Ch. 10

Walter had framed the newspaper article. As Rorschach, he didn't know what to think of the gesture.

It had started to rain a little as he kept an eye out for Nightshade. They hadn't agreed to meet at their usual location, but waiting for her had become a habit. For a moment he wondered if she would turn up. After all, they had captured Big Figure, and she had gotten her mention in the papers. He was sure her mother knew now. Would she care to fight crime anymore? Women were fickle creatures. Maybe after this, the excitement would wear off and she would return to her normal life and forget about this one. It was quite unfortunate; she had a good left kick. He heard loud running steps in the distance but thought it couldn't be her. She had learned to be stealthier than that. Wondering if it was someone in trouble, he turned towards the source of the sound and was mildly surprised to find Nightshade running up to him. Rorschach ignored the bounce in her step and other places.

"Rorschach," said Nightshade, gasping for breath.

Nightshade came up to him at last, panting with the effort of her run. After composing herself, she folded her arms and looked at him with wide eyes, posture slightly hunched. She was standing closer to him than usual. Rorschach thought maybe she was drunk, somehow. Then he saw a shiver go through her and he realized she was cold. Of course, the rain.

"Let's go," he suggested, hoping that if they were constantly moving she would stop feeling so cold.

They passed a hobo in the street, then a couple moving fast with their heads ducked low to avoid the rain. Some idiot who attempted to write graffiti on the wall gave up halfway when his spray can stopped working as the rain came down harder. Rorschach scared him away. The rain was pouring buckets now. Rorschach was annoyed. He ushered Nightshade to stand under a ledge with him, then the wind began as if to signal the torrential downpour that followed. He had to give up and take her to a nearby storage facility instead. They climbed inside a unit and stood around in silence. There was no light source inside, but outside there were several lamp posts giving enough illumination through the windows to cast shadows and provide enough light that it was almost as if there was interior lighting. Nightshade looked around for a moment, then took off her mask and started to ring out her hair. Rorschach gawked at her and she looked at him and shrugged.

"It's not like you don't already vaguely know who I am," she said. "My name's Laurie, by the way."

Rorschach looked at her warily, afraid she would expect for him to introduce and reveal him own identity in return. She looked too busy trying to brush water droplets off of her outfit. He worried that she would feel compelled to take that off, too. She didn't, of course. Then he felt like a cad for being a little disappointed. Rorschach suddenly took great interest in looking around the building, poking at boxes and determining that the objects stored here were all machinery parts. He sat down on a long box that held a crane arm. Nightshade, no, Laurie -- no mask right now -- walked over and sat down next to him.

"My mother saw the article," she said. She was smiling, but she sounded wistful.

"Is that good?" he asked her. The warmth of the building after the cold air outside was making her face flush. It made her intriguing to look at.

"I think so."

The rain thundered down on the roof above them. Rorschach wished it would stop and they could leave the place. Laurie was looking down.

"You know..." she trailed off, looked away, then at him again. "I've been meaning to ask you."

Rorschach froze, feeling like a bird trapped in a cage who had only just now realized it. His heart was thundering in his chest and he was sure she could hear it. It was as if the rain had suddenly torn open the ceiling and was now pounding down onto his back and head, draining him and pinning him down.

"Remember when I asked if we could team up?" she continued. "I was wondering if you were still up for that."

Rorschach felt relief as if the sky had lifted off of him.

"Yes."

"Because you know, we were doing so well with..." Laurie looked up. "Wait, what?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Underboss is still on the run."

"Oh." she laughed, as if nervous. "Right, of course."

"Partners until we capture Underboss."

"All right," Laurie smiled. "Until then, I'll convince you yet."

Oh, he was convinced. He was just hoping they would never find Underboss again. Sloppy thinking, of course, but he couldn't help but want it nevertheless. He watched her look down, then away, then at him again. She seemed to do that quite often. She still looked flushed and he himself agreed inwardly that the room was just too warm. Silence stretched on and though they were often this quiet when on a case, in this room with some expectation for conversation, the air was awkward.

"It's my birthday today," Laurie told him.

Rorschach nodded. He really didn't know how to keep small talk like this going.

"How old?" he asked, finally.

"Sixteen." she blushed a little and looked at him with bright eyes. Color slowly transferred from her face to her lips, making them look red. He studied them carefully.

The rain had quieted a little, but still continued on. Rorschach shifted nervously in his seat. Suddenly he didn't know what to do with his hands. He put them in his lap and clenched them tightly. He closed his eyes despite himself and willed the rain to go away. When he opened his eyes minutes later, the rain was still coming down. Laurie laughed suddenly and he looked at her and regretted it. He wished she would put on her mask and become Nightshade again. Things were easier that way.

"My mother, of all things, suggested that we have you over for dinner," she told him.

Rorschach paused for a moment. What he heard had sounded so surreal for a second he had wondered if this was a strange dream.

"I mean, I know you don't have to say yes or well, anything, even," said Laurie. "I just thought it was an odd request."

Rorschach studied her profile as she looked down at her hands. He would like to do that -- be normal and go to dinner at a friend's house. He had never done that before. He didn't like her mother very much, however, and being trapped in a room with her was an unappealing thought.

"Do you even eat?" asked Laurie suddenly, then she laughed out loud. "I'm sorry, what am I saying?"

"I don't, actually," said Rorschach, feeling possessed with an unfamiliar feeling. "I sustain myself through the blood of our fallen foes."

Laurie laughed as if that was the funniest thing in the world. Rorschach felt driven as if by electricity and couldn't stop the words from falling out.

"In fact, I don't sleep," he told her. "In the morning I turn into vapors that possess evil in the form of guilt. Then I coalesce into a physical form at nightfall to exact justice."

She was laughing too hard. It couldn't be that funny. He was starting to laugh too, when he realized something and jumped up.

"Rain has stopped now, should go," he told her in a polite tone. Laurie stared at him with an indiscernible expression. Then she nodded and sat up to put her mask on again.

"Where are we going?" she asked him.

I don't know, away from here, he almost said to her. Then he held his hands out as if to placate her, somehow.

"Just making a round," he said. She nodded. Rounds were good. They were safe and familiar.

They went out into the night together, the air crisp and fresh now after the rain. Water slowly dripped from the trees and building ledges around them. The streets were empty. It seemed the criminals had taken their activities indoors. Rorschach briefly considered the Comedian's suggestion of picking buildings at random to burst into. He saw two familiar figures up ahead and almost grabbed Nightshade and ran in the opposite direction. No, that would be ridiculous. Ahead of them were Ozymandias and Nite Owl II though, and he really didn't feel like talking to them.

Not that he ever had.

"Hello again," said Nite Owl II first this time.

"Hi," said Nightshade, warily.

"We saw your article in the papers -- Big Figure. Pretty exciting." Nite Owl II smiled. "We were actually in the middle of tracking him."

"Thanks." She looked at Rorschach, who shrugged.

Uncomfortable pause.

"So, uh, what are you boys working on now?" Nightshade asked out of common courtesy.

Nite Owl II lit up as if he had been waiting for this question.

"Actually, we think Moloch the Mystic might be back in town again," he said.

"Oh?" This time, Nightshade actually seemed interested.

"Yes, we'd been hearing rumors, really, but last night, we found this."

Nite Owl II held up what looked like a small calling card then walked up to Nightshade to show her.

"Wow," said Laurie, taking the card from him. Their hands touched, briefly, and Rorschach felt cold.

Nite Owl II was smiling down at her, and Rorschach didn't like how close he was standing to her. Ozymandias, he wouldn't mind, but Nite Owl II, no. Rorschach practically squeezed in between them, brushing against both of them in the process. Nightshade looked up to show him the card. He nodded at it, then turned and stared at Nite Owl II until he moved away with a perturbed expression on his face.

"We were contacted by Captain Metropolis," said Ozymandias mildly. "If this Moloch threat is real, he wants to have a meeting of some kind in the next few months. He's gathering information even now, seeing how many people like us are interested."

"Oh," said Nightshade. "Is Moloch really that much of a threat?"

"I suppose not." There was a small smile on Ozymandias' lips. "Though it has been quite a long time since a costumed supervillain has made an appearance."

"True, but I guess it does seem like overkill," said Nightshade.

"Perhaps he wishes to discuss other matters." Ozymandias looked at his partner, who nodded.

"Maybe Moloch is just the beginning; the key that brings us all together," said Nite Owl II. Ozymandias nodded at him this time. They looked so in sync and aware of the other. Rorschach wondered if he and Nightshade looked that complementary.

"Oh well, back to work I suppose," said Nite Owl II. "Unless you guys want to join us."

"No, we're happy on our own, thanks," said Nightshade sweetly. Rorschach wondered if she was flirting with him. He decided that she actually was being mildly sarcastic.

"Farewell," said Ozymandias. It seemed the two men were regarding them quite apprehensively now. Good. Maybe they would stop bothering them for once.

Rorschach and Nightshade waited until the two men were out of sight.

"Do you think Captain Metropolis is going to band us all together?" asked Nightshade. "You know, like the Minutemen?"

"Maybe."

She frowned.

"We don't have to join," he told her.

"Well, it's just that..." she paused. "My mother might be eager about making me join."

"Attend the first day, then decline afterwards."

"Yeah, all right..." she looked thoughtful, then turned to him with a grin. "You know what would be funny? If we found Moloch before Ozzy and Friend."

Rorschach nodded. He liked this proposal. Anything that would delay their discovery of the Underboss.

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To be continued...