Unhinged
A Gotham fanfic
Hi, there! You thought I was done with Harley Quinn, now that Gotham is over? Well, THINK AGAIN! Someone gave me an awesome idea while I was reading over all of the reviews I had received, and I was inspired to continue this story with another installment, even though the beloved TV series has now ended. Speaking of which...was anyone else SUPER disappointed with the ending? I mean, it seemed kind of pointless to have Bruce stay a kid throughout almost the entire series and then just-BAM!-have him all grown up and us not even get to see his face, but then see LITERALLY EVERYONE ELSE'S. The ending of Gotham has also inspired me to create a NEW ending, a BETTER ending, one that hopefully will satisfy those who also thought the end of the show was too...abrupt. And once I figure out exactly what that ending will be, I look forward to sharing it with you all.
So, just an update for those who have not read "Criminal Witness" and "In My Blood": This is an origin story I created for Harleen Quinzel, AKA Harley Quinn (but of course, you KNOW that). If you'd like to catch up before checking out this story, please do! I just love checking my email and seeing how many people follow and review my stories. They inspire me to want to create more fanfics. "Criminal Witness" was written after they had introduced the character of Jeremiah Valeska, but I kept Jerome alive. "In My Blood" focuses on the aftermath of the events of "Criminal Witness". THIS installment will focus on multiple elements leading to Harleen Quinzel ultimately becoming Harley Quinn, the woman who is truly...unhinged. See what I did there?
Wow, this has to be a record for the longest intro I have ever done. So why all this chatting?! I am excited to get going on this, and I hope whoever reads this is excited, too! Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gotham or any of the characters within the DC Universe.
Harleen Quinzel stared straight ahead into nothingness, unable to speak or move, as paramedics rushed up the stairs where she had sank to her knees after screaming at her reflection for several minutes.
"Harleen, please", Bruce begged, kneeling down by her side. "What is it? Please, talk to me."
The girl didn't even blink as one of the paramedics took her pulse.
"She's become catatonic", he said. "She can't hear a word you're saying, kid."
"Harleen", Bruce breathed as the paramedics slowly lifted her up and draped her arms over their shoulders. Harleen's legs dragged across the floor as they carried her away, her short blonde hair still dripping wet.
"Honestly, I'm surprised she's made it this long", said Alfred, putting a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "The poor girl has been through quite a lot, these last few months."
"Yeah, but what did she mean when she said, "What have I done?""
Harleen remained glassy-eyed as the paramedics loaded her into the back of an ambulance. Her chest moved up and down as they hooked her up to an IV. Harleen didn't even blink when the needle went into her arm.
"Man, this girl is out of it", said a woman placing a blood pressure cuff over her arm.
"Are we sure she doesn't belong in the psych ward?" said a man, checking Harleen's pulse.
"Mr. Wayne said to treat her with the best of care in the hospital", said the last paramedic. "Apparently, she's been through quite an ordeal."
Bruce and Alfred watched from the front door as the ambulance drove off.
"I've never seen her so far gone", said Bruce. "Alfred, what could have happened?"
…
Across town, a woman in a clown mask strutted down a graveyard, carrying a tape player. A small gathering of people, dressed eccentrically, let her pass. She set down the player on a grave labeled Jerome Valeska and hit Play. What came out was the voice of Jerome, urging his followers that though he was gone, they were still going to have some fun. He told them to dig him up, which they eagerly began to do.
The next morning, Jerome's followers stormed the GCPD and took hostages, drinking and laughing and telling bad jokes and having a grand time. Meanwhile, Bruce was down at Jeremiah's bunker, trying to convince him that Jerome was really dead. To his horror, he discovered that Jeremiah had been affected by a parting gift from Jerome, and now was just as insane as he was. The only difference was that he didn't want to kill Bruce; he wanted him to be like the brother he never had.
Jeremiah soon revealed himself to the GCPD, saying that his generators that could power Gotham also made excellent bombs, which he had planted all around the city. Jeremiah had almost killed Jim Gordon, and did kill Jerome's followers after he failed to let those bombs go off and they called him a fraud. With only Ecco remaining as his loyal assistant, he struck up a partnership with Bruce and Harleen's common enemy: Ra's al Ghul.
Harvey Bullock, with the help of Lucius Fox, managed to defuse the bomb that connected the ones around the city, but the victory was short-lived as Jeremiah showed up unexpectedly at Bruce's house and shot Selina in the stomach, being arrested shortly afterwards.
The GCPD was taken over by the military, and Jeremiah was strapped to a metal table in the GCPD when it was revealed there were other bombs which Ra's had helped him steal. Jeremiah would only talk to Bruce, prompting the major to bring him in by force. Jeremiah taunted Bruce, and revealed that he and Ra's were working together before the lights went out in the GCPD.
…
Harleen Quinzel was sitting up in her hospital bed, the TV in front of her having been left on the news. It had been three days since they had taken her away from Wayne Manor, and she still hadn't shown any signs of improvement. Harleen had not said a word or had anything to eat or drink in her catatonic state. Doctors and nurses began to think that this time, she was truly gone. As a nurse came in to check and see if her meal for that evening had been touched, a breaking news report flashed on the screen.
"I am standing outside the Gotham City Police Department", said the newscaster, "where, in a stunning turn of events, Jeremiah Valeska, the brother of Jerome, has escaped the facility and abducted Bruce Wayne-"
"HHHHHH!"
The nurse jumped as Harleen gasped for air, seeming to finally snap out of her trance. She began to hyperventilate, holding her head in her hands, as the news report continued.
"Authorities say there has been no sign of Mr. Wayne since he was taken from the GCPD, and no ransom demand has been delivered."
"Bruce."
Harleen's head shot up, and her eyes were suddenly fixated on the screen as images of her friend and Jeremiah Valeska appeared side to side over the reporter's face.
"It's all my fault", she said softly, and clenched her hands into fists. "I have to fix this."
The nurse could only stare in shock as Harleen ripped the IV out of her arm, swung her legs over the bed and stepped onto the floor.
"Whoa!" she said as Harleen headed for the door. "Uh, where do you think you're going?"
"To save my friend."
Harleen tried to push her way past, but the nurse held her arms out, blocking her escape.
"I don't think so!" she said. "Listen, dear, you just came out of what we basically categorize as a coma, and I am not just gonna let you-"
The nurse all but screamed as Harleen grabbed the front of her scrubs and hoisted her into the air.
"No one is taking him away from me", Harleen said darkly, and threw her down before stepping outside the room.
"Patient escape!" the nurse shouted down the hall, struggling to her feet. "Runaway patient!"
Harleen made her way to the front of the hospital, not bothering to care about the patients, doctors and nurses staring after her.
"Don't let her get away!"
Harleen turned to see a trio of doctors wearing face masks behind her, and she rolled her eyes. The doctor in the middle stepped forward, and Harleen froze when she saw he had a syringe.
"Come now, Ms. Quinzel", he said, his voice muffled by the mask. "You know we can't let you leave. Come quietly and this will all be over soon. Mr. Wayne asked that we take care of you."
At these words, Harleen relaxed and unballed the fists at her sides.
"That's it", the doctor said, clearly thinking he was getting through to her. "Now, why don't we just-"
Harleen turned and bolted for the door, not looking back. As she turned a corner, strong arms seized her by the waist, holding her back.
"Get off me!" she insisted, and kneed the person holding her in the stomach. As they released their grip, she took off again as more nurses chased after her, calling her by name.
Harleen finally made it to the front door, looking around. She saw a man helping an old lady out of their car and dove into the driver's seat.
"I'm sorry!" she called through the window as the man started to protest. "This is an emergency!"
With that, she slammed her foot down on the gas pedal and tore out of the parking lot just as the people chasing her came to a stop at the automatic doors.
"Call the police", said the head nurse into his walkie. "Tell them Harleen Quinzel is awake."
…
Harleen's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as she drove through the streets of Gotham.
"So what exactly is your plan, blondie?" Harley 2 said in her head. "I mean, it's not like ya know where they took the kid, ya know?"
"Forget where they took him", said Harley 1. "Let's talk about who took him. I mean, this guy might be better than his brother was. Did you see the way he-"
"Shut up!" Harleen yelled, swerving to avoid a dump truck. "I don't have the time or patience for your usual banter. If you're not going to help me find Bruce, then GET LOST."
"Well, so-rry!" Harley 2 said.
"Little tip, puddin'", said Harley 1. "The kid was taken from the GCPD. So that's probably where you need to start."
"Good point", said Harleen.
"Then here's another good one", said Harley 2. "U-TURN!"
Harleen jerked the wheel to the left and spun it, ignoring the cacophony of honks and curses that came flying at her, and headed straight for the GCPD.
…
"How could you let them take him?!" Alfred was saying to the major, who was speechless. ""Oh yeah, he'll be perfectly fine in there, there's no way Jeremiah Valeska can escape"-would you care to explain how a man strapped to a metal table managed to take down a team of guards AND escape with a teenager?!"
"Get this man out of my sight", the major finally said, but no one moved. It was then that Jim Gordon stepped up and regained control of the GCPD, detaining the major.
"Alright, listen up!" he said. "I want every cop on the streets. We don't rest until Bruce Wayne has been found."
As the major was being led away, he tried to go awol, grabbing a gun from a nearby officer and raising it. SHING! A knife flew across the room, stabbing him in the hand. The major cried out and clutched it, blood spilling on the marble floor.
"Medic!" Gordon called as the major was led away.
"Speaking of "not resting"', Alfred said, staring at the doorway.
Harleen Quinzel stood there, having just thrown the knife, and locked eyes with Jim Gordon.
"Where is he?" she said darkly.
There you have it, folks! Chapter 1! Forgive me if it seems a bit rushed, and sorry if I got any of the events out of order/forgot the actual dialogue, but hey! The whole point of fanfiction is improvising, am I right?...no?..okay, then-shoot me a review, let me know what you thought, if you wish! Be back soon.
-Imagigirl20