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In some twisted reality the sky is purple and politicians are honest. Being left handed isn't weird but a privilege. You are judged for who you are not what you look like. PBS has enough money so they no longer have fundraisers. War is settled with the best 2 outta three in rock paper scissors. And I own Batman Beyond. But we live in this reality and I don't own Batman Beyond. Man this reality sux!
The Green Knight
Nightshade wondered if helping Batman to stop The Shadow was good idea as parked JoyRide alone side of the Batmobile. If he helped him with the dark femme fatale then Batman could quickly get to solving his case with Harley.
"Didn't know you could ride." Batman said jumping out of the Batmobile.
Nightshade took off his jade green helmet. "Harley's been teaching me. Have you found out anything about The Shadow? Like why she turned into a flagging banshee when she's in the light?" Nightshade asked annoyed that they had to deal with The Shadow first then Harley.
Batman crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I believe that she has extremely sensitive senses or at least her sense of sight is."
Nightshade frowned. "So she can see in the dark?"
Batman nodded. "Nocturnal animals that can see in the dark hates the light, sunlight hurts their retinas. A perfect reason for Shadow to go off the way she did."
"So the dim light that we see is about ten times brighter. So light hurts like hell for her. That explains the light but what about her stealth? No one is that quiet. It's unnatural." Nightshade said.
Batman turned as he headed back to the Batmobile. "She's just that good. Come to find out she did a few assassin jobs before she started stealing."
Nightshade stared at Batman confused. "Why would she change jobs? An assassin gets paid much more than a thief, I should know."
"She said so herself," Batman stated jumping back into the Batmobile. "She is whatever her master wants her to be."
"Did you find out anything about Harley?" He asked hopefully.
Batman was silent for a moment as if debating on something. "Yeah. I don't know how she got them but she has some bad bruises on her."
"Why that son of a bit-"
"I said I don't know how she got them when I asked her about it she told me she got into a fight." Batman said.
Nightshade frowned. "Then she got it from a fight. Harley never lies, she's a 'honest criminal'." He almost laughed at the oxymoron.
Nightshade watched as the dark car drove away to scout for any signs of the elusive Shadow. He would help in the search after he checked in on Harley. Nightshade mounted JoyRide then made his way towards the Shamrock build.
Shadow stood dormant waiting for the proper moment to fulfill her master's wishes. She could see the reflection of Harley Jest in the wet window of her room. The rain had just begun again.
Shadow knew everything about Jest; it was her job to know the lives of her victims. She liked Harley's confidence and personality. She was one of those people who were strong on the outside and in yet so delicate. She stayed true to her friends and herself, not the one to try to impress others by keeping up with fashion and fabs. She held a masculine definition about her that was oddly charming.
'Nightshade will be here soon. I had better get everything and everyone ready.' With that she pulled her sword and appeared before the window. A scream and the sound of glass shattering that was all the noise she would permit.
**One hour later**
A small yet blatant smile lifted the contours of her face as she saw a single black motorcycle pulling into the garage of the building. "Nightshade." She whispered as she pulled her mask over her face then covered it with her hood.
***
Nightshade had just made his way to the top of the Shamrock when he noticed something was amiss, something that nagged at the back of his mind. "Harley!" He shouted. Quickly he removed one of the many golden curves from his green vest and dropped it onto the rooftop.
The two minutes it took for the strong vine to grow seemed like an eternity for Nightshade. The vine reached down into the apartment under his feet to pry open the window. With graceful ease he slid down the vine into the dark room.
He ran through the dark room to find it wasn't Harley's but Emily's. He had no time to lose; there was a reason for why Harley had screamed. He stopped dead in his tracks when he came to the living room. Vanderburg laid on the floor knocked unconscious. Emily laid on the overturned loveseat with her arms and legs bound behind her. He would deal with them later for now his mind was set on Harley.
He ran into the darkened room to see the broken shards of window glass littered about the carpeted floor. The cold wet air gently blew the ash blue curtains blowing in small drop of rain. Everywhere he looked he saw no signs of Harley until he looked onto the bed. There was a lump under the thin flower patterned blanket.
"Harl?" Nightshade called reaching out and pulling the cover away.
Shadow sat up looking towards Nightshade. "You!" He cried. As he moved to retrieve a pollen packet from his vest Shadow grabbed his arm pulling him onto the bed with her. She quickly straddled his waist and placed a dagger to his throat. "I have not been ordered to kill but try me and I shall." She hissed breaking her policy of silence.
"What have you do with Harley?" Nightshade asked.
Shadow did not answer. She trailed her finger down Nightshade's face. "My master does not like for me to express emotion for anyone but him. Like the shadows I am cold and untouchable." Shadow said pinning down Nightshade's arms with her knees. "But I remain forever inquisitive of love like that of yours and Harley's."
Nightshade struggled under the dark figure's strong frame. Shadow bent down until the lips of her mask pressed lightly against his in an unfeeling kiss.
She smiled as she stood releasing Nightshade. "Love such a small word that means so much. Love can be a dangerous thing. Used for the wrong proposes, it can kill. Love can disappear and be lost forever, forever for you to regret. And little by little the dull pain settles in, growing until it consumes your soul. Then you know what it is like to be scorn. But true love is rare. What of your love, o valiant one, is it pure and rare?" Shadow asked.
Nightshade looked at her wondering why all the talk? Why the pointless riddles that confused him?
"Love is such a weakness, as are all emotions." Shadow said almost bitterly.
"No it isn't! You are only after Jonas, leave Harley out of this and you can do whatever you please to the prick." Nightshade offered.
"My master has no interest in Jonas." Shadow smirked as she removed her hood. "Your little girlfriend is quite a fighter that I must admit."
Nightshade's hand flew to Shadow's throat. "If you've done anything to harm Harley I'll kill you." Nightshade said blatantly.
"If you kill me how will you find her?" Shadow asked.
Nightshade lowered his hands from the woman's neck. "I am a clever thief you and I both know that, but what they've stolen I could never accomplish." She stated. "They've stolen her stars." Shadow said.
"What stars?" Asked Nightshade.
Shadow did not answer. "Close your eyes and see with your heart if you believe in love so much. But when you open your eyes you wake to find it's all but a dream." Shadow said before she vanished out the window. "Try the construction site." Her voice rang out somewhere in the dark.
***
After untying Emily and Jonas and calling the police Nightshade raced through the rain of the streets of Gotham. All insecurities he had about riding the monster of a machine called a motorcycle had vanished. His mind was only set on one objective: finding which constructions site Harley was at.
His first stop had proven pointless, as did his next four tries. JoyRide was almost out of gas as he pulled into the fifth site. A new motel or expensive apartment building people could barely afford.
"Harley!" He called through the pouring rain. "Harley! Answer me!"
A soft sound broke through the pouring rain gradually increasing until he could hear it clearly.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! HA HA HAhahahahahaahahahaahhahahahah!" The night was filled with a female's hysterical laughter slowly mixing in with uncontrollable sobs.
Nightshade looked up to the crane and hook several hundred feet above his head. At the end of the little hook a female dressed in a satin purple two-piece pajama set dangled suspended by her arms on the dull yellow hook of the crane.
"Sh-t Harley!" Nightshade shouted. "Harl hold on!" He yelled running at full speed to the crane. Jumping inside he looked down on the many levers and peddles. Lacking the patients for trail and error Nightshade tossed a few seeds onto the machine.
"C'mon hurry up!" He hissed. Small sprouts of plants appeared in the small cracks of the crane. There was a loud creak as the crane's hook began to descend lowering Harley.
Her wild laughter had ceased and her body seemed lifeless. "Harley!" He shouted running towards her before she touched ground.
As he removed her from the hook the warm rain began to fall again adding onto the already miserable wet night. Nightshade pulled the blindfold away from eyes. "You okay baby?" He asked concerning knitting his brow. Harley's blank eyes stared at him vacantly. Nightshade then realized what Shadow had meant; the stars in her eyes were gone. But he could not help but stare at how lovely they still were.
Her chain bound hands shook as they touched his cheeks. "Vous êtes si gentil." (Translated- You are so kind.) She said in a soft voice he yearned to wake up to in the mornings as he did before. She gave a small laugh before she fainted away from the real world.
Nightshade stared down at her wondering what he should do. He could just take her back home, their home. But alas Harley might become furious with him. He could return her to Emily. No, he couldn't see himself handing her over so easily.
Heaving a heavy sigh he carried her into the small hut of an office getting them both out of the rain. Holding her tightly against his chest to keep her warm he fell asleep knowing in the morning she would be gone. But he didn't really care if only for the night he had his love close to his heart.
Sappy but end of chapter 7
A/N: Like Poison Ivy my dear Nightshade's outfit is made from organic matter. So if ever he needs a tree, vine, or plant he just takes off a piece of his clothes and ta-da! He has himself a Red Oak or whatever he pleases.