Author's notes: Wow, it feels like it's been forever. Maybe it has…Ok, so this chapter kicked my butt, so I apologize if it's a smidge shorter than the others, which sucks because Chapter 5's supposed to be the short fluff chapter…But I might do some switching.

Warnings: Umm…I don't think there is any really…Enjoy?

I still don't own the Watchmens…

4. Touch

When you were a costumed hero, you got yourself into weird situations; some infinitely cooler than others.

Before becoming a mask, Dan would've thought that stealthily infiltrating a building full of criminals via the air ducts would be amazingly cool; James Bond-worthy, in fact. However, he forgot to factor in the fact that he was only just a little smaller than the air vent itself and his cape only added to his bulk. That, and commando crawling through a dusty tube directly behind the feet of a man who smelled like rotting garbage was certainly a dampener on his spirits.

The only good thing about this whole affair was that it was an old building and the vents widened at some points, allowing himself to poke his head up to breathe or stretch his back. His partner didn't seem to mind, however. Granted, Rorschach was quite a bit smaller than Dan and he wasn't hindered by a cowl or anything like that. Initially, Dan had thought Rorschach's costume to be a little lackluster, but now it looked pretty damn intelligent from where Dan was standing. Or crawling, as it were.

Just as Dan opened his mouth to ask how much further they would have to go, Rorschach raised a purple-gloved fist. An eager smile cracked Dan's pace as his pulse quickened, spurred on by the sudden rush of adrenaline that made the blood pound in his ears. He knew the plan, Rorschach's plan really (the man was a tactical genius), and Dan was quite literally itching with anticipation. Rorschach looked over his shoulder and Dan imagined that the curving inkblots mirrored a smile underneath the latex. Probably not.

Rorschach nodded, once, and Dan pressed a button on his belt, grinning widely. They watched through the grating as Archie's blinding headlights just outside their window illuminated the darkened room below them. Its occupants, a little man named the Big Figure and his henchmen, looked up from their dealings, startled. At the sight of Archie, the room was suddenly bustling with frenzied commotion of many men reaching for their guns. As they opened fire on an (empty) Archie, Dan's smile grew wider. Archie's hull was fortified and it would take a lot more that mere bullets to dent him up. On Rorschach's signal, Dan pressed another button on his console and turned on the screechers, Archie's newest addition to his arsenal. The sound wave shattered the windows with a note of finality and Dan felt a brief sense of satisfaction watching the criminals fall to the floor, writhing and clutching their ears in sheer surprise.

To his side, Rorschach lifted the grating and descended down upon the nearly incapacitated men like a judging angel. Dan took one last deep breath before Nite Owl swept down to join his partner.

Sometimes, being a costumed hero was just as cool as it sounded.

***

Nite Owl couldn't wipe the smug grin off his face if he even tried. They had been tracking god damned Big Figure for months, nearly catching him at times and every single time they got close, the slippery bastard managed to get away. Not only was it absolutely galling, but it also meant that Dan had to put up with an angry Rorschach. Which was never fun. Now, however, both Rorschach and Nite Owl could celebrate the fact that finally, finally there was one less major crime boss out on the street. Nite Owl didn't think Rorschach was the celebrating type. But Dan didn't really think at all.

He never really did.

Rorschach had his back to Dan when he straightened up, having restrained the last of the unconscious gang. Rorschach was probably a little annoyed with Dan as he wanted to keep Big Figure awake, but Dan had gotten a little too carried away. Now Big Figure probably had a mild to severe concussion and wouldn't regain consciousness for quite some time.

Oh well.

However, Dan, trying to make amends, smiled, allowing his excitement to override his professionalism. "Hey, Rorschach!" He called out, jumping forward, his hand raised to a high five, "Can you beli-Waugh!"

Upon reflection, Dan figured it was probably his own fault.

What Dan had meant to be a friendly gesture of comraderie after a successful venture, Rorschach perceived as an unexpected attack from an unknown assailant. Therefore, Dan was swiftly punched in the solar plexus and his feet swept out from under him with a clear kick, knocking the wind out of him. Dan blinked at the ceiling, waiting for the little cartoon stars to clear from his eyes, when a fedora-clad head swam into his vision. Dan grinned sheepishly. And a little dazedly--Rorschach hadn't been pulling his punches. They stared at each other for a minute before a snigger to their right jolted them out of their confusion. Dan felt his face heat up. Oh great, some criminal idiot just saw the Nite Owl get his ass handed to him by his own partner. That will do wonders for his reputation.

Rorschach jerked up towards the sound, growled, and strode across the room in big, angry steps and punched the guy in the face. Hard. Well, now he was unconscious, Dan mused absentmindedly, pushing himself off the floor. Rorschach turned to look at him, fists clenched and Dan could not shake the feeling that he had offended his temperamental partner again. Trying once again to make up for being such an idiot, Dan forced a sheepish grin, "Sorry about that." Rorschach froze. Dan wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, so he continued, "Don't know what I was thinking, jumping out from behind you like that. And after a fight at that. It was pretty stupid of me."

Dan had one of those feelings again, looking at Rorschach after he had spoken. One of those feelings that he knew exactly what was on the other side of that mask, on the human side of Rorschach. At that moment, he knew Rorschach was looking at him like he'd never seen anyone quite like Dan in his life. After a while, Rorschach finally spoke, "Shouldn't have knocked you down. Embarrassed you in front of criminals. Endangered your reputation." This was the best apology Dan would ever receive until 1985, ten hundred years away from where they were now and Dan didn't even know it.

He laughed, "Reputation? Rorschach, I dress up like a giant owl and fight crime. I don't have the greatest reputation as is. Really, it's no one's fault. Look, I've already contacted the police; let's wait for them up in Archie. I know how much you don't like talking to them."

Rorschach nodded, the inkblots on his face curving up again in the same way they had in the air vent, "Should probably learn how to defend yourself better, Nite Owl. Have horrible reflexes."

Dan laughed, surprised and pleased, "I'm so sorry. We can't all be as bad-assed as you."

"Hurm."

Other times, being a costumed hero had everything to do with the people who fought by your side and made you feel invincible.

A/N: Yay! I liked this chapter a lot, actually. And it didn't turn out to be short like I was afraid it would! Anyways, I apologize for the delay, I actually just came back from my friend's graduation. So cool. Anyways, yeah, reviews are good and thank you for all the great postive feedback I'm getting from you guys. Except for Absolute Authority on Everything Fict. –I know who you are, and so help me god, I'm gonna get you. :)