Hate

Virgil and Richie's friendship was always strong, but can it overcome this situation?

arkari: I am not convinced with the title, again, but I hope the rest of the fic is okay. This story, and "Two" will be updated after my exams (in three weeks)I promise I try to post the new chaps asap.

I don't share any of Sean Foley's believes I wrote in this fic. I'm sorry if someone gets upset while reading them.

Now, onto the fic:

Chapter One: Discussion

-Robert's POV-

"So?" I ask, smiling. Sharon is on a date with Adam, so I had to cook the dinner. I can't believe how difficult is this... I worked so hard and, of course, I didn't get any satisfactory result. If Virgil didn't joke about my culinary skills, I'd buy a pizza. And my poor Sharon has the same trouble... well, it doesn't affect the fact she's a responsible, kind and hard-working daughter any parent would be proud of. And Virgil, he's just an excellent boy. And a superhero.

My boy and my girl. Jean would be so proud of them... I bet she is, watching us from the sky, wearing that sweet smile I love...

"Zoned out?" my son says, while his knife is doing his best effort against the meat I cooked.

I nod, trying to control the sadness that invaded my heart. "So, how was your day?"

"Oh, nothing interesting. High School is boring, the professors are torturing me and it seems Hotstreak and co are scared of us"
"A quite patrolling"

"Yeah... although..." I am sure that Virgil's look isn't sad only because of the insipid meat. My parental sense is activated. I waited some seconds, but my son is still silent. I better ask. "Is Richie, right?"

A sigh is his only answer.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Well, I am sure it's nothing..." the worry of his eyes denies his words "... but Richie is kinda... strange"

"Strange?" I repeat, trying to get more information, although my intuition tells me I already know what is it about: the conversation I had with Richie, a week ago.

Virgil continues "Depressed, I'd say. But he swears it's nothing! I even asked him if it's because of his father (you know how idiot he is) and Richie stared at me. In that moment, he looked kinda scared"

"And what did he answer?"

"He said he was all right. Damn! I hate when he hides something from me... why he can't trust in me? Ain't he my best friend? And I'm sure this is related with Mr. Foley... if that son of a..."

"Virgil..." I try to calm him down, but the doorbell interrupts me. I open the door, finding the last person I ever wanted to see. "Foley!"

"Hawkins" he said, sharply, while his face contracted in a grimace. I realized he was drinking. Nothing good. I let him to come in, while a premonition of something bad invaded my mind.

"Please, Virgil, let me talk with Mr. Foley alone" my son nodded and went upstairs... or acted he was going to go upstairs. I know he is going to listen our conversation. I didn't apart my sight from Foley's face. I could feel the hate and the fanaticism. "What happened?"

"Your son, that happened. This criminal ruined Richie. When he introduced me your son, I wished they never met. How right I was" Sean smirked "I always thought your class is dangerous. Gangs, cocaine, rapes... all of it having that rap music as background. Destroying the things people like me built. Destroying our effort. Destroying our country. Just criminals"

"And Richie?" I asked, trying to not provoke him. Angry and alcoholic, this man is dangerous. The hate of his voice is making me sick, but I want to know where is Richie, and if he is all right.

"He escaped from our home!" Mr. Foley is wrathful. A sound distracted me from his words: Virgil opening the window of his bedroom. Virgil, no Static Shock, leaving in his search of his friend. I smiled softly, but the irritated man saw my expression.

"Yeah. It's all funny for you, isn't it Hawkins?"
"Any idea of why Richie would escape?"

"You should know. You gave him the advice" his rage is increasing more and more

"What are you talking about, Foley?" but I know, I know...

"That bastard of yours. Corrupting Richie. Thanks to him, my son became a queer. A queer! Bringing the disgrace to our family. Turning my family into a mockery!"

Richie confessed. Poor kid, what a situation. I still remember how pensive he was when we conversed.

-------------Flashback-----------

"Mr. Hawkins... can I ask you something?"

"Sure" Richie always had questions to do. The normal curiosity of a teenager. He knows he can ask me anything, I won't be mad. I know his parents never gave him the attention he needs.

"What will you say... I mean... if a son of yours. Can I try again?" he smiled sadly "I got a friend (not Virgil) who discovered something about him. Something... disappointing"

"I see... and what do you think about it? Is that really disappointing?" I encourage him to keep talking about this "friend": Richard Osgood Foley, of course.

"I dunno. It's not... normal. And he tries to be normal... but he fails"

"Nobody can hide the truth about oneself. Being :normal, as you say, and I'm sure you mean :like everybody else, isn't important. Your friend should accept himself just the way he is"

Richie meditated "The way I am..."

"Adolescence is a hard stage. Full of changes, plans, questions, discovers, indecision, confusion. Mostly confusion, because you are growing up. Your friend could be going through a passing phase... he'll probably wake up one day and find he's :normal: again and that the whole thing was a confusion. Or not, and he have got to accept him and think (because your friend must be intelligent) that this change doesn't destroy his whole qualities. Your friend is a great person, he shouldn't be ashamed or blaming himself. I am sure this thing he discovered won't impede his happiness. Tell your friend he's not alone, a lot of people care about him and they'll support him, no matter what he decides"

He blinked, surprised. Later, a smirk crossed his face "You are terrible, Mr. Hawkins! I bet you know I'm talking about homosexuality..."

"Knowing things. That's my job" I placed my hand on his shoulder "And tell your friend this conversation is strictly confidential. This secret will be safe, until, of course, you think you are ready to reveal it"

Richie blushed, and lowed his head "Thanks, Mr. Hawkins... thanks a lot"

--------------------End of Flashback------------------

"There's nothing bad about being homosexual, Foley. Your son was confused and he needed the support he deserves. You don't realize you have a wonderful son, no matter which is his sexual orientation" I answer

"Listen to me, Hawkins. Queers are a disgrace. For themselves -because they lose the respect of the others- For their families -you are smart, you know why- And for the rest of the society -because they are messengers of the promiscuity, of the pathology; they are enemies of the family; and they bug the rest of the normal people when they scream asking for rights they don't deserve-. Queers, blacks, vagabonds... menaces of the society. And thanks to you and your son I have one of them living under my roof!"

"Foley! It's no sense!" I scream, irritated. Hate. Scorn. Fanaticism. I found Hitler II.

"You think?" his lips twisted into a bitter smile "What if I am right? What if I take the cause off? Will the problem be fixed?"

His hand hid into the pocket of his overcoat, and pulled out a gun.

I can't believe it

I am frozen

I can't move. Or yell. Or nothing!

While Mr. Foley aims at me. And the sound of a shoot perforates the silence.

Jean...

Sharon...

Virgil...

Richie...

My chest hurts. I can fell the heat of the metal inside my flesh. I can fell my blood staining my shirt. I am falling on the floor. Thoughts are whirling in my head. Oh, my God...

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