Static Shock Fan Fiction ❯ Watch The Sky ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Manga-Chick 
Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for children under 17
Non Anime: Static Shock Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Psychological | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.06.2007 | Updated On: 04.09.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 306 | Status: Completed
Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for children under 17
Non Anime: Static Shock Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Psychological | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.06.2007 | Updated On: 04.09.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 306 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN STATIC AND OTHER ASSOCIATED CHARACTERS! Dwayne McDuffie and WB and Milestone do in...their various ways.
Warning: profanity, darkness, slash
Chapter Two
At school the next day, Virgil was hesitant to see the twins. He was angry, but more regretful than anything. It was obvious Osgoode was pissed at him while they were talking on the phone, and though that gave him hope in that his feelings were returned, it just made the situation a whole lot more disastrous. He kept repeating the events of the day before, utterly lost as to how he’d let Richard deceive him. There was a school ceremony in the gym for first period, so he followed the stream of students into the gym. He wasn’t sure how Osgoode was going to act toward him; if he were even going to be acknowledged.
But when he paused to scan the bleachers for a place to sit, he heard his name called. He looked up to see Osgoode waving at him, indicating a space beside him. While elated in that he was acknowledged, he wasn’t sure what was going to happen---what Osgoode was going to say. But he moved in that direction, watching the smiling Foley twin for any indication of trouble. Osgoode shifted aside, moving his backpack as Virgil reached them. The teen swallowed hard as Osgoode indicated the seat next to him. Virgil noticed that though Richard was sitting next to his brother, it was obvious that the pair weren’t acknowledging each other. With Richard scanning the other half of the gym, pointedly not looking at him, Virgil felt some relief in that the twin wasn’t going to cause any other problems. He looked at Osgoode to see that twin looking at him oddly, eyes slightly narrowed as he observed Virgil looking at Richard---Virgil hesitated to sit down, holding his bag before him with trembling hands. He did not want to lose Osgoode---even if a relationship wasn’t considered, he’d absolutely do with his friendship.
Osgoode shifted, gesturing. “Sit down. It’s going to start.”
Virgil sat, holding his backpack tightly. He glanced away as the principal moved for the podium and the students began to settle. He looked back at Osgoode, searching for any indication of uncomfortable feelings, for something angry. But the twin caught the look and gave him a tight smile.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered as the principal began to speak. “You okay?”
The question caught Virgil off-guard. He was confused. But he nodded in a dazed manner, feeling absolutely wretched in the mistake he’d made with Richard. Several long minutes passed, with the principal speaking eloquently over some subject Virgil couldn’t pay attention to. He turned back to Osgoode, focusing in on him intently. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Richard, anymore. Not after all that had happened.
“We need to talk, man,” he said urgently.
Osgoode looked at him questionably, lips tightening once more. He went stiff, fingers curled into fists atop of his knees. Sensing his twin’s agitation, Richard started to look at him when he noticeably caught himself to stop. “Can’t it wait?”
“No. No, Oz, I just…I can’t let this go. I need to explain---”
“There’s nothing to explain,” Osgoode interrupted, shaking his fingers loose and shifting them under his knees. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But---! Maybe you don’t, but I need to,” Virgil insisted, keeping his voice low. “I---I can’t just let something like this go, not after what’s involved.”
“Virgil, there’s nothing to talk about. It was a mistake, and my brother’s absolutely despicable for leading you on like that. It’s absolutely inexcusable that he’d dare mess with your emotions and your head.” Osgoode tossed his twin a dark glance, then rolled his eyes and shrugged. “He just wanted to fuck around with you just to separate us. He’s just jealous that I spend more time with you than I would with him, and he needs to get over it. There’s no hard feelings on my end, and there’s nothing more that needs to be discussed.”
Virgil was confused. But he studied Osgoode for a few moments, utterly at a loss for what to say or do next. Everyone began clapping, the blond included, and Virgil sat back in his seat to somehow focus on the rest of the ceremony.
Afterward, during their walk to third period, Virgil thought over what he wanted to say. He was still confused over Osgoode’s reaction, wondering frantically if Osgoode even felt the same way toward him, or it was just some story told by Richard. To think that Richard would pick up on Virgil’s feelings and use them against him made the twin abhorrable to Virgil. He had never quite got along with the blond twin, but things had certainly changed for the worst in this situation. He wasn’t sure if he could ever speak to him again.
But it made him question himself---did Osgoode even have feelings for him at all? In that sense? What if Virgil’s ‘coming out’ scared him off? He didn’t think that Osgoode was straight, but then again he never heard Osgoode speaking of anybody in an admiring manner. Richard was the only one out of the pair that waxed poetic over such things.
After the ceremony, he followed the twins to their locker, Osgoode talking all the while about his Advanced Physics class, Richard muttering something upon occasion. When they reached their lockers, Virgil leaned on the wall nearby, gazing at the floor and the flow of students before he chanced a look at them.
He stilled once he caught sight of Richard, finally noticing that the twin was without his glasses---the right side of his face was swollen and bruised, the eye colored horridly, with a couple of stitches just to the side of that eye. Virgil gaped at him as Osgoode turned to address him. Once the twin caught Virgil staring at his brother in shock, his face momentarily screwed with annoyance. He slammed his locker shut, the loud sound drawing Virgil’s attention.
“Ready?” Osgoode asked him, a touch snide.
Virgil closed his mouth. He moved to ask what had happened when Osgoode started walking, Richard muttering something under his breath about being left. Virgil hesitated to follow, glancing at Richard with uncertainty before he turned and followed Osgoode. Once they reached the classroom, Osgoode took his seat with a cheerful sound, indicating for Virgil to sit next to him. Virgil stood there with some indecision, noting that if he did, Richard wasn’t going to be able to sit anywhere near them. In all the time that he’d known them, they never sat apart.
His hesitation drew an odd look from Osgoode, who lifted an eyebrow. Virgil took the seat, figuring that it served Richard right. Sure enough when the other twin caught up with them, realizing the seating order, he stopped short. Osgoode ignored him as he drew out his textbooks, and while Virgil felt ire toward Richard, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty in shutting Richard out.
He glanced up to see Richard’s face cross with fierce annoyance, jaw tightening as he turned and hastily found a seat toward the back of the classroom. Virgil watched him subtly, feeling a little justified when their classmates noticed the separation and began ragging on the lone twin for being ‘dumped’. It didn’t make matters any better when some of them commented about being replaced. He chanced a look at Osgoode to see his smug face.
All it took to feel a little better about himself was how easily he had been duped the day before.
01010011
That night, Richard frowned at Osgoode as he carried conversation with their father. Sean was dressed and ready for work---working nights at the local electricity plant, he shared dinner with his family as his breakfast. Maggie sat next to Osgoode with Sean and Richard facing them, picking at her food while she made sure the men of her family ate what she had cooked. Richard glared at Osgoode across the table, chewing fiercely on his steak. His mother took notice of the glare, studying her eldest son’s injuries with an expression of concern. While she hated the sight of injuries on her boys, she was used to them.
“How is your eye, dear?” she asked, setting her fork down.
“How is your steak, mom? Well done? Chewed enough for you to vomit later?”
“Yes, it’s fine, Richard. How about your eye?”
“It’s okay.” Richard looked over at Osgoode, waiting for him to look at him. When it was obvious his twin wasn’t going to pay attention to him, he scowled.
“I wish those boys were caught,” Maggie said with a tired sigh. “I don’t see how they could get away with doing what they had with you.”
Richard touched his black eye with a sullen frown, then glared at Osgoode once more.
“Maybe the pair of you should take up some sorta martial arts,” Sean said gruffly, brought alert to their conversation. Osgoode finished his food, wiping his mouth. When he rose from his seat with an abrupt screech of his chair upon the floor, Sean looked at him. “Where are you going?”
“Virgil’s. I did Richard’s chores yesterday, so he said he’d do them today,” Osgoode said as he left the table, depositing his dirty plate and cup into the sink. Richard’s face darkened. “Be back by nine, mom!”
The three of them watched him hurry out of the kitchen, running upstairs with a heavy tromping of his feet. Sean looked at Richard with a quiet sigh, frowning at his eldest. “What’s your problem?” he asked with heavy annoyance.
“Your face,” Richard replied snottily. Sean nodded, picking up a piece of sauce covered steak and flicking it at him. When it bounced off his son’s forehead and fell onto the table, Sean speared it with his fork and ate it.
“What else is new?” he asked, not at all offended with his son’s words. “How was school?”
“Boring. Stupid Osgoode ignored me. Him and his stupid boyfriend Virgil hung out all day.”
“It’s time that you make your own friends, Richard,” Sean said, finishing off his steak. He frowned at his wife. “You’re not finished, dear. I’d like that plate to be cleared before you leave the table.”
Osgoode shouted his goodbyes as he ran out the front door, slamming it shut behind him. Richard grumbled into his arms.
“And I’d like more oral sex, but we can’t always get what we want, do we, dear?” Maggie murmured in reply. Sean snorted.
Making a face, Richard pushed away from the table, snatching his plate and cup. “Gross. Keep that to yourselves. I don’t want my mind dirtied by your sickness.”
“It’s a fact of life, son. Even parents have sex.” Sean burped into his hand as he watched his son leave the table. He lifted an eyebrow as he looked at his wife. “What’s with them?”
“Osgoode is feeling frustrated,” Maggie answered, leaning onto the table with an elbow. “He has a friend, and wants to spend time with him, doing new things. Richard does not. He’s feeling left out.”
“What’s this kid like, anyway?” Sean was always sleeping during the day, and had no idea who Virgil Hawkins was.
“Very nice,” Maggie said cheerfully, rising from the table as she grabbed her plate. “Very nice boy, easily excitable. He and Osgoode get along just great.”
“Sit down!”Sean barked, pointing his fork at her accusingly. “You’re not done!”
“The news is on, Sean. Hurry up if you want to watch it,” Maggie replied. He glared at his plate while she made her way upstairs to their bathroom.
Later, Richard flicked through the channels as Maggie worked at patching up one of Sean’s worn jeans. Maggie cast a worried glance at her son, frowning slightly as she took in his blank expression. She noticed that he was squinting hard at the contents of the screen and shifted in her seat. “Where are your spare glasses?”
“Oz took them. He broke his last pair.”
“Both of you have different prescriptions! He’s going to ruin his vision if he wears your pair!”
“That’s his problem.”
“But that means you can’t see!”
“So? I don’t have anything to look at. It’s not like I’m doing anything, anyway.”
There came an abrupt news flash, and both of them focused on the television while Richard turned it up. The cheerful reporter went on to glamorize a recent battle between Dakota’s superhero, Static, and some villains that had attempted to rob one of Dakota’s prominent banks. As the screen flashed with his heroic efforts caught on film, they both gave awed murmurs.
“It’s so cool that there’s people like that out here,” Richard said with a cheered grin. “Comic books come to life, man. Though I wish I could see them in person.”
“I wouldn’t,” Maggie said with a shake of her head. “It’s awfully dangerous what that boy’s doing. I wonder what his parents think of his actions? They must go to bed worrying constantly for their baby…”
“Oh, mom, everyone knows that superheroes keep their identities secret. His parents probably don’t even know what he’s up to, or even where he is. Oh, God, wouldn’t it be cool if it were someone we knew?”
Maggie shrugged.
“These villains are just, like, normal regular people, too. Like someone you’d see in the supermarket,” Richard added, frowning at the mug shot of one of the captured crooks. “See, like this guy…I could totally see him trying to shoplift from the mom and pop down the street. And who gives them their names? The media? I mean, ‘Shiv’? Sheesh. He looks like a dork.”
“…Their poor, poor parents,” Maggie murmured, flapping out Sean’s jeans to check her work. “I just feel so sorry for his parents…”
Richard rolled his eyes and continued flipping through the channels.
Later that night, Richard stared out at the streets from his bedroom window, searching for any sign of his brother. Maggie had gone to bed earlier, and he took that time to hide out in his room while smoking out the window. It was past nine, and he wondered what Osgoode was doing. He wondered if Osgoode and Virgil had talked past what had happened, and wondered how Osgoode could take Virgil’s bullshit.
Richard sneered as he stabbed the rest of his cigarette out in his ashtray. He sprayed a canister of Lysol into the air, and hid the ashtray underneath his bed. He thought Virgil so pathetic, the way he confessed his feelings for Osgoode, waxing sap on how he valued their friendship, how he loved being with him and wanting more. He thought over how Virgil had been so nervous with his confession, and wondered how Osgoode could ever think that the teen’s feelings and thoughts were so damn ‘precious’. It was only obvious Virgil was after him for one thing.
Richard had thought of his devious plan on impulse---he’d intercepted a note Virgil had wanted given to Osgoode during seventh period, and he grew curious when he read that Virgil had something ‘very important’ to tell Osgoode at the library. He, at first had been very confident that Virgil would tell right off that Richard was trying to trick him, but Virgil hadn’t even noticed that he was walking off with the wrong twin, addressing him as ‘Oz’. So Richard went along with it, sure that Virgil was going to catch on sometime. But he never did---and Richard continued pretending to be Osgoode, hating every moment of it. When Virgil finally confessed, Richard had the idea that Osgoode would be pissed if he found out that they’d messed around. Richard had thought that Osgoode would be so angry at Virgil, and Richard would prove that Virgil’s intentions were less than innocent so that Osgoode would drop him and once again hang with his brother more. Richard had thought that it had made a great plan at the time---for he didn’t have feelings for Virgil, and it wasn’t as if he were trying to take him away from Osgoode. He just wanted to prove his point in that Virgil was just trying to ‘hook up’ with one of them. It was, in Richard’s mind, a way of protecting his brother from the big, bad monster that was teenage sex.
Richard felt his face heat as he recalled the horrible make-out session, and made a face. He leapt away from the window to hurry into the bathroom that he and his brother shared, hurriedly brushing his teeth. It had been tough and utterly traumatic for him, taking Virgil’s kisses as though he were Osgoode. He had thought he was going to puke at one point, but Virgil had thought that he were merely ‘inexperienced’ and let him come up for air. Richard figured that what he’d sacrificed for his plan was just another notch for him to regret.
Unfortunately, there were many regrets, but at least he wasn’t as inexperienced as Virgil had thought. The other teen had been completely surprised when Richard delved into his pants for his first blowjob. Which hadn’t been all that great, either. Apparently, Virgil wasn’t experienced in that area, but Richard could at least chalk up the horrible experience as an opportunity to perfect his talent. It was just another disappointment when Virgil failed at that as well. Richard had to smirk as he finished brushing his teeth. Osgoode was going to be terribly disappointed if he ever touched that point in his relationship with Virgil---if Osgoode was going to ever forgive him.
Leaving the bathroom, Richard headed back to his room. He flopped onto his bed and curled into a fetal position as he heaved a heavy sigh. He was utterly bored without his twin---if Osgoode were here, they could have been battling each other over ‘Halo’, or making fun of the MTV programs that were playing. They could have been doing so many things, but Osgoode chose to spend his time with Virgil.
God, Richard hated Virgil.
He sat up, staring sightlessly at the poster he had hung up when they’d moved in. Taking in the images of Frank Miller’s rendition of Batman with a pang in his chest, he tried not to feel so much. He missed Osgoode---he missed his brother so much that the feelings swirled with heavy effect in his mind and body. They’d spent their lives together---from the womb and beyond. How Osgoode could want to ruin the bond with someone as boring and dull as Virgil was completely heinous.
He felt as if he were missing a part of himself---missing a limb. Without Osgoode around, Richard felt useless and alone; something that was definitely painful. He hugged himself with a small growl, wishing for his brother to come back home---to acknowledge him. Osgoode, whenever he was mad at Richard, often gave him the silent treatment and ignored him. It was something that drove Richard crazy, needing his attention and acknowledgment like one would with air. His brother was a part of him, was his other half---it was as if his own mind was ignoring him, refusing to work with him.
He heard the door open and slam, and he leapt from his bed, racing out to the hallway to look over the railing. His brother’s hair was mussed and had what looked to be soot around his cheeks. It wasn’t unusual for his brother to come home in that state, claiming that he and Virgil had been tinkering around some junkyard for things to build---something that was beyond Richard, for what fun could be found in a junkyard---and exploring the various abandoned buildings within Dakota. Maggie hated to hear about her son venturing in such areas, fearful for his safety from the vagrants and danger, but Osgoode often ignored her pleas for staying away from such areas. Like Richard, she was clueless in what Osgoode found ‘fun’ in these places.
“Oz, where’d you go?” he asked from the hallway, frowning when Osgoode ignored him as he ventured into the kitchen. Richard hurried down the stairs, sniffing the air as he walked into the kitchen after him. It smelt of burnt ozone---something he imagined lightning smelled. Not that he knew lightning even had a smell… “Oz. Ozzie. Ozzie….Oz. Stop ignoring me. Where’d you go?”
“Mom, did you throw away the leftovers?” Osgoode shouted from the ‘fridge, peering in to examine its contents. Richard leaned against the counter, scowling at his back while Maggie called a reply. “Oh, nevermind! Mom, can you give us a ride to the theater tomorrow? There’s a horror marathon going on that me an’ Virgil are going to catch!”
Richard sighed heavily. “You promised you’d go with me to the marathon! You know I wanted to see them, too! We planned this a long time ago, bro! What about all that candy we bought the other day? You promised, Oz! …Osgoode, stop ignoring me.”
The twin grabbed a loaf of bread and the leftover steak, humming to himself as he set his things on the counter. He made himself a sandwich while Richard watched, arms crossed stiffly over his chest.
“Oz…Oz. C’mon, man, knock it off. You promised that we would go together! We never spend any time together, anymore! Osgoode! God, for once, you can do without your boyfriend…he’s always going to be there! Are you still mad at me? Why aren’t you mad at him for playing dumb?”
Osgoode ate his sandwich, grabbed a soda, then hurried upstairs. With a frustrated growl, Richard put everything away and followed after him. Maggie called for them to lock up before they came upstairs, but Richard ignored her as he followed Osgoode into his room. Like his, Osgoode had the very same setup, the very same posters and colors. Osgoode kicked off his shoes and rummaged through his drawers for his pajamas while Richard sat at the edge of his bed, waiting to be acknowledged.
He rubbed at his black eye with a ginger touch as Osgoode changed. When his brother left his room, heading for their parents’, Richard followed. Osgoode charged into the room, flopping onto the bed while Maggie protested.
“Where’s the phone?” Osgoode demanded as Richard sat at the edge, scowling. “Mom, did you see the news? Static totally ruined the Metabreed’s plan to wipe out Dakota First National. It was awesome.”
“You weren’t nearby, were you?” Maggie asked, handing him the cordless. She gave her son a worried onceover. “Where have you been? Why are you so dirty?”
“Because I’m a dirty boy!” Osgoode cackled, taking the phone and pushing away from the bed as he dialed a number. “’Night!”
“OZ!” Richard growled, following him, slamming the door and making Maggie jump. Osgoode walked into his room, slamming the door in Richard’s face, making the other growl again as he opened the door and barged in. Osgoode began talking excitedly to Virgil, making Richard scowl as he wondered how and why the boy wanted to talk to the other when he’d just left his house. Seeing that he wasn’t going to be acknowledged any time soon, Richard left his room, slamming the door shut as hard as he could. He ignored Maggie shouting at them to stop slamming doors. To further irritate her, he slammed into his room, making the walls shake as he flopped onto his bed.
Feeling angry and restless, he shut off the bedside lamp and kicked off his house slippers. He could hear Osgoode talking and laughing, and pulled a pillow over his head to mute the sound. How could Osgoode forgive Virgil so easily? It just wasn’t fair.
01010011
Osgoode’s eyes snapped open and immediately looked at the clock. Two-twenty a.m. Just as he registered that reading, the knocking started. It came from a point up high on his wall, in the direction of his bedroom door. There was a chill in the air, and a heavy sense of stillness that made oxygen hard to take. Every bit of his hairs were standing on end, and the immediate sense in that he was all alone was terrifying.
Even if their house was within the heavily populated city of Dakota, he felt very alone. The city sounds had abruptly ceased, and it was as if he were pulled into a suffocating void of nothingness---the dark was too intense. His skin grew clammy and cold, fingers curling tightly into his pillow. The knocking was the same volume and force as it always had been; determined and clipped. In his mind’s eye, he could picture the hand that performed the action, and felt a shudder run through his body.
A minute had passed, and the knocking continued. It would continue until he gave the invitation, or until his parents’ alarm went off at six-twenty. His blood ran cold, and his heart thumped wildly as he struggled to ignore the sound. He started to yearn for his brother, whose comforting presence made it easier to endure the intrusion. It was easier when he had Richard to hold onto when it seemed as if they were very alone.
He tossed his blankets aside, breathing heavily as he looked around his room in panic. It felt as if every one of his limbs were trying to lock up---as if his muscles were going limp. Intense fear made it completely impossible to think---he knew he would be alone in his room, but the knowledge that They were just right outside…watching his every move…waiting for him to invite Them in…
He crossed the floor to the door, the knocking pounding away at his mind. He hesitated once he touched the knob, knowing that if he opened the door, it would be invitation enough. Once he stepped out into the hall, They would know that it would be all right to come in. Even if he made it to his brother’s room, They would come in. The intense need for his brother’s presence was enough to override that realization, and he was running from his room in a blind panic, pushing open the door to his brother’s room. The knocking continued within Richard’s room, on the same wall facing the hall. When Osgoode crawled under the blankets of his brother’s bed, he felt the relief of feeling his strength and presence, Richard automatically hugging him close without a word.
The knocking continued as Osgoode’s heart raced, closing his eyes shut as he tried to focus on his brother’s rapid heart beat, the sound of his rapid breathing. Richard squeezed him hard, chin against his temple as Osgoode pulled the blankets over their heads. He was lost in his blind fear, needing his brother’s presence to protect them from Them as They waited within the shadows.
Time was lost, as well as consciousness of their present standing; they were caught only in their shared fright of Them and their fear of what would happen when They got to them.
Both stilled, grips tightening on each other when the creaking sound of Richard’s door opened, the knocking ceasing at that abrupt moment. The absolute stillness and silence at that moment was incredibly terrifying as they waited. Their hairs standing on complete end, blood running cold, their ears strained for any indication of Them approaching. The soft whisper of feet on carpet was a horrible confirmation that They were in the room. Osgoode tightened his hold on Richard, squeezing the air from him as every cell within him registered the slight touch on his back from atop of the blankets. A small sound left Richard when the blanket was slowly drawn away from their bodies, the air sizzling with incredible tension and silence.
“It’ll be over, soon,” Richard whispered to him, the sound explosive within the stillness. “It’ll be all right. I’ll be right next to you, okay? It’ll be okay…I’ll be right here. You won’t be alone…”
Warning: profanity, darkness, slash
Chapter Two
At school the next day, Virgil was hesitant to see the twins. He was angry, but more regretful than anything. It was obvious Osgoode was pissed at him while they were talking on the phone, and though that gave him hope in that his feelings were returned, it just made the situation a whole lot more disastrous. He kept repeating the events of the day before, utterly lost as to how he’d let Richard deceive him. There was a school ceremony in the gym for first period, so he followed the stream of students into the gym. He wasn’t sure how Osgoode was going to act toward him; if he were even going to be acknowledged.
But when he paused to scan the bleachers for a place to sit, he heard his name called. He looked up to see Osgoode waving at him, indicating a space beside him. While elated in that he was acknowledged, he wasn’t sure what was going to happen---what Osgoode was going to say. But he moved in that direction, watching the smiling Foley twin for any indication of trouble. Osgoode shifted aside, moving his backpack as Virgil reached them. The teen swallowed hard as Osgoode indicated the seat next to him. Virgil noticed that though Richard was sitting next to his brother, it was obvious that the pair weren’t acknowledging each other. With Richard scanning the other half of the gym, pointedly not looking at him, Virgil felt some relief in that the twin wasn’t going to cause any other problems. He looked at Osgoode to see that twin looking at him oddly, eyes slightly narrowed as he observed Virgil looking at Richard---Virgil hesitated to sit down, holding his bag before him with trembling hands. He did not want to lose Osgoode---even if a relationship wasn’t considered, he’d absolutely do with his friendship.
Osgoode shifted, gesturing. “Sit down. It’s going to start.”
Virgil sat, holding his backpack tightly. He glanced away as the principal moved for the podium and the students began to settle. He looked back at Osgoode, searching for any indication of uncomfortable feelings, for something angry. But the twin caught the look and gave him a tight smile.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered as the principal began to speak. “You okay?”
The question caught Virgil off-guard. He was confused. But he nodded in a dazed manner, feeling absolutely wretched in the mistake he’d made with Richard. Several long minutes passed, with the principal speaking eloquently over some subject Virgil couldn’t pay attention to. He turned back to Osgoode, focusing in on him intently. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Richard, anymore. Not after all that had happened.
“We need to talk, man,” he said urgently.
Osgoode looked at him questionably, lips tightening once more. He went stiff, fingers curled into fists atop of his knees. Sensing his twin’s agitation, Richard started to look at him when he noticeably caught himself to stop. “Can’t it wait?”
“No. No, Oz, I just…I can’t let this go. I need to explain---”
“There’s nothing to explain,” Osgoode interrupted, shaking his fingers loose and shifting them under his knees. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But---! Maybe you don’t, but I need to,” Virgil insisted, keeping his voice low. “I---I can’t just let something like this go, not after what’s involved.”
“Virgil, there’s nothing to talk about. It was a mistake, and my brother’s absolutely despicable for leading you on like that. It’s absolutely inexcusable that he’d dare mess with your emotions and your head.” Osgoode tossed his twin a dark glance, then rolled his eyes and shrugged. “He just wanted to fuck around with you just to separate us. He’s just jealous that I spend more time with you than I would with him, and he needs to get over it. There’s no hard feelings on my end, and there’s nothing more that needs to be discussed.”
Virgil was confused. But he studied Osgoode for a few moments, utterly at a loss for what to say or do next. Everyone began clapping, the blond included, and Virgil sat back in his seat to somehow focus on the rest of the ceremony.
Afterward, during their walk to third period, Virgil thought over what he wanted to say. He was still confused over Osgoode’s reaction, wondering frantically if Osgoode even felt the same way toward him, or it was just some story told by Richard. To think that Richard would pick up on Virgil’s feelings and use them against him made the twin abhorrable to Virgil. He had never quite got along with the blond twin, but things had certainly changed for the worst in this situation. He wasn’t sure if he could ever speak to him again.
But it made him question himself---did Osgoode even have feelings for him at all? In that sense? What if Virgil’s ‘coming out’ scared him off? He didn’t think that Osgoode was straight, but then again he never heard Osgoode speaking of anybody in an admiring manner. Richard was the only one out of the pair that waxed poetic over such things.
After the ceremony, he followed the twins to their locker, Osgoode talking all the while about his Advanced Physics class, Richard muttering something upon occasion. When they reached their lockers, Virgil leaned on the wall nearby, gazing at the floor and the flow of students before he chanced a look at them.
He stilled once he caught sight of Richard, finally noticing that the twin was without his glasses---the right side of his face was swollen and bruised, the eye colored horridly, with a couple of stitches just to the side of that eye. Virgil gaped at him as Osgoode turned to address him. Once the twin caught Virgil staring at his brother in shock, his face momentarily screwed with annoyance. He slammed his locker shut, the loud sound drawing Virgil’s attention.
“Ready?” Osgoode asked him, a touch snide.
Virgil closed his mouth. He moved to ask what had happened when Osgoode started walking, Richard muttering something under his breath about being left. Virgil hesitated to follow, glancing at Richard with uncertainty before he turned and followed Osgoode. Once they reached the classroom, Osgoode took his seat with a cheerful sound, indicating for Virgil to sit next to him. Virgil stood there with some indecision, noting that if he did, Richard wasn’t going to be able to sit anywhere near them. In all the time that he’d known them, they never sat apart.
His hesitation drew an odd look from Osgoode, who lifted an eyebrow. Virgil took the seat, figuring that it served Richard right. Sure enough when the other twin caught up with them, realizing the seating order, he stopped short. Osgoode ignored him as he drew out his textbooks, and while Virgil felt ire toward Richard, he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty in shutting Richard out.
He glanced up to see Richard’s face cross with fierce annoyance, jaw tightening as he turned and hastily found a seat toward the back of the classroom. Virgil watched him subtly, feeling a little justified when their classmates noticed the separation and began ragging on the lone twin for being ‘dumped’. It didn’t make matters any better when some of them commented about being replaced. He chanced a look at Osgoode to see his smug face.
All it took to feel a little better about himself was how easily he had been duped the day before.
01010011
That night, Richard frowned at Osgoode as he carried conversation with their father. Sean was dressed and ready for work---working nights at the local electricity plant, he shared dinner with his family as his breakfast. Maggie sat next to Osgoode with Sean and Richard facing them, picking at her food while she made sure the men of her family ate what she had cooked. Richard glared at Osgoode across the table, chewing fiercely on his steak. His mother took notice of the glare, studying her eldest son’s injuries with an expression of concern. While she hated the sight of injuries on her boys, she was used to them.
“How is your eye, dear?” she asked, setting her fork down.
“How is your steak, mom? Well done? Chewed enough for you to vomit later?”
“Yes, it’s fine, Richard. How about your eye?”
“It’s okay.” Richard looked over at Osgoode, waiting for him to look at him. When it was obvious his twin wasn’t going to pay attention to him, he scowled.
“I wish those boys were caught,” Maggie said with a tired sigh. “I don’t see how they could get away with doing what they had with you.”
Richard touched his black eye with a sullen frown, then glared at Osgoode once more.
“Maybe the pair of you should take up some sorta martial arts,” Sean said gruffly, brought alert to their conversation. Osgoode finished his food, wiping his mouth. When he rose from his seat with an abrupt screech of his chair upon the floor, Sean looked at him. “Where are you going?”
“Virgil’s. I did Richard’s chores yesterday, so he said he’d do them today,” Osgoode said as he left the table, depositing his dirty plate and cup into the sink. Richard’s face darkened. “Be back by nine, mom!”
The three of them watched him hurry out of the kitchen, running upstairs with a heavy tromping of his feet. Sean looked at Richard with a quiet sigh, frowning at his eldest. “What’s your problem?” he asked with heavy annoyance.
“Your face,” Richard replied snottily. Sean nodded, picking up a piece of sauce covered steak and flicking it at him. When it bounced off his son’s forehead and fell onto the table, Sean speared it with his fork and ate it.
“What else is new?” he asked, not at all offended with his son’s words. “How was school?”
“Boring. Stupid Osgoode ignored me. Him and his stupid boyfriend Virgil hung out all day.”
“It’s time that you make your own friends, Richard,” Sean said, finishing off his steak. He frowned at his wife. “You’re not finished, dear. I’d like that plate to be cleared before you leave the table.”
Osgoode shouted his goodbyes as he ran out the front door, slamming it shut behind him. Richard grumbled into his arms.
“And I’d like more oral sex, but we can’t always get what we want, do we, dear?” Maggie murmured in reply. Sean snorted.
Making a face, Richard pushed away from the table, snatching his plate and cup. “Gross. Keep that to yourselves. I don’t want my mind dirtied by your sickness.”
“It’s a fact of life, son. Even parents have sex.” Sean burped into his hand as he watched his son leave the table. He lifted an eyebrow as he looked at his wife. “What’s with them?”
“Osgoode is feeling frustrated,” Maggie answered, leaning onto the table with an elbow. “He has a friend, and wants to spend time with him, doing new things. Richard does not. He’s feeling left out.”
“What’s this kid like, anyway?” Sean was always sleeping during the day, and had no idea who Virgil Hawkins was.
“Very nice,” Maggie said cheerfully, rising from the table as she grabbed her plate. “Very nice boy, easily excitable. He and Osgoode get along just great.”
“Sit down!”Sean barked, pointing his fork at her accusingly. “You’re not done!”
“The news is on, Sean. Hurry up if you want to watch it,” Maggie replied. He glared at his plate while she made her way upstairs to their bathroom.
Later, Richard flicked through the channels as Maggie worked at patching up one of Sean’s worn jeans. Maggie cast a worried glance at her son, frowning slightly as she took in his blank expression. She noticed that he was squinting hard at the contents of the screen and shifted in her seat. “Where are your spare glasses?”
“Oz took them. He broke his last pair.”
“Both of you have different prescriptions! He’s going to ruin his vision if he wears your pair!”
“That’s his problem.”
“But that means you can’t see!”
“So? I don’t have anything to look at. It’s not like I’m doing anything, anyway.”
There came an abrupt news flash, and both of them focused on the television while Richard turned it up. The cheerful reporter went on to glamorize a recent battle between Dakota’s superhero, Static, and some villains that had attempted to rob one of Dakota’s prominent banks. As the screen flashed with his heroic efforts caught on film, they both gave awed murmurs.
“It’s so cool that there’s people like that out here,” Richard said with a cheered grin. “Comic books come to life, man. Though I wish I could see them in person.”
“I wouldn’t,” Maggie said with a shake of her head. “It’s awfully dangerous what that boy’s doing. I wonder what his parents think of his actions? They must go to bed worrying constantly for their baby…”
“Oh, mom, everyone knows that superheroes keep their identities secret. His parents probably don’t even know what he’s up to, or even where he is. Oh, God, wouldn’t it be cool if it were someone we knew?”
Maggie shrugged.
“These villains are just, like, normal regular people, too. Like someone you’d see in the supermarket,” Richard added, frowning at the mug shot of one of the captured crooks. “See, like this guy…I could totally see him trying to shoplift from the mom and pop down the street. And who gives them their names? The media? I mean, ‘Shiv’? Sheesh. He looks like a dork.”
“…Their poor, poor parents,” Maggie murmured, flapping out Sean’s jeans to check her work. “I just feel so sorry for his parents…”
Richard rolled his eyes and continued flipping through the channels.
Later that night, Richard stared out at the streets from his bedroom window, searching for any sign of his brother. Maggie had gone to bed earlier, and he took that time to hide out in his room while smoking out the window. It was past nine, and he wondered what Osgoode was doing. He wondered if Osgoode and Virgil had talked past what had happened, and wondered how Osgoode could take Virgil’s bullshit.
Richard sneered as he stabbed the rest of his cigarette out in his ashtray. He sprayed a canister of Lysol into the air, and hid the ashtray underneath his bed. He thought Virgil so pathetic, the way he confessed his feelings for Osgoode, waxing sap on how he valued their friendship, how he loved being with him and wanting more. He thought over how Virgil had been so nervous with his confession, and wondered how Osgoode could ever think that the teen’s feelings and thoughts were so damn ‘precious’. It was only obvious Virgil was after him for one thing.
Richard had thought of his devious plan on impulse---he’d intercepted a note Virgil had wanted given to Osgoode during seventh period, and he grew curious when he read that Virgil had something ‘very important’ to tell Osgoode at the library. He, at first had been very confident that Virgil would tell right off that Richard was trying to trick him, but Virgil hadn’t even noticed that he was walking off with the wrong twin, addressing him as ‘Oz’. So Richard went along with it, sure that Virgil was going to catch on sometime. But he never did---and Richard continued pretending to be Osgoode, hating every moment of it. When Virgil finally confessed, Richard had the idea that Osgoode would be pissed if he found out that they’d messed around. Richard had thought that Osgoode would be so angry at Virgil, and Richard would prove that Virgil’s intentions were less than innocent so that Osgoode would drop him and once again hang with his brother more. Richard had thought that it had made a great plan at the time---for he didn’t have feelings for Virgil, and it wasn’t as if he were trying to take him away from Osgoode. He just wanted to prove his point in that Virgil was just trying to ‘hook up’ with one of them. It was, in Richard’s mind, a way of protecting his brother from the big, bad monster that was teenage sex.
Richard felt his face heat as he recalled the horrible make-out session, and made a face. He leapt away from the window to hurry into the bathroom that he and his brother shared, hurriedly brushing his teeth. It had been tough and utterly traumatic for him, taking Virgil’s kisses as though he were Osgoode. He had thought he was going to puke at one point, but Virgil had thought that he were merely ‘inexperienced’ and let him come up for air. Richard figured that what he’d sacrificed for his plan was just another notch for him to regret.
Unfortunately, there were many regrets, but at least he wasn’t as inexperienced as Virgil had thought. The other teen had been completely surprised when Richard delved into his pants for his first blowjob. Which hadn’t been all that great, either. Apparently, Virgil wasn’t experienced in that area, but Richard could at least chalk up the horrible experience as an opportunity to perfect his talent. It was just another disappointment when Virgil failed at that as well. Richard had to smirk as he finished brushing his teeth. Osgoode was going to be terribly disappointed if he ever touched that point in his relationship with Virgil---if Osgoode was going to ever forgive him.
Leaving the bathroom, Richard headed back to his room. He flopped onto his bed and curled into a fetal position as he heaved a heavy sigh. He was utterly bored without his twin---if Osgoode were here, they could have been battling each other over ‘Halo’, or making fun of the MTV programs that were playing. They could have been doing so many things, but Osgoode chose to spend his time with Virgil.
God, Richard hated Virgil.
He sat up, staring sightlessly at the poster he had hung up when they’d moved in. Taking in the images of Frank Miller’s rendition of Batman with a pang in his chest, he tried not to feel so much. He missed Osgoode---he missed his brother so much that the feelings swirled with heavy effect in his mind and body. They’d spent their lives together---from the womb and beyond. How Osgoode could want to ruin the bond with someone as boring and dull as Virgil was completely heinous.
He felt as if he were missing a part of himself---missing a limb. Without Osgoode around, Richard felt useless and alone; something that was definitely painful. He hugged himself with a small growl, wishing for his brother to come back home---to acknowledge him. Osgoode, whenever he was mad at Richard, often gave him the silent treatment and ignored him. It was something that drove Richard crazy, needing his attention and acknowledgment like one would with air. His brother was a part of him, was his other half---it was as if his own mind was ignoring him, refusing to work with him.
He heard the door open and slam, and he leapt from his bed, racing out to the hallway to look over the railing. His brother’s hair was mussed and had what looked to be soot around his cheeks. It wasn’t unusual for his brother to come home in that state, claiming that he and Virgil had been tinkering around some junkyard for things to build---something that was beyond Richard, for what fun could be found in a junkyard---and exploring the various abandoned buildings within Dakota. Maggie hated to hear about her son venturing in such areas, fearful for his safety from the vagrants and danger, but Osgoode often ignored her pleas for staying away from such areas. Like Richard, she was clueless in what Osgoode found ‘fun’ in these places.
“Oz, where’d you go?” he asked from the hallway, frowning when Osgoode ignored him as he ventured into the kitchen. Richard hurried down the stairs, sniffing the air as he walked into the kitchen after him. It smelt of burnt ozone---something he imagined lightning smelled. Not that he knew lightning even had a smell… “Oz. Ozzie. Ozzie….Oz. Stop ignoring me. Where’d you go?”
“Mom, did you throw away the leftovers?” Osgoode shouted from the ‘fridge, peering in to examine its contents. Richard leaned against the counter, scowling at his back while Maggie called a reply. “Oh, nevermind! Mom, can you give us a ride to the theater tomorrow? There’s a horror marathon going on that me an’ Virgil are going to catch!”
Richard sighed heavily. “You promised you’d go with me to the marathon! You know I wanted to see them, too! We planned this a long time ago, bro! What about all that candy we bought the other day? You promised, Oz! …Osgoode, stop ignoring me.”
The twin grabbed a loaf of bread and the leftover steak, humming to himself as he set his things on the counter. He made himself a sandwich while Richard watched, arms crossed stiffly over his chest.
“Oz…Oz. C’mon, man, knock it off. You promised that we would go together! We never spend any time together, anymore! Osgoode! God, for once, you can do without your boyfriend…he’s always going to be there! Are you still mad at me? Why aren’t you mad at him for playing dumb?”
Osgoode ate his sandwich, grabbed a soda, then hurried upstairs. With a frustrated growl, Richard put everything away and followed after him. Maggie called for them to lock up before they came upstairs, but Richard ignored her as he followed Osgoode into his room. Like his, Osgoode had the very same setup, the very same posters and colors. Osgoode kicked off his shoes and rummaged through his drawers for his pajamas while Richard sat at the edge of his bed, waiting to be acknowledged.
He rubbed at his black eye with a ginger touch as Osgoode changed. When his brother left his room, heading for their parents’, Richard followed. Osgoode charged into the room, flopping onto the bed while Maggie protested.
“Where’s the phone?” Osgoode demanded as Richard sat at the edge, scowling. “Mom, did you see the news? Static totally ruined the Metabreed’s plan to wipe out Dakota First National. It was awesome.”
“You weren’t nearby, were you?” Maggie asked, handing him the cordless. She gave her son a worried onceover. “Where have you been? Why are you so dirty?”
“Because I’m a dirty boy!” Osgoode cackled, taking the phone and pushing away from the bed as he dialed a number. “’Night!”
“OZ!” Richard growled, following him, slamming the door and making Maggie jump. Osgoode walked into his room, slamming the door in Richard’s face, making the other growl again as he opened the door and barged in. Osgoode began talking excitedly to Virgil, making Richard scowl as he wondered how and why the boy wanted to talk to the other when he’d just left his house. Seeing that he wasn’t going to be acknowledged any time soon, Richard left his room, slamming the door shut as hard as he could. He ignored Maggie shouting at them to stop slamming doors. To further irritate her, he slammed into his room, making the walls shake as he flopped onto his bed.
Feeling angry and restless, he shut off the bedside lamp and kicked off his house slippers. He could hear Osgoode talking and laughing, and pulled a pillow over his head to mute the sound. How could Osgoode forgive Virgil so easily? It just wasn’t fair.
01010011
Osgoode’s eyes snapped open and immediately looked at the clock. Two-twenty a.m. Just as he registered that reading, the knocking started. It came from a point up high on his wall, in the direction of his bedroom door. There was a chill in the air, and a heavy sense of stillness that made oxygen hard to take. Every bit of his hairs were standing on end, and the immediate sense in that he was all alone was terrifying.
Even if their house was within the heavily populated city of Dakota, he felt very alone. The city sounds had abruptly ceased, and it was as if he were pulled into a suffocating void of nothingness---the dark was too intense. His skin grew clammy and cold, fingers curling tightly into his pillow. The knocking was the same volume and force as it always had been; determined and clipped. In his mind’s eye, he could picture the hand that performed the action, and felt a shudder run through his body.
A minute had passed, and the knocking continued. It would continue until he gave the invitation, or until his parents’ alarm went off at six-twenty. His blood ran cold, and his heart thumped wildly as he struggled to ignore the sound. He started to yearn for his brother, whose comforting presence made it easier to endure the intrusion. It was easier when he had Richard to hold onto when it seemed as if they were very alone.
He tossed his blankets aside, breathing heavily as he looked around his room in panic. It felt as if every one of his limbs were trying to lock up---as if his muscles were going limp. Intense fear made it completely impossible to think---he knew he would be alone in his room, but the knowledge that They were just right outside…watching his every move…waiting for him to invite Them in…
He crossed the floor to the door, the knocking pounding away at his mind. He hesitated once he touched the knob, knowing that if he opened the door, it would be invitation enough. Once he stepped out into the hall, They would know that it would be all right to come in. Even if he made it to his brother’s room, They would come in. The intense need for his brother’s presence was enough to override that realization, and he was running from his room in a blind panic, pushing open the door to his brother’s room. The knocking continued within Richard’s room, on the same wall facing the hall. When Osgoode crawled under the blankets of his brother’s bed, he felt the relief of feeling his strength and presence, Richard automatically hugging him close without a word.
The knocking continued as Osgoode’s heart raced, closing his eyes shut as he tried to focus on his brother’s rapid heart beat, the sound of his rapid breathing. Richard squeezed him hard, chin against his temple as Osgoode pulled the blankets over their heads. He was lost in his blind fear, needing his brother’s presence to protect them from Them as They waited within the shadows.
Time was lost, as well as consciousness of their present standing; they were caught only in their shared fright of Them and their fear of what would happen when They got to them.
Both stilled, grips tightening on each other when the creaking sound of Richard’s door opened, the knocking ceasing at that abrupt moment. The absolute stillness and silence at that moment was incredibly terrifying as they waited. Their hairs standing on complete end, blood running cold, their ears strained for any indication of Them approaching. The soft whisper of feet on carpet was a horrible confirmation that They were in the room. Osgoode tightened his hold on Richard, squeezing the air from him as every cell within him registered the slight touch on his back from atop of the blankets. A small sound left Richard when the blanket was slowly drawn away from their bodies, the air sizzling with incredible tension and silence.
“It’ll be over, soon,” Richard whispered to him, the sound explosive within the stillness. “It’ll be all right. I’ll be right next to you, okay? It’ll be okay…I’ll be right here. You won’t be alone…”