Harley's POV

The next day, Jack and I got ready to meet with his father. I decided it might be a wise idea if I tried to blend in a bit with the people that prowled around the restaurant. That meant I had to sleaze it up a bit. I put on a black circle skirt that didn't reach my knees, (that means I think it's kinda short) a white tank top that showed off my cleavage(what little that I had at the time), and a pair of black high heels. They were definitely my tallest pair, they made me nearly as tall as Jack. After my attire was taken care of, I did my hair and makeup the way I had the previous night. When I was finished, I turned to Jack with my hands on my hips.

"Do I look like a hooker yet?"

I asked wryly. He chuckled and grabbed me around the waist.

"Yeah, but you're a very pretty hooker, the kind politicians fall in love with."

He said with a grin. I giggled.

"Oh, I guess I'm out of your price range then, huh?"

I quipped with a smirk. Jack pulled me to him closely and kissed my neck gently where his alter ego had left his mark.

"Well, it doesn't matter what you cost, you're mine."

He purred, tightening his hold on me possessively. When he let me go, I pulled on a leather jacket and grabbed the 1911 off of my vanity. I put the gun on the inside pocket of my jacket and straightened it to make sure the weapon stayed concealed. I turned back to jack.

"Alright, I'm ready."

I said with a curt nod. With that, we left for our meeting with Paul. I had heard of him before but it wasn't until Jack told me his last name that I made the connection between the two. Paul's status in the mob and influence with the police isn't what bothered me, it was the fact that he had nearly destroyed someone dear to me. That...I wouldn't let that slide. I knew Jack could feel the malice welling up inside me as we entered the beat up restaurant and he squeezed my hand tightly in a way that said; 'don't say or do anything stupid.' I couldn't promise though that my lips would stay sealed. I let Jack led me, I didn't know who we were looking for technically. We walked towards a booth in the back and as we got closer, Jack stiffened. I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring look. It seemed to work and we continued towards a man sitting alone with a drink in front of him. Once he noticed our presence, he looked up from his glass and smiled at Jack.

"Glad you actually showed up, Jack. I was worried you'd skip town instead."

He said with a smirk. Jack didn't say anything as he took a seat across from Paul. I was shocked, Jack looked almost exactly like his father. However, I believed Jack got his eye color from his mother since his father had icy blue eyes. He only glanced at me for a moment before speaking again.

"The uh, smile seems to be healing well, did you remove the stitches yourself?"

He inquired, chuckling sardonically. He knew he wouldn't receive a reply from Jack as long as he kept this rude behavior and sighed to himself. He looked back to me and stared for a while. I stared back blankly, almost unable to hold back a glare.

"Who's the dame?"

He questioned, pointing at me with a brow raised. I forced a smile to my lips.

"Harley Quinn, pleased ta meet'ya."

I greeted, my Boston accent coming out thick as I extended my hand towards him. He took it and kissed the knuckles of my hand instead of shaking it. At the contact I inhaled sharply from discomfort and surprise. His eyes leered up at me and I really couldn't hide the confusion and disgust on my face with anything but a half-assed smile. He grinned and I took my hand back slowly. I looked over at Jack who wasn't even trying to conceal his smoldering gaze. Paul's eyes didn't leave me just yet and he chuckled a bit.

"You're a shy one. Loosen up a bit, I'll by ya a drink."

He offered. Before I could even protest, a man came to our table. Paul looked up at him, leaning back to do so.

"Uh, get a shirley temple for the girl."

He ordered and I couldn't help the sigh of relief that he hadn't ordered an alcoholic beverage for me. He continued to smile at me once the waiter left. I was so uncomfortable by his flirtatious act that I decided to keep my eyes downcast until my drink arrived.

"Thank you."

I muttered quietly, making a quick glance up at the man before me.

"You're welcome, sweetie."

He told me with a wink. Jack grasped my hand on the seat, an act I knew was his way of reminding me that I was his. He seemed too embarrassed to make the display public though. I smiled as soon as he did it, regardless of what it meant; I was just happy for the affection.

"So what did you call me here for?"

Jack spoke for the first time since we got there. Paul smiled at Jack.

"I can't check up on ya?"

He questioned, raising a brow. When Jack didn't answer, he turned his attention back to me.

"So what do you charge?"

Paul asked me. My eyes widened and I nearly choked to death on my drink. Once I had finished sputtering and coughing I looked up at Paul, with an almost horrified expression on my face.

"I-I beg your pardon?"

I squeaked. He chuckled and leaned back in his seat.

"Are you as pricey as ya look, doll face?"

He rephrased the question. I blinked a couple of times and then I finally caught on. I laughed a little.

"Oh, I'm not an escort, if that's what you mean."

I told him, still giggling.

"Well, I just figured. Looks like Jacky's been a bit rough with you."

He explained, staring at my neck. I could feel blood rushing to my cheeks as I tried to casually cover the mark with my hair. I didn't dare bring my eyes back up.

"No...I just felt like coming along with Jack today."

I said emotionlessly.

"I find that hard to believe."

He scoffed. My brow furrowed in anger as I waited for him to explain.

"He's never been much of a charmer, and now with that grizzly grin he's got on his face 24/7..."

He continued, smiling with what looked like he took pride and enjoyment in having done that to Jack. I frowned and glared at him.

"Look, with all due respect, the 'grizzly grin' that I'm sure you gave him, is not what defines my feelings for your son. What it does define though is how I want to rip-"

"Harley."

Jack growled, giving me a vicious warning look. I heeded his silent order and took a deep breath before taking the cherry out of my drink and bit off the sweet piece of fruit. I stuck the stem in my mouth and challenged myself to tie it in a knot in an effort to keep myself quiet. Paul simply laughed at my almost completed threat.

"She's a pistol, huh?"

He laughed, smiling at Jack. He grabbed his drink and started to make the liquor inside it swirl.

"It'd be a shame if something happened to her."

He commented nonchalantly, as if it weren't a threat on my life.

"Don't even fucking think about it!"

Jack snarled, leaning in over the table. Paul stood and grabbed Jack by his shirt and pulled him towards him.

"Listen, Jacky, I ain't afraid to finish you off if you keep acting like such a hothead."

Paul snapped fiercely. I sighed loudly and stood, earning both of their attention. I opened my coat and pulled out the gun, pulling back the hammer. I aimed it a Paul and did my best to look bored by the situation when in reality, my heart was about to leap out of my throat.

"Y'know, I like causing trouble as much as the next gal, but I'm gonna have to stop you there. I've even got a better idea; you let go of Jack, he and I leave, and you don't have a bullet planted in your skull."

I said, my voice calm and I patted myself on the back for keeping the shake out of my voice. Paul grinned, bowing his head. He began to laugh quietly but it soon turned into loud peels of laughter. I stood my ground, acting unfazed by his outburst and waited patiently for him to calm down.

"This,"

He started, pointing at me.

"This is the girl you keep, Jack. If she's willing to threaten the mob for you, well, I wouldn't let her go."

He finished, releasing Jack's shirt. I smiled a bit, pleased that his father approved of me. I put my gun away and Jack grabbed my hand again and we left.

"You don't have to protect me, Harley."

Jack said as we walked down the sidewalk.

"I'm sorry but I'm not the kind of person who'll just watch if someone's going to hurt my loved one."

I told him hotly. Jack stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes at me. He gripped my arm tightly, it felt like it was going to bruise but I didn't let my eyes fall from his.

"Don't you ever say that to me again."

He hissed. A wave of terror came over me as I saw my biological father instead of Jack. Panic overwhelmed me but I tried to internally rationalize it. It's just a flashback, you're okay. You're safe. But no matter what I told myself I still couldn't calm down. I was frozen in place aside from my trembling. I shut my eyes tight, shaking my head to keep myself safe from the images but I could still hear his voice.

"Should'a gotten rid'a ya when we had the chance."

I heard him grumble. I tried to pull into myself but Jack was still holding my arm although his grip had loosened some. Tears burned my eyes and I hung my head before he could see them.

"Jack...please let go of my arm."

I pleaded softly, desperate to keep myself under control.

"Harley, what's wrong?"

He demanded, trying to make me look at him.

"Please! This will be over...quickly if you'd just...let me go..."

I was almost sobbing at this point, still horrified beyond belief. Jack's hand slowly left my body and I slumped against the wall of a nearby alley. I wrapped my arms around myself protectively and took deep breaths. This went on for minutes but it felt like hours, everything was so slow in my mind, I couldn't process anything. Finally, I felt normal again, I wasn't scared but instead mortified that I'd had an episode in front of Jack.

"Are you okay?"

He asked when I lifted my head up. I nodded and wiped away the streaks of makeup rolling down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry you saw that."

I told him sheepishly, not having the courage to look him in his eyes. He pulled me into his arms and I didn't refuse him.

"What exactly did I see?"

He inquired, petting my hair. I sighed heavily and pulled away to look up at him.

"Well...I guess you could say I'm just not as perfect as I look."

I answered him partly. He quirked a brow.

"What do you mean?"

He questioned. I hesitated for a moment before telling him, not sure where to begin.

"When they found me, child services I mean, I had six cracked and bruised ribs and two broken. They had to take me to the hospital and do a psychoanalysis on me before putting me in foster care. From the psychoanalysis and further sessions with a psychiatrist, they deduced that I had a severe case of PTSD from being abused everyday. When people...grab me the way you did, I have these flashbacks and I'm...back in that closet where I spent most of my life."

I confessed, ashamed of every word I shared.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He asked, sounding upset as he pulled me back into his arms.

"Because I didn't need you thinking I'm crazy."

I said smartly into his shoulder. He cupped my chin and looked down at me very sternly.

"You're not crazy, you're not."

He told me, stroking my cheek with his thumb. I closed my eyes for a moment.

"I know."

I whispered back, almost unsure of myself.

"Hey,"

He called. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"Smile for me."

He ordered gently. I did as I was told and smiled up at him. He smiled back and kissed my forehead.

"You're so beautiful when you smile."

He murmured, taking my hand and started to walk again. I smirked.

"You're silly for thinking that."

I said as we turned a corner.

"Well it's a good thing that I know you're beautiful."

He retorted with a smirk. I pursed my bottom lip in defeat. He just grinned down at me.

"Sorry Harls, but it's a cold, hard fact."

He continued his argument. I clicked my tongue in disagreement but he still seemed confident in his words.

"Well, I dunno about all that. But I am pretty talented."

I laughed, pulling the tied cherry stem out of my pocket. Jack stared at it, not sure what it was supposed to mean.

"Did it in twenty seconds only using my tongue."

I bragged with a grin. Jack chuckled and put and arm around me as we crossed the street.

"And what? You want brownie points for it?"

He quipped.

"Y'know what, I do, actually. How many do I get for that little trick?"

I asked, looking up at him.

"Uh two."

He replied with a satisfied smile. I scoffed.

"It's worth way more than that, quit being stingy!"

I argued, earning a good laugh from Jack. He stopped and grabbed my hips.

"Okay, what do you think it's worth?"

He inquired sassily. I raised my eyebrows in mock surprise.

"Certainly not two lousy points."

I cooed, wrapping my arms around his neck. Jack smirked and met my lips for a brief moment.

"Hey baby! What time you gettin' off?"

An old beat up car rolled up behind us and I whipped my head around to see two young thugs inside it. I sighed.

"For Christ's sake,"

I mumbled under my breath.

"I'm not a prostitute!"

I hollered at them. They laughed some and I just shook my head.

"So you wouldn't come entertain my pals and I even if we payed?"

He shouted from the window. I growled.

"You couldn't pay me enough to degrade myself for your pleasure."

I yelled back, finished listening to their cat calls and whistling. I grabbed Jack's hand.

"Let's go."

I said quietly. As we walked away from them, I heard a car door slam and I knew it was theirs. We kept walking, I didn't even turn to look behind me as they followed us closely.

"Ay, sugar, don't walk away from us. I'm sure we can convince ya to do something for us."

One of them said, gripping my shoulder and pulling me back into his chest. The other man put Jack in a chokehold as the one who grabbed me shoved me against a building. I hit my head pretty hard, seeing white dots in my vision. He cornered me there but I still put up a fight, pushing on his chest. He didn't budge and he laughed a little at my futile efforts.

"Still gonna fight me?"

He challenged. I nodded, again pushing on him.

"You still won't do anything for my friend and I?"

He asked.

"No."

I grunted through clenched teeth.

"No? Not even,"

He pulled something out of his left side pocket.

"To save yourself and your freakish boyfriend?"

He asked, cutting my stomach. I winced in pain but I didn't scream at the sight of all the blood.

"He's not a freak!"

I snarled, kneeing him in his groin and shoved him away. He let me out of his hold for just a second, and that's all I needed. I pulled out my gun and pressed it against his head. He opened his mouth to speak but I silenced him with a bullet. He fell the ground and I turned to Jack, who had the other man on the ground. I walked over to them.

"Want me to kill him or...?"

I questioned casually. Jack looked up at me, eyes black. I ignored that and waited for an answer. He stood quickly and kicked the man in the ribs to make sure he stayed down long enough.

"Go ahead."

He told me, breathing hard from beating the guy to a pulp. I aimed and fired. Blood stained the pavement and some splattered onto my legs. I cautiously put the gun back in my jacket, the barrel was still hot and I didn't want to get burned. He was still here and I sighed.

"I guess Jack was right, we ended up needing it."

I mused, a little surprised with myself. I wasn't in the least bit remorseful for what I had done, it was self defense after all. He smiled at me and put an arm around my shoulders.

"I think I'm starting to like you, beastie."

Was his only reply the whole walk home. I couldn't decide on how I felt toward this side of Jack, I didn't like the way he was too rough with me. But I knew I had to find a way to just deal with him regardless. As soon as we got inside my house, I kicked off my heels and started up the stairs. He lingered in the kitchen and I looked back at him curiously.

"I'm gonna raid your fridge."

He told me as he walked over to it.

"If you make a mess, I'm not cleaning it for you."

I said, continuing up the stairs. I didn't hear any argument on his part and took off my clothes. My white shirt was ruined now, bloody and had a slash in it. I huffed and threw it in the clothes hamper before squeezing out of my skirt. I picked up a towel and headed into the bathroom. In there, I examined my cut. It wasn't very deep at all, not nearly as bad as some of the ones I gave myself. It only needed a bandaid and I disregarded it as I took my shower. I watched, hypnotized as the blood swirled down the drain. Knowing I had killed two people still didn't bother me when I thought about it. It really was self defense, I had every right to protect myself and Jack. But that's not what I was thinking when I pulled the gun out. I wasn't doing it to protect myself, I was doing it to make sure those perverts were obliterated from this earth. In that sense, I had no right to take their lives. I was a killer, not a victim and that didn't bother me. I was just terrified that I was so ready to kill somebody, that I didn't even hesitate. The old Harley would've just been trying to scream for help. She never would have brought that gun even for protection. She never would have threatened a member of the mob. But I had to admit, I was liking who I was turning out to be now.