Yes it's late, yes I'm sorry...but it's here now, that's all that matters right? Good news is that all the chapters are written and ready to be published now so...happy reading!

Am I a Conductor for Madness?

"Hello doll, sorry for the wait but I have some files that are just itching to have your pretty little hands steal them away."

"You never could say no to a challenge Leta, no matter how unwanted it is."

"Get out of my head Ra's."

"It's best not to forget what I've taught you Leta, now more than ever."

"You and your teachings can go to hell Ra's!"

"You've burned me before Leta. Would you condemn me to burn again?"

"Just leave me alone…"

"Beg me Leta."

"No…"

"Beg for me to leave you be Leta."

"No!"

"Beg because you know only I can set you free Leta!"

"NO!"

Ever since I got out of Arkham the nightmares of Ra's were becoming more and more frequent but this one made Tallon leap off of the bed and away from me. I took heavy lungfuls of air, waiting for my heart and mind to return back to earth. A few small tears escaped out of the corner of my eye and down the sides of my cheeks before I wiped them away. After realizing that I wasn't the immediate threat Tallon came back to my side but I couldn't bring myself to give him affection. I threw the covers away from my sweat soaked form before curling away from my window overlooking the glowing city lights and falling back asleep for hopefully the last time tonight.

I'll deal with my messes tomorrow.

XXXXX

There were a few emails waiting for me when I woke up the next day. One, a lengthy response from the Riddler that I immediately deleted, the others were from Joker. The first was a bunch of links to videos, and after I played the first one I refused to play the rest, the other was an invitation to meet him at the club tonight. I couldn't ignore either of them but I sure as hell didn't want to see him again. Even though I knew that I would have to go so I could discuss the details of the plan with him.

.

Dear Doll

Quick follow up to my last email, hope you enjoyed the videos, I have a guest that would be delighted to see you at the club tonight. Be prompt. 10:30.

J

The only question that I can think of now is who the fuck is J's guest? It could be a potential business partner but knowing, well not really knowing J, I couldn't imagine it would be anything like that. He doesn't seem like the kind of person to help a girl make connections in the world. Hell he doesn't seem like the type of person that could keep connections in this world if he tried. I've always thought he prefers to work alone anyway.

I can't help but think in the back of my mind how much I just want to pack up and leave without ever emailing him back but I know I won't, so I sent off a reply.

Dear J,

I look forward to meeting you and your special guest tonight, so long as it doesn't end in death and destruction. That's not too much to ask of you is it? Don't bother sending a car, just let me in when I get there. I'll see you at 10:30 tonight. Sharp.

Scar

Checking the time at the bottom corner of my laptop I saw that it was going on 5:30 already. I looked over at Tallon, "well I guess I better go ahead and get ready huh?" No response, just big eyes begging for food, which I gave before I hopped in the shower. I took my sweet time washing the day away, contemplated for a brief moment if I should shave my legs but then just decided to wear pants instead. Once I was done I went into the closet that was partially unpacked in case of emergencies. My brain felt a bit like it was on autopilot tonight, I didn't agonize over my decisions or the impacts that they would have. Maybe it's the lack of sleep...or maybe it's the fact the glamour and mystery of this fucking nuissance has finally worn off. Who's to say really?

I eventually decided on my dress pants and suit top, no undershirt, just a bralette. I remembered the Joker's little night club being a decent temperature in the private section but you can never be too careful. I was having hints of nervousness at the idea of who the Joker's guest could be but I told myself that there's absolutely no sense in worrying over it at the moment. With as much as I've worried these past few years it amazes me that I don't have a full head of grey hair.

Walking over to the curtains to block out Gotham's creepers I took notice of my set of knives and hand guns that were stashed away in my bag in the corner of my room. The last time I visited J I was less cautious and only brought one gun to our meeting. I don't think I want to take the chance, his radio silence is too suspicious. I quickly stripped back down to my underwear and buckled into the multiple body straps before putting the numerous weapons into their proper holsters.

Talon was sitting next to me with his head cocked, questioning my every move with his sweet eyes. I grabbed his face between my hands, "do you think mamma's being a bit too paranoid buddy? She can't be too careful ya know, there are bad, bad men after mommy, she's gotta keep you safe doesn't she?" No response. "That's right she does, yes she does!" I gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before standing. It was already 9:48 and I would have to leave now to avoid late night Gotham traffic.

"All right boy I gotta head out, I don't know what time I'll be back, hell even if I'll be back. If I don't come back tonight Nate will come and check on you ok?" Still no response but I know he knows. I grabbed my bag, tablet, phone and keys before heading to the door. "Hold down the fort buddy okay...no wild parties."

Once I stepped out of the flat and locked it I placed the spare key on top of the door frame, kind of obvious but Tallon would attack anyone that's not Nate. Speaking of which, I need to shoot a quick text to him. I whipped out my phone as I made my way to the complex's elevator.

Hey Nate I know it's last minute...dangerous assignment, you know the drill. If I don't check in by four in the morning will you please come and look after Tallon. If I don't check in by the end of the day, then, you know what happened. I'm sorry it's so last minute Nate, please?

I hit send and received a response as soon as I sat inside my car.

Of course Scar. Stay safe.

Nate really is too good for this world, too good for Gotham at least.

No promises, key is on top of the doorframe. Thanks again Nate.

Once I sent that last text I put the car in reverse and removed my heels to drive then made my way to Joker's club. Of course considering the time and day Gotham was insanely busy and made traffic a living hell. I should have just taken the subway but I knew that it would have left too many chances of being seen. All it takes is one asshole with a hero complex that watches the news too much. Knowing my luck I would be the face that they remember. What was supposed to have been a ten to fifteen minute drive through the bright lights of downtown Gotham ended up being forty-five instead, the time was 10:18, not too early or late so no harm done I suppose.

I ended up parking the car near an apartment complex two blocks away, if everything goes okay then I shouldn't be gone long enough to get a ticket. Before getting out of the car I slipped my heels back on adding three more inches to my height. Shoving my keys into my pants pockets I began to make my way towards the club. About a block down from where I parked I could already see the line outside of the building forming. These people must love the thrill of danger, especially if they're not oblivious to the man who owns this club.

I did my best to navigate my way towards the entrance that Frosty had taken me through the last time. It would have been nice to have the escort again tonight instead of looking like an absolute fool but I had to make sure that I had my car tonight just in case. When I finally found the entrance door I sighed in relief and went to open it but it wouldn't budge.

"Really J? I ask for one thing…" I tried knocking on the door a few more times until a couple minutes passed and still no response. "Jesus fuck! Is this asshole really going to make me call him?" I let another minute pass until the time was past 10:30. Fuck

I pulled out my phone and pressed the dial button on my most recent contact. It rang a couple times before that God forsaken voice answered with a relaxed 'hello?'

"J, it's me...did you forget that I was supposed to be let in?"

"Oh gosh is that the time already? I'm awful sorry doll. I must have forgotten all about you." Asshole.

"It's no problem J, can you please just tell the snowman to come let me in?"

"Who?"

"Oh shit, uhm Frosty?" He let out a quick laugh at the nickname that I gave him.

"Sure thing doll...Frosty! Go let our lovely guest in would you?" I heard the snowman respond with a resounding 'yes' boss'. Then, faintly I could hear a voice next to Joker, female, whisper to him, 'is she really here puddin?' Puddin? Who the fuck is that? "She sure is baby girl." I'm hanging up now. Baby girl?!

"Thanks," I quickly hit the end call button before running through everything that I just heard. He called her baby girl, did Joker get a girlfriend for the weekend? I mean good for him, maybe he'll leave me the fuck alone this visit. But no, she knew me, she said 'is she here', I don't recognize her voice though. I can't even remember the last time I stole from a woman. Is Joker leading me into a trap? Fuck, should I leave? No! It's twenty million dollars Scar, there is no way we are giving this up right? Then again it's no good if I'm fucking dead now is it?

Before I could contemplate the possibility of running away anymore the door swung open and Frosty was standing there with an expectant look on his face. He gestured for me to enter and I did. "Good too see you again snowman."

He let out a gruff, short laugh "you as well ma'am." Eww that just doesn't sound right at all…should I ask him if I'm walking into a trap? No he definitely wouldn't answer me truthfully.

I walked to the top of the staircase just like before and It's almost as if the past and present mixed together as I was taking those steps. The nervousness, the sounds of the crowd beside me, the nausea…all if it blended together in this moment. When I reached the door from before Frosty stopped beside me and turned the knob before telling me to enter, he followed in behind before taking a security guard stance beside the door.

Joker was standing off to my left, his back was to me but someone was in front of him, he had his hands on this someones forearms and was rubbing them up and down. When he finally acknowledged my presence I tried my best to not let my body portray my curiosity as to who was with him. My natural instinct was to angle my body so as to see who he was with but I didn't, good for me. It's weird seeing him again.

His face turned towards me and then that ridiculous smile showed up again. "Good too see you again doll." Gee I wish I could say the same.

Before I could respond the figure behind him jumped out and began to run towards me.

No fucking way in hell!

"Scar!"

"Harley?!" Before I could say anything more Harley, or some colorful mimic of Harley jumped into my arms toppeling us both to the ground. I didn't have time to think about my lack of balance as I was looking up at the face of someone who was most definitely Dr Harleen Quinzell from Arkham Asylum. Blue locked with amber and a smile spread across her face as she hovered over me.

"Holy shit I've missed you!" Has her voice changed, more high pitched, stronger accent, was it always like this...I couldn't even process my questions before I felt the press of her lips against mine. What the hell? Her kiss wasn't forceful but it was oh so soft, I could feel her hands cupping my shocked face as she pressed us closer together, angling her lips against mine. What the hell? When she broke away I couldn't tell if it had been a minute or just a few seconds, all I could feel was shock. "I didn't bruise ya did I? When Mistah J told me you were comin' I just got so excited. I've been wantin' to come and see ya ever since you and he broke out but the timing was just never right. You know how it is though huh Scar?"

I didn't respond, I couldn't.

"Scar? Scar? Oh no I didn't break ya did I?" She started rubbing her hands along the back of my head.

I shook my head back and forth, well as much as I could with being on the ground. "No, no, you didn't break me…" but someone broke you, didn't they Harley? "Is it really you Harley?"

Before Harley could respond Joker finally decided to chime in, "Oh, she's really here all right, a few slight modifications but may I introduce the new, improved, one and only Harley Quinn!" He is one for dramatics isn't he.

My eyes never strayed from the new psychiatrist that hovered above me, her hair, still blonde but shorter, with red and blue ends curtained around my face, secluding us from the world. She giggled at Joker's words while smiling down with me. I brought my hand up to the ends of Harley's hair, "did you do something different?"

She laughed at my question before nodding, "maybe just one or two things. Thanks for noticing bunny?" Bunny? Eugh, lets hope she'll never use that again.

"Alright Harley, let our guest off the ground dear." Harley compliantly sprang to her feet giggling all the while before extending her hand towards me. I took it thankfully and she pulled me up to her. I couldn't take my eyes away from this stranger in front of me. "I'll make you both a drink, how does that sound?" Harley jumped over to J's side and wrapped her arms around him before nipping at his lips, playfully growling at him. I wanted to look away, PDA always made me feel odd, but I couldn't help but think, those lips were just on mine a second ago, what the everloving hell? The other lips were on mine a few weeks back.

"A drink sounds heavenly puddin…" there it is again, puddin, so Harley was the voice on the phone, guess that makes sense now. "What about you Scar? You up for a drink?" Dear God yes, please!

"Yeah, sure a drink would be great. That doesn't go against any doctor patient code does it Harls?"

She giggled once more before bouncing over to me, leaving a laughing Joker to walk over to the bar. Grabbing my arm she began to drag me over to the multitude of couches overlooking the club. "Oh Scar if I was still your psychiatrist you couldn't pry me out of that delicious little brain of yours. Just the thought of what you've got going in there makes me all tingly. Love the outfit by the way, very, very sexy, first time I've seen you out of the jumpsuit and I love it!"

"Yeah, same to you. You look, really...different…" yeah sure that's one way to put it.

"Don't I just! I really owe it all to Mistah J. I've never felt so free before, it feels fucking amazing Scar...are ya still going by Scar, or have ya changed it to something more sinister? Not that I don't love Scar but ya know how these super villains get, they tend to go all willy nilly with their nicknames…" my God has she always talked this much?

"No, no I'm still going by Scar these days, haven't had a reason to change it yet." Harley walked up to me and grabbed my face in between her palms and for a moment I thought she might kiss me again.

"Well I wouldn't change a thing about you Scar...well," her face contorted in thought, "nah I wouldn't change a thing about you." That's sweet I guess, in her own way.

Time for the burning question, "what happened to you Harley?" She was still standing in front of me but had begun to play with my hair, off in her own little world, I couldn't find my past, focused psychiatrist anywhere in her.

"Huh, whaddya mean?"

I reached up to grab her hands that were in my hair and held them in front of me. "You... what happened to you Harley, you weren't like this in Arkham, unless my memories are a bit more fucked up then I think." Could she have been working with Joker this whole time? No that doesn't make any sense, plus no one is that good of an actor, well, I've gotten away with plenty, it's not so far fetched really.

Harley started to giggle, "I've always been this way Scar, I just needed a little push is all." Okay there Riddler. I heard Joker start to come up to me from behind before feeling his breath against the shell of my ear. Why is he so close, why is Harley letting this happen if she is 'with' him. What the fuck is going on? I don't think I've ever been so confused.

My brain feels like it's going to explode. "Now, now Scar you didn't come here to talk about the past, lets focus on the future shall we?" He handed Harley a bright red drink with a shit ton of cherries on the bottom and myself a rum and coke. Wow he remembered.

I gave him a thank you before taking a large gulp of my drink and I watched as Harley downed her drink, cherries and all. I did notice that there was quite a bit more rum in my drink than I usually poured but I didn't think too much of it, everyone's pour is different after all. Harley stepped closer to me and pushed the hand that was holding my drink back up to my mouth. "Come on Scar we're never gonna have any fun tonight if you don't keep up." I threw back the drink to appease her and grimaced at all of the rum as I really don't drink that often, I don't like the way it makes my brain all fuzzy.

"I'm really not here to have fun Harley, this is supposed to be a business meeting after all." Plus I didn't know that you would be here as well so that changes a lot of things now.

Joker went back to the bar to presumably make us more drinks. I'll just reject that one if he offers, I thought to myself.

Harley turned my face back towards hers with her hands on my cheeks, her hands are cold. I couldn't remember her stare ever being this piercing back in Arkham. "Ya have beautiful eyes, did ya know that Scar?" Is she drunk? Or high? Or both? She only had one drink.

"Well no one has ever told me that, but thanks...I guess." Are you gonna kiss me again Harley, cause you're leaning in awful close.

She giggled, and started to walk us back towards the couches, she pushed me to sit before taking the vacant spot on my lap. What the actual fuck is going on? "Aww now that's just a shame Scar, no one ever telling you that you have such pretty eyes. I'd tell you everyday if you'd let me, but I think it would get a bit repetitive. So what have you been up to Scar, Scarlett, Scarlett O'Hara, oooo Ms Scarlett?" I don't really know, what have you been up to Harley?

"Oh you know, robbing the rich, uncovering Gotham's dirty secrets, trying to survive with a bounty on my head, normal things." I saw Joker begin to make his way towards us again with drinks in hand, that just doesn't look right, him serving drinks, not having any say in the business meeting he made. "What about you Harley, huh, is there a new supervillain I should be on the lookout for?" Joker tried to hand me the drink but I gave a quiet 'no thanks,' trying to keep my attention on Harley to figure out how everything became so fucked. Harley wasn't having it though, she grabbed the drinks out of his hand and pressed mine into my hand, before clicking the glasses together and gulping hers down. I took a small sip of mine this time.

"I don't think that you should be on the lookout, but I definitely think that every other fucker in this city should be afraid, very afraid. Now, drink up Scar, we're celebrating a partnership tonight!" She giggled before forcing the drink to my mouth again but I forced it back down.

"I don't celebrate until after I've finished a job, Harls, not before, and especially not before I even know what the job is or what I have to do." I went to push Harley off of my lap so that I could stand and have the conversation I came for but then I felt pressure on my shoulders pushing me back into the couch. I turned my head to the right and saw J's pale hands holding me down. I looked back up to Harley and she was just smiling, but at the same time she looked a bit sad. If you have something planned Harley...I don't want to hurt you but I will if it comes down to it.

"You already know what I'm asking of you Scar, now why don't we enjoy ourselves tonight," oh wow he finally speaks tonight.

"I seem to remember telling you close to three months ago that I wanted these plans within the week. As far as I'm concerned our deal is void unless you give me what I need to do this successfully. So if you're still interested you can give me what I need right now, or I'm leaving and you can consider our 'partnership' done." I reached up to grab his hands with a tight squeeze before taking them off my shoulder and downing the rest of my drink. Harley looked down at me with that still sad smile before I gently pushed her off of my lap and stood up.

Woah, woah, woah, why the fuck is the room floating? Why are my arms numb? Am I anemic? No, I've never had this problem before that's not it. Why am I shaking? Low blood-pressure, sugar? Maybe, I remember she had it at one point, something like that. I looked around but my moves felt like they were at a fraction of the pace, all of the colors were so vibrant, so pretty. Am I having a heart attack, why is it beating so fast? Why can I hear it? Fuck?!

I saw Harley stumble over to me before re balancing herself and standing in front of me. Is she the same as me right now, or is it just me? She smiled up at me while giggling, she's so fucking pretty, with all of her colors. I watched her hands come up in slow motion before feeling her hands run through my hair, God that feels good, is that music? Pretty, pretty music. "You're so pretty Harls." Is that my voice, do I sound like that?

She giggled again before running her hands from my head down to my own hands, "you're touch tingles," she laughed and I did too. Is that my laugh?

"Does it feel good Scar?" I nodded slowly, but enthusiastically. She smiled before taking my hands and bringing them above my head in a strange but fun dance, wee. I felt another pair of hands behind me and my hair being pushed away from my shoulder. Has my hair always been this soft? Is that J behind me? Is he why I'm like this? The drink!? Fuck the drink?! Snap out of it Scar! Wait, wait this is fun, the touching feels good, don't snap out of it.

"What was that about our partnership being over Scar?" Oh fuck you, wait no fuck me, wait, haha, fuck!

"Heehe, partnership, funny, partners in crime, you, me, Harley. What did you do to Harley J, or me, or hehehe, or Gotham?" He shushed me before placing a kiss on my neck and pushing me into Harley. Hmmm soft, so soft, and pretty, why is she so pretty?

"I'm going to go into my office and get our little partner her paperwork, keep her company won't you Harley?" I heard her giggle before responding with a 'course puddin' hehe puddin', that sounds really good right now.

I felt Harley start to slowly bring me back to the couch and once my knees touched the edge I flopped down, my blazer unbuttoning on the way down. Ooo sexy, I wanna kiss her again, would she let me? Wait what?

She crawled to the open side next to me and pressed a kiss to my nose before looking down on me with a smile. I couldn't help but giggle, she's so cute! I reached up and ran my fingertips along her cheek, everything feels weird, that's not makeup though, she's just that pale. So pretty.

"Your skin is so soft, I love your face, hehe." What is wrong with me?

"I love your face too Scar."

I could feel my eyes start to tear up, "I'm sorry Harley, I'm so, so sorry!" Wait what am I sorry for? Why isn't she kissing me?

"Don't be bunny." Hehe bunny, oh wait now she's kissing me, oh wow it feels really good. How is she such a good kisser, must be practice with J. Wait no, don't think about that, ew. "Don't think so much Scar," don't stop kissing me please? Wait no do stop, I can't breathe, I can't breathe! "Breathe Scar!" I need sleep, I want to sleep. I looked over and saw J standing in the doorway he left through with a smile on his face. I'll fucking kill him. I need to sleep.

Ooooo...so whad did ya think?