Black and Red Chapter 28 Fight, Fight, Fight…

Oracle watched Red Robin suit up. It was still light, but he was making an early start. After all, he had a lot to do.

"Any progress on what Black Mask plans?" Red Robin asked, pulling on his boot.

"Not really," Oracle answered, glancing back at the computer. "He's been talking about taking the gangs' women to get them under his control. He said it would be wonderfully ironic to use the asset you and Dad have been 'twisting', his word, out of everyone's control as the fulcrum to take out the cops. What's a fulcrum?"

"It's the block a lever pivots on," Red Robin answered distractedly. "Like a seesaw. The fulcrum is the bit that rests on the ground. What he means is that he'll use the women as his winning card."

"That's not good," Oracle commented, worrying her lip.

"No, but at least he hasn't started planning on replacing the gang leaders. He'll have to scrap his plans tomorrow and start again, which gives us time." Red Robin stood, stuck his mask to his face and crossed to the window. "Keep an ear on him; we'll need to know if he catches on to what we're up to before we finish." He tapped the comm in his ear and slid into the night.


"They're arming to scuffle with the Brutal Bishops. Careful; you'll have quite a fight on your hands."

Red Robin sighed as he made his way towards the Cathedral Cats' hideout. Those two were almost legendary for ignoring everyone else to focus on each other – and the Preacher's Pests. Three gangs, all based around Gotham Cathedral, all best enemies. "What are the other two up to?" he asked Oracle.

"Um…they're fighting right now."

"I'll just leave them to it, stop the Cats getting involved," Red Robin grumbled. He'd have preferred to let the three continue, and focus on the other gangs that tended to be less discriminating in their choice of target, but the other gangs were trying to temporarily merge with them – other black gangs with the Cats, other white gangs with Bishops, and other Latino gangs with the Pests. For this reason, he wasn't taking out the presidents. He was taking out the boys who'd been encouraging the mergers.

Arriving at the building, Red Robin shot through the window, rolled upright and tackled his target. He knocked him down and out, and rose to his knees on the target's back. The other gangsters were quick to point guns, but Red Robin flicked his staff in front of his face. "Yeah, there's one of me and fourteen of you, but d'you really want to risk friendly fire?" The guns quavered and did not fire. "If I'm honest, I don't really care all that much what you gangs get up to among yourselves. You and the other two in this area stick to fighting each other, and that's your business. Don't make alliances with other gangs. Don't target anyone for any reason who isn't in a gang. Keep to yourselves, and I won't worry you. I've got too much else to do."

"Yeah, right," the president said derisively. "Like you mean that. You just scared of us."

"I take it you have some awareness of the news?" Red Robin asked. "You know what I did last night. See the papers tomorrow, and you should understand why I'm willing to give you a break." He rose to his feet, tugging his prisoner up with him. "I'm taking this one. You do whatever you like, just don't attract my attention, right? I'd rather you didn't kill each other, but that's your lookout. I'd suggest you try intergang martial arts contests; beat each other up without killing or breaking the law. Deal?"

"You leave our territory, and you not come back, yeah?" the president offered, keeping his guns levelled.

"Can't promise I won't pass though, but if you don't give me a reason, I won't come back," Red Robin shrugged. "Oh, and the Bishops and the Pests are scrapping right now. Gimmee half an hour to deal with them before you join in, would you?"

Without waiting for a response, he heaved the guy over his shoulder and left the way he came.


"Gordon's Gang Grind: GCPD in largest arrest haul to date," Babs read from the paper. "Blah blah blah, more than fifty arrested from all over the city, all high ranking within their own gangs, over three hundred charges to be filed in total, suspected orchestration by vigilante Red Robin, speculation continues regarding Batman." Babs closed the paper. "Not bad."

"Daddy had a long night, sweetie," Barbara senior said. "I wish he didn't have to associate with vigilantes so much, it puts so much strain on him."

"I'm sure he has good reason, Mrs Gordon," Rob said blandly. Babs fought a giggle.

"I know, but it's so hard on him," the woman said. "Didn't you say your parents had been involved in gang business, Rob?"

"Gun running," Rob said smoothly. "I can't really talk about it."

Babs wondered if there was any truth in that. Rob had hinted his parents were criminals, but he'd never gone into detail.

Rob finished his coffee and, as was customary, retreated to his room. Babs waited a few minutes before following. He was poring over the computer.

"Aren't you sleeping?" Babs asked. He'd always insisted they go back to bed after breakfast.

"Soon," he replied distractedly. "I'm just getting something ready. Come back at eleven. I think it's time to start your practical training."

AN: Quick query. I've been considering cross-posting on AO3, with podcasts. Good? Bad?

Also updating now-ish, Jason and the Argonauts. Next week, Little Bird's Vengeance and JA.

Please review!

Katara