Gotham was, as always, soaked in rain, the sky perpetually shrouded by brooding clouds. And tonight, the Bat-Signal was lit once again.
Perched on the gargoyle of a towering building, Batman stood shrouded in his cape, eyes scanning the streets below.
This street was along the route of the earlier commotion. But now, aside from a few cars obediently waiting at the red light, all appeared calm.
After a moment, Batman spread his cape and glided toward another part of Gotham—where the Joker had just been released from Arkham Asylum. It was time to bring him in again.
Meanwhile, Connor sat behind the wheel. Harley Quinn, now unconscious and secured with a seatbelt in the passenger seat, was along for the ride. After passing through intersection after intersection, obeying every signal, he finally pulled into one of his hideouts.
"Waiting at red lights in Gotham is as weird as following traffic laws in Grand Theft Auto..."
He had knocked Harley out in a camera blind spot, then drove as a model citizen—successfully avoiding any potential surveillance by Batman.
Now, on the 19th floor of a rental apartment he called home…
Harley Quinn lay naked in a warm bath, the chemicals on her body gradually diluted by bath salts. Connor stood nearby, ensuring she wouldn't drown while unconscious. Only then did he pull up his system interface.
He had submitted today's gossip scoop while driving but hadn't yet checked the reward. With Harley still out cold, it was the perfect time to take a look.
"Firsthand scoop, involving a superhuman, possibly even watched by Batman from the shadows… Definitely a big one. What kind of prize could it be?"
With anticipation, he checked the system.
[Today's Scoop: The Delirious Harleen Quinzel]
[Gossip Reward: Spider Sense]
Spider Sense?!
Connor took a sharp breath, glancing at the unconscious Harley in the tub.
That's a massive reward!
Compared to his previous rewards, this was on a whole new level.
Because he could choose what gossip to submit each day, and rewards needed to be claimed manually, he had sometimes let rewards accumulate when nothing seemed worth it. That's how he got his "Intermediate Mixed Martial Arts" skill—the only non-cash reward he'd received until now.
But now? With Spider Sense added to his abilities, he could finally feel safe—as long as he didn't go out of his way to get himself killed.
He moved to the living room to test the new power.
He first ensured the apartment was secure, then tried to trigger effects similar to what he'd seen in the movies—maybe even a kind of "bullet-time."
But just as he was about to focus, soft sobbing came from the bathroom.
Harley Quinn's awake?
Connor stood immediately. This was one of DC's most notoriously unstable femme fatales. Even with Spider Sense, he couldn't afford to ignore her.
Why bring her home, then? Because he wanted intel on the Joker.
Everyone knew Gotham wasn't just Batman's city—it was also the Joker's. The Clown Prince of Crime stirred chaos like no other. If Connor could get close to him, the scoops would be endless.
He got into a defensive stance, ready for Harley to burst out swinging.
The bathroom door creaked open. A bare foot stepped out.
Then Harley appeared.
Her red-and-blue tips were retied into twin ponytails. She wore a large white men's bathrobe that barely contained her curves.
Connor's eyes lit up. Covered in chemicals and chaos earlier, and with him focused on driving, he hadn't really taken in her face. After rushing to check his system, he'd also ignored her looks.
But now? Clean and radiant before him, she was dazzling.
Connor was impressed—but Harley was even more so. She rushed up, grabbing the lapels of his dark red suit.
"...?"
Connor blinked. His Spider Sense stayed silent, so she wasn't attacking—but why grab his jacket?
He quickly realized—
The dark red suit matched her beloved red-and-blue theme. She just couldn't resist!
Soon, the oversized jacket was draped over her white bathrobe. It looked so awkward she tossed it aside moments later, scanning the room with curious eyes.
Luckily, the apartment was minimally furnished. Nothing caught her attention—except Connor himself.
"My puddin' doesn't want me anymore. Will you take me in?"
Harley's pitiful look was instant and flawless. She walked over and sat on his lap, arms around his neck like a clinging bird.
Before he could respond, she leaned in, lightly biting his earlobe, her breath warm and teasing.
"Puddin'" was Harley's pet name for the Joker. Connor knew this. Even now, facing her flirtation, he kept his clarity.
Just before their lips met, Connor pushed her away and stood up.
"This isn't some halfway house—I don't take in strays. The Joker ditched you, and you're still calling him 'puddin' like you're obsessed. Think he even remembers your name?"
Harley's smile stretched unnaturally, her crazed grin returning as if she were about to snap again.
"You—"
But Connor cut her off coldly:
"The Joker's killed more Harleys than I can count. One more won't make a difference. Why not join me and flip Gotham upside down?"
With that, his plan changed. He no longer cared about digging info on the Joker.
If he had a chaos queen like Harley at his side, why chase after the Joker or Batman?
Her smile softened—still wide, but now genuinely warm. She leapt into his arms.
"Then from today on, Harleen Quinzel is gone. My name now is—Harley Quinn!"
Connor grinned, hands firmly supporting her beneath the robe.
"That's more like it. Now, let's celebrate the birth of Gotham's new Harley Quinn!"