"Ain't no mercy… there ain't no mercy…" Rick Ross, Purple Lamborghini

- J – H – D –

Getting beat down with security guard batons isn't something I'd recommend anyone try. Especially when they're wailing on you for about half an hour's worth. Then again? Being one of the most wanted men in the world ain't the best of ideas either. Heh, so is working for the Joker and Harley.

Huh, I've done all three up to this point… so… yeah.

If you look up dumbass on Wikipedia? My face should be right there as the first image on the right side you'd see.

And if that's the case? Grigg's picture should be right below me.

Messing with the Joker's girl? You must be more insane than either of them.

"Now before we start Griggsy? I gotta take my selfie with ya!" Harley cuddled up behind, pressing their cheeks together as she made a peace sign. "Don't want to take a pic with ya later and not recognize your face anymore right? Hah!"

Click! Click!

Harley bobbed her head happily, reviewing the photo on her smartphone. "Hmmm, I'm lookin' good like always but you look like a downer there Griggs!" She showed him the photo. "Likey or no likey?"

A couple of grumbles and tears were her only reply. The fact that he was bound and gagged really didn't occur to Ms. Quinn till now.

"Oh silly me! That's why you aren't talkin' much." Harley wistfully ran the head of her wooden bat against his face, suddenly pulling off the heavy dose of tape on Griggs mouth with a harsh tug.

"AARGH FUCK!" Griggs yelled out, the tape probably taking most of his lip with it.

"There! All better now aren't cha?" That Jersey accent always seemed to get stronger when Harley got herself going. "Now that we have our treasured selfie, let's get down to business young man." She giggled as she shoved the bat hard into his chin, thoroughly enjoying this reversal of fortune.

"P-please…" Griggs was trembling, looking at her in complete fear. "I've been t-through enough…"

"Oh really?" Harley asked jovially. "Just cause my puddin' marked you up with these sweet tattoos doesn't mean it's been enough asshole."

"I'm begging y-you Harley…" Griggs pathetically wept, looking to the ground and away from her.

"Aw, stop being a little wimp dear." Harley lifted his head up using her bat. "It's my turn to play with you! You had your time with me at that jail remember?" She suddenly shoved the bat into his throat hard, sending Griggs crashing to the floor, still tied up into the chair.

"Agh!" Griggs coughed hard as he had the air knocked out of him, laying helplessly on his back with a foot to his chest. Harley stood above him waving her baseball bat around so playfully, totally in her element imagining what to do now.

"Remember all those times you called me a crazy bitch?" Harley pouted, suddenly kicking him in the side eliciting more groans. "You hurt my feelings meanie!"

WHAP! The bat now came down hard on his body. "Aagh!"

"Oh, and those little zaps your boys gave me when you said I was misbehaving…" She tsk'd with a finger wag, rearing back and smashing his ribs again with no remorse.

"AGH! D-damn it… stop!" Griggs turned to me with eyes begging, eyes reddened watery. "P-please Lawton… come on man! Tell her to stop!"

I hesitated, looking at the poor guy with now broken ribs. A part of me wanted to stop all this. Another part wanted Harley to put a little more umph in those swings.

"Haha how sad… you're askin' Shot for help?" Harley kneeled over grabbing his head while pulling him into a stare. "He hates your guts just as much as I do. Those big ears of his aren't hearing a damn thing."

She was half right. I definitely hated this guy's guts. I had every reason to. But my big ears definitely heard him. Torture wasn't something I ever allowed myself to do. I just didn't have the mindset to do it. Watching Harley do it about a few feet away… it was uneasy.

"Come on Harley… have a little mercy…"

"Mercy?" Harley paused as her bat was raised for a strike, her eyes twitching. "Come again...?"

"P-please… a little mercy…"

"Oh you weak piece of shit." Harley laughed a bit harder, now looking at him dead in the face. "How dare you even ask for somethin' like that from me!"

WHAP!

WHAP!

"Mercy? Did I ever ask for any of that being in that stupid jail of yours?"

I looked on almost like a guilty witness as the bat continued to rain down on Griggs with no mercy. It was kind of cute when Harley was smashing the carcass of one of Enchantress' soldiers when it was clearly out. It's all fun and games until she's doing the same thing to an alive human being.

This? This was just cruel… Harley was going to a place I've never quite seen her. She was troubled… really troubled.

"A guy like you doesn't ask for mercy got it?" Harley only got more intense as she continued to slam the bat down on him over and over again.

I saw his body go limper, Griggs not reacting nearly as much to the beating he was getting. A part of me couldn't take it anymore. I saw Zoe, looking at me… telling me not to let this dude get railed on like this.

"You're not Jason you fuckin' asshole! You ain't deserving of any mercy from me!" Harley's strikes never slowed, a gleam in her eye making even me a bit worried. "YOU'RE NOT FUCKING JASON!"

Jason…? Who the heck is Jason?

An imaginary friend? One of those voices?

Fuck it. Enough of this.

Harley reared back for one more strike but my quick hands snatched it away before she could swing. She turned around with that same intense glare she'd had. Taking her weapon might have been a bad move.

"What the hell are you doing?" Harley growled at me.

"Calm down… I think he's had enough…" I held the bat away as she tried to grab at it.

"You're not the judge around here Shot. Give it back!"

"Harley… calm down…" I urged her, holding her there. "Look at him… he's barely moving…"

"He's not… Jason… he's not fucking Jason…" Harley repeated again almost ignoring what I was saying, trying to reach for the bat almost robotically.

"Who, the hell is Jason and what does he have to do with any of this?" I held the bat even further away. "Is this the voices in your head shit?"

Harley stared at me blankly like she came to. Her breathing was heavier as if she suddenly snapped out of some sort of trance. She just looked at me, eyes somber but her grin still there… barely.

Bipolar much?

"Yeah, who are you talking about?" I just blinked as I actually saw a bit of tears drip down her eyes, the colorful blue mascara that was caked on her face running down her cheek.

"He's no one…" Harley replied with a monotonous tone, scowling and wiping her face. "He's no one… anymore."

It was kind of scary. Harley being a bit stone faced and subdued just doesn't look right. Harley being emotional is like spotting a UFO.

I stared at her as I saw for a second that rare look of sadness I could remember. It's the look I got only one other time knowing Harley. The time when she thought she'd lost Joker and we reunited just before taking out Enchantress. She looked broken sitting on top of that car… she looked vulnerable and not the ounce of cheer she usually had. A quick snap and she was back up and running… but this seemed a bit worse.

Whoever Jason was… it didn't seem like just some voice in her head.

"Look, I know you're pissed off at Griggs." I shook her, urging her to stare at that helpless guy. "I am too. But look, he's gotten it back tenfold alright?"

Harley slowly recovered now, tilting her head at me, her smile slowly spreading on those red lips of hers. "Oh, so we're even now right? Me and him are all good ya say?"

"I didn't say that..."

"Then what? I should just let him free huh? Forgive him or somethin'? Do him a saintly favor Shot?"

"It's about decency Harley."

"Decency?" Harley's face when a bit crooked. "Look at me Shot! What the hell is decent about me?"

She got me there I thought as I looked her up and down. She looked like one beautiful disaster.

"Tell me this smarty pants…" Harley grabbed at my shirt as she pulled me close. "Was it decent when they gave me shots in the neck so I couldn't fight back when the guards would fuck me somewhere dark and isolated where no one can hear me? … Was it decent when he stuck his cock in my mouth just to shut me up?"

"W-what?" I slowly turned to Griggs.

"Oh, you didn't get that treatment did ya?" Harley laughed a bit dark, looking at Griggs too. "They just gave you the beatin' with those sticks but they didn't give you no dicks. Aren't you the lucky one."

I clenched my grip on the bat as I felt an anger in me. I'm helping a rapist? I'm feeling sorry for this bastard?

"You know maybe I'm a bitch that deserves that kind of treatment though." Harley pulled my head back into a stare with her. "I mean the fucked up shit I've done? I don't deserve to complain one intsy bit."

"Hey Harley…"

"Zip it… I don't want your pity Shot. It's all good. It's all fair game to me." Harley laughed. "The minute I decided to join Puddin' I knew what I signed up for. A life with no mercy. An eye for an eye…" She scowled. "But thing is? I've never asked nobody for mercy got it? I don't expect favors from the enemy… they shouldn't expect it from me… GOT IT?!"

I could only really nod. I followed a similar code. Life isn't fair… there is nothing dictating some absolute moral truth. It's what you think is right. The strong dictate and the weak follow… shit… maybe I'm getting soft?

Or maybe these clowns are pushing it a bit too far…

"Good, besides I think you accomplished your mission anyway." Harley huffed, holding out one hand. "This is Harley's mood…" She then pulled out her other hand making a gun shape. "And this is Deadshot… the dude that never misses! BANG BANG!"

The hand that apparently represented Harley's mood went limp as the other hand fired away.

"Aw, there goes poor Harley's mood… dead as a door nail… gee… you really don't ever miss do ya Shot?" Harley whispered to my ear. "Whatever, have fun with him and kill him when you're done… party pooper."

Harley blew out a bubble with her gum popping it in my face before, walking off with that sensuous strut of hers. Her emotions ebbed and flowed… like there we more people in that mind than just that one crazy girl.

As far as Griggs goes, the world never really gives you any black and white answers. Do the right thing… can't let this girl beat this dude… that's too cruel right?

But this asshole deserves it. All of it.

"You raped her?" I walked over to Griggs kneeling over him, probably not having the most neighborly look on my face.

I wasn't getting any answers, just a bloodied sigh and it was pissing me off.

"Yo you hear me asshole?"

"Look… don't judge me Lawton!" Griggs blurted out suddenly, spitting about a bit of blood. "You ain't in any position to judge me you fucking criminal!"

"I aint' judging shit… I asked you a question." I was seething. "Besides, you're supposed to be the dudes that uphold the law. The good guys remember? I'm just a two bit murderer right?"

"Hah, aren't you a little old for fairy tales brotha?" Griggs grimaced, laughing at me. "There's no such things as good guys and bad guys anymore… what are you smoking?"

"Oh now that's where you're wrong sir. So so very wrong…"

Cue the cold clown vibe when he walks in.

"No… god no…" Griggs gasped for breath, suddenly wriggling violently again. "LET ME GO!"

"There are bad guys… really really bad… Heh- heh- heh." Joker appeared from the darkness it seemed, waltzing over too casually whistling.

"Help me Lawton. Kill me now! Take my head off with the bat!" Griggs yelled at me. "Don't let him touch me!"

"Oh demands? Sir, I don't think you understand how things work around here." Joker chortled, walking to me extending his hand. "Hand me the bat Floyd…"

I looked at Joker, then back at Griggs, knowing what was about to happen if I did give the bat to Joker. Grigg's pleas were falling on deaf ears at this moment. I didn't think he deserved a way out. And even if I did feel the need to spare him? What could I do now?

"Here..." I slowly handed over the weapon to Joker, who took with a grateful nod.

"Good. Now it seems that you upset my dearest Harley just now Griggs." Joker suddenly pulled up the chair violently back to a seated position. "What did you do? I just wanted you three to have fun."

"I d-didn't do shit!"

"Don't lie to me. I know when my pumpkin is upset. You calling me a liar?" Joker suddenly took the bat, splitting in half by slamming it over his knee. The crack splintered the bat, forming a sharp edge on the handle side.

"God damn man… please… I am not calling you anything… please-"

"Shhhh, you're sweating a bit there." Joker admired the wooden blade he created, now running the sharp edge across the tattoos he forced upon Grigg's face. "Before I do what I'm going to do… do you wanna know a bit more about me before we say our good byes?"

"Please Joker…"

"You wanna know why my teeth are so shiny and awesome?" Joker's platinum smile was on display, right in Griggs tearful face." You wanna know why I got all these spiffy tattoos here kiddo?"

Griggs wasn't getting through and it's sad seeing a human being breakdown right in front of you. He was furiously trying to break free, grasping at hope, just begging for a miracle to be freed. Everyone knew he was screwed. There are no miracles in Gotham. Not when the Joker ran things.

"Batsy boy smashed my face in after we took out his little bird boy…" Joker reminisced. "I got thrown in jail and was away from my queen for too long…" He slid the wooden spike to Griggs forehead. "I tatted myself up to remind me of my failure... of my pain..."

"I'll g-give you anything… anything… just-"

"Your tattoos remind me of my second failure when you all took my queen away from me." Joker's eyes widened as he cracked his neck, suddenly writing into Griggs forehead with no repentance. "Hehehehe. No one takes my queen away from me…"

"NO!" Griggs screamed and bucked but nothing was stopping it. Joker gleefully scarred away, carving a message to the world. I just sat there like a statue, watching a man be whittled down to nothing by someone who was the idea of a nightmare.

The words "My City. My world." Were soon carved into his forehead.

"How's it look Floyd?"

I didn't give a reply…

"Amazing… I know… if only they don't squirm... it'd be so much cleaner." Joker laughed, as he wiped the blood away from Grigg's face. "You'd like it if I just let you go now huh? Just let you walk around town to show what happens when you fuck with me or my queen."

"Please… let... me go…" Griggs groaned, blinking as more blood just ran down his face.

"Let me think about it…" Joker smirked, playfully whistling the Jeopardy theme song as he tapped his foot.

It was only a few seconds but it felt like an eternity to Griggs I bet.

"You know I was so close to letting you go Griggs… until I remembered you kissed my hand." Joker suddenly scowled, pointing at his own pale extremity. "I let the mouth of the one who defiled my queen… touch my hand… Heh…heh… heh and I can't let that go. Sorry…"

The murder that followed was too gruesome to really tell. I watched though and I didn't turn away. I let this happen and I needed to see it through. This was just as much me as Joker I thought. I wanted to feel and see every ounce of the viciousness that was the Joker. For every laugh and for every silly request? There was a fury, ugliness, and an anger that you really couldn't explain to anyone.

Monsters are real.

And they don't all have crocodile skin.

Croc was like Barney the purple dinosaur compared to this guy.

"Aw come on, at least smile as you're dying." Joker pressed his hand against Grigg's mouth, letting that smiley face tattoo create the happy image he wanted.

Twisting reality into his own.

Twisting Grigg's face into a cut up mangled skull that used to resemble a face.

Not… cool.

"Well, that was fun…" Joker's own face had streaks of Griggs blood all over as well, winking at me with that signature smirk of his. "Aw my apologies Floyd. You didn't get your chance at him."

"I'll uh… get over it…" I said simply in awe, staring at what was left over of Grigg's face.

A headshot to the face was cleaner than this…

"Now, it's time for business." Joker walked up to me slowly, holding up the sharpened weapon. "First thing? I need to open you up pal…"

I suddenly felt two of Joker's minions at my back, specifically Sweet Tooth and Johnny. The two approached me from behind as Joker suddenly pressed the bloodied weapon to my neck. A double cross?

"H-hey… what the hell is this?"

The Joker scowled at me, as he had my neck ready to be stabbed, ready to kill me on the spot too.

"Hehehehe…" Joker laughed again, chuckling mad as he was suddenly poking at my neck softly with his finger. "I'm assuming you had a little doo hickey installed there that would blow your brains out like they did to Harley. Am I right?"

The bomb… heh… r-right. That damn bomb… I forgot about it.

"I know my boys disabled it... but we don't want that thing sitting in there too long now do we?"

Holy hell I thought I was a goner.

Fuck him…

"Aw, cheer up Floyd! I'm not gonna stab you for no reason! Come on! I'd have to be crazy to do that!"

"Crazy… ha-ha. Of course… what am I thinking…" I droned, not really amused.

"Aw, you're not happy with that joke? No matter I'll make it up to ya! We're going to have one hell of a night on the town my boy." He pulled at my face, laughing away. "Johnny clean up this mess and get Mr. Deadshot his tools and my queen at my side. Then rally up the family. We have my old pal Brucey Wayne's party to crash!"

I glanced passed Joker, over to Griggs lifeless body as it was being dragged out by Sweet Tooth. I kept thinking in my head how long it would take until eventually I'm that guy being dragged out. It really felt like a matter of time.

"I'm gonna need to remind Gotham who runs this place Floyd… and you're going for the ride…"

So here was the night.

The night that the Clown King declared war on Gotham City… and the world.