Author's Note: Deepest apologies for the unexplained absence and letting this fic die without an ending. If all you want to read is an ending to this fic here it is. If you're up for more I have half a sequel written. Still deciding whether I'll keep posting to this fic or create a new one. I will definitely post it here in the SS section since the sequel takes place in this story's universe. Anyway, quick recap since it's been literal years since I posted a chapter.
Team Bat is returning from the JL watchtower after working with the JL to get Batman's heart back from Hush. Semi-reformed Flash villains were recruited to assist and the JL decides their memories must be wiped to protect Batman's identity. Batman tries to stop them and ends up having his memory of the dispute wiped as well by an unwilling but outvoted Zatanna. She quits the JL after this, prompting the team to go on hiatus.
The Joker had a unique weapon and a few villains including Poison Ivy fall into his possession. He holds a black market auction to sell off the weapon and fellow villains. Harley makes a plan to free Ivy using Jonny Frost's wife, Shelley as a pawn. The Joker has the foresight to drug Harley so she can't interfere but Shelley executes the plan, not knowing Harley had been incapacitated. The auction goes sideways and Team Clown narrowly escapes capture.
Jonny Frost trades his life to the Joker in exchange for letting Shelley go free after her betrayal. Frost agrees to confess to all of the Joker's recent crimes and is currently imprisoned at Blackgate.
Batman knows something isn't right the moment his Wayne company helicopter touches down at the Manor. Alfred is standing outside waiting to greet Bruce and his passengers on the helo-pad. Bruce lands the craft quickly and jumps out with Huntress and Catwoman flanking him. After the mind games at the Watchtower Selina hustled Batman and Huntress the hell out of there before the League decided to get all creative with more of Batman's memories. Alfred closes the distance between them but before he can tell the trio what's happened Bruce's personal phone starts ringing. He holds up a hand for silence while he checks the caller ID. It was Zatanna, Bruce knew better than to bounce the mage's calls. If he didn't answer he'd probably be dragged through a portal for a face-to-face with Zee. Without saying anything to the others Bruce turns away to take the call.
"Not cool." Huntress makes sure Bruce hears her. Alfred and Selina exchange pointed looks but remain silent. Bruce answers and takes a few steps away for privacy, much to Helena's annoyance.
"Bruce," Zatanna's voice is shaking so badly she doesn't even sound like herself "Are you there?"
"What's wrong Zee?" Batman had never heard her so upset. Zatanna Zatara is a lion-hearted magic user with a great deal of raw power. Bruce had never known her to fear danger, no matter the threat.
"I'm so sorry," Zatanna almost sounds like she might cry "It's not over and I can't be here when it happens."
"What's not over?" Batman is perplexed.
"The cards," Bruce can tell she's holding in a sob "The same cards are back in every reading."
"Zee slow down," Batman says gruffly "What do you mean they're back?"
"The same cycle is about to repeat," Zatanna would sound certifiable if Bruce didn't know her so well "The Magician, the Hanged Man, the Tower and Justice always in the same order!"
"Let me bring you to Gotham Zee," none of this was making any sense to Bruce "Whatever's coming, we should work together to stop it."
Suddenly, Batman hears a hand cover the phone for a few, brief moments. Then a very familiar voice hijacks the call.
"Hello Batman," it was John Constantine "Mind if I call you Bruce?"
"Constantine," Batman becomes enraged instantly "Put Zee back on right now or I will find your sorry ass and kick it back to England!"
"Sorry mate the lady says chat's over," John snorts "World's greatest detective me arse."
"Constantine," Batman barks into the phone "Turn off that obnoxious attitude and tell me what Zee was talking about!"
"I know magic isn't your thing so let me break this down for you, sonny," John speaks quickly "Trickery will result in the death of an innocent, that death will reap destruction and justice will be lost soon after."
"What do you mean justice will be lost?" Bruce didn't trust Constantine but Zatanna's readings were eerily accurate. Her prophecies never failed to come to fruition but the events her cards represented always came to pass in an unexpected manner. The cards seemed to have a cruel sense of humor and a penchant for plot twists.
"That's all the cards will tell us," Constantine's voice becomes serious "I suggest you pack up your pet dominatrix and get the hell out of dodge."
Batman doesn't speak for a moment. He looks over his shoulder at Selina and her dark eyes lock with his. Whatever was coming, the Cat would want to face it side-by-side.
"You're a coward John," Bruce says in a clipped tone "Now take Zee and run as far and as fast as you can." If Zatanna felt it was safer for her to be absent from the coming battle Bruce couldn't argue. Her magic would be a devastating weapon in the wrong hands.
"Be careful," Constantine's voice is devoid of his usual smugness for once "Best I can tell you don't want to be anywhere near the League when this shit goes down."
Bruce hangs up on the mage before he can spit out anymore vague, cryptic warnings. Batman turns to rejoin the group and sees Batgirl had come up from the Cave while he was distracted with the mages' dire message.
"What do you mean, you haven't told him yet?" Batgirl rounds on Alfred, exasperated.
"Haven't had a bloody chance," Alfred counters "Don't you get snippy with me, young lady."
"Told him what?" Catwoman asks before anyone else can.
"Come down to the Cave," Batgirl turns and stalks toward the entrance "We have a unique situation." Barbara tells them over her shoulder. Rather than waste time with more questions, the group hurries to match pace with Batgirl. What's waiting for them in the Cave shocks Huntress, saddens Catwoman, and gives Batman a spark of hope . Nightwing is seated on the gurney that they had left White Rabbit's body on. Dick Grayson is holding one of her hands and seems to be speaking to her softly. The Bats and Catwoman come forward to gather around the gurney. The first thing they notice is that the gash across her throat from Hush was almost closed but the skin hadn't healed properly. All of her wounds from her fight with Hush seemed to be in different stages of healing. The Huntress hangs back, Helena was very confused by the scene playing out before her. She'd never met this girl unless examining her dead body at a crime scene counts.
"Someone explain this," Batman turns to Dick "Is she alive?"
"Sort of," Barbara speaks for Dick "She's been coming in and out of consciousness."
"The serum from Belle Reve must still be in her system," Batman almost sounds like his mood is improving "That means she can be saved."
"We tried to administer a dose," Nightwing finally speaks "She begged us not to do it and I can't disagree with her reasoning."
"Never forget this is my house," Batman raises his voice at Dick "We don't just let people die in my house!"
"Bruce," Rabbit manages to pry her eyes open slowly "You have to let me go, please."
"That is not the way I run my house!" Batman turns on his heel to retrieve the case containing his stash of the serum, courtesy of Amanda Waller from their temporary alliance.
"Master Bruce," Alfred calls to him "That's not your choice."
"Don't care." Batman snatches the case off a shelf and sets it down on the nearest table to draw up a dose.
"Batman," Selina slinks up behind him and puts a clawed hand on his shoulder "You need to respect her wishes."
"You've witnessed how the serum works," Batgirl couldn't believe she was speaking up for her nemesis "We don't have enough to keep her alive long-term, if you do this she'll be forced to return to Belle Reve and if she doesn't go she'll die again anyway! "
"But she has a chance to live," Bruce slams his fists down on the table "That's more than Jason got!"
"That life would be full of Amanda Waller's violence and cruelty," Batgirl's chest clenches at the mention of the lost Robin "Bringing Rabbit back won't balance the scales for Jason, nothing can!"
"Nightwing," Rabbit's voice is raspy she had minutes left at the most "Don't let him…please."
"We won't," Dick reassures her "Don't worry."
"Bruce, you're running out of time to say goodbye." Catwoman does her best to reason with her hard-headed lover.
Rather than respond with words Batman steps back from the case of serum and nods in defeat. Catwoman keeps her hand on his shoulder as they approach their dying teammate together. White Rabbit does her best to smile as Catwoman takes her other hand. Batman reaches out and smooths her wild, white hair away from her face.
"Are you sure?" Bruce could be as stubborn as he was tough.
"I am," Rabbit turns her head to the side and coughs blood "Thanks for helping me become…more."
"Don't be afraid," Catwoman tells her "I die all the time it's no big deal."
White Rabbit opens her mouth to laugh but she doesn't get the chance. Her final breath escapes her throat as the serum finishes fading from her body. Bruce and Dick exchange a look of anguish. They had both mentored Rabbit, losing a young student was never easy for any superhero.
"We should bury her here, on the grounds." Batgirl never liked Rabbit but she would never wish to watch anyone die slowly this way.
"I'm with Babs," Dick finally lets go of Rabbit's hand "She told me she'd spent her life serving different masters, at least now she'll always be free."
"Great," Huntress finally speaks "I'll go find a shovel."
A few hours later, the Bat Family and Catwoman stand encircling the fallen teleporter's grave. They had settled on a big, open area with a single oak tree several acres away from the manor. Huntress smooths the dirt over the grave and looks around at her companions. Batman's face is unreadable. Catwoman stands close to her man but keeps her arms crossed tightly. Bruce was keeping something huge from her and the Cat could practically smell the secret on him. Batgirl and Nightwing stand together with Alfred completing the circle around Rabbit's grave. Dick drops his head and focuses on the ground, prompting Barbara to take his hand. She knew Dick Grayson well and could tell he was struggling. The group waits for Batman or Nightwing to start speaking but neither could find the right words. The mention of Jason Todd's name had rattled their collective cages. Batgirl takes this as her cue to step forward and digs deep for something nice to say about the White Rabbit.
"Rabbit was an unexpected addition to the team in a time of great peril," Barbara begins "I can't say we were close but I can say she turned out to have the heart of a hero and that she showed bravery in the face of death."
Alfred wordlessly pulls out a flask and takes a swig before passing it around to the others. Catwoman takes a long gulp when it reaches her then she holds it out to Batman. Bruce takes the flask in his gloved hands but he doesn't drink. After a moment he empties the flask over the grave and without missing a beat turns and leaves the burial. It didn't need to be said, the Bat Family knew this mood of his. Batman would want to work alone for a time. Alfred gives it a moment before following Bruce back to the manor. Still holding Dick's hand, Barbara starts to turn away but stops when she realizes Nightwing's feet are planted. The two exchange a look and Batgirl sees the devastation in his eyes. Death came often to the Super community but witnessing his student beg to die rather than serve Waller had shaken Nightwing. On a whim Batgirl removes a Batarang from her belt and flicks it into the earth over the grave, marking it. This small gesture soothes the turmoil in Dick's soul enough for him to walk away after Catwoman and Huntress. Batgirl lets go of his hand and pauses by the grave for a moment. "I will not miss you," Batgirl whispers under her breath "But I'm grateful Bruce and Dick had you while I was away, I guess you were a decent quarterback."
"Well, I hope the booze helps with her walk through the valley of shadows," Helena hailed from a very Catholic family "Don't be strangers."
Huntress, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Catwoman exchange goodbyes and head their separate ways. Selina stands on the front steps of Wayne Manor and watches as the Family speed away on their bikes. Once they're gone the Cat stretches lazily and almost chuckles to herself. Selina Kyle wouldn't be going anywhere while Bruce Wayne was harboring such a big secret. Batman would just have to deal with having a curious Cat in the house. Oh, how Selina loved to play this game with him.
Yesterday - Blackgate Penitentiary
Jonny Frost hadn't been imprisoned at Blackgate for very long when he was told he had a visitor. Jonny had no clue as to this mysterious visitor's identity. Shelley had written him a few times but Jonny didn't write back. The last thing he wanted was for his wife to return to Gotham and end up in the Joker's crosshairs again. Jonny silently prays Shelley had moved on while a guard escorts him to a visitation room. The door opens to reveal a military goon sitting at the table. He must think he'd dressed himself as a civilian but Frost clocks him for a high-ranking military officer right away. Jonny rolls his eyes as the guard sits him down and secures his cuffs to the table. Once the guard is gone the soldier pulls out a folder and opens it. Without looking up at Jonny he begins skimming through it. This provokes a laugh from Frost.
"You can stop with the theatrics, Sergeant America," Jonny smirks "Clearly you want something from me."
"Not bad," Colonel Flag leans back in his chair "I heard you were preceptive for a henchman but there's a hell of a lot more to you, isn't there, Jonny Frost?"
"Just tell me the deal." Jonny was in no mood to be psychoanalyzed.
"Straight to business then," Flag grins "I want the dirt on your boss and his girlfriend."
"If you know about my rep then you know I'd never betray J." Jonny says evenly.
"Yeah I knew you'd say that," Flag reaches into the folder and holds up a photo of Shelley "You sure loyal is how you want to play it this time?"
"Hang on let's not get all excited," Jonny keeps his cool despite being infuriated "If I talk to you, I do it on my terms."
"What exactly are those terms?" Flag was just plain curious now.
"First, I want Shelley placed in witness protection," Flag can hear in Jonny's voice just how much he loved his wife "She's to be cared for, do you understand?"
"Simple enough," Flag shrugs "What else?"
"My freedom, obviously." Jonny tells him.
"I've already seen to that," Flag grins "Thomas Elliot set those EMP's to cause the blackout, not you."
"Why in the hell is the military so invested in my freedom," Jonny changes his mind the moment the words leave his mouth "Actually fuck it, I don't want to know."
"Wise choice," Flag pushes a blank notepad and a pen across the table "I'll need everything on the Joker, every address, his work schedule, side hustles, you get the idea."
"Then shut up and let me get to it." Jonny picks up the pen and starts writing.
"I assume you'll want to join your wife once you're released." Flag muses.
"No," Jonny doesn't look up from his task "I'm going back to work."
"Wow," Flag is genuinely shocked "I read everything about you but that file didn't paint you as crazy or stupid."
"The Joker is my responsibility," Jonny finally admits "For years I've kept him focused on building an empire."
"Let me get this straight," Flag points a finger at Frost "You've been babysitting the Joker in a twisted attempt to reduce the destruction he causes?"
"Running the businesses helps him," Frost finishes writing and sets down the pen "When can I go home?"
"You'll be released soon enough," Flag collects the pad and stands up to leave "You are one complicated scumbag, Jonny Frost."
"That's what they all say." Jonny says to himself once the door shuts behind Flag.
Present Day - The Clown's Penthouse
To say that Harley Quinn was upset with the Joker over his attempt to auction off Poison Ivy would be a massive understatement. Harley wakes from the drugged champagne on a couch in the penthouse and immediately starts swinging. The Joker must have brought her home after the event went south.
"Easy baby," Joker's face appears in her periphery and his hands wind around her wrists "Let's not overreact."
"Overreact," Harley shrieks and kicks him square in the chest "You tried to sell my best friend!"
The kick knocks Joker back onto the floor while Harley jumps to her feet. She starts to viciously kick him in the ribs but stops when she hears him laughing. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Harley yells in frustration.
"Can't help it," Joker giggles as he gets to his feet "Doctor Harleen Quinzel never would've had the balls to fight back."
"Well, Puddin, you killed her when you made me," Harley hisses through clenched teeth "Now give me your keys!"
"Let me guess," the Joker holds out his keys "You're leaving me to crawl back to Ivy, how very boring."
"Maybe," Harley says casually as she snatches the keys "I haven't decided yet, Puddin!"
"You'll be back," the Joker says smugly as Harley heads for the elevator "I made you, Baby-cakes there's no move you can make that I won't predict."
Harley ignores him completely and steps into the elevator. She faces him as the doors shut but doesn't give in and respond to his statement. The moment the elevator starts moving Harley hears his laugh bouncing around the shaft above her. After a few floors it fades and she breathes out a sigh of relief. Most thought Harley Quinn feared nothing and they were correct to a degree. Only Harleen knew her deepest fear and weakness, heartbreak. She can feel it weighing on her soul as she gets in the Jokermobile and starts driving to Ivy's mansion. The entire drive Harley tells herself she'd find a way to make this up to Pammy. She speeds the whole way and parks as close to the front door as possible. Harley gets out of the Jokermobile and rushes up the front steps. She raises a hand to knock before realizing the front door is cracked.
"No," Harley cries as she pushes the door open "No, damn it, no!"
Poison Ivy's residence had been completely cleared out. Only a few random pieces of furniture remained. Ivy hadn't bothered to cover them it was obvious she had no intention of returning. Harley runs from room to room, crying out for Poison Ivy. In a last ditch attempt to find Ivy Harley goes out back to the greenhouse and finds it empty too. Harley sinks to her knees in despair and spots a dead leaf nearby on the floor. She picks it up, careful not to crush it and holds the leaf close to her heart.
"I love you, Pammy," Harley whispers down to the leaf "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Poison Ivy's final message was very clear. She didn't want to be found by Harley or anyone else. Harley sits on the floor of the greenhouse for hours, stubbornly waiting for Ivy to return. Eventually a set of headlights roll up the driveway and Harley's heart does a flip in her chest. Had Ivy sensed her presence and returned? A car door shuts and Harley can hear the crunch of footsteps on the gravel driveway. The greenhouse door opens and Harley is shocked to see Jonny Frost come striding in like a gallant knight.
"I must be hallucinating," Harley shakes her pigtails "You're in Blackgate."
Frost kneels when he reaches Harley and holds out his hands to help her up.
"Some kid at the DA's office decided to play TV lawyer," Jonny grins through the lie "Pinned my sentence on Hush."
Harley lets Jonny help her up and hugs him once she's on her feet.
"It's damn good to see you, Jonny." Harley thought she'd never see the loyal henchman again.
"You too, Harley Girl," Jonny squeezes her shoulders "J told me to bring you home, are you ready?"
"Oh boy am I," Harley whirls and heads for the door "Ready to slap his face off!"
"Great, more Clown drama." Jonny says sarcastically as he follows Harley outside. They abandon the car Jonny had stolen for the drive over and take the Jokermobile back to the penthouse together. When the elevator doors open to let them into the opulent living space the Joker is nowhere to be seen. Then Harley and Jonny hear someone playing the opening notes of "You Don't Own Me" on the white piano in the living room. The Joker hears them enter but he doesn't look up or stop playing the song as Harley comes closer. Jonny Frost leans against a wall and crosses his arms, ready to break up a Clown fight if it came to that.
"I take it you didn't find what you were looking for," the Joker gloats "Since you're right back where you started."
"Puddin." Something in her voice causes the Joker to drop his smug air. He stops playing immediately and takes Harley's hands, tugging gently until she sits next to him on the piano bench. Joker wraps his arms around her and buries his face in her hair.
"Promise me," Joker says after a moment "No one comes between the Clowns ever again."
"I promise," Harley circles her arms around his neck "Promise, promise, promise."
It was a lovely sentiment and a slightly less toxic chapter in the Clown's relationship. Jonny Frost couldn't believe how far the two had come. Unfortunately, Jonny also bore the knowledge that the Clowns were being targeted. Whoever sent the mysterious military man to free him from Blackgate wasn't fucking around. One would have to be very high up in the intelligence community to pull those kinds of strings. Jonny does his best to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach and goes to fetch a bottle of champagne. The Joker would want to celebrate and Jonny knew better than most to savor the good times.
For a time, Gotham seems to relax. The Joker's businesses were raking in plenty of cash and he seemed to be reveling in this stage of his relationship with Harley. Lower ranking gangsters like Penguin and Black Mask took their cues from the Joker. No one made any true mischief without the Joker's permission these days. The Clown Prince is photographed out clubbing with Harley often but they hadn't committed any crimes big enough to put them on the Bat's radar. At this point the Joker's organized crime network had become an institution that Gotham's economy would crumble without. So long as Harley and the Joker didn't go on killing spree or bomb anything, there was an unspoken truce. Batman and Catwoman actually get to enjoy themselves breaking up muggings and petty robberies out on patrol. Some nights Huntress joins them. Batgirl had decided to take a break from being a Bat to spend time with her family. No one knew where Nightwing was. Dick Grayson was likely still miffed over the way Bruce had dismissed his progeny. Batman even begins to fantasize that maybe Waller had been demoted and he wouldn't have to repay the favor he owed her. His fantasy is crushed one morning while watching the news over breakfast. An assassin that matched Deadshot's M.O. had killed a witness on his way in to testify. Bruce knows what would be coming next and is grateful that Selina never got out of bed before noon. The Cat didn't need to know about his debt to Waller.
"Call for you," Alfred sticks his head into the kitchen "Downstairs."
Bruce leaves his food and goes down to the Batcave. He takes his sweet time settling in behind a computer to take Waller's call. He prepares to use his Batman voice and makes sure the camera isn't on. Batman does not make embarrassing rookie mistakes. The Bat Family would never let him live it down if he did and Bruce couldn't have that. Finally, he hits a key to take the call.
"Took you long enough, Batman." Waller comes out of the gate pissed off.
"Cut to the chase Waller," Bruce growls "What do you want?"
"So many things," Waller's tone is disturbingly whimsical "Let's start with toy soldiers."
"I see, problem is you've lost your leverage," Bruce was almost enjoying this "Rabbit chose to die rather than return to your program."
"I'm well aware," Waller says impatiently "Listen Mr. Wayne, you will deliver Deadshot to my facility or I will blow up your life. Then I'll dig Rabbit up, pump her full of the Samsara serum and keep her in my vault for as long as I damn well please."
"No respect for the dead I see," Bruce doesn't drop his Batman voice "I capture Deadshot, you let me and that poor kid rest in peace."
"I want the Clowns too." Now Waller was really starting to piss Bruce off.
"They're both criminally insane," Bruce still hadn't figured why Waller wanted the Joker so badly "I can't just hand them over, they'll be taken to Arkham and you'll have to cut through a mountain of red tape if you want them."
"Let me worry about that," Waller says mysteriously "I'm sending Deadshot's file, Waller out."
Waller hangs up on Bruce Wayne, leaving the Bat to his musings. He gets on the computer and opens his file on Task Force X. Mugshots and bios of Waller's starting lineup stare back at him from the screen. White Rabbit's mugshot is obscured by a red X. Her status simply reads "inactive". The rest of Waller's roster are all alive and in custody except for Deadshot and the Clowns. Bruce spreads the file out, using all of the Batcave's computers as a single large screen. He rolls back in his chair and swivels, looking from mugshot to mugshot.
"Pyrokinetic, a marksman, muscle," Bruce speaks quietly to himself "Some cannon fodder, magical muscle, guy that climbs shit and..Clowns."
Batman felt like the world's slowest detective for taking this long to understand why Waller wanted the Clowns on her team so desperately. When and if a mission went sideways, Waller intended to use her own assets as fall guys. That was how she'd sell Task Force X to her superiors this time. Whatever went wrong, the world would certainly buy that the Joker and Harley did it. Bruce doesn't feel great about moving forward for Waller but on the other hand his life was kind of nice right now and he really didn't want Waller to ruin it. Bruce spins in the chair to make sure he's still alone, then he pulls a black velvet ring box out of his pocket. He flicks it open and nearly smiles at the ring he intended to give Selina Kyle. In that moment, looking into that diamond, he knew what lengths he'd go to for the Cat. Batman already knew he would lie and die for her. Making the decision to send some old enemies to a different kind of prison wasn't hard. He'd go after Deadshot tonight. Floyd Lawton was a wanted hitman with plenty of warrants out. The Clowns would be slightly trickier. Batman would have to wait for them to do something a little more drastic than organized crime. It wouldn't be long, the Joker was a jealous man that couldn't help showing off his most prized possession. Leaving the Clowns be right now would produce the exact results Batman needed to bring them in. Appeasing Waller wouldn't stop her from continuing to blackmail Batman in the future. It would however buy him some time to dig up more dirt on Waller and Belle Reve. Once he got clear of Waller Batman could propose to the Cat without a major threat looming over their heads. If Batman had known what his dealings with Amanda Waller would set in motion, he never would've asked for her help back when the Joker took over Gotham. Oblivious to the chain of events he'd triggered, Batman suits up and gets to work researching Deadshot's haunts.
After the events of Suicide Squad
When the Joker rescued Harley Quinn from Belle Reve, she thought she was finally getting her fairytale ending with the Clown Prince. For a while Harley lives in pure bliss. She couldn't even remember the last time Mr. J laid a finger on her. Gradually, the Joker begins to change and not for the better. He slowly starts to pull away from Harley and gravitate toward Batman-obsessed madness. The Joker spends all of his time building death traps and hatching complicated plots to hurt the Bat Family. He sells off his properties and businesses to lesser gangsters like Penguin to fund this obsession. The penthouse is the only property he keeps or the Clowns would be homeless. Harley goes along with him at first, determined to support her Puddin. Until the day comes when the Joker realizes Harley is crazier and more fearless than he'd ever be. His creation had become more adept at his game than he could ever be. Without any hesitation, Mr. J kicks Harley to the curb like the promise they'd made to one another meant nothing. All because she dared to outshine him. Harley does her own thing for a while, creating chaos when and where she saw fit. Before long she attracts Waller's attention and ends up back on the Suicide Squad. The Joker begins to hear about his ex's adventures through other villains and that's when it hits him. He'd made a mistake dumping her and wanted her back as his partner in crime. The Joker just couldn't get it right without his Harley behind him. All of the chatter and gossip about his ex saving the world on multiple occasions drives him even further into jealousy and madness. He hated that she was thriving without him and diluting his brand while she was at it. The Joker needed to plan the perfect crime to show Harley he still had it and teach her a lesson for thinking she could be more than just his girl. While Harley is with the Squad, Joker spends most of his time pacing the run-down penthouse in a jealous rage. The Clown's formerly gorgeous home had fallen into squalor without Harley's eye for style. Making things even worse, the Joker was mentally blocked and unable to come up with a crime big enough to satisfy his madness. After weeks of pacing and talking to himself, the Joker starts gathering every knife and gun left in the penthouse. He gets down on his knees and starts laying them out on the floor in a circular pattern just like he'd done the first time Harley was imprisoned in Belle Reve.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," comes a voice "This shit again, really?"
The Joker snatches up a handgun and aims it at a figure lurking in a shadowy corner. His vision focuses and the Joker realizes it's just Jonny Frost.
"Jonny," Joker lowers the gun "Where is she?"
"You know where she is, boss," Frost crouches so they're at eye-level "You done fucked up, she'd rather be a good guy than be with you!"
"That will never be true!" Joker raises the gun again and fires twice at Frost. Jonny just laughs as the bullets hit the wall behind him.
"You already popped my top, boss," Jonny chuckles "Though I do love a good hissy fit!"
"I remember now," Joker drops the gun "I pawn sacrificed you to escape Batman."
"You didn't need to kill me but Batsy hates it when you cap people like that," Frost nods enthusiastically "So what now, boss?"
"I need your help," Joker's voice becomes frantic "Help me plan the mother of all crimes!"
"Calm down you sound like a cartoon," Frost stands and walks over to a wall plastered with diagrams of rejected ideas "The problem is you're not thinking big enough."
"Oh Jonny-Jonny," the Joker begins to laugh manically "You always know just what I need!"
"You know that you're hallucinating, right," Frost suddenly shape-shifts into Selina Kyle "I'm a manifestation of your consciousness."
"Shoo Kitty," the Joker dismisses his delusion "Frost was right, bigger is better."
The Joker gets to work while he waits for Harley to come home. She always turned up even if it was just to collect a box of her stuff or punch him in the face. His grand design had many moving parts and it would take time to procure the necessary materials. He'd also have to assemble those parts and get them into position. Over the next few months the Joker stays laser-focused on his task. He plans every step in pain-staking detail and makes sure to pepper in plenty of his own, personal flair. The world would know that the Joker and Harley Quinn committed this most devastating of crimes. Together the Clowns would own Gotham again and their life together would resume, business as usual. Only the Joker was capable of the mental gymnastics it must have taken to convince him that this plan would launch him into his criminal prime. In reality, the Joker was setting up his own fall and sealing the fate of everyone in costume. Heroes and villains alike would suffer or die as a result of his final and greatest crime.
The Distant Future - ?
Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, and the Joker stand together on the edge of a ruined city. An unending hell scape looms before them as far as the eye can see. The trio is battered, broken, and had become battle-hardened over the last few years. Batman takes no issue with using guns now and wears a brown duster over his suit with goggles to protect his eyes from harsh conditions. Catwoman had finally allowed the Bat to make her an upgraded suit shortly after everything went to hell. Panels of kevlar were grafted into the new suit to protect her ribcage and heart. The Cat's hood was made from kevlar now too and her goggles were equipped with the most advanced Wayne technology Batman could cram into them. The Joker was another story completely. The Clown Prince had fallen far from his days of luxurious parties and high fashion. His green hair had grown out long and stringy into split ends that nearly touched his shoulders. He'd taken to caking his face in horrifying white makeup with red lipstick smeared haphazardly around his mouth. He was wearing a filthy white surgical gown and a bulletproof SWAT vest that Batman had slapped on him at some point. Neither Bruce nor Selina knew where the gown came from. Due to his lack of face tattoos they just assumed he'd killed a plastic surgeon after having them removed. His weapon of choice was an army-grade machine gun with a shoulder strap that allowed him to free his hands quickly for hand-to-hand combat. Every time the trio came across a dead cop the Joker wouldn't keep moving until he'd taken their badge and pinned it on his vest. He spots a long-abandoned police car nearby and walks away to begin his ritual. The Joker scans the ground and starts digging through the car, ultimately coming up empty-handed. He lets out a disappointed sigh and takes a seat on the hood of the car, cradling the machine gun in his lap like a small child. Bruce and Selina ignore him for the most part, having grown bored of his antics by now.
"Is there nothing else I can say to change your mind?" Batman asks the love of his life.
"Absolutely not," Selina flexes her powerful, new claws "It's a good plan and going back on your word wouldn't be very honorable."
Selina's words prompt a sudden stream of cackling from the Joker and they both glare at him in exasperation.
"We live in a society," he pauses dramatically just to annoy them "Where honor is a distant memory, isn't that right, Batman!"
"Knock off that obtuse bullshit and focus," Selina calls the Joker out before Batman gets a chance "We only get one shot at this."
"Oh my sweet Kitten what's become of us," the Joker's tone is suddenly devoid of mockery "We used to be the best of friends."
"Shut it and be ready to move," Batman barks at his nemesis "We end this today."
Author's note : The end, finally! Thanks for reading. If anyone following/favorited from before is still reading I'm happy to keep posting updates here. Otherwise I'll create a new story for the sequel. Character relationships and development will carry over but not much else will. My intention is for the sequel to work as a stand-alone. The plot is inspired by the Joker scene from the Snyder cut but that's all I plan on using from either of the Justice League movies. I'm a weirdo that's always more interested in the underrated characters so while the next installment will feature big names, screen time will go to the characters I'm most familiar with. Jokes & Harl will remain MCs along with Batsy & Cat. The plan is to pick up where this story ends and fill in the blanks between the Joker plotting and that glimpse of the future.