Little Bird's Vengeance Chapter 37 Negotiations of a Sort
Nick Fury frowned at the quintet of teens in front of him, surrounded by the Avengers, plus the army guy Stark had let take a suit. Three of the youngsters were in no trouble, were actually due to be debriefed and commended. The other two were more difficult.
"Red Robin. Red Hood," he said sternly. "I admit, I'm somewhat confused. I give Red Robin instructions to neutralize Red Hood, and instead, you drag him back to Stark Tower, where he proceeds to attempt to smash you skull in. How, exactly, is that 'neutralized'?"
"It was a misunderstanding," Red Robin said quickly. "He agreed to come quietly, on the understanding that I would intercede on his behalf. But I forgot to warn him about Jarvis, and, well, we've got bad history with AIs. He thought I was trying to betray him. If I was, his trying to kill me would be completely justified."
"Regardless, if you can't stop him from trying to kill you, how is he neutralized?" Fury demanded.
"Well, I could point out that he is currently on your home turf, surrounded by your people, with little chance of escape," Red Robin mused speculatively. "But if you took advantage of that, I'd have to help Hood. He's agreed to play by our rules, as long as we stick to his terms."
"So if we do what he wants, he probably won't kill us?" Stark said, not impressed. "What a fantastic deal."
"No, it means that if you don't try to kill me, and get me home when there's a way, I'll play by his rules," Red Hood replied, nodding towards Red Robin.
"The rules are fairly simple," Red Robin said absently. "No unnecessary force, and no unavoidable killing."
"Although seeing as you've got assassins, I'll make that unauthorized killing," Red Hood bargained.
"I'd rather not," Red Robin demurred.
"You let this SHIELD director tell the hired guns to kill me," Red Hood retorted. "So if he authorises it, I can do it." Fury restrained his incredulity. He hadn't even decided if Red Hood would go free; yet the pair were bargaining over the conditions whereby Red Hood would be allowed take a life.
"Fine, but if you do, I'll tell B," Red Robin countered. Fury winced internally, remembering what he'd learnt of the deep respect and affection Red Robin, and presumably Red Hood as well, had for their mentor.
"If he asks."
"If he wants to know."
"Deal."
"Deal."
"Have you two just haggled over when Hood can kill?" Rogers asked, slightly confused.
"We have more stringent standards, in general," Red Robin explained. "Hood doesn't keep to them, which is one of the reasons we don't always get along. I agreed to let SHIELD make the call with regards to lethal force, but not to keep it secret from our people."
"I haven't decided what to do with you yet," Fury reminded them. "You haven't convinced me to let you leave."
"Whatever," Red Hood drawled. "Can't be too hard to get off this Helicarrier of yours."
"We are quite a way up," Red Robin reminded him.
"'S not that hard to fly one of those jet things."
"Good point."
"If you two are quite finished," Fury interrupted.
"Not really," Red Robin shrugged. "Just trying to get a few things sorted."
Fury sighed. "What do you want for Red Hood?" he asked.
"What you've given me," the teen replied frankly. "To come or go, to communicate or not, as he pleases."
"Not sure I want him in my tower," Stark muttered darkly.
"Safehouse?" Red Robin asked casually.
"Who d'you think I am, Goldie?" Red Hood snorted.
"He doesn't have to, Tony," Red Robin reassured the billionaire.
"I want him under closer supervision than that," Fury warned.
"I'd really rather you didn't try throwing me in a holding cell," Red Hood grumbled.
"I could do with an experienced partner on the streets some of the time," Red Robin added.
"Wouldn't mind back-up for these drug dealers," Red Hood agreed.
"Have you tried backtracking the chain of command?" Red Robin asked.
"Yeah, but the best I can get is that they answer to this Kingpin guy."
"We've met. Last time I saw him, he had his bully-boys try to kill me."
"Introduce me sometime, would you?"
"Sure," Red Robin said. He pulled out two of the special tablet computers SHIELD used (probably lifted from the Quinjet) and passed one to Red Hood. "Can you track your progress? I'll go from Kingpin's end."
"Got it," Red Hood answered. They both turned on the computers and started tapping at them rapidly. Fury stepped aside and motioned Hill to join him. "Opinion?" he asked.
"Holding cells," she answered immediately. "He's a loose cannon at best."
"A loose cannon agreeing to play by some rules," Fury mused. "Barton! Romanov!"
The two agents looked up and dutifully came over. Fury asked the same questions. Clint frowned and Tasha looked speculative.
"Red Robin certainly trusts him," she said. "But he trusts Hood to attempt to kill him under certain circumstances. Hood trusts Red to an extent. As long as circumstances favor it, they'll be useful allies."
"But if you give Hood his freedom, you'll be taking quite a risk," Clint added. "He's a maverick at best, a liability at worst."
"His relationship with Red?" Fury asked.
"I can't get a read on their feelings for each other," Tasha shook her head. "It's very mixed up."
"I gather that any conflict between them will stay between them," Clint supplied. I suspect that they meant what they said about playing by the rules."
"If we attack Hood, Red will defend him," Tasha concluded. "Of that I have no doubt."
"If we show him to a cell?" Fury asked.
"We'd have to get Red to agree," Clint said. "He might, if we call it 'giving him a chance to show his peaceful intent'."
"We can take Hood," Tasha nodded. "But it will be…messy if we have to take Hood and Red."
"You like Red," Fury stated.
"The only sign he has shown prior to today that he may have dubious judgement is in regard to his own injuries," Tasha said.
"Yeah, I like him," Clint admitted. "And I respect his ability. I've seen what he could do even while injured. I don't want to make him our enemy."
"If he's going to defend a loose cannon, how can he trust he won't turn on us?" Hill asked.
"Because he's told us very clearly when and why he'd turn on us," Tasha answered. "He put himself and Hood in a potentially vulnerable position, he showed us he trusts us. He told us that if we take advantage of that, he'll side with Hood."
"He trusts us to do the right thing," Fury concluded. "What is the right thing? And can we risk doing it?"
"Look, here!" Red Robin exclaimed, drawing Fury's attention back to the table. The two vigilantes in question were leaning over the pair of tablets, muttering to each other and pointing things out. "It's like that time, 'bout nine years ago. Twelfth May. You read the file?"
"One of the last before Goldie and B fell out," Red Hood confirmed.
"I reckon we can repeat the tactic easily enough. You take B's place?"
"Can't be him yourself?" Red Hood smirked.
"You've got a few pounds on me, and I'm just a bit more manoeuvrable," Red Robin responded. "Considering the strategy, that matters."
"Right," Red Hood agreed. He grabbed his guns off the table and holstered them, snagging his helmet as he and Red Robin headed for the door.
"Where are you two going?" Fury demanded.
"It's time sensitive, and we don't have time," Red Robin answered. "Trust me, we know what we're doing."
"How time sensitive?" Wonder Girl asked. Fury shot her a look telling her to back out, but she ignored it.
"Considering flight times, we'll have barely eight minutes to get in position, and fifteen would be better," Red Robin answered. "It's a major issue; we have to go."
"What kind of issue?" Fury asked.
"Drugs," Red Hood said simply. "Potentially enough to flood the market." With that, the vigilantes left.
"Let them go," Fury ordered his agents. "Colonel Rhodes, would you follow them discreetly and make sure they return?"
"Yes, sir," Rhodes answered.
"Why don't you ask me?" Stark pouted.
"You don't do discreet."
AN: Hope that answers the question of what were the Bats fighting over. I'd also like to remind people that this is pre-New 52.
More importantly, I'm sorry this is sooooooo late! Real life really caught up with me, more's the pity. And next week's updates might be a little late; hopefully not as much. I did offer up a consolation gift; a new Bat-short entitled "The Man in the Mirror". Find it on my profile.
Also posted today, the next installment of Family Ties.
Next week will be more Family Ties, and probably the next chapter of LBV rather than Black and Red. They'll be out as soon to the usual update time as I can manage.
Please review, even if it's only to nag me!
Katara