He had seen some amazing things since gaining his powers as Captain Marvel. He had discovered his new home, the rock of eternity, he'd fought mad scientist and inter-dimensional warlords and, along with Wonder Woman, had stood by Superman to defeat Doomsday. He had become a frequent guest in the Batcave. And that was where Bruce had insisted first that he get formal schooling.

Now, again with help from Bruce, he was about to begin his education at Gotham university.

Billy walked onto the campus. He marveled at the austere gates and at the almost two-hundred-year-old architecture of the campus. He made his way to the hall where the new freshmen were gathered. A basic orientation he supposed. There he met a familiar face.

"Hi Kara."

She smiled and greeted him with a hug. "Hi Billy, I hoped I'd run into you."

"Good to see you to," He said, returning the hug. "So, you ready for all of this?"

"It is a little overwhelming, but Barbara is here to help me fit in. And of course, I'll have you around too."

"That you will. As for me, I'll be sharing a place with Grayson. He's starting his sophomore year, so I guess that puts Barbara in her Junior." He smiled. "She never lets him forget that she's a year ahead of him."

"Oh, I know it. Those two love teasing each other."

Billy nodded. "Oh yes they do." Then he said, "But I've got to get to the bookstore." He turned to go. As he took a few steps she called out to him. "Oh, farm boy."

He smiled, then turned around. "Yes."

"Have lunch with me?"

His grin grew as he answered her..."As you wish." He chuckled at their old game as he walked away.

"You guys really like to play with the whole 'farmers daughter and the hired hand' trope, don't you?" Dick asked, after Billy told him about his planned lunch date with Kara.

"It kind of fits. I mean she is a farmer's daughter, and I was sometimes hired help during the harvest season."

"You're going to start rumors. You know that."

Billy dismissed that. "People can think what they want. As it stands now it's just platonic. As for the future." He shrugged. "Who knows"

He added. "So please tell Barbara to stop roping you into her matchmaking plots."

Dick got an irritated look on his face. "You know I think I liked it better when you didn't always have the wisdom of Solomon."

Billy laughed. "Sorry Dick, it wasn't my choice."

"Guess you don't really even need your magic word now, do you?"

"Well I do use it to change into my Captain Marvel outfit."

"Gives you something else in common with Kal and Kara. They're Kryptonians 24/7. Now you're the captain 24/7." He added. "Maybe you should buy some glasses."

"Ha! Wally suggested that to...People don't seem to catch on though."

"Maybe it's the magic in your case," Dick said, then added, "For Kal, probably that Superman and Clark are so different."

"I don't know," Billy answered, "I've always kind of thought that he goes too far making his two personas polar opposites. If he comes across as too clumsy, too awkward, it may tip people off that it's an act."

Dick shrugged, "Seems to be working out for him so far."

The two sat in silence for a moment. Dick saw a pensive look on Billy's face. After a moment Billy said, "You know, eight years ago I would never have thought I'd be attending an ivy league university, or any kind of college for that matter. I was just trying to stay alive. I thought struggling to survive would be my life...Sleeping in subway stops or abandoned buildings, on park benches. Trying to survive the cold in winter, trying to find food." He looked at Dick, he looked like he was about to say something but seemed to change his mind at the last second in favor of a different tact. "The wizard didn't just make me a hero. He probably saved my life."

Dick listened, giving thought to the humble beginnings of his friend. Dick had also lost his parents, much like Bruce...Come to think of it that seems to be common among the league's members... But he'd had the advantage of being taken in by Bruce. Barbara had grown up with a very successful and loving father. Kal wasn't rich but was well provided for and well loved by the Kents, as was Kara. Then of course Dianna and Drusilla were Princesses, how much more privileged can you get.

Billy's background was anything but privileged, yet he never gave into anger, resentment or envy. No wonder Shazam had chosen him.

"I'll tell you something Bruce said to me," he said to Billy, "He told me that he'd taught me, trained me and gave me the resources to fight crime, but he didn't make me a hero. That had to come from within me." He paused, "Billy, Shazam didn't make you a hero, he gave you powers because he saw the hero within."

Billy grinned, "That's pretty inspirational."

"Just paraphrasing Bruce."

Billy nodded, then changed the subject "You know I'm going to have to choose a major."

"Don't get in a hurry, no one does that in their freshman year."

"Doesn't hurt to think about it though. No surprise that Kal is encouraging me toward journalism. Bruce favors engineering."

"Both good choices." He added, "You'd make a great electrical engineer." Billy laughed. "As for me," Dick continued, "Bruce talked me into business administration. Says he's trying to get me ready to take the reins of Wayne enterprises eventually."

"President and CEO Richard Grayson." Billy nodded, "Has a good ring to it." He looked at his watch. "But I have to get going. I've got a certain pretty blond expecting me for lunch. See ya in a couple of hours."