Nostalgia

Wake up abruptly as soon as sunlight beams onto face. Still cradled by sleeping Daniel. Try to slip out from under his arm; no success without waking him up. Stand and stretch, pacing around ship.

"Oh God! It's almost dark? We have to get back!" Daniel jumps up and runs over to the controls, disengaging the hover and flying us back to bay.

"Hurm." Wander over to sugar jar and take a cube out.

"We're supposed to meet the others after sunset."

"Others?" Tightness grows in stomach; pause in unwrapping.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Hurm." Place sugar in mouth and stare into jar. Not looking forward to seeing Veidt, at least not with the others around. Especially Blake. Would be surprised if he didn't have his nose pressed to the trail already.

"Rorschach?"

"Nothing, Daniel." Walk over to second window before we dive and hold on, watching the fish scatter as we submerge. Envy fish for hope of easier life. Dug own grave with situation, drowning in mud as rain pours down. Shake head as we enter tunnel, slowing down to dock. Engines power down and side door opens.

Follow Daniel out and wonder why we didn't go in this way, but don't care. Wander over to pile of clothes and begin to dress. Stare down at gloves as they slide on easily. Pull face on and place hat on top of it, watching down the tunnel.

"Something wrong?" Daniel hesitantly offers.

"No." Turn around and meet Daniel at bottom of stairs, take first step and Veidt has appeared at the top, leering down at me; eyes deadly behind purple leather.

"Oh. Hey, Adrian. You guys here already?"

"We thought we should start early, what with our days being numbered." His voice is sultry. Maybe Daniel can't hear it. I can.

"Don't tell me the Comedian's got you started on that too."

"His logic isn't flawed, Dan. I would believe his sources, what with him in the field and all."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to see how it all turns out. I guess blind optimism is my guiding horse." Follow Daniel upstairs as he approaches Veidt. Stop at black boots, following Veidt's form up to his eyes. A demon's smirk and I quickly catch up with Daniel. He knows I could see through his armor, and that I was looking.

"Hey, Laurie. Where's Jon?" Stop near Silk Spectre, unconsciously wrinkling my nose at her lewd outfit.

"He couldn't make it."

"Oh."

"Game's getting a little old for a man who can't lose." Click of a lighter and puff of smoke on the couch.

"That would be my assumption. He's been unusually involved in our work lately. I guess he finds it more interesting than splattering insignificance on insignificance." Veidt's voice sounds unusually distant.

"What do you mean?" Daniel asks. Guess we all know but him.

"He means that Jon's grown tired of hangin' around with talking matter." The Comedian isn't subtle in his response; seems like he would rather ignore the subject. Think we all would.

"Now, wait. He's not completely disconnected. Maybe he's just tired of being treated like a weapon." Silk Spectre is always quick to defend Jon.

"He may be able to shape anything he wants into whatever he likes, but he can't change what you can't touch. Isn't that right, Rorschach?" The Comedian turns to face me over the edge of the couch.

Know what he's getting at and ignore the twisting in my gut. "He doesn't want to come; doesn't have to. Motive isn't our business. Wasting time standing here."

"I agree with Rorschach. Just leave him be for now." Veidt's voice is low again, accent rolling over my name. Shift uncomfortably and Daniel notices, giving me a strange glance.

"I guess we're going then," Daniel mumbles and passes with a grazing touch on hand. Pull hand away as Veidt catches motion. Don't know what I would do if either found out about the other. Jealous lovers? Lovers. Almost throw up in mouth.

Follow Daniel out towards the basement and into ship, standing in back. Silk Spectre smiles at me as she passes, false friendship. Comedian follows and quirks an eyebrow at me; 'hurm' in response. Veidt enters and closes the door, grinning to me, hiding it near the door. Comedian comes and leans on the grate near me, throwing a chuckling grin and nod to Veidt. Veidt returns the smile and paces over to the front of the ship as we take off. Give Comedian a thankful look he snorts. We stare forward as the scanner buzzes.

Guess Comedian shares a kinship in our brutal natures; thankful he's fighting next to me. Next to Veidt, he's probably the most dangerous among us. His behavior is raw and unforgiving, a mockery of society and its true nature. Maybe it's not our nature that our similar, but that we both know where this world is going. Think back to first meeting of the Crimebusters; map in ashes and the talk of world's end. Didn't think then I would ever think like him; didn't like him at all, actually. Hoped he would find better sense of justice; ironic I adopted his. Think of little girl and hand tightens into fist; couldn't make man suffer enough.

" 'ey." Knuckles bump against fist. Glance in his direction and find his eyes, cigar smoke veiling his emotion. Tilt head to the side; don't feel like talking. "Knock it off." Hand taps first again and fingers uncurl. "Save it for the Knots." Feel ship lose altitude and look away towards door, waiting.

"I've heard they meet here, so w--"

"Why don't Rory and I go first?" Head snaps to Comedian.

"Don't call me that." Mocking grin greets order. Remember why I don't like him.

"Uh...sure. Why don't we do that. Gives the rest of us a chance to relax." Brief chuckle from Dreiburg, hiding frustration and insecurity. Has no idea how worse it could be. Catch Veidt's glare towards Comedian, met with cigar biting laugh.

Door opens; go out first and walk towards back stairs leading to basement. Wait for Comedian and kick in door, Knot-tops spilling over tables like fourth grade science project. Run in and roll as shotgun blasts fire overhead, taking out the well equipped. Couldn't ask for a better partner in this situation. Roll to feet and grab punch, throwing man into approaching one. Take on three more simultaneously. Miss the one holding the chair and land on floor as it breaks over my back.

Pulled up by chin, knife wedged under scarf. "One more move and I'll bleed him out like a fucking pig!" Look to Comedian who's arm is currently strangling one of the gang members. See Dreiberg, Veidt, and Silk Specter appear in doorway. All three look terrified; not sure why. Look back to Comedian who laughs and waits for the man in his clutches to go limp. Drops the body and takes a step towards us. "I'm warning you!" Can hear terror in man's voice. Another step and shift of knife. Take opportunity with hesitance and break a couple of ribs with elbow. Man falls back into table, screaming. Ignore him and pursue those fleeing out of building.

Two turn to fight while three escape over fence. Survival of the fittest; the smart survive--for the night. Cock head to the side as footsteps fade out of hearing range; moaning of other two doesn't give assistance to which direction they went.

Comedian emerges from stairs and grins at the two on the ground. "Can't imagine why those three worry about you."

"Silk Spectre's a woman; genetic disability for her."

"Heh. Suppose." Slow approach. "So... what's the hell's goin' on?"

Almost take step backward; resist in presence of someone fluent in body language. "Don't know what you mean."

"You know what the fuck I mean." Another step forward. "What does Veidt want with you? 'id'ja piss him off or just stain 'is suit?" Both knew neither of those was right. Trick question. "I've seen the looks he gives you. Like a woman he's cheating with; knows it's wrong, but can't help peeling off your clothes with his eyes." Long drag from cigar. Take step backwards and swallow hard. "I know that look well." Just idling with talk now. Reconsidering whether he actually wants an answer. "How about..." exhausted sigh, "just... don't do anything stupid. Veidt's not someone you want to fuck around with. Smartest man in the world doesn't have to think twice." Not sure if he intended for his words to form the way they did. Probably did.

Comedian offering advice is like a blind man giving directions. Probably knows exactly what he's talking about, but we're all too conceited to listen. Try to take his advice seriously. Could save my life.

Look up suddenly at realization that Veidt is standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against steel rail. "Hey, Ozy. We were just talkin' about you. How's clean up inside going?"

"Not a lot of information, though the prospect of bringing you two in again is enough to coerce information out of those who know anything." Leering glance penetrates face and constricts around lungs. Think back to snow, that venomous stare. Slitted eyes watching every muscle twitch, close enough to strike, fangs filled with deadly intoxication.

"Yeah, well, whatever works. Suppose we should get goin' if we want to hit up those leads." Comedian throws glance before wandering back towards the stairs, posturing towards Veidt as he walks back into the building.

Not sure how to feel. Intimidated, maybe. Head towards stairs, hoping to avoid incident, at least in public. He approaches and cuts me off. "Not interested." Growl and keep face turned away.

"Really?" Fingertips on thigh. Close eyes and step back, fighting infection, fever spiked.

"Not here." Armored hands on lapels, distance closed.

"Elsewhere?" Sly grin.

"No." Back hits brick wall. Hands on stomach.

"But you want it." Whispered truth. Think about Dreiberg; feel strange. Guilt? Armor pressed to thigh, hand pulling scarf. Leather gloves guide hands to his hips. Grind against him as delusion of control sets in.

"Rorschach...?" Voice isn't Veidt's. Look to stairs and see Dreiberg.


{{So... I don't really know where to go with this. It could be a dream, or a threesome or something.... The point is, I want to know where the readers want it to go. I was going to make a forum for people to discuss where they want my other stories to go as well or what they expect, but seeing as how I can't find a forum in which I can't discuss lewd things, I don't think that will happen. Please, leave your responses on what you want to happen, or email me. And I'll decide from there. Hope you at least enjoyed this chapter.}}