It's time.
They need to see each other, face to face. Harley has information, she may be their only key to stopping the Joker's plans before he kills again, and they need the information fast. The fastest way to her is through Dick.
But can he handle seeing her? How she's changed, so cold and unrecognizable, yet the same woman that he fell in love with at the same time? He has to act quickly, but the means to the answers is a road that he and Batman have traveled before, and a road he might not want to venture down.
The tires of the Batmobile screeched in the tunnel as Batman pulled into the Batcave. Dick rose from his chair in front of the computer banks, and Damian turned in his seat. Batgirl leapt out of the car, pulling her cowl down.
"Dick, the fear toxin antidote! Now!" she commanded, quickly helping Batman carry an unconscious Tim to the medical table. Dick handed the antidote to Batman, and he plunged the needle into Tim's neck. Damian winced.
"What the hell happened?" Dick asked. Barbara looked worriedly down at Tim.
"Scarecrow dosed him, and they got away."
"They got away!?" Damian demanded, looking up at Batman. "Drake isn't worth letting them both get away!"
"Enough," Batman growled. He gave them no orders, told them to check nothing; he just focused on Tim.
"Damian, check on Harley's comm to see if it's come back online. Babs, get the police scanner and check on the situation at the museum." Dick commanded, loosening Tim's Red Robin costume around the neck and gently tugging the hood off.
"You aren't in charge of me!" Damian objected.
"Now." Dick glared him down, until he finally turned to go to the computer.
"It's not up, but I'll keep the line open," Damian said deadpan.
"So far nothing from the police," Baraba said, returning to Dick's side.
"See if you can get ahold of Jason," Dick instructed, checking Tim's pulse. It was growing calmer. When Barbara left again, Dick put a hand on Bruce's shoulder. He pushed him down into the chair behind him. "You okay?"
"Yes," Bruce said tersely, his jaw clenched. Dick's brow furrowed in worry and he gently pulled Bruce's Batman cowl off for him.
"You should drink something," he suggested, pressing a glass of water from the tray that Alfred had left for them into Bruce's hand.
"I don't need to drink something," Bruce snapped, slamming the glass onto the table. "I need to know what they're up to."
"Bruce, there's nothing we can do about it now!" Dick said angrily, crossing his arms.
"They obviously released and are gathering these inmates for some reason, so what are they doing?!" Batman stood up, his chair falling backwards.
"Maybe we should take a break on the case," Dick said, feeling lightheaded. Damian stood by Tim unconscious on the table, his lips pressed together tightly. He looked pale. "Stay in and do some background work."
"Work on what?" Bruce demanded. "They best option is to get back out there and find someone who knows."
"Who will be out? It's broad daylight!" Dick cried, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"I can't get ahold of Jason," Barbara said before noticing the tension between the two. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Bruce snapped angrily.
"Please talk to me!" Dick said desperately. "What is bothering you, Bruce?!"
"What's bothering me," Bruce spat the words, "is how many of my son's I have to see hurt because of this."
"Bruce, we're heroes too. We can handle ourselves," Dick commented gently. "I know you think that you have to protect us all, but you can't. You can't take that big a burden onto just your shoulders."
"I'm supposed to protect you, instead I keep sending you out to-"
"-Bruce!" Dick interrupted, their voices rising nearly to shouting. "You aren't sending us anywhere! Do you think that Tim and Jason and I wouldn't be out there even if you didn't tell us to be! We're responsible for ourselves! Stop blaming yourself!"
"Why am I not surprised to find an argument going on down here?" Selina said, stepping out of the elevator, stroking Damian's cat in her arms.
"Because its a rare occasion for them not to be fighting," Damian muttered. "Give me Alfred, right now," he snapped, taking his cat away from her and walking off into the Batcave. Dick and Bruce both pinched the bridge of their noses at the same time.
"Sorry, Selina," Bruce muttered. running a hand through his hair.
"Could you please tell Bruce that he needs to get some rest, and get off of our backs? He listens to you," Dick sighed, looking at her.
"I believe the term you're looking for is 'whipped'," Damian said quietly, once he was out of Bruce's reach.
"And how is your phone relationship with your girlfriend going?" Dick muttered, shooting a glare at Damian.
"Please," Damian scoffed. "You sure you would like to play the relationship game with me, Grayson?"
Dick's face fell.
Bruce cleared his throat. "Selina, do you know where Jason went?"
"He left shortly after you did, going who knows where." She brushed her fingers along the cape at his shoulders.
"Selina, he needs rest. Please." Dick looked at her. Selina looked up at Bruce.
"Are you tired?" She asked sternly.
"Of course not," Bruce scoffed.
"Bruce," she snapped harshly. "When was the last time you slept?"
"You were there. Shouldn't you know?" Damian asked drily.
Selina ignored him. She grabbed Bruce's arm and walked towards the elevator, dragging him along. "Come on. Everyone. Time for bed."
"It's day," Damian pointed out. Dick picked Tim up gently.
"Bats are nocturnal," Selina smiled, stroking Bruce arm.
"Keep arguing with her. See what happens," Dick said as he walked towards the elevator. Damian followed, his cat snuggled in his arms.
Dick had to admit, the nap had really helped. He felt a lot more energetic, and he was ready to work. As he stood by the fireplace in the parlor, the crackling flames casting the only light in the room, he stared up at the painting of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Bruce stood between them, looking like Damian in the shadow cast from the fireplace.
"Spooky, isn't it? How much I look like Father." Damian said from the window seat where he looked out at the moonlit lawn. Dick jumped.
"I didn't hear you come in," he answered, his hands in his pockets.
"Drake is up," was Damian's reply. Moments later, Tim walked in the door.
"How long was I out?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"All day. The sun's just set, actually." Dick replied. Damian ignored them both, staring out the window. Barbara came into the room, flipping through the pages of a book, and when she looked up, she smiled.
"Oh, you're alive. Welcome back," she ruffled Tim's hair and sat down on the sofa, tucking her legs beneath her.
"Where's Bruce?" Tim asked, looking between the three of them.
"Him and Selina are still upstairs," Barbara said nonchalantly.
"Good. Let him relax as long as he can," Dick replied, sitting down beside Barbara. Bruce entered the room, and Dick bit his lip. "I guess I spoke too soon."
"The comm went live," Bruce said, getting to the point.
"What the hell were you doing down in the Batcave?" Dick demanded in exasperation.
"That doesn't matter."
"Where did it go live?" Barbara asked.
"It's stationary in the warehouse district," Bruce said. Dick looked down, pained, as he bit his lip. Barbara put a hand on his knee comfortingly.
"I'll take care of this," Damian demanded.
"No!" Dick snapped, glaring at him.
"We need her to talk, not end up in a hospital," Tim told Damian. Damian shot him a glare.
"If you'd like to join her there, I'd happily oblige," he snapped.
"No one is hurting anyone," Bruce cut over Tim's objection. "And Tim is right, we need her to talk." He sighed. "I think everyone know's who needs to be sent."
Harley stood in the center of the warehouse, waiting. A patch of moonlight filtered through a hole in the roof. A familiar tune was stuck in her head that she tried not to hum aloud. She needed to be silent. It felt like a trill of electricity went through her. She couldn't hear or see him, but she knew he was there.
"I was hoping they would send you," she commented sardonically.
Nightwing stared at her in the light, still hidden in shadows. He didn't know what he wanted to say to her. "I like the new costume. It's a lot less… innocent than the first. It suits you," he commented darkly. She had glanced over to where his voice was coming from, but stared down at the edge of the moonlight.
"If I wanted to stay in the game, I needed an upgrade." She gave a small half smile. "I mean can you imagine, there weren't even pockets." She waited, but he didn't say anything. "Besides, it wouldn't have been the same after your little cop girlfriend wore it."
Dick closed his eyes and looked down angrily, his fists clenching at his sides and then releasing again. "No matter what you say, how aloof you act; it pains you to know that she was killed. I know you."
"It isn't my fault Miss Moral wanted to play dress up," she snapped, covering. "Although I was impressed. You're stepping outside your comfort zone. She wasn't a red head."
"Last time I checked, I didn't fall for a redhead," he said quietly, but she still heard it. He still didn't step any closer. She cleared her throat.
"Isn't this why you came?" She tossed her stolen comm toward him, and it rolled to a stop at his feet. "I thought it was compromised but wasn't sure. You guys sure know how to ruin the fun over there at the Batcave." She was frustrated that he wouldn't come where she could see him, but was also glad for it. It made this conversation easier.
"Your fun with Scarecrow? What are you and the Joker planning?" Nightwing asked, finally stepping out of the shadows into the moonlight coming through the skylights in the roof. Her breathing hitched for a second, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she had seen him since he laid, stabbed on the roof.
She composed herself. "Oh," she teased, cocking her head to the side. "You think I'll ruin the surprise so soon?"
"I don't want to play games." Nightwing narrowed his eyes. The pain that he felt was visible on his face.
"Why does everyone say that to me?" she sighed. "I'm a jester."
"No you're not," he sighed. "Now tell me what you and the Joker are up to."
"The costume may have changed, but I'm still the same clown." She smiled wanly. "Or do I need to blow up another building to prove that point?"
"If that's what you want me to believe, then fine. I'll pretend that I believe that. If only to make you happy." Nightwing looked down. He was starting to feel the pain in his side again, and he could barely look at her without it intensifying.
"You think I'm pretending?" she whispered darkly.
"I do," he replied, his shoulders straightening. Harley wanted to pretend that she didn't see him wince as he did so. She wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"That stab wound would beg to differ."
"You didn't stab me," he pointed out, stepping closer to her. She stared him down.
"I might as well have."
"Except you wouldn't have." Dick said earnestly, taking another step forward as he took off his mask.
"Then you seriously underestimate me," she muttered, clenching her hands at her side.
"I think I overestimate you. I overestimated your ability to overcome the Joker, I overestimated your love for me." Dick said quietly, his lips pressed tightly together. He closed the gap between them, standing so close to her that she could smell the faint scent of his Axe Apollo cologne.
"I never wanted to overcome the Joker," she snapped, glancing down.
"You did. At one point, after you died, before you ran off with him again; you and I both felt like there was a chance. Now… Part of me still hopes." He whispered, pausing for a moment and then cupping a hand under her chin, making her look up at him.
"Maybe I felt like I needed to prove myself to him." His blue eyes pierced hers. "You can't know that anything I ever said to you was true."
She actually saw his face twist in pain at her words. Dick looked down, bit his lip, and then took a deep breath. He stroked her cheek. "I can't know that it was a lie, either," Dick whispered. She grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her face.
"I'm telling you it was."
Dick swiftly grabbed her arms, pulling her close. He watched her, his face close to hers. She could almost feel his breath on her cheek. "No you're not. Drop the act, Harley," he said darkly, his face pained. Their lips almost touched for a moment, but he hesitated. He wanted to believe that she was lying now, that he wasn't losing faith in her. In himself.
"This isn't an act," she whispered. "You need to move on," she scolded, sounding like the her he remembered.
"I can't." He snapped, closing his eyes. "Why won't you see that I can't!?" He still didn't release her arms, and he still didn't step away from her.
"It's easy." The mocking gleam returned to her eyes, and she pushed him away. "Just ask Batgirl. I'm sure she'd be happy to give you some pointers."
Dick stared at her incredulously, trying to keep his shoulders from slumping. "Why would you say something like that!?" he whispered, hurt.
"What? Would you prefer Robin? Or maybe Batman? I'm sure Red Robin can't be too happy with me now either." She pointed her finger at him in warning. "Everyone else sees it, why won't you listen?"
"Because I'm in love," he pressed, looking at her seriously. She slowly withdrew from him; she took a deep breath.
"You can't be in love if you're the only one," she whispered.
Dick let out a short breath, staring at her in rueful disbelief. His mouth opened, but no words came out, and he glanced away from her as he put his mask on. He wanted to look anywhere but at her. He didn't want her to see how much she'd just hurt him; how much she'd broken his heart in that moment. He'd been able to hold on for the longest time as his friends and family had all argued with him, belittled him for his decision in her, because as long as she loved him, he could take it. He could handle disappointing Damian, Barbara, Will, Tim, Alfred, and even Bruce; he could handle the guilt because he knew that she was there. That she would always be there. Without that reassurance, he could feel the pain weighing down on him. They were right. They were all right.
"Don't say that," Nightwing choked, staring at the dirty warehouse floor.
"I should have gotten out before I hurt you. For that, I am sorry," she said gently.
"No you're not," he breathed, closing his eyes. He seemed frozen in place, and he did the only thing that he knew he could. "Why are you targeting the people you released from Arkham?" He asked the question slowly, trying to hide his pain. His voice was still weak. She puckered her lips a little.
"Sorry, I've got to stick to the plan. I guess the only option you have is to arrest me." Harley looked at him expectantly, one eyebrow raised.
I don't want to fight you. Nightwing thought. He didn't know what to do. He knew he couldn't hurt her, even if he tried. He pressed the comm in his ear. "Help me," he whispered to anyone who was listening at the Batcave. He needed the guidance. Harley nodded thoughtfully to herself, the faint crease between her eyes.
"I guess that's my cue to leave." She stepped back toward the shadows. Nightwing closed his eyes, feeling ready to be sick. He drew his escrima stick, the tip crackling with electricity.
"I don't think I'm allowed to let you do that," he choked, looking up at her.
"Are you going to stop me?" she taunted.
"We both have people waiting on us that we don't want to disappoint," Nightwing said, a wingding slipping into his hand from his glove. "One of us is going to disappoint them. And I'm not going to let you make me let Batman down again." He swallowed hard, and then threw the wingding in one swift motion. It embedded itself in her leg before she had time to react, and Nightwing was running toward her.
Her leg went out from under her, and she slid onto one knee, her hand reflexively reaching for her wound. Harley automatically tried to glance into Nightwings eyes, but instead saw his mask. She didn't bother to defend herself.
He closed his eyes as the pronged taser connected with her chest. Her mouth fell open, but no sound came out as her eyes rolled back in her head. She fell backward, her body collapsing. Nightwing stared at her for a moment before dropping the escrima stick. It clattered loudly on the concrete floor, and he crumpled to his knees beside her and broke into sobs, covering his face; he didn't want to see what he'd done. He knew what would happen if he brought her back to the Batcave, and he didn't want to be a part of it. After everything she'd done, everything she'd said… "I still love you," he sobbed, dragging her into his arms. He stood weakly, pressing the comm in his ear and then holding her close. "Batman. I have Harley Quinn incapacitated. Orders?" He couldn't stop his sobbing, nor did he care to.
"I'm in route," Batman barked. "Hold on."
"Hurry," Dick pleaded weakly, pressing his nose against Harley's neck and inhaling her rosy perfume. He squeezed his eyes shut tight behind his mask and cried helplessly as he held her close. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Nightwing sobbed. Batman would no doubt interrogate her; he knew what that entailed, and he wished that he could trade places with her. He left her un-handcuffed, part of him hoping that she would wake up, beat the shit out of him for what he'd done, and escape; but he knew that the pulse he'd hit her with could knock out Killer Croc for a good hour. He cradled her thin frame in his arms, sinking to his knees again. He couldn't stand. Nightwing's stomach was in knots, and his whole body trembled as he brushed the hair away from her face and pressed his lips to her forehead, closing his eyes as he held her tight.
Batman rushed into the warehouse. Nightwing knelt in the center of the large room, Harley Quinn unconscious in his arms as he openly sobbed his broken heart out, his face buried in her hair.
"What happened?" Batman asked, stopping a little ways off.
Nightwing didn't answer, making no effort to try to move or even stop his crying.
"Nightwing did she hurt you?" Batman demanded.
"No!" he shouted, half choked off by his tears. He held her tighter. "Please forgive me. Someday," he whispered. He still didn't stand.
"I know this is hard." Batman paused before clearing his throat. "Do you want to go?"
"I'm not leaving her," Nightwing snapped, standing shakily and turning to Batman. He refused to meet his eyes.
"Okay," Batman finally said. "Let's get her to the Batcave."