THE NEXT DAY

I walk into Arkam in my Mariposa costume. "I'm here to see Harleen Quinzel." The receptionist nods before heading back. I lean against the wall to wait. I stand when they come out with a blonde girl wearing her hair in pigtails. She's strapped into a wheelchair with leather straps.

"Hey, you're that girl from a few weeks ago."

I nod. "Harley. I came to talk." I turn to the nurse. "Can't she at least be free to stand if she wants?"

"Not out here."

"Then take me back."

"We can't do that for civilians."

"I'm Mariposa, new hero from South Bend, Indiana."

She shrugs and takes us back to her room.


Harley leans backward off her bed, chewing a wad of bubble gum. "What did you want to talk about?"

I smile gently before taking off my cape and sitting beside her. "You remind me of someone."

"Who? You?"

"And my birthmother." I look down. "Harls, there's not a word out there that describes the Joker that doesn't describe my birthfather."

"Your—"

"Yes. My father is bipolar and schizophrenic. He always liked to hit Stacy and abuse me. Not even my adoptive parents could stop him—as a matter of fact, they let him, on several occasions." I sigh softly. "I made it a point to be everything he wasn't—loving, compassionate—a hero." I look up at her. "I finally had to move to Gotham to be free of the fear." I sigh. "I became Mariposa because of my birthfather. After I had to call the police on him because he threatened to kill me, he all but disowned me. He then told me that if he did it again, I should shoot him, and gave me bullets for my .22." I sigh before continuing. "Well, I couldn't do it, and fifteen months after he supposedly disowned me, he started verbally abusing me again. I found a way to predict the unpredictable, and told Dad what was about to happen, but he didn't believe me, and, when I had the heart to save a litter of newborn rabbits, he verbally berated me like he always had before, and Dad just sat there and watched."

She sits up and looks me in the eye. "So what'd ya do?"

I sigh. "I moved to South Bend, started college, and became Mariposa." I smile. "I just got a job at County as a PA."

"A Physician's Assistant?"

"Yep." I smile. "And once I save up some money, I'm going to medical school. I want to be a doctor, Harls."

"I used to be a doctor."

"Really?"

"Yep. I was a psychologist—interning here."

"Seriously?"

She nods. "Yep! I was goin' to write 'bout one of the patients."

"Huh…" I shake my head. "But Jack got under your skin."

"Ye—huh? Who told you his name?"

"No one. Figured it out on my own, before I even came to Gotham." I sigh before turning back to her, a song in my head.

And who do you think you are
Running round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don't come back for me
Don't come back at all!

"He told me that I could never make it, and I almost believed him. He said I couldn't sing, but I've dazzled people with my voice. He said I was lazy because I wrote during my free time, I'll have an autobiography about my life done in a few weeks, and my boyfriend is going to help me get it published." I smile. "Harley, you're the only person in here that could really reform if you wanted to." I sigh. "But to do it, you'll have to leave "Mista J". I know it's not going to be easy, because I had gotten to where I was afraid to leave home because I had tried and failed so many times, but it was worth it once I finally found the courage." I smile. "Besides, becoming my birthdad's favorite superhero's newest partner is kind of poetic justice." I lean back against the wall with a dreamy look in my eyes. "Maybe I could become famous someday, Just like Batman and Robin."

"Maybe."

I look over at her. "If Aaron had his way I'd be a patient in one of these places myself."

"What!?"

"I have Asperger's, and an anxiety disorder because of him. I also have ADHD and PTSD, also because of him." I sigh. "If I hadn't left, he'd have made me crazy. As it is, Mariposa was my way to heal—to put Aaron behind me. Someday, I'll go back and put him behind bars, but until then, he's still going to hurt my birthmother, and still cause me pain." I walk to the wall and rest a hand on it. "Superhero is just a way of saying I was ruined before, Harley."

"So… Who ruined Batman?"

I wave my hand flippantly. "Part of his secret identity, won't tell ya in a million years."

"But you told me your story."

"Because I want to help you reform. I want to get you away from the Joker and make you the hero you were always meant to be—just like Batman did with Robin."

"So what, ya goin' ta break me out?"

I turn my head to look at her. "No." I turn back to the wall. "But I want you to try your best to reform, and when you do get out, I'll take you in and make you a hero." I sigh. "There's another catch, though. You have to leave the hyenas. I have two cats, and I don't want them getting eaten. They're my babies."

"You have cats?"

"Miko was rescued from Aaron, and Winky was the best thing he ever gave me." I sigh. "I just wish I had been able to save Cooper too."

"What happened to him?"

"Aaron got mad at me and pulled him out of my hands when he was just a kitten. He's been scared of me since." I sigh before turning and leaning on the wall. "I need a definitive answer, Harley."

She thinks for a minute. "And you'll protect me from Mista J?"

"To the best of my ability."

"Then I'll do it."

I smile gently before turning to face the wall. Once I'm facing away from her, I slip off my mask before pulling my scrunchie out, then turn back to her. "My name is Sheyenne Merritt."

"Nice to meet ya."

"Same here." I shake her hand. "Now, I'm trusting you to do your best and get out of here—the right way. When you're released, call me and I'll come get you. We'll get started that night."

"I can't be Harley Quinn anymore. Mista J will find me right away."

"Then you have something to think about." I sigh. "I have to go. I'll keep in touch."


ONE YEAR LATER

I slip my fans and pocketknife into their pouches on my white utility belt before clipping on another paracord bracelet on my wrist and turning to check my costume. Everything's ready for this monumental patrol. Harley's been free for six months, and working at County with me for five and a half of those months.

I step over to my roommate of six months' door and knock. "You ready yet, Harls? We're meeting Bats in Crime Alley in ten minutes."

"I'm jus' tryin' to get my belt packed!"

"Need any help?"

"I got it." She opens the door. I can see her new red fan sticking out of one pouch and her new black fan sticking out of the other side. "Where'd ya hear of those fans?"

"One thing I had in common with Aaron was my love of weapons. That and survival were the only things he and I could talk about without him yelling at me." I sigh before smirking. "Got all your tools?"

She nods before turning in front of me. Her costume hasn't changed much—the red is darker and shimmery, and the black shimmers as well; the top is now strapless with white trim, and she's got red and black shimmery gloves that go past the elbow. She's wearing black heels and a black domino mask to complete the look. Her pigtails are free from her old harlequin hat, but tied back like my braids. She's also got a new black utility belt that Batman sent.

I tuck her fans lower into their pockets before clipping two of my white paracord bracelets onto her wrists. "My birthfather used to make these a few years before I left. It's a survival tool, not just a tie-up-the-crook tool." I smile as I check her costume one last time. "Nice. The good Harley Quinn is ready for her first night of crime-fighting with Batman and Robin."

"Does Bats know who you're bringin'?"

"Only that it's my new partner, and that I reformed a criminal. He doesn't know who." I shake my head before sighing. "He probably thinks it's Catwoman."

"He does flirt with her a lot."

"I know." I groan. "Don't remind me!"

"I know you've got a crush on him."

"You don't know the half of it." I sigh heavily. "Let's roll before Bats thinks we're not coming."


"They're not coming, Batman."

"Mariposa called me half an hour ago and told me they were running late and would get here within the hour."

"Think that old car she bought broke down?"

"She had our mechanic repair it and outfit it the same way as the Batmobile. Her new partner was having trouble with her new utility belt."

"You're sure a criminal will ever truly reform?"

"Mariposa says she did, and I trust Mariposa's judgment."

Robin sighs. "But a criminal from Gotham? They only get worse."

"She's been working with her for six months now, Robin. She told me that she's been fighting crime for three months."


We activate our grapple guns and rappel to the roof of Wayne Tower. "Sorry we're late, Batman."

"Sorry we kept ya, Bats."

Robin stares at her in shock. "No. Way. The Joker's henchwoman!?"

Harley and I share a look before laughing at the look of pure shock on Robin's face. I'm the first to calm down. "Told you he'd be shocked."

She sighs. "That ya did."

Batman turns to me. "How did you do it?"

I smile. "Strict rules before she left Arkam, close to the same rules for the first three months after she got out, then the same rigorous training schedule you gave me and Rob when we joined you."

"How did you get her to leave the Joker?"

"Aaron."

Batman nods before turning to one side of the roof. "Joker's escaped again. Robin's watching that side, you two take the others. Tell me if you see anything."

I nod before looking down to the ground. "Harley, take the East, I'll get the West."

"I still don't know how you can be so serious on patrol when you're so fun the rest of the time."

I turn to glare at her. "Years of practice. Now hush. J can't know we're up here."

Robin turns to me. "J?"

"She insists on calling the Joker "J", and Batman "Bats". I figure there's no harm in nicknames, so I go along with them." I laugh softly. "Heck, she's got me calling Batman "Bats" when we're at home."

"Don't let him hear you call him that."

I sigh. "Don't plan to."

Harley turns to us. "He's down here!"

We all rappel down to the street. Batman holds out a hand, stopping Robin in his tracks. "Let them handle him. Mariposa needs to step out of my shadow and be her own person. She's got her own partner now."

"Harley, how I've missed you!"

She crosses her arms. "Shut it, J. I'm not your punchin' bag anymore."

"And I don't want to hear it!" I open one of my blue metal fans and take a fighting stance. "We don't need the fake, sicky sweetness, Joker. I got enough of that when I still lived with my Dad."

"Aw, don't you wan—"

Harley pulls out her fans and takes a similar stance. "She said she didn't want to hear it!" She strikes with a fan before pulling the same kick I had to trip her the year before. He falls, dropping his handgun onto the sidewalk.

Harley looks at the gun thoughtfully. Batman and Robin both look horrified, sure she's going to shoot the Joker in front of them. I simply step over and lay a hand on her shoulder before pointing to her bracelet. "Oh."

"Shooting the crook isn't the answer, remember? Helping them is."

"Sorry."

I shake my head. "No prob. Can't say I haven't thought of it once or twice." I sigh. "But it never went any further than that. If someone's gonna gun him down, it's not going to be me."

Harley nods before unwrapping one of her bracelets and tying him up before turning to me. "Then I'm not going to either."

We turn to Batman, letting him put the Joker high enough so he can't escape. Batman turns to me once he's done. "You've actually thought of it?"

"For maybe ten seconds. I was strong enough not to take my own life because of him, and I was strong enough to not take his life either. When I reached that point—my lowest point—I made my greatest change and moved to South Bend." I sigh before turning to face Harley. "It's also my greatest regret."

Batman turns to me in shock. "What? Why?"

I sigh before looking up at the Joker. "Because he…" I point up. "Is going to get help, and he'll keep getting help until he's dead." I sigh softly. "I left home without ever getting him any help. I couldn't live anywhere near him anymore, I couldn't take his abuse—but instead of getting him professional help, I ran and hid like I always did back then." I turn back to Batman, a newfound determination evident in my eyes. "Harley, we're going to Culver."

Robin turns to me in shock. "What?"

Harley gasps. "Why?"

I sigh. "Because I have unfinished business there."

Batman nods. "Just don't be like me."

Harley and I both turn to Batman in shock. "What?"

"When I was fourteen, my parents' killer was about to go free. I had the stupid idea to come back here so I could take him out the same way he took them out. I couldn't do it, even with the gun in my hand, but it turned out I never had to. The trial had been held simply to get him out in the open so another criminal could. I was watching when it happened."

Robin looks at the ground. "I never knew."

I walk over to Robin and lay a hand on his shoulder. "Robin, some things are better left unsaid." I sigh. "Besides, I think that's why Batman took you under his wing—so you wouldn't someday try to kill Zucco." I look up to Batman. "I guess it's true what they say—what goes around comes around." I smile slightly. "We'll be back when Aaron is behind bars. I wouldn't abandon my boyfriend to fight crime alone, now would I?"

Batman sends me a weak smile. "Stay safe, Mariposa."

"I'll do my best." I sigh. "Good thing is Aaron could never bring himself to carry out his scarier threats. I'm not buried in the swamp, I'm not dead, and I haven't been physically scarred."

"Just emotionally."

I sigh before nodding. "'Thousands of children die every year due to child abuse, and those children which survive the abuse will be prisoners of their past for the rest of their lives.'" I look up at the Joker. "I guess I oughta thank the Joker for helping me heal enough to face him once again."

"I thought being Mariposa healed you, like being Batman healed Batman, and being Robin healed me."

"It did, Rob." I sigh softly. "But finding the strength to take down the one Gotham villain that is his personality twin helped me find the strength to save him." I look up to the Joker again before sighing. "You know, being the daughter of someone like you and someone like her…" I point to Harley. "It taught me a few things. One, never trust the Joker or anyone like him. Two, verbal abuse scars just as much as physical, it's just harder to prove. Three, you can't save someone from a person like that unless they want to be saved." I sigh softly. "Four, no matter how much you love them, you have to let them go before they kill you."

Harley turns to me in shock. "What?"

"My little brother is worse than Aaron ever was. I was his punching bag just because I was weak and timid." I sigh. "And five, sometimes the best thing you can do when stuck between a rock and a hard place is run. Get a better view of your situation and find the solution before you ever try to go back and try again." I sigh. "Did that when I called the police. Now I know that if I want it done right I've gotta do it myself." I look to Batman. "And training with—and learning from—his favorite superhero is just poetic justice."

"What?"

"Batman, you and Robin, and Agent A, were common names when I was little. I knew almost everything about you—I didn't know who Robin was—but I knew almost everything about Batman, I knew about Superman, and a little about Wonder Woman too. I knew the most about the Dynamic Duo." I turn away. "Come on, Harley. We've got a long way to go and I want to leave as soon as we can." I sigh softly. "Before I get too scared to."

Batman lays a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay to be scared, but it's wrong to be a coward."

I smile back at him. "I know. I knew even then, Batman. I was just tired of being The Little Girl that went from being a Concrete Angel to being a Wild Rebel Rose who dyed her hair azure blue every chance she got."


Harley and I climb out of the car two days later, back in costume. "This is the place."

"Really?"

"I grew up here, Harley." I sigh softly before touching the rabbit hutch. "I used to keep my ducks in here when I was in my early 20's."

"What happened to them?"

"No clue. This is the first time I've been home since I went to South Bend."

"Where are they?"

"Probably out in the woods." I sigh before directing her to the camper. "Be ready for trouble.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

Harley and I start before sharing a look. "Told ya."

"You got a plan?"

"Flank him." I whisper.

She nods. "Then what?"

I smirk. "Take down, tie up, call cops, get him the help he needs—the meds he needs."

Harley nods. "Got it."


Five minutes later, it's all over. Harley leans against a tree and watches him as I calm my birthmother down.

"Why did you do this? He loves you!"

I scoff. "Like the Joker loved Harley?" I shake my head before sighing. "I saved her. She's my best friend, roommate, and partner against crime now."

"You know this is wrong."

"Getting the man the help he needs isn't wrong. Batman was all for my coming here and doing this. You know how he likes Batman." I cross my arms. "He, Rob, Harls, and I are all partners now."

"She's still just a crook."

I scoff. "Puh-lease! She's been my confidant since the last time she went into Arkam a year ago, my roommate for six months, my co-worker for five and a half months, and my partner for three months. She and I had our first patrol with Batman two nights ago. Harley's turned over a new leaf, and now so can you. Uncle Den got the help he needed years ago, and now it's his turn." I cross my arms. "You're safe now. You can be mad at me all you want, but you're free from his chains."

"Mari, cops are here!"

"I'm coming!" I turn back to Stacy. "If I find out you told him where I'm living now, I swear you'll regret it. You know he'll come after me, and if he does, Bats will put him in Arkam with the Joker and Two Face, and I won't try to stop him." I step out the door. "Hello. I'm Mariposa." I shake my head before looking back at the sheriff again. "Oh. My. God."

"What is it?"

I smile. "It's him."

"Who's him?"

"That's the officer that came out when Aaron threatened to drown me in a bucket of water that fateful day."

"You've grown up."

I smile. "Not as much as you think." I smile at him. "I never got to thank you for coming around that day." I look over at Harley. "This is my partner against crime, former criminal Harley Quinn."

He shakes her hand. "I'll take him in. You may be called on to testify."

I smile. "Gladly." I give him my number. "Call me if I'm needed. Batman and Robin need our help."

He gives me a look. "They're not just characters!" I turn to Harley. "I mean, this is the Harley Quinn—you know, the Joker's Harley?"

He nods before giving me a look.

"He doesn't believe ya."

"Tell me something I don't know." I sigh before dialing my phone—the Intensity II I keep in my belt, not my smart phone.

"Batman here. What's wrong, Mariposa?"

"Police officer arresting Aaron thinks I'm as crazy as the Joker, and I have to prove you're real."

"Put him on."


Once I get my phone back, Harley and I start back to the car. "I never got to ask you before we left Gotham…" Harley turns to me. "Would you do it again?"

"Do what again?"

"Dye your hair light blue."

"In a heartbeat—even though other people thought it looked green because of my blonde hair." I sigh heavily. "But it would definitely blow my cover. Everyone would know my secret identity."

She sighs heavily. "I guess you're right."

"Well, we could do it as a "Girls' Day Out" when we get back."

"That would be cover for our secret identities, but wouldn't Bats get kind of upset if you go on patrol with green hair?"

"Azure blue, and it doesn't matter what he thinks." I smirk. "So what would you get?"

"Half red and half black."

"I shoulda known. Of course Harley Quinn would get red and black."

"I really need to come up with a new name. Mista J came up with that."

"I remember your story, Harls, but what else would you choose? You own that name. The Joker may have come up with it, but you created her all by yourself, and you changed her on your own. You're good because you wanted to be, and no other reason."

"I'm back to being a doctor because of you, though."

I smirk. "I had some pull at County because of who I know. All I did was put in a good word for you." I sigh. "And now all four heroes in Gotham know about your changed view of the Joker."

"J's not my kind of man anymore."

"Bipolar's aren't fun, Harls. Trust me. I'd been watching Aaron and Stacy fight since I was just a year old. I've seen bruises shaped like his hands and fingerprints on her arms. I've seen her after he's hurt her." I sigh. "But I've never been able to get her to leave him." I sigh heavier before turning to her. "But maybe if he goes to prison she'll find a safe place and leave him for good." I look away, touching my left cheek. "Though, I don't know why I'm worrying about her. She was abusive in her own way."

Harley looks at me in shock. "What? I let you handle her on your own!"

"Calm down, Harls." I sigh. "She was utterly negligent when I was a baby, and she kept hitting me—usually slaps—when I was older. I can still remember them like they were yesterday—the slaps and the curses—like I just got them yesterday."

We climb into the car. When I turn it on, the song takes me back, and I start to sing along as relieved tears roll down my face.

Her parents never took the young girl to church
Never spoke of his name
Never read her his word
Two non-believers walking lost in this world
Took their baby with them
What a sad little girl

Her daddy drank all day and mommy did drugs
Never wanted to play
Or give kisses and hugs
She'd watch the TV and sit there on the couch
While her mom fell asleep
And her daddy went out
And the drinking and the fighting
Just got worse every night
Behind their couch she'd be hiding
Oh what a sad little life

And like it always does, the bad just got worse
With every slap and every curse
Until her daddy in a drunk rage one night
Used a gun on her mom and then took his life
And some people from the city took the girl far away
To a new mom and a new dad
Kisses and hugs everyday

Her first day of Sunday school the teacher walked in
And a small little girl
Stared at a picture of him
She said I know that man up there on that cross
I don't know His name
But I know He got off

Cause He was there in my old house
And held me close to His side
As I hid there behind our couch
The night that my parents died

"Are you okay?"

I wipe the tears off my face. "Never better, Harls." I smile. "It's finally over. I never have to be afraid again. I can finally forget about him and get on with my life."

"You gonna marry Bats?"

"If he'll have me, Harls. If he'll have me." I grin for the first time since we've met before laughing. "God, Harleen. Life is going to be great from now on."