#bbtwlb

Very sorry for the unexpected hiatus!

Mostly my fixations have been elsewhere that I can't focus on writing Billy.

Please know I may not respond to all comments but I read them! (A very heart felt one motivated me to write this actually!) And I appreciate that yall have read it! Maybe even reread it!

Heads up seven up: last seven sentences of a WIP! (Not gonna tag others do this if u want!)

Heres some bbattowlb. Enjoy. ;)

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He examined the previous Champions, what was sought out, what was desired, what was necessary. He tried to satisfy the Gods and the Rock while he honored his fallen siblings. He recalled what went wrong with Adam and vowed never to allow that to happen again.

The Wizard came to a decision and changed tactics.

The candidates needed open minds and bright spirits, adaptable instincts and malleable paths. 

Still, the search continued with failed candidates until he came across one in particular.

Aldskfrb so I'm imagining this:

John getting whammied by an aging spell and Billy has to ensure he doesn't hurt himself or others, but also figure a way to turn John back.

Like, Smol John would be himself but also 10x worse bc all that attitude and shit is compact. But also it's really disorienting to be a kid again. And tho John is himself he has child control on his magic and emotions. And others view him as a kid. So he'd better understand Billy's POV after this.

But also. Uh. John's childhood fuckin sucked. So all those unburied memories? Rough.

I imagine Billy bringing John with him to his place. And John really sees Billy living as a homeless kid. And getting that first hand experience. Billy having to keep stopping him from smoking and drinking. And honestly it'd be such a change of positions. I can see Billy not realizing how protective he's being and it pissing John off so he does something worse and dramatic. Communication skills now -100.

They'd def argue too. Despite John having a soft spot for Billy, their morals are completely different. John is selfish and uses others and lies and cheats and will do anything to come out the other end. And I can see him using his new fou d youthful face to deceive others or sneak into places. He'd stress Bill out so goddamn much.

But despite all that, John does have a heart and he does care for Billy. So when push comes to shove, he's got Bills back. And does enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling of helping others. Things tend to go to shit for him, whether he does the right thing or not, and he's often left having to make the hard decisions. So it's nice being on the goody hero side and not end up covered in others blood.

It is about the double life Billy Batson lives as a human child and as a magical superhero adult Captain Marvel (aka Shazam, but we don't use that language here).

DC has a variety of canons for him, as he seems to change with every era and media piece. So overall the story is of all my headcanons - from how Billy is as a person, to who he is as the Champion of Magic, and how those duel persons connect / interact/ influence one another.

The story itself starts off chapter by chapter, Marvel or Billy interacting with another super or villain and how the little slips of information he gives really adds to the grapevine of who everyone thinks he is, how he interacts with them building his relationships too. Essentially how the kid balances his life, magical, and hero duties.

It's gotten a bit outta hand and now is a multichapter over arcing plot story lol.

The main story is Billy Batson and the Troubles of Work Life Balance.

And the side works that don't really fit into the main are over at Snippets of Life Inbetween.

And then there are all the Tumblr posts I've made, headcanons, explanations, and answers.

ANYWAY

To the anon that asked about Thavma and Billy's opinions of each other:

I haven't made a post about it, but there is a narrative on Thavma's thoughts on Billy over in the Amnesia Arc Part 3 toward the last quarter of the chapter. He basically learns to like Billy.

Thavma being the combination of previous Marvels, within the time span that they were chosen, they were all pretty similar. They were chosen by the gods, and back in ye old Gods time, there was a consistent image of what they deemed worthy. So Thavma is actually pretty stable for being what he is. Which means looking upon Billy - this scrawny child that sneaks around and isnt that big on fighting, but defends against bullies and stands for what he believes in - they have no choice but to watch and witness him. Growing to know who he is and like him for it, for being different and what the title of Champion needs.

Billy... I think is rightfully terrified of Thavma, lmao. As in, here is this ancient consciousness that exists not only within him but also elsewhere, that under certain extraneous circumstances will just take over his consciousness. In a situation he probably views as similarly to Doctor Fate and the helmet. Which isn’t to say he doesn’t respect Thavma, he is very much in awe of him. But Thavma is also literally the shoes he is trying to fill. He is the embodiment of Marvel that Billy tries so hard to work toward and be worthy of. Thavma is an absent mentor, a grand mantle, a heavy burden, and also... eventually, maybe, his final destination. 

Hello!! And thank you!! I'm always real glad to see new readers finding this (and old readers coming back!)

I'm not gonna go thru the exact origins of Marvel in the story, but it's okay to assume it follows the comics pretty closely. Some teenage hooligans harassing a disguised Shazam, Billy stepping in to redirect their attention, Shazam saving Billy in the subway and taking him to the Rock, etc.

The biggest difference is that during their exchange at the Rock, Billy sorta pleads his case when Shazam hesitates to choose him (bc if he's wrong again, if Zeus lightening does not agree with this candidate, Billy will just die, and Shazam will have to try to find another again). Billy wants to try, to show that being and doing good is a choice that's done with every action, and all of humanity is capable, not just him.

And suffice to say, Billy gets chosen.

As for a hierarchy, sorta? But also no??

I have a post in drafts somewhere, but basically Gods and Deities are Most Powerful. They are made of magic and they make magic. However they're existence is also entirely dependent on Earth and beliefs and other connections.

However, for this raw magic to safely be siphoned to Earth and also to the Gods, the Rock exists to house that magic.

The Wizards exist to safe guard the Rock. But also to act as middlemen for the Gods. Helping to choose their Champions. They are not and have never been human. They sorta just watch things happen, keep the balance on all sides.

Champions are humans chosen by pantheons of Gods and are blessed with their magic and powers to exist and help on Earth. They are immediately involved with humanity and are in the midst of everything. They can go between Earth, the Rock, and other realms. A new Champion is chosen every so often.

HOWEVER.

Present day, the Gods do not have as strong a hold on Earth as they once did. There is only one Wizard (for now) and one Champion (for now).

So the dynamics are skewed, and the Champion now is very central and needed to maintaining connection between Gods and magic and Earth, and also maintaining magical balance on Earth.

YES HELLO THERE THANK YOU

Sorry for the lack of story update, I'm still stuck in Mando hell, but fortunately for you anon, I'm also in a Greek Gods rp discord, so I've thought about this A LOT.

So normally, SHAZAM is Solomon (wisdom), Hercules (strength), Atlas (endurance), Zeus (power), Achilles (courage), Mercury (speed). But here's my take on if it was strictly the old Greek Gods:

Selene (magic/healing), Hermes (speed/flight), Ares (courage/strength), Zeus (power/control), Athena (stamina/strategy), Metis (wisdom/knowledge)

It's impossible to stick with the main Olympians due to naming, so I used some Titans as well, and I wanted women, sooo.

Anyway, I imagine even if they aren't in the name, each Greek God has a vested interest in the Champion. He exists as a connection to Earth and humanity - from which the Gods gain majority of their power. When the Champions disappeared, their power in the mortal realm was severely diminished. It's a whole structure centered around mass belief and stories, and getting into it needs its own post tbh. So, yes, even Hades has an interest in Marvel.

i really enjoy where you're going with the fic! and the headcanons you lovingly added in are so *chefs kiss*

and i just stalked your billy batson tag hehe~ thank you for the fic!!!!

Eeeee!!! Thank you!! :3

I always second guess myself on these longer fics on if it holds up to previous chapters or as a continuous story, and knowing yall still enjoy it thru out really eases that doubt! All yalls comments, esp during this unexpected hiatus, really lifts my mood!