I own nothing, everything belongs to Allen Moore.


"Are you two dykes now?"

Freeze. Was not aware of audience. "Not gay." Push Daniel away firmly. Bring mask up, face suddenly swirling black and white. Flustered.

"You ain't? But you were smashing faces wi-." Will Rory's lips fused. Boy alarmed, but not harmed.

"Homosexuality slur on reputation. Can't allow slurs. So, 'not gay'. Understand?" Rory nods, eyes wide, and Daniel tries not to chuckle. Heal boys' lips. Satisfied with handiwork. "Finish eating, before eavesdropping?"

"Yes sir, Mister Kovacs. But I saved you and Dad a bunch of bacon." He is glad lips work.

"All for you. Not eating. No bacon for Daniel. Left him plate with egg."

Daniel disgruntled. "Hey, that's my choi-"

"No bacon for Daniel."

"But-."

"No. Bacon. For Daniel." Smile under mask. Am having fun with this. Have won. Rory giggles. "You two go eat. Daniel, we talk later." I need to reacquaint myself with the nest. Am left alone. Archie upgraded. Still looks as did 5 years ago. Check fridge unit. Green glass bottles. Glad Daniel cares about small details. Abandon mask, allowing face of Walter to be default. Help self to coke. Sure Daniel won't mind. Drink while wandering. Find cot, made up in secluded alcove of nest. Slept here often, pre-Keene. Collapsed several times, stealing handful of hours of sleep before taking tunnel up to outside world, and walking home. Fond memories, waking up to Daniel's scent. Daniel's woolen blanket, heavy, warm. Move heavy wool, smiling.

Smile dies. Purple silk. That bastard. Angry now. Glare sheet into flames. Pay no heed to smoke alarm siren, nor Daniel's knee jerk reaction, scared and at my shoulder. Made up, like Daniel expected company. Purple silk now black ash. Mattress and wool untouched. Slow realization dawns on Daniel's face, he climbs stool to silence shrieking siren.

Other screaming continues. Brush ash from sleeves, follow noise upstairs. Rory the source. Sounds disjointed, broken. Very loud, high pitch. Terrified child, hiding under kitchen table. Crouch to his height. "Hush."

He stops screaming. "Good boy."

He's still sniffling though. Crying? Hard to tell, bangs in eyes. Child needs haircut. "No one died this time?"

Ah. Understand now why child reacted so strongly. Laurie burned. Must have been attached. Try to look gentle. "No one died. I just...hurm. Had tantrum." Feel embarrassed to admit it.

"So ya lit a fire?"

Nod. "Blew off steam."

"Alright. Next time give me warning. I don't like the siren."

Nod.

Awkward silence. Rory goes back to plate. Small smile. "Daddy ate some bacon. Just so you know."

"Hurm. Tattle tale. Good informant. Thanks." Must remember to chastise Daniel.

He pouts. "Not a tattle tale. He's goin' ta hell for eating pig, and he knows it. Really, I'm just reporting to someone who can do somethin' 'bout his....misdemeanor."

... I like this child. Ruffle his hair. He grins. Daniel stands at door to nest, watching with small smile. Silence stretches. Want more time with Rory. "Show me grappling gun?"

He's eager to do so, we pass Daniel on way back into nest. I pause, looking him in the eye. "No bacon means no bacon. Shall be punished later. Also, we talk. Later. Enjoy washing dishes." Say last three words with chipper tone, kissing Daniel on cheek. Small chuckles in back of mind.

Spend day with Rory, Daniel doing domestic work. Looks at clock often, biting lip. Wonder if has appointment. Didn't mention anything. At about four in the afternoon Daniel reminds Rory that we're 'working tonight.' Child immediately nods, puts away toys, and heads to bed.

Daniel explains. "If we're patrolling, the kid needs extra sleep. You will be coming out with us tonight...right?"

Slow nod. "Rorschach has returned. Hope name not taken."

"I made sure no one took it, Walter. I beat people up for it. I do care, you know. I always have and always will."

"Let Veidt sleep here. More than once. Often even. Didn't tell me. Shame on you." Hurts. My Daniel is MY Daniel. Veidt tried to take him from me. Angry.

Daniel pauses. Tells full truths now. "I more or less let him live here. He was nice to Rory, and good at cooking, and it started out as just him helping because Laurie died and Rory and I were lost without her. I .... I'm sorry. I got dependent. I was weak. I..I don't know how I let it all happen. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. What can I do?"

"Hurm. Find Veidt's things. All stuff left here. Personal affects. Give to me. Now. Search house."

"He's going to want them back, Walter, I can't jus-"

"And anything he's given you." Zero tolerance. Not like bacon. Daniel MUST comply. Seems to understand, starts searching house.

Soon brings me purple gym bag filled with miscellaneous items. "Everything?"

Daniel says yes, but voice is wrong. Glare. "No lies. Get everything."

Sigh from Daniel. Takes off watch, throws it in gym bag. I raise eyebrow.

"Mine broke when we were in Cairo, so he bought me a new one. No big deal."

"Cairo. Egypt."

"Yes. Egypt."

"Hurmph." Take bag, start to walk away, Daniel grabbing shoulder.

"Don't leave. Please don't leave, Walter."He thinks I'm leaving him. Ha. Wish I could, almost.

"Will be back. Always back for you. Always."