Harley Quinn and The Joker were at it again. This time, they were paying one of Mistah J’s old acquaintances a visit. Salvatore “Sal” Valestra and Harley’s angel went back decades, or so Mr. J said. Harley wasn’t sure what the connection was but she had agreed to accompany her puddin’ nonetheless and provide back-up if he needed it. After all, they were about to walk into the middle of a bunch of gangsters and the blonde would never allow her love to be out there alone. She would always have his back.
	That’s how she found herself in a gloomy Gotham night, holding her mallet and looking back and forth as they walked into what was known Mafia territory. Her gloved index finger poked at her bottom lip as she blinked her bright blue eyes. “Uh.. Puddin’?” she asked of the Joker. He barely spared a glance at the harlequin by his side. “What’s exactly the plan here?” She wanted to be prepared for anything and everything that would come. His face showed displeasure and he heaved a sigh before answering her. ‘Just stay out of the way, okay Harleeey?’
	She nodded and the pompoms at the top of her jester hat bounced along with the movement. She wore it to hide her golden locks and to complete the attire that best matched the Clown Prince of Crime’s whole get up. Harleen was looking around as she felt eyes on the back of her neck but could not identify from where they came. Suddenly, she walked right into the Joker’s back and bounced backwards. “Oof,” she said as she steadied herself and paid closer attention to what was happening in front of her:
	‘Sal, Sal, Sal, Sal, Sal, is this how you great an old friend?’ Mister J sneered and Salvatore Valestra grunted.
	‘Not an old friend of mine,’ Sal replied.
	‘Come now, invite me in,’ the Joker continued as if he hadn’t heard what Valestra had just said. Surprisingly, Valestra allowed the two of them in.
	Harley went up the stairs two by two and placed a kiss on Sal Valestra’s cheek before walking inside. He tch’d behind her and she giggled, waving at all of the mafia members who were here present. Suddenly, she heard the sound of strangled yips and looked around the Joker. Her baby blues landed on two puppy hyenas and went wide. They were chained up, and by the looks of the skin rubbed raw on their necks, they had been so a while. Harley’s face frowned as Sal spoke up. ‘Somebody shut those things up,’ he said. One of his henchmen kicked the pups and they whimpered then went silent. Harley gasped and the Joker all but shoved her aside as he continued to interact with Valestra.
	But her attention was no longer on her puddin’. Instead, it was on those poor innocent creatures she had just witnessed being beat on. She bit her bottom lip but her blue eyes kept gazing back to the quiet hyena pups. She needed them.
	“All right,” she said suddenly and surprising everyone into silence. “Here’s the deal: I’m takin’ those.” She hooked her thumb in the direction of the hyena pups.
	‘The hyenas? They cost me a fortune. They’re considered exotic pets in Gotham, ya know.’ replied Sal.
	“Well, they’re mine now.” She said with finality in her voice and conviction that she was doing the right thing.
	‘No,’ Valestra said and the Joker rolled his eyes.
	‘Don’t ever try to keep my pet Harley from doing what she pleases,’ Mr. J warned but Sal paid no mind to him. After all, in Valestra’s view the Joker was someone he could still control.
	Harley walked up to the hyenas and started trying to undo the chains. When she couldn’t, she shrugged and used her mallet to break them off. The pups started lapping at her face, licking away happily and wagging their tails. They couldn’t be more than a few months old.
	‘Hey, those are mine!’ Sal said and began to make his way towards Harley.
	The Joker stopped him. ‘Ah-ha-ha,’ he wagged a finger in Valestra’s face. ‘We aren’t done discussing our plans yet.’ He put a hand around Valestra’s shoulders and guided the man away. In the meantime, Harley picked up the two puppies.
	“I will name ya Bud an’ Lou. After Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.” They yipped their agreement. She walked outside and sat on the stairs playing with the two hyenas. Nobody bothered her.
	A few hours later, Mister J showed up, wiping blood off his gloved hand. ‘Finish the job, Harley.’
	She nodded, and stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth as she stood up and grabbed a cherry bomb from her pocket. In quick succession, she’d armed the bombs and thrown them inside like a bowling ball. “Strike!” she said as she scooped up Bud and Lou and ran to catch up to her puddin’.
	“So, how’d it go?” she asked as an explosion sounded behind her.
	‘It went swell, my pet,’ Mr. J replied to her.
	“Can we keep them?” the sound of ambulances and the fire department wailed in the background.
	‘If you wish,’ was the reply.
	And Harley Quinn snuggled the two pups all the way home.