Nightwing's Nightingale

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters just the plot

Pairing: Richard Dick Grayson/Nightwing Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn

Chapter 9

Nightwing could barely hide his surprise at Ivy's sudden question. How did she know? Or did she know?

"Don't you think that's what I'm-" Nightwing started before a groan of annoyance escaped the woman.

"I'm not stupid, bat boy. I know you know where she is. Now tell me!"

"How do you know I know?" Nightwing asked with an edge. An edge that let Ivy know exactly what she needed to know. Harley had been in danger. She still was...

"I know something happened that night...the night Joker broke her out of jail. She, uh, she contacted me saying that he had freed her but...She was asking me to come and get her. I knew then something was wrong. She was scared, and I figured the clown would hurt her so I went to the address she had sent me. By the time that I got there, I heard a commotion inside and seconds later saw you carrying her out of the building."

Nightwing said nothing as he remembered what happened that night. He would never forget the broken look on Harley's face. The fear and anxiety. It sent a shiver up his spine, making him shudder and look away from Ivy.

"You're protecting her, aren't you?" Ivy asked as she crossed her arms, watching his expressions. Nightwing glanced at her, but said nothing. "Tell me where she is...I need to see her."

"I can't tell you where she is," Nightwing stated before looking into Poison Ivy's eyes, not missing the look of slight hurt and worry before she flipped her red curls over shoulder. "I know you care for her. I see it written on your face, but I can't do that."

"Then at least let me talk to her...What did he do to her? At least tell me that, please."

Nightwing closed his eyes and shook his head. Now knowing that Ivy was the friend that Harley mentioned, he knew she wouldn't take that news well.

"He..." He paused grabbing the bridge of his nose to contain his anger. "He tried to kill her."

"WHAT!?" Ivy hissed. The emotions surfacing. Anger, sadness, and desperation. He barely had the will to continue the story, being that it only got worse.

"He poisoned her with this nerve gas. Makes even the most simple injuries feel like fatal wounds. Damage is worse. I won't say anything more..."

"Tell me-" Ivy started before she heard footsteps coming their way. Nightwing looked back towards the hallway and then quickly to Ivy.

"Batman and Batgirl are coming, hide!" he hissed as he started walking to the entrance of the room.

"Harley-"

"She contacted you. She can do it again, right?" Ivy reluctantly nodded her head and quickly handed him a red pouch before withdrawing her vines, letting them carry her away to door behind the machine he hadn't noticed was there.

"Nightwing!" He turned around fast enough to see Batman running towards him with Batgirl in tow. He hid the pouch in one of his utility belt holsters and nodded in the direction of the machine as they entered.

"That's what he's been looking for...and it doesn't look like we should be just letting it sit around."

"You mean we should destroy it?" Batgirl said with a rather stoic expression. Nightwing nodded and looked at Batman.

"Unless you can think of a better idea." He watched as he just stared at the machine for a moment.

"I'll talk to Alfred, and maybe Gordon. I'll get back with you when we reach a conclusion. Did anything else happen down here? You went silent on us," Batman said as he walked towards the machine.

"Thought that I heard someone, but was mistaken. Sorry to worry you. We have to watch this place, you know? Just in case more goons come, they obviously know about it."

"Don't worry about that I got it covered. You go to Gordon," Batman said directing his sight to Batgirl before turning his attention to Nightwing. "You go to Alfred. While you're at it, maybe you can talk to Harley."

There was an audible scoff as Batgirl walked out the room. He just rolled his eyes and ignored her. He nodded to Batman and headed out.

xxx

Harley couldn't bring herself to focus on the book that Alfred had brought to her. It was a romance story, but it was doing everything but making her feel better. She thought Joker was her love story. It had all been a joke. A big ugly lie, and one that almost ended with her life. She closed the book and sat it on the end table. She placed her hands over her face and sighed. How did she end up here? She shook her head and looked at her hands. Her fingernails were once flawlessly coated in red and black polish, which was now chipped. A symbol of her current state. She wasn't the same Harley sitting in the jail cell, waiting on her puddin to come and resque her. No. She was quite the opposite.

"Are you okay?" Harley looked up to see Richard walking into the room. Harley let a laugh escape her humorlessly.

"Define okay," she mumbled.

"Right...shouldn't have asked that. Are you at least feeling better?"

"I guess that's fair enough to say."

"Good, and like I said before...I'm really sorry about her. She can be a bit pushy and blunt. She asks before she thinks sometimes. She was confused and upset and didn't take the time to see why I went through with my actions," Richard said as he sat on the side of the bed.

"It's alright, Richard. I'm okay," Harley said with a small smile. "You went on patrol right? Did you find anything useful? Did you run into Joker?" Harley asked with a worried tone.

"No, we didn't run into Joker. The facility was crawling with goons though. There was a machine deep in the basement levels. Some type of air dispenser. Hear anything like that from Joker?"

"No," Harley shook her head and scrunched up her eyebrows. "He wanted to make sure I didn't mess up anything for him this time. He was so sure he would get to kill me, but that's Joker. Always a step ahead when things don't go according to plan."

"So there could be another plan in operation?" Richard said looking at the floor in frustration. Harley nodded.

"Sadly...there very well could be."

They sat there in silence for a moment. Both thinking the same thing. What else might Joker have up his sleeve? What else could he possibly be planning? There would no doubt be a clue soon enough, but at what cost? Innocent lives? Monuments? Buildings? What was in the clown's agenda? When would he make his big move?

"At least you found what he was looking for before he did, right? I mean that's a victory, isn't it?" Harley stated to comfort, placing a hand on Richard's arm. He looked stressed and angry. She knew how baffling the Joker could be. Hell, she worked under him. "Besides, you have me to help with working out the major questions." Richard smiled at her and nodded.

"Before I forget, here." He handed her the red pouch Ivy had given him. It had a cell phone inside. "I made sure it couldn't be traced, but I would recommend keeping calls as short as you possibly can. I wouldn't have found the machine without some help, and this is my way of thanking her." He watched as Harley's eyes widened and her eyebrows raised.

"Y-You...you don't mean...?"

"Yeah, Ivy was there tonight and she's worried sick. I figured you knew how to contact her. She isn't upset. In fact, she seems to care a lot." Harley smiled as her eyes welled up.

"I-I thought she had forgotten about me..."

"She wants to see you, but it's too dangerous right now and I can't bring her here. Though I hope at least talking to her every once and a while is enough, at least for right now?"

"Yes!" Harley cheered, tears falling down her cheeks. She reached forward for a hug, which Richard was happy to give. "Thanks, Rich!" Harley whispered as she held him tight. He smiled at his new nickname.

"My pleasure, Harley. My pleasure."

xxx

Richard had left the room moments ago to give Harley space as she called Ivy. She was hesitant on dialing her friend's number at first, and then hesitated on sending the call. She stared at the screen, heart thumping in her chest. She was nervous to say in the least. It had been so long since she talked to her.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered as she hit send. The dial tone came through a couple times and it made her start to panick. What if she doesn't answer because she doesn't recognize the number? What if she is mad once she does answer the phone?

"Hello?" Harley's breath hitched. Her thinking distracted her. She didn't know what to say. "Hello? Harley? Is it you?" The urgency in Ivy's voice confirmed all that Richard had told her.

"Hey Red...it's me."

AN: Well that took me long enough! Sorry guys! I hope you like it! Tell me what you think! I love hearing from you guys, and thanks for the comments, follows, and favorites thus far! You guys truly encourage me! Love always!