Chapter 263: Batman VS Hawkeye
As Batman's deliberately-left bait to attract black-clad thieves' accomplices or hidden employers, Batman had left several miniature positioning devices around the stone tablet fragment.
The instant Hawkeye approached the stone tablet, Batman—writing Alfred's underlying code inside the Batcave—immediately noticed, arriving on-site at extreme speed.
Like Hawkeye, museum lighting, guards, and cameras were completely ignored by Batman.
When he reached Roman galleries, Hawkeye had just discovered one of Batman's left miniature sensors.
Watching Hawkeye complete rolling, drawing, and nocking movements within under half a second, Batman's mind immediately produced one name. For the first time while lurking, he proactively spoke:
"Oliver?"
"Green Arrow?"
This person resembled Green Arrow too much. Identical sleeveless combat suit, identical agile movements, identical ordinary human, identical superb archery.
For one instant, Batman even thought this was Green Arrow Oliver Queen's alternate-universe counterpart.
But Hawkeye's words restored Batman's usual calmness. He wasn't Oliver, nor anyone else bearing Green Arrow's name.
"I'm Hawkeye, Batman." Hawkeye's arrowhead continuously aimed at shadow-lurking Batman while slowly speaking. "Who's Green Arrow? Who's Oliver? Your accomplice?"
"He's my partner. Like you, skilled at archery—Hawkeye Clint Barton." As Batman spoke, he emerged from shadows.
Back when General Ross had stationed at Oscorp, Batman had hacked the SHIELD aircraft Hawkeye piloted, learning about SHIELD Agent Hawkeye's information.
But that information was limited to this agent's name and codename—excluding other details.
Reality wasn't games. SHIELD wouldn't create their agents' information into small cards for browsing.
Beyond knowing Black Widow Natasha and Hawkeye Clint's names, Batman knew nothing about their actual capabilities.
Hawkeye's brow furrowed. He momentarily hesitated, unable distinguishing whether Batman was enemy or friend.
If enemy—why hadn't he attacked while lurking in darkness, instead directly speaking and exposing himself?
If friend—why had he obviously mistaken identities moments ago?
"Why do you know my name?" Hawkeye maintained taut bowstring while asking quietly.
Batman left shadows, stepping forward until standing under ten meters from Hawkeye:
"Because of Hulk."
"Hulk?" Hawkeye's heart immediately alarmed. "Explain clearly. Otherwise my arrow appears in your head."
"You and Black Widow Natasha jointly proceeded to Dharavi, bringing back Dr. Banner. En route you received orders sending him to Cube Prison." Batman said. "Subsequent events—as SHIELD agent, you should understand clearly."
"I don't understand!" Hawkeye's heart grew increasingly vigilant. His right hand nearly pulled the bow into full-moon state. "You even know Cube Prison! You're not SHIELD agent. Who exactly are you?"
Even within SHIELD, agents knowing about Cube Prison were pitifully few. The minority who knew—like Hawkeye, Agent Nineteen, Black Widow...
They all used unified codename D-4. Never directly saying "Cube Prison" in any scenarios!
"I'm Batman." Batman said.
"...Nonsense! Of course I know you're Batman!" Hawkeye gritted teeth. "I'm asking your identity beneath the mask!"
"That's unimportant." Batman spoke. "What's important—are you following SHIELD orders arresting me?"
"I don't know."
Hawkeye knew nothing. Now Batman's brow furrowed slightly:
"What do you know?"
"I don't know anything." Hawkeye said.
"Don't know" had two situations. One—genuinely not knowing. Another—knowing but cannot speak.
Relying on Arkham suit-analyzed body data, plus sufficient hearing for Hawkeye's breathing and heartbeat, seeing Hawkeye's facial micro-expressions and pupil dilation/contraction—
Batman determined Hawkeye represented the first situation. A SHIELD agent not even knowing whether SHIELD dispatched him against Batman.
Batman changed questions:
"Where's Black Widow?"
Hacking SHIELD systems couldn't precisely investigate SHIELD agents' detailed information. But through various clues, Batman knew Hawkeye and Black Widow were partners.
Where Black Widow appeared, usually Hawkeye also appeared. Vice versa.
Currently Hawkeye stood before him. So where was Black Widow?
"I don't know." Hawkeye said.
He'd said this statement too many times tonight. So many times Hawkeye had started becoming angry. He inversely questioned Batman:
"You've asked enough. My turn questioning."
"Why do you know so much SHIELD information?!"
Batman remained expressionless:
"Because I'm Batman."
"Enough!" For the first time, Hawkeye could understand what Hulk's anger felt like. Because currently he felt angrier than Hulk.
WHOOSH!
He finally released his long-ready arrow. But the aim wasn't Batman's head—rather Batman's shoulder.
Hawkeye decided first subduing the opponent, taking him from the museum before interrogating all information he wanted knowing.
Ten meters separation. Hawkeye knew this arrow absolutely wouldn't miss. Therefore, while releasing the arrow, he'd already forcefully twisted one arm, transforming the longbow into long staff.
Stepping forward, Hawkeye prepared rushing over and taking Batman down.
But one foot barely lifted—Hawkeye's movements stopped.
He observed that lightning-fast arrow—nearly impossible to dodge—caught in Batman's hand.
Ten-meter distance. Arrow flight speed didn't even require one eyeblink. But still failed.
WHOOSH!
Without hesitation, Hawkeye again drew and nocked. This time his fingertips held five arrows, rapidly drawing and shooting.
These five arrows were once again caught in Batman's hand.
But this time Hawkeye didn't continue shooting. Instead narrowing eyes while observing Batman:
BEEP BEEP! BOOM!
In Batman's hand, one arrow produced urgent beeping sounds, then explosively detonated!
Flames engulfed Batman. Smoke and high temperatures immediately triggered museum alarms. Gentle artificial lighting instantly replaced by flashing red warning lights.
Hawkeye didn't stop. Reaching backward, preparing extracting another arrow.
But his rearward-reaching hand was firmly grasped by another hand. Hawkeye—without thinking—abandoned the longbow, extracting one dagger from his leg and stabbing over.
So his other hand was also firmly grasped.
Hawkeye turned his head. Only observing Batman standing at his side—completely unaffected by the previous explosion whatsoever.
Obviously "beep beep boom" hadn't hit Batman. Instead providing him opportunities, letting Batman rush over somehow.
Both hands separately clamping Hawkeye's hands, Batman's white-glowing eyes stared at Hawkeye—about engaging close-quarters combat—slowly shaking his head:
"No."