Apparently, you can't add YouTube shorts. But check this out. ;) (no like really, watch it. That's how I imagine him in this. Less theatrical and colourful, a little darker and more realistic).

 https://youtube.com/shorts/AWhupB7jrcw?si=584glGyMwY1cRVw9

Hit the target super fast so here's a double update!! 

120 comments for an update. <3

Gotham Harbor was eerily quiet, the usual hum of dockworkers replaced by the sound of waves lapping against the rusted hulls of abandoned ships. Louis and Liam moved cautiously through the shadows, their boots silent against the concrete.

Louis and Liam weaved through the shadows, their steps deliberate and quiet. They were tracking The Joker's movements, or rather, tracking his absence.

"He hasn't been seen in days," Liam muttered, his voice low through the comms. "But his crew is still moving. Something's coming."

Louis nodded, his sharp blue eyes scanning the dim-lit docks ahead. "Harley's been sending messages. One this morning—cryptic as usual."

Liam shot a glance over his shoulder. "What did it say?"

Louis exhaled, his eyes flicking back to the crates. "'A bat should know better than to swim with sharks. But then, bats and fishes both belong to me.'" he recited with a frown. "It was signed with a lipstick print."

Liam's jaw tightened. "Harley... he's been leaving you these?"

Louis wiped at his cheek instinctively, still feeling the echo of her touch from the nights before. "Yeah, he's been busy."

"Not a bad lead," Liam replied, though his voice held a trace of frustration. "What are sharks if not 'bigger fish'?" he quoted Sullivan's words from a few days prior. "But I don't like this. The harbour's been dead for weeks. No shipments, and no sign of activity, until tonight. We need to know what's in those containers."

The two of them crept forward, weaving through the maze of metal and shadows. As they reached the edge of the dock, Liam raised a hand to stop Louis. "You stay here," he ordered.

"I'm not—"

"Stay," Liam said firmly. "If things go sideways, you're my backup."

Louis bristled but nodded, slipping into the cover of a nearby stack of crates. He watched as Liam moved toward the target—a group of men unloading a shipment from an unmarked truck.

Then, from the shadows behind him, a low, familiar voice cut through the silence.

"Miss me, sweetheart?"

Louis froze, his heart racing as he turned to see The Joker lounging against the corner of a shipping container, his green eyes alight with mischief.

"Where've you been?" Louis demanded, his voice sharper than he intended.

Harry smirked, pushing off the container and stepping closer. "Business, darling," he said smoothly. "You know how it is. But I'm touched you noticed my absence," he tilted his head, studying Louis intently. "Did you miss me?"

Louis didn't answer, his jaw tightening.

Harry chuckled. "I asked you a question, Robin," he said, his tone dropping.

Louis crossed his arms. "We caught one of your men, Warren," he said coldly. "He told us—"

Harry held up a finger, cutting him off. "Let me guess. Something cryptic? Something about me wanting you?" he leaned closer, his voice a low purr. "He's not wrong."

Louis held his ground, even as his pulse quickened. "What does that mean?"

"It means," Harry said, his voice soft but sharp, "that you're very important to me."

"Why?" Louis demanded.

Harry's smile widened, sharp and dangerous. "Because you're fun, darling. You're fire and chaos wrapped up in a neat little package," he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "And because you're not as breakable as I first thought. I'll give you that."

"Leave  me the hell alone!" Louis shot back, his voice rising. "Whatever game you're playing—leave me out of it."

Harry's expression flickered, something unreadable passing through his eyes before he stepped closer. "You're mad," he observed, almost amused. "It's cute."

"Don't," Louis warned, his fists clenching. "Stop calling me cute. Stop sending your people to mess with me. Stop—"

"Stop what?" Harry interrupted, his grin fading as he closed the distance between them in one swift movement. His tone dropped, low and dangerous. "Stop wanting you?"

Louis flinched slightly at the sudden change in tone, his heart pounding. "I'm not part of your plan," he said, his voice firm despite the fear curling in his stomach.

Harry's lips twitched, not quite a smile. "Aren't you?"

"I'm not scared of you," Louis said, though his voice was quieter now.

Louis's breath hitched as Harry's gloved hand shot out, grabbing his wrist in a firm but not painful grip. "But you're getting awfully bold, aren't you?" Harry mused, tilting his head. "You used to be so sweet, so polite," his green eyes narrowed. 

Louis tried to yank free, but Harry's grip was unyielding. "You don't scare me."

"Then why are you shaking?" Harry asked softly, his voice like a whisper against Louis' ear.

"I'm not," Louis said, though his voice betrayed him.

Harry tilted his head, his gaze piercing. "Say that again."

Louis hesitated, his heart hammering in his chest. "I'm not scared," he said, forcing the words out.

Harry's grin returned, cold and sharp. "Liar." Louis tugged to free his wrist, but The Joker held him tight. "Such fire," he murmured, stepping closer. "I should've known you'd grow bolder. But I do miss the days when you used to tremble when I'd touch you. When you were all wide eyes and stammering apologies. Do you miss it too?"

Louis glared at him, his jaw tight. "I don't miss anything about you."

Harry tsked, his smile widening. "Now that's just rude. I've been busy, you know. Important business to take care of. But I didn't forget about you. I made sure Harley kept you entertained. Did he deliver my messages? My kiss?"

Louis flushed despite himself. "I burned them."

Anger flashed over Harry's face, just for a moment; a fire lighting in his eyes. "Now you're just hurting my feelings, sweetheart," he said. "Do you want to try that again?" his grip tightened.

Louis hissed. "Let go of me."

"You forget who you're dealing with," The Joker told him. "I don't do very well with demands."

Louis scowled at him, tugging his arm to no avail. Harry pushed back, pressing Louis against the crates. "Stop!" 

Harry leaned in closer, his smirk widening. "You used to be so polite," he said softly. "What happened to 'please'?"

Louis swallowed, his voice faltering. "Let me go," he said quietly, his pride burning at the tremor in his tone. 

"Try again, sweetheart."

Louis glared at him, but the tension in Harry's grip sent a chill through him. He swallowed hard. "Please," he said quietly.

Harry's lips twitched into a smirk. "There's a good boy," he released Louis abruptly, patting the boy's cheek tauntingly. "See how much easier things are when you remember your manners?"

Before Louis could respond, Liam's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Louis, status?"

Harry grinned, hearing the faint voice. "Ah, the cavalry," he said mockingly. "Should've known the B-man wouldn't let you play alone for long."

Louis stepped back, his hand going to his comm. "I'm fine," he said quickly, his eyes locked on Harry.

But Harry wasn't done. "Tell me, darling," he said, his voice was soft but cutting. "When you're running around after him, cleaning up his messes, does he ever stop to thank you? Or are you just another shadow to him?"

Louis' fists clenched, his anger boiling over. "Stop wanting me!" he snapped.

Harry's laughter echoed through the dock. "Stop wanting you?" he repeated, his voice rich with amusement. "Oh, Robin. That's not how this works."

For a moment, Louis trembled, his breath shaky as Harry studied him with a cruel kind of amusement.

"Why me?" Louis asked suddenly, the question bursting out before he could stop it. "What do you want from me? Why go to all this trouble?"

Harry's expression softened—almost. "Why you?" he repeated, his voice smooth and deliberate. "Because you're the most fun I've had in years, darling. You're pure, you're righteous, and breaking you? Well, that would be my masterpiece."

Before Louis could respond, a sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Joker."

Both men turned to see Liam standing a few yards away, his dark cape billowing in the wind. His sharp brown eyes locked onto Harry, his stance tense and ready.

"Well, well," Harry said, his grin returning. "Look who finally showed up. Afraid I might keep your little bird?"

"Step away," Liam ordered, his voice cold.

Harry didn't move, his grin widening. "Come on, Bats. You can't honestly think he belongs to you, do you?"

Without another word, Liam flung a batarang, its sharp edges whistling through the air. It caught Harry's arm, slicing through his shirt and grazing his skin. A steady trickle of blood dripped down his bicep.

Harry's grin only widened. "You think that's enough to stop me?" he taunted. "A little blood?" he pressed his fingers to the wound and licked the blood.

"I said, step away," Liam repeated, his voice like steel.

Batman reached for another batarang, but Harry was quick to grab Louis and hold the boy in front of him. "Quite the predicament," he teased.

"Get off of me," Louis demanded, trying to tug from Harry's grasp, but The Joker's grip was iron.

Liam stepped forward, ready for a fight. "You're done, Joker. This ends now."

But Harry wasn't done. He smiled wider, still holding Louis firmly. "It ends when I say it does, Batboy," he taunted, his eyes flicking between them. "But for now, let's call it a draw. Shall we?" his knuckles grazed Louis' cheek. "I'll give him back to you. For now. But you know, Robin?" his gaze dropped to Louis "You really should stop running from me."

"Joker!" Liam's voice was demanding.

Harry sighed theatrically, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Always such a killjoy," he took a step back. "He's yours for now, call it a loan," his green eyes flicking to Louis one last time. "We'll pick this up later, sweetheart."

And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, his laughter echoing in his wake.

Liam turned to Louis, his expression hard. "What the hell was that?"

Louis avoided his gaze, brushing past him. "Nothing, I'm fine."

"He had you cornered. What did he say?" Liam grabbed him, not letting Louis slip away.

"I said I'm fine!" Louis snapped, yanking his arm free. "He's just trying to mess with us."

"It's more than that," Liam insisted. "You're hiding something."

Louis shook his head quickly. "I'm not hiding anything. He's just..." he trailed off, shaking his head.

"Just what?" Liam pressed, his frustration mounting. "He's targeting you. Why?"

Louis looked at him, his blue eyes conflicted. "I don't know," he said finally. "Really, I don't."

Liam's nose twitched in frustration. "Well, what did he say?"

Louis shrugged helplessly. "Something about breaking me," he muttered. "But I can handle it."

Liam stepped back, his expression unreadable. "You can't keep doing this," he said quietly.

"Doing what?" Louis' eyes darted to him.

"Letting him get into your head," Liam replied. "He's playing you, Louis. That's all this is."

"I can handle it," Louis repeated firmly.

Liam's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't have to handle it alone. We're supposed to be a team."

"I know," Louis said quietly. "But he's not going to stop. Not until—" he cut himself off, his hands balling into fists.

"Not until what?" Liam demanded.

Louis waved his arms in frustration. "Until he has me!" he snapped. "Whatever that means. I don't know. You heard Warren in the interrogation and The Joker said the same thing just now-" he cut himself off, shaking his head. "I don't know why or what it means. He just wants me, and he's not gonna stop until-"

"He's never going to have you," the ferociousness of Liam's voice led Louis to believe it was true. "I'll kill him before he gets the chance."

Louis' anger turned to helplessness. "I just don't understand."

"You don't have to understand him, Louis, he's sick," Liam spat. "You need to stay away from him."

Louis swallowed. "What if I..." he trailed off, turning away from Liam.

Liam brushed his shoulder, trying to catch Louis' eyes. "What?" he asked. "What if you what?"

Louis cast his eyes down for a moment before looking back at Liam. "What if I hear him out?" he spoke so quietly that Liam hardly caught his words.

"What?" Liam's voice was like an explosion. "Are you crazy?" he snapped. "I don't know what he said to get into your head but-"

"I don't know what else to do!" Louis shot back, just as loudly. "He will stop at nothing to get what he wants."

"What he wants is you!" Liam exclaimed. "That's too high of a price."

Louis shook his head. "We don't know what he wants with me. I could find out."

Liam scoffed. "Well, it sure as hell won't be a tea party."

"Liam-"

"No," Liam cut in firmly. "That's the end of whatever crazy suggestion you were about to put forward," he said. "We're not humouring what he has to say."

"Liam-"

"I'm not hearing it, Louis," Batman interrupted. "End of."

Louis' lips pressed into a firm line. He stared Liam down for a moment before huffing. "Fine."

Louis strode off; Liam rolled his eyes and followed. "The men are all unconscious. Let's finish this."

Louis gave him a swift nod. He wanted nothing more than to be finished with this for good.

'Breaking you? Well, that would be my masterpiece'

What's Harry's endgame?

Hope you all enjoyed! 

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