The explosion left the docks in ruins. Smoke curled into the night sky, mixing with the smell of burning wood and melted metal. Debris littered the ground—shattered crates, twisted steel, and chunks of concrete. Somewhere in the mess, Harley Quinn lay face-down in a puddle, her mallet just out of reach. She wasn't moving.
Hisoka sat up with a groan. His shoulder was dislocated, hanging limp at his side. He looked at it, sighed, then grabbed it and *yanked*. The joint popped back into place with a sickening crack. He grinned.
"Ahhh," he said, stretching his arm. "That's better."
Across the wreckage, Bane stood. His armor was scorched, his mask cracked, but he was still standing. Blood trickled from a cut above his eye, but he didn't seem to notice. His chest rose and fell in slow, controlled breaths.
"You're still alive," Bane said. "Disappointing."
Hisoka laughed. "You're one to talk. Most people don't get back up after that."
Bane cracked his neck. "Most people are weak."
Hisoka's grin widened. "And you're not?"
Bane didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward, crushing a piece of broken concrete under his boot. "Why are you here?"
Hisoka tilted his head. "Hm?"
"You fight like a man with no purpose," Bane said. "No cause. Just chaos. Why?"
Hisoka shrugged. "Why not?"
Bane's eyes narrowed. "There's always a reason. Money. Power. Revenge."
Hisoka chuckled. "Nah. None of that."
"Then what?"
"The thrill," Hisoka said, rolling his shoulders. "That's it. Just the fun of it."
Bane stared at him. "You're insane."
Hisoka's grin turned sharp. "Takes one to know one."
Bane lunged.
Hisoka dodged, twisting out of the way as Bane's fist slammed into the ground where he'd been standing. The concrete shattered. Hisoka kicked off a broken crate, flipping over Bane's head and landing behind him. He drove his elbow into Bane's spine.
Bane grunted but didn't go down. He turned, swinging a backhand that clipped Hisoka's ribs. The impact sent Hisoka skidding back, but he caught himself before he fell.
"Damn," Hisoka muttered, rubbing his side. "You hit hard."
Bane flexed his fingers. "And you talk too much."
Hisoka smirked. "Then shut me up."
Bane charged again. Hisoka ducked under a punch, weaving between Bane's strikes like a snake. He landed a few hits—a jab to the ribs, a kick to the knee—but Bane barely flinched.
Then Hisoka saw it.
A pattern.
Bane was strong, yeah. But he wasn't fast. And he relied too much on that Venom pumping through his veins.
Hisoka's smile turned dangerous.
"Hey, big guy," he said, dancing back. "You holding back on me?"
Bane didn't answer. Just kept coming.
Hisoka tutted. "C'mon. Don't be shy. Show me what you've *really* got."
Bane's jaw tightened. For a second, Hisoka thought he wouldn't take the bait.
Then Bane reached behind his back and twisted a valve on his mask.
The Venom flooded into him. His muscles swelled, veins bulging under his skin. His breathing turned ragged, his movements sharper.
Hisoka's eyes lit up. "Ohhh, *there* we go."
Bane moved.
Faster this time. His fist grazed Hisoka's cheek, drawing blood. Hisoka barely dodged the next one, feeling the wind from the punch ruffle his hair.
"Better," Hisoka said, licking the blood off his lip. "Much better."
He dodged again, but Bane was learning. Anticipating. A fist caught Hisoka in the stomach, lifting him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, coughing.
Bane loomed over him. "You wanted this."
Hisoka wheezed a laugh. "Yeah. I did."
Bane raised his fist—
And froze.
His muscles locked up. His arm trembled, then dropped to his side. His legs gave out, and he crashed to his knees.
Hisoka stood, brushing dust off his pants. "Ah. Finally."
Bane snarled, trying to stand. But his body wouldn't obey.
"You're wondering why," Hisoka said, circling him. "It's simple, really. You're strong, but you're predictable. All those hits I landed? They weren't random."
Bane's breathing was labored. His veins pulsed under his skin, the Venom struggling to keep up.
"Pressure points," Hisoka said. "Joints. Little weak spots most people don't notice. But I did."
Bane growled. "Cheap tricks."
Hisoka shrugged. "Worked, didn't it?"
Then he looked up. A broken steel beam hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly in the smoke. Hisoka's grin returned.
"Perfect."
He jumped, grabbing the beam with one hand. With the other, he flicked his fingers—thin, sticky threads (Bungee Gum) shot out, latching onto Bane's Venom tubes.
Bane's eyes widened. "No—"
Hisoka *yanked*.
The tubes ripped free.
Bane screamed. His body convulsed as the Venom drained away, his muscles shrinking back to normal. He collapsed face-first into the dirt, unconscious.
Hisoka dropped to the ground, landing lightly. He stared at Bane for a second, then laughed.
"That," he said, "was *fun*."
He turned, spotting Harley still lying in the puddle. He walked over, nudging her with his foot.
"Hey. You alive?"
Harley groaned. "Ugh. What hit me?"
"Explosion," Hisoka said.
She blinked up at him. "Did we win?"
Hisoka smirked. "I did."
Harley scowled. "Rude."
Hisoka grabbed her arm and hauled her up. She wobbled, then steadied herself, glaring at him.
"Why're you helpin' me?" she asked.
Hisoka shrugged. "You're useful."
Harley rolled her eyes. "Charming."
Hisoka glanced back at Bane's unconscious form, then at the discarded Venom tubes. He picked one up, turning it over in his hands.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Harley limped over, peering at it. "You plannin' on juicin' up now?"
Hisoka chuckled. "Nah. But it's good to have options."
He pocketed the tube, then looked at Harley. "You good to walk?"
She tested her legs, wincing. "Yeah, yeah. I'll live."
Hisoka nodded. "Then let's go."
Harley frowned. "Where?"
Hisoka grinned. "To have more fun, we haven't met all the big playersyet, isn't that right? Harley.."
And with that, they disappeared into the smoke.
....
Far away across the docks, there's a light reflecting from a scope... someone was watching their every step.
that person steps back and fades into the night.