White was relieved that it was all over. He'd managed to get through the ordeal with nothing but minor injuries and, more importantly, avoided capture. Even better, the night had been a complete success, so he was looking forward to a good sum of money. (They were always paid more when the Bat was involved.) To top it all off, it looked like White was finally going to get his wish: There was no way the boss was going to let Harley off the hook this time. White had never seen the Joker leave the Bat when he had the upper hand.
After such a successful run with Batman like tonight, the boss was usually on cloud nine. However, things didn't exactly go as scripted. White assumed that the introduction of Harley took Batman understandably by surprise, so, in effect, the night turned out to be more about Harley Quinn than the Joker. And, for whatever reason, Harley's final comment really rubbed him the wrong way.
Upon arriving at the hideout, White opened the back door of the car for his boss and Joker exited, dragging an unconscious Harley by her ankle, her head meeting each curb and pot hole on their way to the door.
After they had disappeared into their room, White set up a game of solitaire to help him keep awake for his watch. There was a TV provided for them, but White avoided using it: He'd heard too many horror stories. Like the time they'd arrived in the morning and found the watch guy dead, followed by instructions from the boss on appropriate volume level. Or the time the person on watch found a late night Three Stooges marathon and the boss spent the entire evening with him.
No, it was better to stick with what he knew was safe. As he began his game, White wondered if he would prefer to end up killed by his boss or to be forced into a social situation with him.
Harley had come to and was very confused as to how she had angered her Puddin'. Everything had been going so well! She quickly realized how bruised she was as she tried to lift herself off the floor where he'd apparently left her. "Puddin'?" she asked meekly in the hopes of an explanation.
Joker was sitting behind his desk in dark thought. Upon hearing her voice, he straightened up and placed in hands together so that each fingertip met. He had the look of some employer that was about to lecture one of his underlings. Harley could barely make out his face as he sat in deep shadow.
"Tonight was a fiasco," he began evenly.
Harley tried to sit herself up to protest, but she was sore all over and it proved too difficult. She conceded to having to make her argument from her position on the floor, as degrading as it was. "But Puddin, everything went accordin' to plan," she explained.
Joker leaned over his desk and his features were in full view as he corrected her with growing anger, "Everything WAS going according to plan until you had to ad-lib!"
Now she was really confused. "…But Puddin', it was just improv...like you said…I mean, it was funny, right?"
Joker stood up from his seat and slowly made his way toward Harley as he continued, "No Harley, it wasn't. In fact, it was downright corny. Are you honestly suggesting that you are ready to handle improv? Are you honestly suggesting that you're at MY level?"
She quickly shook her head as best she could despite the aching in her neck. Harley understood her mistake now, and if she wasn't busy fearing what was about to come, she'd be in tears over embarrassing her Puddin' on a night that was so important.
His expression suddenly changed as he reached where she was sprawled on the floor. "Awww, does my Harleykins not feel so good?" he asked with a look of mock pity.
"Uh-huh," Harley replied, trying to pout with the hope that he might go easier on her if she played along.
Joker's face went cold once again. "That's because I took to punishing you before you woke up. But what's the point in that?" he laughed. "You didn't learn anything and it wasn't nearly as satisfying for me."
He swiftly kicked her in the gut and Harley doubled over into a fetal position with a groan. "See?" Joker smiled. "That's much better." And he did it again.
White heard the commotion from the other room and realized he didn't need to worry about falling asleep on the job tonight. No way was that going to happen with all the racket. He wished the boss would just make it quick. How ironic that White had wanted her gone and now he'd have to hear it happening.
This went on and off for a few hours. White assumed the 'off' periods were due mainly to Harley's unconsciousness. This worried him though. Was the boss not going to finish her? Every time Harley fell silent, White would pray that was the last they'd hear from her, and every time his prayer was ignored.