Son of a Watchman
There wass silence from the intercom. Walter stood at the door, confused. Is there a problem with the electrical wiring?
Then suddenly the intercom came alive. The once intoxicated voice came out, clear and resolved. "Wait just a moment'.
The door swung open. Framed in the door way was a middle aged, somewhat portly gentleman with slicked back blonde and white hair, wearing a business casual outfit with a monogram on the chest pocket matching the one on the gate. "Follow me".
The boy was a bit befuddled. "I..."
"There is no time for that now. Please follow me".
The gentleman led him through the wood paneled hallways, toward the back of the house. "I'm sorry", Walter said, somewhat confused by the abruptness of the older man, "I didn't catch your name."
"I'm Nelson Gardner", the older man replied, "but as I said, there will be time for introductions and the like latter. Now if you will follow me right through here." They walked into a lounge room, with two L couches surrounding a grand fireplace.
Seated in the couches were a beautiful young brunette woman, a bespectacled, somewhat timid looking guy, and a blonde, striking-looking man. "This is Laurel Juspezyk, Daniel Dreiberg, and Adrian Veidt."
"Err...hi" Walter was uncomfortable to say the least. He recognized Laurie from new bulletins, and knew she was involved with Dr. Manhattan himself, and Veidt was known world wide, having revealed himself as a hero a year ago. The sheer amount of fame these two projected on him was overwhelming.
There was a short period of silence as the group of heroes sized up the supposed son of their colleague. Dreiberg was the first to break the quiet. "Are you really Walter Kovac's son?"
"Yes I am.", Kovacs junior replied, "or at least, I think I am..."
"Do you have any proof?"
"Adrian, don't be so cold to the boy", Laurie said as she got up from her seat, and walked over to the younger and less intimidating Kovacs. "Hi, it's nice to meet you Walter, I'm Laurel, but you can call me Laurie."
"N...nice to meet you too". The woman was stunning, and making the young man quite flustered.
"I'd hate to break up the pleasantries", the elder Gardner said, "But I agree with Dan. I think we need some evidence that you are actually the son of...well...you know. Do you have any proof?"
"Oh...well yeah", Walter thrust his hands into his pockets, and pulled out an envelope. "Just this."
Gardner opened the envelope and examined the "evidence"
"My god..."
"What is it, Uncle Nelson?"
"Come here"
The three other heroes surrounded their elder. "Holy shit", Dreiberg uttered.
They were gawking at the photograph. It was a picture of two people, a beautiful, sweet looking woman and a somewhat ugly red headed man, sitting on a park bench together. The man looked very uncomfortable, but the woman looked very happy and joyous.
"Dan, is that him?"
"Yes it is", Dan replied softly. He turned to Walter junior, "That woman, she's your mother?"
"Yes. Or at least she was", the teenager replied, quietly saying the last sentence to himself.
"I didn't take HIM to be the romantic type", Miss Juspezyk said somewhat sarcastically.
"Mom said he wasn't", Walter said in a somber tone
"What does that letter say, Nelson". The former marine had been thoughtfully reading the letter in question.
"Dear Walter,", Nelson read allowed, "I know what we had didn't end on the best of terms. We went different paths, and I have grown to accept that. Firstly, I want you to know that I don't resent you. I know why you did the things you did. I'm just sorry I couldn't help you, and I'm sorry you never got to know your family. Please know that it wasn't out of spite or sadness or jealousy that I withheld your boy from you. I knew what kind of life you were living, and I know what kind of boy your boy is. He would have wanted to follow in your footsteps, and I just couldn't bear to have that happen. I don't have much time left. The doctor says three to four months at the time I am writing this. I just wanted you to know the truth. There is nothing I can do to prevent you and your son from knowing each other now, so if you are reading this, Walter, if he has decided to deliver this to you, then please, please watch over our baby boy. Forever yours, Alice".
Stunned and saddened silence filled the room. "P.S.", Gardner continued, "Enclosed in this envelope is evidence of your paternity, along with my most treasured keepsake. I love you, Walter. Goodbye."
"Wow...", Walter said very softly, "She..she told me not to read it until I delivered it to him...she must have really cared for him."
"This evidence seems very concrete", Adrian said as he looked over the DNA test sheet, "It...it would appear you really are his son."
"Who's son?"
Everyone turned around to look at the raspy voice that had just spoke. Standing in the doorway, was a dark figure, adorned in a trench coat and fedora, with mysterious and inky patterns swirling on his face.
"R..Rorschach...You're back."
"...Dad?"
