The next night Barbara and Bruce waited on a shadowy rooftop opposite the police station. Batman had the binoculars to his eyes while his companion checked that her utility belt was fully stocked. She wanted to believe that Harley Quinn's offer to go dancing really was just about having fun, but she knew she couldn't let herself become vulnerable around her. On their way over the two vigilantes had discussed what limits Barbara would stick to. They both agreed she wouldn't change out of her crime-fighting outfit but disagreed on how much alcohol Barbara should be allowed to drink. Eventually they decided she could have two alcoholic drinks as long as she didn't accept anything from Harley.

"She's arrived," Bruce noted with a grunt.

Barbara brought her binoculars to her eyes and saw that Harley was sitting on the edge of the station roof, legs swinging. The clown was peering about with her hand to her brow as if trying to spot them. Her glance passed over them, but the heroes were confident in the darkness. They had secured the area earlier and were certain that no one was waiting, but just in case they prowled from their spot onto the next two roofs until sure Harley was alone.

"Okay, I'm going down now," Barbara said.

Batman nodded, "I'll keep watch until you've reached your destination. I'll stake out the building and if there's any trouble, you call me."

"You know I will," she confirmed before swinging from her perch.

Harley didn't hear Barbara drop behind her, but she didn't seem to be surprise by Batgirl's voice.

"Hello, Quinn."

The slim villain turned to face her with a grin. "Hey, BB. You bats are all the same. So dramatic."

"Well, I did learn from the best."

"Speaking of the devil, where is the big B? I know he's up there somewhere." Barb's eyes flitted to the building where she knew her dark guardian was watching and Harley followed the hint. "HEY B-MAN, GET A LIFE!" She yelled at the shadows before giggling.

"Please don't piss him off," Barbara whispered, "it was difficult enough getting him to go along with this."

"I suppose you're right." Harley seemed contemplative for a moment before she turned and yelled again, "THANK YOU BIG SCARY MAN!"

When she turned back, batgirl was tapping her foot. "So where are you taking me tonight?"

"Dancing, of course."

"Won't we be a little… conspicuous?" She gestured at Harley's red and black bodysuit.

"Nah, people will hardly notice us." There was that grin again. It made Barbara nervous and curious at the same time.

"I guess you should lead the way, then."

Harley led from the roof and around the corner where a black motorbike was half-hidden behind a building. It looked a little old and had scratches down the side, but it seemed stable enough. It didn't occur to Barbara to ask where Harley got it or whether she knew how to ride it, and she accepted the helmet with a shrug. Batman might get left behind until he got to the Batmobile, but she had a tracking device in her belt, so he would be able to find her where ever she ended up.

The tires squealed as they zoomed down the street, turning corner after corner at a dangerous speed. Batgirl held onto Harley's waist for dear life, waiting for it to end. Harley whooped excitedly as she rode through red lights. It was late and there weren't many cars on the road, so she didn't see the point of following the road rules.

When she stopped the bike Barbara stumbled away on shaky legs. She felt nauseous and leaned against a wall until her land-legs returned.

"You okay, BB?" Harley asked, "You look kinda sick."

"I'll be fine," she replied as her stomach stopped heaving, "but I'll drive next time. Okay?"

"Sure thing. I thought it went well for my first try."

Barbara looked up, suddenly feeling ill again. "That was your first time riding a motor cycle?"

"Well, Kevvy showed me how before he lent it to me. He said I was a natural." She seemed so proud that the bat didn't want to contradict her.

"That was nice of him," was all she said.

Barbara looked around her but she couldn't see any where someone sane would consider going dancing. The buildings were all drab, grey and faintly factory-like. Although, as she looked at Harley she realized that they might have different ideas about dancing. She'd rather go somewhere Latin. Harley caught her watching her and smiled.

"C'mon, it's just around the corner."

She grabbed Barbara's hand and led her down an alley to a door and knocked on it. It opened a crack and Batgirl saw a tall, muscular man peer at them. She felt nervous under his scrutinizing gaze but didn't show any weakness. He must have deemed them suitable because he opened the door wide and Harley dragged her into a hall lit with flashing Christmas lights hanging on the walls. She could hear the music as they got nearer (and it definitely wasn't Latin).When they reached the end of the hall there was another door. Barbara was suddenly hit with a wave of anxiousness and felt her muscles tense as if preparing to be attacked. Harley grinned at her and put her hand on the handle.

"Ready?"

Barbara wanted to say no, but wasn't given a chance before Harley pushed the door open. There was a blast of music and heat. There was a humongous room that was probably meant to be used as a warehouse and it was packed with people. Without giving her a chance to think, Harley grabbed Barbara's hand and pulled her into the din. Immediately they were surrounded by people and as she stared around at them she realized that they were all dressed as capes and villains. Most of the costumes were wildly inaccurate, but a handful were actually decent. Harley was still pulling her further into the room.

"Harley," Barbara yelled over the doof doof music that burst from the speakers, "what is this place?"

The clown moved close enough that Batgirl could feel her breath on her ear. "Whatchu say?"

"What is this place?" She repeated.

"It's a costume club. It's the only place I can go without being stared at."

They continued moving towards the other wall which Barbara could see had a large bar running down it. It was further away from the speakers, so it wasn't as hard to hear. She shook her head when Harley asked if she wanted anything and the clown looked disappointed. The pout didn't last long, though, because she began to bounce around and off the other people in a way that Barbara decided was meant to be dancing. She mentally shrugged and let Harley move her arms about.

"C'mon, BB, shake it!"

It seemed bizarre 'shaking it' in her crime-fighting costume with a woman she was normally fighting. The strangeness tugged her lips into a smile. She didn't want to laugh, but the more she held it back the more it bubbled out. Smiling wide as always, Harley gripped her hands and they spun and spun until they were too dizzy. Barbara stumbled and shook her head to clear it. It was too hot and she needed air. She pulled Harley close to tell her.

"Do you want a drink?" She asked loudly.

Harley Beamed. "Sure. Vodka and orange please."

Barbara squeezed her way out of the crowd and leaned against the bar. She was puffing slightly as she ordered the drinks from a woman in an out-of-date catwoman costume. The bartender took her money (which she had kept in one of the pouches on her belt) and handed her the drinks. When she turned around again she could just see Harley's hat over the sea of heads. Weaving through the throng of people made her feel somewhat claustrophobic. Her head hurt and it smelled like a locker-room. Barbara wondered why anyone would choose to do this every night.

After being pushed this way and that, she finally reached her black and red clad companion. A man dressed as Superman beckoned her over. She ignored him and instead went straight to Harley's side. Not to be discouraged, the man moved close to her and snuck a grope. Barbara jumped and spilt orange juice on Harley who immediately went from dancing playfully to mad as hell. At first she thought the anger was directed at her, but then Harley pushed her finger at the grinning guy's chest.

"Keep yer grimy fingers to yourself."

Barbara put her hand on Harley's shoulder warningly. "Leave him alone," she said into her ear.

"But he grabbed you."

"I know. It happens."

Harley lowered her hand and the guy's grin widened. If he knew who they were he'd probably be running.

"Com'n dance with me li'l sister," he said, reaching for Barbara's arm but Harley smacked his hand hard. The guy's face turned to a frown. "Let her dance if she wants."

"Well I don't want to," Batgirl said over the music and began to lead Harley away.

"All these fuck'n bitches are on their periods." His voice was much louder than necessary and Barbara felt her companion stiffen in her grip.

She didn't have the time to react when Harley pulled out of her grasp and launched herself at the bloke. In a blur of red and black she had tackled him to the ground, taking down a number of other dancers with them. As people fell around, elbowing and kicking each other confusion and chaos took root. One moment they were all dancing and the next they were swinging wildly at each other. Barbara tried to push her way back to Harley to pull her off the man's friends but the crowd was suddenly so thick she could only move back towards the wall.

She called out Harley's name but could no longer see the woman. Desperate, she climbed onto the bar and for a moment saw a red jester's hat get flung across the room. Next, a bottle came flying at her and Barbara slipped backwards in surprise.

Two strong arms caught her and set her down gently. When she turned her head she saw a familiar black cowl.

"Thank god it's you, Br-" she caught herself as she realized that the face looking down at her wasn't Bruce Wayne's. Sure, the mask was fairly accurate and the body suit wasn't so bad, but this man had much darker skin and was smiling. Batman never smiled. His eyes seemed kinder, too- a lovely brown..

"That's right," he said in his gruffest voice, "I'm the goddamn Batman. What were you doing up there?" The question snapped her out of her reverie and she looked back at the crowd.

"I'm looking for my friend. She's dressed as a clown. Harley Quinn."

"You mean her?"

Barbara followed his pointed finger and there was Harley, hatless and jumping around a man trying to crawl out of the crowd. He looked like he'd been hit by a falling anvil and the clown was throwing tampons from her bag at him.

"You're bleeding all over your nice white pants. You better PLUG IT UP!"

Batgirl paled and nodded.

"Your friend's very… dramatic."

She was about to explain that Harley wasn't really her friend, but the woman had spotted her and was vaulting over the bar.

"BB, we gotta get out of here. The cops'll be here any minute. Who's this?" She squinted suspiciously at the man who still had his hand on Barbara's waist.

"Oh, this is… umm…"

"Calvin," he introduced, "but you're right. We can introduce ourselves outside. There's a fire exit just over here."

Calvin led the way out and in the alley he and Harley watched each other for a moment. Barbara felt the clown's hand possessively cling to her own.

"Thanks." Barbara said to Calvin. "For catching me. And for getting us out."

"It was my pleasure," he replied with a smile.

Barbara felt a flutter in her stomach but the moment was ruined when Harley began to pull her away.

"You get home safe now," Harley said, "I have to deliver this one safely before her, uh, dad realizes what happened here."

"Wait. Here." Calvin pulled a business car out of his belt and Barb took it. "Give me a call if you ever need someone to catch you." She looked at the name on the card 'Calvin Harvard, contractor' and the number.

"I will," she replied, but Harley was already dragging her away.

They disappeared around the corner and Barbara sighed happily.

"You cannot call him," Harley demanded.

"Why not?"

"I don't like him."

"You don't have to like him, Harl, you aren't the one who's going to see him." Barbara felt cross that the woman was telling her what she could and could not do. Not even Batman had that privilege.

"I don't like the way he was staring at me."

"You wouldn't like anyone who dresses up as Batman."

"I'm serious, BB. I'm telling you, you can't trust him."

"You're not exactly trust-worthy yourself, you know."

"Well it takes one to know one and I know you can't trust this guy."

Barbara stopped walking and pulled out of Harley's grasp.

"I think I'll make my own way home."

"Oh c'mon."

"I mean it. You kidnap me and you threaten my friends and you take me to this horrible place and you start fights and now you're telling me who I can and can't talk to. You said you just want to be friends, but this is not how friends act. You are not being my friend."

Harley's lower lip wobbled, but she bit it to keep from crying. "Fine. See whoever you like. You don't want to be my friend, that's fine. We won't be friends. We'll just go back to being enemies if you want."

"That's not what I want at all, Harl. I do want to try and be your friend, but for that to happen you have to be a friend to me first." Saying out loud made Barbara realize that she really did want to get along with Harley. Maybe by being a friend she could help rehabilitate Harley. Bruce had been the one who had vouched for her being healthy enough to leave Arkham. This way they could keep an eye on her and help her as much as possible.

"Okay. I'll do better. I promise." Harley's face lit up with determination and Barbara smiled.

"Then we are friends."

"Really?"

"Really." She hesitated before adding, "As long as I drive from now on."