//------------------------------// // A cookie to whomever get's the reference. // Story: Of Owls and Hats // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// He had to admit. He was surprised at how someone with such noodlely arms could manage to hold an AK-47 the right way, fire every single round, and not even as much as bat an eye at the recoil. The Russian assault rifle had long been a favorite of Slade. The weapon was reliable no matter how much mishandling one could good it, and the high caliber was good for puncturing armored targets. There was the issues with accuracy, but that's what a sniper rifle was for. Sanya however, clearly didn't have too much of a liking to it. Neither did Eila. Recommendations from Slade may as well as have been a shopping list from US army grade gear to Soviet era firearms that were still used to this day. The thing was, he didn't exactly have any LMGs since... well... it's rather hard to hide such things, nor were they too much use on his jobs. The only thing that he could get the two girls to agree on was the Desert Eagle. With such a high caliber bullet, the accurate gun went through most body armors like tissue paper. "You like the Desert Eagle huh?" Widow asked as she watched Slade effortlessly plant an entire clip into the bullseye of the target. "I prefer glocks." "Good weapon. But I prefer guns that will make sure that whoever I shoot, they won't be getting up." Slade replied as his hands gripped around a customized sniper rifle. "Eila. Sanya. You done picking out yet?" "I think we'll... just use our regular equipment." Eila replied. "You sure about that?" "Yeah. I know you got some nice toys down here, but we know our weapons better. Besides, I'd rather not lose a finger because I pulled the trigger wrong." "Alright. Whatever. As long as you aren't throwing ping pong balls at the league of assassins, I think everything will be just fine." Slade shrugged as his hands grabbed around a knife, and flung it at the target landing dead center. Giving a small sigh of satisfaction, the old assassin grabbed two gym bags and placed them upon the ground. Stuffing inside his gear and all the essentials. "Alright. I hope everyone's got their things together." Eila and Sanya with their regular clothes under heavy winter jackets, Clint with a sweater over his SHIELD uniform and a pair of shades and Nat with her regular clothing over her uniform. It was just a good thing it was dead in the winter since Clint and Nat had conveniently decided to forgo regular clothes though still packed civilian coats. Since their cover would already be blown by the time they entered the JP Morgan, it's not like that'd matter. Now then. It was a good thing that someone owed Slade a favor. It was even better that certain someone had the resources to get them inside. There were places where even the world greatest assassin couldn't get into. The most secure gold vault on this planet was a good example of that. "This place is freezing! Don't tell me that in seventy years, the world will be on a shortage of heaters!" Eila complained as she shivered at the entrance. If anything, entering the establishment was even COLDER than being outside (which was currently undergoing some heavy snowfall). "Slade. The Iceberg Lounge. How literally should we take that name?" Clint asked as his sharp eyesight got a glimpse of ice. "Very literally." Slade replied as the bouncer approached them. Or rather, bouncers, two hulking men with muscles the size of bowling balls menaced the five for a while, whispering to each other in a way that cause Widow to give a small stretch of her mouth in disdain. One of them smiled at her with a mouthful of yellow and rotting teeth. The smile itself was enough to already make Widow want to punch the man in the face. Behind them, stood a gorgeous woman with dark skin and pair of glasses. Colloquially, she was referred to as "Candy". The other man took one look at Hawkeye. Being used to bullies, the archer stared back hard enough to make water freeze. Rather wisely for a man of his intelligence, the bouncer backed off, not wanting to know whether it was a lion or mouse behind those shades. Instead, his eyes caught Sanya and Eila who seemed quite out of place. This was a lounge after all... and normally, minors weren't allowed in here.But why not? Why not take the opportunity? It wasn't often a pair of children didn't know better. "Where's Oswald?" Slade asked impatiently to the two bouncers as they stopped looking creepily at his companions. "Ya don't make orders 'round here geezer." One of the men replied rudely as his hand went to Sanya's head. Prudently, the girl took a step back, pretending not to notice the lewd way a much older man was staring at her. Eila on the other hand fumed silently that someone would DARE stare at Sanya in such a manner. Something Slade noticed quite well. "I do apologize for his rudeness Mr. Wilson. You see, you are on the list. Your... um... friends? Family? Are not. They're gonna have to earn it past." "Earn it past huh?" Hawkeye snarled as he walked straight up to the man, leaning his face so close in that they would be in kissing distance. "How about this? You try to get past me son. You just try." As were all bullies. The bouncer was truly a coward at heart as he backed away from Hawkeye. To further state this, Clint made sure to give the man a firm shove that sent him stumbling backwards. The bouncer dared not to as much as object. Widow simply brushed past the two as though it was none of her business. Sanya and Eila on the other hand... If you were intimidated by these two. You can be awarded the wimp of the year award. That was exactly what the two bouncers were thinking when they looked at the two girls. Retaining her usual mild mannerisms Sanya looked at Slade rather helplessly as the two men formed a wall in front of them. You see, asking nicely wasn't going to get you anywhere. "Ударил" Slade suggested much to Sanya's surprise. She raised an eyebrow at this as she looked at the man. "Ты уверен?" "да." "What are you two talking about?" The bouncer asked as he eyed the small silver-haired girl. "He tells me I should hit you." To the bouncer. This was something good enough to be put on Broadway in terms of humor. As though asking her to do so, he leaned himself forward. Even Slade would be impressed with what happened next as the sight of a person flew a few feet through the lounge, catching the eyes of various patrons. With a laugh, he watched as the other bouncer decided to prudently run out of there as the group would have their meeting with Mr. Cobblepot. To say the man was revolting... that'd be an understatement. Obese. Short. And by god... he LOOKED like a penguin from his long nose and the way he was dressed. Needless to say, no one, not even Slade really liked dealing with such a character. Said penguin-shaped person was currently sitting on top of the iceberg within the lounge, devouring entire fishes whole, totally oblivious to the people that were right in his face. "Hey! Cobblepot!" Slade yelled at the criminal. "Huh? Oi! Who... oh...Wilson?! Wilson? Alright you scoundrel, what do you want?" "You owe me a favor Oswald." Slade said coldly as he stared hard at the bodyguard causing said guard to have a sudden urge to go to the bathroom. "Time you paid me back." "Like bloody hell I do!" The Penguin replied indignantly. "What favor do I owe you?! All I remember is that you killed two of my best men..." "While... that... both of those Chinese mafias aren't around anymore. You still haven't paid me. It's time you did." "So what? Fine. Then why do you bring... um... why... who the bloody hell are these people?" "I am his nephew." Clint stepped up tapping Slade subtly on the foot. "This is my wife." "And these two are my granddaughters." Slade continued rather quickly. Unlike Waller, The Penguin didn't exactly have access to every single person on the planet. Though he did look like he wasn't really buying it, he did make note the fact that Sanya and Eila did look somewhat like Rose. Maybe if Rose was about twenty years younger, than the semblance may be more clear. "Okay. So you bought your family with you. Oh. Hey kids! What's grandpa teaching you huh? 100 ways to kill a man?" "Ummm...." "Anyways..." "So. Like I was saying. Here's what I need..." Leaning over, Slade whispered in Oswald's ear. When he was done, the fat man looked at him, eyes wide. "You planning to get yourself killed?" "Let me put it to you this way. We don't do this, we're all dead."