Every second near Daniel was torture.
Rorschach had worked hard to keep their relationship distant, detached, but the larger man had insisted on becoming closer. He had suggested they become partners, showed Rorschach his home, revealed his name. And Rorschach gave nothing away, trying to keep a safe distance. Trying to keep his poison to himself.
But Rorschach hid his discomfort, only losing his grips on it when Daniel tried patting him on the back, or shaking his hand. Then, the cagier vigilante would jerk away as if Daniel's gentle hand was a hot iron. Touching was off limits. It was bad enough being in his presence every night. The poison in him urged him to lean into the contact, though, to break through the unseen barriers and embrace his humanity- and his partner. But he couldn't. He had to keep the poison to himself.
It was agony avoiding Daniel.
It was agony being so close.
[hr]
a/n: Not meant to be slashy. The first time I read Watchmen, I was under the impression that Rory wasn't in love with Dan or anything. He just craved human contact. Of course, it's so him to deny himself that contact, in the belief that it will turn him gay or something. And it isn't as if he has any other friends to go to, or anything, so his relationship with Daniel would have to be extremely insecure, and tense. He can't get close… but he can't keep himself away, either.