peeling the rest, while Freddy was still kind of unaware of his surroundings. Just from a bit of...
No, he was not thinking of that anymore. Enough shameful thoughts for one day.
"So what was the emergency earlier? With the scream for help?'' Freddy was almost his usual self, though the still red tips of his ears gave him away. Billy wanted to bite them. Hard.
"An old granny almost got her purse stolen,'' Billy finished the orange and started splitting it to pieces. "It was a junkie, when he saw me he threw the bag on the ground and started running. I would have gone after him, but the granny had me suffocated by kisses.''
"Eww, dude,'' Freddy pulled a disgusted grimace. "Tell me you washed your face afterwards!'' He took away the piece of orange Billy was about to put in his mouth. "You are so not eating my orange with that face full of germs.''
"Hey, I was in my Shazam form!'' The older boy tried to defend his dignity.
"That's not an excuse!'' Freddy said while chewing. The orange tasted really good. "And it's still gross, so you know.''
"You're being childish,'' Billy tried to roll his eyes but ended up laughing.
"Ha-ha! Very funny,'' Freddy tried his best to remain impassive, but failed spectacularly when Billy shoved a piece of orange into his mouth, shutting him up. Freddy was ready to spit it onto his face, but before Billy could withdraw his fingers, the shorter boy tried to close his mouth over them. Which, of course, ended in juice spattering Freddy's chin and Billy's fingers. Both boys looked at each other unbelievably.
For a moment Billy's mind projected a 'vision' in which he wiped Freddy's chin with his fingers, and then shoving them in the boy's mouth until they were clean. Mapping Freddy's mouth with them, pressing against his tongue, guiding them slowly in and out.
He was seriously damaged in the head. There was no other explanation for all of this. Billy averted his gaze and grabbed one of Freddy's napkins as the other boy did the same.
"This is what you got for trying to make me shut up, dude,'' Freddy laughed while cleaning his chin.
"You're lucky it didn't get into my eyes,'' Billy tried to threaten the younger boy, but Freddy continued laughing even more.
"Ooh, so scary,'' Freddy bristled between his fits of laughter. "Do not beat me, oh mighty Shazam!''
"Jerk,'' Billy returned the sentiment.
"You two, dinner is ready!'' Rosa declared from behind the closed door to Freddy and Billy's room. She wasn't sure they even heard her from all the yelling and bickering happening on the other side. "Boys!'' She decided to try again.
"We're coming!'' There was a loud cracking noise coming from the room and Freddy's voice booming through the house. "I'm going to kill you, you ruined my record!''
"That's what happens when you can't surpass it yourself!'' Billy laughed mischievously and Rosa rolled her eyes and turned back towards the stairs.
Boys! They never grew old.
Seconds later their room's door flew open, Billy running as if his life depended on it. Rosa almost got flattened onto the stairs by the boy taking three or four steps at a time.
"You're lucky my crutch ain't no boomerang, or I'd have nailed you to the wall, Batson!" Freddy hissed angrily while closing the door properly after himself and walking heavily towards the stairs with his crutch by his side. Billy laughed loudly from downstairs.
"Then how would you have gone down the stairs, huh?'' The taller boy asked and continued laughing.
"That's why I said boomerang, you idiot!'' Freddy facepalmed himself.
Ah, how much Rosa loved her boys! She couldn't picture her life without her children and husband constantly around her.
"What are we eating tonight?'' Freddy asked Rosa.
"We ordered pizza,'' Rosa smirked as she saw the dark-haired boy opening his mouth for another question. "And yes, we ordered your Spicy Italian!''
"Oh, I love you!'' Rosa laughed and ruffled his hair.
"I know!''
"What's up with Pedro and Mary?'' Billy asked the moment he entered Darla's room after he took a quick shower and dressed himself for bed. After dinner the whole family decided to play Monopoly which ended tragically for everybody, as always. People should change the game's name to Family Feuds, way more suitable for sure. So when everybody retired for the night, they secretly decided to gather in Darla's room.
"Well, I kind of ate half of his pizza and you know how he is,'' Eugene trailed while Freddy snickered from Darla's bed. "In my defence, I was not paying attention,'' the younger boy raised his finger in declaration. "Neither did he, until it was too late, apparently.'' He shrugged as Freddy and Billy continued laughing.
"Why are we in my room?'' Darla wondered while watching the boys occupying everything.
"Because Mary is yelling something on her phone, and Pedro is sulking in his and Eugene's room,'' Billy told her.
"It seems like Eugene would be sleeping in your room tonight, banished from his own,'' Darla rolled her eyes at Freddy's suggestion.
"Definitely not happening,'' she crossed her arms and pursed her small pink lips. They were sometimes forgetting she was not her usual snuggly self from two years ago. Not that she didn't hug them at least once per day, but Darla was growing and they were not always blind to it.
"Guys, I have not gathered you here to do nothing,'' Eugene tried to use his authoritative voice, but ended up sounding like a nerd/hacker/mastermind on a roleplay forum.
"Dude, we're not even in the lair,'' Freddy tried really hard not to laugh.
"'Cuz you're one to talk,'' Eugene bristled at the older boy.
"No need to get all tensed up, shadow boy,'' Freddy patted his shoulder and Eugene slapped his hand away.
"As I was saying,'' Eugene started, "Pedro showed me today Mary's boyfriend on Facebook. Let me just show you first before you start asking dumb questions.''
Everyone got onto the bed behind Eugene to see the pictures.
Dark, perfectly slicked back hair, blue eyes, chiselled jaw, tanned skin, quite tall and one hell of an expensive costume. It was a close shot from what looked to be some kind of a press conference. Photographers and men in suit everywhere. The man was standing next to a marble column, reading something on a gigantic iPad or whatever. Behind him, in the shadows, an enormous mountain-like man stood with arms crossed, bald head, dark skin, looking as if murder was as easy as breathing for him. Billy and Freddy looked at each other.
They have seen that guy, even though it was also on just a picture. Superman had showed it to Billy last year, but didn't give him much information after he said he had not seen him anywhere in Fawcett City during his patrols. Although, after he got back asked Eugene to search for the man, but to no avail. He only found a picture of him, younger, clothed in a military uniform, definitely not American. Up to this date they still did not know who that man was.
"That guy looks scary,'' Darla commented but not about the bald man. They all knew that he was dangerous. There was something unnerving about the slightly shorter man's presence.
"His name is Hassan Bari,'' but before Eugene could continue, he was interrupted by Freddy.
"Like the Bari? As one of the largest American banks and in the world?'' He almost yelled as Darla shushed him.
"Afraid so, although he is only the heir for now, his father Masud Bari still rules everything,'' Eugene changes the picture. This one is of him and his father, their appearance similar, walking out of the tallest building of the city, the Bari & Co's headquarters. "But I've done some digging and found out Hassan would be appointed to a Chief Financial Officer in a few months, as of now he is still CEO of Card Services.''
"I don't even know what half of these titles even mean, but I suppose something like more power and money,'' Billy said, he really did not want to deal with another rich prick, he has had enough of these in his life, thank you.
"How old is he?'' Asked Darla, wondering of her sister's choices in life.
"Twenty seven or twenty eight, not sure,'' Eugene shrugged.
"Now I'm really concerned how Mary managed to get that internship in the bank in the first place,'' Freddy mused and Billy snorted, Darla looked at them both sternly.
"She studied really hard and does have the best qualities for it. Don't you remembered how pleasantly surprised we were that they closed her as an intern in their bank?''
"Yes, and that's exactly what's been bothering me,'' Eugene closed the laptop and turned towards the others. "We really were surprised.''
"I think we should talk with her, before making any more conclusions,'' Darla offered, but they could see she had her doubts.
"And what? Tell her that her boyfriend's bodyguard is a wanted criminal?'' Freddy raised his eyebrow at her.
But Darla was right they should really talk to Mary first, to know what was really happening there. She had the right to know if her boyfriend was one of the bad guys.
"Billy, what gave you the incredible idea to throw your wet towel onto my bed?" Freddy asked after he picked it up from his bed covers and saw the gigantic wet spot there.
"Oh shit, I forgot to move it away,'' Billy's head peaked down from his bed to look at the shorter boy innocently. Which got his face smacked with the said towel.
"Now, please tell me how am I supposed to sleep down here?" Freddy put his bony arm pressed against his waist, taking the angry-mother pose.
"Dunno, change your sheets or something,'' offered Billy, mischief hiding behind green eyes.
"I'm not changing shit in the middle of the night,'' Freddy glared at the boy, currently leisured on their bunk bed. "Or you get your ass down here and do it yourself.''
"Oh, hell no! I do not want Rosa's wrath upon me if I wake her up,'' Billy raised his hands in surrender. "Well, you can sleep on my bed or go into Darla's room, but I hardly think she would agree for you to sleep there.''
Billy wanted to slap himself, he truly did. Sometimes, most often the worst times, his brain really short circuited and his mouth went on saying all sort of bullshit. Good job there, Billy. Not only was he barely able to hide his frustration during sparring session, now he even invited his best friend to sleep with him. On his bed. On his small bed. Ingenious thought.
"Dude, I'm not sleeping with you, you kick and turn around like crazy, sometimes I even wonder how you have still not managed to fall from your bed,'' Freddy squeezed his eyes menacingly at Billy.
"Says the boy who is drooling everywhere," the older boy retorted. "Well, you can think about it all you want, but I'm going to sleep.''
Billy turned his back towards Freddy and laid down, burying his face in the pillow.
There was a bit of shuffling happening somewhere in the room until Freddy groaned at the end.
"Fine, make some space,'' Freddy put his crutch next to his bed and started carefully climbing the small stair to Billy's. A hand suddenly grabbed his t-shirt, pulling the dark-haired boy harshly up as he ended sprawled upon it.
"I forgot my pillow,'' Freddy said, face pressed into Billy's mattress, too lazy to even move, while almost half of Billy's body was squished by the smaller boy's.
"Sleep on your arm then,'' Billy huffed, he was so not giving his own, even though a big part of him wanted it to smell of Freddy, but he knew that it would not lead up to any good in the future.
"Hmph,'' was the only answer answer he got before Freddy fell asleep.
The older boy sighed and threw the blanket on them. He moved a bit so his arm wouldn't die beneath Freddy's body weight. He was almost asleep when he felt Freddy turning his head in his sleep and pressing his face against Billy's neck, breathing in small puffs.
Billy could feel the cold goosebumps around his skin in contrast to Freddy's warmth. It was going to be a long night.