At the church, Jason finds Dante snacking on leftovers from the wonderfully full fridge. The radio is tuned in and a Joker demon is chattering about Killer-Red.

 

“Another ambush, this time at the food station on the south side of Limbo City. We urge the human populous to avoid all contact with Killer-Red. As of today, he’s destroyed nineteen demons and stolen thousands of dollars worth of perishable goods. He’s dangerous. Stay away from him. Don’t let his rebellious nature influence you. Those who associate with him will be punished. That means you, traitor-Nephilim.”

 

“The news is stupid,” Jason huffs. “This thing play any tunes?” He switches the dial to some music. “That’s better. Hey, so I turned the bathwater green again. When I washed the red X off my face.”

 

Dante heads over to a pile of laundry next to a large sink.

 

“At least it came off this time.”

 

He turns on the water, plugs the stopper in the drain, and starts handwashing a load. Jason lounges in a rickety foldout chair. 

 

“True. My hands are back to normal too. Man, that toothpaste tastes so good.”

 

“You ate the toothpaste?”

 

“Haha, no! I’m just saying it’s got a nice taste. I guess everything tastes good when you’re in a good mood.”

 

“I guess so. Where’s your cloak?”

 

“On a pew next to my boots. It’s weird. Hell gave me Robin’s uniform but, I know it wasn’t Robin’s real uniform because I saved that, back in Gotham. I cleaned it even though it’s ruined. I dunno why I held onto it. Sorry, I’m rambling.”

 

“No need to apologize. I’ve always liked Robin. More than Batman, who’s kinda gaudy, no offense. You’re down to earth. And a rebel too. I like that, Killer-Red.”

 

“Oh man, that’s, thank you!”

 

“Anyway, you don’t have to wear the same outfit all the time. I know you like that one but I have other clothing.”

 

“Nah, I got these sleeping clothes and my new uniform. I’m all set.”

 

“Want me to wash anything? I got this new detergent.”

 

He nods at a gallon of purple detergent. 

 

“You didn’t pay for it, didja?”

 

“I did.”

 

“How does somebody even earn money in Limbo City?”

 

“I did some Devil Hunting for the rich for a while. Had to stop though."

 

“Why?”

 

“Same reason I don’t work for Vergil. We don’t see eye to eye. Throw your Neo shirt and pants in the sink with my load, and I’ll wash it all and hang it up on the clothesline tonight.”

 

“You sure it’s not gonna get tampered with outside?” 

 

“I’ve told you, my guy, nobody goes past the woods, not even the demons.”

 

“How come?”

 

Dante chuckles with unease, “I’ll tell you another time. Thanks for getting us all the food for the past week. Sorry I haven’t been all that helpful.”

 

“Sure you have! You tell me where to go, I take the smokey guys out, grab the chow, and we pig out on our way home. It’s been a good routine since day one.”

 

“We’re gonna have to change it up. You heard the radio. They’re onto us.”

 

“Guess we’ll need to take the violence up a notch then.”

 

“Not many people can destroy a Watcher. You’re scary and I love it. It’s a good thing you showed up cause Limbo City’s been kicking my ass. Every time I power down, all I wanna do is pass out.”

 

“I know what it’s like to have to conserve all your energy, to be tired and hungry. I know that feeling, when you’re exhausted but you can’t let it show. You’re still tired. I can tell. Take the bed tonight.”

 

“No, it’s yours.”

 

“Then at least let me do the laundry, I insist.”

 

Dante turns off the faucet and dries his hands with a washcloth.

 

“If you wanna that badly then I’m gonna go nap on the pews I think.”

 

“Good, I’ll take care of this. You rest.”

 

Later. 

 

Dante’s already asleep and now his phone is ringing. Jason finds it in his jacket.

 

“Oh shit, I almost threw this in the load. Whoever you are, bye.” 

 

He’s about to hang it up, but changes his mind when he sees the caller’s photo I.D.. He answers with…

 

“No way.”

 

“Dante?”

 

“Try again, Harley Quinn.”

 

“Wait. Oh my gawd, Nightwing?!”

 

“Close.”

 

“Oh come on, who is this? Where’s Dante?”

 

“One more guess and I’ll tell you.”

 

“What a brat. Oh hey, I know you. Red Hood. You sound like you’re five years old over the phone. Did you escape from the holding room?”

 

“Sort of, Dante saved me.”

 

“Nice. Hey um, Vergil’s probably listening in on this call, but this is important. Frisky Frances is a demon. She’s not me anymore. I dunno what I agreed to when he gave me that Fear Toxin but now I’m locked in this, albeit, real nice penthouse. I can’t get into anywhere but the living room and the bathroom though, so it blows.”

 

“So why call Dante?”

 

“I don’t care about Frisky Frances anymore but-“

 

“Whose Frisky Frances?”

 

“My pole dancer name, I’m a go-go girl.”

 

“Fun!”

 

“Ya mean it?”

 

“Yeah, that sounds like fun.”

 

“It was fun.”

 

“You think I could be a pole dancer?”

 

“TAH! Okay, that was funny. Listen, honey, I could really use some help busting out of this joint.”

 

“Why’d you tell me that over a compromised line?”

 

“Whatchu want, Red Hood, a carrier pigeon? I just got my phone back. I’ll have ya know, Dante called me like, twenty times. We’re friends. He knows I’m in trouble.”

 

“I understand. Sorry it’s been shitty. Can you hold out for one more night? And I go by Killer-Red now.”

 

“That’s cute. That your pole dancer name?”

 

“Among other things.”

 

“Yeah, Killer-Red, I’ll be fine tonight, I think. Tell Dante that Frisky Frances is a phony.”

 

“I’ll let him know. See you tomorrow.”

 

He hangs up.

 

The next day.

 

At the Hub.

 

Harley receives a knock on the metal door to her luxurious prison cell.

 

A gruff, melodramatic voice, “Harley Quinn! Open up, Harley Quinn, it’s the cops! Open up or we’ll break down the doooooor!”

 

She slides the speakeasy window open, to Killer-Red flipping her off behind the dense glass.

 

“Killer-Red?”

 

“That’s me!”

 

The door unlocks itself. They both step back, surprised. He blows a pink bubble.

 

“Oh sweet!” she grabs a brand-spanking-new mallet and a suitcase bursting at the seams.

 

Pop. “Nice hammer, Harley. Is it new?”

 

“It is! Vergil gave it to me this morning. He gave me some cool clothes, and some fancy soap, and some real nice makeup too. Say, I love the new look. How’d you get past all the demons?”

 

“Dante. He must have said the right thing to Vergil. They’re talking right now. Show me where you pole dance.”

 

“Sure!”

 

Meanwhile, in Vergil’s office.

 

“I’ve been saying for years that it doesn’t have to be this way, Brother. I’ll happily leave you alone if you stop attacking my subjects.”

 

“Killer-Red told me Frisky Frances is a fake.”

 

“She’s a demon, yes. Tell me more about Killer-Red. I grossly underestimated him. The vermillion in his palms, did he always have that?”

 

“You tell me. You’re the one who told Klarion to dump him in the woods.”

 

“Dante, you’re going to need to work with me. I’m not asking you to agree with my methods, but you’re the only person equal to me, and more importantly, you’re my own flesh and blood. Surely we can be civil to one another.”

 

“What do you want from me?”

 

“I want you to tone it down. You and Killer-Red can’t keep stealing food and killing people, demon or otherwise.”

 

“You can’t lock women up for days like dolls in a playhouse.”

 

“I let Harley out. She’s dicking around on the poles in the strip club with Killer-Red. Don’t worry, it’s closed. Nobody will bother them. Was he always able to throw an X like that?”

 

“I’m done talking to you."

 

“I’ll decide when we’re done. Hell has a connection with your friend. Joker’s demon copies told me all about what he did to him. Only a few of those demons left by the way, thanks to you.”

 

“Good riddance.”

 

“The real Joker ruined Robin. Locked him up in an abandoned wing in Arkham Asylum and beat him, cut him open, sliced his face. Fed him enough to keep him alive then hung him by his arms while roaches ran under his feet. Tied him up with barbed wire, in a broken wheelchair, and left him to piss and shit himself in his costume for months, maybe longer. Apparently Batman didn’t give a damn. It’s no surprise that Killer-Red is psychotic.”

 

“Stop,” Dante pleas. Sickened, he stares at nothing, sadness apparent in his eyes.

 

“You’ve had a hard life, Dante. No more violence between us.”

 

“Did you do something to Harley?”

 

“I relieved her of her pole dancing career.”

 

“Did you bug her phone?”

 

“No. I have no reason to, I have access to all of my subjects’ data. I can listen in on your calls if I so choose. Here’s a revelation for you, it just might be the case that I have better things to do. I’m royalty, my time is valuable.”

 

“You had time to replace her with a demon.”

 

“What is with your hatred towards other demons? Have you forgotten that half of you is demonic? I’ve seen your Angel Trigger. That’s impressive. I can’t even do that, but it doesn’t change who and what you are, you know that.”

 

“How’s Frances suposed to earn a living?”

 

“Psychiatric work. I have a position for her when the time comes.”

 

“Are you gonna actually pay her this time?”

 

“Of course I am, but I need her to be compliant.”

 

Dante is onto him.

 

“You mean like Riddler? Like Deathstroke?”

 

“Very few people have chosen you over me, Dante. Hmph.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m so curious. Why do you have a beef with Deathstroke?”

 

“He’s a piece of shit, that’s why. I’m taking the kid and Harley away from this place.”

 

“Don’t go too far. I miss you, you know.”

 

“No you don’t.”

 

“I do. A lot. Come by anytime, but no more killing, not without consequences. You and your rebel-friends are free to go, Dante.”

 

Later… 

 

In the club, Vergil wasn’t lying. Nobody’s there but two former Arkham inmates playing on the poles after sipping too much rum.

 

“No because like, Harley, check this out, if I was still Red Hood, could like, could Red Hood do this?” 

 

Killer-Red spins on the pole, looking pretty slick for about two seconds before slipping off the stage with a thud. Harley banters.

 

“Red Hood would break the pole. All you did was fall off like a goon.”

 

“Swallowed my gum. Gimme a whole hour and I’ll be like, super, mega awesome at this!”

 

Dante goes to him protectively and helps him up.

 

“Did you give him liquor?”

 

“Yeah, I got a five finger discount. Want some?”

 

“He’s a teenager.”

 

She hops down to them.

 

“Best time to try it! And no he ain’t.”

 

“Yeah, no I ain’t. I’m Killer-Red and being Killer-Red gives me magic.”

 

“Yeah, Dante, I’ll bet you drank and smoked before ya hit double digits.”

 

“You’re not wrong."

 

“That’s because I’m a psychiatrist. We good to go?”

 

“We’re good to go. What’s in the suitcase?”

 

She rests her hammer on her shoulder.

 

“Goodies from Vergil.”

 

“From Vergil? You sure it’s not-“

 

“Boobytrapped? Nah! I packed it myself. I figured him out. See, this is his way of saying he’s sorry. He’s not totally terrible.”

 

She goes to a table and grabs three full bags of frozen food. She hands him two.

 

“Here ya go!”

 

“What’s this?” 

 

“We snagged thirty pounds of buffalo wings from the back. You got a freezer, right?”

 

Dante accepts the food with gratitude, “We do, yeah.”

 

She beams, “Diarrhea for a week!”

 

He suggests, “Let’s be discrete on our way out.”

 

They do so, with Harley waiting until they’re outside, before she says…

 

“Phew, that was a bitch! Hey, Dante, can I get one more favor, Dante?”

 

Dante pauses with concern.

 

“It’s nothing major. I know you guys have your own lives to think about. I was just wondering if you could walk me home, that’s all. No drivers out during the day.”

 

“Harley-“

 

“It’s not a big deal if ya gotta split,” she adds, feeling like a burden.

 

“Harley, I know you like having your own place but, you know it’s not safe for you to live alone in Limbo City. Is there anything in that apartment that you really need?”

 

“Um, well no. I don’t even have a bed, you’ve seen.”

 

Dante scoffs, “Cause he never paid you.”

 

“That’s right, but he said this morning that he had a better job for me. Then he gave me all these nice things. I wanna trust him, ya know?”

 

“He’s tried to kill all three of us, I don’t think I ever will.”

 

“What if he means it though?”

 

“He doesn’t.”

 

“What if I take him up on his offer and get access to more food and resources. I could share ‘em with you guys. I could even be a mole. It never hurts to have your foot in the door.”

 

Dante folds his arms and looks away.

 

“That’s not a bad idea, but I dunno, Harley.”

 

Killer-Red chimes in.

 

“You could stay with us until he makes due on his promise. We have a bed.” 

 

Dante relaxes, glancing at him with a warm smile, proud of him for being kind to her.

 

“Ya mean it?” says Harley. “Don’t you live near those woods that even demons avoid?”

 

“You have a mallet, Dante has weapons, and I’m at my peak. We’ll be fine.”

 

“It sure would be nice to sleep in a bed that’s not inside a prison with no windows. I haven’t been able to go outside at all, you guys!”

 

“That’s fucked up,” Dante frowns. “You’ll come with us then?”

 

“I’m down for it, yes.” 

 

"I need you to let me double check your suitcase though.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

She passes him the handle so he can roll her luggage onto its backside and unlock it. They watch him go through it, trying not to disturb how nicely she folded and arranged everything.

 

“I’m not seeing or feeling anything,” he says.

 

“Vergil wants me to like him,” she replies, kneeling next to him and shuffling her things back the way she wants them. “I know he’s love bombing me.”

 

“He’s manipulating you, Frances.”

 

“Dante, I know,” she sighs. “He makes me feel worthless, then he pampers me. I know it’s messed up.”

 

“I’m not ragging on you, sweetheart. What else can you do? Say no to nice things? I don’t blame you for accepting this stuff from him.”

 

“Thanks, sweetie.”

 

“Smells good,” says Killer-Red.

 

She holds up two fancy bottles.

 

“That’s this shampoo and conditioner. What’s the shower like at your pad?”

 

“If you want a shower, I have a hose.”

 

“Does that mean it’s a two person activity,” she smirks playfully.

 

“It can be,” he says seriously. “The Harpies will try and watch, but I guess if there are two of us, one person can spray them while the other person lathers up.”

 

“Oof, not the sexy time I had in mind but I’m no fool. We’re in survival mode. What about the kid though? No offense, but you look like a minor, Red Hood. Something bizarre happened to you and I don’t wanna be looking at you naked.”

 

“Jason uses the tub indoors. We’ll be outside.”

 

“Ah, that’s right. Jason Todd. Last time I saw ya, you were being escorted to solitary confinement in Arkham Asylum.”

 

“I remember that. You waved to me. It wasn’t a goofy wave though. It was kinda meek. Took me by surprise.”

 

“Yeah well, you were the first person to look at me like that. Your eyes were soft. Everybody else in that place looked at me like I was a monster.”

 

“Ugh, Figures. You get rid of the worst criminal in Gotham and somehow that makes you the bad guy. I’ve wanted to tell you, ever since you did it, thank you for killing the Joker. Thank you, Harley Quinn. We’ll protect you.”

 

“Awe gee, how can I say no? I’m all in!”