Author's notes: okay, so goddamn Ozymandias decided that in the one time he was gonna be mentioned in my fic (aside from the obvious one) he was gonna be a complete asshole. *glares at him * Seriously, could you be any more annoying?? Grah. Anyways, so this chapter was like pulling teeth and so I hope you enjoy the fruits of my aggravating labor. :/

21. Ozymandias

When Rorschach slapped a copy of The Gazette on his kitchen table, Dan thought he was in for another lecture on the vices of filling his head with liberal trash. He mentally sent up a prayer for patience before staring placidly up at Rorschach, waiting for a gruff tirade. Instead, there was a rather awkward pause where both men just stared at each other expectantly. Finally, Rorschach broke the silence.

"Well, read it." Rorschach snapped, sounding a little punchy. Dan raised an eyebrow and picked up the magazine slowly. The front page read "Hero Unmasked! Ozymandias' true identity is businessman Adrian Veidt". Dan's eyes widened in shock and he stared, blinking, at the text before him. His mouth opened and closed several times before he could figure out how to make words.

"I don't believe it," Dan murmured, taken aback. He looked up over his glasses at his seething partner, "He might've told us, at least."

"He might have seen fit not to abandon the city in favor of shameful decadence," Rorschach corrected, growling and pacing.

Dan's other eyebrow climbed up to rest with the other, "I don't see what you're so upset about, you don't even like him anyway."

Rorschach whirled to face him, "Not the point Daniel. He quit. He left the cause. Abandoned the city and his duties, especially since he has the most and best resources. Was an asset," That last bit seemed to pain Rorschach to admit. "Also," he added, staring at Dan intently, "Might encourage the trend. Once one goes, others will follow."

Dan shrugged, stretching a sore shoulder muscle, "Yeah. Maybe. I could see Laurie retiring. She never liked the business much anyways." Dan noticed how Rorschach seemed to relax as Dan spoke and he wondered at that, "Well, I'm just as surprised as you are, but I think it'll be fine. We always got along fine without Ozy. I can only think of maybe one time when we've needed him."

Rorschach stared at him a little longer before nodding. Dan watched, bemused as he almost flopped into the kitchen chair beside him in something resembling relief. "You're acting funny," Dan remarked absently, "What're you thinking?"

"Nothing," Rorschach grumbled, plucking a sugar cube out of the jar and unwrapping it deftly. Dan chuckled, too happy to have Rorschach willingly sitting still and talking to him like old times to press the issue too much.

"We should go talk to him," the idea occurred to Dan suddenly, and it was clear that Rorschach did not approve of that plan. "I'm just curious. You know, why he retired."

"Doesn't matter," Rorschach growled dangerously, "What matters it that he quit."

"Yeah, I know." Dan sighed irritably, "But still. I want to know the reason why Ozymandias would want to give this up."

"And what happens if his reasons are acceptable Daniel?" It was more of a demand than a question, and his voice was low and unidentifiable, "What happens if he tells you why he quit and you find yourself agreeing with his motivations? What then?"

Dan blinked, "Um. They'll have to be damn good reasons. I mean, I'm not going to lie, this whole business isn't getting any easier, but I can't see myself giving it up anytime soon." Rorschach scrutinized him for a moment before settling back in his seat. Dan barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. It was incredibly irritating when Rorschach erupted into one of these moods. You never could say the right things around him when he was like this.

Finally, Rorschach stood up, "Going now. Good patrol, Daniel. Thanks for coffee and sugar cubes."

Dan grinned and waved, "Sure thing buddy. See ya tomorrow night." Rorschach nodded curtly and then disappeared down into Daniel's basement. Dan glanced at his clock; 3:43 in the morning. Christ. He shuffled off to bed, wondering how he was going to explain to whatever receptionist he ran into how he knew Adrian Veidt.

***

Turns out, Adrian had already thought of that for him. Daniel had told Adrian his secret identity years ago, as Adrian told him his. So when he reached the front desk the next day mid-afternoon, the receptionist already knew who he was and admitted him into another room to wait for Adrian there.

Ozymandias—Adrian—had done fairly well for himself, Daniel concluded. His office was large and tastefully decorated in the Egyptian style he emulated and the furniture was plush and sleek. Rorschach wouldn't approve, Dan thought amusedly to himself as he waited for Adrian.

He didn't have to wait for long. Not ten minutes since he sat down did the door across the room open and admit a tall, handsome man into the room. It was unmistakably Ozymandias, with his smooth, somewhat debonair manner and charming smile. The most surreal thing about the matter was seeing him unmasked and out of costume. He still wore a lot of purple, a fact that seemed to pain Rorschach a little bit. Because heaven forbid Rorschach have something in common with Ozymandias. But still, seeing him in a silk business suit as opposed to the shining golden suit (that Rorschach informed him one was lame. God alone knew how Rorschach knew that) with the purple cape was rather off-putting. Adrian, on the other hand, looked smoothly unsurprised and welcoming upon seeing Daniel out of costume. Instead, he extended a hand to shake Dan's warmly and firmly and smiled.

"Daniel," he greeted easily, "It's good to see you again. What have you been up to?"

Dan shrugged awkwardly, "Oh. You know. Not a whole lot, I live a quiet life in daytime." His laugh was forced and clumsy, but Adrian chuckled along with him.

"Ah yes. I am now enjoying such luxuries as well. And a little more… frequently now, which is why, I'm assuming, you have come."

"Uh. Yeah." Dan flushed a little, not sure why it was twice as awkward to talk to Adrian Veidt as Daniel Dreiberg than it was to talk to Ozymandias as Nite Owl. They were both the same persons, for God's sakes, "Actually, I was wondering about that… I mean…"

"You want to know why exactly I've decided to hang up my mask, if you will," Adrian finished for him, kindly cutting through Daniel's flustered stammering, "The answer is simple, Dan. It's all about the trends."

Dan frowned, "Trends?" The smile Adrian gave him was uncomfortably condescending.

"Of course. You see, Daniel, everything in American culture revolves in trends. Costumed heroing is no exception. It is popular to the public now, but it had its heyday in the fifties and sixties. A fifteen year trend is uncommonly long, and the effect of having such a long trend is a very quick, very sudden decline in popularity." He was staring at Daniel with intensity now, "This means that very, very soon now, the American public will be calling for us all to hang up our masks and to let the familiar, elected law enforcement officers to begin to do their jobs again. It will be sudden, violent and painful and quite frankly, I do not wish to be a part of it. You understand, don't you Daniel?"

Dan was at a loss, "But- you don't know that… I mean… sure, things are getting a little sticky now, but--"

Adrian chuckled almost affectionately, "Daniel, what I have always liked about you is that you honestly believe that you're doing genuine good as Nite Owl. And for the moment, you are. But what will happen when nobody wants your help anymore? It takes a very extreme personality to be a costumed hero, you yourself being the only exception to that rule, being as mild as you are," Adrian smiled to show he was being complementary. Daniel smiled back awkwardly- he'd been called worse than mild anyway. Adrian continued, "The public has only limited amount of patience for such personalities having so much control over their safety. People want stability and people like The Comedian and Rorschach are not stable. Now I know," Adrian raised his voice ever so slightly to cut off whatever Dan was going to interject in Rorschach's defense, "That Rorschach is your partner. But even you must admit that he is far from whole as a person."

"He's not like the Comedian," Dan mumbled, trying not to petulantly look at his feet, "He's better than that."

Adrian inclined his head, indicating he didn't desire to argue the point with Dan. But the little secret smile that curled his mouth showed he thought otherwise. Dan decided not to argue the point either.

"Be that as it may," Adrian continued, "I wanted to break away from the business before it followed my reputation and reflected badly on my business ventures. You understand."

Dan nodded numbly and forced a distracted smile, "Yeah. Yeah, I understand Adrian. Thanks for your time. I think I should be going."

Adrian smiled and nodded, "Of course. Well, I do hope I'll see you sometime in the future Daniel."

Daniel nodded again, trying to make his smile a little more natural. Halfway to the door, he turned, "Hey, Adrian?"

Adrian turned and looked politely curious.

"Do you really think there'll be a time when people aren't going to want us anymore?" Daniel didn't care how childish he sounded; all he knew was with Adrian's intellect, he'd have the best idea as to the future.

Adrian looked sympathetic, as though he understood and empathized with all of Daniel's fears and insecurities, "Yes, Daniel. I do."

Daniel sighed and his mouth twisted into a wry grin, "Well. Thanks again for your time, Adrian. I know you're busy."

Adrian nodded, "But never too busy to visit with old friends," He clarified, "Oh, and Daniel?" He added, looking piercingly at Dan, "I would strongly urge you to take after my example and retire before things become too much. I understand how painful it is when your illusions about your place in the world have been shattered." He looked distant for a moment, grey eyes looking somewhere Dan couldn't see. After only a second, Adrian appeared to come back to himself and he smiled almost wistfully, "But you won't, will you? You won't give up on your city. Or your partner."

"He's my friend," Dan burst out, suddenly needing to justify Rorschach's current violent streak, "He's the only one I've got. And I'm the only friend he's got."

"You can't fix him, Dan," Adrian looked sad and paternal as he stared down at Daniel, "You can't fix him any more than you can fix the city. You know that."

Dan shrugged, "Maybe. But I can't just leave him either. What kind of friend would I be then?" He smiled genuinely this time, comforted by the sense of purpose, "I really do have to get going, Adrian. I've got a late night ahead of me, you know."

Adrian laughed then, a warm chuckle that didn't reach sad and distant eyes, "I do know. Good luck Daniel. I hope you, most of all, have a happy resolution out of this."

"Thanks Adrian," Daniel waved at the door, "I'm pretty sure I will."

***

"So how did your talk with Ozymandias go?" Rorschach gritted out, obviously trying to be pleasant tonight for some unfathomable reason. But Dan wasn't bothered by it, he'd stopped trying to figure Rorschach out a long time ago.

Dan shrugged, "I dunno. He's pretty much the same as he's always been, constantly thinking he knows something we don't. You know."

Rorschach grunted a little, shifting in his seat. Dan smiled, guessing at his thoughts.

"And no," Dan chuckled, "He didn't encourage me to join him in the Quitting League of Quitters. Don't worry, my integrity is safe."

Rorschach huffed, obviously not appreciating the sarcasm, but he quit fidgeting and the rest of the night went uncharacteristically pleasant.

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A/N: Yaaay! Actually, this turned out pretty happy. *glares at Dan and Rorschach * what the heck guys? I thought we were getting sad. Sigh. Whatever. It at least had a sort of foreboding air to it, right? :/ Well, yeah. Stay tuned for sad. FOR REAL THIS TIME. I've already written it. :3 Thanks for your support, as always! Oh, and bonus points if you can pick out the poorly concealed Dr. Horrible refrence. I... have no life :D