Note: Subject matter in this chapter is of a suggestive nature and may be for the older reader, PG13, Teen or Older.

CHAPTER 51:
"Duel(a)ing With a Psycho"

After Roy Harper spoke with Bruce Wayne, it was decided that Jason needed to leave the party.

Jason was beginning to act up, became obnoxious, raising his voice, and was disturbing others with his loud drunken mutterings. He even pinched one woman's butt and called her sweet-cheeks and asked her if she would be willing to have a little fun together. She had slapped him across the face, of course, but said no charges for would be laid out of respect for the occasion.

He apologized to Bruce profusely for allowing Jason to get so exceedingly drunk and lead him away to one of the guest suites upstairs, as per Alfred's direction.
When Jason was drunk, he got heavy. And it wasn't the first time Roy had to help him home from a bar or to his bed.

Why Jason drank so much, Harper didn't know. He wasn't an alcoholic, but he did drink a lot when he felt more stressed out. The question then Harper asked himself now was why did Jason feel stressed out?

Bruce had asked Jason to come to the party because he wanted the entire family in attendance. When he spoke with Roy, after Jason's behaviour, he thought it was best Jason become invisible for the rest of the function. Roy completely agreed.

Jason was known as the black sheep of the family. But after all the rotten things he did as a vigilante under the guise as Red Hood, he was, above all, still family, and Bruce still cared deeply for him even with all his failings.

After the incident with Penguin—Jason shooting the villain in the face and almost killing him and Batman and Red Hood's fierce fight afterwards—things had settled down. The fight had been more about disciplining a rotten child than the act of attempted murder. Batman's cardinal rule of no killing was to be followed and Jason had nearly crossed that line.

Jason always did what he wanted. His self-righteous attitude seemed to stem from feeling abandoned by Bruce years back, after Joker had killed him, Bruce never taking revenge, allowing the murder by a psychopath of a child to resonate unresolved. This then fuelled Jason into becoming a vigilante and doing what Bruce would not: dealing with criminals with a more permanent end result.

Jason was revived due to some chaotic cosmic event with subsequent dips in the Lazarus Pit for healing purposes. Harper also wondered if the healing properties of the Lazarus Pit restored Jason's memories back, basically reviving him metaphysically?

There appeared to be two ideas of thought on the subject. It was as if two separate things had happened to bring Jason back from the dead, similar to two alternative timelines intersecting to bring one event together as one. Alternative timelines confused Harper, but it was a fact that other universes existed, where timelines split somewhere, at one point, causing certain events to be altered.

He hated to think that somewhere he may be dead.

But after what he overheard in a conversion between Wally West and the newest member of the Batfamily, Arkells—he happened to be standing near by, and that was when he had lost Jason for a moment, apologizing to Dick Grayson afterwards—he wondered whether on some other Earth: Had Dick Grayson really been shot through the head? And he was either dead or had permanent amnesia? It was difficult to think about. And yet, he was glad it hadn't happened to this Dick Grayson.

There were times when Jason got seriously injured, almost fatality, but there was something special about him that gave off an almost god-like aura that made it seem that nothing could kill him. As if he was divinely protected.

Jason swam in the Lazarus Pit a couple of times, as had many of the other Batfamily members, and maybe during those times, they helped him re-develop a sense of self, to make the most of his second life? Most people would want to enjoy life to its fullest after being resurrected from the dead, but Jason had an overwhelming sense of justice that saving people gave him his zest for life.

Harper knew Joker referred to Jason as the "Husky Robin" because he was heftier than the others. Jason hated that name. But considering how larger in size he was compared to the likes of Dick Grayson or Tim Drake, Jason couldn't help genetics. He had to live with it. His muscles were stronger than the average person, so all that added strength would no doubt add to his heftiness.

"Okay buddy, you're completely drunk," Harper said, holding Jason up under his right arm. "Why'd you drink so much?"

Jason tipped, and Harper had to use all his strength to keep him upright as they walked through the hall on the upper level of the Manor. Luckily it was empty at the moment and no one witnessed this pathetic scene. The next time, Harper wasn't so lucky, and they crashed into a wall when Jason fell over. Harper took an elbow to the stomach in the fall and he swore.

"Oh man, I am so drunk," Jason said. "Hey Roy, when do you think was the last time I had sex?"

Roy's eyes widened. "Is that a question? We're getting into dark territory here."

Jason sputtered his lips. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself, and you're not my type."

Jason tried to stand, but then fell over and slipped down the wall on his butt. Harper was glad for the weight off him.

"Barbara's my type," he said. "But now she's marrying Mr. Goodie-goodie." Jason hiccuped, looked up. Roy saw a sadness in his eyes. "I've always had feelings for her, Roy, ever since day one when I became Robin. Oh, I've engaged in relationships with other women, but Barbara's always been numeral uno. Call it a boy's crush, which then turned into a man's crush. I'm still in love with Barbara Gordon. But don't tell anyone. I'm glad that Dickiebird has finally found happiness with her, they've been through a lot, and after recent events, he's lucky to have her, and to be alive…" He slapped himself in the face with a drunk hand. "But, she'll always be in my heart. I know, I have to get over her, she's gone, forever out of my reach, but…" Jason tried to get to his feet, his eyes widened from the sudden uptake. "But for right now, I think I need to lie down. Maybe this is all a dream?"

"Oh boy, you really have it bad, Jay. If the Lazarus Pit is said to cure all ailments, and love is a sickness, then my friend, you'll never be cured of this disease."
Roy put his head under Jason's left shoulder and helped him to the guest room Alfred told him about, then walked him inside. There was already a ready-made bed.

Suddenly, Jason tripped, and they fell onto the bed together, and Harper became trapped underneath Jason's bulk.

"Hey Jay, get off me, man—you're too heavy!" But it was no use and Jason began to suddenly snore.

Harper tried to push him off, but failed.

Just then, he saw a woman walk past the open doorway in the hall, and froze. There was a moment's pause, then she stepped back. She was a beautiful looking woman with slender hips and chestnut brown hair that dropped just below her shoulders, wearing a dark pantsuit. Harper preferred women in traditional dresses, but that was just his preference. But right now, and from the way things looked, probably in her eyes, and what she saw, the perception of them on the bed, painted a weird picture.

The unknown woman put her hands on her hips. "Way to go, boys," she said. "But you may want to shut the door."

The woman took hold of the handle and started to close the door, but Harper said, "No, wait! This isn't how it looks. Honest!" He smiled nervous. "My friend's just drunk, we're not…well, you know…we're not doing anything of the sort."

"Look, it's not a big deal, and there's no longer a negative stigma against it. In fact, I've seen a few videos where the action gets a bit raunchy, it's actually quite hot." She winked. "But you may want to pick a better venue for it instead of a fundraiser party."

Harper sighed. "Okay, this is getting awkward." He had no idea who this woman was, but she seemed to be enjoying his discomfort. "Can you please help me? My friend's unconscious and he's very heavy. It's getting hard to breath."

The women went over and helped roll Jason over onto his back next to Harper. Harper breathed out a sigh of relief and was thankful the pressure of Jason was finally off him. The woman extended a hand to Harper and helped him to his feet.

"Thanks," he said. "The name's Roy Harper, and this is my friend Jason. And you are?"

"My name is Dee-Dee. I'm an assistant to one of the guest politicians here tonight for the fundraiser." She looked at Jason. "Wow, your friend really had a lot to drink. He's lucky to have a friend like you to watch out for him."

"Yeah, I'm like his best friend. I'm also his designated driver, most often." Harper had had his own issues with excessive use of an addictive substance, namely drugs. But he stopped short of revealing any of that. She didn't need to know.

He pushed Jason over fully onto the bed and onto his side just in case he vomited. At least he wouldn't swallow it.

It suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, "Um, by the way, why are you up here? This is a restricted area to party guests. I was told to bring Jay up here because I know the family."

"I'm sorry, but I got lost," she said. "I was looking for a bathroom. Wayne Manor is big place. But to tell you the truth this is a perfect opportunity for something else." She then produced a small pistol from her pants pocket.

She shut the door and Harper backed off, hands in the air.

"What's the meaning of this? Who are you?" he asked.

"Like you, I'm also an old friend of the family, so to speak," she said.

She pressed something on her watch with her gun hand and suddenly her appearance changed, her previous look blitzed out, and she donned a completely different and shocking facade: One of short pink hair and more ghostly whitish skin from the normal pale.

She wore dark skintight clothes that showed off much of her slender figure, revealing much of her pelvic region, cupped with a buckle at her midsection, with her upper shirt pressed up and firmly against her breasts, held up with shoulder straps, exposing much of her cleavage through a transparent opening. She also wore small green gloves and black boots. To finish the ensemble, similar to that of someone else Harper knew, she had black eye shadow and pink lipstick to match her hair.

Across her chest was the strap to be satchel. This was most likely where she got her pistol from hidden within her pant's disguise.

Harper looked into the eyes of Duela Dent.

For a moment, she looked quite attractive for a criminal, then he said, "Oh my god, I thought you were dead?"

Duela Dent mused for a moment, said: "Me too. Or maybe I wasn't myself for a while and went off the radar? I don't know, but something brought me back. And my face is also back to normal after it was burned. I'm thankful for that, too." Harper didn't know what she was talking about, but it didn't matter. "I was told it may have had something to do with the Speed Force. One small thing changes something in the past and it has a huge rippling effect across the cosmos, or so people say. The Flash really needs to watch his footing when he time travels, stepping on a plant is all it takes. As you know, I'm not from this Earth. I'm from an alternative timeline, But I like this place, so I think I'll stay." She shrugged her shoulders. "Not like I can get back anyhow? I don't much like those idiots in the Suicide Squad, though. I perhaps to do my own thing. So, I left them. I went rogue."

Harper knew Duela Dent was psychotic. She also liked to call herself Joker's Daughter, amongst other names. She didn't necessary have a split personality, but she wasn't completely sane.

"Why are you here?" Harper demanded. "Do you plan on getting revenge on Jay for spoiling your plans to team-up with Joker? He told me all around it. But who knows what's changed in the timeline The Flash altered that think you remember?"

"In truth, I don't give a damn about that. I'm here on another matter. And I was given a job to complete before the real party begins." Harper asked her what she meant, and also, how she masked herself. But she only answered the second question, and showed him her watch. "I'm not sure where the technology comes from. Its similar to that Mexican superhero who can make human constructs—I bet it was developed from his ability and adapted? But who cares, tech is tech. By using the technology in this watch, I can go anywhere now without being noticed. It's a handy little thing."

Harper wanted to ask her again about her "party" reference, but before he could, Duela Dent reached into her satchel and produced four sets of handcuffs, then tossed them at him. They bounced off Harper's chest and dropped to the floor.

"Handcuff Jason Todd to the bedposts, then do yourself," she said, pointing the pistol at him.

Harper didn't make any sudden moves. He didn't want to sound an alarm and have her start shooting. When he saw an opportunity, he'd strike. He asked why she was carrying so many handcuffs, and she answered: "I'm eccentric, I love toys," as if that explained it in a nutshell. The word eccentric didn't come to Harper's mind to describe Duela Dent, but disturbed did.

He picked up a two sets of cuffs and went to cuff Jason to the bedposts. The posts were attached to either end the bed and were thin enough to have one cuff wrap around and lock securely.

Just then, she said, "Wait! I have a better idea. I'm thinking back to when I first saw you two. Oh, how delicious! Take off his clothes."

Harper's eyes widened. He looked at her as if she was crazy, the gun pointed at him with intent.

"I said take off his clothes, but only to his underwear!" she ordered. "Then handcuff him to the bedposts."

Harper hesitated, but ultimately did what she told him, minus Jason's jockey's, then handcuffed his friend to the bed posts.

"There, now what?" Harper said.

"Your next, take off your clothes!"

Harper's mouth went agape. He shook his head, and said, "No way!"

Duela Dent pointed the pistol at Jason. At that moment, Harper knew that she was in control. "Do it, Roy Harper, or I'll shoot Jason Todd, and have him bleed to death. Of course, he won't even know he's dying, drunk as he is. And if you think someone will come running after I take the shot, think again. This pistol is fitted with a silencer. It may not look it, pocket-sized, but I've learned a few things from by father. Harvey Two-Face in this time. Stealth is paramount to never giving yourself away. I can also shoot you, and no one would find your bodies until after this little shindig of a boring party. So, make your choice."

Harper put a hand to his upper lip to wipe off sweat. He felt the most uncomfortable and nervous he had ever felt. When he agreed to come to this fundraiser on Bruce's behest to watch Jason, he had no idea it would end up like this.

He removed his jacket, undid his tie, and began to unbutton his shirt. Duela Dent was a real psycho, just like her father.

Once he took his undershirt off and he was bare-chested, Duela said, after looking at each of his arms, "Nice tats."

On his right arm: he had a scorpion and a skull with series of other tattoos. On his left arm: he had a skull with angelic wings and what looked like serpents with other tattoos. He had been collecting them over the years.

Once being Oliver Queen's sidekick, aka, The Green Arrow, and calling himself Speedy, a friend once wondered if getting all those tattoos was his way of acting out? He had suffered with bouts of depression and had a problem with drugs—thanks to Wally, he was clean now—but he never put any stock in his friend's idea. People grew up, and developed different tastes, and this was his own personal style. And he called himself Arsenal now. He didn't regret getting any of the tattoos.

He said: "Thanks," if only out of courtesy.

He was then told to keep undressing.

Once he was down to his boxers, his clothes tossed aside, she said: "Now, cuff yourself to the bedposts on top of your friend." He protested, but was threatened with the pistol again. "You were so dead set against the idea before when I found you, now maybe this will give you a slightly different perspective. The Age of Misogyny is dead. Men and women are equal now, and the traditional thought of couples is a thing of the past. You may not like it, but that's how it is. Time to yank you out of your comfort zone."

"Not my thing, lady," Harper said, a little upset. "Trust me when I say, I'm as straight as an arrow, and my arsenal is for the ladies only!" With sheer reluctance, he crawled up on top of Jason despite his feelings on the matter, and cradled Jason's right bare thigh between his legs. He then handcuffed his left wrist to the bedpost. Duela then secured the other one.

Harper looked down at Jason, their bodies close together. Jason was snoring away. "Whatever you do buddy, just don't wake up any time soon, or you'll get a rude awakening," he said.

"Oh, how delightful," Duela said. "I saw what Jason Todd did, everyone saw. He pinched that woman's butt downstairs. He's such a pig. This is exactly what he deserves. And since you protected him, that makes you culpable to his actions and therefore a known accomplice. A little revenge never hurt anyone, or that's what my father always says." She laughed. "I wish I have a cell phone to preserve this wonderful moment. Two so-called, straight, secure men, in a position of complete and utter vulnerability."

"I'm thankful you don't," Harper replied.

Duela mused, her eyes narrowed as Harper watched her. She looked unsatisfied. "Mmm, there's something missing." She put her pistol back into her satchel, no longer needed, and placed her fingers into a square, as if sizing up a picture.

"Please don't look at me like that, you're making me feel uncomfortable," he said. He looked down. Jason had stopped snoring and was now muttering under his breath, possibly dreaming of something or someone.

She suddenly snapped her fingers as if having an epiphany.

Then she did something that was beyond reprehensible to any able-bodied person, especially against their will.

She first yanked off Jason's jockey's as he lay completely unconscious, unwilling to resist, then she pulled off, and quite forcefully, Harper's own boxers, until both he and Jason were completely naked.

Harper growled angrily, and Duela laughed. But he was more angry about the method than the indignity.

"This is tantamount to rape!" Harper said.

"No, you removed your own clothes. I haven't touched the goods. So, you can't claim inappropriate touching or sexual harassment. And frankly, you have nothing I'm interested in or that you can boast about. My tastes lie elsewhere." But then she looked closer. "Comparatively speaking, however, Jason Todd is much more pleasing to the eyes than you. He has more muscle tone. And I think you need to consider using one of those pumps they advertise that help with size. Average just won't do it these days."

Harper swung his leg in the air and tried to kick her, but she arched backwards and was able to avoid it easily, calling her a bitch.

Duela laughed. Then she crouched down next to the bed and leaned in close to Jason's ear.

She began to whisper something soft to him that only she could hear. Harper tried to listen, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. It was if she was speaking in dog whistle tones. When she was done, she looked up at him with a sinister smile. Whatever it was, it caused Jason to moan pleasurably, then lick his lips with moistness.

Something began to happen and Harper looked down between his legs. "No, no, no…" He looked at Jason. "Whatever thoughts she put in your head, buddy, get rid of them. This is not the place for that and I am not a woman!"

"Oh, Yes, I'm yours…" Jason muttered.

"I'll leave you to enjoy the situation, Roy Harper."

She kicked both sets of their clothes underneath the bed.

Duela Dent went to leave the room, switching on her device, reverting back to her conservative look, so she could return to the party downstairs, unrestricted.
"Hey, no! You can't leave us like this!"

Duela stopped, turned back. "You know, you're right." She went to a linen closest and took out a thin white sheet, then draped it over the pair from the shoulders down. "At least it will preserve what dignity you have left if anyone walks in on you." She winked. "I hope Jason Todd has really nice dreams. You never know, you may just enjoy it. He seems to need to relieve a lot of pent-up stress for whatever reason from what I saw. Good thing he has a friend like you to help him out."

She laughed, then waved, and left. Harper shouted through the door for her to come back, but she was gone.

Roy looked down at Jason and prayed to god that whatever seductive dream he was experiencing was over soon.

But when Jason leaned up and kissed him, albeit in a dream-like state, thinking that he may be his dream-esque, fantasy woman—being drunk that he was—Harper knew things were not going to end well.

"Oh, god, no!"

To be continued...