#i am gone. the same way harley and even batman grew to care about him to some extent

[missazura]

Interacting with joker for a prolonged amount of time really messes with your head

I didn't like joker. He scares me, I wanted nothing to do with him. Months later I'm staring at a comic panel and I'm filled with this twisted sick feeling of wanting to keep him safe and happy instead of locked up in arkham, it is INSANE

[revengeofthebluepen]

Painted On With Laughter Ch 19/20/21

Ch. 19 A Rose By Any Other Name

The nights passed slowly without (Name), for Jason. Bruce had reported you missing. Alfred was searching the manner in hopes that you had just gotten stuck somewhere. It was tearing Jason apart from the inside that (Name) were gone. She had left without a trace. The only thing missing from (Name)'s room that the three males noticed was her guitar. As the days turned into weeks. The family grew desperate of finding (Name). Bruce and Jason were quick to noticed that the joker's plans had become more well planned out, but all thoughts of (Name) helping him were dismissed. Bruce became more hostile towards the villain they caught. As the weeks turned into months, the only one not to lose hope of finding (Name) was Jason. On every patrol he would always scan the crowds of people for her but never came close to finding (Name).

To be noticed by Bruce or Jason, (Name) wore a red and black wig. She would wear bright electric blue contacts to hid her original (e/c) eyes. She never left her own room, which no longer had windows, without makeup and her signature mask. She would wear face prosthetics and her Harley Quinn outfit to make her even less like her old self. She couldn't go back to the manner, for it held too many memories she yearned to forget. It torn her heart apart to abandon her family, but now she had a fresh start. Here in the crime world, (Name) was the queen of crime and could recreate herself any way she seen fit. This was her home now. Only a force of fate could change her mind now.

The months finally turned years and Jason had finally lost hope in finding (Name). He felt like a piece of his heart was missing again. He begged Alfred to leave (Name)'s room unchanged and Alfred did. Jason and Bruce weren't the same since (Name)'s disappearance. It wasn't until a mysterious letter arrived that they even talked to each other within the home. Jason had received an letter labeled with only his name and address and Bruce along with Alfred had received on as well along with one labeled: Flying G. Jason wasted no time opening his letter after receiving his letter. The only word was printed in crimson ink that said: Alive. At the bottom of the page was a signature, (first letter of first name) Wayne. Jason ran to show Bruce his letter and saw one that Bruce had received. Bruce's letter was written in a golden ink with the words: Giggles, Smiles. At the bottom page was the same signature. Alfred soon entered the study and showed both his letter. In (f/c) was the familiar signature at the bottom and the words: Freedom, Lives, Gotham. Alfred handed the final letter to Bruce who quickly opened it. He was unable to read it though for it was in Romanian. Bruce along with the others ran down to the batcave in order to use the Bat Computer to translate the page. What they found is as follows.

Mea pasăre dragă a unei pene ,

Ce mai faci? Unde ai călători ? Na mai rămas nimic pentru mine în maniera . Ea deține prea multe amintiri pentru mine . Nu știu unde să meargă . Pana in momentul in care il veti primi aceasta voi fi fost mult timp plecat . Mai mult decât probabil a fost un an , în cazul în care sistemul poștal nu a făcut mizerie în sus . Mai ții minte când am crezut că o să cadă , dar m-ai prins . Am fost atât de speriată am fost de gând să fie rănit . O astfel de rușine că ai lăsat să cad în dragoste dar nu a avut nici o intenție de a mă prindă . Ai lăsat să cadă și să se sfărâma în timp ce a căzut în dragoste cu pixie cu cap roșu . Dragostea ei pentru tine nu este real . Sper că veți obține ceea ce vine la tine .

Cele mai bune gânduri,

Vrabie)

(My dear bird of a feather,

How are you? Where did you travel to? There is nothing left for me in the manner. It holds too many memories for me. I don't know where to go. By the time you receive this I will have been long gone. More than likely it has been a year, if the postal system didn't mess up. Remember that time I thought I was going to fall but you caught me. I was so scared I was going to get hurt. Such a shame that you let me fall in love but had no intention of catching me. You let me fall and shatter while you fell in love with the red headed pixie. Her love for you isn't real. I hope that you get what's coming to you.

Best wishes,

Sparrow)

Bruce read the letter aloud in order to keep no one in the dark. As Jason questioned as to what happened in between (Name) and this Flying person. The following night Jason and Bruce looked for (Name). They questioned any villains they saw. They searched all night but once the sun began to rise they began to lose hope. Every night they searched for her. The days passed without a trace of (Name) again. They were beginning to lose hope of finding her. Jason entered his room and fell onto his bed. He was about to closes his eyes until a shimmering object caught his eye. He got up from his bed and walked over to his desk where an envelope and a charm bracelet laid. His heart beat even faster when he realized it was (Name)'s bracelet. He quickly tore open the letter. He scanned the writing quickly and left without a single word. Bruce would later enter his room towards the evening and find the letter on the floor with the few words: Come, 5465 E. Glider Street, Before Sundown. Bruce yelled to Alfred where he was going. He hoped he wasn't too late.

(Name) sat in her room sketching out the plans of the local banks. Her guitar was being fixed at a local music store so she couldn't play music. While in the middle of planning her next job when she heard a scream. She quickly grabbed her gun and sneaked out of her room. She followed the sounds until she arrived to the backroom of the warehouse. She quietly opened the door and was shocked at the scene before her. There was blood everywhere and the joker was laughing maniacally. He held a crowbar in his hand and was bearing someone with it. Joker caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.

"Phantom darling would you like to join me?" he questioned.

(Name) entered, and saw it was Jason who was being killed. She had to hold back the tears as she looked at him. His eyes pleaded for it all to stop. There was blood pouring out of him and pooling beneath him. The sight filled (Name) with anger. She loved Jason and Joker knew it. He had promised her that Jason wouldn't be hurt. She would stay if he wasn't hurt. (Name) walked forwards but this time with no smile on her face, like with the others they hurt. Her heart was shattering into pieces as she looked at Jason. Every breath he took, she feared was his last. Joker handed her the crow bar. She gripped the crowbar tightly and picked it up to swing. She swung with all her might. Blood spilled and a scream was let out. Another swing and more screaming. She rapidly hit him over and over. A laugh erupted from her. Teeth flew out of his mouth and onto the floor. (Name) hit him over and over until he no longer moved. (Name) looked over to where Jason laid on the ground. Her heart stopped seeing his breath come to stop. (Name) dropped the crowbar next to the Joker who was now in the same pain Jason was in. (Name) checked for a pulse and fro breathing. There was none. She tried over and over with CPR to bring him back. It was all in vain. (Name) pulled Jason into a hug and kissed his head one final time. He was gone. She cried and cried till the Joker came too. He slowly limped out of the room. He had crossed a line and awoke the beast within (Name). He had never seen her so upset in her life. Joker made his way to the bathroom while (Name)'s cries haunted him. He never wanted to see her upset again. He thought if Jason was out of the picture she would be happier. He was wrong. As the Joker tried to patch up his sides a helping hand came. He looked up to see his favorite blonde. With a smile on her face and her blue eyes twinkling, Joker pulled her into a hug. He no longer needed (Name) around to hold him together. (Name) had betrayed him and now would pay.

(Name) held onto Jason's cold body as a dark figure loomed over her. (Name) didn't bother to look up she knew who it was. She knew that familiar feeling of being watched.

"Let me help," was all he said as he picked up Jason's body. (Name) followed close behind him as they exited the building (Name) pulled out a device with a red button labeled "BOOM!". She pushed the button. At first nothing happened but in a few hours the news would be covering the mysterious warehouse going up in flames.

Batman dropped (Name) a block from the manner. (Name) collect her things from the Batmobile and walked outside and towards the manor. Batman had promised to return Jason's body to Bruce. (Name) stopped dead in her tracks at the gates of the manner. She closed her eyes and took a breath. It was home but at the same time her personal hell. I will make this work. I will make this my home again. This is where I belong (Name) thought to herself. (Name) climbed over the gates and walked up to the main door. She took another breath and tried to fix her appearance. (Name) rung the doorbell and seconds later was met by Alfred. (Name) cried as she was pulled into a tight hug. Alfred welcomed her back into the home. (Name) excused herself to her room to make herself look more presentable. She washed the clown makeup off and changed into her normal clothes. She threw the wig in the trash can and exited her room. Alfred lead (Name) to Bruce's study. She knocked on the door and Bruce said they could entered. Bruce didn't look up from his papers as he continued to work through them. There were pictures of her and other things. Bruce muttered to himself as (Name) drew closer.

"Alfred, I'm not going to stop looking. I need to find her." he said still looking at the papers. A few of them being the letters.

"Then look up," (Name) said and Bruce did.

The world stood still till Bruce rose from his spot and walked over to (Name). He hugged her and they both cried tears of joy. Bruce wanted to cry when he had first saw her but that would have given him away, so now all of those emotions flooded forwards to this moment.

"I'm sorry," was all (Name) could say over and over. She didn't realize how much pain she had cause him till now. She never wanted to hurt the people she loved the most. She just wanted to feel free again.

"It's okay," Bruce said.

"No it's not. They killed him dad," It was the first time (Name) had called Bruce dad instead of father. He knew that Jason's death would cause (Name) grief beyond everyone else.

"Who?" Bruce questioned, even though he knew the answer.

"Joker, he killed, Jason. Jason is gone." (Name) said as she sobbed even more into Bruce's embrace.

A few days later they had Jason's funeral. After the service, it was only Bruce and (Name) left. (Name) sat next to the head stone talking quietly while Bruce waited in the car. He knew that (Name) was never going to be like before. There was no chance now. Bruce had hoped that Jason was going to bring the old (Name) back. Back before Dick broke her. Before she lost all feeling of what love was supposed to be. Once Jason had died so did (Name)'s chances of going back to normal.

Ch 20. Everything Burns

A/N: (Name) age 17

Dick: 18

Barbara: ~19 (maybe 18)

Jason: died at 16

Bruce: ~29 (give or take a few years)

_____________

    Jason’s passing took a toll on everyone, especially (Name). She looked like a shell of her old self. She rarely left her room. Barely ate anything. Never spoke above a whisper, when she spoke a word or two. She no longer played her guitar nor did she draw. She would spend most of her days, laying on her bed with headphones on. Bruce couldn’t tell if she had music on or not. The truth was everything reminded (Name) of Jason. Her clothes, she books, her every belonging. She couldn’t bare to get rid of her last connection to Jason. The rare occasions (Name) did leave her room, it was either to get food or to visit Jason’s grave. As the days dragged by (Name)’s pain of lose worsen. Bruce and Alfred, both had moved on. They accepted the fact Jason was to never return.  World kept going on around (Name), she fell down the rabbit hole even farther. 

    (Name) lost time of the days. She no longer could keep track of the days. It wasn’t until a knock came rapping on her door, that she realised that she could hear sound. She never played music and prefer to wallow in silence as her mind wandered. Every song she had was to painful to listen to.  The door creaked open and (Name) turned her head ever so slightly to see a young boy who was probably only 14. She was only three years older than him.  In the eight years (Name) had lived at the manner she had never seen such curious eyes. His eyes were a smoky blue. He had raven black hair that was slightly messy. He wore a red shirt and khaki pants. He was holding onto what looked like a piece paper. As he entered the room, the paper shined in the sunlight. (Name) realized it was picture. She sat up. Tim shook as he approached her. He tripped over his own words as he handed the paper, that was actually a photo, to (Name).

    “I...I’m a big...no...huge fan. I.. would..could..You..t?” He said.

(Name) examined the photo. It was of her, Dick along with his parents. They were standing with what she assumed was him and his parents. Her signature along with the other FLying Graysons were sprawled at the bottom. 

    “Tim,” (Name) said in just a whisper.

    “H...how”

    “You were there, for our last performance. I remember signing this.” (Name) said as she looked at the photo.

    Before (Name) and Tim could continue on Alfred came and took Tim to dinner. (Name) didn’t leave her room. She stared at the picture. Tears threatened to fall once more. She stood from her spot on the bed and gently sat the picture down on her desk. Tim came back after dinner and they talked for a bit. He said his good nights once the sun went down. She laid awake in the bed all night long. This time without her headphones on. She heard every footstep that Bruce, Tim and Alfred took. She laid there and thought for a long time about what her life had become. I impacted a random kid, who now lives with us, because I signed a picture almost nine years ago. Who would have guessed? I’m a role model for him. He looks up to me because I could swing on a trapeze. 

    (Name) got out of her bed and looked at her clock. It was 4 am and she still couldn’t sleep. Walking across her room, she entered her closet and pulled out two totes. One was empty and the other filled with things she had long said goodbye to. (Name) opened the lid of the empty tote and walked about her room. She took everything that reminded her of Jason or Dick and placed them in the tote. Photos, drawings, certain outfits. Anything and everything she could fit in this tote. If Tim was going to look up to her she was going to make herself a good role model. She had Mary and John when she had nothing else. Now Tim would have her and Bruce.

    The next afternoon, Tim knocked on (Name)’s door. She told him to come in and motioned for him to sit on the bed with her. She said nothing as she handed him a handful of pictures. He carefully looked at them in awe. They were picture that (Name) and other circus members had taken. On the back were the people's names who were in the pictures. As Tim went to hand them back to (Name), she spoke again.

    “You can keep them,”

    “But they..” (Name) cut Tim off.

    “Are for you to have. I don’t need them anymore. Besides I have all those memories here,” she motioned to her head, “and here.” She pointed to her heart. 

    “Thank you so much,” Tim said repeatedly. 

Tim and (Name) continued to talk about the circus and other things. She learned that Tim had come from a very wealthy family and moved in to study under Bruce, or so he claimed. (Name) and Tim became friends over the course of the weeks. He would often visit her and they would talk. One day (Name) and Tim went through her old circus things. Even though it pained her to look through the objects, she bared through it to see the smile on Tim’s face. Every time Tim smiled, it was like the pain of the past faded a bit. They found her old custom and even more pictures. Tim dared for her to wear it again and so she went into her bathroom and tried to put it on. The only thing that still fit was the tutu and even then it only fit around her barley. She came back out wearing the tutu over her regular clothes and the rest over head. Tim laughed so hard he fell off the bed. Tim’s laughter was contagious and soon (Name) joined in. Hearing the commotion Bruce peaked his head in and saw the two laughing so hard they cried tears of joy. He smiled to himself. It amazed him how one person could change someone so much. The days passed by with Tim and (Name). At one point Tim dared (Name) to try the trapeze again. No one ever expected her to climb the ladder once more.

    (Name) and Tim walked into the gym in some comfy clothes and she instructed Tim what to do. She climbed up right behind Tim. Alfred soon found out what was going on and got Bruce. They both watched with both teens  unaware. (Name) taught Tim how to hold on to the bar and when to let go.

    “When you feel like you can fly straight forwards that’s when you let go.” (Name) said. A smile appeared on her face for quoting Mary. She now understood how Mary felt when it had been (Name)’s first try. Even though it was terrifying to teach someone there was a comfort in what she was doing. (Name) swung on the bar to the other platform and readied herself for when Tim would go.

    “Remember only look at me! I promise I’ll catch you.” (Name) called out.

Tim took a few final breaths and swung forwards. (Name) swung out to catch Tim. Tim locked eyes with her and when he was ready, let go of the bar. (Name) caught him with ease. They swung back to the other side and hopped onto the platform. The duo repeated the trick over and over till Tim was comfortable to do the act on his own. (Name) smiled as Tim tried for the first time on his own. He gripped the bar and leaned out into the air. He swung through the air, as graceful as a bird in flight. He reached the climax of the swing he let go and flew through the air. He started to fall down in the air and reached out to the other bar. Fingers barely touched the bar. (Name) took no time to swing into action, literally. She swung through the air even more graceful than Tim and quickly grabbed the acrobatic curtain that hung still. She threw herself towards him with the curtain in hand. She barely caught him by his foot. There were only yards away from the floor. She took her leg and wrapped it around the curtain. Taking her now sree hand she grabbed onto Tim. He was still panick stricken with the fall. During the fall Bruce and Alfred had rushed up to the edge of the net. They watched as a smile spread across (Name)’s face. Maybe Bruce thought to himself, just maybe not all hopes are lost.

Tim and (Name) would often be found practicing on the the trapeze. (Name) was working her way out of her depression. Tim was her saving grace and (Name) learned that she no longer need someone to depend on. She didn’t need a romance to be happy. It was one afternoon though that Bruce’s hopes died again. He had found (Name) lying on the floor crying her heart out. She was curled up in a ball and clutching something in her had. Before he entered the room, he saw Tim, walking in from the bathroom with a washcloth in hand. He sat down next to her and placed the washcloth on her head. After a bit she calmed down and sat up. Bruce saw that the thing (Name) was holding in her hand was a actually a bandaged wrapped around her hand. Bruce knocked on the door and the two answered for him to come in.

“What happened?” questioned Bruce

“I cut my hand open and hit my head when I fell over my cord.” She said wiping away the tears away from her eyes once more. 

“Are you ok?” he pried more.

“I am now, Tim helped me,” she replied. 

Bruce gave the is-she-telling-the-truth-look to Tim and he nodded. Bruce felt better that she was no longer crying over Dick and Jason. Things looked as if they were going to get better. The days that followed were filled with laughter and smiles as Tim and (Name) worked together. (Name) was more than happy to teach Tim her ways and Tim was happy that someone cared for him. It wasn’t that Tim came from a broken family. His parents loved him very much and bought him whatever he pleased. They were a very wealthy family in Gotham, with a networth that revealed the Waynes and Kains. Their wealth came at a price though, the price of never being around. As Tim learned and grew his mother and father were always on business trips or at work. There was little time for them and Tim to be together so Tim looked for other role models. 

At first it was his butler and then (Name) and the other Flying Graysons and finally Batman. Tim had a small obsession with his role models and tried to figure out what ever he could about them. He learned everything he could about his butler and when he passed away Tim searched for someone else. When his parents took him to the circus as his birthday present, he was memorized by how someone could fly through the air. He attended every show in the Gotham City area. Once the circus disbanded he looked again for a role model. He found Batman. His newest role model turned into a serious obsession. Tim spent many years on figuring out who was batman. Then once he had he waited for his chance for him to be a robin.

    It rained one night in Gotham, the heaviest rain it had been in years. (Name) clicked through the channels as she looked for something to watch. After months of living with Tim, (Name) had become comfortable in her home again. She now lived like she did when she was first here. She did retrogress though when Barbara came back to the manner. Barbara had come back and was now batgirl again and had gotten over Dick. Though Barbara didn’t get over Dick like a normal person would have. (Name) wasn’t happy with Bruce because of it. She had dealt with Bruce’s girlfriends before and this was what (Name) considered an all time low in his choices. 

    Barbara entered the room and took a seat by (Name). Though Barbara hated to admit it, she felt awful about what had happened to (Name). How she had bullied (Name) to the point she was at. When Barbara had first moved back the first thing Bruce had told her was if she ever made (Name) become the way she was the 1st time Barbara moved in, he had no problem not only breaking up but pressing charges and ruining her reputation forever. So as Barbara sat down she said nothing. (Name) stood and left the remote next to Barbara, taking her mug with her. She went to leave the room and Barbara called out behind her. 

    “(Name) wait,” Barbara called out as she walked towards (Name). Barbara could see (Name) tensing with every step she took. 

    “Please I just want to say sorry.” Barbara said placing a hand on (Name)’s shoulder.

    “Sorry?” (Name) said as she turned around. (Name) threw off Barbara's hand like it was poisonous.

    “I’m sorry (Name)”

    “Take this cup barbara.” and she did

    “Now throw it down on the floor” (Name) said and Barbara gave a questioning look but did as told. The porcelain mug shattered into a million tiny little pieces.

    “Now say sorry to it.” (Name) said.

    “What is the point of this.”

    “Say sorry to it.” (Name) reiterated.

    “Sorry,” Barbara said to the mug.

    “Is it fixed?”

    “No” Barbara said and (Name) went to leave again. 

    “Wait! (Name) can we move on please. I’m just so sorry” Barbara shouted out.

A laugh erupted from (Name). Not a sweet one but one of a sinister like one. 

    “You caused me not only years of physical pain but mental!You made it so I was scared of leaving my room! You nearly killed me, for crying out loud! And all you can come up with it let's move on, I’m sorry!” (Name) walked out the room and this time Barbara didn’t try to stop her. 

    Barbara and the others eventually left to go on patrol. (Name) stayed awake and watched t.v. till one in the morning. She waited and waited for the familiar footsteps to walked up the stairs but they never came. (Name) went to bed eventually and awoke the next morning to find bruce asleep on the couch with barbara curled next to him. (Name) wandered around the home in search of Tim. Upon not finding him, she asked Alfred about Tim. Alfred didn’t know either. Bruce and Barbara eventually with bloodshot eyes. It had looked like they had cried all night long. Barbara and Bruce stood and (Name) entered the room. Barbara went to give a hug to (Name) but (Name) moved out of the way. She stood in front of Bruce and looked him in the eyes. Bruce placed his hand on (Name)’s shoulder but she quickly pushed it off. Bruce went to grab (Name) but she turned away and ran back to Tim’s room. She closed and locked the door behind her. She fired up his computer, while waiting went through his things for a sign. She scrolled through his files and other things looking for a clue on his computer. She found nothing. She placed everything back where it was and shutdown the computer.It looked like she never touched anything. She left the room and went into her own. Again she locked the door. She turned on her own laptop, pulled out several sheets of paper and pencils. She unpinned everything from her bulletin board she had recently installed. The hours passed and Bruce feared that (Name) had finally broken down. After a while he knocked on her door and all he got was a “go away father, I’m working on something.” At least she’s talking, Bruce thought as she went down the stairs to comfort Barbara.  The hours passed and it was noon, still (Name) didn’t leave her room. At dinner time (Name) came down to eat but as soon she finished her meal she returned to her room. Bruce feared leaving (Name) home alone that night, but Barbara promised to keep an eye on her. Barbara placed a sleeping bag and other sleep over things outside of (Name)’s locked door. Barbara would spend the night there.

At midnight Bruce left to patrol the city. (Name) kept an eye on Barbara and when she finally fell asleep, (Name) got ready. She changed into sweats and a hoodie, along with placing her mask on. She clipped her belt onto her belt and filled it with useful things. (Name) quietly sneaked out of the window. She crept through the city unseen by the passerbys and made her way across the city. She arrived at and abandoned movie theater. She entered without tripping an alarm. (Name) entered one of the rooms where a film played. It was like a collection of family home-videos but it had manikins in almost every shot. It seemed like the youngest one was forced to smile. In the video a few familiar people we featured but they youngest one kept her attention. He was a young boy with green hair, painted on white skin and wore a small purple suit. His lips were as bright as a stop sign and just as red. Batman soon entered the theater room and watched with (Name). He didn’t notice her and neither did the person who started to laugh. The movie relapsed back to the beginning once more and a laugh erupted. A voice filled the room as the laughter died down. (Name) quickly exited the room but she could still hear the man talking.

“You know Bats, it's funny what people will do in order to be loved by someone. (Name) and I used to want another one to add to our little family. So I thought to myself, I know someone who has an extra kid. Besides you can always replace him….like the others. I figured if I built (Name)’s perfect little family she’d come back since Harley just didn’t fit the part anymore.” Joker’s voice continued on as a smoke filled the room.

“I just can’t have you messing this up Batsy-boy.” With that the room filled even faster with the smoke. It was thick and green. Bruce tried to get out as the Joker laughed but all the doors were locked. His laugh was cut off quickly and doors unlocked with a loud clunk. The joker fell on the floor from the force that hit him. Batman quickly made his way to where the Joker was. 

“(Name) darling it nice to see you again.” Joker said as he went to stand. (Name)hit him again and he fell once more.

“Look darling I even got us another one to add to our little family.” A young boy walked out of the shadows. It was the boy from the movies. (Name) stared at the boy and the Joker stood. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.

“See now we can be a family for real.” he said kissing her again.

(Name)’s eye twitched. Batman watched to see what (Name) would do. (Name) twitched once more and joker let go of her. (Name)’s eyes connected with his steel smokey blue ones. There were ones she had grown to know. She opened her arms and dropped her bat she had used to hit the joker. The boy raced forwards and hugged (Name) tightly. He was crying but a smile was still plastered on his face. Joker and Batman let them have their moment. The Joker took a step towards (Name) and as soon as he took a second one she drew her gun. (Name) placed her free hand over Tim’s eyes. (Name) didn’t look joker in the eyes but pulled the trigger. He fell to the floor. (Name) walked over to joker’s body but made Tim stand behind her. 

    “Don’t you ever touch my brother again.” She muttered before shooting him one last time. Bruce watched as (Name) carried Tim out the theater doors. Bruce pulled up in the Batmobile and tried to take Tim. Tim clung to his sister and cried. (Name) and Tim shared a seat and Bruce drove them a block away from the manner. They got out and walked home and (Name) took off her mask. Barbara and Bruce greeted them at the door. Bruce hugged the two and Barbara went to join in but (Name) shot her a death glare. Barbara slinked away into another room. Tim refused to leave (Name)’s side and she didn’t mind it one bit. She knew what it was like to be under the Joker’s spell and was ready to help Tim work his way back to what he was ready for. It would take a few months but Tim would bounce back to him old self much faster than what anyone expected. 

    That night (Name) changed into her catsuit and mask. She looked over her papers one last time before sneaking out the manner. She ran across the city and into a warehouse. (Name) quickly took care of the few thugs in the warehouse.  She quickly worked and painted on walls. She opened safes and other areas of the warehouse where importants items laid. She sourced the building with gasoline. She placed a few charges here and there and wire a few trapps. She sprayed the lot outside before leaving with the buildings in flames. It looked as if one of the thugs had set off a trap when (Name) was done but really she just burned it to the ground. The thugs exited the building once (Name) had finished her work and thought the accidently start the fire by tripping a trap. In fear of what would happen to them they ran. The joker would return later that night to see his hideout burnt to the ground. All his money gone. All of his plans destroyed. He would begin to think that one of the thugs had set off a trap but after searching through the rubble, he would see the words spray painted in red paint. 

Everything Burns.

Ch. 21 Please Don’t Say It.

The months passed and Tim quickly recovered. With everyday passing things became even more normal. (Name) smiled more, laughed more and was generally happier. As (Name) became exactly like her old self Tim became happier. They were almost joined at the hip when Tim came home from school. (Name) never went to a public or private school, for bruce made her do online school to catch up on her missing education from when she lived with Mr. Haley. Tim would often come home to find (Name) working on something oh her computer. Though she had missed so much due to her past, she was very close to graduating from her high school work. Today when Tim came home he was met with a very upset (Name). 

    As he opened her door, he watch as a tornado of books and papers go flying across the room. (Name) picked up more papers and threw them in the air. She danced around her room and threw the papers. A cheesy smile was displayed across her face. Tim opened the door even more and (Name) saw him. She twirled over to him and grabbed Tim’s hands. She spun around with him and smiled like a madman. (Name)’s ipod was playing music in the background as they wrold and spun around the room. (Name) and Tim laughed as they danced. Alfred was going to see if (Name) need any help but stopped in the doorway seeing the duo. He smiled as a memories flashed back to him. Alfred remembered the 1st time (Name) had gotten an A on one of her test. (Name) and Dick had danced around her room like this till her feet were sore. (Name) had done the same with Jason when he got a C on one of his test. It was his highest grade that year. Alfred left as quietly as he came. Neither of the children noticed him. 

    “What’s gotten you in such a good mood sis?” Tim asked as they stopped dancing.

    “I graduated! See!” (Name) pointed to the computer screen which had a certification of graduation on it. (Name) picked up her papers. Tim soo joined in and helped pick up more papers. Soon they had finished and Bruce knocked on the door. 

    “I have a emergency business trip. I will be back in a week.” Bruce said once he had the children’s attention. (Name) went to tell the good new but Bruce had already made his back to his office. (Name) went after him but couldn’t get a word in as he talked on the phone with someone. Bruce kissed the top of her head before hugging her and Tim and walking out the door. (Name)’s smile disappeared once more before reappearing on her face when she looked at Tim. At least someone cares, (Name) thought to herself. 

    Tim and (Name) hung out around the manner avoiding Barbara who was in and out for most of the day. Alfred returned around dinner time after dropping Bruce off at the airport. (Name) and Tim were going through (Name)’s old things in her closet. Tim dug out tote with some pictures and clothes in it. He was ready to open it when (Name) placed her hands on the lid. 

“I’m not ready to go through those yet,” She spoke softly before digging out other things. 

Tim didn’t ask why she wasn’t or what had happened to her. He knew  (Name) had something troubling in her past. He wasn’t going to pry for it. He could understand by the way Bruce, Alfred and Barbara looked when she smiled. Tim noticed the interaction between Barbara and (Name). They were stiff and uncomfortable, he figured Barbar might had something to do with her past. As tim continued looking through boxes he found a guitar case underneath some of the boxes. 

    “I didn’t know you played the guitar, (Name)” Tim exclaimed as he opened the case.

    “You don’t know a thing.” (Name) whispered.

    “What did you say (Name)?”

    “I used to play all the time,” she said a bit louder. She motioned for Tim to hand her the guitar. They walked out, and sat on her bed. She strummed a few notes before beginning to play her song.

    “Summer comes, winter fades

Here we are just the same

We don't need pressure, we don't need change

Let's not give the game away

There used to be an empty space

A photograph without a face

But with your presence, and your grace

Everything falls into place,” (Name) sung out.

As she readied to sing the next verse, the doorbell rang. (Name) sat her guitar down as Tim raced out to see who was at the door.  Out of the corner of her eye, (Name) saw two pictures in her guitare. A smile spread on her face as she saw the one with Jason on it. Jason and herself were sitting on the roof with her guitar singing at the top of their lungs, with the moon behind her. (Name) remembered that day very well. It was bruce’s birthday and Jason and herself, climbed on the roof above Bruce’s open office window. They sang at the top of their lungs as Bruce ripped apart  his office at midnight trying to find where they had hidden a speaker playing them singing was, like (Name) did with Dick one year. After not finding the speaker, he asked Alfred to help, who looked out the window and up at them. He took a photo before showing Bruce where they guys were. Bruce had flipped out that (Name) was on the roof. After getting her down he smiled and laughed at the cute gesture. The other photo was of Dick and (Name) at the park, the day she was taken to her new home. It was a selfie of Dick with (Name) in the background playing. 

    (Name) smiled at the photos once more before making her way out of her room and down to the main staircase. Tim and Barbara were talking with someone and seemed to be very happy. (Name) walked down the hall and slid down on the grand staircase’s banister. She caught a glimpse of raven hair that belonged to the guest. As (Name) jumped off and the room filled with silence. (Name) brush off her clothes and the guest walked over to her. (Name) didn’t even get a chance to get a good look at the guest before she was pulled into a tight hug. She could feel him shaking when she was hugged. It was if his heart was shattering in two. He let go and his baby blues connected with her (e/c). Tears threatened to fall from one of the two. It was quick as lighting and as loud as thunder, she drew blood from such a powerful slap. Her nails had cut his cheek, and her had left a huge red mark. There were no tears from (Name) her eyes were cold as her soul. He heart hardened in an instant as she look at dick. He looked like a little lost puppy who had found his owner but had been smacked for doing so. 

    “(Name)!” shouted Barbara who was angered by (Name)’s action.

    “You have no right to be here,” (Name) said ignoring Barbara. Barbara walked over to yell at (Name) but one glare from (Name) stopped her in her tracks. Tim was shocked to see (Name) like this. 

    “You no right either Barbara,” (Name) spoke with venom dripping from her words.

    “(Name),” Dick said quietly. He tried to place a hand on (Name)’s cheeks but she quickly slapped his hand away. 

    “Please,” Dick begged.

    “Get out,” (Name) said before turning her back to the others. Her voice was never raised, but with every syllable spoken Dick and Barbara could feel the immense amount of anger from her. Every word spoken to Barbara was soaked and dripping with venom, it was a surprised she hadn’t died. Tim knew not why (Name) was so angered by them, but he knew one thing: (Name) had a wall a mile high around her heart because of them. 

    (Name) didn’t stormed off to her room but walked casually up the stairs, and with every step she took, Dick’s heart broke. It was his turn to feel the pain, as (Name) walked away. Dick went to chase after her but Barbara held him back. Tim stood the at the bottom of the stair case. He watched as (Name) walked away, each step leaving him with more questions than the last. Just what did Dick do to her? Was just one of the ones running through his mind. 

    (Name) sat in her room, door closed and locked. She waited for the footsteps to come running. She waited for the yelling and pounding on her door. They came. Dick yelled at Barbara for stopping him. Tim ran up the stairs soon followed by Dick. Barbara yelled after him, how she would end their relationship, if he took one more step. Tim banged on the door and (Name) listened to the chaos outside. Her world was crashing down once more. (Name) walked over to her closet calm as could be. It wasn’t the first time this had happen, it sure wasn't going to be the last. She pulled out the tote, Tim hadn’t been allowed to open. She unclipped the lid and pulled out the items. Shirts, dresses, pictures and her braclet. She took the bracelet and took a single charm off, a robin.She grabbed her guitar case and a bag full of a few things. She clipped it back to get her and opened her door. Setting her things down, she pulled Tim into a hug and he hugged her back. 

    “Tim, do me favor and let me take care of this first,” She pushed Tim into her room and locked the door behind him. She took a chair in the nearby room and propped it up making so he couldn’t open the door. (Name) walked down the hallway. Dick and Barbara were arguing on the stairs, and (Name) threw the bracelet at Dick. It hit him square in the face.

    “(Name),” Dick said his heart was broken, (Name) could see it on his face.

    “She’s dating Bruce,” (Name) said before walking down the hallway and taking her things. She walked all the way down the hall, past her room and to Bruce’s office. She scribbled down a note and left it on the desk before opening the window, she jumped out. She closed the office window and climbed on the walls. Tim watched her from the window and gave up on trying to stop her. She watched her climb down to the ground, and make her way through the gardens. He made his own escape after she was long gone. 

    (Name) ran and ran till her feet were sore. Past the back gates, past the gardens, and into forest on the property. It had been a long time since she had been back this far on the property. She walked down the old beaten path down to the stream. She walked across the small bridge and up a hill. It was in a clearing, with a single tree on the hill. She followed the path that changed from dirt to cobble stone. Her visit was long overdue. The last time she was here was a month after Tim was attacked. (Name) stood next to the gravestones. On her left was Martha and Thomas Wayne and on her right was Jason. 

    “Hi Grandma, Grandpa.” (Name) spoke softly.

    “It’s nice to see you guys again. Father went on another business trip, I graduate highschool today. I got a certificate and all for it,”(Name) smiled  as she spoke. Though she never met her grandparents she felt like they would be proud of her. She would speak with them before talking to Jason. It was a way, she felt, to show her respect for them. (Name) sat down her bag and guitar. She dug out a blanket from her bag and spread it down on the ground in by Jason's gavestone. When Bruce and herself would visit his parents, they would bring the same blanket so they could sit and talk. (Name) took out some rope and tied it to the branches she suspended a sheet  so that the sun wouldn’t be in her eyes. She took a pillow and placed it against the trunk of the tree. (Name) took her guitar out and leaned against the tree and strummed a few chords. 

“Summer comes, winter fades

Here we are just the same

We don't need pressure, we don't need change

Let's not give the game away

There used to be an empty space

A photograph without a face

But with your presence, and your grace

Everything falls into place,” (Name) sang out. She missed how Jason would maker her smile. She did truly love him. Even though they were young she knew it from the start. Her heart would never be the same. 

“Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back

Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that

There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at

Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back,”(Name) loved Jason but she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life being broken from this. She would always miss him, but there is beauty from pain. 

“Heavy words are hard to take

Under pressure precious things can break

How we feel is hard to fake

So let's not give the game away”  (Name) could grow without Jason. She could be so much more if she didn’t crumble every time she thought of him. She was ready to move on. She was going to forgive herself for everything she’d done. She was sure he would forgive her too.  She wasn’t going to forget him. Jason would forever have a special place in her heart, that no one could ever take. 

“Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back

Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that

There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at

Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back,” Dick was a different story. She was so afraid to let him in, she’d be a fool to do so. 

“And fools rush in

And I've been the fool before

This time I'm gonna slow down

'Cause I think this could be more

The thing I'm looking for,” Maybe with time as Dick would live here with them, (Name) could forgive him. Maybe if she allowed herself to forgive him, she couldn’t be bound by her past.

“Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back

Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that

There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at

Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back,” (Name) no longer wanted to keep things as they were she would have to make the change for herself. There was no one else who could. 

“Please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back

Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that

There's no need to worry when you see just where we're at

Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back” It would take time and it Dick told her, he loved her, would she be able to move on or would her wall come crumbling down once more?

“Just please don't say you love me

'Cause I might not say it back,” (Name) sang the last words as a familiar head of raven hair came into the sight, running after where she sat. 

    “(Name)!” yelled out the raven haired boy as (Name) closed her eyes. The tears were threatening to spill, she fought to stay strong. 

[harley-quinnn]

Home

Joker x Reader x Harley Quinn

Prompt: Hello! I loved what you did with the Buried Treasure request! I was wondering if i could request a Joker x Harley x Reader. Where the reader is joker and Harleys daughter that got separated from them at birth and they find out that Bruce Wayne has been raising her and try to get her back?

{A/N} Hi puddin’s! I know a couple of you were looking forward to this one! I hope I did it some justice. I was considering continuing it down the line but I’m not sure! If ya have any ideas (or want) for a part two, let your favorite jester know!

xo Harley

Warnings: A kidnapping.

Wayne Manor was a perfect vision as snow fell from the sky on a cold winter’s morning. The windows were frosted with ice and the large fireplace that you’d always adored in the winter months growing up was burning brightly with logs, the woodsy scent filling the air. You approached the hearth, leaving your slippers in front of it to warm them up as you plopped beside your father, Bruce Wayne. Or as the rest of Gotham knew him: Batman.

“Mornin’, dad!” you said, curling up beside him as you waited for your slippers to warm.

“{Y/N}, you’re up early,” he said, averting his eyes from the television for a moment to look at you.

“Yeah, something wouldn’t let me sleep. It was like I kept hearing someone talk to me, but no one was there. Weird.”

Bruce only set his eyes back on the news, shrugging gently.

“Maybe it was a dream.”

“Probably,” you agreed.

Bruce was the perfect father to you. He truly deserved the ‘best dad ever’ mugs you saw everyone with. If there was a problem, he’d fix it. If you were sick, he’d nurse you back to health, and if you needed anything in this wide world, he would get it for you. You’d never met your mother, or really even heard anything about her, but at a young age you came to terms with the fact that Bruce was more than enough. Though he was gone for work quite often, he did the best he could. 

Growing up, you never really saw the same similaries in his features that you did with you friends and their parents. In fact, when you looked in the mirror, you saw none of his features at all, but decided that whoever your mother was, her genes must’ve been the more dominant ones.

You were a normal girl growing up, nothing out of the ordinary ever really happened to you. But when boredom struck, you’d daydream about impossible things, like coming face to face with Gotham’s worst criminals, or their best heroes; joining forces with good against evil. But in your deepest, darkest fantasies, evil against good.

There was always an unknown force pulling at you to be deliciously bad, but the way your father raised you, you never acted on any impulse such as that. As you grew older, your mind began to shift and blossom with strange ideas. You pushed them down as far as possible. There was nothing you wanted less than to disappoint Bruce. Lately though, you’d been dealing with a new phenomena- the voices in your head. Not being used to them and their chatter, it kept you up more often than not.

“I just hate that they’ve been keeping me awake,” you sighed.

Alfred approached then, bearing a hot cup of tea, steam rising from the porcelain as he carefully handed you the small plate and cup.

“Miss, {Y/N},” he began before turning to Bruce with a glint in his eye. “Master Wayne, might I suggest you turn in for the night? Now that it’s the morning.”

You sit upright, almost spilling your tea in shock as you set eyes on your father.

“Dad! You haven’t slept yet?”

“Thanks, Alfred,” he offered a knowing grin before turning back to you.

“Not yet, sweetheart. I’ve been..”

“No excuses,” you interrupted, sipping gingerly from your cup before speaking again. “Please go to bed. It’s not healthy to stay up the way you have been lately. I don’t want you to wear yourself out.”

You cared deeply about your father. There was no one else on the planet that you could’ve loved or trusted more. You only wanted to help him, and if that meant bossing him around like you assumed your mother would’ve had she been around, you’d do it with a smile.

He sighed, ultimately defeated. His weakness had always been you, and though you always knew that, you only used it when it benefited him, if only in the long run. He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he geared up to head upstairs.

“They’ll be there in the morning, Master Wayne,” you heard Alfred say quietly to him before he handed off the remote to you.

For a moment, you wondered who he was talking about, but respecting their privacy, especially since he’d been around far longer than you, you politely ignored it. Bruce leaned down, kissing your forehead delicately and squeezing your shoulder.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he smiled.

“You’d lose a lot more sleep!” You quipped, and he made his way up to his room, clearly exhausted.

“Alfred?” You called, turning to face him, but he had disappeared, too.

You shrugged. Guess it’s just me, myself and I today.

-x-x-x-

“Puddin’!” Harley exclaimed as she bounded through the large double doors to the master bedroom. There The Joker stood, leaning against the window with his palm pressed against the freezing cold glass. He was deep in thought, that much was certain, but Harley didn’t care.

His jaw tensed up, his eyes slowly coming back from the daze they were in as he turned around to face her. She reeled back only slightly as he spoke.

“Now Harley, what did I tell ya about interrupting me when I’m busy?”

“I.. I’m sorry, puddin’.. But, Mistah J, I.. I found her..!” She squeaked, holding up a piece of paper.

On second glance, it looked like she’d been crying, and while J didn’t exactly care, deep, deep down he hated to see her of all people in such an emotional state; if only because it was so darn annoying.

“Who?” He drew out, his eyes wide as he lifted his hands.

“Our baby, J. Our little puddin’..”

Harley’s voice was soft, something The Joker wasn’t used to anymore either.

“She’s been with… With that stupid bat! Tha whole fuckin’ time!” She exploded again, back to her firecracker disposition.

He simply turned around again and cracked his neck slowly, his eyes drifting about the snow that fell just outside of the glass. The voices in his head chattered a million miles a minute as he tried to wrap his head around what she’d just said. Unable to quiet them down, he let out a loud growl before pulling a gun from the holster he wore at all times and cocking it before swiftly turning around on his heel.

“Then let’s go get her, baby,” he purred with a wide grin.

-x-x-x-

The fire roared in its place as you dozed off on the couch, casting a soft orange glow upon everything before it. Winter had always been your favorite time of year and you were snug as a bug under a large knitted blanket. The television was on low volume, and everything about that morning felt cozy as you floated through dreamland, finally catching up on some of the sleep you’d missed thanks to the chattering in your head the previous night. All was calm… until-

“She’s so beautiful, J,” a voice whispered.

“Shut up, you’ll wake her,” another whispered back.

“She looks just like ya..”

Thud.

“Ow! Okay, okay!”

You stirred in your sleep with an audible sigh, coming out of your slumber just slightly as you figured the chatter was back, though the voices were not ones you’d recognized before, or as coherent as usual. At least you’d enjoyed the peace and quiet while you could, but after a soft gasp emitted from one of the voices, a strange smell filled your nostrils. It was only seconds before you were back in dreamland, and the voices fell radio silent.

When you woke up again, you were no longer in your cozy spot on the couch, tucked under your favorite blanket. Instead, you were in the middle of a large bed, surrounded by a black comforter and red pillows. It took a few seconds to realize you weren’t in your home anymore, jumping curtly the moment you were coherent enough to take notice of your new surroundings.

“Oh my god!” You yelled, bolting upright. “Where am I? What’s going on?!”

Panic set in as you untucked yourself from this new blanket in someone else’s bed. When you lifted your head to scan your surroundings, you saw what felt like your worst nightmare sitting the in corner in a large throne-like chair.

“Oh good.. You’re up.. Harley!” The man called, and before too long, a blonde leapt through the doorway.

The man who sat in the chair had striking features. His hair was green, his teeth were metal and his eyes were bluer than any you’d ever seen before. The word “damaged” was written across his forehead, and the way his eyes fell on the girl who ran into the room, you knew they were the kind of item everyone said they were.

The blonde on the other hand, was just as tattooed and her hair that was usually seen in pigtails on the news laid in waves around her face instead. Her lips were red and her skin was like porcelain. They were a sight to behold, two gorgeous people in one room. But as you looked at them, you saw something familiar: something you just couldn’t put your finger on. What could I possibly see in the infamous Joker and Harley Quinn that would be.. familiar?

“Don’t be scared!” Harley urged, holding her hands up. “We.. we’re not gonna hurt ya. We just wanted ta’ see, ya, sweetheart..”

Your brow furrowed as you listened to her speak, unable to form a true sentence as The Joker stood from his seat, approaching the bed.

“What do you want from me?” You asked cautiously through the emotion catching your vocal chords.

To remain unphased by this kidnapping would be impossible. To actually believe they weren’t trying to hurt you was even more impossible. The Joker didn’t speak, he simply eyed you, a look of longing in his eyes as he turned to face the window again. You were frightened, that much was certain. All you could think about was if your father was alright; if he could sense how much you needed him in that moment.

“I know ya don’t recognize us, well, for what we are. But.. You’re our daughter!”

Harley Quinn apparently had no tact or bedside manner.

“No,” You retort immediately. “No way.”

As the cogs in your mind began to work in overdrive, the room around you spun. Trying to process the information she’d just nonchalantly spilled onto you was overwhelming.

“No..” you said again as your eyes studied her features, and then J’s profile as he stared out of the window. “That can’t… But my father…”

A wide grin crossed Harley’s lips as she nodded, clearly excited despite your fading into an emotional blackout. The voices in your head seemed to laugh at you as your ears rang and stars filled your eyes. In what felt like seconds, you were opening your eyes again in a panic, clutching onto the blankets with trembling fingers underneath you as a hand wiped a cloth over your forehead.

“There she is,” Harley whispered, a concerned look on her features now as you came to once more. “I thought maybe we lost ya all over again!”

You shook your head, completely disbelieving of the story you were being fed. Still, in your hazy state, you weren’t sure what to believe anymore.

“Prove it,” you mumbled under her hand, closing your eyes again as you tried to calm down.

It crossed your mind that your father might not realize you were gone thanks to his lack of sleep. You didn’t have your phone with you, and you knew he’d be a worrying mess when he did wake up and you weren’t there. Before you had time to ask, a piece of paper was being held before your face by a pale, tattooed hand.

“Your birth certificate,” The Joker purred.

You opened your eyes again, your brows seemingly in a permanent state of furrowed as your eyes met his intense gaze before landing on the paper before you, scanning all the pertinent information.

Gotham City, USA.

Arkham Asylum.

Mother: Harleen F. Quinzel. Father: blank.

“They wouldn’t put Mistah J on the dotted line, can ya believe that?” Harley griped as you continued to read.

There it was at the bottom, your very birthday and the time you were born, and at the top, your name. You had seen this exact document before, though the names weren’t Harleen and unknown, and you certainly weren’t born in an asylum. It clicked though, and it clicked all too well. Your features never resembled Bruce Wayne. They resembled Harley and The Joker.

Your eyes fell shut as he took the paper away, not wanting to believe this was actually happening. Your father was your world, but in that moment you didn’t know how you felt anymore. It felt wrong to want to be happy to know where you actually came from. Regardless of anything, Bruce raised you your entire life. You couldn’t just hop onto their side. A pang of hurt and anger pulled at your emotions, too. How could they just abandon me? As though she knew what you were thinking, Harley spoke up.

“They locked my ass up in Arkham when I was pregnant with ya. I wasn’t quick enough to get away, I guess,” she started, a soft giggle emitting from her cherry lips.

“But they kept me in there, an’ the moment you were born…” she paused, and you watched as anger and sorrow filled her eyes in the form of faint tears. “They took ya away from me, {Y/N}.. From us.”

A loud crash echoed through the room, startling you as your eyes immediately landed on the direction it came from. The Joker has thrown everything off of a table in the corner; his own fit of rage at the loss they suffered.

“An’ then when I asked where ya were, what they did with ya.. They laughed at me. They’d already given ya ta’ the first person who walked in. We thought it was someone else, someone who only wanted ya for some kind of sick reason.. We looked for ya up an’ down, no dice every time. Come ta’ find out it was just Bats wanting to do good for an ‘otherwise disadvantaged child,’” she said, spitting out her last statement as though it were completely despicable.

“B-bats..?”

“Oh sweetie, ya didn’t know?” Harley asked, her tone just below condescending.

“What do you think your father does at night?” The Joker spoke up finally, his slender fingers hanging air quotes around the word father. “Hangs out at.. business meetings at 3 AM?” He laughed abruptly.

“He’s been doin’ nothin’ but causin’ us trouble. We shoulda known,” Harley chimed in.

The emotion in her voice was raw, and the lack thereof on The Joker’s clenched jaw spoke just as many volumes. You’d seen them on T.V., spoken about them to your friends, even feared them on walks home from school growing up. These people were criminals, psychopaths… but they were your parents. And to find out the man who’d been raising you was no ordinary man, either, was more than you could handle. There was far too much information to wrap your head around, causing you to feel faint all over again.

While it all seemed like some far fetched story to hold you hostage for some kind money or precious item from Bruce, you had more reason to believe them than not. They didn’t ask for anything, they didn’t necessarily keep you there against your will. As Harley set the cloth down, she stared at you the way only a mother could; a way you’d never felt before. It was then that you knew it had to be true.

Maybe it was it was vulnerability you were feeling, maybe it was the lack of being able to process things correctly. But you sat up, ignoring the head rush that plagued you and wrapped your arms around Harley in a tight embrace. Her arms immediately engulfed your frame, and you felt the smallest sob swell in her chest against you.

Tears pricked your own waterline as she held you, petting the back of your hair tenderly. Suddenly, you felt at home. As though the cosmos had aligned and put you exactly where you needed to be. You loved your father, you always would; but a new door seemed to present itself to you, even if it was in the form of a kidnapping. For a moment you began to wonder if the crazy ran through your blood, too, for thinking that way. The voices kicked up again, and you winced, bringing your hands to either side of your head quickly.

“It’s tha’ voices, in-nit? Don’t worry, ya get used to ‘em after a while. In fact, they kinda become like built in friends,” the blonde grinned, and it was contagious as you found yourself grinning back.

“Alright, enough of the chit chat..” The Joker said, turning to face you both as he pulled a gun from the worn out leather holster. “We’re going to have a very angry Bat on our hands, Harls…”

She sighed, the usual chipperness you’d seen in her on television seemingly gone for a moment.

“Why don’t we just bring her back, puddin’? Now that she knows everythin’, he’s gotta let her decide!”

“Are you crazy?” He asked her, clearly amused at his own joke.

She looked a him with a blank expression, as though he were serious. “Well, yeah.”

[zombiesbecrazy]

Five Times With Feeling - Part 1/5

Summary: It's always better to have a friend to share life moments with; good, bad or mundane. Or four times Dick and Barbara watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer together and one time they didn't.

Written for @batfamcontentwar​‘s #halloweencontentwar. All 5 parts will be posted during the event

ao3  Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Part 1: October 1997

"Why do you want to watch this?" "It's Tuesday" "But it's Halloween. We should be watching a horror movie. It’s what we do." "But it's still Tuesday. On Tuesday nights before patrol, I watch Buffy. You know this." "But Halloween." Dick had always loved Halloween, and autumn in general.  At the circus they didn’t trick or treat, but after that night’s performance or run-through, they had always had a big bonfire night with marshmallows and s’mores, sharing stories with everyone.  It had been a real family affair.  When he had moved into the manor he had missed it desperately, but quickly learned that other traditions could be fun too and he loved carving pumpkins with Alfred and trick or treating with Bruce. The past two years, he and Barbara spent the evening giving out candy to kids who ventured out to Wayne Manor and watched horror movies before patrol.  The manor was always a favourite hot spot for Gotham kids to visit, with the creepy look of the exterior in the dusky autumn twilight, top notch decorations leading up the driveway to the door, and the fact that everyone knew that Bruce Wayne gave out full sized candy bars.

“On a Tuesday.” She laughed at him, but he knew that she wasn’t going to cave; she was far too stubborn for that. "How about this. You watch Buffy with me now and after patrol I'll come back here and watch whatever horror movie you want." Dick gave her side eyed look, considering her proposal. "What about the Commish?" "He's on nights this week. I'll let him know I'm staying with a friend." She brushed off his concern with a wave of her hand. "He's cool." "He won't care that it's a guy friend’s house?" "He won’t if I don't tell him." "You’re lying to your dad?" "I'm a teenage girl vigilante. Of course I'm lying to my dad. On the scale of what I lie to him about, sleeping at a male friend’s house is pretty low on the list. James is staying at a friend’s house tonight. Dad will just be glad I’m not home alone." "Alright then. But I want it on record that I think this show is stupid." But Dick didn’t want it on record that he was a bit terrified of Commissioner Gordon finding out that his daughter was going to have a sleepover at his house. Gordon knew they were friends, but something about her father’s stare made Dick know that the policeman didn’t think that he was good enough to hang out with Barbara. Not for any specific reason other than no one would ever be good enough for his daughter, even if there was absolutely nothing going on between them.  He even felt it when he was Robin. He was probably overreacting then though because he was 95% certain that Gordon didn’t know that Dick was Robin.

But the way the Commissioner looked at Dick sometimes… "Have you ever watched it?"  Dick shook his head and Barbara immediately looked like she wanted to hit him so he raised his hands in front of his face in mock defense. She jabbed him in the side instead making him let out a groan. Barbara had been gushing about this show since she started watching last year, but he just didn’t get it. It didn’t sound very interesting. "You can't say you don't like it if you haven't watched it!" "Her name is stupid. And vampires are silly. I can't believe anyone takes it seriously" "Says the guy named Dick who has fought with giant robots."  She pointed out and he had to admit that she definitely had him there and his primary excuse had gone out the window. It just was weird. "Valid point. Fine. I’ll watch. What do I need to know about this?" "Teenage girl who is the chosen one to fight demons and save the world. It's full of action, snappy dialogue and puns. I don't understand how you don't already watch it. It's practically made for you." "Ok. For you, I will give this one chance. One. But if it sucks, I'm going to make you watch the goriest horror movie I can think of." "And when you realize that it's awesome?" "I'll let you pick the movie later. And I'll share my popcorn." "You've got a deal, Boy Wonder. Prepare to lose."

65 minutes later…

"That was so good! Why didn't you make me watch this with you before?"

Dick still thought the premise was a little goofy - because vampires - but he was completely drawn in and wanted to know more. Why was Buffy THE Slayer? Who was the Slayer before her? Who was that Ethan Rayne guy and how did he know Giles? Why did people live in Sunnydale if crazy stuff kept happening? He had often thought the same thing about Gotham when he had first come to live here; why would people live here if they could just leave? He understood it now, the sense of hometown pride.

The characters were funny, but then you got hit in the gut with emotion when you weren’t expecting it.  The fight scenes were well choreographed and even though he could hear himself thinking of better combat moves (like he often did watching action movies), he had loved every second of it. But why had Barbara shared this? She had even said that she knew that he’d love it. And she was always right.

She smiled a little at him, reading his facing and knowing where his thoughts probably were going. "I don't know. Maybe I was worried you wouldn't like it?" Barbara was curling her hands in to fists and releasing them repeatedly and Dick frowned at the action.  It was her tell when she was nervous, and something she tended to do before she leapt into a fight outnumbered, but he couldn’t think of why she was mentally prepping herself for a battle now. It was just the two of them. "I think it's because it feels personal. There aren't a lot of shows with a kick ass female lead. I think I needed you to like it but didn't want to know if you thought it was too silly."

He grabbed her wrists to still the action, leaving his hands wrapped around them lightly and smiled when she mirrored his motion. Acrobat style safe hold. "Why would that matter to me? We know actual female heroes. We’re on first name terms with Wonder Woman.” He leans over and mock whispers at her, “I don't want to alarm you, but I'm sitting next to a girl superhero on this couch at this very moment."

"I know, but... part of me thought that if you thought it was dumb, that by extension you would think I am too. I know it’s stupid, but I’m projecting and that doesn’t have to be logical." She shook her head and looked towards their joined arms but something about her eyes made Dick think that she was looking through them. "Sometimes when I'm out there, I don't feel like I'm being taken seriously. When I show up to break something up, they look almost relieved that it's me and not one of the ‘real’ heroes. They think I’m a joke.”

Dick said nothing because even if he didn’t think that, he knew it was true. He had heard the thugs and criminals say it in the field; he had just always hoped that she didn't know that. He felt a little bit the same way sometimes when he was out with Batman because he was only Robin, but he knew that wasn’t really the same thing.  When he got a bit older or grew a little taller, while he’d never be Batman, they’d hopefully stop thinking of him as a little kid.  They’d always think of Barbara as just a ‘girl’. "Does it help to know that they don't usually think that way after you've kicked them in the face?"

"A little." She looked back up and him and gave him a half smile and that move made him smile back. "It's just nice to see on TV, you know? Little girls can see a strong female hero every week, even if they don't have one in their own city. We don’t always have to be the damsel in distress. We can kick ass without you guys.” Dick knew that, on both sides of the costumed coin; Babs had taken him down sparring more than once and he knew what sort of vicious things Harley was capable of in battle. He wasn’t ashamed when he got taken out by a woman. No more so than against the men anyway; no one ever likes losing, regardless of who they are fighting. “Helps that it’s a good show too. Wouldn’t be the same impact if it was terrible.”

"We saw a few little girls dressed up as Batgirl earlier trick or treating." He had seen some over the past couple years as well, but the number of Batgirls, Supergirls and Wonder Women that had shown up at the manor this afternoon had been astounding. At one point a group of about seven girls had shown up together, all dressed up as female superheroes, and Bruce had taken a few pictures of them to send to Diana.  He had even convinced Barbara to pose in one, with a little Batgirl right in front of her. Barbara had looked sufficiently whelmed and Dick could barely contain his laughter. “You make a difference in more ways than you were meaning to when you started.” “I saw some girls dressed up as Batman and Robin, too.  They don’t need me to be inspired, but I can’t admit it isn’t nice.” Barbara glanced towards the clock, pulled in a slow steadying breath and pulled her hands away from Dick’s in order to stretch, shoulders making a popping sound. "Speaking of, it's about time for us to play dress up ourselves." “Want to switch it up for Halloween?  I can be Batgirl and you can be Robin?” Barbara laughed and Dick joined in. "I’ll take that as a no. Ready to run some rooftops?"

"Only if I get to kick some bad guys in the face."

"Wouldn't be a night out if you didn't." Barbara had got up and started to walk out of the room, towards the study, but Dick grabbed her wrist again gently before she could get too far. “I know I said I’d let you pick the movie, but can I make a request?”

“We aren’t watching ‘The Thing’ again.”

Dick shook his head in dissention. He wouldn’t have made her watch that one anyways, knowing that she hated it. “Can we watch more Buffy? I want to watch from the beginning.” Dick could already tell this was going to be a new obsession. He had so many questions that needed to be answered and he knew that he’d be thinking about it all through patrol. Knowing that he could watch more later would help him put the show temporarily out of his thoughts so he could focus on what was happening in Gotham that night. “I’m going to start watching it with you, but I need to catch up first. I need more.”

“We can’t watch all of the first season tonight.”

“We can start.”

“Of course. If only to prove that I was right about it being fantastic.”

“You usually are.”

[mizmahlia]

#5 with Jason Todd

Oooo was this one fun. ;) Thanks for requesting this one- I hope it’s angsty enough for you!

(Also? AU drabble is very AU.)

#5: Jason Todd – “How funny. You thought I cared.”

Batman had the Red Hood and a mob hitman cornered in an alley on Miagani Island. The man Red Hood had his gun trained on was stupid enough to cash in on a hit put on a city official. Just as the Red Hood drew his gun to fire a warning shot in his direction, Batman pinned the gun to the wall behind him using his own grapple gun. But then he’d drawn a second weapon faster than Batman thought was possible and now he was dangerously close to finishing off his hostage. The man was on his knees, hands behind his head, facing Batman. 

“Try something. I dare you. I make Boy Scouts look lazy.”

Bruce stopped at a safe distance. He could hear the amusement in Jason’s voice, even through the voice modulator in the helmet. The second gun was pointed at the back of the man’s head, his arm steady and the hammer cocked.

“You can’t see it, but under this helmet? I’m enjoying this.”

“You know I can’t let you do this.”

He didn’t move, choosing to give himself enough room to carry out any number of the scenarios in his head. The problem was that most of the scenarios he was considering wound up with the man dead on account of Jason’s accuracy and reflexes. And my hesitation to do what I have to, he thought.

“Ah, yes. ‘The Bat Talk’. Are you really going to do this again?” He tilted his head and sighed theatrically. “You realize the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” He shoved the barrel of the gun against the man’s head and he yelped in surprise.

Bruce bit the inside of his cheek. Jason had always had a knack for pushing his buttons, but this was different. This wasn’t some sparring session at home or a bored Robin on patrol with nothing to do. This was a man, a young man, with a myriad of issues to deal with and a nasty grudge, and that made him more dangerous than Bruce cared to admit.

“And you’re a model example of sanity?” Bruce gestured to the man who was now shaking violently and had wet himself. “This isn’t the way we do things and you know that. I taught you better than this.”

The man looked up at Batman, shocked at the realization these two knew each other.

“Nightwing said something similar nights ago, except he told me I’m 'unhinged’.” He shook his head and looked down to his left. His voice grew quiet. “I guess we’re back to you guys all calling me crazy, huh? Good to know.”

Something in Bruce’s chest lurched at the wounded tone to Jason’s voice. He stepped forward, one hand out in front of him.

“Listen, I…”

Jason cut him off. He holstered his gun and dropped his hands to his sides, balling them into fists.

“You want to know if I’m any more sane or rational than you? Christ, that’s not hard. I have no illusions about what I am and why I am this way,” he said pointedly. “And before you give me any more shit about it, I know what you’re gonna say. You’re gonna tell me that killing someone who took a life not forty-five minutes ago just for money, let me remind you, doesn’t make me any better than him.”

Bruce stayed silent and let Jason talk. He’d holstered the gun under his arm, not at his thigh, and his drawing speed from beneath his arm was slightly slower. He just might have a chance to save him. A small voice in the back of his mind asked which man he was referring to and he told himself he could save them both. But he’d been so exhausted since the siege, both physically and mentally, and he couldn’t deny that the murderer in front of Jason was the least of his concerns.

“It doesn’t. And you know that.”

Jason released the catch on his helmet, the face plate shifting with a hiss. Bruce steeled himself, surprised at the move and not at all prepared to see Jason’s face again. He hadn’t seen him since the night of the siege and his eyes went straight to the scar below Jason’s left eye. Jason knew Bruce would stare and he grinned, ghosting his fingers over the red, raised skin.

“Yeah, this one hurt like a bitch. But it wasn’t the worst thing he did to me.” A bitter chuckle died in his throat and he shook his head. He looked up at Bruce, his piercing blue eyes locked onto the lenses in his cowl.

“The worst thing he did was only a few months in. He showed me a photo of you and the new kid. Sick, right? So everything that happened after that- the beatings, the meds from Harley, the weird psych experiments. They all paled in comparison to what you did to me. You left me.”

Bruce felt the color drain from his face and his stomach rolled. He’d long had suspicions of what happened to Jason, but the only evidence he had to work with was the video Joker sent of Jason’s apparent execution. He’d studied that footage repeatedly, seeing the burns and the bruising and the scarring, and the terrible condition of Jason’s suit. He analyzed the bruising patterns to determine when they’d been inflicted, but there were so many in varying stages of healing it was nearly impossible to tell. In the end, the video showed him everything but told him nothing.

But none of that mattered anymore. None of what the Joker did to Jason could hold a candle to how a photo of a new Robin would hurt him. As difficult as it was for Bruce to admit, the Joker had finally done what he’d been trying to do for years: he destroyed Robin and by extension, Batman. And he’d taken a son from his father.

Jason was staring at him now, anger replaced by smugness at Bruce’s lack of response. He noticed Bruce’s posture stiffen when he mentioned the photo and he took a small measure of satisfaction in the fact he could throw some of his pain back in Bruce’s face. He took advantage of Bruce being distracted and continued talking.

“Anyway. We can reminisce some other time.”

Jason stepped behind the hitman again, grabbing a fistful of his hair. He pulled him to his feet, putting him between himself and Bruce. “One man killing another doesn’t change much, so you’re half-right. But when you’ve killed as many of these assholes as I have? That’s called making a difference.”

His eyes never left Batman’s face as he gripped the man’s chin in one hand and the back of his head in the other, twisting violently. Bruce darted forward but he knew he was too late. Jason let go and the man dropped to the ground in a heap.

“Wow, old man. You’re getting slow. Did you even want to stop me?” 

He dusted his hands together and yanked the grapple line from the wall next to him to retrieve his gun. He studied the dents in the barrel before returning it to his holster. He wasn’t at all surprised when Bruce spun him around, fists latching onto his jacket, and he allowed Bruce to slam him against the building behind him. Jason wasn’t looking at Batman at that moment. He was looking at Bruce. And it was Bruce’s voice shouting at him.

“Do you remember any of what I taught you? Do you remember any of what we accomplished together?“ Jason didn’t react and simply stood there, savoring the fact he was nearly the same height as Bruce now. He looked at his former mentor and partner, an empty smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh, how funny. You thought I still cared.”

He didn’t move, his eyes boring into Bruce’s.

“You think I still care about any of that? That after everything Joker put me through, everything you let him do to me and countless others, that I would still follow your rules? That I would care about saving the lives of criminals who will never change?”

He slammed his knee into Bruce’s solar plexus, sending him backward and forcing him to let go. Jason then swung one of his massive arms, his gloved fist connecting solidly with Bruce’s face.

“Jason, we don’t cross that line. We don’t take lives. We can’t.” Bruce swiped blood from his cheek. “You used to believe in that.”

“Yeah, well, I used to believe in a lot of things. Like family, for instance. But a year of physical and psychological torture tends to shift your perspective a little bit. The Jason you knew before all of this is long gone. You can thank the Joker and Harley for that.”

Bruce opened his mouth to speak, but the words were lost. He had no idea what to say because he had no idea what his son had been through. Jason looked down at the dead man between them and shook his head.

“You all think I’m crazy, that I need to be saved and sent to Arkham, the place that turned me into… this.” There was so much venom in his words at the mention of Arkham. He looked up at Bruce and his voice wavered ever so slightly.

“I’m a lot of things, B. Angry. Confused. Hell, I know I’m damaged.”

He touched his fingers to a hidden button on his helmet, once again covering his face and the capital ‘J’ on his cheek.

“But I’m not the lunatic you all think I am.”

He fired his grapple at a nearby rooftop and disappeared into the darkness. Bruce again looked at the dead man at his feet. He had to call Gordon and report the incident. But before he could call Gordon, Alfred’s voice was in his ear piece.

“Sir, as much as you don’t want to hear it, I believe that young man has a point.”

“You can’t be serious, Alfred. He’s killing people.”

“You know that’s not what I mean. I disagree with the permanence of the results from his method of crime-fighting, as I know you do.”

Bruce didn’t say a word. He continued staring at the man on the ground, eyes open and fixed on the street lamp above them. He knew Alfred was watching the feed from his cowl live on the monitors back at the cave, looking into those same dead eyes. He knelt down and closed them.

“But?”

“He said it himself; he isn’t insane. Master Jason knows what he’s doing is wrong and he’s aware of the consequences of his actions. As it stands, in a court of law he would be considered sane.”

“He can’t be allowed to take his issues out on Gotham. I won’t let him continue operating this way.”

Bruce shook his head and stood up, sending Gordon a message about the incident and its location. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of that anymore tonight.

“I know you won’t. Master Bruce, was there truth to what he said? Have you and Master Dick told him he’s crazy?”

There was a reproachful tone in Alfred’s voice and Bruce didn’t answer as he launched himself up out of the alley and into the night sky. It wasn’t that simple. They all thought Jason was dead until that night of the siege two months ago. To find out he’d worked for years planning such a horrendous event was too much to process at first. Jason, his partner, his son, had wanted him dead and went to terrifying extremes to try and make that happen. Bruce couldn’t bring himself to consider Jason would have made that decision while he was of sound mind. Jason wouldn’t do that.

But he’d seen the video. And the scar. He’d heard the taunts from Harley about the “fun” she’d had with him. And then there were the flashbacks the Joker had shown him, the ones he told himself weren’t real, couldn’t be real. After tonight, he realized they may have been much more real than he cared to admit.

“Sir, while I agree he’s emotionally volatile and unsteady, he’s been severely traumatized. Please consider the possibility he may be reaching out for help. Even if he doesn’t realize it.”

Bruce turned off his ear piece without responding and glided over the river toward the movie studios. He had to find a way to help Jason, to try and fix the years of damage and abuse. To show him he hadn’t been simply cast aside and written off.

He put on a pot of coffee and sat down at the main computer terminal, locking down the movie studios and disabling all of his communication devices. He couldn’t afford the distractions and didn’t want anyone interfering. It was time to talk to Harley to find out what they did to his son and how to repair the damage.

But if that didn’t work, if his plan failed, he would need a way to stop him. Either way, Harley would give him what he needed. He didn’t fail to see the irony in that and with a grim smile, he started typing.

We can fix this, Jason.

Together.