Title: Scenes of Other Worlds
Author: Cypher
Fandom: Static Shock (of course)
Summary: What if the Big Bang never happened? What if super heroes weren't the norm?
Spoilers: Minor ones for Future Shock
Rating: R, for mature scenes in the future
Warnings: This chapter, some partner betrayal, torture, death... Unbetaed.
Disclaimer: I don't own Static Shock, DC (or some subsidiary of it) does. I'm just borrowing the characters and settings to flex my creative muscles.
Distribution: Ask and thy shall recieve.
Author's Notes: This isn't one of my favorite worlds, but it had to happen, ne? Tis...really rough (what with moving et al). Enjoy!

His arms hurt, his body hurt, his head hurt, every thing hurt. He'd try struggling to get into a more comfortable position, but knew it was useless. For one thing, the ropes binding him were far too tight, and he was tied to the chair in such a manner that his entire form was taut, so even flexing a muscle caused a spasm of pain. For another, he was far too tired, and he had to save his strength for the next time they came to get him, the next time they wanted to 'play' with his fragile form.

Instead, Richie Foley sighed, chewing on the green handkerchief they used to gag him. It wasn't very effective, and in fact if he'd wanted to he could make a hell of a lot of noise. He had, for the first twelve hours he'd been trapped here. But the room they kept him in had thick walls, and for every grunt, every whimper, they had punched him to get him to knock it off. So now he didn't bother. Besides, he'd screamed his throat pretty raw during the electrocution. The aftereffects weren't a picnic either, with the cramps, the oozing wounds, the smell of burnt flesh…

It was disgusting how Ebon got off on seeing him writhe in pain, enjoying his screams as if they were a symphony. Each time the gangster had placed the wires on his body and connected them to the car battery, he could see the thrill in the black man's eyes. The chest wasn't so bad--it hurt, but he could live with it. But when Ebon got bored there and started applying the clips to areas below his waist…

He winced and reflexively tried to bring his bound legs even closer together. He hadn't cried, not even bit his tongue, but he hadn't once cried. Lord knew he wanted to, how he wanted to. But they wanted to break him, and he'd be damned if he gave Ebon THAT satisfaction! Besides, it wasn't the physical pain that made him want sob like a baby.

The door opened and his eyes automatically sought out the intruder. Ebon and his lackeys for another round of 'torture the rich kid,' or his personal caretaker, the man he hated more than even Ebon at this moment? The man who fed him, gave him water, made sure the bonds were holding…was the man that had betrayed him. He'd opened both his home and his heart, only to have this asshole hand him over to his gang.

Virgil Hawkins.

He'd known Virgil since they were kids, they'd even been friends up through sophomore. Then one day everything changed. His father got a job that not only bumped them to a better town, it bumped them straight into a higher tax bracket. He still kept in touch with Virgil after they moved, but between the new money and new life…they lost touch.

Until a three months ago. Virgil had appeared once more, and this time…things were different. Richie was out--his father was furious, but what did he care? He was happy. Virgil wasn't out, but a night of old friends getting drunk had led to old friends making out to old friends having sex to…well, a relationship, of sorts. Richie was attending graduate school, and while he now had money, he never rubbed it in his boyfriend's face. Sure, he never asked what Virgil did for a living, but the guy had had money to chip in with the expenses.

Then, one week ago, Virgil betrayed him. They'd gone out at Virgil's insistence, and he'd sensed something was…off with his pseudo-lover, but figured it was just a bad day at work. They'd never even made it to the restaurant. Halfway there Virgil pulled over the car, gave him this…look, and the next thing he knew two other black guys crawled into the car, and he had a gun pointed at the back of his neck.

His ex-best friend and ex-lover had set him up to be kidnapped.

Since then, Virgil had been his guard. Never around while he was being tortured, but always there a few hours later to take care of him. The guy hadn't said two words, but Richie was tired of the silence. He'd been BETRAYED, and he had a right to know why, damn it! He was gonna get answers tonight, no matter how much the truth would hurt.

As usual, Virgil came over and pulled the gag down around his neck and helped him take a sip of water from a bottle. He narrowed his eyes as Virgil refused to meet his look. He waited until Virgil was back at the table before starting. "So was it always about the money? Was I just a good fuck until you could get it all set up?" He didn't bother hiding the venom in his voice.

Virgil's shoulders tensed, and he heard the plastic bottle being crushed. "I TRUSTED you, V! I gave you everything you could even want--hell, I told off my FATHER when he threatened to cut my allowance, just for you! I LOVED you!" The black man simply stood there, back to him, but he could see tremors running through the man's body. "It was all a joke to you, wasn't it? Bag the rich kid and, hey, get a few jollies while you're at it! What, was I another notch on your belt? Another stupid victim you could brag about to your buddies?"

The bottle flew at his head before he even realized Virgil had turned around. Fortunately, it was just plastic, but it still hurt when it hit his cheek. When he looked again, Virgil was looming over him, visibly shaking. "What's wrong? You gonna show me you're just as bad as Ebon?" His mouth twisted slightly. "Don't bother! You're worse, and you've already proven it!"

"I didn't want this to happen! I NEVER wanted you to get hurt, Rich!"

Richie blinked at the almost…hurt tone in the man's voice, but he wasn't buying it. "Well, you've certainly done a splendid job if it!"

"I didn't have a choice! When Ebon found out WHO you were-"

"Oh, so you were just following orders? Where have I heard THAT argument before, 'bro.'" He was pleased that Virgil flinched at the use of the old familiar nickname. "You LET this happen! You could've fought it, but you didn't! You're nothing but a low-life scum-sucking son of a-"

"He would've killed me, Rich!"

"So better me than you, huh?! SO nice to know how much value my life is to you!"

"He's not going to kill you!"

"Bullshit! I've seen it in his eyes! My parents are gonna pay, and he's gonna get one last joyride before sending me back in a body bag!" Virgil turned his head away. "Or maybe he's planning on sending me back in pieces! What's his poison gonna be, huh? Electrocution? Disembowelment? Multiple gunshots? Or hey, what the hell, why not a mix!"

"Just stop it!" Virgil looked him in the eye for the first time since the entire ordeal began. "You're not going to die! So stop talking like that!"

"I am and you know it!" He met Virgil's look, and found himself surprised at the…pain held within Virgil's face. His voice was quieter when he spoke again. "He's gonna torture me to death, Virg. He was always going to. You knew that, and you handed me over anyways."

Virgil shut his eyes, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I didn't want to. GOD I didn't want to."

"But you did. You saved your own skin in exchange for mine."

"No, Rich, never! I would never…it wasn't just me. He said he'd go after Sharon, after her baby…"

"So, what, the needs of the many justify my death?" Richie shook his head, ignoring how his arms cramped at the muscle movement. "I'm not buying it, V. You sold me out. I loved you, and you turned around and signed my death warrant."

"I'm so sorry, Rich." Virgil looked at him again, and Richie could tell what his once-friend was seeking.

"I can't forgive you."

"I know." Virgil glanced to the door. "If I thought I could get you outta here, I would."

"So you're not even gonna make the effort to save my life?"

"Ebon, he's…he's not totally right in the head. That's why we follow him, why we fear him. If he found you trying to escape, with or without me, what he'd do to you…"

"How could it be worse than what he's already done?" Virgil's eyes averted his gaze again. "Virg…?"

"It could be worse, Richie. A whole lot worse than you know." Virgil looked to the ground, then back at him. "I want to help you."

"Then help me." There was something in Virgil's stance, something about the body language that screamed…'wrong,' just like the night he'd been betrayed. "Please, V. I don't want to die a slow death."

Virgil hesitated, then leaned forward and kissed him. Not the demanding, hungry kisses that they shared so often in his apartment. This one was soft, gentle, warm. This wasn't a physical connection Virgil was trying to make, and the man pulled away after a minute. "If I help you, he'll kill me."

"So your hide's worth more than mine?"

"No, I just…wanted you to know I'm willing to pay the price." A hand slid behind his head and stroked his hair. "It was never about the sex, never a set up. I love you."

"Prove it. Save me from this fate." The look that passed across Virgil's face set alarm bells off in Richie's head, but he ignored them. "Please, V. Don't let him have his way."

Virgil glanced down to the floor, then nodded, unshed tears visible as their eyes met again. "I love you, Richie."

The man leaned forward for another kiss, and this one was far more passionate, far more intense. He shut his eyes as he almost lost himself in the moment, in the sensation of Virgil and the intimate contact they shared. For one brief instant, he'd found and connected with his soul mate.

The hand on the back of his head clamped down hard.

His breath hitched in his throat.

Virgil swallowed his scream.

The blade slid out of his heart silently.

"I love you, Rich. I'll be with you soon, I promise."

He finally released the tears he'd been holding back all week.