This one is... you'll see ;)

Very long update (4k) so enjoy :)

28/400

Rain streaked in uneven lines down the apartment window, each drop blurring the grey expanse of Gotham beyond. Louis stood still, watching the city churn below him. A taxi splashed through a puddle on the corner. Neon signs flickered in rhythm with the downpour. Somewhere, faint sirens wove through the city noise—a song as natural to Gotham as the hum of its lights.

His gaze drifted skyward instinctively, searching rooftops and shadows. He wasn't even sure what he was hoping to see. Batman wouldn't just appear because he wanted him to. But the thought stayed lodged in the back of his mind.

"Where are you?" Louis muttered to himself.

He hadn't spotted Batman once whilst out and he hadn't heard a drop of news about him since seeing him dragged away unconscious.

What would you do? The thought came, sharper than he'd intended. A bitter tug at the edge of his lips kept him silent. Liam always had a plan. Always knew what to say. He sighed and clenched his fists, retreating to the illusion of composure.

The door behind him swung open with its usual creak, breaking his trance.

"Catch."

The wet jacket slapped against him and Louis instinctively grabbed it as it hit his chest, cold and damp, stopping it just short of falling. He frowned, brushing droplets from his arm as he looked up to see Harry leaning in the doorway, droplets of rain clinging to his hair.

"Quick hands," Harry smirked, running a casual hand through his damp hair as he strode in.

Harry moved toward the small mirror mounted crookedly on the wall. He pulled loose the knot of his tie, his green eyes flickering with their constant amusement as he studied his reflection.

Louis went to fold the jacket over the back of the chair but his fingers brushed against something solid in the right pocket. Something small and metallic—smooth and unmistakable. A key.

He hesitated for half a second, glancing back to see if Harry had noticed, but the man was preoccupied, pulling off his tie and undoing the buttons to his shirt.

Louis swallowed and slung the jacket over a chair, glancing at him. "Where were you?"

"Busy," Harry answered, the word vague as usual. He finished up in the mirror and strolled further into the room. "Something for you, though," he added with a spark of interest.

Louis raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Your new friends. Or what's left of them." Harry slid into the chair by the table, propping his feet up as he leaned back. "Two of Junior's little soldiers managed to slip the net during our performance. Jax and O'Neil."

Louis frowned slightly, folding his arms as he leaned against the counter. The names were faintly familiar from Joker's endless lists of names and debts. "And they're just... out there?"

Harry's smirk sharpened. "For now. But don't give them too much credit. Their idea of hiding involves bars with dirt floors and stolen whiskey."

"Let me guess," Louis said flatly. "You're thinking the Narrows?"

Harry nodded, impressed. "Look are you," he gestured lazily at Louis. "We've got whispers. A couple of haunts that might suit their style. Not confirmed, but..."

"But you want to check it out," Louis finished. "And?"

"And you and I," Harry said, grinning now, "are going to track them down. Not a question of if—it's just a matter of where they feel like bleeding."

"Of course." Louis crossed his arms tighter, meeting Harry's gaze evenly. "Tonight?"

Harry nodded. "Later. After I tie up some things." He leaned forward slightly, his green eyes narrowing in a way that made Louis want to straighten his posture. "This isn't a field trip, sweetheart. I expect you to pull your weight."

Louis bit back a retort. "You don't need to tell me that."

"Good." Harry stood and turned to the damp jacket on the chair, picking it up and throwing it over his forearm.

Louis' attention flickered briefly to the movement, his gaze snagging on the pocket. The subtle bulge of the key caught his eye.

"Dark's in a couple of hours," Harry said, breaking Louis' thoughts. "Don't fall asleep on me." He arched an eyebrow, smiling faintly as he strolled toward the door. "Catch me in a good mood and maybe I'll let you drive."

Louis rolled his eyes, but his focus lingered on the coat as Harry vanished into the hallway.

***

The night clung thick to Gotham's alleys, turning every corner into a hunting ground of shadows. Harry led the way, his steps unhurried yet purposeful, boots barely making a sound on the wet pavement. Louis followed close behind, the cold bite of the air forcing his hands deeper into his jacket pockets.

"The last time Jax and O'Neil surfaced, they weren't far from Midtown," Harry said, his voice cutting easily through the quiet. "These kinds of rats? They don't stray far when their den's burned down."

Louis resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the dramatic phrasing. "So where are we looking?"

"Couple of dive bars. One's already been sniffed out by the crew, nothing there but cockroaches and overdue debts." Harry's grin twisted briefly into something wicked. "The other? Let's just say it has potential."

They turned down a narrower alley, the sounds of the city fading into a muffled hum behind them. A faint flicker of a neon light came into view as they approached a dilapidated door tucked between crumbling brick walls. Above it, a weather-worn sign read "RUBY'S", its letters unevenly lit.

"Classy," Louis muttered, sparing the sign a glance.

Harry bit back a laugh. He gestured toward the door with a lazy flick of his wrist. "After you, sweetheart."

Louis didn't bother responding, his attention turning to the task at hand. He adjusted his posture, squaring his shoulders as he stepped through the door.

Inside, the stale scent of alcohol mixed with smoke and something bitter. A jukebox in the corner played a faint tune that barely masked the low hum of conversations. The bar itself was crowded enough to feel alive but sparse enough that nobody could vanish easily.

Harry followed in, his presence effortlessly commanding the room's attention. Conversations stilled, and heads turned, but a single look from him made them all slide back into their respective corners.

Louis scanned the faces cautiously, looking for anyone who matched the description. Then he saw him. Jax.

The man was sitting near the back, his build unmistakable and his scowl barely hidden behind a tumbler of something dark.

"Bingo," Louis muttered under his breath.

Harry caught the direction of his gaze immediately. His smirk widened as he tilted his head toward Jax, his voice barely a whisper. "Shall we?"

Louis didn't hesitate. They moved together, weaving through the bar like currents in the water. By the time Jax noticed them, it was too late.

"Evening," Harry greeted smoothly, pulling out the seat across from Jax without waiting for an invitation. Louis came to a stop just behind Harry, casually positioning himself to block Jax's easiest escape.

When Jax's gaze met Harry's, the colour drained from his face. He shoved himself upright, ready to bolt, but Harry was faster.

"Leaving already?" The Joker asked, catching Jax's arm and tugging him back down. "You haven't even finished your drink."

Jax's throat bobbed uneasily. "J-Joker," he stammered. "Wasn't expecting to see you... here." He looked between Harry and Louis.

Harry grinned. "Oh, I bet," he muttered softly before his voice turned sharp. "Start talking," he ordered, releasing Jax's arm.

Jax swallowed hard, his voice breaking. "I—I don't know what you want from me!" He glanced at Louis again, confusion evident in the fleeting look.

"Eyes on me, not him," Harry snapped, his voice hardening. He chuckled darkly, sitting back. "Or do you think he's going to save you?"

"I—no, I just—" Jax stammered, clearly flustered now.

Harry gestured toward Louis. "You don't want him jumping in. Trust me." His voice took on a teasing edge as he glanced at Louis with a sly grin. "His looks? Misleading. Small, maybe even cute, sure. But you'd hate to see him run out of patience."

Louis' brow twitched slightly, and he rolled his eyes. He didn't refute the claim, though; Harry wasn't entirely wrong.

"I've seen what he can do," Harry added, his grin widening. "And believe me, he can be... efficient."

Louis shifted subtly, the smallest flicker of something unreadable passing over his face.

Jax swallowed hard, his hands gripping the edge of the table as if steadying himself. "What do you want?" he finally forced out, his voice hoarse.

"C'mon now," Harry drawled. "That's no way to start. Let's make this civil. We both know why I'm here."

Jax didn't move, his gaze flicking back to Louis.

"Are you deaf?" Harry's voice turned icy. "I said, stop looking at him. He's mine."

Jax jerked his head down, staring fixedly at the table. "Sorry."

Louis rolled his eyes again, holding back a laugh.

"Better," Harry said smoothly, his grin returning. "Now that I have your attention," he continued, his voice deceptively light, "we've got some loose ends to tie up. Your friend O'Neil—where is he?"

Jax shook his head. "I don't know."

Harry sighed, leaning forward now, his grin dropping into something colder. "Wrong answer."

Jax's hand twitched toward his jacket pocket but Louis was quicker, grabbing his wrist and slamming it against the table. The force rattled the tumbler, spilling its contents onto the sticky surface.

"Don't," Louis warned, his tone sharp but low.

Harry grinned. "Told you, he's dangerous," he told Jax, glancing at Louis. "Now, O'Neil?"

Jax stayed quiet, looking away from The Joker and down at the table. "Please. I told you," he answered, voice strained. "I don't know."

Louis tilted his head slightly, a faint, sceptical smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sure. And your pockets are just for decoration?"

He eyed Jax's pockets which were stuffed to the brim. The Joker tracked Robin's gaze.

Harry's brows lifted in amusement. "Good point, sweetheart. What do you think he's hiding?" He looked at Louis with a grin.

Louis shrugged, his tone light. "Could be something incriminating. Could just be a really bad sense of fashion."

Jax's hands twitched toward his jacket reflexively.

Harry's grin turned wolfish as he leaned forward, his tone dropping. "Shall we find out?"

The next few moments were a blur. Harry's hand shot out faster than Louis could track, grabbing the front of Jax's shirt and yanking him halfway across the table. The glass toppled, spilling amber liquid everywhere, but Harry didn't flinch. The force knocked Jax's chair backwards and caught the attention of a few nearby tables who paused their conversations to watch the commotion.

The Joker pinned Jax to the table with effortless strength, making Louis pause for a second.

"I'll ask nicely once," Harry said, his tone calm but deadly. "After that? Not so much."

Jax's lips trembled as the words failed to form. His breath came in shallow gasps, panic setting in. "I haven't seen O'Neil—"

"Ah ah ah," Harry cut him off, shaking his head. "Try again," he said, his tone deceptively pleasant.

Louis shifted his weight behind Harry, watching the exchange with a tense jaw. Jax's gaze flicked to him again.

Harry turned his head just slightly toward Louis, his grin resurfacing. "See this?" he said, gesturing casually at Louis with a nod. "This is restraint, Jax. He's letting me handle this. That should terrify you."

Jax swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling. "Okay! Okay, I—I think he's laying low at an old warehouse by the river. Pier seventeen. It's abandoned. He's got no other place to go."

Harry's grin returned, sly and knowing. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

The Joker held his grip a moment longer, as though testing Jax's answer. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he released him and sat back. His grin returned, cold and dangerous.

Jax sagged backwards, his chest heaving as he leaned against the table for support. He flinched visibly when Harry gestured at him dismissively. Two of Harry's men stepped forward from the doorway, and the look in their eyes didn't leave room for questioning.

Louis stiffened at their approach, his voice hesitant. "What happens to him now?"

Harry chuckled. "That depends." He leaned in close to Jax, who shrank under his gaze. "Think you can still be useful?"

Jax swallowed audibly, nodding furiously.

Harry smiled, but it was devoid of humour. He glanced at his men, jerking his head toward the door. "Take him."

Jax offered no resistance, his steps shaky as Harry's men guided him away. He sent a desperate, fleeting glance back at Harry and Louis, but neither met it.

The Joker stood, looking over the establishment for a moment before his eyes flickered to Louis. "Let's go."

Louis followed him, releasing a slow breath as they stepped outside into the chilly night air. The tension lingered, still tangible through the drizzle of rain.

"Pier seventeen," Louis repeated after a moment, his tone measured.

Harry gave him an approving look as they headed down the alleyway, his grin softening. "Good ears, quick hands—" he said, an odd warmth creeping into the remark. "You keep this up, sweetheart, and we'll make a proper criminal out of you yet."

Louis didn't respond immediately but, as the dim glow of a streetlamp caught his face, the flicker of a smile evident on his lips. "Never."

Harry laughed lowly, but this one was real and raw. He glanced at Louis with a soft smile, and Louis rolled his eyes and looked away.

They were a team tonight—though Louis would die before admitting it outright.

***

The room's dim light cast long shadows, creating a sultry atmosphere that was only interrupted by the occasional flicker of a lamp.

Harry leaned casually against the edge of the desk, one leg crossed over the other, his posture deceptively relaxed. He wasn't wearing his gloves tonight, his bare fingers idly toying with a deck of cards, shuffling them with practised ease. His green eyes never left Louis.

He could see Louis' shift. His posture was more composed and still than usual as he stood against the window, taking in Gotham's skyline. The earlier tension between them was gone, replaced by something different—something almost submissive.

Harry took in every inch of him. How his hair clung to his forehead, the flush of exhaustion still painting his cheeks, his clothes, fresh and dry, sticking to his body from the remnants of rain. Louis looked almost angelic. The image was striking and unsettling.

Harry's green eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and something more dangerous as he observed Louis standing across the room. Harry couldn't help but let a small, almost imperceptible smile settle on his lips.

There was something in the air tonight—an unspoken understanding between them.

Harry raised an eyebrow, breaking the silence. "You're quieter than usual tonight," he teased. "Agreeable, even."

Louis turned to him, silent for a moment before he replied. "Mission went well," he said lightly.

Harry's mouth pulled into a slow grin, but his eyes stayed sharp, watching every move Louis made. "You're unusually sweet," he replied, his voice light, teasing. "What's the occasion, darling?"

Louis stayed facing him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Isn't that what you wanted?" his tone was almost teasing too.

Harry tilted his head slightly, intrigued, but the edge of his amusement was still there. "Oh?" he drawled, the cards continuing to shuffle between his fingers. "What is it that you think I want?"

Louis took a step towards him. "Power, control," he listed on his fingers. "Me."

There was a lazy grin on Harry's face as he watched Louis step closer. "Sweetheart, you make it sound like I'm hard to please."

"Aren't you?" Louis countered. His voice was calm, and measured, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it—something deliberate.

The space between them was shrinking with every word, every movement. Louis' eyes flickered to Harry's lips for a fraction of a second, but Harry caught it.

"I'm sure you'd do just fine," The Joker's voice was low, testing.

The proximity between them was intoxicating. "I've been listening to you," Louis replied. "I've been good. Been doing everything you wanted."

Harry's grip on the card faltered. His breath hitched, just slightly as the words hit him in a way he wasn't expecting. "You think you've been good for me?" his voice dropped lower, the teasing gone now.

Louis leaned in closer, just a fraction of an inch, their bodies almost touching now. He met Harry's gaze, daring him to answer. "You don't think I've been good for you?" his voice was low, almost a challenge, but there was a sweetness in his tone that Harry hadn't heard before.

His eyes darkened with something more intense, something more possessive. He placed the cards down on the desk, his gaze never leaving Louis. "You think that's enough?" he said slowly, his eyes tracing the curve of Louis' jaw. He leaned forward just slightly, his voice dropping. "You think that's all I want from you?"

The air between them crackled with tension. Harry could feel the warmth radiating from Louis. Slowly, Harry reached out, his fingers brushing against the edge of Louis' jaw.

Louis swallowed. "Don't you?"

Harry didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let his fingers brush lightly against Louis' neck, testing the reaction, his thumb tracing the pulse at his throat, slow, deliberate. Louis didn't flinch. He barely breathed.

"And here I thought you liked the fight," Harry mused.

Louis didn't move, his breathing steady even as his heart seemed to climb. "Do you always keep score?" he asked, tilting his head just slightly as if to match Harry's intensity.

A flash of intrigue crossed Harry's face, and the hand at Louis' throat tightened just enough to remind him who was leading this game. "Oh, sweetheart, with you? Always."

Harry's thumb lingered just beneath Louis' jaw, a deliberate pressure that wasn't quite possessive but far from casual.

"You're watching me," Louis murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes catching Harry's gaze despite the instinct to avoid it. "Like you want something."

Harry's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I already told you what I want," he muttered, his voice dipping lower, intimate but sharp.

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and inescapable.

Louis didn't flinch. If anything, his gaze hardened slightly as he studied Harry. A glimmer of something flashed across his face—defiance, surrender, or perhaps both, warring silently behind his expression.

Louis swallowed and Harry felt the bob of his neck beneath his fingers. "I guess you did," he whispered.

Harry hummed softly, his fingers brushing Louis' throat. "All in, are you?" he finally asked, his voice quiet but sharp.

Louis' lips curved slightly as he spoke. "All in," he repeated softly.

Harry's green eyes flickered, the intensity of Louis' gaze catching him off guard. Slowly, he leaned closer, his breath warm against Louis' cheek. "Careful, sweetheart," he murmured. "You almost sound sincere."

"Maybe I am," Louis replied, his voice still steady, still sure, despite his racing pulse.

Harry's smirk widened slightly, his hand slipping from Louis' jaw to curl lightly around the back of his neck. "Is that so?" he muttered. "Ready to give me everything I want?"

Louis' eyes were dark as they looked at Harry. "You already have everything you want," he whispered. "You just have to take it."

Harry's fingers curled around Louis' neck, pulling him closer. "You want me to take you?" he asked, voice rich with menace and promise. His lips brushed against Louis' ear, sending a shiver down the boy's spine.

Louis didn't respond, only leaned in. His voice was a dangerous whisper, shrouded in a certain quiet confidence. "I'm already yours."

Harry hummed again, nose pressed against the boy's cheek. "You really have been good for me," he murmured, his voice soft, almost surprised, as he let his lips touch the side of Louis' mouth.

Louis pressed closer as Harry nosed at his cheek, their lips brushing slightly.

Louis let his hand trail along the edge of Harry's jacket. His fingers brushed against the pocket, light and deliberate. His heart pounded as he felt the cold edge of the key, just within his grasp—

Before he could make his move, Harry's hand shot out, gripping his wrist in an iron hold. "Ah," he said softly, his voice cutting through the charged silence. "There it is."

The glint of the small key dangled just out of reach in Harry's pocket, mocking him.

Harry huffed out a soft laugh. "You're full of surprises tonight, sweetheart."

Louis froze, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes snapped up to meet Harry's, panic flickering across his face. "I wasn't—" he started, but his voice faltered under Harry's piercing gaze.

"Wasn't what?" Harry asked, his tone deceptively calm. His grip on Louis' wrist tightened just enough to make his point. "Stealing from me? Lying to me?" his lips curled into a grin, sharp and dangerous. "Playing me?"

Louis stammered, his words tumbling over each other. "I—I wasn't trying to—"

"Don't lie," Harry interrupted, his voice low and cold. He leaned in closer, his lips touching Louis' ear. "You're sneaky, darling. I'll give you that. But you're not as clever as you think."

Louis swallowed hard, his body tense as he braced for whatever was coming. "I'm sorry," he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Harry's grin widened, but it wasn't angry. It was something else— almost impressed. "Don't apologise," he said, his tone soft but cutting. "Sneaky? Manipulative? You're more like me than I thought."

Louis' eyes widened, caught off guard by the unexpected response. He had prepared for anger, for punishment, but not this. "What?" he whispered, his voice shaky.

Harry's grip on his wrist loosened, his fingers brushing against Louis' hand in an affectionate gesture. "You're learning," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "And I have to admit, it's... exciting."

Louis pulled his hand back slowly, his mind racing. He had been caught, exposed, and yet Harry seemed almost pleased. The Joker's green eyes gleamed with a dangerous kind of approval, and Louis felt a chill run over him.

"You're playing a dangerous game, darling," Harry murmured, pulling back just enough to give Louis some space. "But lucky for you, I like games."

Louis took a shaky breath, his heart still pounding. "You're not mad?" he asked cautiously.

Harry laughed, the sound low and almost genuine. "Mad? No," he said, his grin softening into something darker. "I'm impressed."

Louis nodded, he tried to step back but Harry pulled him closer.

"Now," Harry said, his tone light as if nothing had happened. "Why don't you tell me what you were after?"

Louis hesitated, his eyes flicking down to Harry's lips, heart pounding at the closeness. "I—"

Harry raised an eyebrow, still holding Louis' wrist but with no real force. "I bet you're still thinking about it," Harry teased. "We could still kiss if you'd like, sweetheart."

Louis pushed away and Harry let him go. He stepped back just a little, but there was a hint of something on his face. "Ew," he muttered. "No thanks."

Harry chuckled. "How about next time don't get caught," he said with a smirk, eyes flicking over Louis in an almost appreciative way. "And Louis," he called, just as the boy turned away from him.

Louis glanced back around, meeting Harry's eyes.

"If you want something from me, all you have to do is ask," he pulled the key from his pocket and dangled it gently.

Louis rolled his eyes and left the room.

Re-reading this was so tense lmao.

Hope you enjoyed!

Does anyone remember why Louis wants the key?

Vote? Comment? Ilygsm. Mwah x