Each gloomy alleyway looks like the last; dimly lit by moonlight bouncing off the waterlogged floors. Batman turns corner after corner, chasing the chortling silhouette of Harley Quinn. Every time he gets close enough to reach out, she just slips away from his grip - laughing that Hyena's laugh. The sound tears through him like nails on a chalkboard. Her bunches bob comically above her head as she runs, her heels splashing in the scattered puddles on the street. Batman's wristwatch suddenly sounds, and Alfred's voice fills the inside of his cowl.
"Master Bruce, may I suggest you call the Batmobile. It appears that Miss Quinn knows her way through these back alleys better than you. You won't catch her on foot, you're better to double back on yourself and catch her on her way out."
Trusting Alfred's plan, Batman grapples to the rooftops, keeping an ever-vigilant eye on Harley's movements.
"Tell me where she will be, Alfred." He enquires, signalling for the Batmobile with just a push of a button. He glides out to the main street, casting a murkiness over the buildings below. He lands on both feet with a thud, just in time for the Batmobile to appear, hurtling towards him.
"According to this, she's headed right to the corner of 51st Street, just opposite Gotham Clinic."
Batman terminates the call, without a word, and accelerates down the street at full speed. The trees and buildings melt past him, as he drives left to see Harley tumble clumsily out of an alleyway; still peering behind her, litter dancing around her from an overturned bin. He pulls on the handbrake, spinning a complete one-eighty and stopping just inches from her, blocking her into the corner of a shop window.
"Harley Quinn."
His voice bellows. Harley's skin is damp with sweat, she's panting from her run. Batman is out of the car now and towers above her small frame.
"Oh, hiya B'man. Looks like ya caught me red-handed."
She holds out her palms, they're covered in blood; someone else's blood. She begins to cackle again, it echoes around the empty street. Batman seizes her roughly by the wrists and throws her into the passenger seat of the car, locking the door behind her. He feels her beady eyes watch him as he circles around to the driver's seat and gets in beside her. Her feet are already up on the dashboard; she's making bubbles with her gum and twirling her hair in two long, slender fingers.
"Ya got me fair and square Bats... course, you shoulda really been concentratin' all your efforts on findin' Mistah J."
Batman presses his foot down hard on the accelerator. The Batmobile reaches inhuman speeds, but he manoeuvres it expertly through the dark and winding Gotham streets. They're heading towards Arkham, it's not time to get swept up by Harley (or her tricks).
"Shame. Nobody listens to little old me 'til it's too late."
She stares through the raindrop veiled glass at the city outside, smacking her gum loudly between her lips. She's silent for a while - and the sound of the rain ricocheting off the vehicle's bonnet is relaxing - but the chewing is enough to wear Batman's patience thin.
"Hmmm..."
More lip-smacking sounds.
"Hmmmmmmmmm..."
She chews at her lower lip, irritated at his lack of response.
"Hmmmmmmm!?"
Louder still.
Batman sighs a heavy sigh; the kind where his ribcage inflates so much, it makes his armour feel cramped.
'What, Harley?"
Gaining his attention finally, she skittishly spins in her seat to face him and reaches out to place a hand on his chest, fingering a piece of his suit.
"Oh, nothin'. I was just thinkin', imagine if I could help ya catch the Joker and then I became one of ya little sidekicks, like that birdbrain Robin."
Her voice sings with jest. Batman rubs one gloved hand down the side of his mask, exasperated.
"The sheer thought terrifies me." He replies, bluntly. Unperplexed, she continues.
"I mean, you've never been able to catch him on your own.. not really, not, you know, 'once and for all.'"
Sending a tightness of frustration growing in his throat, Batman concentrates on the road. Only a few more streets until they will reach Arkham - then, she was somebody else's problem.
"And with I know all about Mistah J."
She leans closer to Batman, her breath smells like strawberries.
"I mean, I know what he's doing right..."
She extends two delicate fingers up to his chin.
"This"
Her fingers brush across his lips.
"Instant."
Straightening out and pushing her body back into the seat playfully, her feet are back up on the dashboard almost immediately. The insolent chewing is back. She knows she's driving him insane, and she lives for it.
"Besides, what with ya having that stupid Catlady in your team, I think it'd be nice to bring a classy broad into the mix."
That is it.