Harley rested her chin in her palm, eyes flicking lazily between the two women seated across from her. "So, Barbara... you're the one who asked me out here. Lucky for you, I didn't have much going on. Joker's in the can again."
Barbara arched her brows, leaning back against the red vinyl cushion. "Arkham again?"
"Yeah," Harley sighed. "Batman caught him last week. That's the third time this month. He's basically collecting a loyalty punch card."
Barbara gave a small shake of her head, lips pressed into a faint smile. "That guy never learns. Honestly, you'd think he'd go ruin some other city for a while. Batman hardly ever leaves Gotham."
Harley gave a short laugh through her nose. "If Joker left Gotham, Bats would follow him just for the drama. They've got that weird... hero-villain bromance going on. Joker's not into him like that, but he's obsessed. Creepy obsessed."
Pamela lifted her coffee, savoring a slow sip before setting the mug down with deliberate calm. "So Joker is obsessed with Batman."
"Of course," Harley said, waving her hand like it was obvious. "And Batman's just as bad. Joker calls himself his arch rival like it's a marriage vow."
Barbara rolled her eyes. "That title's debatable."
"Totally," Harley agreed. "Especially with how Joker's been getting himself caught lately. It's like he's scheduling quality time with Batman." She leaned forward then, her attention sharpening on Barbara. "But seriously—why am I here? This can't just be coffee and ex-boyfriend therapy."
Barbara's gaze flicked toward Pamela, then back to Harley. "We're thinking of... changing careers."
Harley raised one penciled-in brow. "Changing careers?"
Barbara didn't flinch. "Yeah. We're going criminal."
For a moment Harley just stared, then let out a bark of laughter. "Commissioner Gordon's daughter is thinking of going criminal?"
Barbara only shrugged, unconcerned. "Not just criminal. We're building an empire. Midnight Mayhem."
Harley's grin faded into something more serious. "You two are actually forming a criminal empire?"
Pamela leaned in slightly, her voice firm. "Why not? We'll rob the other villains in town, stop their crimes, steal their money, and funnel it into our syndicate. Then we'll build a legitimate business empire to launder it all. Total tax evasion. Total control."
Harley tilted her head, studying Pamela like she was a puzzle. "Was this your idea or hers?"
Barbara pointed a thumb toward Pamela. "Mostly hers. I'm handling up the tech. I always was the gearhead."
Harley gave her a sly wink. "Of course you are." She drummed her fingers against the table, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "So what's the deal with school? You staying in classes while plotting world domination, or did you two already bail?"
Pamela answered without hesitation. "We dropped out. I kicked Dean Leonard Hayes in the nads before we left."
For a second Harley blinked, then her face lit with glee. She slapped the table, laughing so hard the waitress turned to glare. "That old creep? Dean Hayes? Please tell me it was him."
Pamela gave a single decisive nod. "That's him."
Harley threw her hand out across the booth, palm waiting. "My girl."
Pamela met it with a sharp smack, their high five echoing across the diner. Barbara only shook her head, lifting her mug to her lips with quiet amusement.
The waitress arrived then, balancing a tray. She set three steaming mugs down with mechanical efficiency. "Three black coffees," she said flatly. "Thanks for your business."
Harley flashed her an easy grin. "Cheer up, sweetheart. You've got one of the most important jobs in Gotham—serving coffee to three beautiful women plotting a criminal takeover."
The waitress rolled her eyes and walked off without another word, muttering, "Oh, Joy!"
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