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.
Warning: Violent scenes to come. These stunts are done by highly trained professionals and should not be imitated by anyone. Except those proficient in martial arts training and weapons, even then it shouldn't be imitated.
Chapter 17
(Harleen's POV)
It is Halloween…all the children are ready to go out for trick-or-treating; Tim is particularly excited because Harley has agreed to come along with him, his first trick-or-treating as a teenager. He was dressed in a ninja costume styled with a bird motif; Harley was dressed in a police woman version of her old Harley Quinn costume.
"Wow…that costume looks great! You really are a great seamstress." Tim said smiling
Harley's costume looked more covered up than her old costume, the shoulders and leggings were lengthened as to not give young children untoward thoughts, she wore a red and black policeman's hat with a fake policeman's badge: Officer Acrobat. "Thanks Tim…I just hope no-one recognises me…" Harley sounded disappointed
"Look we sorted the memory thing a few weeks ago and no-one has recognised you so far. Besides Harley Quinn looks like a harlequin; you look like a well-respected clown officer…Did you just see that?" Tim said raising her spirits…then followed by a shadow past the window.
"That shadow? Yes! You don't think…?" Harley asked looking worried
"Assassin; that's the last thing we need." Tim worried "Do you think we should tell Bruce?"
"I think we can manage one little ninja. Besides it looked like a shadow more than anything. But I don't think we should worry Bruce, we've had enough problems these past few weeks; let's give him a day's rest. Besides when have we done something fun during this time, grab it while we can." Harley smiled thinking back to her Quinn days
"Yeah…but I'm not going without my staff." Tim said concealing a collapsible metal staff behind his back.
"Well I've got my tonfa, part of the costume and a form of defence." Harley smiled
"True…come on, it's trick-or-treating time!" Tim said smiling
Tim and Harley went downstairs and saw Alfred wearing a black and white pinstriped suit with a pointed collar. "Ah, Miss Harley and Master Tim; going out trick or treating now?"
"Yeah…that's a nice costume Alfred, what are you supposed to be?" Tim asked
"Jack Skellington; the only fictional character with a moderately sensible costume." Alfred said while adjusting his collar.
"Very nice…where's Bruce and the others?" Harley asked
"Master Bruce, Miss Barbara, Master Dick and Miss Ivy have gone out for the moment. Master Bill has gone back to his store to restock and give his friend Victor his deposit." Alfred said politely
"Oh right…well we'll see you later." Harley said waving goodbye to Alfred and went with Tim holding a jack o' lantern bucket.
"Happy Halloween, Miss Harley and Master Tim." Alfred smiled waving goodbye
Five houses in; Harley and Tim have enough chocolate and sweets to last until bonfire night Tim smiled as he carried two jack o' lanterns full while Harley carried three. But always they stayed on their guard for fear of the assassin.
"I still don't understand how you got one more lantern full than me." Tim said with a half-smile.
"It's probably that I'm so cute. I mean you're a good looking boy, but I am a grown woman…and with some of these people in this city it's no wonder that they like seeing a female officer…they probably like being handcuffed." Harley said while trying to maintain her language around Tim.
"O…kay…on another note, where do you think that ninja is? I've got a feeling we were being stalked." Tim said while looking around the streets and sky.
"Well we'll be okay when we get back to the Manor." Harley said hoping to get back before ten (I know it seems early but Tim is only thirteen)
"Yeah, you're right." Tim said following a large crashing sound seeing a figure being thrown through several windows. "The Hell!" he shouted and raced over to the body that was imbedded in a red car.
(Bill's POV)
*Noon*
Bill was walking back from Victor's work place; Bill was thinking about the names on his list: Crane, Zsasz, Strange, Nigma and Tetch. "Two down three to go…" as he opened the door to his shop he charged a Halloween price: half off on all alarm systems and sixty percent off on all protective items.
(All the crime in this city, Bill finds it disrespectful to anyone who ruins Halloween for anyone. There are hundreds of kids who love Halloween and go around asking for chocolates and sweets because it's that hope an innocence of it all. But there are always the people who throw rocks, eggs, toilet paper etc. and threaten people with miscellaneous items if they don't get sweets or other items, even thieves get their kicks robbing people because they are wearing masks to begin with.)
His store was filled with people who wanted protection from troublesome children, teenagers or burglars. Bill happily agreed to explain the defensive systems of his tech and armours, holiday sales made Bill happy for two reasons. One: he would make a small fortune on items he sells and two: he would feel reassured for the people of Gotham knowing that they'll be safe during this day of the year. "Have a good day everyone. Happy Halloween." He said waving goodbye to his customers. Three hundred and forty nine thousand one hundred and seventy two dollars' worth of technology in the space of a few hours ($349,172 just in case you're wondering) the time was now around four thirty. The children would be entering the witching hour in their costumes and they would have a good Halloween. Bill entered his back room tinkering away on his newest projects and making more durable armours for the Bat-Family…Batman, Bat-Shard, Robin and Nightwing "I really am getting good practice with this. *laugh*" Bill said to himself as his radio was playing. Just then a ring came from Bill's store door, Bill called out "Just a minute please." He said putting the finishing touches on his gadget. He went over and saw a medium built boy in a hooded cloak with what looked like a Batman costume but more cloth-like in appearance, his entire face was covered with a mask except his eyes which were covered by a diamond shaped eye mask.
"Err…a bit early for the witching hour, aren't you?" Bill said looking at the clock it read eleven minutes past six "Oh, never mind…can I help you?" the customer didn't answer he reached into his pocket and pulled out a faded colour picture of an elderly man with brown and white hair, his suit was an unusual emerald green cloak with gold edges. Bill had never seen this man before but the name beneath peaked his curiosity: Ra's Al Ghul. "Sorry never seen him." The cloaked boy bowed then left. "Strange kid…cool costume though."
Some hours passed and Bill was watching listening to his radio again fixing up the suits then he heard his doors being ripped off, Bill grabbed his gauntlets and slid them on racing outside to see an eleven foot decaying muscle man in a business suit and a gangster like hat. "Grundy want money and gear!" the beast spoke
"Grundy…?" Bill said before being gripped by the behemoth "Oh crap!" then was being slammed into his counter back first. "ARGH!" Bill roared out in pain
"Grundy want gear and money!" Grundy said again
"So you said…killing me won't get you it!" Bill groaned, his meta-human clothes took some of the impact but it still hurt.
"Grundy want…" it said again slamming Bill into his counter "Money…" then into the wall making his inventory fall to the ground "And TECH!" Grundy threw Bill through his exposed door crashing him through several windows and landing into a red car.
Bill could hear people running to him and heard one of them say his name: "Holy crap, Bill what happened?"
Bill opened his eyes and spat out a small amount of blood "Argh…now I know how that fake Scarecrow felt…" Bill groaned
"What happened?" Harley asked then she heard Grundy roar
"Him…he's called Grundy. Never met the guy before…" Bill groaned getting back onto his feet
"Solomon Grundy; here? Oh crap!" Tim exclaimed as he could see the raging behemoth run towards them.
"Oh man…our costumes! We could…" Tim thought aloud
"They're not ready…we're sitting ducks." Bill explained
"Grundy want tech!" Grundy roared smashing the ground
"I'm guessing he wants your stuff." Harley joked helping Bill hobble along on her shoulders.
"You go we'll hold him off!" Tim said getting his staff out
"But you'll…what the hell?" Bill said looking over at them then Grundy seeing the customer with the hooded cloak slamming Grundy's head into the ground after landing on top of his head.
The figure flipped over then looked at the three and indicated not to help him. They stayed back but Tim used his Bat-Caller to contact Alfred to contact Bruce. The ninja/assassin was striking Grundy with little effect as the behemoth just laughed it off; the assassin used a grappling hook launcher and escaped Grundy tried to grab him but he missed, Grundy roared in anger then was struck with a type of Shard-Star "ARGH! Grundy hate pointy things! Grundy hate sneaky man!" the assassin struck at Grundy's legs with a style similar to Harley's using a pair of tonfa; his moves were swift, his attacks just as such. Grundy fell to the floor then grabbed the assassin by his legs, he did not scream but he did throw two Shard-Stars into Grundy's eyes thus dropping him "ARGH! Grundy really hate sneaky man!" he said trying to get the Shard-Stars out of his eyes. The assassin landed with such grace, he was like an acrobat with a Batman like descent. The assassin flipped and struck Grundy in his chin and kicked his jaw off. Grundy fell down in exhaustion and the assassin stood his ground, he turned towards Harley Bill and Tim and showed them the picture of Ra's Al Ghul, they shook their heads; the assassin bowed to Harley Tim and Bill and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Someone give that kid a gold medal, he's kicked zombie ass!" Tim said in amazement as the smoked cleared.
"Hey wait…that thing is a zombie?" Bill asked.
"Yeah…he got his powers from a swamp. He's technically undead." Tim answered
"Okay…one second." Bill said, he pressed some buttons on his gauntlets and walked over to Grundy's exhausted corpse.
Bill heard Grundy groan then awoke "Grundy…want…" he raised his giant arm attempting to grab Bill.
Bill said "Times ten, impact…" then punched Grundy's head in the centre. The impact force obliterated the zombie's brain into an exploded mush. Bill groaned in pain in his punching arm.
"You killed him! Bruce is going to be royally mad!" Harley screamed
"He's a zombie! Zombies come back unless you destroy the brains…killing Grundy is a consolation for him ruining my shop. *groan* God my arm." Bill explained while clutching his arm.
"What's wrong with your arm?" Tim asked
"I think it's broken…God it hurts…" Bill explained "I've got to get to a hospital…get it checked." Bill groaned
"Well come on. We'll get you there." Harley explained
"Wait…my store…the armour!" Bill groaned
"Don't worry Bruce is on the case, we've got to get you to the hospital." Tim said
*At the hospital*
Bruce, Barbara, Tim, Dick and Ivy were sitting in the waiting room. Harley and Tim were explaining the situation…
"So this assassin came out of nowhere and then started wailing on Grundy, throwing Shard-Stars into his back, his legs then his eyes, slamming his face into the ground; Grundy was down for the count, then the assassin looked at us then disappeared in a cloud of smoke." Harley enthused
"Yeah…before he even started he signalled us not to join in. He wanted to make sure we were safe; then after he beat Grundy, he turned to us showed us a picture of Ra's Al Ghul we told him we didn't know then bowed then did his disappearing act." Tim added
"A member of The League, here in Gotham?" Barbara asked
"And after Ra's…a rogue member?" Dick asked
"Not likely…any members that go rogue are killed soon after. He attacked Grundy so he must be on our side, he must only be after Ra's for something he's done…but what?" Bruce pondered
"Mister Bill can see you now." A nurse politely spoke
Inside they saw Bill with a cast on his arm; his gauntlets were removed as to apply it. Bill was told by the doctor to take a quiet time off and not to incur the wrath of any more zombies. Bill nodded in agreement and was left alone with his friends. "He must take it easy for a month…no monkey business."
"Understood doctor." Ivy said as the doctor left.
"Hi Bill. Are you feeling okay?" Dick asked
"Well I've got a pressure made fracture in my arm, fourteen stitches and lucky to have my arm still on my body…yeah I'm okay." Bill said listing off his ailments then smiling.
"Come on, we'll take the limo and you can tell us back home." Bruce said
"I appreciate it Bruce." Bill groaned
Back at Wayne Manor, the Bat-Family sat down and had a cup of tea in his undamaged hand.
"So what happened?" Ivy said hugging her boyfriend
"I destroyed Grundy's brains by using a "Times Ten Impact" punch. Hurt like a beast but it killed him." Bill groaned as Ivy hugged him, but he hugged her with one arm after putting his tea down.
"What do you mean times ten impact?" Dick asked
"My gauntlets use "Impact Force", it means when a punch/kick or any physical attack is thrown into my gauntlets then the force in amplified and thrown back into the opponent with the original force is sent back into my arms. The greater the "Impact Force" the more damage it does…and if I make the setting too high then my arm can either be bruised, broken or ripped out its sockets completely…my greatest weapon is a double-edged sword. *Sigh*." Bill explained
"So when a punch equals "One" and your gauntlets are set at "I.F. Two" the "One" is sent back through you and the "I.F. Two" is sent into the opponent? And if the force "Outward" is greater than the force "Inward" it causes damage to the user equal to the "Outward". " Bruce said deducting Bill's device.
"Exactly…if it wasn't for my enhanced durability, I would've never made the gauntlets." Bill explained
"Well at least you're alive…but killing Grundy…" Bruce said darkly
"Look I know you're mad, but in my experience you always kill zombies…especially if they're down. Destroy the brain or get eaten." Bill explained
"Zombie films…" Barbara asked looking at Bill
"Zombie films and games!" Bill answered
"But what does this assassin want with Ra's Al Ghul?" Alfred asked
"I don't know…but I doubt we've seen the last of him." Bruce said.
(No-Ones POV)
Outside Wayne Manor, hidden in the trees hid the Assassin that took down Grundy. He took out the photograph, then looked at the Bat-Family inside. He looked at Bruce and Harley and seemed fixated upon them…Why was this assassin after Ra's Al Ghul? He then returned the picture into his pocket and opened a folded piece of paper with names on it: Cluemaster, Firefly, Mad Hatter, Penguin, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Mister Freeze, Riddler, Hugo Strange, Bill, Solomon Grundy, Bane, Deathstroke, Talia Al Ghul and finally: Harley Quinn and Batman! He crossed off Solomon Grundy's name out. What is this assassin after?
(Talia Al Ghul's POV)
The location of the League of Assassin's, word has quickly spread of the Young Assassin that bested Grundy, assaulted: Penguin, Firefly, Mad Hatter and Cluemaster.
Talia looked upon the research of this mysterious Assassin and called for her guard.
"Mistress, we have discovered that this person is searching for your father. And he is challenging anyone who knows his location." A female assassin answered
"Who are the people this assassin has contacted?" Talia asked looking at the photos of the assassin.
"Arthur "Cluemaster" Brown, Garfield "Firefly" Lynns, Jervis "Mad Hatter" Tetch, Oswald "The Penguin" Cobblepot, Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, Jonathan "The Scarecrow" Crane, Victor "Mister Freeze" Fries, Edward "The Riddler" Nigma and Doctor Hugo Strange. We have updated news that this assassin has bested Solomon Grundy using techniques similar to ours." A male assassin listed off.
"Has he killed any of these people? And what is with this symbol? It looks like…Batman's…" Talia asked thinking of Bruce stroking the picture of the Assassin.
"No, my Lady. This assassin leaves them alive except when he went after Scarecrow, Penguin, Riddler, Firefly, Mad Hatter and Hugo Strange he left them in a state of perpetual pain. Two-Face, Cluemaster, Mister Freeze and Bill were: asked only, not assaulted." The female assassin said
"As for the symbol my Lady, we believe that it is Batman's Symbol just scarred. This must mean he is working for Batman." The male assassin responded.
"I doubt this Rogue is working with Batman. Find him…use any method to drive him out…but I want him alive. I want to know why he's targeting my father." Talia ordered and the assassins disappeared 'You'll be mine…you and Bruce…' Talia got out the iconic picture of Harley kissing Batman and crumpled it 'and no other girl will get in my way.'
To be continued
I hope you've enjoyed reading this chapter as I have writing it.
Please leave reviews for these stories they really help.
And thank you to all the people who have reviewed and followed my story thus far.
The next chapter coming up soon.
Thank you
Additional: I do not know how Solomon Grundy acts in the comic books or the series; I based him off the Injustice game I've played.