Yay! They all fell for my innocent expression and pressed the comment button!...uhh (blushes and shuffles awkwardly)...I mean...
Gah! On with the shout outs! To: Aslgyrl, Jasmine Nightshade and Robin For Life, and SilentStorm1999! Cookies for all of you!
And just to clarify, if I'll be switching back and forth between Coyote's point of veiw and the teams to you can hear either their thoughts or his (plus Mini Me). The switch will be heralded by breaklines and the use of only the teams code names when it's Coyote's point of veiw.
ENJOY!
The first Coyote knew of any of this was a gust of wind and the sudden absence of the child's weight in his arms.
His head whipped around, and sure enough, there was the speedster. That meant the others weren't far behind!
No dip Sherlock! We are so busted and it's all your fault!
As if to prove the voice correct, he suddenly found himself levitated up off the ground with his hyena. On the ground below, he could see the team coming at him! He snatched his bow off his back, nocking an arrow to the string and firing.
Robin gave a yelp, suddenly pulled up short by his cape!
Beside him, Artemis fired. Her arrow flew straight and true, the padded head hitting the teen in the chest. Out of the sides of the arrow head sprang several cords, wrapping themselves around him multiple times like the cords of a bola and tangling up his arms.
Robin pulled the arrow out of his cape and darted forward, flinging a small sphere at the hyena Kaldur was trying to hold in place with a water net.
"Aqualad, move!"
Kaldur dove out of the way, his net dissipating as he lost his concentration. Behind him, he heard the hyena give off an angry cry. Robin's net had done its job to perfection, the poor animal could barely move a muscle.
The Atlantian got to his feet.
Looking around he saw that the hyena's owner had fared only slightly better. Since his arms had been lifted to fire the bow when Artemis's first arrow had hit, his arms hadn't been pinned to his body the way they were supposed to, only tangled.
M'Gann had had to lower Coyote down closer to the ground so her teammates could wrest the bow from his hands and pin his arms behind his back. Conner now had the struggling vigilante's arms locked behind him.
Artemis stood in front of them, going over the rough wooden bow in her hands. He glanced at Zatanna and she shook her head. Coyote hadn't tried to use any magic, or at least any that she could sense.
"Um, guys? The kid's out cold." Wally called as he came closer, the limp body of the little boy dangling from his arms.
Artemis grabbed hold of Coyote's shirt, jerking him forward so she was eye to eye with him. "What did you do to him?" she hissed.
Coyote stopped struggling, his energy apparently spent. "I've done nothing!" He panted. "I caught several men trying to take him down into the sewers. He was already unconscious when I took him from them."
"It's all right guys, I think he'll be ok." Robin called. Wally had sat down on a boulder, the boy cradled in his lap, and Robin was now checking the boy over for any injuries. "He's got a little bump on his forehead, but other than that I don't think he's hurt."
"So someone hit him?" M'Gann asked, horrified by the notion.
Robin shook his head. "I don't think it was on purpose. It looks more like he was being carried and his head got smacked against a doorframe or something. That and I can smell either on the bandanna tied around his neck. It must've been tied around his mouth and nose to make sure he didn't wake up."
He straightened and walked over to stand in front of Coyote. "That right?"
Coyote sighed. "It's true. My rescue did not end as well as I would've liked, and I clipped the boy's head on the way out. I didn't have time to untie the knot, so I just pulled the bandanna down around his neck and hoped that would be enough."
His voice became a little more pleading. "Please believe me, I didn't kidnap him! I was going to take him home as soon as he was awake and could tell me who he was and where he lived!"
Robin folded his arms across his chest, head cocked thoughtfully to one side. Despite the run around he's given us tonight, my gut says trust him. What about you guys? He sent across the psychic link.
Artemis shook her head. No! Absolutely not!
I'm not so sure. Zatanna silently hedged. We're after this guy because he's a vigilante. It wouldn't make sense for him to go kidnap someone.
"He's telling the truth." Conner bluntly said aloud, causing Coyote to look back at him in surprise.
"You are certain of this?" Kaldur asked.
Conner nodded. "I can hear his heartbeat. If he lies, I'll be able to hear it."
Wally shrugged at Rusty, who'd taken a seat next to him. "Good enough for me."
After a long moment, the others nodded. Artemis rolled her eyes and grabbed hold of the arrow on the their prisoner's chest, cupping the head of the arrow with both hands. There was a loud click, and the cords quickly untangled and retracted back into the padded arrow head.
He'd have a bruise on his chest from where it hit, but other than that he was unharmed.
Coyote cast a smile over his shoulder as the clone released his arms. "Thank you." He said gratefully. Looking down at the ground about a foot and a half below his toes he gave M'Gann a nervous look and gestured to himself and the hyena, who was being released by Robin. "Could you put us down now? You have my word we won't run off right away."
Again, they looked to Conner. And again he assured them that Coyote was telling the truth.
Hyena and teenager alike were lowered to the ground, and the hyena immediately moved to the side of his pack mate to check and make sure that he was ok.
The Coyote smiled and petted him, reassuring him that he was.
"So spill. If you weren't trying to kidnap the kid, then who was?" Artemis demanded. She still had his bow in her hand, though whether she realized that or not the Coyote couldn't be certain.
"I didn't kidnap him." Coyote growled. After a moment he sighed and tiredly rubbed his eyes. He'd been up early the previous morning, and here he was still awake and hungry with dawn just beginning to knock on the door!
And we all know whose fault that is. Cough, yours! Cough, cough!
Coyote rubbed a little harder at his eyes. Remember that time I threatened to blow you out of my mind with a shotgun?
Yeah, I think I vaguely recall that comically suicidal threat. What about it?
It still stands…
The voice went dead silent at that, leaving him free to concentrate on the team.
"Kids 'ave been disappearing for the last couple months. It was mostly street rats at first, kids most people wouldn't miss even if they knew they were gone. But lately they've started grabbing kids from their homes, right out of their beds! Like the kid I rescued tonight."
Robin nodded, pulling up a file on his computer. "Well, at least that much I can verify! Batman and I have been looking into it ever since we got a tip from Maggie about the missing kids." He cocked an eyebrow at Coyote. "So why are you after them?"
"One of those kids was a friend of mine. I became Coyote for his sake." Coyote answered grimly.
No, you became Coyote so no one would recognize you and go running back to your mommy and daddy and tell them where you are!...and come to think of it, aren't you a little too old to play 'Cowboys and Indians'?
He sighed, fondling his hyena's ear. "All I want is to rescue my friend and put those men behind bars. I could never go home, but there's still a chance that he could patch things up with his family. I want to give him that chance."
Aqualad stroked his chin thoughtfully. "If that is the case, then I propose a trade."
Coyote looked up at him in surprise, not missing the fact that Kaldur's teammates seemed just as surprised. "A trade…?" he repeated. "For what? I have nothing to trade. My possessions have more sentimental value than anything else."
Pah! Liar! Liar! Pants on fire! The information you could give them on your dad alone would be more than enough for whatever 'trade' this fish face has in mind! The little voice chipped in. Not to mention the wool you pulled over their eyes at the theater!
A magician never reveals his secrets. He thought back, amused. And anyway, Robin knows me and my history. And he and the Bat already have most of the information I could give them on Pops. Anything else would give me away!
Aqualad smiled. "Consider it a trade of goals, as it were. We need you to come back with us, and you say you will not go until your mission has been seen to. Correct?" The teen nodded. "So the trade I am proposing is this. We will help you bring these men down, if you will come back with us to meet Batman and the League."
Coyote chewed his lip nervously. It was a risk. Robin knew him well, and there was a very distinct possibility that the boy wonder would recognize some trait about him sooner or later.
I'm more surprised he hasn't recognized your voice yet. Or those weird eyes of yours! Seriously, why didn't you hide those?
He bit down a little harder on his lip. He hasn't recognized my voice yet because it doesn't sound the same to him! And getting lenses to stay in the mask was more trouble than it was worth. Now shut up so I can think! You're making me look like a nut case!
He squared his shoulders and wiped any trace of hesitancy off his face. Holding out his hand to Aqualad, he nodded his head. "I accept."
You do like to live dangerously, don't you?
A small smile touched his lips at that. I have to keep the adrenalin pumping somehow! If you had your way I'd be holed up in a little apartment somewhere till the end of my days!
I would not!
"Good." Aqualad stated, shaking Coyote's hand. "I look forward to working with you."
Coyote nodded. "Thank you. How much do you know about the kidnappings?"
The Atlantian looked to Robin for details. It was his city after all.
Robin was quick to answer, reading the information off his computer screen. "Our source wasn't able to give us much beyond a list of names and the fact that someone was kidnapping them off the street. The first was abducted on the tenth two months ago. Since then fifteen kids have been taken straight off the street, and ten have been taken from their families. Most of the kids range between six and ten, but a couple of the kids taken from their homes were older."
Coyote shook his head. "Your source is good, but they're a little off. The first kid was taken on the third, and there've been twenty-five kids taken off the street…"
He yawned and rubbed his eyes tiredly, giving them an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I was up early, and this has been a very long day. My place is near here, would it be alright if we compare notes there…?"
He saw a quick glance pass between the team, as if they were conferring, and then Aqualad nodded. "Lead the way."
He turned and led the way back toward his hideaway, the hyena ranging out ahead of him now that he wasn't in any apparent danger.
And all the way, that voice was raging away in his mind.
You are officially certifiable, you know that? Screw loose! Off your rocker! Bonkers! Over the edge! One sandwich short of a picnic! You're toupee's too tight! You..!"
..Have won a one way ticket to the funny farm? He supplied helpfully. One egg short of dozen? When I was a baby I chewed the lead paint off the bars of my crib?
Don't push it…The voice in his head heaved an exasperated sigh. Why'd you have to invite them over? This isn't some sort of slumber party!...You're just not satisfied until you've put everything on the line are you?
Coyote shrugged, slipping behind the fallen wall and stepping into his sheltered courtyard. What can I say, I'm addicted to the tight wire act. You look down past your toes and there's nothing bellow you but empty space. It's no fun if there's no chance of falling.
…Yeah, you're definitely crazy!
The team stared at the ruble dugout in surprise as they followed him across the courtyard.
Well, this was unexpected. Zatanna thought to the team.
Robin grinned at her. What exactly were you expecting?
Umm…The magician blushed furiously. Honestly? ….I was kind of expecting a teepee or something…
Robin and Wally burst into laughter. Ahead of them Coyote whipped around, startled by the sudden noise, his hand instinctively going for the deer horn knife at his belt.
He starred at them confused, before slowly relaxing his hold on the knife and straightening from his fighting crouch. "What's so funny?" he asked, cocking his head curiously.
Barely to talk through his laughter Wally waived him off. "Nothing!"
Still blushing, Zatanna came clean. "Because of the way you're dressed, I was kind of expecting you to be living in a teepee. Sorry, I didn't mean to stereotype you or anything." She apologized.
"Odd. I didn't hear a word..." Coyote smiled. "It's alright though. I'm proud of my heritage." Glancing at the rubble dugout, he added in an embarrassed voice. "As it is, I've sort of stereotyped myself, creating a 'den' like this."
He crouched and slipped feet first into the small entrance.
The rest of the team was moving to follow when a painful yell suddenly rang out from inside the dugout. Robin darted forward and slid down into the shelter, clicking on a flashlight. He could hear his team climbing in behind him, but he didn't take his eyes off of the scene in front of him.
Coyote was laying on the floor, clutching his head just behind the furry coyote ears.
Standing over him was a dirty street kid, a good sized chunk of concrete in his hands. He stared at them with wide, frightened eyes, and Robin realized that all the boy could see of them were the dark silhouettes cast by the flashlight.
"Coyote?" The boy asked incredulously, staring at the older boy now sprawled on the floor. He hurriedly dropped his makeshift weapon and knelt by the vigilante's side, carefully hauling him up into a kneeling position. "Crap! Coyote, I'm so sorry! Are you ok?"
Coyote groaned, swaying a little as he clutched at his head. "Thomas…gah…Whatever I did, I think this makes us even! Consider your revenge claimed!"
Thomas gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry! I heard someone at the door and thought…I'm really sorry, I didn't realize it was you! Are you alright?"
Coyote sat back against the wall of his den, still rubbing the back of his head. "I think you could serve my brains up with pancakes, they're that scrambled!" he answered ruefully.
Seeing the stricken look on Thomas face, he reached out and gripped the boy's arm, trying to reassure him. "I'll be ok Thomas, don't worry! My head's taken harder hits than this, and it's always come out ok. But in the meantime, would you mind waking the fire back up? I brought home guests, and I don't want them to walk nose first into a wall!"
Thomas nodded and hurriedly poked the fire back into a blaze, adding wood to the fire as it began to flare up. He glanced curiously over his shoulder at the team, and there was clear surprise on his face as he took stock of the costumed heroes gathered near the door.
"I didn't realize you ran with them!"
Wally laughed. "It's a new thing." He answered, taking a seat on the dirt floor. Looking to Robin, he added. "Hey Rob, any idea who this kid is? His parents must be going out of their minds by now!"
Robin nodded. "Yeah. He's one of the Craig kids. I think his name was Alex? Allan? I don't know, something like that. I know it began with an 'A'. He's Tyler Craig's little brother." Seeing the look Wally gave him, he shrugged. "The Craig's are a wealthier family. Kidnapping higher class kids for ransom is an up and coming money maker lately. Batman's making me memorize the faces of likely kidnap victims."
Which, to Wally, translated out as "They're connected to Dick Grayson but I can't let the team know that so I'm fabricating a cover story on the spot".
"Well that's convenient! Think you can find a phonebook on that handy dandy little gizmo of yours and get their number?"
Robin rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, I can hack it."
"What can you tell us of these kidnappers?" Kaldur asked.
Coyote sighed and shoved himself to his feet. Grabbing a beat up old metal coffee pot from a hollow full of equally beat up metal camping dishes, he filled the pot with water from a bucket in the corner and set it on a grate above the fire to heat.
"Not enough." He said softly. "These men, it's always the same men. Never more than three, never less than two. If their target's on the street, one distracts while the other two jump him. If the target is in the their home, they just pin them down until the either does it's work."
"You said one of the victims was a friend of yours?" M'Gann asked.
Coyote nodded. "Yeah. Tony was the fourth kid to be taken. Thomas and I've been trying to find him ever since."
"He must be one of the kids our source hadn't heard about." Robin said, not even looking up from his computer screen. "There's no one named Tony on our list of abductees. Do you know the names of the other kids our source missed?"
Thomas piped up from his spot beside the fire. "Yeah, but some of them, I only know their street names. They got Sara, Gem, Collin, Tony, and Copper, in that order." He shuddered. "They always drag 'em down into the sewers. Everyone knows there's crocs down there. And rats as big as a small dog! What if Tony's…?"
"Hey! Don't think like that!" Artemis barked. "These guys aren't gonna kill them after going to all the trouble of kidnapping them. We'll find them."
Picking up a blanket from it's heap on the floor, Coyote gently flipped it around the boy's shoulders. "Thomas has a lot at stake in this." He explained gently. "Tony's his older brother."
Scooping the boy up, he carried him to the back of his dugout, calling his hyena to him with a whistle.
Setting Thomas down in a pile of blankets in the back, he had the hyena lay down beside him and tucked the boy in securely.
"Sleep." he ordered quietly, and came back to join them by the fire.
Pitching his voice low so the boy wouldn't be able to hear, he whispered to the others. "He took his brother's kidnapping hard. He was the one who ran away from home, and being the good older brother that he is, Tony followed him. He couldn't talk Thomas into coming home, so he stayed on the streets with him to make sure nothing happened to him."
He shook his head. "I don't think Tony was the target. He's almost sixteen or seventeen. That's way beyond these kidnapper's age range! The one they were really after was probably Thomas. Aside from the difference in size the two could almost be twins! They must have mistaken Tony for Thomas."
"Do you have any theory concerning how they select their intended victims?" Kaldur asked.
Coyote shook his head, frustrated. "No. They always seem to have someone in mind ahead of time, and with the exception of Tony they've never missed. I've seen them run right past easy targets to take down a specific kid! But for the life of me, I can't tell how they're choosing them!"
Wally patted his shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up over it." grinning conspiratorially, he nodded toward Robin. "I usually leave the detective work to the Rob, he's better at it."
"And don't you know it!" Artemis answered, grinning. "He showed you up last week when you 'borrowed' the chocolate out of his room!"
"Got the number. Kid Flash you'll be doing the running." Robin called, grinning at the aggravated look Wally was throwing at Artemis.
He pulled a cell phone from a pouch on his belt and headed for the door. "You've got a better public image than Bat's and I do, and thanks to Flash, you're more well known than the rest of the team. The Craig's will trust you more. I'll have them and Commissioner Gordon meet you at the hospital." Wally groaned and Robin grinned and ducked out the door.
They both knew the other was teasing.
Coyote yawned again, covering his mouth with his hand. "Sorry." He snagged a metal cup out of his hollow full of dishes and tossed a small mesh ball into it. "I haven't had a chance to hunt recently, so I don't have much to offer beyond homemade tea…" He said softly, seemingly embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it." Zatanna answered, smiling. "Tea's fine. What kind of tea is it?"
"Umm.." He lifted the cup and waived it under his nose. "This is the pine needle tea. Is that alright?" She nodded and he smiled, passing it to her.
Robin slid back down into the den. "The commissioner and the parents are all on their way to the hospital. You're gonna have to get running Kid Flash. Can you find your way to the hospital on your own?"
Wally sighed and heaved himself to his feet. "Sadly, that's probably the one building in Gotham I can find without too much trouble. Just point me in the right direction."
"Just head north out of the ruins and take a left once you hit the street. Six intersections down you'll start seeing hospital signs. Just follow them till you get to Gotham General." Coyote answered tiredly, fixing a second cup and offering it to the team at large. Realizing they were staring at him he paused. "..unless, Gotham General's not the one you're looking for?"
Robin shook his head. "No you're right. Just follow his directions KF. Commissioner Gordon should already be there waiting for you in the emergency room, and Mr. and Mrs. Craig shouldn't be too far behind."
"Got it." The speedster moved toward the door, stopping when he realized he'd have to use his hands to climb out. "Um…one of you guys mind handing him out to me?"
Both Conner and Kaldur moved to help, but M'Gann beat them to it, lifting the boy out of Wally's arms with her mind. "It's ok guys, I've got him."
The speedster darted up and out, leaning back in to take the boy. "Thanks Miss M." he called quietly, lest he wake Thomas, and then he was gone. "Back in a flash!"
There was a collective groan from those remaining in the den. Coyote raised an eyebrow, blowing on the steaming cup since no one else had expressed any interest in it. "I take it bad puns are one of his hallmarks?"
"Unfortunately." Artemis grumbled. Realizing she still had his bow in her hands she quickly offered it to him. "Oh! Here…guess you'll be needing this back. Sorry about that."
He smiled and accepted it. "It's alright, no harm done." He answered, leaning it against the wall along with his quiver.
"And we'll let you know if we hear anything from our end. You be sure to return the favor ok?"
Coyote nodded to the boy wonder. They were standing in the courtyard, and according to Zatanna's watch it was well past five in the morning. The broken walls of the ruined building prevented sunlight from reaching down in here just yet, but the sky was light. When it'd become increasingly obvious that they were all having trouble staying awake they had agreed to call it a night, or day as the case may be.
"More often than not you'll find me here." He agreed. "But how can I contact you?"
Robin fished a small silver object out of his belt, dropping it into Coyote's gloved hand. "With this." He apparently saw the surprised look on Coyote's face because he was quick to explain. "Batman and I use them when we have to work with the commissioner. This one is slaved to the com link I'm wearing. All you have to do is press the button on the side of yours and it'll patch you straight through to me. I can contact you the same way."
Coyote nodded, slipping his fingers under the side of the pelt to insert the com link in his real ear. "I hope it beeps or something as a heads up. The last thing I need is a little voice suddenly chattering away in my ear!"
Watch it twerp! The voice in his head growled, annoyed.
It could've been just his imagination but even the voice in his head, his Mini Me as he'd come to call it, sounded tired.
When even your insanity sounds tired, now that's when you know that you're sleep deprived. He thought dully. Realizing Robin was talking to him, he dragged his thoughts back to the present.
"I'm sorry, what?" The boy wonder grinned at him, seeming totally unfazed by the early hour or the lack of sleep. How is it possible for someone to be this energetic after being up all night? He wondered. I'm a morning person myself, but even I find his liveliness weird and somewhat annoying! I don't remember him being this energetic in the mornings!
Probably has a coffee machine hidden on his belt somewhere. The voice grumbled back irritably. God knows they seem to have everything else on those dratted utility belts of theirs. Turn him upside down and shake him, I wouldn't be surprised if the kitchen sink fell out of one of those pockets!
That made him smile a little. Probably. He agreed.
"It does beep." Robin reassured him. "It's quiet, so you'll be the only one able to hear it, and only so long as it's in your ear."
"So in other words, stick it in your ear at all times?"
Robin laughed. "That's about the size of it."
Kid Flash had returned some fifteen minutes before. Now he darted over to Coyote, grinning from ear to ear. "Don't worry, it'll drive you crazy for about the first hour or so, then you just kind of forget it's there. I accidentally wore mine to school just last week and one of my classmates noticed!"
"She must've been really staring if she spotted something that small inside your ear." Artemis commented dryly.
Kid Flash made a face. "Tell me about it! I swear, that…." He stopped. "Hey, how'd you know it was a girl?"
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Because while possible, I highly doubt a guy is going to be staring that intently at your ears."
Kid Flash seemed to think about it for a minute then shrugged and nodded. "Point taken. Anyway, I told her it was a temporary filling in my ear."
Even Superboy gave Kid Flash a disbelieving look at that.
"And she actually bought that?" Artemis asked, incredulous.
"Uh, yeah actually!" Stretching his arms up above his head he added to Aqualad. "I think I speak for the rest of the team when I say some serious shut eye is both wanted and needed! So unless there's anything else we've got to do?"
Aqualad chuckled and shook his head. "No my friend. Aside from making a report to Batman and escorting Rusty and Tat back to their vehicle, there is nothing else that requires our immediate attention."
Kid Flash shuddered. "On the Bat front, I so do not envy you there! Seriously, I don't know how you put up with him Rob!"
Robin shrugged. "You get used to it. And besides, he has his good days. Out of costume he's only mildly silent and brooding."
Kid Flash shuddered. "Yeah, whatever! He'll always be creepy in my book! Now if, you'll all excuse me, I believe there's a bed in Central calling my name!" within the blink of an eye he was gone, a small cloud of dust being the only sign that he'd even been there.
"Umm… I hope you didn't need him for anything."
Zatanna shook her head. "We're kind of used to it." She patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll get those guys."
He nodded. "I hope so."
"Get some sleep!" Robin called over his shoulder as the team left. "We're patrolling again tonight!"
"I'll be there!" Coyote answered, waiving. Only once they were truly gone did he let his shoulders droop. He slipped back down into his den, giving a huge yawn. Grabbing up a good sized chunk of concrete, he lifted it up and set it in the doorway, plunging his den into semi darkness.
At least there's one thing your new companions and I agree on.
He chuckled a little at that. "And what would that be?" he asked aloud, safe in the fact that Thomas was fast asleep and thus wouldn't hear him talking to himself.
Batman is creepy…! And we do need sleep.
Coyote finished banking the fire and walked to the back of the den. "Technically that's two things you agree on." He whispered. The hyena opened its eyes, pricking it's ears forward. But it didn't move, staying close to Thomas the way he'd told it to.
"Hey you…" he whispered fondly, stroking the animal's soft, short fur.
Pff. Technicalities only count in court. Mini Me answered.
"Whatever." Coyote chuckled. He stretched out on the ground beside the hyena, curling close to the animal. Between the banked fire and the hyena, he'd be warm enough.
I don't trust them.
Coyote rolled his eyes. "You don't trust anyone." He yawned.
Do you trust them?
Coyote smiled, his eyes drifting shut. "I trust Robin." He answered. "We'll see about the others." He yawned again, nuzzling into the fur of the hyena's thick neck. "But I think I'll end up trusting them too…"
The last thing he heard before he fell asleep was Mini Me's scornful voice in his head. You're an idiot. No wonder your dad tried to kill you…
"You're taking quite a risk Kaldur'ahm." Batman stated evenly over the vid com at Mount Justice. "Keeping a largely untrained and inexperienced teenager in play is dangerous, both to himself and the team."
The Atlantian inclined his head. "I am well aware of the fact sir. If something should go wrong, the responsibility will rest solely on my shoulders."
The Dark Knight was silent for a long moment, then nodded. "Just so you're aware. What assurance do you have that this 'Coyote' won't run? He has no training that you're aware of, but the evidence indicates that he's intelligent, and has some knowledge of crime scenes. He was difficult to find the first time. If he runs, he won't give you a second chance."
"None sir." Kaldur answered. "And your concern is valid. I had both Robin and Artemis plant tracers on his clothing and on the hyena before they were released from their bonds. Even if he does discover the tracer on his person, I do not think it will occur to him to check the hyena. He treats the animal as though it were a brother, or a much cherished friend. He will not leave it behind. We will not lose him Batman."
"Don't make guarantees you're not sure of." Batman answered grimly. "As it is, explain your reasoning for this deal you've struck with a teen you know nothing about."
Kaldur inclined his head. "The Coyote shows promise. Super boy confirmed that he was candid with us, though he could just as easily have lied. I thought it would be a wiser course of action to compromise, rather than alienate him."
Batman nodded grimly. "Very well. Keep me informed."
"And your opinion of this 'Coyote'?"
Robin smiled at the sudden presence of his mentors voice in his ear. He pulled the utility belt off his waist and set it on the rack with his spares. "I think Kaldur made the right decision." He answered honestly.
"Explain."
Robin shrugged out of his uniform, letting it drop to the floor and reaching for his civilian clothes on the shelf. "Coyote's smart. His hand to hand stinks, but his knife fighting isn't half bad and he's shown he knows how to use a bow. Personally, I'd rather have him with us than against us. You and I were working on busting these kidnappers anyway. If bringing them down is the best way to get him to trust us, then I say go for it!"
"There's more to it than just that." It wasn't a question.
Robin sighed, pulling a t-shirt on over his head. Batman knew him way too well. "He's familiar. I know him from somewhere, I just can't place him. But my instincts say we can trust him."
"Trust your instincts, but keep your wits about you." Batman answered at length. "Whoever this boy is, you're basing your trust off of your previous experiences with him. People can change. Make sure those changes don't get you hurt or killed."
"Well that's comforting." Robin teased, pulling the black domino mask away from his eyes and becoming Dick Grayson. "Will do." He settled himself on a bench in the locker room and leaned back against the wall.
"How are things on your end?"
"Difficult." His mentor answered.
Dick chuckled. That pretty much translated out as Bat speak for 'I'm frustrated and probably haven't gotten half as much sleep as my body needs within the last forty eight hours'.
Scarecrow was always a more difficult hunt, especially when he'd had a chance to find himself a good hiding place.
"That good huh?"
Dick could practically see his mentor rolling his eyes under the cover of his cape and cowl as he answered. "I've got Flash checking out a few likely places, but I doubt anything will turn up this early in the game."
Dick frowned thoughtfully. "You're having him check out the obvious places, like chemical plants and pharmaceutical companies right?"
"Go on."
"Well, remember the time he had someone backing him? He didn't hide anywhere near those. He hid out in an old corn silo." He shrugged. "If I were you I'd check out Lexcorp on the sly, while I was at it. I know he's supposed to be on the up and up and all but you and I both know he's about as clean as a six year olds dirty laundry."
"I'll look into it."
Dick smiled. Translation: thanks for the suggestion.
He quietly left the locker room and made his way up the stairs to the grandfather clock and the rest of Wayne manor. "Any chance you could put in a call to Gotham Academy so I can stay home today? After last night I seriously need some sleep!"
The voice on the other end of the com was a little warmer, the Batman equivalent of amusement. "I'll see to it." He answered. "Go to bed."
Dick stepped out of the grandfather clock and tiredly made his way towards the stairs. Pausing along the way to hug Alfred, he murmured tiredly into the com. "Make sure you get some sleep too, or I'll call Diana and have her and Barry gang up on you."
Grinning at Alfred, he added. "And the Bat Butler would be more than happy to make an appearance if he had to."
Alfred winked conspiratorially at Dick before shooing the teen up the stairs.
"Indeed he will sir. But in the meantime he is quite preoccupied with helping the Robin play hooky from school. Now off to bed with you!"
Yay, super long chapter under my belt!
Please review! Let's keep up the encouraging flow of commentary!
Until next time...