She was running. Where she was running to, the Joker didn't know. But she was running.

He kept chasing after her. No, not chasing, he was just following her. He wasn't even moving at her pace. He walked as if it was a stroll in the park.

He shot a bullet. Harley dived down clumsily, hitting the ground and avoiding the bullet.

"Hah! Nice one, Harley! Um, I mean, Doctor Harley." He cackled. Her reflexes were amusing in the least. Being all cooped up in a cell didn't entertain him as much as being out and about, with screams of terror ringing in his ears.

Immediately, she got up and continue her run. She recovered pretty quickly, he thought. In his time, he'd seen people fall down and never get up. Fear filled them up and paralyzed them. And as tasty as that fear was, it was just pathetic. They didn't even put up a fight. It was so dull. So boring. But Harley wasn't like that. No, if he fired another round, she was sure to dodge it.

So he did.

As expected, she avoided making a mess of brains and blood on the floor; kept from becoming just another stain on the pavement. But that was exactly what he was going to turn her into. It was nothing personal really. It was only business. But to him, business took on a whole different meaning. Business time was fun time.

Harley was gaining some distance. She had powerful legs, good balance too. The way she fell earlier was just because of the fear building up inside of her. But he liked the fear in her. She used it to run faster. It was always more exciting that way.

"Come on, Harley! You can run faster!"

She seemed to take it as a command and began to speed up, approaching the door. "Please—why are you doing this!?"

"Why not?" he said. As if he was afraid to lose her, he began to run after Harley. Like an animal, he chased after her, with a grin on his face ,as he let go of the gun and took out a switchblade from his coat.

Ah, knives…it made him believe there was a God. He never quite got tired of using a knife. Sometimes he'd continue to stab people even after they had died. It always left a beautiful stain on the couch.

Harley wasn't the only one who could run fast. Within the span of a few seconds, the Joker had already cut the distance between them in half. Even meters away he could hear her heavy breathing become panicked breathing. Tasty, tasty, tasty.

She turned around to check the distance between them. He heard a small shriek come out of her mouth and grinned.

Big mistake. She turned her head to look at him as she was nearing the door. She lost balance as she smashed into it and tripped on the threshold. The Joker had seen many people fall, and hers wasn't good; Broken arm, at the least. She tried to stop her fall by extending her arms, but her hand slipped as she hit the ground and her whole body landed on her right arm. Even worse, she tried to get up using the broken arm. Is she really trying to maim herself? He was sure she heard her own arm break. But he couldn't blame her, it was fear after all.

"Uh oh." He slowed down, waving his knife teasingly. "Always look at where you're going, Doc." He cackled.

"Please, don't kill me." She said.

He walked slowly. There was no need for him to hurry anymore. Right now, Harley was nothing but a fly trapped in a web. She would wait until the spider came to eat her.

He finally reached her. He stopped beside her head, and crouched down to see her face. "What's wrong, Doc? You didn't think I'd go without saying goodbye to my dear ol' Doctor Quinn now, did you?" He stroked her hair, then pulled on it, and lifted her head up. "Why? Aren't you, ah…happy to see me? Hmm?"

"Mister Joker…please."

"Now, Doc, begging…" he licked his lips. "It isn't becoming." He grinned, shaking a finger disapprovingly.

"Why do you want to kill me?"

"Kill you? Why do I want to kill you? Why not!? Ya' see…" He flicked the knife, letting the blade out. "I don't appreciate people poking into my life. Not. One. Bit." he said, letting the words roll out of his tongue. He pushed her head down against the ground, and stroked the blade against her cheek, letting her feel the cold, hard metal. "I've already dealt with the others. You're the last one on my list." He pressed the tip of the blade lightly against her skin. Slowly, she began to bleed. She bit her lip, stopping herself from screaming. But he knew it wasn't because of the pain. No, pain was bearable. She was scared. The blood was one thing, the clown look was another. It was just the effect he wanted.

The blood dripped to her lips. It mixed with her tears, and entered her mouth in small amounts. If only he could taste that.

As he was enjoying the little mark he was creating on Harley's clean, smooth face, he felt something. It was something only he felt. It was the presence of someone, someone not boring. It was the same feeling he had a few years back. The same one he had a few hours before he was caught and thrown into Arkham.

"Bats." he whispered to himself. But no, something about it felt different to him. It wasn't Batman. No, he knew Batman more than anyone, maybe more than Batman knew himself; This wasn't him.

The Joker stood up, completely ignoring Harley. He looked around, searching for his new 'playmate'.

"Come out. I know you're their."

He heard something from inside the building. As he headed for the door, he accidentally stepped on Harley's hand. The small squeal from her mouth reminded him of her presence. He looked at her body, laying flat on the ground, completely helpless. "Be a doll and stay, alright, peaches?" He flicked his knife around and, after deciding that she wasn't going to run away, he continued on inside.

All lights were off. Someone was definitely there. It was the Batman's MO. Except the Batman didn't—never—came out in the day. The Joker was convinced that he was some kind of vampire who slept in the day. He laughed at the thought. It wasn't a silent laugh. It was the kind that would make anyone who saw think that he was crazy. It was the exact show that he liked to put on. That's all it was: a show. No one really knew the Joker.

"You're a copy cat, you know that?" he said, his voice echoing in the dark silence. "This whole…turning off the lights and fighting a poor, lanky guy in the dark is his shtick. Get your own gimmick. Bat's his, clown's mine—what's yours?"

There was no response. He found it annoyingly rude.

"Silent treatment? Ya' know, I have a talent to make you shit yourself, that can give you nightmares, Batfake. I'll introduce you to my—"

As if suddenly realizing something, he looked back through the door behind him. "Sonovabitch." he whispered to himself through gritted teeth.

The doctor was gone. Whoever was there, who turned off the lights, took Harley.

He approached the door slowly and stiffly, anger painted all over his face.

No Batman. No Harley. No fun.

He looked around him. "Come on now." He jerked his wrist around, playing with the knife between his fingers.

"Ya' know…" He licked his lips. "It's a real bitch thing to do…to steal a guy's date and leave without another word. Or…even a single word to start with. It's not polite, see?"

He paced in a circle, closing his eyes and listening closely. He sighed at the realization that his craving for something exciting was so pathetic. And the fact that his playthings are gone made him bite his lip until he tasted blood. Which made him crave even more.


She gained consciousness. She almost thought she was in her room, but the strange texture of her lying place convinced her that she wasn't in a warm bed. Her eyes flickered. She wasn't even in her apartment. She was on a rooftop. She sat up and gathered that she was on top of Arkham Asylum. Looking around, she tried to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness. And tried to decide whether or not it was a dream.

"You're not dreaming."

She turned around when she heard the voice. It came from a young man, only a little bit taller than she was. He was clad in a black and blue, armor-like, skintight outfit. And an eye mask kept his identity a secret.

"You're not Batman, are you?" She asked.

The man chuckled. "Nope. Nightwing." he said, holding up his hand.

Nightwing, she mouthed, grabbing his hand. "Harlee—"

"Doctor Harleen Quinzel. Yeah, I know you."

She smiled at him. "So…you saved me, huh? Thanks." she said, letting go of his hand.

"No problem."

"Hey, I'm glad you're here and all, but where's Batman? I mean, isn't he like the Joker's archenemy and all?"

"He's tracking him down, actually."

"Oh." she said, nodding.

"Also, you gotta be out of the city ASAP."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "I figured. Um…you know him? The Joker, I mean. You've been around long enough?"

"Nobody knows what goes on inside that skull of his. He's been around for years. I was here the first time anybody laid eyes on him. Guy's crazy as hell."

"You think he knows what he's doing?"

"I dunno. Maybe. He has a brain inside his head, no doubt. Not just clever, I mean real smarts."

"He seeks revenge a lot?"

"Revenge? No. Fun? Definitely."

Harley forced out a smile. "That did not make feel better."

"Didn't think it would." he chuckled.

"Yeah." she laughed.

"Hey…You think you can help a damsel in distress with some boxes?"


A cab parked in front of her apartment. Harley had just got into the cab. She wasn't sure where to go, but she knew anywhere was better than where she was now. A place that was a little bit friendlier would definitely be an improvement.

"Where to, ma'am?" The driver asked.

"Outside of Gotham please. As fast as possible. I'll decide where to go from there."

"Sure, miss. Don't forget your seat belt. The cop's don't really care but better safe than sorry."

She chuckled as she followed the advice.

Traffic was a big problem, especially after six thirty, but when the Joker was loose, people tend to stay in their homes, doors locked, and hope for the best.

It was such a different sight to see the streets so empty. She definitely was trying to adjust to the sight and…just the general ambiance really. Everything was so calm. No shouting, fighting, stealing—nothing. It was as if everyone got…disciplined.

"Most people are hiding in there houses right now, you know." The man driving behind the wheel said.

"Yeah," she chuckled. "Yeah, I know. I just wanna get outta here as soon as possible."

"Running away, ma'am?"

"Hmm, guess you could say that." She smiled.

"Well, we're almost to the bridge. Know where you're heading yet?"

"Not really."

"Don't know what you're gonna do now, huh?"

"I have a few ideas."

"Hmm." The driver adjusted the rear-view mirror, allowing them to see each other's face. "Why don't you join the circus?"

"Oh, God." Harley muttered.

The driver sped up. Turning his head, he showed his oddly white complexion and blood red grin.

"No." She said, taking off her seatbelt. "No! Get away from me!"

He got off his seat and let go of the steering wheel, letting the car go awry.

"You didn't think I'd let the night finish without getting our dance, did you?" The Joker took a switchblade out of the glove compartment and waved it in front of Harley's face. Cupping his hand under her chin and pressing his fingers on one cheek and thumb on the other, he stroked her hair with his knife hand. Unlike earlier that day, her hair was in a pony tail, and it smelled like…coconuts.

"Why do you keep coming back?" She said with difficulty, as the Joker was pressing at her cheeks. "Why do you keep on trying to—Ack!"

He slapped her with the back of his knife hand, slightly cutting her clean cheek. "Did I say you can talk? Hmm?" He said energetically. "See, when I make a promise…I damn well do that. I'm a man of my word. So when I say…I'm coming after everyone who tried—and failed—to get into my head, you could be sure that I'm very glad to oblige."

The car was shaking out of control but not enough to break his grip on her or pull his anchored feet off the floor.

The car stopped all of the sudden, slightly making him lose his balance and grip on Harley. She took the opportunity to kick him in the stomach and he fell back.

"Yer not gonna make this easy, are you?" The Joker said.

He threw the knife at Harley. Seeing the incoming projectile, she dived down to dodge it, letting the knife stick itself on the car seat.

He got up, and pounced on her. She shrieked as he took the knife from the seat and waved it teasingly in front of her.

Suddenly, the car began to rise. It was rising from the ground as if being pulled by the tail. Harley displayed a look of fear and confusion. The Joker simply grinned.

He held her tightly, letting her rest her back against his chest and positioning his knife right beside her head. "Hush hush hush, Pumpkin." He held her mouth. "You're gonna have to let mom and dad talk, okay?"

They continued to rise up. The car was completely vertical now, and they were in an awkward position. But what was more uncomfortable for her was being this close to the Joker. She was on top of him. She could feel his chest expanding every time he inhaled. And she felt the air come out of his mouth and hit her neck and shoulder every time he exhaled. She could feel his entire body heating up as if his blood was literally boiling. And she didn't even want to think about what she felt between his legs.

The car stopped at what she guessed was around seven stories high. The door of the car was pulled open from the outside and a man garbed in black was revealed. His stance was strong and solid as his cape flowed behind him. The bat insignia on his chest gleamed as the light hit it. Much in the same way the Joker's eyes did.

"It was about time you caught on." The Joker said, stepping out of the car and unto the rooftop, still grasping Harley.

"Put her down." The vigilante said gruffly.

"Straight to the point, huh, aren't ya'?" The Joker said, letting the knife go nearer beside Harley's head. "Sorry, Batsy, me and sweet cheeks here are kinda in the middle of something. Maybe you wanna join in."

"I'm already in. Let her go and no one get's harmed." He commanded.

"Nuh uh. You're gonna have to do better than that. See, persuasion is an art. And threat," he waved the knife. "Should be your greatest weapon."

"It is."

"Well, you better use it now. I can keep on doing this all night if I have to, but I'm not sure how she's holding up."

Grinning, he pressed the knife against her skin, just enough not to pierce it. But instead of the cheek like earlier, he went for the neck.

Oddly, Batman stood his place. Hardly flinching as the Joker pressed down harder, making Harley bleed.

The madman's smile fainted when he noticed that the vigilante wasn't leaving his ground. Looking Batman in the eyes, he smirked. "Batsy, Batsy…" He raised an eyebrow. "You little schemer."

From a nearby rooftop across the street, a batarang was shot and hit the Joker in the wrist just enough to wound him and not go through. He winced as he dropped the knife and lost grip on his hostage.

"Bull's-eye!" A voice said.

"What took you so long?" Batman said through the intercom, as he threw a punch at the distracted Joker.

"I was patrolling on the other side of the city." The man jumped off from his position. He grabbed the ends of his cape and used it as a glider, much like bird wings. "I haven't been in Gotham for like a year. Takes me some time to get into the groove of things."

Laughing maniacally, the Joker recovered from the blow and crouched down to avoid the next one. He picked up his knife and stabbed it in Batman's thigh, knocking him back a few inches. He spun around, and after flashing a brief smile, "Sorry things didn't work out as planned." he pushed Harley off the building.

Harley shrieked and instantly, Nightwing changed the direction of his flight and dived down, barely catching her in her fall.

She kept breathing heavily as the young man—for the second time—saved her life. It was such a rush for her as everything happened so quickly, yet allowing her to remember every small detail like it were a slideshow.

The Joker sighed at the sight of her interrupted fall and—as he sensed the Batman getting nearer—made another knife appear from his sleeve. He always boasted about the tricks up his sleeve.

He chuckled. "And I thought three was a crowd."

The vigilante grabbed him by the shoulder and the Joker spun around quickly, targeting Batman in the face with his knife.

The hero dodges, and swiftly sweeps the Joker's legs. The villain falls backwards with his head dangling just over the edge of the building. He kicks up his feet to hit Batman in the stomach, but the gruff man caught his feet and used it to throw him back, spending no effort trying to be gentle.

The clown's face was on the ground now. He would have made an effort to get up but it seemed that his limbs were broken by the fall. This must be what Harley felt, he thought.

But, no…it was too easy. He had to put a little more fight into it.

Batman grabbed him by the collars of his coat. With his brute strength the Joker lifted him up high, almost fully extending his arms above his head.

Quickly, and with great effort, the Joker slid his arms through the sleeves of his coat, letting himself fall out of it and hit the ground. His landing was rough, but he got up fast enough to run away. With great agility, he ran as fast as he could and reached a narrow metal stairway at the other end of the roof. Batman followed him with even greater speed. The madman produced a gun from God-knows-where and shot at him, making him stop in his tracks to cover himself with his bulletproof cape.

The Joker ran down the stairs as fast as he could, looking up to see if his adversary was closing in. At the sight of his target jumping and almost landing in front of him, he shot another bullet fast enough that the Batman wasn't able to dodge it. Enough force was not absorbed by his armor that he was sent backwards by the shot.

The hero landed on a railing. Deciding that the shot wasn't enough, the Joker kicked him off, letting him fall on solid concrete ground.

As the Batman tried to recover from the landing, the Joker continued downwards. He reached the bottom and slowly approached the vigilante. "I'm gonna be in a body cast for another few months but it's all worth it." He pointed the gun at him and prepared to shoot.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I kinda need my partner back."

From behind the Joker, Nightwing threw him a blow making him fall and hit his head hard on the ground, knocking him out.

"You alright there, Br—uh, Batman?" He walked towards his longtime friend and offered a hand.

Batman caught his breath and covered his mouth as he coughed out blood.

"Partner?"