#scottmemecall

" See?!"

" Bucky are you serious? He’s a bird."

" He’s a very smart bird Steve. Almost scary smart."

" You two are being ridiculous."

"  Oh really Nat? One time, I was sitting on the couch at Sam’s. I had a cup on the coffee table Redwing swoops down. Lands on the table, hops over swaps my cup off the table with his wing. Then he looks at me. In . The . Eye. And then just flew off back to his metal perch." 

" Well maybe he might not like you because you’ve been squatting at Sam’s for months.” Natasha said nonchalantly. 

" Haha, I’m being serious though. Think about it." 

" He stole my quiver and hung it on a light post." Clint pouted. 

There was a moment of silence before the room erupted in laughter. The indignant look on face made them laugh a little harder. 

"I-I’m sorry Clint. It’s not funny." Natasha wiped a tear from her eye. 

"I’m telling you that bird doesn’t like us." 

This was made glaringly obvious the next time when the four of them were walking towards the VA to meet Sam for lunch and a barrage of bird poop hit them right before the got to the door. A whole flock of pigeons….and Redwing sitting on a light post across the street.

" He’s formed a gang." Natasha said incredulously.  

" A gang of pigeons." Bucky’s left eye browed raised. 

" I don’t know whether to be impressed or concerned."  

" Told you. Wooo." 

They all knew that Sam and Redwing were close, so talking to Sam about it was going to difficult if not impossible. They were a crime fighting duo for pete sake. In the sky they were totally in sync, almost like they knew what each other was thinking. Never in a million years would the fan club admit to being jealous of a bird.  

But they were, they really (hilariously) were. 

Sam doted on Redwing, got him fresh meat and stroked his little feathered head. The way that Redwing cooed you would forget that he was a bird of prey. 

After they all went to the closet YMCA to bath and changed. Steve looked at his watch, ” We gotta go, Bruce has some new invention he wants to show us.” 

They all headed to lab and were surprised to see Sam there. 

" Hey guys." 

" Sam? What are you doing here? Not that you aren’t welcome or anything-!" 

Sam laughed, ” Actually Bruce asked me for a favor so I’m here.”

"And what is this favor exactly?" Bruce walked over with a little necklace 

" I’ve, well really T’challa and I, have been tinkering with a little project for a while and we needed an animal for it to work so—"  

" Redwing agreed to be the subject." 

" Subject for what?"

" A new communication tech. It will allow us to talk to animals and vice versa. This is our first official test. T’Challa, you ready?" A hologram walked around and stood next to Bruce. 

" Yes, hello Captain Rogers, Agent Romanova, Sergeant Barnes…and forgive me… I forget your name."

" Clint..Clint Burton." 

The hologram T’challa nodded and then turned towards Sam. ” Everything is at optimal efficiency. We should begin our tests.” 

Sam moved, suddenly a little hesitant, ” This won’t hurt him will it?” 

" Don’t worry, we tested it on Tony before this so everything should be fine." 

Bruce gently put the collar on Redwing turned the dial on so slightly to the right. Getting his clipboard and pen. 

" Test 1: communication collar is on. Beginning tests with just a few simple questions." 

" Hello, can you say your name please?" Redwing looks around but says nothing. 

" He might just be a little nervous." Sam went over to Redwing and scratched his head. " It’s okay buddy. Bruce won’t hurt you. No one here is going to hurt you. No pressure remember."

There was ‘awwing” sound coming from the corner but Sam didn’t turn around. ” Try it again.” 

" Okay…Can you say your name please?"

[ Red………Wing..] 

" Oh wow, wonderful. Okay Redwing, who is that next to you?"

Redwing turned to Sam, [S…sam.] 

"And what is he to you?"

[ B-brother….friend….]

" This is amazing T’Challa. Are you getting this?"  Bruce was trying so hard to not bounce off the walls. This was brilliant!

" Yes, we need to run more tests. Improving clarity of speaker and better ways to connect with Redwing mentally to get a better read for his thoughts. This will have to be done at a later date. "

" O-of course, being a king and all. Yeah."

 The hologram turns towards Sam. ” Sam, I shall be free this evening to talk. Is that okay with you?” 

" Sure, it’s always good to talk to you T-man. Later." T’challa smiled, looked over to the group, nodding, and signed off. 

Steve didn’t care for the look that T’Challa that he gave Sam and he noticed that the others didn’t either but they all kept silent. They would investigate that later. Right now they were going to focus on what was happening right in of them. 

" So what is this for exactly Bruce? I get that we haven’t a mission in while but…" Clint looked at all the new gadgets with interest. 

" We’ll this could be good for certain missions. Redwing, if that’s okay with you Sam, could a great resource in the field. If not that, we could use the technology for other things. Like helping the environment or even just pets. If they are in pain we could find better ways to isolate the problem and treat it."

" It sounds great Bruce." Clint thought about Lucky. 

Sam looked at his watch, he had to go. “Bruce, I gotta head out.”

" Oh, okay thanks again Sam I’ll just get Redwing ready-"

" Well…if you still need Redwing…you could just open a window. You always know where home is don’tcha buddy?" Sam stroked Redwing on the top of the head smiling. 

[Sam…is…home] 

" Aw thanks man. I gotta go now be good for Bruce okay?" 

[Okay…]

Sam says his goodbyes and leaves the room. 

" Guys I have to go get somethings so if you watch Redwing for a minute that would be great." 

" Sure Bruce, Redwing is a sweetie. It’ll be fine." 

"And don’t touch anything Clint." Bruce leaves the room with Clint whining that he’s not a five year old. It wasn’t even five minutes later that an idea struck Steve. 

" Hey, you know we should talk to Redwing."

" What?" Natasha gave him a look. 

" Talk to him, see were we stand. If Clint and Bucky think there is a problem then maybe we can resolve it." 

They all look at Redwing. The look in his eyes didn’t seem happy. 

" I don’t…think this a good idea…" 

" Oh come on what’s the worst he could do?"

" Peck out our eyes." the archer mutters. 

" Stop being a baby Clint." 

Steve takes a step before the communication necklace activates again. 

[Do not talk to Redwing Dorito Man]

"Redwing come on let’s talk you seem a little angry." 

[ Redwing does not like any of you. So would Redwing want to talk?]

" What did we do Redwing? What’s with the hostility?" Bucky felt ridiculous, he was talking to a flipping bird. 

[ You are distracting Sam! Sam needs to find a mate! Needs to nest!]  

Steve leaned over and talked out of the side of his mouth, ” Trust me I’m trying to lock it down…”

[NOT YOU, YA DODO! NO GOOD NO GOOD!] 

" We’re heroes Redwing, Sam wouldn’t find anyone better."

[ YOU DON’T HAVE WINGS! SAM LOVES SKY! SAM BELONGS IN SKY!] Redwing screeched, his feathers started to puff out and and waved his wings erratically. 

" You do realize that Sam isn’t an actual bird right?" Clint said cautiously, Redwing gave him what looked to be a glare. 

[Don’t you try and confuse me. Redwing smarter than you think. Do you know how smart Redwing is in Falcon??? Stupid collar. Your words no good.]

" Redwing…he’s telling you the truth. Sam isn’t a bird." Natasha said slowly. Never in her life did she think she would have to talk to a bird. A bird that apparently hated them. 

[Buh.] Redwing turned his head [Sam maybe an odd bird but Redwing love him no less. Redwing and Sam are flock. Flock for life.]

Steve, after being dismissed and insulted by Redwing took a moment to think. Redwing thought they were going to keep Sam from flying. Thinking back to when he first meet Sam and finding out about EXO-Falcon project Sam’s love for his wings was obvious. He tracked their location every step of the way. The look in his eyes when he got to hold them again. It left an impression. 

" Well Redwing…what do you think Sam would like in a…mate?"

[Finally a smart question Dodo. Sam needs mate who flies. Like…other odd bird.]

" Other odd bird….?" Clint asked.

" He must mean Riley." Natasha informed. 

[Sam was very sad for a while…did not talk to Redwing for long time. Wails at night time sometimes.] Redwing lowered his head sadly for a moment but lifted it with a fire in eyes. 

[But Redwing promises to find Sam a new odd bird. So you all need to stop interfering.]

" Redwing, we care about Sam very much. We’ll do anything to make sure that Sam is happy. So…you’re the boss. Er…the alpha?" 

[Redwing…the boss?]

" Steve what are you doing?" Buck whispered violently. 

" Making an enemy into an ally." 

[ Okay Dodo. Redwing is boss.] 

" Wait a damn minute-!" 

" Shut up Buck." 

[Yes Raccoon. Or Redwing sings about your groups’s affairs.] 

They all stiffen noticeably. 

[You think Redwing didn’t know? There is nothing that happens that Redwing doesn’t know. Redwing has eyes everywhere.] 

" Y-you." Steve clears his throat, making it stronger. " You can’t keep that collar on forever." 

[Who said Redwing needed collar to talk to Sam?] 

Bruce walks back into the room with the things he needed. Looking up he sees them all staring Redwing. Actually glaring from the look of it.