Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 434 - Ch.434 Harley’s Surprise

The command room's lights weren't bright—too many screens, and extra light just caused glare.

So all Amanda saw was a pair of pointed ears and a shadowy blob.

But that oppressive, dread-soaked vibe? Definitely Batman.

"Batman, you can't just waltz into ARGUS headquarters without congressional approval. We're a classified national agency," Amanda said, throwing out law and country to seize the high ground.

But Su Ming knew how Batman rolled. Times like this, you don't answer—just lock eyes and stay silent.

A sharp mind like Amanda Waller's would fill in the blanks herself.

The smarter they are, the more they overthink. Classic human flaw.

Batman didn't respond, just kept closing the gap. In the dark, his terrifying gaze landed square on Amanda.

She had Katana guarding her side. The Japanese warrior stepped in front, thumb nudging her blade an inch out of its sheath.

But it was pure defense—she'd never swing at Batman.

Sure, she was a Task Force X handler, but she was also Green Arrow's pal and a Birds of Prey member.

All tied to Batman. If she struck, she'd lose every friend she had. Too steep a price.

Su Ming knew all this, so he kept advancing, voice low and gravelly.

"Tatsu Yamashiro, stand aside."

Gotta hand it to Japanese women—when they're flustered, they default to obeying the strong.

Su Ming's fluent Japanese hit, and Katana instinctively bowed and stepped back. By the time she snapped out of it, Batman was looming over Amanda Waller, his blank face chilling her to the bone.

"What do you want, Batman?"

Amanda didn't retreat. Batman might lean on political pressure, but her life wasn't at risk.

Su Ming smirked inwardly. He'd already set the trap, hadn't he?

"You took something from the Justice League."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Amanda said, playing dumb.

Su Ming chuckled inside.

Act, huh? This chunky schemer was good—straight out of Hollywood. He'd handed the goods to Deadshot himself—did she think he wouldn't know?

But he couldn't crack up now. That'd blow his cover.

"You know exactly what I mean."

Silence fell between them, tension thickening. Batman in the dark always spooked people.

"That item's U.S. property now. Planning to betray your country?" Amanda countered with patriotic flair.

But Su Ming wasn't the real Batman. What did America mean to him?

"If you don't hand over that highly dangerous weapon, America won't exist much longer."

Amanda's eyes lit up. So those blue gloves were a big deal—maybe a trump card against super-freaks?

All the more reason to keep them.

"We've already got White House approval. Congress gave us the authority and duty to secure weapons of mass destruction. The Justice League isn't the only game in town," Amanda said, hands on hips, staring Batman down.

Today's Batman seemed greasier, though. Did he crawl through a sewer?

Still, games had rules. She'd secured congressional backing first—those gloves were ARGUS's now.

Batman played by the rules.

Seeing "Batman" fall silent, Amanda figured she'd won. Batman really did stick to society's playbook.

But that was just Su Ming letting her think so. Even the real Batman wouldn't play nice.

"...The gloves can stay with you, but ARGUS has to give ground elsewhere," Batman sighed, like he was conceding.

"Name it. If it's in my power, I'll consider," Amanda replied, easing up. Making Batman back off? Rare win.

She could toss the League some scraps, smooth things over.

"I want Harley Quinn out of Task Force X. I'm taking her with me."

Su Ming laid out his terms.

Amanda blinked, thrown. She hadn't expected that. Her brain stalled.

Harley was an odd fit in Task Force X—a mascot, really, with barely any combat juice.

Sometimes her unhinged antics even backfired.

But the squad was a pack of jerks. They needed a nutcase to keep the vibe loose, and post-Joker, Harley's crazy hit the sweet spot.

Amanda mulled it over. Batman had given an inch. Trading a disposable squad member for big gains—like patching things up with the League—was a no-brainer.

What did Batman want with Harley? Probably to lock her back in Arkham. Those colorful crooks were his toys anyway.

Him wanting one back made sense.

Worst case, she'd snag another pretty face as the team's mascot.

"I agree in principle, but we need to hash out details—like the handover."

"Remove the nano-bomb surgically, wipe her old record clean, and I'll take her now," Su Ming said, plan locked.

The blue gloves were a feint. Harley was his real target all along.

With Joker on Lex Luthor's side now, they needed a lunatic to counter their lunatic.

Su Ming couldn't just whip up a Deadpool. Who better than Harley?

After Joker's failed hit on her, she'd flipped—her obsessive love for him turned to pure hate. Seeing him for what he was, Harley was a new-age woman now, living for herself.

"Fine. ARGUS will cut Harley Quinn loose, lift all controls. But you're on the hook—keep her clean, no more crimes."

Batman went quiet again, arms crossed, waiting.

Amanda didn't mind. She ordered her team to prep Harley's surgery, then—right in front of Batman—pulled out the control rig and disabled Harley's bomb remote.

Harley was free.

Soon, a groggy Harley got hauled to the operating room. Bomb out, they even handed over her old files.

Dr. Harleen Quinzel, criminal psychologist from Gotham's Arkham Asylum.

Her rap sheet? Erased. She was a saint on paper now.

"Is it April Fool's?" Harley mumbled as guards escorted her, tying her hair into pigtails. "But I swear last month was April..."

A guard with a taser trailed her, chiming in, "You got lucky, nutjob. Your man's here to spring you."

Harley grinned and stopped. "My man?"

"Yeah, he's with Commander Amanda waiting for you."

"Ohhh," Harley nodded like it clicked, then lunged, clawing the guard's face like a feral cat, leaving bloody streaks. "I don't have a man! I'm still a virgin!"

The guard screamed, clutching his face, but others stopped him from firing. The deal with Batman meant no damaging the goods.

So the scratched-up guard could only watch helplessly as laughing Harley got restrained by the rest, wrapped up like a giant burrito and carried to the command room.

Word of the hallway chaos reached Amanda, who just twitched a lip.

Her guards were monkeys. Some had tried hitting on Harley before—now they rolled around in wheelchairs for life.

Yet newbies never learned. Harley Quinn wasn't for normal folks to mess with.

Amanda turned to Batman. "Dr. Quinzel's all yours. As you can see, very lively."

Su Ming eyed Harley, trussed up in a straitjacket like a Mexican wrap, only her two-toned head poking out, swaying with each step. He nearly lost it laughing.

But he coughed it off, took her from the guards, and slung her over his shoulder.

"We're square."

He ignored Amanda's outstretched hand and bolted.

Objective secured—time to bounce. Shake hands? Nah, Amanda was sharp. If she clocked Venom through contact, it'd be trouble.

He moved fast. Minutes later, he was hauling Harley through Detroit's urban wasteland.

Harley stayed chill at first. Seeing Batman, she figured she was toast.

At ARGUS, she might've had a shot to slip away. In Batman's hands? Escape was a pipe dream.

But as they got farther from ARGUS HQ, something felt off. Batman wasn't dragging her back to Arkham.

This vibe? More like he was about to "handle" her in some dark alley.

She grew up in Gotham—she knew gangs dumped "trash" in empty lanes. Good thing Batman didn't roll like that.

"Bat-Bat? Where's your plane parked? Cloaked or something?" Harley craned her neck, peering at his stone-cold face.

"We're walking back to Gotham."

Su Ming set her down and ripped the straitjacket apart with one yank.

Underneath, she still had her combat gear—red-and-blue tee, sequined hot pants—clutching her files.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her along.

Harley's jaw dropped, eyes wide. Walk to Gotham?

This was Detroit! She'd wear through her shoes! With all the Justice League's chaos, where'd he find time to stroll through ruins with her?

But this wasn't a gag. Batman hated jokes—despised them.

As he tugged her along, he suddenly spun around, flashing a nightmare grin.

"Just kidding, haha."

"Who are you?!" Harley didn't cheer—she panicked. This wasn't Batman!

And he'd schemed to bust her out of ARGUS without a soul noticing.

She thrashed, trying to bolt, but his grip was iron. Her strength was a gnat against a tree.

Batman's face twisted, mask and skin peeling off like a shell, revealing a one-eyed guy underneath, smirking playfully.

"Earlier today, you said if I saved you, you'd surprise me. Here I am."

Harley beamed. He'd actually come for her—and no one caught on.

That shape-shifting suit? Freaking awesome.

"Is that you, Deathstroke?"

"Who else would storm ARGUS HQ to save you? Superman? Oh, and where's my surprise?"

Su Ming let her go. They were out of ARGUS's surveillance now, and the city ruins blocked satellites.

A quick black tarp later, and he'd fly her back to Gotham low-key.

Harley leapt into his arms, hands around his neck, tiptoes up for a kiss.

Rest time, and with her making the move, Su Ming had no reason to say no.

Three minutes later, she hopped off, panting.

Su Ming wiped the lipstick off. "That the surprise?"

"Nope," Harley shook her head, scanning around like nothing happened. "It was supposed to be a triple-layer cake, but it was so yummy I ate it. Guess you get the cream and strawberry taste secondhand."

Su Ming knew her brain was wired weird—psycho logic. "Strawberries were fresh. Ready for Gotham?"

"I don't wanna go back to Gotham. I've got a place in New York—I'm a landlord!"

Harley nixed it. No revisiting familiar haunts. With a clean slate, she could be a doctor again—why go where everyone feared her?

"Forgetting Earth's got six months before it's toast? Your property might evaporate soon," Su Ming teased, pointing at the sky's Bat-Moon.

Harley tilted her head, pouting. She remembered that mess.

Guess like Deathstroke said, without saving the world, her landlord dreams were still a ways off.

"Then what're we waiting for? Let's save the world!" Harley yanked a rebar with a concrete chunk from the rubble, slinging it over her shoulder.

The ruins wobbled like they'd collapse, but she didn't blink.

Su Ming calculated, then shook his head. "Enthusiasm's not enough. I need more hands. First, hit up Poison Ivy—have her meet us in Gotham."

"Cool. Got a phone?" Harley stuck out her hand.

"Didn't bring it. My secretary's got it," Su Ming said. That tracker was with Gorilla Grodd at the bar—he'd ditched the phone for this gig.

Harley sized him up, like meeting Deathstroke anew. "You've got a secretary? You rich?"

"Got some cash—enough for us. Secretary's just a hairy, cute critter."

Su Ming snagged a tarp from a collapsed roof, hid them under it, and took off with the Cloak of Levitation, skimming low back to Gotham.

Once they linked with Ivy, settling them at the Oblivion Bar wouldn't be bad. That charred-corpse vibe? She wouldn't even flinch.