Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock
Summary: AU! At the age of fifteen, Richie ran away from home because it was safer than living at home. He got mixed up in a relationship he can't seem to forget, and is now living on the streets while, at the same time, protecting them. When his partner, Static, finds out his real name, everything gets turned upside down for them both.
Warnings: Homelessness, implied abuse, homosexuality.
"Virgil Ovid Hawkins, if you don't get ashy fucking behind down here this instant you are going to be late!"
It takes Virgil a few minutes to fully register what his sister is yelling at him, but when he does, his eyes fly open and he looks at his alarm clock. "Fuck," he hisses and flings the blankets off his body, practically flying out of bed. He grabs clothes from the floor, not particularly caring what they look like, and gets dressed as he runs down the steps—a feat even he is surprised he can accomplish. He's putting his shirt over his head as he enters the kitchen.
Robert is at the table with coffee, reading the newspaper; Sharon is at the stove cooking breakfast; and Virgil is running late for his 8:25 class. It's a typical morning in the Hawkins household.
"It's really no wonder you're failing physics, Virgil," Sharon says as she scraps the bottom of a skillet with a spatula. "This is, what, the fifth time this week you've nearly slept through one of your classes?"
Virgil glares at Sharon and snatches his books and a piece of toast from the table. "It's only Monday. How can I sleep through classes five times in a week if it's only Monday." He takes a bite of the toast and talks with his mouth full. "And I am not failing physics. I just… I'm not getting an A."
"Maybe you would be if you got up on time."
Virgil growls and Sharon turns to the table to fill the plate in front of Robert with scrambled eggs. It's the one food Sharon has finally figured out how to make properly. She puts the skillet back on the stove and sits down at the table.
Robert puts down his newspaper. "Thank you, honey," he says and scoots close to the table. "Virgil, your sister is right. You need to start getting up on time. I'm not paying for college for you to sleep through your classes."
Sharon smirks and Virgil glares at her. He then sighs and nods and collects his books from the middle of the table. "Yes sir," he says as he stands up. He tucks his books under his arm and makes his way to the door. He's already late enough without being told how wrong he is by everyone in his house.
"Have a good day, son," Robert says. "We'll see you tonight."
"Oh, and who is Richard?" Sharon asks and Virgil stops in his tracks. She laughs at the reaction. "You were muttering something about him in your sleep. Is he your new boyfriend?"
"I don't have a boyfriend, Sharon. I haven't for over a year."
"Well then someone has a little crush. Who is he, how do you know him?"
"Shut up, Sharon," Virgil warns. "He's no one. I… I don't know why I was saying something about a Richard," he lies. He can't chance anyone finding out Gear's real name. "I don't even know a Richard."
"I somehow really doubt that."
Virgil growls.
"Stop tormenting your brother, Sharon." Robert says between bites. "If he says he doesn't know a Richard, he doesn't know a Richard."
Sharon sighs and leans back in her chair. "Yes, Daddy," she says, but sticks her tongue out at Virgil who sticks out his back at her.
Virgil leaves just in time to not hear Sharon start talking about baby names. As excited as he is for his sister and Adam, and to be an uncle, the last thing he wants to listen to is talk about pregnancy. Because when she starts talking about pregnancy, he starts thinking about how she got pregnant, and it grosses him out.
He's glad to be leaving.
Even if he knows he won't be able to pay attention in class.
He's too infatuated with the boy who knows more about it than he does.
-ss-
Today is warmer, which means Richie doesn't need his coat. Instead of wearing, he carries it over his shoulder as he walks up and down the same stretch of sidewalk. He's hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'll get lucky and find some money. Any amount of money will do. He just really needs to eat.
He went to sleep the previous night with nothing.
Sighing, he stops and looks up. It's no use; he's not going to find money. Biting his lip, he spots a nearby alley and makes his way to it. He glances around, making sure there's no sign of danger, and makes his way down it until he can't walk anymore. He leans against the wall and slides down. He's too tired to walk anymore, to hungry to walk anymore.
With another sigh, he leans his head against the wall and looks up at the sky. It's blue and clear without a cloud in sight. He cusses the day, feeling as though it were making fun of his situation. There's so much life around him, and he can't even find food to sustain his.
It's like one huge joke.
He closes his eyes as he listens to the clock tower chime. It's already 5:00 and he sighs because he has to get up again and make it across town to get to the gas station. He's supposed to be patrolling with Static in forty-five minutes, and he needs to get to their HQ to change before Static shows up.
He really wishes he had someplace else to store his uniform.
It takes five minutes of cussing the day before he actually decides to get up, and another fifteen minutes of walking to make it to the gas station. Once again, he changes just in the nick of time to come out of the back room to see Static.
"You ready for patrol?" Gear asks.
At the sound of Gear's voice, Static spins around. As soon as he sees his partner, he grins. He has to admit, he's kind of always had somewhat of a crush on Gear, but knowing his real name is the icing on the cake, and his feelings have all but quadrupled since finding out his name. He knows Gear, if only a little, on a more personal level, and that is enough for him.
"Yes," Static says, trying his to keep the excitement in his tone at bay. "It looks like tonight will be easy. I didn't see any major disturbances on my way over here. Maybe we'll get to go home early tonight."
Yeah. Yeah, home. That's exactly what Richie wants—to go home. He sighs, knowing Static didn't mean anything by it.
"How about you?" Static asks, breaking Gear of his thoughts. "Did you see anything?"
Gear shook his head. "No… I, um… I've been here most of the day."
Static laughs airily and elbows Gear. They make their way outside as they continue to talk. "What about school? You're in college, aren't you?"
"Um… No," Gear says. "I… my parents…" He trails off. He can't think of a good lie, so he just sticks with his original answer. "No. No, I'm not in college." He glances at Static who seems genuinely surprised, so he follows it up with: "I'm a genius, remember? What do I need college for?"
Static seems satisfied with the answer and nods while shrugging his left shoulder. "Good point, I suppose." He laughs. "You're lucky—college royally sucks. I was late a little for my first class this morning. The professor almost wouldn't let me take my test."
It was like Richie got to live the life he really wanted through Static. He smiles and laughs as he listens to Static talk about how much his physics class sucks. Richie even did his best to explain to him, in a more laymen way, what it was they went over in their class. He smiles when he sees the look of understand flicker in Static's eyes.
Static makes living on the streets not so bad.
-ss-
Thankfully their patrol never did evolve to anything more than that. With Hotstreak and Ebon in jail, the streets are relatively calm, save for the occasional, average thief. The Meta-Breed did nothing without their leader, so Static and Gear didn't have to worry about them wreaking havoc on the city without Ebon around.
They return to their HQ and sit down on the couch. Several minutes pass with neither of them saying anything. Just as Gear is about to say something, he notices Static seems antsy, and it sparks his. He laughs as he asks about it.
"Oh! Oh, um…" Static trails off and laughs nervously. He scratches the back of his neck. "Um… n-nothing… I just… uh…" He trails off and laughs nervously again. "Uh… I just remembered need to… um… do the dishes for my sister. She'll be really, really mad if I don't."
Gear furrows his eyebrows under his mask but nevertheless smiles. He shrugs and nods understandingly. He may not have a sister—at least as far as he knows; he hasn't seen his parents in four years—but he understands family being pissed off for not getting something done.
Though Gear is positive Static's sister won't hit him for not getting it done.
"You should probably go, then," Gear says.
Static nods and stands up. He turns and leans over to give Gear a hug, his heart racing a mile a minute when they make contact, especially when Gear leans into him. For several moments they continue to hug before Static breaks it and steps back.
"I'll… I'll, uh…" Static clears his throat when his voice cracks. He blushes under his back and looks down. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Gear smiles and nods. "See you tomorrow, Static. Have a good night."
"You, too, Gear."
When Static leaves, Gear sighs and leans back against the couch. He looks down at his watch and sees that it's only 3:45. Maybe, perhaps, if Backpack doesn't fall this time, he can finally talk to someone about getting food stamps.
He's desperate. He's hungry.
-ss-
There has to be a way I can get to know him. There has to be a way I can tell him who I am without him getting mad about me knowing who he is.
I wonder if there's a way I can invite him to my birthday party next month…
Now not only is Virgil excited about thinking of a way to finally get to know Richard, but now he's equally as excited about moving into his own apartment in the next two weeks. It's like a double whammy of excitement.
Thankfully he doesn't have classes on Tuesdays, because he knows for sure he's not getting any sleep tonight.
It's almost like he has a crush on a celebrity, because he knows about as much about Richard as he does about any celebrity, but it's also better, because he actually knows this person on a more personal level.
Virgil turns over and buries his face in his pillow and squeals.
He's never liked someone so much before.
