American Comics: The Strongest Villain

As the sun began to set, casting the city in a dim, fading light, Harley Quinn kneeled on the sofa, clutching her gun and staring anxiously out the window. Hours had passed since Su Sheng had disappeared, and she had expected him back much sooner. While the thugs in the neighborhood had seemingly vanished, the silence only fueled her worry—whether something had happened to him, or worse, that he might not return at all.

Along with the worry came an unexpected feeling of loss.

Suddenly, the hum of a vehicle approaching broke the stillness. Not long after, an off-road vehicle screeched to a halt at the front door.

"You're back!" Harley Quinn exclaimed, jumping off the sofa.

"Come on, help me with the stuff," Su Sheng called out as he stepped out of the vehicle and opened the rear door.

The back was packed to the brim with supplies—food, clothes, and all sorts of other items.

Without asking too many questions, Harley followed Su Sheng in carrying the items inside before closing the door.

"Where did you go? Did you run into any danger?" Harley asked, unable to suppress her concern.

Su Sheng chuckled as he reached into one of the bags and tossed a bat mask to her. "I just went for a drive and found a place to practice. Not bad for my first time behind the wheel."

"A bat mask? For me?" Harley said, surprised, examining it. "Wait—you couldn't drive before?"

"I never really had the opportunity," Su Sheng answered casually.

"What else did you get up to?" she asked, a bit more curious this time.

"I'm starving. How about some food?" Su Sheng dodged the question with a smile, indicating he had no intention of giving her more details.

Though Harley Quinn had initially asked out of concern for his background, his response made her realize that she wasn't going to get any real answers. So she let it drop, heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Su Sheng organized the rest of the supplies.

After they finished eating, the night had fully fallen. They washed up and, like the previous night, retired to the bedroom, with Su Sheng wrapping Harley in his arms as they drifted off to sleep. This time, Harley found herself falling asleep easily, no longer resisting his touch.

Over the next few days, Su Sheng frequently left to practice driving, bringing back more supplies when he returned. Occasionally, he dealt with the thugs trying to encroach on their space, making it clear that this area was off-limits. Soon, the local criminals had learned to steer clear, and Gotham's streets settled into an uneasy calm.

It was the calm before the storm.

Gotham had become a divided city. Bane led the first group—terrorists terrorizing the city. The second group consisted of citizens hiding at home, praying for safety. The third group, led by Commissioner Gordon and others fighting for justice, tried to save what was left of Gotham. The fourth group included powerful criminals like the Penguin and Falcone, carving out their territories. Su Sheng, in his own way, had become a part of the fourth group, gaining a reputation as a dangerous force not to be trifled with.

Though not quite a "no man's land," most people now knew to steer clear of the area where the "Chinese guy" lived with his girl.

As the sun rose, casting a gentle light through the window, Harley sat on the sofa, her gun nearby. Su Sheng lazily lay with his head on her lap, toying with her absently. At first, she had been shy and unsure of his intentions, but it became clear that his touches were not out of desire—they were simply born of boredom.

"What do you plan to do once Gotham goes back to normal?" Su Sheng asked lazily, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Go back to school, I guess," Harley answered after some thought. "If all this hadn't happened, I'd already be in classes by now."

Gotham University, sophomore psychology major.

"College life—is it as good as they say?" Su Sheng asked suddenly.

"It's nice. Classes, studying, relaxing—sometimes a little dull but fulfilling. I was planning to intern at Arkham when I graduate." Harley smiled at the thought. "But I don't think you'd enjoy that kind of life, would you?"

Su Sheng only smirked, not bothering to explain his real thoughts.

"Who's there?" Harley suddenly tensed, grabbing her gun.

A voice came from outside, sharp with irritation. "I'm here for that bastard!"

Su Sheng turned, intrigued, and looked out the window. Standing at the door, illuminated by the morning sun, was Barbara, dressed in her Batgirl costume.

Harley was taken aback. While she was familiar with Batman's reputation in Gotham, this woman was clearly not him, but she wore the bat symbol nonetheless. Harley immediately recalled the bat mask Su Sheng had given her earlier.

"What's up, little bat? You miss me?" Su Sheng leaned back on the sofa, a teasing smile on his face.

"Let me in first," Barbara demanded, her voice tight with frustration.

"Put the gun down," Su Sheng said to Harley. She lowered it, and Barbara stepped inside, her eyes blazing.

"So, you come to me in broad daylight? You couldn't wait until tonight?" Su Sheng teased.

Barbara gritted her teeth, determined not to let his provocation get to her. "I didn't bother looking for you at night."

"Well, that's good. I've got Harley to cuddle with at night anyway. Wouldn't be much point in you coming over." Su Sheng patted Harley's leg with a grin, and though she stayed silent, her eyes sparkled with amusement.

Stay calm. Don't get angry, Barbara told herself, trying to suppress her irritation. After taking a deep breath, she continued, "You really plan to keep this up? Bane's nuclear reactor is set to explode in three months. If you don't want to die, you should join us and help find it."

"Exploding, huh? Sounds scary, but I'm not afraid of death," Su Sheng replied, smiling. He had survived far worse, including the very destruction of the universe itself.

"You may not care about dying, but what about her?" Barbara asked, turning to Harley. "She's still so young. You want her to die with you?"

Su Sheng looked at Harley with a smirk before turning back to Barbara. "What does her death have to do with me?"

…