The scene outside of Gordon's office was even more chaotic than when Harley left it. The cops who had experienced the last bit of laughing gas were having a bad reaction, a violent one. They attacked the Joker's clown thugs, despite being unarmed. A couple of the aggressive laughing gas victims had even began to attack their fellow police officers. The room was exploding in screams, both angry and painful ones, and of course laughter. It sounded like a cross between a laugh and a suffocating, wheezing noise. It was loud to, loud enough to be heard despite all the shouting.
Joker drug her towards the door, by her wrist instead of her hair now (Harley was thankful for that) and the two rushed out the door.
"Mistah J, the van," Harley pointed out as he led her past it.
"Leave it. We'll hide better without it, Gordon managed to get back up and the first thing they'll look for is that van," Joker replied looking directly ahead.
"Who's the back up?" she questioned.
"I dunno, other police, swat team maybe,"
Harley let out a surprised scream as Joker abruptly ducked into an alley. They hurried down the it, not quite fast enough to be running, but quickly enough to escape unnoticed.
"But Mistah J, what about everybody else?" she asked, the people they left behind suddenly occurring to her, "Spades and Mime and... oh my God," Harley gasped, "Jonny! We left him!"
"Would you just shut up and be glad I didn't leave you," Joker stopped and turned to her.
Harley froze, "Y-you wouldn't leave me, would ya?" she whimpered, trying to convince herself he did not mean what he said, "Ya love me Mistah J,"
Joker groaned, "I don't have time for this, we gotta get out of the city, fast," he ran his fingers through his green hair, "C'mon," he grabbed her by the wrist again and pulled her through the ally.
Eventually they made their way back to the sidewalk, several blocks away from the police station. Joker's tongue darted subconsciously across his lips, thinking of his next move. His mind was almost working to fast, he could not think of what to do. Just then he spotted a taxi parked along the side of the street. Harley stumbled as he suddenly pulled her along again. Thankfully few people on the busy street seemed to notice the two, letting out a surprised gasp or a frightened "Its the Joker!".
He pushed Harley into the taxi first and then followed, "I'm on break," the taxi cab driver said taking a bite of his sandwich, "You gotta call another cab," he glanced in his rear view mirror to take a look at the customers interrupting his lunch break, "Holy shit," he breathed when he caught sight of the Joker himself.
"We're late for a costume party," Harley Quinn blurted out upon realizing the driver noticed Mr. J.
Joker rolled his eyes and removed machine handgun from his coat. With a deafening bang and Harley's startled shriek, Joker climbed to the front of the car and shoved the driver out the door before speeding off.
"Damn it," he grumbled attempting to wipe the blood and gelatinous pieces of brain off of the window and windshield.
Harley dug her nails into the leathery car seat as she nervously watched the skyscrapers of Gotham fly past her. She tried to convince herself that she was safe with Mr. J and that's all that mattered. Yet somehow she did not feel very secure. Harley was concerned for Jonathan's safety as well, her best friend. She and Mr. J left him behind, it made her feel sick. But most of all she thought about what Mr. J said to her. That she should be glad he didn't leave her behind. Harley wondered if he meant that, if he would really abandon her.
She could not tell if it was the Joker's driving or the anxiety of the day so far, but she felt like she was going to throw up, "Mistah J where are we going?" she asked quietly from the back seat.
He didn't respond.
Harley sat back, deciding it would be best not to pursue an answer. She closed her eyes tightly and hoped she was having a nightmare.
"Harley," Joker tugged on her red pigtail.
It was then Harley Quinn realized they weren't moving anymore. She opened her eyes and found the cab was parked in a short driveway, in front of a huge, white house. Mr. J stood beside her leaning on the opened car door.
"Are you uh, sitting here all day or what?"
Harley shook her head no and climbed out of the taxi, her knees shaking a little bit from the excitement. She looked at her surroundings, rolling green hills spread out as far as she could see. Only a few houses scattered across them, all of them large and picturesque with perfect flowerbeds lining them.
"Where are we Mistah J?" she looked back towards the house they were parked before.
"The Palisades, I think," he answered walking up the stairs towards the front door.
Harley rushed to his side as he reached for the knob. Surprisingly it turned and opened the door. That was unexpected, someone had to be home.
"Hell-llooo," he called in a sing song voice as he stepped through the door, "You've got com-panyyyy,"
Harley smiled at Mr. J's tone of voice, he was going to have some fun, she could tell. She had been watching intently trying to read him so that she would know which mood she should expect next. His expression changed slightly upon realizing the house was currently occupied.
As pleased as Harley was with Mr. J's slight display of joy, she found herself torn. His happiness would be at the expense of someone else. These were the moments when he wasn't killing for revenge or to let out some pent up aggression. He was not going to do it to save himself or benefit in any way. Harley had no excuse for his actions in these scenarios, because that's when Mr. J killed for fun.
"Anybody home?" he called again in an unsettling sweet voice which echoed through the large room.
The interior of the house was as spacious as the outside of the house appeared. The first floor included a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a tall staircase heading towards the second floor.
Harley stayed close behind him as if she would get lost, "What are we doin' in the Palisades puddin?"
He shushed her while looking around the room, "Stop asking questions," he whispered, "Its much more fun when you don't know what happens next," he clicked his tongue and went for the stair case.
Of course Harley followed, like a lost puppy. At the top of the stairs was a long hallway with several rooms lining both sides of it. The Joker's victim was in the third room down the hallway to the left.
It was a boy that appeared to be in his late teens with dark, spiky hair. He sat in a chair, his back facing the doorway, listening to head phones and playing hooky from school. The boy had just finished texting a friend when someone slipped the headphones off of him, letting them drop on the floor. Assuming it was one of his parents come home early from work he prepared to make an excuse as to why he was not sick in bed like he was this morning. But as he turned around he realized the person behind him was not his mom or dad.
"What the hell?" he said stumbling to get to his feet.
The Joker stood before him, smirking and tossing a knife from one hand to the other. Harley peeked out from behind him.
The victim's breathing grew faster, he was visible frightened now. That made Joker smile darkly, pushing at his facial scars. For a few moments no one moved. The clown simply watched his prey, waiting for him to make a sudden move, then he would go in for the kill. He guessed it would be any moment now, the boy's eyes, avoiding the Joker's, darted back and forth towards the intruders and then his bedroom door. As if he could escape.
The victim took one last look at Joker and Harley before making a move towards the door. Joker caught him and slammed him hard against a wall. After hitting the wall he slid down it and into a sitting position on the floor. He pressed as hard as he possibly could against the blue, bedroom wall as if it would get him further away from his attacker.
"What's your name kid?" Joker crouched on the floor in front of him and licked his scars, showing them off.
"Alex," he replied shakily, "What do want from me?"
Joker ignored the boy's question, "Alex... I used to know a guy named uh, Alexsss," he looked down at the knife in his gloved hands, "That reminds me... do ya wanna hear a story," Joker nodded as if answering the question himself.
Harley continued to watch from a distance as Joker told his story. It differed greatly from the one he had told her in Arkham Asylum. She wondered why he lied about how he got those scars, how he thought of so many stories and if he could even remembered the truth about his jagged "smile". Harley did not pay attention to the story. She didn't really want to hear it, instead believe that the one he told her was true. In that one he had related to her somewhat. In that story they were the same.
She watched the Joker telling the story, his facial expressions exaggerated by clown make up. What fascinated her was how he told it, with so much emotion. It seemed as though he had himself convinced that he was telling the truth. Maybe in that moment he thought he was.
His story was almost over when Joker took his eyes off of the frighted boy and looked towards Harley, "Harley c'mere," he said.
She gave the pepiest "Sure thing Mistah J" she could muster at the moment and sat beside him. Harley tried to look as cute as possible knowing Mr. J would want to put on a show for his victim.
She twisted one of her wavy, pigtails around her finger and batted her eyelashes, "What chya need puddin'?"
"Alex this is Harley Quinn," he introduced her, "Harley Quinn this is Alex,"
Harley gave the boy a quick wink and waved flirtatiously before looking back to Mr. J.
"Harley I was just thinking, you've uh, never used a knife. Have you?"
"Hmmm," Harley puckered her red lips in an exaggerated thinking face and tapped her chin, "Nope, I don't think so Mistah J,"
"Well, we'll hafta do something about that, won't we?" he passed her the knife he had been holding closely to Alex's mouth.
Harley's smile faded as she took the weapon in her hand, "What," she whispered.
"Ohhh don't be nervous pumpkin, it's not that hard. You don't have to carve him a smile or anything," Alex made another weak escape attempt, Joker pushed him harshly back, "Just make some puncture wounds,"
Harley looked down at the shiny blade of the knife. It felt heavy in her hands, one of Mr. J's favourite knives, the blade was wide and thick and had a small space in the center like a potato peeler from hell. She stroked the flat of the blade, "I don't know Mistah J,"
"It's easy," he took the knife back for a moment, "Watch,"
He held Alex's upper body back with one arm the sat on his knees across the boy's legs to keep him still. Alex squirmed, anticipating what was coming next. Joker held up the knife so Harley could see. He turned it upside down, demonstrating how to hold the hilt in his fist. Then he plunged it downward sinking it into Alex's thigh.
The victim wailed in pain, Joker pulled the now bloodied knife out of his leg and handed it to Harley Quinn, "Your turn sweetness," he said in a sing-song voice.
With the weapon in her hands once again she felt a familiar nervousness come over her. The same torn feeling that she experienced when killed for the first time. She was in a similar position now, choosing between Mr. J and a man she didn't know. The only difference was the Joker was in no danger, that would make her actions even worse.
Harley tightened her fingers around the knife and held it upside down before looking to Mr. J for approval. He nodded.
Alex was still moaning in pain from the wound Mr. J had inflicted on him, "Seriously," Joker began talking to Alex, "She's nervous enough without you're whining... soo can you shut up?" he asked before turning to Harley again, "Proceed," he said to her motioning to continue with his free hand.
Killing the guard in Arkham had not been this hard of a decision to make. Maybe it was because she shot him. Guns are quicker, with good aim a man can be dead in moments and only a quick feeling of pain before death. Unlike Mr. J's weapon of choice, an unforgiving blade. And if Harley stabbed Alex, she knew his death would be slow, if at all. But maybe that's why Joker had mentioned leaving her behind, a comment that still plagued her thoughts. Maybe it was because she was not strong enough for him, not as impulsive and free with her actions as he would like her to be. Sure, she had come along way since Dr. Harleen but maybe it was still not enough.
Harley lifted the knife above her head with a shaking fist.
Perhaps this is just what she needed to do to win her man over completely. Harley convinced herself it was for the best in the long run. Best for both of them.
She looked at Mr. J and then at Alex's leg. And then sent the blade downwards towards it's target. The boy yelled in pain again as Harley stabbed the knife just above his knee cap. She could feel the sharp blade of the knife push through his leg, breaking the skin and severing muscles as it sunk inside him. It made her feel queasy.
Joker covered Alex's mouth, "Good Harley, now take it ouut,"
Harley looked down at the knife, blood swelling out from beneath it. She swallowed hard, "Do I have to?"
"Uh-huuuh,"
Harley nodded and reluctantly slid the weapon out causing more blood to rush to the surface and louder screams from Alex, though muffled by Mr. J's hand.
"Now," Joker started, "I want you to try it ooone more time. Uh, only this time aim a little higher,"
Harley repeated the same robotic movement she had taken before to stab Alex. This time hitting the center of this thigh, just below Mr. J's knife wound. Feeling sick she jerked it back out almost immediately after stabbing him. It was easier then the first time, or so she thought, then she realized that by aiming higher like Mr. J said, she directly hit his illiac arteries. Blood spurted out onto Harley who screamed and quickly got out of the way. Joker giggled, blood shooting onto him as well. After enjoying Harley Quinn's sudden panic for a few moments he asked for the knife back so he could finish his story.
"Leeet's seeee, where were we?" he asked Alex, fading in and out of consiousness from the pain and blood loss, "Oh yeah,"
Joker sliced his victims mouth into a wide, opened smile and then let the now completely unconscious boy drop to the floor to bleed to death.
"Well that was fun," Joker stood up and began to explore the room.
Harley, who was huddled on the floor, she held her shaking hands tightly together. She could still feel the knife in her hands. Slowly she unclasped them and wiped the blood on her fingers onto the white carpet beneath her. Then she scooted forward to get a better look at Alex. His mouth hanging wide open and split from ear to ear like some horrible, macabre puppet. Harley wondered what it felt like to have your mouth torn so badly that it just hung there. It sent shivers up her spine, but most of all, it made her heart ache for Mr. J, he had to live through that.
She looked towards him as he flopped down on the Alex's bed, "Ooo it's a water bed," he said making the water filled mattress move, "Hey Harley-girl c'mere,"
Harley got to her feet but didn't approach him. She just stared at the knife in his hands, covered in fresh, red blood. The same knife she had stabbed Alex with.
"What's the matter Goldilocks? Ya think the three bears will getchya?" he giggled and then grabbed her hand pulling her onto the bed.
The two fell back onto the water bed. Joker, careless as to the way he was holding his knife accidentally punctured the mattress. Water shot out of the slit. Harley shrieked, Joker laughed and covered it up with his hands. He looked at Harley, still laughing, with that amused giggling he did somehow with his mouth closed. He bit his lip and then let the water shoot out again on to Harley. She screamed and giggled while trying to get away from the small fountain of water, but Mr J caught her. He held her down over top of it.
"Stop it Mistah J," she laughed, "It's cold," Joker straddled her waist keeping her from getting up.
Harley forgot about Alex quickly. Mr. J had that effect on her. Instead she laughed, harder than she had laughed in a while. The both laughed until their sides ached. Harley had tears streaming out of her eyes by the time she regained composure. Mr. J rolled off of her and onto the deflating bed beside her.
He looked over at her breathing heavily from laughing so hard, "We gotta find another bed, now,"
And the moral of the story is... don't skip school or criminally insane clowns will come and brutally murder you. Not to mention ruin your water bed. :C
So this has been my biggest chapter :-o , I intended on having out on Saturday since it was Heath's birthday but that didn't happen. Happy late Birthday to Heath Ledger, we miss you.
I'm pretty sure the bigass arterie in your leg is call the illiac arterie. If its not lemme know so I don't look dumb.
This chapter was just more of Joker's mood swings, I love to play on them obviously. And of course Harley's continuing descent into madness. It's probably the cutest thing I've ever done. With the whole water bed thing. But sometimes I think the Joker is strangely adorable, so I wrote one of those moments. It also presents a little bit more on where Mr. J and Harley's relationship is... Does he love her? Or does he not? It's hard to tell huh.... good. *laughs evilly*