~ Little White Lies ~

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"...And try not to say anything too weird, yeah?"

"Unlikely." I spoke, skimming through one of Freddy's multiple comics on the top bunk.

"Oh! One weird thing is, you know that the Romans used to brush their teeth with their urine?"

I shared a glance with Rosa as a silent pause lingered between the four of us.

"And apparently, it works!"

"Told you." I finally muttered, flipping the page. I decided I would enjoy my last few moments of being able to lay in the top bunk, considering the new foster kid coming today. Speak of the devil, I watched him from my peripheral vision as the boy looked down the window.

"Oh, um... It's a long way down." Freddy interjected, standing on his crutch. "Trust me, I speak from experience."

I scrunched my nose up at this, wondering what the boy could possibly mean by that. What was he up to?

"Victor pushed me. They seem nice, but, don't buy it. It gets real Game of Thrones around here."

I rolled my eyes at the lie. "Oh please." But the new kid seemed to believe it as he looked around, worried.

"Dude, I'm messing with you! It's um, it's terminal cancer. I've got three months..."

At this I gasped, hopping down swiftly and immediately going to hit Freddy.

"Don't joke about that, that's awful!" I scolded, playfully landing hits on his arm.

"Sorry, sorry!" He laughed as Billy looked between the two of us.

"Who...?" He trailed, having not noticed me before.

"Oh, I'm (Y/N) (L/N). His friend." I introduced, almost meekly.

"Best friend." Freddy corrected, pulling me into him. "Four years and counting! She's... sadly got a bad stutter." At this, I punched him making him only laugh as I sat down pouting.

"No I don't... quit lying."

Before Billy could even get another breath in Freddy piped up again.

"Kidding, again! You look at me like, 'Why so dark?'" Freddy announced, sitting by me. "You're a disabled foster kid with only one friend, you've got it all." At the word 'friend' he shook me by the shoulders as the apparent Billy Batson roamed the room.

"Ugh, there's a difference between lying and kidding. Learn it." I demanded, already knowing he more than likely weirded the poor boy out.

"Oh, as if you would've said anything." He whisper-scoffed, referencing my shyness.

"I might've if you kept your big mouth shut."

"Oh, I'll show you whose got a big- Oh yeah! That's the uh, the ol' Batarang." Freddy informed, cutting himself off from our playful argument, waltzing over to Billy who had suddenly taken interest in the replica.

"Feel how sharp. I could kill ya' in your sleep with that thing."

"Because that's not creepy in any way..." I murmured sarcastically, brows knitting together at the interesting observation.

Billy seemed uninterested in Freddy's commentary as he looked around a little more.

"You're more of a Supes guy, aren't you?"

He assumed, referring to Superman. "Well behold..." He opened a draw and pulled a small bag with a single bullet inside. "The Holy Grail. One nine millimeter round shot at Superman himself. It's legit. Probably worth, I dunno, five-six hundred. Maybe more."

Billy still seemed a little uninterested at the commentary to which Freddy put more effort into entertaining him.

"Ah! I should've known better. You're a Wonder Woman kinda guy. Don't blame you. She's gorgeous." I rolled my eyes at the word 'gorgeous' but soon realized where this conversation was heading.

"(Y/N) has one of her head pieces. Like, golden and everything. (N/N), show him." He rushed, using a nickname. I stared, wide eyed at the sudden attention as I felt my face burn up.

"Uh, um... Now? I, uh... Um..." I couldn't stop myself from stuttering until I finally let myself bury my face in my hands.

"Okay, maybe later." Freddy brushed. "Don't worry, I mean... this place is great. You're gonna love it."

"Dinner!" Rosa called.

"Um, is she gonna be okay?" Billy asked. Without even having to look up, I could feel both pairs of eyes on me.

"Oh yeah, don't worry 'bout it."

"Boys! (Y/N)!"

Freddy gave Billy a nod, signaling to go down without him.

"(N/N). Hey, okay so that's my bad. I didn't mean to put you on the spot."

"I know." I mumbled, finally looking up. I had the small habit of getting easily and overwhelmingly flustered. In other words, I'm nervous as fuck. All the time. And Freddy? Well, he was so social and talkative it was scary.

He probably wouldn't even be my outcast of a friend if he didn't have that crutch or our shared crazy love for supers. As he pulled me into a reassuring side hug, I felt the butterflies invade my stomach and the thoughts flood my brain.

'How could he like me?'

We took our respective seats at the table, Victor starting things off as normal. "All hands on deck!" I propped up on my knees to be able to reach my hand in.

"(L/N), would you like to do the honors before you go?"

"Uh..." I cursed myself mentally, hoping not to begin another stuttering fit. I first looked to Freddy who gave a nod and a smile, then to Billy who only avoided my gaze as he kept his arms crossed.

"Thank you for...um... my second family." They all gave small chuckles at this as I continued.

"Thank you for today. Thank you for the food...."

"Even if it's not steak fillet!" Freddy finished for me, shooting me a grin that made my heart jump. I gave a small smile back, already dreading the ride back home.

Leaving Freddy...

~•~

{Freddy's POV}

"Big school. Two thousand kids." Darla started, giving a big spiel to Billy about the school.

"You might be thinking, 'Wow, so many people.' But, not if you look at them as potential friends. Then it's, 'Wow, so many new friends!'"

I almost scoffed. But then again, if Darla hadn't gave me the same rant when I first got here, I might not have reached out to the girl keeping pace next to me.

(Y/N) (L/N). God, she is perfect. I mean, how often do you meet a chick with a Wonder Woman head piece? And she's cute? What a package. Completely out of my league, too. I'm just glad I'm able to call her my best friend.

The second she caught me staring, I flashed a smirk to which she responded with a smile. A breathtaking smile...

"What?" She asked, looking behind her a little bit. It was finally my turn to get nervous as I looked back to the snow.

"Nothing, just... You should've showed him the head piece."

I mentally face palmed.

'Stupid... '

"I know, I'm sorry. I'll show him later, promise."

'Great, yeah, totally. Let's make my crush feel bad, great idea Freeman. Way to go...'

"No, no, it's fine I-"

"Does she always do this?" Billy interrupted. Before I could respond, Darla explained herself.

"Silence makes me uncomfortable."

"She's almost never uncomfortable." (Y/N) mumbled, giving me and Billy a knowing smirk.

"Finally warming up, I see." I hinted, only making her go red in the face.

"As much as you claim to be her friend, you sure do make her turn into a tomato a lot." Billy added.

"Aww, don't worry about it. She loves me. Don't ya, (N/N)?!" I called back at her. She (adorably) buried her cold face into her gloved hands, shaking her head.

"Shut up!" It came out muffled, making us laugh a little.

Upon entering the school building, Darla engulfed Billy (more like Billy's waist) in a hug.

"Have a good first day, big brother." I practically winced, already seeing where this was going and I could sense (Y/N) did too as she was already prepared to baby Darla, as she always does.

"Look, you don't always have to hug me. We're not really brother and sister, so..."

"Oh. Okay. Sorry." She walked over to us, (Y/N) immediately picking her up and plastering her tiny face with pecks.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, fixing her glasses.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make her..." Before he could finish, I waved, letting him know it was fine before walking the two girls to class.

~•~

{Y/N's POV}

I couldn't stop thinking about this morning's events. Not about how Billy was being a little rude, or how I caught Freddy staring. Those would be addressed later.

No, I was thinking about how parental we were being with Darla. Now, I know that may sound like a stretch, but my brain didn't, apparently. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Me holding a child, giving it kisses as Freddy looks on from behind, smiling his a-dork-able smile. My (E/C) looking into his brown ones.

One at a time, I was thrown cute scenarios throughout the day of the Freeman boy and I parenting. If I hadn't fallen hard earlier, I sure have now. But these thoughts soon came to a stop as the last bell rung, signalling the end of the wintertime day. I packed up my things and walked through the halls, quickly catching up with the foster family and started the trek home. Key word: started.

"Holy shit, Freddy are you okay?" I asked, immediately running to his side. I knew Brett and Burke were assholes but to run over someone? Where was the oh-so-gorgeous Wonder Woman when you needed her?

"No way that's gonna buff out..." Burke shook his head, marveling at his black truck.

"Yo, Freeman! You paying for that?" Brett basically threatened, stalking closer.

"Oh, you mean the dent you made almost hitting me?" Freddy asked slyly. I gave him a look that said, 'shut up' but it was proven too late as they backed him up against the truck. "Yeah, um, do you guys take these?" He laughed, giving them double middle fingers.

I wanted to shake my head but I didn't even have time to do that as they began punching and kicking the poor boy. I screamed a little as the rest of the family tried to help but kept their distance. Except Billy who was...

Walking away...

'Asshole.'

My instincts finally kicked in and I landed a few punches on Brett's back. But he only yelled, "Grab her!" and the strong arms of Burke wrapped around my torso, slamming me against the truck.

"Nothing to say now, huh stutters?" He taunted as I tried to get free.

"Put her down, asshole!" Freddy yelled in between coughs, which only earned him another kick.

"As you wish." With a smile, he pushed me away from him, landing on the concrete. Pedro and Eugene were quick to help me up, Darla and Mary to Freddy.

"Hey!" A punch was thrown to Brett's face as he stumbled back.

"Aww, sorry man. That wasn't fair but then again you don't fight fair. I mean, c'mon, cripples and a girl? Not a good look..."

At Billy's statement, we all gave a small smile. I doubt he was doing it for us but it still got us out of getting our asses kicked. Plus, Batson packed a mean left hook. Who knew?

"(N/N), are you okay?" Freddy's words brought us out of our trance as he hugged me. "I swear if they even left a mark on your pretty face-"

"Oh hush, you just got ran over. Now let's go before they come back." Mary rushed, pushing us along.

"I'm fine, promise. I'm just glad they didn't bruise you up." I near whispered to the curly haired boy.

Then it clicked...

"You think I'm pretty?"

"Whaaat? Nooo." He trailed shaking his head. Except it was moving up and down instead of side to side.

"Okay, well, yeah."

I stared at him with a smile, not knowing what to say, only causing him to ramble more.

"We're not ten anymore, I can call you pretty, y'know. Without it being weird an' stuff. Beautiful. Stunning, whatever."

"Okay, okay, I get it!" I said, going red faced all over again.

~•~

"Freddy, I'm gonna go read your Superman comics!" I shouted downstairs, letting him know of my whereabouts while he finished the dishes. I'm positive he didn't hear me though, too busy rambling to himself about who-knows-what.

We agreed on a sleepover this weekend, this being my first night in Mary's room rather than the top bunk. But I wasn't complaining.

"Yes officer, I know he's run away in the past but-...27 times? Oh jeez I... I just want him home safe."

I shook my head, sitting on the bunk bed and reading the comics, slipping on Wonder Woman's crown for effect. It was a little big but the way it tilted slightly made me look dorky. In a cute way, of course.

'He'll come back.' I thought. Something just told me so.

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Sorry to cut it short. Well, not really, it's like two thousand words. Which is why I'm debating if I should make a part two to this instead aha✨