Human Nature

Chapter 6: Confrontation

"Professor, I know this man."

Xavier paused, looking up at his student again in alarm. "You know him?"

Scott nodded urgently. "I mean, not long, but... He was at the high school about a week ago and... today."

Xavier leaned forward, furrowing his brows. "What happened, Scott?"

The boy paused, mulling over his thoughts. "He..." Scott released a deep breath. "Duncan and his friends. They stole my shades. I didn't see what happened, but... he helped."

Xavier frowned, studying his student closely. He could see the conflict of emotions on his face. Caught between hating Rorschach's actions and appreciating Walter's. And then he spotted the unmistakable sign that Scott had come to a decision. He didn't have to read minds to know what was going on. "Scott."

He looked down, frowning. "Yeah, professor?" despite trying to stay calm, a little bit of guilt crept into his tone, sure that Xavier had already figured him out.

"I don't want you going after him," Xavier's voice was quiet, but firm. "Rorschach is unpredictable, and a strategic genius. There's no telling what he'll do..." Scott remained silent, but he could tell that he hadn't gotten through to him yet. "Scott, look at me." He waited until the boy looked up before continuing. "Promise me you won't go looking for him."

Scott swallowed thickly and nodded. "I promise, Professor."

He stood up to leave and Xavier watched him go uncertainly. He could've read his mind, but he wanted to trust him. Releasing a deep sigh, he sat back in his wheel chair and rubbed his temples.

-

Rorschach's Journal
March 14th, 2000 ... 4:00pm

Growing restless. Dangerous mutants on the loose, but I can not afford to go looking much during the day. Eager for night to fall again. Only another two hours or so. Until then, exploring the city, listening for news. Favorite paper went out of business years ago, not sure which to trust anymore, but I am searching them anyways.

Walter furrowed his brows as he tucked the book away, glancing at the stack of papers on the bench next to him. Most were local. The trustworthy ones always were, but he'd also gotten a copy of the New York Times, the most wide-spread he could find. Already, several had been torn apart and put back together, but nothing. People were giving him strange looks.

Grabbing the next paper, the Bayville Press, he flipped it open and buried his face in it, keeping it hidden away from curious observers. One of the downsides of not being in the City that Never Sleeps. People weren't always too caught up in their pointless lives to not notice him.

"Scott, c'mon, why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"

Walter furrowed his brows as his keen ears picked up the familiar voices, glancing up over his paper briefly.

"Look, Jean, it's nothing," Scott mumbled, shrugging the hand off his shoulder.

Jean narrowed her eyes. "You know I can just read your mind, right?"

Scott sent her a look. There was a long silence before Jean huffed and turned to walk away. Scott frowned, putting a hand up as if to stop her. "Wait, Jean-"

"Forget it, Scott. If you don't want to talk to me, I don't want to be here."

Needy woman. Walter pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, though, when Scott glanced to the side, spotting him. There was a brief flash of realization in the boy's face that made him realize that he had to get the hell out of there now. He simply dropped the paper as he stood, turning to start quickly down an alley. Must have figured it out, Walter realized. Wouldn't be so hard, there were files of him now, and Xavier had a lot of money.

Once away from public eyes, his pace picked up drastically. Rorschach's instincts took over and he began to sprint. Behind him, he could hear the swift steps of the boy following him.

"Rorschach!"

Fuck. Rorschach glanced to the side, his eyes falling on a fire escape. In one swift movement, he was launching himself up the side of the brick wall. His fingers wrapped around the ladder's iron bars, hefting himself up. He reached for the next one and-

He swore under his breath as a beam of red energy hit the back of his hand, forcing him to release the bar and drop down to the ground again. He whipped around to face Scott, wiping all emotion from his face to watch him steadily. He kept his arms raised in case of an attack. "Hunting me down. Should be taking down those criminals."

Scott furrowed his brows, a frown pulling his lips down. "The Brotherhood is staying out of trouble now. We'll deal with them later."

"Later?" Rorschach repeated, a low growl erupting in his throat. "Have to wait for someone to lose their life before you get rid of that filth?"

There it was again. The brief conflict of emotions crossing Scott's face. Young. Didn't understand yet. Once again the vigilante was reminded of his old partner. "... No. But killing them would be the same as letting them kill someone else." It angered him. Thinking of Night Owl. Thinking of the last time he'd seen him.

"Letting them go same as condemning innocents," Rorschach snapped. "Seen them. Care only for themselves. Only for personal gain. Will do whatever it takes to satisfy their own desires." He took a step forward, causing Scott to step back in alarm, his hand raising to his sunglasses. "And desires will grow. From money to sex and sex to power. And who will stop them? Police?" he spat the word, clearly not believing it. "Xavier? Too weak."

Scott gritted his teeth angrily. "The Professor is not weak!"

"Wealthy liberal. Thinks there's good in everyone. You see good, Summers? Good in murderers and rapists? Filth, Summers! World of smooth-talkers and whores. Look around. Bruises on wives' arms. Screams of children behind doors. Never seen it, blinded by Xaviers kind illusions. But I have. Seen the scum crawl from their holes and prey on innocent. Seen girls like Gray left naked in alleyways, in pools of their own blood and sex."

Scott opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Rorschach snorted. "Will find Brotherhood. Will not wait for Xavier to learn hard way." He turned to start walking away.

"W-Wait-!"

He didn't stop.

He heard Scott's footsteps again, felt the brief pressure of a hand on his shoulder. Scott gave a sharp gasp of pain as he found himself slammed into a near-by wall. The force surprised him, knocking the wind out of him. Gasping softly, he reached up to grab Rorschach's wrist.

"I... I know where the Brotherhood is."