Harley got dressed just as J had instructed. The red romper he requested was one of his favorites. The top was a halter-style and the shorts were tiny. She chose black heels that made her long legs appear that much longer. She put her hair in two high pig tails and applied bright red lipstick. Sometimes if J wanted to act more intimidating, he would bring her along with him. It boosted his ego showing off that he could break anything, including his own doctor. She didn't mind, she was always flattered that she was his greatest joke.
She still felt emotional after her earlier conversation with Hope. At first, her sister had a hard time understanding how a father could so easily dismiss the idea of having his own child. But after remembering just who the father was, it became clearer. Hope had always wanted children and she and Matthew were planning on trying soon. When weighing the options, either she agreed to take her niece or nephew as her own or Harley go through an unwanted abortion, the decision was easy. Harley just had to convince The Joker that this was the right decision. She dreaded the conversation. She would wait until after the meeting tonight to approach the topic although she was sure he would be asking if she made arrangements before she even got the chance to bring it up on her own.
"So who are we seein'?", Harley asked. Either he would ignore the question, scold her for asking something that was none of her business, or oblige and answer her.
"His name's Bane, newest edition to Gotham's underworld.", he told her as he led her out to the waiting vehicle. They were taking the van since J was bringing some henchmen with him. Three men in clown masks holding machine guns were sitting along the bench in the back of the van. Including the driver and the one in the passenger seat, there were five goons all together. The Joker helped Harley into the back of the van and followed her inside. The henchmen tried their hardest to not stare at their boss's wife, but if was hard with her wearing that little number as the van bounced up and down the pothole littered roads of Gotham.
The Joker leaned down and whispered into Harley's ear, "Did you, uh, make the appointment?"
Harley sat straight and stared ahead. She thought about pretending to not hear him over the noise of the squeaky van, but thought better of it as he squeezed her thigh. To the men sitting in the back, they would have assumed it was The Joker asserting dominance over the woman, but to Harley, she knew it was a threat.
Harley shook her head.
"Mmm", he growled. His fingers squeezed so tight that bruises would form soon. It felt like he was going to rip a chunk of flesh from her already scarred thigh. Her face flinched and she gripped the bench she was sitting on as she looked down to hide her pained expression. She growned quietly and he let go. Angry marks were left.
The couple remained quiet as they made their way to The Iceberg Lounge. The Joker spoke to the men once they came to a stop. "Keep your guns visible. Two flanking left and right, one keeps their eyes on Harley at all times. I don't know this guy, but he sounds dangerous. No one shoots unless we are shot at first. Driver stays in the car, passenger keeps his eyes on the exit. Clear?"
"Yes boss.", they all said in unison as they were trained to do.
The van doors opened and the goons piled out first. The Joker pulled Harley's face to look at his. "We will finish our conversation later. Right now I need you to be a good little girl for daddy." She would have nodded, but he was holding her jaw too tightly. They followed out of the van, Joker lifted Harley out with his hands on her waist. The couple walked through the doors first and the host led them to the private room where the man called Bane was already waiting. The room had a dinning table with eight seats around it. There was also a small sitting area with four lounge chairs. The room was dimly lit and there was a bartender behind a small bar in the corner waiting to serve. Bane had no other men with him. The Joker wasn't stupid enough not to think he didn't have anyone in the entire building, however.
Bane stood as the couple and their entourage came into the room. The henchmen took their places and held their guns against their chests. Bane's eyes shifted slowly, taking the situation in. The Joker's hand was on Harley's back as they stopped about six feet in front of Bane.
"The Clown Prince of Crime. The Ace of Knaves. The Harlequin of Hate. The Jester of Genocide. The King of Gotham.", Bane announced each name as though he were introducing The Joker to an audience. His accent was interesting and not quite identifiable.
Harley shifted her weight on her hips and put an arm around J. The Joker gestured for Bane to take a seat and watched him as he sat. Following suit, J sat with knees apart on the lounge chair across and pulled Harley onto his left thigh. She knew the game. She draped an arm around J's neck, her breasts resting near his freshly painted face. Bane's eyes slowly raked Harley's ruined body from toe to pigtails, but not in a seductive way, more as an interesting object. "And his lovely wife, Doctor Quinzel.", Bane finished. The Joker cocked his head away from Harley and studied Bane's appearance. He was a hulking figure with a contraption strapped to his head, some sort of strange apparatus on his mouth. It distorted his voice in an interesting way. He was calm, J noticed. He didn't fear The Joker. The Joker didn't like that.
The room had been quiet and the bartender was sweating bullets. The Joker lit a cigarette from his breast pocket. After taking his first puff, he gestured with his nicotine stained fingers to Bane and finally spoke, "What brings you to Gotham, friend?"
Bane's eyes smiled, "Change of scenery, I suppose."
The Joker didn't laugh.
"Actually, Joker, I'm a fan of your work. Bringing Gotham to its knees so quickly. Your theory of chaos intrigues me. I wonder," he paused, "how you gained the respect of The Batman and after everything you've done to this place."
"You've done your basic research, I see. But tell me, why Gotham? What can you offer this city? Why should I permit you to stay?"
"I felt drawn to this place. Its uniqueness in that although everything goes against it, it survives. It comes out the other side of adversity, but not for the better. I'm interested in watching it burn. Your power over this city, your philosophy of chaos pairs with my own philosophy of fear. Chaos and fear will bring this city to nothing more than a smoldering pile of ashes."
The Joker did not appreciate Bane's attempt to assert himself into Gotham's destiny. Harley could feel The Joker's muscles tense under her body and she upped her game by resting a hand on his chest and leaning her cheek against his matted hair. She crossed her leg so the toe of her stiletto rested against J's opposite calf.
Something about the way Harley moved on him helped him see his next play in this delicate conversation. She was always able to make him feel strong, dominant. Bane's eyes shifted to Harley for a moment before returning to J's narrowing gaze. Part of the reason he brought Harley to meetings like this was to test the opposition. Would they be respectful to him by respecting his wife or would they lust over her, giving him a reason to kill them? Her hand moved from J's chest to him stomach. His fingers rested on her hip, encouraging her and pulling her ever so closer.
The Joker spoke again, "I'm not interested in partnerships."
"With all due respect, I'm not interested in threatening your status, Joker. You alone own this city and I only request your permission to leave my own mark, to sprinkle a little lighter fluid on the inferno caused by you."
The Joker took another puff and squinted his dark eyes, he pointed a finger at Bane as he spoke, "I assume you're a planner. A schemer. Tell me what you are thinking for dear ol' Gotham."
"I do have some ideas. I would be foolish to jump into anything so soon. I understand you are not interested in partnerships, but I have no interest in making a name for myself. I take satisfaction in seeing the result, the fear running through the streets. I would appreciate your input. I am not at the point that I would share everything, but I would appreciate meeting with you another time once I have my bearings in this city."
The Joker straightened himself from the slump he had slowly slid into. He turned to look at Harley and she met his eyes. He licked his scars as he pondered. His eyes wandered down to her lips and her chest before he turned back to Bane. "I will consider it, but I'm a busy man and I don't have time for child's play."
Bane nodded, "You will not be disappointed." He took the cue that the conversation was coming to an end and slowly stood up. Joker gave Harley a tap on the backside and she hopped off his lap. The Joker stood and allowed Bane to walk ahead of him. He motioned to two of the henchmen to follow him out while the third followed the rear. Bane reached the idling vehicle that awaited him and turned one more time to the couple before he was driven off. The henchmen loaded up in the van, but before Harley could get in herself, The Joker pulled her back by her arm and slammed the van door closed. She whimpered in protest. He brought her to the side of the van and pushed her back against it. His hands rested on either side of her head.
"You little minx. You dis-tract-ed daddy while he was working." His mouth was close to her ear as he growled the words.
"I-I'm sorry, Mista J."
"How am I going to make it all the way home without punishing you?" His voice sent shivers down her spine.
"You don't have to wait.", she whispered and ran a finger down his lapel.
As he kissed her neck she closed her eyes and considered that this could be the last time they were together. He may leave her for what she was going to do. He would not like the plan she devised for their child, but she wasn't about to bring it up now as he hitched her legs around him, maneuvering around her romper to make love to her against the van in the The Iceberg Lounge parking lot.