Full Moon Knights
Chapter 2: Meeting an Old Friend; A Second Chance
Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum, or referred to as the Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane was a psychiatric hospital that held the most dangerous and deranged minds in Gotham City. It was located on the outskirts of Gotham City, on a small island that cropped on a view of the city itself, taunting prisoners of what they had lost when they chose insanity and madness. It was also where most of the Dark Knight's foes were considered to be legally insane and incarcerated, while some were incarcerated in the famous Blackgate Penitentiary. Although it has had numerous administrators, its current head was one Doctor Bartholomew, and one of its chief psychiatrists, Dr. Joan Leland. But the Warden of this establishment was a glorifying self-obsessed man named Quincy Sharpe.
Although the place was of one to heal those of the mental sickness, and a way to reform the Rogues of Batman, it had one flaw. It didn't have a good track record, at least with regard to the high profile cases.
Basically, escapes were frequent; on one occasion, an obsessive-compulsive multiple murderer was signed out of Arkham into the care of an incontinent, alcoholic vagrant, on the grounds that he'd 'look like a responsible citizen'. And those who were 'cured' and released tended to re-offend and get sent back to Arkham, thinking of it like a permanent home. Even worse, several of the staff members including one director, had ended up as residents, notably its founder, Dr. Amadeus Arkham, who went mad just by being in the place he had built; this made people believe the building had been cursed or something.
But some of the most famous and recent employees were incarcerated. One of them was Lyle Bolton, aka Lock-Up, a crazed security guard who was once part of Wayne Enterprises and was transferred to Arkham in need to beef up security. Little did Bruce Wayne, or the staff of Arkham knew was that Bolton pushed the boundaries of the law and used unnecessary means to keep his prisoners in line.
Another such case… was Harley Quinn, who at that very moment, was being escorted back to her cell.
Inside
Some of the inmates were sitting around the television, with a few staff nurses and Doctor Bartholomew overlooking them. On the screen, Summer Gleeson was giving the latest report for the night. At that moment, Harley was being escorted in by a ward, as well as a beautiful African American woman with short black hair cut to her shoulders, black eyes, fit figure, and dressed as one of the psychiatrists, Dr. Joan Leland, to her cell.
She was looking very contrite at the moment, despite the cast left arm, bandages on her right arm, feet, and neck. Her blonde hair which went down to her mid back, hung over her left shoulder, specifically by her choice. As they wheeled down, Harley spotted the news report, and gently jerked the orderly.
"Hey, Nurse Boy, stop! Stop!" she cried, as she carefully turned to see the news. Dr. Leland gestured for the orderly to do so, as Harley listened to Summer Gleeson's latest report.
"Though the Joker has been notorious for resurfacing when least expected, it seems unlikely that he has survived his latest brush with Batman... "
Harley's worried face, then dissolved into a very annoyed-looking one, as she grumbled, "Yeah. That's what they said when they thought he was eatin' by that shark. Or the explosion in Tomorrowland, an' so on."
Dr. Leland then gently touched Harley's shoulder, urging her to move on, "Come on, Harley. Let's get you to your room."
They moved on as Harley was wheeled to the room of her cell. As they did, Harley mumbled, "… never again…" Leland was a bit surprised by that, as she pushed in the codes, as Harley went on, but this time, more clearly and the volume was up a bit. "No more obsession. No more craziness. No more Joker."
The orderly wheeled her inside, as Leland walked in with them. The orderly then scooped up Harley and gently set her on the bed, without her making a fuss or a fight. As the Orderly tucked her in, with the blanket up to her waist, Leland asked, "You were a strong woman back then when you started working for Arkham. But when you became infatuated with, all that… well…"
Harley sighed, as she knew where it was going, "Yeah, I know. I ended up as the hired help of a bleach-skinned sociopath, who cared more about getting the punchline and never knowing how far it went. All he seems to care about are two things: himself and his sick mind." She groaned in annoyance and shamefulness, as she placed her right hand on her forehead, "Jeez. Why didn't I see it the first time? I shoulda' known better than ta' fall for that Bozo version of Hannibal Lector."
Leland blinked, but remained no-nonsense, as she allowed Harley to sigh in exhaustion. But then simply asked, "And now?"
"Well, now, I finally see that slime for what he really is," Harley huffed. She cradled her cast arm, as she spat out with venomous truth about her former 'love', "He's nothing more than a murderous, psychotic, manipulative, irredeemable…" she then turned to her left to see something sitting on her nightstand.
There, sitting on the nightstand was a single red rose in a stem vase, just like the one she had first received from the Joker, on that one night things started. There was a note attached to it, which read: FEEL BETTER SOON. –J. There was no doubt that it was sent by the Joker, meaning he had survived the encounter with Batman.
Dr. Leland looked at Harley's gaze, and then turned to the vase. Once she saw the note, she knew that Harley would return to her Harley Quinn self, fall for the Joker and return to his arms yet again. That was the one part of her madness that Harley could never shake off; her unyielding maddening love for the Clown Prince of Crime. However, what came out of Harley's mouth nearly shocked the doctor, had she not keep her composure.
"You know what…" Harley said, as she looked away from the rose, as she just looked up at the ceiling. "… if I were still a doctor here, even I could never diagnose what he really is. I don't even know there's any word to describe him… except Monster."
Dr. Leland seemed a bit surprised by that last comment. Harley sighed, as she crossed her arms, "And all it took for me to wake up was getting shoved out a window from a building into a concrete ground just to wake up." Harley looked at the rose again, and asked, "Do ya think you can take this out, Doc? I'd eat it or toss it, but… well, with Red in here, I'm afraid it could offend her."
Leland nodded, as she walked over ot the nightstand, and took the vase and rose, "Of course, Harley. You just focus on getting better." And then was out on her way, but not before Harley spoke up again.
"Y'know, somethin', Doc. I think there might be some truth about what heaven could be like," Harley replied.
Dr. Leland turned around, curious on what Harley was talking about, as she asked, "What do you mean?"
Harley sighed a little, as her right hand caressed her left arm, scratching at the cast, as she replied, "Well, do ya believe that if someone repents enough for the mistakes in their life, that they'd get ta go back ta the time that was the happiest for 'em and live there forever?" She looked to Dr. Leland, and asked, "Ya think that might be what Heaven's like?"
Dr. Leland was silent for a moment, but then looked to the young woman sympathetically. But spoke truthfully to Harley, as she answered, "I sometimes believe that very thing." But then curiosity had to overrun the doctor in this change in Harley, as she asked, "But incidentally, why do you ask?"
Harley was tired and wanted to rest, maybe save it for the morning. But she wanted to get it off her chest, as she looked to Dr. Leland, and answered, "When I got thrown out that window, and lyin' there in the alley, thinkin' I was gonna die, my mind started driftin' back to my past. But it wasn't of my family… it was this boy I met when we were both ten. He had this asthma thing and frail muscle system; wasn't in leg braces but he got picked on a lot. It really got me boilin' mad that kids would just pick on others weaker and less fortunate than them, just so they could feel better about themselves."
"I always thought this kid would go postal on them. But the odd thing was, he didn't; he just took his licks and walked away," Harley went on. "But they didn't leave him alone; they just kept pickin' on him. it really made me sick that they kept bullyin' him, but he didn't do a thing to stop them. So I stood up for 'im. I beat 'em back Brooklyn style, and they backed off, only when I was around. I thought it was annoyin' that I had to play bodyguard for the guy. But…" Harley smiled, remembering the warmth she had from the memories, "Turns out… we clicked as best buds since then. All the times I yelled at him ta man up, he just took it like it meant nothin' ta him." She looked at the ceiling as she smiled, "After that, we became good friends, getting' into mischief; mostly me. He was always the voice of reason, and when I didn't listen, he somehow managed to get us out of it. We spent the summers always hangin' out, havin' fun, sharin' a laugh or two. Aside from Mr. J… I mean, the Joker, this kid was the one guy who really made me smile. He made me… he made me happy on days when my family made me wanna hate my life."
She then looked at Dr. Leland, and smiled, "If I was goin' ta Heaven after that crash… that would have been the moments I wanted to live out."
Dr. Leland seemed intrigued by this change, as well as the events that brought it about. Before the doctor was about to close the door, she asked, "And this person… what was his name?"
Harley looked surprised by that, but smiled warmly, as she relaxed in her bed, starting to dose off, "Talbot. His name was Peter Talbot…" And then was out like a light, as Dr. Leland closed the door to her cell, allowing Harleen Quinzel to sleep off the meds and the pain.
As she walked out of the holding cells, Dr. Leland made it to her office and to her desk. After a few moments as she sat down in thought, she picked up her phone and dialed. Once it picked up, Dr. Leland replied, "Yes, hello? I need to look for someone. Can you find someone by the name of Peter Talbot, as well as his phone number?"
Later That Night
In her cell, Harley was fast asleep, falling to succumb to the painkillers and tranquilizers to help her sleep off the night. However, she had anything but pleasant dreams, as she softly tossed and turned in her little bed.
In her dreams, it played over again; that fateful moment when the Joker's true colors showed. Only the Joker was more twisted and demonic in her dreams, as well as her world. She was backed into the same window, looking at the Joker terrified with his voice distorted, yellow and red eyes glowing madly at her, and his yellow teeth sharpened into fangs with a fork tongue slashing out, as he hissed at her, "YOU ALWAYS TAKE SHOTS FROM FOLKS WHO JUST DON'T GET THE JOKE!"
And once again, pushed her out of the window, as she fell down, rained on by wood and broken glass. She screamed and clawed at the air, as she looked down from behind, seeing the ground coming at her. She wanted to scream out in fear, but her voice wasn't there. And just when she was about to hit the ground… a black and gray blur shot out, and scooped her up.
Harley's fear and terror stopped, as she blinked, seeing herself jump up and down from one rooftop to another by the strange figure that had caught her. When she gazed up at him, she thought it was Batman. But it wasn't. Instead, it was someone… or something… else entirely. He looked like he had pointy ears, but not a bat's. They were more canine. And his eyes were… red. True the visage seemed scary to her, but something was a bit off. The way the creature held her indicated that it was strong as steel, but at the same time, it held her in his arms so gentle… like it was afraid it break her if it used too much strength.
Harley reached up with her left hand to touch his face, hoping to get some semblance of what or who it was, and if they were real. But suddenly, the creature gazed at her, the full moon behind them illuminating him and hiding his face by the light on his back, covering his front in shadows. His mouth exposed sharp teeth, as it growled at her, which kind of made her nervous. And then it lunged at her with its fanged mouth open.
And everything went black again.
Harley jumped awake, as she realized she was back in the alleyway; the creature long gone. She was lying on the ground, but slowly started to get back onto her feet. She shook her head, pulling her jester mask off, and rubbing the makeup off her face. She was righting herself at the moment, trying to figure out what was going on, but nothing seemed to make sense. As she looked around, trying to find some answers, and that creature, she stopped, as she looked up as she saw the full moon shining at her.
That perfect white sphere hanging up in the blackened smoggy sky of Gotham. It shone down upon her, cutting through the clouds and smog of the city. Once she saw it, Harley found herself staring intently at the glowing white orb in the night sky. She had never seen the moon more clearly in all her life. It was beautiful, intoxicating, and awe. It was almost as if it was hypnotizing her.
In which it was, as Harley stared at it, focusing strongly at it, like it was calling to her. In which it did, as she slowly walked towards it, out of the alleyway. As she did, the world behind her began to dissolve, from the cement and steel of Gotham City, to the wood, earth, and lush green of a darkened forest in the woods. But as the scenery changed, Harley's mesmerized behavior and the glow of the moon didn't change at all.
As she walked, it was as if something compelled her to do things. She undid her pigtails allowing her hair to freely dangle behind her, as she dropped the hairbands down, as if they didn't matter anymore. she then slowly kicked her shoes off by the heels being pulled by the ground, and let them fall behind, as she now allowed her bare feet to touch the ground. As she got closer to the thickness of the forest, the more she 'shed' her Harley Quinn persona. She took off her gloves, and dropped them, and then went for the pants, as she pulled them down as well as her underwear, and gently kicked them aside along with the trail. She then grabbed for the bottom of her top, and then pulled them over her head, and let it fall to the ground with her right arm as it gently glided down to her side. Harley gently strode into the forest, completely naked and free of any of her former life as Harley Quinn, the clown girl. Now she was just Harley Quinzel, nude and in the forest.
She just strode for the moon, slow and still as ever as she was taking her clothes off. But then her pace began to quicken to a jog and then to a full run. Once she was twenty steps in… she leapt out, and began to run on all fours like a dog or some kind of canine for that matter. The forest shadowed her, as she began to run through, but as she did, her form began to change slightly, growing taller, her feet elongating, her toes and fingers sharpening, and something growing out from her tail bone, getting mass with what appeared to be fur.
The form that Harley had become was strange and powerful… and yet… she felt free. She felt powerful, strong, fast, her senses exploded with heightened abilities. She felt… happy and free. Within the darkness, with the creature that Harley had become, her eyes glowed yellow, and something pounced out of the dark with a mouth full of fangs.
Harley jolted up from her bed gasping in fright from the dream, panting and sweating as she tried to slow her beating heart down. Finally, as she did, she let the dream she had just seen sink in, as she tried to figure out what it meant. But all she did was just let out a huge sigh, as she wiped her brow clean of the sweat soaking her hair and her clothes.
"What a dream," she whispered. But finally relaxed again, as she looked up at the ceiling and breathed out, "That's it. No more Beethoven and steak before bed."
She winched a little, as she let her right hand go over to her left shoulder, gently rubbing at the bandage in place there. "Stupid dog bite," she groaned. Although it was bandaged, the wound inflicted on her shoulder started to heal underneath it. At a very accelerated rate.
The Next Morning
As the day started, Harley, looking like a messy trainwreck, despite the bandages, slept rather soundly. In fact, she was drooling on the pillow looking like she was dead to the world. However, the asylum alarm went off, waking all the prisoners to begin the day. But Harley merely groaned in her sleep, "Mmmm, no. Jus' give me five more minutes. Maybe twenty. I had the most whacked out dream last night. It woke me up in a sweat; I thought I peed the bed…"
"Wow. That must have been one heck of a dream to wake you up because I remember you sleeping like a rock when we were kids."
Harleen's eyes shot open, as she shot straight up from her bed. Outside the cell, Dr. Leland was waiting outside, along with some orderlies who looked like they were ready to pounce. But none of them spoke up. But Harley knew that voice as she seemed to be in shock at hearing it once again. She slowly turned to her left in the direction of the voice.
It was there, she was introduced to the source of the voice. He was a young man of twenty-six, Caucasian, short black hair that was messily combed to the left, letting bangs cover his forehead, brown eyes, and a small muscle build that seemed to hide compact muscle underneath. He was dressed in a white T-shirt, blue neat jeans, black sneakers, and a khaki jacket. Truth be told, Harley was surprised to see the guy in particular.
"Even after watching all the Nightmare on Elms Street movies in one sitting. Which you knew would always freak me out back then."
Harley blinked in astonishment, while Dr. Leland waited outside for the situation to explain itself. But then Harley sat up on the rim of the bed, feeling better, as her toes touched the ground. She arched an eyebrow, trying to read the guy in front of her, in which the guy seemed a bit confused on Harley's attitude and actions. She tilted her head, and then reached out, messing with his hair a little. In truth, she was trying to figure out who this guy was… and why he seemed so familiar to her.
Finally figuring out her confusion, the guy sighed, as he leaned in his chair, "Yeesh, Harl. I feel hurt right now; you can't even recognize your old friend, Wheezy Petey."
At that moment, Harley was stunned to say the least, as she confronted this guy. Once she got a good look at him, even making rings around his eyes to signify glasses, she pulled back as she stood up, "Peter Talbot?" The man nodded, as Harley smiled softly, as she asked again to confirm, "Peter?"
Peter nodded softly, "In the flesh, Harley."
A moment of silence between the two arose, as Dr. Leland observed what would happen next. Harley let her head down, as she shook, a little at first, like she was gonna have some kind of attack. But Leland knew that this would lead to something bad. Peter, on the other hand, was worried about her, even when he heard stifled giggles under her breath. He reached out to her, as he asked, "Harley, are you…?"
"PETER!" she cried out with a smile on her face, jumping at him, and glomped on him. the impact was strong enough to knock them both down to the ground, as Dr. Leland blinked at this, as Harley gushed out, "Peter, Peter! Pumpkin Eater! You crazy sod! You look great! I missed ya so much!" She pulled away, as she was on top, and smiled down on him, which he smiled rather goofily.
"Heh, glad to see you're still peppy after all that," Peter smirked at Harley's energy.
However, Harley realized what she had done, and the position she was in with him. She quickly hopped off, and sat back on the bed, as she bashfully apologized, "I-I-I'm sorry about that, Peter. I guess it's been nearly ten years since the last time we saw one another, and…"
Peter got back up on the chair, as he smiled, reassuring her, "It's okay. If I was in your socks, I'd be excited enough to scoop you up in a hug off the floor."
Harley straightened herself out as best she could, despite the bandages, but then cleared up her throat, as she began some well-earned conversation, "Still, it's great to see you again." And then she asked him, just out of curiosity. "What are doing in Gotham though? It's not exactly the biggest tourist city."
"Oh, well, I'm here strictly on business," Peter smirked. But then gestured to Dr. Leland, "But Dr. Leland called me over and told me about your situation… as well as the hospitalized predicament you underwent."
Harley arched an eyebrow with a playful smile, as she asked, "Really? What kind of business dragged you to the tenth level of Hell on Earth?"
"The zoo. And believe me, what they leave in the outhouse in their pens, that's the real hell," Peter joked. "Basically, I was asked to examine the new Alaskan and Timber wolves they managed to save and keep here until they could be transferred back to the preserves. They would have done it back in Everett, but the clinic wasn't big enough. And the zoos there didn't have the equipment they needed. Budgets and all."
Harley lit up, as she asked in glee, "You're a vet?"
"The practical term is veterinarian, but yeah, I do work in the zoos as well," Peter smiled. "I remember you always had a fondness for animals. It wasn't until during high school and when you moved, I gained it just around the time."
Harley smiled warmly at that for her friend, "Well, I'm glad you found something you enjoy now."
Peter nodded, "Well, it's like they say: if you like doing something and if you're good at it, never do it for free. Occasionally."
"So how have you been and what has been going on in Dullsville," Harley enquired, getting comfortable in her seat.
Peter stood up, and repositioned the chair so he was leaning on the back in the front, as he explained, "Well, I've been good. I'm working as a fully-licensed veterinarian at the local vet. Oh, and I've renovated Talbot Hall as a boarding house complex now. Had to find some way to keep the place lively with me and Jean still living there."
When Harley heard that, she looked shocked and saddened, "Oh. You mean, it's just you and Jean now? What about your grandpa? Y-You mean he's…?"
Peter shook his head, as he cleared that up, "Nah, he's still kickin' and alive. He's just traveling abroad. Left Talbot Hall to me and Jean as our home while he's living life to the fullest." Harley sighed in relief, as Peter knew she liked his grandpa. "As for Everett, everything's fine aside from the gang wars and the wolf sightings..."
Harley arched an eyebrow, as she asked, "Wolf sightings?"
"Yeah, a number of wolf sightings have been popping up all over town in the past few years after you left," Peter told her. "A lot of people think it's werewolves, so a lot of people are little... tense. Not to mention crime bosses like the Black Mask or the Whale have been fighting over turf for the harbor and drug runs. Aside from all that, it's still the same old Everett."
Harley sighed, as she leaned on the wall, "The same old boring Everett."
"Yeah, though except for the Black Mask/Whale gang war," Peter sighed. "That's about the only new thing going on in Everett. It's like World War II, only with gangs, drive by shoot offs, drug dealing, and a whole lot of stuff that the police can't do a thing because of law procedures."
Harley sighed, "So same old here, new old over there, eh?" She then crossed her legs on the bed, as she stated, "And here, I thought Gotham had all the problems."
"Well, the difference between the two is that in Everett, its wet and cold all year round," Peter commented. "Except for those three months of Spring and Summer."
Harley sighed in bliss, "Yeah, that's probably been the only time you can go out in a bathin' suit." But then she lit up, and asked, "hey, how's the old gang been doin'? Mikey, Coach, and lil' Jeannie?"
"Funny you should ask," Peter mused, wondering if she'd go crazy once she learned of certain stuff. "They're actually doing pretty good. Mikey's working as a photographer for hire for the paper, but mostly he's working with the police on the wild animal situation, as well as with security monitors. They've been trying head on heels to just find something on any of the two gangs. Coach has been trying to find work as a secretary. But with her being in a chair and having a helper dog like Kalibak, nobody feels like someone with her condition can do anything right. So for now on temp, she's helping at the vet with me. Jean's working part time as a nurse's aide at Everett General. But when she can, she helps me and J.T. manage the boarding house complex." Peter smiled, as he confessed, "Y'know, aside from me, she and Coach miss you a lot."
Harley looked surprised at that, and warmly smiled. But it didn't last long, as she slumped in hopelessness, "Maybe they shouldn't, if they knew how my life's been for the past three years."
Peter looked at her in concern, as he asked, hitting the nail on target, "You mean about you being the Joker's sidekick/pseudo-girlfriend?"
Harley sat up, as she proclaimed the hopelessness of her situation, "Face it, Pete. I'm a certified nutso wanted in almost 12 states of the US, and I've been in a hopeless one-sided relationship with a psychopathic clown whose only means to get a laugh is ta watch the world burn around him!" She sighed, and slumped back in a heap on the bed, "I'm even more of a Looney Tune then when I was a kid growin' up with ya. I don't see any reason why you bothered to visit a hopeless cause like me."
Peter looked on to Harley sympathetically, and walked over, stunning her by sitting next to her, as he smiled, "Remember when we were kids, you always got into trouble just for helping me out with the bullies that picked on me and Jean constantly? I was always there to help get you out of that trouble you found yourself in." He then wrapped an arm around her, and smiled, "I'm still willing to do that for you now after all the craziness that happened."
"He's right about that, Harley," Dr. Leland spoke up, getting their attention. "I called up Mr. Talbot and let him on to your situation. I think he might be helpful in the week or so before your competence hearing."
Harley was stunned to say the least, as she asked to confirm, "Wat up? Did I hear that right?"
"I had to go pull some strings and show Dr. Bartholomew, as well as Warden Sharpe, on your case," Dr. Leland explained to the surprised Miss Quinzel. "If Mr. Talbot can stay and help you on visiting hours and treatment, I might be able to help you get out on parole release to legally clarify you to re-enter society much earlier than six months."
Harley blinked at the realization, as she blinked at a second chance given to her so quickly. In fact… she jumped up shouting out with joy, "YEAY! WHOO-HOO!" She also started dancin' a jig, as she cried out, "Yay! Yay! Yay!" But she stopped, as she realized how she had acted, as she straightened up, and smiled at Dr. Leland in embarrassment, "I, um…I mean, thank you, Dr. Leland."
Peter and Dr. Leland smiled, as he got up and walked to her, as the doctor assured her, "It's alright to be excited, Harley. Mr. Talbot said he can try to help out with a case he's been working on to get you out earlier."
The door opened, as they were ready to escort Peter out of there, but not before he looked to Harley, "I'll see you tomorrow, Harl. I'll bring a few card games with me."
"So long as it's not Chin, I think I can play 'em," Harley pointed out… and then hugged Peter again, as she muffled in his shoulder, "Thanks for stickin' up for me this time."
Peter smiled, as he returned the hug, "Thank me when you get out of here."
And with that, the guards escorted him out, along with Dr. Leland, closing the cell door, as Harley leaned on the glass and continued to look at Peter's retreating form.
"He seems like an improvement over the psycho clown."
Harley turned to the cell to see the occupant talking to her. It was a Caucasian woman of Harley's age of twenty-five, a slim and splendidly beautiful figure, with flowing red hair with a bang that nearly covered the right side of her face, green eyes, and green lips, but had pale green skin. She was dressed in the same prisoner/patient outfit that Harley was in. She was Pamela Isley, aka Poison Ivy, obsessive eco-terrorist, plant-kinetic, and Harley's only friend/partner outside of the Joker's range.
Harley blinked at that, as she didn't get the claim, "Yeah, that's Peter for ya. A real boy scout and somebody who won't give up… or give in."
Ivy crossed her arms, as she stated, "I was referring as boyfriend/lover material. I mean, he looks better than that walking bleach joke of a lunatic monster."
Then Harley blinked even more, as she processed what she meant, "Wait. You mean him…. and me…?" She shook her head, stating out, "No way! It'd be too… um… Blah! Look, Red, ya gotta get that outta yer head! He's my good friend; my only normal friend outside of Mr.J's range… or this town!"
Ivy arched an eyebrow, as she had a half-smirk on her face, "Riiight. And possibly by the end of the year, you'll be riding him cowgirl style and making out nonstop."
Harley frowned, as she turned her back on this, groaning out, "Ahhhh, whadda you know?!"
Ivy just shook her head, as she walked to her bed, simply stating in a whisper, "I know from the amount of pheromones spewing around you two, he seems to care a lot about you… and you him."
1 Week Later…
Hearing Day
After a week of visits from Peter, as well as sessions with Dr. Leland on her case and herself, today was the day. In a court hearing room with Quincy Sharpe, Dr. Bartholomew, and Dr. Leland representing judge and jury on the competency of the patient in question. However, there were others among the crowd of those to witness the trial. Most of which was Commissioner Gordon, Detective Harvey Bullock, Mayor Hamilton Hill, and Bruce Wayne, the boy billionaire of the city. In truth, they were all in awaiting the trial and decision of Harley Quinn's fate.
Peter Talbot was also present, as he was dressed in a black and gray suit with white shirt, red tie, and black dress shoes. Harley was also presentable, as she no longer had her bandages and cast on, fully healed, and she was dressed in a black mini-skirt, white blouse, blue jacket, pantyhose, and black shoes. She also had her hair done up in a ponytail with her left bang nearly covering her eye, and her glasses. The wardrobe to which Peter was able to get for her on the way to this before the day started. But her clothing wasn't the problem, it was her nervousness that things might not go the way she would to get out and start anew so soon.
Peter could tell that Harley was feeling nervous like crazy; the way she was rubbing her hands together in a cold sweat. He placed a hand on her shoulder, nearly startling her, as he got her attention. "Everything's gonna be fine," he smiled to her. "Just speak the truth on how you feel."
"I doubt that's gonna do much," Harley stated. "They'll still see me as the Joker's goon. And who can blame 'em? For three years, I've been off my rocker; I'm never getting' out."
"Let what they think decide," Peter stated. "But I know my friends, and I know you. You're worth rebuilding a new life."
Harley had to smile at her friend's idealism in her, as she placed her hand on his in gentle reassurance, "Thanks, Peter."
"Miss Quinzel," Quincy Sharpe called out, snapping the girl at attention, as Peter sat down. "Approach the bench."
Harley took one turn to Peter, as he nodded a smiling confidence to her. Harley weakly smiled back to him, and then walked to the podium bench. Once she was seated, Quincy Sharpe called out, "This hearing is to review the competency and rehabilitation hearing for one Harleen Quinzel. More so known as Harley Quinn." Sharpe then stated, "Though, it should be noted that this young woman… if that is what she is… has been repeatedly released from Arkham, but more so have been repeatedly returned due to her relapse in going back to the arms of the sociopathic monster known simply as, the Joker. I foresee this to be no better."
Harley sighed, knowing full well that she'd be back in a straight-jacket in no time at all. She hung her head in hopelessness, but stopped as she looked at Peter, who didn't seem fazed by the harsh words of the warden.
At that moment, Dr. Bartholomew walked up, addressing the young lady, "Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, your files say you've served and escaped Arkham Asylum in service of the Joker. Do you feel you've been rehabilitated?"
Harley kept quiet but looked at Peter, who nodded as his smile seemed to give her some strength in this. She warmly smiled back small, and closed her eyes, as the good doctor spoke up, "Miss Quinn?"
"Actually, it's Quinzel, Dr. Bartholomew; Harley Quinn was the name the Joker referred to me," Harley spoke up, sounding a bit confidentially, as she was ready to answer. "As for being rehabilitated… honestly…" She innocently shrugged, "… I have no clue or any idea to some evidence what that even means to me anymore."
"Well, it means that you're ready to rejoin society…"
"I know what you mean, Dr. Bartholomew," Harley replied, as she spoke the truth. "To you, it means you've helped someone see the normal viewpoint that everyone's used to. The reality we all have to accept. But for me… I feel like it's a word I have no right to even have or earn. It's a doctor's word in which I'm no longer one because of my blind infatuation with a patient here to which there's no word to describe his condition… except monster." Harley sighed, as she took her glasses off, as she went on, "But I think the real question is: am I sorry for what I've done to the good people of Gotham? Am I sorry for myself for what I let myself become?"
A moment of silence spoke up, as Dr. Bartholomew asked, "And are you?"
"Three years ago, I probably said I wouldn't be," Harley answered. "But after a few words from a certain pointy-eared guy… and a push from a three-story window by an ego-driven maniacal clown… a week ago, I am. not because I'm in here, but because I let myself do it over and over again, just to fall in the abuse of a psychotic clown who manipulated me into being his Watson, Batgirl, or abusive wife that kept coming back to him. I look back on the day I set up that session with the Joker: a naïve, ambitious, overworked psychologist who broke the rules and became the poster girl for a clown, all because I wanted to figure out my dad's reasons for going into crime himself. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to try to either talk or slap some sense into her, tell her the way things were going to be; the life she was gonna get herself into. But I can't. That girl's long gone, and this woman is all that's left. I have to live with that every day of my life. And now… I just want a second chance to start a new. In a new town, hoping to have a better life and future than the one I was rused into by the false secrets of the world's worst human being in history after Adolf Hitler."
"Rehabilitated? I don't even know what that means to me anymore," Harley finished. "So you go ahead and stamp that form in my mental records, and stop wasting time on me and yourselves. Because honestly… I don't think I'm worth it anymore."
An Hour Later
Things were quiet in the hearing room, while Harley sat at the defendant desk with Peter behind her. He seemed silently concerned for, as he leaned in to talk to her, "You know, I didn't think you were gonna give up so easily."
Harley shook her head, as she confessed, "I've got a history of breaking out of this place, and startin' truble. It's gonna be six months before they let me out." She looked to Peter in apology, as she smiled sadly, "Sorry, Petey… I guess that visit back ta Everett's gonna be delayed for a long while."
Peter looked at her saddened, as he sat back down. He turned to his right, thinking hard, 'If she stays here once the Full Moon hits, things are gonna turn bloody for her. If I can't do this legally, then…'
Before his thoughts went further, the doctors and Sharpe entered the room again, along with Gordon and Hill. Once they were all seated again, Sharpe hit the gavel, as he spoke up, "Harleen Quinzel, please stand." Harley did so, as Sharpe scowled and adjusted his glasses, "Well, we've all reached a verdict on this situation. At first, I was going to throw the book at you and have you rot in Arkham for the rest of your life. But Dr. Bartholomew and Dr. Leland gave a very convincing argument and plan to better your chance at redemption in society." Harley and Peter were a bit shocked to hear that, as Sharpe continued, "They believe that your rehabilitation could hold indefinite if you were be… relocated to someplace far away from the Joker. So, it is with the court's decision as well as the Judicial hearing, we hereby place you on probation from Gotham to a newer location. Everett, Washington. After a year, one of our liaisons will come over to do a psyche evaluation on your situation to see how you've progressed in your rehabilitation and mental state."
Harley was on the verge of jumping up with joy, as she cupped her mouth to contain her gasping smile. Though Sharpe however, stated, "However, we'll have to assign you a parole officer to make sure you get a fresh start."
"Um, Warden Sharpe…" Peter spoke up, as he stood up, getting everyone's attention. "If it's okay with you, I could take the job. My place, Talbot Hall, is pretty big enough for a lot of people. She can stay with me and a few others, and we can help get her started out with her new life."
"Miss Quinzel," Sharpe asked, getting their attention. "Are you okay with these conditions?"
Harley thought about it, and genuinely smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay with this." She turned around and smiled at Peter, "I promise I'll do right this time."
Sharpe pulled his glasses off, as he gave the final verdict, "Then, Harleen Quinzel, I declare you legally sane of sound and mind." And pounded the gavel, indicating the meeting came to end. But then before Harley could hug Peter, he gave one final warning, "But I'm warning you, Miss Quinzel. If you ever dawn the red and black costume and go back to the Joker, the next time, I'm throwing the book at you. Case Closed."
Once that was over, Harley squealed quietly and hugged Peter, who returned the hug as well. At that moment, Bruce Wayne walked up, as he gave his condolences on the case well won, "Miss Quinzel?"
She turned around, as did Peter, to meet him, as she asked, "Yes?" and nearly jumped when his hand stuck out… though it was in a handshake, as he smiled, "Congratulations."
She was a little hesitant, getting a dark vibe from the guy, but Harley relinquished a handshake, "Yeah, me too. I mean I've made a ton of mistakes these past three years, but I think I'm gonna be able to live my life the right way."
"I hope you can do that too," Mr. Wayne pulled his hand back to end the shake. He then turned to Peter, as he gave a joking warning, "I hope she won't be too much trouble for you, Mr. Talbot."
Harley frowned at that, but Peter placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry. It'll be easy. I lived in the same location with her and saw her every day during and after school. I think I'm prepared for anything." And with that, the two walked away with Dr. Leland to prepare her for the trip.
But as they did, they didn't notice the concentration scowl on Bruce Wayne's face. A familiar scowl belonging to a certain caped crusader when he was deep in thought.
The Next Day
Surfside Hotel
Once Harley was released that morning, she and Peter rendezvoused at the hotel he was staying at. The while he was in his room, they were getting ready for the trip back that night. Peter was dressed in his regular attire, as he was finishing packing up. Harley was almost done as well. She was dressed in a red turtleneck sweater, black mini-skirt with black stockings and red high heel shoes. Her hair was let down for the while, as she finished packing and grabbed a black coat with a hood.
She sat down on the bed and sighed, which caught Peter's attention, as he asked, "Anything wrong?"
Harley shook her head, "Nah, I'm okay. This just feels like it isn't real, ya know?"
Peter sat down next to her, as he placed an assuring hand on her shoulder, and smiled, "Hey, everyone needs a second chance in life, right? I'm just glad you got yours."
"Well, yeah, that's okay, but I'm goin' back to the old hometown," Harley confessed her nervousness. "I'm leavin' everyone I know here: Red, a few friends I made… even the babies." She sighed sadly, "Oy, I really wish I could bring 'em with me. They're not so bad once you get to housebroken 'em."
Peter half-smirked at that, "Well, maybe you'll be surprised back home. Not to mention Jean's really anxious to see you again."
Harley turned to Peter and smiled warmly… and then hugged him again. "You're the greatest, Petey." She then got up, and slipped on the coat, and her glasses, as she picked her suitcase up, "Ya ready?"
"In a minute," Peter answered, as he stood up. "I just have a few more things to put away, and we'll take a cab to the airport."
"Alright, see ya at the front desk," Harley winked, and left the room.
As the door closed behind her, Peter's smile faded and a frowning scowl showed on his face. "You may as well pop up already; I heard your footsteps when you landed on the fire escape," he said, as he turned around. Piercing out of the shadows, two white eyes opened, and from the shadows… Batman. "Don't you have a city to protect? Or are you just poking around to see when I leave?"
Batman's face remained as stone-cold as he spoke up, "Are you aware the danger you're putting yourself or others in by becoming her parole officer?"
Peter turned his attention back to his suitcase, as he went back to packing. "I'm aware, but I also trust Harley. Now that she's seen the Joker's true colors," taking a glance to Batman, as he replied, "… which I have no doubt you had a hand in…" and turned back to packing. "…I doubt she'll have a reason to go back to a life of crime. Besides, as long as the Joker doesn't know where she's going, she'll be safe from him."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Peter turns to face Batman, as he gave the statistics, "Peter Talbot, age 26, born in Everett in June 5, 1989, only son of Lawrence and Katherine Talbot, both dead. Grandson of Sir John Talbot, and brother to Jean Coleman Talbot, only sibling relative, age 16, born of February 21, 2000. Currently runs a boarding home of what was once Talbot Hall, the family mansion home, and works as a veterinarian. You went to Shepard Elementary/Middle School where you first met Harleen Quinzel, and later both in Sherman High School. You were caught in an attack with a Roland Zellinski who died and you walked away with a dog bite that should have left your left arm useless."
Once that was mentioned, Peter cradled his left shoulder unconsciously. The same spot that was bitten, "You certainly have your sources. But what does an attack that happened ten years ago have to do with the present? The police ruled it out as an animal attack; Roland had the gun. Or did you overlook that little detail?"
"I didn't," Batman implied, but went on. "What interests me is that Miss Quinzel had the same kind of bite mark on her shoulder from an attack, after a fall that should've killed her the same time you were in Gotham."
Peter didn't like where this was going, but kept his cool, "So what? It's a crime now that we both walked away from death with just a dog bite? Besides, mine's all healed up; it's hardly anything suspicious."
Batman pointed out, "You walked away from that with more than that. Your health and physical records were poor before then; constant asthma attacks and near heart failures were an occurrence for you. After that night though, they both improved that would've taken months to do. Then in the same week, confirmed reports of werewolf sightings sprang up all over Everett."
"I won't deny it, we had a few incidents with werewolves, but nobody was hurt or killed." But Peter thought about it and shrugged, "Well, maybe somebody got hurt, but they were all bad and it was only a bunch of bruises, broken bones, or the occasional injury or so," Peter said, as he crossed his arms, but then got straight ot the point. "Now let's get to the point of all this. What do you really want?"
Batman walked over to the Talbot heir, and bluntly brought the question out. "I want to know why you turned Harley Quinn into a werewolf."
Peter didn't seem surprised that Batman pieced it all together. But if he did, he wouldn't allow it to show, as he answered, "I was helping a friend, I couldn't let her die like that, and her name's Harley Quinzel. Harleen to you, since she's not your friend."
"That wasn't her name when you bit her, and this isn't the first time she's tried to get away from this life," Batman stated, as he calmly but sternly spoke the obviousness. "You took a large gambit when you turned her. What if she didn't want to become a lycan? What if she's still infatuated with the Joker? And worse, if she lets that power get to her, she'll be an even greater danger than before."
"There wasn't any time to ask her; I had to make a choice for her, so I chose the lesser of two evils," Peter stated. "And I plan to help her adapt to her new... lifestyle. Besides, I know my friend was in there somewhere behind that make-up and jester getup; all she needed was an old friend to get through to her."
Batman's stone-cold expression never deterred from Talbot's words, but he was resolute to warn him nevertheless. "Despite how things are right now with her, if there's even the slightest sign of her going back to the Joker as she is now…" And then he got closer with a glare on his cowl, looking Peter straight in the eye. "…not you, or Arkham… will save her if word gets out about what she is now."
Peter also gave Batman a stern look in the eye. "She won't. Her days as the Joker's girl are over. I plan to make sure of that. If Joker does try to get her back, I promise you this Batman…" And at that moment… Peter's eyes turned red like he was turning into some kind of demon. "… then he'll have more to fear at night than just bats."
Batman and Peter continued to glare at each other for a few minute before Batman turned to leave. But stopped as he turned slightly to him, "For you and your sister's sake… I hope so." And iwht that, leapt out of the window, and shot off with his grappler, swinging away into the city.
Peter's eyes returned to brown, as he turned around and went back to packing as quickly as he could. But as he was about to finish, he noticed something attacked to the back of his jacket's collar. He pulled it out, and saw a Bat tracer on the inside, as he pulled it off, examining it.
"Nice sleight of hand, but my ears and nose are sharper," he said to himself, and then crushed the device with ease between his finger and thumb.
He put on his jacket and was out the room to meet up with Harley in the lobby.
Gotham Airport
As the taxi pulled in, Peter popped out of the front passenger seat, and went to the back door, opening it, and letting Harley out. Once they got their luggage and paid the driver, the two were standing at the door. Peter looked to Harley, as he asked, "You okay?"
"Just gettin' one last look around," Harley said, as she turned around to get one last look of Gotham before they left. She turned around and smiled, "But now that I think about it… Everett's a lot cleaner than this."
"Yeah, but much colder and wetter due to the rain and snow," Peter quirked.
Harley and he shared a little giggle, and were about to go into the airport. But suddenly, they were grabbed by two big fellahs dressed as goons. Without protests or fighting back, the two were pushed into an alleyway, with Peter catching Harley before he hit the ground. But they didn't have time to ask if one another were okay. But they were presented with a gang of goons, which posed that their situation was deep trouble.
"Well, well, well," a familiar voice spoke up. "Lil' Harley Quinn, all dolled up and leavin' town on good behavior."
The figure walked into the light to reveal himself to be none other than Boxie Bennet. Harley was less than pleased or elated to seeing him, but was showing a nervous smile nevertheless, "Oh, hey, Boxie. How's life been treatin' ya?"
"Been doin' a lot better when I learned ya just got discharged from Arkham," Boxie stated, as he rolled dice in his left hand.
Peter, not knowing who this guy was, leaned over to Harley as he asked, "Who's this guy? Another ex-boyfriend?"
Harley huffed, as she shrugged it off, "Eh… he wishes. He's just some two-bit gambler runner I kept ruinin' his casino operation. Twice."
Peter blinked, as he half-smirked, "I can see why he wanted to catch you before we left."
Harley then turned to Bennet, as she asked, "So you waited at the airport just to catch up with lil' old me?"
"Don't worry, it ain't gonna take long," Bennet said, as he snapped his fingers. The goons started to pull out various projectile and blunt weapons to beat and shoot them up, as Boxie went on with a peeved smirk on his face, "Ya see, Harl, you practically led the Bat to my operations twice before. That aint exactly done well with my reputation with the big names like Thorne, Copplepot, and others so on. And ya see, me and the boys have gotten a tad irritable about it since we couldn't risk breakin' inta Arkham for a little deserved payback. But now that you're out and free as a bird, and with no reason to risk it… I'd say you and your boyfriend here are in a bigger pickle."
Harley frowned at this kind of scene, as did Peter, as he pointed out, "Hey, didn't your mother ever teach you about not picking on girls and fair fights? I mean it's practically two against nearly ten, and you're the ones who are armed."
"Oh yeah," Boxie smirked, as the goons started to crowd around the two. "Too bad I never listened to her."
"Well, she was right," Harley stated, as she folded her glasses and stuck them in her front breast pocket, "And here's why."
Harley dove into the ground, fighting like the clown girl she once was, as Peter watched in awe. Harley grappled with one of them, knocking his knife away, as she looped up, locking her legs around his head, as she banged him in the head. One of the goons came up from behind to hit her in the head, but she back flipped off, as he nailed his buddy from behind, as he dropped to the ground. Another goon raced at her with two knives, slicing at her, but her grace and agility gave her perfect dodging, unitl she finally arched down, and jumped up, driving a fist into the thugs nose, when one of them from behind grabbed her ponytail.
"ACK! The hair! THE HAIR," she cried out, as another goon was about to shoot her.
However, Peter ran behind, elbowing him hard. The thug went down, as Peter grabbed the gun, and pointed it at the thug holding Harley's hair. He shot at the arm, nicking at it, causing him to let go, as Harley roundhouse kicked the guy into the wall. Peter turned to see two goons come at him, as he pointed the gun at them. But he pushed the clip release button, causing it to fall to the ground, but not before he roundhouse kick the clip into the goon's face, knocking him out cold. The last goon ran up to him, but Peter dodged him by the left, grabbed his arm, and put him in a lock hold, as the guy tried to pull out his gun on his left with his free arm, but the pain was too much to focus. But Peter tossed him to the ground, and delivered a powerful elbow blow to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Peter snapped back up, and threw the gun at another goon, knocking them out cold from a blow to the head. another goon tried to punch him, but Peter pulled back, grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted it painfully. In the last fraction of a second, Peter shifted the gun two inches left, and fired, shooting a goon that was fighting Harley, in the butt as he grabbed it in pain, while Harley punched him cold. The shot deafened Peter's thug, but left him alive.
Another good charged at Harley, but she flipped over him, and landed behind him, sweep kicking him off his feet with both her legs. Peter ran over to a trashcan lid, and used it as a shield at an approaching good. He swiped at his head, hitting him hard, and then smashed him forward, punching him with the lid, until he fell over beaten.
The two were back-to-back, until Boxie fired a shot, getting their attention, as they looked to him. And boy he was pissed. "Sorry, you two. But as we gamblers say: you just crapped out." And then tugged at two leashes he had held in his left hand, pulling two sad-looking and whimpering hyenas.
Harley gasped as she looked at them in fear and worries, "The babies!"
"Unless you want 'em pusin' up daisies in an elephant graveyard, drop any weapons ya got," Boxie threatened. Harley dropped the bat she had swapped up, but Peter had the trashcan lid on his hand. Boxie clicked the hammer back, as he threatened, "I said drop it!"
"Okay, I will," Peter said. But stopped, as he asked, "Hey, did you know that if you throw a disc at walls at a certain angle and speed, they can bounce back like a boomerang."
"I ain't interested in all that physics crap," Boxie said, unamused. "NOW DROP IT!"
Peter shrugged, as he was about to set it down… but then threw it hard right at Boxie. Though he dodged it, as it flew past him. Boxie smirked at the dodge, as he taunted, "Ha! You missed." But the lid struck the wall of the alley, bouncing to the other wall… and back behind Boxie, as it smashed him in the back of his head, sending him flying between the two.
Peter put his hands on his hips as he smirked, "Wow, that worked better than I planned."
Harley, not worried about it, asked, "Ya think he's dead?"
Peter knelt down, as he flipped Boxie over, and saw him dazed about, as he twitched, babbling, "Don' worry, Granny, I'll feed da kitties in the mornin'."
Peter arched an eyebrow, and half smirked, "I don't think he'll be dealing cards for a while with that concussion."
Suddenly, Harley was tackled to the ground, as Peter looked over fearing one of the goons but instead, Harley was laughing at being licked by the two hyenas they had just saved. "HAHAHA! Stop it! That tickles, you two! Hahahaha!" she finally pulled up in a kneeling position, as she affectionately cuddled the two, as they rubbed up to her, equally loving her, "Oooh, aren't you two the sweetest things. Yes you are."
Peter had to smile at Harley being happy again, even if it was with two wild animals in a city area. But his smile faded, as he looked at his watch, "Oh, nuts. We're gonna be late for the fight. It's gonna take off in 30 minutes. And we still need to get luggage claim."
Harley realized that as well, "Oh crap! We gotta hurry!" But before she got up, she saw her babies whimpering, as she whimpered too, "Oh come on, Bud and Lou, if you two cry, then I'll cry, and then…" but they didn't stop looking at her with sad looks in their eyes. Finally, Harley gave in, as she looked to Peter, "Peter, couldn't we take them with us? Please?"
Peter looked over to her in surprise, as he asked to be sure, "What?" he stopped, as he sighed, "Harley, I don't think the airport wouldn't…"
"But I love 'em so much, and don't worry, they're housebroken," Harley pleaded. She then called out in a cute tone, "Oh please, please, please, please, please. Please?!"
Peter crossed his arms, as he sternly stated, "No." But then he blinked, as he saw Harley giving him a sad pleading look… along with the hyenas at her side giving him the same look on their faces. Peter was trying to be strong on this, but the looks were too much for him. Until he finally gave up, and sighed, "Ugh. Okay, okay. They can come. We can just… say they're mixed breed of dogs."
Harley lit up, as she asked, "Really?" Peter nodded. But then Harley jumped at him, hugging him tightly, as she smiled, calling out, "Oh, thank you. Thank you, thank you, Petey. You're the greatest!" And then gave him a peck on the cheek, as she smiled to the stunned Peter, "And I really mean it."
Peter blinked at the kiss, as Harley pulled away, and knelt down to her two hyenas, "C'mon, babies! We're goin' ta start a new in good ol' town, Everett!" She gently grabbed their leashes, as they took off for the entrance, as Harley giggled away to get them ready for the flight.
Peter shook his head, as he reached for both suitcases, and just followed after them, "Boy. It's gonna get crazy back home."
Next Chapter: Good Old Everett; Home Sweet Talbot Hall