Return to The City Of Scars

Haly's Circus & Bludhaven

Harley pulled up in front of the club, getting out of the Cadillac and pushing past the boy at the valet. She stalked into the club, shame and guilt rising in her. Her feet felt like they were locked in cement as she moved forward. The crowd parted for her, but didn't stop to comment on her less than usual attire. Joker was now watching her trudge on, worry growing in him when he realized his youngest daughter was nowhere in sight. He met her halfway, "What happened? Where's Ecco?" He demanded, failing to hide the worry in his voice. Harley's lower lip wobbled and he quickly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the private booth shielded by bulletproof glass. "Harley," He said firmly, "What happened." Harley broke down in sobs, "I-I-my fault- left- roller derby- and I-" Joker growled, not understanding her. It was then Ethan and Brianna walked in, stopping dead in their steps when they read the room. Ethan looked around, fear striking him when he didn't see Ecco. His mother's distraught sobs only made him realize what had happened. "Someone took Ecco." He said. "Didn't they? You were too drunk or something to realize you had a child with you." Harley shook her head, still sobbing. "I- I made her dinner. *sniffle* Let her watch tv while I got ready, *sob* and then I put her to bed and waited fifteen minutes before I checked everything was locked and left. I thought she'd be safe!" She broke off into sobs again and Ethan snarled, turning to Jasen Frost. "Get every last bit of scum you can and find her. If I find so much as one scratch on my sister's head- I won't hesitate to kill the person responsible." Jasen Frost gave him a nod and disappeared to gather the men. Brianna narrowed her eyes, anger coursing through her veins. Someone was going to die tonight.

Ecco and the ginger haired boy shrunk back in their cages as footsteps came down the hall. "Don't worry children," A raspy voice belonging to a middle aged man said, "You will be forever preserved in your youth. You'll be immortal." He suddenly opened a cage, yanking a screaming child out of it. "You will do nicely," The Dollmaker said, dragging the kicking and screaming child out of the room. Ecco paid attention to the sound the door made. It sounded like one of the doors in the garage at home. The garage was disguised and part was built from remains of a shipping container from the docks. Of course it was reinforced with a titanium alloy, but not that Ecco knew that. The child rarely left the penthouse. Ecco frowned, she didn't hear the sounds of the city in the moment the door was open. Only wind. Ecco frowned, "I don't think we're in Gotham anymore." She muttered. The ginger boy frowned, "What makes you say that?" He asked. Ecco looked towards the door, "I didn't hear any cars. Only wind." She explained. The boy frowned, "If we aren't in Gotham then we'll never go home." Ecco frowned, tucking her knees to her chest. She hummed softly, trying to comfort herself. She closed her eyes and leaned back against her new friend. Drifting into sleep as the ginger boy kept watch.

Harley sat in the passenger seat of the Lamborghini as Joker drove them north towards Amusement Mile and the Uptown area. On the way they would stop at the Gotham City Zoo to pick up Bud and Lou. She lay her head against the window, watching the scene change. Eventually, Joker spoke. "Why? Why would you leave a three year old child alone? In a condo on turf we don't own." Harley sniffed, "I wasn't thinking. I didn't think-" Joker cut her off, "No- you didn't think. That's the problem." He was quiet for a moment. "I may not always be all suburban dad on those kids," He started, causing Harley to turn her gaze to him, his eyes held anger, with flashes of fear and sorrow. "But know this, Harleen. I do care for them. And when I hear that my youngest- my baby, is missing- I will blame the person who was supposed to be watching her." Harley frowned. "I'm a terrible mother." She said, "Maybe that's why we lost the first one. We weren't meant to be parents." Joker slammed on the brakes, causing Harley to slam her forehead into the dashboard with a cry. Joker's green eyes were on her, "How can you say we weren't meant to be parents after we have three children? Granted two of them are sixteen, but our youngest is three. You are supposed to look out for her. You are her mother. You can't just do whatever the fuck you want, Harley. Doing that- is what got her taken." Harley narrowed her eyes, laying her head on the window. Joker's next words shook her to her core. "I learned that the hard way." Harley looked at him, "What do you mean?" Joker laughed, "Do you not remember? The night we lost Brianna- I was blind to the fact that Griggs had her cornered. I am her father. I was supposed to look out for her. I'm supposed to look after all my kids. But I didn't do that. And that was what shattered me. Brianna was killed. Ethan started a war. And now Ecco has been kidnapped. All those things happened on my watch. It just proves I'm a shit ass parent." Harley stared, silent for the rest of the drive.