Author's Note: Apologies for the delay in getting this second chapter out. Took me a while to get into the writing mood for this one but hopefully everybody enjoys it. I'm trying to slowly build into the main parts of the story here, so there's still not much in terms of AB/DL content but that'll come in the following chapter most likely. Let me know what you think of the perspective change, if people like first person I can go back to that. I realize that seems more comic book-y but it's also more unnatural for me to write so that's something to think about. Regardless, read on and enjoy!
"Ya'know, it's not nice to steal from Mistah J!"
As if there wasn't already enough to be creeped out about in a warehouse full of Joker's stuff, that voice sent chills up Catwoman's spine. Perhaps it was the tone, not so much angry as it was amused, or perhaps it was the sheer fact that she knows exactly who it is. If there was ever a question of that it can be put to bed: Harley Quinn. She's not exactly the most villainous figure in Gotham but Harley has a trait that makes her more dangerous than your typical goons: love. A strange love, sometimes close to Stockholm Syndrome, but Harley would do anything for her 'Mistah J'. That makes Catwoman's current predicament all the more worrisome with the evidence of her crime still gripped in her hands.
With a quick survey of the room Catwoman finds no clear indication of where Harley actually is. As the silence sets in Catwoman continues to search around, until another sound is heard.
"C'mon Kitty Cat! You didn't think I was gonna let'cha get away that easy didja? Mistah J needs that gas to keep Gotham smiling!"
This time Catwoman knows where the voice came from. She instantly looks to try and find it, walking in the direction it came from. Peering around the large crates and assorted funhouse items you'd expect to see in a warehouse used by the Joker of all people, Catwoman isn't having much luck in her search. That is, until she manages to catch a glimpse of Harley's red boot just near the edge of one of the crates. Catwoman slowly sneaks up to it, being careful not to make any noises, before eventually lunging around the crate and grabbing Harley by the arms! She's quick to shove her forearm against Harley's throat, pushing her back against the crate in an effort to knock her out when...
"I gotcha now, Kitty Cat!"
That confuses our heroine as she very clearly hears the voice coming from right in front of her...which is impossible given that her forearm is pressing into Harley's throat. That's when she realizes her mistake: it's not Harley at all. Too caught up in the heat of the moment, Catwoman failed to realize that what she actually had her hands on was a mere dummy. As she tries to react to this, she's suddenly pounced on from the side by the real Harley Quinn. Harley lands on top of her, pinning her down on the floor of the warehouse and suddenly shoving a knife right against her throat.
"Oh oh oh Mistah J is gonna be sooo happy, I caught a mean ol' Kitty Cat tryin' ta' make off with his laughing gas!" As Catwoman looked up at this deranged woman, the black diamonds painted around her eyes and the colorful blonde hair pulled into pigtails, she couldn't help but be somewhat terrified by the sickening grin that shined through all of those other traits. It was unnerving to see this woman grinning so widely, with her red lipstick making it seem even wider. "I bet'cha Bats ain't comin' to save ya' this time Kitty Cat. Nope! It's just you n' me and maybe, if you're lucky, I'll take ya' to see Mistah J." Harley presses the knife harder against Catwoman's throat, her grin growing wider as she notices Catwoman's struggling. "Aww, don't be scared! Mistah J won't hurt'cha. You're more useful than that, lotsa people are out lookin' for Selena Kyle!" That wasn't what Catwoman wanted to hear. This was gonna get ugly fast. She started to struggle a bit harder, simply causing Harley to press the knife even harder against her throat. "C'mon, you're not surprised are ya'? Let's just say you could take a few more tips from ol' Bats on how to keep your identity a secret. Reminds me, though, not gonna get many chances to do this am I?" With that, Harley reached around with her other hand and grabbed Catwoman's mask. Despite her constant struggling, she can't stop it and soon she's unmasked.
"Now wait'a minute. You're not Catwoman!"
You could say the cat's out of the bag, but, that's just too easy. As the woman's blonde hair falls against the floor, now free from its trapped position in her mask, Harley could tell immediately that this isn't the real Catwoman. "Catwoman has black hair, duh!" Harley thought, more annoyed now than she had been before. She presses her knife back against this woman's throat as hard as she could without actually cutting into the skin, speaking up in a very agitated tone. "So you're a copy cat, huh? Where's Catwoman and how come Bats is sendin' you in her place?"
A sigh escapes our heroine as she realizes the trouble she's in. As Harley eases the knife back a little so she can speak, she speaks up very hesitantly to maybe explain some of this. Although she knows no amount of explaining will save her here.
"I-I am Catwoman. Selena is...well...retired. I took her place so I could get a few of her connections." As crazy as it sounds, it could be true. Nobody had truly seen Selena Kyle in quite some time, perhaps she'd quietly let somebody else take over for her after amassing enough money to live comfortably somewhere in Gotham. There are a few problems with this story but for now that's all the woman seems to have to offer Harley.
Harley isn't exactly pleased by it either. She may be a bit naive but she's not dumb and she knows a lie when she hears it. She presses the knife back against the woman's throat. "I'm not buyin' it honey. Why would Catwoman just let somebody take her identity like that?" A fair question, this could easily backfire and leave Selena exposed for attack by any of her numerous enemies should this "new" Catwoman be caught much like she is now, but the woman has an answer. "I'm her...friend..." A sigh from Harley doesn't necessarily bode well for this 'friend' as she soon speaks up again. "Oh yeah, then what's your name, sweetheart? Maybe Mistah J can use ya' to get to the real Catwoman...or maybe even ol' Bats." More struggling from the woman as she tries to break free of Harley's grasp, but nothing she does can get Harley off of her. She finally relents, sighing as she responds, "Christina. Christina Taylor." This answer causes Harley to chuckle as she pulls the knife back off Christina's throat. "Mind if I call ya' Christy?" This one takes Christina off guard, a rather tame question after the hostile reactions to her past few answers. She gulps and offers a weak nod, allowing Harley to continue. "Good! But, Christy, I gotta tell ya'...I'm still not buyin' your story and Mistah J won't be happy if I bring him back a copy cat! Sooooo!" Harley raises the knife up into the air...
This is it. Christina closes her eyes tightly, terrified and helpless to escape what seems imminent. But just as Harley seems ready to bring the knife down she's stopped by a slight hissing sound. She looks around, confused, until she looks down and notices something beneath her. She follows this up with a wrinkle of her nose, realizing exactly what just happened. She reacts to this in a way that only somebody connected with the Joker could by letting out a chilling laugh, looking back down at Christina with a wide grin. "Scared, sweetie? I guess this little copy cat ain't even house trained! Ya'know what? I think I will bring ya' back to Mistah J. He could use a good smile today!" Utterly humiliated and still very much terrified of the situation, Christina's eyes begin to open now, just in time to see Harley's knife flying down towards her grip first. The butt of the knife connects right on Christina's jaw, knocking her out cold. Harley can't help but chuckle as she promptly stands up off the defeated "Catwoman", looking at the small puddle around the girl and wrinkling her nose once again. "Oh Mistah J is just gonna diiiie when he hears about this one!"