The more the conversation unfolded, the deeper the crease in Rhodey's brow seemed to settle. Clearly it wasn't just from confusion anymore, but curiosity laced with a growing sense of disbelief.
From where he sat, glass loosely balanced in his hand, he tried to reconcile the fragments he'd picked up so far. A kid. A seventeen-year-old kid, apparently. And not just any kid, but one who had already caused enough trouble to make waves at the X-Men's base of all places.
It begged the question—what kind of child did a team like this, a collection of wildly different, often chaotic personalities, suddenly decide to take under their wing? Whatever answer he was expecting, he had a feeling it wouldn't be simple.
"Let's just say he's every ten-year-old's dream," Tony chimed in, his tone carrying that familiar blend of casual confidence and subtle flair. He swirled his drink lightly as he spoke, the dim lighting catching the amber liquid as it moved, his expression hinting at something between amusement and intrigue.
To him, the explanation didn't need to be complicated—kids dreamed of power, of heroism, of being more. Billy, in that sense, was the embodiment of all of it.
"His story's actually pretty cool too," Clint added from his reclined position, one leg hooked lazily over the arm of the sofa as he glanced toward James. There was an easygoing sincerity in his voice, like he wasn't trying to sell the idea—just stating it as he saw it. For Clint, who didn't impress easily, that alone was saying alot.
"And he's from a different dimension… or universe," Bruce continued, his voice sounding thoughtful as he slipped back into that familiar rhythm of analytic thoughts. His fingers brushed along his chin as he tilted his head slightly upward, eyes unfocused as though mentally sorting through possibilities that didn't quite have solid answers yet. "We're not entirely sure which," he admitted, the uncertainty clear but not unsettling—if anything, it seemed to intrigue him more.
"The boy even crossed blows with me in combat and held his ground. A most impressive lad." Thor's voice followed, rich with pride and unmistakable approval. He sat a little straighter as he spoke, shoulders broad, his earlier ease now replaced with a somewhat respect. There was no exaggeration in his tone, no embellishment—just the firm acknowledgment of someone who had been tested and found worthy, at least in Thor's eyes.
"He what?" Rhodey's reaction came almost immediately, the words slipping out before he could stop them. His head turned slightly, eyes narrowing as he looked between them, searching for any sign that this was some elaborate joke. For a brief moment, he even glanced down at his glass, as if questioning whether the alcohol had started hitting harder than expected.
But no, everyone looked serious. Which only made it worse. Because if it wasn't the drink talking, then he was left with a far more baffling reality: somewhere in this building was a kid who had apparently fought Thor and didn't lose. And that? That raised a whole new set of questions he wasn't sure he was ready to hear the answers to.
Tony, true to form, still hadn't bothered to properly answer Rhodey's question. He seemed far more entertained letting the mystery linger, occasionally dropping vague hints instead of offering anything concrete. It left the whole thing hanging in the air—half-explained, half-teased—until the answer quite literally walked in on its own.
As if on cue, Billy stepped into the lounge, drawn by the low hum of conversation and the easy, relaxed energy that filled the space. There was subtle but noticeable shift in the air as the soft lighting caught against his figure as he paused just inside, taking in the room before making a quiet detour toward the ice-cream machine tucked neatly along the wall. The mechanical hum broke the silence around him as he worked it with casual familiarity, completely at ease, like he'd already grown comfortable in a place that wasn't originally his.
With a cup of ice-cream now in hand, he turned and made his way across the lounge. Natasha caught sight of him almost immediately, her sharp gaze softening just slightly as she lifted a hand in a subtle gesture, guiding him over. There was no hesitation in Billy's response—he adjusted his path without question, heading toward her with quiet compliance as though it had already become routine.
As he passed through the room, weaving between scattered furniture and the relaxed forms of Earth's mightiest heroes, Rhodey's attention locked onto him completely. His earlier confusion focused into scrutiny, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he followed the boy's movement from one end of the lounge to the other.
He wasn't obvious about it, but there was no hiding the intensity behind that gaze—the careful observation of a trained soldier trying to assess a situation that didn't quite add up.
Because from what he could see… there was nothing.
No visible signs of power. No larger-than-life presence. Just a kid—young, unassuming, carrying a cup of ice cream like any other normal teenager. It didn't match the picture they'd painted, and that disconnect only made Rhodey's thoughts spiral further inward.
'So they expect me to believe this is the kid who went toe-to-toe with Thor?' His grip tightened slightly around his glass as his eyes tracked Billy taking a seat beside Natasha. 'Even the god of Thunder vouched for him…' The thought lingered, heavy with skepticism, but not entirely dismissive. Because if there was one thing Rhodey had learned being around this team—appearances meant absolutely nothing.
- - -
[Billy Batson's POV]
Everyone seemed to be in good spirit at the lounge, and there was an unfamiliar face seated amongst them. Maybe a team member I am yet to meet.
Having made my way to a seat next to Natasha, Tony's smile suddenly disappeared as he moved towards me. The others had their attention on him, probably attracted by his sudden change in demeanor.
"Heard you gave an absolute belt-to-ass to a mutant." Tony said to me, seeming like a scolding was in order.
With a nervous chuckle, my arm reached for the back of my head as I scratched, not knowing how this was about to play out. "I wouldn't put it that way but, he got what was coming to him." That's right, I did act in a way that could cause friction between both hero groups if the X-men were to take it personal and ignore the fact that the boy was a bully. Though it felt good at the time, but
beating one of them in their premises might not have been a good idea.
Tony held his stare for a brief second before his lips parted as he wore a more relaxed expression. "This warms my cold mechanical heart—and for doing so, you get an allowance from here on out."
Mechanic heart…?
Wait, what? I expected a scolding but instead I am getting an allowance? Sweet.
"What the fuck, Tony!?" Bruce remarked, expecting some kind of reprobation from Tony for using my powers against another kid, not supporting such behaviors.
"Language." Steve interjected, shifting his gaze my way as if hinting to Bruce that there's a kid in their midst.
"When did all this happen?" Asked the man who's been taking glances at me for a while now, almost as if sizing me up. Doesn't make sense for him to size up a kid though.
"I got deployed for a mission overseas two weeks ago, and the next thing I saw was news footage of monsters wrecking the city." He said as his gaze swept over everyone.
All I could think about at that moment was the weekly allowance Tony mentioned.
"It's been quite a week, will get you up to speed later." Tony replied., seeming like he didn't want to get into all that at the moment.
"Here, kid." Clint handed me a glass of cold juice, of which I gratefully accepted. I could use a drink, was almost done with my ice cream anyway. From the corner of my eye, I could see Thor glaring at the drink as I took a sip.
Clearly he had his own thoughts. He probably thinks I should be drinking the strong stuff, based on the standards of the young warrior he keeps calling me.
"Am I really getting an allowance?" I asked Tony, wanting him to affirm it once again so everyone would be a witness. Wouldn't want him saying it was the alcohol speaking.
"Sure kid, just don't go around beating up people
…" He took a pause as his gaze glanced around. "Unless they deserve it." He added.
"This time around it was a fair fight since the other had powers. I would have warned you not to abuse your powers but so far you haven't." Steve addressed me.
"And do not let yourself get ragebaited." Clint chipped in.
Before the topic switches, I need to address something. Especially since everyone was in good spirits.
"I've been wondering, why give me an ear piece for comms and not a phone like a normal kid?"
"Well, you aren't a normal kid." Steve answered, talking like he was saying a matter of fact. Still, I don't get his point.
"An emergency could require your help and then you go all Captain Marvel and fry the phone." Bruce added.
"Ohh… Or, I could have it in my backpack and duck it somewhere before that."
"Probably." Tony sipped his drink as he went on to address me. "But when you do, keep in mind your little detour could be costing innocent lives." He added.
Clearly he had a point, but I wasn't willing to back down on this. What if I meet a really cute girl but can't even ask for her number because I do not have a frigging phone.
"You're a tech genius, can't you make me a phone that's lightning proof?" Stroking his ego a little should improve my chances at a yes.
But Tony did not give me an answer right away, but kept a stare which I also held. Almost as if he was trying to look into me.
"Are you seriously having a staring contest with the kid?" The man who was yet to be introduced, asked with a confused look and tone as he exchanged glances between I and Tony.
"He clearly is." Natasha replied, while Tony ignored the question thrown at him.
"I'll think about it." He said as he finally broke the stare. Angling his body a bit to the left, he went on. "Rhodey, this is Billy Batson. The wonder-kid you've heard so much about." As Tony introduced, Natasha nudged me to get on my feet, of which the fellow did the same as the others went on with either side talks and conversations or just vibing.
'Wonder-kid?' Where'd that come from, now he's got me wondering.
"Billy, James Rhodes." He introduced as James and I met half way.
"Actually, I haven't heard much of anything about you." He reached out his arm of which I reciprocated. "But from the little I heard, you are quite an interesting kid." He added as we shook hands.
"Hehe…am just a kid, not all that interesting. I replied as he tilted his head to the side. He probably did not expect such a mannered response. "Nice meeting you." I added.
"Come on Billy, there's no need to be too humble." Thor's voice rang out as he made way for us with a drink in hand.
"Billy here is also a god who wields thunder, not like the original—of course. But he has proven himself a worthy warrior before me and everyone else here tonight." He addressed James.
"A…god?" James asked with a doubtful tone as he cocked up a brow, while I gently shook my head, letting know Thor clearly was exaggerating.
"Yes. Finally, I have a partner I can exchange blows with in duels." With the thick-muscled and quite heavy arm which held his drink wrapped around my shoulder, he pulled me in as he ruffled my hair with his free arm. "The other would be Hulk, but Banner is never into it." He added as James exchanged glances between I and Thor who had let go off me.
For some reason he didn't seem to believe my denial. Maybe it's because of whatever they told him before I got up here, or maybe he just doesn't know what to believe.
"Really?" He turned, averting his gaze at Tony. "You just happen to have another god on your roster." His tone of voice and manner was a perfect blend of both sarcasm and disbelief, making it difficult for me to identify which one he was leaning into.
Tony just shrugged his shoulders as he raised his glass to take a sip from his glass when Clint chipped in, "He's also a descendant of King Solomon."
"King what?" He asked as he locked on me with clear surprise and disbelief within them. Though Clint was wrong, but no one said anything in contrary to that, making it difficult for him to lean towards the idea that they must be messing with.
'Please, enough with the exaggerated glazing already.' Clearly, they were doing all that to pull his legs. But the hype they were building of me was kind of embarrassing, so I raised my glass to my mouth and sipped my drink in embarrassment. Not wanting to be any part of their shenanigans, though they had succeeded making me the center of it.
"You mean the man accounted to be the wisest man who ever lived?" James asked, seeking confirmation.
"The wisest man who ever lived." Tony scoffed as he remarked. "And yet he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines? Even I—as smart as I am—isn't married to even one yet, and there's a reason for that." He added.
"Hmm…and what's this reason you're using as an excuse." Natasha asked Tony as James, Bruce, and even I wanted to hear this excuse.
"Because I am smart, of course." He wore a smug smile as he sipped his drink, his reply had Natasha just shy away from face palming herself.
The whole Solomon thing faded off as the night went on with James asking me to do something, to demonstrate some kind of power display. Of which I declined, sure he just wanted to clear his doubts by confirming whatever it was the others had said regarding I and my powers.
It got pretty late and James told jokes which he said were stories from his operations, but no one laughed at any. Clearly he was upset and bothered by what felt to be a lack of humor amongst the team towards his jokes.
But honestly, they weren't funny.
While I spent the night talking with Natasha who wanted to hear about my life before here. Told her about my life as an orphan, about Freddie and the others, even about how cool the members of the Justice League were and how it felt surreal when I became one of them.
She asked about how I had gotten my powers, but I simply told her that'd be a topic for another day as I called it a night.
As I got up to leave for my room, Tony called out to me, mid conversation with Thor, Clint, and the others. "Oh, and Bill…see me after your training in the morning."
"Sure." I replied, unsure why he's telling me now, instead of his usual abrupt summons. With that, I left for the comfort of my bed.
- - -
Morning came quicker than I would have wanted it to. But it's here already and Steve was my trainer for the morning. He doesn't seem like someone who would pay heed to not-good-enough excuses, so I had no choice but to drag my ass down there than let him do it for me.
That was something he is clearly capable of if I were to ignore the calls and just sleep in.
Like clock work, he was already there waiting by the time I got there. Already through with his warm ups and ready to focus on my training this morning.
All I could say for that morning was that it had been yet another excruciating session. Every muscle in my body still felt like it had been wrung out and tossed aside, and honestly, I'd reached a point where I couldn't even pretend to keep my thoughts to myself anymore.
I'd outright asked him—half serious, half desperate—if he was secretly juicing on some next-level steroids or if he was a mutant, because there was no logical explanation for the things I'd seen him pull off. The speed, the strength, the sheer absurdity of it all didn't feel human.
He'd shut that down pretty quickly, though—said he wasn't a mutant, but something along the lines of an "enhanced human." That answer stuck with me longer than I expected, turning over in my head as I left. It wasn't exactly reassuring… just raised more questions. Questions I knew Bruce would probably have actual answers to, if I could just get to him.
Still, before I could make my way down to Bruce's lab and start digging for clarity, I had something else to handle first. Tony had asked me to stop by his workspace earlier that morning, and with him, "asked" usually meant don't ignore this unless you want a lecture wrapped in sarcasm. So I adjusted my course.
The automatic doors slid open with a smooth mechanical whisper as I stepped into Tony's lab, the familiar hum of high-end tech and half-finished projects filling the air.
Tools scattered across sleek tables, holographic displays idling in standby, a faint glow pulsing from various consoles. But despite all that activity, there was one thing missing.
Tony himself.
"Mr. Stark?" I called out, my voice carrying slightly in the open space as I walked further in, my eyes scanning every corner. No immediate response. Just the low ambient noise of machines doing their thing. I moved deeper into the room, weaving past equipment until my gaze finally landed on him—sprawled out on a bed tucked toward the far end of the lab like it had been an afterthought addition.
He was completely out.
"Mr. Stark?" I tried again, softer this time as I approached, leaning in and giving his shoulder a small shake. His response was less than encouraging. He shifted, turning away from me like I was nothing more than an annoying alarm clock he wasn't ready to deal with.
"Uhmm…" he groaned with a sleepy voice, barely coherent. "Just a couple more minutes, Pepper… just a cou—" His words faded off as he slipped right back into snoring like nothing had happened.
I blinked, pausing for a second. 'Pepper?' The name in was unfamiliar but clearly important enough to make it into his sleep-talk. I filed that away for later.
Right now, though, I had a job to do.
Taking a small step back, I let out a quiet breath, bracing myself. "Alright… you asked for it."
"Shazam!"
The word cracked through the room like a gunshot from the sky itself. A blinding bolt of lightning tore down from nowhere, slamming into me with explosive force, light flooding the lab in a split-second flash that illuminated the entire space. The air vibrated with the impact.
Tony didn't wake up—he launched.
He jolted upright in pure panic, limbs flailing as he tumbled straight off the bed and hit the floor with a heavy thud. "I'm up! I'm up!" he barked out instinctively, with a disoriented voice as he scrambled, eyes wide and unfocused while he tried to process what just happened.
Before he could even fully gather himself, I called it again, but this time with my voice barely above a whisper.
"Shazam!"
Another blast of lightning struck, just as sudden, just as intense—only this time reversing the transformation. The energy dissipated in crackling streaks as I dropped back to normal, the afterimage of the strike still lingering in the air.
Tony, still halfway through shielding his eyes, lowered his arm slowly—and that's when I noticed his right forearm had already encased itself in a sleek segment of his armor, the metal plating locking into place. A faint glow built in his palm, energy gathering and ready to fire on reflex alone.
When he saw me, the charge died instantly.
He just stared at me for a second, completely still, before his face flattened into the most unimpressed, deadpan expression I'd ever seen.
"Really?" he said with a low voice edged with disbelief. "That's what you're using your powers for?"
I gave a small, awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck as the tension eased out of my shoulders. "Had to get you up somehow."
He didn't look convinced.
Without saying a word, Tony turned on his heel and headed back toward his work desk on the other side of the lab, his movements carrying that familiar mix of purpose and casual indifference.
The faint glow of his workstations reflected off the polished surfaces around him as he reached for something among the scattered tech. "Here, try this on," he said, not even looking back as he tossed the object in my direction.
I caught it on instinct, my fingers curling around the small, cool piece of tech before I brought it closer to inspect it. It looked simple—almost too simple. Slipping it around my left wrist, I turned it slightly, brows knitting together in confusion. "A bracelet?" I asked, my tone uncertain, like I was missing the obvious.
Tony's response was immediate and wordless at first. He looked at me like I'd just asked whether the sky was optional, his expression flattening into that signature deadpan of his. Then he closed the distance between us in a few strides, reaching for my wrist without hesitation. His fingers adjusted the device before he pressed something along its edge.
The thing came alive instantly.
What I'd assumed was just a bracelet unfolded—digitally speaking—into something far more advanced. A sleek, ultra-thin display shimmered to life above my wrist, projecting a translucent holographic interface that hovered just inches above my skin. Icons flickered into place, clean and responsive, resembling the layout of a phone but refined, sharper… smarter. It was compact, minimalistic—yet somehow packed with more presence than any device I'd ever seen.
"Instead of a phone," Tony said, tapping twice against the side of the device, "I did you one better."
"Wow…" The word slipped out before I could stop it, my eyes tracking the floating display as it responded to even the smallest movement. It felt unreal—like something out of pure science fiction—except it was right there, wrapped around my wrist like it belonged.
"Give me the earpiece," he added, holding out a hand without even glancing at me.
I pulled it out and handed it over, watching as he casually tossed it onto his desk like it was just another spare part in his collection. My gaze lingered on him for a moment, taking in the slight heaviness in his posture, the subtle drag in his movements despite how sharp his mind clearly still was.
He hadn't made it back home last night—that much was obvious now. If anything, it looked like he hadn't slept at all. The faint exhaustion beneath his eyes didn't quite hide the focus driving him. 'Guess this is just how geniuses operate,' I thought to myself.
"Here." His voice snapped my attention back as he returned, fingers already working at the device on my wrist. He tapped, then twisted part of the clip holding it in place, and with a soft click, a hidden component detached. What I'd thought was just part of the band turned out to be a compact earbud. He handed it to me, and once I placed it in my ear, it fit perfectly—like it had been tailored specifically for me.
"Hello, Billy." The voice came through so clearly.
My eyes widened slightly as I glanced around out of reflex. "Wow… who's that?" I asked, curiosity bleeding into my tone.
Tony didn't answer. Instead, he had already moved on, walking toward the coffee machine. With a single press of a button, the machine whirred to life, beginning the process of brewing what was clearly a very specific, very customized cup of coffee.
"I'm your personal AI assistant," the voice replied smoothly in my ear, calm and articulate, "here to help you navigate and provide assistance in any way I can."
I blinked, then broke into a grin. "My own AI assistant? Cool!" The excitement came naturally, impossible to hide. Behind the machine, Tony's expression shifted—just slightly—but enough to catch it. There was a flicker of satisfaction there, like he'd expected that exact reaction and was quietly pleased to get it. He reached for his coffee as it finished, completely at ease.
"Feel free to give it a name and—"
"Sorry to interrupt, sir."
The new voice cut in cleanly, sounding polite but urgent. It wasn't coming from my earpiece.
Tony paused mid-sip, lowering the cup slightly as his focus sharpened. "You have an approaching guest."
Tony frowned faintly, glancing toward the entrance as the automatic doors began to slide open. "Who could it be so early in the morning?" he muttered. "It's not even nine yet."
The doors parted fully, revealing a woman stepping inside with a confident air. Her dark hair was neatly pulled back, every strand in place, and her posture was straight. She moved with purpose, her presence carrying a quiet authority that filled the room without needing to demand it. Her blue eyes were sharp, observant, taking everything in within seconds.
"Mr. Stark," she greeted, her voice sounded composed and professional.
Tony's brows lifted slightly in recognition. "Hill?" There was a hint of surprise in his tone as he set his cup aside.
"Can we talk?" she asked, her gaze briefly shifting toward me. There was a subtle narrowing in her eyes as if in assessment. "In private?"
Tony followed her glance, then smirked faintly, slipping right back into his usual tone. "Come on," he said lightly, "you might give the kid the wrong idea."
She didn't react to the joke, at least not outwardly. Her attention lingered on me for a second longer before returning to Tony, her expression tightening just a fraction.
"It's Fury," she said. The shift in tone was immediate.
"He's gone missing."
Silence settled into the space between them, with a sudden weight. I looked from Tony to Hill and back again, catching the subtle change in his posture, the way the casual ease drained just enough to reveal something more alert beneath it.
And just like that, a new question pushed its way to the front of my mind.
'Who's Fury?'
- - -
Patrn/Da_suprememaverick