Blinded By Black and White
Ch. 1
Summary: An injury changes Rorschach's life forever. Dan is the only person willing to help. Niteschach slash.
A/n: I own absolutely nothing, but Rorschach has stolen my heart. Damn him…
The rush of adrenaline had been so strong, Nite Owl never heard the sound of breaking glass. He never saw the white and black liquid splatter on the ground, the two colors never mixing with each other, but the white mixed with the red. Daniel never heard his partner scream and fall. Not until the battle was over.
"Ha ha! We did it, Rorschach!" crowed Nite Owl, watching a few remaining Top-Knots scurry away like roaches in daylight. He turned around when he didn't hear his partner's faint footsteps like he did every night. "Rorschach?"
Rorschach lay on his stomach beside a dumpster, shaking like a frightened animal. Small gasps of pain escaped his lips, white, black and red liquid pooling around his head like a halo.
Shit…thought Dan, kneeling beside his partner. He gently put his hand on Rorschach's shoulder and turned him onto his back. His mask was shredded; there was a very deep gash across the bridge of his nose. His eyes were gone. There was nothing but blood where his eyes should have been.
"Oh God," Dan whispered. "Rorschach, can you hear me?"
"Daniel…can't see—can't see. Face…destroyed…no!" Rorschach babbled, his fingers clawing at the shredded remains of his mask. "No, no, NO!"
Out of all the things to be worried about, thought Dan worriedly, he's worried more about that fucking mask… He sighed and pressed a button on his belt, Archie hovering above him.
"Hang on, Rorschach," Dan said, helping the injured man climb the ladder that had fallen from the open hatch.
"Daniel…can't see!" Rorschach yelped.
Dan grabbed Rorschach's gloved hand and placed it on the next rung.
"Rorschach, listen to me. I. Will. Not. Let. You. Fall. Okay? You're gonna have to trust me!"
Rorschach warily permitted Dan to help him into the Owlship. He groaned and felt his way to the wall, pressing his back against it as he pulled off his gloves and felt the tattered shreds of his mask.
"No, no, no! Stupid! Nothing without face!"
"I think your eyes should be more of a concern to you," Dan said, pulling off his cowl and goggles in one swift motion. "Sit still and let me look at you."
Rorschach growled, backing himself even more into the wall.
"Rorschach, listen to me. You're really hurt here. I will drug you if that's what it takes to help you."
"Will break fingers if you touch me, Daniel," the blinded vigilante snarled.
Dan sighed and sat down in the cockpit. He was willing to wait to get back to his own house in order to check Rorschach's injuries. He was thankful that Rorschach couldn't break what he couldn't see.