The Best Medicine Chapter 26: Say It, a batman fanfic

February 19th - Bruce Wayne's birthday. The suave millionaire moved graciously amongst his guests. To any casual observer he seemed cool, collected and charming. To those who knew him however, to those who really knew who he was; they saw the part he played.

He had spent the previous night without a wink of sleep, surveying the town, searching fruitlessly high and low for the mad clown who had escaped from Arkham; that is - until he heard the news from Atlantic City. This accounted for the dark shadows under his eyes which he explained to curious guests as the mark of a busy entrepreneur. The bruised knuckles, he would calmly say with a light blush on his cheeks, were the result of a short temper and a business deal gone south; Oh how foolish of me, I can't believe I lost my cool that way! A half-truth. In fact the violent outburst which compelled him to slam his fist repeatedly into a stone wall was the result of a mission failed when the news came in about a strip club in A.C. that had gone up in smoke at the hands of the Joker.

How did he find her? The question obsessed his mind from the moment he saw her face on the television report; being painted as a helpless kidnapped stripper, a hostage of the Joker. His thoughts were thoroughly preoccupied, and if he had it his way he wouldn't be wasting time on such mindless trivialities as birthdays; but he had a part to play and Selina had reminded him of that.

"Bruce you don't have a choice." She had said, her hands planted firmly on her hips as she gave him that stern gaze.

"Selina! People have already died because of this madman! He kidnapped Harley and that's my fault. I should have been keeping tabs on her. I can't just sit around and wait for him to kill her while sipping champagne!" He spat the final word, clenching his jaw.

"And since when does Bruce Wayne care about such things more than attending the lavish birthday party his friends so generously arranged for him months in advance? Since he not so inconspicuously became the Batman?"

She talked sense into him. He begrudgingly agreed to attend the function.

"Looky here, Harley." The Joker sang, black eyes twinkling. "A hoity-toity little gathering, full of helpless hoity-toity little people. The perfect way to get the Bats' attention." They were hiding in the shadows, watching the crowd meander about.

Harley's eyes flit about the pier, observing the party goers with a mild amusement. Suddenly, her eyes landed on a tall, dark haired man. He turned her way and as the light fell across his face, she gasped.

"Bruce!" She whispered harshly. The Joker turned dark eyes on her.

"You know him?" His tone suggested she ought to choose her words carefully.

"Uh, yeah… He's the one who set me up in A.C. He took care of me after finding me half-dead one night..." She trailed off, her brows furrowing in thought.

"Reeaaallllllyyyyy..." The Joker narrowed his gaze. "How interesting..." He stared at the playboy millionaire, and seemed to be in deep pensive thought. Harley could almost see the gears turning in his mind. He faced her then, black eyes looking deep into her soul. His voice when he spoke was nothing short of a growl.

"Well then Harley, what are you go-ing to do about this little, co-inki-dink?"

Harley gulped. Her eyes floated back to Bruce as he chuckled noiselessly across the way, his handsome jaw pulled into a small smile. Baby blues flicked back to the Joker then, his dark stare capturing her, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.

"Nothin." She said at last, firmly; holding his gaze. What he had done for her was far greater than anything Bruce ever had. The Joker was her angel.

"Wrong answer." He growled while a grin cracked across his lips. He snatched her hand, placing a cool metal ball in her palm. She looked down, eyeing the purple contraption with the white joker face painted on it.

"What's this?"

"Our entrance." He sang, pointing at the crowd. Then in a darker tone, "Throw it."

Harley narrowed her eyes, picking a spot in the crowd not far from Bruce. She braced herself, reared back, and chucked the ball into the throng.

Tap, tap, tap, rollllllll...

The ball bounced around the floor, startling curious guests who eyed it as it then rolled past them and right up to the feet of the illustrious Bruce Wayne. Bruce looked down as he felt something hit his foot. Brown eyes grew wide when he saw a familiar white Joker face staring up at him.

"Get down!" He shouted, jumping to the side and grabbing Selina by the arm, pulling her into his chest.

Whoooooooooosh!

The ball didn't explode, perhaps as many expected, but instead began to release a thick cloud of purple smoke.

Coughing, yelling, sputtering. The guests at the party knocked against one another as they scrambled away from the thick smog. They cleared the area quickly, but for those who had stumbled through the smoke to make it out, it was too late.

It started like a chuckle.

Heh… heheheh… Heheheheee! The laughs began to trickle through the crowd. Rapidly it grew in number and sound, until about two dozen people were forfeit to the ground, laughing hysterically; their eyes and mouths wide in horrific expressions of madness.

"Nice shot, Harley!" The Joker declared with a brilliant grin. Harley's face lit up at the sight, her heart doing flip-flops in her chest. He was really proud of her! She searched the crowd for Bruce, looking among those incapacitated by laughter rolling around on the ground - but she saw no sign of him. Hmm...

"Now just one last teensy tiny step and I'm sure our old friend will be here in no time."

The Joker removed the detonator from his pocket. The button was pushed.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!

The ship exploded with massive force, powerful flames engulfing it completely. The dock it sat at was consumed by fire, as well as one side of the pier the party was on. Fire and burning metal rained down on the guests, reawakening the screams of panic; now joining the melody of mad laughter. Harley's eyes were wide as she marveled at the sight, her heart pounding in her chest; she could still feel the vibration from the explosion. The Joker watched her curiously as she obliviously stared at the wreckage.

Alarms began to sound in the distance. A signal flashed in the sky. The Joker grinned.

"Let's go." He suddenly growled in Harley's ear, snatching her arm and pulling her forward with him. They approached the crowd as guests scrambled away from the pier.

Suddenly Joker stopped, positioned between the now burning pier and the only means of escape. He raised his gun. Harley watched him, marveling at his genius. She followed suit, pointing her gun at the heads of well-dressed men and women who stopped abruptly at the sight of the two mad clowns and screamed.

"It's the Joker!"

"Oh my god, the Joker!"

"The Joker and Harley Quinn! Run!"

Mad cries as their presence reverberated through the crowd. Harley quirked a brow as her name was shouted, a chill running through her. How do they know my name?!

"Should be here any minute now." The Joker muttered through his teeth, interrupting her thoughts. His gaze was fixed on the party guests who were now huddled together with their wide eyes fixed on him like mice trapped under a cat's paw.

"Laaaaadies and gentlemen," The Joker suddenly began, projecting his voice over the screams and roaring laughter. "Sooooooo sorry I'm late to this little shindig. I hope I didn't keep you waiting." He snarled, grinning.

"Let us go!" One brave man yelled from the crowd.

BAM. SPLASH!

Screams.

The Joker's gun sent a bullet through the man's throat, sending him stumbling backwards and off the side of the pier. The mad clown began to laugh.

"Joker." The dark gruff voice came from behind them. Both Joker and Harley turned quickly, coming face to face with the Batman. The Joker grinned a wide sadistic grin. Harley on the other hand, had to catch her breath as eyes grew wide at the sight of the dark man she recognized from her brief encounter on the rooftop. Fingers fluttered to her lips at the memory.

"Basaatssyyy!" The Joker crooned, throwing his arms out wide. "I was hoping you'd make it. Did you miss me? You know I had to go through all this trouble just to see you. You should really give me your number sometime. We can text!" He took a step forward, laughing wildly at his own joke.

The Batman watched him stoically, and then eyes slowly shifted to Harley. His heart sank as he noted the gun in her hand, the paint on her face. This was no hostage…

"Did he do that to you?" The Batman asked, pointing at his own face, referencing her black eye.

"No..." She spoke softly. She felt a chill run down her spine as her eyes locked with his. Her pulse quickened. The Joker was keen, and he noticed these subtleties immediately. His gaze darkened as the dark knight ignored him and focused instead on Harley. How dare she steal the show! Who does she think she is?!

An anger began to burn within him. Like a snake striking its prey he turned on Harley, snatching a fistful of her hair in his hand and shoving the pistol barrel against her cheek. The Batman shot forward but the Joker cocked the gun and he froze.

Harley gasped, throwing her own pistol up and shoving the barrel against the Joker's stomach. He turned black eyes on her, grinning madly.

"Oh Batsy," He spoke even while maintaining his death stare at Harley. "You know if you're just going to ignore me for her, than you force me to take her out of the equation."

"Let her go, Joker." The Batman's dark voice warned. The Joker grinned.

"Yeah lemme go!" Harley's voice came now, her eyes narrowing. Was she ever sick of being pushed around! She dug the barrel of the gun deep into his gut.

The Joker eyed her curiously, an immensely amused expression on his face.

"Do you know this man, sweetheart?" He asked her then, eyes boring into her own. She gulped under his dark gaze, knowing he'd see the truth written all over her face.

"We met one night, yeah… I was lookin' at the city and he helped me out, took me home."

"Oh? Took you home did he?" He growled the word 'home', dripping with suggestion. Harley's eyes lit up.

"No! No not like that, I swear! All we did was kiss-" She regretted the word as soon as it left her mouth. Black eyes grew even darker, a fire burning beneath them. Grip on her hair tightened as maniacal grin stretched, teeth clenched together.

"You did… what?"

"I-it was nothin', really..." She said, back peddling as fast as she could.

The Joker turned his eyes now back towards the Batman, who was standing with fists clenched and a stern jaw. His gaze was set over their heads. The Joker turned, looking behind him, and caught the tail end glimpse of the sensual Catwoman as she took off into the night against a back drop of wild flames. Apparently, she wasn't too fond of this revelation either. The Joker began to laugh.

"AaahhhhahahahahahahahHAH!" He roared. "I gotta say, Batsy – what an ingenious joke! You really set the bar high this time." He continued to chuckle madly.

"I'm not joking. Let her go."

"Puddin'… please." Harley tried, but his vice grip only tightened in response. The Joker's eyes were locked on the Batman now, it was as though he didn't even hear her.

"Tell me Batman, did she make you feel good?" He asked, his tongue flicking over his lips. "How'd you do it anyway, hmm? How'd you wipe her mind? Was it all so you could have a little taste?" He jeered; a jealous fire in his eyes even as a grin stretched red paint wide.

Harley listened, her breath quickening. What was he saying? The Batman wiped her mind? Was that why she couldn't remember anything?

"Joker-"

"No!" He suddenly roared, and released his grip on Harley violently. She stumbled backwards, clutching her gun close. She watched as the two men faced each other, heat seething in the air. The Joker's finger twitched against the trigger.

"Nothing happened between us, Joker." The Batman said after a thick silence. "I was only trying to give her a fresh start, away from you."

"Ahhhhahahahahahah!" The Joker burst into insane cackling laughter again.

"It's true then?" Harley's voice broke their moment. "You're the reason I can't remember nothin'?" Soft tone, a breath away from breaking; she watched the Batman as he lowered his gaze from hers. The Joker turned, slowly approaching her. He snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her close to whisper heavy words in her ear.

"You used to love me." He growled. "You would have done anything to please me. HE –" The Joker thrust a finger towards the Batman. "-He took that all away from you. He robbed you of your life, and then tried to reap the benefits. Everything that has happened is his fault." His voice was so dark, dripping with hate and anger; the sound of it burned through her ears.

Harley's heart raced, adrenaline making every sense stand on edge. Teeth and fists clenched as eyes narrowed upon the dark man.

"You…" She said, her voice shaking with anger.

"Harley, no! Listen to me. This madman destroyed your life. He's beaten you, abused you, and tried to kill you on numerous occasions. The last time he shot you in the stomach and sent you flying over a skyscraper." Harley's eyes widened, her hand clutched her stomach where a scar still lay.

"I saved you, and I tried to help you turn your life around by forgetting him. I put you in Mr. Wayne's capable hands and asked him to look after you. I really believed it would be the beginning of a new life for you." The Batman's voice dropped an octave. "I never thought you'd fall back into his arms again."

"Yes yes yes." The Joker said in a voice suggesting boredom. "You going to believe that, pumpkin pie?" He cooed at Harley. "He tried to convince me you were dead." He snapped, turning black eyes back on the Bat. "That was a clever joke too, Bats; but imagine my surprise when I heard on the radio about a Harlequinade happening down in the South. I simply had to see for myself." A wicked grin grew across his lips. The Batman felt a pang in his chest; how could he have been so careless as to miss that? If only he had been paying closer attention...

Harley's head spun. Who to believe?! She looked between the two men as they bantered back and forth, her body shaking with anger.

"Is anybody… not just… using me?!" She finally exploded, her voice cutting sharply through the air, causing both the Batman and the Joker to straighten up and regard her with curious eyes. She grit her teeth.

"I am so sick of being pushed AROUND!" She clutched the gun, finger on the trigger as she stepped to the side, pointing the barrel at the both of them.

"How am I even supposed to make up my mind when I don't have all my memories?!"

"Harley… It was your own choice…"

"What?!" She spat back, glaring angrily.

"You chose to forget him, Harley. It was the only way to rid you of your obssess-"

"He's lying, Harley." The Joker cut him off vehemently. "I was your world, why would you throw that away?"

Harley's heart felt like it would burst from her chest, her mind reeled.

"Harley please listen to me-" The Batman spoke.

"Shut up!" She shouted at last, breathing heavily, her eyes wide and frantic. "You stole my fucking life from me! You took away what made me ME! I ought to drag you to the clinic and give you a lobotomy!" She narrowed her eyes.

"We could always do it right here…" The Joker's smooth voice suggested. She turned her vicious gaze on him now as well.

"And you… pushing me around, jus' like all the rest. How am I supposed to trust you? How do I know what he says ain't the truth? Did you try to kill me? Are you just gonna try to kill me again?!"

"Of cooouuurse noooot, pumpkin-"

"You just had a gun to my head!" She cut him off with blind fury. He grew quiet, his eyes dark as he studied her. Slowly, he approached her. She steadied her gun, planting her feet and fixing trembling digit against the trigger. The Batman watched cautiously, not daring to make a move for fear of sparking an outburst of gun fire.

The Joker stopped when he was directly in front of her, the gun against his chest. His hands reached out and clutched her own, shoving the barrel deep against his ribs. Black eyes held her gaze transfixed while low voice rumbled out darkly.

"You love me Harley." He said. "You always have, you always will." He gave a yank, pulling her closer. She watched him, eyes wide.

"You won't kill me. You need me like air. I can push you, pull you, use you and try to kill you, and you still won't pull the trigger because you love me madly."

Her heart was racing as she stood hypnotized under his gaze. She knew, deep in her soul, that what he said was true. Her mind may have been a blank slate, but the memories of the soul could not be erased; even by powerful magic. Like a Kundalini energy, uncoiling after sleeping so long, she felt the love pour forth from her heart. The Joker had poisoned her a long time ago, bestowing madness so deep in her soul it was like a thumbprint that would never go away. Her love for him was imprinted on her very psyche, and memories of the past or not, one look in his eyes told her she did love him. Oh god how she loved this man! Her lower lip trembled. He looked down, saw the moment of weakness, and pulled her roughly against him, pressing lips against her own in a sudden and violent kiss. His teeth found her bottom lip, biting hard. She jumped and he pulled away then, stepping back and opening his arms wide.

"Go ahead, Harley. Pull the trigger if I'm wrong."

"Harley-" It was the Batman's voice again. "Don't fall for his tricks. Get out of the way and let me handle this."

"Don't listen to him, Harley. Aren't you sick of being the weak one? You're finally in a position of power. You can finally make the choice." His wide grin shook her to the core. She was paralyzed to the floor, like a deer in headlights under his gaze.

"Pull the trigger, Harley." He growled.

"Harley don't do this." The Batman approached now, standing not far from the Joker, facing her. Her eyes fell to that strong jaw of his...

"Do it Harley." The Joker's voice pulled her attention back to him. "Pull the trigger. Prove that you don't want me."