48 One Week To Win It #48

Author's note: I just came back from my college exam and don't have any energy to think of anything creative. Heck, I even had to ask one of my proofreaders to come up with this chapter's name! so do the right thing, my dudes!

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"Oh, how the high and mighty have fallen..." I remarked, chuckling in no small amount of genuine amusement. "The Justice League mind wiping one of their own, a founding member to boot," I added, continuously chuckling.

I quickly stopped laughing when the caped crusader put me on the receiving end of his notorious Bat-Glare. No wonder he can keep the Justice League in check with that kind of glare. Too bad it didn't work on Zatanna.

"Now you see why I don't trust the league or any hero," I remarked, awkwardly clearing my throat as I shifted uncomfortably because of the smolderingly intense Batglare.

"Even the supposedly omnipotent, omniscient gods of this world are fickle beings, Mr. Wayne..." I added, trying to strike the iron while it's hot since Batman still seemed to be processing the sudden return of his memories.

"So you will forgive me for choosing not to trust the League, who are nothing but mortals with a fraction of the power of a god," I concluded, shaking my head as I paused and waited for Batman to recover.

I'd already said everything I needed to say, adding anything else might prove counterproductive instead.

"Right now, you are the main suspect for causing this mess," Batman remarked, removing his hand from his forehead, his tone turning gloomy and cold after recovering the memories of the mind wipes.

"Your knowledge only makes you seem more guilty," he added, regaining his neutral tone with little trouble as he impatiently gestured to the side.

'Oh? Finally getting to the point, eh...?' I raised an eyebrow at the caped crusader's change of attitude, but I wisely decided not to comment on it.

I don't think anyone would want to mince words after learning they were mind fucked by one of their friends. I couldn't blame Gotham's dark, broody knight for it.

"It's as they say, ignorance is a blessing, and I wasn't given such a blessing, unfortunately," I replied, bitterly smiling as I slightly spread my arms apart and shook my head.

"I'm no criminal mastermind, just a guy with a simultaneous excess of knowledge and lack of ability, and I will do what I must to survive," My hands dropped to rest behind my back, assuredness settling into my posture.

"Whether what I do to survive would make the world a better place or worse than it already is, that currently depends on you, Mr. Wayne..." I concluded, my tone serene as I trailed off at the end of my sentence.

I might be living in a fictional world, and I might even be a fictional character myself for all I knew, but that doesn't mean I wanted to muddy the waters and make this world worse because of my presence, imaginary as it may be.

However, in the end, I will always prioritize number one if I have to choose between my well-being and that of others.

My message was loud and clear; I'm not a threat, and I might even be a valuable ally, but make an enemy out of me, and there will be hell to pay, even if I couldn't do much now.

I had no doubt Batman already knew everything there was to know about me, what I could do, and where I came from since he wouldn't risk approaching me without knowing he could take me down otherwise.

"I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt," Batman replied, his eyes narrowing at me. "You have one week to find the person responsible for this mess and clear your name," he added, causing me to raise an eyebrow, a bewildered expression on my face.

"With what you've told me, it shouldn't be a problem for you to do it within a week," he concluded, crossing his arms.

'So I either find the culprit, or I am the culprit... fair enough...' I mused, going silent to think for a second. My words made it sound like I could easily find the culprit, and not finding them would mean I was the culprit or covering for them.

'I dug a hole for myself by bragging, and Batman was too willing to push me right into it...' I sighed, scratching my head as I turned to the caped crusader and nodded.

I'd already intended to find the person orchestrating these shenanigans, and now I merely had one more reason to go about it more eagerly.

"As for her..." Batman said after seeing me nod in agreement, turning to the unconscious Harley, and I cut him off by raising a hand before he could continue.

"She came looking for shelter, and I agreed. Until she is no longer under my roof, no one will touch her. Not you or anyone else," I stood firm, shaking my head as I waved my hand to shoo off the Batman.

"You're pushing your luck," Batman replied, frowning as he tried to stare me down with another intense Batglare, but I couldn't back down this time, even if it went against my better judgment.

"Maybe, but that changes nothing. You want to send the crazy bitch off to Arkham? Be my guest, but wait until she leaves my house," I replied, my tone still firm as I met the dark knight's glare.

"So be it, but I will hold you accountable for any blood she spills," Batman replied, and I instantly felt a vein bulge on my forehead, a stream of curse words flooding my brain.

"Hold on just a fucking second. You can't expect me to keep this crazy girl under—" I exclaimed, turning to gesture at the crazy blonde for a second, but Batman was already gone when I turned back, causing me to frit my teeth in frustration.

'For fuck's sake... me and my big mouth...' I sighed as I looked at the blissfully unconscious Harley, feeling an urge to kick her in the face, but I pushed it down and settled for the next best thing.

I joined two fingers and poked a nerve at the back of her neck, causing her to immediately wake up with a muffled scream, her eyes widening in shock.

'Good thing I spent some time studying the human nervous system...' I mused, taking pleasure in the crazy blonde's blight as she finally stopped screaming and started heaving.

I knew gentler ways to wake her up, but I was too frustrated to go with anything else at the moment.

"Holly shit! Do that again!" Harley exclaimed, grinning like a maniac as soon as I removed the gag from her mouth, causing me to freeze. And what little satisfaction I had in my petty act flew right out the window.

"Wait! Where'd Bats go?" she asked, looking around the room confusedly as she finally remembered she wasn't tied up for fun, causing me to sigh as I got up without undoing the rest of her bindings.

"I convinced him to leave, but we're not out of the mud yet," I said, walking to a chair and slumping down as I felt the tensity leave my body after dealing with Batman.

"We need to find the person who created this mess, and we only have one week to do it," I added, running a hand through my hair as I turned to the ceiling in frustration.

"We'd both end up behind bars if we don't..." I remarked, taking a deep breath as I turned back to the crazy blonde, regarding her with utmost annoyance.

"Ya made a deal with Bats?!" Harley asked, her eyes widening in disbelief as she seemed to forget about her bindings, shooting me a surprised and somewhat impressed look.

"Pretty much, and the deal includes you since he wanted to send your crazy ass to Arkham," I replied with a sigh, regretting my decision to protect the crazy blonde.

I couldn't afford to appear as a pushover in front of Batman, especially after all my bragging. She was in my house, and if I let him take her just like that, I'd look like a schmuck to be trampled over anytime.

"Awe, shucks!" Harley casually replied, grinning as she turned on her back, her head hanging off the bed's edge as she stared at me. "Didn't know ya cared, Gray!" she added, her grin widening as she sent me a smug look.

"Whatever," I replied with another sigh, shaking my head. "Batman said if he'd hold me accountable for anyone you kill for the next week, so you better behave yourself until we find the asshole behind this shit," I added, gesturing to the side.

"I don't mind knocking your crazy ass out and handing you over to Batman myself if you don't," I concluded with a shrug of my shoulders as I got up and turned to leave the room.

"I'll be on my best behavior!" Harley replied without hesitation, eagerly nodding her head. "Now come and undo these bindings! I need to go to the bathroom!" she added, shifting on the bed as she suddenly seemed to remember.

"Do it yourself," I replied, feeling my petty side acting up as I took out my knife and buried it in the wall furthest from the crazy blonde before leaving the room.

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