Disclaimer: There was this one time I owned Batman Beyond, but then I woke up.
Jayman here's some fightin' for ya! ~DSP
Rehabilitation is only skin deep
Very few stars could be seen that night over the bright lights of the dreary city as a lone figure strolled over the concert walk of the park. A late night jogger trotted by followed by a group of teenagers, what intentions they had for the night was readable on their content faces.
One of the girls of the group saw the lone man and winked in his direction as they passed. He scoffed lightly then stepped off the walk into the over casting shadows of the trees.
I have a new assignment for you. He said as he leaned against a tree.
Shadow looked down from her perch in the tree at her master. He removed a small envelope from his pocket and tossed it up to her. It's a small abduction job to send out a message to someone. It shouldn't be too difficult for you to do, will it? He asked smiling snidely.
Shadow opened the small package and looked at the photo within. It was a small wallet sized picture of a teenage girl with bi-colored hair of black and red. Harley Jest? She asked. She quickly regained herself it wasn't her position to question her master.
"Be sure to do it when you know Nightshade is watching." He said lighting himself a cigarette.
It shall be done master. She said lowering her head before she jumped into the neighboring tree then vanished.
***
The dark clouds had been building for days, on that Saturday the rain finally began to fall varying from light to heavy unpredictably.
Emily sat on the creme colored sofa with her legs folded beneath her. She watched her recording of the week's soap opera's she missed while she was out of the house. Harley sat down on the couch Indian style handing a saucer of warm Dutch apple pie to her mother. What did I miss? She asked.
Ray isn't dead but he's in hiding. Nicole is pregnant with Louie's baby but she claims it belongs to Cody so she can stop his wedding with Liz. And Abigail thinks she's having a metal break down but we just found out Cherry is playing with her head. Emily said not looking away.
Jonas Vanderburg walking into the living room adjusting his clothes. Good morning ladies.
Both mother and daughter lifted a hand in acknowledgment that the man was there. Jonas looked at the television full of half-decent actors. Why on Earth do you ladies like this? He asked.
Because it takes a week to get through a day, and it helps that most of the men are studs with cups in their pants to make them look bigger. Harley said. Now shush Lou's confronting Nicole.
Jonas looked at the two women; they actually looked like real mother and daughter for once. Anything I can get you lovelies before or while I'm out? He asked.
Both Harley and Emily held up their empty plates. More pie! They both said unturned from the screen.
***
The soaps had ended and the rain still fell at a steady trickle. Emily stood to stretch. Come on let's get dress so we can get some ice cream. Emily said.
Ever since the party Harley had been more thoughtful towards Emily, it wasn't because of the bike. It was because she learned more about her, the woman she once was or was hiding deep within her. Oh Harley still refused to call her mother but she was a bit kinder. Now I see where I get my appetite from. She smiled heading into her room to dress.
***
The two walked side by side underneath their large black umbrellas. Harley glanced over at the smiling Emily. Why are you so happy? Harley asked hoping her words didn't come out gruff.
Emily looked at her daughter and smiled. I was just remembering how when you where three months old your father and I would take you on little walks. My little family. Emily sighed.
Harley frowned, she didn't want to ask the question that was on her mind, she didn't care to know the answer but she had to. Why did you leave? She asked.
Emily looked at her daughter. She took a moment to think before she answered. Have you ever been afraid of something? Something you had no control of?
Harley thought back to her father's death. She said almost in a whisper.
I was so afraid Harley. There are very few moments I can remember being not being financially secured. Emily began staring blankly before her as they walked. When I married your father things were okay and I was happy, I wasn't worried about my financial security. But then we had you and money didn't go as far as it use to. And I got scared and I couldn't handle it. I couldn't handle it. So I went back to what I felt secure with and that was money.
Harley frowned. Papa wasn't mad at you, you know that right? She asked.
Emily nodded her head. Yeah, I knew when he kept sending me pictures of you growing up.
Do you miss him? Harley asked softly.
With all my heart. Emily said holding back her tears. She thought on how she would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and cry herself back to sleep for the simple life she had abandoned. She would cry for her beloved husband she had left for money, and she would cry for her daughter, the child she wouldn't take in because she was too frightened and unsure until now.
Emily came out of her thoughts when she saw her daughter a few yards ahead of her twirling in the rain with her umbrella spinning out at her side. Did she know how enigmatically beautiful she was? What in the world are you doing? Emily asked laughing.
Harley said as she spun again.
Emily marveled at the things her daughter did for no reasons other than the mood suited her. Use your umbrella, you're going to get sick. Emily warned.
Harley closed her umbrella as she began to dance again. Walking in the rain without an umbrella is nonconforming, but to dance in the rain is to be free. Harley said spinning around on her toes. Emily only laughed as she too folded her umbrella and allowed the warm droplets to fall on her.
***
The rain had momentarily stopped when Emily and Harley walked back towards home with their ice cream cones in hand. They were discussing a mediocre subject as they passed an alley opening. "Hand over your creds girlies. A gruff voice said.
Harley and Emily turned to see a group of teenagers dressed in peculiar clothing and wore bold grease paint on their faces watching them from the alleyway.
The speaker was nothing more than a common thug stalking the dark alley with his four companions two males the other two females. The group of five slowly stepped into the gray light of day to reveal the garish face paint grinning devilishly at the two. Gotham's most disreputable gang noted for their vicious crimes and their dark twisted sense of humor.
Harley sneered into her ice cream cone.
Two of the Jokerz slipped around the women trapping them in a circle of sadistic grins. Emily visibly began to shake as she slowly took small steps backwards as if to run. Harley on the other hand stood unresponsive to the threat around her. Back off jingles. She said licking her ice cream.
The jester dressed Joker muttered. It's that Harley Quinn babe.
The obvious leader walked over to Harley. Yeah it looks like her. He ripped open Harley's sleeves to reveal her tattoos. She got the arm decals let's see about the legs. He smiled placing his hands on her waist.
Harleys knee slammed into the belly of the Joker causing him to fold over in pain. Harley switch the cone into her left hand then slammed her right elbow into the Jokers spine, reducing him into nothing but a useless heap at her feet.
You make me sick. She hissed kicking the Joker away from her. You have turned the once feared name of the Joker into a ruse! Your deadly gags are humdrum the second you pull them out. Your victims already know what to expect them to do and they are aware of the danger. The Joker always left room for foolish assumptions then would surprise everyone with the completely unexpected. The Joker, he was a genius at his work. But you! You are nothing but a third rate conventional gang who likes to play with mommy's makeup. Cheap makeup at that! The kind of makeup that makes you breakout in a rash. Harley said. And worse of all you are in the least bit amusing. The only time I ever laugh at Jokerz is when I think about how pathetic you all are. Or when you get your asses beat. Harley chuckled licking her tongue out over her ice cream.
The group, forgetting about Emily, began to move towards Harley with murder in their eyes. How bout I make you a permeate smile? A male dressed like and old fashion Punch doll asked producing a switchblade knife.
Harley sighed at the Jokerz cliché remark as she looked at the knife. Aw you poor baby only four inches? Gives a whole new meaning to prick. She smiled.
One of the female Jokerz with an attire much like that of an orange and green Harley Quinn in go-go boots stepped up behind Emily taking her as captive.
The remaining male reached out knocking Harley's ice cream onto the ground. They all laughed until they saw the dark homicidal look in Harley's narrowed eyes. That's it. She growled between clutched teeth. I stand before you as your judge, jury, and executioner. You have been changed and found guilty of disreputable crimes against the Joker name! Emily watched curious of what was going on with her daughter. Why was she speaking to them this way? Harley Jest never wasted time talking. I deem you all worthless! She hissed.
I'll show you worthless! The one with the knife swung at her face. Harley did not move back but her hand flew up and grabbed hold of the Joker's wrist.
With a twist of her hand she made him drop the knife. Pitiful and unworthy of the name Joker. She said she quickly twisting her hand to the right. A small snap sounded in everyone's ear as she broke his wrist.
The Joker began to cry out in pain as he sunk to his feet.
You bitch! Said a female Joker that looked like a stitched up rag doll with bubble gum pink hair and clothing.
The pink rag doll swung once just to have her fist captured in Harley's deadly hand. Harley pulled the girl's arm towards her side as she brought her knee to the rag doll's stomach. The doll Joker grunted and bent downward from the blow. Harley, still holding the Joker's arm, kicked her leg up without bringing it down snapping the Joker's head upwards. She brought her leg down catching the Joker's neck and dropping her, unconscious, onto her stomach.
Harley turned towards the Harley Quinn rip-off holding her mother. Wanna try me? She asked holding a toy gun to Emily's head.
Harley knew she was going to enjoy beating up that particular Joker. Not for the fact that she had taken Emily as a hostage, but because she had made a mockery of the name Harley Quinn. She was the rightful successor of Harley Quinn, no one else.
Harley looked at the girls blonde hair pouring out of twin pigtails. Do you wanna know how to make a blonde a strawberry blonde? She asked smiling. She looked towards Emily. Recevoir en bas.
Emily nodded her head and dropped down as Harley ran towards the HQ knockoff. Harley jumped into the air towards the near brick wall then sprung off catching the Joker's head with her foot.
Emily ducked away next to one of the trash bins lining the alley.
Harley stood next to the HQ Joker watching as blood mixed with her blonde hair. I did say I was gonna tell ya how to make a strawberry blonde. She laughed.
Four down, one to go. Harley sang as she turned to the remaining Joker trying to slink away, the one that knocked her ice cream onto the ground. Here joker, joker, joker. She called slowly approaching him.
He shrieked out with a high pitched voice. Stay away from me, you're crazy. He said backing away.
Harley shrugged. You say crazy I say I higher level of sanity. Ill give you a five-second head start.
The remaining Joker took off running onto the sidewalk. One, two, FIVE! Harley screamed as she chased after him.
She ran at an amazing closing in on the fleeing boy in very little time. The Joker looked back to see his attended victim pounce high into the air like a panther jumping onto its pray. Harley sailed elegantly through air performing a single front flip as she landed on him.
Sitting on his back Harley grabbed the Joker by his purple hair and pulled his head back until the side of his head was adjacent to her lips. How dare you try and mug the great Harley Jest? She hissed into his ear. It is a pure insult to even think you could assault me and get away with it! And to add to the insult you knocked my ice cream onto the ground! You owe me the units for a chocolate chip and brownie double scoop on a fudge in-lined waffle cone! Harley hissed giving him another good pull.
He cried out in pain.
Harley smiled as she pulled him back farther until his ears were close enough for her lips to brush. Now what do we say to the EX-tremely pissed ex-criminal?
He screamed.
Harley asked.
Y-y-you are the greatest. He said.
Harley sighed. I guess that'll do. You had better not forget this. She hissed then slammed his head into the sidewalk rendering him unconscious.
***
Emily ran into the open to see her daughter surrounded by a small crowd. As she got closer she saw the Joker crumpled at her feet. Harley stood shaking as she stared at her hand ostensibly spellbound at the blood on her palms flowing down to her wrist.
Emily stared at the distant look in her daughter's eyes thinking how much she held her likeness. Only she no longer had any wonder in her eyes, nothing mysterious and captivating, nothing that could so easily entrance one moment then overpower the next. When did I lose it? When did I lose the passion in my eyes?' She asked herself as she took her daughter home.
***
The rain had started again as Harley stood by her window watching the streams of water racing down the glass. Her mind wondered as she watched. Deep down inside Harley Jest was still alive. Harley could feel her raving against the padded walls they formed around her. There were small moments she could creep out of that cell and be free just to be replaced and locked away alone in the dark. But today, today she was freed, completely free. She was once again the crime jester who favored the sweet strange sting of irony strange, the sarcasm without bite, over the crude dark humor of those pathetic Jokerz. Those fools will never understand what is it like to be the Joker. She should know she had a small taste of his insanity' from what she learned from Harley Quinn and she felt oddly drawn to it as if she were seduced. That's why the Jokerz angered her, they were just thugs using the name of The Joker in vain. They could never find the comedy in brutality and death. They would never know about the big joke of life, none of them would ever know. It was all irony, sarcasm without bite.
***
Emily sat across from Vanderburg in the kitchen as she hid her need of alcohol by spiking her smoothie heavily. I don't know Jonas; you should have seen her. Emily said recalling the way Harley had stared at the blood on her hands. It was just so... I don't know intimidating and frightening, as if she's so much stronger and capable of doing things you and I could never imagine. She said downing half her drink.
Vanderburg was about to reply when they heard a scream come from Harley's room then the sound of glass breaking.
The once closed door of Harley's bedroom opened and out stepped a woman dressed in gray. The Shadow.
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(Ha ha ha!) End Chapter 6