Hellllooo everyone! First and foremost, I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry it took me so long to update. Works been hectic with the holiday season and, I got a new puppy! :) So with that handful, I've been lacking time to finish this chapter but I PROMISE, I am finishing this story. I'm not abandoning it! So please, I hope you guys are still with me and enjoy this slightly longer chapter. Thank you!

Kas221 - Yes, yes, I love Harley/Joker as well. Of course. Endgame may be a surprise to everyone, actually, but I'm not gonna spoil it. ;) Just several more chapters to go! Thank you for your constant reviews and reading this regardless of who you ship. Queen isn't back officially just yet, but I'm sure you'll know this upcoming scene well. With, some changes, of course.

Guest - Thank you for the correction! Fixed it as soon as I read your comment. Hope you're enjoying the story!

Pennwise - Ah, where do I begin? I am absolutely flattered by your review and can not tell you how much it mean to me that you did take the time to read all of this and leave an excellently in depth review. Really, thank you! I'm ecstatic that you actually like Olive for the reasons in which were my intent of creating her. She's a lost soul just trying to look out for number one. Which should be herself but I envision Olive with a big heart that she'll probably continue to deny till' the day she dies. Hahah. Of course, people with a big heart carry the burden of trying to save the people who need it, but will never want it. Aaaand, also, she does desire to feel like she belongs somewhere. Therefore, she's easy to manipulate with the promise of love.
As for Mister J, it's a relief to hear how I'm doing on portraying Joker. No one had given me feedback about that so I'm super happy that I've managed to keep him in character. I try to remain meticulous when writing him. Playing scenes in my head like a movie reel and what would sound right coming from his mouth and what would sound wrong. Down to the little details of the actions that define his character.
Overall, thank you ever so much, again, for your review, Pennwise! I do hope you continue to enjoy my story as I enjoy reading yours!

Theoriginalsrizzlesouat1D - Thank you! And yes, it will most definitely be playing out past Suicide Squad. I've even got plans for more Batman characters to make some appearances. Heroes and villians. ;)

Brittany - Thank you! I'm glad you've made it this far. Sorry it took me so long to update, please continue to enjoy!

NinjaNerd119 - For some reason, when I try to type out the way your username is spelled, it always changes it. So sorry for that, but to answer you catch up reviews with some catch up responses:
10: Yes, incredibly dark, but it had to be done! :)
11: Don't be scared! It's just the morbid throws of manipulated love, sadly. :/ (I'm elated you love my writing though! Thank you!)
12: Yes, yes, thrown under the bus yet again. Will she never learn?
13: If she wasn't exactly book smart, I wanted her to at least be versed in something a lot of insane people are interested in, art. Now defining what type depends on that persons crazy. ;)
14: Thank you! I don't know the real grit of the underground but I've watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books. Haha!
15: Yes, yes it does. And once again, will she ever learn?
No, thank YOU for being a dedicated reader and taking the time to review like you have! I'm also grateful my handwork shines through my writing but the readers like you are the fuel that inspires me to finish what I started. So again, thank you, and please continue to read and review!

Lex - I'm sorry you had to wait so long! I hope you're still here! Thank you!

"Can't put my finger on it

But I know I want it
I'm willing to try another way
That is, if I get by another day"

- Lana Del Rey, "Try Tonight"

We were escorted by another random vehicle to a private airport.

While Joker had gone back to the hotel, presumably to torture me, he sent Frost out to arrange the most immediate flight to Midway. Apparently, Task Force X were heading in that direction to fight off some terrorist. Which, through J's little sources, turns out to actually be some meta human named Enchantress.

Not that any of this particularly concerned me but the clown became more anxious with his queen in the throws of war. And as much as that stung, I understood his concealed heartbreak. My love, for the moment, would have to be put on the back burner.

I sighed, reminding myself that Rome wasn't built in a day.

My chin rested on my curled knuckles as I glanced at Mister J trying to quell his own nervousness. He had an open palm to his forehead and his leg bopped up and down in impatience. A small smile broke over my face that I hid behind my fingers. Even though it was for Harley, I couldn't deny this rare opportunity to see the clown showing human emotion. Whether he was aware of it or not.

He must have felt me staring because his eyes shifted over to me and I darted them away. In my peripheral, I could see him sneer slightly as he was about to open his mouth but Frost interjected.

"Two more minutes, boss. They said we can board immediately upon arrival."

Joker's blue hues lingered on me a little longer before he turned to Frost. "Any word on where Harley is now?"

"They haven't made it to the city just yet." Frost checked his watch. "Judging between their departure time and ours, we should be there a half hour after they arrive. There's no way they'll be too far into Midway by then."

J let an index finger curve over his upper lip. "Did she receive the cell phone?"

"She did."

The clown nodded and brought his attention back to the window. For the next few minutes we would all sit in complete silence until we arrived at the port. Upon parking, several nameless goons approached our vehicle's doors helping us transition out to board the private jet. I could tell I wasn't the only one who noticed J teetering on the edge. Any small slip up would undoubtedly lead to a hole in the head.

The plane ride from Louisiana to Michigan was about as long as the first flight. At night, the tiny lights of various cities looked like a map strewn out in Lite Brite bulbs. Within the luminosity, I searched for various pictures they'd form to pass the time. Occasionally tracing them with an index finger.

However, as we garnered closer to Midway, I noticed nothing but darkness consuming the urban area. I pressed my nose to the glass in wonderment at the destruction that had befallen. The only pin pricks of light came from what I could only assume were spotlights from the military.

Then, as we began our descent, the true chaos unfolded. Buildings were seemingly decrepit as fire rose and fell within their confines. And in the middle of it all, strange flashes of blueish light erupted. I could feel my palms sweat just thinking about how in just a few minutes, we'd be in the thick of all of that.

I sat back, preparing myself for landing. We were to arrive at a small port just outside of the city. I wasn't exactly sure what the plan was from there but judging by more of the small talk briefly made we managed to intercept a helicopter. I had an inkling that everything J and Frost discussed was hushed so this way I couldn't intervene.

Not that I even wanted to at this point.

When we were finally grounded, I hugged my faux fur coat up to my chin. I slouched in my seat as I watched everyone depart from the jet and right before Mister J got off, he turned slightly to stare. "Well, you don't think you'll be staying here, do you?"

My grey eyes looked from the window to his visage. Remembering what appeared to be a view into hell had fear rising through my veins. Despite events I'd experienced with or because of J, it never quite felt as big as this did. There was absolutely no room for error here. We had to get Harley out and we had to do it now.

Yet, when I followed the green haired man out, a sense of ease washed over me. He could have left me to sit on this plane. He could have left me in the hotel room. He could've even left me to bleed out on the carpeted floor but for one reason or another, he's continued to carry me along. If I were to chicken out now, what would that make me?

A small thought in the back of my head drew me to a not too distant memory of my mother. The words she cursed unto my father and my heated reply. I quickly shook it away. I would not be her. I would never be her.

As I stepped off the jet a familiar rush of swirling air tangled into my new silver locks. I arched a hand above my eyes as my irises adjusted to the rapidly spinning blades of the stolen aircraft. It kicked up dust in our faces and I know that if Mister J wasn't in such an urgent mindset our pilot would've remained permanently on the ground. Or in the ground I should say.

Once we were boarded, I immediately saw Frost strap on a parachute and wondered if I should do the same. I trailed my gaze to J to see him texting on his phone. He didn't seem all that fazed by the action nor did he accept one for his own. Mulling it over some more I decided I guess I didn't actually have a use for one either.

Suddenly, a white coat caught the corner of my eye. It belonged to a man with short brown hair and glasses whom was holding a weird device between his fingers. He was nervous with sweat as he fiddled with a strange device in his palms. I inched a little closer to view the various faces of Task Force X. He must have been involved with the nano bombs.

Studying him further, I could only imagine J was having him disarm Harley's implant. Whatever the clown had on this guy must have been pretty serious to break code against the government. Although, something told me he wasn't making it off this helicopter alive.

Flying more directly into the fray proved to be more intense than the over passing. Sounds and smells now accompanied the blazing chaos. Buildings moaned from the weight they could no longer carry. Fires cackled as they licked up the brick and steel sidings. A putrid smell loomed about in the air like human hair burning. My mind congregated a million things as to where the awful smell originated from.

A few minutes later, Joker jumped to his feet to hover about the helicopter's entrance. I could see his face light up as a silver grin spread. His blue eyes were fixated on something or someone just out of reach. I jutted up partially to peer through another window.

The aircraft hovered above the top of a single building where a group of miscreants and soldiers made their way through. I instantly picked Harley out of the rag tag team with her bat behind her head. She looked a little worse for wear. Her outfit, on the other hand, seemed rather inconvenient for a war. Then again, she was quite eccentric like Mister J.

A crackle came over the speakers in the helicopter as a voice said, "Savior one zero, this is ground element."

It was the army men trying to contact this craft. My eyes widened as my heart started to pound. A small rumble of laughter began to shake from Mister J.

"Savior one zero, how copy."

The clown armed himself as did Frost and the others. This was it, the show down.

"Savior one zero, the LZ's clear."

Good sense told me to pillage around for a long range weapon too but my limbs were suddenly very stiff. I couldn't loosen the grip my fingers held on the arms of my seat. Joker's laugh echoed as the helicopter's entrance opened wide.

Then it happened. Bullet fire hit the sides of the aircraft resonating in multiple tinging sounds. Frost retaliated by firing the gun attached to the craft, shooting into the heart of the group. The clown was in hysterics, enjoying every second of the shoot out.

From my current view I watched them all scatter and Harley duck behind some kind of metal boxes. The cross fire became so hectic it was hard to tell whose bullets were whose. My fingers hovered shakily over the buckle of my seat belt. Something told me that I couldn't continue to just sit here. There was an ominous feeling in the air.

"Professor, could you pick up the pace?" J called back to the man in the white lab coat. He wearily pressed a few more buttons before a beeping sound emitted in the frame of Harley's mugshot.

I unclasped my seat belt as J's smile grew and he stepped back to send something on his phone. Even though my body worked against me, I forced myself to stand. My feet clumsily tried to guide me toward the prince of crime as he tossed rope down.

"Hello baby." He uttered.

My eyes caught sight of Harley, directly in the middle of the chaos, slipping her jacket off while walking in our direction. I slowly steadied myself just a few feet away from the anticipating Mister J. Deep growls rolled with every word he spoke.

"Come on, baby."

The clown girl tore into a sprint before leaping off the edge of the building. Her hands impacted against the rope as she swung around letting her legs securely curl into it. She let her right hand hold tight and blew a kiss to the mismatched group. Giggles filled her lungs.

As Harley climbed up the rope a man, who didn't look anything like the rest of the military, aimed for her with a glock. My stomach dropped. With her dangling like a loon she'd surely be struck down.

"Mister J-"

The green haired man raised a hand. I choked back the rest of my words as my eyes re-observed the scene. The man fired the shot and I gaped in horror as Harley tumbled unceremoniously down the rope. I could feel my chest grow tight.

Then, in mere seconds time, the clown girl propped herself up and posed. He had missed and from what my mind was trying to comprehend he had missed her on purpose. There was no way he could have failed with the set up he had rigged. Joker somehow must've put faith in this turn out.

As the rooftop of that building began to shrink, J reached down to help his queen up. He was instantly greeted with her excitement.

"Puddin'!" She planted a heavy kiss onto his painted lips, encasing his neck within her arms. He returned it with a pleased snarl. Something deadly clawed up my insides.

When they finally broke, she beamed, "You got all dressed up for me?"

"Oh, you know I'd do anything for you." He nonchalantly answered maneuvering his head to her right ear. "By the way, I've got some grape soda on ice and a bear skin rug waiting."

"Yeah?"

The manic beeping of the aircraft interrupted the magic moment between the two. Frost came towards the back with urgency in his words. "Boss, we've got a problem!"

We all watched helplessly as a missile shot into the middle of the craft. It rocked us all back and forth before starting a fiery descent downwards. I pressed myself against the sides as I looked to J. He combed over the situation briefly and turned back to Harley Quinn.

"This bird is baked." His blue hues scoped the various buildings below. He then brought his attention back to her. "Okay honey, it's me and you."

Wait, what?

"Let's do it." She happily obliged.

No.

My veins ran hot as I found myself jogging towards the couple. There was no way they were leaving me here, he was leaving me here. The clack of my heels distracted J for a moment making him turn his head slightly. The helicopter rocked again and in that second he lost his grip on precious Harley. She fell off the aircraft, plummeting with speed into the rooftop of a random building.

I dove ungracefully for the clown prince as he dropped onto his back. I scraped my knees crawling for him. His features were mangled with angry and confusion.

"Mister J…" I used my arms to hoist him in to a sitting position. He was unresponsive, his breathing hoarse and gaze focused on the ghost of his queen.

I tried again, bringing my face around and into his view. "Mister J!" His irises snapped to mine. "We need to get off this helicopter. Now!"

He didn't budge so I took it upon myself to quickly formulate a plan. The lower we descend, the fewer rooftops we could clear safely. How was I to get my prince off this thing alive? My intense stare trailed to the cuts already healing on my knees.

That's it!

I got in front of Mister J and tangled the fingers of my hands with his, willing him to stand. His expression never changed but I was determined to make him listen.

"J, we only have a few seconds before we explode with this helicopter. I can save you, but you need to trust me." His non-existent brows furrowed. "Trust me."

Before he could even protest, I encircled him in the strongest hug I could muster and leaped backwards into the chaotic night. As we free fell, I struggled to keep him above me. This would all be for naught if we flipped the wrong way.

It felt like someone had punched me with bricks when my back landed onto the concrete of the rooftop. The sensation was so painful it knocked the breath right out of me. We tumbled ceaselessly like rag dolls along the flat surface. I was sprawled out when I finally rolled to a stop. My left arm outstretched to the curled body of the clown.

Minus a few more nicks and cuts, he was completely fine as he slowly raised himself up. A small smiled curved my lips. My body had taken most of the impact and I was pretty damn certain my spine was misplaced. I couldn't feel the pain anymore though. It had all become numbness.

J inched himself towards me, his face an array of emotions. So many in fact that I couldn't place which one was which. He raised a palm cautiously over me. "Papillon…what can I do?"

A wheezing sound intertwined with my words. "My back…snap my spine back into place…" I attempted to smile encouragingly.

His jaw clenched, but he did not hesitate to turn me over. More pain raced through me. I bit back a yelp as I urged, "Quickly"

Within in seconds he had my spine realigned properly and I could not hold the scream that came with it. My nails snapped as I clawed the solid ground. I breathed erratically syncing my fluttering lids to the motion. J stood up with a mixture of concern and curiosity in his eyes. I wanted to tell him that I'd be alright but my voice seemed lost within the pain. This injury was nothing short of serious.

"That's quite the trick." Frost stumbled upon us sporting no horrific damage of his own. However, he only seemed to be the only other person alive. That parachute came in handy after all. "She still alive?"

J was still eyeing me, "Yes…it would appear so."

I inhaled deeply as Frost now stood over me too. "Doesn't look like she'll be getting up any time soon." He redirected his stare to Joker. "You look mostly unscathed though."

"Yesss" J rolled his jaw and broke his gaze. "We need to find a vehicle and get out of this city. Harley will have to wait."

"Yes, boss, and the girl?"

Another snarl vibrated from his throat as he stepped towards me and scooped me into his arms. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't felt uncertain to whether he would take me with him or not. His decision making was always uncanny. Then again, my reasons for staying with him were just the same.

I flopped limply around as we made our trek to ground level. Every structure was as desolate inside as it was outside. Windows smashed, desks upturned, papers carelessly scattered to the wind. It was all very reminiscent of an apocalypse.

The fires that blazed in the streets felt hot against my cool skin as we stepped out. All I could see was an ashy night sky. Oranges and reds lapped at the edges of the vast navy blue. Pin pricks of pure white light struggled against the smokey backdrop. I felt like I was floating through a surreal dream.

My fingertips twitched, desperately wanting to regain control. The grey of my eyes shifted to the strong, pale jaw of the mad clown. Even in this glow I could see the muscles beneath the skin jitter with inside movement. He was thinking, plotting. He lost the battle but not the war.

For now, Harley was safe. Her nano bomb disarmed and the scientist dead. I believed he was never actually worried about the Enchantress. She was a villain, same as us, after all. It was the heroes who'd inflict the most harm. At least the sorceress was up front about her destruction.

Another growl ripped through Joker's esophagus. His pace quickened towards an almost untouched vehicle abandoned amongst others in the street. It had only suffered a spider web of cracks on the windshield and a few scrapes from undoubtedly being pushed into other automobiles.

"This'll do." He muttered as he passed my weight off to Frost abruptly. He then slipped off his suit coat to spin it the best he could around his arm and smashed in the driver's side window.

The car alarm honked loudly causing a panic to rise in me chest. What if whatever destroyed Midway, came after us? Mr. J, of course, didn't seem all that worried. He promptly swung open the door and knelt down to fiddle with the wiring. A small smirk crept at the corner of my lips. With all the goons he had to do his bidding, it'd make you forget that he too could do such petty, simple things like hot wiring a car.

We all started somewhere. We all learned from someone.

When he got the car alarm to stop he tugged and rewired a few more cables. Within minutes, the vehicle roared to life. He chuckled lowly while flashing a metal grin. "Get in"

Frost dared not hesitate as he stuck me in the backseat. Once he looped around and got in on the passengers side, Joker took off. By this point, I was healed enough to where I could keep myself in a sitting position. Although all the good it did me, I don't know. I'd never been in a car that J was personally driving and I wasn't quite sure if I'd wanted to be ever again. He was as mad on the road as he was in the head.

Weaving through the ruined streets, I sloshed about unsteadily. Holding onto the handles inside the car proved to be utterly useless. My body still wained back and forth as he maneuvered his way around debris. Something told me that Mr. J never got his license legally.

Frost remained still, as best he could. This certainly wasn't his first rodeo. He must have had similar thoughts to mine as he cocked a gun. Something was destroying this city and we had to be prepared for it.

J continued to successfully dodge obstacles at illegal speeds for several more minutes before Frost did a double take in the side mirror. Without warning, he rolled down his window and began shooting at something behind us. The clown was unmoved but I flinched down in my seat.

Frost reloaded his gun. "What the hell are those things?"

Joker just let out insane laughter as I peered sheepishly out of the rear window. Figures of sludge and rubble tailed closely behind us. They looked like nothing more than mud monsters and when Frost's bullets struck them, they scattered into chunks of dust.

I felt something with girth hit the spot next to me. I looked down to see a gun.

"Use it." Frost commanded.

I caught J's eyes in the rear view mirror. There were numerous crinkles around his lids as he winked. I guess this was as good a time as any to practice my aim. I tried to reach for the gun with confidence but the weight of the clown's stare felt heavy.

I wrapped both hands around it's handle and let my right index rest on the trigger. My hands couldn't keep still. I wasn't nervous because I had to shoot the thing, I was nervous that I'd miss. I didn't have much practice on live targets when I worked for Angelo.

My grey eyes scanned the back windshield. I could have roll down the back window and start firing but I'd have a better chance blasting them directly through. Should I risk breaking it?

I didn't have a chance to even think it over when the glass shattered itself from Frost's gun. I whipped around to him, wide eyed.

"Shoot them! Now!"

Despite feeling foolish, I obeyed. I fired bullet after bullet at what seemed to be an endless barrage of mud monsters. I hit a few. I missed a few. All in the same, we kept them at bay. All until one snuck up from under the vehicle and grabbed at me through the broken glass.

I tossed my empty gun, having no time to reload, and pulled out what I knew best, my knives. I hacked diligently away at the offender letting primal noises escape my throat. It felt real good to kill something. Something I didn't have to feel guilty for.

Once the monster was destroyed, Frost finished off a few more before we entered outside of city limits. The difference between lighting was astounding. Nature emerged from the sidelines like a pop-up book and with it, a darkness enveloped the vehicle like a shroud.

I flopped back proudly in my seat admiring the burning city's blaze grow farther and farther. The strands of my pale hair danced fervently in front of my face, waving a triumphant goodbye.