Joker's POV

I walked away from the beautiful blonde with a smile on my face. As if from nowhere, a pair of hands grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and slammed me into the lockers. I laughed hard and smiled. I knew exactly who it was. It was Bruce. I had known him from middle school and grade school and we never got along. Now, he wasn't really a bad guy I guess. He just didn't like my way of thinking, or breathing. I think he acted out like this because he though he had something to prove.

"Goodness, you caught me off guard there, Bats."

I laughed with a smile. He frowned, oh how he hated that nickname. His little friend Rachael had mistakenly told me about Bruce's fear of bats. If I couldn't beat him physically, I could kick his ass with my wit.

"You stay away from Harley...she doesn't need scum like you in her life."

He warned. I began to laugh again and he slammed my head into the locker once more to show his anger.

"I mean it Jack! She's a smart girl with a bright future. Don't mess that up for her."

He snarled, finally releasing me. I didn't laugh this time. I just slid down the lockers and sat there on the cold linoleum. I sighed to myself.

'That bats got a point...but if she really is smart then she will stay away from me on her own.'

I thought. I stood to my feet and whistled as I strolled to class. I never wanted this class to end. This class ending meant that I would have to go home. What was tonight going to be like? Was my father going to use me or my mother for his punching bag this time? I would gladly take her place. As long as she was spared of the abuse. Would he leave bruises this time? Break my bones again? Lets just hope today was good for him... The dreaded bell rang. My muscles clenched tightly involuntarily. I stiffly grabbed my bag and walked out of the school. I kept my head down as I walked down the busy street, bumping shoulders with other civilians now and again. Gotham was so busy at this time of day, though I never knew why. I just squeezed my way past the others in a begrudged effort to get to hell-I mean, home...

"Joker!"

A small, sweet voice called above the buzz of everybody else. I turned my head in the direction of the voice. A small dot of blond pushed its way through the mass of people to reveal Harley. I could never tell you how amazing she looked, her hair in a neat bun, a tight black skirt that reached her knees and a white polo shirt. She looked so composed, so clean and pure. It made me insane. I loved it and hated it all at the same time... Aside from that, I was surprised that she was headed in the same area that I was. Let alone that she called out for me when she saw me. She didn't seem too fond of me from how she spoke to me last.

" , what a surprise. What are you doing here?"

I questioned. She shot me a look, I hadn't called her Harley like I was told to. She looked tired, like she had been running to catch up.

"This is how I always get home, and when I saw you, I figured I'd be a bit more safe if I walked with a guy...do you mind my company?"

She asked. I shook my head. She smiled and I began to walk, her close to my side.

"So you live in the narrows too?"

I inquired. She nodded.

"Yes, my "parents" say that they've lived there all their lives. And that I will do the same. They don't believe that I will make it as a psychiatrist."

She told me tiredly. I frowned but pushed a smile to the surface.

"Psychiatrist, really? Well, you seem to have the smarts for it."

I said. She smiled.

"Yes, I want to work at Arkham Asylum."

She said absently. I looked down and caught sight if her lilly-white hand. I wanted to hold it and never let go. I didn't like this feeling, it felt sickening. I frowned. Her crystal eyes shined brightly up at me with curiosity. I looked back down at her but quickly looked away. The way her eyes looked was too beautiful.

"Do you know how absolutely beautiful you are, Ms. Quinn?"

I inquired, stopping her and my hands placed gently on her shoulders. She blushed and didn't bother rectifying me. She looked away and I turned her face up towards mine.

"Answer the question, Harls."

I demanded softly. She shook her head 'no'. I smiled.

"You're too good to be true, Harley girl."

I told her, stroking her cheek with my thumb. The way she looked at me was a sign, she couldn't hate me if she was looking at me in such a way. A way that said, 'kiss me, now.' I leaned in closer and so did she. Before we could kiss, I took a blow to the face. I fell to the ground, holding my jaw and glaring up at the bastard in all black.

"I told you to stay away from her, Jack!"

He yelled furiously, pulling me up from the ground and punching me again, dead in the face. Jesus this guy just didn't let up did he? I felt the blood trickle down from my nose to my lips and chin. He was about to hit me again and I smiled in his face to mock his attempts to 'punish' me.

"Stop it, Bruce!"

Harley screamed, pulling the bat-boy off of me. He looked at Harley angrily and took her by the shoulders.

"Harley, you need to stay away from hi-"

She slapped him hard. Tears of frustration formed in her eyes. Bruce stood there frozen, stunned.

"And who the hell are you exactly to govern over who I am around, Bruce?!"

She shouted at him furiously. He sighed in irritation.

"Excuse me for caring..."

He said, walking away slowly. Harley continued to yell.

"I never asked you to 'care'! I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself!"

She fumed at him. He continued in the opposite direction, shaking his head. She turned on her heels and crouched down to my level. She bit her lip as a worried expression spread across her face.

"J-Joker, are you alright?"

She asked, her voice shaking a bit. I groaned as I tried to sit up.

"Yeah I'm fine Harley. Thanks..."

I said, standing up. I tilted my head back to keep the blood in my body. Harley tilted my head forward and I looked at her, confused.

"Tilting your head back is the worst thing to do. Come on, my house is right down the street, I'll fix you up there."

She insisted, handing me a black handkerchief. I nodded. She led me down the street to a fairly small house and walked inside, gesturing for me to come inside with her. I did and closed the door behind me. It looked very nice compared to the outside, it was neat and clean. She walked up the stairs and I followed closely behind her. She opened the door to a girls room.

"Go on and sit on my bed while I get something to help your bleeding nose and cut."

She told me and I nodded as she exited to the hall closet. I stood up and looked around the room a bit. I saw phycology books and the like on the shelves. Small figurines of clowns and jesters, harlequins. I smiled. I turned to see Harley in the doorway, her arms crossed and smiling too.

"Ironic, right? My mother thinks that it's hilarious that she gets me a harlequin, or clown figurine on my birthdays. I find it annoying."

She laughed a bit. I turned back to the figures and smiled. I picked up one and turned back to Harley.

"I like this one the most."

I told her with a wink. She blushed and avoided my eyes. It was a figurine of a clown and a harlequin kissing.

"You can have it then, I hate these things and I'm willing to give them to anyone as long as I don't have to look at them anymore."

She said curtly. I smiled.

"Thank you Harls."

I said, setting the figurine down.

"Go on and sit down so I can fix your face."

She shooed me over to her bed and opened up a first aid kit. She pulled out band aids and a alcohol pad. She tilted my head upwards and rubbed the alcohol pad on the cut on my left cheek. I hissed in pain and grabbed her wrist tightly. She pulled her hand away but I pulled her down to my level and held her face close to mine with my free hand.

"That. Hurt."

I said darkly. Fear danced in her eyes and I roughly shoved her away. She took a step back and looked at me incredulously.

"Do I scare you, Harley?"

I inquired, sauntering over to her. She shook her head 'no'. I frowned. I pushed her hard into the wall and cornered her there, the bookcase and figurines quivered from the vibration. I was a centimeter away from her face now, of course she was afraid of me. She'd have to me crazy not to be scared in this moment.

"You're a liar. I don't like liars."

I whispered harshly. I grabbed her throat, she flinched and whimpered a bit. I grinned. I dared myself to trail my lips along her neck and held her tighter, show her that I was the one in control of the situation. I gently kissed her neck and she exhaled shakily.

"So serious...you should smile more."

I laughed. She began to laugh too and we couldn't stop for sometime. Once we finally stopped, I stole a quick kiss. She seemed surprised. What she did scared me for a split second, she kissed me back. I pulled away after a moment. I glanced at the clock on her nightstand and saw that I needed to get home fast.

"Sorry Harls, but I gotta run. Thanks again for the figurine."

I said with a smile, grabbing the figurine and dashing out if her house.

"But!-"

Was all I heard before I was gone.