(3 Hours Earlier)

I perched on the roof, the rain pouring down. It piled and sloshed on the corners of the abandoned, brick apartment building I was scoping out on. The drops dampened my face, which was the only thing I left uncovered.

I re-adjusted my scoping position, fiddling with my sniper rifle.

I understood why assassinations are never exactly carried out during rainfall, yet I thought perhaps I could try my luck.

It's not exactly working out...

I mean, in a city like Gotham, rain is a constant, and any prediction in the showers will almost always be an underestimate.

I remembered that Harley had raved about coming down this back-alley, so I knew it was a good bet that they would wind up here tonight. I sighed, also remembering her saying how it was simply 'exhilarating' and 'dangerous'... Just like all of her dates with her beloved 'Mista J'...

Huffing in frustration, I put away the rifle. I had been planning this for weeks, but in reality... I had thought about killing that bastard the second Harley tried to hide her bruises from me.

While I was frustrated with the fact that I had a change of plans, I was damn well prepared. Taking out two Smith and Wessons, I quickly checked to make sure they had ammo - Of course they did, but one can never be too careful.

Tracing a black-gloved finger over a paint line I had left across the gun, I knew that one thing was for sure:

The 'Clown Prince Of Crime' would fall tonight.

I left my sniper rifle with the motorcycle I had hidden a few blocks away. I grabbed all four of the pistols I took on a regular basis, leaving an extra pistol in case things got... Nasty.

The rain had not slowed down, but I was grateful there was no wind tonight. While it was difficult to see this far in the slums of Gotham, the ever-present lights of every skyscraper were always on the corner of my eye.

I stalked into the night, the only sound I heard was my heels clicking against the wet streets.

I finally saw the sign to Waterson Alley, which was decidedly more subtle than 'Crime Alley' which was only a block away.

The rain had drenched me, the veils attached to my arms soaked... But that wouldn't matter in a few moments.

I decided to hide in the shadows of the alley, and took a deep breath. I would never regret what I was about to do, but my stomach lurched and twisted in anticipation. I wondered how I looked at this moment - Was my makeup smudged? My hair a mess? My outfit sagging?

I knew all of those questions were frivolous, but I had gone out of my way to avoid them, just to keep my mind from overthinking and obsessing over the action I had to commit tonight.

While I was waiting, I understood why no other people had been walking by... There was neon graffiti that I could hardly make out in the darkness, but I knew that if there was more light, the illegal art would be an eyesore.

I heard a manic laughter, as footsteps approached the alley.

I hid in the shadows of the alley once more, and tried to calm down my nerves.

It's now or never.

In an instant, I shot the goons that accompanied the 'Joker', for I was not expecting them. One in the shoulder, another got their knee shattered, and one turned to run, and I shit them in the back.

Stepping into the slight light that was provided for the night, I aimed my pistol at the Joker's head.

"Look at this, Har-ley! She's like a little lost... Bug!"

I stepped closer to the psychopathic criminal, my gun still on him.

He had a sickening smile plastered on his face, his face had such a pale complexion, with neon-green hair and cherry lips... He definitely looked the part of a clown, but he was such a... Twisted man.

Harley looked so much better, but she was a far cry from the perky psychologist I once knew. Red and black dyed hair, now twisted into pigtails. Her complexion was now much paler, but she had much more black makeup, even a small black heart drawn under her eye. She had now changed into black and red outfit, which were also more revealing.

The henchman I had shot had now scurried away, with Harley trying to yell.

"Darren! Call -"

I pointed the gun at her, my hands shaking.

"Harley! Back. Away."

"Madeline? Is that you...?"

"Harley! Back. Away!"

Lip trembling, she started backing away, muttering "Puddin'" under her breath.

She started running, scared about what would happen.

The Joker only started laughing, as he immediately kicked the gun out of my hand, now shoving me to the ground.

I immediately had another one in my hand, and I punched him in the mouth, feeling the blood that gushed onto my hand.

I pressed my gun onto his forehead, and grunted, now trying to regain a hold on him, somewhat surprised by his strength.

He now grabbed my hand, punching the pistol more into his head, grunting as he spurted out the words.

"You want to do it? You wanna? Wouldn't be much of a punchline, would it?" He laughed more, as it rang in my ear.

"The little 'butterfly' is it? Has finally..."

"Shut up you bastard!"

He laughed - Until it was cut off the second I pulled the trigger, as I put a bullet through that fucker's brains.

Blood splashed onto my face, makeup rubbed on my skin from his body.

"PUDDIN!" Harley screamed, running up to his dead body.

"Darr-arr-en... Call..."

I ran out into the street, the last thing I heard from Harley, were:

"Goodbye is never the end!"

I couldn't hear to look at her face, only those words ringing in my ears.

I sprinted into the rain, tried to wash the vibrant liquids from my hands in the cold rain. Soon... I heard police sirens, the neon red and blue apparent.

Soon... The cold drops on my skin were soon accompanied by hot ones.

I turned once more to the cars that had approached me.

I knew what the inevitable in my future would be.

Smirking, I allowed my fate to come to me... Trying to forget the anguish of my ex-friend as I was slammed into the hood of a cop car, driven away to finally face my consequences.