AN: Thank you for all the lovely little reviews/ follows. Every time I get one it just makes me smile. This chapter practically wrote itself as soon as I posted the other one, and since you guys seemed to want more backstory/ pre-movie action, I had to oblige.

Chapter 2: Illusion Shaker

River's POV

XXX

I'm standing in the middle of a crowded Gotham street. I look down and see my arms and legs are shackled, but no one bothers to look at me… it's almost as if they can't see me at all. More and more people begin to swarm around me… they start bumping into me, knocking me to and fro.

"Little girl." Enchantress's unmistakable voice rings in my ears.

I can feel the metal shackles start to dig into my skin. Feel the sticky wet blood running out of the gashes. I crouch down trying to make myself smaller… to shy away from the world around me… but it's no use. Its just a sea of people closing in on me.

Enchantress taunts me. "Lost little girl."

XXX

My eyes open and I sit up in bed. I take in my surroundings and exhale. I'm still in my Gotham city hotel room. It was nothing but a dream. And since the clock on the cable box reads 2:30am I know I wasn't asleep for very long.

My face contorts into a scowl. I'm not quite sure if its actually her or just the manifestation of feelings I'm repressing. It would be easy enough to label her, my 'kidnaper,' so to speak, as the embodiment of my fears in my nightmares.

It has been happening since she brought me here. Every few nights… some different twisted illusion. Each one playing off some form of repressed fear or emotion. She'd changed so much by bringing me here. Some of it good, some of it… just different.

I'd felt focused, as if a haze of secrets they had burned into my brain had been washed away by taking me out of that time. Gone were the nightmares of hands of blue, the Academy, Dr. Mathias, and Reavers. They couldn't touch me here.

But those old ghosts had been replaced by her illusions. Her whispers and echoes were trying to crawl into my brain, and I'm not sure if it was really better or worse.

Either way, I won't be getting back to sleep anytime soon, so I swing my legs over the side of the bed and gently stretch my limbs before skulking over to my suitcase. I dig through and find my black dress and pull it on before slipping my feet into my boots and lacing them up.

"If I can't sleep, I might as well get out of here." I say as I grab my leather jacket, hotel room key, and my wallet before heading out the door.

Most nights I would let myself wander around the city, get lost in the sea of thoughts swimming around me, like I used to on Serenity. But tonight I feel a certain pull in the direction of a very infamous club. Joker's club.

It's playing with fire… walking into that club so soon after Harley's capture. But in all truthfulness it's one of the only places in Gotham I felt… at ease. Everywhere else in Gotham people wear masks. You only see what they want you to see. But at the Joker's club? No one was hiding. Not even the Joker.

It seems ridiculous… that Batman never really came after the Joker at his club. But maybe that was just it. Maybe, because Bruce Wayne always had a general idea of where the Joker was, he never felt the need. Sure, he would chase after him, in some exaggerated way all over the city, but he never seemed too bothered when the Joker would inevitably escape.

Or maybe, they were always destined to do this dance. Because without the Joker, it would mean the end of Batman. And maybe that's what Bruce Wayne feared most.

I'd been to the club a few times before to "listen" to both Harley and Joker, so getting in wasn't going to be an issue. Again, no one was hiding when they went to Joker's club, and I had seen plenty of "upstanding politicians" tucked away in corner booths with escorts and girls draped around them while I was there. That was the thing, the hypocrisy of it all. Everyone loved to circle around the gangsters, they liked the danger of it, the thrill… they just didn't want to admit that what the Joker had is what they secretly wanted too.

Maybe that made Joker the more honest one. At least he could admit what he wanted to the world.

XXX

Twenty minutes later and I am standing in a short line of women to get inside. Joker's club was the same as all the other in town, always a short line for the pretty girls. I smile at the bouncer as I walk in and head straight for the bar once I'm inside.

It's dark and moody in the club tonight, and I wonder if it's because Harley isn't here. When I had been here in the past it had been loud, almost mind-numbingly loud. But tonight? Tonight the energy was oppressive… like all the demons were coming out to play.

I navigate my way to the bar and flag down the bartender. "Illusion Shaker please."

The bartender looks at me confused. "What's in that?" He asks dumbfounded.

I open my mouth to answer, but before I can the guy next to me does.

"45mL Midori, 15mL Vodka, 15mL Triple Sec, 45mL Pineapple Juice, and 15mL Lemon Juice shaken with ice and then poured in a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish it witha cherry for the doll too." The guy says in a strong Australian accent.

Shit, I think as my mind registers that voice. I'd been damn near stalking him enough the last week to know it from a mile away. I take a breath and turn towards none other than George 'Digger' Harkness, aka Captain Boomerang.

"Thanks." I reply before turning my attention back towards the bartender's direction.

"Oh, no need to thank this ol' bogan luv. Jus' happy to help a doll out."

I try my best to stifle a laugh, because the thoughts rumbling around in Harkness' head are the exact opposite of the words coming out of his mouth. No, Harkness is more concerned with what color my panties might be and if I am wearing any under my dress. Albeit the thoughts in his head are much more jumbled due to his severe intoxication.

"Me name's Digger, luv. What might yours be?"

I don't respond and continue to wait for my drink from the bartender.

This doesn't dissuade Harkness from continuing to talk to me though. "Ah, I getcha. One of them hard to get types, right?"

I glance over at him and decide to have a bit of fun. I lean slightly in his direction. "Maybe I'm just trouble." I say quietly.

"Oh I could do with a spot of trouble luv, and you do seem a might tasty."

This time I do laugh at what he says as the bartender hands me my drink.

"How much?" I ask as I fish into my pocket for my wallet.

Just as my hand touches my wallet I feel a hand grab my arm and I instinctively grab onto it with enough force to stop the person. I glare at Harkness as he continues to keep me from going for my wallet. However he's too drunk to notice the death glare I am giving him, and if it wasn't for the thick coat he's wearing I am pretty sure he would have a palm sized bruise from my grip.

"Put her's on my tab!" Harkness says quickly as I release his arm. I don't make another move for my wallet.

"Thanks." I grumble before I take a sip of my drink.

"Not every day a doll like yourself orders an Illusion Shaker. Takes me back to my youth in 'Staila. You spend much time in 'Stralia luv?" He asks curiously.

"No… it's on my list." I reply. I don't know why I'm continuing to talk with him, and it almost seems wrong considering that tip I sent out earlier. This time tomorrow Harkness sure as hell won't be so please to be talking to the pretty doll who 'sent him up the river.'

I chuckle at the idiocy of the situation and my very bad pun.

"Somethin' funny doll?" He ask with a small chuckle of his own.

I take another large sip of my drink before I answer him. "Not really." I say with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, now why would you go and keep somethin' to yourself luv? You can tell ol' Digger them naughty thoughts."

"Who says they're naughty?" I say with a laugh and take another swig of my drink.

"You're think about ol' Digger here. If they ain't naughty I'm losing me touch."

I smile. He's drunk… completely harmless to me right now. But I know better. I know he doesn't play well with others. Know all about his past and the job he's got setup for tomorrow. But I still smile… because there is just a small bit of him that reminds me of Mal and Jayne, and that's enough for me in this moment.

But my smile quickly turns to a frown as I see the sulking figure of one Clown Prince of Gotham heading directly from the front door towards his usual table. He's practically screaming thoughts of murder, mayhem, and a intense desire to recover a missing harlequin. If left unattended this will not end well. He's liable to raze the entire city turning over rocks looking for her.

"Thanks for the drink Digger." I say as I move away from the bar and towards the back area.

Once again I feel a hand grab onto mine to stop me, but instead of my normal reflex to beat whoever touches me to a living pulp, I just look up at Digger's face.

"Runnin' away already?" He says with a smile wide enough to show his gold tooth.

I shake my head. "Duty calls."

"So when can ol' Digger see you again trouble?"

I laugh at his persistence and decide to play a little joke. "I'll see you in a week."

"It's a date." He says as he lets go of my arm and I begin to move away.

XXX

I leave my drink on a nearby table as I move across the room. I'm in luck, and Johnny Frost, the Joker's right hand man, is near the short set of steps leading to the Joker's table.

I make to walk past him and get immediately stopped.

"Woah, woah, woah, where do you think you're goin' lady?"

"Up there. I have information for your boss."

"Na-uh. Boss ain't in an entertainin' mood." Frost replies holding his ground, and simultaneously giving me the once over. Like Digger, he's more curious about me naked than what I have to say. Men are such boobs.

I roll my eyes and fix him with my best death glare while standing their impatiently. "It's about Harley Quinn."

He thoughts immediately sober and I get a death glare of my own. "Anything you have to say to him about Harley, you can say to me."

I shake my head. "That's not how this works. So if you want to tell your boss that you turned away someone with info on Harley, be my guest."

Frost's eyes narrow at me. "Wait here." He says as he turns, goes up the steps, and walks over to his boss. I watch as he leans down and whispers in the Joker's ear.

"She says she has information on Harley." Frost's voice bounces around in my head.

The Joker doesn't say anything, but waves a hand for Frost to fetch me.

Frost walks back over to the top of the steps and then motions for me to step forward and hold my arms out. I oblige as he goes for the obligatory pat down. At least he doesn't try and get fresh and cop a feel.

When he satisfied that I don't have a weapon or hidden wire taped somewhere he motions me towards the Joker.

"He ain't shake hands. But sit down and have a drink." Frost says as he moves to stand next to the Joker.

I sit, but don't grab a drink from the table. I don't say anything initially either. It's the first time I have been this close to him…close enough to truly appreciate the intricacies of his mind. It's organized chaos… the living embodiment of a Jackson Pollock painting. Each proverbial stroke of the Joker's hand was intentional. He was a master painter, and his chosen medium was organized disorder. If you focus on each stroke you get lost… but when you consider the whole picture, it's a different story.

The Joker doesn't say anything, but as my silence drags out he does glance in my direction.

"Harley isn't in Gotham." I say as I meet his gaze. "They've already moved her to a black site."

A growl emirates from him as he eyes me more closely now. "Are you sweet talkin' me?" He asks as he leans towards me.

I resist the urge to laugh. He may intimidate other people, but the organized chaos of his mind tells me he won't kill me. Not yet at least, not until I outlive my usefulness… It's why he didn't kill Dr. Quinzel, and made her into Harley Quinn. She was a useful ally… someone who could appreciate the whole picture.

"No reason to sweet talk you." I say as I sit back in my seat and give him a small smile… showing him just how at ease I am in his presence.

His cackling laugh spills out of his gold plated mouth. "I love this girl." He says as he stands and moves closer to my side of the booth. "No fear."

I smile at him. "Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will."

"Ahh.. but curiosity killed the cat. And your just like a cat, aren't ya? Sitting there, acting so sweet…Playing both sides to get what you want."

I giggle. What is it with these guys comparing me to cats lately? First Batman, now the Joker? It's comical.

"Not a cat, just someone offering a name."

This piques his interest and I can see the cogs clicking and turning in his mind. So many different variables to consider.

"And what would this name be?" He says with a clicking of his tongue.

"Griggs. Captain of the guards at the black site." I say as I scoot out of the booth and stand up to leave. Frost steps forward and blocks my path by placing his hand in front of me.

"You don't leave until he says you can." Frost glowers at me.

But he doesn't realize what's happened until I have grabbed his wrist and twisted it around his back and force him to kneel in front of me, and between me and the Joker.

The Joker's maniacal laughter bounces off the walls at my little display… his mind sings of appreciation for the little show. It wasn't every day that a girl half Frost's size could surprise him, and she certainly had.

I look up at the Joker as he claps his hands enthusiastically. "Oh I really love this girl." He says between his laughter.

I release Frost's arm and he quickly gets up and straightens his jacket and moves a little bit further away from me, and I give the Joker a small curtsey as he continues to clap. "I do hope we meet again, Miss?" The Joker asks as he gives his approval for me to leave.

"Call me whatever you like." I say as I walk away from the table.

His voice bellows behind me. "See you around kitty cat."

XXX

AN: Alright, so I couldn't resist a little flirtation with Digger in this. He's the whole reason we have to blame for this fanfic (Jai Courtney is just too cute). Anyways, can't wait to hear what you guys think! And how you do you think the meeting with the Joker went? Good? Bad?

Also, I love Catwoman, but since we are dealing with Affleck's Batman, I will not be bringing in Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer is the only movie Catwoman I love, Anne Hathaway was a bad casting, and Halle Berry's does not exist in my brain). But this gives me a little more room to have River take up that mantle/ persona so to speak. Hope you guys liked this update.