A/N: Very short Adrian Veidt musing concerning Dr. Manhattan. Possible implied pairing if you want to see it that way.
His Legacy
The problem with Ozymandias was that he was a genius.
While this lead him to be able to predict trends and make decisions well ahead of his time, and thus profit from them, he lacked the ability to see beyond that.
The problem with Dr. Manhattan was that he had foresight.
He existed in the past, present, and future. He could see trends and change coming long before anyone could ever predict it. He just lacked the ability to do anything other than let it flow over him.
A puppet that can see the strings is still a puppet.
Ozymandias could not see them, but he could certainly feel them. Pulling and tugging at the universe around him.
As unsettling as it often was, he chose to follow in hopes that he could predict where the next string would pull.
He envied Jon. Hated the man who had every capability to change and create but simply let it go to waste. He could change the world. He already had in many ways. Yet he let it fester. Let it be tarnished by things that he could make disappear with a mere thought.
If Adrian had been granted such gifts, he would have created this Utopia of freedom and peace ages ago.
Yet, these gifts were better left out of his hands. He would rather be mortal with an immortal name than to outlive his own imprint on the world.
If only Jon could see things his way. If only Jon had agreed to work with him. If only Jon wouldn't be so distant and cold. They could make a difference. They could impact the world.
Perhaps, they were meant to forever be as two shadows drifting apart. After all, long after he was gone, Jon would still be here to tend to his tomb.
The best pharaohs always left behind something to remind the world where they had been. Perhaps, Jon would allow him this small prize.
Perhaps, Jon would be his pyramid.