***

I was aware of my deep rooted selfishness, my need to have him for just one more night. Because he would never be mine again, and as I looked out into the darkness I wondered if in a couple of years he would remember me at all.  As dawn approached I knew there was no moment to spare but the moment I shifted on the bed Dick's arm tightened around my waist. Slowly I removed his arm and sat at the edge of the bed reaching for the closest item of clothing. 

"Where are you going?" Dick questioned as his warm hands caressed the skin on my back, and I closed my eyes wanting to remember even this slight touch. 

"Bathroom." I replied as I slipped his t-shirt over my head before turning around and pressing a quick kiss on his lips. "Go back to sleep."

"One more kiss?" A sleepy smile touched his and I returned his smile as I slowly brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead before bringing my lips to his again. In this moment I wanted to tell, but that would only be cruel. Telling him now would only hurt him more than I was going to. Instead I tried to tell him through this kiss. 

Pulling away I took in his features before standing up and slipping into my jeans and flats. As I opened door I felt Dick's gaze still on me I expected his eyes to be filled with suspicion, but he simply seemed to be admiring me. The sight alone was enough for me to feel the sting of tears in the back of my eyes, instead I forced a smile before leaving his room. "Go back to sleep."

Quickly I slipped into my room and grabbed the bag that I already had packed in the morning, before I stepping back out into the empty hallway. I wasn't as skilled as Bruce or Dick, that was why I had to use the window on the East wing of the manor the one that beside the large oak tree. It was the same window I used two nights, and when I opened the window I was hit with the same unwelcoming bitter cold air. 

"Miss Freemont it is a rather chilly night." Alfred's voice made my blood run cold, knowing that I had been caught before I even made it out the window was humiliating all on its own. Turning around to face him I was surprised to find the he didn't look angry, in fact he seemed saddened by my attempted escape. "May I suggest you take your coat."

I felt my mouth go dry and my ability to speak seemed to have disappeared entirely. I regained all my senses as the realization that they were expecting this set in. "Alfred..."

"There's no need for an explanation Miss Freemont." He replied as he held up my coat, numbly I placed my bag on the floor and allowed Alfred to help me into it. Although it was clear that Alfred wasn't going to try to stop me my heart was beating rapidly in my chest at the thought of Dick waking up. I wouldn't be able to bare the look in his eyes if he found me trying to leave him.

With trembling hands I picked up my bag and pulled out my sketch book handing it towards Alfred. Even if I was leaving and I couldn't even leave Dick a note goodbye I wanted to leave something behind.  "Alfred can you give this to Bruce?"

Alfred simply nodded as he took the book, the same disappointed expression in his eyes that surprisingly tore at my heart. "It was a pleasure Miss Freemont."

"Thank you." I replied honestly before slipping out the window, already familiar with how to leave the mansion unseen. A part of me didn't want to think too deeply about my interaction with Alfred or what it meant. Cleary there was no intention of stopping me, so maybe the elaborate escape wasn't necessary even if it felt like it was. 

A sigh of relief escaped my lips once I was on the other side of the gate surrounding Wayne Manor, I had never realized the amount of pressure that I felt in the place. The weight on my shoulders pushing me down, yet I felt a tear slip down my cheek as I looked towards the mansion. The weight in my heart surpassing the feeling of freedom that I felt. 

When I stuffed my hands in my coat pocket I felt a piece of paper inside, one that I knew shouldn't be there. Slipping the piece of paper out of my pocket, I looked down at what I recognized was a check. One signed by Bruce Wayne, the zeroes written across it making my mouth go dry. Not from the amount or the money, but from the knowledge that once again he seemed to perfectly calculate what my next move was going to be. 

Even with Bruce Wayne's filthy money I had no one, no place, and no sense of self. I knew I had to find myself, I just didn't know how. I did know the anger that I felt now, that Bruce simply let me leave after saying he would help me. That I meant so little, that I would always mean so little. But I didn't want to be overlooked and underestimated anymore. 

A rustling of leaves snapped my out of my crisis, and when I turned towards the direction of the sound I almost felt like a fool for being afraid of cat. And as I looked into the yellow eyes of a cat a memory resurfaced, one that had haunted me for days but seemed to have disappeared in the past two days. The idea slowly forming in my mind was dangerous and reckless.

Yet, I had a feeling it was a move that not even Bruce Wayne would be able to calculate. 

***

I had no clear idea of how long I was standing old Gotham City Animal Shelter, a part of me wanted to fool myself into thinking that this wasn't the place. The wildlife surrounding the building said otherwise, and I could easily turn around. Get as far away from this seemingly abandoned building on the outskirts of Gotham.  

These were the most dangerous women in Gotham City, they were criminals. But they weren't overlooked and the weren't underestimated.

They were feared.

I couldn't ignore the part of me that wanted that. It was that thought that pushed me forward towards the building, for a moment I was surprised that the front door was unlocked. But I shouldn't really be surprised locks were useless in Gotham and would be stupid enough to willingly step into The Siren's home.

When I stepped inside it was deathly quiet, and I could feel my heart beating erratically  in my chest to the point I thought it was going to rip through my body. Suddenly I heard the rustling of leaves and before I had the chance to react vines entrapped my body, and as I struggled they only tightened their hold.

"Now who are you?" A seductive voice rang through the dark room as the vines that held me lifted me off my feet and carried me towards a corner of the room. "What a pretty thing has wondered into my garden. Such a shame you'll have to die."

The meaning of her words registered in my head the weight of them, but now that I could see her I was taken away by her beauty. The green pigment of her skin, the leaves that gently covered her body, and the intensity of her scarlet hair. All I wanted as to get closer. 

"Now, that won't be necessary Ivy." Another voice declared, though this one was familiar and only brought me a small sense of relief. I didn't know if she remembered me, or if her offer still stood. The only thing I knew was that she opened my eyes to what I refused to see. "She's with me. The one I told you about."

I still felt like I was in an odd stated of euphoria as my feet touched the floor again. When I turned towards Selina her expression was unreadable, and she was in her Catwoman suit. I could only assume she had just come back from being out all night. 

"This is her?" Poison Ivy said with distaste as she studied me with an unexplainable amount of intensity. "She doesn't seem like much."

There wasn't much of a chance for me to feel the sting of her words as I loud thump sounded from beside me as a woman leaned on her feet from having just jumped off the second story of the building. 

"What's with all the ruckus? Don't ya know a girl needs her beauty sleep?" The woman declared, and although she wasn't wearing her signature clown makeup the pale skin, and there brightly colored pink and blue hair told me who she was. 

Harley Quinn.

Before having met Bruce and Dick the infamous criminals of Gotham City had always been stories that I watched on the news or read about in the paper. I had never had an encounter with them, and now that I was standing in a room with Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn I realized how dangerous they really were. How real the criminals on the streets of Gotham were. 

"We have a visitor." Poison Ivy replied with disinterest that couldn't hide the suspicion in her voice. 

"Honestly I expected you much sooner." Selina stated as she studied be with her bright green eyes. I wondered what made these women who they were today. Did they lose someone, were they betrayed, or used? "What changed?"

What did change? I couldn't pick out the exact moment that it did. It felt like multiple moments crashing together creating an endless storm that needed to find an escape. 

"Isn't it obvious Kitty? The girls just gone through a bad breakup." Harley replied before she turned towards me, and it was now that I realized that she was wearing a bright pink pajama onesie.  "And trust me I know a thing or two about bad breakups. If you must know his name was Mr. J."

Poison Ivy rolled her eyes as she caressed flower that bloomed in the palm of her hand. "Harley I'm sure she knows about you and The Joker."

"There is no more me and Mr. J now is there? Like I've said I'm over The Joker." Harley declared as she pointedly crossed her arms over her chest looking away from her. Seeing Harley Quinn now, she seemed so childlike compared to the wicked and vile person The Joker was know to be. But it was also not difficult to forget that she was part of many of his wicked and vile plans to destroy the city. 

"Good to know you don't want another round of abuse, humiliation and regret." Poison Ivy replied the same irritated tone in her voice. Seeming disinterested in continuing any further discussion on The Joker she turned her eyes to me again. Looking at me with the same suspicion and distrust as before. "Selina said you had abilities?"

Suddenly all eyes were on me as I looked hesitantly down at the palm of my hand letting the electricity run through my fingertips. I heard Harley squeak in excitement, but now as I looked down at my hand for the first time I saw the beauty of the blue sparks of power that were mine to control. That were a part of me and made me stronger. Power that Bruce said made me dangerous, and he was right because it did. "You can say that."

"C'mon on Red can we keep her?" Harley questioned as she threw her arms around me. 

"She's not a pet Harley." Selina stated quickly, though she seemed pleased with me.. 

"Answer this. Why?" Poison Ivy questioned, making it clear that she wasn't entirely sure that I had what it took to be one of them. If I was being truthful to myself, I wasn't sure either. Her question had a clear answer in my mind, the anger seemed to speak for itself.

"I'm tired of being overlooked and underestimated." I said voicing what I had been telling myself for the last two days. "Tired of being seen as nothing by men who don't care to even know me."

"Alright." Poison Ivy said almost dismissively though I could see there was a shift in her attitude, as she raised her hand one of her vines followed pushing a strand of my hair out of my face. Though this time it didn't cause me the same fear as before, in fact I began to see the beauty in what she could do. Just like I now saw the beauty in what I could do. "Though we will need to clean her up a bit."

"Oh! You mean a makeover! Like in those chick flicks we watch Ives!" Harley practically squealed as she jumped up in excitement, clapping her hands together. "I'll bring my makeup bag!"

"I don't think she wants to look like a clown Harley." Selina replied as she crossed her arms over her chest, a look of disappointment crossing Harley Quinn's face as she pouted. "No, she's only going to be a better version of herself."

***