I smiled half-heartedly today. My mind was filled with too many troubles for me to be as happy as I was yesterday. Yesterday, I hadn't run in with two mentally unstable criminals within the same twenty four hours.

Then again, I hadn't died either time I was with the rouges.

Something in my mind urged me forward. A part of me wasn't too scared to be their friend.

Don't be afraid, Sable, It whispered.

I rubbed my temples. The voice made my head throb. It continued to whisper in the back of my head, urging me onward.

Shut up! I finally thought, clenching my fist. The pain was getting unbearable. The voice died down, leaving me in peace.

"Normally when you start hearing voices, that means you're crazy," I mumbled to myself. "But am I insane?" I asked myself.

My phone rang, bringing my attention back to the world.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hi Sable… I'm sorry about not calling for a while."

I grinned. Rick was calling me.

"Hey Rick. What's up?" I asked, ducking into a little alcove between two buildings for privacy.

"Not much. I was just wondering about tonight. Are you free at all? I know it's short notice, but we could cook something to eat together and just hang out for a while," he said. I could practically hear his grin.

"That sounds really fun!" I said, smiling myself.

"I can pick you up after work. Will you be ready at six?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'm staying with my sister and brother for now. The address is 776 Howard Street. I'll meet you out front, okay?"

"Perfect. see you then!" He sounded so happy… I was happy too.

"Bye, Rick," I said, laughing a little. He was so excitable, just like a little puppy.

I had a date with a puppy.

I needed an apartment of my own. I had no desire whatsoever to continue sleeping on the couch of my sibling's apartment, so I wanted to move out as soon as possible.

The only problem was that I needed to pay rent, and I didn't get paid a whole lot in my current job.

"I'll just get a side job," I mumbled as I looked at an apartment complex a few blocks from the university.

It wasn't perfect by any means. The apartments were small and rather dingy looking. But I didn't need much space, nor did I need style. The rent wasn't too bad, and I could easily pay for it if I got a second part-time job. Plus, that'd keep me busy.

"Do you want a room?" The old receptionist lady asked me, a sugary sweet smile spreading across her lips. Her voice was slightly tinged with a southern belle accent, just enough to be noticeable, but not enough to be distracting.

"Do you have one open?" I asked, giving her a friendly smile.

"I believe we do… Yes. Apartment 109 is open. We should be able to move you in on Monday," The lady said, turning to her computer and the list of apartments.

"That will be fine," I said, nodding my head.

"Name, phone number, email, and identification please," The lady said, handing me a form to fill out.

And so I spent the next half-hour filling out extremely exciting paperwork.

After I finished my business in my new apartment building, I went back to Glen and Clarity's apartment.

"How was work?" Clarity asked as soon as I walked in.

"Fun. I really love my job," I said, smiling. "How was your work?"

"Fine enough. Nothing much happened, but Rick came and asked about you," She said, smiling smugly.

"Yeah, he called me," I said, seeing a barrage of teasing coming. Clarity giggled at this and elbowed me.

"So do you have plans tonight then?"

"Yes, I do," I said, pushing her away. She just laughed.

"Hey, Glen! Sable's got a date!" She called. Glen poked his head out from the kitchen and laughed.

"Didn't take you too long. You just got here a couple of days ago," he commented. I blushed and ducked my head, letting my hair hide my face completely.

"Shut up, you two," I said, shaking my head.

"It's our job as younger siblings to annoy and embarrass you," Clarity said, patting me on the back.

"True, true," Glen called from the kitchen. "I don't assume you'll be eating with us tonight?" He asked.

"Rick will be coming at Six. I'll pass." I said, smiling. Glen nodded and ducked back into the kitchen. "Then we'll be eating in about five minutes, Clarity."

"Okay," She said back to him before turning to me. "Anything else happen today?"

"I found an apartment for me to live in, so I'll be out of your hair on Monday," I said, sitting heavily on the couch.

"Oh," Clarity sighed, her face falling a bit. "I'll miss you a lot."

"Oi, now. I'll still be around. In fact, it's a five minute walk from here!" I said, laughing. Clarity giggled a little and brightened up. "I'm honored that you like to have me around and all, but I can't sleep on the couch forever."

"Promise that you'll stop by every once in a while, okay?" She said, holding out her hand.

"I promise," I sighed, shaking her hand. She hugged me and laughed before leaving to set the table.

And I was left to relax.

I checked my watch. 5:55, about time to head down and wait for Rick.

Then my phone rang again. Thinking it was Rick, I picked up hurriedly.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Good Evening, Miss Tate. Have you solved the little conundrum I left you?" an all-too-familiar voice asked. I groaned inwardly.

"How did you get my number?" I asked, slumping over in the couch.

"A genius would have no trouble finding the records of any citizen on Gotham's archives. and as I am a genius, it was a simple task," he explained. He sounded extremely proud of himself. "Now, have you solved my riddle?"

"No, I haven't. I haven't given it any thought, to tell the truth," I said, pulling out the green envelope. You always answer me, although I never ask you questions… I thought, my mind racing.

"Time is wasting, Miss Tate," He reminded me. I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"An echo?" I asked, not sure of my answer.

"That is incorrect, Miss Tate. An echo can, in fact, ask questions, so long as you ask the echo a question," he explained. I paused for a moment, thinking.

"I give up," I sighed. "I'm really quite bad at riddles."

"Hmm," he hummed happily. My incapability to answer his riddle amused him. "Such a shame. This one really is quite obvious, Miss Tate, if you just think about it," he said. He really wanted me to get this.

"An alarm?" I asked, biting my lip. "You do answer to those, but they don't really ask questions…" I trailed off, thinking that he probably was smart enough to figure my answer out on his own.

"I will accept that answer. I, however, was looking for 'telephone'," he said.

I sighed, and whacked my head. "That is rather obvious, once you get it. I'm sorry, but I'm pretty bad at riddles," I said, slumping my shoulders.

Then I realized that was speaking to The Riddler, The Riddler, like it was completely normal.

He didn't even pause for a second before asking me another riddle. "I come at night without being called, but disappear at dawn without being stolen. What am I?" He asked.

I shook my head and said, "I'm sorry. I don't have time right now. I've got a date in a few minutes, and I need to be ready."

"A date, hmm?" he said, obviously amused. Why was everyone so amused by the fact I was going out on a date?

"Yes. It was very nice to hear from you," I said, hurriedly leaving the apartment. It was 6:02 now.

"Alright then, Miss Tate. I will see you later," he said, hanging up. I sighed, put the phone in my pocket, and rushed down the steps.

I arrived just as Rick pulled into the parking lot. He walked out and grinned at me.

"Hi Sable! Sorry I'm a bit late… work." I nodded and tried to straighten my hair.

"I was on the phone until a minute ago. A friend called and kept pestering me," I explained.

A friend. Is he really a friend? I thought.

"Well then. Come with me, Sable," Rick said, opening the car door for me. I grinned at him and nodded.

"Okay. Let's go."

Rick was a good driver. He was careful and calm as he rode down the streets.

"So, how was your day?" he asked as he turned a corner.

"Fine, I suppose. It was my first day of work…" I laughed lightly at the end.

"And what do you do?" He asked, smiling.

"I'm a teacher's assistant. I mostly grade papers and such, but it's on geology, so I'll have fun." I paused, rubbing my wrist to help ease my nervousness. "How was your day?"

"I actually had a pretty decent day. Finished another page of my script, survived another workday…" He chuckled at the end.

"Is your work stressful or something?" I questioned.

"Not really… the co-workers can be overly annoying," he chuckled.

"Hmm," I said, looking out the window. I didn't really know what to do.

"We'll be to my apartment in just a minute. Do you want to cook a stir-fry?" He turned onto another street lined with apartment buildings.

"I'm not very good at cooking," I warned, giggling. "I usually burn the food... or worse." He laughed and pulled into the driveway.

"Here we are. It's not the best, but it serves its purposes," he said, opening his car door with a flourish. I smiled at him and followed him to the front door.

We had barely taken a step inside when a high-pitched Brooklyn accent entered our ears.

"Rick! Mistah J's got holed up in Arkham!" She said, sobbing. I jumped, seeing Harley Quinn on the couch, watching the news as The Joker was hauled into a police car.

"Harley! What are you doing here?" Rick said, walking over to the figure, a worried expression on his face. Her greasepaint was smeared with tears and was running down her face.

"I… needed a place to hide, Rick. You're the only person I could think of to help me…" She curled up into a tiny little ball. "He left without me… and got himself caught," she said, staring mesmerized at the screen as a police officer was interviewed.

"Where do you know Harley from?" I whispered, not even moving from my spot. Harley seemed like one of the most harmless people right now, huddled up and crying her eyes out.

"Sable… I…" Rick faltered, not wanting to tell me something.

""You have company, Rick?" Harley said, looking at me with red, puffy eyes.

"Yes. This is Sable Tate, She's a good friend of mine," Rick said, gesturing for me to come closer. I inhaled sharply and took a few steps. The blonde wasn't laughing like she always was on TV. She was crying. It was more than a little unnerving.

"I'm Harley Quinn. But please, call me Harley," She said, sniffing. She held out her hand, and I shook it, giving her a smile.

"Will you be okay, Harley?" I asked quietly. She picked up another tissue and dried her watery eyes.

"I'll be fine. I'm going to break 'im out. That'll show my puddin' just how much I love him," she said, a little more confidently now. All of a sudden, she hugged me, giggling like a school girl.

She had mood swings, to say the least.

"Thanks, Sable," she said. I stiffened under her crippling hold, and gasped for air. I haven't even done anything, and she is squeezing the air out of me and saying thank you? I thought, a little shocked.

She eventually stopped hugging me and backed off, looking marginally happier. She still had something of a tragic look in her eyes, however.

"I'd better find somewhere else to stay, Rick. I don't want you getting in trouble because of me. I heard Johnny got out today. Maybe I'll pay ol' Scarey a visit." she wiped away the last tears and ran out of the door, leaving Rick and I to shake out heads and wonder.

"Does everyone I know have some Rogue buddy?" I mumbled to myself, absentmindedly twisting a hair around. Harley didn't scare me much, I decided.

"Sable, I should probably explain where I know Harley Quinn from," he said, shaking his head. He rubbed his temples and continued. "You see, she and the The Joker were robbing the store I work at, and I acted stupidly and punched the Joker."

"So that's what you were bragging about yesterday?" I mused. That was yesterday? I thought, bemused.

Rick nodded and continued his story. "I was sure I was going to die, but surprisingly, The Joker laughed and started to talk to me. Sure, he had a gun cocked against my head, but he asked me questions and eventually asked me about being a henchman. I declined, and he left me alone... for the most part. I don't know where the whole ordeal came from, but who can tell with that psycho. He sent Harley after me, and she eventually traced me here, and she drops in every once in a while."

"Makes sense," I said, rubbing my temples. Three Rogues, two days, I thought.

"Well… let's go make some dinner. Hopefully the rest of our evening will be rather peaceful," Rick said, leading me into his kitchen.

Author's Note:

More Riddler, and some Harley Quinn! Expect a lot of those two in this story.

Do you guys like Rick as a character? I'm trying to decide whether or not I should have him be a huge part of the story or not. I think I will... unless you all hate him.

Please message me if you have any suggestions!