Greetings readers, this is Reaper of Heroes. I hope you are excited for this installment of Justified, because it was quite fun to write. It really does feel good to be writing fan fiction again. Gives me something to do for the hours upon hours of time I would normally spend doing nothing, but enough of my rambling, on to the story.
Robin and Anny sat in the small café slash bookstore they had first met in, listening to some guy recite poetry.
"This guy sucks," Anny whispered to Robin.
"So much," Robin agreed, glad the guy had just finished. It had been a week and a half since Anny had left the hospital, but it had been a great week and a half. They had been to the Joke House multiple times, enjoying the pizza, but avoiding any alcohol as the rest of the League members weren't as easily fooled as Captain Marvel. They'd walked through the park, visited one of Gotham's museums, and Robin couldn't have been happier. He was finally with a person whom he knew he could trust with almost anything, almost; there were still a few things he would never entrust to anyone.
"Hey guys," Flash said, sitting with them at the table, three sandwiches in hand.
"Oh Flash, you didn't have too," Anny said, earning a confused stare from Barry.
"He didn't," Robin answered for him, knowing what Anny was thinking. "He's going to eat all three of those sandwiches."
"Oh," Anny said, disappointed.
"Don't worry, I got it," Robin smiled, walking over to the snack bar.
"He really likes you," Flash said in between bites of his second sandwich.
"What," Anny asked, confused by Flashed comment.
"Robin," he said, gesturing to the boy standing by the counter. "He never left your side in the hospital from what I hear. The only time he would even leave your room was to eat, and even then he would ask for food to be brought up for him." Anny let this news sink in, guilt stabbing her in the gut. He did all that for her, and what had she really done for him? Oh sure she'd shown him the Joke House, and she'd listened to his problems, but none of that was out of the kindness of her heart. No, it was all because she was getting paid. But she was developing real feelings for him. True, caring, meaningful feelings, but she didn't know how to act on them. Not with the situation she was in.
"Here," Robin said, placing a sandwich on the table in front of her.
"Thanks," she giggled, pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, knowing that she was going to have to do something soon. They ate in silence, listening to someone who had actually written a really good poem.
"Skeletons line the walls of my heart/ Skeletons from lives I've ripped apart.
But the skeletons slow its beat/ Because God is the only one I cannot cheat
I live within the deadly seven/ dieing on the wrong side of heaven.
I withhold the stories dead men won't tell/ dieing on the righteous side of hell
But with a few words it can all change/ I can feel a feeling oh so strange
Feel as a bird/ it all starts with one word
I can destroy this evil temple I've built/ and be freed from my guilt.
The redemption of my heart/ I can have a brand new start."
Anny's heart was pounding like a jackhammer. That poem felt as if it was meant for her, but it couldn't be possible that the writer had known about her situation. No, it was just a coincidence, but a disturbing one none the less.
"Hey, are you ok," asked Robin, both him and the Flash looking at her.
"Yeah, you seem kind of pale," Flash added, concern in his voice.
"I have to go," she whispered, bolting for the door before either one of the, could say a word. She needed to see Harley.
…
Anny stood outside of an abandoned toy store in her old neighbor hood. The sounds of police sirens and gun shots calmed her for some reason, maybe because they were a familiar sound. She needed to back out of her deal with Harley and the Joker, because there was no way she could keep up with betraying Robin. She just had too many feelings for him.
"Hey," a gruff voice said behind her. Anny turned to find a clown faced goon standing behind her. "You're not s'possed to be here."
"I'm here to see Harley Quinn," she bravely stated, hoping she wouldn't have to pull out the pistol in her purse. "She's an old friend of mine, and I'm working for her and the Joker." The goon's facial expression tightened up in anger.
"Nobody dressed as fancy as you work for Mr. J. Yous a copper, ain'tcha?" He was now growling at her, and she was paralyzed in fear. He charged like a bull, and she was helpless to stop him.
"Chuckles leave her alone," came the voice of Anny's Jersey accented savior. She turned to find Harley standing behind her, dressed in her clown outfit.
"Anny, you know better than to dress like an uptowner down here," Harley scolded. Giving her a sheepish look, Anny replied.
"Sorry, wasn't thinking." Harley just shook her head, smiling slightly.
"You never did think things through all the way; it's amazing you got into such a good college."
"Thanks," Anny muttered, looking down at her exposed wrists. Harley noticing this felt slightly guilty.
"I didn't mean it that way," she said, her expression softening with her voice. "I'm glad you're alive Anny." Harley pulled Anny into a hug, and Anny returned it; glad they were still friends for now.
"So dis lady is ok to be here," asked very confused Chuckles.
"Yes Chuckles, she can be here," Harley said before leading Anny into the store.
…
"So," Harley said, breaking the silence of the elevator ride. "Why'd you come to see me at work? Do you have some more information on Robin for us?" Harley looked at her hopefully.
"Something like that," Anny lied, hoping that Harley couldn't read her true intentions.
"Oh joy, Mr. J will be happy," Harley clapped, giggling like a school girl over her crush. Anny began to rethink her friendship with Harley, wondering why they remained friends. But she knew all too well why she stayed friends with this girl, and the fact that she'd probably never be able to break the bond. Growing up together had been hard, but they'd always had each others back. Whether it was a fight with another kid, or hiding from a parents wrath; Harley had her back, and she had Harley's.
"Come on girl," Harley's voice cutting into her thoughts. She followed her through the metal hallways of the underground layer, pictures of the Joker all over the place. There were ones of him playing the piano, some of him standing victoriously over Batman, and one disturbing one of his faces, blood running from the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting art work," Anny commented, shying away from the blown up image of the Joker.
"Isn't it wonderful," Harley said dreamily. "I painted some of them myself. Mr. J always says that he could look at himself all day; this way he can." Anny was going to reply with a comment about how the Joker seemed self centered, but just then the Clown Prince of Crime walked in. He was even more intimidating in person than on T.V. His suit had a faint hint of Joker gas, which Anny herself had experienced at one point. His green eyes seemed to glow with insanity, the contrast causing his white skin to shine like the full moon.
"Well, well, well Harley, who do we have here," he asked, laughing slightly.
"This is Anny, Mr. J, the one whose been helping me get information on Robin."
"Ah," the Joker said, his eyes lighting up in excitement. "So I finally get to meet the famous Anny Quinn. Harley's told me so much about you two's childhood. Tell me; were you happy when daddy died?" His word stung her like bee, painful going both in and out. Yes, she had been happy when her dad died. Why wouldn't she be? He'd beaten her and her sister on a daily basis unless they hid. But that didn't mean she didn't love him. But Harley, her poor sister, had it worse. She was older, so she had to protect her. Harley would step between her and their father, taking the blows that were meant for her; taking double the beating for her sake. Anny made it her job to find the best hiding spots in the trailer park, just so Harley could possibly be allowed to heal.
"Mr. J," Harley said sternly, stepping in front of Anny, just like all those years ago. "That was too far. She's still my sister, so please show her some respect." Harley glanced back at Anny, giving her the same look she had when they were children, and Anny gave her the same silent thanks.
"Ok Harley, for you," Joker said, holding his arms up in surrender. "But my new question is; why is she here?" He was now staring at her intently, those chaotic green eyes probing her timid brown ones. His gaze felt like Batman's, one she'd felt once before, analytical and intelligent. But there was also a craze to his that Batman's didn't have, and that was the part that scared her.
"I can't," Anny blurted out, unable to contain it any longer. "I can't work for you anymore. You don't have to pay me, but I just can't." Joker was now glaring at her, anger sparking in his gaze.
"So you came here to see me to tell me you quit," asked sarcastically, his arm reaching inside his suit jacket, "Oh sweetheart, how dumb of you." He slowly pulled a glinting gun from his inside pocket, pointing it at Anny.
"Mr. J, she's still my sister," Harley protested, stopping herself from stepping between them. She gave Anny a look of apology, and Anny felt like she'd already been shot. Harley loved this insane criminal more than her. It was like a bullet wound to the heart.
"I don't care Harley, she's a traitor and deserves to die," he said this with enough venom to make a gallon of Joker gas, his finger slowly pulling the trigger.
And that ladies and gentleman, is called a cliff hanger. I'm normally not one to purposefully make cliff hangers, but this was just a perfect opportunity, so I ended the chapter short. But anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I personally loved it, as Harley and Joker are two of my top five villains ever. But I'd still like to know what you thought. Leave a review if you want, I'll appreciate everyone. Also, I am still looking for a beta reader, so anyone interested please let me know via PM. Another announcement, I will be leaving for church camp on Monday, and I won't be returning until Saturday, so there will not be a chapter next week. Sorry about it, but I'm not allowed to bring any electronics off the bus. So until next time
Reaper of Heroes out.