Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter for this story! This chapter will pick up where the previous chapter left off with the Bat Family finally going after Scarecrow, trying to stop whatever he is planning. This will be the final chapter of this story, and an epilogue will be included to show how our heroes are doing after they confront Scarecrow. This story has been a ton of fun to write and I hope you've all enjoyed reading it.
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***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, PLEASE READ*** I already made this announcement on my P atreon page, but I wanted you all to be the next people to learn about the new story I've been thinking about creating. Now, I want to preface this by saying nothing is 100% concrete yet. And if I do end up starting this story, it won't be until after I complete either my Batman or Pokemon stories. So please, while I'm interested in doing this new story, don't take this post as confirmation that will happen. Anyway, the story I've been thinking about making will be set in the Mato Seihei no Slave (Chained Soldier) universe. It will center on how Yuuki was raised by his sister, and how a change in that upbringing will affect the rest of the story.
And lastly, I want to give a special shoutout to my P atreon backers! You're all awesome and I appreciate your support!
Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
"Harley's Inner Voice (Harleen Quinzel)"
"Oracle"
Disclaimer: I don't own Batman or any of its characters
(Five Days Later: Wayne Manor)
"Mmmm..." Harley groaned as the early morning light streamed in from a large window, hitting her in the face. Refusing to open her eyes, Harley stretched a bit and rolled over in the bed. Feeling a body next to her, Harley smiled and snuggled up next to the person next to her. She leaned in and placed kisses on her bedmate's shoulder. "Mornin' Brucey...why don't we have some naughty fun before we get out of bed? Ya know I don't like to wear any undies to bed, so I'm rarin' to go."
"As tempting as that offer is Harley..." The blonde harlequin pouted a bit when she heard Frost's teasing voice. "Bruce got out of bed twenty minutes ago."
"I thought it was weird that his skin was ice cold." Harley said before she smiled again and snuggled up closer to Frost, planting several kisses along her neck. "Well...since Brucey isn't here, why don't you and I fool around a bit?"
"It's time to get out of bed, Harley." Frost said, rolling out of bed and making her way to the bathroom. Harley inhaled deeply through her nose, seeing Frost's naked body. "I'm gonna brush my teeth."
"I'll meet you for breakfast..." Harley said as she sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Frost's ass jiggled with every step. Pausing in the bathroom's doorway, Frost turned to Harley and blew her a kiss. The blonde harlequin bit her bottom lip, getting a full view of Frost's ample breasts. "I know she says that she does it because she gets too hot, but I swear Frosty sleeps nude to fuck with me." Once Frost closed the bathroom door, Harley released a light sigh and hopped off the bed. "Alright, time to start the day!"
Skipping over to the dresser, Harley opened it and grabbed her workout clothes. A few days after Harley had entered a relationship with Bruce and Frost, she was allowed to move out of the Batcave and into Wayne Manor. While she did have her own room, she preferred sleeping with Frost and Bruce, so she ended up keeping a lot of her clothes in his room. After getting dressed, Harley walked through the halls of Wayne Manor, her footsteps echoing off the walls. After a few minutes, since she ended up getting lost in the vast home, Harley made it to the dining room.
"Ah, looks like you're finally up, Ms. Harley." Harley perked up a bit when she heard Alfred's friendly voice. Spinning around, she saw the Wayne's loyal butler wheeling in a cart full of juice and coffee. "Would you like me to make you anything to eat?"
"Sure thing! I'd love an omelet! And really go crazy! I want cheese, ham, sausage, bacon, the works! Oh! Oh! Don't forget the hashbrowns on the side!" Harley said excitedly as she grabbed a glass of orange juice and took a seat at the massive dining table. "So, where's Brucey? Tall, dark, and brooding wasn't in bed when I woke up."
"Ah, Master Bruce is out back...paying his respects. It's the anniversary of his parent's death." Alfred said, clasping his hands behind his back as he looked out a nearby window, gazing at their expansive back garden. "If you wish to join him, I'll likely have your breakfast prepared by the time you get back."
"That's...I don't..." Harley muttered as she fidgeted a bit in her seat, staring down into her glass of juice. She eventually released a light sigh and looked up at Alfred. "Brucey and I have only been together for a few days...and I just...I don't feel...am I allowed to be there? It feels like I'd be intrudin'."
"Ms. Harley, trust me, Master Bruce would be more than happy if you joined him. You're a part of this family now, you have every right to be out there." Alfred said, causing a slight gasp to escape Harley's lips as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Now, go join Master Bruce. Comfort him. Mourn with him. Just...be there for him."
"You're right, I'll head out there now..." Harley said as she quickly wiped away her tears and stood up from her seat. Grabbing her glass of OJ, Harley downed it in a few gulps. After setting her empty glass down, Harley dashed over to a nearby door that led into the back garden. However, she paused in the doorway for a few moments. Before she ran over and surprised Alfred by giving him a tight hug. "Thanks, Alfy...hearin' you say I was a part of this family...I haven't been this happy in a long time."
"I'll be frank, Ms. Harley. When Master Bruce first brought you to the Batcave, I thought he was making a dangerous mistake...I thought that you were a lost cause." Alfred said, patting Harley's head as a small smile spread across his face. "But, I'm pleased to say that the both of you have thoroughly proved me wrong. You've accomplished so much in such little time. Master Bruce was right to put his faith in you...he was right to believe that it was still possible for you to turn your life around."
"You really are the best, Alfy." Harley said as she sniffled, tightening her hug a bit before she finally released the bewildered butler. Flashing Alfred one last smile, Harley dashed back toward the door that led into the backyard. "I'll drag Brucey back inside in a bit."
Closing the door behind her, Harley walked out onto the large patio that led into the expansive back garden. She leisurely strolled past perfectly maintained hedges and flower beds. Humming to herself, Harley eventually walked into a more secluded portion of the garden, free of the extravagant flowers and foliage everywhere else. A simple hedge archway led Harley to a small, immaculately kept lot where the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne were. Standing before the graves was Bruce Wayne, clutching two beautiful bouquets of flowers against his chest.
"Even after all these years, this hasn't gotten any easier. It still hurts...not having them here." Bruce said, staring down at his parents' graves. Kneeling down, he placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstones. "Sometimes I wonder what they would say if they could see me now. I'm sure they wouldn't approve of the risks I take...but...would they be proud?"
"Yeah, I don't think they'd like the idea of you dressin' up as a bat and beatin' the shit out of people..." Harley said as she kneeled down next to Bruce, gently rubbing his back. "But...I'm sure they'd love that you're doin' everythin' you can to keep people in this city safe...and how you try your damndest to make this hellhole a better place."
"I just wish that I could do more." Bruce said, releasing a light sigh as he stood back up, still staring at his parents' graves. "It just feels like no matter what I do, it's never enough."
"You're just one man, Bruce. You're not a miracle worker." Harley said as she gripped her lover's hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "And remember, you've got a team at your back. You don't have to do everything by yourself."
"You're right, I should rely on you and the rest of the team more...I just..." Bruce said, tightly balling his fist as he locked eyes with Harley. "I just don't want to lose anyone else close to me."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that..." Harley said with a smile as she playfully nudged Bruce with her elbow. "You trained us all personally and drilled your methods into our heads until we had everything down perfectly. We can take down any bad guy in our way."
"Heh, you did better than I expected during your training...so did everyone on the time. Perhaps I should trust them with greater responsibilities." Bruce said with a dry chuckle, gazing into the blonde harlequin's eyes as a smile spread across his face. Reaching up, Bruce cupped Harley's cheek, causing her face to flush slightly. "You know...I think my parents would have liked you, Harley."
"Oh yeah..." Harley said dreamily as she moved in closer, pressing her body against Bruce's. "You don't think I would have been too crazy for them?"
"It would have taken some time for them to get accustomed to your...unique personality. But, I think in the end, you would win them over." Bruce said, before leaning in and giving Harley a tender kiss. The blonde harlequin felt her heart flutter as she wrapped her arms around Bruce's neck, deepening their liplock. When they eventually broke their kiss, Harley looked as if she was lost in her own world. "Why don't we head back inside?"
"Yeah..." Harley breathed out as she tightly hugged Bruce's arm. "Whatever you say, Brucey."
The pair began to walk to the mansion, going at a slower pace so that they could simply enjoy each other's company. Harley rested her head against Bruce's shoulder as she continued to hug his arm. Walking past one of the expansive flower beds, Bruce stopped when he spotted a blooming rose bush. Reaching in, Bruce carefully plucked one of the roses and handed it to Harley.
"It's beautiful..." Harley said as she accepted the rose, twirling it between her fingers before taking a sniff of its delightful aroma. "I'll take flowers from you whenever, Bruce, I love the romantic gesture...but, this is sort of spontaneous."
"I just wanted to thank you for keeping me company, Harley." Bruce said with a soft smile, gently gripping one of the blonde harlequin's hands. "Everyone else on the team usually gives me space when I'm out there, so it was nice not to be alone this time."
"Well, like it or not, you're stuck with me now, Brucey. So, get used to me being around all the time." Harley said with a large grin as she tightly hugged Bruce's arm, finally re-entering the mansion. "Now, let's eat some grub before we do our mornin' trainin'."
"Ah, you're both back, right on time." Alfred said, wheeling a cart full of food into the dining room. "I've got breakfast ready for both of you."
"And what about me?" Frost said as she waltzed into the room, drying her damp hair. Wrapping the towel around her neck, Frost took a seat at the expansive table. "You didn't forget about me, did you Alfred?"
"Of course not, Ms. Louise." Alfred said, revealing a third tray of food on the lower portion of the cart. "I've prepared your usual as well."
"As dependable as always, Alfy!" Harley cheered as she took a seat across from Frost, grabbing her utensils. The blonde harlequin's mouth began to water when Alfred set a plate of food down in front of her. "Is there anything you can't do?"
"If there is, I haven't found it." Bruce said, sitting down next to Harley. A moment later, Alfred set down Bruce's food and cup of coffee. "Thank you, Alfred."
"Why don't you join us, Alfy?" Harley asked in between mouthfuls of food, pausing for a moment to gulp down some juice. "Enjoy this awesome food you made."
"I'll eat shortly." Alfred said as he began to wheel the cart out of the dining room. "I have a few more errands to take care of first."
"I don't know how Alfred does it." Frost said, poking at her food with a fork. "I swear he's busier than us."
"Has he ever taken a day off?" Harley asked as she turned her head to look at Bruce. A moment later, Harley's eyes lit up and she gasped. "Oh my gosh! We should totally plan Alfy an awesome vacation! We could send him to-" Harley stopped mid-sentence when Alfred suddenly walked back into the room, a serious look on his face. "What's up, Alfy? You decide to join us after all?"
"I don't wish to interrupt your breakfast..." Alfred said, locking eyes with Bruce. Instantly, Bruce knew that it was something Batman-related. "Master Dick and Master Tim have returned...and they brought a guest...a Mr. Simon Stagg. They're waiting for you down in the Batcave."
"I'm heading down there now." Bruce said as he stood up from his seat, glancing at Harley and Frost. "You two, meet me in the Batcave in five minutes."
"Already on it." Frost said, chugging the last of her juice and setting her glass down. "I'll go suit up."
"W-Wait up!" Harley exclaimed as she shot up out of her seat. But, she stopped and glanced down at her plate of half-eaten food. "Damn it...I hate wastin' food." Watching Bruce and Louise walk out of the dining room, Harley looked down at her plate one last time. Letting out a huff, Harley plopped back down into her seat and began to practically inhale the rest of her breakfast. After shoveling down the last of her food, Harley downed the rest of her juice in a single gulp. Pounding on her chest a few times, the blonde harlequin let out a quick belch and lept out of her seat. Seeing Alfred staring at her, quirking one of his eyebrows, Harley chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of her head. "Heh, sorry about that, Alfy. That was super unladylike." With a quick wave, Harley ran out of the dining room. "Hold up guys! I'm right behind ya!"
(Five Minutes Later: Batcave Holding Cells)
"Robin...Nightwing..." Batman said, hurriedly walking into the Batcave's detention area, with Harley and Frost a few steps behind him. "Update me on the situation."
"Well, our friend Stagg here is definitely working with Scarecrow." Robin said as he tapped on the bars of Stagg's cell. "We found barrels full of fear toxin in the lab we found him in."
"He was also being protected by some mercs we've never seen before." Nightwing added, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes narrowed slightly. "And they were packing some serious firepower."
"Did ya get any other info out of him?" Harley asked before she smiled and waved at Stagg teasingly, causing him to glare at the blonde harlequin. "We know he's working with Scarecrow, but that's about it."
"He wasn't very talkative...even after we tried to 'persuade' him." Robin said, releasing a light sigh as he shook his head. "We figured you guys could take a crack at him."
"Please, you have to understand..." Stagg said as he tightly clutched the bars of his cell. "I had to help Scarecrow! He threatened to kill me! I was forced to help him!"
"Help him do what?" Batman growled, reaching between the bars and grabbing Stagg's shirt. The Dark Knight roughly yanked Stagg forward, causing him to yelp in surprise. "I suggest you start talking."
"You really should do what he says." Frost said with a smirk as she leaned against the cell right next to Stagg. "He's really cranky in the morning. You don't want to test his patience."
"I-I can't!" Stagg stammered out in a nervous tone, his legs kicking in the air as Batman lifted him off the ground. "He'll find out! A-And then, Scarecrow will expose me to that horrible gas! He'll torture me before he kills me!"
"Trust me, if you don't talk, what I'll do to you will make Scarecrow's fear toxin look tame in comparison." Batman said as he roughly pulled Stagg forward, slamming him against the cell's bars. "Now...start...talking. What did you do for Scarecrow? What is he planning?"
"He's not joking." Nightwing chimed in, pulling out his phone and starting a video. Showing the video to Stagg, his eyes widened in horror as pained screams began to blast out of the phone. "When crooks don't talk...things tend to get...messy."
"Jesus..." Stagg breathed out as he continued to watch the video, unable to tear his eyes away. He felt his stomach churn when he saw the Dark Knight effortlessly snap a thug's arm. When a video of Batman breaking a goon's finger started, Stagg suppressed a gag and frantically shook his head. "Alright! Alright! I'll tell you everything! Just don't hurt me!"
"Good choice." Robin said, resting his hands on his hips. "I was about to grab our 'persuasion' tools."
"Listen...before I tell you anything...you need to promise me that you'll stop Scarecrow." Stagg said as he looked at the members of the Bat Family, several of them rolling their eyes. "I need you to ensure my safety."
"Buddy, look around ya." Harley said, making a sweeping gesture around the Batcave. "You're in the freakin' Batcave. I literally don't think you could be anywhere safer."
"We will stop Scarecrow." Batman assured as he set Stagg down and released him. "But, we can't do that unless you tell us everything you know."
"Okay...I'll tell you everything..." Stagg said, releasing a light sigh as he began to nervously pace back and forth in his cell. "Look...my company was developing a device called the Cloudburst. It was originally invented by Dr. Alex Sartorius as a mass-inoculation device, quickly spreading cures to diseases in heavily infected areas via inhalation. But...Scarecrow learned about the Cloudburst and had me modify it so that it would launch and amplify the effects of his Fear Toxin. I tweaked the Cloudburst so that it ran on my company's Nimbus Generators, which will strengthen the Fear Toxin and also disable any vehicles that lacked a Nimbus Cell."
"Holy shit..." Frost breathed out as even she felt a chill run down her spine. "That crazy bastard plans to use the Cloudburst to cover all of Gotham in his Fear Toxin."
"That won't happen." Batman sternly said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glared at Stagg. "Is the Cloudburst complete? How far along is Scarecrow's plan?"
"It still needs to go through some tests, but the Cloudburst is basically ready to go. The units are being installed on several of my airships by a group of mercenaries Scarecrow is working with." Stagg explained as he leaned against the wall of his cell, looking down at the floor. "As for Scarecrow...I can't say for sure. The last time I spoke to him, he said that he was mixing a huge batch of his Fear Toxin. I have no idea how far along he is in that process."
"Then time is of the essence." Batman said, pressing a few buttons on his wrist computer. Moments later, a thunderous bang echoed throughout the Batcave as the Batwing's engines roared to life. "Where is Scarecrow making the Fear Toxin?"
"I believe he said that he was working out of Ace Chemicals." Stagg said as he stepped forward and gripped the bars of his cell, locking eyes with the Dark Knight. "But you have to be careful. Those mercenaries will be swarming all over that building as well."
"We can handle it." Batman said, turning around and beginning to walk toward the Batwing. "Robin. Nightwing. Find where Stagg's airships are and stop them from getting airborne."
"On it." Nightwing said as he headed toward the garage where his motorcycle was stored. "We'll radio in when we get close."
"We'll take care of this, Bruce." Robin said, nodding to his mentor as he followed after Nightwing. "Did you get all that, Barbara?"
"Yeah, I heard everything, Tim. I'm locating Stagg's airships right now. I'll send their location to you and Dick in a moment."
"Once you're finished finding those airships, I'll need you to tap into the surveillance at Ace Chemicals." Batman said as he began to walk up the steps toward the Batwing. "We need to know what we're up against."
"Already on it. You'll have eyes on by the time you get there."
"Good. This is going to be difficult, Oracle. You'll need to run operations for both teams." Batman said, stopping at the top of the steps and turning to face Harley and Frost, both women looking at him expectantly. "I hope you're ready."
"Don't worry, Bruce. This isn't anything I can't handle."
"That's what I like to hear." Batman said as he tapped a button on his wrist computer, opening the Batwing's cockpit. "Louise. Harley. You're both with me."
"Yay! Let's go kick that creepy Scarecrow's ass!" Harley cheered, running up the stairs and leaping into the cockpit. "I call shotgun!"
"I'll sleep better when we finally stop this maniac." Frost said as she followed after Harley, climbing into the Batwing's back row of seats. "We've been chasing after him for weeks. Now, we've finally got a chance to take him down."
"We'll stop him." Batman said, hopping into the pilot's seat and flicking several switches. The Batwing's engines roared louder as it began to lift off the ground. "Buckle up you two, there's no time to waste, so I'm punching it."
(Ten Minutes Later: Just Outside Ace Chemicals)
"Thank god I was wearin' my seatbelt..." Harley said as she sat on the edge of a rooftop across the street from Ace Chemicals, looking a bit queasy. "If I wasn't, I probably would have gone flyin' through the fuckin' window."
"He said that he was punching it." Frost teased with a smirk, patting the blonde harlequin's shoulder. "Although some of those turns were a bit rough, my stomach still feels like it's floating."
"Focus up you two." Batman said as he stood on the roof's edge, tapping a few buttons on his wrist computer. After a few moments, a holographic blueprint of Ace Chemicals projected in front of the members of the Bat Family. "How are things looking, Oracle?"
"Dick and Tim just arrived at the airstrip where Stagg's airships are. There are four airships in total with a dozen mercenaries guarding each one. They should be able to handle it together, but I'll let you know if the situation changes. As for inside Ace Chemicals..." The blueprint projection suddenly zoomed in, numerous red dots appearing on each floor. "After scanning through the security feeds, there are at least two dozen mercenaries patroling the building. Scarecrow is mixing a massive batch of fear toxin, and from what I can tell, he's rigged the fire suppression system to disperse the gas. So, if you guys are caught, he'll flood the entire building with fear toxin."
"That makes things difficult..." Batman muttered, his eyes narrowing as he mulled over the information Oracle had revealed. After a few moments, the Dark Knight turned to Frost and Harley. "Alright, no splitting up this time. The three of us will work together and work our way through the factory. We can't risk alerting Scarecrow, so we'll take down mercenaries only when we have openings. We'll have to watch each other's backs and trust our judgments. Are you both ready?"
"Hell yeah!" Harley cheered with a smirk as she hopped onto her feet. "We're gonna kick Scarecrow's ass."
"After all the trouble this bastard has caused, I'm ready to take him down." Frost added, the air around her dropping a few degrees. "Let's get this done."
"Alright, we'll enter through the side entrance here..." Batman said as he spun the blueprint projection around, zooming in on a door on the side of the Ace Chemicals building. "There are no guards patroling this area. So, from here, we'll enter the offices and take out any mercenaries in our path. Then, we'll move onto the main factory floor. That'll be the most dangerous area, so we'll need perfect coordination in there."
Pulling out their Batclaws, the three members of the Bat Family grappled across the street. After landing on the Ace Chemicals roof, the three of them rappelled down to the side entrance Batman had pointed out earlier. Before they entered the building, the Dark Knight performed a quick scan with the detective mode within his cowl. Once he was sure that the area was clear, he entered the building, with Harley and Frost following right behind. Inside the building, they walked into a short, dimly lit hallway and were met with the scent of mixing chemicals burning their nostrils.
"The offices are through that door..." Batman said as he walked down the hall, constantly scanning for threats with his detective mode. Once he reached the end of the hall, the Dark Knight turned to face Harley and Frost. "I'll go in first, then you both follow after me a few seconds later."
"Sounds go-" Harley stopped mid-sentence when she noticed something suspicious about the door. Reacting quickly, her hand shot forward and grabbed Batman before he could open the door. "Hold on a second, B-Man." Stepping forward, the blonde harlequin pointed toward a small black box situated on the wall next to the doorframe. "I've broken into enough buildings to notice an alarm system. You open that door and this whole damn building will know we're here."
"Good catch, Harley." Batman said as he stepped back from the door, his brow furrowing slightly. "We'll need to disable that alarm before we can continue." Pressing a handle to his hear, the Dark Knight opened communication with the Batcave. "Oracle, we've got an alarm on a door. How do we disable it?"
"Give me a minute...ah, I see...okay...the alarm system isn't very advanced, but it's still effective. It'll take me at least ten minutes to disable. Your only other option would be to disable power in the building...but that would alert Scarecrow and his mercenaries."
"Okay, I don't want to waste any extra time, but we don't have many options. Disable the alarm system, Oracle." Batman said, mulling over their frustrating situation. "Oracle, could you also remotely disable the power?"
"Sure. Why? Do you have an idea?"
"Not yet, but it may be useful. Just be ready to do it if in case we'll need it." Batman said as he turned to face Harley and Frost. "Alright, hang tight you two. We'll move in once Oracle is finished."
"Actually, could I try something?" Frost asked, walking up to the alarm box. "I may be able to freeze the alarm box and disable it."
"Are you sure, Frosty?" Harley asked as she quirked an eyebrow. "That sounds kind of risky."
"I trust her." Batman said, crossing his arms over his chest as he locked eyes with Killer Frost. "Give it your best shot, Louise."
"Thanks." Frost said with a small smile as she turned to face the alarm box. Reaching out, Frost grabbed the metallic box and let out a long breath. Seconds later, the alarm box began to freeze over. But, Frost's ice didn't just cover the box itself, it began to encase the wires for the entire alarm system. Closing her eyes, Frost let out a slow exhale as she did her best to concentrate. After about a minute, Frost stepped away from the alarm box and wiped some sweat that formed on her brow. "Okay...we should be good now. The entire alarm system is frozen over."
"Let's hope that worked. Be ready for anything." Batman said, reaching out and gripping the door handle. After a few tense moments, Batman pulled the door open. Harley and Frost both breathed a sigh of relief when alarms didn't start blaring. "Alright, remember the plan. I'll head in first and scope out the offices. Follow me in a few seconds later."
"Nice work, Frosty!" Harley cheered with a grin as he playfully slapped Louise on the back. "Not gonna lie, I was kinda worried we'd be inhalin' Fear Toxin right about now!"
"Thanks, Harls. Your belief in my abilities in me is a great boost to my confidence." Frost joked with a chuckle, watching as the Dark Knight walked into the office area. After a few moments of silence, Frost took a deep breath to steel her nerves. "Let's go, Harley."
"Right behind ya." Harley said as she followed Frost into the offices. They quickly spotted Batman crouched behind a cubicle, seemingly scanning the area with the detective mode in his cowl. Frost and the blonde harlequin followed the Dark Knight's lead and hid behind the cubicle across from him. "What do ya see, Bats?"
"There's four mercenaries up ahead. They're all gathered in what appears to be a break room." Batman replied, his eyes narrowing slight as he analyzed the information his cowl was feeding him. "If the three of us strike simultaneously, we should be able to take them all out."
"How are we gonna do that?" Harley asked as she pulled down her goggles, her own detective mode activating. "There's only one door into that room, so we can't just waltz in there. We're gonna need a different approach."
"I feel pretty left out, I'm the only one who doesn't have any fancy ass x-ray vision." Frost grumbled, scanning around the room. Looking up at the ceiling, she quirked an eyebrow when she spotted a vent grate in the center of the room. "What about that vent? Does it lead to the break room?"
"Let me see..." Harley said as she followed the vent's path through the ceiling. After a few moments, she spotted what they were looking for and smirked. "There's another vent covering right over the break room. Nice catch, Frosty."
"That's our best approach." Batman said, pulling out his Batclaw. "Harley and I will go in through the vents. Frost, you make your way to the break room and wait outside. As soon as you hear Harley and I attack, you jump and help."
"Got it." Frost said as she slowly began to crouch walk toward the break room. "I'll wait for your signal."
"Let's do this, B-Man." Harley said with a grin, grabbing her own Batclaw off her belt. "Ready when you are."
"..." Batman said nothing as he simply nodded his head. Aiming his Batclaw at the vent's covering, Bruce fired and latched onto the grate. After a good tug, the Dark Knight ripped the grate off. Then, firing another line, Batman pulled himself up into the vent, with Harley following right behind him. Crouching down, Batman and Harley quickly and silently made their way through the claustrophobic ventilation shaft. It didn't take them long to reach the grate above the break room. Peering through the slits of the vent cover, Batman and Harley spotted the four mercenaries seat at a table directly underneath them. "I'll take the two directly beneath us. You get one across from them, and Frost will take care of the last one."
Harley took a deep breath and nodded her head. A split second later, the Dark Knight exploded through the vent. With astounding speed and ferocity, Batman landed on two of the mercenaries, slamming their heads into the table with enough for to splinter it. Harley was a half second behind the Dark Knight. Just as Batman was taking down his targets, the blonde harlequin wrestled her's to the ground before he could even get out of his seat. Wrapping herself around the mercenary, Harley began to choke him out.
As Harley was incapacitating her target, the final mercenary in the break room was scrambling to reach for his radio. However, as he was getting out his seat, he felt a hand on his shoulder and a horrible chill ran through his body. Looking down, the mercenary gasped in shock as his body began to be encased in ice. Looking over his shoulder, the last thing the mercenary saw before he was completely covered in ice was Killer Frost smirking at him.
"Oh, wow..." Harley said, looking at the frozen mercenary from head to toe. "Is he gonna be alright? Won't he die bein' frozen solid like a popsicle?"
"Don't worry, I left openings so he can breathe..." Frost said as she tapped the mercenary's ice-encased face. "And he'll thaw out before his body suffers any serious negative effects. At worst he'll have a nasty cold for a few days."
"We need to keep moving." Batman said, walking out of the breakroom as Frost and Harley followed behind him. The trio quickly made their way across the now-empty offices, eventually standing in front of a large set of double doors. "The main factory floor is through these doors. If Oracle's estimates are correct, there are at least twenty mercenaries patroling the area. We'll need to be methodical with our approach, only striking when we won't be seen."
"I can take the factory floor, if you and Harley want to take the upper levels." Frost suggested as she rested her hands on her palms. "I'm definitely not as acrobatic as you two."
"All those years of gymnastics have been payin' off." Harley said with a grin, locking eyes with the Dark Knight. "I think Frost has the right idea. I can also bounce down to the lower level real quick if she needs any backup."
"Alright, we've got our plan of attack." Batman said as he reached out and gripped one of the door's handles. "Watch each other's backs in there."
Stepping into the main factory floor, the trio was greeted by sprawling catwalks and several massive mixing vats. A noxious odor filled the entire room as Scarecrow mixed the chemicals for his Fear Toxin. Ducking into cover, the trio quickly searched for optimal ways to approach their targets. Frost noticed grates running along most of the factory floor. Taking the initiative, she dropped into the vents beneath the floor. Since they'd be taking the upper portion of the factory, Batman and Harley looked upward. They quickly spotted several metallic posts jutting out of the walls around the room. Pulling out their Batclaws, Batman and Harley grappled up to different posts.
After perching on her post, Harley pulled down her goggles and activated her detective mode. After a quick scan of the expansive room, she spotted her first target. A mercenary was walking directly beneath Harley. Seeing that she was clear for a takedown, the blonde harlequin made her move. Using a move that the Dark Knight had taught her, Harley used her Batclaw to hang inverted and slowly lower herself down. Once she was just above the mercenary, Harley lunged forward and grabbed him in a powerful chokehold. The mercenary struggled desperately to escape, but his efforts were in vain. After a few more moments his movements ceased and the blonde harlequin dropped his unconscious body to the ground.
Looking around the room, Harley spotted Batman and Frost taking down their targets. The Dark Knight had landed on a catwalk, sneaking up behind a mercenary and choking him out. Frost, on the other hand, burst out of a vent and slammed a merc against the wall, freezing him against it. Hearing another mercenary approaching, Frost dove back into the vents. Just as the patrolling mercenary spotted his frozen comrade, Frost sprang out behind him, She quickly froze the mercenary's feet to the ground and grappled him in a headlock. Frost's muscles flexed as the mercenary gasped for air, frantically trying to reach his weapon. However, he quickly succumbed to the lack of oxygen and passed out.
Harley was about to grapple back up to one of the metal posts above her. But, the blonde harlequin gasped when she spotted two more mercenaries approaching Frost's location, seemingly attracted by the noise. Unable to risk calling out to her teammate, Harley reacted by sprinting toward the mercenaries leaping over the railing above them. With a thud, Harley's knees slammed into both mercenaries' backs, causing them to crash to the ground. The mercenaries were dazed by the sudden attack, giving Harley the chance to slam both of their heads into the ground, knocking them unconscious.
"Thanks for the assist, Harley." Frost said, helping the blonde harlequin back onto her feet. "Those two almost had the jump on me."
"No problem, Frosty." Harley said with a grin as she prodded one of the unconscious mercenaries with her foot. "We gotta watch each other's backs, right?"
"We need to keep moving, you two." Batman said over their communicators, before grappling up to one of the metal posts above the factory floor. "That's six mercenaries down, so there should be about fourteen left."
"Back to it." Harley said as she pulled out her Batclaw, winking at Frost before she grappled up above. "So, what's our next move, Bats? From what I'm seeing, most of the remainin' mercs are clumped together. Gonna be kind of tricky taking them out."
"I see our next targets. That group of three next to the large mixing vat on the right side of the room." Batman said, spotting a group of mercenaries conversing next to one of the mixing vats. "We can take them out without being seen."
"But how?" Harley asked as she grappled across the room, landing on a metal post near the Dark Knight. "I know you're good, but even you'll have trouble takin' out three goons before they have a chance to alert their buddies."
"With this..." Batman said, reaching into his utility belt and pulling out a Sonic Batarang. "I'll use this to distract one of the guards. When he's separated, you'll take him down and I'll get the other two."
"Sounds good to me." Harley said as she nodded her head. "Ready on your go."
Taking aim and cocking his arm back, the Dark Knight threw the Sonic Batarang. It embedded itself in the ground on a different side of the mixing vat. After a few seconds, the Sonic Batarang began to pulse, emitting a noise just loud enough to catch the attention of the three mercenaries. After a brief discussion, one of the mercenaries separated, heading to investigate the noise. Walking around the mixing vat, the mercenary quickly spotted the Sonic Batarang. However, just as he was bout to grab the Batarang, Harley pounced on him. She tackled the mercenary to the ground, wrapping her legs around his neck and choking him out. As the mercenary gave his last, strangled breaths, he went limp in Harley's grasp.
Releasing the knocked-out mercenary, Harley dashed around the vat to rejoin the Dark Knight. She wasn't surprised to see him standing over two unconscious mercs. After exchanging a quick nod, Harley and Batman both grappled back up above the factory floor. The trio continued making their way towards the control room, where Scarecrow likely was located. All there of them silently and efficiently dispatched every mercenary in their path, covering each other when necessary. After several minutes, they found themselves positioned outside the control room, every mercenary outside unconscious.
"So, what's our next move?" Harley asked, standing beside Frost and the Dark Knight as she scanned the room ahead of them with her detective vision. "There's at least eight creeps in that room. And one of them has to be ol' Bagface."
"If we storm in, they'll likely have time to gas the building." Frost chimed in as she stroked her chin. "We'll have to catch them by surprise."
"There won't be any problems taking them down." Batman said, gesturing toward the roof above the control room. "The roof above is structurally weak, so we can drop right in."
"That's all well and good, B-Man..." Harley said as she rested her hands on her hips. "But, there's a lot of freakin' guys in there. We'll need to take them out in a flash or else we're boned."
"Do you remember what I've been teaching you the past week, Harley?" Batman asked, causing the blonde harlequin's eyes to widen slightly. "It's time to put your training to the test."
"Are you seriously talkin' about performin' a fear takedown?" Harley questioned as she scratched her head, looking a little nervous. "I never quite got the hang-"
"You can do this, Harley." Batman said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I believe in you."
"That's not freakin' fair. You know exactly what to say to butter me up." Harley said as her face flushed red, a smile spreading across her face. "Okay, let's fuckin' do this."
"Good." Batman said, turning to look at Frost. "Harley and I will perform a dual fear takedown. Louise, you handle any stragglers."
"On it." Frost said as she pulled out her Batclaw. "I'm ready to end this."
Once the trio was positioned on the roof of the control room, Batman used his detective vision to scan the room and find the optimal attack angle. It didn't take him long to find the perfect target to start their takedown. There was a main control panel toward the front of the room that overlooked the rest of the mixing room, with Scarecrow seemingly manning it. Behind him were the last seven mercenaries, scattered in a circular pattern around the rest of the room. And, in the center of all the mercenaries appeared to be their leader. Taking him out would be the best way to terrify the others.
Getting Harley's attention, Batman gestured toward their intended target. After taking a moment to compose herself, the blonde harlequin took a deep breath and nodded her head. Using his fingers to signal a countdown, Batman and Harley suddenly burst through the roof. Time seemed to slow for Harley as she descended toward the startled mercenary leader, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Grabbing her bat off her back, Harley activated it and made it buzz to life with electricity.
The second Batman touched the floor, he crouched down and kicked out the mercenary leader's legs. As the mercenary tumbled over, Harley slammed her bat down onto his chest, causing him to crash into the floor. The other mercenaries leaped back in shock, completely caught off guard by the sudden attack. Using her bat as a makeshift springboard, Harley rocketed herself toward the closest mercenary. Before the merc could even reach for his gun, Harley had grabbed ahold of his shoulders. Using her momentum, the blonde harlequin flipped the bewildered mercenary over and slammed him into the ground.
Not even pausing to think, Harley catapulted herself toward the next mercenary. Just as his gun was raised and ready, Harley hit him in the stomach with the end of her bat. The merc lurched forward in pain as all the air was knocked from his lungs, electricity coursing through his body. As soon as the mercenary fell over, Harley whipped around to find her next target. However, she paused when she noticed that all the mercenaries in the room had been taken care of, with Frost freezing over the last one they had missed. Feeling like she could breathe again, Harley let out a sigh of relief. But, her break was short-lived as their real target chuckled darkly.
"So...the rumors were true..." Scarecrow said, stepping away from the control console as he locked eyes with the blonde harlequin. "Harley Quinn really did team up with the Bat."
"Ya, damn right I did!" Harley exclaimed as she stuck her tongue out, resting her bat on her shoulder. "Best decision I ever made!"
"You never quite fit in anywhere you went, isn't that right Harley?" Scarecrow taunted, causing a low growl to rumble in Harley's throat. "First you fumbled being a psychiatrist...then you crawled into Joker's lab and became his lackey...always trying to win his affection...now you're the bat's sidekick. How long before he tosses you aside as well?"
"You motha-" Harley snarled as she began to charge toward Scarecrow, her bat whirring with electricity. But, she was stopped when Frost grabbed her arm. "Let go, Frosty! Nobody talks to me like that!"
"He's trying to bait you in, Harley." Frost said, nodding her head toward the large syringes on Scarecrow's hands. "He'd love for you to get in nice and close so he can dose you with his Fear Toxin."
"Oh my, aren't you a clever one." Scarecrow said with a raspy chuckle as he held up his hands, revealing the Fear Toxin injectors on his hands. "You've caught me red-handed."
"It's over, Crane." Batman said, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the man they had been hunting for weeks. "We know about your plan to cover Gotham in Fear Toxin. Robin and Nightwing are handling Stagg's airships as we speak. You're done."
"It does seem like I'm in quite the predicament." Scarecrow said as he gripped his tattered jacket. Before the trio could react, Scarecrow ripped his jacket open and Fear Toxin began to flood out of hidden canisters. The room quickly became filled as Batman, Frost, and Harley were forced to breathe in the gas. "You see, Batman, we're far from done. I won't stop until all of Gotham is bathed in fear."
Batman and Frost stumbled around for a few moments before collapsing to the ground, succumbing to the Fear Toxin. However, Scarecrow was surprised to see that Harley appeared to still be standing, her body slumped forward and her head hanging. Cocking his head slightly, Scarecrow began to approach the blonde harlequin. But, as Scarecrow reached out to touch Harley, he was startled when she suddenly began to laugh. Harley's laughter started off relatively normal but quickly turned maniacal, eerily reminding Crane of the Joker.
"Looks like she's finally lost her mind." Scarecrow said, stepping away from Harley and making his way back toward the central console. "This was a slight delay, but it's no matter. I'll be long gone before these fools break free from the clutches of my Fear Toxin."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that one." Scarecrow gasped when he heard someone speak up from behind him. Turning around, he was shocked to see Harley smirking at him. "What? You look kinda scared right now, Bagface."
"H-How? How are you not affected by my Fear Toxin?!" Crane exclaimed, taking a step back as Harley slowly began to approach him. "This shouldn't be possible!"
"Give me a break. This shit is weak." Harley asked with a large smile as she inhaled deeply through her nose, breathing in a large amount of Fear Toxin. Letting out a satisfied sigh, Harley's smile widened. "Don't tell Bats, but I've kinda been huffin' this stuff for kicks." Raising her electrified bat, Harley pointed it at Scarecrow. "Now, option A, are you gonna give up peacefully? Or, option B, am I gonna have to knock your ass out?" Crane looked quite panicked as he stared at Harley, breathing a bit heavily. He glanced at the Fear Toxin injectors on his hands, then at Harley. Seemingly making up his mind, Scarecrow charged toward the blonde Harlequin. "I was hopin' you'd choose that option B."
Quickdrawing her Batclaw, Harley grabbed ahold of Scarecrow. With a powerful tug, the blonde Harlequin yanked Scarecrow toward her. As Crane stumbled forward, Harley raised her arm and clotheslined him. With a thud, Scarecrow crashed to the ground, groaning as he stared up at the destroyed ceiling. The last thing Scarecrow saw was Harley's smirking face before she brought down her bat and his entire world went black.
"One asshole down." Harley said with a satisfied smile, strapping her bat back onto her back. Walking over, Harley opened the doors and let the Fear Toxin air out of the room. After a few moments, Harley gazed at the numerous unconscious bodies strewn across the room. "Fuck...let's get to work."
(Thirty Minutes Later)
"Ugh..." Batman groaned as his eyes fluttered open, pressing a hand to his head. After a few moments, the Dark Knight's vision began to unblur and he realized that he was still in the control room. "Harley...Frost..."
"We're good." Frost said, suddenly appearing in front of the Dark Knight. Reaching out, she helped him back onto his feet. "Harley is fine too."
"Where's Scarecrow?" Batman asked as he scanned around the room. "We can't let him-"
"He's all taken care of." Harley said, suddenly popping out from behind the Dark Knight. Spinning around, Batman quirked an eyebrow when he saw Scarecrow and his mercenaries were already cuffed and restrained. "Packaged up and ready to go!"
"What happened?" Batman asked as he pressed a hand to his head, his brow furrowing slightly. "The last thing I remember was Scarecrow unleashing his Fear Toxin."
"Don't worry, I handled him." Harley said with a smile, sitting on the console next to Scarecrow as she prodded him with her foot. "Guess I'm too nutso for his gas to affect me."
"Oh, give me a break. You're lucky I was in here to help you build up some mental fortitude against that Fear Toxin."
"That's..." Batman said as he simply stared at Harley, slowly walking toward her. Then, to Harley's surprise, she saw the Dark Knight flash her a small smile. "Outstanding work, Harley. I knew you could do it."
"Oh, stop. You're makin' me blush." Harley said with a chuckle, hopping off the console and approaching Batman. Getting in nice and close, Harley walked her fingers up the Dark Knight's chest. "Could I get a kiss as a reward for all my hard work?"
"..." Batman said nothing for several moments as he stared at Harley before glancing over at Frost. She had a smirk on her face as she crossed her arms, seemingly awaiting a similar reward. Another smile spread across Batman's face as he wrapped an arm around Harley's waist and pulled her close, causing her to giggle in surprise. "Just wait until we get back home. I'll give you and Frost something much better than a kiss."
"Now you're gettin' me excited." Harley said, giving Batman's ass a firm squeeze before he walked away, seemingly talking to Oracle. As Harley gazed at Batman and Killer Frost, she began to reminisce about the several weeks she had spent with the Bat Family. Letting out a content sigh, Harley skipped over to Frost's side and glomped her with a tight hug. "Yeah, joinin' B-Man's crew was the best decision I ever made."
(Epilogue: One Month Later)
"Bah! I'm so fuckin' bored!" Harley groaned as she effortlessly took down one of Penguin's thugs, pinning the man to the ground and knocking him out. "These guys are a joke! I need a challenge man!"
"You won't hear me complaining." Frost said, creating a wall of ice that deflected a hail of bullets. Moments later, Batman swung in and took out the goons who had shot at her. "I'll take easy busts all day."
"I mean, I like a nice slam dunk as much as anybody." Harley said as she pulled out her revolver, taking out three more thugs with precise shots from her rubber bullets. Without even looking, Harley flicked the cylinder open and loaded her revolver. "But I like the rush of a good, tough fight every now and then."
"Enough chit-chat you two." Batman said, hurling a thug through a crate. Whipping around, Batman hurled three Batarangs, knocking the last of Penguin's thugs unconscious. "Penguin has been ramping up his operation and we need to find out why."
"Yeah, yeah, we're on it." Harley said as she began to snoop around the area, looking for any clues on what Penguin might be planning. "There's gotta be somethin' around here."
After searching several of the thugs and coming up empty-handed, Harley made her way over to the van the goons had arrived in. Pulling open the van's back doors, Harley let out a low whistle when she spotted several crates full of weapons, ammo, and explosives. However, what caught her eye was a tablet sitting on top of one of the crates. Pulling out her own Remote Hack Device, the blonde harlequin cracked the tablet's password. Picking up the device she began to peruse it for any useful information. It didn't take her long to find a series of messages containing tons of juicy information. But, one name in particular kept popping up amongst all of the messages.
"Hey, Bats! Frost get over here! I think I found somethin'!" Harley called out, her eyes continuing to dart across the screen as she read message after message. Turning around, Harley showed the tablet to Frost and Batman. "Who the hell is the Arkham Knight?"
And done! Scarecrow has been defeated, marking the official end to this story! We also got a nice little tease for the Arkham Knight. Now, before any of you ask, no, I don't plan on writing a sequel to this story or continuing this one any further. However, to any aspiring authors out there, if you so wish, I will allow you to write a sequel to this story. I'm officially opening this story up to any authors who are interested. If you want to rewrite this story and put your own spin on it, continue it, or write a sequel, feel free to. I just ask that you credit me, for writing the original story. Thank you all for reading this story, it has been a pleasure to write it! Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON, check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and PM me if you have any ideas for my stories. So, until next time, I'm outta here!