Punchline

Barbara squeezed her hands into a fist to keep them from shaking. She’d spent far too many days in therapy to go back to the flashbacks of that night but the moment Punchline poked her in the stomach she couldn’t help but blink. She was back in her old apartment watching her hand turn the knob of her front door. She knew what would happen next. Barbara took a deep breath trying to bring herself back into the present. “He’s using you, he uses all his lackeys.” Barbara said grabbing the taser she kept in her chair. She hated that her civilian identity had been compromised. “Glass houses.” she retorted her jaw clenched tightly. She’d already hit the panic button on her chair, calling for Dick, for help. She hated feeling helpless. If she was batgirl she might be confident in herself to go against punchline, but Barbara Gordon in her wheelchair, could only defend herself so much. 

“Yeah, that’s what they all say to me. It’s not love. He doesn’t care about you. Like any of that matters. I’m not with Joker for love. I’m with him because I believe in him. In his message. I saw something in what he was saying and I want everyone else to see it just as I have.” She said, keeping it vague. In truth, her feelings towards him were muddled and confusing. She clung to him him because she felt she needed him. When he validated her, it was like nothing in the world mattered. She grinned and pulled back from the girl slightly. “Did you know there were entire pages in your report that were taken out? The GCPD was ashamed of what happened to you. And I can’t blame them. Their very own commissioner couldn’t protect his own daughter from a clown!” 

“Could you, now?” Punchline said, her lips drawing into a clever smirk. “Because I think... Lil Barbara, darling. That you’ve been hurt far too bad before to even try and risk it.” She said, bending over so that she could poke the girl in the stomach. “Is this where Joker’s bullet went in?” She asked with a sudden grin. “...Bet it hurt. Like you could bring him down. Please!” She scoffed. “You’re pathetic.” 

Jerome’s head tilted, his eyes widening slightly. “What’s that?” he said. He was fascinated by her as always and he just wanted to hear what was on her mind. He beamed when she laughed – it was a bit of a gag gift but he thought it was fitting nonetheless. It definitely didn’t hurt to always have some type of weapon on you around here. “You’re welcome!” he said, his face bright with happiness that she liked his gift. “It looks great,” he said, with a little giggle. “I wonder how sharp that knife is.”

“You remind me so much of him,” She said with a glance towards the boy. Her green eyes carrying a subtle sadness. Like she was mourning something that had yet to come. “But I bet you don’t know what he’s been trying to say. Like most people. Joker’s like a natural disaster.  A hurricane. You think he comes out of nowhere to devastate the land but really he’s been brewing for a long time now. I want that hurricane to hit and for Gotham to fall for good. ... So that it can be rebuilt in a better image. Maybe his image...” She shrugged and smiled, “Maybe mine.” She reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair before gripping it with one hand and taking the knife out with the other. Holding the blade against his skin. “Hey, kid... want to find out?”

@punchyline​

Her nose scrunched as she walked into the building, wanting to see if she could find any information about her husband. Maybe she’d find someone who knew about his whereabouts and what happened to him. But as she stepped in, she was hit with an overwhelming smell of spice. Coughing slightly, she looked around and wondered if it was just her smelling it. “It smells like i just walked into cinnamon hell“ she joked as she neared him

“Yes, I’m adding a new element to the Joker gas. Holiday cheer, and all that.” She said. “There’s a mask by the door. I’d put that on before coming any closer. This stuff can send you in a laughing fit and kill you with just one sniff.” She said with a proud smile, not wearing a mask herself due to her immunity. “So, aren’t you um...” She gestured towards her, trying to come up with a name. “Mr. Freeze’s wife. Yes, that’s it. What do you want? Joker’s a little busy right now but I can leave a message. I think he’s prepping to gas an orphanage.”

Babs rolled her eyes at the presence of the clown. “Thanks so much for your concern,” she said dryly. She had been intending to take one for Peter, but she really didn’t want to bring up her son around this woman. She smiled at her sweetly. “You burned me,” she corrected. “Ostensibly to cauterize a stab wound someone else had given me. So you’re close, but not quite.” She raised an eyebrow. “So what are you doing here?” she said, and glanced at the cookies again. “You didn’t make these, did you?”

“Why do you sound so concerned! Wouldn’t you trust my baking?” She questioned with a grin. “Awe, damn. I guess that means I’ll have’ta stab you in order for my statement to be correct, huh?” She said with a smile. “Oh, well. We’ll have to do it later. When I have the time. I’m a busy woman, you know.” She slipped off of the counter where she had been sitting and took a few steps towards her. “I heard about your little fall. You sure do get injured a lot, don’t you?”

Harley looked around at the hanging lights and ornaments. “It was actually a lil’ less obnoxious than this, believe it or not,” she chuckled. “But Ed came over an’ went a little Christmas crazy.” As soon as Alexis mentioned Joker hurting her, Harley moved towards her, hand moving to the other woman’s chin to tilt her head up. Inspecting her neck, she frowned at the marks and gently ran her thumb over them. What he was doing to Alexis made her angrier than what he’d done to her when she was with him. “Ya only have ta say the word an’ I’ll go after him. Ain’t like I need an excuse, anyways.” Shaking her head, she smiled, then leaned in. “Of course not. Yer always welcome here, ya know that. Mi casa es su casa, Lexi,” Harley told her, giving her a quick kiss.

“Well, tell Ed that he’s tacky. Although, I’m sure he knows.” She said with a chuckle. “You can’t wear all green and not be told multiple times that it’s not a good look.” She took a step back when Harley came over to inspect her. Lifting her chin so that she could have a look at the bruises. “It’s not that bad.” She said, embarrassment lacing her tone for a moment. “He was just... being slightly rougher than usual. I normally like the roughness. You know that.” She defended him almost awkwardly. It was hard to defend him to a woman who had already been in her position. Harley knew everything already and although Punchline loved the meaning behind Joker’s actions and his words, there a clear disconnect. Everything Joker did was in the name of controlling her. He didn’t love her the way he loved Batman. “Yeah, I know.” She whispered. She’d been acting like the plan to kill Joker was a step by step thing. That it would take months but in actuality all it would take was two words to Harley. It was just letting go of Joker that was holding her back. Alexis gave her a kiss back. Leaning into the comforting embrace. “Lexi? I didn’t know we were on nickname basis.” She teased.

@punchyline​ – “Why are you so impossible to shop for?”

Even as he spoke, Jerome offered Punchline the carefully wrapped package. Of course, it was more like Punchy was impossible to shoplift for, but still, splitting hairs and all. But he’d seen the gift in one of Gotham’s many odd stores and had been ecstatic, knowing it was perfect for her. “Whattaya think?” he said, bouncing on his toes and grinning, before she’d even unwrapped it fully.

Punchline let out a chuckle before responding, “Because what I want, you can’t simply steal.” She said with a smile. All she wanted was to see change in this city. It was corrupt and had been since the day it was founded. She wanted everyone in Gotham to know of Joker’s message. She took the gift from the boy and carelessly unwrapped it. Letting the paper hit the ground. When she opened up the small box and took out the present she couldn’t stop herself from letting out a laugh. It was an ironic gift. A small blade hidden away inside of a bullet. “It’s beautiful Jerome, thank you.” She said before slipping it on. “How does it look?” 

“Wow, you really go overboard with decorations, don’t you?”

“Wow, you really go overboard with decorations, don’t you?” Alexis said as she glanced around the apartment. “Joker kicked me out for the night after trying to choke me out... Guess I pissed him off a little.” She explained, shutting the door behind her. “You don’t mind the company, do you?” She asked, giving the woman a bit of a smile. Leaning over a bit to pet Bruce who had come up to greet her at the door.

“It looks like Santa threw up here”

“It looks like Santa threw up here.” Punchline scoffed as she walked towards the Cheshire Cat, she had no idea why she would want to meet somewhere so festive. “This is Gotham, how is there any Holiday Spirit left.” She asked before getting right up in Jade’s face. “Good news,” She whispered. “The plan is going- well... according to plan.” She said with a chuckle. “It shouldn’t be long until this city is mine.” 

“Step away from the cookies.”

“Step away from the cookies.” Punchline threatened, holding out a dagger and pointing it towards the other woman before taking one herself and munching on it. “They’d go right to your thighs, I bet.” She said with a chuckle. “Say, didn’t I stab you once? How’s that healing?” She shifted her weight so she could pull herself up on the counter. Sitting with crossed legs.