CHAPTER 41

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[David Lance POV]

Two weeks and I still had nothing to clear Rachel's name, other than my word. The situation was getting a little frustrating, as there was no possible approach to resolving it.

"You shouldn't feel obligated to help me," Rachel said softly.

I smile at her. ~It's part of the job, helping those in need.~

Rachel smiled for the briefest of moments. "Heroes..."

I nodded, that was part of the job, just as the terrible hours, and the non-existent pay were. The healthcare though was superb, so not everything was bad.

Enough jokes though.

I was running out of ideas.

"Someone is trying to find us, my magic is stopping their attempts…" Rachel said, a frown dawning on her face.

I turned to her. ~Any idea who?~

Rachel nodded. "It was one of the heroes that came to rescue you in the forest, the one that looked like a stage magician…"

Giovanni Zatara.

What to do… this might be an opportunity to appeal to Rachel's case with him, but like every opportunity in this world, it was a double edge blade.

Damn it all.

I guess it's like they say, without risk, there's no reward.

~Let him find us,~ I signed, hoping I wasn't making a mistake.

Rachel nodded, closing her eyes before saying calmly. "Done…"

I nodded, walking towards her. Now it was time to see Giovanni's move and hope for the best.

"Latrop ot eht isles!" A voice echoed in the cave, as a portal opened in front of us, with Giovanni Zatara and Batman stepping through before the portal closed.

At this, I felt my body relax. 

"Black Bolt," Batman was the first one to speak.

~Batman,~ I greeted in kind.

"We need to talk," replied Batman with a commanding tone.

~I'm all ears,~ I replied, gesturing for him to proceed.

"Alone," said Batman coldly. 

I shook my head, giving Giovanni a look. What guarantee did I have that Zatara would not engage Rachel the moment I went with Batman? I had to keep my options open, and Rachel close in case a fight erupted.

Batman himself had taught me that, to never leave the one you seek to protect out of sight or reach.

"They know," said Rachel calmly. "Not everything, but they know…"

I see now.

That was probably what Batman wanted to talk about with me, in private.

Batman narrowed his eyes at her, before directing his trademark scowl at me. "Explain."

"I am the daughter of Trigon the Demon, and Angela Roth, the Azarathian," Rachel replied before I could even think of an answer. "I will answer all of your questions. I am not afraid to be judged." 

"The daughter…" Zatara muttered in a barely audible tone.

"I am," Rachel nodded. "But that's merely a title without value."

~You don't have to do this, you haven't done anything wrong, they have no right to question you, or me for that matter,~ I signed, ready to help her out of this situation if she wanted to.

"I know, but if some of these heroes are truly your mentors, then I am certain they will understand the situation, just as you did," Rachel replied with just the hint of a smile dawning on her face.

I sighed, taking a seat on the ground.

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[Harley Quinn POV]

I swung my bat from left to right, smashing the head of the security guard at the asylum against the wall with a loud and funny metallic bang.

"I told you, didn't I, Harley?" Mister J grinned, punching one of the guards coming his way. "That we would be out of this place, in no time!" 

I smiled, knocking another guard up. "Yep siree!" 

I was finally on my way to freedom to look for my man, or was it, teenager? Meh, another crime for the list, another stripe for the tiger… No, no, another stripe for the tigress! That's a better one!

"We have much to do!" Mister J chuckled, stabbing a guard on the ground to death. "After all, I must make sure Batman doesn't get too rusty, I mean if I don't do it? Who will? On that note, we could add Black Bolt to the party as well! The more, the merrier!"

I smiled, remembering Black Bolt's dreamy eyes, just for me, as Ivy trapped Mister J with her greeny friends binding him in place, doing me a solid.

"Ivy, my dear, you flatter me but I am a man of a single gal!" Mister J laughed, giving me a look that soon turned into realization. "HaHaHaHaHa, well ain't this funny?!"

"I have no idea how you tolerate him," Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples as her plants dealt with the guards around with ease.

"Thanks, Ivy!" I smiled, skipping towards her, giving her a hug, before turning to the Joker, bat ready. "I'm sorry Mister J, but your position has been filled by another, so… bye~bye goodnight~" with that said and done, I swung my bat at him, smashing his head on the ground with enough force for the floor to crack.

"I still think you should kill him," Ivy sighed, slamming Mister J with one of her plants against the wall of his cell, before closing the door.

I giggled, rolling my eyes at her. "I wouldn't do that to Batsy, I mean, now that my eyes are finally open, it's clear those two love each other like medical corporations love rich cancer patients, besides... I am no one to break that up."

"Well, if you ever feel like killing him, you know who to call," Ivy replied with a smile, before asking. "So, who's your new lover?"

I smiled, elated at the opportunity to have some girl talk with Ivy. "He's a hero, a bit younger than me. Strong, silent, has a bad boy vibe going, he's the best…" I replied dreamily.

"A bit younger? By how much… exactly?" Ivy asked, walking with me towards the exit of Arkham asylum.

"Hm, I don't know, he's a teenager, fourteen, fifteen maybe?" I shrugged, not that it mattered, Harley was a good girl, she was willing to wait.

"I…" Ivy paused, her mouth forming a thin dot. "You know what? It's an improvement, and that's all that matters… I think…"

I giggled. "Ivy, he's a teenager… you really think he will be able to resist, all this?" I wiggled my blood-stained eyebrows at her, suggestively shaking my hips a bit.

"That's a good point," Ivy chuckled, busting the exit doors open with a move of her hands. "I still don't know what to think of it to be fair, I mean, sure, we are criminals, but we have standards…"

"Do we? Do we really?" I replied in a deadpan.

"Hmm," Ivy hummed, index finger pressed upon her lips. "As I said before, it's an improvement, so fuck it, congratulations."