In some twisted reality the sky is purple and politicians are honest. Being left handed isnt 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!

Red Requiem

All told in Harley's point of view! ~DSP

My Master gave me a strong kick into my already bruised ribs. Don't cry before me! He ordered pointing his hand down at me. This went on for awhile until my master felt satisfied that I was bruised and bleeding enough in his eyes.

They saw. Master stated more to himself as if in recognition. So they saw. He repeated coming down from his milder rush violence. He bent down towards my beaten frame. We'll just have to fix this, now don't we? He asked rubbing my hair with his bloody hand.

I slowly pushed myself off the ground and spat out the blood that had come from my bleeding inner lip. I was too afraid to look into his eyes, if I did that would be a sign of rebellion and the beatings would begin again. Spit at him! I screamed at myself. Do anything just don't...Yes Master. I said against my better judgment.

I could feel his approving smile spread onto his lips as he patted my head as if I were a dog then turned to leave. Clean yourself up then go home until I call you again. He ordered vanishing from sight.

I knew he was gone and it was safe to let the tears fall. How in the hell did such a strong person such as myself end up like this? That was simple old wounds were reopened leaving me shaken and vulnerable for capture and enslavement.

One day while I was still in the lovely halls of juvy Vanderburg took me out for the afternoon then left me alone in a big empty room to be tamed, it was then my Master appeared before me for the first time. He tried to tame me by beating me as Vanderburg did, I laughed then fought back, then he tried bringing up the events that led to my days of Harley Jest the criminal. When brought back the memory of my father I laughed spitting at him. Then he brought up the day that had truly led me towards my current life. The memory of the part of my past no one else knew of not even my darling Red...

Give me time and I will forget. Give my heart a moment to heal. I remember all too well how that night you called me on the phone. Harl, can you meet me in our place? You asked of me.

I could hear the utter fear in your voice. It made me worry, to hear you of all people scared. Code, what's wrong? I asked you.

Please Harley, just meet me. You pleaded.

I looked over my shoulder Simone was watching TV with Merv, both was captivated with a drink in hand. They wouldn't have cared if I fell off the Empire State building dressed as a chicken in drag. I said.

A half-hour later...The river side, it reeked of bad oysters and waste, but it had a beautiful view of this city at its finest moment. This is the place that we met.

I called out into the night worry tinting my voice.

I heard your monotone voice call softly.

I turned to see your face is pale and you looked so sick, deathly. What happened to you? I began to wonder. You had such a frightened look in your eyes, fear mixed with an alarming sadness, and...something else. Something I couldn't place then but can now. Those eyes that had once looked so lovingly at me now scared me.

The Joker makeup you wore had been rubbed off or at least most of it was. Before I could ask you what was wrong you wrapped your arms around me. You say my name as you cry into my coat. I never liked seeing men cry, it made them look weak and disgustingly pathetic. But seeing you cry made me want to cry. But me being me I acted strong, for you my lovely Code I was strong. I slowly began to comfort you as you pulled us down onto the cold concrete beneath our feet.

Harley can you forgive me for what Ive done? Please Harley, forgive me. I can't forgive myself but you can. You said looking madly onto me.

Forgive you for what? I asked your ranting scaring me.

I can't forgive myself, but you, you my heart, you can. You go on.

I was going to threaten to leave you there if you didn't tell me what had happened. But I couldn't leave you, never like that. Code, please tell me what happened, what did you do that was so wrong?

You pulled my head close and placed it over your heart. And with your head lend back looking up towards the faint stars you began to tell me, you told me the complete horrible truth in your dead toned voice. I was shocked and scared at what you had told me, but I would not leave you.

The silence, how I remember the silence, the only real sound I heard was your heart. Then you broke the silence. Do you forgive me? You asked.

Hugging you tightly I said yes. I heard you release that breath you had been holding in. That relieved sigh. I cried holding you tightly. Your hands traveled up my back to my hair. You grabbed a fistful and pull my head back. I felt your soft lips searing with passion mash against my own. I loved how gentle you were yet how rough you tended to handle me; tough love, as we use to call it. You released me and looked into my eyes.

We'll run away together, just you and I. We can get far away from Gotham once and for all darl. I offered.

Code, you lifted my chin and looked into my ears. Those eyes, they were no longer scared or sad but that look I saw before behind your eyes was still there. People like us can't escape Gotham. No matter how far we run no matter where, Gotham has us in a death grip. You told me.

We can try. I said.

You smiled at me. Remember what that girl told us once? About how life is like a card game, Poker I think.

I prefer Blackjack. I said.

You laughed lightly. Both way sometimes you win in life and sometimes you lose. You were confusing me with the way you smiled forlornly.

You pulled me to you and kissed me, softly this time. Your kisses were sweet yet severe, intense perhaps. So like assorted chocolates, always filled with something more. I was so into the kiss I did not see your hand slip behind you, I didn't see you pull out your gun, and I didn't see you put it in between us. But I did hear the gunshot.

Oh that resounding bang echoed through my mind hunting my thoughts and waking me from my dreams for weeks.

I looked silently into your eyes. My eyes were shocked and pained while yours were calm. I looked down at the blood trailing down my shirt. This game, You said as you sunk into my chest. I fold.

I could not speak, I could only stare dumbfounded at your blood, your precious life's blood spilling from your wound.

Your aim was poor; your aim was always poor wasn't it? You were dying slowly because of it. Stay with me til it's over. You plead to me.

I held you tightly and lovingly in my arms close to my heart as if I could live for the both of us. I could feel the tears growing inside of me but I would not cry. Always my strong Harley aren't you? You smiled up at me with blood seeping from the corners of your lips.

I looked down onto your face, it was paling. I'm always strong for you. I said. Knowing I can no longer hold back the tears they spill easily from my eyes.

You look beautiful when you cry. You tell me your body was getting cold. Forgive me for being a coward. You said. Death has you in its grasp.

Ya know I love you right? I asked smiling halfheartedly down on you.

You closed your eyes as you began to feel the pain for the first time. Yeah, you wouldnt be here if you didnt. Love you too, but you knew that. You said.

I sniffed looking up into the dark sky. There was a silence, I looked down on you and you looked up at me with your kind eyes lifeless. I bent down and kissed your cold bloody lips. Bye, don't know how I'll get by with you gone. I closed your eyes then left your body behind. The police would find your body later on. With your fingerprints on your gun lying beside you. Suicide, they'll say, plain and simple; waste no more money on some street trash. I wouldn't get too involved, your parent would miss you for awhile and they will ask me what was wrong with you. And I will answer to them that life got too complicated. But I'll miss you most of all, but you won't ever understand how much. You kept me tethered when the chaos took over, when I felt completely alone. You were the one who could relate to me about how I hated the hospitals with there many drugs to cure me, only you really understood anything.

I walked mindlessly down the dim lighted halls. Blood dripped from my fingers the blood on my shirt was yours the rest belonged to the T's I had the pleasure of venting my anger upon on my way to my distention. I could not cry, I could not speak, and I just walked.

Well, well, well. Said a voice. I looked up to see the twins Delia and Deirdre, the DeeDees for short. Miss Q taught us gymnastics together though she herself was too old to be doing the physical work any longer.

What have we here? Asked Deirdre. They were a year and a half older than me but I was no doubtingly the better of Miss Q's students.

If it isn't our little Joker in training. Said Delia.

I mumbled at responds to their teases. What was that? They asked together.

I said. I began looked up so that they could see my blood form. The Jokerz are pathetic fools, so are the T's. I'm stronger on my own than the both of them are combined.

They looked past the blood. What was that? What you, stronger than the Jokerz? HA! That's a joke.

Jokerz are a mockery of the Joker. A big fat bloody joke! I am stronger. I said to them. I remember the look of your lifeless body. I well become smarter, stronger, and I will make everyone see. I said.

They laughed at me; well they aren't laughing now. Is your grandma home? I asked.

They jerked their arms behind them letting me through.

***

Miss Q held me to her as I told her what had happened that last. She is the only other who knows about the horrible crime you committed; only we know why you killed yourself.

She put me in a bath to wash away your blood. I watched silently as the clean water turned pink. It wasn't until then I began to cry.

Sobbing heavily until it hurt, until I cried dry tears. First daddy, and now you. But you had a choice when you left me. But still you left. You left me all alone unprotected in this horrible place.

Miss Q washed me of the blood soothing me with her sweet voice. The pink of the water turned redder and all I knew was that I wanted more, much more red. I think it was that moment that it happened, though I'm not sure what it is. I wanted more red, deeper shades of red. Red, red, RED! That lovely color of wild fire and blood, boiling flickering, consuming everything in its wake. That beautiful bold color of chaos! If I had a blade I would have cut myself to see that wonderful color. 'Let the chaos reign supreme, and let the thrashing beast within me free before withered away. Laugh at your sadness and pain. Invite death for tea, to cry for no reason; laugh when it was inappropriate. Dance when your heart tells you, walk in the rain while everyone else run. Let the beast free, let the chaos take over!' It screamed in my mind. The urge to cry was replaced by laughter. Did I laugh I was not sure.

RED! Don't give me black and white with its many shades of gray in which we live miserably. Give me red and black! Red like your blood, sweet Code! Gimme raging rivers of red! But instead of red things went black!

Later I woke up on Miss Q's couch. Had I snapped in the bathtub? Did I just have my first taste of insanity? If so why did it feel so good in a disturbing way?

When I told this to Miss Q she took me into her room and sat me down on the foot of her bed. She reached into the very back of her close and removed a large hatbox. Here, I have the feelin' you're going to need this someday. She said as she removed the lid and reached in. The first thing I saw was a beautiful shade of red spandex followed by black and red again. The white tassles were old and was developing a brown color at the edges, and one sleeve had been ripped of its white fringes. Her old costume from her days of villainy sat in my lap, and I looked down upon it like it were a sacred treasure.

I think you are the one the torch should be passed down to. She said.

I didn't understand why she gave it to me when she disapproved so much of the criminal life her granddaughters were leading. Maybe because I had a reason like she did in her day.

I had no real reason at the time to don the suit of red and black but the title was mine and mine alone. And that my love was the birth of a criminal, the rebirth of Harley Jest.

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End o' this chappie please review and I'll update quicker.