Chuck couldn't tell if their mother was taking it well or not. She was quiet but asked a couple of quiet questions before asking if she could visit their father.

"I don't think she believes us," he whispered to Ellie as they waited for Frost to pack her bags.

"She'll believe in a second. Are you going to carry her to see Dad?"

"I guess. You're not coming?"

Ellie's look clearly communicated 'are you kidding?' to him. "I have a baby. Someone has to look after Clara since you're taking my live-in babysitter to see her husband."

"Ouch. Is that all Mum is to you?"

Ellie bit her tongue to keep from replying 'yes'. Because it wasn't entirely true, even though she had a wonderful foster mum who she considered to be her real mum. Frost was like a bonus Mum and it was nice to have her back.

"Just take her to see Orion and whomever this Hartley guy is."

The second Frost came out ready, Chuck said the word. There was a crack of lightning and Chuck stood there in red spandex with a glowing lightning bolt on his chest. He brushed a hand over his silver beard, knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to grow anything this majestic for another decade.

From the way Frost's eyes widened, she hadn't fully believed them until now. It was something Ellie took great pleasure in as she nonchalantly wished Frost a good flight on 'Air Chuck'.

"That's a terrible name for a flying service," Chuck laughed.

Frost didn't laugh. She looked Chuck up and down and asked, "so how do we do this?"

Chuck held out his arms. "I carry you." Then he walked over and deliberately picked her up in them, carrying her like a princess. She hit him but, while he felt the impact, it didn't hurt. "Don't wriggle or I might drop you."

"Chuck, remember to fly slower than usual."

"Go it!" High speeds and altitudes were bad for non-superpowered humans. He lifted off and gave Frost a moment to freak out before flying off towards Gotham.


"You didn't mention that he was living in Gotham!" Frost growled as they passed around the borders of the city. "How's he survived?"

"It's Dad." That's all the explanation that was really needed. They were talking about a guy who had survived while on the run from the CIA, NSA and any other organisation that would want him for his skills.

Chuck could only imagine the chaos if Orion hadn't purged all his identifying files. Chuck himself probably wouldn't have survived long enough to become Billy.

"And technically, he lives outside of Gotham." Chuck dropped into the forest and placed Frost down as he landed. "This way." He walked the hidden path up to Orion's cottage.

Frost followed him but it wasn't until she saw Orion's cottage that she relaxed. Her shoulders dropped and she smiled.

"He always wanted to live secluded in the forest."

"Then I guess he's living the dream," Chuck mused as he knocked on the door.

Orion opened a moment later and walked out. "Mary. Before you come in-"

"If this is about Hartley, Chuck already explained and I want to see him. I don't blame him or you for anything."

Orion nodded. Chuck was about to leave when his father turned to him. "Could you ask Batman to loosen up the surveillance on Hartley?"

"No." Chuck didn't care that his father's request wasn't a request. "Hartley reminds me too much of a character Volkoff played in front of me once. The surveillance stays."

"He's not a threat."

"Dad, let Batman have his surveillance. At least he's doing it where you can detect it. It's the stuff you can't detect that you should be careful of."

Orion paused and had to admit that Chuck had a point. He guessed it wasn't too troublesome as long as it was Batman. Of course, he could just find a way to counter it.

Chuck sighed as his father nodded to himself, muttering about how he could find a way to affect Batman's cameras.


Chuck flew off in a different direction to home. He sought a familiar city which was closer to Gotham than his own. Much closer. Gotham was only a very short flight away from New York.

A red-haired stranger was standing on the balcony when Chuck reached June's place. He hovered around the roof, wondering if it would be easier to just fly to the street and enter that way. While he was trying to decide, Damian came out.

"Come down, you idiot," he called up. Chuck looked around. "Yes, I'm talking to you, the guy in red."

Surprised, Chuck floated down. It must be okay to show himself if Damian was calling out like this.

A sharp gasp came from the red head as he landed.

"Hi. Who's this?"

"Oh my goodness, it's him."

Damian looked unimpressed. "Don't tell me you're a fan of this guy, Colin. You two hung out as kids."

"Eh?"

Chuck remembered now. "Oh, you're Damian's other friend! The one who needs lots of practice at video games." He quickly said the word and transformed in a bolt of lightning. "Hi, I'm Chuck but you probably knew me as Billy Batson."

"Billy... wait, you were a superhero?"

"He was passable. Thanks to his ability to look older, he tricked the Justice League into granting him a seat."

"Hey, it wasn't a trick!" He hadn't been trying to join the Justice League! Batman and Superman were just very persuasive. And he had been worried about what they would dig up if he didn't join.

"I guess that makes sense. I know Batman knows about me but I don't think anyone outside of Gotham does."

"Colin bulks up and looks much older. Which isn't hard when he has a baby face."

"Damian!"

"That's kind of mean. He's just a kid-"

"I'm your age!"

"Really?" Chuck was surprised by that. Colin looked younger than them. "Uhh, sorry."

Colin sighed. He looked downhearted but he shrugged. "Don't worry about it. This is why I carry my license around. I get carded wherever I go."

"So, what brings you here?" Damian finally asked. "I doubt you're here to give Colin a lift back to Gotham."

"I could. I mean, I just came from there but I didn't ask my mother how he wanted to get back to Burbank."

"Perfect then. Why are you here?"

Chuck thought about that. He guessed these were the only people he could talk to who wouldn't go talking about his issues to everyone else in the family. Or to the CIA.

"I want to tell Sarah about this," he motioned between them and hoped that they realised he meant superheroing. "But I don't know what her reaction is going to be like."

"Just tell her. It can't be any worse than other things you two have been through. Didn't she break up with you more than once?"

"And you're still with her?" Colin questioned flatly. He didn't get it.

"You don't get it. She's amazing-" Chuck rambled on about Sarah for a few moments before Damian cleared his throat. "Come on, you'd ramble about Mar'i like this."

Damian's face went red. "P-Pardon?"

"No, he wouldn't," Colin said with an air of certainty. "It's not polite. Also, he doesn't want to appear soft."

"Hey! How dare you?"

Chuck laughed. "That's for sure. Do you have any advice on how I should tell Sarah about being a superhero?"

"Save her life."

"I can't believe you suggested that," Damian mused. "You should do that though. She's CIA, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity to save her life."

Apparently dying had really tainted Damian's opinion of the CIA, even though the second death was faked. "Not everyone dies as much as you."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Are you really going to take a challenge about you dying?" Colin sighed to Damian.

"I was more taking a challenge about Sarah needing saving from possible death."

"Chuck looks like he's going to cry."

"I'm not!"

"Let's make a deal. You'll have to save Sarah's life in the next month. Whether you use your powers or not. If you don't have to save her, then you don't have to tell her. If you save her, then you might as well tell her. Also, I get to say 'I told you so'."

"Fine. You're on."