Work Text:
Harley considered drawing out the Joker's death. But in the end decided the risk that something could go wrong was too high. And as much satisfaction it would bring her to dissolve his skin in the same acid he used to permanently disfigure her, the chance that he would get out or be saved by Batman or someone was not a risk she was willing to take.
Even still just to make sure Batman was nowhere near she had called in a favour to make sure he would be busy with RIddler downtown, Eddie was already planning to act soon so it wasn't much effort for him to push his time frame up. She smiles as she receives the text from Eddie that the bat had arrived. It was time to free herself. And more importantly protecting Timmy.
She walks into the warehouse to see Joker looking over some plans for something, that didn't matter what Harley cared about was the fact that there were only a half dozen goons around. She identifies at least 2 who she thinks would side with her in a fight and the others probably wouldn't go for retribution if the joker was already dead before they could act. As these thoughts are running through her head Harley is walking up to Mr J and as he turns around she places a large smile on her face “How are the plans going puddin?” she asks brightly, moving up behind him. “Where they hell have you been Harls, you know what nevermind i don't care just dont waste my time again” the Joker looks back over the plans. Harley takes this as her moment and before anyone can react her mallet slams into the side of the jokers head. The joker immediately crumples to the ground, he goes to speak but before he can say anything harley slams the mallet onto his face, again, again and again until his face is all but unrecognisable and just to finish up she spits on what's left before looking up at the shocked faces of the goons. Harley hefts the mallet on her shoulder so the blood and brain matter is completely visible “there's been a change in management, you all work for me now.” all the goons nod in acceptance “well go out and spread the word” she gestures towards the door.
When Harley turns back around she is met with nightwing looking over the Joker's corpse “Hiya! Bird boy” she says in her usual over exaggerated voice “Is Batsy about to drop down in a second?” Nightwing looks back up at her with a slight grimace “no he and robin are busy with the riddler but i suspect you know that already, he called me in to see if i could find any clues about the jokers location” he looks down at the body “So what finally made you snap?” She considers how to answer obviously she has no intention of telling him about Timmy but the lie doesn't have to be too far from the truth she looks up at him with steel in her eyes. “He thought i was getting too close to Selina and Red and threatened them if i kept up contact with them” she glances at the body “I wouldn't let him hurt anyone i cared about” looking back up she sees nightwing giving her a considering look. “Go, i'll tell batman you were gone when i got here” Harley nods back at him and walks towards the warehouse door “you know he's going to go after you with everything he has right” Nightwing says behind her, She doesn't say anything as she walks out the door considering if she should use her trump card to keep herself out of Arkham.
Jason pov:
Jason was almost relieved when just before patrol started they had received word that the Riddler had taken hostages at the Gotham Art Museum. On one hand Riddler was a pain to deal with, His smug sense of superiority would grate on him after even a small batter he genuinely felt bad for the hostages exposed to that for hours, but on the other hand the joker the original target of tonight's patrol would literally grate you with a cheese grater if he thought it would be funny. So yeah he would take riddler over joker anyday.
Speaking of grating personalities Batman had called in Dickwing for tonight's patrol at least he would be operating the other side of the city. They quickly arrived at the museum entering from the skylight naturally before splitting up. Looking around Jason is left underwhelmed, usually riddler is one of those rogues who loves presentation but looking around it seems like he was rushed for some reason. Shrugging to himself Jason decides to start the party seeing the riddler Jason decides to drop down next to him taking on the goons next to him as he quickly dispatches the first goon he looks up to see that the riddler is on his phone? He quickly puts it away then throws himself into the fight.
It's at that moment that batman drops down from the rafter immediately taking down a few of the goons. The fight is quickly done after that they have just freed the last hostage and when Jason is about to voice his suspicions about this being weird for riddler nightwings voice comes through the comm. “You guys need to get down to the warehouse at 51st Nicholson St” Jason is about to ask him what he wants when Batman beats him to it “Its the Joker, he's dead” at those words Jason sees Batman physically falter “we’ll be right there” Batman all but runs straight to the batmobile and Jason scrambles to keep up. Just as they get in the batmobile nightwing adds “It may be best If Robin doesn't come in with you, it's not a pretty sight”
Jason sees batman considering which pisses him off “Fuck you Dickwing, i can handle it” nightwing is quick to respond with “I know you can, but you shouldent have to.” Jason opens his mouth to start an argument but before he can batman finishes it “Robin can come if he wants, he is old enough to acknowledge your warning and willingly ignore it” with those words robin smiles in contentment until they park outside the warehouse. Before they get out Batman looks at him and drops his cowl “Jason there is no need for you to go in there just to prove yourself to me understand?” Jason nods “I know i'm not doing it for you” he's doing it for dick but still he's sure he can handle it.
Entering the warehouse Jason can immediately see why nightwing gave him the warning, the Joker's face is gone he can't even make out the smile. Nightwing looks at him disapprovingly but doesn't say anything “Report Nightwing” Batman commands as he comes in. “Joker was dead when I got here, no one else was around but based on the wounds he was repeatedly hit in the face with a large blunt object, presumably it was Harley. Huh good for her Jason thinks to himself. Batman simply nods “Top priority is catching Quinn and Sending her to Arkham” too outraged Jason doesn't think before exclaiming “What for finally ridding herself of that abusive piece of shit?” Batman looks down at him disapprovingly “Robin Murder is never Justified and this was clearly premeditated the riddler was to get us out the way” Jason just huffs there's no way he was going to convince Batman that this murder was justified “Ok fine, but why is she top priority? Two-face is still out somewhere and he actually kills innocent people” Batman makes a weird face before looking at the jokers face.
“Harley is in the position to become a bigger threat.” Jason huffs beside him but before he can say anything nightwing speaks up “Harley has always been better than the Joker i say we let her consolidate power and see what she does” jason nods in agreement “if we go after her with everything we have we will really be sending the wrong message, public opinion will massively be in favour of harley” Batman grunts in response but gives no clue as to what he's thinking
Instead of responding to them he pulls out a comm and speaks into it “Gordon get down to 51st Nicholson St, The Jokers dead” then puts the comm down without elaborating further. Jason doesn't know how Gordon stands it. If Batman did that shit to him he would throttle him. “Nightwing come back to the cave after patrol to debrief, we’ll continue this discussion later” after that they continue patrolling for awhile they interrupt a few fights between Joker goons well harley goons now he guesses, he assumes these ones weren't happy with the change in leadership. But they don't stay out for long Batman is still clearly distracted by the joker's death so they return to the cave after only a 2 hour patrol once at the cave they are met with a surprising sight.
Harley is right there sitting next to Alfred sipping some tea with her hyena with her. She looks up as they come out the batmobile “Ah Brucie you've finally arrived” Harley states calmly when Batman moves to take out a Batarang Alfred is quick to reprimand him “Master Bruce We do not throw things at guests” he says with a cutting look. Bruce looking tired looks at Harley “Why are you here Harley?” she takes another sip of her tea before looking right at them.
“I want help, and not that bullshit they give at arkham”