Billy Batson (originalmarvel) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-11-06 00:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, anya corazon (spider-girl), billy batson (captain marvel) |
He missed Barbara, and missed his other friends.
Who: Cora and Billy
Where: Ancient Egypt, in their home there
What: Billy and Cora celebrate again, and get along, two lost souls in another time.
When: One year and seven months into their stay in the past
Warnings/Rating: PG-13 because of brief mentions of body parts.
Status complete
A year passed and time to celebrate once more approached. Billy was unsure what to do this year, since they had found themselves back here in time for almost two years now. What to do? He wasn’t sure. But he did know that he wanted to make it good. He and Cora had made a few friends in this day and age, under their assumed identities, and as time went on, fell into a companionable relationship without real rules. Billy simply did his best to never make Cora uncomfortable and when inevitably a few accidents like what had occurred the last year happened again, he smiled and joked it off, even though he found he was starting to like her a lot more. How could he not? She was his friend, brave, honest, and strong, and she was growing more beautiful by the year. And this year, she turned eighteen.
So a cake was made and a few presents brought and he waited for her to get back from the market this evening, smiling to himself. He looked forward to today for weeks, and felt it was a good time, even if they were still lost.
He missed Barbara, and missed his other friends, wondering how they were, and what their lives were like.
Cora missed her family, and Nate. She wondered if Uncle Tommy and Aunt Neena had found Chris, and what they’d named the new baby. But she was glad that she and Billy had created a comfortable niche for themselves, and found things to look forward to. To keep them going. Keep them hoping.
She came home from the market fairly glowing, with her bag spoils that she had won in trade clutched to her chest. She hardly noticed it herself, but she had grown taller after all, and her figure more svelte. She was stronger, and more confident, too--and that was probably what made all the difference.
She called out as she entered the house, as had become something of a tradition, “Lucy, I’m home!”
Billy turned at her call and smiled softly. She was home! He rose from his place near the kitchen, and called back. “Welcome home, Ricky!”
Then he chuckled and headed to welcome her home with a big hug. And noticed, as he had lately, that she felt definitely more… female, in many ways.
He grinned as he kissed her cheek, then pulled back. “How are you? How did the trip go?”
She hugged him, and smiled up at him as she set down her goodie bag, showing him what she had been given in trade for her bead-work. Sometimes, she thought bartering in goods was so much more exciting than being paid in coin. "Look!" She spilled a bag of polished stones into her hand. "Aren't these just beautiful? I can make something really special with these."
Billy whistled, then looked closed, eyes wide. “Holy Moley! Some of those are polished natural gemstones!” He grinned at her looked up at her. “You did awesome!” And his face softened at the end. “All your creations are special, Cora. Always have been."
"I know!" She'd recognized them from working with her mother's polished chakra stones, and gemstone charts. That, and the powers of captain marvel gave her knowledge to pick out the ones that were less familiar. "Amethyst, lapis...and some others. And the rest are just pretty." She smiled. "You're so sweet, Billy."
Billy blushed. “Just telling it how I see it.” He nodded, then led the way in. “The shower is set up so you can wash off and then dinner and cake will be ready.” He grinned at her, fondly. And forced his mind not to think about her in the shower.
"Thanks," she said, "I won't be long." She was becoming more aware of her body, more comfortable with it, but she wasn't overwhelmed by her hormones like some people their age. Sometimes the sexual aspect of things was still just an afterthought for her, which was maybe part of the reason why there had been a few embarrassing moments from time to time. She felt less anxious about it, though.
It was hard to be anxious when she stood under the warm water, bathed in the fragrance of soap and essential oils. Things were different than in their own time, but that only made her appreciate them more. It also reminded her of home, and her mom's wellness room, and she just tried not to sigh too loudly while Billy was out there trying not to think about her naked.
Billy closed his eyes and just worked on finishing dinner then humming to himself, to try not to think about hot water sliding down hot and soft skin. Cora was a friend, and he would do his best not to make anything awkward with her.
He had everything soon set out on the table in the main room and went to make up the bedroom, having not had time to do it before.
When Cora had finished washing up, she shut off the water, patted her hair to soak up most of the water, then wrapped the towel around her body. A little olive oil went a long way as moisturizer. A little cassia left her smelling festive. Then it was time to get dressed--and she hoped she wasn’t being too girly and taking forever.
She kind of liked that bras were not a big part of the wardrobe requirement these days, it just took a little extra draping to make sure her outfit wasn’t too...nipple-y. But she was getting the hang of it. “Okay, I’m coming out now.”
“Hmm? Okay!” Billy scampered out of the bedroom and made sure to definitely not be looking toward the bathroom. One of his presents to her sat on the bed, a dress of loose cascading silk, wrapped in wax paper and tied with a silk bow.
Cora peered out, making sure the coast was clear before tiptoeing into the bedroom to get dressed. She stood still, staring at the package on the bed for a moment, her mouth falling open as she pulled the ribbon and unwrapped the yards of silk. It was so beautiful, she had to try it on right away, turning this way and that to try and get a look at herself. She loved the way the silk felt against her skin.
“I don’t even want to know how much this cost,” she said, when she finally came out. The bow was now tied in her hair. “I just hope you like your presents as much as I love this.”
Billy smiled as he turned around and whistled, swallowing. She looked amazing. “You look even better than i thought you would.” He blushed and grinned at her. “I’m glad you like it and I am sure I will love my presents. Happy BirthChrisEasterDayMas,” he grinned at her.
Cora gave a little turn, color creeping into her cheeks at the look on Billy’s face. It reminded her of the way Nate looked, sometimes, when he was trying not to look at her too hard. She went to the corner where she kept her beads, and crouched down to retrieve something from the bottom of her sewing basket. She stood, gathering her silk skirt so as not to step on the hem, and walked back to Billy, presenting him with a new pair of sandals.
“I know these aren’t as fancy as a silk dress, but I wanted to get you something practical, that you could actually use. There’s more, but I know we’ll get to that later.”
Billy smiled softly, and grinned at her, then took the sandals and tried them on, finding them perfect, and just right. he hugged her. “Thank you! they are pretty awesome! Better than the leather leggings I’ve been using.”
He nodded, then smiled softly again. “Come on. Let’s eat. “ He led her back to the table, and felt his heart pounding. This was a good time, despite the losses, and with Cora there… well, it was pretty darned nice to have someone around.
Especially someone he cared about.
Cora sat down with him, eager to see what sort of feast he had prepared for them this year. It was hard to believe they’d been there for almost two years already, but it hadn’t been a bad two years. She knew, somewhere in the back of her mind, that they might spend a very long time together there, but she was just trying to live day to day. And she knew she was in good company.
“We’ve really come a long way, haven’t we?”
“We have, yes.” He smiled at her and started cutting up the meat, grinning a little. Lamb with cheese and a marinara sauce, sort of, along with noodles and real honest to god tomatoes, and, next to each plate, a single orange. Then the cake, chocolate, of a kind, waited as it say cooling.
They had come a real long way, in so many ways, and somehow, with Cora here, it seemed like he could do anything.
Cora smiled back. “I think you’re an even better cook now. This looks and smells amazing.” Not that his cooking didn’t always, once they’d worked out the kinks with the oven and stove stuff. “I feel so spoiled.”
“Thanks! I try!” He smiled at her. “Hey, you make things that bring in most of our income. I make woodwork and furniture, and cook. Seems equal to me.” He nodded. He liked the arrangement. they both worked hard and they both had some fun.
Eating, he relaxed, and smiled. Being around her was fun and days like these, despite reminding him of how long they had been here, were good ones.
He hugged her and nodded. “Thank you for being awesome, Cora.”
Good food, good conversation, camaraderie…Cora smiled as she leaned into the hug, resting her head on Billy’s shoulder. “You’re welcome. Thanks for looking after me. You’ve been pretty great, yourself.”
He kissed her hair and smiled, relaxing. ”Thanks. Just doing my best. “ He’d been doing his best for her for years now, even before the time travel. He had tutored her when he could, helped her start to adjust to a new age and face new grades, and felt like he knew her very well. And like she knew him well, too. It was nice.
And this was nice, too, just snuggled close, sharing food, sharing closeness and warmth and friendship. It was really nice.
Cora was more grateful to Billy for all those years of tutoring, encouragement, and friendship than she knew how to express. She knew, deep-down, without a doubt, that he cared about her--and she cared about him, too. She raised her chin, tilting her head so she could kiss his cheek. “You make me want to be my best, too.”
Billy smiled, blushing, eyes on hers, aware, suddenly, of how close.she was. "You already are the best, Cora. You always have been."
Looking up at him, Cora felt her heart pound, and her cheeks flame as she realized that her feelings of fondness and admiration for Billy just might be growing stronger than she had ever noticed before. That maybe, just maybe, Nate wasn’t the only person in the world who knew and understood her.
She nodded, unsure how she was supposed to feel about the thoughts that were tickling the edges of her mind. She wasn’t sure that she could put those thoughts into words yet, or if she should even try. She didn’t want to spoil the celebration with questions, worries, or what ifs. Come what may, Billy was one of her two best friends, and she hoped that nothing would ever change that.
Billy hugged her and smiled softly. She loved another and he would deal with that. He could be okay with that, even if maybe he might be starting to care for her a lot more than he had planned, or wanted to. But she was one of his best friends, and nothing would change that.
“Hmmm, we should go for a fly tonight, yes? Just for fun?” He hoped she would say yes, and he tried to keep his tone light. But then he didn’t move back from her either.
“Yeah,” she said, “I’d like that.” She smiled, and hugged him, in spite of all the confusing feelings. Whatever happened, they’d find a way to work things out, just like always. And besides, she liked to fly with him. “It looks like a beautiful night.”
“It really does.” he hugged her back and smiled, then kissed her hair. It was turning out to be a great night. “Now, it’s cake time!” They could go flying and then to bed, after.
And he forbade his mind to conjure any images of anything other than sleep in that bed.
“Cake!” Cora clapped her hands, sitting up straight again so they could serve and enjoy dessert. She always loved Billy’s cake. Somehow, she got lucky with these boys of hers. Even if Billy was technically Barbara’s. As long as she remembered that, everything should be just fine. Right?
Of course, right.
Yep. That might work. he just had to remember she was Nate’s girlfriend. Yes. And ignore how beautiful she was, and how nice and how very nice it was to hug her. And… yes.
Gods help them both.