Beauty and the Bat
Chapter 5: Leap of Love
Batman peered through his binoculars, looking down at Gotham from the Wayne Building, one of the highest structures in Gotham City. Joker had been on the loose now for five hours, and Batman had no clue where the clown was. More importantly, he did not know where Harley was. Although he didn't show it, inwardly, Bruce was sick with worry for her. Joker has tried to kill Harley dozens of times, so it seems highly likely that he would do it again without a thought.
"Where are you Joker?" Batman growled.
As if on cue, a huge light shone in the sky. At first the Dark Knight thought it was the Bat Signal,but instead of a bat it was a green smiley face. If that wasn't a clue as to where Joker was, Batman couldn't be called the world's greatest detective. He pulled out his grappling gun and swinging from buidling to another, made his way to the signal.
The Joker Signal was placed on an abandoned building overlooking Crime Alley. Bruce hated this place more than anywhere else in the world. This is the place where he lost everything, his childhood, his innocence, and most importantly his parents. He had a bad vibe going anywhere near this alley, like it was just waiting for him to pass through so he could join his parents. He took a deep breath and ziplined onto the building with the signal. As soon as he landed on the roof he heard clapping, followed by the Clown Prince of Crime popping out from behind the signal.
"Welcome to the show Batman!"Joker yelled, raising his hands in the air and smiling.
"What are you planning Joker?"Batman asked.
"Why do you always think the worst of me Batman?"Joker replied, making a mock sad face, "For your information I brought you the girl of your dreams."
Joker snapped his fingers and another spotlight came on on a building across from them, on the other side of Crime Alley. The spotlight gleamed on two of Joker's thugs, both wearing clown makeup and weilding machine guns. In between the criminals was Harley, tied up and gagged. She was perched on the edge of the roof, where only one gentle nudge would send her to her death.
"What are you doing Joker!Let Harley go!" Batman snarled.
"I found out my dear little Harley was basically fucking you in her mind." Joker answered, a dangerous smile coming to his lips.
"What are you talking about you physco clown?"Batman said, drawing out Joker to rant while he developed a course of action to take to save Harley.
"That bitch over there is in love with you Bat Breath."Joker replied, "and I hate to say I'm the jealous type."
"Just let her go Joker." Batman pleaded.
Joker stood there for a second, studying Batman's face, finally he said, "So I was right. Your face says it all. You love her too!"
Batman said nothing. His eyes quickly cast a glance over at the tied-up Harley, to see her reaction at what the physcopath said. She was staring at him, with tears in her eyes. However, these weren't tears of saddness, they were tears of joy.
"Well Batman, here's your chance to impress the girl and save her in the nick of time,"Joker said,"but if you do I may not be here to congradulate you."
"I'm giving you this one chance to surrender and let Harley go." Bruce stated, curling his fists into a ball, trying to supress his anger
"As tempting as that sounds Batman I think I'll have to pass. I like playing the game by my own rules." Joker sneered," I know that makes me not the best team player but oh well."
Joker looked over at his henchmen on the other rooftop and with a nod, they pushed Harley off the roof. She let out a muffled scream and she fell. Not even wasting a microsecond Bruce leaped off the roof and surged downward towards the descending Harley.
"Would you look at that boys!" Joker shouted," A leap of love! HA HA HA HA!"
"I won't lose another person I love!" Batman yelled.
Not a moment too soon Batman caught up to the falling woman. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled out his grappling hook and fired it upward. It hooked onto the edge of the roof and it stopped their fall just in time. Bruce stretched his feet and he could feel the pavement below. He thanked all the workout and hard training he had done over the years.
Bruce gently placed him and Harley on the ground. Pulling a baterang from his belt and cut away the ropes that held her and pulled the gag off her mouth. Harley sighed as she rubbed her arms where the ropes bit into her flesh.
"You're safe now Harley but I need-"Batman sentence was cut off when he felt Harley's lips crush his.
The world melted away just then. There was no Joker, no Crime Alley, no Gotham, just Batman and Harley Quinn kissing each other passionately. Bruce could feel all the barriers he had placed around his heart through the years instantly shatter. Harley was doing this to him that Catwoman, Talia Al Ghul, or any woman over the years couldn't do. Harley was making him...happy.
His happiness vanished when he heard a loud cackle from above. He had completely forgotten about the Joker. Without so much as a word the Dark Knight broke the kiss, grabbed Harley again by the waist, and grappled back up to the rooftop. There was no sign of the Joker or his men. Bruce had let them get away. However, below their feet was a message, written in green spray paint:
"I now know you have a heart Batman and it's only a matter of time before I stab your heart and take her from you"