*old rose voice* it's been 84 years...
Yeah sorry about the wait omg I didn't even realize so much time passed until I started writing again bc oh m y god has life been stressful between tests, holidays, personal crises, work out routines I didn't even have time to breathe let alone write. Plus blame Fallout 4 and Hamilton (LAFAYETTE) for taking up my 3 hours of spare time a week, but DO NOT FEAR! This project is not abandoned even if the Gotham fall finale disappointed me by not bringing the bae back I'm pretty sure he's gonna be there soon. So in that case let me just announce that it's all AU from here. And when Gotham finally does the right thing and brings Jerome and Harley together I'll write fics in that universe's context, but yeah consider this another universe as of the moment.
Eyes like a car crash
I know I shouldn't look but I can't turn away.
Body like a whiplash,
Salt my wounds but I can't heal the way
I feel about you.
- Bring Me The Horizon, Deathbeds
A hand on her shoulder caused Harley to jump nearly a mile. It was only then that she realized James Gordon was standing over her with a look of utter concern on his face. Seeing the innocent teenager from only a few days ago straddling a man beaten to a pulp was an odd equation. Her lack of movement from the position in the time he had managed to save the bus must had also been jarring.
"Miss. Quinzel?" Gordon was pulling her gently to her feet. Her legs wobbled slightly due to the adrenaline finally leaving her body.
"The one and only." She jested, offering up a sad smile. Gordon was not the slightest bit amused.
"Your… Uh, your face." He noted pointing to her bloodstained self.
Right. She wasn't doing a good job of selling herself as a traumatized victim. Acting classes in the future were noted. Harleen made an effort of making her jaw slacken in surprise as if all the events had suddenly hit her. Better to sell shock to Gordon than to seem all too fine with everything that had just occurred.
"Let's get you over to Dr. Tompkins." Gordon muttered awkwardly. He took an effort of escorting her to a woman in a lab coat that could only be the famous doctor. She was equally responsible for putting criminals behind bars as the detective was. The papers always had a field day with the sweeping romance between the two. It seemed everyone in Gotham knew what was going on with them.
Before she could even blink Harleen was perched atop a gurney with Dr. Tompkins shining a rather annoying light in her eyes and asking a series of trauma related questions. She answered them to fit the profile of shocked but grateful victim. A little tremble in her voice and some doe eyes could get anyone out of anything.
"You want to tell me what happened to Mr. Dobkins over there?" The doctor had become rather frank. Turns out she wasn't a fan of robotic responses to serious inquiries.
"I had no choice," Harley's tone screamed defensive. "He was gonna blow up the bus."
"You beat him up pretty bad." The older woman raised a curious eyebrow to indicate Dobkins —who could barely even stand—being directed by a forceful Jim Gordon. His nose was obviously broken and he looked to be missing some teeth. She didn't remember hitting him that hard.
Harley let her lower lip quake slightly. She was finding it easier to get a hold on her emotions the farther the event was from her. These new feelings were terrifying to say the least. Maybe, talking about them could help in leaving them behind. It was clear Jerome was done with her when he carelessly threw her onto the pavement. Burying the hatchet of the new found crazy before it could manifest into something more might be what she needed. "I don't know I was just… So—"
Her sentence was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot ringing through the air. The screams around her was all the indication she needed to know that Dobkins had been shot. Gordon was ordering everyone to stand back and take cover, but the shooter didn't seem to make any second move against the crowd. They were there for Dobkins. To erase his failure.
The rest of her teammates were quickly loaded onto a emergency vehicle. Considering Dr. Tompkins's gaze was pinning Harleen to her seat it was clear she wasn't invited along with the other cheerleaders. Dr. Young's words about being a suspect ran loudly in her head. Why else would he attack the bus? Her train of thought sang. They won't believe it was just some random coincidence. The police were keeping her in her spot for questioning. They must had fears that she would run off with the rest of the Maniax if they let her go for even a second. What a thought that was…
"Lee," Gordon had moved from his cover to approach the doctor. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Jim." She responded. Her hand briefly squeezed his own as if to remind him she was still there.
Harleen felt she should at least avert her eyes from their intimate moment. There was no chance she could get up and walk away from it. She wasn't used to such affection being displayed in front of her. Her parents were coldly removed as most long term married couples were. She had always assumed that was just how it worked. After the honeymoon phase passed relationships turned more platonic by the day until they were glorified roommates. However, the way the detective was looking at the woman made Harleen doubt it.
"Miss. Quinzel," Gordon regarded her. Dr. Tompkins cleared her throat at the realization that Harley had been watching this whole time.
"Just call me Harleen." She normally would have suggested Harley, but it felt strangely inappropriate considering the way Jerome had used it earlier. Having anyone else claim it felt like an invasion of privacy. "We're pretty much acquainted at this point."
The grim detective's features lightened slightly at this breaking down of barriers. The more she could show them she wasn't affected the better chance she had of going home unscathed. She didn't really want the next week of her life being spent in another hospital or worse the G.C.P.D. headquarters.
"I understand that you knew Jerome Valeska when he was at Arkham?" Gordon dropped all the levity from his face when the questioning started. Good cops didn't form attachments to anyone within their field… unless they were certain medical examiners.
"So you read the file?" Harleen countered. "He was interested in me and I guess I… fed that interest."
"Dr. Young described him as obsessed."
"That's another word for it."
"Do you think he attacked the bus because you were on it?"
Harley shrugged. The stiffness in her shoulders cried out after being held by Jerome's punishing grasp. However, the burn wasn't exactly unpleasant. It reminded her that everything that took place was real. "I don't know what to think."
Dr. Thompkins leaned over to whisper something in the detective's ear. With a stiff nod he stepped away from the gurney. "I can't imagine the type of day you're having right now." He murmured.
Oh god… not the sympathy. Anything but that. The good doctor must had thought the strategy of getting under Harley's barriers included Gordon's sad attempt at compassion. At least she could relate to him in the fact that he looked just as uncomfortable as she felt.
"It's been a bad day, but nothing life ruining." She attempted to keep her tone level and not pissed off. "I think I'd be much better if I was allowed to go home."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Gordon squared his shoulders defensively. Ok… the guy could look scary if he wanted to. "We have no idea if Jerome will target you again. It would be best if we stationed you and your family in an undisclosed location with police protection."
"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Harleen almost groaned. Packing ship and moving on did not sound all that appealing to her. Then again, getting murdered wasn't on the top of her list either.
"No," Gordon answered bluntly turning away from her to attend to the dead body of Dobkins. "We'll call your family and pick them up. It's best you don't go back home until the Maniax have been stopped."
"With all due respect, I'm the only one who's had a full conversation with him and lived." She called out after him. "I should be helping."
The detective stopped in his tracks at her remark. Harleen assumed he'd throw some warning comment over his shoulder, but he was heading towards her with a fire in his eyes that rivaled an Arkham inmate. That was most definitely not good.
"Do you know how many people have died in the last two days?" He was truly toe to toe with her now. A week ago, if anyone told that she would anger Gotham's most respected policeman she would have laughed in their face.
"No," she murmured pathetically. Usually, she would have just kept her damn mouth shut the second Gordon told her to relocate. The normal Harleen would have covered up the annoyance and thanked him for saving her. Except he didn't save you. A recess of her mind that frankly sounded too much like Jerome chortled. He didn't have the guts to do what you did. Jim Gordon isn't a man who's willing to make those choices. However, she'd probably want to give that little voice in her head a run for it's money if the murderous look in Gordon's eye was any indication.
"More than enough and I don't want you to be one of them." The fire was fizzled out and only replaced by soft kindness. Harley couldn't help the little disappointed feeling in her stomach at that. It had the be the adrenaline that made her itch for another fight. It had to be.
Harleen let out a steady breath. There was no more need to be so on the edge. Jerome and his lackies were gone. She was safe now. "I know, Mister Gordon. I'll do whatever you think is best."
He let out a small smile at this. "Go with Officer Lloyd over there by the cars. We'll contact your family and let them know you're safe."
"Thank you," Harleen said getting down from her gurney. Her legs wobbled a little, but her gymnastics training wasn't for nothing as she kept a steady balance.
She tried not to look back at the bus. To think about how his voice was still in her ear controlling her emotions or how his touch burned parts of her body more than fire ever could. She had to get away from these feelings that were just getting worse. The rage she expressed on Dobkins was just scratching the surface of the bubbling violence she felt inside. She wanted Gordon to attack her just as she wanted Jerome to come bursting back onto the scene for round three.
"We had it right in the bag!" Robert's infernal voice screeched upon entering the luxurious apartment they called home. He was promptly interrupting Jerome's humming rendition of the Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round. From their rather shabby uniforms Barbara guessed that the job didn't go according to plan.
She was currently sprawled across Tabitha who was occupying her time by reading some ancient literature. The other woman deemed it as important business and promptly shoved Barbara away when she suggested to make better use of their afternoon. People just weren't any fun at this time of day. She thought dejectedly. There was always Theo, but there was a good chance that he was just off being boring in his office.
"You see what happens when this kid is in charge?!" Robert had broken through her delightful reprieve and she even got a glimpse of Tabby rolling her eyes from above her book. "The bus didn't blow!"
"I know. I was there." Tabitha didn't so much as steal a glance towards the cannibal. The woman's coldness made Barbara shiver with content.
"If I were you I'd shoot this little brat on sight just like Dobkins." Robert attempted to hiss. It more or less sounded like a big, ugly, anthropomorphic teddy bear trying to be evil. "We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for his cheerleader girlfriend!"
Barbara's eyes flickered to Jerome who had been happily singing to himself while slicing some apples. She never pictured the guy with a girl let alone any interest in someone besides his reflection. He had made no effort to associate with anyone except to establish his dominance over the group. Barbara commended his tenacity as he was the only fellow she didn't want to stab repeatedly. Besides, they were in separate sectors. Their paths wouldn't be crossing again anytime soon if Galavan had anything to say about it.
"Girlfriend?" Tabitha lowered her book with interest.
"I'll tell you she's just as insane as that one over there." He jerked his head over to Jerome who was ignoring their entire conversation.
"A crazy cheerleader," Barbara sighed cuddling into Tabithia. "How delightful."
"You shoulda heard her screaming some nonsense about not being like us and telling us to stop. It sounded like she was dying or something." The cannibal took a seat across from the two woman. Barbara sincerely wished he hadn't as his stench made her relaxation unpleasant. "The girl looks like a friggin' barbie doll, but I wish you had seen what she did to Dobkins before you got him."
"I thought that was Gordon's work." Tabitha said casually not hearing the hitch in Barbara's breath at the name.
"I'm pretty sure little Mr. Perfect wouldn't give a guy half his size a broken nose and knock out a few teeth while he was at it. She beat the ever loving crap outta him."
"Cheerleader's got a swing then." A lovely smile quirked at the corners of Tabitha's mouth that made Barbara want to swallow her whole. "I have to admire that."
"You remember her from Arkham, don't ya?" He turned his sickening gaze towards Barbara. She had requested more than enough times to Theo, Tabithia, and even Jerome to end his life but all of them seemed blasé about the matter. Theo and Tabitha urged that he was needed for their efforts. Jerome had merely shushed her multiple times and assured that his end was coming.
Barbara uncurled herself from the other woman and shook out her hair. "Arkham?"
Memories of that place were few and distasteful. That annoying Dr. Dumb (or was it Young?) constantly prodding her for information on her life or reasons for killing her parents. She reminded Barbara of that heathen Thompkins. Taking what wasn't theirs and draining every last inch of fun from it. While that harpie had taken Jim from her Dr. Dumb tried to take her accomplishments. She was free from her parents and from that horrible normality. They had tried to take everything she had.
"The head doc's pretty assistant, Quinzel." His teeth bared at the very thought of her. "Seems like she's been brought down to our level."
"You mean?" Barbara connected her index finger to her thumb and pulled it in front of her face to imitate the girl's pathetic rounded glasses.
"Exactly."
She had seen Dr. Dumb's assistent around. From what Barbara had heard she had been mostly forced to file work. She stood in back of Dr. Dumb like a lost puppy when they had first met. The other times she remembered seeing her was when she skittered past the common hall at the start and end of everyday. There was nothing particularly interesting that sparked Barbara's fancy except the fact that she needed to stake her territory at the only blonde who mattered in these parts. Or wondering if the kitten was a natural blonde in the first place.
Barbara even recalled the little talk she witnessed between her and Jerome. How the girl practically vibrated the closer he got to her. It made her look back on her early times with Jim… well, if jail cells and threat of murder weren't involved, but new memories of that were always in their future together. She really had to check to see if they still made that wedding dress in her size. Prison food had dropped her weight significantly and she did want to look good for the main event once Jerome and his little gang were dealt with.
Edging out of her thoughts Barbara cast her gaze towards Jerome again to find him still not giving a care about the conversation going on around him. There was a certain menace to his cheer that was entirely absent at the moment. It made her more uneasy than his normal behavior. She wouldn't admit to anyone that he scared her, but… he was kind of a freaky guy even for her standards.
"Ooooooo," Barbara cooed unable to resist the challenge. Although, he did frighten her just a little she wasn't going to give up the chance of egging him on. Everyone had a button and Jerome had yet to show his at all. Time to play. "Ginger and Quinzel sittin' in a tree!"
Strangely enough he didn't respond to it. Just merely popped an apple slice in his mouth and picked up his humming again.
"He actually calls her Harley." Robert said.
"You gonna rev up your 'Harley', Ging?" Barbara laughed out loud at her own joke. She saw Tabithia bury her head in her book to mask her chuckles. However, it wasn't the other woman's attention she was seeking. "Or should I?"
The knife just grazed her neck when it came flying at her with superb skill. Instead of landing in the base of her skull it was lodged into the wall so tight that Barbara doubted it was ever coming out.
"Whoopsie," Jerome said the grin stretching across his face.
The blood running down her neck wasn't as bad as she expected it to be. Hell, she probably even deserved it. If Jerome had made similar comments about Jim she would have given him a permanent smile to remember. They were the same in a lot of ways in regarding what was rightfully theirs. This girl belonged to him no other questions needed.
Tabithia was up and ready with her whip while Barbara stared at the red sticky stuff on her fingers. It was so fascinating that when all was said and done this was what her parents were made of. Same blood as her and yet she wasn't screaming like they did when the same stuff gushed from their bodies.
She looked up from her hands to find Tabithia pinning Jerome to the kitchen counter by his neck. The kid was laughing so hard that his entire body was shaking. Barbara saw Robert shift uneasily in his chair at the sound. Even the most heartless of killers had a hard time dealing with his laugh.
"If you ever touch her again…" Tabithia hissed through her teeth.
"That's enough!" Theo was descending from the tall spiral staircase in all his buttoned up glory. While Barbara did prefer Tabithia there was a certain appeal to watching the man the Gotham public was growing to love be such an animal in the sheets. Especially when he got authoritative. Besides, he was the only person Jerome would semi-listen to.
Tabithia reluctantly released the red headed boy who fell to the floor in glorious cackles. "He hurt her!" She shouted frantically pointing a finger towards Barbara.
"Ah come on it's just a flesh wound," Jerome effortlessly got in control of his breathing again and dusted himself off. "No hard feelings right, Babs?"
"None at all," the wound wouldn't scar and the bleeding had already taken in short bursts. "Nice throw."
"Been practicing." He murmured. Just like that everything was well again with Barbara getting up to find some medical supplies to cover her neck while Jerome took her spot on the couch. She didn't miss the way Tabitha's eyeballs nearly exploded from her skull at how quickly the situation was resolved. Although, the other woman understood them she never could truly see the inner workings of their minds. She was an assassin not a maniac. You'd send her to Blackgate not Arkham. She had no way of knowing that little group didn't hold grudges as they all knew they would kill each other in the end anyway.
Jerome took an over exaggerated stretch while getting off his ridiculous jacket. He carelessly threw it in Barbara's direction and besides the overpowering smell of gasoline she could also detect a more feminine smell akin to peaches. He had certainly got close for comfort to that cheerleader hadn't he?
"What's our next move?" Robert questioned to break the uncomfortable silence in the room.
Tabitha turned her murderous gaze from Jerome to focus on her brother who sauntered to the middle of the room. "The G.C.P.D. has become the fixture for light and hope in this city especially that new Commissioner Essen. I hope you will see that the light is extinguished."
Jerome grinned animatedly. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" He jumped from his spot with boyish energy. "I'm thinking some undercover work. Get a few police uniforms… An especially snazzy one for myself of course. A video camera… Some rope."
He was murmuring all these plans to himself as Theo watched with a bemused smile on his face. Out of everyone in the room the man seemed to be the least afraid of Jerome. He saw him as more of a pestering child than anything else. Barbara liked Theo well enough to hope that he stopped staying so blind before Jerome could get the jump on him first.
"Consider all of it done," Theo beamed. "On one condition."
Jerome raised his eyebrows.
"James Gordon stays alive."
Jerome groaned while Barbara's heart did an excited flutter in her chest. All those promises meant that Theo truly wasn't deceiving her when he told her her time was coming to ruin Jim once and for all. To break him apart and put him back together again like her little doll.
She snapped out of her daze to find the boy looking at her expectantly. "You happen to own any red gloves, Babs?"
Oh Harley babe ur on a emotional rollercoaster right now that's full of ups and downs, apathy and sympathy, and just a ton of thoughts about Jerome... Support group for Harley 2K15
Also yeah Barbara bc I wanted to have an outside perspective in this chapter plus she and the entire Maniax dynamic is fascinating to explore (RIP wasted opportunities). They are a team yet completely looking out for themselves. Violent towards each other but at the same time trusting enough to stay in the same house. Similar to all the relationships the Joker has it's full of contradictions. Also i love Barbara and Tabitha and that scene where she admits how real her feelings were for her (I WANT THEM TO REUNITE NOW THAT SHE'S FREE FROM THAT ASSHAT THEO).
Ok I'm just gonna keep going bc i'm on a roll. I wanted to make it evident how parallel Barbara's view of Jim is to Jerome's view of Harley. Barbara definitely expresses more interest and love in Jim, but both believe that they can break their partner to become everything they want them to be for themselves. I also struggled a lot to when Jerome would react to the other's comments about Harley. I figured the second they threatened her territory over her he'd snap to assert his dominance because remember this isn't the Joker we know and love yet. He's still growing and expressing behaviors that are human.