WHO: Billy Batson and Natasha Romanoff WHAT: Billy seeks out his mentor to get back into training WHEN: Recently WHY?: It’s been a rough month or two WARNINGS: none STATUS: Closed and Completed GDoc
Billy was feeling awkward today. He was just now able to rejoin training and he was out of shape after weeks of resting and recuperating after his wounding back in his world, and the healing he had gotten here, some time later.
He was in for a hard session he knew, and he was glad it was with Natasha. She knew him and despite him being two years older now, and a little taller, she was still the person who knew his body as it was, best. He was hoping he could start getting back into shape. He knew it would hurt, but he knew it would be good.
As he arrived for his training session, he stepped into the room they used and smiled. He stood another foot taller than he had, and was a little more coordinated than he had been. Which he was glad of. He had been a little clumsy, before.
“Hey, teach.”
***
“Billy” Natasha smiled as she saw him enter the room, “I’m so glad to see you back and apparently taller too. All healed up?” she asked him, looking him over to check there were no obvious signs of lasting injury. She didn’t bat an eyelid at him being older and taller, she knew how it worked being here and she knew Billy fairly well by now.
“I’ll get you back into the swing of things soon enough, don’t worry” she promised him, she wasn’t the sort to go easy on him, she knew his limits and she’d help him get back to the level he had been at previously and beyond.
***
“It’s good to see you, too.” Billy was glad to be back. Even with all he had been through, Natasha was still one of the people he most cared about here.
“I am healed up and ready to go.” He smiled at Natasha, glad to see her. “Good. I’m looking forward to it.” He needed to feel like he was in control of his life again, and a little more secure, and this would help.
He hoped.
***
“I’m glad to hear it” Natasha told him, “And I am sure you’ll be fine” she added, she could tell from his body language he was a little unsure though exactly of what she couldn’t yet figure out. It felt like more than just the change in his body though.
“So do you remember the warm up sequence?” she asked, moving to the middle of the room before turning to face him. She always had her students stretch and warm up properly, failure to do so could result in aches and pains at best and pulled muscles at worst.
***
Billy began the warm up, and nodded to her. “I’ve been keeping up with them, when i could, back home.” Billy was one of those few who remembered this place back in his world, because of the nature of who he was, there. He controlled dimensions and time in his own world, and it allowed him to remember things most never did.
“How have you been?”
***
“I’m pleased to hear that,” Natasha said as they ran through the exercises, she wasn’t sure if she’d want to remember Madison when she went back. Her life was so different and she knew that she’d never find the contentment back home that she had here.
“I’m okay” she said though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, she was worried about both Bruce and Cassie but Billy didn’t need to know that. She was still the teacher and the adult, as well as a person who didn’t share a lot when it came to personal things. “Are you settling back in alright?” she asked him to switch the subject back around.
***
Billy sneaked a glance at her, one eyebrow rising. That had sounded almost as convincing as when he said it. Huhn. Now he was a bit little sad.
“I'm not in the world's best place but I'm getting by. And it's life, you know? Things will be okay, eventually.” He smiled softly. His eyes had a subtle dinner of often thought of and sometimes shed tears. But he smiled anyway.
He'd survive but he was worried about Cassie. She's made her feelings clear, at least to him and he didn't want to push her. And life was complicated. He sighed some as he stretched.
“I'm sorry if I ever complicate your life.” It was weighing on him, really. How him being here may have negatively affected Cassie, Natasha, and Bruce. The idea horrified him.
***
“That’s true. Life goes on and we continue” Natasha said, she didn’t know exactly what had happened with Cassie and Billy as Cassie hadn’t shared it with her parents but she knew they weren’t together anymore. As much as Natasha thought it was a shame it was her daughters choice and she wasn’t going to interfere.
“Hey” she said, stopping to move closer and catch Billy’s eyes, “Don’t ever think that. I enjoy teaching you Billy, I’m proud of the effort you put in”
***
Billy shook his head, but smiled a little sadly. “Thanks.” he didn’t truly believe it entirely, but he was glad she said that.
“I want to do my best, and be my best.” He smiled shyly, wryly.
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m proud to be your student.”
***
“You put your all into everything you do, nobody can ask for more than that” Natasha told him reaching out to give his shoulder a squeeze.
“Thank you, and believe me when I say I am glad you came to me to learn” She didn’t want him to think he wasn’t welcome or that she regretted taking him on. She didn’t, she found him to be a kind and caring young man and she liked training him.
***
Maybe if he didn’t, he would be more normal, and would not drive people away. It ran through his mind, but he did not speak it. Enough self-pity. He breathed out and nodded. “I try.” And he did. And he would not stop trying.
“Thank you. I learn a lot from you.” Billy smiled and bowed to her.
“I will need a lot of help to get back into shape. And I will need my body to be strong more than ever, now that my magic is gone.”
***
Natasha nodded, “Of course. I’ll help you build up your strength and abilities. You don’t need magic to be strong” she told him, giving him a true smile. She was proof that you didn’t need to be anything other than determined and dedicated to be lethal.
***
He nodded his head in a deep bow, speaking softly. “Thank you, Master.” Billy nodded. He knew that, and he was hopeful he could be good that way, too.
Finishing his stretches, he slowly stepped to the mat. “Alright. Where do we begin?”
***
They spent a good hour sparring with Natasha assessing Billy throughout and working out how much work he had ahead of him, the fact that he was so dedicated helped a lot. He also listened to her, respected her and trusted when she offered advice and guidance.
“Okay?” she asked him, passing a water bottle to him from the small fridge in the corner of the room. They’d need to do a cool down so his muscles didn’t protest too much later but for now water was the key.
***
Billy took the water bottle gratefully, sipping it as he stretched and walked a little. He blew out a long breath as he tried to make sure his body cooled down right. “Yeah. Achy, tired, but… yeah. That was good.” He was so, so, sooooo out of shape, but he had a chance, with her, he knew, to get into it again.
“Thank you, for being here. This time is something I look forward to.” Working out, having that pure space of reaching for being better, striving to get better. It was hard, and yet… it was a good thing.
***
Natasha nodded, “You have a way to go but you’ll get there, I promise,” she said with a smile. There were things they could work on, and she was already preparing a new routine in her head for him to run through with her.
“I’ll always be here until the dome decides otherwise,” she said, her choice would be to always remain but she knew as well as everybody else here that it was never about their own choices.
***
“Thank you. I will do my best, and I won't let you down.” He would work hard, and he would keep working hard, whatever it took. He would not let her down. In an odd way, made odder by the other things in his life, she was a real teacher figure for him, almost a mother figure. She made him feel more alive and more okay with himself.
Taking a long breath, he smiled.
“Gods willing, that will be for a long time.”
***
“I know you won’t Billy” Natasha said with complete faith in him. Being a teacher was a relatively new experience for her but it was one she took seriously and she most definitely enjoyed.
“I certainly hope so” she agreed with a nod.
***
Billy smiled at her as she said that and nodded. It was nice to have her have that kind of faith in him. It buoyed him and made him feel more confident as he grinned wider.
“I could stand to live here for as long as the Dome will let me.” he nodded, feeling content, sure of himself for once, and ready to go on.
***
“You and me both” Natasha agreed, she had too much to lose here to want to be anywhere else. Nothing was guaranteed in Madison but Natasha hoped they’d get to stay, to live out their lives as they wished to with those they cared about. That was the ultimate goal after all.