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chibifukurouTitle: The World Ends With You
Fandom: Watchmen
Fandom: Watchmen
Beta: ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
csad21
csad21 Artist: nyargles
Rating: R
Pairing:Dan/Adrian
Warnings: Character Death
Summary: Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level snow stretches far away.
It's five years later and the world peace
is falling apart. It's Eleven minutes to
Midnight again, and this time Adrian won't
be able to give the world a reprieve.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Ao3 | Art
Five Years to Midnight
* * * * * * * * *
Broken glass and gravel scrunched beneath Dan's boots. Laurie was turning in slow circles, her eyes glued to the bodies that hung out of the skyscrapers and blanketed the streets. The taste of dust, electrical discharge, and despair was thick on his tongue.
"How could he do this?" Laurie bent over to look at something laying sprawled across the sidewalk. He followed her gaze and saw a little girl safely tucked under her mother's dead body. There was a doll clutched in the girl's slack arms. It's large, glassy eyes stared out at him, judging.
He shuddered and turned away to study a lamp-post that had broken in two. Wires and metal jutted upwards towards the stormy sky. He couldn't stop himself from running a gloved finger over the wires, electricity sending a wave of not quite pain through his arm. "He did what he thought was right."
She spun on her heel to glare at him. "How can you say that? This isn't right."
"I didn't say it was right, but it was for the greater good." He knew it wasn't right, but they couldn't change it now. They couldn't bring these people back from the dead. There wasn't any point in harping on it.
"The greater good!" Laurie snorted. It was evident that she held nothing but contempt for the concept of 'the greater good.
Dan couldn't say he blamed her, not when the greater good had led to the creation of this dying city, stacked with rotting bodies.
Unfortunately, they couldn't act on their contempt."What do you want me to say, Laurie? We agreed to keep Adrian's secret. We agreed to this. It is not right. It isn't good. But we don't have a choice now."
"We have a choice." She marched over him and started poking him in the chest with her finger. "We could turn Adrian in."
He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her towards the center of the city. Bodies were everywhere, but he did his best to avoid looking at them. He couldn't think about them now. He kept dragging her until they were facing the monstrous alien Adrian had created.
Its gaping beak dripped with ooze, wrinkled blue skin pooled around its body in a gelatinous puddle, scaly greenish tentacles as large as buildings wrapped in and around bodies and debris. It was monstrous.
She jerked away from him and fell to her knees. The sound of retching echoed hollowly off the building.
Dan waited until she was finished. Then he pointed at the monster, forcing her to look at it again. "There are dozens of these creatures scattered across the world spreading their psychic residue of fear and despair. Millions, maybe even billions of people are dead."
"Stop talking!"
He ignored her and went on. "What choice do you think we should make? Do you think we should tell everyone what Adrian did and maybe bring about the nuclear apocalypse? Do you really think that would be better?"
She curled into herself. "I– I don't—"
"We don't know what's going to happen so we're just going to have to have to muddle through things and hope that these people weren't sacrificed for nothing. Because we don't have another choice unless you want to risk making things worse." Dan turned away from the monster, heading back towards the edge of the blast radius and what was left of his Brownstone. He needed to get some stuff together before he and Laurie could start their new life.
* * * * * * * * *
Eleven Minutes to Midnight
* * * * * * * * *
Dan woke to the feeling of Adrian's fingertips skimming lightly over his back. Moaning, he burrowed further under the covers. Adrian pealed the blankets away, kissing each of the scars that dotted his back. Until he finally gave up feigning sleep and rolled over. "You want me to make breakfast, don't you?"
"I wouldn't dream of it." Adrian held his hands up in surrender. "I just wanted you to see me off to work."
Dan glared at him. "Fine, I'll get up, but you better make something good."
"Pancakes and coffee?"
"There better be bacon too," he retorted, trying to sound like he wasn't so cheap that he'd get out of bed for pancakes alone.
"There will be," Adrian promised.
"Then you better go get started. You don't want to be late for work."
"I won't be late for work. Breakfast should be ready in fifteen minutes, and I don't need to be at the Russian embassy for another hour."
"Then why did you wake me up?" Adrian knew how much he hated mornings.
"I wanted your company for breakfast. Besides, I enjoy it when you watch me cook."
"I prefer to sleep," Dan grumbled, pulling the blankets over his head. It was rude, but he didn't much care. It was way too early for this.
Adrian pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. "If I don't see you in the kitchen in the next five minutes, I'm not making you any bacon."
"Yeah, yeah," was Dan's muffled reply.
* * * * * * * * *
The collar of Adrian's trench coat twisted between Dan's fingers. He used his grip to pull Adrian's head further down so that he could deepen their kiss.
Adrian returned the favor by grabbing Dan's hips. The purple velour of Dan's borrowed robe crinkled under his fingers, and Dan felt the pinch of rising bruises. A shiver of pleasure went through him. He loved Adrian's strength and knowing that Adrian could hold him down and have his way with him. It made him want to drag Adrian back to bed.
Adrian pulled away, his thin lips kiss-bruised and his hair mussed. He smiled at Dan, affectionate and prideful. "I'm going to be late for work if we continue."
"Maybe that's my intention." It would serve Adrian right.
"Feeling vengeful, are we?"
"Maybe." Dan tried to pull him back into a kiss, but Adrian didn't let him.
"Well, I'm sorry, but your revenge is going to have to wait. I have to get to my meeting at the embassy."
"Fine," Dan sighed. "But I'll make you pay when you get back."
"I'm sure you will." Adrian pressed a chaste kiss to his lips before he lifted Dan out of his way and slipped out of the penthouse.
"Overly confident bastard," Dan grumbled to himself.
He headed into the kitchen. While he was grateful to Adrian for making breakfast, he could have done without the mess. There were two different batter- and oil-spattered frying pans on the stove, and a half-dozen measuring cups and spoons scattered around the counter in piles of flour, milk, and melted butter. The only thing Adrian hadn't managed to make a complete mess of was the coffee maker.
Dan promised himself that he'd have another cup after he'd cleaned up.
* * * * * * * * *
Dan was down to the last dredges of his coffee when the phone rang.
He glared in its general direction before curling further into his couch. Anybody who knew him knew not to call him before at least ten. The telemarketers could just go screw themselves.
Dan gave up his plan to ignore the phone when it started ringing for the third time in ten minutes.
He forced himself off the couch and stomped into the kitchen; stupid phone and stupid freezing cold tiles. The phone had stopped ringing by the time he reached it, but he wasn't worried. Whoever kept calling him would call back, and he could yell at them then.
The phone started ringing again. He grabbed it and shouted, "What!"
"Dan, it is good to hear from you," Laurie replied.
Dan bit back a curse. Why was Laurie calling? They'd broken up three years before and hadn't talked since.
Laurie continued, as if they were the best of friends. "It has been a while. I was just wondering if you'd like to grab a coffee with me?"
"I'm busy, Laurie. Perhaps another time?" Like when hell froze over.
"Don't be silly. I came all the way from California to see you. The least you can do is spare me a few hours of your time."
"I'd really rather not. It would be a bad idea anyway, your being around a confirmed Mask," he said, half hoping she'd admit that she'd turned him in.
"That's not a problem anymore. So there isn't any reason for you to stay holed up in Adrian's apartment."
Not a problem. What did that mean? "Aren't you worried about being discovered as a Mask? Being seen with me won't help attempts to remain anonymous."
"I'm sure a quick visit and a cup of coffee won't make that much of a difference. And I have something that I need to speak to you about."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to meet with me if you want to find out."
"I don't know. Is it all right if I call Adrian first? I'm not sure how he'd react to my seeing you behind his back. You are my ex, after all."
"It's just one cup of coffee. What's he going to do, ream you out because you went for a coffee with me?" Her tone was light, but Dan knew her well enough to hear the steel underneath. She wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"I'll call him, then I'll call you back. Can you tell me what number to call you on?" Dan asked, trying one last time to dissuade her.
"Don't worry about it. I'll just come to the penthouse," she said brightly before hanging up the phone.
Dan was horrified. It was bad enough having Laurie in New York instead of California, but he didn't want her to just 'pop over' for a visit. They'd been avoiding each other for three years and he'd preferred it that way. Particularly since he'd long suspected her of turning him in as a Mask.
He reached out to dial Adrian's number, then stopped. As much as he was dreading this meeting, having Adrian show up at the coffee shop would only make it worse. He'd tell Adrian about the meeting once he had some idea what Laurie was up to.
Now he needed to get dressed before Laurie showed up on his doorstep and saw him in nothing but Adrian's robe.
* * * * * * * * *
They walked down the sidewalk, careful to avoid touching each other. In the crush of the morning commuters, they might as well have been strangers. Even their outfits clashed. His argyle sweater vest and brown dress pants, and her fashionably cut hot pink and lime green dress.
It reminded Dan eerily of the first date, when they'd been little more than strangers with the connection of being Masks, once upon a time. Now their relationship was far less tenuous and far more fraught with emotions. It wasn't an improvement.
Laurie turned into a little bistro coffee shop a few blocks down from the penthouse. He hurried to follow, and reached the shop's counter just in time to hear her order a coffee, black with two sugars, and an earl gray tea. Then she turned to him. "I'll get us a table while you wait for our drinks."
"Uh— Oh, right." Dan nodded stupidly before going to stand next to the coffee maker. He ignored the barista's amused smirk and gathered their mugs. The little bistro table Laurie was sitting at was near the back of the shop. It was just a few feet from the bathrooms. She obviously didn't want to be overheard. He would have preferred to have witnesses in case things got ugly, but he didn't have much choice now. She wouldn't talk to him if he tried to sit somewhere else.
When he sat down, she gave him a toothy smile like she knew what he was thinking. He wouldn't be surprised if she did. "Why did you call me, Laurie?"
"There is something we need to discuss, and I thought it would be better if we kept it private."
"Private from who?"
"Adrian. I'd prefer if he didn't know about this meeting."
He should have known. "He's my lover, and I'm not going to lie to him. Or spy on him if that's what you want to discuss."
Laurie's jaw tightened. "I'm not asking you to lie. All I'm asking you to do is forget to mention this meeting."
"Why don't you tell me what you want me to 'forget'. Then I'll decide if I'm willing to keep it a secret."
"Very well. I've been discussing what happened five years ago with some people, and we think that it is time Adrian paid for his crimes."
Dan quickly looked around to make sure nobody was listening. What was Laurie thinking, broaching this in public? "Are you crazy? You can't just talk to a few people about it. We agreed to keep the fact that Adrian released the aliens on Earth a secret."
"I agreed to that when I thought his plan was going to save the world. But now we're right back where we started."
"That's not Adrian's fault. You can't blame him for having faith in humanity." Dan shared his faith. It was a big part of why he'd become a Mask in the first place.
"But I can blame him for all the people he killed, and it is time to make sure that the proper steps are taken so that Adrian pays for his crimes."
"And what about our crimes, are you going to make us pay too?"
"I'm redeeming myself by making sure that Adrian pays for his crimes. I'm offering you the same opportunity."
"So you are still blaming everybody else for your problems. We're just as guilty of letting those people die as Adrian is. You should accept that and move on."
She slammed her hand down on the table. The cups rattled. "How can you say that? We tried to stop him!"
"And failed. Then, instead of accepting that failure, we lied about it. The only one of us who was willing to take responsibility was Rorschach."
"Still defending Saint Rorschach?"
Well, the animosity between Laurie and Rorschach certainly hadn't waned, despite Rorschach's death. "I didn't say he was a saint, but unlike us he wasn't willing to sacrifice those people's memories for the world's safety."
"Rorschach's character isn't in question. Adrian's is. He said that he was going to save the world, but we're right back where we started. At eleven minutes to midnight. Now it is time for somebody else to step up and take responsibility."
Dan stifled a scoff. "Who would that be? You? Me? One of those politicians who think all Masks should be killed? Face it, we're screwed, and for better or worse, Adrian is our best hope of finding a way to save the world."
"He had his chance, and there are plenty of people ready and willing to save the world."
"The why haven't they? Or is punishing Adrian part of their plan?"
"I can't explain that unless you agree to help me."
"Then I guess there isn't any point in staying." He stood up and dropped a few dollars on the table. "Grow up, Laurie. Learn to take responsibility for your actions. You turned me in as a Mask. If I'm not loyal to you and whoever is pulling your strings, that's your problem, not mine."
He waited just long enough to see her flush guiltily before storming out of the coffee shop. He hadn't wanted the confirmation that Laurie was behind his arrest, but now that he had it, he had some thinking to do.
* * * * * * * * *
Dinner that night was simple. After leaving Laurie, Dan had spent the afternoon wandering the city, and once he was home, he hadn't felt like making anything fancy.
He doubted Adrian would care. His secretary had called and said he'd be two hours late. That had been over three hours before. When they finished eating it would be nearly ten; time for Adrian to get some sleep while Dan worked on his latest ornithological article.
It was quarter past ten when Adrian stumbled into the penthouse. His blond hair was a stringy mess, and his shoulders were stooped beneath his dripping trench coat.
Dan hurried to meet him at the door. He grabbed Adrian's briefcase and tossed it onto the couch before helping him out of his coat. "Is everything all right with the talks?"
"Nothing to worry about. Everybody is just worried about how the Russian representatives will react to our hospitality. We don't want anything to go wrong."
"I doubt they're going to declare war just because you didn't put the right kind of vodka in their hotel suite." He kept an arm wrapped around Adrian's shoulders as he guided him to the table.
Adrian settled into the chair with a sigh. "Emotions are running high, but even considering the paranoia that has overtaken the representatives, I doubt that they would declare war over something so absurd. Nobody wants to take the blame if the talks fall through."
"I'm sure it will be fine."
"Thank you for your faith."
"What kind of lover would I be if I didn't believe in you?" The question was rhetorical, so Dan didn't worry when Adrian didn't reply. He was busy rescuing the spaghetti and garlic bread from the warming drawer anyway.
"So what did you do today?" Adrian asked.
Dan fork froze halfway to his mouth. "I met with Laurie."
"What is she doing in town?"
"She didn't say."
"And you didn't ask?"
He bristled at Adrian's tone. "I was busy."
"She upset you. What did she say?"
"Nothing too important. She's still upset about our break up."
"Are you sure there isn't anything else? You're usually better at handling her resentment."
This would be the perfect opportunity for him to tell Adrian about Laurie's threats, but he didn't. He'd given her his word, and he wouldn't break it. "I asked her about turning me in as a Mask. She didn't admit anything, but she didn't deny it either."
"I'm sorry, Dan." Adrian reached out across the table to grip his hand. "I know you had hoped your suspicions were unfounded."
Dan hands shook in Adrian's grasp. "It's not a big deal. After all, I've moved on."
"Of course you have." They both ignored the doubt in Adrian's voice.
* * * * * * * * *
The door slammed open, jolting Dan awake. Groggy, he pushed himself up to look over the couch's back. He knuckled at his eyes trying to wake up further. Something wasn't right, but he didn't know what.
Adrian stood in the doorway. His clothes were immaculate and not a hair was out of place, but Dan could feel tension thrumming through him.
A twist of Adrian's wrist, almost too fast to see, and his briefcase went flying. It hit the large window that spread across the living room's east side. Cracks formed a spiderweb across the glass, and the case popped open. Papers fluttered about like oversized butterflies.
"Adrian?" Dan stood up, planning to go to him.
"Don't." Adrian held out his hand to ward Dan off.
He froze. "What's wrong? Is there something I can do?"
"I'm sorry, Dan." Adrian closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "Today has just been – trying."
"Is that why you're back early?" Dan glanced out of the window trying to gage what time it was. "You usually wouldn't return until sometime this evening."
"I just needed to get away before I said something foolish. The United States' delegates are claiming that Russia brought the aliens down on us with their space program. And the Russians are claiming that we're conspiring with the alien horde. It is disheartening."
Disheartening was definitely too mild a word. "Are they crazy?"
"I wish it were that simple. But it's far more likely that this is just a political game of chicken."
"What?"
"The Russians are maneuvering for a better bargaining position. If they continue to claim that the US is preventing the peace talks from progressing, people will start protesting the hold up, and the US will be forced to give into their demands."
This was why Dan hated politics. "I'm sure that once you've calmed down you'll think of a way to handle it. Now come on, throwing a fit isn't helping anything." Dan wrapped his arm around Adrian's shoulders and guided him over to the couch.
He sunk into it with a soft moan. "I know, but after all I've done over the last five years, I had hoped we'd moved past the point where I was in charge of fixing everything for humanity. They were supposed to learn their lesson and move forward to create a better world. Instead, they are still mired down in petty squabbles."
"Maybe this time it will be different. Anyway, I'll make sure you are properly rewarded for your efforts." He gave Adrian a playful wink.
And got a snort in reply before Adrian pulled him down onto his lap. "Well, how can I say no to an offer like that?"
* * * * * * * * *
Adrian tugged at Dan's bow tie. "I wish you would wear the tie I picked out for you."
"I'm not going to wear a black tie, at least not a plain one, and it is not like the gray plaid is that noticeable." And he wouldn't be caught dead in the traditional black tux and black bow tie combo. It was bad enough that he'd agreed to go to this dinner. He wasn't going to play the proper political spouse, dressing properly for every occasion.
Adrian shook his head. "You do realize the invitation said this is a black tie event, don't you? You don't have to include a plaid accessory in every outfit you wear."
"I don't wear plaid all the time, sometimes I wear argyle. Besides, it's not like they're going to approve of me even if I wear a black tie. I stole the most eligible bachelor in all of New York. Every single woman in New York is still seething."
"I don't see why. It isn't like my preferences were ever a secret. Even if we hadn't gotten together, I would never have considered marrying any of them."
"You can't fix everything. They're not about to accept the fact that I am a man and in a civil union with you. That would require them to be liberal." Dan caught Adrian's wandering hands just before they reached his waistband.
"Which is about as likely as the Russian and US representatives gathering together to sing Kumbaya."
"Exactly. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go wait out in the living room. If you keep rubbing my chest like that we're never going to get to the party."
"I wouldn't mind, as long as we stayed in the bedroom instead," Adrian replied, pulling him back for a kiss.
"Yes, you would. You like listening to those pompous windbags making fools of themselves. I'm the one who'd rather stay home."
"I'll admit that I enjoy political dinners." Adrian held his hands up in surrender. "I just happen to like going to bed with you more."
"That makes two of us. Now hurry up and get ready; the sooner we get to the party, the sooner we can sneak out."
"That's my responsible lover," Adrian teased.
Dan just rolled his eyes. He wasn't being responsible. He just didn't want to have to go through all the trouble of dressing again.
* * * * * * * * *
Dan smiled at the valet as Adrian walked imperiously past him. There really wasn't a reason for them to have a valet, since they'd brought the limo, but he still felt bad for the boy.
The fact that he was practically cowering away from Adrian only made Dan feel worse. "You could have been a little nicer to him," he whispered into Adrian's ear.
He was busy smiling charmingly at their hosts, but he patted Dan's back in acknowledgment. Dan supposed that was all he could expect. Adrian was in full 'impress the natives' mode.
Adrian kept his hand on Dan's back as they came up to the hosts. He was a large man with a rotund stomach and a cigar clamped between his teeth. She was a slim blond, at least a decade younger than her husband.
"Dan, I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Hollis. I have been working with Mr. Hollis for years now and he played a big part in planning the peace talks."
"It's nice to meet you," Dan murmured, ducking his head.
"I'm sure the pleasure is mine." She waved a young woman over, tall, blond, and beautiful. "Mr. Veidt, this is our daughter Natasha. I'm sure she'd be happy to escort you around while your friend mingles."
"Thank you for the kind offer, Mrs. Hollis. However, my partner will be the only company I need tonight." Adrian put extra emphasis on the word 'partner' just so there wouldn't be any confusion.
Dan was worried that they were going to end up verbally going at it when Mr. Hollis stepped in. Literally. He grabbed Adrian's shoulder with one of his large hands and Dan's with the other. "Adrian, it is so good of you to come and bring your man with you. I was worried when I didn't see you right away. It isn't like you to arrive late."
Mrs. Hollis and her daughter looked like they'd bit into a pair of lemons, but they let Adrian and Dan go without further comment.
"My apologies, I was distracted," Adrian replied with a smirk in Dan's direction.
"I'm sure you were!" Mr. Hollis gave Dan a downright lecherous look.
Dan blushed and did his best not to meet Mr. Hollis' eyes. He was going to make Adrian pay for this.
"Now, as much as I'd like to talk to you more, Adrian, I'm afraid I've got hosting duties I just cannot ignore. So why don't you and your partner head into the ballroom, and I'll talk to the two of you later?"
"I look forward to it," Adrian said, an almost real smile stretching across his face.
It made Dan feel a little better about the whole night, knowing that at least one person was rooting for his and Adrian's relationship. "Mr. Hollis seems nice."
Adrian nodded. "He's a good man. Hopefully, his approval of our partnership will keep people from throwing themselves at me."
"That would definitely be good," Dan agreed, trying not to think about how awkward things would get if somebody actually did try to pick up Adrian. He might be tempted to punch them out. "Well, we might as well get this over with."
"Indeed."
They swept into the ballroom and Dan winced as every single woman under forty started glaring daggers at him. He could already tell that this was going to be a night from hell.
* * * * * * * * *
Dan curled up on Adrian's chest. It wasn't the most comfortable position, given an elbow was digging into his ribs, but he wasn't in any hurry to move.
Adrian was drawn tight as a bow beneath him. A night full of speaking to the masses, trying to get them under control with just the power of his intellect had invigorated him. "What's got you thinking so hard?"
"Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."
Snorting, Dan burrowed closer to Adrian. "You're being maudlin again, aren't you?"
"I am not being maudlin." Adrian sniffed at the sheer banality in that word. "You're just undervaluing your worth."
"You just don't want to admit that you could be human enough to sulk."
Adrian changed the subject. And no matter what he said, Dan knew it was because he had been sulking. "Do you know why all those women want to be with me?"
"You are handsome, rich, and the smartest man alive."
"Because they have a idealized view of me," Adrian corrected. "If they knew even a fraction of what I'd done in the past, they would be terrified."
"That's ridiculous, there's no reason to be scared of you. Everything you did was to save the world. If anybody can understand that, it's me. The only way you could have been sure that I would keep your secret was to kill me, and you didn't. That means something."
"I'm glad you know I wouldn't have enjoyed killing you."
"Can we stop talking about this, Adrian? It might not frighten me, but I don't like to think about this."
Adrian pressed a kiss to his hair. "Of course. I'm sorry for being so insensitive. I just can't help but think about what I would do if I faced with that decision again."
"Do you really think it will get that bad?" Dan propped himself up on his elbows so that he could look at Adrian.
"No," Adrian replied. "I'm just apprehensive. You know I have to plan for every eventuality,"
He nodded before lying back down, though he didn't relax again.
"You really don't need to worry, Dan. I'll do whatever it takes to avert the apocalypse."
"That's what I'm worried about." Dan froze, realizing what he'd said. "I'm sorry, Adrian, you didn't deserve that, I just—"
"You didn't upset me," Adrian interrupted hurriedly. "You have every reason to worry about what I am planning. I worry too, but we cannot do anything about it now."
Dan nodded.
Adrian pushed Dan up to sit beside him. "I need to get some sleep, and it will do you some good to have some alone time with your writing. You're far too tense."
He wanted to say that he could go to bed with Adrian now, but that was a lie. He'd end up tossing and turning. He was too hyped up to fall sleep. "Sleep well."
Part 2
nyargles Rating: R
Pairing:Dan/Adrian
Warnings: Character Death
Summary: Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level snow stretches far away.
It's five years later and the world peace
is falling apart. It's Eleven minutes to
Midnight again, and this time Adrian won't
be able to give the world a reprieve.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Ao3 | Art
* * * * * * * * *
Broken glass and gravel scrunched beneath Dan's boots. Laurie was turning in slow circles, her eyes glued to the bodies that hung out of the skyscrapers and blanketed the streets. The taste of dust, electrical discharge, and despair was thick on his tongue.
"How could he do this?" Laurie bent over to look at something laying sprawled across the sidewalk. He followed her gaze and saw a little girl safely tucked under her mother's dead body. There was a doll clutched in the girl's slack arms. It's large, glassy eyes stared out at him, judging.
He shuddered and turned away to study a lamp-post that had broken in two. Wires and metal jutted upwards towards the stormy sky. He couldn't stop himself from running a gloved finger over the wires, electricity sending a wave of not quite pain through his arm. "He did what he thought was right."
She spun on her heel to glare at him. "How can you say that? This isn't right."
"I didn't say it was right, but it was for the greater good." He knew it wasn't right, but they couldn't change it now. They couldn't bring these people back from the dead. There wasn't any point in harping on it.
"The greater good!" Laurie snorted. It was evident that she held nothing but contempt for the concept of 'the greater good.
Dan couldn't say he blamed her, not when the greater good had led to the creation of this dying city, stacked with rotting bodies.
Unfortunately, they couldn't act on their contempt."What do you want me to say, Laurie? We agreed to keep Adrian's secret. We agreed to this. It is not right. It isn't good. But we don't have a choice now."
"We have a choice." She marched over him and started poking him in the chest with her finger. "We could turn Adrian in."
He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her towards the center of the city. Bodies were everywhere, but he did his best to avoid looking at them. He couldn't think about them now. He kept dragging her until they were facing the monstrous alien Adrian had created.
Its gaping beak dripped with ooze, wrinkled blue skin pooled around its body in a gelatinous puddle, scaly greenish tentacles as large as buildings wrapped in and around bodies and debris. It was monstrous.
She jerked away from him and fell to her knees. The sound of retching echoed hollowly off the building.
Dan waited until she was finished. Then he pointed at the monster, forcing her to look at it again. "There are dozens of these creatures scattered across the world spreading their psychic residue of fear and despair. Millions, maybe even billions of people are dead."
"Stop talking!"
He ignored her and went on. "What choice do you think we should make? Do you think we should tell everyone what Adrian did and maybe bring about the nuclear apocalypse? Do you really think that would be better?"
She curled into herself. "I– I don't—"
"We don't know what's going to happen so we're just going to have to have to muddle through things and hope that these people weren't sacrificed for nothing. Because we don't have another choice unless you want to risk making things worse." Dan turned away from the monster, heading back towards the edge of the blast radius and what was left of his Brownstone. He needed to get some stuff together before he and Laurie could start their new life.
Eleven Minutes to Midnight
* * * * * * * * *
Dan woke to the feeling of Adrian's fingertips skimming lightly over his back. Moaning, he burrowed further under the covers. Adrian pealed the blankets away, kissing each of the scars that dotted his back. Until he finally gave up feigning sleep and rolled over. "You want me to make breakfast, don't you?"
"I wouldn't dream of it." Adrian held his hands up in surrender. "I just wanted you to see me off to work."
Dan glared at him. "Fine, I'll get up, but you better make something good."
"Pancakes and coffee?"
"There better be bacon too," he retorted, trying to sound like he wasn't so cheap that he'd get out of bed for pancakes alone.
"There will be," Adrian promised.
"Then you better go get started. You don't want to be late for work."
"I won't be late for work. Breakfast should be ready in fifteen minutes, and I don't need to be at the Russian embassy for another hour."
"Then why did you wake me up?" Adrian knew how much he hated mornings.
"I wanted your company for breakfast. Besides, I enjoy it when you watch me cook."
"I prefer to sleep," Dan grumbled, pulling the blankets over his head. It was rude, but he didn't much care. It was way too early for this.
Adrian pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. "If I don't see you in the kitchen in the next five minutes, I'm not making you any bacon."
"Yeah, yeah," was Dan's muffled reply.
The collar of Adrian's trench coat twisted between Dan's fingers. He used his grip to pull Adrian's head further down so that he could deepen their kiss.
Adrian returned the favor by grabbing Dan's hips. The purple velour of Dan's borrowed robe crinkled under his fingers, and Dan felt the pinch of rising bruises. A shiver of pleasure went through him. He loved Adrian's strength and knowing that Adrian could hold him down and have his way with him. It made him want to drag Adrian back to bed.
Adrian pulled away, his thin lips kiss-bruised and his hair mussed. He smiled at Dan, affectionate and prideful. "I'm going to be late for work if we continue."
"Maybe that's my intention." It would serve Adrian right.
"Feeling vengeful, are we?"
"Maybe." Dan tried to pull him back into a kiss, but Adrian didn't let him.
"Well, I'm sorry, but your revenge is going to have to wait. I have to get to my meeting at the embassy."
"Fine," Dan sighed. "But I'll make you pay when you get back."
"I'm sure you will." Adrian pressed a chaste kiss to his lips before he lifted Dan out of his way and slipped out of the penthouse.
"Overly confident bastard," Dan grumbled to himself.
He headed into the kitchen. While he was grateful to Adrian for making breakfast, he could have done without the mess. There were two different batter- and oil-spattered frying pans on the stove, and a half-dozen measuring cups and spoons scattered around the counter in piles of flour, milk, and melted butter. The only thing Adrian hadn't managed to make a complete mess of was the coffee maker.
Dan promised himself that he'd have another cup after he'd cleaned up.
Dan was down to the last dredges of his coffee when the phone rang.
He glared in its general direction before curling further into his couch. Anybody who knew him knew not to call him before at least ten. The telemarketers could just go screw themselves.
Dan gave up his plan to ignore the phone when it started ringing for the third time in ten minutes.
He forced himself off the couch and stomped into the kitchen; stupid phone and stupid freezing cold tiles. The phone had stopped ringing by the time he reached it, but he wasn't worried. Whoever kept calling him would call back, and he could yell at them then.
The phone started ringing again. He grabbed it and shouted, "What!"
"Dan, it is good to hear from you," Laurie replied.
Dan bit back a curse. Why was Laurie calling? They'd broken up three years before and hadn't talked since.
Laurie continued, as if they were the best of friends. "It has been a while. I was just wondering if you'd like to grab a coffee with me?"
"I'm busy, Laurie. Perhaps another time?" Like when hell froze over.
"Don't be silly. I came all the way from California to see you. The least you can do is spare me a few hours of your time."
"I'd really rather not. It would be a bad idea anyway, your being around a confirmed Mask," he said, half hoping she'd admit that she'd turned him in.
"That's not a problem anymore. So there isn't any reason for you to stay holed up in Adrian's apartment."
Not a problem. What did that mean? "Aren't you worried about being discovered as a Mask? Being seen with me won't help attempts to remain anonymous."
"I'm sure a quick visit and a cup of coffee won't make that much of a difference. And I have something that I need to speak to you about."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to meet with me if you want to find out."
"I don't know. Is it all right if I call Adrian first? I'm not sure how he'd react to my seeing you behind his back. You are my ex, after all."
"It's just one cup of coffee. What's he going to do, ream you out because you went for a coffee with me?" Her tone was light, but Dan knew her well enough to hear the steel underneath. She wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"I'll call him, then I'll call you back. Can you tell me what number to call you on?" Dan asked, trying one last time to dissuade her.
"Don't worry about it. I'll just come to the penthouse," she said brightly before hanging up the phone.
Dan was horrified. It was bad enough having Laurie in New York instead of California, but he didn't want her to just 'pop over' for a visit. They'd been avoiding each other for three years and he'd preferred it that way. Particularly since he'd long suspected her of turning him in as a Mask.
He reached out to dial Adrian's number, then stopped. As much as he was dreading this meeting, having Adrian show up at the coffee shop would only make it worse. He'd tell Adrian about the meeting once he had some idea what Laurie was up to.
Now he needed to get dressed before Laurie showed up on his doorstep and saw him in nothing but Adrian's robe.
They walked down the sidewalk, careful to avoid touching each other. In the crush of the morning commuters, they might as well have been strangers. Even their outfits clashed. His argyle sweater vest and brown dress pants, and her fashionably cut hot pink and lime green dress.
It reminded Dan eerily of the first date, when they'd been little more than strangers with the connection of being Masks, once upon a time. Now their relationship was far less tenuous and far more fraught with emotions. It wasn't an improvement.
Laurie turned into a little bistro coffee shop a few blocks down from the penthouse. He hurried to follow, and reached the shop's counter just in time to hear her order a coffee, black with two sugars, and an earl gray tea. Then she turned to him. "I'll get us a table while you wait for our drinks."
"Uh— Oh, right." Dan nodded stupidly before going to stand next to the coffee maker. He ignored the barista's amused smirk and gathered their mugs. The little bistro table Laurie was sitting at was near the back of the shop. It was just a few feet from the bathrooms. She obviously didn't want to be overheard. He would have preferred to have witnesses in case things got ugly, but he didn't have much choice now. She wouldn't talk to him if he tried to sit somewhere else.
When he sat down, she gave him a toothy smile like she knew what he was thinking. He wouldn't be surprised if she did. "Why did you call me, Laurie?"
"There is something we need to discuss, and I thought it would be better if we kept it private."
"Private from who?"
"Adrian. I'd prefer if he didn't know about this meeting."
He should have known. "He's my lover, and I'm not going to lie to him. Or spy on him if that's what you want to discuss."
Laurie's jaw tightened. "I'm not asking you to lie. All I'm asking you to do is forget to mention this meeting."
"Why don't you tell me what you want me to 'forget'. Then I'll decide if I'm willing to keep it a secret."
"Very well. I've been discussing what happened five years ago with some people, and we think that it is time Adrian paid for his crimes."
Dan quickly looked around to make sure nobody was listening. What was Laurie thinking, broaching this in public? "Are you crazy? You can't just talk to a few people about it. We agreed to keep the fact that Adrian released the aliens on Earth a secret."
"I agreed to that when I thought his plan was going to save the world. But now we're right back where we started."
"That's not Adrian's fault. You can't blame him for having faith in humanity." Dan shared his faith. It was a big part of why he'd become a Mask in the first place.
"But I can blame him for all the people he killed, and it is time to make sure that the proper steps are taken so that Adrian pays for his crimes."
"And what about our crimes, are you going to make us pay too?"
"I'm redeeming myself by making sure that Adrian pays for his crimes. I'm offering you the same opportunity."
"So you are still blaming everybody else for your problems. We're just as guilty of letting those people die as Adrian is. You should accept that and move on."
She slammed her hand down on the table. The cups rattled. "How can you say that? We tried to stop him!"
"And failed. Then, instead of accepting that failure, we lied about it. The only one of us who was willing to take responsibility was Rorschach."
"Still defending Saint Rorschach?"
Well, the animosity between Laurie and Rorschach certainly hadn't waned, despite Rorschach's death. "I didn't say he was a saint, but unlike us he wasn't willing to sacrifice those people's memories for the world's safety."
"Rorschach's character isn't in question. Adrian's is. He said that he was going to save the world, but we're right back where we started. At eleven minutes to midnight. Now it is time for somebody else to step up and take responsibility."
Dan stifled a scoff. "Who would that be? You? Me? One of those politicians who think all Masks should be killed? Face it, we're screwed, and for better or worse, Adrian is our best hope of finding a way to save the world."
"He had his chance, and there are plenty of people ready and willing to save the world."
"The why haven't they? Or is punishing Adrian part of their plan?"
"I can't explain that unless you agree to help me."
"Then I guess there isn't any point in staying." He stood up and dropped a few dollars on the table. "Grow up, Laurie. Learn to take responsibility for your actions. You turned me in as a Mask. If I'm not loyal to you and whoever is pulling your strings, that's your problem, not mine."
He waited just long enough to see her flush guiltily before storming out of the coffee shop. He hadn't wanted the confirmation that Laurie was behind his arrest, but now that he had it, he had some thinking to do.
Dinner that night was simple. After leaving Laurie, Dan had spent the afternoon wandering the city, and once he was home, he hadn't felt like making anything fancy.
He doubted Adrian would care. His secretary had called and said he'd be two hours late. That had been over three hours before. When they finished eating it would be nearly ten; time for Adrian to get some sleep while Dan worked on his latest ornithological article.
It was quarter past ten when Adrian stumbled into the penthouse. His blond hair was a stringy mess, and his shoulders were stooped beneath his dripping trench coat.
Dan hurried to meet him at the door. He grabbed Adrian's briefcase and tossed it onto the couch before helping him out of his coat. "Is everything all right with the talks?"
"Nothing to worry about. Everybody is just worried about how the Russian representatives will react to our hospitality. We don't want anything to go wrong."
"I doubt they're going to declare war just because you didn't put the right kind of vodka in their hotel suite." He kept an arm wrapped around Adrian's shoulders as he guided him to the table.
Adrian settled into the chair with a sigh. "Emotions are running high, but even considering the paranoia that has overtaken the representatives, I doubt that they would declare war over something so absurd. Nobody wants to take the blame if the talks fall through."
"I'm sure it will be fine."
"Thank you for your faith."
"What kind of lover would I be if I didn't believe in you?" The question was rhetorical, so Dan didn't worry when Adrian didn't reply. He was busy rescuing the spaghetti and garlic bread from the warming drawer anyway.
"So what did you do today?" Adrian asked.
Dan fork froze halfway to his mouth. "I met with Laurie."
"What is she doing in town?"
"She didn't say."
"And you didn't ask?"
He bristled at Adrian's tone. "I was busy."
"She upset you. What did she say?"
"Nothing too important. She's still upset about our break up."
"Are you sure there isn't anything else? You're usually better at handling her resentment."
This would be the perfect opportunity for him to tell Adrian about Laurie's threats, but he didn't. He'd given her his word, and he wouldn't break it. "I asked her about turning me in as a Mask. She didn't admit anything, but she didn't deny it either."
"I'm sorry, Dan." Adrian reached out across the table to grip his hand. "I know you had hoped your suspicions were unfounded."
Dan hands shook in Adrian's grasp. "It's not a big deal. After all, I've moved on."
"Of course you have." They both ignored the doubt in Adrian's voice.
The door slammed open, jolting Dan awake. Groggy, he pushed himself up to look over the couch's back. He knuckled at his eyes trying to wake up further. Something wasn't right, but he didn't know what.
Adrian stood in the doorway. His clothes were immaculate and not a hair was out of place, but Dan could feel tension thrumming through him.
A twist of Adrian's wrist, almost too fast to see, and his briefcase went flying. It hit the large window that spread across the living room's east side. Cracks formed a spiderweb across the glass, and the case popped open. Papers fluttered about like oversized butterflies.
"Adrian?" Dan stood up, planning to go to him.
"Don't." Adrian held out his hand to ward Dan off.
He froze. "What's wrong? Is there something I can do?"
"I'm sorry, Dan." Adrian closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "Today has just been – trying."
"Is that why you're back early?" Dan glanced out of the window trying to gage what time it was. "You usually wouldn't return until sometime this evening."
"I just needed to get away before I said something foolish. The United States' delegates are claiming that Russia brought the aliens down on us with their space program. And the Russians are claiming that we're conspiring with the alien horde. It is disheartening."
Disheartening was definitely too mild a word. "Are they crazy?"
"I wish it were that simple. But it's far more likely that this is just a political game of chicken."
"What?"
"The Russians are maneuvering for a better bargaining position. If they continue to claim that the US is preventing the peace talks from progressing, people will start protesting the hold up, and the US will be forced to give into their demands."
This was why Dan hated politics. "I'm sure that once you've calmed down you'll think of a way to handle it. Now come on, throwing a fit isn't helping anything." Dan wrapped his arm around Adrian's shoulders and guided him over to the couch.
He sunk into it with a soft moan. "I know, but after all I've done over the last five years, I had hoped we'd moved past the point where I was in charge of fixing everything for humanity. They were supposed to learn their lesson and move forward to create a better world. Instead, they are still mired down in petty squabbles."
"Maybe this time it will be different. Anyway, I'll make sure you are properly rewarded for your efforts." He gave Adrian a playful wink.
And got a snort in reply before Adrian pulled him down onto his lap. "Well, how can I say no to an offer like that?"
Adrian tugged at Dan's bow tie. "I wish you would wear the tie I picked out for you."
"I'm not going to wear a black tie, at least not a plain one, and it is not like the gray plaid is that noticeable." And he wouldn't be caught dead in the traditional black tux and black bow tie combo. It was bad enough that he'd agreed to go to this dinner. He wasn't going to play the proper political spouse, dressing properly for every occasion.
Adrian shook his head. "You do realize the invitation said this is a black tie event, don't you? You don't have to include a plaid accessory in every outfit you wear."
"I don't wear plaid all the time, sometimes I wear argyle. Besides, it's not like they're going to approve of me even if I wear a black tie. I stole the most eligible bachelor in all of New York. Every single woman in New York is still seething."
"I don't see why. It isn't like my preferences were ever a secret. Even if we hadn't gotten together, I would never have considered marrying any of them."
"You can't fix everything. They're not about to accept the fact that I am a man and in a civil union with you. That would require them to be liberal." Dan caught Adrian's wandering hands just before they reached his waistband.
"Which is about as likely as the Russian and US representatives gathering together to sing Kumbaya."
"Exactly. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go wait out in the living room. If you keep rubbing my chest like that we're never going to get to the party."
"I wouldn't mind, as long as we stayed in the bedroom instead," Adrian replied, pulling him back for a kiss.
"Yes, you would. You like listening to those pompous windbags making fools of themselves. I'm the one who'd rather stay home."
"I'll admit that I enjoy political dinners." Adrian held his hands up in surrender. "I just happen to like going to bed with you more."
"That makes two of us. Now hurry up and get ready; the sooner we get to the party, the sooner we can sneak out."
"That's my responsible lover," Adrian teased.
Dan just rolled his eyes. He wasn't being responsible. He just didn't want to have to go through all the trouble of dressing again.
Dan smiled at the valet as Adrian walked imperiously past him. There really wasn't a reason for them to have a valet, since they'd brought the limo, but he still felt bad for the boy.
The fact that he was practically cowering away from Adrian only made Dan feel worse. "You could have been a little nicer to him," he whispered into Adrian's ear.
He was busy smiling charmingly at their hosts, but he patted Dan's back in acknowledgment. Dan supposed that was all he could expect. Adrian was in full 'impress the natives' mode.
Adrian kept his hand on Dan's back as they came up to the hosts. He was a large man with a rotund stomach and a cigar clamped between his teeth. She was a slim blond, at least a decade younger than her husband.
"Dan, I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Hollis. I have been working with Mr. Hollis for years now and he played a big part in planning the peace talks."
"It's nice to meet you," Dan murmured, ducking his head.
"I'm sure the pleasure is mine." She waved a young woman over, tall, blond, and beautiful. "Mr. Veidt, this is our daughter Natasha. I'm sure she'd be happy to escort you around while your friend mingles."
"Thank you for the kind offer, Mrs. Hollis. However, my partner will be the only company I need tonight." Adrian put extra emphasis on the word 'partner' just so there wouldn't be any confusion.
Dan was worried that they were going to end up verbally going at it when Mr. Hollis stepped in. Literally. He grabbed Adrian's shoulder with one of his large hands and Dan's with the other. "Adrian, it is so good of you to come and bring your man with you. I was worried when I didn't see you right away. It isn't like you to arrive late."
Mrs. Hollis and her daughter looked like they'd bit into a pair of lemons, but they let Adrian and Dan go without further comment.
"My apologies, I was distracted," Adrian replied with a smirk in Dan's direction.
"I'm sure you were!" Mr. Hollis gave Dan a downright lecherous look.
Dan blushed and did his best not to meet Mr. Hollis' eyes. He was going to make Adrian pay for this.
"Now, as much as I'd like to talk to you more, Adrian, I'm afraid I've got hosting duties I just cannot ignore. So why don't you and your partner head into the ballroom, and I'll talk to the two of you later?"
"I look forward to it," Adrian said, an almost real smile stretching across his face.
It made Dan feel a little better about the whole night, knowing that at least one person was rooting for his and Adrian's relationship. "Mr. Hollis seems nice."
Adrian nodded. "He's a good man. Hopefully, his approval of our partnership will keep people from throwing themselves at me."
"That would definitely be good," Dan agreed, trying not to think about how awkward things would get if somebody actually did try to pick up Adrian. He might be tempted to punch them out. "Well, we might as well get this over with."
"Indeed."
They swept into the ballroom and Dan winced as every single woman under forty started glaring daggers at him. He could already tell that this was going to be a night from hell.
Dan curled up on Adrian's chest. It wasn't the most comfortable position, given an elbow was digging into his ribs, but he wasn't in any hurry to move.
Adrian was drawn tight as a bow beneath him. A night full of speaking to the masses, trying to get them under control with just the power of his intellect had invigorated him. "What's got you thinking so hard?"
"Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."
Snorting, Dan burrowed closer to Adrian. "You're being maudlin again, aren't you?"
"I am not being maudlin." Adrian sniffed at the sheer banality in that word. "You're just undervaluing your worth."
"You just don't want to admit that you could be human enough to sulk."
Adrian changed the subject. And no matter what he said, Dan knew it was because he had been sulking. "Do you know why all those women want to be with me?"
"You are handsome, rich, and the smartest man alive."
"Because they have a idealized view of me," Adrian corrected. "If they knew even a fraction of what I'd done in the past, they would be terrified."
"That's ridiculous, there's no reason to be scared of you. Everything you did was to save the world. If anybody can understand that, it's me. The only way you could have been sure that I would keep your secret was to kill me, and you didn't. That means something."
"I'm glad you know I wouldn't have enjoyed killing you."
"Can we stop talking about this, Adrian? It might not frighten me, but I don't like to think about this."
Adrian pressed a kiss to his hair. "Of course. I'm sorry for being so insensitive. I just can't help but think about what I would do if I faced with that decision again."
"Do you really think it will get that bad?" Dan propped himself up on his elbows so that he could look at Adrian.
"No," Adrian replied. "I'm just apprehensive. You know I have to plan for every eventuality,"
He nodded before lying back down, though he didn't relax again.
"You really don't need to worry, Dan. I'll do whatever it takes to avert the apocalypse."
"That's what I'm worried about." Dan froze, realizing what he'd said. "I'm sorry, Adrian, you didn't deserve that, I just—"
"You didn't upset me," Adrian interrupted hurriedly. "You have every reason to worry about what I am planning. I worry too, but we cannot do anything about it now."
Dan nodded.
Adrian pushed Dan up to sit beside him. "I need to get some sleep, and it will do you some good to have some alone time with your writing. You're far too tense."
He wanted to say that he could go to bed with Adrian now, but that was a lie. He'd end up tossing and turning. He was too hyped up to fall sleep. "Sleep well."
Part 2