Webskitune - Thanks for the support. I did notice, after I posted, of course, that I was missing a word or two and (horrors!) I misplaced an apostrophe. I just saw "Tantrum" and I couldn't help but LMAO when I saw my mistakes. I will try to be more careful in future chapters. No, this will not be a Richie-possessed fic; at least I don't think so. There will be some flashbacks that touch on that but won't be the crux of the story. This will eventually be slash but nothing overt for a while. This chapter shows a little bit of Richie's feelings. I'll get to Virgil's POV later.

Kate - Thanks for the review. I love a concerned "Daddy-Bat." He will be important in this story.

Kim - Thank you! I hope to update once a week, maybe more, depending on how easily the plot flows from my fingers.

I haven't posted a story in years, so I am still trying to figure out the formatting. Please be patient with me. This story is not betaed, so any mistakes are my own.

This is a sort of crossover between Static Shock and the Justice League, but not many JLers appear. This will also be slash (Virgil/Richie).

Disclaimer - Still not mine.

It was a day like any other in Dakota. The sun was shining, the people were rushing to work, and Virgil and Richie were late for first period at Dakota High School.

"Aw, man! I can't believe it! First day back after a sweet two week vacation, and we're late!" Virgil hitched his backpack higher on his shoulder and raced towards their homeroom.

His best bud Richie huffed, "I didn't set my alarm after patrol last night. What happened with you?"

"Sharon happened! She was supposed to wake me up before she left this morning. I'm just lucky that Dad forgot some paperwork at the house or I'd probably still be asleep. I told Dad what happened, and he blamed me! It was Sharon's fault. She's out to get me."

"Dude, she's always out to get you. That's what big sisters do." Richie had to stretch to keep up with his friend's longer stride. Virgil was going through a growth spurt and had shot up a few inches in the last six months. Standing toe-to-toe, Richie could now look V directly in the mouth. His beautiful, well-shaped mouth that he used to smile with, to toss snappy one-liners to the bad guys with, to confide in Richie with, to kiss with.

'Oh, hell,' Richie groaned to himself. 'Stop that train of thought right there. V is your best friend, not to mention your partner. You spring something like that on him, he is gonna flip - flip you right out of his life! Best to just keep quiet and enjoy being his 'bro.' Even if Virgil were gay, or bi-, he wouldn't want a whiny little basket case like me!'

Basket case. That was the right phrase. Richie had been having some problems lately. Several weeks ago, he and Static had traveled to the Watchtower so that his friend could recharge the station. It was a dream come true for Richie. Most of his heroes were there and it was the ultimate in cool to hang with the Justice League. OK, so the big guns were only there for a few minutes before being called away on a bogus rescue mission, but it was still a thrill to meet them.

After their first go-round with Brainiac, he had convinced the JLers to take a picture with Static and him. Richie kept the picture in a special glass case at the old gas station. Lately, he had taken to staring at it as he tried to keep the memories at bay. Memories of a cold, inhuman touch, of an alien presence in his mind.

When Static and the Justice League saved him from Brainiac, he had kept his cool, not wanting to embarrass his friend or himself in front of the superheroes. However, when he was finally alone in his room, he had broken down and sobbed for hours. He thought that that would be it, that it was over, but the pattern kept repeating itself. He would go to school, hang out with Virgil and his family, go on patrol, and then it was back to his room for another bout of nightmares and tears.

Richie knew that Brainiac was gone. The Martian Manhunter had scanned his mind while Hawkgirl had declared Backpack free of contamination. It didn't stop the cold ball of fear from settling in his stomach. He was fast approaching the breaking point.

Richie snapped back into awareness as he and Virgil finally reached their first class of the day - English Lit with Miss Pettibone. If they were lucky, she wouldn't be in the room yet. They weren't lucky.

"Virgil. Richie. I'm so glad you decided to join us this year. Make sure you stop by my desk after class. I have matching detention slips already prepared for you." They each blushed as the laughter of their classmates rang in their ears. They sat in the only available seats - on opposite sides of the room.

Richie sighed. Just perfect. Not only was he separated from his friend, but also now he would have to tell his parents that he had to stay after school on the first day back. The day could not possibly get worse.

He could not possibly be more wrong.