"Mistah J?" I opened my eyes to see a robe-clad Harley peering down at me. Looks like I'd fallen asleep on the couch, but not very long, because the GCN news was still on. I yawned and sat upright against the arm of the couch, Harley soon taking her place on the corner of it.

"Hey, Mistah J, I was just thinkin' in the tub about takin' this new route... The life of crime, you know?"

"I wouldn't call it that," I said quietly, but I didn't think she caught it, for she kept on talking.

"If we're gonna do that, we're gonna need henchmen... Ya know? To help with the heists. Come on, Mistah J. Every baddy out there's got henchmen. There's -"

"We're not your average criminals, Cupcake. We don't need other distrustful men who will end up betraying us and giving away our secrets," I said in one breath, looking up at Harley. She gave a cute puppy-dog frown. It was adorable, I must say.

"But, Puddin', we can't do this all on our own... If we're gonna...er... what did you say... 'deliver justice' to all of Gotham's pretty little people," she said, leaning closer to me to emphasize her sincerity. Her lip was even quivering. Damn, she's good.

I gave a long, exaggerated sigh, then nodded a few times. "Fine... But if we're going to do this, we need to act quickly."

"Where are we gonna go, Mistah J?" Harley asked, tilting her head. "There ain't many henchmen ads in the Penny Saver."

"Where any other villain would go," I said, sitting up. I placed my hand on her thigh and looked directly into her eyes. "The Warehouse."

--

The Warehouse was a meeting place for all sorts of criminals- convicts in hiding, thieves, bandits, and the more dangerous, murderers and the like. It wasn't known to your average citizen, but I'd heard word on the street- when your parents kick you out, you hear things. It was sort of a taboo; if kids would ask their teachers what it was, they'd scoff it off and say, "I don't know what you mean," but of course, people knew. They just didn't know where. That's the only reason the cops didn't clean the place out. Sometimes the location would move, if it got too well-known. But for the most part, it remained a secret.

I knew exactly where it was, though. I'd even been there before- strangely, criminals could be pretty hospitable. When I was younger, fourteen, perhaps, I'd wandered into the Warehouse, and they let me sleep in there. The treated me like I was one of them, if that's something to be proud of. It made me feel good, for the few moments that I actually could without someone telling me off.

It was a hard life, but that was behind me. Now I'd be returning to the Warehouse for a different purpose. To get henchmen.

"Hello, boys!" Harley had said the moment she swung open the doors of the Warehouse. She didn't have to worry about being quiet- it was well hidden under Gotham's busy streets. She shimmied forward, swinging her hips with every move, her arms spread to the heavens. She was really charismatic. I probably wouldn't have made such an entrance, although, it did seem rather... entertaining.

At the looks giving from all of the brutes, Harley made a face, but continued. "Mistah J and I are lookin' for a little... help for our business."

"Whacha got planned?" A man with a rather large build and a small head asked. His voice was deep and rich with maturity- it strangely fit his figure. Absentmindedly I thought that it would be funny if he had a more feminine voice. But that's just me.

"Well, me and Mistah J... We was thinkin' o' giving this city a little more justice than its getting from the Bat," Harley said, propping herself up on a rather large crate.

"Mr. J?" A thin, African-American man asked, stepping forward near the big brute with the small head.

"Me," I said, stepping forward. "Name's the Joker."

"He's the man behind the plan," Harley chimed in, rocking back and fourth. The big guy lowered his brow.

"What's in it for us?"

"What, the sheer joy of killing isn't enough?" I asked, taking a step.

"I'm in," the thin man said, fixing his beanie. He walked over towards Harley and stood. The big brute gave a sigh and stepped forward as well.

"Yeah, me too." Harley giggled and touched the thin man's nose.

"What do they call you two?"

"I'm Lewis," the hat-wearing man replied with a gentle smile.

"And I'm Buster," the brute replied, cracking his knuckles. Harley giggled and jumped off the crate swiftly.

"And I'm Harley Quinn! Welcome to the team!" I smiled and left them to chat. I needed some fresh air. It was strange, having to trust these two men with our secrets. We'd never give them our real identities. It was easy to hide them, me with my change of skin and hair, and the addition of a ridiculously-colored outfit – a purple suit with an orange shirt and green vest – that Harley had chosen, as well as her jester suit for herself. But still... It felt so... strange.

"The Joker, is it?" I turned around with surprise. There stood a figure in black armor, a mask on his head and a cape on his back. Someone who I'd been just itching to meet.

"The Batman... I've heard of you." He remained emotionless, not saying a word. I raised a brow. "You seem a little stiff."

"You killed that boy's parents." This surprised me. How did he know? Oh. The skin. That's right. But... I don't see... Wouldn't that make me the victim? Maybe he thought something went wrong. Oh well.

"I wouldn't use those words. More like... Helped the boy out. Tragic story, he had, really..."

"How do you know him?"

"I stalked him, what do you think?" This reply was complete sarcasm. Batman just lowered his brow, staring back at me through those dark eyes. I couldn't help but think I knew this guy... In the eyes it was hard to tell, but his mouth... The shape of the mouth looked so familiar.

"Come on, Bats, give me a break. I'm new to this business. Why don't you wait until I get more... acquainted with the city's people." The man in black seemed to glare at me, but strangely his expression didn't change much.

"I'd like to stop that from happening." Before I knew it, he grabbed me by the collar and raised me up so that I was eye-level with him. I was a bit shorter than he was. I only laughed, a bit restrained because of the grip near my neck.

"Heh... What will you do to me?" I asked smartly, smirking as I looked at him. He hesitated, then dropped me.

"Nothing," he replied shortly.

"You're funny, you know that, Bats?" I bent over and gave a comical laugh, closing my eyes and slapping my knees for the effect. "You just can't hurt me, can you? Even though I did that boy's parents in, you just can't..." I looked up. He was gone.

"Come on, Mistah J!" I heard as the door to the Warehouse opened. Harley giggled as she did cartwheels down the steps.

"Alright, let's go," I said, putting my hand on the small of Harley's back as she stood next to me. We headed for home.

--

Thanks for reading! Im SOOOOOO sorry for the delay! OMG it took forever, forgive me! I haven't had the greatest of muse, and sadly Eno has gotten far ahead of me. D: Read her story, it rocks, but REVIEW ON MINE! ...please? Love you guys! Akii