Harley stared at the front door to the Warden's Tower. She considered turning around again. She wore her pigtails low on either side of her neck to keep the pressure off her bruised scalp. Reaching up to tug on the left one, she winced and let her hand fall back to her side.
When Dick had left, she'd gotten dressed but couldn't face coming here. So she'd cleaned and organized their room until there was nothing left to do, then she'd studied the comm and grappling gun thoroughly. Even after leaving the hotel, she'd practiced using the grappling gun a few times before finally trekking back through the city.
She'd made it to the tower before turning around and heading over to Ivy's house. Halfway there she'd thought that'd be a bad idea and turned back around. Her hand had been on the handle of the front door when she'd backed away to go to Arkham and talk strategy with Crane before once more turning around. Now she just stared at the door, anxiously rubbing the back of her neck. She hadn't been this nervous to face the Joker since their first therapy session.
Tentatively, reaching forward, she slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. She stepped in and turned to watch the door close on the sunlight, her back to the room. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the elevator and nearly jumped, biting down on her tongue to cut off a surprised squeak, when she saw it wasn't empty. Joker was leaning against the elevator wall, smiling out at her with his arms crossed. His hair was pushed back from his face, his wiry muscled arms exposed to his fingerless white gloves at his wrists.
"Going up, Doll?" He asked quietly, smiling.
"Um, goin' ta see you," she mumbled, looking down at her feet.
"Good. I've got something to show you," he smiled, gesturing for her to get on the elevator.
"Okay," Harley said slowly, glancing over at him as she walked over beside him. Joker pounded a fist on the button and Harley jumped at the noise. They began going down toward the basement. Joker stared straight ahead, smiling. "Why are we goin' to the basement?"
"I have a surprise for you," he chuckled quietly. "Some of my men came back beaten half to death, said that one 'a the Robins did it to them. The pretty one. After a bit of persuasion, they told me why."
"I..." Harley stared at him with her mouth hanging open. "I just... You found them? They're here?" She resisted the urge to shrink away.
"Of course they're here. They're under my employ. Let's just say I was dissatisfied with their performance. I think it would be best if their jobs were terminated." He waved a hand nonchalantly and then laughed as the elevator door clanged open, and the Joker stepped out into the maintenance room with the massive generator on the far wall. Three slumped figures were tied in a pile in the center. One squirmed frantically when the Joker laughed cruelly, grabbing his hair and yanking him up on his knees in front of Harley. When he saw her, he screamed.
"J-joker- p-please-" he stuttered, his voice thick with the blood running over his lips from his nose. Joker laughed again.
"Unfortunately, he's the only one that made it through the little talk with HR, but the issue still needs to be dealt with," Joker grinned. "He needs to be taught what happens when he tries to take things that don't belong to him."
Joker forced the man at her, and he groaned at the pain in his scalp. Harley flinched away from him. Even looking up at her terrified, she could still see his eyes leering down at her in the dark.
"So. Miss Chief Operating Officer. Throw him in the furnace with his friends, who, sadly passed after their session with me-" Joker giggled forcefully throwing the man down on his face on the pavement. He groaned and sobbed into the concrete. "Or. Nygma is always hungry." Harley had a flash of her pressed against the wall as the man stared at her with no pity. Offering no mercy.
I don't want to be him, she thought. "Maybe he's gotten what he deserved," she whispered. Joker frowned.
"Getting soft? Honestly dear, I thought you'd jump at the chance." The two dead ones by his sides stirred a bit, and Joker grinned slowly. "Ah well. They'll decide for you," he hissed, backing away from the bleeding man on the pavement. One of the freshly born zombies snuffed a bit, opening his glassy eyes.
Harley knew the man was a monster and how fitting death by monster would be, but... What does that make me?
"Isn't..." Harley turned to the Joker. "Isn't this a little harsh?" She put a hand on his chest.
"Turned soft," Joker repeated, grinning. He grabbed her wrist where she'd placed her hand on the orange breast of his Arkham jumper. "In your time with the Nightwing, eh?" Joker laced his fingers with hers and spun her around, trapping her in his arms. Her back against his chest, he made her look down at the man.
"No... I... I'm..." Harley stuttered. She stared down at the man. She'd done just as bad to men who'd done a lot less and not even batted an eye, but she didn't want to watch the terror in his eyes. She remembered how scared she's been and this was so much worse. This wasn't revenge; this was torture. Joker stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed.
"Well if not for you, then for me. If they think they can make a move on my girl-" she felt his lips brush her ear- "then he needs to be made an example of." His thin fingers draped her leather jacket over her shoulders, the one she'd lost to these attackers. Harley bit the inside of her cheek before taking a deep breath.
"Aw Puddin," she turned to grin at him, "ya do care." And she couldn't help but feel happy that he'd go to such lengths for her. Couldn't stop the satisfaction that gave her, no matter how wrong it was. She twisted a little to see if he'd let her turn around to face him. He released her enough to allow her to move as the other two men pounced on the third, and his screams echoed in the room. Joker burst into laughter and pulled Harley away from the frenzied zombies.
"Of course I do, Doll," he laughed, dragging her onto the elevator. She looked back at the carnage before quickly glancing away.
"I just didn't know if ya were mad at him cuz he disobeyed ya. But you sure know how ta flatter a girl." She beamed as the elevator door closed.
"Yes, I know," he groaned. "Don't think that this gets you out of explaining what it is you were doing in the city."
"Visitin' with Nightwing 'a course," she shrugged.
"About what? You know I don't like you hanging around the wrong kids." Joker rolled his eyes as the elevator clattered upward.
"And I told you," Harley giggled, pointing at him, "that I wanted ta see what I could find out. Ya changed your mind about letting me outta the house?"
"Maybe a tighter curfew," he glanced at her. "What have you found out?"
"Not too much. He hasn't told me that much stuff yet." She felt a pang of guilt for talking about Dick like this but was almost used to lying to everyone now. Besides, her job was still intact: gather intel for the Joker. She was just trying to convince herself that Dick's identity was irrelevant. "But I did convince him ta try and set up a meeting between you and Batman." She grinned triumphantly. She didn't know if she was trying to convince him that what she'd been doing was useful, or herself that she wasn't really betraying him.
"You... For what?!" He shouted suddenly, practically fuming.
"For..." She flinched back. "For food. So we can get food. I thought you'd be happy."
"Why would I want to beg like a dog?!" He cried, running his hands through his hair.
"We're- we're starving," she stuttered. "We need food and-and I thought you hated scavenging. It's not begging; it's... negotiating," she argued. "We get food and Gotham gets a stop to the raids. Everyone wins. Right?"
"You go kneel in front of the Batman, then, and take his charity. Show him you're weak. Show him that we need him," Joker spat, his eyes flashing as he shot her a glare and stepped out of the elevator. "I'd rather starve."
"You'd rather everyone starve?" She trailed after him. "Batman doesn't want us raiding any more than we want to be scavenging for food. I thought this would be what you wanted."
"'Everyone.' Rather everyone starve," Joker repeated her and then scoffed in disgust. "Worrying about other people is so terribly difficult." He hesitated. "When is the meeting?"
"Three days at the Uptown bridge," she said quickly.
"Give me more details," he snapped. "How many men can I bring? I'm sure Batman will have all kinds of regulations," he groaned, muttering to himself. "...he won't come alone. What does Batman want? Surely it's not free. All manner of strings... I'm sure I have to bring you-"
"Not too many rules were set. We uh didn't wanna try and make terms without ya." She grinned. "So far what's been established is three days, at the bridge, we get minimal security, you and B-man doin' the negotiatin.'" She shrugged. "I'm supposed ta meet someone at the bridge before sunset to finalize the terms."
"Fine. But I don't just want the food. I want Dent back, too. And I want to bring Crane. Find out what the Batman wants." Joker stared at her for a moment. "Is the meeting perchance with Nightwing?" he asked disdainfully.
"I dunno," she replied nonchalantly. "I don't even hafta be the one ta go. We both just said we'd send someone that could go. Why do ya want Dent back?"
"We take care of our own," he muttered, wringing his hands.
"You're... you're not mad at him are ya?" she asked hesitantly. Joker glanced at her and burst into laughter, grinning.
"Of course not. We take care of our own. You go, meet the bat brat at the bridge. We'll play this game. Tell them that we want Dent back, and we'll take the food that we can get. Whatever he wants he can have." Joker waved his hand dismissively. "We can play this game..." He muttered.
"And," Harley moved closer to him, "you're not mad at me are ya?" She gazed up at him hopefully.
Joker watched her carefully. "Of course not, Doll," he grinned, catching her face in his hand. "Now run along." Harley beamed back and put her hand over his.
"And when I get back?" she teased. "I think I could use a little madness then."
"Hmph. Well we'll see," he released her, frowning. "Now go. And be back within the hour." I don't trust you. Joker grinned again, his smile genuine. Harley pushed the elevator cage door up and hung onto it, beaming at him.
"Sure thing, Bossman." She just wanted to be sure he wasn't angry. Even though she knew she shouldn't be doing what she was doing with Nightwing, and that she was doing it for the wrong reasons, she did still want to make the Joker happy. If that meant trying harder to get information out of Dick, then she would. She didn't want to keep disappointing him, even if she didn't want to stop seeing Dick.
"Within the hour!" He laughed, watching her.
"Yes, yes," she giggled. "I'll be here." She waved vigorously before skipping off. Nudging the front door open, she bounced down into the street and pulled the comm out of her pocket. She put it in her ear and clicked it on. "Anybody home?" she chirped, hurrying down the street. "A little birdy told me I'd find a certain Wonder Boy here."
"Hey, beautiful!" Dick's cheery voice came over the comm. "Yeah, Robin will be there soon."
"Well I'm not at the bridge yet," she admitted, glancing up as she passed through the Arkham City walls. "But I thought I'd be meetin' with you," she pouted.
"Nope. Batman's got me in the doghouse since I told him what I've been up to."
"You all keep talking like I'm such a bad thing," she taunted. "I prefer ta think 'a myself as a rather nice catch."
"Well I think so," he smiled. "Even if I'm no good at fishing. Sometimes I just get lucky." She could hear the smile in his voice.
"Well with me you get lucky," she corrected, "but not when I don't gotta see ya." She grinned to herself as she walked.
"I dunno. I've been told I'm a pretty smooth talker," he replied.
"Well then are you alone?" She smirked. "Cuz that sounds fun."
He laughed nervously and smiled to himself. "Sorry, if I don't get back on the other line, I'll be in worse trouble than I already am. It's Batman's day off, so I'm Commander in Chief here in the field. Next time," she could practically hear him biting his lip.
When Nightwing is on city patrol is when Batman is on break; Harley immediately catalogued the information before feeling guilty about it. "I can't tell whether you're relieved or disappointed," she taunted. Dick laughed.
"Bit of both. Good luck with Robin," he smiled. Harley groaned.
"Do I have to?" she whined.
"He'll play nice," Dick assured her.
"Okay," she said unsurely, "if you say so." She paused when she reached the bridge. "And what about the guards," she eyed them, "are they going to play nice?"
"They're under orders. You're probably safer here than in Arkham," he commented. She could see Robin leaning against the railing on the bridge, positioned in the shadow of the massive beams. His dog stood beside him, sitting at attention.
"Um okay. I'll… see ya in a couple 'a days I guess," she mumbled, walking hesitantly forward. The line went dead and Robin straightened as if listening to his own comm, and then he turned to fix his eyes on her. They were concealed behind the white lenses of his dark emerald mask, but his expression wasn't exactly friendly. He uncrossed his arms as she stopped in front of him, the massive dog's fur standing on end, teeth bared like a hellhound.
"Hello again," he smirked, the breeze coming off of the water sweeping his cape around his ankles. The hellhound growled.
"What are you so smug about?" Harley asked and crossed her arms across her chest, wary of the horse-sized animal beside the hero. He wasn't exactly small himself.
"I'm not smug. I just find this whole situation ridiculous and amusing," he shrugged.
"Shh, don't say that," Harley shushed him, glancing behind her. "If my Puddin hears ya, he won't want ta do the meetin' anymore."
"Maybe I don't want to do this meeting, either," Robin commented, cocking his head a bit.
"Well tough cookies. What are your side's terms?"
"Takes place in three days, at sundown, and you can bring two or three men for your own security. If you don't trust us," he smirked again, crossing his arms. She noticed his earbuds draped over his neck again, and the odd way his uniform fit him. It was too small in places, and too large in others; pieced together from old suits of his predecessors. She recognized the patches on either of his shoulders, like military badges, the emblems of the former Robins. "Your conditions?" he asked, one gloved hand stroking over his dog's ears. "Of course you want food. We'll negotiate how much and how often at that meeting."
"Okay," Harley nodded. "Joker only had two conditions. That he be allowed to bring Dr. Crane and… he wants Dent back." She bit the inside of her cheek.
"Why Dr. Crane?" Robin asked curiously, stepping closer to her as he examined the bruising on her neck. His lips pursed ever so slightly as he moved back to where he'd stood before.
"I dunno." She shrugged. "Those two are thick as thieves most 'a the time."
She could see Robin mentally catalog that information, and he pressed the comm in his ear. "Batman? They want to bring Crane, and they want Dent back," he relayed. "A-ok?"
Say no to Dent, Harley silently pleaded. She knew saying no might ruin the chances of the meeting, but she had a bad feeling of what would happen to Dent if he stepped foot back into Arkham.
"Good. We have no reason, anyway," Robin shrugged and then looked at Harley. "Agreed. We've gotten all of the information we need out of Dent. You can have him back."
Harley nodded slowly. "Okay," she said dejectedly. Robin watched her.
"You don't want him?" He asked, stepping closer.
"No I do," she said quickly. "It's just... Joker was really mad at him when he got caught."
He pursed his lips and frowned at her. "You fear for his safety?"
"Just an Eensy-weensy bit." She held her fingers up just a little apart.
"Hmm. I suppose even you people have to take care of your own," Robin commented. Harley leaned back and blinked at his words.
"Yeah. I guess." She said slowly and looked down.
"Well it's settled then. In three days time at sundown we will meet you, Crane, the Joker and one other of your choosing on the bridge. We'll give you Dent and bring a supply of food, and discuss the continued delivery of it. No stipulations on our end," he concluded with a small smile. Harley nodded seriously.
"There won't be any raids into Gotham before the meeting and so long as terms are met and agreed upon. Who will all be here from your end ta see to the negotiating? Aside from Batman."
"I have half a mind to tell you that Nightwing won't be here," Robin raised an eyebrow at her. "But he, myself, and the Commissioner will be there."
"Along with all the bridge security pointin' their guns at us?" She grinned.
"Along with all of them," he agreed, smiling a little.
"Whatever makes ya feel better," she giggled. Robin nodded once and then turned to leave, hesitating for a moment before glancing at her over his shoulder. He pulled his comm out of his ear.
"This relationship, or... Whatever it is with Nightwing-" Robin turned and met her eyes- "think about who you're hurting. This is a dangerous game, with him and the Joker; you'll break one, and you'll destroy the other," he said quietly. "Think very hard about which you want to be which."
"I-I don't mean ta," she stuttered. "And," she looked down, "I'm me, so I don't imagine he means ta either. But… It's like a bad joke, huh?" She shrugged and looked back up at the sunset. "An' we're all waitin' for the punchline."
"Keep in consideration who it is you want to be the butt of the joke," Robin smiled a little. Harley wrinkled her nose.
"Well, I am a jester." She mock bowed. "I live ta entertain."
"Well we're not entertained. And if you hurt him, there's no walls in the world that can keep me from ending you. Break him, and I destroy you. See? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Harley blinked.
"Why would I hurt him?" she asked. "He's one 'a the only living friends I got left. That's not too busy ta talk to me," she added. "Well, maybe he is, but he talks to me anyway."
"Believe me, you don't have to try. Sometimes we hurt people we... Sometimes we don't mean to hurt them," Damian sighed. "Just think about what you're doing," he said finally, turning his back to her and pressing his comm into his ear. He whistled for Titus. "Done. Heading back to patrol."
Harley didn't want to think about what she was doing. She knew it was wrong, that it didn't make sense, and the whole situation made her head spin with confliction. So instead, she didn't think about it. She saluted the back of Robin's head, waved at the bridge guards, and skipped back toward Arkham. "See you guys in three days!"
The sun was sinking below the horizon three days later, a chill falling over the city with the dark blanket of night as the wind blew scattered debris through the streets. It was even colder near the water. Wind sweeping up from the river made the support cables in the bridge whip and sway, and Nightwing looked up at them. His hair was pulled loosely back, but the breeze still took the loose strands and spiderwebbed them across his face as he stared up at the cables, biting his lip. When he looked back at Batman, their eyes met.
"They'll be here," Nightwing assured him. They stood in the center of the bridge, just the two of them with the Commissioner and Robin a few feet behind; the officers on guard keeping a wary eye from the Midtown side behind them. Their guns were readied, and Nightwing felt the weight of that truth against his back, adding to the pressure of the situation. Batman's cape swept to the side on the wind as they waited.
Twenty minutes more passed, and they still stood patiently. The sun had all but disappeared, a crimson sliver on the horizon outside of Gotham, bathing the black and white city in red. Above them, dark indigo had begun to seep into the sky as it darkened and prepared for the night.
Nightwing's focus was pulled back to the Arkham side of the bridge when footsteps approached, and he closed his eyes and concentrated; four sets. One was lighter than the rest. Harley. He smiled when they came into view, and then he glanced down. The Joker's violet coat swept in the wind, mirroring Batman's cape as he stopped face to face, looking up at him. The Joker grinned.
"So here we are," he said, loud enough for the gathered group to hear. Joker spread his arms, and then placed his hands on his hips. He glanced at Robin and his smile faltered. "Bat-boy," Joker acknowledged. Damian nodded.
"How's the neck?"
"Stiff," Joker frowned distastefully, rubbing the scar on his throat. Damian's hand tightened on the hilt of his katana. Clearing his throat, Joker grinned at Batman. "Well? Don't leave me in suspense, Mr. Stoic. It's been so long."
"Not long enough," Bruce muttered. Harley glanced between him and the Joker before her eyes flicked over to Dick. She blushed and looked down. He had to smother a grin. Joker glanced at him distastefully.
"I beg to differ darling. The year and the stress haven't been kind, Bats. You look like you could lay off the food," Joker wheezed, laughing as he circled Batman thoughtfully. Nightwing and Robin tensed, and the Commissioner stepped back, his hand on his weapon. "Have some to share?" Joker cackled, returning to where he stood in front of Batman.
"There is a truck of supplies and food parked a short ways away as we agreed to," he said shortly. He carefully took note of where Scarecrow was positioned behind the Joker and Harley beside him. Joker leaned closer to Batman, squinting a bit.
"And why is it, when Harley came to me, she told me that you didn't want anything in return? What's the catch?" His emerald eyes flicked between the lenses of Batman's dark mask.
"No catch, cept that the raids stop. You guys can't set foot on this side of the bridge again, and we'll take care of you." Nightwing piped up, biting his lip with a glance at Harley. Joker's head snapped towards him, and he smiled. "We're heroes. It's what we do."
Harley watched the Joker's jaw visibly tighten, his teeth grinding together behind his smile. His eyes flashed, his hand clenching into a fist behind his coat. Joker's breath hissed past his lips and he released it. "Yes. History is written by the winners, isn't it, young prince?" he breathed. Harley could hear the fury in his voice. "And Dent?" he looked back to Batman, his head twitching like a snake. Batman turned to glance behind him.
"Bring him forward." Two bridge guards walked Dent forward between them, guns firmly in hand. Harvey grinned when he saw Harley. He clearly hadn't mentally switched back to Two-Face, still suave as ever as Harvey Dent. Harley smiled hesitantly at him before glancing nervously at Nightwing and Robin before looking at the Joker and staring at the ground again. Joker grinned.
"Terrific."
In a split second, Joker had pulled his pistol from his coat and fired two shots into Dent's chest. The shots rang in the silence, and Batman and Nightwing dove forward; Batman caught Dent as he fell, choking on his blood, and Nightwing shoved Joker back furiously. The Joker cackled and swung at Dick's stomach. He blocked it easily, but Joker caught him in the face with the butt of his gun and Batman stepped in, grabbing Joker by the collar as he pulled him around and slammed him against the support beam of the bridge. His head clanged against the metal, and the pistol spun out of his hand and down towards the water below.
"You son of a bitch," Batman growled furiously.
"Put your weapons down!" Commissioner Gordon shouted to the guards and officers assembled. "Don't shoot!"
Dent sputtered on the pavement, looking up at Harley.
"It had to be done," Joker spat at Batman. "A traitor is a traitor is a traitor. Dent was a liability for both sides. I did us both a favor-" his words were choked off as Batman's hands closed on his throat.
"Oh God," Harley gasped and dropped down beside Dent. She swallowed hard as she pressed her hands over the bullet wounds to stop the blood, already starting to darken and clot. "You're gonna be okay," she whispered.
"At least- there- were- two-" he choked, laughing a bit before he screamed in pain. His hand scrambled to find hers.
"Finally gonna end me this time, Bats?" Joker wheezed gleefully, grinning.
It had been a bad idea all along. Not to give up Dent, not to make a deal with these people; but to meet them. For years he knew that his opposition fueled the Joker's actions. He knew that when he disappeared, the Joker grew listless. The Joker hadn't seen him in a year, and he'd been without purpose. All he'd needed was a little push.
"The deal's off," he warned, releasing the Joker. "This meeting is over."
"Oh the deal- the deal was the distraction," Joker snapped. Batman turned slowly back to him.
"What?" he asked, tone deadly.
Harley could feel Dent's blood starting to thicken between her fingers.
"You," she looked up at the Joker, "you promised," she whispered. He ignored her.
"Harley-" Harvey choked, pressing his coin into her hand- "Don't forget me- when I change- a-and- Don't- don't waste it-" he breathed, pulling something out of his jacket shakily and forcing it at her. He flashed her a half-grin. "Be good now- you be…" he took a deep breath, closing his eyes. His muscles were tense and his body convulsed in pain under Harley's hands. A few more deep breaths and he fell still, and Harley looked down at the crumpled, unopened bag of add-water cake mix, bloodstained at the corner.
"As if I wanted your charity," Joker spat, grinning at Batman. "I'm looking forward to many more spirited meetings after this," he hissed, turning away. Crane stood frozen to the spot as he stared down at Harvey and Harley, his broken glasses over his nose.
"Batman, wait- this isn't a good idea," Dick stepped in front of him, panting.
"This wouldn't stop the raids," he snapped. "We'd just be sacrificing our people's food while he continues… whatever he's planning."
"I know but- Batman, they're starving," Dick lowered his voice. Joker grabbed Crane's arm and forced him back towards the Arkham side of the bridge, and then he turned, catching Harley's pigtail and dragging her to her feet. When she cried out, Nightwing turned, stepping towards the Joker furiously. Robin stepped in front of him.
"Don't," he warned him. Joker grinned and came back, leaving Harley with Crane; he shoved Robin out of the way and faced Nightwing, grinning.
"Got a problem, pretty boy?" he spat. Nightwing's jaw pushed forward angrily.
"Nightwing," Batman grabbed his arm and dragged him back, and the Joker cackled, grabbing Harley's arm as they started towards the Arkham side.
"Crane!" Joker called over his shoulder. "Pick up Dent."
Scarecrow stooped and grabbed Harvey's arms, dragging him along as he muttered "please don't change yet, please don't change yet…" Harley glanced back at Dent before wrenching her arm free.
"You promised," she accused the Joker, her lower lip trembling. Joker slapped her across the face.
"I promised nothing. Don't act out in front of the rest of the family," he grinned, grabbing her arm and dragging her along.
Dick stepped forward again, and Batman put his hand on his shoulder.
"No. Dick."
Nightwing stared after her. He could feel the hate curling his hands into fists at his sides. Dick took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Batman. Sorry that this didn't work out," he shook his mentor's hand off of his shoulder, walking back to their side of the bridge.
"It was never a guarantee," Bruce said drily. He'd had his suspicions about Dick, and now he knew. "We need to worry about Gotham before we start worrying about Arkham too." Commissioner Gordon fell into step beside Batman and Robin trailed behind them, his dog trotting at his heels.
"It isn't fair, even if they are…" Dick looked down. He knew that fair was impossible in the world they lived in. It was kill or be killed. Fair had nothing to do with it. But Harley… He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.
"Even if they are?" Bruce scoffed. "Are you really concerned for all of them, or just one in particular?" He shot Dick a look.
"Even so," Dick said quietly. Batman wasn't stupid, and Dick hadn't exactly been discreet. Bruce pulled him to a stop by the shoulder.
"I don't care how it started or why, but whatever it is, it ends now," he warned. This was unacceptable, but they had bigger things to worry about right now. He'd have to seriously talk to him later.
Dick hesitated.
"No."
"This isn't open for debate. I will pull you from the Arkham rotation if I have to."
"Fine," he shrugged, getting on his motorcycle when they reached the street. "I'll go see her on my break days. And if you do that, you can put me on double city patrol and see Selina twice a week. So win-win."
"Nightwing," he reprimanded. "She is the Joker's right hand woman. If you're foolish enough to think she's using you for any other reason than things like intel and this meeting, you're not fit to be on any patrol rotation." He glared at him. "I can't have compromised people in the field."
"So what if she's using me?" he snapped. Robin glanced between them curiously. "She makes me happy. That seems to be in short supply lately. She makes me smile."
"But at what cost?" Bruce demanded. "Joker gas can do much the same."
Dick was silent. He didn't want to think about that. "Let me just think about it. I need to think..."
"I'm going to head back to my break, Nightwing, you coming?" Robin asked hesitantly with a glance at Batman. Commissioner Gordon had left already, and Nightwing was looking stretched thin.
"We have enough to worry about without you letting the Joker get to you through Harley Quinn," Bruce told him. "As far as we know, it could be part of some plan of his. It got this meeting didn't it?" He gave Dick one last meaningful look before walking away. "It ends now, and that is final." Dick looked down at the stripes on his gloves.
"I don't want to think about the consequences," Dick confessed quietly. "Haven't I earned that?"
Robin mounted his motorcycle beside him and smirked. "No. But she said something a lot like that, too." Robin glanced at the batmobile as it drove away, and Dick looked up at him in surprise. "Let's go, get some rest. Sleep on it," Robin turned his head to glance at him.
"Yeah. Yeah, let's go," Nightwing looked down. Damian pursed his lips.
"Oh come on, you're breaking my heart," he complained, revving his bike engine. Dick laughed, turning his bike on as well. They both froze as their comms crackled to life.
"This is Gordon," he said quickly. "Who's still here? I need help at the truck."
"We're on our way," Nightwing responded as Robin tore off ahead of him. When they reached the street where the food truck had been parked, Gordon was kneeling over a dead police officer, a bullet hole between her eyes. Three more lay across the street, and Dick shut his motorcycle off. "Shit."
"Damn right," Gordon sighed, standing up. He shook his head. "Truck is gone, along with at least two weeks supply of food in it."
"Deadshot," Damian looked up at Dick from where he'd knelt beside the body. Dick rubbed his shoulder.
"Yeah. Stole the food, again, and he's no doubt headed for-" Dick stopped, and then pressed his comm. "Bridge units, the delivery truck is headed towards you- do not engage! Deadshot's stolen it and killed four officers- just let him pass. We don't need any more casualties." Dick's hand dropped away from his comm. "And God knows they need the food."