A/N: Hi again. Are you ready for a little fluff? I know I am.
Book I
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins (1)Pg. 1
With Brainiac: Forward: The Story Behind the StoryPg. 2
Chapter OnePg. 4
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins (2)Pg. 7
Chapter TwoPg. 10
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins (3)Pg. 16
Chapter Three: First Nightmare: KluxPg. 18
Part One: On the Space StationPg. 18
Part Two: GraffitiPg. 24
Part Three: The Hospital, and the DiscoveryPg. 39
Interlude: Back with Brainiac (1)Pg. 53
Chapter Four: Second Nightmare: Marriage is a BlessingPg. 54
Part One: HomePg. 54
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins (4)Pg. 60
Part Two: A Day in the Life of a SuperheroPg. 69
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins (5)Pg. 79
Telling Tales
Part Two: A Day in the Life of a Superhero
This is Richie again. I keep saying I won't interrupt, but this is too painful to keep to myself. BP knows, and that's more of a comfort than I ever thought possible. But I want everyone else to understand what's wrong with me.
Virgil and I fought today. No, what we really did was throw words at each other and then I ran. I've run before from things, and it's never the right thing to do, but I can't shake the habit. Running and hiding used to be my only means of defending myself.
Then, when Virgil became Static, I would daydream about my best friend showing up and blasting my father into a thousand electrified pieces. There's only one problem with that: I still love my father, which is really screwed up, and I don't want to see anything happen to him.
So, back to today. I've caused enough problems, I think, with my cowardice. BP's in my mind, and it feels like he's trying to tell me I'm not a coward. But maybe that's just wishful thinking.
I need to call Virgil. But first, I need to calm down. It won't do me any good to call and apologize when I'm wound tighter than a spring.
At least Dad's working late tonight. Mom doesn't disturb me when I'm up here. The night is mine.
Writing about Brainiac probably won't help me calm down, but this next bit is nice. The way Brainiac really got to me was not with the terrible thing that happened at the end of each nightmare, but with the wonderful things that came before. In the first nightmare, there were things like Virg touching my shoulder, or just being there when I woke up or trying to defend me from Batman's attention. I know these things didn't really happen, but it's hard sometimes to separate fiction from fact.
I just called him Virg, didn't I? See? Any time I talk about the wonderful things V does for me- real or imagined- I calm right down. Let me write a little more and then I'll call him.
"Will they give you the holiday?" Virgil asked as he and Richie walked from their mouse-hole sized apartment to the Center, the community hangout for many of the youth in the area.
"Never. Gear gets more respect than Dr. Foley at the moment."
Virgil winked. "Maybe when you change your name to Hawkins they'll think more highly of you."
"Keep dreamin', Virg. The only way the administration would let me have that Thursday off is if my name were either Batman or Static Shock. And, at least from my perspective, I'm too cheerful to be the former, and too cute to be the latter."
"I don't need to be 'cute.' I'm downright sexy."
"And there I'll never dispute you." Richie snorted. "Now, can you stop sweating me over that one day? We'll leave as soon as my office hours are over."
"A three-day honeymoon just doesn't seem like enough."
"Didn't your dad say he and your mom didn't even get that because she never got more than a day off of work at a time? Being a paramedic is a lot more time-consuming than being a professor. Face it, V; not all of us have the honor of following in our father's footsteps and taking over his business."
"Well, I haven't exactly taken it over yet. I won't do that until he retires."
"Too bad Static and Gear don't get paid better."
"They don't get paid at all, last time I checked."
"It's times like now that I wish a Superheroes Union existed."
"If superheroing were easy, or profitable, everybody would do it."
"Speaking of that, you might not want to complain too much about the short honeymoon, V. Gear and Static don't take vacations, remember? At least they don't usually take them at the same time. I mean, who knows? A disaster might happen in the middle of the ceremony and we'd have to-"
Virgil groaned. "Do me a favor, Rich. Don't jinx us."
Richie smiled angelically. "I would never do such a thing."
The two of them were nearing the Center. They cut their banter short, noticing two boys slouching against the fence that ringed the Center.
"Do those two look familiar to you?" Virgil asked, nudging Richie.
Richie's eyes narrowed. "They look like a couple of delinquents that Static and Gear caught breaking into this place six months back. Must be out of Juvie."
"Shall we try to make friends again?"
"You try. I just seem to annoy them." Richie ducked in through an opening in the fence. "I'll tell Mr. H where you are."
Once he was inside, Richie glanced around quickly to see who was there already. He waved to a couple of rough-looking teens who seemed to trust him to a degree. "Hey, Bill. Hey, Raoul. Tell me the truth of why you two aren't in school today and I'll let you off the hook."
The two displayed the Suspension slips and Richie shook his head. "Were you fighting again?"
"Nope." Bill said. He was the more talkative of the two.
"Are you going to make me play twenty questions?" Richie asked.
"Brought our knives in."
Raoul scowled. "We weren't even going to use them! They were just in our lockers. You know. For later. Just in case."
Richie sighed. "All right. Shall we start our old tutoring schedule again?"
Bill groaned, but Raoul nodded. "I want to get out of Dakota," he said.
Richie glanced at Bill. "What about you?"
The lanky, dark-eyed boy pouted slightly. "Do we have to start tomorrow?"
Richie couldn't help but smile. Bill wanted to learn enough to make a life for himself, but he didn't want to seem uncool by being too eager. "The good news is, I can't tutor you tomorrow. The bad news is, that means I'll have to do it today."
"Are you going away again? Is the college sending you on another field trip with those preppy college kids?" Bill asked.
"No, Dumb-ass," Raoul answered for Richie. "Tomorrow's Saturday."
"I know that, you f-"
"Not in the Center, Bill," Richie interrupted. "And that goes for you, too, Raoul."
Raoul saluted insolently. "Yes, sir." But he was smiling. To Bill, he said, "Tomorrow is October 20th. Don't you remember what happens tomorrow? We're even invited."
Bill brightened. "The wedding!" He looked at Richie. "Are you still sure you want us to come? We'll eat all the food and ask for more."
"You'll have to fight Mr. Hawkins, Jr. off first," Richie answered, laughing. "And of course we want you there." His eyes were sparkling. "The church will look awfully empty unless all our friends from the Center come."
"Don't you guys have families?" Raoul asked.
"My fiancée does, but they can only take up so much room. The rest of the filling will have to be done by you guys."
"And it's cool if we show up in just jeans and shirts?"
"As long as the shirts don't say anything nasty on them, yes. Just remember that the same rules that apply here at the Center apply wherever we are. So, no gang colors, no disrespectful shirts-"
"No cigarettes," Bill interrupted, "and definitely no booze. Got it."
Richie smiled. "Right. Now, if you two will go find paper and pencils, I'll meet you on the basketball court in five minutes. I have to talk to Mr. H and let him know why I'm late."
"Where's H Junior?" Bill called over his shoulder.
Richie called over his shoulder just before he disappeared around the corner, "Outside, hopefully making friends with a couple of savage dogs." He made his way to the door of the main office. He noticed the door was closed, a thing that scarcely ever happened. He peeked through the window and saw Mr. Hawkins on the phone. Virgil's father looked ready to hit the ceiling. Richie thought about leaving, Robert looked up at that moment, caught Richie's eye, and nodded slightly, mouthing, "Come in."
Richie slipped inside, closing the door. He sat in the chair on the visitor side of the desk and watched Virgil's father, who had always acted like a second (and better) father to the blond.
Whoever was on the other end of the phone was giving Robert an earful. Richie saw the man roll his eyes several times. Once or twice, Robert even tried to get a word in, but he was forced into silence again. But finally the person on the other end of the phone seemed to be losing steam. Robert cleared his throat and said quickly, "I'll certainly tell Richie you called when I see him, but you know as well as I do that he doesn't actually work here, and to give you his home number would be a betrayal on my part. Good-bye, Mr. Foley." He hung up.
Richie felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach. He closed his eyes tight and bit his lip. At last, he managed, "When did he call?"
"About twenty minutes ago."
Richie flinched. "I'm sorry, Mr. H- I should have been here to take the call. It's just that V and I got a late start this morning and…" He sighed. "I'm sorry about him."
Robert reached across the desk and squeezed Richie's hand. "Don't apologize, Richie. Your father's attitude isn't your fault, nor is his behavior." He smiled. "Consider my intervention an early wedding present."
Richie blushed. "Thanks, Mr. H."
Robert shook his head. "Where is that lackadaisical son of mine, anyway?"
"He's trying to teach Tyrell and J'Quann to mind their manners."
Robert shook his head. "They're back?" He sighed. "Well, I'll keep an eye out for them." He stood. "For now, I have some banners to hang. Want to help?"
Richie also stood. "I can't. Bill Davies and Raoul Santiago were suspended. I'm going to tutor them for a bit."
Robert gave Richie a quick hug. "You're a Godsend, you know that, Doctor Hawkins?"
Richie blushed again, a grin coming close to splitting his ears. "I like hearing that," he murmured to himself. To Robert, he said, "I don't think most Godsends make much money, Mr. H. I'll have to continue working at the college for a while longer."
Robert nodded. "But one day, I'll either retire or be able to afford to pay Virgil. Then maybe you could spend more time here? A lot of the kids really like you."
"Maybe." As the two of them left the office, Richie asked, his mind drifting, much to his displeasure, back to his father's call, "What did he say to you?"
"Your father? Not much worth repeating."
"I'm sorry if he insulted you or anything."
"It doesn't bother me, Richie. That man's too little to worry about."
"What did he ask about me, besides my phone number?"
Robert tried to be casual. "He wanted to know when you'd be in. It seems your mother told him about you and Virgil."
Richie's breathing hitched for a moment, but then he asked, "Does he know we're getting married?"
"Yes. And that you're changing your last name."
"I should have never told Mom about that."
"She loves you very much, Richie. She wants so much for you to be happy. I'm sure she wouldn't tell him anything that would make you or Virgil uncomfortable. She didn't tell him where the ceremony is being held, after all, or even when."
"Yeah, you're right. I just wish she would stop talking to him. She divorced him. Doesn't he get the picture yet?"
Between tutoring Bill and Raoul (who were both quite bright, despite their bad choices), helping Robert put up the banners and working with Virgil to mount a new basketball hoop over the court outside, it was seven in the evening before Richie knew it, and time for he and Virgil to go on patrol.
Robert saw them off that evening.
"Go home before ten, okay, Pops?" Virgil asked as the three stood under the front lights of the Center. "This place closes at eight, so you should be able to manage that. You're in the ceremony tomorrow, remember?"
Robert laughed. "How could I forget? I'm giving away the groom." He winked at Richie. "Now, you two get out of here. Make sure your suits are pressed and your shirts don't have any stains on them. I'll see you bright and early at the church."
As the two lovers walked away, Richie asked, "Remind me again why your pops is giving me away. It still doesn't make sense."
Virgil grinned. "Well, first, even though we're both male, some traditions are too good to pass up. And since you're younger than me-"
"Only by two months!"
"-and shorter than me-"
Richie snorted at that, but didn't answer outright. He was almost six inches shorter than his lover.
"-we decided you should act the part of the bride, at least in that tradition. I'm the one wearing the garter during the reception, remember?"
Richie snickered. "Yeah, that was a very sweet concession of yours, I must admit."
Virgil cuffed him lightly. "So, quit complaining. We're both playing the lady part tomorrow. Be happy I didn't ask you to wear a dress. Isn't it enough that we're both dressing in white to show our virginity?"
"I thought little n—s like you liked to dress up," growled a voice from directly behind them.
The two whirled as one, and Virgil moved a step forward, determined to meet the threat before it could get to Richie. Four white-robed figures faced them.
As if fighting the Bang Babies, the Cobras and plain old criminals isn't enough, we have to fight the KKK too. Richie set himself squarely beside Virgil, his eyes flashing. The Ku Klux Klan had always had an underground foothold in Dakota. Maybe it was because so many of the organization's dispossessed members had moved to the city in the late eighties, or maybe it was just that Dakota's police seemed not to take notice of hate crimes in general, but the KKK had thrived in this one city even though it had diminished in so many others. Besides, Richie thought, the KKK doesn't just hate black people. They hate Mexicans, they hate gays, and they hate 'white boys' like me that mix with people of another color or race.
I always thought Dad would make a great member of the Klan. Richie often tried to convince himself that he was being unfair to his father, who, though he made it obvious that he hated Virgil and all his 'kind', had never actually raised a hand to Richie's lover, or, as far as Richie knew, to any other African-American.
"It makes you feel like civilized humans instead of the monkeys you are," the same voice continued.
"I'd be careful if I were you," Virgil retorted. "I hear Static and Gear patrol this area all the time. They'll blast you from here to Lake Dakota if they catch you out in your bedding. They'll get you for inappropriate dress and cruelty to sheets if nothing else."
One of the other robed figures flicked out a knife. "I suggest you shut your mouth, N—Boy, or I'll shut it for you."
Richie felt a hand close on his shoulder from behind in an iron grip. He thrashed and cried out, but an instant later other hands seized him and someone closed an alcohol-smelling palm over his mouth. I should have known the talk was a distraction, Richie thought, disgusted with himself.
Virgil spun, his eyes narrowing in rage. "Let him go," he snarled, his hands balling into fists.
"Say please," the man who had spoken first said. He and the rest of his friends moved closer to Virgil, hemming him in.
Richie felt the bite of a knife under his chin and he met Virgil's gaze. I love you, V. I love you. Whatever happens next, I love you. It was what he always said before the two of them went into battle. They knew that each time they went to defend Dakota they walked into danger. And Virgil would answer Richie each time, I love you, my Gear, my Richie, my own. You be careful, I'll be careful, and we'll share a kiss when this is all over.
"Please," Virgil said.
"Beg me for his life, N—Boy. Beg me to let your little whore go."
Virgil's eyes blazed at that. Then, suddenly, he looked straight up. "Static! Here! Static, help us!"
The white-robes all looked up, some of them muttering nervously about attacking people on Static's beat. Virgil took advantage of the distraction to steal all of their weapons with his powers. He flung them far away.
That was enough for the group of cowardly men; they let go of Richie, turned tail, and fled. Virgil at once went to Richie and took him in his arms. "Richie. Richie. Richie," he murmured, running his hands over Richie's arms and torso, making sure that not so much as a single mark had been left on his lover.
But Richie pulled away from him a little. "V," he said urgently, because Virgil was still trying to examine him, "we'd better get into costume before they return, just in case they find their guts."
For a moment, Virgil acted as if he hadn't heard. Then he sighed. "You're right."
Two minutes later, in costume and in the air, the two superheroes cruised over Dakota, investigating one dark corner after another, spying on Dakota's bad crowd.
"Maybe we should start changing closer to the Center," Gear suggested.
On his back, Backpack beeped a warning.
"Burglary?" Static asked.
Gear laughed. "Why do you bother trying to distinguish between his beeps? They all sound the same."
"I'm stubborn. So, what is it?"
"Well, since BP and I are connected through my mind-"
Static rolled his eyes. "Quit showing off."
"We're needed near the waterfront. There was a small explosion there, and heavy meta-human activity." As one, they turned east and picked up speed.
Two hours later, Virgil dragged himself into the bedroom. "Remind me why we do this. I know it isn't because we like dumpsters, fires or insane, axe-wielding Bang Babies."
Richie, just as exhausted, but knowing full well that he was in charge of his partner's morale- just as Virgil was in charge of his- answered, "I thought we were doing it because you look sexy as hell when you're in your Static costume."
"And not otherwise?" But Richie could tell by Virgil's voice that the other man was smiling.
"Nope. When you're out of costume, you look only sexy. And when you're naked… Well, then my heart fairly stops with the power of you." Richie grinned.
Virgil turned and opened his arms. "Richie, you're so-"
"There is no way I'm hugging you right now, V. We both look and smell like we were thrown into the city dump and left there for a couple of years to gain flavor. Get in the shower with me and we can hug and scrub there."
Virgil groaned. "If we do that, we'll break our promise. And if we've held off this long, even though we're sleeping in the same bed and see each other naked often, I'd just as soon actually make our wedding night our first night."
Richie's smile could have been called demure; the look in his eyes was anything but. "Go take your shower then."
Virgil shook his head. "No can do, Gear. I was the first one to get cleaned up last time. Go take your shower. You take quicker ones, anyway." As Richie, still smiling, passed him, Virgil swatted him lightly on the ass, then groaned at the squelching noise his hand made against Richie's backside.
Richie darted a glance at him.
Virgil made a face. "Okay, no touching until we're both clean."
Richie arranged himself in the bed while he waited for Virgil to get out of the shower. As always, he slept in boxers and a tee-shirt. There was no reason to tempt Virgil or himself. As Virgil had said, they had waited a long time; what difference would one more night make? 'And if we're really going to be "brides" tomorrow, we may as well go all the way and be the virgins brides had to be once.'
Virgil emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, his hair hanging everywhere. Richie laughed; he couldn't help it. Wet, Virgil always looked about fifteen years younger, as if he didn't know anything about puberty and was still the semi-innocent ten year old he'd once been. "I don't know if I can sleep with you, Little V. It might be considered child molestation."
Virgil growled, tossed his wet towel at Richie then, when the other was distracted, jumped on him, shaking the bed and stealing Richie's breath with both his sudden weight and a kiss.
Gasping and wriggling, Richie tried to free himself. But Virgil wouldn't be shaken so easily. He continued to kiss Richie in that deep and searching way, cupping his lover's face between his strong hands. As Richie cased to struggle, giving himself over completely to the kiss, Virgil moved down a little, taking some of his weight off the blond. Their covered members touched, and both of them gasped.
Virgil sat up. "I'm making this hard, aren't I?" Then he winced at the pun he'd made.
Laughing, Richie couldn't resist answering, "You made me very hard indeed. Maybe we should sleep now?"
Virgil nodded. "Yeah… we'd better."
Richie turned on his side and curled up. Virgil spooned behind him, his arms wrapped around his lover's waist.
Against the back of Richie's neck, Virgil whispered, "I love you."
Richie reached down and squeezed Virgil's hands where they were laced together just above his bellybutton. "I can't wait until everyone has to call me Dr. Hawkins."
"Hopefully no one confuses you with my sister."
Richie laughed and moved back a little, getting as close to Virgil as humanly possible. "I love you, V."
"Love you, too. 'Night, Rich."
"Good night, Virg."
Two seconds later… "Uh, Richie?"
"Yeah?"
"We were attacked in the street today."
Richie yawned. "So?"
Virgil sat up, dragging the covers off his fiancée. "So, that means we have an opportunity to put your suggestion into action."
"What sugg… Oh." Richie turned over and looked up at Virgil. "I'm all right, V. Really."
"That's what you always say." Virgil opened his arms. "Come on, Rich; let's talk."
Richie sat up and snuggled against his lover. "All right, V. After all, I don't want to be the one to give you a black eye the night before your wedding."
Twenty minutes later, content and comfortable, Richie having talked, and Virgil offering suggestions and words of love, the two were asleep. Neither of them was troubled by nightmares.
Me again. That was bad. It hurt more than I thought it would. And it also really made me want to have V right here so I can beg his forgiveness. On my knees, if necessary. I need him here.
From the Diary of Virgil Hawkins/Static Shock
Dear Diary,June 1, 2003
It'll be June 2nd in a couple minutes, but for now it's not quite midnight. I feel like a huge stone has been lifted off my chest. Richie called me.
I was lying flat on my back on my bed, feeling miserable and guilty and frustrated and helpless. Just when I thought I might go nuts from all the things running around in my head, my Shock Vox buzzed. I dove under my bed and hit the talk button. "Rich? Richie, is that you?" As if it could be anyone else.
"V…" He sounded near tears. "V, I'm-I'm so-" Richie sobbed.
"I'll be right over. Don't move."
Richie cleared his throat, tried to get control of himself. "You'll have to sneak in."
"Static will be right there. Just stay put."
"Kay."
Only a few minutes later, though it seemed like much longer to me, I was using my powers to open Richie's window. He was huddled on the bed, Backpack beside him, wiping away my best friend's tears with a tissue. There were a pile of tissues in the garbage can and on the floor. Backpack wasn't looking where he aimed. Even as I watched, Backpack tossed a tissue almost straight at me.
Richie looked up. He wasn't wearing his glasses, and he squinted a little. He sat up, Backpack moving a little closer to him.
I went to Richie immediately, sat down beside him and hugged him close.
His arms snaked around my waist and he buried his head in my shoulder. "I'm sorry, V… Shouldn't have run away… I freaked."
"You had every right to." I tightened my hold on him. "Please don't run again, Richie. You scared me. And… Well, I was being an idiot. Forget everything I wrote, okay?"
"I just wanted you to be protected… I don't want you to know what he does… I don't want…" Richie wept. "I'm scared, V. I don't want to leave Dakota. I don't want to stop being Gear. I don't want to leave you." Then he suddenly pulled away and met my gaze. "I didn't mean it- that you remind me of Brainiac. I didn't mean that at all."
I pulled him against me again. "Richie, I know. We all say stuff we don't mean." Then, trying to do an impression of a cabbie from New York, I said, "Foggeddaboudit."
Richie laughed, still against my shoulder, and hugged me so hard I thought my ribs would crack. It felt so good to be squeezed by him. "V, I… I want to tell you something." His face was turned away so I couldn't read his expression. "Please don't be angry with me if you don't like this. Just say, "No, Richie," and I'll never bring it up again. I'm happy just as we are. It's only… I want you to know, in case something happens to me."
"Nothing's going to happen to you, Rich; I'll make sure of that."
Richie swallowed. "Well, just in case… and because I don't want to keep it to myself anymore." But for a long moment Richie didn't say anything. He swallowed several more times and cleared his throat.
Backpack moved even closer to Richie, slipping one "arm" around Rich and almost between the two of us, as if he thought Richie needed to be comforted. Or protected.
"I need you, V. I'm your sidekick just like Gear is Static's. With you, I do all right, and I can even help. But I'd never make it on my own."
I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him he didn't need me, that he could be strong without me, that he'd survived Brainiac without me.
Before I could manage to say any of these things, though, Richie spoke again. "I love you. I've loved you for at least a year. Please, V…" He looked up at me, his eyes bright. "I need you. I'd rather be your friend than nothing at all, but I had to tell you. In case they make me leave."
I wanted to kiss him. Richie had more courage than I did- he'd confessed his feelings before I'd even dreamed about telling him my own. But something stopped me from just grabbing him and crushing my lips against his.
Richie was gazing up at me, his eyes anxious and fearful. I had to tell him, but my voice wouldn't work. I hugged him against me, and laid my cheeks on top of his head. He was trembling slightly. I finally managed to make my voice work. "I love you, too, Rich." My voice was hoarse, but at least it worked.
He pulled away a little and fumbled for his glasses on his nightstand. Backpack handed them over and Richie slipped them over his ears. He met my gaze, and there was no way to read his expression. "What will you do to me now?"
I blinked. "Do?" I echoed stupidly. "Like what?"
Richie had pulled away from me completely and now there was no question that Backpack was taking a defensive position between the two of us. "Will you kiss me?" He bit his lip. "Or hurt me?"
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him what made him think I would hurt him, but then I looked in his eyes, and the answer was written there as if with black ink. Brainiac. Brainiac- and whatever the evil machine had done- had hurt Richie, and was making him hesitant and unsure.
I decided to come to the answer in a roundabout way. It would give me a chance to think of a way to phrase my promise. I had to make sure that I didn't say something that would remind him of Brainiac in any way. The trouble was, I didn't know what the sadistic supercomputer had done. "Richie, I love you. I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you." I felt my cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. "I wanted to tell you. It's just… Virgil isn't as brave as Static." I grinned a little, looking at him to see how he was taking my words. "Remember when Static first came to Dakota Union High and met everyone? Remember how smooth he was with Frieda? Virgil could never be that smooth. It's just not in his vocabulary."
Do I sound schizophrenic? I promise I'm not; it's just that I do lead two separate lives as Virgil and Static. There are crossovers between the two- if there weren't, I'd really be schizo- but some things are only true for me when I'm in costume or out of it. Richie's like that, too. Gear is forceful and serious. Richie jokes and tends to be quiet in class. Anyway, now that I've totally confused myself, let's get back to Richie's room, three hours ago.
"I remember," Richie said, and, much to my relief, he was smiling a little. "Virgil's better than Static in some ways, though. He's less of a stupid-risk-taker."
"Are you saying I'm stupid or the risks I take as Static are stupid?" My grin had spread, and I was able to relax slightly, even though I didn't know if Richie would trust me to love him the way he deserved to be loved. I couldn't help thinking, Even if he won't take me as a boyfriend, it's obvious we still work as friends.
I reached out- slowly, so that Backpack wouldn't think I was going to hit Richie- and touched my friend's hand. "We'll be learning the way together, Rich. I've never been gay before. And you know I haven't been with anyone before. For crying out loud, the closest I've come to a real date was when Static rescued Daisy and carried her off on his saucer. We should probably take it slow, but I don't think most things are going to change. As your friend, I would never hurt you- except with idiotic words of course-"
Richie snorted.
"-and I won't hurt you if we're together. You're my man, Rich; I need you, I love you, and…" I blushed, running out of words.
Richie moved closer to me. Backpack also moved- though somewhat reluctantly, unless I was imagining things. He gave Richie and me a little space. Richie and I just stared at each other for a moment. I don't know if he felt as nervous as I did. Then Richie closed the distance, brought his hand up behind my head, and kissed me, his lips slightly parted.
I never thought Richie would be an experienced kisser. Caught between shock and delight, I put my hand behind his head and kissed back, trying to match his mouth shape. How did he know what he was doing?
Richie's lips parted a little more and I copied him. They drew in at the corners and I matched their new feel.
After a few more moments of this- I was actually enjoying the game- Richie pulled back. "V, what are you doing?"
"Kissing you?" I was blushing again. "What did I do wrong?"
"We aren't playing follow the leader," Richie answered. But he was smiling instead of frightened, which is what I'd been worried about when he stopped kissing me. The last thing I wanted in the world was to push him away now that I had him.
"Huh?" Oh, real swift, Virgil. Try Static. "Did I hurt you?" Okay, at least that sounds better, even if it is a stupid question. Richie looks more amused and touched than anything.
"No." Richie moved close again, but didn't resume the kiss. "Don't try to match what I'm doing. Just do whatever feels natural." Once again, he kissed me.
This time, I focused on how it felt. Richie's lips were different than I would have thought. I guess I was expecting a wet feeling, and I was definitely expecting them to be… squishier. I'm blushing again while I write this. But if his lips weren't either of those things, they didn't feel wrong, either.
Richie broke the kiss again. He was grinning.
"What now?" I asked.
"Nothing." Richie tried to hug me, but it felt awkward. Apparently, he noticed this, because he let go of me and took my hands.
Getting the picture, I hugged him instead. Much better. Maybe it's because I'm taller when we're sitting (and standing) or because my arms are a little longer, but it felt more natural for me to hold Richie. And hadn't Richie just gotten done telling me to do what felt natural? I rested my chin on top of his head. Richie sighed, leaning even more against me. I tightened my embrace suddenly, wanting him as close as I could get.
"I love you, V."
"I love you, too, Richie." Then I remembered how alone and lost he'd sounded on the Shock Vox. He was crying when I first showed up. I asked, not wanting to break the comfortable moment, but needing to know if he was truly all right, "Did you have another nightmare, man?"
Richie was quiet for so long that I didn't think he'd heard me. "Richie?"
"It wasn't a nightmare. I haven't slept." He was trembling again.
"Richie, whatever it is, I can-"
Richie sat up. He was looking down at our hands, which had found each other when he'd pulled away. "It was us, V. I was so afraid you wouldn't accept me. Or that…" He sighed. "And it's other stuff, too, but I need to write it down. Maybe if I write it, I'll figure it out."
"Richie? Man, what are you talking about?"
"Batman said- well actually, didn't say, but might have, if things were different-"
"Rich, slow down. You've totally lost me." I grasped his shoulders and urged him to look at me.
I could see the shine of unshed tears in his eyes, and his voice wasn't steady. "I'm trying the best way I know to heal. When I finish writing what I'm writing, will you read it? Maybe if I write it and you read it…" He looked away once more. "But I don't want you to have nightmares. I don't want to burden you with this."
"Richie, look at me, man. " He did. "Your burden is my burden. I'm here for you. I've got your back and you've got mine. Right?"
He smiled a little. "Always."
"Then write what you have to write, I'll read it, and everything will be okay." I added, because he was still looking nervous, "I promise, Richie. I would never leave you hangin'. I love you."
Richie's smile broadened and he flung his arms around me. We fell back against the mattress- and then flipped over. I'd been sitting half on and half off the bed without realizing it. We hit the floor- Richie on top of me- and both of us grunted. But we were both laughing hysterically, and when Richie started tickling me, I counterattacked with every trick I-Virgil- could use. It wouldn't have been fair to use Static tricks on him. Besides, if I did that he might send Backpack after me.
I think I would have won that battle, but suddenly Backpack's alarm went off. In a flash, but Richie and I were on our feet. Backpack stopped at once, then dove under the bed. From downstairs came the distinctive sound of someone stomping about.
"Dad's home!" Richie pushed me towards the window. "Go! Go! If I pretend I'm asleep, he won't do anything. Go!"
So, I went. But I'm not fool; I hid under Richie's window until someone opened his bedroom door.
"Maggie, did he do all his homework?"
"Yes, right after supper."
"Good. And what was he doing today?"
"He's working on a project for science that's due next month."
Mr. Foley grunted. "Why's he always so tired?"
"He told me they're running the mile in P.E."
"About time they start giving the kid some worthy education." The bedroom door closed.
I peeked into the room. Richie was on his side, facing me. He mouthed, "Go!" then smiled. I left.
Remember how I said it felt as if a weight had been lifted off my chest? I feel like I've grown wings, too.
By the way, it is now June 2nd. Time for me to get some sleep, or I'll be falling asleep in History again. Why do they put the boring classes in the first part of the day?
Sailor Vegeta: Actually, I'm glad you're confused. That means I was doing my job. Richie's confused, not knowing if he's sixteen or twenty-six. So, the reader needed to feel and experience that confusion, too. Did you make sense of it in the end? I hope you're not still confused. If that's true, then I went too far.
Also, about Virgil not going after Richie: maybe he wasn't sure if he was calm enough to talk to Richie. Plus, he might be afraid of driving Richie away again. I'm just guessing, though, since I don't understand all of Virgil's motivations.
Pathetic Krypton: The point of view is omniscient because Brainiac controls what Richie sees and hears. In a very real sense, Richie isn't control of his world. Plus, Richie wanted to distance himself from the story a little, hence the third-person.
I honestly don't know how long the story is going to go. I have a story in the works that's five hundred and something pages long (Lord of the Rings) but others wrap themselves up in a hundred pages or less. We'll see.
Thank you for the high praise.
Dimitri Aidan: LOL! I love flying pink elephants. And I guess having too much Richie is like too much of a good thing. Besides, I love Virgil, and I don't want him to get the short end of the stick here.
