[Unknown POV]
Working at S.T.A.R. Labs was something, alright. And being one of the scientists on the project of the "Tears of Life" was even more impressive. The results were astounding; they were world-changing, in fact. No term was enough to describe how much those tears could do. The potential was infinite.
But he knew in his heart that he could not sleep easy knowing what he did. They were all made to swear an oath not to spread a single word of the research results. Although many tests were still ongoing, the results were already obvious. And two truths became clear:
One was that they could not replicate those tears! It was impossible, unless someone advanced human technology by a few thousand years, and only then could they actually get to understand why they couldn't replicate them. Whatever was happening inside that diamond wasn't something humans could understand... not now.
And the second fact was that the government didn't want the results known. They were hiding it; in fact, he was sure that many of those working on this project wouldn't live long. He wouldn't be surprised if they started disappearing in some mysterious circumstances or in unfortunate accidents.
But he wasn't going to allow it! Not for revenge, nor was it for greed, but because the government can die for all he cared! That information about those tears and what they could do could benefit humanity as a whole, and he wasn't about to let the government hide the truth! He wasn't about to let them use what little they have for the elites of society.
He became a scientist to help people. He wasn't a hero; he wasn't a superpowered being. He was a man with fire in his chest, and he would probably be forgotten, with his name gone, but he was willing to risk it. For those that would decide the fate of humanity should be humanity itself, not some corrupted men!
He would show them; he would show the whole planet what those tears could do! He would die once he pulled it off, but he didn't care! What was so good about living anyway? He would show everyone the truth. If the people forced the hands of those in power after they knew the truth, or not, isn't important to him. After all, he would already be dead to care anymore.
The unnamed man pulled a small picture from his pocket as he looked at the face of a figure so dear to him.
"If those tears were there back then, maybe you would still be here…"
'What I will do next, I will do it for you! And for everyone that had to suffer the same pain and helplessness that I felt back then!'
'But don't worry…. mom, your son won't go silently into the dark!… I will leave on my own rules.'
Sometimes heroes don't wear capes. Sometimes, even a nameless and easily forgettable man could make the noblest sacrifice for what he believed was right. After all, sometimes men don't need praise; they don't need fame or recognition. Sometimes, something as simple as making their mother proud is worth more than everything the world has to offer.
After all, everyone is the hero of their own story.
[Shazam (Billy Batson) POV]
Billy was not having a good time; in fact, it was terrible for him. His new friend had been bubbled for a whole week... in whatever magic Zatara has made. He was trying to keep an open mind like Batman had suggested, which was the only thing that stopped him from literally introducing Wonder Woman's face to the metallic walls of the Watchtower.
The moment he heard Wonder Woman, the so-called hero, suggest that they break Pink's diamond, he almost saw red for a second. Thankfully, Batman stopped him, although Billy would admit that part of him wished he hadn't. Thankfully, Wonder Woman stopped talking about killing his friend when Superman told it to her face that they don't kill.
Billy let a frown appear on his face as he sat in his seat at school—more accurately, at Fawcett Central School.
'They are making it too big of a matter! Sure, she roughed Green Arrow... maybe it was too much, but they used her tears to save him, so in a way, she fixed her mistake!'
'They are acting like none of them lost control before!'
As Billy forced his anger down, he felt a sense of guilt rise in his chest.
'I should have been there. I could have calmed Pink down... We are friends; I could have definitely did it! And then none of this would have happened.'
(Few hours later)
As school finally ended, Billy Batson walked out, completely bored with life, feeling himself drained. Billy hated going to the orphanage; he hated it with every single fiber of his being. Which is why he was probably the hero that spent the longest time at the Watchtower. It felt much nicer there—to forget everything, to be Captain Marvel.
But it was… lonely.
Sure, he liked to think that he was popular, or the cool guy from the other heroes' perspective. But Billy wasn't blind; maybe it was the wisdom of his powers. But he could notice the fact that he didn't fully fit... Sure, he was that cool Captain Marvel, and he joked around and made other heroes laugh a lot. For instance, he even made a prank contest with Flash... which he almost won.
But outside of that? Nothing... except Batman, who sometimes checks on him every now and then, and especially after missions. Which he truly appreciated, but Batman wasn't exactly… friendly. Not a single hero ever talked to him about anything other than missions, or maybe a hello or some jokes here and there.
And he sometimes noticed how, when he slips or acts too excited about some awesome things, they end up looking at him weirdly, like he was dumb or weird. It's not like he hated them or was treated badly in any way. It's just that, every time he notices it, something in the back of his head reminds him that they are friends with Captain Marvel... not Billy.
He always pushed it down; after all, he was a hero! He was saving people and making a difference! He was awesome!
Billy cut his thoughts off as he climbed into his special spot. It wasn't anything special, just a spot near the roof of the orphanage that he found a way to slip into a few weeks ago. He sat down, watching the sky for a second before starting to pull his books out; he had homework to do, after all.
After a few moments, he found himself stuck, and he couldn't exactly use the wisdom from his powers to solve some math problems... unless he didn't mind making every soul in a ten-mile radius know who he is by transforming. So, in boredom, his thoughts started drifting again.
Not a single hero invited him to a party to join, or a birthday, or even anything outside of hero work... No one came to him for those things. It was always him starting it, trying to suggest having fun, which earned him looks every now and then. Too busy, too boring, no time, and it's a children's game; he could count the amount of excuses he heard them say.
But Pink was different.
She didn't look at him weirdly when his hero persona slips; in fact, she even gets enthusiastic as much as him, which he was quite certain was just her acting. Video games that he played alone now had a partner! Puzzle games, food-eating contests, and prank contests, and much more things that everyone else would have called him childish to suggest, became much more fun!
And the best part is: it wasn't him that always had to ask her to have fun. No, Pink actually enjoyed playing games with him! She even suggested some ideas herself, like the food contest, which he lost; he could swear that Pink was a bottomless pit. She even once explained some math problems to him when he asked; no other heroes would have done that! After all, how could a grown adult ask them such things about simple math? He would just embarrass himself if he tried.
Pink was his friend; they did countless dumb things together in the time she was here. He sometimes felt guilty about lying to her about his age. But he also felt that, from the only people he met as Captain Marvel, only Pink was Billy's friend.
He didn't have to be awesome with her. He didn't have to act old. He didn't have to be Captain Marvel...
And when he went to missions and came back, the first thing she would ask him is if he needed a tear bottle or if Batman was bullying him. He laughed at the memory of Batman glaring at them when Pink asked that question within hearing range of him. "Batman isn't that bad, I mean maybe?"
Billy fell silent for a moment, staring at the sky, wondering if that was what it was like to have a family.
"It would certainly be nice if Pink was my family maybe like a sibling… We would play all the time; we could make the most awesome duo of heroes."
Billy shook his head as he threw the thought away; after all, he can't just ask her to adopt him. He wasn't that desperate. He was a hero! He couldn't let his awesome picture be ruined with his friend!
Billy stared at the sky in silence before looking at the streets besides the orphanage below, seeing cars and people walking around. No one looked at the orphanage more than a glance. If he was in his Captain Marvel form, he would have sworn that every soul on the street would have been looking at him.
But Billy?… No one waited nor glanced around for Billy.
*************
(A/N): Dont forget to read my other works