🅱🅰🅼 !

    crane went on to the pot of boiling water he had on the back to make himself some tea and prepare the girl some hot chocolate since he was almost certain she’d prefer that.  “i have my eyes on his brainless thugs… if he is to make a move, i’ll know…”  he commented, finishing the preparations and placing both mugs on a silver plate to bring it to the table in front of the chairs.  “yes, that was far too dangerous… i had an unpleasant encounter with batman a day or two back… don’t think we’ll ever be completely safe because of what we know now…”  he sighed as he sat down, picking up his tea; his free hand going to massage his temples.  “oswald cobblepot is a dead man. we’re going to have it our way, don’t you worry, harley.”  jonathan wanted to make sure she knew they were on the same page. she had a great reason for her anger, and so did he; penguin dared to steal his sacred day and even got him in that whole situation, unacceptable.  “i won’t mind having you help me with torture when we catch him… that is… if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty…”

“good, and then after i can beat the heads of the thugs too - just for thinkin’ that following him was ever a good idea.“ she added, giving crane a nod and a smile. she wanted him to be proud of her, to like her - and so far it seemed he was, which was an admitted no small feat when it came to harley quinn. she was annoying and most people, including the man she actually loved, hated her and found her to be a pest. it wasn’t very good for her own health and she knew it. giving a full-bodied shudder, harley sat up and made a face. “that bats gotta have more important things to do than to worry about us. we ain’t even doin’ anything to make him mad? maybe he’s got a wedgie in his latex or something.” she pondered before reaching to call over lou so she could lay her head on him. “i’m a lady, professor - a lady who knows what to do and how to do things. getting my nails with dirt under them ain’t a problem for me.” she added, giving him a widened full-teethed grin. “do you think once we get him i can play with that umbrella of his?”

It was a surprise having his older brother brought up, but believes there wasn’t anything to worry about. His eyes look over at Harley through his red domino mask, taking a few licks of the lollipop in his hand. He didn’t even care who dropped by to catch them BONDING — not like they’d live long to tell the tail. “I know him, REALLY know him.” Jason confirms with a whisper, knowing it was a dangerous secret to hold. There was going to be many in the city who would LOVE getting they information, but not on Jason’s watch. “Your secret is safe with me, I won’t tell anyone that you said something to me. Who do you think will come for you?“ Jason could make sure it doesn’t happen, he was good at making people disappear. If it was Batman though that can’t happen, being that was his father who he’s working on being closer to. “You’ll be okay.”

He finishes the lollipop, throwing the stick to the side for the time being. He would be sure someone would tell him not to throw his trash around, but there’s enough piles of it already. “Whenever you’re up for the trip. I could use a little vacation — head out west to see what’s hiding from us. We can spread a little chaos. How about after THANKSGIVING?”

she thought so - and when he confirmed that he knew nightwing was dick, harley’s eyes widened for a moment before she let out a breath of relief. all seemed well for her then, nothing to worry about and having him there to help protect her and the fact she knew his identity made it all ease up somehow. still, it didn’t stop her from having a sense of fear and dread when it came to, well, the bat. “you know, bats for brains - i’m afraid he’ll sneak up on me one night when i’m walking my babies and BOOM - i’m back in arkham singing songs about the good days.” she sighed, sometimes missing the crazy house but mostly just glad she wasn’t back in it. she shook her head though, giving him a broadened shrug, “but you don’t worry about that - maybe when we go on our little road trip i might like california enough to stay.” she paused, “then none of this would be a problem.”

harley’s true and main goal was to get away from anyplace that still kept that bastard of a clown alive and kicking. she hated it - she absolutely hated him. “sounds great, i’ll be eatin’ turkey with my hyenas and when it’s time i’ll come meet ya up - how’s that sound?” she struggled for a moment before a pure sense of clarity came over her. “hey... do you mind if we make a stop along our road trip? i got a sister that i want to see - not so much for her, but for a little one - ” she paused and twisted her face up. “forget it, i said too much. let’s just non-stop our way to cali.”

    jonathan had been waiting for harley’s visit since she found out he was around and given the situation in which they found themselves last time, so when one of his alarms went off and the cameras caught the figure of the two animals and a girl, he wasn’t surprised. he walked up to welcome his former student, adjusting the suit as he got up from his seat, and naturally he found the one which seemed to be bud on his way to the entrance. crane wasn’t one to have owned pets, but he didn’t dislike those either, so he went on to give the animal a pet of sorts, not sure if he did it right, before walking out of the shadows with them to see the girl.  “hello, child.”  he replied, a short smile on the corners of his mouth; the man didn’t have to answer the second part, though, as the hyena went to be with their owner.  “come on in.”  he spoke, making a gesture for her to follow him to the lower part of that place, where he had set a comfortable place for his hidings.  “what brings you here tonight?”

      harley let out a delighted noise as bud came around to her and doctor crane made his way out of the doorway. she watched as jonathan patted bud on the head and smiled a bit manically as bud nudged him with his nose before returning to her side. “bud likes you, doc - ” she stated, leaning down to give bud a kiss on the nose before lou poked her causing her to jump and turn to kiss him on the nose too. “i love my babies,” she added giving them both ear scratches before standing and looking back to crane. “hello professor!” she chimed back, before lightly bouncing on her feet and looking around as she followed him to his place - stopping once they got to his dwelling and made a low whistle as the hyenas made themselves comfortable at the door. “nice place, i once lived in an abandoned amusement park - not as nice as this, but mostly because this doesn’t have jay everywhere” she paused and looked over at him, “thankfully.” she moved to settle into a seat and smiled before asking him, “have you heard anything about pengy? isn’t it weird he’s just gone? coward.” she spat before sighing, “i think he set us up just so we’d know that nightwing is dicky and we could get hurt or worse, dead for that. i want ozzy dead.” 

The man pulls out one of the lollipops — CHERRY flavored he thinks as his fingers unwrap it, and pop it into his mouth. The good thing about going out in just a domino mask for once leaves him able to do stuff like THIS easily. Sometimes Jason just forgets the helmet in the apartment, he can’t be bothered some nights especially when his only plans for tonight was meeting up with Harley. His hand places over his heart for a moment, the candy resting in his mouth. He pulls it out, holding it between his fingers. “I’d do anything for you, come on.”

The question poses some thought, leaving his home was always strange, but Jason does like to travel when the opportunity presents itself. It hasn’t always left him with positive memories though, but this isn’t about that. “We should go on a road trip, head WEST to see what’s out there.”

      harley watched him intently, playing with the lolli in her own mouth before blinking and looking off to the side and shaking her head. when he spoke to her, telling her he’d do anything for her - she felt a mixture of things, sadness, comfort, and even the feeling of being unworthy of it. she’d done a lot over the years that she couldn’t entirely forgive herself for if she thought about it for too long - and honestly she didn’t want to think about it. still, he was always nice to her, even when he shouldn’t have been. “you uh, you know nightwing right? like really know him - do you get what i mean?” she asked, miming the movement of putting on and removing a mask. leaning closer to him, she whispered, “i wasn’t supposed to say but, i do too - on accident and don’t worry! i won’t tell no one who he actually is, that’s his secret but i’m scared i’m gonna get toasted for it.”

       she was terrified of the bat. knew he knew, knew that the only other person who could protect her from that situation was jonathan and even then he was hiding out. quickly though, she softened and ended up smiling forlornly as she glanced down, her mask of giddy, innocent cheer fell for a moment before quickly covering it up with a broadened grin. “i would love that, sweetie - you and me, kissing gotham a ‘see ya later!’, when should i pack?”

Jason usually is light on his feet despite how muscular he is — trained as an assassin and also by his father in the art of stealth. He needed to pursue a lead in tracking down another scumbag in that has found his way to their city, but it can wait for another night. He dangled off of the fire escape — plopping down to land with his knees. He was a dangerous mix of reckless while being careful.

“I guess you could say I GOT DISTRACTED.” Jason decides to plop down on the ground across from Harley. He had ditched his helmet leaving him with just his red domino mask. “How much do you think BRUCE pays him? It’s kind of hilarious to picture BATMAN serving tea.” He plays along, but his laughter is genuine at the mental image. “I’m here now — made a detour to get some candy.” He says tossing a bag of various sweets between them.

      she gave a delightful cheer as she pulled her legs in and under her when jason sat across and pulled out the bag of candy. “ooh lollis!” dancing her fingers in the air, harley reached into the bag and pulled a cherry red one out, unwrapping it and then popping into her mouth. “you know you really know how to get straight to a girls heart, i’m flattered - ” she replied smiling at him as she pulled the lolli out and pointed it at him. 

      “and he is a billionaire, so i mean - duh - he probably pays him a million dollars a week or something to keep himself and the city safe.” and dick grayson, though she wasn’t going to vocalize that point just yet. she watched him for a moment, pursing her lips before leaning back on her hands and nodding to him. “you ever think about leaving this town? especially now that new york and all these other new places, which i guess new york isn’t new, but i guess it is too - but you know what i mean?”

      “oof,” harley stated as she landed to the ground with a loud thud. Subtly was an art and though she could perfect it at times - at this moment she wasn’t good at it. not even close. but luckily for herself she wasn’t aiming to be as quiet as a mouse - no, she was hunting - or rather looking for someone she felt was near and dear to her heart.

      when she was sure she’d caught his attention, she remained sat on the dirty alley ground with her legs splayed out and her hands tapping a beat out on her thighs, humming along as she did so. “took you Long enough, i was just about ready to go and get me a pot and a pan to bang together to get your attention - but then i thought, that requires moving, plus it might attract the bat.” she gave a pause, “who by the way i’m pretty sure is bruce wayne’s butler. crazy, right? talk about needing a hobby.”

“I-” Dick just sighed, sitting there, taking it. “Yeah, I’m Nightwing- Robin Number One, Batman of Bludhaven, the last of the Amazing Flying Graysons- did I miss anything?” there was none of his usual enthusiasm as he spoke- which he was sure even the rogues like Harley would pick up on. Robin Number One, aka Nightwing, was known for his puns and quips an smiles, but tonight, there was none of that. He was still fighting off the drugs and his own tiredness, plus he was worried about everyone he cared about. “That- is a good question- the windows are barred,” he motioned around, “and I don’t see any doors. We’ll need to find a way out,” he paused, reaching behind him and letting out a sigh of relief when he felt his escrima sticks still at his back, “on a plus side, they let me keep my actual weapons- guess they thought the gun was more dangerous than my zappy sticks,”

      “an adorable little birdie with a cute lil’ tush,” harley commented leaning down and patting him gently on the head. “y’know, in all the years that we’ve all known you - i can’t believe none of us ever figured you out.” she paused and thought about it before gasping and making an ‘o’ face at him. “oh my god, is batman your butler!? because if so, i am so going to win so many bets.” harley hummed as she stepped back and took a gander at the closest display in the museum, ignoring completely that it looked as if it was meant for nightwing - only stopping her humming when she heard ‘zappy sticks’ and turning to look at him, “you think i could borrow one? i’ve always wanted to play with your sticks - kinda wanted to be on the other end of the zap.”

    the scarecrow looked over at his former student, arching an eyebrow at her as she talked.  “do you now?”  he asked, focused on adjusting his device in case they needed the toxin in stronger concentrations.  “indeed, it is good to have you around, enhances our probabilities of getting out of this place alive… you see… heroes tend to be unable to do the things they  must  do when the time comes.”  crane sighed shortly, looking down at the metal claws for a second.  “you don’t happen to have a knife on you, do y-…”  but before he could finish his sentence the noises reached them.  “i sure heard that…”  jonathan replied with a concerned frown of his brows.  “you don’t think…”  he looked over at the girl.

      tilting her head, harley gave him a blank stare before smiling, “of course i do, you taught me and more importantly professor crane, you’re my friend.” she meant that in earnest, they’d had their fair share of issues, but who hadn’t? really, all harley ever wanted and needed was a friend - and crane was that. aside from a little murder, he was fine! “ugh,” she responded before playfully rolling her eyes and then nodding, “ain’t that the truth - thank the man-bat in the sky we don’t have to worry about batsy being here, he’d be the worst party pooper to ever poop.” she stated before freezing when she heard the sounds again, “okay i know those sounds and they sound A LOT like my babies, professor - i think we need to get to murdering a penguin.”

The woman that approached her had a knife. Well- at least ten on a quick count, but one actively brandished. Natasha immediately felt the anticipatory buzz of a fight approaching, but didn’t outwardly shift at all, merely becoming even more hyperaware of her surroundings and the various knives and guns on her person. Getting her own weapons would blow whatever minimal veneer of cover she had, and she didn’t feel like leaving early as she had to escape whatever personal security this party had. The woman seemed playful, though, reveling in the fear she sparked on her way over. Alright, interesting. “I considered it.” Natasha drawled, tipping her head. “I’d read Penguin wasn’t just a fun theme, but I wasn’t sure what to think of what I learned.”

It seemed downright outlandish. The villains here were apparently colorful. She hoped by tossing out some of what she knew, she’d receive an insider’s opinion in exchange. A small smile flickered over her feature’s at the woman’s rambling. “I think I could top six ways, but you’ve got a good read. I’m Natasha.”

      “yeah, it’s gotham sort of how the crazy works around here, we got a few guys who tend to take a storybook a bit too seriously if you ask me,” she gave a pause and used the knife in her hand to scratch at her hairline above her temple before pointing the blade in a conversational manner at the red head. “come to think of it, we got a lot of wackos around, little ol’ pengy isn’t even the weirdest,” she shrugged and dropped her arms to her sides before sighing and glancing about the room.

     “but yeah, penguin’s a mob boss - real good at it too, don’t let him fool ya. he’s true to his word but if you cross him you’re gonna be swimming with the fishes, and trust me honey, you don’t wanna take a bath in the waters around here.” she added, giving her a raised brow and an exaggerated wink. “natasha? pretty name, i always wanted a name like that and instead i got stuck with harleen, so it’s why i go by harley, - and you said six ways? whoa momma, i’d love to see you take one of these dishrags down. i’ll even give you a blade, i got at least twenty on me right now.”

      “can i just say that i admire the fact that we got stuck together in this dump?” she asked, turning on her heels to face crane and beaming at him. “because if this all goes south, i’m sticking with you, toots - we can get outta here and leave these hero sobs alone to die, or you know, probably get out on their own - ” she was going to continue speaking when she heard a low whine and a growl in the distance. “didya hear that or am i going bonkers? well, completely.”

      “wow, look at this!” harley yelled, giving no regard to the fact that she might have should have been a little quiet as they were making their way through the museum. “you think there’s a case for all of us in here? or just like you know, the good guys?” she asked, eyeing the closest person to her and smiling at them. “like this one says it’s for the bats.” she paused, “and i don’t mean the bats like the mammal, but like the crazy guy who swings from rooftops and thinks he’s better than alls of us.” she continued to look until she came across a display that seemed eerily familiar. “this one’s neat, i love the aesthetic - hey wait, THIS IS MINE!”