Giggles and Chuckles were away again and Trine was not impressed. No matter how mama and daddy said she needed guards, Trine did not like Grin and Cackles, they were judgey, rude and annoying, which is why Trine was quite pleased when Batman dropped a beam on their heads killing them dead. The only problem was, this left her down an alleyway, still a few miles from the Smile and Grin, with Batman. Alone. Well, this knocked Trine straight out of little space, and her uncaring-bitch personality snapped into place.
"You're going to prison." Batman informed her as he began to stalk towards Trine.
"For what?" Trine drawled. Crossing her arms over each other she gave him a bored look.
"Murder." His gravelly Batsy voice answered.
"Never killed anyone." Trine shrugged. She looked over at Cackles and Grin, "But you have."
"Assisted murder." Batman continued without pause.
"Not my style, too much effort." Trine shrugged, not bothered. Batman stopped a couple of feet away from her.
"Harbouring criminals." Batman retorted.
"Technically, they harbour me." Trine smiled as she thought of the people she loved.
"But you know where they are." Batman responded. Trine rolled her eyes, he was seriously clutching at straws.
"If that's the rule then you've got to arrest everyone who's been to the Smile and Grin ever." Trine told him. "Oh," She paused to think, "And yourself- as you know where they live."
Batman faltered, confused at how she knew that. "Murder." He returned to the beginning accusation.
"Again, never killed anyone. More likely to kill myself than someone else." There was silence. Trine took a moment to study the looming figure. "You okay?" She asked. Batman growled angrily. "You know, your not all that different from them." Trine shrugged. 'Too much shrugging', she made a mental note to herself.
"I have morals." Batsy spat.
"So do they." Trine replied, thinking of the loyalty and love they have. Batman opened his mouth but Trine cut him off. "Just listen for a minute, yeah?" Unsure, Batman nodded. "So a tragic past isn't an excuse for murder, but it is an explanation behind someone's acts. Nobody can just keep going through that type of shit, you go one of two ways: you kill everyone else, or you kill yourself. Either way you become a monster." Trine looked him in the eyes, "Which type of monster are you becoming?"
"I'm not like that." Batman snarled out.
"Yes. You are." Trine didnt break eye contact as she spoke, "Nobody can go through the crap you continuously go through and not snap. Who is going to accept you when you do? The criminals hate you. The public would hate you. Your friends will only take so much of your shit until they're out for the count. Where are you gonna go?" Trine let him think for a few minutes before continuing, "It's why J never actually kills you. He wants you to feel that- to feel what he once felt. You're already changing. You know where most the criminals hang but you don't get them at home, 'cause that ruins your game, your fun."
Silence encompasses the pair. The faraway noises of traffic, clubs and drunkards blurred. Batman had nothing to say, but Trine wasn't finished. "You better hope a criminal kills you soon, 'cause for you, the best thing that could happen is for you to die a hero, otherwise you'll die a monster. Either way you'll die." Batman seemed to have frozen, "I wish you all the luck in the world, honey." Trine turned and walked further down the alley. "Have fun in your lonely mansion, Brucey!" She shouted back.
Before she could even blink, Trine was choking, held in the air by her throat. "How do you know?" Batman growled in her face. Trine tried to reply but only choking sounds came out. Reluctantly, Batman loosened his grip slightly.
"You think daddy doesn't know?" Trine said tiredly, "Like I said, honey: he likes your game, too." She rolled her eyes, "I swear you two are the weirdest friends ever." Batman dropped her and flew off. "Bye then!" Trine shouted at his feet as he zoomed upwards. She began her way to the Smile and Grin.
Trine bypassed everyone until she reached the backroom. She ignored the objections of whatever business partner daddy was talking to as she interrupted their meeting, she just walked straight to Harley and Joker. The minute she reached them she burst into tears. The stress from suddenly being forced out of her head space became too much.
Frost ushered out the angry gangsters and shut the door behind him. Joker pulled Trine into his lap and Harley settled behind her, sandwiching the crying little between them. The doms cooed at Trine, letting her cry, but reminding her that they were there. That they would deal with whatever the problem was.
It took a while before her sobs stopped and Trine cold form articulate sentences. Slowly, she explained to her partners what had happened and what put her into such a low mood. They were both furious.
Harley was screaming and screeching about what she should do to Batman, what small impulse control she may have had fried and she wanted someone to beat bloody. Someone to kill.
Joker was seething. His mind went through a million and one plans to make Brucey boy burn. He messed with their girl so J just might mess with his. He quickly dismissed that plan and moved on- it would make Batsy snap too quickly. No, he was in for the long game, Batman would truly suffer. More plans filtered through Joker's calculating mind whilst he silently seethed, holding Trine tightly to his chest, his eyes never leaving Harley's form. This way he knew where both his girls were. They were both safe.
"We're going home." He finally growled. A manic laugh left him before he shouted, "Frosty! Get the car!" Lifting Trine to his hip, she rest her head on his shoulder, her left arm around the back of his neck, clutching his collar in a tight fist. He pulled Harley to him, his left arm around her waist. Trine pulled Harley's right hand into her own. Together, the trio stalked out. Nobody got in their way.