Let's Be Insane Together (CWAC Book Three)

Chapter 16: Joker's Bargain

Wade hugs Ivy the second the woman sneaks into the Avenger tower, dead of night, everyone else trying to sleep, in fact, the only two people not asleep are Wade and Tony.

"Red" Wade greets using Harley's nickname, behind Ivy Loki climbs in through the window, shroud in an all-black outfit and hood to hide his face. Wade pulls back. "You didn't have to come alllll the way out here," Wade tells them. "And not putting the squidgy man in trouble"

"If it wasn't for Harley, I'd still be stuck in Arkham in a dark dank cell, I would never have met you...or Loki...I wouldn't have my greenhouse or my plants..." Ivy counters. "So I'm gonna do everything to make sure she comes back" Ivy's voice breaks with emotion, Wade nods and looks down scuffing the carpet with his slippers.

"I'll bring you both up at breakfast with the others, hopefully, the food will make the news better" Wade offers and then leaves the room, Loki nuzzles into Ivy's neck, she turns around to face him and buries her head in his chest.

.....................

Tony looks over his tablet at the breakfast table, Steve cooking for all of them, he's just as worried, but Harley is closer to Tony, Shea, and Wade. He has no issues with the girl, and would actually rather find her than not. Wade shuffles into the room wearing a pair of unicorn slippers and a dressing gown wrapped around his body, over his Deadpool suit, he hasn't taken it off. Wade sits next to Tony who doesn't even look up from the device in his hand. The lights in the tower suddenly cut out, the various electronic screens in hands suddenly static, Tony frowns down at his tablet and then taps at the screen.

"Friday?" he asks. "What's going on?" Bucky takes the tablet and looks over the data that appears.

"You're being hacked" Bucky answers. The tv behind them suddenly turns on revealing the scarred and painted face of the Joker, they all turn to face the screen.

"Hello, Avengers!" Joker cheers in greeting. "And Deadpool"

"Joker" Tony greets through his teeth.

"Awww you remember me Daddy" Joker offers, Tony glares back.

"Where is she?" Tony snaps. "Where's Harley?" Joker hums a little.

"Here's the deal...I set up a little bit of a game....a treasure hunt if you will...You have 24 hours to figure out the clues...."

"And at the end?" Tony asks trying to stay calm. The Joker grins menacingly before stepping away from the camera revealing Harley strapped down to a chair, covered in packets of explosives, within a plastic or glass case, surrounded by four barred walls, they must have built it up around her because there are no doors.

"Cupcake" Wade whispers as Marvel whines.

"If by the end of the next 24 hours you haven't found her...well" Joker holds up a button and all the lights on her chest start to flash, activating the bomb. "Tick, tock goes the quad clock!" Joker sing songs ticking with his finger and winks. "If I can't have her" Joker starts. "No one will" he starts laughing, the camera shuts off and Tony hangs his head, severe worry in his bones. The room is silent. And it's Wade that breaks it.

"Okay, no one get mad" Wade comments, they all look to him. "But well...I figured with Harley missing you would want some help"

"Who'd you call?" Clint asks crossing his arms over his chest.

"Poison Ivy" Wade answers. "And....well you know her boyfriend" behind Wade Ivy walks in holding onto Loki's hand.

"Sonofabitch" Clint states with a growl. "How long has he been back?!" he shouts.

"You remember when I stole your jet?" Wade asks, Tony and Shea share a look. "Well me, Ivy and Harley"

"Wait, wait, wait" Tony stops him. "Harley?" Wade nods as if that was obvious.

"Yeah, Harlequin, Harley Quinn" Wade explains with a duh tone.

"God damn it" Tony complains. "I can't believe this! I can't believe any of this!" Tony leaves the room, Shea sighs a little.

"I'll make sure he's okay" she offers and then runs after Tony.

"So why is he here? Does Thor know?" Natasha asks nodding to Loki.

"I do not even know myself" Loki answers. "One day I am in prison on Asgard...the next I am falling" he motions to Wade and Ivy. "Wade, Ivy and Harley rescued me"

"That was months ago" Bruce offers. "When the jet went...you've been here all along?" Loki nods. "And had no...feelings towards invasion?"

"None" Loki answers smiling at Ivy who blushes. He then looks back to the others. "I want to help Harley" he admits.

..............

Bruce, Natasha, and Loki end up going through the video of Harley and Joker, over and over and over again looking for a clue as to where it was taken. There is none. There are no windows, no shadows, no posters, nothing to give away the location.

"Why does he wink there?" Bruce asks watching the footage again, he whispers it, mostly to himself as he notices.

"Hmm?" Natasha asks.

"Joker...why wink there?" Bruce asks her rewinding the video to play again. "When he says tick, tock goes the quad clock...." he plays it again, he, Natasha and Loki watching the feed as Joker goes through his speech again.

"It's the first clue" Loki points out thinking. Bruce and Natasha look to him. "Did you actually get your clue?" he asks them. "A note? Another video?" Bruce shakes his head, Loki points to the screen. "Then that was it"