Joker surveyed his surroundings, the latest shit hole that Harley had acquired for them to hide out in. He doesn't like hiding out, hiding implies that he's hiding from someone. Joker is a great many things, but coward was not one of those things. He hated how weak he had become, how he was forced to rely on Harley so much, since the events at that bloody Asylum.

Another fit of coughing took hold of Joker, his slender frame was racked by his treacherous lungs. He could taste the metallic tang of blood on his tongue, he coughed once more, then hacked up the blood laced phlegm, and spat it on the floor. It landed beside Harley's red booted foot. She glanced down at it, and for a second, Joker could have sworn he saw a mixture of disgust and anger take over, her pretty white face. The second passed, and she laughed, then continued doing cartwheels and back flips around the room.

Joker's heartbeat had sped up, at the prospect of Harley turning on him. He despised the pale faced slut. The only time he could truly stand being in her presence was when she was either threatening someone, or killing them. That's when he got to see his masterpiece, his creation at her best...

'Mistah Jaaay! I betcha I know what would cheer ya up!' Harley bellowed, in that vile, childlike voice of hers.

Joker internally shuddered, then muttered 'I bet you don't'.

'What did you say, Mistah Jaaay?' Harley's face actually lit up, as she realised how she had made the sentence rhyme.

Joker did shudder then, 'Nothing, my dear. Do continue.' The nickname she used for him, made him want to cut out her spleen, then feed it to her. Slowly.

'How about I go kill that pesky Bat! And then we can...' Harley paused, then sang at the top of her voice, 'Take a break and play a while, doo da, doo da. Guaranteed I'll make you smile, oh the doo da day!'

Joker tilted his head to the side, not even trying to disguise his hatred for the silly girl before him 'Harley, Harley, Harley...you forget yourself. You're my hench-wench. Less wenching, more henching! Nobody kills the Bat, but me!' he shouted the last part, Batman was Joker's, and Joker's alone. If Joker decided to kill the Bat, then he would kill him. He didn't need his puppet to do that deed.

Harley stopped her frolicking around the room, and her bottom lip began to tremble. Joker groaned inwardly. 'Now, now, my little Harlequin, no need for the water works. The plumbing in this joint is bad enough, without you adding to it!' Harley smiled at his attempt at humour. 'Now, why don't you go maim some of those henchmen? I haven't heard anyone begging for their life, in at least 15 minutes!' Harley squealed in delight, ran to Joker, and tried to kiss him. Joker turned his head, so that Harley only managed to kiss his painted cheek, even that contact was too much for Joker's liking. 'Run along now, Harley. There's a good girl.'

Harley left the room, and Joker was finally able to breathe without wanting to perforate his own eardrums. He pulled the cellular device he had gotten his puppet to acquire for him. He turned the device on, and selected the contacts icon. He had only one contact listed, and that number belonged to 'Bats'. He selected call, and put the phone to his ear...and waited...and waited some more, until the call finally transferred over to voicemail. A strong, masculine voice said, 'If you have this number, then you know who this is.' Joker's mouth turned up, in a predatory smile.

'Ah, Bats...you never were one for long speeches. Always been more of a do-er, haven't you? Speaking of doing, when you're quite finished with your little crime fighting spree, and ruining all my fun - why don't you "come", and put a smile on my face?' he laughed wolfishly, then ended the call.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket, lounged back into the comfort of his blood stained chair, and waited...