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Sullivan was arrested. They found him at home, sitting on nearly two million in cash, maps of the vaults, and unlicensed weapons. It was exactly as Harry had said.

The whole ordeal was surprisingly simple. Louis had pieced together a loose connection of names, feeding just enough to Liam to warrant a closer look at Sullivan. When they did investigate, it became clear that cameras had caught him and his gang minutes before the robbery, loading into a stolen vehicle.

A few more damning details surfaced, and soon Liam had the police on board for a full search of Sullivan's property. Lo and behold, Louis had been right. Or, more accurately, Harry had been.

Now, Louis lingered in the corner of the room as Liam paced, phone in hand, his voice low but sharp.

"Two million in cash," Liam said, the disbelief heavy in his tone. "Maps of the vaults, unlicensed weapons... He's going away for life."

Louis stared at his boots, steadying his breathing.

Liam's tone shifted as if he thought Louis couldn't hear. "Still don't know where the tip came from. Everything fell into place too cleanly... too perfectly."

Louis' chest tightened.

"Yeah, we'll need to investigate his connections further," Liam said. "This doesn't feel like his work alone."

Batman exchanged a brief goodbye to who Louis could only assume was Niall on the other end. Giving his friend a couple of leads to explore.

Finally, Liam hung up and turned to Louis, his sharp gaze softening. "Some day, huh?"

Louis forced a small smile. "Yeah."

Leaning against the desk, Liam folded his arms. "Can't believe we got him," he said with a huff of surprise. "As easy as that, too."

"It just... lined up right," Louis said quietly.

Liam nodded slowly, his brow furrowing. "Sometimes things just line up. Doesn't mean I don't question it."

Louis didn't respond, his fingers tightening against his sleeves.

"If there's ever anything you need to tell me..." Liam's tone softened, but the weight of his words hung in the air. "You know you can, right?"

"Of course," Louis replied quickly, avoiding his brother's eyes.

For a moment, Liam studied him, but then he sighed, ruffling Louis' hair as he passed. "You did good today, little brother."

The words should've felt like praise, but instead, they left Louis' stomach twisting.

As soon as Liam's footsteps retreated, Louis let out a shaky breath. He needed to get out of there.

***

The old factory smelled of rust and damp, its shadows stretching long under the flicker of a single bulb. Louis hadn't expected Harry to keep his word. He'd assumed their "partnership" would be chaos, just another one of The Joker's twisted games. But the man—if he could even be called that—was true to his word. At least, so far.

"You're late, sweetheart," Harry's voice drawled from the shadows. He leaned lazily against the rusted railing, his painted face catching the faint light. That grin, sharp and unhinged, never wavered. "Catch the criminal? Save the girl?"

"Something like that," Louis muttered, stepping closer.

"Glad I could be of service," Harry said, his grin widening. "But you're still late."

"I wasn't sure this was a good idea," Louis admitted, crossing his arms.

"Oh, it's not," Harry replied, stepping closer. His movements were slow, deliberate, as though savouring the tension. "But that's the fun part, isn't it?"

Louis ignored the jab, forcing himself to focus. "You said you'd teach me. I'm here to learn."

Harry tilted his head, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Learn what, exactly? How to swing a bat? How to blow something up? You've got to be more specific, darling."

Louis hesitated. "How to stop waiting in the background. How to act before someone else does it for me."

The grin that spread across Harry's face was almost predatory. "Oh, you want to take control. I like that," he said, circling Louis. "But that's not something I can teach you, kitten. That's something you just have to take."

Louis bristled at the nickname but didn't correct him. "Then tell me how you do it. How you get people to follow you, even when they know you're dangerous."

Harry stopped, his gaze boring into Louis. "Oh, you're not asking me to make you a hero, are you?" he said softly. "You want to learn how to be a king. We're more alike than I thought."

"Call it what you want," Louis said sharply. "Just tell me what I need to know."

For a moment, Harry simply stared, as though weighing Louis' worth. Then, with a sudden laugh, he clapped his hands together. "Alright, sweetheart. Let's make a deal."

"I'm not making any deals with you," Louis snapped.

Harry smirked, his silver teeth catching the light. "Oh, but you already have," he purred.

Louis' eyes narrowed. "What kind of deal?"

Harry's grin widened. "Not the kind you sign, darling. The kind you live," he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You learn from me, you take what I give you, and in return... you don't fight what you're becoming."

Louis stiffened. "I'm not becoming anything."

Harry laughed again, sharp and unhinged. "Oh, sweetheart, you've already started. The doubt, the fire in your eyes, the way you want this... It's all in there, Robin," he tapped Louis' chest lightly with a finger. "You just need a little push."

"I'm not like you," Louis snapped.

Harry tilted his head, studying him with mock sympathy. "Not yet."

Louis swallowed hard. "Are you going to teach me something?" he asked. "Or should I leave?"

The sparkle in Harry's eyes was ignited. "Lesson one: You don't ask for power. You take it. And when you've got it? You never, ever let anyone take it back."

Louis squared his shoulders. "Show me."

Harry shook his head. "No, you show me."

The tension in the air was electric as Louis lunged, swinging his fist hard, but Harry ducked easily, stepping out of range.

"Predictable," Harry teased, his voice light and amused.

Louis growled in frustration, throwing another punch. This time, Harry caught his wrist mid-swing and twisted it, forcing Louis off balance. Before Louis could recover, Harry's other hand shot out, grabbing the collar of his jacket and yanking him forward.

"Come on, sweetheart," Harry murmured, his face inches from Louis'. "I thought you wanted to learn."

Louis shoved him back, breaking Harry's grip and throwing a knee toward his stomach. Harry blocked it with a grin, but Louis followed up with a quick jab that grazed his cheek.

Harry laughed, spinning out of reach. "Better. But not good enough."

Louis charged again, but Harry sidestepped, his hand darting out to grab Louis' arm. In one swift motion, he twisted it behind Louis' back, pulling him close.

Louis back was pressed flush against Harry's front. Harry held the boy to his chest for a moment, just pinning him there.

"You're too tense," Harry said, his breath warm against Louis' ear. "Loosen up, darling. Fighting's supposed to be fun."

With a sharp jerk, Louis broke free, twisting around to land a solid punch to Harry's ribs. The blow forced Harry back a step, and Louis used the moment to grab him by the throat, slamming him hard against the wall.

Harry's grin faltered slightly as Louis pressed his forearm against his neck, cutting off his air.

"Good," Harry said, his voice calm despite the pressure against his throat. "But is it good enough?"

Louis pressed harder against his throat. His grip was firm, his stance solid.

"Careful, sweetheart," Harry rasped, his grin still in place. "You choke me any harder, and I might think you're enjoying this."

"Stop it," Louis demanded.

"Stop what?" Harry taunted. "Making you doubt yourself? Putting you on edge? Making you wonder if you've done everything right? That you're good enough?"

Louis' breath hitched.

"You did good, sweetheart, but the thing is..." Harry's voice softened to a near whisper. "You haven't done everything quite right."

Louis' heart raced, his grip faltering for a split second. Doubt crept in.

"Five," Harry murmured.

Louis' jaw tightened.

"Four."

He widened his stance, bracing himself.

"Three."

"Joker—"

"Two."

Harry's grin widened.

"One."

There was a beat of silence, heavy and tense. Louis' grip faltered ever so slightly, confusion flickering across his face.

"You see, Robin," Harry murmured, his voice low and teasing. "You didn't do anything wrong," he leaned in closer, his grin widening. "Apart from doubting yourself."

The words hit Louis like a blow, his chest tightening.

"And now that I've put you on edge..." Harry's voice turned sharper, cutting through the silence. "You're weak."

Before Louis could react, Harry moved like a whip, twisting free with startling speed. In one fluid motion, he wrenched his arm from Louis' grasp and locked his hand around Louis' wrist.

"And now I'm in control," Harry whispered, his voice almost soft as he freed his other hand and shoved Louis back.

Louis hit the concrete hard, groaning as he sat up.

"Don't doubt yourself again," Harry said, towering over him. "Doubt makes you weak."

"Why are you telling me this?" Louis asked.

"I only want the best version of you by my side when you join me," Harry replied easily.

Louis glared at him. "You know I'll never join you."

Harry chuckled, his laughter low and mocking. "Oh, I think you will. Sooner or later."

He stepped back into the shadows.

"You're not going to win," Louis called after him, forcing himself to his feet.

Harry stopped, glancing back with a smirk. "Darling, I already have," his grin was the last thing Louis saw before the darkness swallowed him whole.

Hehe :)

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