SHAZAM!: The Word of Power #6

"You know what guys? I think I'll walk today," confused looks hover over bowls of cereal.

Rosa pours milk into Darla's bowl, "And you won't be late?"

"Nah, we usually show up pretty early," he shovels something colorful and sugary into his mouth.

"Billy, I'm not comfortable with that, not in this neighborhood," Victor never sounds stern or upset but here, his laid back and goofy tone gives way to fatherly concern.

"I'd like the exercise and I can't think of a better way to get used to Fawcett City," he forgot he was eating.

"I'm sorry, but I agree with Vick, you don't know who's out there," Rosa kisses her husband's cheek.

The car ride isn't fun. Everything feels too slow now. He feels too weak now. All it takes is one word to be a better Billy. Why ever change back? He shouldn't be stuck here.

snap snap snap

"It's Bill and Fred's unfocused adventure! You just spending some time in Neverland?" Freddy had been talking about something on the news, wait what was it?

"I live there, man. What were we talking about?"

"You gotta earn the we in that sentence. I wanted to know if you heard about the Red Strike from the news?"

"The Red What now?" Why would people call him that? "That's a ridiculous name, what is it?" no more ridiculous than 'Shazam!'.

"He's like a red Superman with lightning powers. Saw him pick up an armored truck while it was being jacked." his crutches switch direction first, "See you later, check him out on ViewTube."

They don't see each other again until lunch. Billy would be sitting comfortably in solitude if not for Freddy. He's going on about some team of younger heroes around their age. Doesn't sound possible, but nothing better to do than humor him. Someone steals a crutch.

Snapping to his feet, Billy brings his nose to a tall blond kid, "Sit down, cripple crusader. This one's not worth protecting."

"Try somethin'," a tone he had to learn in juvie grips him.

The bully winds the crutch back, aiming for the head. The swing is interrupted by a fast series of solid jabs. Billy underestimated this guy, his hits didn't do much more than stun.

crack

His rib is met with a sturdy aluminum crutch. He doesn't stop there. He batters Billy with it for a few minutes, Freddy yelling all the while. He keeps trying to dodge but he's not fast enough.

Teachers intervene. The bully laughs and Billy replies with a blood clot projectile. A golden ticket straight to the Dean's office.

Photos of well behaved children mock the group sitting beneath them as a secretary answers the phone.

Some pale bald kid with an ankle monitor leans over, "You smoke?"

"You sellin' something?" Billy knows this type. Wannabe drug dealers who don't know what they're doing in life. This kid will be lucky to stay free-ish.

"I got whatever you need. Name’s Lester," his hushed tone emphasizes the room they're in.

"I'm good," Billy's seen what drugs can do, "and this might not be a great place to sell."

The kid scoffs, "All my favorite customers come here."

He's called in to speak to the Dean. Billy is tired of sitting here, "Ma'am, can I use the bathroom?"

She lazily points to the door, her eyes don't lift from her computer. He doesn't hesitate. Out the door, through the halls, down the stairs, and into the parking lot.

"SHAZAM!"

He streaks down the road. The wind gently runs through his hair. He outruns cars, takes selfies with cyclists, and does a few big super jumps for the cameras. This is the true Billy.

An old woman is trying to cross but none of the cars stop. Everyone stops for Shazam. She makes it across safely.

A cat is in a tree and won't let itself be saved. Shazam can take care of that, and the cat dulls its claws on his skin.

He runs around town, helping anyone he can find. This is how he can feel important, alive, and in control. He runs into his first emergency as Shazam.

Flames touch the sky, and push the clouds away as if to view the sun. There's a trickle of soot coated survivors stumbling out from dense smoke.

He speeds down every hallway, through every door. He's not as fast as he thought and some people get injured. Everyone survives.

Now to deal with the flames. The top level is the most engulfed so he goes there. First he takes a deep breath, swaying the fire toward him. There's not so much as a drop of sweat on his brow and he exhales a huge gust. The new rush of oxygen only feeds the inferno as it expands and spreads.

Then he has an interesting idea. He sucks in all the air in the room. Most of the fire is pulled into his lungs and what isn't is snuffed as he drains the oxygen. Now, it's dangerous to exhale in the building.

While he's trying to figure out how to breathe safely, a man with a flamethrower appears.

"Looks like we got a cape in town," he seems oddly unconcerned.

This guy's lucky Billy's mouth is full. He totally has a great comeback, for sure. His eyes stop darting around when he has a realization.

"What's wrong, freak? Too spicy?" His heart rate stays solid.

A finger held high buys him a moment as he makes his way to the window. The frame creaks loose as he leans out, eyes to the clouds and releases his fire like a belching dragon.

Wiping his mouth, "Buddy, you don't seem to know me. The attitude is cute, but you can drop the tough guy routine. It gets stale fast."

The spark lights the tip of the nozzle and he hovers on the trigger, "Professional @#$%ing comedian, huh? Some people got jobs, man. Get your tights outta mine!"

"Does this gig come with dental benefits? Because you might need it soon."

Billy stands, engulfed in flame for thirty seconds before he runs out of fuel. Shazam stands above him with the empty weapon in hand before the thirty-first second.

The blood pressure doesn't spike. Nothing changed.

This guy is too calm.

"Remarkably chill for an arsonist whose fire got burped out," Billy mastered the smug grin in elementary school. It's the kind of grin he's seen on every bully since kindergarten.

The offender bolts for the stairs only to find a hand on his chest, "You can't outrun this."

He pulls a gun. A moment of scared confusion, Billy's only seen a few guns and they always brought horror with them. His hands rise.

"Let's not do anything we'll re-"

BOOM

The arsonist's ears ring as he realizes the bullet is caught. The gun is snatched. Billy is holding him up by the collar, not ready for more nonsense.

Yet he is still too calm.

The police, the press, and firefighters arrive as Shazam drags the fiend from the singed building. He's surrounded by guns, cameras, and stunned faces.

He wears his brightest smile, and lifts a gentle hand, "The Fawcett City Police Department is going to find some compelling evidence on the fifth floor, that this is our arsonist!" cameras flash and guns cock.

"Sir this is a Police matter, you're not allowed to-"

"What gave you the courage to-"

"Stand down! Get down on the ground!"

"Now, I'm not an officer, so obviously I can only place this man under um, citizen's arrest."

"Pal, we gotta bring you in for qu-"

"Did you breathe fire up there?"

"W-w-well uh technically, but it was the flames from the hallway, not um, not like internal."

"Does the hero of Fawcett City have a name?"

"Sha-" wait, he can't, he'll reveal himself. What's the name? Think fast, Billy, what's your name? "Shucks, ma'am. I'm uhh, just a concerned citizen, passing by."

"Are you here to stop crime, or mostly just the small stuff you've been doing?"

"I'm…. I uh, I'm just trying to help, is all…."

The questions choke him as the authorities collect one George Tweedle from him. They're intimidated, hateful glares would've added to Billy's confidence moments ago, but the flood of curiosity seemingly transforms him into a kid again. He's drowning. He can't swim. Run.

"Okay, welp, I've done what I can today, okay, buh-bye, y'all uh, y'all take care, stay safe, bye!!"

Before an officer can take him for questioning he rockets down the street.