Basic Trope: A character (often a villianous one) is told to do carry out his own deeds himself, often after an order is given that is too much for the underling to bear.
- Straight: After years of loyal service to The Agency, Agent Zed tells them to solve the next world crisis themselves and resigns when they tell him to "liquidate" a ten-year-old target living in an orphanage.
- Exaggerated: Zed is so offended by the order he kidnaps his superior officer and attempts to make him do the deed himself.
- Downplayed: Zed grumbles, but when push comes to shove, he goes through with the mission. His job may be a repulsive one, but it needs doing, no matter what the cost.
- Justified: Zed may be a less-than-moral secret agent, but even he draws the line at kids.
- Inverted: No matter what order is given, Zed obeys. The kid is wasted via a well-placed sniper shot.
- Subverted: After being given a more thorough assessment of the situation, Zed has a change of mind and agrees to the assignment.
- Parodied: Zed is only concerned about the low dividend for the assignment. Once they up his paycheck's amount, he's fine doing it.
- Zig Zagged: At first, Zed is perfectly fine with following orders... until he meets the kid, whose situation is not at all what was reported by the Agency. After seeing this, Zed begins to question his position in the Agency, eventually leading to him rebelling against the assignment and his handlers.
- Averted: Zed is never pushed to step beyond his moral code.
- Enforced: Zed's soft spot for kids is his only remaining link to the world of morality. If he loses that, there's nothing left but a killing machine.
- Lampshaded: "What did you expect me to do when I heard the words 'That's an Order!'?"
- Invoked: Zed is tired of the spy life. While he's not averse to doing what needs to be done, feigning moral outrage is a good way of saving face and leaving the job on his own terms.
- Exploited: The Agency only offered him the assignment to test his scruples as part of vetting for a promotion.
- Defied: Resignations are anathema to the Agency, and Zed is made to comply with the order using the "Agent override tool".
- Discussed: Agents Zed and Zane talk about what they wouldn't do for the Agency. It's a real eye-opener for Zed.
- Conversed: Zed gives a thorough objection to his assignment, culminating in his resignation when his superiors don't get the message.
- Implied: Zed accepts the assignment and heads for the target, only to divert at the last second and disappear off the grid.
- Deconstructed: The kid is bad news, and has already proven himself to be a major threat despite only being ten. Since Zed doesn't put a stop to him, he grows up and becomes a massive headache for everyone.
- Just because Zed has standards doesn't mean his coworkers do; Agent Zane accepts the assignment no problem.
- Reconstructed: Zed has no problems killing an adult, and dispatches the now grown-up target at the cost of his own life.
- Zed goes after Zane to keep the kid safe.
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