Storyverse. Dan/Rorschach, mature, sexual themes and actions, some violence, spoilers. Not what really happened, but all takes place in a time slot left blank by Moore and Gibbons, who own these characters. I only own my ideas. (first Watchmen fic, please be gentle) Thanks so much to my informal beta, vaudeville.

Arctic colder than anticipated. Still don't wish for puffball suit. Daniel looks very.....

Daniel looks

Daniel is ridiculous. Childish, furry, fuzzy, warm suit.

..... lied. Want one. Not for public use. Would be grand slur on reputation. Rorschach gone soft. Getting cold. Tired. Need sugar. Daniel starts talking.

"Okay... there it is, up ahead. Looks like there's no option other than a direct approach. We can't creep up without cover, and it's pointless waiting for darkness up here." I don't under stand. Can't we wait until night time? Daniel continues, "there isn't any." Oh yes. Sun does shifts here, different. Learned a long time ago. Forgot. No lady night here, to offer up those who hide within her. Shudder, looks like shivering from cold.

"Untrue. Just isn't any of kind we can use. If Veidt truly engineering third world war, we are approaching the heart of darkness." Can almost feel tendrils of palpable evils emanating from our destination. The chills are not from fear, nor the cold. It's anticipation. Justice will be served. Adrien shall meet his doom if he is indeed the mask killer, responsible for upcoming Armageddon.

What if he isn't? Cold air brushes Walter's jaw, latex being pulled up. Hand in pocket. Sweet Chariot

"I've been wondering about that. Those brochures, all that crap we took from his desk...the tone was wrong, somehow. Not optimistic exactly, but ... well, planning for a future. It didn't read like someone out to carve a headstone for humanity. " Sugar on tongue, warm, sweet. Energy. "And anyway, this is Adrien for God's sake! We know him. He never killed anybody, ever. Why would he want to destroy the world?"

Sugar makes 'ronch' noises between teeth. Swallow. Think. "Insanity perhaps?" Pull down face.

"Ha. Well, that's a tricky one... I mean, who's qualified to judge something like that? This is the world's smartest man we're talking about here, so how can you tell? How can anyone tell if he's gone crazy?"

Mind drifts back to Archie, earlier, skipping over acts of debauchery. Daniel's voice loud, angry, finger pointing with accusations. "...Nobody complains, because they all think you're a goddamn lunatic..." Why was it so easy to assume my insanity, Nite Owl? Is it the face? Do the swirling blots making perfect sense make me insane? Is it the solitude? Is it the smell? Is it the conspiracies, the free thought, the air of not being part of the big machine? I'm different, true. We're all different. Comes with the line of work. But not insane. Not a lunatic. Veidt starting World War Three? Now that is insanity. That is monstrous. If he is indeed guilty. Which he is. I'm sure of it.

For his crimes, he shall die. Or I shall. I pray to the whiteness here that darkness shall be vanquished. God doesn't kill children. God doesn't exist. May mortal me watch the devil draw his last breath, the world safe again for a time. A short time, a reprieve. This silence here is getting to me. Thoughts extending, distracting, undulating like shifting snow. Would talk with Daniel. Nothing to say. Never say Goodbye. Never compromise. Never love, never feel pain. Be Rorschach, the mask that is the face, the hero the city needs though does not deserve. More than city at stake here. World.

Heady thoughts. Like fine wine. Ha. Don't drink. Maybe have beer after all this? Daniel drinks beer. Wonder why. Fail to see appeal. Hurm. Cold. No. Rorschach numb. Strive for numbness. Numb but nimble. Failure. Can't be numb. Blushing. Also quieting giggles in chest. Daniel so silly, so puffy. Warm? Yes. Daniel warm. Warm inside Daniel. More blushing. Dammit. Stop. Stop. Walter thoughts. No no no, Stupid stupid stupid! So cold. Blushing warm. No. Can't. Shan't. Won't.

Do.

Love sucks.