A talk between friends

[big_red_cheese]

The talk with Courtney went all right, but not nearly as productive as Billy would have liked. He was quickly resigning himself to the idea that there couldn't be anything more than what they had, because of his being Captain Marvel. Compound that with the other problems he was having these days, and he found he needed someone to talk to. He didn't want to dump his problems on Mary, so he did the next best thing and called an old friend.

"Hey Freddie. You up for sodas? I'm buying." Billy says, leaving his buddy a message with the time and location.

He enjoys his first soda while he waits for his friend to show up.

Comments

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

Freddy showed up a very short time later, his crutch making a rhythmic pounding on the floor as she crossed the room to Billy.

"Billy," he said, smiling. "Good to see you, man."

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

He offers his friend a smile and stands up to pull a chair out for him.

"Good to see you, too, man. Thanks for coming. How are you these days? How are...things?" he asks, putting a little extra emphasis on the last word. He probably didn't need to, but they weren't alone, so they needed to be careful when talking about their alter-egos.

"I tried to talk to Courtney. It went about as well as it could have with craptastic reception and a dropped call." he says.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

Freddie resented the need for help, but hid it well.

"They're pretty good, actually," he said. "Met some people down south, gonna try hanging with them for a while. Little young, but pretty cool."

"Sorry to hear that," he told Billy.

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

"It happens, bro. You live and you learn." he says.

"That's good that you met some other people to work with. I'm still working solo, between everything else. The radio station might get bought out, and they're not sure if I'm going to stay on." Billy says.

Billy looks around, then leans to whisper to Freddie.

"Hey, man. Has our mutual wizard friend spoken to you lately? About anything?" Billy asks.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

Every time Freddie thought the universe was out to get him, he was reminded that other people had it just as bad, or worse.

He shook his head. "Not a word."

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

Okay, that was weird. Why would Shazam hint at what's to come to him, but not Freddie? What if Mary didn't know, either?

"Nothing at all? Nothing about something bad happening soon?" he asks.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

He shook his head again. "Nothing."

A frown. "What do you know that I don't?"

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

Billy think a moment, sighing.

"Okay. He started telling me that something is supposed to happen this year, some kind of darkness that we need to be ready to stand again. He said that we're going to be tested like never before.

I don't know anymore than that, Freddie, but I'm worried." Billy says.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

Yeaaah, that was definitely bad.

Freddie nodded slightly. "Not good," he agreed. "Especially if me and Mary didn't get the warning."

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

"No, it's not. He said we'd be tested like never before and I don't want to think about what that means." Billy says.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

He shook his head. "Definitely. Think there's anybody we should look out for? Baldy? Wormy? Pointy-ears?

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

"At this point, we can't take any of them off the table. Baldy's always got it our for us, and Wormy's just nuts.

But Pointy-Ears isn't going to be a problem. Because the Wizard said that whatever is going on is a threat to him, too." Billy says, not sure how to phrase the next part.

"He said Adam's going to be on our side, Freddie." Billy says. The thought of having to work with Adam on purpose isn't on that fills him with joy and warmth.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

"...You've got to be kidding me," he replied, astonished. "What the hell would cause that to happen?"

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

"Beats me, man. That worries me, because it means that Adam will come out of Khandaq eventually. Our mutual friend isn't giving me much more to go on." he says.

"I've got a bad feeling about all of this, Freddie." he says.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

"We'll make it through it," Freddie said. "We're Family, Billy. When we get together... nothing stops us."

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

Billy smiled at Freddie, and had to admit that he was right. No one had managed to stop their combined power when they worked together, not even Adam. They always found a way to come out on top.

"You're right, Freddie. We've made this far, haven't we? No reason to stop now." he says.

"Now, I just need to talk to Mary and tell her to keep her eyes out, just in case she comes across anything weird." he says.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

"What's she been up to lately anyway?" Freddie asked. Just because they were no longer dating didn't mean he couldn't be concerned.

[big-red-cheese.livejournal.com]

"I wish I could say. We live in the same house and barely see each other anymore, except at dinner. I used to know what was going on in her head by looking at her, but not so much anymore." Billy says.

"Maybe the three of us should go to the Wizard and ask for some answers. He can't stonewall us all, right?" he asks.

[blue-suede-hero.livejournal.com]

He nodded, briefly concerned for Mary.

"He can't. We'll get our answers."