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This was written for the Watchmen kinkmeme. The original prompt was this link: www . youtube . com /watch ?v =s 6NNXLfYRQA (all spread out) and the idea was that instead of a mask, Walter makes a full-sized doll that somehow comes to life and takes on the identity of Rorschach.
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Rorschach came back in through the window as Walter was getting ready for work.
They looked at each other for a moment, taking each other in. Rorschach was soaking wet from being out in the rain that had started at about 2 am and the blood that clearly wasn't his. Walter was in his cleanest work clothes, and eating a bowl of cornflakes. After a moment, Rorschach dug in his pockets for some sugar cubes which he handed over. Walter gratefully crumbled them up and sprinkled them on the cereal.
"How was it?" he asked, a little timidly, but anxious to hear about it.
"Good." The gloves flexed a little. "Stopped a bank men in black. Only their eyes showing. Punished them. Nite Owl defused their bomb."
Walter raised his eyebrows. He had trained himself to not show expression to most people, but imaginary friends were for opening up to. He loved hearing about the nightly adventures, so Rorschach had learned to wax a little more chatty for his friend's sake. Rorschach settled in the only other chair in the room and leaned back, taking his hat off and turning it in his hands. "There was an arsonist too. Nite Owl threw one of his cresents. Made the accelerant bundle flare up in arsonist's face. Took him to hospital. And we finished a gangfight. Racial differences. Nite Owl dropped into the middle of them from the fire escape. Scared some of them into running. I met those at the end of the alley, and worked my way back. Broken arms and noses mostly, but Nite Owl broke one's back. Don't think he meant to, didn't point it out that he had. Let one run away to spread the word that there's scarier things than them on the streets at night."
"Explains the smokey smell," Walter almost laughed, taking his bowl to the sink. "Did you tear any stitches?"
"....Do have a puncture. Knife jab. Nite Owl saw. Scared him. Don't know if I convinced him that my coat and layers took most of it. Might be suspicious."
"Oh," Walter said. "Is...is that why he... broke the man's back?"
"Might be," Rorschach shrugged. "It's nothing that can't wait until after work. You don't want to to be late again."
"Ok." Walter didn't have a raincoat, so he fumbled into his usual jacket even though it would soak up the rain like a sponge. "How...How was Nite Owl?"
Rorschach tilted his head inquisitively and Walter tried not to act flustered. It was hard to hide infatuation from someone who was made of the conflicting thoughts from inside his own head, but Rorschach also understood well enough not to make an issue of it.
"I think he likes me," Rorschach said carefully. "Worries about me getting hurt. Reacts violently in my defense. Invited me to have coffee at his house after patrol."
"Really?" Walter brightened, with only a small dose of envy mixed with his interest. "What's his house like?"
"Didn't go." Rorschach admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Didn't see the need. Can't drink anyway."
"Well, no..." Walter wilted a bit, pulling his collar up to keep the rain off his neck as long as possible. Rorschach got up and walked over to his closet where he rested by day. Walter's voice stopped him with his glove on the doorknob. "But you could've gone and told me about it."
"I should introduce you two," Rorschach mused and Walter went nearly as red as his hair. They looked at each other, both about to disappear behind a door.
"You know better," Walter said, smiling ruefully. "I'm nobody."
"Under masks," Rorschach answered, beginning to sink bonelessly to the floor of the closet, folding over on himself like an empty wetsuit. "We all are." He pulled the closet door shut. Walter called a quiet good-bye, and went out the front door, letting all animation fade from his face and settling into a mask of his own.