Mount Justice — Happy Harbor
The sound of flowing water echoed softly through the meditation chamber.
It came from the artificial stream built into the far wall, the water flowing down smooth black stone beneath dim lighting designed to calm people down. The room smelled faintly of incense and cedarwood. Large circular windows overlooked the ocean outside Mount Justice, where gray morning clouds rolled slowly across the horizon.
I sat in a chair across from Dinah Lance.
Black Canary sat calmly in front of me with her hands folded together. She looked older than she used to. Not physically older exactly. She still looked beautiful. Blonde hair tied loosely back. Athletic body. Sharp blue eyes. But there was weariness behind them now. She wore her costume, and still carried that same strong controlled presence.
Across from us, Harley Quinn sat upside down in her chair Her black-and-red jacket hung loosely off one shoulder, while her blonde pigtails bounced slightly every time she moved.
Her legs hung over the backrest swinging lazily while she blew a loud bubble with pink gum before letting it pop.
The silence had dragged on for almost ten minutes now. Dinah finally folded her hands together and sighed softly.
"Y'know," she said carefully, "most therapy sessions usually involve talking eventually." Harley said.
I just stared at Dinah with a cold indifferent expression.
"No," I answered flatly. "I'm not ready." I said as I sat slouched back in the chair.
More time passed as nothing
Finally Dinah exhaled slowly. "Are you ready to talk?" she asked gently. "You've been staring at me for ten minutes."
Harley tilted her head upside down toward me. "Ya been starin' at Blondie fer ten whole minutes, kiddo. At this point it's either therapy or sexual tension."
Dinah sighed tiredly. "Harley."
"What? I'm tryin' ta lighten da mood."
I leaned back slightly in the chair. Rubbed a hand across my jaw slowly. "I'm trying to filter my thoughts and still be respectful for whenI speak."
Harley's expression shifted slightly. That actually caught her attention.
Dinah noticed too.
"Respectful toward who?" Dinah asked quietly.
Another loud pop of bubblegum broke the tension immediately. Harley froze upside down for a second before slowly sitting upright.
"Awww," she said, placing a hand dramatically against her chest. "See Canary? Manners. Chivalry. Emotional repression. The boy's practically Gotham royalty."
I ignored that.
"Okay first'a all, tall dark an' handsome, that was weirdly sweet. But you don't gotta hold back for little old me," Harley said in her thick Brooklyn accent. "Trust me, this ain't even in da top ten awkward therapy sessions I've had."
Dinah sighed lightly beside her. "I agree. This is your floor, Caius. Say what you need to say."
I stared down at my hands instead. "I still don't know how this is happening."
Harley leaned back in her chair immediately. "Oh that's easy, tall dark and emotionally constipated."
Dinah pinched the bridge of her nose.
Harley pointed at herself proudly. "Ever since I got off Waller's little Suicide Squad field trip from hell a few years back, I've been workin' with League rehabilitation, and mental health programs."
Then she pointed toward Dinah.
"This whole set up is because your beautiful guardian angel Wonder Woman thinks yer long overdue fer therapy session or a few hundred. She thought I'd be a perfect fit since I helped half the damn League personally and most of the Titans too."
Dinah cut in carefully. "Nightwing and several senior Titans also requested this specifically."
Her blue eyes met mine directly. "They said you need to be emotionally cleared before returning to active field operations full-time."
I rubbed both hands down my face slowly.
"Is that all?"
Harley immediately wiggled one finger. "Nope."
I already hated the tone in her voice.
"Batgirl made an appointment. Wonder Woman too. Wonder Girl. Martian Manhunter. Couple'a others." Harley grinned slightly. "Apparently everybody suddenly wants therapy with the traumatized superpowered pretty boy."
My patience snapped instantly. I stood up so fast the chair scraped hard against the floor.
"No."
The word came out sharp enough to make the room tense.
"Fuck no."
The water behind me continued flowing softly while my chest rose harder.
"I refuse to do this more than I absolutely have to. What I say to you Dinah goes double for everyone else, so pass along the message."
Harley whistled softly. She pulled her pigtails tighter into a tight bun while putting on a pair of glasses. "There it is, now we're finally gettin' somewhere."
Dinah remained seated, though her expression tightened slightly.
"Caius, I...."
"No," I cut her off sharply. "You don't get to sit there acting guilty like that fixes anything.
"Caius," she said carefully. "They want to make things right."
I laughed once, it was a bitter sound.
"No," I said quietly. "You all don't get to want my forgiveness so you can stop feeling guilty for what you did."
"You wanna know the funny part Dinah?" I asked. "I understand why you did what you did." That surprised her. You just lost Oliver & Roy and the span of a afternoon. Tensions were high. The Tower was a massacre and the Leagues satellite were a blood bath. Everyone was scared and angry."
My throat tightened.
"But you followed Batman and hurt a kid who almost died. Then proceeded to treat me like a threat until you finally processed your grief enough to know I'm not the monster you thought I was."
The room became silent again except for the water behind us.
"You hurt me Dinah, and you one of my first mentors, when I started training with the Titans and Batman" I said quietly.
Dinah's eyes lowered.
"You know what else is funny?" I asked quietly.
Dinah didn't answer.
"You screamed so directly close to my entire nervous system felt like it was being shredded , nerve by nerve until I almost blacked out. Then J'onn comes and digs through my head while I was barely conscious. And everyone just stood there and watched." I could feel my breathing getting uneven now." Every day for the past five years when I wake up in the middle of the night covered in sweat..." My voice roughened slightly. "I still hear you screaming and see that look of absolute hate in your eyes."
Dinah's face fell completely.
"I still feel Manhunter in my head, that's why I don't like to be around psychic's and probably why no one can read my mind. The trauma caused me to use my TTK to shield my so hard it affects my overall abilities."
The words came out quieter now. Even Harley's expression softened completely now.
The tears came before I could stop them. Damn it I hated crying. But the words kept coming anyway.
"I still remember feeling everybody looking at me like I was dangerous. Then you all isolated me after my parents disappeared, and watched me spiral for years. And now somehow," I whispered bitterly, "I'm just supposed to be fine and accept an apology like that fixes anything?"
My legs gave out before I realized it and I dropped back into the chair hard. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees while my hands gripped together tightly.
The room felt heavier now.
Dinah's voice dropped almost to a whisper. " Oh God Caius… I'm so sor....."
"NO." My voice cracked sharply, as I shook my head immediately. "You don't get to say sorry either. You don't get to apologize because apologizing makes YOU feel better"
The tears started burning behind my eyes before I could stop them. And somehow that made me angrier.
"Because for five years…" My voice cracked more. "For five fucking years this anger was the only thing I could control in this messed up life you all forced me into."
My elbows resting against my knees while my trembling hands covered part of my face. I laughed bitterly through the tears.
"I was just a kid." The craziest part about all that. I was able to be more of a kid in this life then in my previous one. My parents were actual parent's. They loved me unconditionally and showed me it everyday, even on their worst ones.
And the league took that from me. Batman took that from me and kept me in the dark for so long.
Dinah looked devastated now. Harley's expression softened too in a way that surprised me. She leaned forward slightly, elbows on her knees now.
"And the worst part?" I looked down at the floor.
"I still wanted your approval anyway."
Harley slowly leaned forward now, her posture straighter then before.
"When people abandon ya," Harley said quietly, "it messes ya up real deep."
I looked toward her.
"But what hurt worse wasn't losin' people," Harley continued softly. "It was losin' people ya thought loved and trusted you."
The room went still again.
That hit me straight in the chest. I looked away immediately and wiped at my eyes angrily. "Yeah." My voice came out tired.
Harley nodded slowly like she understood completely.
"Been there kid, I can relate."
The room stayed quiet for a long moment after that. Then I finally exhaled shakily.
"But…" I said quietly." Because of that… I figured out who actually stayed and really cared about me."
My mind drifted to them automatically.
Alfred. Dick. Donna. Diana. Ted. Debbie. My friends, and my family who stayed when it would've been easier not to.
"It was the people who stayed beside me that kept me going," I admitted quietly. "Otherwise I probably would've broken completely.…They're why I kept going."
My chest tightened. "They made sure I wasn't alone."
I looked back toward Dinah.
"Look. I'm a very petty person toward people who hurt me." I admitted honestly.
Harley snorted. "Honestly same."
Dinah accepted that without arguing.
"But I promise this." I pointed toward her slightly. "In the field and any disaster? I'll always have your back. Hero or not. Because innocent people matter more than my feelings."
Dinah swallowed slightly. She looked genuinely relieved hearing that.
Then I leaned back in the chair again. "But if you and the others really want to fix things…"
Dinah's eyes lifted slightly as she straightened. "What do you want?"
I stared at her carefully.
"I'll make a deal with you and the others."
"A deal?" she asked carefully. "What kind of deal?"
I nodded once. "When I call for your help…" I said slowly. "You answer and you stand by my side no matter what it is."
I have plans for this world, and to do that I will need support, and right now I don't care if I have to guilt trip people into it. Hopefully they see things my way later on.
Dinah blinked. She frowned immediately. "Caius, that's not exactly...."
"I'm not asking you to kill anybody," I cut her off sharply. "Or commit crimes or betray the world you sworn to protect."
I leaned forward slightly. "I'm asking you to trust me like you should've trusted me five years ago on that day."
Dinah went quiet. I could practically see the conflict on her face.
Harley looked between both of us before shrugging, and tilted her head slightly before speaking. "Honestly?" Harley said. "Kid could've Kid could'a demanded something WAY worse. After everything' he's been through. "
Harley leaned back in the chair, and gestured toward me casually "After hearing everythin' that happened, trust ain't exactly a small thing. But if ya really wanna heal this mess, trustin' him a little ain't exactly a bad deal, Blondie."
Dinah glanced toward her, and stayed silent for several long seconds. Then finally…
"…Okay."
I looked at her carefully studying her face...
"When you call me," Dinah said quietly, "I'll answer."
She meant it, and hearing that made something inside my chest loosened slightly.
I nodded once. " Good. Pass the message to the others. And when the time comes I will see who is really on my side."
"I feel like…" she said, "this whole thing probably could've been solved earlier if you just punched us all a few times."
I shrugged. " Of course, that was always an option."
Dinah almost smiled weakly. " "Wait seriously?"
I shrugged slightly. " Of course. I literally did that with Superboy earlier this week. But that's just us being guys at that point. We let our fist do the talking, as some point we will have to actually talk about it, but less words will be needed."
Dinah blinked. " So sparring was always on the table. How come you never said anything?"
I stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "Because no one asked."
Harley burst out laughing instantly.
"Not to mention with my powers only people like Superboy could stand a chance against me."
Dinah stared at me as I stood slowly again. " If you still want to spar and finish this out I'll wear the power-dampening collar so we can go a few rounds."
Dinah's expression shifted fully now. For the first time since this session started, she actually looked more like herself.
"That is the most Titan thing I've ever heard."
Dinah stood slowly now, stretching her shoulders. "Caius I would like to go a few rounds like old times."
I smirked faintly. "Ok just know this time I hit alot harder then I use to."
Dinah cracked her knuckles. " Good. Since you been training under Ted these past few years hopefully you can finally throw a decent punch, and not end up on your back. Just know I be won't holding back this time."
"Good," I answered. "Let's go."
As Dinah walked ahead toward the training area, Harley remained sitting in her chair stretching lazily.
The tension in the room finally loosened slightly.
"Harley," I said.
She looked up immediately. "Yeah, handsome?"
"Can I get your card?"
Harley blinked once. Then slowly grinned.
"Well damn your a bold young man."
I sighed immediately. "Not for a date." Even if you are the perfect crazy to hot ratio.
"Awww."
Harley hopped out of the chair lightly and walked over to me. Pulling a thick marker from her cleavage. Before I could stop her, Harley grabbed my sleeve and started writing directly across my gray long-sleeve shirt.
"…Harley."
"Shhh. I'm brandin' ya emotionally."
"There ya go, sugar."
I stared down at the permanent black marker that showed her number. It stained the fabric of my shirt permanently.
"…You wrote on my shirt."
"You bet handsome."
"…With permanent marker."
"Also yup."
I closed my eyes slowly. "Son of a bitch."
Harley gasped dramatically. "Actually daughter of a bastard."
I rubbed my forehead tiredly. Well at least these clothes weren't burned. At worse I can just dye this shirt black.
Harley pointed toward the logo on my sleeve.
Harley suddenly looked closer at my shirts logo.
"…Wait."
She pointed at my shirt.
"You wear this brand too?"
I blinked once.
"…Yeah?"
"Small world I like this brand too."
She tugged lightly at her leggings and crop top which carried the exact same designer logo.
"See? We're spiritually connected now."
I blinked once. Of course she wore the same brand.
Harley caught me looking and grinned shamelessly.
"Well look at you, Mr. Bold." She leaned closer slightly. "Didn't know you liked older women. You should see what I have on underneath." She winked.
"I didn't know they made panties or bra's." Saying that to hopefully point the conversation in a different direction.
Harley smiled seductively. " Aren't you cute. They don't make make bra's or panties, and even if they did, I'm not wearing either."
I stared at her flatly. Part of me was turned on and another part was flustered not knowing how to respond.
"Raincheck.... say probably never."
Harley's face fell dramatically. "Rude."
"Look, I asked because I think an old friend of ours is in town. Nightwing and Batman ran into someone I know that fits the description. "
That got her attention immediately.
Harley's grin faded slightly. She frowned in confusion.
"Really…Who?"
I walked past her toward the training hall. I stopped near the doorway and glanced back slightly.
"I used to call him J."
Harley froze.
"But you probably know him by another name."
Then I kept walking before finishing the sentence. Behind me Harley stood completely still.
"…J?"
Gotham City
Rain hit the broken warehouse roof in slow uneven drops. Water leaked through cracks in the ceiling and dripped onto stained concrete floors below. Rusted chains hung from support beams while old industrial equipment sat abandoned in darkness.
Only one light remained active. A single hanging lamp above the center of the room.
Underneath it sat a man tied tightly to a metal chair.
He was tall. Thin and broken in many ways. Blood ran from his split lip while bruises covered his pale face. Chalk-white skin contrasted sharply against messy emerald-green hair hanging over his eyes.
One eye swollen shut. His purple suit jacket torn apart.
But even beaten nearly unconscious and bloody… That smile remained.
That horrible permanent grin carved into his face. The Joker laughed and smiled weakly through blood. His hands restrained tightly behind the chair with reinforced metal cuffs.
"Heh…"
Two shadowed figures stood near the entrance watching silently. Then one of them finally stepped forward.
Heavy boots echoed across the concrete floor. The figure moved into the light slowly. He was tall. Broad shoulder and heavily muscular.
He wore black leather biker jacket stretched across his shoulders over tactical armor beneath. Reinforced boots struck the floor with deliberate weight while black gloves tightened around a metal crowbar resting against one shoulder. And covering his face, a featureless glossy red helmet.
The Joker's smile twitched slightly wider despite the blood running down his chin.
"…Y'know," Joker rasped weakly, "normally I charge people for this kinda attention. But considering I have a fan who's showing me such a good time. I'll make an exception."
The figure said nothing as he stared at him.
"…Aw c'mon." Joker wheezed through blood. "At least gimme a clue. Who did I kill that made you want to wear that knock of biker boy version of my old costume. Or are you one of Batsy's new emotionally damaged? Man he really just takes anyone in these days. You think he would have learned after what happened to the last brat."
The figure grabbed Joker violently by the hair and yanked his head upward. The crowbar rested against Joker's shoulder as the figure spoke.
"Let's start again from the top."
The Joker noticed the crow bar and had a smile of realization. "My old crowbar where did you find it...?" Then the crowbar hit him across the face as blood came spitting from his mouth.