MOMENTS | Shazam One-Shots

Hope In Darkness

The groaning wood made itself known in Billy's ears again, and the teen glanced up at the ceiling. "Okay," he said. "Come on, there's not a lot of time."

The boy gulped down air and clenched his fists. In his mind, he was terrified. He felt too scared and frozen to do anything. But when his hero said he needed him to be brave, when the big and strong superhero of Philadelphia said that he needed him... well that was enough to make any child brave enough to face their fear.

He began to crawl forwards, his fingers scraping against the rock, dirt, and fallen wood. And in that moment Billy began to feel hope. The kid was coming forwards and making his way out, it was slow and tedious of course, but he was still moving all the same.

But just when Billy was letting himself hope that everything was going to be alright, and just when the kid was about to reach for his hand, the wood above them cracked.

The child gasped and Billy snapped his head up, looking at the broken wood and the crumbling rock and cement.

The little boy froze and trembled, his fear paralyzing him as the rock began to come down and the wood planks finally gave way.

Then everything slowed down. Billy watched the few rocks fall and he listened to the wood snap. His hope flickered out of existence and dread welled up inside of him.

This is your fault

Billy looked to the child. He saw the blood dripping down his face.

This is your fault

Billy could feel his cape. It was still caught on the rock.

This is your fault

If only he didn't have the cape.

This is your fault

If only he wasn't so big

This is your fault

Maybe if he was smaller?

This was your MISTAKE

Then maybe Billy would just have to fix it. In whatever way he can.

" SHAZAM!"

Billy screamed the word with so much desperation and strength in his voice that it hurt his throat. He pushed through the crevice and the lightning bolt struck him. But when it did, the power it ensued was all it took to bring down the rest of the building. The buildings frame crumbled and the sound of screeching metal resonated in the teen's ears.

But Billy didn't care. He had something much more important to worry about.

He dove towards the kid, who was still staring at the ceiling, and wrapped himself around him the moment the rest of the rock collapsed. The brunet felt the tons of rock pile on top of him. He felt the weight of wood and cement and metal crush his body and his bones and he felt the dust and dirt cling to his face with sweat.

But he didnt care. He couldn't care. Because all that mattered right now was protecting this little boy and making sure he made it out of this alive. And to hell with Billy Batson.

The last thing he remembered before darkness consumed him was the tight embrace of the kid as he clung to him, and the thought of keeping him safe no matter what.

When the dust finally settled, and not a sound could be heard, did Billy finally wake up. And no one could have prepared him for the overwhelming pain that he felt. He gasped and choked back a sob, gritting his teeth in defiance and struggled to not collapse then and there.