The Beauty of Death

Part Four - Grief's Rage

Richie tried several times to get Static to respond but the dark clad hero wouldn't. He debated on whether or not he should leave him alone. His concern won out. Static would want to be left alone but if someone with vile intentions came across him… Let's just say Richie wasn't sure if leaving him by himself was such a good idea.

He changed a few things about his shock box in order to track down the other but got no signal. Something must have happened to Static's. And something had. When Static released the huge wave of electric energy, he'd fried the circuits. Unfortunately, Richie didn't know this. He lowered his box and began yet another deliberation. Maybe the guy would just stay out for a little while. Then, go home after the impact of the news softened enough for him to think coherently, the blond rationalized.

However, his downsizing of his worry and concern only brought more problems the next day. The Foley house got another call from the Hawkins. This time it was a request for Virgil to come home. "I thought he went home," was Richie's answer when questioned. He was being sincere. He honestly thought he would return before it got really late. Apparently, he hadn't. Richie began to regret his last minute decision.

Sharon went ballistic and it wasn't long before a search party was formed. She might have found her younger brother annoying but she cared about him. Especially now. He was the only immediate family she had left.

- - - -

He did not know how long he had stayed there like that, curled up on the ground, crying until he had fallen asleep. He didn't even know how long he'd slept. He wasn't concerned about it. When he awoke, he hadn't even bothered to look at his watch. Time wasn't on his mind. Nothing seemed to be on his mind. He felt hollowed out, completely emptied, devoid of anything solid.

Static untangled himself and stumbled to his feet. His arm automatically thrust itself out against the wall to catch himself when he almost fell face forwards. Straightening he looked ahead, eyes palled, face tear stained. His mind wasn't communicating with the rest of him since the moment it had retreated into its own little world. His body was merely acting on its own.

He started walking, wandering, really, with no one destination in mind. He didn't even notice the inquiring onlookers watching him pass them by without even acknowledging their presence. He didn't hear the screeching tires, so lost was he to the outside world. A vague sense of pain enveloped him as he felt something hit and send him sprawling. He was only conscious enough to stare up at the white sun hanging in the clear blue sky as he lay there. The sun shone so brightly it was as if the sun itself would do its best to penetrate the wall he'd built around himself, to coax him out. But he drifted off and the sun's attempt failed as darkness laid claim over more than just his mind.

- - - -

Richie dodged around yet another nurse, upsetting the tray she was pushing. He made a hasty backwards apology without stopping as he raced on down the hospital hall. He scanned the numbers on the doors as he passed them. "203, 203, come on where is it?" the blond kept muttering to himself.

His impatience paid off when he rounded the corner and skidded to a stop before the room he was looking for, almost missing it in his hurry. "Finally!" he breathed in happy exasperation.

He entered slowly, almost reluctantly, uncertain of what he would find behind the door. Static lay there staring vacantly out the window, propped up by a few pillows. "Hey, V," Richie smiled gently, his voice softened with relief.

Static looked at him, watching his friend make himself comfortable on a chair. "Hi," he responded, his voice barely audible.

"How do you feel?"

"Alright, I guess… I was lucky."

"Boy, I'd say," Richie grinned. Silence fell, Static glanced down at his hands then looked back out the window, not knowing what else to say. Richie felt uneasy in the quiet that had transpired and so broke it. "So… um, think you'll be out of here soon?"

"Yeah."

When it was apparent that Static wasn't going to say anything else, Richie finally allowed the silence to carry its weight. He didn't have to guess what was on the other's mind. His grief was written all over, even in the smallest of his mannerisms. "Look," Richie started in an subdued but sincere tone, "I didn't get a chance to say this before, but I'm really sorry about what happened to your father."

Static's hands balled into fists but he didn't move otherwise. His body tensed as he fought to hold back the wave of torn emotions threatening to break free. His taught face was accented by misty eyes, but he refused to cry now.

Even though Richie couldn't see his face, he easily read his body language. "I know this must be hard for you, but I want you to know that I'll be here for you, okay bro?" He reached forward with a comforting hand. It rested on a trembling shoulder.

"Where," Static lowered his head, closing his eyes, still facing the window, his voice a shaky whisper. "Where did it happen?"

Richie blinked, confused at first but it came to him even as Static asked, "Where was he when he… when he died?"

"East 9, by those two big business buildings."

A sharp intake of breath sounded. Static's eyes snapped open. That was near the manhole Joaquin had led him down. Arturo had been running in that direction, he could have easily gone up there and… "No…" The possibility quickly took root until it became nothing more than the obvious truth. It built itself up, strengthened by his emotions, driven by the want to find an outlet in which to vent the helplessness he'd been forced to feel in the circumstances of his father's death. It became the plan of action, the… want for revenge.

That was the moment he made his decision. He tossed back the blankets and got out of bed.

"V, what are you doing?" Richie stood, becoming alarmed.

"I'm going to make him pay." The disk made its appearance, flipping out like a metal fan prepared for battle.

"V, no, wait."

But he didn't listen. He blasted the windows and flew out.

Richie shouted after him, trying to call him back even though it was futile. He knew it wasn't going to get him anywhere. He had just hoped, no matter how pointless that hope was, that he could stop his friend before he did something stupid. Richie didn't know who that 'he' Static had referred to was, but he'd probably find out sooner or later. He turned to go after him only to be stopped at the door by a male nurse.

"What's going on in here?"

"Static felt good enough to take off, so he left. And right now," he eased his way smoothly around the nurse with a grin and a nervous wave, "I gotta go, bye!" He dashed down the hall before the nurse could say anything in response.

Richie knew he couldn't catch Static on foot and he'd left his costume back at the gas station so he went to get it. Backpack wasn't completely fixed but it was operational, at least enough for his purposes, he hoped. It would just have to do. The machine beeped to life. From within it came a small satellite dish-like radar that picked up concentrated electronic activity. He made sure to ignore the electricity plant that came up on his visor, concentrating instead on the other blip… that moved. It was definitely Static. And where else was he but near the place of his father's death.

"I'm on my way, bud," Gear said with a determined frown, even though Static couldn't hear him.

- - - -

Golden eyes looked up into purple-white ones while they studied one another. Both pairs were locked as their owners paused in mid-battle. Breathless, neither of the two relented in the stare down despite their fatigue. The latter pair melted with intensity as the creature crouched with coiled energy in its body, waiting... It's chilled and steely gaze lacked the usual wild wisdom that was so common in wolves. Instead, it was full of a crazed bloodlust, separating it from the wolf-kind. You see, the intelligence that the golden eyed animal lacked was what made wolves unique from all other living things. It was one of the many qualities that gave wolves majesty. Calling the creature a wolf was demeaning to the species. (A/N See dn1, I'm not trying to taint the reputation of wolves!)

The former pair smoldered in purple light, a burning hate fueling the force that lit them. Electric energy arched out in burning snaps and crackles from his hands and below his feet which rested firmly on a thin metal disk as he hovered above the beast. It made the already dark parts of him even darker as it illuminated the lighter parts. His white mask seemed to just emit a light of its own because of that, accenting his already fierce eyes. All in all, it gave him a menacing stance that equaled Arturo's crouched form below. The familiarity of this scene, which had occurred in the sewers (only with major differences), was far from his mind.

The stare down ended when Arturo moved, causing Static to flinch and release a blast of energy, though it missed. The metamorphic boy managed to twist his changed body. Then landed further away with claws skimming on the ground as he skidded back a bit in a swerve upon touching, creating small clouds of dust around his feet. He lurched to a stop, head hunched down a little, shoulders raised, fur bristled, eyes aglow, teeth baring as an consternating growl escaped him. He was ready to charge forwards, intent on returning the favor of Static's nearly successful attack. Only, his assault would make contact, he'd make certain of that.

"Static!" Gear's shout seared the tense battle air.

Arturo looked skywards, ears perked, but he had a shifty mind-set. The sudden appearance of the green clad boy had startled him. Frightened him to the point where he felt threatened by the newcomer. He lunged for the airborne Gear, temporarily forgetting Static. That had been his mistake.

"No, Gear, look out!" Static shot another blast, eyes no longer glowing as anxious fear caused him to act quickly. Electromagnetic energy struck the wolf from behind but it was already too late. Gear hardly had time to react as the electrified animal fell forwards, knocking him from the air and pinning him to the ground with its heavy body.

Static was about to lift Arturo off of his friend but the wolf was already getting up. "Get off of him you killing bastard!"

The disorientated Arturo stepped away but it was more because he was dazed from being shocked rather than Static's threatening tone. He shook his large head, trying to clear it, and then refocused his frenzied gaze on Static, who was helping Gear to his feet.

"I want you to leave right now," Static was saying.

"No. If you plan to fight this guy, then I'm staying here too. We're a team, remember?"

"Fine," he said brusquely, meeting the oversized animal's stare. Though, Gear wasn't sure if his rather blunt agreement had been because he wanted to fight Arturo by himself for vengeful purposes. (For Gear now knew that the 'he' Static had spoken of was Arturo, and that Static thought Arturo to be his father's killer, which could have very well been true.) Or… perhaps the reason for his curt response had a more concerned motive behind it. The two heroes had fought side by side before; but what made this day different from the others was that Static had already lost a parent the previous day. He probably didn't want to chance loosing his best friend as well.

But how could Static expect him to stay away when Gear knew his bud was fighting a battle like this? Gear would have remained even if the other boy continued telling him to go. And, no, it wasn't because he remembered what had happened to the one lone metahuman who had come across Arturo. No, it had nothing to do with that.

A low growl signaled the beginning of another round, Arturo taking a step forward. Gear reached for a zap cap, ready. Static drew the wolf's attention away from the other hero by flying a little lower and off to the side. Taking the bait, Arturo turned, obviously more interested in objects that moved. Gear threw his cap quickly. It activated as it flew through the air, long metallic coils stretching out, seeking to detain. They wrapped themselves around the animal's legs first, tripping him up. One coil found its way around his mouth and clamped it shut in a loud snap. He landed on the ground with a heavy thud, head first, eyes wincing shut. He opened them, a fury burning within them. What could be seen of his muzzle was wrinkled as he snarled within his throat, unable to open his mouth.

"That was easy," Gear said, grinning at his friend.

"Thanks…" Static looked at him then down at the struggling creature. He was partially relieved but he felt that capturing Arturo and sending him off to the Metahuman Detainment Clinic wasn't satisfying enough. He still felt resentment towards the bangbaby and wished he could have pounded him some more before handing him over.

He got his wish… but not without a price. One that would cripple the confidence he had in himself once this was all over.

A/N: A note on my a/n in the middle of this. I have a friend who was worried that I was going to give wolves a bad name because of what I was doing with Arturo. Her name's duonumber1, but I call her dn1 for short. I absolutely love wolves! They are such wonderful creatures!