Nightwing's Nightingale

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters just the plot

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

Chapter 12

"Do you mind telling me what the hell that was?" Barbara hissed when they made it down the stairs. Richard looked at her with a confused expression.

"Dancing, maybe?" Richard asked.

"Don't you get smart with me, Richard? What the hell was that?" Barbara asked more sternly. Richard looked at her with an equally serious expression.

"We were just having a bit of fun, Babs, what the hell is the problem?"

"The problem is that you are getting way too close to this criminal," Barbara hissed.

"Victim," Richard growled. Barbara crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Richard stood there returning the glare with his jaw clenched.

"This is bad, Richard. Maybe someone else should watch her," Barbara stated. "You are going to expose everyone here with this. What's to say that she isn't actually broken? What if she is and she relapses after she's better? What are you going to do then, huh? What are you going to do when the city of Gotham and it's criminals know who you are? Who we are?!"

Richard clenched his jaw harder, nearly grinding his teeth. The words that Barbara were saying could be valid. They were worth worrying over. Maybe it was the way she was being blunt about it that was making him upset, or the fact that she almost seemed...

"Are you jealous of her?" Richard asked in disbelief. Barbara's jaw dropped, she stared at him incredulously and scoffed.

"Jealous?! Of her?! She was the Joker's pet! Running around in the slums and pipes of Gotham city! Why would I be jealous of her Richard?! Do tell me!"

"You have been acting cold towards her since you realized she was here! Alfred adores her. Bruce has kept his distance, but he does seem to care that she's been hurt! You are just concerned with her past and the fact that she has my attention!"

"I don't care what you think about that clown! I care that she could unmask us all, she could expose you now if she wanted to!"

"You see? You're doing it now! She's just been recovering. Not asking any suspicious questions. She is terrified of the Joker!"

"It could be an act!"

"You know what? You are no better than him! You don't care about her wellbeing and you'd rather see her hurt than heal! You may not have gotten her into this situation, but you sure don't mind that she is in it! You hurt her the same way he did!"

SLAP

Richard kept his eyes shut, feeling the heat and tingle from the impact of the slap. Barbara was breathing hard, her anger taking over. Richard slowly opened his eyes, but he refused to look at her.

"Don't you ever compare me to that freak! The only one here that is even remotely like him is his mistress...upstairs!" Barbara growled. Richard turned his back on her, reaching up and grabbing a handful of his own hair. He pulled and bit his tongue.

"You need to leave," Richard whispered calmly, yet sternly. The edge in his voice earned a scoff from Barbara.

"You're a fool, Richard. She's going to play you in the end. Don't be so naive. Not everyone is the victim that Nightwing saves and changes."

She stormed off, leaving the mansion and slamming heavy door behind her.

xxx

"You guys watched...Alice in Wonderland...and danced?" Ivy asked in disbelief. Harley groaned.

"Yes, Red! Try to keep up with the story, won't cha? Oh! I forgot to mention that I beat him in checkers! He didn't know what hit him. The great Nightwing defeated by the wonderous Harley Quinn! Lovely headline, don't you think?"

"You guys seem awfully close," Ivy laughed. Harley twirled a pigtail with her index finger.

"Wh-What do you mean?" She knew what Ivy meant, but she didn't want to acknowledge it at all.

"Oh don't play innocent," Ivy laughed. "You know exactly what I mean."

"I don't care what you think about that clown! I care that she could unmask us all, she could expose you now if she wanted to!" Harley whipped her head towards the door at the sound of the woman's voice.

"Ivy, I'm gonna have to let you go for now. I'll call back when I can," she whispered before ending the call quickly. She winced a little as she stood and made her way to the door. She stood in the threshold listening the best she could.

"You know what? You are no better than him! You don't care about her wellbeing and you'd rather see her hurt than heal! You may not have gotten her in this situation, but you sure don't mind that she is in it! You hurt her the same way he did!"

Harley gasped and bit her lip.

'He would say that to his friend?' she thought to herself. She didn't know what she had done to deserve Richard's kindness. Besides Ivy, nobody ever stands up for her. She heard a smack and winced inwardly. She had slapped him, she knew it. Harley closed her eyes in shame. 'Why is he doing this?'

"Don't you ever compare me to that freak! The only one here that is even remotely like him is his mistress...upstairs!"

Harley stood up straight and turned to head back for the bed, but stopped. She leaned against the door frame. There was an unmistakable slam of door, so she assumed the red, hot head was gone. She heard Richard making his way up the stairs. When he came into view, he caught her eyes and sighed. He knew that she heard something, if not everything. He made his way to her rubbing the back of his neck.

"Harley-"

"She's right, you know."

"What?" Richard stammered, caught off guard.

"I could very well be faking, and I may just go back to him. Maybe I'll rat you guys out and come back to kill you all with a swarm of villians," Harley shrugged as she spoke as if it were the most careless thing in the world.

"I don't believe that."

"And why not, Richard? Why are you the only one that's not cautious of me?! Why are you helping me? Why did you save me?! I've tried to kill you a thousand times! I've busted the Joker out! I've taken the fall countless times so he could get away and hurt more people! I helped him hurt people! I did that, Rich! I AM a villian! Not a victim! I deserved what happened to me, didn't I?!" Harley yelled, she was becoming flustered with tears building quickly. "I-I...I deserved it..."

"Don't be ridiculous," Richard scowled as he marched over and pulled her into his arms. Harley pulled away as far as Richard would let her go.

"Just let me go! It would be so much easier for you! Let him have me!"

"No, Harley!" Harley was taken back by his tone. Richard took a deep breath and shook his head.

"I am not doing that," he said. "I'm not a monster."

"But I am!" Harley sobbed. She tried to pull away, but Richard pulled her back. Richard chuckled a little. "What's so freaking funny?!" Harley shouted. Richard chuckled again and she stared at him with disbelief.

"Harley...monsters don't love pancakes and watch Disney movies," Richard said pulling her into a hug. Harley laughed, crying at the same time.

"You're a fool, Richie," Harley giggled with a sob. Richard rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Yeah, maybe I am," Richard sighed with a smile.

xxx

"I'm telling you, he thinks he can change her and make her into some kind of herione. She won't change! There has had to be about a million times where Harley was "done" with the Joker. There have been many times where she is ready to kill him. Did she? No! All he has to do is dangle some crazed sweet dialogue and bam! She's all over him again! Ugh...just talk to him, ok?" Barbara

"I already have. I talked to him the night that he brought her in," Bruce sighed. He had had a long day securing the facility with Alfred. They were on their way home now, and he was longing to sit and rest, though he knew the night may call him instead. Alfred sat in the passenger seat listening to the conversation, for Bruce had it on speaker.

"Well talk to him again! He got irrate with me early and even compared me to the Joker! The Joker! Can you believe that?!"

"He didn't mean it," Bruce murmured, not believing that Richard had actually said that. Then again, you make him angry enough, he'll say whatever hurts.

"Try to be understanding to his cause, Miss Gordon. He means well and seems to be making a great impression on Miss Quinn. If the time comes to where you have to intervene, then do so. Otherwise, let's support him and try to get along," Alfred spoke his wisdom with Bruce silently nodding and watching the road. Barbara was silent for second, but sighed in defeat.

"Fine...-Fine. I'll lay off, but that doesn't mean that I have to like her or agree with anything about this situation. Just looking at her disgusts me. I caught them dancing in his room and nearly gagged."

"Dancing?" Bruce asked with a bit of edge in his voice.

"I'm sure it was for fun," Alfred stated with a warning tone to the both of them. "I don't see the harm in a dance when I play checkers with her everyday, now do you? He knows what he's doing. If he needs assistance, we'll help him."

Both Bruce and Barbara knew that statement meant Alfred was done with the subject, and once again he was right. But even in the silence, Bruce and Barbara agreed that Richard getting too close to Harley without the assurance that she wouldn't go back to the Joker...was dangerous.

AN: So sorry...I leave this here so that you will love me again. Lol what do you think? Does Barbara and Bruce have a right to be guarded? What exactly is blossoming between our duo and what's the Joker's next move? Answers in the next chapter?

And thanks for the comments guys! I swear they are motivation in trying times. Comment, Favorite, Follow, and feel free to message! Love always!