This is a quick update, eh? 8D

Disclaimer and whatnot: I don't own Batman Begins or any related works, titles, dadeeleedah and such the like. All Batman characters are credited to Bob Kane. 8D

"Wow."

Harley Quinn let loose an impressed whistle as she and Joker stood in front of Wayne manor.

"Billionaires have all the goods, don't they, Puddin'?" she said, her arms linked through the bend in Joker's elbow.

"They certainly do, Harley," he replied, then began to waltz forward, pulling Harley over. She stumbled back to her feet, then skipped after him merrily. Joker pulled out the handgun he had in his belt, and aimed it at the lock on the front door of the manor.

Alfred milled around the kitchen, pulling down things from the cupboards to make him and Bruce dinner that night.

The tray he held clattered to the floor as a gunshot echoed through the hall. During the three shots that followed, Alfred was already halfway to the study, and the piano that would let him down into the Batcave.

The china cabinet door was closed long before Joker and Harley made their way down the corridor.

"No one's here, Puddin'," Harley pointed out, clearly disappointed. Joker slapped her across her painted face.

"I can see that, Harley," he said. He went into the dining room, pulling a chair around and sat in it, setting the pistol on the table. "Now we wait."

"Sir," came Alfred's voice as Bruce maneuvered the Batmobile down the dirt path that led to the cavern underneath Wayne Manor.

"Yes?"

"It would seem we have an unwelcome guest at the manor."

"What?" hissed Bruce, almost stopping the Batmobile.

Alfred quickly relayed the information of the gunshot he heard to him.

"I'm not certain who it is, and I'm not very keen on going up to find out," said the old butler.

"I'm almost there, Alfred."

Bruce roared through the waterfall and into the cavernous lair, quickly halting the monstrous vehicle before it crashed into a stalagmite. The door opened and he leapt out, landing with a flourish of his cape.

"He, or they're, still upstairs, sir," said Alfred.

"They?"

"I'm not certain, but I believe that there are two or more perpetrators."

"And they're still upstairs? Have you called the police?" questioned Bruce as he quickly shed his Batsuit, changing into a long sleeved light green shirt and khaki pants.

"Yes, sir. It was the first thing I did when I got down here," replied Alfred as he followed Bruce to the elevator that led to the manor's first floor.

"I'm going up," said Bruce, entering the elevator. "Gordon might suspect something if nobody's home when a call was made." Alfred nodded, and Bruce went up.

He glanced through the glass of the china cabinet, making sure nobody could be seen, before he opened the secret door and entered the study. Sirens could be heard in the distance, getting louder as they approached.

It could take them at least ten minutes to get up here, Bruce thought as he sneaked quietly through the halls of his home. Loud noises emanated from the kitchen, and he walked that way.

"This guy's got food I ain't even heard of, Mister J!" exclaimed a voice. A bunch of clattering followed.

"Most of it certainly looks better than the slop they feed us in Arkham, Harley."

Bruce froze, his hand on the face of the kitchen's swinging door.

If that was the Harley he knew- and he only knew one- then the police needed to get here a lot quicker.

I meandered through the hotel's hallway, trying to locate the snack machine, when the small group of police cars raced past. I heard them and had rushed to the balcony at the end of the hall.

"Looks like they're headed out of town," I mumbled to herself, leaning over the railing and looking toward Wayne Manor. I couldn't help but feel a twang of concern in my gut for the opinionated billionaire. I turned, running back to Isaac's suit.

"I'm going out," I said quickly, slipping my feet into a pair of black flip-flops.

"It's almost two in the morning, Sunshine," said my friend from where he lounged in an armchair.

"So?" I asked as I pulled a jacket on over my white tee shirt. I saw Isaac shrug as I grabbed his keys and headed for his rental car.

Even with the way I drive, the two police cars were already at Wayne Manor when I pulled up at the base of the hill the large home sat atop of. I got out of the rental and walked toward the steps that led to the manor's front door.

I had my hand stretched out to tap a police officer on the shoulder, to question him what was going on, when I realized something.

I was an escaped convict.

So I thusly turned and rushed back toward the steps. I skirted around the police, toward the side of Wayne Manor.

I reached the back without much incident, and I quietly let myself in through the sliding glass door. I thought it odd that Bruce didn't have a security system. It didn't cross my mind it wasn't working.

I figured I stood in the small alcove that led to the kitchen, because I could make out a refrigerator in front of me. I sneaked forward silently, hearing an angry voice ahead.

"It seems that this house wasn't as empty as we'd first thought, Harley," Joker spat in disgust as he stared out the window at the two cops cars. "Somebody has turned us in."

"Then we should find out who's here, Puddin'," replied Harley. "Then we can wring their neck for callin' the cops!" A hysterical giggle followed, sending a chill down my spine. I crept forward more, seeing as I had no other option, and carefully looked into the kitchen.

Joker had his back to me, Harley standing in front of him. She suddenly flipped over her "employer" and landed right in front of me.

"Think I found her, Puddin'!!" she shouted, grabbing a large handful of my hair and pulling me forward.

"Ow! Ow ow ow!!" I cried as she pushed me to the ground, hand still clutching my hair. Joker was kneeling in front of me, and he took my chin in his hand.

"Either you haven't heard of me, or you're just stupid," he said, a crazy grin spreading over his face. "Whichever it is, you've made a big mistake."

"You were right," Bruce said as he came back down the elevator. Alfred looked at him.

"About what, sir?"

"There are two. Joker and Harley Quinn."

The old man visibly paled.

"What could they want?" he questioned. Bruce shook his head.

"I'm not sure. But it could be anything with those two," he said. He walked over to the computer console and pressed a button, switching the screen to show the front of Wayne Manor. "The police have showed up and…," he stopped, eyes glued to the screen. "Oh no."

"Everything's fine, officer!" I said as I walked slowly down the drive. I hoped they wouldn't recognize me with my hair up and a hat on. One of the cops approached me.

"We got a call about a break it. Is Mister Wayne home?" he asked, his voice low and gruff. I shook my head.

"Hasn't been here for a few hours. Think he's out partying," I said, shrugging nonchalantly. My heart was pounding so loud that I was sure he could hear it. If he couldn't he must've been deaf.

"And the call? Did you make it?" the cop questioned. I shook my head.

"No sir. Think it may've been some prankster or something. Maybe the butler thought he heard something," I said.

"And where's the butler?"

I shrugged.

"Don't know. He ain't here, though," I replied.

"Who did you say you were?" he asked.

"Me? Well, Bruce and I had a little…hmm…thing and he let me stay the night. Been here waiting for him to get back since he left," I replied. I pretended to yawn.

"Well, ma'am, if nothing's wrong then we'll be on our way," said the cop. I smiled and nodded.

"Nothing's wrong! Nothing at all!" I said, then waved as he went back to his car. I waited until the two patrols were out of the drive before I took off the hat.

"Good work," Joker called from the doorway. The pistol was visible in his hand. "Now come back inside." I turned, my mind racing. If I ran, I was dead. But if I stayed I was as good as dead anyway. So I trudged up to the front door and back into the house.

"What's your plan, Joker?" I hissed as I passed him. He just laughed, prodding me forward with the barrel of the gun.

"I'll tell you when you've served your purpose with me."

I gulped.

"Harley!" he shouted down the hallway. No reply came. "Hey! Harley! Haaaaaarleeeeeey!!" He pushed me into the wall, then continued down the hall. "Where'd you go, Harley?!" he shouted. I took this opportunity to run towards the front door. My flip-flops clapped on the marble floor loudly and Joker turned.

"Hey!" he shouted. I didn't turn, but kept running. "Your purpose just ran out!"

Bruce had just finished making sure that Harley wasn't going anywhere when the gunshot echoed through the house.

"Evelyn," he breathed, and rushed into the corridor.

Oh dear. What a cliff-hanger this is. Reviews are highly appreciated and loved 8D