Figuring it out

Disclaimer: Don't own Static Shock or The Grudge, which is one seriously screwed up movie. .

Rating: Pg-13...ish.

Notes: Follows Questions, obviously, but could just as easily stand alone. I wasn't planning to write anything else but I thought it might be fun to write a series of 'Firsts' for Richie and Virgil and so here we are. This story will eventually have sexual content so one of these days it'll get an R rating. Maybe now. Who knows… Other than that…not much. Carry on.

Warnings: Boys kissing Boys, Awkwardness, Humor, Light Sexual Content, a little Angst. Mostly gooey awkward but sweet fluff.

Summery: Part one: Richie and Virgil try to get a few things right, but dating your best friend is harder than you'd think.

Two: Daisy notices a thing or two in the darkness of the movie theater.

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Figuring it Out OR

Different Yet The Same

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Saturdays like this were…nice. Easy. Lazy. And a bunch of other words that rarely described their lives and thus had to be taken for everything they were worth when they did happen. It seemed that everyone, even the likes of Hotstreak, Ebon, and the petty criminals, had decided to just enjoy the day for a change. The people on the news actually looked bored.

Sharon was spending the day with Adam doing…whatever it was they did. Mr. Hawkins was out having lunch with a woman even Virgil had to admit was really nice. The Foley's were visiting some relatives out of town sans Richie.

Not that Richie was complaining. It meant he got to spend the weekend at Virgil's place and he couldn't recall that ever being a bad thing.

This left the two of them alone with nothing to do until around three or four. They were going to see a movie with Frieda and Daisy around then and maybe grab something to eat afterwards. They didn't see the girls much with that 'Static and Gear' business constantly popping up. And maybe just 'Richie and Virgil' stuff from time to time.

Though sometimes it seemed like they didn't really see each other much to be honest. …Well, of course they saw each other. All of the time really. But most of the time they couldn't…be…together.

Assuming that made any kind of sense. Virgil wasn't really sure if it did.

They'd been going out almost two months. Two very busy months between school, respective family things, jobs (tutoring for Richie and fast food for Virgil) and…'work' of the non-paying variety. It was almost like the world had decided to wait until they got together to throw everything it had to offer at them.

It kind of sucked. A lot.

So at the moment they were sitting on the couch in Virgil's house watching The Grudge. They had meant to watch it before and not in the middle of the day, but Virgil was beginning to think the latter was for the best. Why had he agreed to this again? He didn't like these kinds of movie. He was loath to admit it but they kind of scared him.

A glance to his right found Richie was watching with rapt attention, lips parted and an excited flush working its way up his face. Oh. Right. Richie loved these movies. Virgil had been dragged to The Ring, Saw and others because of Richie.

And that had been before they were even together. He was pretty much screwed now.

…he really needed to pick his thoughts more carefully.

He hated these weird horror movies. (Give him Scream, Halloween, or Friday the 13th any day, thanks) But, and here was his weakness, he liked watching Richie watch them with that amazed look on his face. For the blond he could put up with this stuff.

His eyes slide back to the TV just in time to see some weird foggy…figure hovering over Sarah Michelle Gellar's bed. He blinked then cringed and looked away while putting a hand over his eyes.

Or not.

It took a full two minutes before the total lack of noise seeped into his senses. He could almost hear the cars and the people outside. He cracked open an eyes and looked at Richie who was holding the remote and watching him with a mild smile.

"V?"

"It's nothing." He said quickly. Too quickly really. Damn it. "I'm…uh…tired is all. Didn't sleep well last night."

That was true actually. Something about having Richie sleeping down the hall tended to keep him awake at night. Why it kept him awake he'd rather not go into if he could manage to escape it.

"Well…you want to go to bed or something? I'll wake you up when the girls get here?"

"No!" He didn't mean to shout, really, but that was the last thing he wanted. He'd rather not be watching this movie, yeah, but he didn't want Richie to go or for him to leave or anything like that. There were watching this stupid movie so they could be together after all. Quiet Saturday afternoon together watching movies like before.

Only…not so much like before.

He swallowed; trying to think of something to say in the face of Richie's slightly amused but still bewildered expression.

"I just…I…man." He sighed, frustrated. He wanted tot ell the truth but knew how completely stupid that would sound and so held his tongue. Why did this have to be so damn hard anyway? Talking to Richie had been easier before this; he'd never worried about sounding stupid or like a wuss or anything like that because…well, because.

It was Richie. His best friend. And it was still Richie of course but now he was…the boyfriend. It was different.

Wasn't it?

Sometimes he had no idea what he was doing. Like now, they were on opposite ends of the couch very much not touching, when really all he wanted was to be touching Richie. Even when they were just friends they had never sat this far apart. Richie had a nasty habit of using Virgil as a pillow, though he'd never really complained about it.

But now…it was like…could they still do that? Were they supposed to do more now? He'd never really done this with anyone, let alone another boy, and it was all very new and different and it was starting to give him a headache.

Maybe it was so hard because Richie was a boy? If this had been Daisy or Frieda or some other girl Virgil would have just imitated what he'd seen but…well.

It wasn't. Probably not just because of the gay thing, but the best friend thing as well. He knew Richie so well as his friend and now he was shuffling him into another 'category' and…

Yes. Headache. This must be why people say not to date friends.

Richie was watching him very intently and then something sparked in those intelligent blue eyes. He looked down at the remote then over at the TV and then finally back at Virgil. He coughed and then turned the DVD player off.

"Sorry man. I forgot how much you hated the stuff."

He shrugged, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. "Yeah well...it's okay. You really wanted to see it and everything."

"I'll watch it again later." The remote was tossed back onto the coffee table. Richie stretched for a moment before turning so he was facing Virgil completely and pulling his legs up onto the couch. "I should have remembered. You freaked out when we saw The Ring."

Virgil glared. "I did not freak out."

"You stood outside for an hour and refused to so much as come back into the lobby." Richie's tone was lightly teasing. "I'd call that freaking out."

He coughed, embarrassed. "Maybe a little bit. That little girl was creepy though."

"She was creepier in the original version. I didn't even know I could speak other languages until I watched that."

"You're just full of surprises."

If Richie caught the sarcasm he ignored it. "It's true, I am. You, by the way, should have told me you didn't want to watch it when I suggested it. Why didn't you say anything? We could have gotten something else you know."

"But you wanted to see it."

"No. Well…yeah, but really I just wanted to hang out with my boyfriend without anything exploding or being stolen or risking being maimed and injured. Preferably in a non-terrified and hiding behind a pillow capacity on your part, if you don't mind me being picky."

"I guess I arrange that." Virgil rolled his eyes but found himself unable to fight a smile. "So. If you wanted to hang out with me why are you all the way down there?"

Richie blushed and, after grabbing the remote again, made his way to Virgil's end of the couch. He sat so his back was against Virgil's side and his legs were stretched out in front of him. For a moment neither one moved and he wondered why he was holding his breath.

And then it hit him.

So he laughed. Richie arched an eyebrow in silent question and he shook his head.

"This is pathetic Rich. It's like…we've never sat down to watch a movie before or…have never met and…it's stupid. We are both being stupid."

Richie blinked owlishly then nodded slowly. "Yes. It's…a new experience for me."

"Acting stupid?"

Virgil was punched in his arm for his trouble, but it didn't really hurt and the blond didn't really look mad. More amused than anything. A little embarrassed too.

"No. This…I can't just…figure it out you know? I have no idea how I'm supposed to act around you sometimes. I don't know what I can and can't say to you anymore."

"Good." He let out a relieved breathe when he noted Richie's bemused look. "Good to know it's not just me, I meant. That was uncomfortable."

"Oh. Nope."

"So what now?" That seemed to be the burning question of the past two months. What did they do now? Richie was silent for a moment, staring up at him. Then he shrugged.

"We watch the Star Wars marathon, hang out, and then go to the movies."

Virgil frowned. "There's a Star Wars marathon?" And he hadn't been told? Blasphemy.

Richie laughed quietly and, with the press of a button, Virgil was watching Luke buy two robots. Richie started to lean back against him but he put a hand up to stop the other teen. He shifted the way he was sitting then pulled the blond back against him.

Richie was now sitting between his legs, back against his chest, and that bewildered look he was becoming familiar with on his face. He was holding his breathe again, expecting Richie to pull away from him, but then his boyfriend smiled at him before resting his head on his shoulder.

He let out the air he was holding.

He could do this.

And for an oddly content thirty minutes everything was about as close to perfect as he such things could be. He was still a little uncomfortable with Richie being so close (mostly because hormones were evil things that he couldn't quite control) and the feel of warm skin pressed against his own would probably take some getting used to. Richie shifted at some point so he now on his side and his head was pillowed on Virgil's chest.

One of his arms was around his waist and his other hand, which had been around the area of his knee, was moving. It took a moment to notice it but when he did there was no mistaking the slowly way those fingers were moving up his leg. He blinked then peered down breath catching.

What exactly was Richie doing?

And, beyond that, was the other teen just…touching him supposed to be this arousing? Or was that just a personal problem? And he used the word problem very seriously because he was pretty sure if Richie kept doing that he was going to have a problem.

It wouldn't very well be the first time he'd gotten hard in Richie's presence but would be the first time the blond was close enough to notice. They'd be back in uncharted territory then because he had no idea what he was going to say when it became obvious.

Which it would. Not even his jeans were that baggy and at the moment he was in a pair of sweats. He had to get Richie off of him. Now preferably.

"Rich."

"Hmm?"

"What're you doing?"

"Doing?" Richie sounded half-asleep. It was nice to know one of them was feeling comfortable. He frowned, rethinking the whole thing. If Richie was asleep he could just…wait it out. Or…something. "Virgil?"

Richie's hands moved, this time one on his chest while the other moved around until it was on his leg. The blond pushed himself up some and tilted his head to the side almost curiously. Virgil just stared. Richie was evil. That was the only explanation for all of this…contact. Bad contact.

…Good contact in a very bad way perhaps.

Richie was trying to torment him or drive him to insanity or something like that. Either way he was evil.

He licked his lips for a moment, not actually sure how to go about explaining the situation without making him want to hide under his bed for the rest of eternity.

Richie shifted again, probably so he wouldn't have to hold himself up on his arms again and his knee brushed over Virgil's crotch and their reactions were instant. Virgil's eyes went unfocused at the accidentally pressure and Richie probably would have pitched over in surprise if that hadn't entailed falling onto the floor or onto Virgil.

(He didn't want to be on the floor and falling on Virgil didn't seem like the best course of action given the current…oh Christ.)

Virgil had to bite his lip for a moment to retain his thought pattern. Honestly. He was seventeen; he couldn't be reacting like this to a little touching, could he?

Richie was still hovering in front of him, hands in the same place and knee dangerously close to…well. He looked almost frozen in place.

"Richie?"

"I...umm. This is the body's natural reaction to what it perceives as pleasing stimuli, such as the contact with another body, and it's nothing to embarrassed or upset about because it happens to everyone and you shouldn't be-"

"Don't rationalize." He muttered. "I think you're hot. Not too complex. You should be flattered."

Richie liked to do that when he was nervous; rationalize and overanalyze until he had himself convinced he didn't actually need to worry about it anymore. He'd done it when Virgil had confessed to having feelings for him, trying to write it off as confusion over learning something new about his best friend, as opposed to real feelings.

"…" Richie swallowed for a minute and looked everywhere but at him. "I should move. …My body has decided not to move in spite of my mind screaming frantically that I should."

He sighed. He was going to regret this later. "You can just lay back down."

"But-"

"I'll wait it out. Think about Mr. Russo naked or something." He could feel his body cooling at the suggestion alone. There, he could handle this just fine. Perfectly under control.

Richie's nose wrinkled. "You're going to think about our overweight and balding chemistry teacher naked? That's sick."

"You have no one to blame but yourself."

Richie blushed again then leaned forward some while his hands shifted up to Virgil's shoulders. The first brushing of lips was almost tentative. He was taken aback for a moment 'What's he doing?' but then Richie kissed him again, less shy this time and he didn't know what to do expect return it.

He couldn't be blamed. He liked kissing Richie, once they got a general idea of how to do without sustaining any bumps to the head and where to and not to put hands. He remembered being younger and thinking it was gross and without a point but his opinion of the matter had changed, to say the least.

Richie leaned against him some and there was that knee again, pressing against him in a deliberate manner. It was like being hit with electricity after a long fight and his entire body reacted, throat tightening, fingers digging into the couch, and back arching.

Richie seemed to almost studying him. He brought their lips together again while moving against him and he gasped into the blond's mouth. A tongue (Richie's obviously) touched his lips then his own. That was new. He reached up and touched Richie. Back, neck, hair… His fingers finally rested in Richie's hair, twisting strands around them.

He wasn't exactly sure when the change had happened but he was suddenly flushed, hot and shivering, and had absolutely no idea what was going on. He certainly hoped Richie did.

It'd be nice if they weren't both oblivious for a change.

Fingers hovered near the top of his jeans and he wondered how they'd gotten there. Didn't really care much though. Kissed Richie again. There was a snap and the rasp of a zipper. His zipper? That was…oh.

Hand…fingers, cool and hot all at once and ohmygodohmygodohmygod.

Richie's eyes were open and wide and staring at him and there was this strand of hair that kept falling between them and something in the back of Virgil's mind wanted him to brush it away but all he could do was breathe and shiver and gasp.

His fingers tightened in Richie's hair but the blond didn't even cringe. He just stared at him. Then his eyes darted down and Virgil squirmed. Richie's touch was timid and light and at the same time-

"Virgil!" A very angry and maybe horrified screech.

He went rigid and looked over Richie's shoulder.

"Sharon." He squeaked. Squeaked.

Not sexy.

Adam was standing behind his sister, shaking his head and looking at the floor. Very helpful of him. Sharon was seething. Virgil would swear later that he saw the air around her turning to steam. Richie would roll his eyes.

At the moment however Richie just ducked his head and turned a shade of red that couldn't be natural. After that nothing moved. Not that Virgil wouldn't have liked to move, really he would, but he wasn't sure how having Richie pull his hand from inside his pants was going to go over.

But, on the upside, he was a hundred percent not aroused.

Finally Adam took her by the arm and led her into the kitchen, flashing them a slightly cheeky grin as they went past. Funny how it didn't make Virgil feel any better. The minute the door slid shut Richie jumped away from his to the other end of the couch.

Virgil calmly zipped and buttoned himself back up. Or it would have been calm if his hands hadn't been shaking like that. He wasn't sure if he was relieved because they really shouldn't have been doing that on the couch anyway, or just disappointed that…they hadn't done that. He had no idea what had prompted Richie to do it, didn't know if it'd happen again, but damn if he hadn't liked Richie's hands on him like that.

A lot.

But hey, it was the thought that counted, right?

He looked over at Richie who stared back. Then smiled sheepishly and looked down at his hands. Then blushed harder and turned his gaze to the TV.

No.

It was not the thought that counted. Whoever said that had clearly never been in this sort of situation or else they would know that just the thought wasn't as good as the action.

He hated his sister.

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Daisy probably wouldn't have found out if not for the fact that the popcorn was on the floor by Virgil's feet. They always sat like this at movies: Frieda on one end, boys in the middle, her at the other end, so she didn't think anything of it.

And it wasn't like she thought it was a date or anything, because she didn't. Think that. Or anything. Sure, she had a small crush on Virgil and she'd always thought he had a crush on her but they were just…dancing around each other and nothing had ever really been said about it.

She'd thought it would just…sort itself out. When the time was right.

And she knew Frieda had a thing for Richie and she thought it was kind of cute, best friends and best friends together like that.

She hadn't really meant it like that though.

She'd reached down for the popcorn, taking her eyes off of the screen for a moment. And she'd seen it. Virgil's hand intertwined with Richie's. It was discreet, their hands low and almost complete in the dark. Fingers alternated, light then dark, and it looked…right.

Virgil's thumb moved over the back of Richie's hand slowly…absently, as if he didn't completely realize he was doing it. Maybe he didn't, how was she supposed to know what went on in Virgil's head. She hadn't even known he liked guys. Clearly she was no expert on the other teen. She must not have really known anything about it.

It kind of explained why they always vanished together.

They were together.

She glanced up. Richie was watching the screen intently and Virgil was watching Richie with the same intensity. A small smile was quirking his lips and he looked so happy that she couldn't even be…mad about it without risking guilt type feelings.

She looked down again. Richie squeezed Virgil's hand and then nudged his friend with his knee. Virgil nudged back, a soft laugh reaching her ears. Then it stopped and their hands moved away from each other, Richie's going to his lap and Virgil's to the armrest.

Her stomach clenched and she looked up to see Virgil staring down at her, lip between his teeth. She straightened up and started to open her mouth to say…to say what?

How nice it was? How happy she was for them? How it didn't hurt that he hadn't chosen her because hey, that was all right, fish in the sea and all that.

She shut her mouth and looked up at the movie screen, not really seeing it. It blurred in front of her eyes, was there something wrong with the projector? No, because when Virgil tapped her shoulder and she turned he was blurry too.

Was she crying?

Shit.

She wiped away the tears and stood, ignoring Frieda's voice asking how she was. She walked out of the theater, heard Virgil following, and imagine that Richie was keeping Frieda where she was and explaining things.

She imagined Frieda blinking slowly and nodding her understanding.

Virgil stopped her right outside of the theater, grabbed her arm and held her in place. She expected a long drawn out explanation about…things. This. The Gay thing. The Gay with Richie thing.

He didn't say anything. Just kind of shuffled his feet then shrugged at her helplessly. And she snorted because it was just so…Virgil. Shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket and shook her head.

At least he was happy.

But she didn't say that. It was too…melodramatic and cliché and just…stupid. Instead she just pulled him into a hug, kissed him on the cheek, and said she'd see him in school tomorrow.

Because she was going to go home, curl up in bed and stare at a wall and wonder at her luck. Couldn't have Virgil, because Virgil had Richie already, and her little crush on Static was nothing short of silly and reaching.

She might as well want Superman for all the good it was going to do her.

Of course she didn't say that either. Didn't think Virgil needed that on his mind.

Frieda would be fine the light of the morning and start harassing Virgil and Richie for an interview for the paper, because that was just how she was. Anything different and slightly out of the norm demanded her attention and should be seen by everyone and, while the boys laughed it off, Daisy just pushed her food around on her tray.

It was just a little crush.

Cherre: Pssh. Die of embarrassment then? Coming out is nothing compared to just flat out being caught with your hand in the preverbal cookie jar. (Man. I can't believe I just made that joke. Kill me.) Thanks.

Kuurosuki: The idea is pretty funny. It plagued me for a week before I wrote it but I'm actually glad I eventually did. I'm glad you liked it. I laughed when you said cute because of the mental image of what Richie and Virgil would think of being called 'cute'.

Cat: Yeah, I think Mr. Hawkins would be pretty cool. It's Richie's parents (Read: Father) who might be a problem.

Hikari: Yeah…wanting to bare my children would be creepy. Glad we aren't…there. Mm. No, the friend of a friend thing never works. Tried it with my mom. She laughed at me and told me to stop referring to myself in the third person. Gay sex isn't covered (maybe it should be) but that's okay because that's what makes writing stuff like this so much fun. Daisy is…heartbroken I think. Isn't it sad when you aren't sure about your own stories…

Mechante: LOL. I'm sure my mother would be pleased to hear she raised a good kid, as opposed to being told she raised a pervert. I actually made the pamphlet up but it should exist, I'm sure it'd help a lot of people out. But, alas, it's just a figment of my imagination. What that says about me I don't know.

Athena: Glad to oblige.

Dena: I might do the missing scene eventually. At the moment the muses are…not havening it happen. Shrugs But yes, like I said, moral fiber. It would be a great episode.

Mystery: Condoms. I probably should have said that. Sometimes I'm vague for no real reason, I apologize.