[ He probably should have removed that mask, but at the moment Identity mattered, but so did Harley. Slipping into the blue Mercedes, he reached over to her side flipping a button that closed the gullwing doors while the old car rumbled.]
So... [ Awkward.] you know how the guild has that ranking system? This is kinda important to explaining this all. Well Doc Venture became a level 10, and we we're dropped to a level 4 after the cocoon burned. And, fuck this sounds stupid... but, we found out some stuff and stole the identities of some old vigilantes to get the other 10s ahead of us out of the way so we can arch Venture.
[ This was his stupid plan, he only found it stupid now that he had villain blood on his hands. But he looked to her so she could ask or yell. He expected either one or the other.]
[ It sounded so stupid. It was, in fact, maybe the stupidest plan she had ever heard. It was stupid enough to actually render her speechless for a time. ]
Oookay.
Nobody in Gotham is going to care, as long as you don't try to ... vigilant anything.
Gotham is pretty much the same as hallowed grounds to us guild guys. We avoid this place. Hell, you, and Hench night always being here is the only reason I come out here. I'm not going to do anything stupid here. But, I promised to come, and I'm here, want to at least go flying?
[ He rambled, and asked, before adding. ]
Also, you totally can't tell anyone about this, cool? Like breaking massive guild law here.
[ Leaning in closer to her, he flips another switch, the car lifting a little as the wheels turn and the gullwing doors open again. Hovering as he shifted it to take them off the roof and a bit higher, his hands staying at 10 and 2. ]
I mean, I could have, but I said I'd come, and I couldn't exactly just go rent a car last minute. And once we're done with this stuff, it's getting painted to be the new Monarchmobile. It'll be fine then.
[ She totally got him to blush, even under the blue mask. Flying them up higher just to push the old flying car. ]
Oh my god, no, I'm not trying to impress you, so I can get laid. Have a little more faith to me than that, dude. I just thought you might enjoy the ride before I have to get back to Newark. Not that I'm not still completely still blown away that we even banged, Harley.
[ She laughed and reached over to pat his hand on the steering wheel. ]
I know, hon, you're too good a guy to only care about one thing. I am excited to ride in a flying car. Never been in one before. Don't s'pose you'll let me have a turn behind the wheel?
[ He grinned over her way, that blush not fully gone yet. ]
Sometimes, I'm not always good. [ Even when he's bad, he's mostly good. Just being bad was part of the job he loved so much. ] Right? When we realized it flew it was like, the most badass thing. I was terrified it would fall out of the sky at first. But, maybe, but it will totally have to wait until we get done with this Blue Morpho stuff. Is that cool?
Nooo, come on, if you want a reputation for being terrible then hanging out with me is the best thing you could do.
[ She missed that small tell because she was too engrossed with looking out at the sky. Too bad, she might be a good listener. ]
Do the Monarchs have date nights a lot?
[ Joker would take her along for work all the time, and that was about as good as it got. He hadn't gone out of his way to wine and dine her since ... Well, she'd been the one doing all the chasing so. Maybe a handful of times? ]
Seriously? Do people not realize how cool you are?
[ She always seemed awesome to him. But honestly, he was happy she missed that tell. He was kind of teased by the Monarch each time he showed any signs of not being okay with what they were doing. Gary so didn't want to be teased by his other friend either. ]
Oh yeah, once a week, unless the council pulls some bullshit on her like they do now and then.
[ The Monarchs were honestly the best couple. Even married a few years, they kept their romance alive.]
Gotham is kinda cool like that, as much as I like the guild, we wouldn't be benched if not for these stupid levels. But dude, I just, I know you can be terrifying, I've seen the papers, but you'll always just be Harley to me.
[ Gary kept the car going up and around some of the higher Gotham buildings. Looking up at the mirror at her. ]
Dude, right? Me too, but they got that like fairy tale kind of romance going on. Even when they fight, they're solid.
Same here, and honestly, I hope we never cross paths on the clock unless we're on the same team.
[ He sees that look in the mirror. He knew he'd need to get gas before he left Gotham but for now it's fine.]
Nothing that bad, no, but they always work it out. Even after the book and him going to prison awhile they got back together and got married. [ He looked back to her from the sky a moment.] you okay, Harley?
[ He stole his boss's car and risked execution just to come hang out and do something fun for her. Get it together, Harley. She tried to give a reassuring smile but it was stiff. ]
Noooo! [ She reached over to grab his arm as if she could stop the conversation from happening that way. ] I mean, yeah I do know that, but you came all the way here to have fun!
[ He looked back over to her again, his green eyes visible through this mask, unlike his butterfly mask. Worry visible over the parts of his face that could be seen. ]
Dude, I'm hanging out with you. It's fun, besides, I so don't mind. I'm all about taking the good with the bar, and is there anyone else who wouldn't judge? And, if you want to talk, and it gets too close to time for me to get back, I can take you with me, and we can ride the train back together.
[ Yeah, he'd take that long train ride twice just to let her talk if she needed. He didn't have anyone he could really talk too when 24 died. He knew if he did, maybe he would have handled it better. ]
[ Harley leaned into his shoulder and pouted, grumbling indistinctly. ]
I know I should be over it already but... It's not even like I want to go back because he wasn't really ever what I had hoped-- Maybe nothing ever will be.
[ He spoke, looking down at her, keeping his hands on the wheel all the same. ]
You guys were together a long time, I wouldn't expect anyone to be over something like that easily. [ He worries his lip a moment, pondering asking a question, but last time he asked something like that he kissed Sheila and shit got complicated. But, Harley was different.]
Zero judgement here, the flying car is like Vegas. What happens here stays here. So, can I ask... Don't you think you deserve someone who treats you better? Not that I ever knew the full details, but I heard stuff... you know, through the grapevine back before 24 died.
[ Mostly other Henches talking about the mean stuff the Joker had done, and how they needed to stay away from her or they Joker would kill them. Of course, he still probably spoke to her back then, just with 24 cowering behind him. ]
[ They had always been on friendly terms. New henches were always surprised how nice Harley was to everybody at the meetups, and many went on to learn a hard lesson that nice is very different from good. But 21 and 24 had been joined at the hip which made it harder to get to know either of them. Harley and Gary hadn't started getting close until the first time he had shown up alone. Everyone else had awkwardly hung back, not sure what to say or do, but Harley had given him the biggest hug the second she saw him. ]
If it's about what I deserve, then... No. I got what I got.
[ She leaned back into her seat and turned away. ]
[ Being joined at the hip made it hard for even some of the Monarch's other henches to get to know them. But, he had no regrets from back then. That dude was his ride or die, and he's still beat someone's ass if the insulted him. Getting that hug from Harley after was the first step into getting to know her and making the choice to get his shit together. ]
Come on dude, I don't believe that. Yeah, we do bad things, but it doesn't mean we deserve bad things to happen to us.
[ He looked back to the sky, carefully coasting near her building. Tapping the wheel a little.]
People used to say he'd hit you, leave you behind at the crime scene, and all kinds of messed up stuff. I don't even like thinking about the things I heard. I never really bought any of it, but, yeah, that's what I heard. That and that if we spoke to you, he'd kill us both.
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So... [ Awkward.] you know how the guild has that ranking system? This is kinda important to explaining this all. Well Doc Venture became a level 10, and we we're dropped to a level 4 after the cocoon burned. And, fuck this sounds stupid... but, we found out some stuff and stole the identities of some old vigilantes to get the other 10s ahead of us out of the way so we can arch Venture.
[ This was his stupid plan, he only found it stupid now that he had villain blood on his hands. But he looked to her so she could ask or yell. He expected either one or the other.]
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Oookay.
Nobody in Gotham is going to care, as long as you don't try to ... vigilant anything.
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[ He rambled, and asked, before adding. ]
Also, you totally can't tell anyone about this, cool? Like breaking massive guild law here.
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[ She drew the x over her chest and tried to look trustworthy. ]
You know, if coming out is such a huge problem, you could have. Like ... Not?
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[ Leaning in closer to her, he flips another switch, the car lifting a little as the wheels turn and the gullwing doors open again. Hovering as he shifted it to take them off the roof and a bit higher, his hands staying at 10 and 2. ]
I mean, I could have, but I said I'd come, and I couldn't exactly just go rent a car last minute. And once we're done with this stuff, it's getting painted to be the new Monarchmobile. It'll be fine then.
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[ She really was excited, though, and couldn't help but bounce in her seat and clap a little as he started takeoff. ]
You know you don't have to impress me to get laid, Gary. We already fucked.
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[ She totally got him to blush, even under the blue mask. Flying them up higher just to push the old flying car. ]
Oh my god, no, I'm not trying to impress you, so I can get laid. Have a little more faith to me than that, dude. I just thought you might enjoy the ride before I have to get back to Newark. Not that I'm not still completely still blown away that we even banged, Harley.
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I know, hon, you're too good a guy to only care about one thing. I am excited to ride in a flying car. Never been in one before. Don't s'pose you'll let me have a turn behind the wheel?
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Sometimes, I'm not always good. [ Even when he's bad, he's mostly good. Just being bad was part of the job he loved so much. ] Right? When we realized it flew it was like, the most badass thing. I was terrified it would fall out of the sky at first. But, maybe, but it will totally have to wait until we get done with this Blue Morpho stuff. Is that cool?
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[ She flashed him a grin before turning to look at the view. ]
This is totally badass! Thank you for giving me a ride. How long are you gonna keep up the Morpho thing?
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[ That grin was awesome, and so worth any screeching or beating with a comic he might get later. ]
Dude, no problem, so long as this doesn't matter the paper we are so copacetic! Maybe a month or two more. We're about half through the list.
[ He gripped the wheel a little harder when he said that. It was all going to be fine, just a few more people to kill. ]
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[ She missed that small tell because she was too engrossed with looking out at the sky. Too bad, she might be a good listener. ]
Do the Monarchs have date nights a lot?
[ Joker would take her along for work all the time, and that was about as good as it got. He hadn't gone out of his way to wine and dine her since ... Well, she'd been the one doing all the chasing so. Maybe a handful of times? ]
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[ She always seemed awesome to him. But honestly, he was happy she missed that tell. He was kind of teased by the Monarch each time he showed any signs of not being okay with what they were doing. Gary so didn't want to be teased by his other friend either. ]
Oh yeah, once a week, unless the council pulls some bullshit on her like they do now and then.
[ The Monarchs were honestly the best couple. Even married a few years, they kept their romance alive.]
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[ She leaned back on the headrest and sighed, a little wistful and a little sad. ]
Oh my god that is so sweet. I want what they have.
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[ Gary kept the car going up and around some of the higher Gotham buildings. Looking up at the mirror at her. ]
Dude, right? Me too, but they got that like fairy tale kind of romance going on. Even when they fight, they're solid.
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[ When he caught a glimpse of her reflection, she wasn't really registering the view anymore. She was a million miles away, somewhere in the past. ]
Bet he's never even thrown her through a window or out a helicopter.
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[ He sees that look in the mirror. He knew he'd need to get gas before he left Gotham but for now it's fine.]
Nothing that bad, no, but they always work it out. Even after the book and him going to prison awhile they got back together and got married. [ He looked back to her from the sky a moment.] you okay, Harley?
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[ He stole his boss's car and risked execution just to come hang out and do something fun for her. Get it together, Harley. She tried to give a reassuring smile but it was stiff. ]
Well. Maybe not.
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Dude, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? I won't judge or anything like that.
[ Turning the flying car just to start heading them back towards her place. Probably better to keep to that area of Gotham than risk a bat.]
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Dude, I'm hanging out with you. It's fun, besides, I so don't mind. I'm all about taking the good with the bar, and is there anyone else who wouldn't judge? And, if you want to talk, and it gets too close to time for me to get back, I can take you with me, and we can ride the train back together.
[ Yeah, he'd take that long train ride twice just to let her talk if she needed. He didn't have anyone he could really talk too when 24 died. He knew if he did, maybe he would have handled it better. ]
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[ Harley leaned into his shoulder and pouted, grumbling indistinctly. ]
I know I should be over it already but... It's not even like I want to go back because he wasn't really ever what I had hoped-- Maybe nothing ever will be.
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[ He spoke, looking down at her, keeping his hands on the wheel all the same. ]
You guys were together a long time, I wouldn't expect anyone to be over something like that easily. [ He worries his lip a moment, pondering asking a question, but last time he asked something like that he kissed Sheila and shit got complicated. But, Harley was different.]
Zero judgement here, the flying car is like Vegas. What happens here stays here. So, can I ask... Don't you think you deserve someone who treats you better? Not that I ever knew the full details, but I heard stuff... you know, through the grapevine back before 24 died.
[ Mostly other Henches talking about the mean stuff the Joker had done, and how they needed to stay away from her or they Joker would kill them. Of course, he still probably spoke to her back then, just with 24 cowering behind him. ]
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If it's about what I deserve, then... No. I got what I got.
[ She leaned back into her seat and turned away. ]
What'd you hear?
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Come on dude, I don't believe that. Yeah, we do bad things, but it doesn't mean we deserve bad things to happen to us.
[ He looked back to the sky, carefully coasting near her building. Tapping the wheel a little.]
People used to say he'd hit you, leave you behind at the crime scene, and all kinds of messed up stuff. I don't even like thinking about the things I heard. I never really bought any of it, but, yeah, that's what I heard. That and that if we spoke to you, he'd kill us both.
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