Hi Everyone.
I'm so sorry this took so long to update. Just a lot going on, but hopefully I'm back on track.
Hope you enjoy this chapter. Once again thank you so much for all the lovely favourites and follows and kind words.
Harley walked around the garage with her clipboard and pen, checking her list. Joker had always found Harley's organization the height of amusement. She opened up each henchman's bag and ticked off the equipment, before zipping them closed again. The sounds of sharpening blades and bullet cassettes clicking into place filled the garage with metallic sounds. Harley carefully stepped over panda suits and clown masks as she made her way over to their valiant leader.
Joker was leaned up against his car, casually dropping bullets into his revolver, smiling to himself as if caught in a daydream. Harley nervously tapped her own weaponry; forever afraid she would leave her revolvers behind. The weight of her shoulder holster was a constant reminder of her planning. Harley's leather boots barely made a sound as she approached Joker and leaned up beside him against the car.
"Everything's in place and ready to go boss."
Joker smiled and spun the cylinder into place. He shoved the gun into his own shoulder holster, then pushed himself off the car to grip Harley by her hips.
"Are you ready to go kitten?"
Harley's mouth stretched into a sly grin. "Always." Joker growled low and brought her close, pressing his lips excitedly to hers. Harley wrapped her arms around Joker's neck, clipboard and all. Their embrace was only broken by Frost's ever insistent cough.
"Boss, we've got twenty minutes to deployment." Joker rolled his eyes, but stepped back from his queen.
"All right boys. Let's head out. We've got a date with the Batman." The men all donned their disguises and filed into the van like clowns to a clown car.
Harley joined Joker in his car as they sped out of the garage into the night. She picked at her cuticles nervously, trying to keep her breathing steady.
"What's going on kitten? I can't believe you forgot to pack something," Joker cackled lowly. Harley forced a weak smile across her face.
"Oh no puddin'. I've got everything I need. I just have a …weird feeling about tonight."
Joker shifted gears aggressively, but his eyes almost showed concern towards his queen.
"We're as prepared for this party as we are for any other."
Harley nodded. "I know. I can't explain the feeling. It's nothing." Harley smiled again. "Don't worry Mr. J. I'm just being silly."
Joker's laugh pushed his head back into the seat. "No change there then." They sped through the night in silence. Harley stared out her window, suddenly wishing that she was just a normal girl, living in one of the passing apartments. Her life of extreme activity had never bothered Harley before, but now she found herself intensely jealous of the few, regular girls in Gotham, sitting at home, watching movies with their boyfriends…the boyfriends that had nice, legal jobs. Harley sighed and leaned her head against the door.
A gentle rain began to hit their windshield just as Joker pulled up in front of an abandoned warehouse. Are there any occupied warehouses in Gotham anymore? Harley stepped out of the car and straightened her tank top before reaching into the back for her bat. As she gripped her hand around her wooden weapon, a firm slap connected across her rear end. Harley stood up out of the car and raised her eyebrow at the Joker with the wolfish grin.
"Must you always?" Harley asked playfully. Joker shrugged his innocence.
"Hey I challenge anyone to walk past that ass without giving it a smack."
Harley shut her door and leaned against the car with a grin. "It'd be the last thing they ever tried."
Joker's grin increased as his hands snaked around Harley's waist. "Damn right."
Harley lifted her head to meet Joker's gaze, her expression serious. "Kiss me."
"No problem," Joker chuckled as he drew closer. Harley put a hand against his chest to stop him.
"No…kiss me like you will never see me again. Kiss me so that no matter what happens tonight, I will never forget you."
Joker's brow furrowed in confusion. He had never seen his Harley look so vulnerable. He carefully brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Joker gently gripped Harley's chin between his fingers and lifted her face to his. Harley closed her eyes in anticipation. Joker giggled low as he could feel Harley's breath hitch beneath his lips that were now pressed hotly just above the swell of her breast. Harley rolled her head back against the car as Joker pressed long and lazy kisses up Harley's neck and behind her ear.
As he dragged his teeth across the ridge of her ear, Harley gasped as Joker's breath filled her senses and heated her gut.
"Remember that?" he whispered. Harley could only nod and gulp back a moan. Joker held her head up with his hand and pressed his forehead to hers. They remained like that for one final moment of peace before Joker turned his sharp eyes to the warehouse as his boys were unloading the last of the equipment inside.
"Come on baby. Time to get to work."
Harley smiled, gripped her bat tightly and followed her love into battle.
Harley was surprised to enter the warehouse and find it just as empty ever.
"Hey Puddin' where's all our stuff?" Joker motioned to the rusted ladder in the corner.
"I thought it might be more romantic to take the city by moonlight."
Harley smiled and rolled her eyes. She held her bat tightly as she used her other hand to guide herself up the shaking ladder. Joker followed and growled happily as he ran a hand up her leg, making her shudder and almost lose her balance. Harley was almost regretting wearing her battle worn hot pants.
"Seriously boss, how'd the boys get everything on the roof?"
"Oh there's a freight elevator on the far side of the building. I just much prefer the view from the ladder." Harley giggled and playfully kicked at Joker's offending hand.
When they reached the roof, Harley swung her bat across her shoulders and wondered around watching Joker's men set up endless cables and electronics. It was all rather futuristic for the crime king of Gotham. She was more used to watching him with exploding jack in the boxes and smiling fish. Harley smiled to herself as she watched men dressed as pandas click cables into plungers. That looks more like it. Swinging her bat lazily, Harley came up behind Joker who was busy staring at a map of the city and consulting with Johnny. Joker smiled as he felt Harley's delicate hands wrap themselves around his waist. He snaked his own arm backwards and brought her in front of him without breaking stride in conversation. Harley leaned forward on the table that held the map, knowingly pushing her butt into Joker's core. His cackle had a growling tone to it that made Harley smile. She loved how their adventures with the Bat got him going.
Harley stood up and leaned her head back against Joker's shoulder. "Where are we starting boss?" Joker grinned as he began to knead the skin surrounding Harley's hips.
"Well kitten, we're going to set off the tanks on the outskirts and slowly work our way into the centre of the city," Joker drawled as his fingers began to work towards Harley's centre. Harley giggled with excitement, all previous apprehension dissolving into hot anticipation.
A man dressed unconvincingly as a clown approached the couple. "We're ready when you are boss." Joker's hands left Harley as he flew to the first plunger.
"Oh pumpkin," Joker called out, "Would you like to do the honours?" Joker gestured to the first plunger as Harley skipped towards it, her hair swinging behind her despite it being increasingly soaked in the rain. With a quick peck on the cheek, Harley gripped the T in her hand and gently depressed it, releasing a click from the box. Johnny and a few others pressed their plungers, but nothing happened. Harley seemed to be the only one concerned.
"Did it work Mr. J? I don't hear anything." Joker laughed.
"They're not explosions kitten. We're paralyzing the city remember? Soon all you'll hear is silence." Harley stood back and watched as Joker and Johnny watched timers and marked off spots on the map. At predetermined times, Johnny would yell and the pandas would push further plungers. Harley desperately listened for any indication of success, but the increasing rain made it difficult to hear any change.
When only three plungers were left sitting upright, Harley swung her bat back over her shoulders. She was starting to feel nervous again.
"I don't like this boss. How can we be sure this is working?"
Joker lifted his eyes from the map and grinned from ear to ear. "We'll know in a moment." Harley turned her head like a curious puppy as a faint roar caught her attention. Through the darkness, Harley heard a single vehicle approaching their position. A smile began to spread across her lips as she watched Joker grow ever more excited.
"Get going boys. This just became a party for two." The pandas and clowns were all too happy to descend back into the warehouse. Johnny remained in the corner, not wanting to abandon his boss, but knowing better than to get directly involved.
Joker undid the buttons on his overcoat and stretched his fingers, looking like a cowboy ready for a showdown. "There he is."
Within seconds, a huge black figure came flying over the edge of the building, the familiar icy sound of the Bat claw announcing his arrival. Harley was always painted impressed by the sheer size of the Bat. She couldn't hide her smile at the fear he inspired.
Joker approached Batman, offering his arms wide. "Darling. I'm so glad you could make it." The Bat didn't hesitate. He lunged forward and gripped Joker by the lapels, raising his feet off the ground.
"What did you do Joker?!" Harley jumped at the sound of Bat's yelling filling the sky.
Joker grinned. "A gift my love. Consider it an early anniversary present. You know how I hate waiting for occasions and I simply couldn't keep this one under my hat."
Batman threw Joker harshly to the ground and began to pace frantically.
"A gift."
Joker laughed and cracked his neck as he got back to his feet.
"Yes, a gift. You've been having such a time trying to round up all the baddies in this city, I thought that maybe if they couldn't run away from you, you might have a better time of it." Harley watched the muscles shift in Batman's suit as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"You paralyzed thousands of innocent people just so I could catch a few more criminals? Are you insane?"
Joker casually brushed off the dirt from his coat. "You must be if you felt the need to ask that question." Joker tucked his arms behind his back as he strode placidly towards the Bat. "Now I don't want to be the one to tell you how to do your job, but the effect of the toxin is sadly temporary, so you may want to get your pointy ears in gear and get out there and catch some bad guys." Joker punched the air like a coach that just fired up his little league team with an impassioned speech about fair play and having fun.
Batman pulled back and struck Joker hard in the jaw with an armoured fist. The clown prince laughed heartily as blood began to trickle out his mouth. Harley gripped her bat and was about to run at the dark knight when the sounds of police sirens stopped her. Nine police cars pulled up in front of the warehouse as officers flooded into the building. Harley continued to watch over the side as one by one, Joker's men were brought out bloodied and cuffed. Johnny turned to his boss.
"They've got our boys boss."
Joker turned to Batman, looking unimpressed. "I said catch the criminals, not the idiots." The Bat remained silent as he moved swiftly towards Joker. Harley grabbed her revolver and shot at the giant shadow. The bullet had no impact and only seemed to irritate the dark knight even further. Before laying a second punch to the Joker, Batman threw a batarang at Harley, which sunk itself into her shoulder, forcing her to drop her gun and cry out in pain.
The smile that once decorated Joker's face was now replaced by a menacing grimace. With a growl, he kicked Batman as hard as he could and stood back up, ready for battle. Johnny ran towards Harley to tend to her latest injury.
Joker backed up and fired his gun at the Bat, his bullet also ricocheting off the suit.
"Armour plating in this season? That's hardly fair my love." The Bat growled at the term of endearment and cracked another punch across Joker's face. Harley watched in horror as Batman laid into the Joker, landing punch after punch into Joker's face and gut. Joker grinned helplessly as his eyes began to swell shut. His hand reached into his coat pocket and brought out an ice pick; the same ice pick Harley suspected, she has used on him all those years ago. Harley let out a cry of victory as she watched Joker bury the pick into Batman's side. He stumbled back and doubled over in pain.
"John, go get the boss. I'm fine here." Johnny searched her eyes in doubt. Harley stood firm. "GO!" Johnny jumped up and ran over to gather up his beaten boss. Just as he reached the battered body of the clown, Johnny's eyes grew wide as he felt something sharp dig into his flesh. He looked down to find he too had been hit with a batarang. His anger engulfed him as he lunged after the Bat who dared try to destroy his family. The pain blurred his vision as Batman landed two square punches to Johnny's jaw. He stumbled backwards and caught his foot in a twisted cable. Johnny lost his balanced completely and tumbled over the edge of the precipice. Harley's scream caught in her throat as she watched Johnny disappear over the roof. A sickening thud mixed with the crunch of bones and tissue emblazoned itself on Harley's memory. In her cries of anguish, all pain retreated as Harley unloaded both her revolvers on Batman's form, to little effect. For a moment, Harley thought she detected a look of regret in the masked eyes, but that only added fuel to her ire. Batman returned his attention to the Joker, wrenching his form harshly off the ground. He was barely conscious, but still uttering giggles between bloodied coughs. Several officers burst through the roof top door and aimed their guns squarely at Harley. Hot tears threatened to roll down her cheeks, but her anger kept them from falling, opting to burn her eyes instead.
"GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!" Harley slowly raised her hands as far as she could and lowered her body to her knees. Suddenly, the roof hatch from the ladder burst open and Harley was pushed to the ground, crying out as the batarang drove itself further into her shoulder. A strange, yet oddly familiar hissing sound permeated the chaos, which was in turn met with the unheard of screams of terror from the fully grown men that were shouting at her only moments before. In a haze, Harley lifted her head to see a man wearing a burlap sack on his head, spraying mist into the faces of anyone who dared to move. The police screamed in horror and cried out for their mothers. Batman held fast to Joker's waist as he prepared to leap down to his vehicle. Harley stumbled forward and attempted to give chase when a strong arm wrapped itself around her and held fast. Harley screamed and swung violently in all directions, but to no avail.
"Harley come on. We don't have time for this," hissed the masked man. Harley elbowed her rescuer in the gut and ran to the edge of the roof just as the Bat glided down with the Joker in his arms. Harley screamed and bashed her fists on the roof until her knuckles bled. Batman paid no attention to the screaming clown above him as he unceremoniously tossed Joker into his car and sped away in the direction of Arkham. Harley's breath became shallow as she sank to her knees and watched the blood run from her hands.
"Harley we have to go. More cops are on their way."
Harley flapped a hand behind herself dismissively. "Who cares?"
The man squatted beside Harley and gently turned her face to meet his own. Harley stared weakly into the piercing blue eyes that met her own. His voice was a harsh and desperate whisper. "I care."
Harley suddenly came to and stood up, wincing at the batarang reminding her where she was. Harley grabbed the Scarecrow's hand as he led her to rooftop door. The terrified police parted like the Red Sea for the odd couple. The Scarecrow rushed Harley down the stairs, only pausing when he felt Harley slipping from his grasp. They raced across the warehouse floor and out the fire exit where the Scarecrow's car was waiting. After making sure Harley was safely in and somewhat comfortable, the Scarecrow jumped into the driver's seat and sped off just as the new round of cop cars began their approach.
Harley slowly turned to face the driver and allowed the seat to hold the weight of her head. The Scarecrow removed his mask and threw it behind him, allowing Dr. Crane to reappear before Harley. Dr. Crane's eyes softened as he looked at the shivering form in the passenger seat.
"It's all right Harley. You're safe now."
Harley trembled as every conceivable emotion flooded her body. Dr. Crane drove in silence as Harley's sobs consumed her.