Absent Friends

'This is it,' Kim thought to herself as she grabbed Adrian's waiting hand, stepped out of the car and under an umbrella carried by the driver. She linked her arm in her husbands, staying close for both the warmth and the comfort he provided.

Another car pulled up, and out came the former Nite Owl, Daniel Dreiburg. He was wearing a black suit under a brown trench coat, the only thing shielding him from the torrential downpour. Dan shook Adrian's hand, and then hers, muttering soft condolences before striking up a conversation. Kim couldn't have paid attention if she wanted to, and instead settled for nestling her face into Adrian's shoulder.

Shortly after, Dr Manhattan showed up in the most clothing Kim had ever seen him wear. He was in a full suit, and could have passed as a normal man if not for the glowing blue hue of his skin. They all shook hands and the three men continued to make small talk, which again Kim ignored. Her attention was now focused on the casket covered by a sopping wet American flag, being carried from the hearse and into the cemetery.

Their group followed the pallbearers, and watched as they slowly lowered the coffin beside the grave, before folding the flag and placing it on top. As the priest began to speak, all Kim could do was stare blankly at the six foot hole that would now be the permanent residence of the closest thing she ever had for a mentor. Not an ideal mentor, mind you, but a mentor all the same. As the funeral went on, Kim couldn't help but get lost in her memories.


1974

"I don't know what you see in that kook, Chammy, really I don't," the Comedian said for the hundredth time that night.

"And I don't see what you find so terrible about him, Ed, so why don't you just shut up about it and we can both continue to look for people who need saving," the Chameleon retorted, exasperated. The two were on patrol together, a common occurrence for them.

"Sweets, everyone needs saving, and right now, the dame that needs it most is standing right beside me, in a deliciously tight outfit," he replied saucily, making a grab for her rear, but missing as she instinctively swivelled out of the way. They were currently on a rooftop waiting for an arms deal to go down.

"Oh go fuck yourself Eddie," she sighed, peering over the edge of the roof. "When are these guys going to show up, anyways?"

"Toots, you could do so much better than that fruit–"

"First of all, if Oz were gay I doubt he would have proposed to m–" she started, but he cut her off.

"He did what? Tell me you said no," he yelled, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. She just stared blankly at him.

"You said yes? You gotta be kiddin' me! What's your Eddie been telling you all these years, huh?" he continued, shaking her violently.

"Nothing true, Ed. Just because you're a sleaze when it comes to women, doesn't mean everyone is!" the Chameleon sighed, pushing him off of her. "Oh look, they're here," she said excitedly, before jumping off the building and onto one of the ten men below.

"I'm not finished talkin' to you, missy!" the Comedian yelled from behind her as he made his way down the building and into the fray. When he hit the ground, he close-lined two of them, before punching a third in the face, knocking him out.

"You're not going to convince me not to marry him, Ed, so don't bother trying," she said, ducking under the sloppy punch of one man, while twirling around to sweep kick another. "We've been together for six years now, and I love him."

"Love! Ha! What a joke!" he exclaimed, dogging a kick, only to grab the man's leg and violently twist it, stopping when he heard a satisfying crunch. "Listen babe, love is a word men throw around to get in women's pants."

"First off, love is a word men like you throw around to get in women's pants, and Oz is nothing like you," she started, grabbing the hand of the thug who was trying to stab her, and bent it to an unnatural angle, effectively breaking the bone. "And second, we've been sleeping together for three years now, so I doubt that's what he wants."

"You've been having sex for three years! With Ozzy? Didn't I teach you nothing in our eight years together, or are you just stupid?" he shouted, breaking a man's nose, and then throwing him into another two.

"Oh please Ed, like you're one to talk!" she said while roundhouse kicking one man in the head, before spinning into a back kick, nailing him in the groin.

"I'm exactly the one ta talk, because I'm a man! I know men! And I know he's gonna hurt you somethin' bad!" he exclaimed, grabbing the last man by the head and snapping his neck.

"Oh please, Ed, you're the worst of the worst, no one is like you," the Chameleon said, panting lightly while dusting herself off.

"Doll, all men are like me, they just don't show it. At the end of the day, your precious Oz is gonna hurt you worse than any man, and when he does, I ain't gonna be there ta pick up the pieces." He replied, draping his arm casually across her shoulders.

"Oh please, Ed, stop being so melodramatic. You're worse than a little girl who's had her favourite doll taken away," she sighed, shrugging his arm off of her and climbing to the roof once again. "Listen, I didn't bring this up to hear you yell at me."

"Oh, then why did you? Want Big Eddie's approval?" he asked mockingly, following her. She was quiet until they reached the roof. They sat down on the ledge together, and she grabbed his large, calloused hand in her smaller, gloved ones.

"Listen Ed, I know you've never liked that I was with Oz, and I know you think he's a pretentious douche, but I love him, and he loves me, and we're going to get married," she paused here to take a breath, and gather some courage. "And you're probably going to say no, but now that the Captain's gone, you're the only person I could think to ask this, and really the only person I'd want t–"

"Just get to the point sweets, we've got blood ta spill," he interrupted.

"I, well, I was wondering if you'd, maybe, I don't know...wouldyouwalkmedowntheaisle?" she finished quickly, looking down at her lap shyly.

"Toots, you gotta speak slower," he said with a chuckle. He had understood the question, but still wanted to make her squirm. She took a deep breath, and looked him in the eye.

"Would you walk me down the aisle?" she said at a normal speed.

"O'course I will kiddo!" he exclaimed, slapping her on the back. "You may be making the biggest mistake of your life, but Big Eddie's got your back, and one fine back that i–"

"Oh shut up you perv!" she yelled, slapping him on the shoulder before embracing him in a hug. "And stop referring to yourself as 'Big Eddie.' No one ever calls you that anyways."

"Chammy, all the ladies call me Big Eddie, and you'd know why if you left that fruit and let me teach you how a real man pleases a woman."

As the ceremony drew to a close, Kim left the safety of the umbrella, and walked out into the torrential rain. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a cigar – one she knew to be the Comedian's favourite. She dropped it into the grave, and with a sorrow filled 'goodbye,' let herself by guided away by Adrian.

Alright, here's an update. This took a lot of willpower, and a lot of pushing, but I got it done. It's not that long, and I'm not sure when the next one is going to come, but I hope you enjoyed this last one!