Return to The City Of Scars

The Six Month Stay

Brianna took a few steps back as Ethan made his way to leave the room. He hadn't noticed her yet. When he closed the door, she finally spoke. "I didn't know you could do that." Ethan jumped, whipping around, his emerald eyes alight with surprise. Brianna watched him, her one eye glaring at him coldly, matching the glint in his eyes with her own. Ethan shuddered as he saw her. She seemed different. He nodded. "Yeah, When mom, dad or Cinder aren't around I put her to bed." Brianna hummed thoughtfully, "That seems to happen a lot."  She started down the hall, pausing momentarily, "Walk with me." She said. Ethan followed obediently, slightly on guard because it wasn't often he saw his twin like this. Brianna lead them down the hall until they reached the first floor where a portrait hung of the two of them and their parents. They were no older than eight when the portrait had been painted. Brianna eyed the painting, "Do you remember when this was done?" She murmured. Ethan nodded, "How could I forget? It wasn't long after dad got out of Arkham. He'd been in Arkham for a while. A few months. He'd never been away that long before. We were terrified. Mom ended up working a deal with one of the doctors there that she used to work with. Just so we could see dad."

GOTHAM CITY-  8 YEARS AGO

Harley Quinn lay awake in her and Joker's bedroom. Ethan and Brianna were curled up beside her, their pet hyenas Bud and Lou laid at the foot of the bed laughing in their sleep. Joker had been in Arkham for nearly six months. It was a cold rainy day in September. Unusual for Gotham as it was generally decently warm. But it'd been a cold year. Harley watched the rain patter against the windows. After J had been captured, they'd relocated to the mansion to get away from the eye of the public. Ethan and Brianna were going to be eight in the next month. She was worried J wouldn't make it home in time. The twins hadn't been able to sleep in their own rooms since their father had been captured by the Batman, fearing that they were next. They'd woken up for at least a week from nightmares before Harley suggested they sleep with her instead. The children had happily obliged, more than eager to be close to their one remaining parent. Harley was getting tired of dealing with the twins nightmares however. She remembered the day it had happened, she and J were running from the Bat when he was grabbed. Harley had initially stopped to go back and help him, but he'd snapped at her to run and meet Frost by the car. She'd hesitated for a moment before she ran, when she barreled into the back of the van and slammed the doors behind her, Frost opened his mouth to ask where his boss was but Harley had simply screamed at him to drive. He'd obeyed, losing the Bat eventually. When they'd returned home, Harley rushed upstairs as Frost unloaded the loot with the other henchmen. When she got upstairs to the penthouse, she called for her children, trying not to cry. How was she going to explain to her two young children that their father was in Arkham? 

"Ethan! Brianna!" She called, her voice twinged with worry. When there was no answer she began to feel sick. She heard laughter and ran into what was the twins playroom. Harley entered the room and stiffened as she noticed Griggs watching them as they played. Harley snarled, and like a mother bear protecting her cubs, she got between the former prison guard and her children. "What do you think your doing?" She demanded, her blue eyes piercing through him to his soul. Griggs grinned, "Watching the children." He replied, "Why? Is something wrong, Ms. Quinn?" Harley hissed at him and was about to give him a piece of her mind when Ethan ran over, wrapping himself around her. "Mommy!" He squealed, "Brianna's gonna kill me!" Harley relaxed at the sight of her children. With a small smile she played along, "Kill you? Now why on Earth would she do that?" Brianna butted in, "Cause he stole my dolls and put them on his rocket!" Harley smirked, "Brianna, didn't you steal Ethan's tool set last week?" Brianna shrugged, "So?" Harley smiled, "I think someone got payback." Brianna stomped her foot, "But that wasn't the game!" Ethan stuck his tongue out at her, and she scrambled to chase after him. Harley watched them chase each other around, paying no mind to Griggs. She jumped as she felt a hand on her waist. She grabbed Griggs's wrist. "Try that again and I'll kill you." She warned. Griggs sighed, "Your a buzzkill." He grinned at her leaned over, Harley cringed, he was close enough she could smell the mayonnaise on his breath from his last lunch break. "Come on, hotness." He murmured, "You and I- we can go places. Like back to Belle Reve." Harley bared her teeth like an angry dog. Griggs snickered, leaning closer, his nose nearly touching hers. "Even better, we'll make it a family vacation. We'll bring the children along. Maybe throw them in a cage and let the scientists play doctor on 'em." Harley snarled, lunging forward and slamming him into a wall and causing a dent. "You dare touch them and I'll kill you in the most brutal way possible! Got it?!" Harley drew a small knife and put it dangerously close to his crotch. Griggs snickered, "Watch yourself hotness. You make one wrong move and I promise you will regret it." Harley growled, "Are you threatening me?" Griggs grinned, "So what if I am?" Harley roared in anger and dug the blade into his stomach. Griggs yelled in pain and shortly Frost and several other henchmen rushed into the room. Ethan and Brianna had stopped to watch at the sound of the man's scream. Harley was seething as she glared down at Griggs. Griggs looked up at the other henchmen, (most of whom had grown to trust him over the years). "She attacked me!" Griggs said as though he were completely in shock. Frost sighed, "Ms. Quinn- I assure you that we'll start working on a plan to get the boss outta Arkham as soon as possible." Harley roared in anger, pulling her knife from Griggs's wound, ignoring his pained yelp. "Get him out of my sight!" Harley ordered. The henchmen obeyed her command and Frost alone remained. "Ms. Quinn, may I suggest we move to the mansion? Its what the boss ordered in case of emergency or if anything were to happen to him." Harley nodded. "Of course, Frost." She said softly, "I'll begin packing right away." Frost watched the queen of Gotham leave the room. Ethan and Brianna stood before him, Ethan's eyes were wide and tearful, "Why is mommy angry, Frosty?" Jonny smiled and knelt down to the children's level. "She's just in a mood right now." He said, "But it'll be fine. I promise."