Little Bird's Vengeance Chapter 40 Nighty-nighty

Clint had volunteered to take the first shift watching Red Hood. Unlike with Red Robin, they had no guarantee their impromptu prisoner would do as he was told. So while the Avengers and Titans had headed to bed, Clint had a computer screen open in front of him with cameras focused on the homicidal vigilante.

Red Hood was tossing and turning in his bed, clearly not asleep. He'd stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers, dumping boots, gloves, jeans, belt, jacket and gloves next to the bed. His red domino mask was still in place, and like Red Robin with his sedative spray, Red Hood clearly intended to sleep with his handguns. Clint wondered what had happened to make the boys so paranoid.

Red Hood rose, giving up on falling asleep. He pulled his jeans and jacket back on, cinching his belt round his waist and stuffing feet into boots and gloves into pockets. Clint switched between cameras as Red Hood grabbed his helmet and left his room, going down the corridor and knocking on Red Robin's door. Red Robin called him in, and they had a conversation in some unknown language. Then Red Hood dumped his outer clothing, grabbed his guns and slid into the bed. A few more words, and Red Robin returned to whatever-it-was on his holographic computer and keyboard, while Red Hood finally settled down to sleep.

Clint frowned. This was worrying. If the two were becoming inseparable, it would make it a lot harder to keep Red Hood under control, and it cast doubts on Red Robin's loyalty. Letting the two stick together could give them no end of difficulty. Clint sighed and activated the intercom. "Tasha? Sorry to wake you, but I think we need to discuss something."

"Come in," Tim called, not looking up from his report. The door opened and Jason entered. Tim flicked a glance up, noting crumpled clothing and a weary strain at the edges of the mask. "You okay?" he asked, slipping into Romani in case of eavesdroppers.

"Can't sleep," Jason grunted. "Every time I close my eyes I imagine I can hear them coming for me. They would come for me while I'm asleep, wouldn't they?"

"If they were ordered to bring you in, which I'm not sure they were," Tim confirmed doubtfully. "They tried it with me. I sprayed Black Widow, and it wasn't that urgent, so they let me be. Just stay in a light sleep, keep your defences up, and you should be fine."

Jason sighed deeply. "They really don't like me though."

Tim frowned. It sounded almost as if Jason was afraid. He couldn't blame him. SHIELD was a big organization, and getting on its bad side was not a happy prospect. Tim hadn't learnt how to deal with any offensive moves they might make yet, and he'd spent several weeks with them. What chance did Jason have?

"Stay here, then," Tim said blandly, focusing on the computer, pretending to be unconcerned. "I'm sure my bed is just as comfortable as yours."

"Are you fucking serious?" Jason said incredulously.

"No, I'm quite happy to stick to sleeping," Tim nit-picked. "Seriously, I'm sure I've crashed on our dear eldest's bed enough times. We're brothers. We can share a bed platonically."

"Ha ha," Jason drawled sarcastically. "You know what I meant."

"We're brothers," Tim repeated. "Blood washes clean a multitude of sins."

"We don't share blood."

"Your point?" Jason stayed quiet and Tim continued. "Let's call it truce until we can stop worrying about SHIELD. That means we look out for each other. So stay, and get some sleep."

"Fine," Jason capitulated, yawning. "We'll want to discuss this again in the morning."

"When you're awake rather than half-asleep," Tim concluded wryly. "Do you want me to wake you when I want to sleep?"

"Nah, I'll be fine," Jason said, yawning again. Tim turned back to his computer, only half listening as his brother shucked most of his outfit. But a metallic clink made him turn. Jason had his guns out, not pointed at him, but just held loosely as he got into bed. "You're not taking loaded guns to bed," Tim said, seriously not happy.

"Just tranqs, I'm not that stupid," Jason grumbled.

"Fine, but leave the safety catches on."

"If you insist. G'night."

Steve readied the mask on his face and gripped his shield. The decision had been made to prevent the two Reds from being alone together to stop them from plotting, but separating them had been a daunting enough task for Clint and Tasha to call him and Rhodes to help. They had a plan. Tasha would sneak close and sedate the boys, while Steve defended her as needed. Clint and Rhodes would stay near the door and cover them. With luck, they'd get the Reds before they could mount a cohesive defence.

The door opened whisper-silent. Tasha padded forwards, Steve following. As they approached the two apparently peaceful teens, it seemed difficult to believe they were really deadly serious vigilantes. They truly did look like nothing more than two brothers sharing a room.

Tasha raised a sedative filled syringe as she approached the bed, but before she could strike, there was a flurry of movement. Red Hood jerked upright, clicking off the safeties on his handguns and firing both at Clint, ducking to avoid the retaliatory arrow. Red Robin sprayed his sedative, but the breath masks they were wearing foiled that. The seventeen year old slid onto the floor, throwing the metal batarang thing and pulling Steve's legs from under him.

"Titans!" Red Robin yelled. Rhodes blasted at Red Hood, Red Hood shot Tasha, and Red Robin got Steve in a chokehold. Superboy appeared from nowhere and slammed Rhodes into the wall.

"This," Red Robin said slowly. "Is just getting ridiculous."

AN: IT'S STILL MONDAY IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD!

So this would be the latest installment of my ongoing quest get back to Monday lunchtime updates (GMT/BST).

Anyway, Tim is quite right. Things are getting ridiculous. Questions is, can they work it out before things get worse than a few blasts and some tranquilizing? It'll have to to the next chapter.

Next week there will be an update fr Black and Red. This week there is the result of Tim and Cass' trip to Japan, and next week the consequences.

I love you readers so much; will you leave a review?

See ya,

Katara