Hey! So I'm back again. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 25.

The Joker stepped out of the shower the next morning, with a towel hanging off his hips and water dripping down his body. He chuckled when he caught a glimpse of his Harlequin tangled in bed sheets through the steamy bathroom mirror.

He wasn't going to wake her just yet, the sight of her sleeping was too good to disturb, besides.. J had a meeting with Jonny before they went into battle.

Joker looked to his left hand side and saw the hairdryer laying on the counter. Harley must of sneaked it back in there when he wasn't looking.

He shut the bathroom door gently and switched on it on, in the hope that he could muffle the noise and not wake her up. Once his hair was dry, he slicked it back with hair gel and ran his tongue of his sharp grill.

Pulling the door back open, he saw that Harley hadn't moved an inch. He remembered the days when she used to have pretty bad insomnia, she still did sometimes. But nights like last night, made her forget the voices and the awful memories.

He always knew when the voices were back, Harley used to make little origami lotus flowers, just to keep her mind focused on anything other than the cruel taunts of her brain.

She never threw them away, they represented every bad thought and memory. Harley kept them under lock and key inside a big wooden box under her side of the bed. Of course the Joker thought it was ridiculous, he had the same voices, but the only difference was, he knew how to ignore them, or even use them to his own advantage.

And boy, were they working wonders for him right now.

The Joker chuckled to himself and slowly walked over towards his closet. His hands ran over the fine Tuxedo that he only wore on special occasions... Maybe he'd wear it tonight, it was going to be a night to remember after all.

Running his pale fingers past it, he grabbed his black silk shirt, gold blazer and black matching slacks. Harley loved that blazer, he mused to himself as he slipped it on.

Trying to be as quite as possible, the Joker padded his way over towards his stack of Jewellery. He picked out his usual gold chains and slung them over his neck. He slid on his rings, feeling the cool metal slide over each knuckle. He turned his attention to a green velvet ring box, he picked it up and opened it. Inside was rather heavy looking golden skull ring, it was incredibly detailed and had deep black stones for the soulless eyes.

Joker tested the weight of it in his hand and glanced over at the sleeping blonde. Her lips were swollen from being bitten viciously and her face was still flushed form last nights events. Harley had given him this ring after being together for six months. She called it their anniversary but the Joker politely reminded her that she should be celebrating the fact that she was still alive in his company rather then being his personal ball and chain.

Speaking of chains. The Joker placed the ring back in the box and reached out for his Rolex and linked bracelets. He latched them on around his wrists and shook them both, making sure they settled just above the cuffs of his shirt.

"Puddin'." A little mouse like voice squeaked from behind him. J rolled his eyes, all the effort he had gone to not to wake her and she woke to the sound of metal clinking together.

"Go back to sleep Harls." He ordered, not even looking round to see her. In truth he didn't want to meet her eyes. Last night he had exposed a side of himself he vowed never to show Harley and he had. And he couldn't understand why.

Harley was a loyal, sexy little thing that stirred feelings deep inside of him. He hated it, and he hated her even more for it.

"What are you doing up so early?" She asked in a sleepy voice. "Come back to be-" A yawn broke her sentence.

"Things to do baby, people to see." He replied.

Harley groaned and sat up right in the bed, pulling the sheet up to conceal her body. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Joker tensed his shoulders and finally turned to face her, but he didn't look into he eyes. "You looked like you needed the rest." He answered.

Harley got up on her knees, and while she was still clutching the silk sheets around her body, she crawled over to the foot of the bed. "What's wrong Puddin'?"

"Nothing." He snapped. Joker went to turn away but he stopped by a hand grabbing his wrist.

"Something's wrong, you're acting weird." Harley said, running her fingers over the gold chains. She raised herself up higher on the bed so that her face was now level with his. "If it's about the hairdryer, I put it back, I-"

"It's not about the bloody hairdryer!" He growled, interrupting her. Joker pushed her away snarled.

"2 steps forward, 10 back, huh Puddin'?" Harley retorted, growing angry.

"Don't, I'm not in the mood." He took a stride towards the door but he was pulled to a stop by two hands grabbing onto his shoulder and turning him around sharply. Before he had time to even react, Harley lips crashed into his.

Her hands threaded themselves into his hair, making a point that pushing her away after last night was not going to happen.

"Don't shut me out." She mumbled breathlessly into his mouth. He responded with a deep, rumbling growl and he picked up her silk clad body and slammed her up against the nearby wall.

J pulled her legs up around his hips and pressed her harshly against his body, almost crushing her between himself and the wall.

Joker pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. "Now get you arse in that shower before I kick it there."

The roaring sound of the Jokers purple Lamborghini ripped though the streets of Gotham. J was laughing wildly as innocent pedestrians and fellow drivers swerved and ducked out of his way. Road markings and lanes didn't apply to the Joker, he paid his taxes so in his opinion, he owned the tarmac.

Harley sat next to him, giggling with a full mouth. She had insisted that they stop off at a drive thru just so she could ease her ever aching hunger.

"Get grease in my car and I'll end you." J threatened, with an equally dark smile.

"Yeah, yeah alright." Harley replied with a full mouth.

"It's a wonder you ain't fat yet." Joker retorted, watching her take another heart attack filled bite of her burger.

"I get plenty of exercise..." She winked.

They pulled up outside the club and Joker quickly nipped round to Harley's side of the car, opening up the door for her. Harley's heart swelled at his chivalry, but little did she know, he only did it to prevent his car from getting food smudges all over the handle.

"Thank ya' Pud." She kissed him on the cheek as she stepped out of the car.

Joker grumbled and took her arm in his. He looked over at her with a small smile playing on his lips. Harley was wearing her full red and blue get-up. Fishnets, two toned hot pants and Daddy's lil' monster shirt, all gift wrapped in her Property of the Joker jacket.

Her ever growing hair was strapped up into two high pigtails, giving the illusion that it was longer that it actually was. Little tints of colour peaking through the gaps of platinum blonde hair.

"Stop staring, you make me feel self conscious." Harley frowned, adjusting her light coloured bangs.

His eyes wandered over to her bare neck and he narrowed his eyes in thought.

"What is it?" She asked, now touching the side of her neck. "I got a hickey or somethin'?"

Joker snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at her. "You want one?" And with that remark, he chomped his grill together like a hungry shark.

Harley giggled and clamped hers open and shut in return. He grabbed her forearm and gently led her into the club.

As soon as they walked into the club, everything stopped. The dancers who were previously practicing a new dance routine in their cages paused, and the bar staff re-loading the stock froze on the spot. Even the music halted for Gotham's royal couple.

The Joker broke the silence with a strangling laugh. "As you were ladies." He said, nodding at the dancers. Without hesitation, the music started again and they began to slowly move back into rhythm.

Harley suddenly squealed in joy and broke away from the Joker, he swung his head round to see her tackling a human body in a bone crushing hug.

He saw a gentle hand emerge and wrap itself round Harley's back, returning the embrace. The ring this woman wore was unmistakeable. It was a deep cut diamond, captured by a white gold cage, which sat on a similarly coloured band.

That ring once sat in Gotham City's History museum.. But that was before a certain former employee and friend stole it for his fiancée, now turned wife.

"Pearl." Joker smiled, walking over to join his two favourite ladies.

Harley released her and smiled back up at J. He pinched her cheek affectionately and turned his attention to Pearl.

He took her hand and kissed it. Joker had earnt Harley's forgiveness for the other night, but he still had to earn Mrs P's.

Pearl politely smiled back at him and reclaimed her hand. "J, I hope you've been behaving yourself." She said, glancing at Harley quickly.

The Joker chuckled. He slid and arm around Harley's waist and pulled her into his embrace. "I've been on my best behaviour, haven't I Harls?"

"Mmmm... Define best?" Harley quipped with a teasing smile. Joker inwardly growled and sharply pinched her skin underneath her top.

She squeaked in surprise and pulled away from his grip. Pearl glared unamused at the Joker. Harley felt like a child who'd just walking in on her parents arguing.

"I think I'll go find Jade... She's still around here somewhere, right Mrs P?" Harley asked, noticing the tension between both Pearl and the Joker increase.

"Yes sweetie, she's with Mr Frost upstairs." She replied.

Harley's eyes lit up at her answer. Maybe Jonny was finally listening to her advice about not wasting chances.

Realising that Harley was about to abandon him to the wrath of Pearl, the Joker began to slowly follow Harley towards the stairs.

Suddenly a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him backwards. "Oh no you don't Mister. You're coming with me."

J groaned, being collared by Pearl was his worst nightmare. "I'd love to spend some time with you Pearl, but I need to see Frosty-boy, it's important."

Rolling her eyes at his pathetic excuse, she replied. "I'm not asking you Joker, I'm telling you. Now, come with me."

J turned to Harley to look for an escape, but she quickly darted upstairs, giggling at his current predicament.

"I won't forget your treachery Harley!" He shouted up to her and Pearl began to drag him off.

Upstairs, Jade was sitting on the edge of the bed that she had occupied for the past couple of days, with a thermometer sticking out of her mouth.

Jonny stood over her with his arms folded, watching the little red strip rise and fall through the glass.

"You've still got a temperature." He muttered. Frost raised his arm and pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. "I'll get something to cool you down."

Just as his hand left her skin, Jade's own hand shot out and grabbed his.

Confused, Jonny reclaimed his arm and waited for her to speak.

Jade mentally kicked herself for the gesture. "Sorry... I.. Err." She took a deep breath and looked to the ground. "I just wanted to say thanks, y'know, for helping me and..." Jade's eyes scanned the floor until she reached his shiny black shoes, she followed them upwards, letting her green orbs rise up to meet his. "No one has ever been as kind to me as you have these past few days. Thank you."

Frost furrowed his brow at her words. "No need to thank me Miss Clarke." He replied with his cold and professional demeanour.

Jade scoffed at his rigid reply. "Jonny, please don't... It's not Miss Clarke, not anymore."

Frost took a careful step forwards and gently lowered himself onto the bed next to her. He looked up and looked over her jet black hair, he wondered if it had always been that colour. His thoughts were interrupted when a pair of warm hands grasped his cold ones.

"It's Jade. I want you to call me Jade." She whispered. "That's the name I've chosen, and I want you to use it."

"Jade." He confirmed, looking into her deep green eyes.

She smiled sweetly and squeezed his hands in her own. "Why are you helping me Jonny?"

Frost's eyes widened in a mortified expression. "I err.. I helping you because.." He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Because?" Jade edged closer to him, shuffling so close that their knees touched.

"Because, I see you a lot, I mean I see how guys treat you." He admitted. "They think just because you have a pretty face that they can treat you like shit. I don't like it. You shouldn't have to put up with it."

Jade smiled and traced her index finger over his knuckles. "You think I'm pretty?"

Frost nodded slowly. "You don't deserve to looked at like a piece of meat. That's not right Jade. It's not right and I... I want to help you, when I saw you in that booth, with that piece of scum... I-."

Jade cut him off instantly. "You can't help me. This is my life now. I don't have a choice."

Jonny studied the tears forming in her eyes. He raised his right hand and cupped her chin. "There's always a choice... If it's about the money, there are other ways to earn it. You're a smart girl. I've seen you help Pearl out with the accounts. You've got a way with numbers, a gift."

She smiled at him, allowing a stray tear to escape her eye. "Who'd hire an ex-exotic dancer? Heck, I wouldn't even hire me." Jade retorted.

"Don't!" Jonny snapped. "Don't you dare say that. You're no better than the rest of that scum if you treat yourself the same way they treat you. I see more than a dancer. I see a bright, beautiful, intelligent girl who's stumbled down the wrong path." He pulled his other hand up to grasp her face. "You have to choose another track to get off this one."

"Jonny, I-."

"Please Jade. I'll talk to the Boss. He listens to me, he'll let you leave. I can get you a new Identity, or you can even go back to your old one. Let me help you, please Jade. I can't watch you night after night being used and abused by grubby little men." Frost pleaded.

Jade raised her hands and placed them over his, which were still holding her face. "But if I leave, I'll have to leave everything behind me... Everything and Everyone." Her right hand left his and rested on the collar of his shirt.

Her fingers danced along the white cotton and fluttered against the skin on his neck. She looked over at her own movements, concentrating on the direction she was taking, moving further up, feeling the tickle of his stubble against the bud of her finger tips.

"Not everyone." Frost whispered. They locked eyes in that moment and their faces drew closer and closer together.

Jade's breath caught her throat when she saw Frost eyes divert to her lips, his hands gripped her jaw gently and began to pull her face closer to his. Jade copied him, and pulled on his shirt collar to inch him closer.

The hot air from their lungs both met, dancing inbetween the small gap that left their lips only millimetres apart. With their faces so close together, Frost felt Jades eyelashes flicker against his cheek as she closed her eyes.

A loud knock battered against the door and both Frost and Jade threw their bodies apart with a jump.

"Shit." Jonny muttered under his breath. He looked over at Jade, who had now flushed red with embarrassment.

He couldn't help but smile at the slight disappointment on her face. Frost pushed off the bed and walked a safe distance away for Jade.

"Who is it?" He asked, with a sharp undertone.

"It's me!" Shout a strong Brooklyn accent. Suddenly the door was thrown open and a bouncing blonde, wearing blue and red hot pants strode in, looking like the cat that got the cream. She stopped suddenly, glancing at Jade and then Jonny.

"Oh shit!" She giggled. "Did I interrupt somethin'?"

"No." Frost said defensively. "I was just checking to see if-."

"She had a tongue?" Harley muttered under her breath, noticing that Jade's face grow even more rosy than before.

Frost clenched his fists at her remark. Harley eyes his body language and held her hands up in surrender. "Do ya' want me to leave the room?" She asked.

"Why?" Jonny replied, trying to keep up a nonchalant expression.

"You know why..." She smiled with a suggestive wink.

Before Jonny could even muster up a retort, he gritted his teeth and stormed past Harley, knocking her shoulder as he left the room.

As soon as Jonny left, Harley squealed in delight and rushed over towards Jade.

"Did ya' kiss?" She asked, not beating about the bush.

Jade blushed further and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Nearly."

Harley's face fell. "Did I..?" Suddenly the realisation that she may have been the reason why they didn't seal the deal, hit her like a train. "Oh God, I'm sorry Jade. I do pick my moments, don't I?" Harley joked, trying to make light of the situation.

"It's okay babe." Jade smiled. "He err... He said I'm pretty."

Another squeak left the Blonde's mouth and she tackled Jade in a hug. "I knew it! I knew he was hot for you!"

"I uh, don't know about that, but I think he might like me." Jade stuttered.

Harley pulled back form the hug and raised her brow. "Y'know for a chick who's employed to entertain men, you're terrible at reading em'."

Jade giggled like a little schoolgirl. "I really like him Harls, but he's not very-."

"Open? Yeah.. Tell me about it." Harley sighed. "But sometimes those kinda men are the best kind, because when they do let you in... It's the best feeling in the world."

"You and the Boss back on then?" Jade asked.

"Oh, we're on alright..." Harley moaned in delight. "The things he did to me last night.."

Jade quickly covered Harley's mouth with her hand. "I'm still not feeling 100 percent Harls, maybe leave out the gory details.."

Harley shivered. "The thought of it's making me all tingly."

Jade held her own mouth, pretending to throw up.

Harley laughed and then her face turned serious. "Jade, if you do like him. Maybe act sooner than later yeah?"

"What do you mean?" Jade asked, with a concerned voice.

"Frosty probably told you, but tonight were going after Mark. He's gotta pay for all the shit he's caused and you know how dangerous our little escapades can get."

"No," Jade's eyes narrowed. "No, Jonny didn't tell me."

Harley smiled weakly. "I'm sure it will be fine. I'm just sayin', in this profession, you gotta treat every day as your last. Missed opportunities only lead to regret."

Jade nodded in agreement. "When is this hit gunna happen?"

"Soon." Harley replied. "Very soon."

Jadonny is back as promised! I am currently working on the next chapter, so fingers crossed it won't be too long before I bash out another update!

Again, this was a filler chapter. I needed to place everyone on before we get to the ass kicking. Bud and Lou are coming, be patient with lil' ole me. I know that 30 chapters are usually my stop mark, but we still have time! Haha!

A massive thank you again to all the reviews and followers! You inspire me to write more! THANK YOU!

- Mabel x