Corazon is not just a girl. She's Spider-girl. (beat_and_break) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-11-03 21:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, anya corazon (spider-girl), billy batson (captain marvel) |
Living Arrangements
WHO: Billy, Cora
WHAT: Homesickness, friendship, & making plans
WHEN: during the timewarp
WHERE: Egypt of legend
WARNINGS: two teenagers briefly talk about love & sexuality
Billy looked around, relaxing, rubbing his face, as he watched the oven slowly cook the hamburger with the small and painstakingly ground garlic covering on it. It had been an odd six months since he and Cora had been deposited here. And it had only been in the last few weeks that they had managed to move into a building large enough for them to live in and work in. They had operated out of what was almost a shack at first, and out of a fold up market stall for their crafts.
It had made things awkward for them, for sleeping had been of necessity a close up thing. But cold weather, and heavy blankets had cured them of that, and they had found that as friends, they could sleep next to one another clothed at least, and even nearly see each other unclothed without freaking out or blushing all day long. Mostly.
Billy had come to see Cora as an amazing woman, and someone who he cared about. She was his touch point here and someone whose strength spirit, and honesty he respected a lot. Living here, now, and cooking, was almost pleasant. They had a bed, which was far from a modern one, but still more comfortable than the floor and blankets.
And a real bathroom, well, for this time, with water piped in. They were lower wealthy people now. And still mostly unnoticed, which was good.
It had been tough, at first--sleeping on the floor of their little shack, without much of a mattress; having to carry water; not being able to take hot showers or baths. Everything was more work. But time went on, and Cora got used to roughing it; and eventually it wasn’t quite as rough anymore. They had a lot of amenities, for the time period. But the best part, she thought, was that they were learning how to work together. Things were okay.
Billy smiled as he glanced at her. “How are you doing? Your work with the beads in today’s grouping was amazing. And you really have gotten the touch of Egyptian. You charmed that one woman right into getting that necklace, and her gratitude when she came back was worth another two pieces. You are doing really good at this!” He was proud of her, and smiled. Here in the residence, they could be normal ages and forms. And he had made a habit of living all the time he could as Billy.
Six months had been a long time.
“I’m okay,” she said, her cheeks flushing at the praise. She was settling into her role as Billy’s partner, but she appreciated these moments when they could be themselves. “I like beadwork. And seeing people smile when they find just what they’re looking for.” She’d always liked making gifts for people, but there was something rewarding about having someone want to buy one’s work, as well.
“It helps, knowing that I have you, looking out for me. Ready to beat people with trees if I need rescuing.”
“And it helps to know you’re there too. You’re smart, strong and doing awesome, and knowing I can relax a little around you and just be myself helps. Plus if I get into trouble, I know you’ll be there with the powers.”
Billy had confidence in Cora. and he leaned over and hugged her, then grinned.
Cora hugged him back, sighing contentedly as she let herself unwind from the day’s work. She didn’t know what she would have done on her own. “Six months. Mom and Dad would have been married by now. Maybe even have a baby on the way. Do you think time is moving normally for them?”
“I don’t know.” He stroked her back and held on, just relaxing. “On the one hand, it makes sense. On the other, it’s time travel, so who knows?”
He wondered if Barbara had moved on, if life had moved on without them.
“It’s wibble-wobbly.” She couldn’t help but wonder what Nate was going through. He blamed himself for every little thing that went wrong; it was doubtful that he would have moved on easily, if at all. She didn’t want to think about him moving on, but she didn’t want to think about him being miserable, either.
But thinking about Nate made her wonder if Billy had someone special that he missed, besides his big family. “I never asked you before, but...do you have a girlfriend? Or...boyfriend?”
“Not really. There is someone I care about, Barbara. I like her a lot but... she’s almost twice my age, and a very moral and law abiding person. She and I hang out, but she won’t even think about anything with me until I’m older.” He smiled ruefully. “And I like a few other people a lot, though her the most. I haven’t had a girlfriend since junior year and that was not a great thing.”
He glanced at Cora and smiled softly. “I’m sorry you’re stuck here with me and not Nate. He might make this easier on you.”
He nodded.
Cora’s eyes widened a little, but she shook her head. Sometimes it felt like Nate was more than twice her age, so she could imagine how Billy felt. “I don’t know if it would be easier,” Cora confessed. “I mean...” She blushed again. “Would it be easier for you to be stuck here with Barbara, pretending to be married, but...not?”
At least Billy would be old enough to get married, in their own world, soon. Here, people probably married even younger. “I know you don’t think of me like that, so it’s easier, because...sex kind of freaks me out.” And she really hoped that Billy wasn’t offended by that confession.
Billy chuckled. “It sort of does me too, even though I think about it sometimes. My first time trying it was a terrible failure.” Billy smiled to Cora. “And I might be able to think about it with you, but I’ve thought about you mostly liking Nate, and I don’t want to mess that up for you.” He nodded. “And, well, here...I don’t ever want you to feel threatened with me.”
The blushing didn’t seem to be stopping, but Cora was used to that. She just did her best not to retreat into her blue shell--if she could still do that while she was borrowing Billy’s powers. “I don’t...” Deep breath. “I don’t feel threatened. I’m just scared it will be awful, and hurt, and I like this better. Just being close. Sex makes things messy.”
“Sex is one way people have of being close. Sure it can be messy, but it can also be amazing. or so I am told.” He smiled at her. “When you are ready, you will find you like it, maybe, or not. But either way, it is nothing to fear.” He smiled.
“Sex hurts a little at first, it is said, and then gets better. I wouldn’t lie to you.” He nodded.
“Nonetheless, you’re my friend, and its not like we will be here long. We’ll be able to go back home and do the things we want there.”
Cora’s hand found one of Billy’s and she gave a squeeze. There were lots of ways to feel close, besides sex. She was already starting to feel closer to Billy than she had before, but she did miss Nate. The part of her mind and heart where their bond lived was heavy with silence. She hoped they would be able to go back soon, and that nothing that happened in Egypt would hurt their friendships back home.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be gloomy. It’s just that I’ve never been away from home for this long, before. If we’re stuck here long enough, maybe we should have a secret Christmas celebration, or something--even if we are thousands of years too early.”
Billy squeezed her hand in turn. “Why not? Sounds good to me.” He smiled at her. “We could do a Birthday Christmas celebration, together.” He nodded. “And we can bury a time capsule, with gifts from us to others, even as we exchange gifts here.”
Cora nodded. She liked the sound of that. Maybe the capsule would help people find them--or maybe they could retrieve it later, after they went back to their proper time. Either way, it would give them something to do, besides just work and live. “When do you want to do it?”
“Maybe... say a month from now? That will be smack between our two birthdays, and we’ll have been here seven months then, and we can enjoy a little victory over being lost in the darkness.” He grinned at her and hugged her. “Shed a little light of our own.”
“Good.” Cora smiled, nestling in Billy’s arms. She felt like she’d grown up a lot, in the past months, but there was still a big part of her that just liked to be held, and she trusted Billy very much. He was a good, good friend. “I think that sounds perfect.”
Billy smiled and snuggled her close. She was amazing, and she was a good friend. And, well, holding her, being able to just do so at anytime, was a relief. He had always had to be so careful with Barbara. There was a feeling of sheer good in being able to not be careful.
"Good."
"It's going to be okay," she murmured, to herself as much as Billy. "We're going to be okay." As long as they had each other, they would find a way to persevere.