Chapter 13: Payback's a Bitch!
Before Talia could even react, Harley's fist hit her square on the nose. Blood filled her mouth as a result, the harlot breaking her nose. She jumped a couple of feet back, wiping her nose of the blood. Talia glared daggers at the blonde bimbo as Harley glared right back, giving her a cocky grin and cracking her knuckles in a dramatic fashion.
"You're going to pay for that you bitch!"Talia snarled, leaping forward towards Harley. Harley quickly spun in place, landing a kick to Talia's side and causing her to crash to the floor off to the left of Harley.
"Your hissy fit is making you sloppy Talia,"Harley said, sneering at her, "It seems like today is just not your day hun."
Bruce was about to step into the catfight, when he saw something rushing towards him. He darted to the side just as a stream of acid landed on the spot he was standing just seconds ago. Joker cackled madly, holding his decayed flower that was pinned to his suit.
"Drats. I missed."Joker chuckled, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a pistol, "Can you please stand still this time? I want to get extra points for a head-shot!"
Joker started firing nonstop at the Dark Knight, forcing Bruce to side-step and leap out of the path of the bullets. Joker just kept firing away, giggling like a kid at a candy store, watching Batman do his funny little dance trying to dodge his bullets. However, his ammo soon ran, the pistol making only empty clicks instead of the glorious bang just moments ago. He huffed in annoyance and tossed the useless weapon behind him, putting his fists up and shaking them at his longtime foe.
"Alright Bats! Let's do this like men. Put em up!"Joker stated dramatically, rushing towards him.
Bruce easily dodged the Joker's pathetic attempt at a punch, landing a counter-strike at the clown's ribcage. Joker doubled over in pain, before flashing his twisted smile and landing a kick at Batman's ankle, where unfortunately, a blade was connected to the tip of his shoe. Batman grunted in pain as the blade pierced his armor, and then his flesh. He lurched forward to grab at Joker's outstretched leg, but before he could, he received a back-handed slap from the madman.
"Now don't cry at the little wound I gave ya Batman." Joker taunted, "Or else I'll have to slap you again like a bitch!"
"You have a potty-mouth. Time to knock some decency into you!" Batman retorted, before landing a brutal upper-cut to the Joker's chin. The clown groaned in pain, more than likely some of his teeth broken, the blow knocking him backwards into a nearby wall.
The Joker hissed in pain, pulling himself back onto his feet using the wall as leverage, "I think you broke some of my teeth! Don't you know my smile is one of my best features!"
Meanwhile Harley and Talia were trading blow after blow against one another. Talia grabbed Harley by the shoulder, forcing her to bend as Talia's knee smashed into her gut. The wind left Harley's lungs, the blow causing her to gasp in pain. Harley quickly head-butted Talia into the chest, pushing her away from Harley. Talia was about to land another strike, before Harley stopped her in her tracks by landing a hard slap across her cheek. The blow causing Talia to stumble a bit to the side.
"God that hurt my hand! But at least I left my mark on your ugly face!"Harley stated, staring at the red hand-print left on Talia's right cheek, "Gotta say it's an improvement."
"Do you ever such that trap of yours!?"Talia asked, jumping forward with her fist raised. She tried to make contact with Harley's face, but she easily blocked it and countered with a quick hit to Talia's ribs, a move Bruce taught her.
"That's enough Talia!" Batman yelled, causing the two women to jump in surprise. Bruce came hobbling on one leg, the other injured due to Joker's blade from earlier, towards them. Being dragged behind him by the collar was an unconscious Joker, whose face look like it was put through a meat grinder, "It's over Talia. You've lost this fight."
Talia was about to retort, before casting her eyes around her surroundings. Nightwing had knocked out the last of her assassins, Joker was down for the count, and both Bruce and Harley were standing before her, who didn't seem like they would be beaten anytime soon. Finally, Talia sighed and raised her hands in surrender.
"Alright. I'm no fool,"Talia replied, her eyes downcast, "I know when I've been beaten."
It seems she admitted defeat just in time, for the muffled sounds of police sirens could be heard high above them. Talia did not resist in the least as Batman roughly put her hands behind her back, placing handcuffs on her wrists. Bruce lead her towards the exit of her secret lair, the first of the police force already arriving into the room.
"So...you really do not love me anymore do you Bruce?" Talia asked, her tone steeped in sadness.
"I did...once," the Caped Crusader answered, "but you broke my heart one too many times Talia, and Harley picked up the pieces."
Talia did not say anything to that, just cast her head downward as she was handed off to a nearby policeman. The rest of the police force busied themselves cuffing the rest of Talia's goons and making sure Joker was nice and secure, in case he woke up and tried to resist on his way back to Arkham.
Harley let out a sigh of exhaustion, her back to a wall. She slid down the wall, sitting on the cold floor below her. Bruce stood before her, looking down at her with a look of regret and sadness. Harley rolled her eyes and gave him a weak smile.
"I don't want to see that look on your face Bman,"Harley stated before Batman could say anything, "I don't blame you for all this."
"It's-It's my fault this happened Harley. That you got hurt."Bruce replied, shame etched on his face. He crouched before her on one knee, "I was suppose to protect you no matter what."
"You did protect me ya goof!"Harley said, raising herself up and wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly, "I know you will always be there for me. Next time you get captured I'll come rescue you and we'll call it even okay?"
At that Bruce chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him, "Deal."
They stood like that for a minute, just enjoying each others embrace. It felt like they had been apart for days. The pair finally broke away from each other after hearing a loud cough from behind them. They turned to see Nightwing standing there, looking awkwardly at them.
"Why don't you two get a room? Unless dark cold places are your preference." Nightwing said smartly, cracking a grin before looking at Batman, "Oh wait...of course it is."
"Shutup Dick."Bruce retorted, smiling a bit, "but a room does sound good. I could use a rest."
"Yay me too!" Harley agreed as they got back up on their feet, "and I'm starving! I hope Alfred will make me some of his cinnamon pancakes when we get back."
"But it's about midnight!?"Dick replied, looking at her incredulously.
"Any time is a good time for pancakes young man."Harley said, her hand finding Bruce's and squeezing it tight as the trio made their way out of Talia's lair, the police giving the heroes a wide berth.