Chapter 1: Pain
Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics and/or Batman
Pain. That was all she had known from the minute that man threw her into the chemical vat and tore her life to shreds. Pain she relived often, every time she hears him talk, trying to hook her with his bitter lies. Every time, she rejects him and every time she is shown a fresh, new pain. All she can do is curl up in the small, grotty room dubbed her's and try to remember. Only shreds remain. Her age, country of origin, likes and dislikes, all she came to recall. Not even the name that had once been her's.
There is a flower in her room, not from Him, but from the outside. It grows in the corner of the room, a small daisy. The only sign of natural colour in His world of bright green and purple. She always did hate bright colours. She would whisper to the flower, breathing her desires, her sadness, her pain. She would talk about her only memories and feel release. "Why?" she thinks "Why do I feel this?" Human behaviour was always difficult for her to understand. She stares into the mirror, at the face that is her's.
Pale skin, no hint of rosiness, hair permanently red on the right and black on the left, her only clothes; a skimpy red and black leather skintight suit, just barely covering her sensitive flesh, with a harlequin theme. Of all the things she hates about what he did to her, her physical appearance and the theme of her outfit were two things she liked. Not that she would admit that, no she would not give him the satisfaction.
"Today feels different somehow." She mutters as she wakes up and gets dressed. She dismisses it as the "buddies" came over for "Show and Tell". As she walks with dulled eyes, she (alongside the others) misses a black figure with two tall ears, watching her.
Batman frowns, her readings were calm, yet there was no joy, none of the delight that the Joker claimed she had with him, just a solemn acceptance. "What do you know? Ivy was right" Came the voice of Robin, tempered with sympathy. Batman just thought, going over the events leading them here.
The GCPD was in panic mode to put it bluntly. The Joker was ordering several attacks at once and, as if that was not bad enough, Poison Ivy had decided to hold a nightclub hostage and was demanding to see Batman. Commissioner Gordon was at his wit's end. Between juggling members of the department and trying to contact Batman, he could feel stress marks growing on his forehead. "You look tired, Jim." Gordon chuckled, despite himself, "This night would most likely make even you tired, Batman." Robin came out from the shadows, "Well, what's the deal tonight, then?" Gordon sighed, rubbing his face, "Well, Joker's causing chaos again and Poison Ivy wants to see you." Batman narrowed his eyes, "Where is she?" he inquired. "At The Iceberg Lounge, but it may be…" Gordon trailed off. They had already gone.
"Ivy's not even trying to hide" Batman thought, seeing the Penguin being cut out of vines by several officers. Then, out came Poison Ivy herself. "Batman, we need to talk." She insisted, looking very determined. "The hostages…" Batman began. "Are all fine, if not a bit shaken. But, I need to talk with you. Someone's life may depend on it." She finished for him, looking deathly serious. "You will still be arrested." Robin stated, suspicious. "I know, but someone needs to help her." Batman, after a minute of consideration, gave a nod and, after a lengthy discussion, was enroute to one of the Joker's many hideouts. Ivy had claimed that the Joker was keeping a hostage, a hostage that he was claiming was his girlfriend. That she was, in fact, not; just a girl torn from her old life and name.
It could be a trap, but it was a risk that he was willing to take.
Batman, finally seeing an opportunity, smashed through the window, taking out both of the guards. Now, the girl. She looked close to tears, either of fear or relief. "You're the Batman, aren't you?" She muttered softly, surprising him with a deep voice and British accent. He nodded, watching for her response. "Are you here to stop him?" He nodded again, both aware of who she was referring to. "Are you here to free me?" she asked, tears now flowing down her chalk cheeks. He nodded, only for her to run up to him and start to sob into his shoulder. Batman gently rubbed circles on her back, not moving even when the GCPD assaulted the building.
[1 hour later]
Commissioner Gordon looked at the poor girl Batman had rescued from the Joker. A girl who they would not have known about if Poison Ivy chose not to care. She herself had admitted it; "Everyday, she poured out her heart and everyday, I listened. How could I not care?" He had to admit, Ivy did have a good point. It was hard not to care about her. The girl in question was currently talking with Batman and Robin, looking a lot better than before. She was smiling, drinking a hot chocolate one of the officers had bought for her. Eventually, Batman walked out of the room, Robin staying, talking to her about mythology of all things. "How is she?" Gordon asked, somewhat dreading the answer. "She can only remember her date of birth, minor facts about herself and a few scattered memories." Batman responded, looking almost sad. "Not even her name?" Jim replied, looking at the girl with tears in his eyes. "No, only the name Joker gave her; Harley Quinn."
Jim looked at Harley for a while before asking "What will happen to her?" "I think I know someone who will take her." Batman responded, with determination in his eyes. "Who?" Jim replied. "Bruce Wayne."