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"Your little show yesterday was...admirable."

Louis always seems to hear him before he sees him. He doesn't turn around this time, just keeps walking.

"The silent treatment, sweetheart?" The Joker called after him. "I thought we were past that."

The streets were not yet dark and Louis hadn't expected to see Harry at this time in the evening. He'd just finished a job for Liam, taking a statement from one of the witnesses of last week's bank robbery committed by none other than The Joker himself. Liam was sure they'd be able to get one of his accomplices to crack the information on where The Joker was hiding.

The plan was to take him by surprise in his own home. He controlled the streets, especially at night, but rumour has it that no one had ever been to The Joker's lair before; thus, he would be unprotected and alone.

The Joker caught up with Louis, grabbing the boy's arm and spinning him around so that they were facing.

Louis pulled from his grip but Harry was stronger, more insistent. His face hardened when he looked at Louis this time.

"It's rude to ignore people," The Joker said firmly. "Didn't Batman ever teach you that?"

Louis hadn't seen this side of him in a while, the side of him that looked as though every bit of emotion had been drained out. His face was like stone; cold and heartless.

Louis swallowed. "Sorry."

The Joker reached out to touch Louis' face and the boy tried not to flinch as the cool metal of Harry's rings grazed his cheek.

"Did you think about what I asked you?" Harry slowly let go of him.

Louis blinked at him. "What you asked me?"

"My proposition. You, me, working together," he said. "All the things I could teach you."

Louis shook his head. "My answer is the same as before," he replied. "You're ridiculous."

Harry's eyes fluttered shut for a moment. When they opened again, his stare was cold. "I saw you yesterday on stage. Stood behind him, like you always are," he said. "Why was no one chanting for Robin?"

"You were there?"

"I'm everywhere."

"I don't mind being in the background," Louis said finally.

Harry smiled at this, some warmth coming back to his eyes. "Sweetheart, you're too pretty not to be the star of the show." Louis felt his cheeks heat up. "They should have your picture hung up in galleries."

Louis didn't say anything.

"Let me help you." 

Louis shook his head. "I don't want it. Any of it."

The Joker laughed at this, sharp and vicious. "No?"

Louis stepped back. "No."

"You have such potential," The Joker told him. "I could make you into the greatest hero the world has ever seen."

"And what could you teach me that he couldn't?"

Harry grinned. "I can think of a hundred things."

"Name one."

Harry licked his lips. "I could teach you how to be free."

Robin furrowed his brows, searching Harry's eyes for answers. "Free?"

"Free," The Joker repeated. "We could have so much fun together."

Louis almost laughed. "I don't believe that you and I have the same ideas of fun."

"Only one way to find out."

Louis eyed him up and down, trying to figure him out. "Whatever game you're playing-"

"No games," Harry held his hands up in defence. "Just you and me."

Louis swallowed. "I don't understand you."

"Then let me be clear," Harry started. "I just want to help you, Robin," he said. "Nothing more," he promised. "I think you're capable of so much more, but you have to let me help unlock your potential."

Louis humoured him. "What do you have in mind?"

Harry grinned, silver teeth on show. He stepped towards Louis, cradling the younger man's face in both of his hands. "I thought you'd never ask."

And that is how The Joker and Robin began their own little secret.

***

Liam and Louis were too late.

The criminals were long gone by the time the heroes arrived at the bank. Masked criminals, a lot of them by the sound of the witness reports.

It wasn't the first robbery of a large bank this month.  Each time the heroes just couldn't seem to make it in time before the criminals had disappeared into the night, seemingly without a trace. The cameras had mysteriously cut out twenty minutes before the crime took place and the security mechanisms had failed. An inside job, Liam and Louis suspected.

They'd left a note too, directly addressed to Batman 'Catch us if you can'. Liam had crumpled it in his hands, fists balled so tightly that Louis was afraid he might pull a muscle.

Louis could tell, even behind the mask, that Batman was enraged.

"If we could've just-"

"We were far away," Louis said softly, cutting Liam off.

Liam shook his head. "I should've..."

"You couldn't have done anything."

Liam's nose twitched. "I need to go after them before they get too far."

Louis sighed. "Hey, we will get them. But, for now, we need to make sure everyone here is okay."

Liam was silent for a moment. "There's going to be a press conference. The mayor will address the town." Louis looked at him with a soft frown. "They're going to ask me how anyone could get away with this."

Louis shook his head. "It's not your fault," he promised.

"Isn't it?"

"No!" Louis exclaimed "How is it your fault?" he asked. "It's these... these criminals."

"I'm not doing enough," Liam replied. "People should be terrified to commit crimes in this city and, yet, each week is worse than the next. They should fear me."

"This is not your fault," Louis repeated. "Okay?"

Liam huffed, nose still twitching under his mask. He shook his head before heading back to his car. Louis followed him with a soft sigh.

***

Louis wasn't the perfect sidekick. He didn't do as he was told all the time, or listen to every command that Liam gave him.

But he could help in some way. Perhaps in unconventional ways. But help, nonetheless.

Louis knew that somehow, in some form, he had a hold over The Joker. He didn't know to what extent, nor was he willing to risk finding out. He knew, though, that despite The Joker's volatile temper and tendency to kill without any regard for human life, he was different in some way around Louis.

Now, Louis didn't turn him- not in the slightest. But he did believe that maybe, just maybe, he could use whatever hold he did have over The Joker to his advantage. As long as Batman didn't find out.

Again, he wasn't the perfect sidekick.

Almost as soon as he ventured into the border of downtown Gotham, Louis felt himself being spun around and pressed into a stone wall. He let out a soft groan at the impact.

When he opened his eyes, he was face to face with The Joker, who was looking down at him and licking his lips.

"My, isn't this a surprise?" 

Louis swallowed, blinking up at him. "Is it?" he asked.

The Joker smiled down at him. "I saw you just yesterday," he said. "A pleasant surprise to see you so soon."

Louis hummed softly. "How'd you know I'd be here?"

"I saw you coming," Harry told him. "I have eyes everywhere."

Louis blinked at him. "That's what I'm counting on."

Harry tilted his head, looking over Louis curiously. "You need my help?" he asked, and Louis nodded softly. "Do go on."

Louis swallowed, looking Harry up and down, eyeing how they were still pressed together. "Can you...?" he trailed off.

Harry hesitated for a moment before slowly pulling himself away from Louis, giving the boy half a meter of space. "I'm listening."

"I need you to tell me about the robbery yesterday," Louis started.

Harry smiled at him. "And what makes you think I know anything about it?"

"Thought you had eyes everywhere."

Harry grinned. "They're all busy watching you."

Louis faltered. "Me?"

"You," Harry said softly. "My number one hero."

Louis gaped at him for a moment before swallowing. "I-"

"Am flattered?" Harry questioned. "You should be."

"No I-"

"Want to join me?" Harry cut in. "Yes, I thought you'd never ask."

"No!" Louis snapped. "Can you just-"

"Kiss me?" Harry muttered, stepping closer to Robin. "Right in the street?" he said softly. "Why of course."

He pressed Louis back into the wall and the smaller boy squeaked, pushing him back.

"Harry!"

Harry's face faltered, but only for a moment before he grinned. "Look at you, pulling out all of the party tricks," he praised. "How long have you known my name, Louis?"

Louis blinked, throat going dry. "How did you-?"

Harry just grinned at him, dark and dashing, as playful as ever. He pulled back slightly, leaving Louis a few inches of space.

"You aren't the only one who does their research," Harry told him, looking Louis over. "But, now that we're on first name basis-"

"We are not on first-name basis!"

"No?" Harry asked; Louis shook his head firmly. "But, Louis, it sounds so lovely when you say my name."

"Don't call me that."

Harry watched the boy carefully, licking his lips. "You can call me Harry all you want, darling," he told him. "But to respect your wishes, Robin, I'll use your hero title."

Louis swallowed. "I need you to tell me about the robbery."

"What about it, Robin, be specific."

"Was it you?"

"I didn't do it, " The Joker answered.

Louis could've screamed in frustration. "Were you behind it?"

"A different question entirely."

"Were you?" Robin pressed.

The Joker raised a brow at Louis, eyeing the boy thoughtfully. "I knew that it was going to happen," he said finally.

Louis looked The Joker in the eye. "You know who did it?" he asked. 

"Yes."

Louis narrowed his eyes, exasperated. "Who?"

Harry thought about it for a second. "Arne Sullivan."

Louis furrowed his brows, quiet for a moment before he replied. "That's it? You're just going to tell me?"

"Why not?" The Joker asked. "You can't do anything with the information."

Louis frowned at him. "A why's that?"

Harry grinned, his hands suddenly going to Louis' shoulders, pressing the boy into the wall. The hero let out a squeak of surprise as The Joker's lips went to Louis' throat, hovering mere inches from his skin.

"What will you tell the B-man when he asks you how you know?" Harry questioned, his hand trailing over Louis' throat. "Will you tell him of our secret meetings?" he asked, running his thumb over Louis' bottom lip. "Will you let him know how I touch you at night?" he whispered into Louis' neck. 

"Hey!" Louis squirmed, attempting to pull away from Harry but The Joker held him tight.

The Joker's nose pressed at Louis' cheek. "By all means, let him know," Harry whispered. "I'm quite proud of how far we've come, hero," the words vibrated against Louis' throat and the hero shivered.

Louis swallowed, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'll tell him that I figured it out. Alone."

Harry stroked his cheek. "Alone?" 

"Alone," Louis confirmed.

There was a moment of silence before Harry dropped him. "Well, by all means, go tell your mentor."

Louis finally opened his eyes. He let out a steady breath before he pulled away, panting as he looked at Harry.

The Joker just grinned at him. "And I will see you tomorrow," he promised.

"We'll see."

Louis ran away into the night. Harry watched after him, as always.

Hope you enjoyed :) I love this book!

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