A smaller update this time, but I really like to keep it organised on events rather than quantity. Enjoy and thank you again for the support and feedback! ^_^
However, when Batman reached the front of the old house, there was no sign of Harley, nor of the car that crashed her, even if he didn't knew about it. Shortly after, Gordon and few other cops showed up, looking around cautious.
"Gone.." Batman snarled.
"Both?" Gordon asked, playing nervously with the keys in his pocket.
"Joker wasn't even here. Or at least that's what Harley said.."
"They must have been warned.. We'll take these guys at the station and see what we can get." He glanced at the other cops carrying inside a police van the men beaten earlier by Batman, but when he turned back around, expecting the other to add something else to his words he noticed he was gone.
"I don't know why I expected you to be still here." He added peeking a bit through the darkness, then shrugged to self and went inside the house to look after eventual clues that might help.
It was a matter of minutes for Batman to get on the top of the highest building nearby and scout the surroundings. Luckily enough it didn't take him long to locate the Joker's car either, which was of a bright purple, easy to spot at any time of the day or night. The car was actually rushing back to the house as it seemed, so he decided to welcome the Joker long before reaching the cops. They both preferred to deal with such problems without other interferences.
"What in the..?!" Joker started, pulling the wheel aggressively as Batman landed right on the hood of his car, startling him. The car stopped in a nearby entrance between two buildings, nearly crushing into a wall and kicking some trash beans on its way. He got pulled out from the car, through the driver's seat window, then pushed and held against the door.
"Batman.." He smiled widely at the other, casually dusting off his chest. "I actually looked for you this evening, but you came too late."
"Too late for what?" He asked, then peeked into the car, and around a bit, making the Joker give him a look mixed with disgust and annoyance.
"I'm alone if that's what your eyes are scouting."
"Too late for what?!" He repeated the question, shaking the other a bit, pushing him harder against the car, causing him to moan with a laughter.
"I only wanted to have some fun.. Like the old times. You see.. I needed a break."
"A break?"
If Joker couldn't see the other's face, but he could swear he rose his eyebrows questioningly, because his tone was rather surprised now, more than angry or interrogative, as it was at first.
"Yes, well.. You see. I had a talk this evening with a friend."
"You have no friends." Batman interrupted, making the other roll his eyes.
"Fine, a business partner! And he said that Harley made me change or.. something among those lines. So I decided to take a break and check if it feels any different without her or not." He end up by shrugging.
"Harley was home, and threatened me with your return."
"Oh, snap.. You found our house again.." He muttered, looking elsewhere now.
"She left and I thought you two had a rendezvous." He went on, releasing the Joker from his grip. The other arranged his suit coat, replying on a silent, annoyed tone, more to self.
"That bitch.. Causing me trouble now."
"Bitch or not, she's your responsibility. That girl is dangerous to both herself and others around her." He frowned, grabbing Joker's chin, turning his face so their eyes would meet again, but he got slapped off as the grip wasn't that tight.
"She's not a child and not mine surely."
"You made her." He snarled, more annoyed with each word.
"Uh-uh.. Tsk Tsk…" He moved a finger before the other's face disapprovingly, nearly touching his nose.
"You're wrong on this one, Batman. She fell in love with me all by herself. As far as I am aware of, I can't make any love potions. Besides, I never requested a pet, it just happened." He shrugged and when Batman wanted to grab him again, he managed to slide away from his grip, and with a large grin and a quick move, he took out a small toxic bomb, throwing it at the bat and pushing him away as he coughed, taken by surprise by the bomb. The Joker took this as an advantage and it was only a matter of seconds until he left again with the car, laughing crazily while the other was trying to catch back his breath.