The Highwayman
folder
zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] › Watchmen
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
1
Views:
1,472
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] › Watchmen
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
1
Views:
1,472
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Watchmen, or any of the characters contained herein, except my OCs, of course, and I make no money form this.
The Highwayman
Quick note before we begin: I'm posting this in the Movie section instead of the Comic section NOT because I haven't read the GN. I'm a huge fan of it, in fact. I'm posting it here for one reason only: I used Rorschach's mask texture from the film instead of the GN.
Also, I had a harder time with this fic than usual, because writing as Rorschach is just so damn *hard*, so please, even if you absolutely despise it, be kind!
Okay, go ahead.
*************
Chapter 1: The Wind Was a Torrent of Darkness
Rorschach’s Journal, November 1, 1967
Worked as a team tonight. Never been more unnerved. Began normally. Tracked a gang of knot-tops to an abandoned church, St. Anna’s. Stained glass windows were faded and cracked, corpses of holy men. Daniel and I were not alone; joined by the Raven, and her husband, the Wraith.
Like the Raven. Covers her skin. Fights with skill, not sex. Not like new girl, Miss Jupiter. Raven wears pants, long sleeves, black cloak. Uses the dark to her advantage. Smart woman. Strong woman.
Was.
Put down four knot-tops. Easy. Untrained, carrying bats, the fools. Daniel fared well. Lost Raven for a time. Wasn’t worried. Assumed she could take care of herself. Was forced to rescue Wraith. Weak, soft liberal, so caught up in his own socialist ideals that he’s too busy to fight.
Thought we were done. Looked around with Daniel and Wraith. No more knot-tops anywhere. Daniel smiled. Does that a lot.
Then the scream. Shattered the air, shook the walls. I almost imagined the earth trembling beneath my feet. Never heard anything like it before. A scream of pain, ending in a sob. Went to investigate. Found Raven on her knees, in a pool of blood. Daniel grabbed her, screamed, “Where are you hurt?” Wrath just stood there, stood there while his wife sobbed and bled. Coward.
Noticed then where the blood was coming from. Felt stomach churn at the realization. “Daniel.” He didn’t hear. “Daniel! Not injured.”
He looked up, eyes pleading for help. “Not…?”
“Look.” Motioned to Raven. To blood’s origin. Between her legs.
“Jesus!” Daniel turned white, all the blood draining from his face. Nearly as white as Raven. “Raven, what…? Are you… are you pregnant?”
Raven swallowed, nodded, gasped. “Seven months.”
“Jesus Christ! Wraith help me get her on this bench.” Daniel grabbed Raven’s arms, but Wraith didn’t move. “Wraith, Goddamnit! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Move!!”
Finally, Wraith took Raven’s arm, pulled her onto church pew. Blood pours over the wood. Seemed sacrilegious somehow. I turned away. Couldn’t bear the sight of them removing her clothes. The sounds began then, and every fiber in body screamed to run. The sounds were horrific. Raven was crying and screaming, her voice raw. Daniel was trying to calm her, panic edging his voice. Wraith was breathing heavily. It was thoroughly unpleasant, and I hoped Raven would live through it. Good fighter. Needed her.
Worse sound came then. A thick, liquid splash. Knew it was blood. Knew then that Raven would die.
“Rorschach!” Heard my name being called. It was Daniel. Deepest his voice had ever been. “Rorschach, take off your gloves!”
“Daniel?” Seemed such an odd request.
“Goddamnit, Rorschach, for once just do what I say!”
Voice was so different, so unlike Daniel, that I did it without thinking. Pulled gloves off, one by one, and slipped them into coat pocket.
Another liquid splash, thicker this time. Then another sound, a new sound, a wailing, like an animal.
“Rorschach, come here!”
I turned then, and before I could react, a bloody bundle is shoved into my bare, open hands.
“Hold her, Rorschach, we have to try and save Raven!” Daniel turned back to Raven, whose cries were fading.
Hold her, Rorschach. Hold her.
Child in my hands was small, much smaller than normal. It was bloody and sticky, and decidedly ugly. It’s eyes were squeezed shut and it was crying, screaming. The sounds hurt my ears. “Stop that!” Couldn’t think of anything else to do.
The cries did stop. Eyes looked up at me, glittering and black. Never seen such bottomless black eyes before. They glimmered like two deep pools of blood. Not so ugly, maybe.
“No, Raven, stay with me!” Hear Daniel crying now, really crying.
Not sure what came over me then. Went to Ravens’ side, still holding child. “Name!”
Raven looked up at me, green eyes glassy. She is fading. I tangle my bare fingers in her black hair and lift her head, forcing her to look at child. Never touched a woman before. Not by choice. “What’s her name?”
“Ebony.” Raven’s voice is dry, croaking. She dies then, the light fading from her eyes, her face going slack. Untangle hand from hair. Had strong urge then to wipe hands on pants, wipe away, the woman from them, but was still holding child.
Still holding Ebony.
Hold her, Rorschach.
************
Rorschach’s Journal, December 26th, 1967
It rained today in New York. The snow turned grey and diseased in the gutters. Yesterday, a coward died.
Came back to Daniel’s last night, early. Nothing to do. Everyone inside their homes, chugging eggnog and smiling, pretending they aren’t cheating on their spouses and shooting up drugs after work.
Got a call not long after. Wraith found dead in his home by Dr. Manhattan and Miss Jupiter. They went over to the apartment, arms full of gaudy boxes covered in ribbons, found Wraith hanging from the ceiling, purple and bloated. Ebony was in her crib, crying. Had been all day, and probably the night before. Crying so long and hard that her nose bled. They say her vocal chords have been damaged. Her voice will be raspy, never pretty. Probably for the best.
Wraith left suicide note. Such ego. It asked that Ebony be cared for by Daniel.
Told Daniel child wasn’t his problem, wasn’t his responsibility. He shook his head and said, “Children are gifts, Rorschach, not burdens.”
Told him when child gets in the way, gets him killed, will be a burden then.
He just smiled and said I’d be babysitting.
Left then. Didn’t want him to get anymore clever ideas.
He’ll see, in the end. Keeping this child is a mistake.
*************
Rorschach’s Journal, November 1, 1968
Birthday party today. Didn’t want to go. Waste of time and money. But Daniel insisted. Never seen him so determined. Fatherhood has made him stubborn, strong. Not sure if I like the change.
We stood around in the glow of the candles, everyone grinning and cooing. Seemed pointless. Child is only one, has no idea what is going on around her.
Cake was white, with curly black writing saying, “Happy 1st Birthday, Ebony!” It was small. Daniel said it was intended only for her, that there was a bigger cake for everyone else. Told him it was useless excess. Who needs cake?
They sang then. I didn’t know the words. Wouldn’t have joined in anyway. Daniel blew out the candle for her. “Dig in,” he told her, grinning like a fool.
Girl looked perplexed. Took her a moment to catch on. She finally looked down at the cake, then buried her face in it. What a waste.
Everyone laughed. Miss Jupiter clapped. She lifted her head, and I almost gasped. Almost. Her face was white with frosting, with black splotches across it.
She looked like me.
I think only Jon noticed. Could feel his glowing eyes on me.
Ebony looked at everyone. She laughed. Odd thing happened then. Big black eyes turned to me. Little white fingers reached in my direction. Her mouth opened and for the first time, she spoke.
“Row-sha!”
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. “What did she say?” Miss Jupiter asked.
“Row-shack!”
“I think… I think she’s trying to say ‘Rorschach’.” Daniel sounded shocked, and decidedly unhappy.
They all looked at me, then, as if expecting me to say something. Had nothing to say.
“Row-shack!” Ebony chirped in her raspy voice, ecstatic with her newfound ability.
“Well?” said Miss Jupiter. “What are you waiting for? She wants you… God knows why.” Her tone was dark, disapproving, as if somehow this had been intentional.
Shook my head.
“Row-shack!”
“Let’s open presents!” Daniel fussed about like a housewife, trying to break the strange tension. Funny sight.
Perhaps should spend less time at Daniel’s. Do not wish to interfere with raising of child.
*************
Also, I had a harder time with this fic than usual, because writing as Rorschach is just so damn *hard*, so please, even if you absolutely despise it, be kind!
Okay, go ahead.
*************
Chapter 1: The Wind Was a Torrent of Darkness
Rorschach’s Journal, November 1, 1967
Worked as a team tonight. Never been more unnerved. Began normally. Tracked a gang of knot-tops to an abandoned church, St. Anna’s. Stained glass windows were faded and cracked, corpses of holy men. Daniel and I were not alone; joined by the Raven, and her husband, the Wraith.
Like the Raven. Covers her skin. Fights with skill, not sex. Not like new girl, Miss Jupiter. Raven wears pants, long sleeves, black cloak. Uses the dark to her advantage. Smart woman. Strong woman.
Was.
Put down four knot-tops. Easy. Untrained, carrying bats, the fools. Daniel fared well. Lost Raven for a time. Wasn’t worried. Assumed she could take care of herself. Was forced to rescue Wraith. Weak, soft liberal, so caught up in his own socialist ideals that he’s too busy to fight.
Thought we were done. Looked around with Daniel and Wraith. No more knot-tops anywhere. Daniel smiled. Does that a lot.
Then the scream. Shattered the air, shook the walls. I almost imagined the earth trembling beneath my feet. Never heard anything like it before. A scream of pain, ending in a sob. Went to investigate. Found Raven on her knees, in a pool of blood. Daniel grabbed her, screamed, “Where are you hurt?” Wrath just stood there, stood there while his wife sobbed and bled. Coward.
Noticed then where the blood was coming from. Felt stomach churn at the realization. “Daniel.” He didn’t hear. “Daniel! Not injured.”
He looked up, eyes pleading for help. “Not…?”
“Look.” Motioned to Raven. To blood’s origin. Between her legs.
“Jesus!” Daniel turned white, all the blood draining from his face. Nearly as white as Raven. “Raven, what…? Are you… are you pregnant?”
Raven swallowed, nodded, gasped. “Seven months.”
“Jesus Christ! Wraith help me get her on this bench.” Daniel grabbed Raven’s arms, but Wraith didn’t move. “Wraith, Goddamnit! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Move!!”
Finally, Wraith took Raven’s arm, pulled her onto church pew. Blood pours over the wood. Seemed sacrilegious somehow. I turned away. Couldn’t bear the sight of them removing her clothes. The sounds began then, and every fiber in body screamed to run. The sounds were horrific. Raven was crying and screaming, her voice raw. Daniel was trying to calm her, panic edging his voice. Wraith was breathing heavily. It was thoroughly unpleasant, and I hoped Raven would live through it. Good fighter. Needed her.
Worse sound came then. A thick, liquid splash. Knew it was blood. Knew then that Raven would die.
“Rorschach!” Heard my name being called. It was Daniel. Deepest his voice had ever been. “Rorschach, take off your gloves!”
“Daniel?” Seemed such an odd request.
“Goddamnit, Rorschach, for once just do what I say!”
Voice was so different, so unlike Daniel, that I did it without thinking. Pulled gloves off, one by one, and slipped them into coat pocket.
Another liquid splash, thicker this time. Then another sound, a new sound, a wailing, like an animal.
“Rorschach, come here!”
I turned then, and before I could react, a bloody bundle is shoved into my bare, open hands.
“Hold her, Rorschach, we have to try and save Raven!” Daniel turned back to Raven, whose cries were fading.
Hold her, Rorschach. Hold her.
Child in my hands was small, much smaller than normal. It was bloody and sticky, and decidedly ugly. It’s eyes were squeezed shut and it was crying, screaming. The sounds hurt my ears. “Stop that!” Couldn’t think of anything else to do.
The cries did stop. Eyes looked up at me, glittering and black. Never seen such bottomless black eyes before. They glimmered like two deep pools of blood. Not so ugly, maybe.
“No, Raven, stay with me!” Hear Daniel crying now, really crying.
Not sure what came over me then. Went to Ravens’ side, still holding child. “Name!”
Raven looked up at me, green eyes glassy. She is fading. I tangle my bare fingers in her black hair and lift her head, forcing her to look at child. Never touched a woman before. Not by choice. “What’s her name?”
“Ebony.” Raven’s voice is dry, croaking. She dies then, the light fading from her eyes, her face going slack. Untangle hand from hair. Had strong urge then to wipe hands on pants, wipe away, the woman from them, but was still holding child.
Still holding Ebony.
Hold her, Rorschach.
************
Rorschach’s Journal, December 26th, 1967
It rained today in New York. The snow turned grey and diseased in the gutters. Yesterday, a coward died.
Came back to Daniel’s last night, early. Nothing to do. Everyone inside their homes, chugging eggnog and smiling, pretending they aren’t cheating on their spouses and shooting up drugs after work.
Got a call not long after. Wraith found dead in his home by Dr. Manhattan and Miss Jupiter. They went over to the apartment, arms full of gaudy boxes covered in ribbons, found Wraith hanging from the ceiling, purple and bloated. Ebony was in her crib, crying. Had been all day, and probably the night before. Crying so long and hard that her nose bled. They say her vocal chords have been damaged. Her voice will be raspy, never pretty. Probably for the best.
Wraith left suicide note. Such ego. It asked that Ebony be cared for by Daniel.
Told Daniel child wasn’t his problem, wasn’t his responsibility. He shook his head and said, “Children are gifts, Rorschach, not burdens.”
Told him when child gets in the way, gets him killed, will be a burden then.
He just smiled and said I’d be babysitting.
Left then. Didn’t want him to get anymore clever ideas.
He’ll see, in the end. Keeping this child is a mistake.
*************
Rorschach’s Journal, November 1, 1968
Birthday party today. Didn’t want to go. Waste of time and money. But Daniel insisted. Never seen him so determined. Fatherhood has made him stubborn, strong. Not sure if I like the change.
We stood around in the glow of the candles, everyone grinning and cooing. Seemed pointless. Child is only one, has no idea what is going on around her.
Cake was white, with curly black writing saying, “Happy 1st Birthday, Ebony!” It was small. Daniel said it was intended only for her, that there was a bigger cake for everyone else. Told him it was useless excess. Who needs cake?
They sang then. I didn’t know the words. Wouldn’t have joined in anyway. Daniel blew out the candle for her. “Dig in,” he told her, grinning like a fool.
Girl looked perplexed. Took her a moment to catch on. She finally looked down at the cake, then buried her face in it. What a waste.
Everyone laughed. Miss Jupiter clapped. She lifted her head, and I almost gasped. Almost. Her face was white with frosting, with black splotches across it.
She looked like me.
I think only Jon noticed. Could feel his glowing eyes on me.
Ebony looked at everyone. She laughed. Odd thing happened then. Big black eyes turned to me. Little white fingers reached in my direction. Her mouth opened and for the first time, she spoke.
“Row-sha!”
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. “What did she say?” Miss Jupiter asked.
“Row-shack!”
“I think… I think she’s trying to say ‘Rorschach’.” Daniel sounded shocked, and decidedly unhappy.
They all looked at me, then, as if expecting me to say something. Had nothing to say.
“Row-shack!” Ebony chirped in her raspy voice, ecstatic with her newfound ability.
“Well?” said Miss Jupiter. “What are you waiting for? She wants you… God knows why.” Her tone was dark, disapproving, as if somehow this had been intentional.
Shook my head.
“Row-shack!”
“Let’s open presents!” Daniel fussed about like a housewife, trying to break the strange tension. Funny sight.
Perhaps should spend less time at Daniel’s. Do not wish to interfere with raising of child.
*************