The Harlequin and the Bat
This is the story sequel to: The Harley and The Ivy.
Important notes: I do not own Batman or any portion of the franchise. I give all credit to DC Comics and respective owners.
Chapter 6
Harleen tried to take a taxi to the Wayne Gala and was surprised to see Alfred there instead.
"Alfred? What are you doing here?" Harleen asked
"Being your chauffeur for this evening, Ms Quinzel." Alfred said smiling and offering his hand
"Thank you. Bruce put you up to this?" Harleen asked with a smile
Alfred gave a smile as he escorted Harleen into the black car "Master Bruce does like to make an impression." And closed the door sternly but softly.
As the Cinderella was driven to the Gala, she began to think about why she had the flashbacks but then dismissed them. She closed her eyes and thought about Bruce: about his gentle smile, his warm blue eyes and his loving embrace… "*Sigh*the night in the library…" she smiled as she lay back on the seat. Not knowing that Alfred was smiling for her as well, he announced that they were at the Gala. "Oh thank you Alfred." As Harleen undid her seat belt and went to open the door but Alfred got there first. Harleen smiled and asked "Do this sort of thing a lot Alfred?"
"Of course Ms Quinzel; all part of being Master Bruce's Butler." Alfred smiled
Harleen approached the Gala in her new dress; the cameras were flashing as she was walking down the red carpet, paying no mind to the people gossiping behind and around her and as she entered through the doors she saw the motif and the large crowd of Gotham's Big Wigs, Fops…
(Fop: a man obsessed with fashion and vain about his own appearances to the extent of looking ridiculous)
…And walking banks. But among the crowd she couldn't see the one person she wanted to be with: Bruce. But suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, as she turned around she saw her Beau; her frown turned into a smile.
"Pleased to see me?" Bruce asked already knowing the answer.
"More than you know." Harleen continued to smile then looping her arms around Bruce's like royalty.
As they were going around enjoying the company of the Gala folk, Harleen noticed: Dick and Barbara…but she couldn't see Tim. Dick was dressed to the nines in a Black suit much like Bruce's but less broad in the shoulders, a robin-red tie and a clean white shirt underneath. Barbara wore a sleek dark blue dress with shoulder straps; on her wrist was a red rose corsage that complimented the natural redness of her hair. The two of them were drinking champagne and discussing something that was out of Harleen's range of hearing.
Harleen asked "Where's Tim? Too young for this sort of thing?"
Bruce smiled and nodded "You can't be a responsible person if you let your friend's children around alcohol and free thinking rich people."
"Too true…you're a good man Bruce." She said hugging his arm tighter
They approached Commissioner Gordon who was discussing something to the Socialites "…Some believe that both of them have changed their ways; oh Mister Wayne and Miss…?"
"Hello Jim, I see you're discussing something important. This is Harleen my second for tonight." Bruce said maintaining a smile. "Harleen this is Commissioner James Gordon, one of the good men in this City."
"Pleasure to meet you Commissioner." Harleen said holding her hand out for a handshake
"Yes…excuse me Miss Harleen; I need to talk to your consort for just a brief moment." Jim said turning to Bruce
"Oh…of course; just don't take too long." She said lowering her hand and releasing Bruce
"We won't, don't worry." Bruce reassured her
Jim and Bruce went over to a secluded spot from the socialites.
(Harleen's POV)
Harleen stayed where she was and struck up a conversation, so that she didn't seem like an ignorant woman: "So…what is it that you all do?"
One by one they listed off their accomplishments: Doctor, Lawyer, Weapons manufacture…the list went on; all made Harleen seem small but she was strong in what she was doing, bringing joy to children by making her plush toys and dresses (the dresses came at a later date when she and Bruce were dating) along with Ivy's flowers.
"So what is it that you do Miss Harleen?" one of the socialites asked
"I co-own an artisan boutique with my friend: Pamela. Flora Plush, have you heard of it?" Harleen stayed strong to her resolve as a redeemed woman. She used Ivy's real name because she had an inkling towards what Jim had said 'changed their ways' he obviously meant herself and Ivy.
"Flora Plush…Flora Plush…oh! You mean that cute little store with the hand stitched plush toys and bouquets of flowers?" the Lady lawyer said while Harleen composed herself for a punchline "I had no idea you were still open for business. What with the lack of sales you've been having."
This woman was pushing Harleen's buttons; the store has been on the up and up for weeks. Hell, the corsages and the arranged flowers at the party were ordered by Bruce for this party. 'Bill was right…rich people do exploit other people. Must stay calm…Think of Bruce…' Harleen thought. Then she began to speak "Well I don't know about the lack of sales, but I believe that we've got a good stable run for our work. Now if you excuse me I think Bruce is asking for me."
(Bruce's POV)
*Same time as Harleen's POV*
"Bruce, you're my friend…and as my friend I've got to warn you of the dangers being around Quinn!" Jim didn't sugar coat it, he knew who Harleen was and he was determined to protect Thomas and Martha Wayne's only son.
"You've been talking to Barbara haven't you?" Bruce knew, but for the sake of his social mask he had to feign ignorance.
"Yes, and I agree with her. I've known you since you were a boy Bruce…and ever since that day, I've seen you grown into a man. You took that sadness and made a difference: helping the hospitals, orphanages, save the rain forest…God knows how many charities you give too and the Company divisions you own. But You with Quinn it's a recipe for disaster." Jim gave his view on Bruce dating Harleen.
"Seems you and Barbara have had a few things to talk about the past few weeks, Jim." Bruce said calmly "I heard what Dick and Barbara said at my house…she's concerned for me, like you as a friend. But I've seen her change the time I've been with her; she's left her old life behind and moved on. She's got a good business going; the proof is all around us." Bruce indicated the flowers and the dresses that certain women were wearing.
"Yes…Poison Ivy's flowers…Harley Quinn's dresses…that's like opening the gates of a flood barrier filled with Crane's Fear Toxin to citizens of a heavily populated valley town." Jim remained pessimistic
"That may be true; but have you seen any of their stock trying to kill anyone in the time they were out? Think about that Jim." Bruce said then waving his hand to call over Harleen
(Dick's POV)
"So far so good, Barb." Dick said supping the Ginger ale pretending it was champagne (it's what Bruce does all the time, look it up) looking at Barbara in her stunning dress.
"Yes… but let's not forget who we're waiting for." She said while rotating her shoulders. "Where did Bruce get this dress anyway? It's beautiful and the corsage, it brings out my best feature doesn't it?" Barbara said meaning her hair.
Dick blushed then coughed to compose himself "Bruce…*ahem cough* Bruce got it at Flora Plush." supping his Ginger Ale, thinking that Barbara meant another asset.
"I'm sorry, what was that? Did you say Flora Plush?" Barbara said hoping to be wrong. Dick didn't say anything and Barbara caught on fast. Commissioner of Police daughter's brain in work; without being too loud she scoffed "We'll at least I know who to blame if I get killed then wont I?"
"You do look beautiful in them Barbara…" Dick trailed off hoping she wouldn't hear that last bit.
"I'm sorry, what was that…Richard." Barbara said playfully noticing Dick blush even more. But it was cut short as they heard a maniacal laughter and saw the windows getting broken with gas canisters.
"Joker" Dick and Barbara said as they dashed to find Bruce and her Father.
They found them and they huddled together and heard The Joker's voice through large speakers.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today is a very special day for me today:
It's the day I first met a very special person.
Her name is Harley, and she's mad about me
Harleen thought to herself 'Not anymore I don't; you murdering psycho!' while huddled with Bruce and the others
Now I'm a jovial but fair sort of fellow, so unless she comes back to me within the next hour…
Barbara was then taken by a pair of big burly arms, as she struggled to get free her father called out for her as he coughed
Then the Commissioner's daughter gets a Chicago overcoat
Lovingly filled with some of my happy gas.
HA-HA-HA!
The cloud evaporated and Barbara was gone, Jim was fuelled by rage he lunged at Harleen roaring at her as he began to throttle her "Why didn't you speak up Quinn? This is your fault!" Bruce grabbed Jim's hands and released his grip on Harleen.
"It's not her fault Jim, calm down!" Bruce said consoling Harleen
"You better get my Daughter back you psycho clown bitch or you'll be thrown into Arkham and I'll never let out!" Jim said shrugging off Dick from holding him back then leaving to find Barbara.
'Why Joker…you never cared about me before…but no-one hurts Bruce's friends!' Harleen thought "I'll go…I'll go get her." As she spoke Bruce was shocked.
'Is she serious? Joker will kill her! But she's not going alone.' As Bruce thought; he tried to speak but Harleen stopped him.
"Bruce, it's me he wants. I'll get Barbara back…" she kissed him "I promise." And with that she left, but not before making a trip to Bill's Store.
*At Bill's store*
Bill was watching the news and immediately knew where Harleen was going to next: here. He went into his back room and saw the completed Meta-human suit. His thoughts turned venomous as he thought about Joker and saw Poison Ivy on his settee almost beaten to death. 'She's coming Joker…I hope you enjoy your place in Hell.'
Just then Harleen came through the doors, slamming them open, just that Bill showed her the completed work; Harleen grinned and went straight to put it on.
As Harleen put on the Meta-Human suit, it fit like a second skin; the eye mask clung to her face perfectly and didn't impair her vision, the belt clicked around her waist snuggly and concealed her new tonfas Bill made for her.
"Spares, figured you couldn't hide yours in your purse." Lifting up the small carrier of money
Harleen continued to put on her gear: a spare grapple gun, twenty concealed Shard-Stars that Bill gave her just.
"You need a new name now. You can't go back being Harley Quinn, not after what you've been through." Bill said with his arms crossed.
As Harleen donned her new cloak with her mark on her back and chest, she spoke it "Bat-Shard…"
"The shards of the past, made into something new…I like it!" Bill grinned "Go get her back Bat-Shard!" and with that Bat-Shard used her grapple gun and flew of; she knew where Joker would be hiding Barbara, there was only one place where he would be deranged enough to kill someone on this scale: the abandoned Gotham Amusement Park!
Bill turned back to Ivy and tended to her wounds her breathing was shallow but she managed to see Bill caring for her before falling to sleep. "*hush* Sleep Ivy, I'll get something to stop the bleeding."
(Barbara's POV)
*thirty two minutes remaining*
Barbara awoke to see that she was tied up in a teacup ride; she lost her purse back at the Gala. This was a predicament that she couldn't see herself getting out of.
"Boss, she's awake!" a hired gun said after keeping watch.
"Ah…the lovely Miss Gordon. How are you my dear?" Joker asked knowing full well how she was.
"Well besides being: tied up in a spinning teacup, being chloroformed, guarded by a thug who probably can't breathe and think at the same time and being captive by this city's worst criminal...I'm fine." Barbara said while trying to find how to get out of this.
"Worst criminal in Gotham? Oh you…flattery will get you everywhere (especially in this city)." He said while holding Barbara's face making it look like a fish. "But this isn't about me…" Joker continued
"It isn't?" Barbara asked sarcastically
"No…it's about me and my little harlequin. You probably know her: five ten, blonde hair, blue eyes, sweet kid, terrible cook…" Joker listed off sweetly "Oh yes and falling in love with the Bat!" his voice turned to a horrible venomous tone. His goons sniggered then stopped as Joker turned to face them.
'She was in love with Bruce before this? How?' Barbara looked surprised and turned to the floor then Joker again.
"Oh don't look so surprised. It's been happening for a while now. Ever since Harley got out from Arkham and went on that rampage over a dress, I've found out…" Joker reminisced looking sad; Barbara couldn't comprehend the entirety of it. "Not even my story about beating the blood and guts out of that Boy Wonder and leaving him to burn didn't put a smile on her face." Joker giggled and Barbara turned to anger when he mentioned that. "But now I've got some incentive to do it again! Either: Harley comes back or you end up like that kid from last time…only with a smile on your face *Laugh*!" Joker smiled grabbing Barbara's chin the pointing it to the two tonnes of dynamite over by the rollercoaster, Barbara shuddered at the thought. "Keep an eye on her boys. We've a dead-line to meet." Joker laughed as he left but Barbara tried to get some more information from him.
"Joker, how did you know about Quinn being in love with Batman?" Barbara asked
"Oh…you are an intuitive girl aren't you? Well if you must know…I paid her friend Ivy a visit. She wasn't to helpful in my snooping around…that weed had to be pulled." He said looking over his shoulder then turning around.
"Ivy? You went after Ivy?" Barbara spoke
"She didn't tell me much, except telling me that she's found someone better than me. "Found someone better than Me?" I said to myself…so I ransacked her apartment and found this!" pulling out Harleen's 'I love Bat's' plush. "And this!" he pulled out a clown with a batman cape on it, and spoke with his own Joker toxin venomous voice. "And these!" Joker pulled out Harleen's diary pages which read:
Dear diary
I hope Mister J never finds out, but I've been getting feelings towards Batman and losing interest in him.
Dear Diary
Joker got out again from Arkham, he said he wants to steal a train this time filled with gold…sounds too stupid I know but I went along with it anyway.
I've been dreaming about Batman again, he's kind to me always giving me help…I want to repay him.
Dear Diary
Mister J told me about what he did to the new Boy Wonder, I knew he could be difficult to be around but to go that far…I'm scared.
I dreamt my wedding again. Only it wasn't Mister J this time, it's Bats. Batgirl being along my Maid of Honour with Ivy, Nightwing being Bat's Best Man…I felt safe.
Dear Diary
I had a nightmare in where I was the Boy Wonder and Ivy was beaten to death. I want to leave Arkham now. I don't want to be Harley Quinn anymore. I want to be Harleen Quinzel again, I want to meet Bats and thank him.
Dear Diary
I know who I want to be with now: Batman! He's always helped me; his friends have supported him just like Ivy supports me. I hope to get to be his wing girl in the future.
"Then it gets really crazy. You're going to love this…it turns to your daddy's friend Bruce Wayne!" Joker said listing off the pages before talking to Barbara then back to the pages again.
Each page opened Barbara's eyes and she thought tearing up:
'She really does care about Bruce…all this time, I've been so paranoid about her…Harleen I'm sorry.'
Joker continued to read Harleen's pages, one involving her opening her new store and then:
Dear Diary
I dreamt of Bruce and the Bat last night.
They asked me who I loved more…I couldn't choose.
I hope that, after what I told Bruce, doesn't change things between us.
Dear Diary
I've made my decision: I choose Bruce.
Batman could only see me as a reformed criminal, who could slip at any moment.
I want to be a better person; I want some happiness in life that isn't chained to a psycho clown.
I wonder if Bruce will give me that chance to be with him.
"And you're really going to like this Babs!" Joker said sneering
Dear Diary
Bruce's friends Barbara and Dick don't seem to trust me.
I guess they must've heard my real name and realised I was my other self.
Tim seems to like me though.
I hope they can forgive me for the crimes I've done, I just want this chance.
I wonder if I continue this he and I will get married.
God, I hope so…I just we can live together without worrying about Joker…
I'm safe with Bruce, like Gotham is safe with Batman.
Joker finished laughing like a madman while Barbara saw the pages flutter to the ground and then looked at him. "It's a knock out isn't it? My little Harley falling for the Bat then falling for your friend Wayne! Oh Harley may not have made jokes when we were fighting the Bat-brains but these are hilarious!" Barbara looked at him with a hated look then he said "But when I get her back…the punchline is going to be…Killer!" Barbara immediately knew what he was going to do now.
'Harleen, stay away from here!' Barbara thought
*Ten Minutes Remaining*
To be continued
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