Chapter 5: Breaking The Habit

AN: Yet again, another songfic. Please try to bear with me. I don't own this song; it belongs to Linkin Park. By the way, if you haven't noticed, it's been very angsty lately so just to warn you, there is an attempt at suicide in this chapter. I'm just warning you, if you don't like it, you can just skip the chapter.

Memories consume

Like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again

Richie watched the ceiling in an attempt to find out what was wrong in his life. He was beaten up by his father and then was grounded from going anywhere. The meeting with Kandice pissed Mr. Foley off and he was taking it out on him and his mom. His arm hurt like hell because his father had thrown him against the wall with it. Then came blow after blow of his father's wrath. He turned over again, wincing at the pain in his side. For once, backpack wasn't on and he wasn't patrolling with Virgil as he usually did. He told Virgil that he was grounded, he didn't say what for. Of course, Virgil took as ok because he didn't want him to get in trouble again. Then, there was Kandice. She apologized for leaving out and he forgave her. He couldn't blame her for being angry with his father. The way he treated her was more than enough to make her leave. He was just relieved that her powers didn't go off and attack anybody. He wanted to see her, badly, but he couldn't even go to the community center. Despite his mother's pleas, he wasn't allowed to leave the house, except for school. All this pressure felt like murder to him. He had to be Richie Foley, normal high school teenager who happens to have a 200+ IQ when it came to science and technology. Then he was also Gear, Static's partner who didn't have physical powers like normal bang babies would. Finally, he was Richie Foley, boyfriend to the very troubled teen Kandice Harris, whom he wanted to share all of secrets with.

You all assume

I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again

The day was yet another regular, boring school day. Richie was exchanging books in his locker. He put on his usual happy face for everybody. 'Virgil and the others wouldn't suspect a thing.' He thought 'I really don't want Kandi to worry so much about me. She has enough problems without me adding onto the problem.'

He laughed to himself, head on the side of his locker. "I should be worrying about her…" he laughed to himself

He closed his locker and walked to the cafeteria. Students were talking as the usually did, and somehow it became noise to him. He looked over for Virgil and he found him sitting at the table with Frieda, Daisy, and Kandice. The girls seemed to be giggling about something, and Virgil had that 'I'm so bored out of my mind', look on his face. Whatever the girls were talking about, he obviously wasn't interested in it. When he sat down, he realized why he was so bored. They were talking about the most annoying thing to the two of them: 'Trading Spaces'. For some reason, they couldn't stand that show and they would be damned if the girls would change their rooms like the show. Virgil groaned and looked over at Richie. "Save me." He said

"What's going on?" he asked

"The girls are thinking about doing Trading Spaces to the community center."

"God save us."
Kandice kissed Richie on the cheek and he immediately blushed. "That's no way to treat your girlfriend." She said

"Please tell me that the three of you are not considering doing Trading Spaces to the community center." He said

"Only one room." Said Frieda

Both guys groaned. Kandice sat up and whispered into his ear. "Maybe the two us can personally re-arrange your room." She whispered

Richie's face immediately lit up at what she was getting at. She laughed and nudged him in the side. "Just kidding you pervert." She said

When she jabbed him in the side, he felt a searing pain go up his back. He immediately cried out in pain. "Are you ok!" asked Kandice, worriedly

He rubbed his side and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said

"You sure?" asked Virgil

"I'm peachy." He said, sarcastically

He got up from the table and left the four of them looking at him awkwardly.

I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused

Richie continued to stare up at the ceiling. It was late in the afternoon and he had already finished his homework long ago. All he could wait for was his father coming home. Some part of him wanted him to beat and yell him down to the floor. It felt as if it was a sense of release. It wasn't a pleasant kind, but there seemed to be no other way. He wanted to tell Virgil how he felt, but then there was the jokes and immaturity that went with it. Kandice, he just didn't want her to worry. Though, he thought that she was starting to see through him, even though he had his mental blocks up to keep her from reading his mind. He felt bad that he was keeping all of these secrets from her, but he felt as if there was no other way to do things. Then, there was the thought that rapidly went through his mind. There was always suicide, the only way that kids his own age under pressure would do. This wasn't the first time he thought this way; there were the other times, like when he lost his powers, or the last time his father beat on him. No, Kandice wasn't the only reason that his father beat him. There were numerous things that his father beat him over. At first, it was verbal abuse because he had gotten laid off a few times, and from drinking. Then, it was physical abuse when at first Virgil almost stayed the night. Then it died down and went back to verbal abuse. But then, it started up when Kandice met his parents. He never blamed her for the whole ordeal. She never did anything to cause it. Downstairs, he could hear the front door slam open. He sighed, knowing that the whole ordeal would start over again….

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

Feet crunched through the snow. Now, Richie was allowed out, considering that his mother pleaded with his father to let him out. His body felt weak and he had a small limp to his walk. Luckily for him, nobody really noticed….except for Kandice and Virgil. They constantly worried about him and he even yelled at the both of them. He didn't want anybody else to suffer what his father put him through. Currently, he was going to the winter festival in the park. He felt as if he needed to make it up for Kandice, for all the times he wasn't there during his 'punishment'. He felt a sour taste as he thought of that word. It never really struck him until now how unfair it was for him and his mother. He stopped in a back of a bunch of people who were listening to the musicians. All of a sudden, he felt a pair of cold hand in front of his eyes. He immediately tensed up and felt like screaming. The hands lowered down and instead a hand intertwined with his. He looked down to see Kandice look up at him, worriedly. "You jumped." She said "It was just me."

"Sorry." He said

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. "It's nice to see you out of the house." She said

"It's good to be out sometimes." He said "I just wish it was in warmer weather. Being out here in the evening and in cold air does wonders for my asthma."
Kandice giggled, feeling good that his jokes were coming back, even if it was through sarcasm. When the musicians stopped playing, she led him over to a park bench and the two sat down. Kandice laid her head on his shoulder and he put an arm around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her hair and she sighed. It was a mix of worry and happiness. They sat in silence for about five minutes before Kandice decided to break the ice and say what she was going to say. "I know what's going on." She said

"What?" he asked

"He's abusing you, emotionally and physically."
His arms went backwards behind the bench. He looked up at the starry night, knowing where this conversation was going. Now he knew how Kandice felt when he worried about her. She hugged her knees up to her chest. Her forehead rested between her knees. "I knew you would act like that." She said

"Kandi…" he started

"Just let me finish."

"Ok."

"I know how it feels…to be slammed up against the wall, and then blows against your chest and stomach. Sure, this is the first stage of it. You think he'll stop, but then it'll get worse and he'll start throwing things at you, and then the kicking starts."
Richie looked over at her. Her body was trembling a bit now. She was remembering her own horrors. He quickly embraced her and kiss the top of her head again. "That's not going to happen to me." He said

"Yes it will!" she exclaimed

Her voice was trembling and she looked straight into his eyes. Her face was flushed, looking like she was ready to cry. "It only gets worse before it gets better." She said

Before Richie could reply, the shockvox went off. She looked at him awkwardly. "Hell of a ringer for a cell phone." She said

"Gear?" asked a voice "Gear, are you there?"
Her eyes widened as Richie took it out and answered it. "Yeah?" he asked

"There's another murder, by the same man." Answered the voice

"I'll be right there."
He turned off the shockvox and sighed. He was waiting for Kandice to bite his head off, but then she just giggled. He looked at her awkwardly. "Wow." She said "My boyfriend's Gear…so that would make Virgil Sta-"

He quickly covered her mouth and looked around. He stood up and sighed, with Kandice standing with him. "Don't tell anybody." He said "If our enemies know about you, you'll-"

"Be liable to death threats, kidnapping, the whole deal, I read enough comics to know that."

"Right…you need me to…"

"Go and save the world, hero. I'll be fine."
He was about to leave when he felt an arm hold his wrist. "Be careful." Said Kandice

"You know me." He said

"Exactly why I said that."

"That's very satisfying to hear."

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not all right

So I'm breaking the habit

Tonight

Gear came just in time to see the coroners roll the body away. He sighed, hoping to God that Static wasn't mad at him. This was the fourth murder this month and Static was a bit stressed out. "What happened?" he asked

"Myrtle Johansen, age 14, freshman at Dakota Union High." Said Static

"What was the cause of death?"

"Her heart stopped, to put it bluntly, or at least that's what the doctors say."

"This is the fourth murder this month. The last three were Shiv, Hotsreak, and Carmendillo. I don't get it."

"Maybe Myrtle was a bang baby herself."

"I don't get it. Why is this guy only after bang babies?"

"There's something we're missing, let's go over to our…place, and try to find out some patterns."
With that, they flew off to the gas station. When they got there, Gear started up his computer and started analyzing data. He made a list of all the murders. He wasn't really paying attention. He was more focused on what Kandice said than anything else. It wasn't until Static snapped his fingers in front of his face did he notice anything? "What?" he asked, irritably

"Ok, what's going on?" asked Static

"What do you mean?"

"You've been in a trance like you've been severely wounded again."
Gear let out an exasperated sigh and banged his head on the keyboard. "Not again…" he groaned

"What?" asked Static

"First Kandice, now you. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"You've been in a lot pain lately and you've been limping. I don't like how this is going."
Gear, in a fit of anger, stood up straight from his chair and looked straight into Static's eyes. Static could see anger and annoyance boring in to his. "I'm fine and I wish you guys would stop worrying about me." He said, gritting his teeth

He pushed past Static and went to the door. "Where are you going?" asked Static

"Home." He answered

"Get back here! We haven't figured out a pattern yet!"

"Piss off!"

With that, Gear flew off into the night sky.

Clutching my cure

I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again

I hurt much more

Than anytime before

I had no options left again

Richie groaned as he felt the sunlight shining on his eyes. He felt a sharp pain go throughout his back. It was the start of another school day and for some reason, he didn't feel like going to the school. Then something hit him, he couldn't remember much of last night, but he was sure something happened, because he was naked under the sheets of his bed. Then, the realization hit him. On his nightstand was a bottle of painkillers and he guess that the pills had worn off. As he looked under the sheets, he found dried blood had spilled and he slammed his head back on the pillow and looked up at the ceiling. It all came back to him, everything that happened last night when he got back from patrolling. Hot tears streamed down his face and he began sobbing silently. There was a soft knock at the door. "Richie?" asked Mrs. Foaley

"Yeah?" he asked, shakily

"Is everything ok?"

"No, can I stay home today?"

"What for?"

"I'm not feeling very well today."

"Do you want me check your temperature?"

"No, I just want to be in my room today."

"Did something happen between you and Kandice?"
He felt his body tense up. It was hard to believe that she knew that he and Kandice were still together. But then, his mother was full of surprises at times. "No, I think I caught a cold." He said

"Oh, then you can stay home."

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

To show you what I mean

Kandice ran down the hallway of Dakota Union High. Ever since she got up that morning, she's been having a bad feeling. Then, when Mrs. Foley called, then she knew something was really wrong. She looked everywhere, even in the computer room, where Virgil and Richie hung out. She finally found Virgil in the cafeteria with Daisy. She let out an exasperated sigh. "And as usual, you find him eating…" she muttered

She pulled her bookbag up and walked over to the couple. Of course, Daisy wasn't too happy to see her. She was a bit upset that all of Virgil's friends were pulling him away from her. Virgil looked up and Kandice had a distraught look on her face. "You ok?" he asked

"Does it look like it?" she asked, sarcastically

She sat down right next to Daisy and she rapped her fingers on the table. "What's going on?" asked Virgil

"It's Richie." She answered "Her mother called and said that Richie didn't want to go to school.

"So?"

"So! There's more, he isn't sick and he's been crying in his room."

"What's the big deal about Richie missing school?" asked Daisy

"Daisy, come on." Said Kandice "When has Richie even stayed home from school? He loves books and he loves working on scholarly things….besides…he's crying in his room. When has Richie ever cried?"

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be all right

So I'm breaking the habit

Breaking the Habit

Tonight

Tears stained Richie's face and his eyes were red. He didn't know how else to feel. He couldn't figure out what happened, but he didn't want to know if his father did it or not. He glanced over to the bottle of painkillers. He knew his father used them when he got into an accident at the construction site. They made the body numb and would keep the body sedated. He didn't move from the spot that he woke from. He thought about what Kandice said the night before about the abuse. "I guess she was right…" he muttered

His fingers graced the bottle of painkillers and it made him think. But then, he shook his head, laughing a bit in the process. "Suicide is painless…" he muttered "Or at least that's how the song goes."

I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause i'm the one at fault

I'll never fight again

And this is how it ends

Virgil had just gotten home that evening. He had been working at the community center and he wondered where Kandice had gotten to. He always saw her there every afternoon. Sharon was sleep on the couch. Any other time, this would be awkward, but since she was an intern, plus going to school and to work, this seemed like a usual routine. The phone rang and he ran to get it, hoping that he didn't wake Sharon. She wasn't much of a morning person. He placed the phone to his ear and he heard someone crying in the background. "Hello?" He asked

"Virgil?" asked a shaky voice

"Kandice? Are you ok?"

"Well…sniff not really…"

"What's going on?"

"Come to the hospital. Come alone."

"I can get Sharon to-"

"I know you're Static. Just get over here. Richie's in the hospital."

"How did you…why is he in the hospital?"

"He tried to commit suicide."

"What!"

"Yeah, pretty wack, huh? Just come to the hospital by yourself. Mrs. Foaley's really upset right now."

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

To show you what I mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be alright

So I'm breaking the habit

Breaking the Habit

Tonight