Watchman (c) Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, I only entertain this absurdly fluffy idea.
The relationship between Dan and Rorschach is taken more from the movie than the novel.
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CHAPTER TWO
Dan Dreiberg walked sluggishly towards his apartment steps, the rain thudding down on him, making him heavier. When he turned to walk up the steps he noticed that the door was busted open. Again. The third time in one month.
"Goddammit, Rorschach." Dan stomped up his steps, threw the door open, and then preceded to slam it shut. The door bounced back open its busted frame. Dan turned and made sure the door shut the second time.
He waited a moment in the darkened entrance hall, listening. When he heard nothing he preceded to the kitchen, where he expected to find Rorschach snacking on something he'd found in Dan's pantry. But he found that no such sight met him upon entering. Dan took his coat off and tossed it on the coat rack.
"Rorschach?" Dan shouted to his empty home. He waited and still heard nothing. "Rorschach?" he shouted again. This time he heard something, from the basement. Dan made his way downstairs, turning the lights on as he did. He found Rorschach sitting atop Archie.
"Hello, Daniel." Rorschach turned his head toward his friend.
"What the hell are you doing here, Rorschach?" Dan questioned as he stood in front of his empty Nite Owl suit.
"Needed scissors to take the stitches out. Came by to borrow a pair." Rorschach twirled the scissors on the index finger of his right hand.
"Bullshit, Rorschach. What the hell are you doing here?" Dan asked again, just as forceful as Rorschach when he really wants information from someone.
"I need an excuse these days?" There was actually surprise in Rorschach's voice. He didn't see Daniel angry often, but knew something was wrong when he was.
"No," Daniel paused, taking in a few deep breaths. "It's just most days that you do. I see you once in a blue moon and here you are visiting me for the third time this month. Why?" Dan looked the sitting figure of Rorschach up and down. When Dan received no answer from the silent figure of his ex-partner, Dan continued ranting.
"I would appreciate it if you stop kicking in my goddamn door. I'm tired of shelling out a hundred twenty dollars to get the frame and the lock fixed. Either pick the lock or come in the back door, just. . .quit breakin' my door down," Dan huffed as he sat before his empty suit. He looked up at Rorschach and swore he saw some sort of hurt bloat the smooth, moving blots. Suddenly Dan sighed heavily and hung his head. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt angry, tired, heavy, hungry, and like he wanted to cry all at once.
"Kicking it in saves time," Rorschach murmured in a voice Dan had to strain to hear.
"Maybe you, but not me." Dan rubbed his eyes before replacing his glasses upon his face.
"Don't look well, Daniel," Rorschach stated upon observing his former partner. He saw the pitch of Daniel's shoulders slump, as if a small weight was plucked from his back.
"Thank you for stating the obvious, but I don't feel very well, Rorschach," Dan sighed, his head still in his hands. Rorschach stood on Archie's back and soundlessly jumped to the ground. He placed his hand deep in his pockets and walked soundlessly towards Daniel. Rorschach walked up the steps and sat on the metal rail across from his former partner.
"Not sleeping well?" Daniel looked up, surprise to see concern float around the blots on Rorschach's mask, but even more surprised to hear the light concern in the gravel voice.
"Yea. . .not so sleeping well. So, are you going to answer my question? What the hell are you doing here?" Dan leaned back; placing his glasses back on his face, against the case where his empty costume hung. For the longest time Rorschach didn't answer and Dan was so mesmerized by the changing blots that his head started to lull against his chest. When Rorschach finally answered, Dan was almost asleep. When he heard the gravel voice speak his head snapped up in attention.
"Got evicted. Don't have anywhere to go. Need a place to sleep. Found your cot, set it up. Sleep down here tonight," Rorschach said as he gestured behind him. Dan's eyes followed in the general direction and found the cot with a small pillow and blanket on it. Dan looked back to Rorschach's face and immediately looked away. He'd burst out for no reason and he felt horrible. Dan glanced over Rorschach's face, not wanting to read what the blots may say about their owner.
"I. . .," Dan started to say that he was sorry, but couldn't really bring himself to say it. They were some things he'd wanted to say for a while now. So, Dan decided to change his question, "Are you going to need a change of clothes?" He watched as Rorschach adjusted his trench coat.
"Fine like this," Rorschach muttered. "Could do with some water, though."
"I could go for a drink myself. Anything to eat, Rorschach?" Dan asked as he stood. He wobbled slightly and Rorschach extended a hand for help. Dan grabbed the hand and steadied himself. "Thanks. . .and. . . . I'm sorry I shouted. I just. . .," but before Dan could finish his thought, Rorschach interrupted.
"I understand, Daniel. I can be difficult to deal with. . .and you've put up with a lot from me. If you have beans that would be good," Rorschach added, changing the subject before Dan had the chance to say something else. Dan grinned at his former partner, releasing his hand.
"Would you like me to heat those beans for you?" Dan asked as he started for the stairs.
"From the can is fine." Dan looked back to see Rorschach still sitting on the railing.
"I'll be back down in a couple minutes," Dan said as he started up the stairs. He caught a slight nod from Rorschach.
Dan opened the door to his kitchen and immediately went to the pantry and found two cans of beans. He grabbed both; just in case Rorschach was particularly hungry. He set the cans on the counter and opened two drawers, finding a spoon from one and searching for the can opener in the other. Eventually Dan found it and opened one can, letting the spoon slide to the bottom. He placed the opener on the other can and set them both on the table. Just before he went scouting for a bottle of water, Dan's phone rang. Dan waited for the second ring; to be safe, before picking it up.
"Hello?" he said into the receiver. "Oh, hi, Hollis. How are you?" . . . "No, I'm still not feeling well. I was going to call you in a bit and let you know that I wasn't coming tonight." . . . "Yah. . .all the same stuff as last week. . . . Since I fixed Rorschach up actually." . . . "He got evicted and he needs some where to stay 'til he gets back on his feet." . . . "He is not a mooch, Hollis. He just needs a little help. I have this sneaking suspicion that I'm his only friend." . . . "That's mean, Hollis." . . . "Yes, I'll admit that Rorschach isn't playing with a full deck, but what you said is still rude." . . . "Listen, I'll call when I feel better, okay, Hollis?" . . . "Alright, I'll talk to you later." . . . "Bye, Hollis." With that, Dan hung up his phone. He found the water he was looking for, three actually. One for him and two for Rorschach.
"Don't need to cancel on account of me," the gravel voice of Rorschach said from the door to the basement. Dan turned around and nearly dropped all three bottles.
"I really need to get a bell for you, man," Dan giggled, setting two bottles on the table next to the beans. "Besides, I wouldn't be much of a guest in this condition. Adding beers on top of this would just make a bad scene worse. I'd rather not do that to Hollis." Dan cracked open his bottle and drained half of it. Rorschach looked down at the table, grabbed the water, unopened beans, the can opener, and placed them in his large coat pockets.
"Having problems sleeping?" Rorschach questioned, he pulled the open can closer, but didn't pick it up.
"Yea. . .I've been having strange dreams lately…wish I knew what they meant," Dan said as he leaned against the counter.
"Count sheep," Rorschach offered. Dan looked up and almost burst trying not to laugh.
"Did New York's most dangerous hero. . .just tell me to count sheep?" Dan stuttered the words and tried to stifle laughter. Rorschach looked at Daniel, the ink blots forming a line separating the two halves of Rorschach's face.
"Yes," he replied. The smile almost vanished from Dan's face.
"I'll give it a try then. Goodnight, Rorschach." Dan waved to his friend and made for the upstairs.
"Goodnight, Daniel." Rorschach grabbed the open can of beans and walked back down to the basement.