sweetcandygirl | Chemicals and confused hearts ((blueberry

Entry tags:

gotham plot,
kurt

Chemicals and confused hearts ((blueberry_bamf))

[Every now and then, the authorities would find another Joker Toxin Chemical Plant that would put everyone into a tizzy. This one was located in San Francisco, located along one of the fault lines. And there were dozens of communities that would be negatively affected if the Joker Toxin inside was accidentally released.

So of course, they needed the plant shut down.]

[Flag had called in the best person for the job in his opinion. Harley Quinn was immune to the Joker Toxin. Plus she had dealt with other chemical plants built by Joker, and knew the layout designed by the psychopathic clown]

[She was already inside navigating her way through one of the corridors. Her bat occasionally hitting the walls, as she looked for weak spots in the drywall. And really, she wasn't expecting anyone else to be here]

[After all... who else would be bold enough to enter a Joker Chemical Plant?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kurt tightens the gas mask Henry had given him to make sure the seal is good. 'Unidentified toxic chemical' was just unspecific enough to worry him, but not scary enough to drive him away from the mission. They needed someone able to move quickly, silently, and able to get into various tight spaces. The teleporting was an added bonus. Since his disastrous date, Kurt has been keeping himself busy, picking up odd jobs wherever he could. So long as he remains active, he won't have time to mope. Eventually the emotions will fade.]

[He slips in through an upper-story window, twin swords crossed on his back. The goal is to get a sample of the chemicals, if at all possible, so Henry can figure out a plan to neutralize them-- and in the meantime make sure that nothing is still active. Easy enough. Kurt drops to the ground in a crouch, barely making a sound.]

[Harley blew a large bubble as she continued to explore the corridors of the chemical factory. She just had to figure out where the central computer was, and then activate the self-destruct button.]

[Her mind had been distracted by thoughts of her date with Kurt recently. And this mission was a good way to remind herself of why she had left that night. Of what she was protecting him from.]

[Rounding a corner, Harley discovered that there was someone else here. A man crouched on the floor, wearing a gas mask.]

[She raised her bat, prepared to defend herself] Did Joker sent you?

[Kurt looks up, startled to find he isn't alone in what was supposed to be an abandon--] Harley? [He straightens up and tugs down the mask so she can see his face.] What are you doing here? Wait, did you say Joker? [Kurt has heard of the villain, of course, but their paths have never crossed. Truth be told, he doesn't know much about the man; he has his own rogue's gallery to be worried about.]

I was sent here by an independent agency to neutralize a potential biohazard.

Kurt? [Harley felt the bat almost slip out of her fingers. She lowers it quickly. She was not expecting to see him today.]

I'm here to blow up the factory before the biohazard becomes a threat.

[Harley nods at the mask he just tugged down] You better keep that handy. I am not sure if there is any Joker Toxin still in the active stage.

Blow up the factory? It sounds like the lines of communication got crossed somewhere... [He chuckles awkwardly.] Ah, I was asked to collect a sample as well. A doctor I know wants to examine it in case an antidote is needed in the future.

[Joker Toxin? And she thought the Joker sent him? Obviously the villain had something to do with all of this...] ...Two heads are better than one. I would be honored to help you... if you do not mind. [He isn't sure what he did to offend her the first time, after all.]

Ya'think an antidote is possible? Every doctor I know that has come into contact with the toxin died laughing.

[It is nice to see him again. Harley is just cursing her luck... that he now in the midst of something she wanted to protect him from.]

That sounds like a good idea. Just be careful.

...Died laughing? How oddly cruel... But. If there is a doctor in the world who could discover an antidote, it would be Henry McCoy. A smarter man does not exist. [He falls into step beside her, keeping a hand on the gas mask just in case he needs to don it quickly.]

[After a few awkward moments of silence, he comments--] You... look well.

It is an unpleasant experience. [Harley still remembers laughing herself to death... and then re-awakening after being changed forever. She still laughs for no reason to this day.]

[And to hope that this Doctor McCoy could find an answer seems too much of a possibility for her]

Do I? [She has not slept well these past few nights. He has been in her dreams. In her thoughts]

[Kurt glances over at her. The way she said it makes it sound like she has experienced it first hand. But he doesn't press any further.] You do. Perhaps a little tired, but... beautiful all the same. [Why was he being so awkward? He didn't usually have such a rough time around women he had broken up with... Not. That they had been dating. Or anything. Gah, stop thinking!]

So. You are an explosions expert?

[A soft blush covers her cheeks. He still makes her heart pitter-patter.]

I have blown up a few things in my career. [Bombs were one of the best ways to get away from the Batman]

This place should have a central computer room. And we can input the codes to implode the factory.

But if you really wanna a sample of the Joker Toxin, we should find the vat room.

[She makes his heart do very similar things.] A sample would be ideal. ...Forgive me for saying so, but you seem very familiar with the inner workings of this factory. Did you work here at one point?

Not at this particular factory. [Harley glances at her bat for a moment]

I used to work with Joker. [There she said it. The truth of her past] And I know how his mind works.

...That is a useful skill to have, knowing how a villain thinks. [Kurt carefully skirts the issue of Harley having worked for Joker. The subject was obviously a sore one for her.] No wonder they called you in for this job. I am lucky to have you by my side for it.

[He pauses, reading a set of signs.] This says the vat room is to the left.

[He didn't immediately freak out. Harley is a little surprised by that]

[She looks at the signs on the wall for a moment. And then holds up a hand. With a swing of her bat, she smashes her way through the fake wall that was there. Revealing a door behind it.]

The signs ain't to be trusted.

...You never cease to surprise me, Harley. [And it's obvious he means it as a compliment. Pulling on his gas mask, Kurt carefully opens the door, tensed for a trap.] If the signs cannot be trusted, why do they exist? Surely the workers would only be confused...

[Harley stays close to him as they enter the vat room, that was hidden behind the steel door]

It really didn't matter to Joker if the workers got confused... or got caught in one of his traps.

[The large steel vats seem immense from the ground level. They are all connected by pipes that lead up to one central distribution centre. This factory has not been monitored for years. So there is some leakage from some of the vats.]

Do you have a vial? Or something?

Ja. [Kurt produces a small, specially designed syringe. He approaches one of the leaking vats, carefully filling it before injecting the toxin into a collection vial.] There. That should be more than enough for Henry to experiment with to his heart's delight. You should see him when he gets behind his microscope-- a kid at Christmas could not compare. [The vial gets tucked into a reinforced pouch on his belt.]

[Harley worries her bottom lip as she watches him get the sample]

Okay... but if he starts laughing like a child uncontrollably... contain him.

[She looks up at the catwalks above the vats. And remembers her leap into the Joker Toxin very clearly]

Let's make sure this stuff doesn't hurt anyone else.

I will keep a close eye on him. It will do him good to know a pretty blonde is concerned for his safety. [He nods.] You are the expert. Please, lead the way and tell me whatever I can do to help. [Whatever the reason she left, he still feels he can trust her.]

A pretty blonde is also concerned for your safety. [Harley whispers softly]

[Harley studies the pipes for a second before returning to the hallway, and head down the right corridor to find where the pipes would be connected to a central computer]

I wanted you protected. From this. From me.

...Is that why you left? [Kurt looks at her curiously. He feels... Oddly touched.] I... Wondered. And am glad to hear I did not offend you.

[Maybe... If she knew some of what he had already gone through and survived...] ...When I was less than an hour old, my mother attempted to kill me by throwing me off of a cliff. I have been surviving impossible odds ever since. Please do not be hurt if I tell you that dating you does not rank even in the top ten of the most dangerous things I have ever done. [He teases gently.]

You didn't offend me. That night was one of the best I ever had. [And she is not over-exaggerating]

[She stops in the hallway at his last comment and turns to him, surprised.] You still want to date me?

...Of course I do. [Kurt shrugs and smiles sheepishly.] That night was one of the best for me, too. And... I cannot get you out of my head. I told you, did I not? I do not judge based on a person's past actions. Only on their current ones. Currently... I do not see anything you have done that would turn me off of the idea of dating you. [What can he say. He's a sucker for a pretty face and a good heart.]

[Harley finds herself speechless at his response. And she bites her bottom lip... realizing that she almost pushed a wonderful man out of her life]

I can't get you out my head either.

...Is that so? [His smile is bright and warm.] After we are done here, could I take you out for coffee? The second date is traditionally the one where we tell each other all of our dark secrets that could potentially spell trouble for our future relationship, yes? [He freezes when there is a clattering from the hall up ahead. Both of his swords are drawn in the blink of an eye, glittering in the dim light.]

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