Author's note: This is fun to write, but time consuming. I'll keep at it but with school started updates will be slow. Please review or note me and let me know if there's anything you particularly like or don't like!
Warnings: MotherhenDan!
"CRIPES!!!" Dan leapt out of his chair and whirled as an ominously close sound startled him out of his intense focus on reading through rap sheets. The jerky movement sent papers flying everywhere and knocked over his mug, which fortunately was empty or his computer might have been toast.
"Jesus! You—you!" Dan sputtered at his partner standing inches away, smelling of old sweat and dank spaces, left hand slightly raised and open. Dan was pretty sure the gesture was meant to deflect any surprised blows rather than as a greeting.
"No. Also, thought you were Jewish." Dan hadn't heard any emotional inflection in his partner's voice for months, but he was almost sure he detected a hint of smugness, now. The inscrutable mask swirled lazily.
"What?! …aug! You did that on purpose!" Dan accused, then winced at the strange high pitch of his utterance.
Rorschach noticed it too. The meandering blots halted abruptly, then took on new, more central patterns as the vigilante tilted his head.
They stood awkwardly for a few seconds, Dan unwilling to acknowledge the unspoken question, hoping the other would let it slip.
Of course nothing could be so easy with Rorschach. "Something wrong with voice?" Dan opted not to use said voice. "Sounded strange," he pressed, and some small defensive part of Dan wanted to demand what right Mr. Gravely Monotone had to call people on strange sounds. The silence stretched on as Dan struggled to think of an actual reply.
"Laryngitis?" Rorschach offered, and Dan flopped from resentful to grateful as he grabbed for the lifeline. "Uhh, ye-AHHh." Dan tried to make his voice hoarse and squeaky. He whispered, "Probably better if I don't use my vocal cords."
"Nnh." Dan wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a sympathetic noise or a dismissive one. "How are you otherwise? Feeling better?" Hopeful. Yes, Rorschach definitely sounded hopeful. Dan smiled, and eagerly turned towards the computer, hoping to get off the uncomfortable topic of how he was doing and keep Rorschach from noticing other odd things about Dan
"Yes, yes, I sound horrible but I feel much better – actually starting to get cabin fever. Thanks for bringing me in on this." Dan's whispers elicited a particularly odd "Hrrn" as Dan opened a few select files to display on his console.
"I've finished with a cursory review of all the hits on that list you gave me, and was almost done with a more in depth one. There're nine likely candidates in my opinion – they live in the area and have a record of sexual assault and robbery. I also checked to see if there were any other murders that fit the profile but didn't find anything. If he's got a higher body count, they aren't strangled African American women."
Rorschach leaned in to look at the mugshots. "Located VCR taken from recent victim and obtained rough description. Black male, approximately six feet, shaved head, thick build. Brought VCR to check for prints – can pick up TV as well." The rough voice vibrated through Dan when he spoke, and Dan repressed a shiver at the sensation and musky scent.
"Uhh, oh! Wow, fast work man!" Dan was a little stunned when he realized Rorschach had managed to find the proverbial needle in a haystack in the time he'd been gone. But that was Rorschach for you. "Afraid that doesn't narrow the results too much – these records aren't recent enough for hair and weight to be the same. But two of these guys are definitely too tall, and one's too short…"
Rorschach grunted agreement. "Can take mug shots to vendor, see if any look like seller. Start there. Else six men not too hard to work through if no other leads."
"Alright!" Breathed Dan excitedly. "Who had the VCR? Tech Tzar, Papa Mic, Joe…?"
"Sparky Pete." Rorschach pulled the VCR out from his trench. If that coat doesn't have extra-dimensional pockets, I'll eat my cowl. The equipment was carefully wrapped in plastic bags to preserve any evidence on it.
"Sparks!" Dan exclaimed, almost forgetting to whisper in his excitement. "Hahaha, I haven't seen him in forever! Does his hair still look like something out of a Frankenstein movie?" Dan took the VCR and set it down on his workbench, quickly moving back to the computer to print out the mugshots along a few dummy ones.
"Ehh, suppose that is accurate description, yes." Rorschach watched Dan putter about without moving.
"Well, what are you waiting for? You remember how to start up Archie, right? Get him warmed up while I finish printing these photos and let's say hello!"
"Daniel…"
"Yes?!" Dan couldn't believe Rorschach was the one dragging his heels.
"Agree time is of essence, but not sure if flying Archie in middle of day is wise, or if business hours are best time to interrogate Pete…"
"Oh." Dan deflated a bit. Rorschach, voice of reason. Even weirder than Nite Owl, femme fatale. And now Rorschach was looking at him.
"I didn't realize it was daylight already, sorry." Dan whispered, but Rorschach continued to stare. "What?!" Dan barked, eager to deflect the unwanted scrutiny. Geez, now I'm the touchy one. Hello bizarro world!
Rorschach hesitated, confirming Dan's dire suspicions that they were, in fact, in another reality entirely. "Has… been a while since you were so eager to fight crime." The rusty voice seemed to be having trouble finding words. "Is… nice."
"Ah… oh." Dan smiled, both touched and a little saddened. "Well after being laid out for a few weeks I've been feeling pretty cooped up. And, y'know, catching this guy seems pretty important." Daniel didn't have to articulate that such a clear-cut case was rare for them.
"Yes. Very important. Glad you agree." Rorschach paused to consider strategy, then continued, "Good leads here, but should wait for nightfall to pursue them. Will scout out addresses of six suspects, return at 7pm. Would be helpful if you could check VCR for prints by then." The crimefighter shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to go.
Dan thought about this a moment, then narrowed his eyes. Sure he wanted to avoid his keenly observant partner's eyes as much as possible, but a thought nagged at him. "Wait, wait, no." Rorschach paused, back stiff with surprise.
"That VCR didn't just fall out of the sky. You've been tearing through pawnshops and street vendors all night, haven't you?" Rorschach did not find this brilliant deduction worthy of reply. "I bet you haven't even eaten anything, am I right? Right. Okay, if you're going to be in any shape to question Pete tonight and, if we're lucky, tackle this killer you're going to need food and rest." Dan pointed at the stairs to the kitchen, mid-morning light streaming invitingly through the half-open door.
Rorschach didn't take the hint. "Aware of own needs. Will take care of self."
Dan snorted, and tried his best to make a whisper commanding. "Sure you will. Right here, right now."
Rorschach didn't budge. Stubborn as a snow owl, but I know him too well! Dan was sure his partner was exhausted and starving, and that he would cave if Dan kept up the pressure. "Bacon and eggs. You will eat them with me. Don't make me drag you up there." Dan started forward, hands raised menacingly.
He was rewarded by a dry splutter that might have been a chuckle, then movement towards the kitchen. "Would be unfitting to trounce sick partner." Rorschach opined, and Dan stifled a grin. He followed his reluctant houseguest to the kitchen and puttered about preparing breakfast. He was a little worried the brighter light would prove too revealing, but his partner was more interested in inspecting the sugar cube stores. As the food sizzled on the skillet Dan suddenly realized that he'd been up all night with nothing but coffee, too.
He hurriedly finished scrambling eggs and left the bacon to sizzle while he served himself and Rorschach. The two fell on the food and rapaciously devoured it, not bothering with any pretense of conversation or even dignity. Just two costumed vigilantes shoveling egg in their faces and then trying not to burn themselves on hot bacon while inhaling it. Dan sat back happily when they were done and watched his partner lick his plate clean. Rorschach's lack of table manners could be gratifying, sometimes. When he was done Rorschach pushed back as well, mirroring Dan, and exhaled in a manner that sounded suspiciously like a contented sigh. Dan relaxed, feeling sluggish and full, not too concerned with hiding from the other's line of site. As he expected, it was moments before Rorschach's head began to nod and jerk, already struggling to stay awake, mask still rolled over his snub nose and bits of food stuck at the corners of his mouth.
Dan wiped at his own mouth with a napkin, mostly hiding a smile as Rorschach's head dipped low enough that he was nearly resting on the table. Dan stood up and stretched before he started to follow suit, then herded the somnolent vigilante towards the living room couch. Rorschach settled with minimal grumbling, and was clearly asleep within seconds of pulling his fedora over his eyes.
That was quick. Even more exhausted than I thought. Dan shifted his goggles to rub his eyes and realized that, again, he was little better. He spared Rorschach a last bemused glance before stumbling off to his own room, collapsing on his bed, and plummeting into a deep dreamless slumber.
End note:
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." – Martin Luther King Jr.
