She's back.
While Dick Grayson, in happiness and disbelief, just wants to hold her in his arms, there are other things to be done. Like telling his family that his once-dead girlfriend is back on her feet, not uncommon in the Batman Family.
The disappearances in Gotham were Harley. But she knows something he doesn't- just what the Joker and Lex Luthor are planning. They're together, and they're dangerous.
The sunlight streamed in through the half open window. Harley was sprawled across her back, one hand above her on the pillow and the other resting next to Dick's chest. Her mouth was slightly open as she breathed quietly, her eyelids twitching a little as she slept. Dick gently traced a thumb along her jaw, lying on his side. One elbow was propped up on the pillows, his head resting against his hand as he tried to keep his tired eyes open. He'd been too afraid to fall asleep, terrified that it would all be a dream when he woke up.
Dick glanced around the room. It was small but clean with minimal furniture. An old, tarnished mirror sat on top of a beaten dresser, and wedged up in the corner of it's frame was a picture. Dick smiled at the familiar Haly's Circus photo stip of the two of them. Harley yawned, stretching her arms out as she rolled onto her side. Her eyes flew open as her hands hit Dick's chest.
"Oh hello," she mumbled with a smile, a blush creeping into her cheeks as she recalled their passionate night before. She'd missed him so much, and he hadn't been able to keep his hands off of her. It had been like the first time, but with none of the regret she'd felt then.
"Good morning." Dick's voice was soft, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his chest. She rested her cheek on his shoulder.
"I missed you," she told him quietly.
"I know the feeling," Dick smiled, his thumb stroking down her spine gently.
"Don't yell at me," she said, kissing his chest, "but I'm still sorry."
He closed his eyes, pressing his lips to her hair as he held her close. Harley felt safe in his warm embrace, like nothing could ever hurt her again as long as he was there. "I'm sorry, too."
"For what?" she asked, resting her chin on his chest and looking up at him. "You didn't do anything wrong," she told him gently.
"I know. But it was hard enough for me, to lose you. You had to watch me go through that, and no one should ever have to see someone they love in the state I was in. I'm sorry you had to see that." Dick smiled a little, his eyes still closed relaxedly. "And I did do something wrong, I'm sorry about… I'm so sorry about Barbara, Harley, I still feel…" he bit his lip. Harley sat up, pulling the sheets around her.
"That's still nothing to be sorry for," she told him, leaning her head to the side as her messy hair fell over her shoulder. Harley knew she couldn't be mad at him for what he'd done; she'd only assumed it had meant he didn't love her anymore. "I was dead. And everything, everything you went through could have been avoided if I just told you." She closed her eyes, clenching her hands in her lap. Dick rolled onto his back, taking her hand gently as he looked up at her.
"You were right, though, you couldn't tell me. Whatever it is you're doing, I trust you. I trust that you did what you did because there was no other way." His blue eyes met hers earnestly, dark circles under them making the blue more intense. Dick laced his fingers with hers in her lap, his other hand under his head; the sheets gathered around his waist, leaving his scarred torso exposed. "And for the record, I'm still sorry about it. Though, in your defense, I did call Barbara 'Harley' more than once," Dick smiled a little, biting his lip again. She didn't return the smile.
"I couldn't face you," she breathed, hanging her head down. "I couldn't face your pain after my death, or how to tell you I was alive. Ivy and I had always planned it that way, but then after Arkham, everything with you happened so fast. And I just... I don't know. I knew he wouldn't rest until he killed me, so I let him think he did. It made it easier, but I couldn't bear doing everything I had to do to learn what I needed to know, if I thought about what you would say or how disappointed you would be. It's almost the truth to say I didn't tell you my death was fake because that's how Red and I planned it, but…" She took a deep breath.
"It was hard," she admitted weakly. "I did this all because I wanted to be good... for you. But the Joker... I couldn't find how to stop him and be good. I knew you wouldn't let me, and I didn't want to do it, but I knew it had to be done. That's why I kept telling you not to love me; I thought it would be easier for both of us if you hated me when I died, but then… you didn't, and I couldn't think or breathe wondering if you would still love me when you did see me again. And…" she trailed off, her voice quiet. "The unselfish part, the one that knows that if I love you as much as I do, I should want the best for you, knew that I should want you not to love me. That with all I've done, no matter what I do now, I could never be good enough. That I should want you to find someone good." Someone like Barbara.
"I have found someone good," Dick whispered, squeezing her hand. "Harley, look at me." When she looked up, he stared at her seriously. "Listen to me. You can't change what you did in the past, but you can attempt to rectify it. And you have. In so many ways, you've proved yourself. You defied the man who, for two years, you thought you loved. You went against everything you knew to save people. To save me. I'm not going to lie to you. I lose sleep some nights, wondering how many people Jason has hurt. Or even Damian. You too. But then I think: you know what? I'd rather lie awake and wonder about it with you next to me than have to think about it and mourn what could have been. Like Jason and Damian- I believe that you're a good person, Harley. And if nothing else; I can help you be a better one." Dick smiled a little, stroking her hand with his thumb.
"You'd be one of the only one's to say that," she said bitterly. "Can you honestly tell me that I could do anything, to make…. the family of one of those police officer's forgive me? I ruined so many people's lives, and I even enjoyed it." She shook her head slowly, disgusted in herself. "Now I think 'what would I do if someone had taken you from me like that'? And I know I would never forgive that person."
"You can't dwell on that." Dick sat up, taking her face in his hands. "You're new to the game, so I'll let you in on a secret. No hero's record goes unblemished. That's something I had to learn the hard way. Not one of us is the saint we're made to be; we've all killed someone. We've all hurt people, and the truly good ones like Superman or Batman- have been lucky enough to save more than they've hurt. I've…" He trailed off, biting his lip. "...If you let it control you, if you focus on the wrong you've done, it'll destroy you. You have to accept it and move on. In time, you forgive yourself, but you never forget it. All you can do is bounce back and use it- otherwise… what are we but vengeful ghosts, roaming the city of the past? Let what you've done drive you, not hold you back. Use it to your advantage. You can either let it consume you, or overcome it. Make people wonder why you're still smiling." Dick held her face, watching her earnestly. His lips met hers softly, and when the kiss broke off, he pressed his forehead to hers. His blue eyes were gentle and loving and tired and… completely open. He hid nothing from her; he was trusting and careless, letting her in without hesitation. "I'll be right here to help you, every step of the way," Dick murmured, his thumb tracing along her cheekbone. "Promise."
"Thank you," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him to pull him close. She closed her eyes, fighting the sudden urge to cry. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she choked. Harley clung to him tightly for a moment before leaning away, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. "Well, I'd either still be with the Joker or dead, so…"
"So you're stuck with me," Dick grinned, and then kissed her nose. "Come on, you know I wouldn't have let you stay with him." He said it so casually, like it was obvious. He laid down and pulled Harley close, his arm around her shoulders. "I'm not used to being awake during the day. What does one even do when the sun is out?" he joked.
"I'm sure we can find something," she mumbled, her lips close to his ear. Dick smiled and closed his eyes. It had been a while since he'd genuinely smiled, and now he couldn't seem to stop.
"As long as there won't be any Jason or Ivy busting in," he laughed. "As long as its just the two of us." Harley leaned away from him, her blue eyes suddenly troubled.
"Dick," she whispered nervously. "There is something I need to-" She cut off in a scream as Robin kicked in the door. Dick cried out in surprise and shielded Harley. When the room was quiet again, Dick looked up at Robin in horror.
"What in the hell are you doing!?" he demanded in exasperation, his arm still protectively around Harley.
"I could ask you the same thing," Robin snapped. He glared at Harley. "Somehow I'm not surprised."
"Hi Damian," she muttered weakly, blushing furiously as she clutched at the blankets. Dick's hand rested on Harley's shoulder as he propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes narrowing.
"Is he with you!?" Dick said angrily, his cheeks pinkening a bit.
"No," Damian scoffed. "I came to find you when you wouldn't answer your comm. He was unworried."
"You shouldn't have been worried, either!" Dick cried. "I told you not to wait on me, now get the hell out of here!"
"I want an explanation," Robin demanded, crossing his arms and jutting his chin out in an imitation of his father. Dick pinched the bridge of his nose angrily.
"Just- go, Damian, I'll be right out, just go," he pleaded, running a hand through his hair. Robin glared at him for a moment before storming out of the room, slamming the broken door behind him.
"Should I let you two talk this out?" Harley asked quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Dick laughed, shaking his head.
"No, it's fine. I'm sorry he's… protective… I'll handle it." Dick tugged the pants of his Nightwing uniform on, kissed Harley's head, and then went out the door, closing it quietly behind him. He glanced at Robin and then leaned down, picking up his shirt and shaking it out. "You didn't need to worry about me, Damian," he said lightly, a smile playing at his lips.
"I wasn't, but I guess I should have been worried," Robin hissed. Dick smiled and pulled his shirt over his head, leaning against a table.
"Oh? And why's that?" he asked, crossing his arms. Robin glanced at the bedroom door.
"How long have you known?" he demanded, ignoring Dick's question.
"I found out last night. Jason's known longer," he commented quietly, rubbing his tired eyes.
"So she breaks you for a whole month, and after one night, you go running back."
"It's complicated." Dick's voice was quieter than before.
"Is it? Where has she been? What has she been doing while you were suffering?" Robin demanded. Dick looked down.
"If I tell you, can you promise me one thing?"
"I will make no promises," Robin muttered.
"Let me tell the others," Dick looked at him seriously. "Let me tell Bruce."
"There is no way I am being the one to tell the others," Robin snapped. He jumped slightly as Harley flung the door open. She was wearing a white tank top and jeans.
"Are you sure?" she demanded into a cell phone, walking past them. She flipped open a chromebook, logging in. "I'm checking now."
Dick glanced at Robin, and then walked to Harley, a hand on her back gently as he looked over her shoulder at the laptop. Harley pulled up a news channel.
"Shit," she swore as the headline popped up.
Superman Missing. Watch live news broadcast below.
Harley paced away from the computer. "Thanks for the heads up Selina, you're right," she muttered. "It's starting. You know what to do." She hung up and turned to face Dick. His brow was furrowed in worry as he met her eyes, biting his lip.
"What's starting? What do you mean?" he asked, Robin materializing beside them and glancing at the computer screen.
"We need to get everyone together," she told him. "Damian, can you get ahold of Red Robin and Batgirl?"
"Don't give me orders," he snapped. "I'll be in the cave." He marched furiously from the room.
"Dick I promise I'm going to explain everything." Harley put her hands on his chest, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. Dick took her hand and kissed her passionately, and then looked at her with a smile.
"I trust you. Whatever you need me to do." He stroked her cheek gently.
"Call a meeting at the Batcave. Selina and Jason can placate everyone when they get there." She put her hand over his. "We need all the help we can get."
Dick's hold on her hand tightened suddenly, and he masked the sudden jolt of fear on his face. "Harley, I don't want to leave you again," he said urgently.
"Don't worry," she smiled. "I'm coming too."