Better bring out the insulin shots folks, because this one gets MESSY and DRAMATIC.

I also reduced the rating to T, because....eh...their TALKING about sex, but they don't really get down to the nitty gritty. I don't write that kind of stuff anymore (you don't want me to, believe me). Their are a few subtle hints of graphic actions, but unless you're my age and have some experience under your belt, you wont get it. Sorry kids. :3

also, THE WRITING IN ITALICSAND BOLD is NOT happening in V/R's world. Its metaphorical, for the temptation of fate. its suppose to be a kind of...companion to whats happening in the real world. I hope that's obvious, but in case it isn't, that's my explanation.

Disclaimer: No, I actually don't own static shock and all that that implies. Sad fact, but true. But then again, if I DID, this kind of dramatic bullshit would ALWAYS happen :D

Nothingness...as it had always been. Nothingness lingered, giving no indication of light nor life within its ranks.

The keyhole to the gas station clattered noisily. It was enough to scare any of the few rats still occupying the vacant place into hiding, so that by the time that the offender entered the sad excuse for a super hero's headquarters it appeared perfectly empty.

There was no natural light in this place... No objects to obstruct ones vision, no wind to stir the surroundings, no heat to stifle the air. This was nothingness, as it had always been.

He gave one last fleeting look to the dark gray sky outside. It had been overcast all day and the rain was due any moment now. As if in response to his thoughts thunder dully sounded somewhere off in the distance,

He closed the door and made sure to lock it before taking off his jacket. Somewhere to his right on the desk he noted that backpack was still docked and charging. He heard the whirr of machinery in the still robot, even though it was offline. He had put it in sleep mode when he had left it earlier, so that it could charge but still alert him and his companion of on-coming threats.

After moment of groping in the dark he finally found the light switch and flipped it in the 'on' position. Overhead the old Christmas lights that lined the piping flared the life. He smiled.

And out a nothingness, a charred and decayed hand drew a thread into better reach. Though there was no light here, there were colors. To a human eye, they would all seem like one color, but to the fates, they were numerous shades of the same hue. Red, scarlet, crimson, maroon, burgundy, cardinal, salmon. Natural and vibrant, that swam with life and light in their very fibers, as endless as the horizon.

Richie recalled a time when Virgil had answered his call for a better light source in the gas station with the discarded Christmas lights. At the time, it had been just after Christmas, and Virgil had surprised Richie with the lights threaded around the main room of the gas station. They had never gotten around to taking them down.

In truth, Richie didn't have the heart. They reminded him too much of what had transpired after the introduction of the lights.

Which reminded him of what had transpired every Wednesday night for the past few months.

His smile vanished and was replaced by an awkward feeling in his legs, like they had turned to jello. He wavered on the spot, and sought out a place to sit, to regain his nerve.

Was it Wednesday already?

The hand held its treasure delicately, examining it for start to finish, taking in every detail.

Of course. It had to be Wednesday. He had known it was anyway, of course, he was a super genius after all, but the full effect of the day hit him and he felt his knees go weaker.

Richie Foley sat down at the computer desk chair in front of him. He wasn't sure if he would regain the use of his legs any time soon.

He ran his fingers through his hair, and tried to reel his nerve back in.

It was Wednesday, which meant two things for Richie and his partner. One, that it would be a slow night on the crime scene. Most Wednesdays they got no action at all.

Well, in one sense of the word anyway.

Another thing that Wednesdays meant was...well..

Richie sighed and closed his eyes frustratedly.

The point was that Wednesdays were always the slowest on the crime scene.

Which is why eventually the two boys had found something to occupy their time these days.

This particular thread was a bright cherry, and it was also not alone. It was tangled with a deep burgundy colored strand in several places.

At first, it had just been experimenting. Just awkward semi-romantic fumblings between the two friends. At the time, it had been OK, since neither of them had any real experience with any girls, and this way, they could practice without fear. It was comfortable Richie had to admit, and the lack of attachment afterward made it easy to laugh off the effects of the afterglow.

Then senior year came around, and Richie had finally worked up the nerve to admit his sexuality to Virgil. Though the other boy was determined to not let Richie's homosexuality change their relationship, all of the sexual contact between them stopped for a while. Though this lightly bothered Richie, he found other ways and other people to find his release. So did Virgil. If it had not been for Richie's feelings for the other boy, the two could have coexisted like this for some time without complaint from either side.

But of course, Richie did have feelings for the other teen. And had for some time.

Funny how fate worked like that.

The threads were interwoven, inseparable because of the vast amount of knots that danced across the fibers. The knots were extensive and complicated , much like the threads themselves.

But when both boys started college together a year later, the contact between them inexplicably resumed. Eventually with time they had moved on to more advanced activities. In the past few months they had found a semi-comfortable routine in which to practice these activities.

In short, Wednesdays were the nights that Richie and Virgil reserved for each other, and all that that implies.

"but today...has to be different..." thought Richie to himself.

He was determined for it to be different.

Different because, even though they had continued their sexual relationship, Virgil had also continued various relationships with other girls. Daisy and Freida had long since been lost for other college girls who Virgil was admittedly involved with at any given time. Richie however, had found that he could no longer hide the truth behind emotionless sex.

And the truth was that Richie loved Virgil.

He winced at the passion that reared behind the words in his head, like a restrained animal. It clawed at his insides, begging for more than just physical release. It was enough to send the bespectacled boy's heart into a hurried pace.

That, and the fact that he knew that Virgil could be with him one night, and Lola or Kim the next without even a second thought. It made his heart feel more broken than he cared to admit.

Between aching and running races, Richie's heart was marginally overworked when it came to Virgil, this he knew for certain.

In truth, Wednesdays used to be his favorite nights. He didn't care that the moments that passed between them had little to no emotional value to Virgil. All Richie cared about was being with the other boy in ways that he had thought he would be forever barred. He could almost believe that the boy laying with him on their old worn out couch in the gas station was actually his. It wasn't hard to believe a blatant lie within the relaxed afterglow of whatever activities they had chosen for the night.

But lately, Richie had started to hate Wednesdays.

Because, no matter how easy it was to pretend, those precious moments between them were temporary. Come morning, everything was back to normal, like Cinderella at the strike of twelve.

And though he didn't want to admit it, Richie had noticed that lately Virgil didn't seem to care. The other boy had seemed to make it his mission to push away any and all of Richie's attempts to talk about their relationship. In truth, Richie had tried before to tell Virgil how he felt. Of course, being his best friend and sometimes lover, Virgil always knew the best way to shut Richie up, and Richie had yet to come up with the best way to fight back. He was powerless against the weapons that his partner used against him, because honestly, how hard could he resist the one thing that he wanted most?

There was a small clamor at the door as another figure entered noisily.

"Man Richie, what are you locking the door for? You know its just me!" said Virgil half smirking as he regarded his best friend and closed the door.

Richie's heart did a back flip.

The two threads were strongest at their bonds. The cherry one seemed to glow its brightest crimson when it was close to its darker companion, even in the presence of the knots that danced across both of their surfaces.

Richie looked up at Virgil. He thought his heart was being a little melodramatic. Virgil was, with all his faults, still Richie's best friend, even though there relationship had taken an odd turn in the past few months.

He felt slightly guilty at the thought of their friendship. A part of Richie told himself that he didn't have to do this, that it was not too late to back out and continue this comfortable pattern. It didn't have the end this way.

Richie bit his lip.

But it did have to end, that he was certain. And it had to end now, before there was nothing left to salvage from Richie's battered heart. Dramatic? Yes. True?

Unfortunately, yes.

"V, we gotta talk." Said Richie, trying to sound a little more original than his line actually was.

Virgil stopped from hanging up his thin coat and looked at the other boy. "Man rich, your scaring me. Those are the last words of way too many relationships." He said, not noticing how close he had hit the heart of Richie's words.

Richie swallowed, but couldn't find where to start. Virgil took the initiative, sat on the desk in front of Richie and tried to smile. "So...whats up?". Richie could hear the fear in his voice, expertly covered by a smile. Richie shuffled uncomfortably before answering.

"Well...um....I..." Richie turned red and swiveled the chair around.

"Come on rich, out with it man!" said Virgil, impatiently.

It was now or never.

"...I got accepted into Harvard."

There was a silence. Just silence. And then a chuckle. Richie spun his chair around to find Virgil's smiling face beaming upon him.

"Man, harsh. I think you'll be Harvard's first 'no' from an acceptable." Virgil's smile widened and a look of relief washed over his eyes. "Why would you apply just to turn them down man?" he asked lightly.

Richie stared incredulously at the boy in front of him. He was quiet, not knowing how to address the problem. Virgil's laughter died a slow death as confusion blossomed on his face. Richie decided to answer before any questions were asked.

"I'm going. In the spring."

Virgil was silent. Richie took the silence and pressed on.

"I sent it in a few weeks ago. They wouldn't have taken such a late entry but given my...circumstance, they made an exception." Still more silence on Virgil's end. Richie looked at him and tried to examine his expression. So far all he could see was confusion. Richie moved onward. "my parents are reall--"

"You're leaving?"

Richie took a moment, and nodded.

Virgil looked away for a moment, lost eye contact with the other boy and something deep and melancholy passed through his eyes.

But he recovered quickly.

The fated hand passed the two threads over in its fingers. The knotted parts of the two threads were the most vivid spots and held fast whenever tested, it noted dully. It was common.

"That's uh....that's great Richie. I'm...that's great." Virgil managed to choke out, still not looking at the boy opposite him. Richie raised an eyebrow.

Something broke in his friends eyes. He could see it, almost as if it were a tangible thing. Before Richie could acknowledge the change, or even speak, Virgil was upon him, fast and quiet, closing the gap between them.

After months of seeing it in action Richie was not surprised by the other boys quick reflex's.

No, it certainly wasn't that.

What he was surprised by was the abrupt change in subject and emotion. He had not expected this kind reaction.

Not that he wasn't enjoying it.

"Well just have to make your last days count..." came Virgil's voice in his ear, deep, and barely above a whisper.

Richie shivered at energy in the response.

Some spots where frayed and worn down from the amount of contact from the other thread, but the two strings always returned, becoming more and more interlaced as their length went on. Though the amount of knots and tangles were common, the strength binding them was not.

At that moment, their lips met. Like so many times before, Richie was used to the contact by now, but this time was different. There was something more in this kiss, something desperate and searching on one end.

But whatever thoughts that tried to surface from Virgil's odd behavior were silenced by the deepening fog in Richie's mind as he returned the kiss without a second thought.

This was his weakness, he could no longer deny it. For the past months he had avoided the question of why his ever cluttered and demanding mind had always decided to silence itself right when Virgil was near, but now he saw it, clear as day.

Still, he felt something nagging him behind the fog, begging for him to stop his charade and continue with the task at hand. What that task was, Richie had forgotten the moment their lips made contact, but he still felt something urging him to stop this wonderful, amazing activity in the back of his mind.

However all bothersome worries were instantly silenced when Richie felt Virgil's tongue glide across his lips. For the moment his thoughts were blissfully absent as he reveled in the familiar and exhilarating feel of the boy in front of him.

Richie opened his mouth in silent permission for the other boy to enter, which he did so without any other movement. The paler boy cupped the darker teens face in his hands and let out a low noise from deep within his throat. In response Virgil's hands snaked under his shirt, warm from the constant hum of heat from the electricity that always pounded his veins. Richie's breath hitched as those same hands moved, one resting on the small of his back and the other moving to a slightly lower region near his navel.

A barely audible whimper escaped Richie's lips as the mouth that had been covering them moved onto other places. He could feel, rather than see Virgil's lips ghosting the pale skin on his neck. His un-manly whimper quickly turned to a contented moan. Virgil let out a low chuckle as he pulled up towards the bespectacled boy's ear. Richie could feel teeth brush against his cartilage before the other boy spoke.

"Harvard huh?" Virgil breathed, and it sent tremors down his opposites spine.

With the lost contact of the Virgil's lips, the fog in Richie's mind dissipated slightly. The distant nagging was back. He ignored it and concentrated on the smooth voice in his ear.

"Richie, always the over-achiever." The hand that had been previously floating at Richie's navel had now moved down to the belt at his jeans. The worry flared up and made Richie bite his lip as he tried to restrain his physical response to the voice in his ear. Meanwhile, the voice in his head was gaining momentum. Richie barely heard the 'no' that escaped his lips over the rush of blood in his veins.

"Do you really think you could survive without me?". It took a moment for the words to sink in.

But once they had, Richie's eyes sprang open. The sudden trip back to reality was almost painful. Somewhere he felt his limbs take the initiative and push the darker teen off of him. All his control was focused on keeping their eyes locked. He had to keep eye contact, or he knew he would surrender to his opposite again, and this time, he wouldn't resurface until the act had been committed.

"Richie, what---" came Virgil's protests.

"V...man...we have to stop this." Richie's voice faltered at the last word.

"Stop what?"

"This...this...everything!"

"What?"

"Don't you get it! That's why I have to leave, I have to go--"

"Richie what are you talking about?"

"The only way this is going to end is if I leave! This has to stop Virgil!"

"What are you even...why?"

"because...because I..."

Richie found that he could no longer speak while looking at the boy opposite him. Virgil's expressions had gone from angry, to confused to hurt all in the span of their 15 second conversation. Richie swiveled his chair around and willed himself to close his eyes. It was now or never. Again.

"Because I love you V." Silence greeted his words. A long silence. After a moment, Richie stood still not facing the silent boy behind him. "I love you Virgil." he repeated. No matter how many times he said it the silence did not become any less crushing. It dragged on, choking any attempt at facing his opposite that Richie tried.

Moments later he heard the strain of the weight from the desk being removed. He felt a hand at his shoulder and knew that the other boy had gotten up noiselessly and crossed the distance between them.

"Richie, I..." Virgil pressed his lips together, biting them down hard to prevent the words that were fighting there way into focus. He decided to choose a less obvious route. "You don't have to go halfway across the country because of that."

Richie shrugged off the hand on his shoulder. He whipped around and found himself staring at Virgil incredulously.

"Don't you get it?" He whispered menacingly, his eyes reducing to slits with every word.

Virgil raised en eyebrow. "I think your being a bit over dramatic with this one Rich. You cant just--"

"See! This is why I have to leave. I finally tell you that I fucking love you and you completely ignore it, like its nothing!" Richie screamed. "I cant stay here, not when I'm always going to be shoved aside for anything in a skirt within a 10 foot radius. I'm not going to put my future on hold for a boy that cant even make up his mind! I'm sick of being second best Virgil, and I'm sick of you ignoring how you feel just so you can--

"So I can what Richie? Huh?" Any softness that lingered in Virgil's face vanished and was replaced with a look that he often gave his opponents while in his static uniform. Richie challenged this expression with one that mirrored it on his own face.

"So you can pretend that nothing is going to change! Where not in fucking high school anymore Virgil, were not kids anymore!" Raged Richie, waving his hands in exasperation.

Virgil was quiet a moment. If anything his silence only gave more fuel to the fire raging on in Richie's mind.

However when he did speak, he was voice was cold and reserved. "Second best to who Richie?"

The burgundy thread mimicked its opposites pattern of intensity, but it was much more concealed behind its stoic exterior. But still, with an eye of a trained fate, one could see that something was there.

Richie let out a growl of frustration and turned around, running his hands through his hair exasperatedly.. It wasn't supposed to be this way.

"Don't give me that bullshit. To everyone." He turned yet again to face the other boy. He was starting to get dizzy. "Do you know how hard it is to be in love with you, and then have to watch you constantly chase chicks every day? Do you?". Richie's voice was determinately softer than before. Virgil bit his lip.

"Why are you even worried? They don't even matter." Richie laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, and apparently neither do I."

"No!...no that's not it..." Said Virgil on the defensive.

"Yeah? Really?" Richie scoffed. He walked away from Virgil and grabbed the coat on the back of the chair. He stood still the moment he draped it over his shoulder without facing the other boy. Virgil stood in the same spot Richie had left him in, looking slightly stunned. Richie walked over to him and spoke softly. "I'm sick of you playing me man. Who do you think you're kidding anyway? I'm not 16 anymore V. I cant wait for you. I cant--"

Within a heartbeat Virgil had closed the distance between them one more time. His lips were quick and slightly electric, desperately pressed against Richie's mouth and stifling anymore words. For a blissful moment, Richie contemplated just letting go of all this anger and pain from the sting of unrequited love. It was truly a blissful thought, because he knew that the unspoken words in Virgil's kiss were silently pleading for him to stay anyway.

But he also knew that even if he stuck around for the kiss and whatever followed, the feelings would not retreat. If there was one thing he had learned in the past few months it was this; he could try to subdue his love all he wanted with emotionless endeavors, but nothing would ever compare to the real thing.

Richie felt his fingers push against Virgil's chest. The sound of their lips disconnecting echoed around them. Virgil's eyes blinked open.

For a moment they stared at each other. One pair of eyes were determined and defeated, the other, was confused and hurt. In both of them flashed something deeper.

Of course something was there. Something pure, and beautiful. Something so perfect and divine, it was almost a mockery to the fates curious fingers.

Richie shook his head as if the movement would dispel any thoughts that fought with his resolve. He walked toward the door.

Virgil whipped around. He stared at the boy's back for a moment, something in him screaming to be let out. This time his pride wasn't as quick to suppress it and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Ric--"

A loud beeping noise sounded from a docked and offline backpack.

Tempting. So very tempting. Such a beautiful, flawless thing on such an earth of ugly and frayed.

Richie rushed to the little robot and checked the front plate screen. Virgil stood rooted on the spot, staring at the back of his partner.

"There's a robbery on 8th and Moors. Definitely a bang-baby attack. Looks like there's just one of them though." said Richie is a cold and indifferent voice. After reading the news he tapped backpack 2 times and woke the machine from its 'slumber'. Something in Virgil swelled up in hope. Richie would have to stick around for 'gear and static' business, wouldn't he?

To Virgil's dismay the other boy turned heel and began to turn the doorknob. The warm feeling of hope that had made itself known before shattered mercilessly.

"Richie, please--" Virgil could feel his voice break at the last word.

"I have to go."

It was all so tempting.

Within moments the other boy was gone and Virgil was left with a cold emptiness in his place.