A/n: Uhh.. Heh. Heeeey guys. Nice to see all your annoyed faces from the delay of this story. I'm so, so sorry for that. My computer has had crash after crash after crash. Ugh! But, for some reason, which I won't question, it is working. So, yep. I decided to update before its returned to it's hazardous state. Please enjoy this next chapter.

Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I love playing with them. Don't sue.

Chapter 4

Static quietly opened the door to the Gas Station. He held the book to his chest, as if it were a life force he needed to protect. The shower was no longer on; The bathroom door was wide open. Static sighed and shut the front door. His stomach churned with uneasiness. The pep-talk he'd given himself on the flight back had lost it's influence and he was tempted to hide the book, and just sputter out an apology. That is, until he saw the note he'd left for Richie was missing, along with Backpack. Static turned to the noise of metal against metal in the workshop. 'Mums, please give me the strength to do this.'

Virgil slid off his mask and used it to fan his face. The motor-fan that was next to the couch earlier had been moved. Virgil lurked near the workshop opening before peeking through. Richie was leaning back in a chair near the far wall, lifting the two front legs off the ground. His feet were on the desk in front of him where the fan was blowing. Backpack had stood at Static's arrival, and it's red, mechanical "eye" was staring straight in Virgil's position.

Richie didn't notice. He was staring at the water stained ceiling, too overcome by his thoughts to hear Virgil's entrance in the base. His hair was still wet and messily towel dried. He sported khaki knee-high shorts, and his shoes. A white shirt and his trademark hooded sweater lay across the desk.

Virgil almost envied Richie, wishing he could take a shower himself, but this was too important. He allowed himself a few more moments to regain his wits, and admire his friend a bit, before emerging the room. He'd recently grown accustomed to staring at Richie, learning when to look away so the other didn't notice anything suspicious. At least, he hoped Richie didn't notice that his best friend checked him out. Virgil know he could be slightly oblivious.

Richie didn't notice Virgil approach. The genius continued to lean in the chair and stare. His eyes were unfocused and his mouth was agape; The same look Richie would get when he was trying to solve a mystery or find out a solution to a problem only he could fix.

Virgil cleared his throat in an attempt to gain his attention. It didn't work. Figures. Virgil knew this state of mind was difficult to get Richie out of. Sometimes, he'd count how long Richie would stay like this, but after almost two hours, he had to wake him. He stuck out a finger and let a small bolt jump to his friend's arm.

Richie's head snapped to the side. In an instant, the chair's legs were on the ground and Richie was instinctively grabbing for a Zap-Cap. "Geeze, Virg. Are you trying to give me a heart-attack?"

"Sorry, bro." Virgil had his hands raised defensively. He liked that Richie kept his defenses up in such situations, but didn't enjoy being on the receiving end.

Richie stood, trying to appear as tall and as confidant as possible. "We need to talk." He had his whole speech planned, unlike Virgil. He wasn't going to let him get away with what he'd been doing when asleep. Though Richie enjoyed it in the moment, afterwords was Hell. His brain would replay it over and over, every detail and every expression memorized. He would force himself, in the privacy of the Gas Station or his own bedroom, to admit it was all fake. Virgil didn't really want him. It was hormones that excessively erupted during late hours, when Virgil was exhausted. Richie hated himself for letting it get out of hand like it did. It was time to alert Virgil of what he'd been doing. Hopefully, it would end. "I've got something to tell you."

Virgil had his hand out in a "stop" gesture. "Me first, Rich."

"No, you need to hear this-"

Virgil shoved the black book toward Richie. Cautiously, he took and examined it. "What is it?"

"A book." Virgil smiled, lopsidedly.

Richie rolled his eyes. "Yes, Virgil, I can see that. I meant, why are you handing this to me? What's so important about it?"

Taking a deep breath, the dark-haired boy looked away, cheeks burning. "Its.. a Dream Journal."

The blond raised a brow. "A what?"

"I read that when you have a dream, its best to keep a journal entry of it. So, for the past few months, that's what I did. If I had a strange dream, I wrote it down." He glanced at Richie, but took a second, longer look at the expression he saw.

Richie's eyes were wide and his jaw dropped in sheer surprise. "Y-you... You remembered your dreams?"

Before Virgil could answer, Richie flipped open the book to the first page. As he silently read, his face flushed a deep scarlet.

Written in sloppy handwriting, was the very first time Richie had been seduced by Virgil when he'd spent the night, when Virgil had said he had a strange dream and wanted Richie's help getting his mind off of it. Though, Virgil didn't know that he physically seduced Richie. He must have thought it all to be a dream.

Virgil's heart was pounding. 'Oh, God, he's gonna think I'm a total freak! He's gonna hate me after he reads this!' He turned away from from Richie, unable to watch the friendship he'd so cared for fall apart right before his eyes, all because he made a stupid move to tell the truth. 'Maybe I can still save this.'

He whipped around at the sound of pages turning and snatched the book from Richie's hands.

"Hey! Give it back!" Richie yelled, having completely forgotten about his speech. "Virgil! Let me read it!" He grabbed Virgil's logo tank-top on the side after he tried running, and pulled him closer. He made a grab for the book, but Virgil stretched his arm out of reach.

"Richie! No! Why do you want to see it so bad!" Virgil struggled as Richie grabbed his forearm. Virgil twisted so his back was to Richie. Richie wrapped an arm around Virgil's torso to keep him from dashing. Richie pushed the back of Virgil's leg with his knee and they fell to the ground in a pile of limbs.

"You were showing me and now I'm interested!"

"Well, too bad!"

"Let me see it!"

"Get off!"

Richie gasped as an elbow rammed into his stomach. He coughed and crawled a few feet away, holding himself.

Virgil ran over, book still in hand, and pulled his friend to his feet. "Bro! Are you okay?"

Richie didn't say anything, merely stared at the floor, breathing heavily. Virgil pulled him toward the chair he was sitting in earlier. In one swift movement, Richie pushed Virgil into a nearby wall and seized the book. Having already calculated in his head how long he had before Virgil snapped out of his surprise, he made use of his short four point thirty-eight seconds. He sprinted to the desk and snatched up a second generation Zap-Cap. With perfect, calculated aim, he threw it, the coils opening and headed straight for Virgil.

With a thought, his powers flared to protect him. The Zap-Cap was knocked off it's course and missed.

Virgil didn't see the second one thrown immediately after.

The coils apprehended it's target, wrapping around Virgil's torso and arms. The momentum knocked him to the ground, against the wall. Luckily, he managed to keep his head from making contact with it. He struggled, his power sparked, but the coils remained strong. He gritted his teeth and looked at his captor. "Rich. Let me go, and give me that book back." He demanded.

Richie lowered his eyes. "Let me read a few stories of it; I'm trying to confirm a hypothesis of deliberate lethargy seduction on a hormonal basis."

Virgil blinked. "Uh.. What?"

Richie closed his eyes. "You'll see. Just let me read it." He opened them again. He looked on the brink of tears. "Please, V."

Virgil sighed. He knew he couldn't resist such an innocent look from Richie. He sighed. "Fine. Untie me and you can read it."

Richie smiled and flipped open the book. 'I love being able to make myself cry. It has such advantages.' He strode over to the captured superhero, and sat down in front of him.

"Well?" Virgil asked, looking at his restricted body.

Richie waved a finger in front of his face. "Nah. You're staying like that. I don't want you to go back on your word." He looked to the scribbled, sloppy handwriting, ignoring Virgil's pleads. Finishing the first dream, or chapter, and flipped to the next one. A particularly large header caught his eye as soon as he saw the page. "Dude?"

Virgil, who was struggling in his bonds, stopped for a brief moment and huffed. "Yes, Richie?"

"Why is the second dream in here named S and M ?"