Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock, if I did, well it probably wouldn't be finished and all the guys would be flaming gay.
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"Hotstreak broke into your house?!"
Richie smiles as he speaks to Virgil over the Shock box. He knows that Virgil is worried for him, but Hotstreak hadn't roasted him alive and he's fine so there is no cause for worry. Though in honesty, Richie wouldn't have minded heating things up a bit with the fiery Bang Baby…not that he would ever share that tidbit of information with Virgil. That is something that his friend really didn't need to know.
"I'm fine Static, but he's looking for information on you. Maybe we shouldn't hang together until he's done trying to get you through me."
As Richie said this into the shock box, he noticed Hotstreak leaning against a building and staring at Richie with a look of intense concentration. There was only one thought in his mind.
'Oh fuck.'
Richie quickly turned off the shock box and shoved it into his pocket, hoping Hotstreak didn't notice it, or realize that he'd been using it to talk to Static.
"Hey there Richie."
"Hey there Hotstreak…are you stalking me?"
"Yes."
Two seconds are spent on contemplation of Hotstreak's actions, before Richie puts two and two together to and realizes that the redhead is probably following him to get to Static.
"You're not going to get to Static through me."
"Good thing that's not my plan anymore."
Hotstreak comes forward and grabs the front of Richie's shirt. In fear for his life, Richie begins hitting Hotstreak's chest. He is terrified that the redhead is going to light him on fire like he threatened the night before. As much as Hotstreak's flames fascinated him, and Richie didn't mind being a flaming nerd, Richie had very little desire to be a flambéed nerd.
"Now there's no need to be so mean."
"Let go of me!"
Hotstreak pulls Richie close and presses their lips together in a searing kiss. In confusion, Richie stops beating on the stronger male's chest and whimpers in shock. 'If this is a dream,' Richie thinks to himself, 'Please don't let me ever wake up.'
"Are you done freaking out yet?"
"No…what brought this on?"
"Seeing you on that bed. I didn't know you were so built under that dorky hoodie of yours."
It is almost a compliment, but half a compliment is more than Richie has ever gotten from Hotstreak, even before he was Hotstreak. Besides, Richie knows that his hoodie is dorky. It's comfortable though and that is what matters to him.
And if Hotstreak can't tell that Richie is getting stronger, then none of the other Bang Babies will either. After being kidnapped, threatened, injured, and just plain abused by his best friend's enemies, Richie took up spending time at the local gym in hopes of becoming strong enough to defend himself. Though if he can't even make Hotstreak flinch, the workouts are probably not doing much.
"So you do this to every dork with a nice chest whose house you've broken into, or am I just special?"
'Smooth Richie,' he thinks as Hotstreak grins, 'Real smooth. Let's just hope I live to see tomorrow.'
"Considering you're the only nerd whose house I've broken into, I'd have to say that you're just special. So what do you say?"
Knowing that at any moment, one wrong word or movement can end his short teenage existence, Richie carefully chooses his words.
"What do I say to what?"
The amused grin on Hotstreak's face grows wider.