To joyfulcry: Haha...that's funny. A song of a group called Moloko too. I bet you knew that though, didn't you? Anyway, yep...this is it. The big finish! I hope you like it:)
To Lobo-Chan: No, no...that wasn't the end, but this is. I'm sad:(
To LaBOBuren: Mmmm...cherries. Opps, sorry. I don't know why, but that made me think of a nice big ice-cream sundae;) Okay, okay, here ya go...the (really) last chapter. Enjoy:)
To Jill: Opps...sorry. Didn't mean for it to be that short, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. Thankx, as always, for the review:)
To Frost: No really, I think Frost is a cool name...I'm happy to know where you got it from:) Anywho, yeah...I'm seriously thinkin about a sequal. I'm gonna ask everybody what they think now, and as long as there are some that like the idea, I'll definatly get it in the works. And about Hotstreak and the shapeshifting, I'm certinally keeping it a possibility. I'll have to see where the story goes in the future. Oh, and as for your other question, to be honest, I really don't know why Rio's got wings. I just thought it would be cool instead of just saying she could fly. And actually, cuz her wings are somewhat flexible, she can pull them close to her back, making the wingspan barily wider then her back when she's not flying. I hope that helped aswer your question. Hey, and stop saying you're waisting my time, will ya? I love reading your reviews! Later.
Good'ay dudes! sniffs Well, this is it. The last chapter. grabs tissue Thank you so much to all my reviewers for making this such a wonderful story to write and post. And a special thankx to all you who've stuck with my from the beginning, dropping me a line after every chap. I really apreciate all of them! So, since we're down to the end, and I've got a couple people already asking, what'd you guys think about a sequal? Please let me know what you think! And keep your eye out cuz sometime next week I'll post again so I can reply to everybody who reviews this chap. Okay, now this is like the longest chap I've ever written, so I'm gonna let you guys get to reading now. Later!
And now, the conclusion...
That night must have been the slowest in all of Hotstreak's life; like time was broken and refused to move. But still yet, there he sat; Rioko sleeping in his bed, and he, sitting in a chair next to her. He had tried to sleep, but the worry of his little sister's condition wouldn't allow him. Most of the minor cuts and bruises were easy enough to clean and would easily heal on their own, and there were only a few deep cuts that had required a little stitching. But there was one thing that had him concerned even more so.
While carefully stitching a slash (probably caused by Shiv's psychotic temper) across the middle of her back, he caught sight of a group of old wounds just near the base of her left wing. Being cautious not to harm her, he gently pushed back the wing to give him a clear view and stared in slight horror at the scars of two bullet wounds. So close to her heart...how did she live through this? In somewhat disbelief, Hotstreak grazed his fingers across the wounds to make sure they were real. To his disappointment, they were.
Still sitting deep in thought, Hotstreak stared at Rioko's calm face as it shone in the light of the full moon high in the late-night sky. So much had happen in the last nine years. He had never imagined such an innocent kid could have changed so much. Feeling a new rush of thoughts overwhelm his mind, Hotstreak allowed his sight to drift over to his window; looking out to the clear sky in the distance.
"Why did you leave her?" he heard Static ask.
"What?"
"Rioko...what made you leave her alone like that at such a young age?" Hotstreak could tell Static cared for her by the tone in his voice.
Still in his trance of thought, Hotstreak silently answered truthfully to Static's previous question. I was scared...no...stupid. I thought leaving would give her a chance to start a new life.
"Real good job that did." Static's voice rang in his head.
He sighed painfully, "Yeah..." Managing finally to fall into a light sleep shortly after, Hotstreak was able to give his guilt-stricken heart some time to take in all the nights' events.
As the early morning sun began to shine its bright rays through his window and onto his face, Hotstreak woke with a start, only to find his fears unchecked. Rioko was still lying in the bed beside him; still resting peacefully. (Not, like he had thought, dying in Shiv's wicked grasp.) "Haa..." he sighed in tired relief as he gently rubbed his eyes of the weariness heavily embedded in them. Leaning forward a bit, he warmly caressed Rie's cheek, as if checking for any signs of fever.
Under his soft touch, Rioko felt herself come back to awareness. She didn't allow herself to shift her body or open her eyes at first. No, all she did was breathe peacefully to feel that gentle caress. As she felt the touch pull away though, she slowly forced her tired eyes half-open.
Immediately, her clouded gaze caught Hotstreak's, who felt a light small curve over him. "Hey there..." he said kindly.
"Hi." upon hearing the sound of her raspy voice, Rioko began to clear her throat; instantly regretting it after wincing to a numb pain in her chest.
The smile on Hotstreak's face turned quickly back to worry as he watched the pained movement. "Try to stay still." he said while placing a hand on her arm. "I think you bruised a few ribs. It'll hurt to move for a little while."
"Great." she mumbled quietly before looking to her surroundings and asking, "Where am I?"
"My place. You were out, and I don't know where you live, so I had to." he paused for a minute, but quickly added, "How are you feeling?"
"Peachy." With an obvious refusal to obey her brother's orders, Rioko ignored the throbbing pain throughout her body and pulled herself to a sitting position in the bed. There was a long moment of awkward silence before she decided to speak. "What made you come?"
She wasn't very pacific, but Hotstreak knew too well what she was talking about nonetheless. "I would say 'cuz you're my little sister, but that's never meant anything before, huh?"
Rie cocked her head a tad, as if trying to decipher Hotstreak's intentions.
"I don't know...if you can find it somewhere to believe me, I guess I didn't want anything to happen to you."
In her mind, Rioko wanted to explode on her brother right then and tell him all that's 'happened' to her because of the stupid mistakes he'd made. But something inside her pulled her from that action. Instead, she decided to take a lighter, yet still powerful approach. "And what makes you think nothing's already happened to me?" she wanted him to correct his own sentence.
"Nothing does. Look, I know you've been through a lot. But I guess I just thought that maybe if you didn't die last night, maybe you'd give me a second shot at what I left behind."
Okay, forget making him talk, Rioko thought it was her time to speak now. "What you left behind died a long time ago. All that's left is me."
Hotstreak sighed sorrowfully. "You are what I left. Look, I know 'sorry' ain't gonna cut it anymore, but if you'll just give me a chance..."
"I want to Francis...but you've changed so much. You're a thief, notorious criminal, and, judging by the way you fought me the other day, maybe even a killer."
Hotstreak's defenses were shot. He had nothing left to defend himself with. "I can change...but only with help."
Rioko wanted to forgive him right there, but there was so much anger, so much pain. Could she really forgive someone who had done so much to her? "I know you can, but are you willing? We've lived apart for so long. Wouldn't it just be easier if we went our separate ways again?"
He could feel a tear threatening to sting the corner of his eye. "No!" his voice raised slightly, but calmed down rapidly after. "I don't want to loose you again." he stood from his chair and began pacing somewhat around the room while Rioko kept him under a watchful eye. "I'm sorry...for everything. I know I'm not the best brother, hell; it was because of me that you almost got killed last night. And if there was any way I could change everything that I did, believe me I would. But right now, all I can do is ask for your forgiveness. I understand if you won't forgive...I know I don't deserve it...I just had to try."
"Francis..." Rie started; trying bite back the sound of pain in her voice by softly clearing her throat. "I...I do forgive you. Why do you think I came to Dakota?"
"You did?" Hotstreak stopped his pacing as he spoke.
"Yeah. Look, alotta stuff happened after you left. After a while, all I wanted was to find you again and get outta what I had gotten into."
Hotstreak bowed his head in shame before answering. "Bet you're disappointed with what you found."
She didn't know why, but for some reason, Rie felt a smile come over her just then. "You're not the only one who's changed." Hotstreak looked up with an expression not too far from confusion. "I'm not exactly the same person either, you know." she added lightly while looking down at her hands in her lap.
Feeling now they were on some plain of truths, Hotstreak got bold and decided to ask the question that had been plaguing him all night. "Why were you shot?"
"What?" Rie asked as she cocked her head to the side a bit.
"On your back. There're two gun wounds. When did that happen?"
Rioko let her gaze fall back down to her lap as if struggling to win some battle raging within her. "Three years ago." She looked up; hoping her answer would be enough for her curious brother. Too bad she could tell it wasn't by his anxious expression. "Remember Teejay O'Neill?" she finally decided to continue.
"One of the guys I left to protect you from...yeah, I remember. What about him?" Hotstreak asked curiously.
After sighing heavily, and wincing from the numb pain it caused, Rioko explained, "About six months after you left, life was gettin' really hard. Teejay took me in. Eventually, I joined his gang."
"What!"
"Yeah...there's irony for yeah, huh?"
"Tell me about it." Hotstreak replied with a strong tone of worry and grief in his voice.
"Yeah well, anyway, over the years, till I was 'bout fifteen, Teejay and I got real close. He became like family to me."
Though he wouldn't let himself admit it out loud, that last sentence cut Hotstreak deeper then he ever thought it could. "Oh..."
"Then one night, our hideout was ambushed by a gang we'd been fightin' for a while. The Wolves; they called themselves." Hotstreak could see Rioko shiver upon saying the gang's name out loud. "We were completely outnumbered. Teejay and I fought side by side like we always had,"
Again, another sentence to cut Hotstreak to the core.
"But when I had my back turned, the leader of the gang pulled out a gun a shot me before I had a chance to react. He would have easily killed me with another shot, but..." Rioko paused again; sighing sorrowfully as she tried to push back old emotions. "Teejay ran in front of me and took the bullet. Next thing I remember, I woke up in one of our old hideouts with a few of the other members of my gang around me. But Teejay wasn't there. Later, I found out that he died shortly after taking the bullet."
"Oh..." Hotstreak fumbled around for the right words. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah well, these things happen I guess."
"It must have hurt to loose someone so close to you." Hotstreak added quietly as he watched Rie brush away a rebellious tear from her cheek.
"Why would you care? You hated him anyway. Besides, it's not like it was the first time I lost someone."
Her words were harsh, but Hotstreak knew they were only the truth. "I don't hate him anymore. No matter my record with him. Anyone who takes care of you is no enemy of mine."
"That's good to know." shortly following her last statement, Hotstreak left the room to go make some breakfast while Rioko sat in deep thought of the events of the last few days.
After eating an omelet in silence, it had now been nearly thirty minutes since either exchanged any conversation other than 'how do u like your eggs?' and it was wearing on Hotstreak's nerves. Come on you idiot! You're loosing her! Say something before she starts hating you…again! "Rioko?"
The younger female teen said nothing; just looked up at her brother with dull, cloudy eyes.
"Was O'Neill a better brother? I mean, to you. Was he better to you then I was?"
Rie felt her head cock slightly as Hotstreak bowed his head; seeming to be inwardly reprimanding himself for speaking at all. She sighed as deeply as her sore ribs would let her. "I'm not gonna lie to you Francis." Hotstreak raised his head while she spoke. "Yes, he was for the time I knew him...much better." she watched as her brother's expression turned even greater saddened then it was before. She swore if he didn't have so much pride, he would have started crying right there. "But, despite that," she continued, "the fact is, he wasn't my brother, Francis...you are." Hotstreak's expression lightened a bit. "And, if you're willing to stick around this time," she paused; as if afraid to finish. "I'd like to give you another shot at it."
Hotstreak smiled happily. "Really? You mean that?"
By now, Rioko too was smiling. "You know I never say what I don't mean. Of course I mean it."
Hotstreak did all he could to contain himself from jumping in joy out of his chair. Instead, he calmly stood and walked to his sister's side. Upon receiving open arms from her, he gently sat down and hugged her out of sheer joy for the first time since before their parents died. "Thank you." he said weakly through a sound that Rioko place to be a light cry.
Later that day, as the sun lowered in the mid-afternoon sky, Virgil was growing extremely anxious over his partner's condition. "He said he'd keep me posted! Why hasn't he called yet?" Obviously speaking of the promise Hotstreak had made him the night before, Virgil thought hard as he paced nervously over the old floors of the 'Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude'.
Just then, at the very moment he was about to go hunt down the hot head himself, his shock vox beeped inside his coat pocket. "Hey V, you there?" a familiar female voice asked.
In lightening speed, he grabbed for the communicator and exclaimed excitedly. "Rie! You're okay!"
"Yes, Virg, I'm fine. Hey, can you meet me in the park?"
"Wha? Why?" Virgil asked; confused.
"Just meet me. I need to talk to you."
"Okay...be there in ten, kay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. See you then."
Once the connection was terminated, Virgil stood, just staring at the vox. What in the world? One minute, I think she's fatally injured, and the next, she's asking me to meet her in the park. he did a strange mix of a groan and sigh while shaking his head and grabbing his backpack containing his Static suit, just in case. "I swear, you'd think she could at least tell me why I'm rushing half-way across town. But no…she's gotta be all secretive."
Exactly ten minutes later, Virgil arrived on the top of a hill in Dakota's city park. (the very same place he and Rioko had designated their 'meeting spot' nearly a month before.) He stood for a moment, waiting for any sign of his close friend. "Virgil!" he finally heard called out from behind.
Instantly placing the voice with Rioko, he turned and smiled happily upon seeing her face. He didn't even register Hotstreak standing beside as he ran up to his friend. At the moment, all that mattered to him was Rioko. "Rie! You really are okay! How are you feeling? You had me so worried!"
Rioko laughed after hearing Virgil's frantic speech, but winced slightly upon feeling a foreign pressure on her ribs when he embraced her tightly. "Hey...yeah, I'm fine. But a little sore, if you don't mind..."
Virgil took the hint and quickly backed off and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Oh, I'm so sorry...I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No Virg, don't worry, I'm fine."
After giving a sigh of relief, Virgil finally caught sight of Hotstreak as he quietly cleared him throat; as if trying to find a way to get noticed. "Hotstreak! What are you...!" Realizing he wasn't in uniform, Virgil began to panic slightly.
"Don't worry, sparky...I won't tell." Hotstreak assured the younger teen with a smug grin on his face.
"Umm...okay. Rie, what's goin' on?" Even though Hotstreak had saved her life the night before, Virgil still found it quite odd for the two to be standing so close to each other (and not fighting).
"Francis and I had a little talk. We both agree that if we're gonna pick up our family again, there're some things in Gotham we gotta go back and work out."
"You mean you guys are really like 'family' again?" Virgil asked; almost repeating Rioko's statement just for emphasis.
"Yeah. We still got some things to work out, but we'll get to them when they come up." Rie said while smiling up at her brother, who kindly smiled back.
"So wait, you're leaving!" Virgil's voice shot up a couple octaves as he spoke.
"Yeah, but don't worry, it's not permanent. Like I said, we got some things to work out, but we'll be back as soon as they're cleared up."
"Wait, what about my partner? Static still needs you here." he didn't want to sound at all selfish since he knew this was best for both of the other metahumans, but still...Virgil didn't want her to go.
"I'll be back, V. And besides, I think Static can handle going solo for a little while." the smile on Rie's face slowly faded away as she spoke that last sentence.
"I'll miss you, Rie." Virgil said sadly.
"I'll miss you too. But I promise, I'll be back." Rioko opened her arms as she spoke, signaling Virgil to follow suit. He did. Gently (this time), Virgil moved into his friend's arms and hugged her as tightly as he could without causing her any pain. After a long moment, Rioko pulled away slightly and placed her hand on Virgil's cheek before kissing him tenderly on his chocolate brown lips.
Virgil could feel his heart beat faster and faster at the touch, but suddenly stop cold as she pulled away her touch. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words were found within him.
"See you soon." he heard Rie say kindly, just before taking her brother's hand and flying off into the clear blue sky.
"Rie..." he called out quietly after the shadowy figure of his dear friend growing smaller and smaller in the distance. "…I'll be here when you get back." he took one more longing gaze before turning and slowly making his way down the hill; back to reality and back to a life that would be ever waiting for the love he was afraid to admit.
The End
