Harley Quinn X Nightwing: Our Story, Yours Truly

Chapter 24:"Wayne Manor: Where Crazy Meets Classy"

We arrived at Wayne Manor! This is a real-life fairytale castle, minus the boring prince and pesky happily-ever-after! It's a majestic, sprawling mansion that screams 'I'm rich, I'm powerful, and I'm totally awesome!' And, oh my goodness, the decor? To die for! It's like a deliciously dark and twisted wonderland, just waiting to be explored!

As Nightwing led me into the grand foyer of Wayne Manor, he made the introductions. "Harley, this is Alfred. Alfred, this is Harley."

"Welcome to Wayne Manor, Miss Quinn. I trust you'll find our hospitality more... civilized than what you're accustomed to."

Alfred's witty remark lands, I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. This guy's got sass - I like that. I flash him a devilish smirk, "I wouldn't be too sure yet." My brand of crazy has a certain... refinement to it.

My Nightwing interrupts our witty repartee, and I shoot him a look, but he just smiles. "I see you two are hitting it off, Alfred. Why don't you give Harley the grand tour?" he suggests.

"Very well, Master Dick. This way please, Miss Quinn."

As Alfred gives me the grand tour of Wayne Manor, I'm struck by its sheer size - it's bloody massive for just two people, and even with Robin and Batgirl, it's still a bit excessive.

"This is Master Dick's acrobatic room," Alfred says with a hint of amusement. "He was a handful in his youth, always swinging and climbing everywhere. Master Bruce created this room to channel his energy... and prevent him from breaking his neck somewhere in the manor!"

Next, we head to the rooftop, where a stunning swimming pool awaits. I mean, who needs a pool with a view when you can have a pool with a Gotham City skyline view?"

Ugh, I'm pooped! After trekking through the manor's gazillion rooms - each one more ginormous than the last - I face-plant onto the sofa, ready for a serious snack-athon.

Alfred, my new BFF, has hooked me up with some tasty treats before vanishing into the manor's secret passages (I'm convinced they exist!). Now, I'm binge-watching Looney Tunes, feeling like the queen of this crazy castle.

If ya'll is wonderin', where's my Nightwing? He is hard at work in the Batcave, pouring over the human trafficking case files. Julius Sionis, who's been smuggling people to further the Court of Owls' sinister agenda.

With their vast network of members, covering their tracks is child's play. But one question still lingers: why did the Joker help Julius rise to power? Was it to connect with the Owls? And what's the Clown Prince of Crime's ultimate motive?"

Footsteps echo behind Nightwing, and Alfred asks, "How's the investigation faring, Master Dick?"

Nightwing's expression turns grim. "The Owls are back, and Black Eagle is the key to unraveling their operation." He pauses, thinking. "If we can get Gordon to raid the underground club, we might catch Black Eagle and gain valuable intel."

Alfred raises an eyebrow. "Do we have enough evidence for a warrant, sir?"

"That's the problem. No evidence linked to them. But what about on grounds of illegal building?"

"I'm not sure that's enough, Master Dick. Even with Commissioner Gordon's influence, obtaining a warrant based solely on suspected illegal building activities will take time. And what if the Court of Owls has connections within the city's building department? They could be tipped off, and any evidence would be long gone by the time the warrant is issued."

"Hmmm..."

"Are you considering sneaking into the club, Master Dick?" Alfred asks, his tone laced with concern. "I would strongly advise against it. You'd be vastly outnumbered, and the club's layout would leave you cornered with limited escape routes. It's a recipe for disaster."

"Lincoln March's place, then. He's got his fingers in every pie in Gotham; maybe there's some intel in his home."

"Master Dick, please be cautious. The Court of Owls is not to be underestimated."

"We've got a long list of properties owned by Lincoln March. We should split up and do some recon - see if we can dig up any leads on the Court of Owls' operation." Robin added in as he and Batgirl returned to the batcave.

Alfred cleared his throat, "If I may suggest, Master Dick, perhaps it's time to call it a night? Why don't we get some rest and tackle this again in the morning? Miss Quinn is waiting, and I'm sure I wouldn't want to leave her alone for too long."

Meanwhile, I was havin' a blast watchin' those wascally wabbits on Looney Tunes, when suddenly, my phone starts buzzin' like a crazy thing! I got a message from some mystery meathead sayin', 'Come to the club tomorrow.' Hmm, sounds like an invite to a swell party!

My Dickie approached me from behind, who was lounging on the sofa with my legs curled up. As he drew near, the soft glow of the lamp beside me danced across his features, illuminating the apology in his eyes. "Sorry to keep you waiting," he whispered. My smile grew, and I tilted my head back, my lips parting slightly as I met Dickie's descending kiss. Our lips touched, soft and sweet, like a promise of forgiveness and affection.

As our lips split. "Meet Tim Drake and Barbara Gordon." My Dickie introduced.

"Tim and Barb, it's an absolute pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh. So does this mean...?"

"Yes, welcome to the family for now, until Bruce makes a fuss." Barbara replied.

"Alright, let's get this dance party started!" Tim exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Harley, you think you can keep up with the moves?"

Tim launched into a quick explanation of the VR Dance game, his words tumbling out in a enthusiastic rush. "Okay, so the game tracks our movements and scores us on rhythm, timing, and style. We'll be dancing to a sick beat, and the person with the highest score at the end wins!"

"And it gets even better, online mode, challenging players from all around the world. Imagine taking down the top-ranked dancer in Tokyo or out-grooving a crew from Rio."

"Ooh, global dance battles? Count me in, Timmy! I'm gonna show the world what Harley Quinn's got!"

Tim chuckled. "That's the spirit, Harley. But don't get too cocky. The online community is fierce. We'll need to practice if we want to take down the champions."

"Practice? Ha! I've got natural talent, baby. And if anyone gets in my way, I'll just... improvise." I winked.

Next thing I know, Dick and Babs join the dance fest, and we're having the time of our lives! And, naturally, I'm the star of the show. My dancing skills? Unmatched, darlings!

As the others danced on, Barbara excused herself, curiosity getting the better of her. "A penny for Pennyworth's thought?" she whispered, approaching Alfred.

"Just reminiscing, Miss Barbara. Memories of Master Bruce's childhood flood my mind - laughter, warmth, and innocence. Seeing Miss Quinn's infectious spirit... it's as if the Manor's heart beats again, ever so faintly."

Barbara's hand rested on Alfred's shoulder, her voice low and reassuring. "Perhaps having Harley around will bring a much-needed spark, Alfred. A reminder that life's not all duty and shadows."

Her expression turned somber. "Speaking of which, have you heard from Jason lately?"

Alfred smiled. "Master Jason assures me he'll return soon. Though, I dare say, reacquainting oneself with life can be a journey in itself. I trust his travels will afford him the solitude he needs."

Barbara's eyes narrowed slightly. "I hope he finds what he's searching for, Alfred."