Work Text:
“Alvin, please. I need your help.” Tim scanned his friend's face and then sighed.
“Your Fed coming?”
“He's probably right behind me.” Neal simultaneously tensed and relaxed at the mention of his FBI friend. Tim studied him a moment longer and then nodded.
“Back room,” he agreed, gesturing to the door.
“Thank you, Alvin.” Neal had barely gotten the door closed behind him before his handler pushed into the shop.
“Where'd he go?” he demanded, eyeing Tim expectantly as the man advanced to the front of the shop.
“Back room.” Peter nodded absently to Tim as he strode across the room and moved through the door. Tim shook his head and flipped the switch to lock up the shop. It wasn't unusual for him to lock up to discuss business, so it wouldn't be commented on. Honestly the shop being open was more surprising than the opposite.
When he followed the unlikely duo into the back room, Peter was ranting at Neal, who had Tim's office chair tipped back and his feet on the desk, patently not listening. Tim leaned against the wall next to the door, arms crossed over his chest, wondering how long it would take for the investigator to notice that he entered the room. Neal had noticed him immediately, Tim could tell by the way his head had tilted as he crossed the threshold. Eventually Neal was obviously done. He sat up in the chair, shoving his hand into his pocket to pull out a necklace, dropping it onto the desk. Intrigued, Tim stepped forward to examine it before the FBI agent could sweep it up.
“You do know what catches my attention,” Tim murmured, flipping the switch under the edge of his desk that would further lock down his office. This was now officially a Justice League matter, because those weren't just any beads glowing softly on his desk. That was kryptonite.
“So I was right.”
“Yeah. It’s kryptonite. Where’d you find it?”
“White Collar made a bust. Notes say it was earmarked as a gift for a Mz Lois Lane.”
“That would do it,” Tim murmured.
“What do you mean ‘that would do it’?” Peter demanded.
“Other than Clark Kent, Lois Lane has the best luck for getting comments and interviews from Superman. If she's wearing Kryptonite, he'd be helpless during the interview. Vulnerable.”
“You think-”
“I think your office interrupted a plot against Superman. Neal was clever enough to know that you needed the Justice League, and close enough to be able to bring me in.”
“What-?”
“Alvin’s a Justice League plant. You’d be surprised how often League level threats are passed on the black market.”
“You’re involved with the Justice League now?” Neal shrugged.
“I’ve done some work for them. Getting dangerous items out of people’s hands, replacing them with replicas.”
“The Justice League steals from people?!”
“The Justice League leaves them with exactly what they think they have,” Tim cut him off smoothly. “Or occasionally an inert version of what they have, because we’re not giving people original paintings and statues to acquire cursed or kryptonite items.” Peter looked skeptical at the mention of cursed items.
“Every time I’ve left an exact replica, made from the same materials except for things like replacing kryptonite with emeralds. So technically what I leave behind is more valuable than what I take. Kryptonite is rare, but it’s never been classified as a precious or even semi precious stone.” Peter still looked unsatisfied. Tim didn’t really care. As far as the agent knew he was just a guy with a number to call. Speaking of which….
Tim picked up his phone and dialed the hero-restricted line into Titans’ Tower, on speakerphone so the agent didn’t explode from curiosity. Kon should be awake and not busy, and he knew Alvin so it wouldn’t be an issue to bring him in like it would most of the league.
‘You have reached Titans’ Tower, this is Superboy. Please tell me you have something interesting.’ Tim grinned to himself at the evidence of his friend’s boredom.
“Hello Superboy. This is Alvin Draper of Draper’s Fine Antiques. I’ve just had a contact bring in a rather marvelous kryptonite necklace that I need someone to come collect.”
‘Is there more kryptonite where your contact found it?’ Kon asked, suddenly all business. Tim raised an eyebrow at Neal.
“I’d say it’s unlikely, but I’d feel better if someone could double check.”
‘Of course, of course. I’ll have a team headed that way momentarily and be headed to you in… approximately five minutes.’
“I’ll have it packaged up for you.” Tim hung up and turned back to Neal. “I’ll have your usual finder’s fee transferred to the usual place.”
“Pleasure doing business with you.” Neal stood to shake Tim’s hand briskly.
“If you’ll return to your crime scene, agents from the Justice League will be with you momentarily to verify there aren’t any other harmful substances. Kryptonite is only harmful to a select few individuals, but there are other things that have been used against Justice League members in the past that could harm your agents as well.”
“I- yeah. I should warn everyone a Justice League level hazard was found,” Peter agreed finally. He looked like he was thinking hard, but he didn’t share his thoughts with Tim. Neal was certainly about to get an earful though. Tim rather felt sorry for him, having to deal with the blowback of exposing his Justice League connections. It had obviously been a complete surprise to his handler.
Tim turned to pull out one of the special lead lined boxes used for transporting kryptonite as the duo headed back towards the door. He didn’t bother to even attempt to open back up; he would be busy soon enough anyway. Instead, he waited until the door had closed behind them and then moved to open the hidden cabinet in the small restroom, revealing the Red Robin suit. There were plots to uncover, and possibly agents to save. As soon as Kon got here, it would be time to get to work.