'hide and seek'

This is wrong. All wrong Bats, I think you've got some kind of con artist working for ya." She said breaking into a nervous smile, she saw the picture and for a moment her smile was geniune. Her Puddin', she'd almost forgotten what he looked like, almost forgotten him completely. Her mind seemed to heal itself when he wasn't around, that was the only thing she'd seen of him or had of him in days. The Joker Card, well she couldn't even remember if she had it on her that night. She took note of the growing obession Batman had with her Puddin', brow quirked up at him. Now she got defensive, "First off, his name isn't Melvin, it's J..." She was quick not to say anything, remembering the blood lust that grew in him when asked about his real name, but remembering the name, Jack. "Secondly, his scars they weren't self inflicted. He...fought them..." The blonde's voice beginning to get more frantic, more upset, that Jersey accent coming out harder and stronger. She'd never tell that story, never tell his real name they were her secrets, her truths, she'd guard them with her life. She went through all these plans and doubted they where his, Joker didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd leave a paper trail. All of Harley's information about him wasn't there, or she just wasn't catching it, of course she never took good notes when it came to Joker. The dental records, she looked over them. You couldn't tell from them if their was rot in the teeth like his had been. The height seemed right, so did the weight. All of this started to weight her down and she was holding, grasping at straws. Holding her truths, there was no way, he could be this person. "I've already been saved, saved from the world that I hate. Joker already saved me. He gave me a new name, and a new face. He's the one who told me it's easy to smile when the entire world is buning." That might have been the most sickening set of words she could thing of. But then it stopped, her words stopped. Those crystal baby blues read the word...the word right next to his name. Another brave smile came up from her face, as she leaned foward getting closer to the Bat. "Um. Bats, I think your sources are off. It saids he's dead. He's not dead. How could he be dead."

He didn't flinch when she started talking. Noticing the excitement in her voice faced with the possibility that she had been lied to, he said nothing. He didn't need to, all he had to do was remain silent. The file would do the work for him, and he was fit simply to observe her. It had irritated, the mere notion, he could read that clearly. And then she noticed the most prominent part of the file, that word Deceased causing her to laugh. Batman would narrow his eyes abit, hearing her speak and giving a flat answer. "No." That was all he said, and he'd stand up in his chair. Knuckles found the flat surface to support his weight as he leaned across the table and cut off the light that shown behind him. His figure cut through to make a imposing shadow on her as he continued to talk, voice rigid with intimidation. "Joker never made it out that night. The police found his body in the wreckage. Harley, he's dead. And so to do all your fantasies. Everything he has ever told you is a lie. The finger prints were a match for Melvin White. I analyzed them myself. Any romantic notions of fighting someone off were a lie. He wore face paint to make himself look more frightening, you've seen his depravity first hand, do you honestly think he'd not carve his face up himself if it didn't get to him? Harley. He broke out of Arkham with out any real assistances from you, you just happened to follow him. And so he used you. All along he's been stringing you along. If he really cared about you, do you think he would have left you to die in that room, and not by his side if he was intending to blow himself up? You were just hired help. Like Croc. Like everyone else he's ever touched. Now.. I'm trying to get your life back on track. Joker's dead." That last part repeated and more slowly this time to try to drive home that point. He wanted her to understand this entire crazy nonsense was over. He genuinely wanted to help.

"You gave you this information?! I want names!" She held the file in her hand, paper crumbling under her firm grasp, standing that petite little frame was once against spotlighted for just how small she was, she was no threat to Batman even if she stood. Those Asylum duds just hanging off her they didn't make ones mall enough for her just yet. She started to show whatever kind of backbone she had. It was a pathetic display but a display none the less. "Because it's lie, it's all a lie!" She'd grasp the file in both hands now, ripping at it, tearing it, all her rage being taken out on the file and throwing it at her would be savior's face, he cut of her light, tried to make intimidate her but Harley's heart drove her forward, no scared of the Batman in this minute. "You're wrong! You're wrong about everything, he never lied to me. He never had a reason too, he loves me. If he didn't he would have killed me the night I slapped him. No you're wrong my Puddin' does love me he does! I helped him get out of the Asylum, I helped him get away, I kept him safe. He took me with because he wanted me there. I made him him again, I'm the one who put the paint back on him. He loves me." Harley screamed at him, that squeaky voice was gone, replaced with something harsh. She never used past tense when it came to his feelings about her, her mind still refusing to expect that he was dead. He'd would have had to get out of the building, he'd never kill himself he had a way out, he'd just sacrfice Harley. It wouldn't be in vain, Batman would have died too, his little doll would have died for something. This was her battle, the battle for everything she held dear, her life her wonder life, the man she loved. Those words now echoing in her brain, Joker is dead. No he couldn't be dead. Her mind was fighting with her, how could that be. No, it just wasn't right. And now Harley screamed, so much noise coming out of that little body. "You're wrong. You don't even know if this Melvin White is him. Did the body have the scars, did they have his scars. The Chelsea Grin? Did his bottom lip have a scar in it too?" Harley knew every little detail about him, and she wouldn't believe Joker was dead until they showed her a body with the scars on it. But it was beginning to crack her, her mental state, that Batman hoped to save, he was only making worst.

The only thing he could do was allow the woman to lash out. Watching the file begin to be teared up, he would show a brief amount of hesitation. Listening to her words, he would straighten his form as she raised and flung bits of paper and folder about the room. Her shrieks called the attention of the guards, whom seemed shocked at what was going on, only to give way to an almost mute acceptances. Batman remained frigid as usual, hearing her try to eat away at everything he had said. Lips remained tensed when she finished, and he was well aware he was doing more harm than good. Stepping away, he'd move around the side of the table and pause now. A determined look at her past that black mask, him as well being his true self when he was dressed in his theatrical attire. Voice cold, but lacking any sort of malice for the poor girl. "No Harley. Joker's dead. Despite what you think he isn't immortal. He's a man. Just like me. I've told you the truth, but I never knew if I could make you actually accept it. I'll make sure you stay safe in here, and maybe one day you'll thank me." And with that he moved to the door, going to clasp the handle and walk into the hallway. He would leave her to her thoughts, that was best for now. With a slow gaze up the hall, he would see the man whom was waiting for him. Starting to walk over to him in that steady pace, Gordon and him would begin to trade words. Talking low and only to him, Batman would begin to speak. "I told her what she needed to hear." Their pace even, the two talking tactical as Gordon responded off handley.

"And I take it you didn't say that his body wasn't recovered?"

A cool look remained on his face as he regarded Gordon, his trusted confidant. That plan being laid out to his vanguard for the police. "If she thinks he's dead she won't try to escape. Put her on suicide watch. We're going to start leaving a trail of bread crumbs back to Arkham. I'll never try to understand The Joker, but if he comes back to get her, he's going to be walking into a trap."

"The question is, will he come back willingly, or will he come back blazing?"

"Not his style. We can only wait, and watch."

"But do you think it's honestly fair to use her as bait?"

"Jim. You know as well as I do, the ends justify the means." The pair stepped onto the elevator to the roof, door closing behind. Batman's view lifted skyward briefly, a moment of doubt in his decision. No. Joker had to be stopped. The ends will justify the means.