Pairing(s): None, could be interpreted as Virgil/Richie
Summary: Richie's father has a problem with more than race, and this time Virgil has to be the peacemaker.

"And stay out!"

The door slammed just as Virgil walked up, ready to pick Richie up for their weekly sleepover. He jerked to a stop, knowing that it wouldn't be the best idea to antagonize anyone in Richie's house with his presence if someone was already yelling. Richie's dad still hadn't quite warmed up to him yet. He instead waited for Richie to stumble forward off the front steps, holding a backpack and a sleeping bag.

"What's up with the gear, Rich?" he asked jokingly. "Normally we chill on the couch." Richie's expression made his words catch in his throat.

"I..." Richie stammered, looking crushed. Virgil put an arm out to steady him but it stopped halfway and he pulled it back, nervous.

"What's the matter, Richie?" Virgil's inquiry was answered by the window opening and Richie's father shouting through it, apparently not satisfied with slamming the door on his son.

"You are not welcome back in this house, you hear me! You are no son of mine!" Richie winced as the window, too, slammed, and looked down at the ground with sad eyes. Virgil looked at the window, then back to Richie, and eventually put a hand on his arm, guiding him away from the house. Richie barely looked up at him or talked to him as they walked toward Virgil's house. Virgil was stumped as to what could have happened, but he didn't want to pry. Richie would tell him if he wanted him to know. Eventually, he did decide to dish, turning just as they reached Virgil's neighborhood.

"My dad kicked me out," he said, and Virgil was grateful he was telling him, even if he had already figured out as much from his father's words. Richie sighed, and adjusted his baggage. Virgil gestured carefully.

"That what the stuff is for?" he asked. Richie nodded miserably. "I can't go back there, that's for sure."

"You can stay at my house, of course!" Virgil offered. Richie gave him a look. "No offense, V, but your dad would just make me talk to my dad, or put me in a..." Here he trailed off. Virgil knew what he meant, and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder as they walked.

"What's he so mad about this time?" Virgil asked casually. He was really curious as to what was going on, exactly, but he didn't want to push Richie to talk.

"I don't want to tell you," Richie mumbled, looking down and confirming his suspicions. Virgil nodded, but he wasn't expecting the next part. "I don't want you to hate me." Virgil blinked in surprise.

"Why would I hate you?" he asked, perplexed. Richie flushed.

"I've said too much," Richie moaned as they reached Virgil's house and they made their way up the steps. Virgil just stared at him. "Seriously, Rich," he assured him. "There's no way I could hate you. Y'know, unless you turned into a huge jerk or something." Richie shrugged.

"Hey little brother," Sharon greeted as she walked past, headed to her room. "Hey little brother's friend."

"Hey," the two chorused, and Virgil nodded at her before turning back to Richie.

"Come on, man," he wheedled, pushing him lightly. Richie frowned, brows pursing in deep concern. He eventually sighed and plopped down on the couch, looking at Virgil with wide, pleading eyes.

"I...I came out to him," Richie muttered, looking away once more. Virgil didn't understand for a long moment. As soon as he did, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"You...what?" Richie sighed angrily, bending forward over his knees.

"I knew you'd get like this!" he replied. Virgil didn't know whether to be hurt by his expectations, or shocked by his declaration. He was torn. He loved Richie like a brother, but this was a huge confession. Never before had Virgil known someone who was... of a different persuasion than he was. To tell the truth, he hadn't even thought about it before. Sure he knew others existed, but he had never really dwelt on it for more than a moment. To think he knew someone who was...

"No, man, it's..." Virgil tried to find the right words. It's fine? It's normal? It wasn't really fine; he didn't know what to think. His first instinct was to ask Richie if he had tried being the other way, but he knew in his heart that it didn't work like that.

The worst part was, Virgil knew next to nothing about the thing. He had never had a chance to really learn, so he was at a loss for words. Richie was looking different, somehow, next to him, and he kept his eyes on him uneasily. Unfortunately, Richie was noticing.

"I knew it," he said under his breath, frowning. He turned away sadly, and Virgil felt a rush of guilt.

"Rich," he said firmly, putting a hand on Richie's arm. Richie looked up, surprised. He stared at the touch as if it were completely unexpected. Virgil swallowed before continuing. "I'm sorry. I should have realized. You're my best friend! I wanna know everything about you. I guess you could tell I didn't know a whole lot about this kind of thing, but that doesn't mean I don't wanna learn. I just... let me be your best friend, okay?"

Richie looked at him for a long moment before throwing his arms around Virgil's neck. Virgil felt a shudder of revulsion until he realized that it was Richie, still Richie, and relaxed into the embrace. He wrapped his arms around Richie's waist and sighed into the other boy's neck.

"I kind of hate your dad right now," he mumbled. Richie chuckled dryly.

"So do I," he said softly, turning his head to rest on Virgil's shoulder. Virgil found he didn't mind.

"I just... why's he gotta be so phobic?" Virgil sighed angrily. Richie pulled back shyly.

"It's alright," he said, smiling. "I got you, right? And your dad'll help...right?"

"Yeah," Virgil smiled. "You always got me, Rich. Who knows? Maybe there's something odd about me, too. And dad has resources for kids like you; you know he does."

"Odd?" Richie repeated, putting his hands on his hips. "You think me being that way is odd?" Virgil was worried until he heard that teasing undercurrent to Richie's voice, which cause him to smile.

"Everything about you is odd, Rich," he laughed, ruffling Richie's hair. Richie shrugged with an overly innocent expression. "Hey, I'm just unique."

"You sure are," Virgil snickered, putting an arm around him. "Hey, you know what?"

"What?" Richie asked.

"The world isn't ending."

Richie smiled in spite of himself.

"Yeah, I guess not. Static saved the day again, huh? Naw," he added after a pause for thought. "It was just some guy called Virgil Hawkins."

This is a request for my DA. If you would like a similar request, PM me with a pairing and a prompt, and I will do my best to complete it.