Title: Gone
Author: AotA
Rating: K+
Warnings: character death
Characters: Rorschach/Walter Kovacs
Setting: Watchmen AU
Summary: It was the death of a nightmare, and a flawed vision of hope.

Notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Watchmen..

Officer Lang shivered as he looked at the still form of the dead vigilante and the still, all too still, blots of ink on the vigilante's mask. Rorschach was dead.

Walter Kovacs was the name of the man under the mask. Apparently, locals knew him as the neighborhood "prophet of doom" and was often seen wandering around with a sign written "The end is nigh." Seemingly homeless, but they had located a tiny apartment in his name. He was said to be "Creepy? God yes. But harmful? Nah. Something in his head is definitely fucked though. Don't think the guy ever got dealt a good hand in his life."

It was the same assessment for the most part. Kovacs was described as an antisocial, antisexual, super right-wing, suspicious individual, but never "bad" or "criminal."

Lang had even had the chance to talk to Nite Owl, but that too produced much the same results, if a bit more personal.

Nite Owl had given a sad, bitter smile, "I knew that Rorschach was damaged. Irreparably. Long before I got my hands on him. I just tried to hold him together the best I could. I think even he was surprised that he had lasted as long as he had." Nite Owl shrugged, trying for nonchalant but failing, "I just hope that whatever happens in death, the suffering that he faced in life is over."

Lang had tried asking about the "suffering" bit, but he had gotten a haunted look in return, "I never asked, but the signs…" Nite Owl had bitten off whatever he was going to say, but Lang had gotten the gist. Thinking about what he had been told, and what could cause some of the behaviors, Rorschach's life was a grim picture indeed.

The police officer was surprised that the man had enough good in him to turn vigilante rather than criminal. Lang thought about a criminal Rorschach for a second before he clamped down on that thought. It would have been a nightmare.