(Yes! It's here! I know it's been ages but it happened. Chapter 14 has arrived. Thank you so muh for being patient with me and my insane life. Please read, review and enjoy!)
Chapter 14
The smokey room was dark and forbodding. A sinister ambiance filled the air. Striding with confidence, was a man who hardly ever came to this place. Leaning back in an expensive leather chair was a little round man with a cigar. He glared daggers at the guest. With a quick puff, he addressed his visitor.
"'Ave you lost your mind?" The Penguin chuckled darkly.
"On the contrary." Hugo Strange replied. He handed a manilla folder to the nearest thug who walked it over to his boss. He looked it over intently, still not believing his eyes.
"Lemme get this straight. You want to pay me the million dollar reward and some change for the brat just so you can turn 'er in?" The Penguin laughed at the absuridity.
"It's not the money I am after, Mr. Cobblepot." Dr. Strange remarked. "I just want to...motivate you for your cooperation."
"As long as I get to teach that little brat a few manners I'll be 'appy." The Penguin sneered darkly.
"What happens to Miss Gibson in your care is none of my concerns. As long as she is alive upon retrieval." Dr. Strange added.
"Yeah yeah." He brushed off his comment, glancing over every inch of the fine print. This deal was too good to be true. The Penguin raised his eye at one of the clauses. "What's this here about assitance?" Dr. Strange, in his strictly business tempermant, snapped his fingers. Upon his command, a large brooding man stepped forward.
"One of my employees has insisted that he has the ability to earn his redemption upon his previous encounter with the girl." He explained.
"Hold on just a bloody minute." The Penguin interjected. "You're saying this man got beat up but a little girl?" The room was filled with an awkward silence. Oswald began to chuckle darkly. His dark chuckle turned into full on laughter as his henchmen chimmed in. The tall dark man grimaced. In an instant he pulled out a knife and slammed it into the table. The men went silent.
"He will be assisting you with pursuing and capturing the subject." Strange added.
"No thanks. I'm sure my boys are capable of taking care of this." The Penguin assured.
"Buzz, Axe and I have done it before." A thug interjected with a sense of pride in his voice. A couple of near by guys shared in a fist pound as the thug smirked.
"Clearly you haven't as she is not in the Joker's custody." Dr. Strange retorted. The thug's cocky grin vanished. "The offer is simple. Do you refuse or accept?"
"Why the hell not." The Penguin smirked. "This'll be easy."
"Just remember you are not the only one after the girl."
With that said, Dr. Strange and his associate left the Iceburg Lounge.
If I never see another pair of Mary Janes again in my life, it'll be too soon. I stepped out of the expensive foreign car looking like I had just gotten back from Disneyland. Closing the door behind me, I made my way up the steps of manor with Bruce Wayne followingclosely behind.
"Thanks for picking me up and everything." I said to him with an appreciative smirk.
"But of course." He replied as suavely as ever. Using all of my might, I opened the heavy wooden doors and made my way into the massive building. I heard a couple of polite voices coming from the sitting room. So naturally, I investigated it. Sitting in the room, sat none other than Tim Drake. Alfred was pouring him a cup of tea while he sipped it gently. I opened the door and made my presence known.
"Tim?" I questioned.
"Sarina?" He inquired, almost dropping his tea. "What are you doing here?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing." I added.
"Oh...well, I...I mean." He said nervoisly, rubbing the back of his neck and making eye contact with the venetian rug.
"Mr. Drake has been Master Wayne's assitant at Wayne Enterprises for the past few months and he had invited him for dinner this evening." Alfred explained.
"Right! Exactly!" Tim smiled in agreement. Soon, Mr. Wayne entered the room. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh dear, has Master Wayne neglected to tell you?" Alfred noted.
"Tell me what?" He asked, looking Bruce straight in the eye. I was tempted to get out a bag of popcorn as I sat back and watched the drama ensue.
"Sarina will be spending some time with us at Wayne Manor until her mother has been found." He explained. From what I can gather, Bruce seems to be a very straight foreward guy.
"Here?" Tim questioned. Bruce nodded, claryfying his inquiry. An annoyed expression formed on Tim Drake's handsome face. "I guess I'm on the need to know."
"Join the club." I muttered to myself. Tim only glanced at me and then back at Bruce.
"Do whatever you want." He groaned. Agrilly, he grabbed his coat and stormed out of the manor, slamming the heavy door behind him. A silence hushed over the three of us.
"That went well." I noted. I looked up at Bruce. "Look, I'm sorry about all this. I-"
"It's fine. This is none of your concern." Bruce assured. "Let's eat some dinner."
"But it's only-" I started as I pointed at the clock. I froze when I realized it was already 6:00pm. Alfred and Bruce led the way to the dinning room. "...oh. Guess I was out for longer than I thought." I followed them behind to the grand dinning room. Bruce sat on one end of the long table as I sat on the other. Immediately, Alfred removed the silver plate cover to reveal prime rib dinner. "Thank you."
Dinner was awkward. Both of us sat in silence for the majorirty of the meal. As soon as Bruce was finished he stood up and made his way out of the dinning hall. I looked over at Alfred.
"Where's he going?" I questioned.
"The study, I suppose." Alfred replied. And he said nothing else.
It was getting late and I was getting ready for bed. I sat at the vanity in my pink tanktop and black boyshorts. I brushed my hair and wrapped it up in a tight bun. Tangled hair is the last thing I wasnted to deal with in the morning. I stood up and made my way towards the canopy bed. Just as I was about to get under the covers, I heard a loud bang of a door slamming. I jumped and scanned my surroudings. On full alert.
Not again.
I grabbed a lamp and held it tightly, as if it were a sword. The weapon gave me courage as I scowered the room for intruders. Under every bed, in every closet. All the crooks and crannies were investigated. Nothing. I knew something was wrong, however. The balcony door was wide open as the curtains billowed in the wind.
Maybe I was just being paranoid. I sighed as I closed the door, assuming I had just left it open myself. I knew I was wrong. I wanted to be right just this once. I got under the covers, holding the lamp in my arms. Somethig was up.
The floor board creeked once again as I sat up.
"HELP M-" I started to scream. I was interupted by a hand over my mouth and a mysterious figure on top of me. The figure ripped the lamp out of my hands and threw it to the side. Somehow during it's trip to the ground the lightbub flickered on, revealing the intruder.
"Just shut up for a second will ya?" Robin questioned. Instantly, my mood turned from terrified to irritated. I ripped his hand off my mouth
"What the hell are you doing?" I inquired.
"Recruitment. After your scuffle with Mad Hatter today, the boss wants to try you out for the night." Robin explained.
"Wait, how do you- never mind. Are you serious?" I quetioned, this all seemed to good to be true.
"You think a person would break into someone else's room just to mess with them?" Robin rebuddled.
"...I would.." I mumbled mostly to myself. Robin rolled his eyes. With that, he got off me and yanked me by the wrist out of the bed.
"C'mon, we've got some recon work to do." He explained.
"What kind of recon?" I added as I followed him towards the balcony. He opened the door and made his way to the edge.
"Look, Batman might have a lead on where your mother is." He elaborated. That's when he noticed the wide smirk on my face. "No Promises! Just a lead." I pulled myself together.
"Right, right. I got it." I replied calmy. He quickly tied a cord around his waist and anchored it to the edge of the balcony.
"So you're on board?" He asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I smirked. A mischevious grin grew on his face. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around my waist and leaped off of the three story balcony.
What was wrong with her puddin'?! Harley Quinn sat on the old couch with a pout on her face. Mistah Jay hadn't come out of his office for days! What was he doing in there? Why wouldn't he come out and play!
It was because of that little Gibson bitch. He was so obsessed with getting her he wouldn't even give Harley the time of day. That's it. She was sick of waiting around. Harley stood up and made her way to her puddin's office. She threw on her sexiest lingerie and her whitest face paint. She was gonna put a smile on her face. She marched up to the office, two thugs standing guard. They both eyed her up and down greatly, envying The Joker immensely.
"Out of my way!" She demanded, her hadns on her hips. The boys quickly obliged and enjoyed watching Harley's bum as long as they could.
The door closed and Harley stood with pride. The Joker was busy at work, two hieannas sat in the corner.
"Ahem." She coughed. Silence. The Joker didn't budge as he continued with his work. "AHEM." She tried louder. Nothing. She sighed and marched her way towards the table. "Oh puddin'!"
"What is it?'" He groaned, not at all interest in her scandalous appearance.
"Oh Mistah Jay, Mistah Jay, come out and play!" She cooed seductively, wrapping her arms around his waist. Without hesitation, he slapped her as if he were swatting a fly. She flung across the room and collapsed on the ground. A couple of tears slid down her cheek. She just wanted to play!
"It's because of that stupid kid isn't it?!" She growled. Harley stood up and brushed off her scrapped knees. "Why don't you just kill 'er and be done with it? That's your plan right! Well it's stupid!". The Joker froze. And so did Harley when she realized what had blurted out of her mouth. The Joker turned to her. a sinister sneer on his face. He grudingly walked towards her. She timidly stepped back. He grabbed her angrilly by the wrist and forcefully pulled him towards her.
"You think you can talk to me like that?" He chuckled darkly. She shook her head furiously.
"I'm sorry puddin'! I didn't-" She pleaded. The Joker shut her up with an uppercut to the face. Once again, Harley was on her ass.
"You're gonna replace her with me, aren't you Mistah Jay? You think she can be your new Harley! I would do anything to be yours puddin'! Please, don't replace me!" Harley sobbed, confessing her worst fears. The Joker kicked her in the gut, knocking the wind out of her.
"I'm the brains around here, Harl! Not you!" He snapped. "Got it?" She nodded furiously. "Get out of my sight!" Harley sprinted out of the office, tears running down her cheek. The Joker sighed and adjusted his coat. Women. He giggled sadistically as a thug hesitantly entered the room.
"Boss?" He began. The Joker raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for the goon to continue. "Someone's here to see you."
"Well send them in." He chuckled knowingly.