A/N: Hello ladies and gents! And welcome to my story. Reviews are much appreciated and constructive criticism is welcomed, but no flamers please. *Drumroll* And now I present to you His Puppet, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

A Nightmare

"I had a great night tonight, Harleen," Tom said as he walked me to my apartment.

"Me too," I said smiling. I reached up on my tip-toes and wrapped my arms around his neck to give him a quick kiss on the lips. He gently pushed me up against my door and began trailing kisses down my neck. I moaned in reply and his hands moved down to my waist to pull me tighter against him.

"Mind if I come in?" he whispered into my ear suggestively.

"You know I have work tomorrow," I said as I closed my eyes, but did nothing to stop him from kissing me.

"Mmmm, fine," he said and pulled away. He then cupped my chin in his hand and gently kissed me on the lips.

I saw fireworks, felt sparks, and could hear bells tolling. It was just like the fairytales said "love" would be like. He pulled away and I was in a temporary daze as he smiled that quirky little smile.

"I'll call you tomorrow, kay?" he asked as he walked backwards toward the stairs leading to the lobby of my apartment.

"Kay," I giggled. He blew me a quick kiss before descending the stairs, the bells still tolling in my ears. I can't believe I've been with Tom for six months already! He's so amazing… I turned around and unlocked my door. The darkness and creepiness of the room was contrasting to my mood. I flipped the light switch and the room was washed in a soft yellow glow. Much better.

I went to put my coat and purse on the kitchen table and turned to glance at the calendar to see my schedule for the asylum tomorrow. I did a double take.

The 19th of September.

Wow…it's been a year, one entire year since I've had to deal with him. I shuddered at the thought of the murderous clown and his antics. I had once been in cohorts with the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. Now the bane of my existence, he used to be the only man that had ever made me feel alive and free, that is until Tom came into the picture. We hadn't said "I love you" yet because I was a little skeptical and a little scared, those three little words stirred something in my stomach.

But, fortunately the part of my life with that God-awful man was behind me. He had driven me to almost insanity before I finally realized that he didn't even love me at all and is most likely the reason I can't tell Tom that I love him.

No. He is the reason.

The Joker had just used me as a sex toy and to help with his "plans" of taking over Gotham and showing all of its citizens their dark sides while watching the entire city burn. Of course the Joker never did actually have plans, he acted on impulse.

Maybe that's why I thought he was so incredibly sexy and of course his body and the way he kissed-No! No! No! I can't let him get back into my head again!

I shook my head to rid myself of the horrible thought.

I suddenly yawned and looked at the green digital clock on my counter, 11:06. I decided to go get ready for bed. I slipped into my favorite green and pink spotted flannel pajamas, brushed my teeth, and wrapped myself in my light blue sheets. My face fell on a pillow and I inhaled the sweet lavender scent. I turned on my alarm clock so that it would wake me up and switched off the light.

I tried to get to sleep, but thoughts off the Joker swirled in my head. Wow, it's like a bad Christmas story…

Finally I gave up and leaned up to turn the light on. Maybe watching some TV will help… I swung my legs over the side and gasped. I noticed a figure sitting on the edge of my bed; I couldn't make out his features because his back was turned toward me.

"W-who are you?" My voice shook as I asked, a little afraid of the answer.

The figure turned and I sighed in relief, it was Tom.

"How'd you get in here?" I asked crawling across the bed to sit next to him.

He turned his head away and said nothing. "Something wrong?" I asked as I tried to look at his face. He then turned toward me smiling. I smiled in return. I loved his face; the way his eyes sparkled, his dimples, his bright white teeth.

"Hel-lo beautiful."

I knew that voice.

Suddenly his face began to morph. His caramel colored skin faded to a pasty white complexion and the life was sucked out of his perfect face while his hair changed to a sickly green. His eyes sunk into pitch-black voids and jagged, blood-red lips stretched to the middle of his cheeks in a painful looking smile. The black leather jacket he wore elongated and changed to a royal purple.

I backed away from him. "No. No!" I cried as I realized what was happening. He backed me into my ebony headboard. All the time I couldn't take my eyes off that Glasgow grin.

"Aww Harley, whats a matter?" his snake like voice hissed. "Ya scared? Of little old me?" he said in a fake high pitched voice as he feigned innocence.

Before he could get any further I tried to kick him in the stomach, but he saw it coming and grabbed my leg. He smiled one of those disturbing smiles and let out a piercing, maniacal laugh.

"You think that I'm that stupid?" he asked, but I found myself too scared to answer. My throat had closed up and my mouth went dry. My heart felt like a sledge hammer as it pounded in my chest. He twisted my leg into a painful position. "Well-uh? Answer me!" He boomed as I whimpered in pain.

"N-no, I-I don't," I answered, the fear evident in my voice. I looked down to try to avoid his eye contact

"Good, good. Oh and what was that cute little nickname you had for me?" he thought for a moment tracing his scars with his tongue. "Oh, yesssss…" He let go of my leg and I felt a gloved hand grip my throat and tilt my head up to look at him. "Mr. J," he mocked in the fake accent I had once used. The angle had forced me to look into his eyes. They were deep, black-holes and as I stared into them I was pretty sure I caught a glimpse of hell itself.

My eyes were wide with fear as he positioned himself on top of me and began tracing his free hand around my face.

"Ya know, I reaaallllly missed ya," he drawled as he ground his hips into mine. "And well…something else did too." The Joker smiled a sadistic grin and I heard his belt unbuckle with a click.

I squirmed and struggled trying to get out from under him, but it was no use he was stronger than he looked. Fear, horror, terror, and more emotions than I could name washed over me.

I was going to be a puppet again. His puppet.

He was going to manipulate me for his own pleasure and there was nothing I could do about it. This was my worst nightmare come true.

"You wanna know something I've recently realized how much I did actually miss ya." He slowly removed his trench coat, pants, and gloves.

"Y-you have?" I looked around the room trying to figure out a way to distract him and escape.

"Oh, yeeeeessssss. Yes I have," a dark chuckle escaped his lips. "I've missed the sex immensely. The whores around here just aren't any good. Their just tooooo…difficult," he sneered and proceeded to laughed as the anger flashed across my eyes. "Now, now, love," he cupped my chin in his hand and squeezed lightly, "I'm not sayin' your easy…oh what the hell, yes I am." He let out one of his signature cackles. "Well, I do believe that my insult is justified. I mean…," his voice suddenly became dark and threatening, "after what you did to me."

His hand tightened dangerously and I tried to pry his pale fingers off my jaw, but to no avail. "Your right, I'm getting impatient too." The Joker then flipped out his switch blade that I knew all too well. "Let's get this show on the road," he cut my shirt open and then my pants exposing my matching black bra and underwear. "Muuuuch better." His eyes roamed my exposed body hungrily.

"No! No! Get off me!" Just as he was about to slide the sharp blade through the front of my underwear I let out a shriek and immediately bolted up in bed.

"Wha? Huh?" My room was still dark and my alarm read 3:48. My sweat soaked and shaky hands pulled back the covers to check if my pajamas were still intact. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding as I realized they were.

It was just a dream.

I cautiously made my way out of my bedroom and into my kitchen to check if he might be there. I listened for any signs of movement. Silence.

I hadn't realized that my heart was racing, so I sat down on my couch to try to calm down. Afraid to go back into my dark bedroom, I turned on my living room light.

The light flooded the room and I felt a little better. I didn't want to go back to sleep just yet for fear of another disturbing dream.

I gotta remember not to eat Chinese food before I go to bed, I scolded myself.

A few hours later Harleen was curled in a ball asleep on her couch.

A dark figure loomed just outside her window.