It always rains in Gotham, and dark clouds linger. At this moment, the Bat-Signal lights up.
Towering buildings line the street. Batman stands on a gargoyle statue, his cape flowing, scanning the street below. This street is the only route to the recent riot, but nothing appears out of place. Only three or four vehicles wait patiently for the traffic lights.
After a moment, Batman spreads his cape and glides toward another part of Gotham. The Joker just escaped Arkham Asylum, and Batman needs to recapture him.
Connors sits in the driver's seat. Harley Quinn, unconscious and seat-belted, is beside him. He drives the car through red light after red light toward one of his residences.
"Waiting for a traffic light in Gotham is strange."
Connors knocked Harley Quinn unconscious in a surveillance camera blind spot, then drove the car himself, obeying all traffic rules. He believes that he successfully deceived Batman, who might have lurked in the dark.
On the 19th floor, in Connors' rented apartment, Harley Quinn lies naked in a bathtub of warm water. Connors stripped her and put her in the tub. The bath salts gradually dilute the chemical smell on her body.
Connors stands aside. He checks his system after confirming Harley Quinn will not accidentally drown in the bathtub.
While driving, he submitted the "gossip" task on time but had no chance to see the reward.
With Harley Quinn still unconscious, Connors decides to see what reward he received this time.
"Being there in person involves superheroes. Even Batman might be looking for me in the dark. This is a big bonus. What good things will I get?"
He looks at the system with anticipation.
[Today's juicy gossip: The unconscious Harleen Quinzel]
[Gossip reward: Spider-Sense]
Spider-Sense?!
Connors takes a breath after looking at Harley Quinn in the bathtub.
What a significant reward!
Compared to his previous rewards for gathering "gossip," this is a big prize.
Since he can gather various bits of "gossip" every day, Connors must actively choose which one to submit. He must also manually collect the reward.
If one day nothing worthwhile appears, Connors can accumulate rewards until he thinks they are worth claiming.
He acquired his current Intermediate Mixed Martial Arts this way. It is also the only reward, besides money, he has received recently.
But now, things are different. In addition to Intermediate Mixed Martial Arts, he now has Spider-Sense. As long as Connors avoids dangerous actions, he can ensure his safety.
Sitting back in the living room, he wants to try out the Spider-Sense function.
He first confirms his current residence is safe. As he attempts to achieve an effect similar to "time stop" from movies, faint sobbing sounds come from the bathroom.
Harley Quinn is awake?
Connors stands quickly. This is a famous crazy beauty in DC. Even with his Spider-Sense, he does not dare leave Harley Quinn alone.
He brought Harley Quinn back to his home despite knowing this because he plans to get information about the Joker from her.
As everyone knows, Gotham City is Batman's city, but it is also the Joker's city. The Joker causes much trouble here. If Connors can get involved with the Joker, he will be very happy.
He gets into a fighting stance, ready to greet Harley Quinn from the bathroom. The glass door creaks open, and a bare foot extends first.
Then Harley Quinn appeared.
She wore a loose white men's bathrobe that covered her body but could not hide her appealing figure.
Connors' eyes light up. Harley Quinn was covered in chemical liquid, and he was driving, so he did not have the energy to look at her appearance.
After bringing her home, he was eager to check the system's "gossip" reward and ignored her appearance.
But now, a clean Harley Quinn stands before him, which makes his eyes light up.
Connors' eyes light up, and so do Harley Quinn's. She walks to him in two steps and grabs his suit.
"...?"
Connors is confused. The Spider-Sense does not respond, meaning Harley probably has no ill intentions. But why take off his suit?
He soon understands: his suit is dark red. Red and blue are Harley's favorite colors, and she could not help but grab it when she saw it.
So, in addition to her white men's bathrobe, she wears a dark red suit jacket.
Wearing a suit over a bathrobe feels awkward no matter how she wears it. Harley quickly removes the suit and throws it aside, looking around the room.
Fortunately, Connors' temporary rental house has a minimalist style. Harley Quinn does not find anything to attract her attention and finally focuses on Connors again.
"My Pudding doesn't want me anymore. Will you take me in?"
Harley Quinn does not need to prepare. Her pitiful look appears instantly. She says this to Connors, who sits on the sofa.
Then she extends her long legs and walks to his side, sitting on his lap. She puts her arms around Connors' neck, looking like a little bird.
Without waiting for Connors to speak, Harley slightly opens her red lips, gently bites his earlobe, and exhales a sweet breath.
"Pudding" is Harley Quinn's unique name for the Joker. Connors knows this, and he understands Harley's temptation.
When their lips are about to touch, Connors pushes her away and stands up:
"This is not a shelter that accepts everyone… The Joker abandoned you. Does he know you are still obsessed with him and call him 'Pudding'?"
When Harley Quinn hears this, the corners of her mouth slowly stretch into an exaggerated smile, as if she will return to her previous crazy state:
"You…"
Connors interrupts her:
"The Joker has killed countless 'yous.' One more like you will not make him remember you. How about joining me and turning Gotham upside down?"
At this point, Connors changes his idea of getting information about the Joker from Harley Quinn.
Why chase the Joker and Batman when he has a super-troublemaker like Harley by his side?
Harley Quinn's smile remains on her face, but it softens from its previous aggressive nature. She then jumps up and throws herself into Connors' arms:
"So, from today on, psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel has disappeared. My name now is Harley Quinn!"
Connors holds the softness in the bathrobe firmly with both hands, a smile on his face:
"That's right. Now, let's celebrate the birth of Harley Quinn in Gotham City!"