Static had looked everywhere. He couldn't find Richie anywhere. He decided to do back to Richie's house to see if he could find any clues as to where he had gone. At least one thing was obvious; Richie did not want to be found. Static slowed as he approached the house and gracefully hopped through the window. He grabbed the letter and sat down on the bed, just as Maggie Foley opened the door.

"Rich…is that-" Static looked up to see a tear stained face.

"Hey Mrs. Foley." Static sighed and went back to reading the letter.

"What are you- What do you know-"

"I'm friends with Richie. I've been looking for him all day. Is there anything that you know that I should know?" Static held up the letter, "what happened between Rich and Sean?"

Friends with Rich…I only know that Richie has 1 good friend…He couldn't be Virgil, could he? Mrs. Foley took a closer look at Static before speaking again. "…Are you Virgil?"

Static looked up at Maggie, but looked away as he spoke, "…Yeah." Static stood up. "I have no idea where he could be. Just from searching today, I have figured out that Rich does not want to be found. He had made trackers so that if either of us gets kidnapped or something, we would be able to find the other, however, he disabled his tracker. I can't find him." Maggie looked like she was about to cry.

"Virgil…" Maggie choked out, "…I'm scared for Richie…"

Static looked up, a little surprised, "What do you mean?"

"His father, you know how he is…Rich is…" She looked down and wrapped her arms around herself.

"What's up with Rich?"

Maggie looked reluctant to say anything. "I-I noticed a few things earlier this morning that Sean might kill Richie over…They had a fight about his door being locked and Richie had tried to cover up sneaking out by saying he had locked the door accidentally when he closed it."

"How do you know he was lying?"

"When Sean and Richie were fighting, I saw someone in that tree right outside the window. I'm glad Sean has a tunnel vision when he gets angry, or else he would have noticed it too."

"How do you know it wasn't me?"

"The man was white and was wearing lots of red."

"Man?" A white man covered in red… sounds like Hotstreak, he is the only one who fits that description… "Was the man's hair red with yellow stripping?"

Maggie looked up surprised, "Yeah, he did…" she breathed out, "When Sean hit Richie, the figure looked as if he wanted to jump into the room."

"I…I know the man who you are talking about, but…it doesn't make sense as to why he was with Rich."

"I think they are…together…" Static's eyes widened.

"What do you mean, together?"

"When I closed the door to go back to sleep, I heard him jump through the window. After a little while, I heard them speaking. Rich had asked if the other had a place and was insistent on leaving no matter how much the other protested."

"I…I know where your son is. I'll find him, don't worry." Static turned to leave.

"Virgil! Wait. When you find him and when you bring him back, be there with him. Even if you bring him back before or after his father gets home, I know it would be in the best interest if you stuck around and helped keep things cool."

"I will Mrs. Foley, I will." With that, Static jumped out the window and flew away on his disk. Now, I just have to find where Hotstreak is currently living.


Richie was currently seated in front of his supped-up laptop while Francis had crashed on his bed. The blonde was currently trying to find out why Francis's powers were acting up. Most of his theories had pointed to the behavior of Mars, one of the planets that had been associated with fire. Richie heard a click and looked up to see Francis stumble out of the bedroom in a sleepy haze.

"Hey there sleepy head. Looks like you finally woke up."

"was havin a good dream till I woke up." Francis slumped forward and leaned heavily on Richie, who was glad that he was already seated firmly. Francis breathed huskily in his ear, "Why don't you come and help me finish that dream." He nibbled on Richie's earlobe, earning a slight moan.

"Francis~ I'm doing research on your power flux…oh~stop…" Francis had moved down to Richie's neck and started to nibble at his collar bone. Defeated, Richie closed his laptop and stood up to follow the horny lion into the bedroom, only to be pushed up against the wall. "You have weird dreams Frankie~ but I'm liking where this is going"

Francis leaned forward and silenced Richie with his lips while Richie snaked his hands around Francis' neck.


Static flew around a rather nasty part of Dakota trying to find where Hotstreak lived. He went along the assumption that wherever Hotstreak lived, there would be scorch marks. He came upon a rather scorched area and started looking into windows until he passed one where he had to take a double take. He flew back to the window, his eyes bugged and his jaw dropped. The site in front of him was something which he never thought he would see. Richie pinned up against the wall by the impressive body of Hotstreak and making out passionately. Static watched as Hotstreak moved hands down Richie's sides and rested his hands on the slender hips. He watched as Hotstreak hooked his fingers under the waistband of Richie's sweats as Richie moved his hand down Hotstreak's arm and turned his head to the side with a lust-filled expression. Hotstreak moved his hand a little farther down and Richie let out a low moan-

"So this is what you've been up to! Do you have any idea how worried I have been!" Richie and Hotstreak jumped away from each other to find Static standing inside the window putting away his hover disk.

"Static!...I-uh…I can explain!" Richie stuttered.

"Explain what? That you have been keeping all of this secret?" Static took a step forward.

"Static…it's not, I mean…" Richie backed up against the wall, his hands starting to shake slightly.

"Richie, what I want to know is why the hell didn't you tell me you were gay? If you told me you were with someone, we would never have had a fight."

Richie was at a loss for words. He was shocked, since he was expecting Static to yell some scathing words at him like in his dream.

"Hello, Richie? Is anyone there?" Static raised his voice slightly, "Can you answer my question?" Static snapped in his face.

"Back off Hawkins!" Hotstreak pushed him back standing in between the two friends.

"Hawkins?"

"Yeah, sparky, I figured out your secret. And no, Richie didn't tell me."

"When did you-"

"A f-few days ago…" Richie finally spoke, "That's what he wanted to talk to me about in school yesterday." His hands were shaking. He grasped his hands together to try and make it stop. Hotstreak noticed this and grabbed Richie's hands while snaking an arm around Richie's waist.

Hotstreak wasn't the only one to notice. "Why the hell are you shaking, and why the hell haven't you answered my question?"

"He isn't answering because he had had a nightmare about telling you that he was gay. And none of…this…started until after you two made your stupid bet."

Static was at a loss for words. In a matter of minutes, he had found out that his friend was gay and with one of the biggest criminals in Dakota, and said criminal knew their identities. Static found his tongue. "What the hell Rich? You think I'm one of…them? A closed minded asshole? You're practically my brother! I don't care about…about…any of this! All I care about is the fact that you didn't say anything!"

Richie stopped shaking at Static's words and swallowed hard. "I know you aren't one of them Virg, it's just…I had that nightmare this morning and…I don't know! And I was going to tell you…eventually…" Richie shifted his eyes away.

"Ok, fine. And that's not what I came here for anyway," Static let out a big sigh, "Look Rich, you have to come back," Richie's eyes narrowed, "Your mother is worried sick-"

"I am NOT going back." Richie practically spat. "I love my mother, but my dad is ridiculous! He hit me over a locked door cause he didn't believe that I accidentally-"

"Your mom knew you were lying. How do you think I knew you were with Hotstreak?"

"…what?" Richie's eyes widened, "that means…"

"Your father has no idea. Your mom knows that and is scared for your life. When we do go back, I will stay there with you and I will notify the police ahead of time and explain the situation. Your dad can't do this and get away with it." Richie moved out of Hotstreak's grip. "I will bug your house with cameras if I have to-" Static was cut off when his best friend caught him off guard with a giant bear hug. Static hugged him back just as hard. "I told you Rich, you're like a brother to me. I'd do anything for you."

"Awe, how sweet. As sweet as this is, I'd appreciate it if you'd give me back my princess." Richie pulled away from the hug, turned around, and with a smile on his face, slugged Hotstreak as hard as he could in his arm.

"I'm not a fucking princess."