Hey there again readers! I hope you guys are ready for another chapter of Everyone's A Critic! I'm just kind of disappointed at the lack of reviews that this story is getting, and it's kind of bumming me out! Please leave me reviews and let me know how you guys are liking the fic so far so I know I'm not a complete failure as a writer! Please, and thank you guys!
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! Except Hildy/ Harlequin Kid and the plot to this fic!
Hildy started her trip to normal missions with the team, and time at the cave to avoid the subject that had come up between her and Shiera. Before all this nonsense had started, seeing Dinah was a choice, but now it was mandatory thanks to the team talking to the Dark Knight about her weird mood swings. That and her little scrap with Superboy in which the whole team testified to seeing her crazed expression. She didn't want to argue about the insulting demand for Hildy to see anyone who could pass as a shrink. She was avoiding Superboy like the plague, and couldn't even make eye contact with Miss Martian. Superboy always managed to find her, and get her alone to talk about what happened. She always made a hasty exit with some lame excuse to follow it.
She sighed quietly as she made her way into the kitchen following her latest escape from Superboy which turned out to be a bad idea seeing as how a certain green alien girl was hard at work cooking for the three of them. Hildy stopped in her tracks as her crystalline orbs made contact with the martian girl's hazel eyes. She looked away awkwardly, and cleared her throat.
"Uh, I'm gonna leave now." She stepped back until she collided with a hard surface looking up to see Batman staring down at her.
"I've been looking for you. You're going to see Black Canary, now. This isn't an option." Hildy pouted and let out an exasperated sigh figuring one torture was better than another. She rolled her eyes as Batman held her shoulder the whole way to her 'appointment' with Black Canary.
Hildy sat and stared at Black Canary as she sighed, and shook her head at the stubborn girl.
"It isn't healthy for you to bottle things up you know. Tell me a little about the Joker, what was your relationship like?" Hildy sighed and lounged on the chair rolling her eyes before answering the question simply.
"He was like a father to me obviously." Canary sighed and looked sternly at the jester girl.
"You were making such good progress before, and now you've taken a million steps back. You know the less you talk to me the more you have to come see me right? All of this will stay between you, me, and Batman." She looked skeptically up at the blond heroine with childish blue eyes.
"Maybe, I'm just as nuts as everyone thinks I am."
Canary sighed and shook her head looking at her with a kind stare.
"I don't believe that. You may be eccentric, but you're not crazy." Hildy let out a scoff, and a chuckle looking at Black Canary.
"Who is it you think you're talking to?" The older woman sighed, and rolled her eyes with a smirk.
"Alright, alright, but you aren't like him Hildy. As similar as the two of you are, you have something the Joker doesn't have." Hildy looked to the older woman, and rose an eyebrow waiting for her to answer. "You have a moral compass Hildy, a conscience. You feel remorse for the things you do wrong whether you like to admit it or not."
Hildy sat in her living room next to Shiera with a bored expression. Although the session brought hardly any progress getting the girl to open up it did have her thinking about her relationship with her loving father. She was scowling at the carpet about now trying to block out all the bad things that came with thoughts of the Joker. She squeezed her eyes shut successfully blocking the images from her mind, but failing at stopping it before she could remember. She felt a shudder go down her spine as she saw the angry face of her adoptive father flash in her mind. She could faintly hear his voice yelling vaguely remembered words at her. A chill went over her skin as whispered words fell from her lips.
"Just like my real dad...or whoever he was."
Hildy looked around to make sure nobody had seen her come from the broken down telephone booth before she stepped out into the bitter Gotham air. She knew coming was a death wish, and reckless no doubt about it. Yet, something about the place screamed for her to come back. She looked back as the door opened again revealing Red Arrow who looked around then at Hildy.
"So are you going to tell me why you dragged me to Gotham anytime soon?" Hildy smirked back at him looking out into the familiar Gotham streets before her.
"Not entirely sure just yet, but I need back up in case trouble shows up." She looked up searching for the nearest accessible rooftop. "Let's head up there Cupid. It's getting a little too safe down here."
She pulled her goggles down scanning the city for anything that might have caught her as important. She chuckled quietly to Red Arrow looking at him through her enhanced vision.
"This place is never quiet, and it chooses tonight to be all peaceful. Figures." The two moved on Hildy showing off a bit with her acrobatics as they went along the rooftops. Hildy landed perfectly on her feet with Roy tumbling next to her. She was surprised as they both suddenly went rolling to the floor as the sound of a gunshot echoed in the air. Roy had her beneath him wrapped in his arms, and she followed his stare to spot a vaguely familiar masked man pointing a gun at them.
"It's the girl! The one Joker wants for big money!"
Roy got up taking Hildy with him, and they both looked to the male.
"Friend of yours Kid?" Roy let out with sarcasm lacing his tone. Hildy looked closer at the mask the man wore, and it finally hit her why it looked so familiar.
"It's one of Two-face's guys. We just stepped in it big time Cupid." She could see clearly through the goggles that the goon was going to shoot again giving her time to pull Red Arrow out of the way as she dragged him to cover.
"We better get out of here, I think he has more buddies with heavy artillery."
Hildy nodded in agreement and watched as Roy shot an arrow to a close by building, and grabbed Hildy as he used his bow to slide them across the line that had been attached to the arrow. She squeaked at the sudden contact, and pushed him away when they touched down.
"Stop trying to cop a cheap feel Arrow Boy! I know I'm cute, but this isn't the time for flirting!" He rolled his eyes behind his mask, and pulled her along the rooftop by her wrist until they were safely out of sight.
"We have to figure out how we're going to get around without bumping into someone's goons." Hildy looked down at the street signs, and rolled her eyes.
"Well, first of all let's get the hell out of Crime Alley. Nothing but goons here, and with our luck we'll run into the middle of a Penguin, Two-Face turf brawl."
Hildy felt her heart beating fast as she saw the two goons patrolling the streets. Although they were trying to be discreet, nothing could disguise that bright make-up. These were the Joker's guys, and she knew it meant they were probably looking for her. They probably thought she was still in Gotham with Batman, and with the help of every villains goons in the city they would've succeeded in finding her had Batman not been a step ahead. Hildy started to panic at the thought that this was no joke, and that the man she had called father was out to get her. Red Arrow grabbed her by her shoulder shaking her softly and speaking in hushed whispers.
"Hildy, snap out of it! We came here for a reason right, and I'm starting to understand it. Here's what we're going to do, we'll head over to the roof over there and take them out from behind. We'll ask them anything you want, and then get the heck out of here. Got it?"
She nodded, and followed Red Arrow's lead as they made their way across the rooftops and were looking down at their prey as they wandered the spot they were watching. Roy signaled to her before they both jumped down successfully knocking the two men unconscious. The archer looked around, and found an unlocked door behind a curtain of red beads, and the two dragged their victims into the dark back room of the unfortunate business. Hildy could only look on as Red Arrow restrained the two Joker thugs, and fear that maybe this might be it for her. What if he got what he wanted and she ended up dead finally? After three times she guessed maybe it was a matter of time before someone succeeded. After the two thugs were fully restrained Roy looked at her sternly, and gave her instructions so that the two wouldn't see her when they came to.
When the two thugs started to wake up she felt herself start shaking in her corner of the dark room.
"Where the heck are we?"
"I don't know. You think it was the bat?" Roy came from the shadows with a intimidating glare, and his arms crossed over his chest.
"Unfortunately for you, no. I have some questions for you both." The two goons laughed it off thinking the young hero was no threat, and making it know through their words. He quickly fixed that problem, and got to questioning them once they knew he was trouble. "What does the Joker want with Harlequin Kid, and what exactly is he giving up that's making every goon in this city excited about it?"
"He's giving up the loot from his last two heists to whoever kills the little traitor, and even more for whoever brings her in alive so he can do the job himself!" Hildy felt her palms start to sweat, and her airways tightening as Roy continued his interrogation. She knew what the Joker was really like, but never believed that he would hold such a grudge against her. Not her, not the girl who was a kindred spirit, and a daughter to him. The one who he had told many a time would be his legacy after he was gone. Despite their arguments, and the resentment she felt toward him for what he had done she still loved the crazed man like a father. Hildy was shaken from her panicked thoughts when Red Arrow shook her softly.
He looked at her worried gaze with concern for the younger girl, and squeezed her shoulder softly.
"Those two are out cold, and ready to be picked up. Looks like the Joker has something planned for you bigger than this whole bounty thing. It was just a ruse to get you to snoop around to find out that there's something bigger you have to worry about." She looked down at the floor she could hardly see, and felt the sadness of the truth hit her. She felt the older hero's hand slip into hers, and his fingers squeeze her own softly. "Come on, we better get out of here before someone notices you're gone." She noddedabsentmindedly, and followed the young archer back out onto Gotham's cold streets. It was silent as they made there way across the city until Red Arrow stopped to look at her. "What exactly happened between you and the Joker that made you join the team?"
Hildy panted heavily as Robin backed her to the wall with no escape, and she wasn't sure if any of her hits would be enough to make him back down. He closed in on her, and she went for a punch making him jump back to dodge it. She followed up with a round house kick which he blocked expertly, and used to grab her ankle. He swung her to the floor near to where Harley and Mr. J were trying to beat off Batman. She looked up slightly dazed to see Batman beating her adoptive father, badly. She jumped up and ran toward them slipping under Batman's arm, and landing an adrenaline powered punch to his jaw. She looked back at the two clowns who had become parents to her in panic.
"Get outta here Mr. J! I'll handle Bats, and the Bird while you and Harley get out of here!"
"Well you heard the girl puddin' let's go!" Harley yelled pulling Joker out of the fray and out into their get-away car. Hildy looked back to the two heroes closing in on her, and bolted towards them using them to flip over. She swept out her foot tripping Robin, and barely missing Batman. She dodged his hands as he went to grab her, and sent another surprise punch his way hard enough to have him rubbing his jaw while she ran as fast as she could out the warehouse doors. She rubbed her hand as she sprinted out into the Gotham streets hiding while she collected her thoughts. She was trying to remember her way to the spare hideout they had, and ran there when she finally recalled how to get there through her panic. She looked back every few minutes to make sure the two do-gooders weren't following her.
She smiled in relief when she finally saw the tiny building that was the clown's back-up hide-out come into view, and ran through the doors earning looks from her family. Harley ran to hug her, and ruffle her hair with a grin.
"Look at you Quin-Kid! Taking on the big, bad, Bat! We're glad you're safe Sidecar!" Hildy smiled and hugged the older woman tightly.
"Couldn't let Fatman split this family apart now could I? I wouldn't have any fun if you and Pops were locked up in Arkham!" She felt something get pulled from her clothes, and looked to see the Joker staring intently at the little device he had pulled off the girl.
"Stupid girl! Did you even check to see if you were followed?" She backed away slowly as the man stepped forward with a predatory glare in his eyes, and fury plain on his usually laughing face.
"I swear I checked Mr. J! I didn't see them following me!"
"And no doubt you didn't see the Boy Blunder put this tracer on you? You've led them right to us!" She fell to the floor with her cheek throbbing in pain, and shock in her eyes. She looked back up at the furious clown trying to confirm that he had indeed hit her.
"Poppa, I swear I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!" There it was again the pain in her cheek, and this time she was seeing stars from the blow.
"Everyone is always sorry for ruining my fun! Excuses, excuses Kitten, you know what I do to failures..." She lifted her arm up to protect herself , and whimpered as he lifted her upper half off the ground by her shirt.
"Puddin' don't be so hard on the kid! She didn't mean it!"
This time when he hit her she could swear she saw Rory Amsel standing over her with that furious glare screaming at her. He shook her and she felt her head hit the floor harshly making her vision turn fuzzy, and felt her limbs go limp. She registered that the arm she had used to protect herself twinged in pain, and then heard a scream go through the entire building as a wave of pain hit her as her loving father slammed his foot onto her chest as Harley tried to pull him away. She could see Harley pulling the Joker out the door with the help of their goons, and when she opened her eyes again she saw Batman looking down at her. She could see his mouth was moving, but couldn't quite hear or understand the words coming from his mouth. She saw Robin for a second looking down at her in shock, and leaning down to take her as Batman hurried to get help.
"You're going to be alright Hildy. Batman's getting help."
The next thing she remembered was the sirens of the ambulance, and then two lawyers standing in front of her when she woke up a few days later.
"Ms. Amsel I'm your civil attorney, and I'm here to tell you you've been sentenced to five years in a juvenile facility."
Roy looked at her from behind his domino mask his eyes meeting her blue orbs which were full of sadness. She shivered as a cold breeze pushed passed them, and looked up as Red Arrow looked down at her in worry.
"So why worry about what he thinks about you anymore? He almost killed you." She looked away from him and bit her lip softly.
"Because, he was the first father figure I had that actually cared about me. Even if he hurt me, I still didn't give up on him." He looked at her with pity for a second then let it disappear.
"Well, maybe it's time you finally gave up." When she looked like she would cry he slowly wrapped her tiny frame into his arms with her forehead pressed against his chest.
She admitted that he was right, but something said that she shouldn't. Giving up on being a happy family with the Joker would've been the right thing, but she just didn't have the heart to. She felt Roy's fingers push her chin up so she was looking at him, and she could see the determination in his eyes. He wanted her to feel better, and she was definitely distracted when she felt his lips cover hers. He held her chin with his finger gently until she let him distract her, and let her lips respond to his. When her eyes closed she saw the image of Conner kissing her softly, and she wondered why she was thinking of him when she had admired Roy just the same. She felt the same about both of them didn't she? If she did then why was she wishing Roy was Conner?
She pulled away from Roy with sad eyes, and feeling more confused then she had been a few seconds ago. He looked at her in concern, and confusion in his eyes.
"I want to go home Red." He nodded at her request and led her to the zeta beam transporter disguised as a telephone booth again.
"Are you going to be okay?" She shrugged, and looked at him with sincerity making a home in her eyes for once.
"Will you be the friend there to listen if I'm not?" He smiled slightly, and nodded wrapping an arm around her in comfort.
She walked into the cave the next morning before the team was going to come together for training. She saw M'gann and Conner sitting together on the couch watching the cable, and was reminded of the times she sat with him content with staring at the white noise.
"Hey Supes, can I talk to you?" They both turned around in surprise, and Conner's face softened at the confusion in the girl's eyes. He nodded and left the Martian girl to follow her out to the main room of the cave.
"Are you alright?" She shook her head, and looked up at him with misty blue eyes.
"I'm sorry about what happened on that stupid mission Supey, and I'm sorry we fought. Can we be friends again please?" He looked at her for a second nodding, and wrapping his arms around her as she embraced him.
"What happened? Did Batman say something to you?" She looked up at him and shook her head; she leaned up kissing him softly. When she broke away she stepped back from him and looked down at the floor.
"I've been thinking about stuff lately, and I'm tired of being alone in this Supes." He rubbed the back of his neck, and looked at her with guilt plain in his eyes.
"You know about M'gann." She looked up at him in confusion.
"That's not what I meant Superboy. I don't know what I want with us right now, and so I'm fine with just being your friend. I just don't want to have to deal with my life by myself anymore. You and Red Arrow are the only friends I have right now."
Shiera walked into Hildy's room with a smirk.
"You're door is open, the world must be ending." She smiled slightly up at her, and crossed her legs on her twin-sized bed. "Well, anyway I have some news from Batman. I better not sit down because you might not like it." Hildy rose an eyebrow at the winged woman with a questioning gaze.
"What is it Shiera?" The older woman sighed and looked at her with a soft gaze.
"There's this party at Miss Martian and Superboy's school coming up for Halloween. Batman wants you to go." Hildy looked at Shiera with a disbelieving gaze.
"Are you serious? Why would he want me to do that?" She laughed nervously before she answered the younger girl's question.
"Probably because we enrolled you there, and you're starting the week after that party. He wants you to get to know some people before you have to go there. If anyone asks, your name is Helena Hall."
Well, there it is you guys I hope you liked it, and don't forget to review! In case you didn't notice I FINALLY decided that Superboy is going to be Hildy's love interest! Hildy x Superboy was the winner in the end because I felt they would be more compatible, but I gave you Red Arrow fans some fluff so you can not be as sad when you find out! Well anyway don't forget to review, and thanks for reading!
