The Harlequin and the Bat

This is the story sequel to: The Harley and The Ivy.

Important notes: I do not own Batman or any portion of the franchise. I give all credit to DC Comics and respective owners.

To my wonderful readers, I apologise forthright to any and all Batman and DC fans who are about to read this story. I myself am a fan of DC characters and stories, but I have no sense of timeline involving Batman stories. So if there is any concern involving the mix up in stories in the canon DC-Verse, I apologise and do not want any flamers demeaning me.

I drew inspiration from iconic scenes in my research, but not in the correct timeline in which they happened.

I understand that Harley Quinn didn't appear in the canonical DC stories, but in my stories she did.

Chapter 1

"How do I get myself into these situations? Another day, another death defying plan from Joker…another lock up in Arkham." Harleen Quinzel was moping by herself, but at least she was in familiar surroundings…or at least familiar in the sense of being thrown into the same cell every time she was locked up.

All the walls were wiped clean, all the: I Love Joker marks were gone. On the bed lay a harlequin clown doll that had a simple smile instead of a toothy one. Harleen moved the doll and went underneath her bed, with the hope to find the one thing she had hidden from the staff and Joker for ages…it was still there: a hand stitched bat, shaped like Batman's symbol with the marks "H Love's B" Stitched into the back.

"*Sigh* If only, in another life. Maybe we could've been together." She thought to herself: being Joker's ex wasn't all smiles and custard pies. She was hurt a lot, sometimes by Batman and Robin…but that was tickle fights compared to Joker. No matter how hard she tried, Harleen couldn't be free from Joker's horrors: the beatings he would give her if she was out of line…which happened almost all the time with him. 'And the boutique was going so well. We sold over five hundred toys and flowers to Bruce Wayne…Bruce freaking Wayne, the billionaire playboy philanthropist!' she thought to herself then sighed. "Just once I'd like to see him in different circumstances…Why couldn't they see that I didn't do it? Why would I rob the bank when our own store was doing well?" Harleen asked skipping between love and loathe; between Batman and the corrupt Gotham Police. "At least the nightmares have gone away…more or less." Harleen said hiding her Bat under her bed and went to sleep.

It turned after midnight and Harleen was tossing and turning in her sleep again, struggling to wake.

(Dream Sequence)

Harleen was walking down the streets of Gotham, about to hand her deposit for her store to the bank. She was waving past people with her kind smile. Just then the scene changed into a blazing broken world. She could hear Joker's maniacal laugh, and ran the other way but she was surrounded by Joker's goons.

"Oh Harley…Why did you run? Aren't I you're little Puddin'?" Joker emerged from the shadows like the Batman.

Harleen recoiled from the sight of him, only just getting over the fear of her previous nightmares.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you…" Joker said grinning his toothy grin, Harleen knew what was coming but couldn't see it. She was knocked out by a punch to the back of the head "But Punch will ha-ha! Come on boys lets go."

Not long after the police came, she tried to give her statement but she was caught by the only corrupt cop in the police and labelled her: GUILTY, right then and there.

"No please! I was making a deposit. A deposit!" she struggled as she was being forced into the Arkham truck then she saw Batman behind them. "B-Man…B-Man, wait!" she struggled getting free "I'm innocent! Please it was Joker! I was framed! Please…"she begged being dragged away, Batman walked over and looked her straight in her blue eyes as she was crying. She could only see his infamous scowl, judging her.

He said "Okay. I'll look into it. You'll be out very soon." This made her smile as she faded out from the dream.

(End Dream)

As Harleen woke up she didn't need to cry, she felt safe around Batman; she needed the stability.

'You promised I'd be out of here soon…' she thought "Where are you Bats?" she whispered under her sheets

"Quinn!" the guard spoke aloud making her jump.

"Ah! I'm awake!" she startled

"You've been released, courtesy of the Batman!" he spoke with a twinge of sarcasm

"R-really?" she asked

"Did I stutter? Grab your stuff and get out of here!" he pointed to the exit.

Harleen grabbed her special Bat plush from under her bed out of the view of the guard and went out with it smiling 'You did it Bats. You came through!' she thought. The guard looked at her cautiously then questioned 'Why Batman came through for this psycho, I'll never know.' Shaking his head.

Harleen exited Arkham free after a single day, she hoped to see Batman but she didn't. She couldn't go back to the boutique because it was broken into by Joker's goons as an insult to Harleen. Ivy wasn't in the store when it happened; she was staying at her safe house cataloguing their earnings and stock, that weren't stolen.

During the day Harleen and Ivy decided to lay low, but they were disappointed about the boutique but were glad that they got out there alive.

"I think it's better if I leave Ivy." Harleen said solemnly

"What, why? Is this about Joker?" Ivy asked

"Yeah…he's never going to change. I need to…change. I'm not leaving Gotham, I'll still work with you in the boutique, but I just need to…change." Harleen said looking at her like a little sister

"Oh honey…of course. You'll always be welcomed here." Ivy said hugging Harley.

A few days passed and Harleen gave herself a new look: letting her hair down, from pigtails to a natural shoulder length drop and letting its natural colour come through (black). She changed her clothes from her familiar reds and blacks to blues and whites. She was becoming a new person, outside and in. She found an apartment not too far from Ivy, but it did give her some space.

"Now for the last touch." Harleen said putting her plush bat on her bed, her new home was complete. "Okay what's on today's agenda?" Harley said looking through her mail. Flicking through junk mail and landing on an invitation to Bruce Wayne's Orphan Gala it read thusly:

Dear Ms Harleen Quinzel

You are cordially invited to:

The Wayne Foundation's Orphans Gala

On the Twenty Seventh at Seven PM.

"The twenty seventh? That's tomorrow!" Harley screamed and continued reading

We hope you can attend.

And regarding what happened to your boutique, do not fret.

Your contribution being there will be a benefit towards the orphans of Gotham.

And at the bottom was the Wayne Incorporation logo.

Behind the letter was the invitation slip: gold rimmed with blue designs.

"I'm invited to a Wayne Party! And didn't even crash it!" Harleen said cheerfully "Ah! What am I gonna' wear?" she quickly realised she didn't have any fancy gala dresses, except the one Ivy bought for her. A silk black dress with sequins around the trim; as Harleen pulled it out she saw for the first time: as a free woman, how beautiful it was. "Well it's not Cinderella's gown but it'll do." Harleen said draping it down her front.

At seven pm Harleen arrived at the Wayne Gala, prim and proper. As she walked through the doors; she showed her invitation, she was allowed in and was amazed at the amount of Gotham's rich and powerful were gathered here. She felt invisible in the crowd, almost alone but she liked being not known as Harley Quinn but as Harleen Quinzel. The crowds were all hustle and bustle chatting amongst themselves, Harleen was sat down on a chair having some of the hors d'oeuvres when a handsome man came and sat down next to her. She almost choked when she saw who it was.

"B-Bruce Wayne?!" she startled

"Yes, the very same. I hope you're enjoying the party Ms Quinzel?" Bruce asked

"Well, you know. It's not my sort of thing, but I'm glad I came." She smiled looking at the playboy "So…no new girlfriends, Mr Wayne?" she asked shyly

"*laugh* No, no new girlfriends. Even playboys get tired of that lifestyle." Bruce smiled

As the night progressed Bruce and Harleen became friendly over the night. Soon came a point Harleen almost confessed her attraction to The Batman; but came on a slow song.

"Care to dance Ms Quinzel?" Bruce asked holding his hand out.

"I-I-I'd love to." Harleen stuttered standing up.

As the song played Harleen and Bruce danced and got close. As the song neared its end Harleen looked deep into Bruce's eyes and saw them shine. As he did with her, their lips moved closer as their eyes closed in, but with sod's law a loud crash through the windows happened. Out came a group of hired thugs with a nasally cackling that sounded like a…

"Penguin!" Bruce whispered

Yes exactly. Oswald Cobblepot AKA The Penguin. The richest ice bird of Gotham's Underworld, in fact the only ice bird in Gotham's underworld.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, as a fellow rich man such as yourselves; I seem to have lost my invitation to the festivities. But I'm not a jealous or petty man, so I'll give you a chance to make a donation to another charity: the Cobblepot Restoration committee. So put all valuables in the bags and no-one gets hurt; any who don't comply, will need a charity of their own." Penguin called out laughing.

"Stay low Harleen. You'll be okay. I'm going to call the police." Bruce whispered to his date.

"Okay, I'll stay low." Harleen said hiding under the tables.

"Now…this is a surprise. A Wayne Gala, and no Wayne…I feel cheated." Penguin said disappointedly. He saw the bottom of a tablecloth move slightly and went over, revealing Harleen.

"Well, well, well…who do we have here?" Penguin sneered "You look familiar, have I threatened you before?" Harleen kept her mouth shut and shook her head so not to be recognised. "Well you must be someone…Hey boys who's on the list?" Penguin called out holding Harley by her hair.

"Well there's: Ian and Grace Porter, Roger and Ursula Redmond, Bruce Wayne…" a goon listed off.

"WAYNE? He's here after all! Where is he?" Penguin shouted but a large smoke cloud frightening the goons and Penguin. "Batman, here? Don't let him get near me!" Penguin called out, holding Harleen down to the floor ripping her dress.

"Let her go Penguin! And get out!" Batman said giving his ominous glare.

"No chance Bat-brain. Obviously she's important to you, so here's how it's going to go: you get out of the way and let my boys do their charitable work or I'll introduce your lady friend here to the business end of my umbrella." Penguin threatened holding the tip next to Harley's neck.

"Well just so you know, Penguin…" Harleen said knocking Penguin's long nose towards his mouth then stealing his umbrella exposing the blade concealed within it "I'm not on the one who's useless here."

"*laugh* Now I really like this girl." Penguin laughed laying on his stomach.

Harleen just stood there shaking, conflicted between her new life as Harleen Quinzel and Harley Quinn. Her Harley Quinn voice was saying "Do it. Do it! He deserves it!" while her Harleen voice was going "No Harleen, don't! Think about it: You do this they'll send you back to Arkham! You'll lose Batman and his trust!" Harleen was shaking before putting down the umbrella holding back the tears.

"Stupid girl!" Penguin got up running to get his weapon but Batman knocked him out; Harley stayed still looking down, trying not to cry.

"It's okay miss. Give me the weapon." Batman said trying to get the umbrella. Harleen looked at him with her mascara running and handing him the umbrella. "It's okay…" Batman said looking at the teary eyed woman.

Harleen looked at him and felt safe again, but she wanted Bruce to be safe "Where…where is Bruce?" she asked.

"He's safe, don't worry." Batman reassured her.

"Forgive me Bruce…" Harleen whispered which Batman wondered. Harley went on tiptoes and kissed Batman full on the lips. The crowd gasped seeing the girl who was dancing with Bruce Wayne, was now kissing Batman. "I-I'm sorry." Harleen cried before running away.

To be continued

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as I have writing it.

The next chapter is coming soon.

Thank you