Sun filtered in through cream muslin curtains, dappling on the beige wall against which stood Holly's bed; identical in its timber frame and cream and caramel linen as in every other room of the Athenian Women's Shelter.
Next to the bed sat a plain timber table on which was a potted canna-lily, its glossy green leaves spraying out across the bedhead, sunlight turning them luminous as though they were lit from within.
Curling on the pillow, not far from where the leaves trailed against the wood, was a coil of brunette hair, touched burgandy by the ray of sun that fell across it. That thick lock of hair fanned across the stark fairness of the linen, holding Holly in thrall as she watched the sun play through its strands, bringing out hidden highlights. She followed its path across the pillow up to where its owner lay: Shellee, naked and seeming to glow, lying stretched out on Holly's bed and gazing up at her with lidded eyes, looking as luxurious and seductive as a cat.
Holly, also naked, knelt onto the foot of the bed and bent forward, pressing a warm kiss upon Shellee's ankle, the olive skin smooth against her lips. Shellee responded by shifting a little and stretching her arms up above her head, pulling her round breasts with their small, dark nipples into relief. Holly ran a carressing hand up Shellee's thigh and trailed her mouth up along her calf, loving the way her lover's body curved and dipped.
Her teasing path of kisses had almost reached their ultimate destination when Holly's bedroom door was rudely kicked open, hitting the wall with a terrific crash. Shellee shrieked and yanked a pillow from under her head to conceal her naked body. Holly leapt off the bed, instantly poised to fight, fists raised and head lowered, her impressive naked musculature taut in the afternoon sun.
"Holleeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!" a wailing Harley Quinn shrieked.
"Harley?" Holly replied in astonishment, quickly replaced by irritation. "What the hell are you doing?"
Harley stormed up and down the panelled floorboards, oblivious to Shellee's frantic fumbling for more adequate coverage.
"I just can't believe it, Holls, just when I thought it was all going to be alright it's gone straight to garbage city -"
"Harley," Holly tried to interrupt, but Harley continued her frenzied chattering, her face red and her ponytails mussed.
" - I just can't believe that nobody else believes I just wanna move on, no, everyone else is trailin' in the dust, why is it that I'm the only one lookin' to the horizon -"
"Harley -" Holly tried again as Shellee indignantly shook out her toga and pushed past her lover. Holly made a snatch for her arm, but Shellee shrugged it off.
"I'll come back later when you're not busy," she said dryly and marched past Harley, who remained oblivious to her.
" - funny, ain't it, you'd think a fella who could fly so high might be able to see beyond the enda his nose, but nooooooo that big blue baffoon hadda screw everythin' up -"
"HARLEY!" Holly shrieked and Harley yelped and fell silent, blinking at Holly in astonishment.
"Why ya in the buff, Holls?" Harley enquired curiously, staring openly at Holly's body.
Holly sighed in exasperation and snatched her shelter-issue white robe from the back of her timber desk chair.
" For your information, Harley, I was about to get laid," she snapped.
Harley looked around the room with a searching expression, then looked incredulously at her friend with one eyebrow raised. "Having special 'alone' time?" she quipped.
In one smooth motion Holly scooped up a cushion and threw it at Harley's head, where it bounced off and tumbled to the floor. Harley stared down at it, then screwed up her mouth.
"Boy, are you in a mood," she said blithely. "It's ok, I get a little aggro when I'm feelin' antsy too."
Holly flopped down onto her bed and threw her hands up. "Harley, what is it? You really interrupted something."
Reminded of her trauma, Harley's lower lip wobbled and she threw herself onto the bed next to Holly, burying her face in the mattress and gripping a fistful of linen in each hand.
" Oh it's soo awful Holleeee!" she wailed. "That horrible bully Stuporham showed up at Si's place and totally gave the game away! Now Simon knows everythin' and it's all gone straight to ole blazey town on a one-way train!"
Holly blinked as Harley bawled into the sheets. "Sooo -" she began uncertainly, "Superman told Simon about your past?"
" No!" Harley sat up, wiping at her flushed, wet cheeks. "That silly old blue cheese showed up to ask me about what Mist – the Joker was up to and I told him straight out I didn't know. But he asked me in fronta Simon and then he wanted to know how I knew Superspam and so I told him and he – he – he -" Harley's lip trembled again and then she burst into another jag of crying, screwing her face up and fisting her hands in her lap.
Holly was immediately solicitous, shuffling over next to her friend and stroking her blonde hair gently.
"Oh Harley, I'm so sorry he dumped you, I -"
"Dumped me?" Harley's eyes flew open and she gazed at Holly with a strangely wild expression. "He didn't dump me, Holly! He did the exact opposite!"
Confused, Holly cocked her head to one side. "What do you mean?"
Harley's red eyes grew bright with sudden anger and she scowled cutely. "I shoulda known!" she blurted. "I shoulda guessed! He's just so – so – nice!"
Holly took a hold of Harley's shoulders and gave them a shake. "Harley, what did he do?"
Harley sat up straight with indignation, glaring at her friend. "Get this, Holls – he gave me a pat on the shoulder and said 'it's ok sweetie, we all make mistakes'!" Harley adjusted her voice into a dopey-sounding mimicry then hit the mattress with her fists. "Oooh!"
"Wha - ?" Holly gaped at Harley in disbelief. Harley nodded vigorously.
" I know, right? Can ya believe it? God, he was just so nice about it. Told me I was a poor little thing, and how horrible it all must've been and how I've been through soooo much and I just must be soooo traumatised and now he understood why sometimes I acted weird – ha, like I ever act weird – but that I shouldn't worry because he loved me no matter what and was gonna take care of me forever and ever and that he admired me soooo much being so resilient but that I didn't have to pretend anymore cos he was gonna help me to heal my 'poor damaged spirit'," Harley quote-marked her final words and then took in a deep breath. Before she could begin with another tirade, Holly leapt in.
"Wait – wait – let me get this straight, Harley," Holly lifted her hands and twined fingers into her red hair as she struggled to make sense of her friend's ravings. Harley wiped her nose with the back of her hand and sniffled, looking at Holly with wide eyes.
Holly sighed then folded her hands in her lap and looked steadily at Harley.
"Simon asked you about your past?"
Harley nodded, lips pressed together.
"And you told him the whole truth, right? About the Joker and everything?"
Harley nodded again.
"And he accepted it – he didn't freak out – he said he wanted to stay with you and support you?"
Harley nodded a final time.
Holly threw her hands up in the hair. "Harley, I don't understand! What's the problem here? Do you have any idea how many other guys would've bolted for the hills to learn something like that about their girlfriend?"
Harley scowled again and punched the mattress hard. "But that's just it, Holly – he's so darn nice about everythin', all the time. He just – he just – yick!" Harley shuddered violently. "He's always being sweet and doin' things for me and won't let me do anythin' and he has no idea how to touch me or take proper care of me – you know what I mean - and he's always pussy-footin' around and askin' me if I'm okay with this or that like he's got no cajones. It's really beginnin' to gross me out!"
Holly touched a hand to her forehead, feeling the first twinges of a headache. "Harley – most people would kill to have a partner that considerate. Just what is the real issue here?"
Harley bit her lip and looked away quickly.
Holly pressed her lips together and gazed sternly at her friend. She'd always suspected it, of course – but she'd really begun to think – to hope – Harley was moving past her personal demon once and for all.
"The issue is that he's not the Joker – isn't it?" she accused
Harley leapt off the bed and began pacing the room again. "What? No!" she snapped. "The issue is that he's just so – so – ugh, so ineffectual! Such a wuss!"
" A wuss?" Holly got off the bed too, confronting her flustered friend. "You've got to be kidding me. Harley – you were an insane killer! For pity's sake, you loved the freakin' Joker – you raised hell for that – any supervillain who's even heard about you wants to steer well-clear! Even knowing this about you, the guy's chosen to stick by your side! That's courage, Harley – or chutzpah if you prefer."
Harley flapped an irritated hand and turned away to continue pacing as Holly roused on her.
" Furthermore, you think Simon hasn't considered what the Joker himself might do if he ever found out about you and him? Huh? You bet your 'tuchus' he has – and he's still going to see it out. Seriously, Harley, you - "
"What the Joker would do?" Harley spun around on Holly, her eyes bright. "Are ya kiddin'? Mist – the Joker has moved right on without me, or ain'tcha been keepin' up with the latest hot gossip?" Harley put her hands on her hips and stomped a sandalled-foot. "It ain't fair – he's moved on with some bimbo and I'm stuck with a freakin' middle-class lawyer in uptown Metropolis!" The contempt in Harley's voice was raw and Holly folded her arms across her breasts and shook her head in disbelief.
"Not many people from our life get a second chance, Harley," she said quietly.
Harley stomped her foot again, this time half-heartedly. "It's just always the same, Holls," she mumbled. "They all think I was some sorta victim. Some sorta stupid, gullible little airhead who didn't know her heart from her noggin."
Holly felt a curious combination of sympathy and frustration with her friend. She knew Harley's relationship with the Joker and subsequent life of crime had been more complicated than most had ever realised – that Harley was by no means any sort of angel – but in her heart she had the potential for good and furthermore had been gifted with an incredible opportunity to build a new life for herself – and didn't appreciate it. That was Harley all over – whim and instant gratification, an aversion to anything she decided was boredom – even if it was a dream come true for others.
But before Holly could say anything, the clock on Holly's desk chimed and Harley made a dash for the door.
"Oh gawd, it's already halfway through, can't miss it!" she shrieked.
"Harley?" Holly exasperatedly called after her. "Oh, for the love of -" Holly took after her, running through the Shelter corridors to the lounge room, where Harley leapt onto one of the couches and snatched up the remote control, switching the big television on.
The screen was immediately filled with the, to Holly's eyes, grotesque scene of Fancy Carlton with her peroxided hair and orange-tan luminescent against the neon-pink mini-dress she wore, snuggled up against the Joker's long, lanky body clad in purple suit and bright orange shirt. Fancy was gazing soulfully, if a little blurrily, into the Joker's poisonous gaze and he smiled down at her with an expression that was oddly – fatherly.
Harley let out a choked squeaking noise at the sight and leaned forward on her crossed-knees. "Look," she shrieked excitedly. "What did I tell ya? Look at him, puttin' the moves on that dumb girl who don't know no better!" She came to an abrupt halt and chewed down on her lip.
Holly sighed and leant against the wall, crossing her arms. "Why are you torturing yourself like this, Harley?" she asked despairingly.
"It's not torture!" Harley snapped, gritting her teeth in a nasty mask of snap fury that took Holly aback. "It's – a reminder. Of the lucky escape I had. Look!"
Holly looked, grimacing. Fancy appeared to be confiding in the Joker – some sob story about a lonely childhood and how misunderstood she was that made Holly sneer – wanna swap? she thought in response to Fancy's whining. But more compelling was the Joker's behaviour – he held both Fancy's hands in his own, his hip pressed against hers, gazing attentively down into her tear-streaked face with what appeared to be absolute focus. When Fancy burst into tears, he wrapped a solicitous arm around her shoulder and clucked to her in soft, comforting noises. When Fancy flung her arms around his neck, he held her head close against his chest, stroking her hair softly and then started to gently rock her. His actions – the motion of his long, articulate fingers, the curve of his comforting arms, the straightness of his spine as he supported the distraught girl – all were exceptionally tender and considerate – yet because they came from the Joker they at once seemed hopelessly grotesque. Holly found it repellant, not least because somehow it was so convincing.
But he couldn't be sincere – could he?
She stole a glance at Harley and started. Her friend was still kneeling up and leaning forward, but now she was clutching her stomach, her face twisted into a grimace of agony and conflict.
Holly looked back at the television. The Joker had cupped Fancy's chin in one large hand, his fingers curling softly onto her cheeks. With his other, he pushed a strand of hair back off her face, tucking it carefully behind her ear. Something twinged in Holly and she shuddered – the appeal of his tenderness was universal to any little girl who'd grown up without a father – and clearly Fancy had been one of them. She was utterly under the Joker's spell, staring up at him with a slack lower lip, her eyes wide and trusting.
As Fancy poured out the story of a university life ended in failure after one too many parties, Harley let out a soft, pained noise and when Holly looked over at her, she had covered her mouth with one hand, her face flushed bright red beneath it. Her shoulders heaved with some unexplained emotion and she looked truly as though she might throw up.
On the screen, Fancy once again threw herself across the Joker's lap and the vile madman rocked her gently, shushing her in soothing tones. Holly looked from Harley to the television and then back again. Harley was shuddering violently, bringing her hands into clenched fists by her hips, her eyes bright and red as Fancy lifted her head to look into the Joker's face soulfully while he gazed back. As one, their heads moved together and both Holly and Harley held their breath as the inevitable approached.
Suddenly, the Joker shifted direction, pressing his bright red lips to the girl's forehead. Fancy gasped, then shut her eyes rapturously, pressing her forehead onto the clown's mouth, seeming overwhelmed.
Harley, meanwhile, snapped.
With a scream that steadily rose in pitch, the petite blonde threw herself across the room and, with her enhanced strength, lifted the giant set off the wall and threw it across the room, where it crashed into the bookcase, sending it toppling into a mess of sparks, wires and smoking paper.
"HARLEY!" Holly shouted for what seemed the hundredth time that afternoon.
"SHADDUP!" Harley screeched back, "don't you even think about lecturing me, Miss Goody Two-Shoes Robinson! You don't know what I just saw, right there," she pointed a trembling hand at the mess of television, then tore at her hair. "It's the same!" she wailed, as running feet echoed in the corridor. "All the same! The leering goon don't even have the class to change his act!"
Several women appeared in the doorway, straining to see what was going on. Harley was in a fury, having whirled on one of the couches and begun tearing it apart.
Holly bowled into her from the side, knocking her away as one of the women went screaming for Athena.
"You have to stop, Harley!" Holly shook her friend vigorously. Harley screeched and pushed Holly violently off her. Holly landed hard on her back and wheezed, the wind knocked out of her.
" You. Don't. Get. It!" Harley said through gritted teeth as she rose to her feet. "It's the same. Damn. Moves. He used on me! Right down to the peck on the forehead! When I was treatin' him in Arkham – he did those same damn things to me, got me all talkin' about my childhood and weepin' and pullin' me onna his lap and rockin' me like I was a baby – like I was his baby – and strokin' my hair – and now, here he is, doin' the exact same thing to some other poor dumb twit who don't know any better, who thinks he means it, who thinks he cares, and she's got no idea, no idea what she's in for, what – what he could do – how he could screw her life up – and I'm the only one who knows – cos he did the same damn thing to ME!"
Harley kicked the coffee table, sending it hurtling into a wall. The other women had scattered, unwilling to get involved with the outraged blonde but Holly knew Athena and the other leaders would be there soon – and this could very well lead to expulsion for Harley. She had to get her passionate friend under control.
"I'm sorry he did that to you, Harley," she began carefully from where she lay on the carpet and Harley looked at her with some strange hope in her eyes. "I'm sorry he's claiming another victim. But everyone knows he twisted your mind -"
Harley's expression flooded with rage again. "Not a one of you gets it!" she cried. "Screw this for a joke – I'm blowin' this lousy joint."
Harley whirled on her heel and stormed towards the door, just as a group of officious looking women approached.
"Enjoy your 'urbal tea and navel-gazin', ladies, Harley Quinn is sailin' free!" she announced, pushing past the women who glared after her.
And then she was gone.
oooo
Simon sat on the couch of his living room, watching his television with mute horror.
If there was anything that burned at Simon Goldberg's core, it was an abiding flame of decency. A nobility of spirit that despised seeing others harmed or wronged in any fashion.
But add a personal element to the mix – an intimate one – and he found it absolutely unbearable.
He felt nauseated by what he had just witnessed – by the entire distressing situation. He burned with righteous indignation, by an overwhelming desire to protect the strange, loveable, daffy woman who had come into his life with her extraordinary past and her sweet spirit.
It wasn't that he wasn't frightened. He was scared stiff. He was dating the Joker's ex-girlfriend for Heaven's sake! Of course he was petrified – no matter how occupied the Joker seemed with his new conquest, he was still a psychotic killer who might feel some sense of ownership over his ex – but Simon was in far too deep now and couldn't abandon the lost soul that had come to Metropolis looking for redemption – and had found him.
He just hoped Harley had not seen the latest episode of Fancy Living.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind, then his front door flew open and Harley stormed in, her pigtails in disarray, her face blotchy and her expression contorted.
"You saw it," Simon said flatly.
She stood there in his living room, panting heavily, clutching her hands by her sides.
"I saw it," she confirmed angrily.
Immediately he leapt to his feet and dashed over to her, wrapping his arms around her petite frame and pulling her in close against him. He felt her stiffen, but persisted.
"I know, darling, I know how this must hurt you," he tried to soothe her. "I know that seeing him get away with all that he did to you, to ruin your life and break your spirit, must be like rubbing salt in the wound. But we're going to get through this, you and I. I'm here for you. He can't hurt you anymore." He said all the things he imagined his sweet girlfriend would want to hear, the things that would most comfort her. The truth was, he had no idea what to do in this sort of situation – it was well beyond the realm of his experience – all he knew was that he wanted to stand by Harley. That he had to.
Harley pushed him furiously away, darting across the room to stand in front of the tall balcony doors, gazing out at the city. Simon's heart ached for her. In so many ways she was so childish – and now, standing there alone, she seemed like nothing more than a lost little girl.
"Don't push me away, darling," he beseeched her gently, feeling that he had to tread carefully lest he send her skittering away. He resolved to use the techniques he had learned in the spot-counselling course he had taken in case of traumatic revelations by clients. "I don't expect you to just open yourself up to me completely. I wouldn't ask that of you. I know your trust has been betrayed in the worst possible way. But that's over. What's done is done. And I want you to know I'll wait. However long it takes you, I'll wait. I'm ready to be here for you."
Slowly, Harley turned around to face him, her expression curious and strangely canny, assessing him with narrowed eyes.
"You ain't afraid, even a little?" she queried him roughly.
Simon let out a gasping laugh. "Of course I am -" he said, and Harley cocked her head. "I mean, this is the Joker we're talking about, I'd be a fool not to be scared, but -" Harley had started frowning again. " - but not so afraid I won't stand by you. I don't judge you by your past," he finished firmly.
"You really are too good for me you know," Harley said sourly and though he thought there was a different nuance to it than there had been when she'd said it previously, he merely shook his head. It was only to be expected that she would be defensive right now – on her guard. She had to protect her shattered heart.
"I think I'm just right for you," he countered, drawing closer. He only had to get close enough to let her step into his arms. Then she'd be that little bit closer to surrendering her defences. He'd never met anyone like this special, unique girl before and the desire to keep her in his life was urgent. "I can give you everything you need – stability, dependability, normalcy. But more than that – I want to give that to you." After her traumatic life, he imagined it must sound blissful. Harley blinked at him, her expression unreadable, as he stepped carefully towards her."All that horror – it's behind you now, if you just look ahead with me. It's over. AndI can help you, Harley. Help you put the past behind you once and for all."
Harley's expression wavered and her eyes clouded over. "Can you just?" her voice was tinged with irony and she took a step back from him.
He stopped, held his hands out towards her, gazed into the crystal-blue eyes of the delightful, playful, loving woman who had made his life so incredibly happy.
"You were just a child – a naïve child – when you met him," he said quietly to her. "How were you to know? He drew you into his trap, told you the things you wanted to hear, played on your weaknesses. Ruined your whole life, made you give it up – subjected you to unspeakable horrors. Then he used you and abused you and cast you away. But I don't blame you, Harley – you were the victim here."
Harley's demeanour changed in a snap.
Her eyes narrowed and her lip curled up in a sneer as her face grew ugly with rage. In that moment she was unrecognisable to him and he felt nothing but fear of the monster that stood before him.
"I loved every second," she snarled at him and then stepped forward, drew back her arm and punched him hard across the jaw.
**
Yes, Joker uses the exact same moves on Fancy – to read about how he used them on Harley, see my fiction – Arkham Asylum: Tainted Love.
Watch Harley interact in her relationships – particularly with the Joker. When she gets angry, what happens? She gets violent. Without hesitation, she lashes out to cause serious bodily harm.
It was with some sadness I realised she would do the same to Simon. I hope I'm not going to get a bunch of reviews cheering that part on. If I do, then I've written it wrong – it's meant to be tragic, a statement of her own inability to function in a normal relationship or modify her behaviour beyond impulse. And Simon doesn't deserve it.