Walter accepted the faded pajamas and quietly sat to himself at the end of the full bed as Daniel unfolded a few more blankets. He glanced slowly around the room at the recessed bookshelves filled with owl knick knacks and books, the darkened window and its tidy curtain, and a blanket chest near the door to what Walter thought may be a closet. His eyes fell back again over the random items on the bookshelf in front of him. A little pewter figure of an owl stared out over the ledge of the shelf. It sat next to a smaller ceramic one that was glazed with some sort of tobacco colored finish. Daniel chuckled softly in the background as he draped an extra blanket across the bed.
"You're probably thinking, how much owl stuff does this guy have?"
Walter didn't move his head but his eyes slid over to look at Daniel from a side-glance and then back to the owl figures. Daniel stepped over to pick up the little figures. He nervously talked to fill up the silence.
"Well, uh, I found this pewter owl in the sand on the playground one day when I was a kid. It's surprising the stuff you can find. Kid's sand boxes will probably be archeological gold mines for scientists in the future. I'd found marbles and jacks and one time a broken slingshot but I couldn't bring myself to discard this. Now it's been with me for years." He turned the tiny ceramic owl between the fingers of his other hand to inspect it. "This is one that my mother gave me. She loved Red Rose Tea and it was sort of a ritual every week when we went to the local grocer. She'd let me pick out the box so we could see what animal came in it. She said I was luckier so I should pick out the box. We got quite a few owls, actually. The rest are downstairs but this little guy stays up here. I gave the rest of the animals away a few years ago to a synagogue nursery up the street." he trailed off quietly. Walter was staring at the ceramic owl in his hands with rapt attention. Daniel didn't know why he felt his blank expression seemed to hold a slight twinge of sadness. He always debated whether or not Rorschach really listened when he ended up blathering on but seeing his face now, he must've really been listening to everything he'd said all along. He felt a flush in his cheeks and he cleared his throat.
"Sorry, I forget I ramble sometimes. Listen, I can go grab you a cup if you want some water by the night stand and the lamp is right here by the bed. The bathroom is right up the hall if you need it and you just help yourself to anything. I'll be downstairs on the sofa if you need-" he was going to say me but in a last minute decision of self-censorship went with, "anything." Instantly, he felt a little ashamed at the decision but he didn't want to trigger another reaction from Rorschach. He placed the owls back on the shelf and tried to think of something else to say. He wished to stay and talk with Rorschach or just talk at him if that's all he'd allow, but he didn't want to overwhelm him either. He always relished the simple joy of companionship with another person. He knew this was the familiarity he enjoyed while patrolling with Rorschach.
"Um, well, goodnight buddy." he patted Rorschach's shoulder companionably and then hesitated. Awkwardly, he leaned down to kiss Rorschach's forehead. He was caught off guard when Rorschach reached out to grasp his other hand. As he leaned back, those same large eyes said what Rorschach's pride never let him. Truthfully, Dan didn't want to leave either. "I-I'll stay if you want me to," he murmured.
They held each other's gaze for a while as each grappled with his own sense of hope or rejection. Dan knelt slowly and placed his other hand atop those that were entwined. He stole himself to softly press his lips against the other man's. He found those lips pursing to kiss him back. Dan felt his heart hammering against his chest and he swore he could hear Rorschach's. He coursed his hands around the neck of the robe and dotted careful kisses to Rorschach's jaw line and neck. Against his better judgment, he spread the fabric of the robe open and kissed the scars that etched Rorschach's collarbone and sternum. The cigarette burns on the right shoulder had always disturbed him. He covered it with a kiss to clear it from his mind. He pressed his lips to the beautiful iron hued dapples that littered the soft pale skin and scattered beneath the dark auburn curls of chest hair. He bent to be closer from where he knelt on the bedroom floor and quaking knees parted haltingly to grant him proximity. He pressed a cheek to the warm shivering belly of his partner and felt a light hand thread into the hair on his scalp. He could hear Rorschach's heartbeat strong and fast through his abdomen. "I love you." he heard himself say. "I always have." He never got a verbal response but he didn't need one. He never had. The answer was plain in the way Rorschach allowed him close and hesitated to let go.
Gently, he unfolded the belt the robe and pressed his lips to the navel just inside it. Rorschach inhaled sharply and Daniel exhaled to warm the flesh that was now exposed. He nuzzled the thatch of bright springy curls that pressed around the tight swollen skin that sprung from within them. Fingers anchored into Dan's scalp as he kissed and suckled the swollen head that moistly wept from its slit. A choked gasp shuddered from Rorschach. It sounded like the broken release of a man who had been trammeled for a lifetime and then was suddenly devoid of his bonds. He was rapt with the sensation of light and pleasure as Daniel accepted him into his mouth. He felt something dart up his spine and he tried to shift away but Daniel held him fast. All Walter could do was gasp and shudder as Daniel nursed the cusp of his glans. Walter could smell the fragrance of Daniel's aftershave and feel his rough rhythmic massage. His back arched as a shock of pleasure burst up his spine. Daniel released him and grasped him firmly with his hand. He milked the seizures of pleasure until it hurt. Walter fell back onto the bed clawing fistfuls of the blanket and his legs hitched to fight him off but Daniel was gentle and stopped. He covered the sticky mess with his robe in tenderness and climbed from the floor to the bed. He gathered a drained and panting Rorschach to him and the two of them lay there wrapped up in silence and blankets. Walter couldn't understand why Daniel was grinning stupidly when it was he who had been serviced. He couldn't trouble himself to ponder it further. He was preoccupied with the post coital hum that resonated in himself and the feeling of Daniel's soft chin and lips between his thumb and index finger. This is how they fell asleep.
The strengthening glow of the morning sun must have awakened him and Daniel's bleary eyes cracked open to see Rorschach staring at him as they lay together. A twitch near his face told him Rorschach's hand is close and had been touching the aching flesh of his blackened eye. Now those fingertips rest on the steady heartbeat in his jugular. Dan blinks and focuses to mirror the gaze of the clear blue eyes that study him with earnest. Rorschach inhales deeply and then exhales. Dan is beginning to the think that Rorschach has been awake for a while and was waiting for him to rouse. It was as if there was something Rorschach needed to say.
"Walter."
The word dropped from his lips like a last shoe. Dan was puzzled at first and then his eyes cleared of sleep as he realized what just occurred. His fingertips brushed against the ruddy five o'clock shadow as he chose his words. "I love that name." he pulled the skinny man against him and rested his face closer to his, "Because it's yours."