Black and Red Chapter 29 Fighting Analysis
"Let's start with some punches. Make a fist."
Tim watched Babs hold up her right hand and clench it. He couldn't really explain why he felt it was right to teach her combat now, but he had a nagging doubt. Besides, maybe if he showed her how far she still had to go, she'd decide to keep off the streets for a few years while she trained. It was worth hoping, at least.
First, stop her making the most basic errors.
"If you punch someone with that, you'll fracture your thumb," he sighed. "Try again, with the thumb on the outside." She reclenched her fingers with the thumb sticking out. "No, not like that. Here." He took her hand and manoeuvred her thumb so it lay against the middle section of the fingers.
Babs took her hand back, and made a clumsy swing at nothing. Tim sighed again. No doubts about her enthusiasm, but a complete novice. Even Steph, who he and Oracle had trained from her first nights out, had been in a few fights.
"Babs, please. Unarmed combat is an art form if done right. Don't just flail about." He came up behind her and adjusted her stance. "This is one of our simplest 'ready' stances. Nightwing would be on his toes, but I don't think you can somersault. The advantage of this position is that you are ready for just about anything. See how you can lash out with any limb without losing your balance? Leg work is even more important than armwork. Not just kicks, but twisting and turning, dodging and ducking. Move more, get hit less. You're too small and fragile to get away with taking your hits to stay in optimum position."
"Right…I think," she said hesitantly.
"Sit down," Tim said pointing to the bed. "Watch this." He sank into the starting position, and began one of his routines, He was a little out of practise with this one, but it flowed well enough. He let the movement take him, until with a final spin, he finished. Babs applauded.
"That was my first practise routine," he explained. "It's also the first one I took Spoiler through when she started learning. Now, let's break it down into each move, and go through exactly how to perform each one. First is a right hook. Pay attention to my shoulder, elbow and wrist."
Babs collapsed on her bed. After two and a half hours, Rob had pronounced her almost capable of all of three of the moves he'd demonstrated. Now she ached all over. Lunch had been awkward.
It was a strangely pleasant ache. Unlike the time she'd sprained her wrist, it felt like an ache that accomplished something. The ache of muscles hard used.
Rob was expecting her back in an hour. Just let her lie there for a minute longer…
Tim glanced at the clock. Babs was late. Sure, he was pushing her hard, but no harder than Bruce had pushed him. Mistakes can be forgiven when you have someone to watch your back, but Babs wouldn't – he fully intended to convince her to wait another few years before hitting the streets, by which time he'd be long gone. Hopefully.
He rose, and checked on his pupil. She was fast asleep. For a moment he envied her. He'd only gotten about four hours sleep on average each night since the gang trouble flared up. He could really do with a full night of rest, but he couldn't afford it. Not when there was still so much else to do.
He looked down at the sleeping girl again and sighed, smiling slightly. She did look cute sleeping. But oh so vulnerable. For a moment, his bad feeling twinged again. He'd never known himself to have premonitions, but…there was something about this world that made him ill at ease. Maybe he should try speaking to the other Bruce again.
He returned to his computer. As expected, Sionis was raging about the disruption to his plans, but had yet to think of using his own people to fill the gaps. Good. That particular delay could be the one thing that decided who won the campaign.
He could extend his 'I don't care what gangs do between gangs' to the other gangs. Except they had no leadership to talk to at present. Hmm.
Option one. Forget the idea. Let the gangs self-destruct as planned, and try to keep collateral to a minimum. Pros, he could focus on Black Mask, and the gangs would get just exactly what was coming to them. Cons, he might end up letting civilians come to harm through his inaction, and that strategy had no long term advantage. Option two. Wait until the gangs had ceased their internal conflicts, then offer his deal. Pros, the same as the last. Cons, collateral and possible lack of credibility. Option three. Use the contacts he'd made among the gang's girls to find the main contenders and offer them the deal straight away – maybe with a threat or two. Pros, would nip the violence in the bud before too much collateral could be done, and by bringing it up now, it would be more likely to have a long term effect. Cons, it would be a lot of work, and he might miss something crucial from Sionis while he was running around doing that. Option four. Distribute his message in a public forum. Pro, it would get it out very quickly – just go to the Gotham Gazette and offer to give an interview; any reporter would give their eye teeth for such an opportunity. Con, serious lack of credibility with civilians, quite likely extending to the police.
He weighed the four options, and sighed. Hard work never killed anyone. Option three it was.
Time to wake Babs and get her to watch Sionis.
AN: So, the gang war may be close to drying up - if Tim's plan works - so what next? I like hearing your ideas.
For the first time in some weeks, I'm updating on the right day. Whoop whoop.
Also updating, Jason and the Argonauts. Next week, JA and LBV.
Please review!
Katara
