In My Blood
Chapter 12
Hey, guys! Thank you for your patience while I've been working on this story. Sorry I've kept you waiting so long, but I have to say I really appreciate the encouraging review I received to let me know it was still being read. So, without further ado, here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy!
WARNING: Rated M for suggestive content towards the end
Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Gotham or the DC Universe.
Harley strutted out of the bathroom, tossing a red jacket over her shoulders.
"Man, not only did Harleen not want to have any fun", she said to herself, "she hardly had any sense of style."
Jerome whistled appreciatively as he drank in her new look.
"Hello, gorgeous", he breathed, eyes wide.
"What are you gaping at?" Harley demanded. "This is the way I was always meant to look."
"I couldn't agree more", said Jerome. "She-uh, you-have never looked better."
"So you finally got me here", said Harley, taking a seat on the couch and crossing her legs. "Now what?"
"Now we do whatever we want."
"Yeah, and what exactly did you have in mind?"
"I was hoping your...lesser half might have some ideas, actually."
Harley scoffed.
"Great-so, you got rid of Harleen so you could get to me, and now you need her back. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense."
"Come on, sweetheart. I didn't mean anything by-"
Jerome jumped back as Harley suddenly sprang off the couch and pulled a knife from her boot.
"Get this through that messed-up skull of yours", she said darkly, holding it to his throat. "I don't like having my time wasted; and if you ever call me sweetheart again, I'll cut your tongue out. Got it...puddin'?"
Slowly, Harley retracted the knife and put it back in her boot before striding out of the room.
"In the best interest of our new partnership", said Tetch from behind Jerome, "I can't help but wonder if it really was the best choice to-"
"She's perfect", said Jerome, smiling to himself. "Even better than what I had in mind."
"That being said...are we sure that she will help us be successful in our plans?"
"The less she knows about the plan, the better. She'll make a nice, little distraction for the GCPD...and Bruce Wayne."
"What exactly do you plan to have her do?"
"All in good time, my dear hypnotic friend. All in good time."
…
The GCPD searched all over Gotham for any signs of Jerome and Jervis, but no one had seen them. Gordon and Bullock even paid Penguin a visit, who was busy with his mayoral duties.
"Jim Gordon!" said Penguin, getting fitted in a black tuxedo. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Jerome Valeska and Jervis Tetch", said Gordon. "Seen 'em around lately?"
Penguin chuckled a bit.
"Jim, I can assure you, if I had heard anything of those two lunatics, I DEFINITELY would have told you. The less people in Gotham to oppose my power, the better."
"Yeah, well-keep your eyes open, Oswald", said Gordon, turning to leave.
"Will do, gentlemen!" said Penguin. "Although, I do have information about something else you might want to know about."
"Oh, yeah?" said Bullock. "And what's that?"
"The League of Shadows."
Gordon froze in his tracks, and turned back around.
"What about 'em?"
"Sorry, gentlemen, but that will cost you."
"What do you want, Penguin?" said Bullock.
"I just need to know that the GCPD will not interfere with my...special meeting with a frequent client this evening."
"Fine", Gordon growled. "Now what about the League of Shadows?"
"My men spotted Ra's al Ghul and his son Ubu meeting just on the outskirts of Gotham, and it sounds like they may be planning something big. Something involving young Mr. Wayne."
Gordon nodded.
"Thanks."
"Mm-hm. Oh, and don't worry about Valeska and Tetch! If I see them, I'll let you know."
With that, Penguin went back to his fitting and the two detectives left.
…
Bruce Wayne slowly took a sip of his hot tea in the living room, the flames from the fire roaring in the background. Alfred sat on the couch with his hands on his knees and sighed.
"Master Bruce, are you sure she-"
"She'll be here, Alfred."
"Alright; I'm simply saying that Ms. Kyle hasn't always been the best about punctuality, now has she?"
"Well, thanks a lot, Alfred."
Bruce turned to see Selina coming in from the window.
"I'll be sure to arrive ten minutes late next time."
"Selina."
Bruce came up to her and awkwardly stood a few feet away.
"Uh...thanks for coming."
Selina sighed.
"Come on, kid, bring it in."
She held her arms out and rolled her eyes as Bruce embraced her hug before quickly stepping back from her once more.
"So, sounds like you need my help."
"Jerome Valeska took a friend of mine, and I'm afraid of what's become of her."
"What friend?'
"Her name is Harleen Quinzel."
"Oh, you mean the shrink in training you let hide in your house?"
"Yeah, that's her."
"Haven't seen her, but I'll be sure to keep an eye out."
"Thank you, Selina."
She nodded and turned to go, but Bruce caught her arm.
"It's uh...it's really good to see you."
Selina smiled.
"Yeah, it's good to see you, too, kid."
Bruce released his grip, and she disappeared behind the curtain once more.
"Right", said Alfred, getting up. "I'm gonna make myself some grub. Master B, can I get you anything from the kitchen?"
"No, thank you, Alfred."
Bruce sank down into the lounge chair and put his head in his hands, still worried about Harleen.
…
Harleen moved quietly and slowly around the mindscape, searching for any means of escape.
"I keep tryin' to tell ya, puddin'", said the woman with the pale face, "there ain't no way outta here!"
"I don't care what you say, or how many times you say it!" said Harleen. "I'm getting out of here, one way or another."
"The only way you get outta here is if Harley chooses you to go. Otherwise, you're stuck here."
"That's ridiculous-how can I be stuck here? I'm the real Harleen!"
"That may be so, but as long as you're in here, ya might as well be obsolete...like me!"
"Who are you?"
"Call me a figment of your imagination...of your future self."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Like it or not, in a few years, this is who you're gonna be."
"I don't think so."
Harleen started walking away from her.
"I'm gonna find a way out of here, and I'm putting HER back in here. And NEITHER OF YOU are getting out!"
"That's not up to you", the woman sing-songed as Harleen ran away from her.
"Block her out, Harleen", she said to herself. "She's not real; none of this is real. You are just stuck in some sort of medically-induced coma, or something."
Just then, a door appeared in front of her. Looking around, she slowly grasped the handle and pushed it open. Immediately, she was falling forward, and screamed as she disappeared into more darkness.
…
Harley tapped her fingers on the dashboard as the van she, Jerome and Jervis were traveling in turned a corner.
"I think I deserve to know where we're going", she said, growing impatient with the lack of information.
"We're headed to your grand debut!" said Jerome, taking her hand. "After all, Gotham deserves to see the new-and-improved Harleen Quinzel."
"Uh, wrong!" Harley said, jerking her hand away. "They deserve to see me, Harley. I am NOTHING like that goody two-shoes nerd."
Jerome cackled.
"Yeah, of course, you're right!" he said. "How silly of me to forget!"
He waited until his back was turned from her to roll his eyes.
"Our destination approaches, now soon Gotham will see", said Tetch, "how fun Ms. Quinzel can be with her new duel personality."
Harley rolled her eyes.
"Seriously?" she said annoyedly. "I HATE poetry. And I told you, the name is HARLEY. Not Harleen, not Ms. Quinzel, just. Harley."
Tetch gulped.
"Of course", he said nervously. "My mistake."
"Whatever."
Harley sighed and rested her feet on the back of his chair, not hesitating to kick him in the head. Jerome cackled again.
"Isn't she a riot?" he said, doubling over in laughter.
"Hysterical", said Tetch, rubbing his head.
Soon, the van they were riding in pulled into Gotham City...right behind the GCPD.
…
Bruce Wayne entered the GCPD, followed closely by Alfred.
"Bruce", said Gordon, meeting them at the bottom of the stairs. "Any luck?"
"Selina said she'd let us know if she saw anything", said Bruce, "but so far, no."
"Same here, kid", said Bullock, joining Gordon. "Every officer available has been up and down these streets; nobody's seen 'em."
"We have to keep looking", said Bruce. "She has to be somewhere."
"I agree, Master Bruce", said Alfred, "but it's not like those two are just gonna come waltzing right into the GCPD, now are they?"
BAM! Officers and personnel alike in the GCPD ran for cover as the doors were suddenly blown off the hinges. Jerome Valeska entered, followed by Jervis Tetch.
"Hello, Gotham City!" he announced. "Did ya miss me?"
"Hello, Jim", Tetch said pointedly.
"Jerome", said Gordon, moving in front of Bruce. "What do you want?"
"It's not what we want, Jimbo. It's what our new friend wants."
"Oh, no", Bruce breathed.
"Introduce yourself, gorgeous!"
The clacking of heels could be heard on the marble floor as a girl dressed in a white shirt, short red boy shorts, and a red jacket entered the GCPD. She popped the gum in her mouth and twirled one of her short pigtails.
"How ya doin', Gotham?" she said, sneering. "Name's Harley."
"NO!"
Bruce ran forward, but was quickly held back by Gordon and Alfred.
"What have you done to her?!"
"I brought out the person she was always meant to be, Brucie", said Jerome.
"With a little help from his friends", said Tetch.
Jerome waved him off and continued.
"Anyway, we just wanted to drop by and say hello", he said. "Oh! And we also wanted to give you a fair warning: We have big plans for this city, and it would be wise of you if you chose not to get in the way of them."
"Bring her back!" Bruce said, struggling to get out of Alfred and Gordon's grasp. "Bring her back right now!"
"Bring who back, kid?" said Harley.
Bruce froze as she walked over to him, slowly looking him up and down.
"You mean, the pathetic excuse of a weakling that used to be Harleen Quinzel? Hmm?'
Bruce nodded.
"Hate to break it to ya, kid, but she's gone; and as long as I have anything to say about it, she ain't ever comin' back."
"However, Brucie", said Jerome, "if you wanted to join her-"
"No way", said Gordon.
"You stay the hell away from him!" said Alfred.
"Touchy!" said Jerome, backing away with his hands raised. "I was only joking. A condition of the girl turning herself over to us was that I leave young Mr. Wayne alone, and I am a man of my word."
Harley smirked.
"I would suggest leaving Gotham, Bruce", she said, caressing his cheek. "Because the city you know and love is about to change drastically."
Chuckling, she stepped away from the boy and went back to join Jerome.
"Remember, detectives", said Jerome, holding up some kind of grenade, "do not interfere."
He threw it down, and the GCPD was engulfed by smoke. As officers scattered to open windows and clear the smoke, Bruce broke away from Alfred and Gordon and ran after the three.
"Bruce, no!" Alfred yelled.
Harley cackled along with Jerome as they came back to the van.
"Not bad for your first time out, gorgeous", Jerome admired.
Before Harley could reply, she was cut off.
"Harleen!"
Harley turned to see Bruce Wayne panting behind her.
"This isn't you, Harleen! Please, come back so we can help you."
Harley scoffed.
"I don't need any help, kid. I've got everything under control."
"Do you really believe that?"
Bruce took a few steps toward them.
"I remember when I first met you: So scared, so innocent, so afraid of what was going to happen next."
"That's not me anymore."
"You're right, it's not you, because you have grown to be so much stronger than that."
"Yeah, no thanks to you, kid! I've always been this way! And Jerome is the one who helped me see that. Not you, not Jim Gordon, not that waits-on-you-hand-and-foot butler of yours."
Bruce was taken aback, but shook it off.
"I know who you are, Harleen."
"THE NAME IS HARLEY!"
Harley shoved him to the ground hard, and he skidded across the pavement, much to the delight of Jerome.
"And don't you forget it!"
With that, Harley spun on her heel and got back into the van, which sped off into the city.
Bruce slowly stood up and brushed himself off.
"What has he turned you into?" he thought to himself before heading back inside.
…
Jerome cornered Harley outside of her room back at the hideout.
"Now, that was impressive", he said, pinning her arms above her head. "I didn't know you had that in you."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me", said Harley, and she crashed her lips against his.
Jerome responded quickly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to him. Harley kicked out of her shoes and shrugged his jacket off of his shoulders as the kiss deepened. Jerome growled hungrily and lifted her off the ground, carrying the girl to her bed as the door shut behind them.
…
"UGH!"
Harleen grunted as she landed in a soft chair after falling for who knew how long. Time seemed to be a thing of the past in the mindscape. Before she could move, restraints closed around her wrists and ankles, and she struggled in vain to get away.
"Let me go!" she cried out. "Let me out of this!"
"God, do you ever shut up?"
Harleen turned her head as much as she could to see Harley standing behind her.
"What is this?" Harleen demanded. "How can you be here and out there at the same time?"
"Oh, I'm taking a break from being you. There's really no need for me to be in control, based on what's going on with your body right now."
"What are you-?"
Suddenly, the realization of Harley's words hit her, and she felt sick. Harley chuckled.
"Well, somebody's mind is in the gutter."
"How could you do this?!"
"You were never meant to be in control. And deep down inside, you know you want to be this way. Otherwise, why would I be here?"
"What have you done with Bruce?"
"Nothing! I mean, I did have to knock some sense into him to get him to see that this is who I am now, but-"
"You hurt him?!"
"Oh, please, I barely laid a hand on him. And anyway, you are way too protective of that boy."
"Because he saved my life!"
"Oh, I'm sorry; is it his blood coursing through your veins right now? No. It's Jerome's. He's the one who saved you, not that spoiled brat."
"You take that BACK about Bruce!"
"Relax. The deal was, you go with Jerome, he goes free. And even though I don't like you, I do somehow possess your fondness of that kid, so I'll make sure Jerome keeps his word when it comes to him, alright?"
"And what about me?"
"What about you? You're here as long as I say so."
"I don't think so."
"Look where you are now, sweetheart. I beg to differ."
Harley chuckled to herself as Harleen continued to struggle.
"I just needed to make sure you stay somewhere I can always find you; you know, in case I need your...likeness."
"Harley, when I get out of here, I'm gonna-!"
"You're gonna what, kill me?" Harley said, leaning in close. "I don't think so. I'm a part of you, Harleen, and I always will be."
She relaxed and backed away from her captive.
"Well...good chat. See you later."
With that, she turned her back to Harleen and disappeared.
"Help!" Harleen called, struggling in the chair. "Can anyone hear me? Help!"
…
Jervis Tetch tried to block out the noises coming from Harley's room. He didn't think it was very wise of Jerome to sleep with the girl, especially since she was so rude to both of them.
"This could complicate things", he thought. "If Jerome favors Harleen above me or Mr. Crane, he may try to off us if we don't prove as valuable."
Tetch froze as Jerome opened the door, wearing nothing except a towel from Harley's bathroom. He smiled to himself as he walked back to his own room.
"Perhaps the best thing would be for me to get rid of Harley. But how?"
Tetch thought back to the old Harleen, how reluctant she seemed to give in to Jerome's ways, and he suddenly knew the answer.
"I must return her to her old state, but I have to do it discreetly. And that will require striking a deal with someone I hate: Jim Gordon."
Sorry about that last part, I'm not used to writing stuff like that, and that will probably be all you will see of that particular subject material. Anyway, that's all I've got for now. Feel free to shoot me a review, if you want, and I'll see you next time!
-Imagigirl20