dive bars and motor cars

[greatdealofbravery]

John lets his hands fumble a few long seconds with the keys, like he's a little nervous under the scrutiny of this stranger, eyes cast firmly downwards.

"I do appreciate your taking the moment to listen to me."

Comments

[profiteering]

"That's half the advantage of being a cop, right? People listen to you. The people who aren't trying to shoot you."

He finally takes his sunglasses off when the door opens. It's a significant gesture he's picked up from Bruce subconsciously.

[greatdealofbravery]

"You know, you'd think so? But in Gotham, not so much."

Explaining, stepping back shyly to let him in. It's a one room apartment, a studio with everything in sight of itself, a little nook of a kitchen, a small bed, a TV and couch.

[profiteering]

It's probably the smallest living space Tony has ever been in (unless you count the two nights he's spent in jail, and the cave, which he doesn't).

"What do you do with all this space?"

He finally drawls, because he has to be in character for this. John has never really seen the sarcastic, biting aspect of Tony before, because they met when Tony was at his most vulnerable. He's found it's impossible to go backward from that; it's why he still panics when he thinks of that elevator photo being out there for the world.

[greatdealofbravery]

"I'm probably going to get another bookshelf."

Says John, who has the same coping mechanism as Bruce- utterly missing the point when he doesn't like what he's hearing. He gestures at the spot he wants it to fill, back deliberately to him.

"Can I get you water, or anything?"

[profiteering]

"Water. And a lead on wherever the bomber might be, and if you have any strong preferences this is a good time to lay them on the table."

He says, all professional.

[greatdealofbravery]

"-sorry?"

He says, turning to look at him, bewildered.

"I thought you were waiting for your warrant?"

But politeness has him going for the water anyways.

[profiteering]

Tony watches him, eyes slightly narrowed, equal parts aggression and curiosity.

"I'm mostly here to grease the wheels of justice."

[greatdealofbravery]

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about."

Says John, eyes narrowing on his own. But he steps closer, anyways.

"I want to help you."

[profiteering]

"Then screw the warrant, and give me an access code. Or don't. It'd be easier on my lawyers if you do, but I guarantee I can cut through the department's firewalls before you can finish laying out all the red tape."

On the one hand, Tony sounds like the highly corrupt vigilante now. But on the other hand this is precisely how he used to operate (and likely will again, if it comes to it).

"So there's the deal. You let me pay you for your services with a little service of my own, no one will even know we met. Then I'll get the terrorist and be out of your hair. Or you drag your feet, and I take a flashy shortcut."

[greatdealofbravery]

"You're an asshole."

Says John, in utter shock, like his illusions have all been shattered at once, and it's left him a little adrift. His hand trembles and he has to set down the water glass.

"Get out of my apartment."

[profiteering]

Tony crosses his arms.

"I'm sorry, did you think I save the world with a paper trail and a cookie? You live in Gotham, I thought vigilante justice was your style out here."

[greatdealofbravery]

He flusters, because it's not untrue. He personally has idolized Batman, and for many years. His chin lifts in staunch determination, though.

"Doesn't mean I'm going to let you get away with it, though."

[profiteering]

He steps closer, smirking.

"If Gotham's pet bat showed up, would you try to make him wait for a warrant? This feels like discrimination, John."

[greatdealofbravery]

"Yeah. Maybe. But the difference there is that I love and trust him."

He points out, trying hard not to step back, back down.

"And you're some rich boy with a bone to pick."

[profiteering]

Tony looks him over.

"A rich boy with a grudge but a really strong track record. I bet you don't fit in at the station, do you?"

[greatdealofbravery]

He bares his teeth at him.

No, he clearly doesn't.

[profiteering]

"Tell you what. Let's start over."

He smiles, and turns to get that glass of water.

[greatdealofbravery]

"Why? I'm still not going to give you what you want."

He shoves the table he'd set it down on with a foot, before Tony can get to it, upending the glass with a jarring kick to the wood.

[profiteering]

It spills onto Tony's leg, and for a second he looks at it like he can't believe the water had the gall to get him wet.

"You can't stop me from getting what I'm after. The only reason I was going through your endless paper trail was to save myself clean up after I get the bomber. What do you care anyway?"

[greatdealofbravery]

"The paper trail isn't endless. It's there to protect the people that everyone just knows are guilty, so why bother with procedure, from the people who everyone knows have good intentions- the millionaires, cops, and the like. These things save people's lives."

Is his hotheaded explanation.

"I believe in procedure, even if no one else wants to."

[profiteering]

"Because a jury of our peers--peers who get their news from cartoons and vote for presidents' pantsuits instead of ideas--is the way to protect the potentially innocent."

He sneers, moving in again without even thinking about it.

[greatdealofbravery]

"Because the dominant class have always perceived themselves to be morally and intellectually superior to the citizens beneath them, and that's a feeble justification for centralizing power among the few."

He answers, hands curling into fists.

"Do you know how many time a streetkid in this city gets the shit kicked out of him by cops, on account of what they know he did?"

[profiteering]

"You're right, the next time I see terrorists ripping families apart to rape the women and shoot the fathers, I'll sit on my hands and wait for a jury to decide."

Tony has never, ever had anyone talk to him this way. He's fascinated and intellectually aroused, but the defensiveness he's showing to be in character is also very real.

"The next time a god tries to enslave the world, I'll send you to slap his wrist with a piece of paper."

[greatdealofbravery]

"Yeah. I get it, I'm powerless compared to you."

He snaps back, shoulders hitching up defensively.

"But that doesn't mean you can come here and storm the fucking parapets. We're waiting on the god damn warrant because we are operating under the law and that means something in this country. If you want to break that promise, I can't stop you, but I'm not going to help you do it."

[profiteering]

"Apparently I'm not. You're the one with the badge and the law, remember?"

He's in John's face, right up with him like he belongs there, just daring him to step back.