A/N: I've actually had an interest in this pairing for years, but I never wrote anything about it. Until now, that is. My portrayal of Bruce/Batman may be off. I'm not a big Batman fan and the films I like are the older ones that Tim Burton directed. So that is the Bats I am trying to channel. If it doesn't work, that's okay. It's my first time. I can always improve on it later! In the meantime, enjoy~
xxxXxxx
"And what does this button do?" The blonde giggled and reached over to touch a green button that was a few inches left from the passenger seat.
Bruce growled out in a harsh voice, "Don't touch that!"
Harley squealed and pulled her finger back, but that mischievous grin was still present on her face. "Why? What's it for? Is it a secret compartment full of your naughty magazines?" She looked at him for confirmation, but he kept his gaze on the road and made no change in his facial expression.
"Don't worry. I won't tell. Even Mistah J had some rags like that when I was still with him..." Those last three words she spoke were so soft, Bruce could barely hear them.
"Those kind of magazines have no purpose for me..." He responded.
Harley's lips turned back up into a smile and laced her fingers together. "Oh, I know! I was just teasing! You're so serious all the time, ya know. I suppose you do it to scare the local criminal element, but cracking open a smile and showing some teeth isn't a bad thing."
"Well, I have smiled a lot these last three months, thanks to you. So you can mark that off your checklist." Bruce couldn't resist the slight quirk of his lips as he spoke. He wasn't always a brooding man as Harley once believed. No, he was a very complex man, who kept himself composed and collected around the people he was with. Regarding his tragic past, it was no surprise why he had a more serious outlook on life.
"Whatever you say, Batmaaan." She liked teasing him any chance she could and Bruce admitted that he took pleasure in hearing whatever clever or terribly cheesy thing she was going to say next. There was not one trace of that broken woman he had saved three months ago.
Even though she was a colossal pain in the backside at times, Bruce knew that Harley wasn't a bad person. She had just been seduced by the Joker. It happened, unfortunately, to a lot of people. Sometimes when a person fell in love, their mind became clouded and they ended up being susceptible to do anything for the one they love. It was bad for Harley that the Joker had gotten his hooks into her. The pain she'd received at his hands was not worth the love she devoted to him.
A little over six months ago, the Joker went to his hideout, dejected, once again, by his failure to destroy Batman. Harley had seen how unhappy he was and tried to cheer the Joker up with a serenade about him being her puddin'. Unfortunately, the only reward Harley was the back of of his fists.
After the Joker had beaten Harley until she was black and blue, he pushed her out of the hideout's four story window. Then he stalked off and left her to fall to her death.
It was a good thing that Batman had been in the area, patrolling the streets and alleys. He'd heard the glass crashing and managed to swoop down and catch Harley merely seconds before she hit the ground.
That son of a bitch, he thought to himself when he saw how bloody and battered she was. The Joker had nearly killed her with his own hands. The woman had been completely unconscious and even though Bruce wanted to go after the Joker and promptly rip his throat out for hurting Harley this way, he knew that she needed to go to the hospital immediately.
So he took off with her in his arms and got her to his batmobile, driving her to the hospital at full speed. Her life would have been in serious danger if he hadn't driven so fast and, thankfully, the doctors were able to save her.
Bruce, still disguised as the Batman, told the doctors that her medical bill would be paid for in full. He also promised them that he would personally take Harley back to Arkham as soon as she was able to walk.
Strangely, though, he found himself coming back well before then, but not as the Batman - she already knew who he was, so that wouldn't do. Anyway, he had enough troubles from the people in Gotham who believed that Batman was no better than a glorified criminal.
Bruce visited Harley's hospital room as himself. Not as Bruce Wayne, the billionaire; Bruce Wayne, the playboy; or even Bruce Wayne, the philanthropist, but as Bruce Wayne, the man.
It was an unexpected development to say the least. Even Alfred was at a loss for words when Bruce told him that he'd be visiting Harley until she got better. Eventually, the elderly butler got over his shock and tried to persuade Bruce to stay at the manor and forget about visiting her. She was, technically, still his enemy.
Bruce didn't see it that way. The only reason he and Harley were enemies was because Harley had been involved with the Joker, and any enemy of his was her enemy and every friend of his, hers.
The good thing was that she was free of Joker's influence now.
Bruce did exactly what he said he would do. He visited Harley twice a week for the six months she was in the hospital. When people in the city questioned this action, Bruce let it be known that he was once a close friend of Harley's - granted, that was a lie, but what the public didn't know wouldn't hurt them - and that, despite her past wrongdoings, he was going to show her mercy during her stay at the hospital.
"Extending an olive branch may do Ms. Quinzel a touch of good during this traumatic time in her life. Contrary to popular belief, not all of the prisoners at Arkham are one hundred percent belligerent. I personally feel that compassion should be expressed to her during her stay at the hospital. Perhaps it may give her a new sense of peace when she returns to Akham."
After Bruce released that statement, no one said anything against his visiting Harley again. If there was anything that would shut the gossips up in Gotham, it was a wealthy resident celebrity willingly reaching out to an abuse victim.
Even though Harley was a villain in the public eye, many people sympathised with her and cast a 'victim of psychological terror and warfare' label on her. It was a bit much of a stretch, but it worked.
Bruce's plans to go see Harley in the hospital weekly were a good idea because of how depressed and withdrawn she'd become. She had become a shell of her former self. Goodness knows what would have happened to her if he hadn't chosen to visit her.
Also, to his surprise, he actually enjoyed his visits to the hospital. Harley did too, as she beamed widely, like a kid in a candy store whenever he showed up. She had a very nice smile, Bruce decided. And her voice was much softer than the loud, grating, child-like tone she'd adopted when she was in league with the Joker.
The first time Bruce came into her hospital room, she asked him, "Next time, could you bring a nice big bag of gummy bears, Bruce? I loooved gummies when I was a kid, and I can't remember the last time I had any." She'd batted those long blonde eyelashes at him and Bruce found himself agreeing to do so.
Of course, it didn't mean anything that he chose to bring her gummies. He was just being kind.
Harley just wanted to have someone to keep her company. It would have been boring for her to lie in that soft hospital bed all day, with no one to talk to. She did appreciate Bruce's statement to the press, but as kind and inspiring as it was, the doctors and nurses around were still wary of her. Whether they were friendly or not didn't amount to a hill of beans because, now, she was on her way back to her previous habitat.
There were always consequences for one's actions, whether one apologised or tried to make amends. The law had to be satisfied and she would willingly comply. There was no use in trying to fight. It would conflict with her newly developed character.
Nevertheless, it pained Harley to think of going back to Arkham. She could take good care of herself, but she still didn't like being in there with those idiots. It would have been much more preferable living with Bruce in his nice, big, cozy mansion and stay far away from madmen and villainous plots to escape Arkham - because there were always escapes. Arkham security was terrible to say the least.
Bruce laughed when she told him that she'd much rather move in at his mansion. "I think I could handle that kind of punishment very easily. What do you think, Bruce?" She had asked him, eyes sparkling with humor.
Their budding friendship was the main reason that he felt guilty about taking her back to the asylum. Bruce had seen a change in Harley that he never expected. On his twentieth visit, she had broken down and told him how sorry she was for all of the things she'd done in the past. Harley came to realise that being with the Joker had not done her any good and he only crushed her spirit. She felt like it was a miracle that she hadn't died that night.
She told him, "I think this is my second chance, Bruce. It's my second chance to get things right this time." He believed her without question.
It was truly strange to think about, but Bruce and Harley began to confide in each other during his visits. They talked about movies, books, conspiracy theories, life, death, psychology, everything. Believe it or not, they became good friends.
Once a week Bruce would have some new treat or game for the two of them to play, so they didn't have to turn on the television. They ate a lot of gummies, drank a lot of lemon water, played gin and Uno dozens of times during those three months. They got to know each other more deeply than anyone else they ever knew.
Harley would sometimes fall asleep in the middle of their discussions, due to the pain from her injuries. Bruce was excellent at observing and detecting when a person was in pain and trying to hide it. Whenever she was hurting too much, he would call a nurse to give her medication.
There were moments that, when Harley was asleep and drugged up, Bruce allowed himself to take her hand in his. It felt so small and tender compared to his own. She was so delicate as he looked down on her. Before he could stop himself, he kissed her on the forehead gently. He had become very attached.
That's why it hurt so much to drive Harley to Akham now. Every mile brought them closer to Arkham and took away their chance to be friends...or more, and that effectively killed any pleasant mood they could have had.
Soon, as the asylum came into sight, Harley sighed. "There's no place like home," she muttered, feeling so downcast once she saw the gloomy iron gate. There were several men in white jackets outside, waiting for them. For her.
Bruce slowed the vehicle to a stop and he got out of the car. Harley was about to do the same, but Bruce placed his hand over hers and shook his head. "No, allow me. Please."
Even though she was still a criminal and considered a danger to society, Bruce wanted to treat her like a lady, even if it were the last time that he ever saw her free and not behind the glass cage of a cell.
He walked over to her side of the car and opened the door. The guards and doctors had bewildered facial expressions, but said nothing. They were wise to keep their opinions to themselves on this.
Yes, it was true that Harley was a big headache for the people who worked at Akham and they more than likely had their share of complaining about her. However, they were more frightened of Batman than they were irritated with Harley.
Harley stepped out of the bat mobile and gave Bruce a tiny smile. "Well, this is it. The end of the line."
"Yes, it is," Bruce replied. He pulled out a small brown bag and handed it to her.
"What's this?" Harley accepted the bag and looked at him curiously.
"Gummy bears and worms. I know you like either or, so I bought both kinds. It's just a little something to remember the last several months."
The curious look on Harley's face changed to a shy one, her cheeks turning bright red. "You didn't have to do that..."
"But I wanted to."
The blonde sniffled and wiped at her eyes, trying to summon the will not to cry. It wasn't working and she made a little choking sound in her throat. Bruce didn't make gestures like this to anyone, and definitely not as Batman either. It was a little sign that he cared and Harley knew she would treasure these gummies more than anything in the world.
She smiled up at him through her tears. "I don't need this to remind me of you, Bruce."
Their eyes were locked onto each other's until, finally, Harley couldn't stand the tension anymore. She leaned forward on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to Bruce's. At first, he didn't respond to her kiss and Harley felt embarrassed for doing something so brash. She began to pull away, but Bruce gripped her forearms and tugged her back to him, moving his mouth over hers passionately.
He teased her by running his tongue over the seam of her mouth and Harley moaned, letting her lips open so he could slide his tongue inside. The kiss was heated and intense to the point that even Harley wasn't sure that she could handle it much longer.
It was just her luck. She got an amazing, life-changing kiss from the Batman and on the same day, she has to go back to the asylum. Fate was a supreme asshole.
They both pulled back and breathed heavily, gasping for air after the kiss. Harley clutched her chest tightly, missing the feel of Bruce's mouth on hers. He watched her parted lips open and close she tried to speak. His fingers touched her upper lip and smoothed the soft skin. She shuddered at the motion and he grinned.
"I'll miss you, Harleen Quinzel," he whispered to her.
"I'll miss you too, Bruce Wayne. I already do." She bit her lip and made a face that was between a frown and a smile. "Thank you for being there for me. I'll never forget it."
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face and returned the smile. "Neither will I."
She pecked his cheeks again, gave him a confident wink and sauntered off to meet the asylum doctors and guards. The guards proceeded to shackle her wrists and as Bruce got into his car, he heard her say, "Boys, if you're good, I'll share some of my gummies with ya!"
With a smile on his face, Bruce put his feet on the gas and drove away. Thoughts rolled into his mind. It would be disappointing if he never saw her again. They had made a connection with each other during her stay at the hospital and Bruce knew that he would miss her greatly. Maybe, in a few days, a visit to Harley's cell would be in order...