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Chapter Twelve

John was angry. Angry at Waller for forcing Shayera into this situation. Angry at himself for not helping her. And angry at Shayera for being so damn stubborn. She could have contacted the League and they would have taken care of the whole problem. But she wanted to clear her name without their help. He could almost understand why she felt that way, especially after the way he and Diana treated her. Wally told him how shocked she looked when she found out that he was with Mari. He didn't want to admit it, but he still had feelings for Shayera.

And now he was standing in A.R.G.U.S. headquarters, watching as she was killing herself. "We have to do something," he hissed.

Waller shot him one of the meanest looks he had ever seen. He heard Wally gulp from behind him. "I would have done something already if I could. There's nothing we can do. It's up to them now." She glanced at the screen uncertainly. It did not seem like they were in good hands. Captain Boomerang had his hands full with Two-Face. He was currently fighting hand to hand and Two-Face had just ripped off part of his ear. Deathstroke was originally killing anyone who stepped near him but slowed down after he was shot in his left calf. He was starting to get overpowered. Deadshot was no help because he was currently battling Cheetah who sniffed him out in the catwalks of the warehouse. He had slices all over his body.

Harley Quinn's battle would almost be comical if it wasn't the Joker. She was currently screaming at him, saying, "AND YOU'VE TRIED TO POISON ME HOW MANY TIMES? JOKES ON YOU MISTER! I'M IMMUNE TO POISON!" She wasn't faring very well either. The Joker had just grabbed her hair and slammed her head against a metal rail, cackling the whole time. John still got the chills every time he heard that freak laugh. She crumpled to the ground.

Shayera seemed to be doing the best out of all of them. She was channeling her anger into fighting Hro. He was barely able to keep up; her mace was nearly a silver blur. The nth metal weapons clanged out as they slammed into one another. But once she saw the Joker crouching over Harley with a knife, giggling like a maniac, she abandoned that battle and flew straight for him while screaming, "NO!" She smacked the Joker away and looked down at Harley.

That's when Lex Luthor saw his opening from the shadows. He raised his gun and a shot rang out. "No!" Screamed John. The other League members looked completely shell-shocked. Shayera collapsed as blood poured out of her left arm. They sighed with relief when they noticed where Luthor had hit.

Luthor strolled out of the shadows, glancing at the smoking barrel of his gun. He stopped in front of her. "My shooting arm must be off. I was aiming for your heart," he said nonchalantly. One by one, the others fell with her.

Hro came storming over, cuts and bruises all over his body. Blood was pouring out of his nose where Shayera smashed her elbow into. "She is mine to kill, human. We had a deal," he growled.

"Maybe if you hadn't taken so long, she would have been your kill," said Luthor. He was standing with his gun clenched tightly in his hand, waiting for the opportunity to shoot Hro. It was obvious that the two didn't get along.

Shayera barked out a laugh. She was kneeling on the ground next to Harley, her right hand clamped over the gunshot to stop the blood flow. "Fighting over me already?" She asked with a sarcastic grin. "I'm not dead yet." Perhaps hanging around Harley Quinn had brought out her sense of humor.

Hro backhanded her. She went flying sideways, the hand that was on her shoulder now on her cheek. When she pulled it away, it left a bloody hand print. "Quiet, traitor. Don't worry about that." He gave her a terrifying smile. "You will be soon."

The criminals gazed at the other broken criminals at their feet. Cheetah dragged over Deadshot, his gadget red eye cracked. "Found this one in the catwalk. Thought he could take some of us out."

"What now?" Asked Two Face in his gruff voice. He was running the coin across his fingers. "Do you think the League knows we're here?"

"No," said Luthor with an air of superiority. The bastard was still wearing his American flag pin. John couldn't understand how he was voted into office. "They never would let scum show them up. They have no idea." He raised a hand to his chin, thinking of what to do with them.

The Joker came staggering back over, clutching his ribs where Shayera had just hit. "Oh Harleen," he said as he gazed down at Harley, shaking his head almost like he was disappointed. He tsked a few times. Then he lashed out, kicking her roughly in the ribs. Everyone in both rooms (expect Waller) winced.

Harley groaned in pain. She stirred slightly, her blue eyes cracking open. "Why are you calling me that?" She asked, squinting up at him.

He didn't bother answering and instead gave the rest of the room a chilling grin. "Excuse me, gentlemen and woman," he said as he dragged Harley out by her pigtails. "I have a pest problem to deal with." Luthor rolled his eyes as the Joker walked away, Harley in tow.

"Are you going to kill me?" Quietly asked Harley. She didn't bother fighting back. John didn't know if she was concussed or if she had finally given up.

"No," said the Joker. His dress shoes clacked on the warehouse floor. He was effortlessly towing her. "That would just make you a martyr."

"Stop," said Shayera, her eyebrows furrowed downwards. "Joker!"

Hro blocked her field of vision. "What did I say?" He electrocuted her with his axe. She screamed out in pain and Deadshot caught her before she hit the ground.

"Enough, Talak," said Luthor impatiently. His eyes were narrowed at the Thanagarian. "We need to find out exactly how much they know. You wanted to kill her slowly. Make sure you fit in some questions."

"You're sick," spat out Shayera. As she regained her senses. She pulled from Deadshot's arms and shakily stood up. "You're supposed to be the leader of the free world, but instead you're just as crazy as the Joker." Drawing herself to her full height, she looked up at Luthor. She was a full head shorter than him, but still managed to look intimidating.

Luthor smiled down at her, not phased by her show. "Hro, do me a favor. Cut off her wings for me. I want to send them as a gift to the League." Shayera's eyebrows shot up in fear.

Hro gripped his axe. "With pleasure," he said. He hit Shayera with the flat side of it before picking her up and carrying her out of the room.

"Lock them up," said Luthor. "I'll send in the Joker after he finishes with…whatever he's doing." The Justice League was fully aware of how twisted the Joker was, what they saw next still managed to shock them...