Chapter 12

After the funeral, things seemed to have got back to as normal as it could ever be. On the day that followed, the detective spent most of his time spying on the two women in the laboratory. Harleen was opening the cell a little too often according to his liking, sometime for reasons that were not even work related, such as for a hug, to share some food or even no apparent reason at all. However, letting Pamela work freely in the lab was beneficial as it was making them progress toward a cure faster and allowing her to directly test out things on Quinzel. Bruce decided that he would allow this to go on as long as the red head never gets out of the building. He went on linking his phone to the camera and contacted his partner to come and do the same whenever he could as he was presently working with Crane to find new arguments to come up with regarding the legalization of the Reds since many people were using Tetch's death as a counter-argument, stating that rehabilitating those types of criminal could only lead to cases like his. The hero had no idea where to stand on the issue and actually was looking forward hearing Joker's opinion, he somewhat needed guidance.

December 18th, in the afternoon, the clown arrived with his tablet and phone, ready to link up and begin stalking his partners in crime. He pushed a chair next to the larger man, in front of the Batcomputer and sat down.

"Do you think what people are saying is true? You know, about his death?" He asked the pale man.

"Total bollocks." Alfred voiced answered from behind and they both turned to him slightly surprised. "They would have allegedly cremated his body the very next day without doing any autopsy, which is an illegal way to proceed with a corpse after a murder. Furthermore, the driver, Suge Knight, never showed up for questioning after the shooting."

"Plus, he said it himself that even if he knew who the shooter was he'd never snitch." Joker added before Bruce asked in confusion.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Tupac." His butler said. "Who were you talking about?"

"Jervis Tetch."

The jester burst into a loud laughter while the older man chuckled.

"My apologies."

He said somewhat embarrassed upon leaving both men alone.

"Batsy, don't worry about what people are saying, me and Johnny-boy are about to change that."

"I'm not talking about general public opinion." The larger man clarified.

"You really think people like me should never be rehabilitated?" He giggled. "I don't think so. What you're truly wondering is; Are the people of Gotham kind enough to let rehabilitated patients live among them?"

"What do you think?" The vigilante questioned while looking away, ashamed of seeking answers from this man.

"You know very well what I think of the people of Gotham. But don't you worry..." He delicately cupped the hero's jaw turning his attention to himself. "We won't let the loonies run to their death. We'll put an end to the Reds, the gang..."

"What?" He grabbed his partner's wrist. "Are you implying that the Reds actually works?"

"What makes you think that?"

"The way you said it. As if the problem was the citizen, not the rehabilitated patients themselves."

The clown raised an eyebrow and began chuckling.

"Trust me." He said, moving his free hand as a motion to present himself. "I'm the living proof that those things have close to no effects." Bruce let go of him but still had an unconvinced look on his face. "You too are a proof of it." The jester added, giving the billionaire's nose a poke before adding. "So how about you cheer up and I link up?"

"Sure..."

The dark knight sighed as he started plugging the devices to proceed.

"Why are you in such a bad mood?" The pale man rapidly questioned before he placed a hand on the other man's thigh and purred his next words. "Maybe I could do a little something to cheer you up."

"Aren't you bothered at all about what happened to Tetch?" Bruce harshly responded.

"To me, it's just another murder."

"He was killed because of his past."

"So...?" The clown asked while smirking.

"Do you not understand? It could've been you!" He shouted, leaning toward his partner. "It might very well be you next time."

"Baby, people have always wanted to kill me. Why so worried now?" He mocked his ally.

"The ones who wanted to end your life and had the resources to do so were mostly high ranked criminals and mob boss, just like you used to be. Now, normal citizens have been added to this group of people who can murder you and they can very well reach you without any resources, because you're nothing more than a citizen too."

"Oh please! I'm the Champion."

"At night, but during the day, you're just Jack and people will recognize you at some point."

"Jackson is nothing more than another persona needed for our façade, he's nothing, no one will ever notice..."

Joker was interrupted by his phone ringing. Taking it out of his pocket, he gave it a glance upon turning to his partner with a puzzled look.

"It's Harley."

The hero quickly activated his hacking device to listen to their call and his partner picked up.

Joker: Yeah?

Harleen: Hatter's case, it makes no sense.

Joker: Nothing makes sense, Harley.

Harleen: I know, but this is worse. What d'ya think about Claire?

Joker: Who?

Harleen: The murderer.

Joker: What am I supposed to think, she did a great vendetta, don't you agree?

Harleen: No. I don't.

Joker: Why did you call? Just get to the point...

Harleen: I think that Claire's innocent.

Joker: What? Why? Evidences point...

Harleen: I want to review them all.

The two men exchanged a curious look before the palest of them slowly burst into a laughter.

Harleen: I'm serious! This makes no sense. They missed something.

Joker: Sure, detective Quinn. Go ahead, I'm convinced GCPD will allow you to get your hands on all the evidence you want.

Harleen: Yeah they will. The problem isn't the pigs, the problem is Dr. Crane.

Joker: Okay, I think flower-girl should slow down the testing on you. I normally wouldn't be one to judge, but I think you're losing it.

Harleen: No, listen to me. Both me and Dr. Crane agrees that Claire's psychological profile doesn't fit the crime she's supposed to have committed. She never was violent and boom now she's supposed to have committed the greatest pancetta ever.

Joker: Vendetta.

Harleen: Whatever. Ya get what I'm saying. I think there's more to this case, she's been framed, but Dr. Crane won't let me investigate. He thinks it's better to leave it to this.

The jester stared at his partner, a confused and amused look on his face. The vigilante seemed as equally puzzled. They stayed silent, as the smaller man did not know what to say anymore.

Harleen: He's hiding something... Ya gotta help me.

Joker: Help you?

Harleen: I can't let him go like this... He deserves justice, he deserves...

She started crying over the phone, the clown rolled his eyes.

Joker: It may sound like I'm hanging up but really...

He hung up and turned to his partner.

"That was strange..."

"Coming from her, nope." Joker giggled. "You have no idea of how delusional this woman can get when emotional. Also, ain't that convenient. Are you convinced now that the Reds doesn't work?"

The larger man simply shrugged before turning to his computer and continuing working. The slender man got up and placed himself behind him, grabbing his shoulders and went on giving the muscular man a massage.

"You're so tense."

"Aren't you? We're stuck in a dead end with a case involving the most dangerous criminals of Gotham, an illegal pills that kills when not consumed, we have no leads..."

"Hush, Batsy... Or the stress will kill you before the Reds does."

"I am very calm. The medication is keeping me from feeling distressed."

"Oh you're calm?" The jester mocked the other man, pinching at his firm muscles. "I must be hallucinating this."

"I am forcing this upon myself, I need to remain focus, I need to remember that we're facing a threat."

The standing man chuckled and bent down to kiss his partner's neck.

"You are so heroic." Moving closer to Bruce's ear he whispered. "And I am so bad."

The dark knight quickly grabbed the man's white hair to pull him away and locked his eyes to his and seriously stated.

"We don't have time for this."

"Are you saying that if we did have time you would?"

"What I'm saying is..."

Both men were interrupted by the phone ringing once more. They let go of one another and the hero grabbed his hacking device again.

"It's Pumpkin-man." He giggled. "What's with people and calling me today? I always knew I was popular but..."

"Just answer it!" He harshly demanded.

Joker: You've reached Mister popular!

Jonathan: Joker?

Joker: In the flesh! What do you want?

Jonathan: I want to talk about Dr. Quinzel. Ever since Jervis's death she's been acting quite disconnected from reality, believing his murder to be some kind of conspiracy.

Joker: Well, isn't it a conspiracy?

The master of fear let out a loud sigh over the phone.

Jonathan: Do not tell me that you believe this too...

Joker: Hey, I was kidding. That's kind of my thing, you know.

Jonathan: Of course...

Joker: Did you really just call to tell me that Harley's crazy?

Jonathan: I also think we should keep an eye on her, I don't fully trust her anymore.

Joker: You're gonna betray her.

Jonathan: No, never. I just think that she's up to something.

Joker: Well, I think it's pretty suspicious of you to call me and demand that I distrust her with you. It's as if you were setting something, planning on...

Jonathan: Dr. Quinzel is a highly valuable member, she's the key to finding a cure. I won't harm her.

Joker: Unless it's by using some kind of brain chip and a Bluetooth, am I right?!

The vigilante watched his partner as he started pacing in circle while arguing with Crane.

Jonathan: It was necessary!

Joker: I'll show you necessary violence! Maybe we should put a chip in your brain and give the remote to Harley!

Jonathan: Why are you so mad?

Joker: You've killed Nygma out of the blue with all of your testing and betraying and now you're out to get my Harley! You think I'll just let you kill Harley?

The hero was surprised by feeling his heart pinching a little upon hearing the way the clown was talking about his former lover.

Jonathan: She won't die, we need her!

Joker: What about after we find a cure?

They both paused.

Jonathan: Joker, I want you to listen to me carefully. Dr. Quinzel will not die. I will not hurt her.

Joker: I want the chip to be deactivated.

After a moment of silence the psychiatrist finally responded.

Jonathan: Fine. Come to the lab, I'll need your help to do so, but if she ever gets out of control, don't blame me.

They hung up and he turned to the sitting man with a large smile.

"Why would you set her free?"

"She'll be less dangerous on her own than under Scarecrow's control, don't you think?"

"You could've arranged for me to be in control."

"Darling, I'm in control of Harley and you're with me, which makes you in control of her too."
"You consider what's yours to be mine?"

"Romantic, isn't it?"

Bruce turned his attention to the floor while letting a slight chuckle out. He rapidly snapped back to his normal disciplined self and spoke up.

"I'll be watching you through the lab's system. Now that I've install new cameras, nothing can get past me."

"Aye aye Captain! And I'll leave my phone and electronics for you to work on."

He turned around, but surprised the detective as he turned once more and almost jumped at him, grabbing his face and kissing his lips quickly while giggling upon truly leaving afterward. He didn't have time nor wanted to push him away, he somewhat laughed as well and went back to working after his partner had left.

Nothing could explain the slightly lighter than usual feeling he had developed toward life recently, not even the Reds could have been to blame. Deep down, he kind of knew what had been happening to him and that Joker was the cause of it, but could not bring himself to find the right words to explain it. It simply felt great to lose his greatest enemy to gain a friend that completed him in ways no one ever could before. He kept smiling to himself, unable to believe the situation. Although they were stuck in a dead end for now, it was as if he could see the light at the end of the tunnel, the case being solved and him, him staying by his side, for good. Happiness at arms reach, it seemed to good to be true.

Later, Bruce watched closely as Crane and his partner had the woman asleep and attached to a table as they went on opening a small part of her skull to proceed operating. Pamela had both hands against the glass of her cell as she was watching the procedure in fear, unable to do anything.

The hero decided he had to remind the gang that he had his eyes on them and contacted Crane's phone as Batman. Asking him what was the procedure about although he knew. Truthfully, he was seeking lies from the man. He got nothing but the truth, knowledge he already possessed. They had installed a chip to keep the blonde from doing anything that would doom them to losing the Reds and their new gained rights.

Everything went well, Harleen awoke an hour later and Joker tested the Bluetooth, the chip had been successfully deactivated.

The caped crusader thought he was going to have his partner back by now, but unfortunately Jonathan informed Joker that he already needed him for another task. He asked of him some help to start elaborating a voting system that could work via the net and that everything would be explained to him the next day during a meeting. He was waiting for Quinzel to be completely recovered and conscious to participate to this one. Unfortunately for the hero, the meeting was to happen at Crane's place, which means that he would have to break into the pale man's apartment in order to use the tablet and log into his glasses.

December 19th, 21:08 PM, Bruce glanced at his surroundings before getting on his knee and starting on working the lock of the door. He was abruptly stopped and swiftly stood up as the neighbor casually exited her apartment. She gave the billionaire a slight smile and a nod while closing and locking her door. She began walking as if she had seen nothing and upon getting past him she whispered.

"He keeps a spare key in his mail box..."

The larger man headed to the ground floor and searched his partner's full mailbox. His eyes widened as he felt the little piece of medal and grabbed it to quickly run back up.

Upon entering he directly began searching for the tablet, plugged it, sat down and logged in.

He only had five minutes spare before the meeting.

Audio and visual loaded at the same time. The first image he got was one of her, sitting on the other side of the kitchen table, pouring Pepsi in a glass containing Gummy Bears and Skittles.

Harleen: I call this one Joy in a Tar pit.

Joker: Fascinating.

Harleen: The Skittles and Gummy Bears are frozen, that's what's giving it the kick!

Joker: The kick.

She went on drinking some of it while he chuckled. He turned his attention to Crane. He locked his eyes on Quinzel for a moment before asking.

Jonathan: How's your head?

Harleen: Fine.

Jonathan: As you might not know, Joker and I have been working on a voting system. We ended up simply taking the information of the most recent electoral list of voters and inserting the data in our own system. The way it would work is simple, a person creates an account based on his real name, birth information and address, if it matches one of the person's profile the account is successfully created and this citizen will be allowed to anonymously vote. Do you know for what?

The blonde scratched her head for a moment until her face became clear, she knew.

Harleen: Criminals! They're voting on a criminal's fate.

Joker: What? We're gonna let the citizens vote for justice!? That's moronic!

Jonathan: No. The Batman has been acting on his own for a long time and without him we would've surely discovered the Reds and a cure alongside sooner, because people seem to be more open-minded toward us than he is.

Joker: People are open-minded? Sure, just look at Jervis!

Harleen: It's not as it seems! Claire's been framed, Jervis has been killed for some other purpose! I just know it!

Jonathan: Dr. Quinzel, please...

Joker: Not this again! Both of you shut up! So we're gonna let the imbecilic population of Gotham rule its own city?

Harleen: This has never been done before, we need to try.

Joker: The real law, the judges, the police, they won't let you.

Jonathan: It's the entire population against them, what can they do?

The jester glanced down for a long moment before turning back to Quinzel awaiting for her to speak. She moved her hands across the table, catching one of his and holding it firmly.

Harleen: You're no criminal anymore, we won't put ya up on the list for votes. I won't allow it.

Jonathan: Well, no matter what you think, the system is almost done. Nothing can stop us now.

He stated strangely staring at Quinn.

Jonathan: In honor of Jervis Tetch, I am naming the project with the name he had proposed...

Harleen: Project Malach...

Jonathan: Yes... Now, I'll need more of your help, Joker, to complete the entire system and work on a way to present it in the media. As for Dr. Quinzel, keep on testing and working.

Joker: Gotham needs a ruler...

The jester whispered upon getting up and heading towards the psychiatrist's computers and all the files they had been working on for the last twenty-four hours. From behind, the woman's voice reached him.

Harleen: You're no leader...

He rapidly turned around, the hero considered this must have angered him, yet he was surprise to find the blonde standing up, towering a sitting Scarecrow who would not even look her in the eye.

Harleen: Keep this in mind, this is my gang, my project, all of what's happening right now is because of me. I am Malach.

Jonathan: I know...

Harleen: Ya don't control me anymore!

Joker: Harley?

She simply put up a hand to show that she would not address him at the moment.

Harleen: Don't give orders without my consent first.

She then walked to the door, turning around one last time upon leaving to blow a kiss to the pale man.

Joker: What was that about?

Jonathan: Don't ask me, you're the one who insisted on setting her free.

Bruce spent a good portion of the night watching the men working until almost morning when the insane psychiatrist put all the coding and information necessary in a USB and sent the jester to the lab to start setting the hole thing up with the more efficient computer they had there. He decided to head to the Batcave, now that he had seen most of how the program was build all he had to do was wait for it to be put online to hack into it and deactivate it.

6:47 AM, he was in front of the Batcomputer, the system still was not up. He decided to take a nap before work and he would simply keep on eye on it from work. If it was to finally be put online he would contact Alfred and give him the directive to disable it.

15:57 PM, finally, it was up and running, but still unknown to the population. The billionaire was alone in his office, so he immediately contacted his butler giving him all the instructions and sat back awaiting the results.

After a long 40 minutes of nothing happening to the website linked to the program he received a call from Alfred.

Alfred: Sir, I cannot hack into the system. You must have forgotten to tell me about something.

Bruce: No, I haven't... Something new must've came up...

Alfred: What shall we do?

Bruce: Near the Batcomputer, you should find a small piece of paper on which a link is written. Go to this place and ask the following question; how does project Malach works?

He waited as he heard the older man typing.

Alfred: There are no answers.

Bruce: Try; how does our online security system works?

Once more it took a moment for the butler to give him the response.

Alfred: It says why don't you ask Joker about it...

Bruce: It figured us out. Thank you Alfred, I'll be contacting Joker...

Alfred: But his phone is here.

Bruce: I... Are they still in the laboratory?

Alfred: All except Crane.

Bruce: Thank you.

He hung up and knew he could not contact the lab from where he was without being retraced. He would have to wait the end of the day, leave work and contact his partner then. However, he had a hard time figuring out a way to have to conversation without raising any suspicions toward him, it's not as if he was alone in that place and surely, a person as careful as Crane was probably recording every call that was made to and from the lab.

The hero had to be honest with himself, he would have to wait around for the gang to finalize and popularize their project before being able to take it down. Then again, he was placing himself in the same situation as when he wanted to keep Poison Ivy under his guard, showing the public that he was disagreeing with the Reds, creative mass panic, risking it's cancellation and what not. He could not wait to see his ally again and was truly hoping that of all people he would have an idea on how to deal with this.

The next few days were spent by keeping an eye on the pale man, impatiently waiting for him to exit this lab for good and be free of the gang.

To popularize Project Malach, Jonathan simply made a video that went viral in which he explains to whole thing.

We have created a hero that you citizen will be able to control through the power of democracy. We're ready to either rival or work with the Batman.

[...]

You are able to vote against anyone breaking the law, choosing their fate between Arkham Asylum or Blackgate prison. You can also vote to free a person. The total of vote in favor of imprisonment in both places must be 70% or above and the total of vote to free an inmate must be 90% or above. Since we know that not all citizen will vote, there will be a one month time limit set per individuals once 40% of you will have voted for the case in question and we will take in consideration the final result only if when the time limit is reached 65% of the population have voted.

[...]

Yes, you can change your mind and vote once more, but it still count as one vote only in total.

[...]

We are all on this list as one individual. If you disagree with our method and disagree with our hero you can vote against me and all my allies and we will obey to your decision. However I must inform you that locking us in will put a definite end to Project Malach.

[...]

You cannot use our website to make any accusations, you still have to contact GCPD first. We are working from their criminal data and won't ever create our own.

[...]

Although we do not make accusation nor create our own data, the Batman is on the list.

[...]

Every mission will be recorded and broadcast to the public afterward.

To the detective, this was pure madness and nothing could express the level of disappointment he was feeling upon seeing that although the population had many different opinions toward Project Malach, most of them seemed to be agreeing with it. GCPD kept stating that they would not answer to the public and will keep on working by themselves.

On the next day the video went viral a case already had a time limit set to it with 51% people already voting. 68% being in favor of the liberation of Claire Williams for the murder of Jervis Tetch.

December 22th, 19:12 PM, the dark knight had been watching the insanity unfold for the last few days unable to figure out what to do. Yet a glimpse of hope appeared as he watched Joker being set free from the gang, his work, for now, was done.

Without any time to spare the billionaire ran to one of his car and drove toward the laboratory, ready to scout the sector in order to find the pale man.

After only thirty minutes of searching he spotted him, in the dark, wearing a long dark coat, walking alone in an almost empty street. The larger man immediately parked ahead of him and exited his vehicle.

"Hello, mon chéri!" The clown said with enthusiasm as he approached the other man. "I was just heading to your place."

"I know, get in the car, we need to get to work."

The former prince of crime giggled at what the hero had just said upon reaching him and kissing his cheek.

"Work on what?"

Bruce checked his surroundings before whispering.

"We need to stop Project Malach."

"It'll stop itself." The jester laughed. "You and I both know this is a moronic system that won't ever work. How about we let it fail by itself and enjoy tonight's weather?" He grabbed the man's muscular arm. " Take a walk with me, Brucie."

"They're about to free an insane murderer, I can't let them do that. What if she hurts other people? Or herself?"

The smaller man was leading them to a busier street with shops and restaurant. The worst place to be having this conversation.

"You're an influential man. Talk about it to the public. Maybe Project Malach should only allow the public to free criminals who's evidences aren't as crystal clear as for Claire Williams?"

"I don't want to change Project Malach, I want to end it."

"It'll end by itself."

They had reached the busy street, it was a beautiful evening. It was snowing slightly making the city quieter and although it was a cold night, there was no wind.

"Wanna get some food?" The small man asked.

"How much time do you think it will take for the project to fail by itself? How many people will be hurt? How many mistake will be made until then?"

"Oh... you're still going at it." He responded seemingly blasé.

"And how do you think their system even works?"

"Who knows? Knowing these criminals, the person who created the basic coding for the system has probably been silenced, bringing the secret alongside."

The hero stood silent, knowing what his partner meant and accepting that taking down Project Malach would require a significant amount of time regardless of the procedure taken. They were stopped at a red light where Joker was simply looking around while scratching his chin.

"You know... I would really enjoy eating ravioli... so how about..?"

"Jack." The larger man interrupted and light green eyes locked their stare on him. "I don't think this is working out..."

"Excuse me!?" The pale man abruptly screamed out while stepping back, dragging everyone's attention on them. "I have been making so much effort! What more do you need!? Do I have to wear cute little cat ears for you to lo..."

"I was talking about work!" The beyond embarrassed man replied quickly.

"Ouf..." The other man sighed in relief while grabbing his chest. "You're still going at it..."

"Yeah, as you know, I am." He said upon laughing uncomfortably and stating to one of the closest citizen staring at them. "He's a funny guy..."

They kept on walking as the smaller man could not help himself from laughing at the situation while the larger man whispered.

"If we weren't in such a public place I'd punch you in the face."

"I know!" He replied with tears from the laughter in his eyes. "This remind me, totally unrelated subject, do you want something for Christmas?"

"What?"

"You know, Christmas, happens once every year..."

"I know, what I meant was..."

Both men were interrupted by Jackson's phone ringing. He took it out of his pocket, glanced at it and rolled his eyes.

"Pumpkin-king..."

The detective knew he'd have to listen to this call, with no hesitation he entered a seemingly empty alley pulling the clown along with him. He lowered himself to place his ear next to his ally's and waited for the man to answer.

Joker: What do you want?

Jonathan: I... I need help...

The hero could make out what he was saying without any problem, but the psychiatrist was interrupted by a loud, hard to identify, sound.

Joker: What was that?

Jonathan: The door won't hold...

Some heavy banging noises began ringing through the phone.

Jonathan: Stop! Stop it! The door won't hold...

Joker: Where are you? What is this?

Jonathan: Stop it! Let's talk, let's just talk!

Joker: Where are you!?

Jonathan: Th-the bunker... It's...

The knocking stopped for a moment.

Jonathan: Dr. Quinzel is trying to break in and she...

The clown burst into a laughter while the banging happened again.

Joker: Just kick her or something.

All they could hear for a moment was heavy breathing and the door getting hit. Then it stopped again for a moment.

Jonathan: It's about Claire again, I think she's gonna kill me. I think she's armed. I won't make it. Stop her.

Joker: Say you're scared.

Jonathan: What?

Joker: Say you're scared of Harley and I'll help.

Jonathan: Fine. I'm scared of her, just come quick.

The man hung up and turned to the vigilante.

"I guess I'm needed again, mind giving me a lift?"

"Let's get your suit first."

"No time, plus it's just Harley, I'm fine." The jester reassured him.

"I'll get back to your apartment and watch through your glasses as quickly as I can."

"Sure, whatever."

They ran as fast as possible to the car and headed to the bunker where Bruce dropped his partner far enough for him to not be seen and lost no time to drive to the man's apartment.

Upon arriving, he sat down, open the tablet and logged in. Everything loaded up, Crane was sitting on the bunker's floor, nose and mouth heavily bleeding and Harleen, oddly shirtless at the moment, was standing up in front of him.

Harleen: I don't care what any of you think, Claire's innocent.

Jonathan: I've always agreed with you...

Harleen: Than why won't ya obey!?

Joker: Harley... Calm down...

Jonathan: This case is a perfect example for our cause, it shows how...

Harleen: Is this really more important than Jervis's life!

Jonathan: Well, unlike some other people, I'll let you know that...

He spat some blood upon continuing his sentence.

Jonathan: My life is on the line too. I need to Reds to be legalized beyond anything else.

Joker: Well that's what we're working on doing, so what's the problem here.

Only Crane turned to him while he spoke, the woman kept glaring at the sitting man.

Harleen: Honey, my shirt and coat are on the floor near the door. Please, go get them for me.

Jonathan nodded to him, showing that from now on he truly wanted things to go as smoothly as possible with the blonde. The jester turned around and walked toward the exit. When he arrived at the door he stopped and took a moment to look down, surely considering that his partner was probably watching with him at this point. The detective's jaw dropped as he stared at the broken door that had nothing else than several boot marks on it. Quinn had kicked through a bunker door with regular boots. He was amazed, and theorized that maybe some of the testing had been beneficial to her in unexpected ways. It was an incredible sight.

The pale man finally returned with the woman's clothes. She put all of them on before searching her coat pockets and getting a bag of Reds out of one.

Harleen: Look at this, Dr. Crane. Do you know to who it belonged?

Jonathan: Jervis?

Harleen: Yes and now it's yours.

She violently threw the bag at him.

Harleen: See it's a gift from me, because you're life matters so much. In fact ya matter so much to me, I'll allow ya to take these on a sweet vacation anywhere away from Gotham.

Jonathan: You're kicking me out?

Harleen: Now go. Come back when you've taken them all and need more. He's so very precious, don't you think?

It took a slight moment for the taller man to realize she was addressing him.

Joker: Yes, so precious...

Jonathan: You're making a mistake you can't...

Harleen: Leave!

The bleeding man got up with difficulty, placed the bag in his pocket and started walking slowly toward the exit. He stopped a moment and whispered.

Jonathan: You've killed us all...

Surprisingly enough, the blonde did nothing beside smirking. When the man was gone, Joker did not even had the time to place a word that Harley was already speaking.

Harleen: One year later and it's finally mah time to shine! Now, I want ya to go home and start working on a communicator for us to get in contact with B-man.

Joker: What? How am I supposed to do that?

She rolled her eyes.

Harleen: Look, I know ya two are like this!

She showed him her crossed fingers before adding.

Harleen: Ya'll find a way. I wouldn't even be surprised if y'actually have his real phone number.

She chuckled and they headed to the broken door.

Joker: What about you?

Harleen: I'm up to solve this pancetta. Also Imma need to hire someone to repair the bunker door, thanks to Mister I'm too scared to open the door.

Joker: All right... Until next time.

He said as he turned and walked away, glancing over his shoulder from time to time to see her heading in an opposite direction. He saw the opportunity to take off his glasses and turn the camera to his face, showing off an unsure worried expression to the vigilante who was sharing the same feelings at the moment.