The Harry pic mentioned. I can't believe we lived through frat era 1d; I'll never recover

You guys should re-read this fic. I went through everything I'd posted and all of my drafts and brooooo I have the most soul shattering stuff ready to post

I also don't know why I never used full stops??? But I feel like I can't just start now lol

Night time in Gotham city was bad enough. As soon as the sun sank and made way for the starlight, the city turned red. Now, Batman had most of the city under control but deep in the corners was where the corruption was hiding and at midnight, well, that's when the sinners came to life.

Louis was careful, cautious even, to not be seen or heard in this part of town. The border where good turns to evil. He didn't fight without Liam and certainly didn't want his brother to find out that he was sneaking around without him.

The sound of glass shattering echoed in the distance and groups of men jeered and yelled. The city smelt as though it were on fire. Smoke in the air and sparks in the sky.

"You made it."

The voice made Louis turn in an instance.

"Joker," Louis greeted.

Harry tipped his head. "My favourite little hero."

Louis felt his cheeks warm up. "What did you call me here for?"

"Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to see you?"

Louis shook his head.

"Well, I have a proposition," Harry stated.

"A proposition?" Louis echoed. "For me?"

Harry smiled. "For you."

Louis tilted his head. Harry stepped towards him. Louis stepped back.

"Surely you're not still scared of me darling?" Harry asked. "I left a heart on my note to you and everything."

Louis frowned.

"Well, someone's heart..." Harry grinned.

Louis gasped. "That's-"

"Romantic, I know," Harry cut him off. "I can be when I want to be."

Louis blinked at him, lost for words.

Harry stepped closer again and Louis held his ground this time.

"What would you say if I asked you to work with me?" Harry asked.

Louis pulled a face, his mouth opening and closing before he spoke. "I would say I need to wake up from whatever bad dream I'm having."

"No dreams," Harry promised. "Just you and me and a secret mission."

"What mission?"

Harry grinned. "I want to help you."

"Help me?" Louis asked. "Help me what?"

Harry chuckled, dark and violent. "Have you ever thought that Batman could be doing this on purpose?" The Joker questioned,

Louis blinked. "Doing what?"

The Joker's smile remained. "Holding you back," he replied.

"Holding me back from what?"

"Being the best you can be, of course!" Harry clarified. "Holding back from teaching you- from letting you out at night, from helping you succeed."

"You really are crazy!" Louis stated. "Why would he do that?"

The Joker scoffed, teeth on show. "Why wouldn't he?" he asked. "It makes him look above you and it stops you from getting into all sorts of trouble," he explained.

"You're insane. That makes no sense," Louis said boldly.

Harry shook his head. "It makes perfect sense," he insisted. "Think about it," he urged. "Why on earth would Batman want you to be as great as he is?" he questioned.

"He teaches me everything he knows!" Louis exclaimed.

"Does he?"

Louis scoffed, lost for words.

Harry stepped closer to him. "I could teach you everything."

Louis took a step back, shaking his head. "You're-"

"Crazy?" Harry questioned. "So I've heard."

"You are if you think I want your help!" Louis exclaimed. "You're delusional," he concluded.

"Am I?" The Joker questioned. "Or is that you?"

"I'm not crazy," Louis promised. "I see things very clearly," he added. "I know that you're trying to mess with my head."

"Am I really the one messing with your head?" Harry taunted. "Or is it the B-man?" he sang.

"Stop it!" Louis shook his head. "I have to go," he backed away from Harry.

"He's playing mind games with you, Robin!" Harry called after him. "I can help you!"

Louis was already running.

***

Louis avoided the streets after dark, not daring to venture into the wrong side of town for a few nights after seeing The Joker. He spent his time with Batman: organising, planning, helping him in any way that a sidekick could.

Liam was keeping low- or as low as possible for a superhero- and the town was hectic because of it. Fights had broken out the past two nights and Batman was nowhere to be seen. Truth be told, Liam had bigger things on his mind; he needed to find the reason for The Jokers' fixation on Louis. Of course, he couldn't let Louis in on his digging and kept himself locked away with the occasional help from Niall, his most trusted assistant.

Louis though, couldn't always be avoided; if there was one thing he was good at it was being persistent.

"Who's 'Harry'?" Louis asked, looking over the file.

Liam almost jumped at the sounds of Louis' voice behind him, lost in thought as he stared at the images on the table.

There was a picture of The Joker, dark curls with streaks of bottle green. His face painted white, eyes dark and lips red. He's be recognised by anyone living in Gotham in an instance. There was a picture of Harley Quinn, dark hair with blue and red tips, pretty face and tattoos poking out from under their fitted T-shirt, a heart painted just below their eye.

The final picture through, was someone who Louis didn't recognise. The picture was a small polaroid of a man with tanned skin and dark curly hair framing a handsome face. His eyes looked straight into the camera and Louis felt as though he could see the man through the picture. He wore a dark fitted T-shirt and a cross chain dangled from his neck. The picture was labelled 'Harry'.

Liam shook his head. "Harry doesn't exist anymore," he stated, turning to face Louis.

Louis turned to him, brows furrowed. "What happened to him?"

Liam huffed out a laugh. "He happened to him," he pressed a finger to the picture of The Joker.

"He killed him?" Louis asked.

Liam laughed again. "Pretty much," he muttered. "He killed him over time," he continued. Louis gave him a look of confusion and Liam clarified. "Harry is who The Joker used to be."

Louis shook his head. "I don't understand."

Liam picked up the picture of Harry in one hand and the mugshot of The Joker in the other. "He went insane," Liam said softly, sliding the picture of The Joker over the picture of Harry until it was covered completely. "He turned himself into this."

Louis blinked, confused. "That's what he...? That's what The Joker looks like?"

"Under all that makeup, yes. Or- he used to? No one's seen this face in a long time," Liam pulled the pictures apart again.

Louis' eyes trained on the picture of Harry. The image was fuzzy and unclear, but Louis could still see how normal he once looked- how beautiful even. "Harry?" Louis repeated softly.

"That was a long time ago," Liam placed the pictures back onto the table.

Louis finally dragged his eyes away from Harry and looked up at his brother. "Why'd he do that?"

"Sometimes there is no reason," Liam shrugged. "Sometimes people are just bad."

"I don't believe that," Louis muttered.

Liam turned to him with a soft smile. "I'm glad you don't," he stated. "The second you do, you won't be you anymore."

Louis pulled a face, brows furrowed. Liam smiled at him.

"You see the best in people," Batman clarified. "Not only is that a good thing, it's a part of who you are," he explained. "Hold onto that."

"Hold onto what?" Louis asked.

"Hope," Liam stated. "For a brighter tomorrow. For faith in the future. We all need it," he said. "Carry it for the both of us because right now-" Liam looked at the pictures on the table. "I'm losing all hope in humanity."

Louis frowned but nodded. "Okay," he said softly. "I will."

***

Louis stood behind Batman on stage as he addressed the city in a press conference. Louis wore his mask to to conceal the top of his face and a fitted red T-shirt; his look as 'Robin'.

"-and I can assure you, whilst I'm around, if you cause any form of disturbance in my city, believe me when I say that I will become your worst nightmare," Liam was interrupted by cheers from the crowd; even the mayor clapped fiercely. Louis glanced down at the mayors feet- no crocs this time, thank God. "Everywhere you go, every move you make, just know that I will be watching you and just know that I will be serving justice to those who do not uphold the order of Gotham city."

The crowd erupted again. People in the audience held banners with drawing of batman and held signs up in his honour. Liam stepped away from the microphone and the mayor stepped forwards.

"Thank you, sir!" he nodded his head to Liam and shook his hand firmly. "Thank you from all of us!" he turned back to the crowd. "Give it up for our city's hero, Batman, everyone!"

The cheering continued. Liam stepped towards Louis. He could see the younger man raise his brows through the mask. They shared an amused look that no one else could see.

"-that goes for any one of you who decide that causing trouble in this city is worth the price. Just know that you will be found. You will be caught and you, most certainly, will be punished," the mayor continued. "As long as my-"

Louis leant closer to Liam. "How much more of this?"

Liam huffed out a laugh. "Can't you just stand there and look pretty?"

"That's what I've been doing isn't it?"

Liam grinned behind his mask. "I think he'll go on for another ten minutes."

"If we're lucky," Louis agreed.

"Hey, at least he's not wearing crocs this time."

Louis stifled a laugh.

The crowd cheered again and the mayor backed away from the microphone as the audience chanted 'Batman', fists pumping in the air. Liam nodded his head graciously. Louis watched him in awe.

The anxiety I feel when posting? Unmatched!

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