It was your typical night at the Black Mask Club. J sat stoically, watching the crowd with mild interest. Until I got up from the table to dance, and then his eyes were on me the rest of the night. We actually left together, instead of me being sent home with Frankie early, which made me happy. I was pretty drunk but I guess not too annoying? I just love getting to be with him.

I'm supposed to go back to my studio today, let my father stew in the latest of his home movies, but part of me doesn't want to go. Not because I don't want to be in the air, I definitely do. But I'd rather just spend the day with a friend. I decided Frankie and I were going to spend a day at the movies, eating junk food and watching crappy matinees.

And what a day of movies it was! We watched this funny thing with Keira Knightly and some awful superhero flick with Chris Evans. Then a drama starring Gary Oldman. I bought out the theaters so we could yell at the screens and throw popcorn during stupid parts. I even tipped the staff a Benjamin each for the inevitable cleanup because I was feeling generous. We had a blast.

But by the time we'd gotten back to the penthouse, I was still feeling a little out of sorts. I didn't know what was going on until her face flashed in my mind's eye. That's when I sighed and pouted and pitched an internal fit over missing her at all. But I dutifully pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I stopped over her name. I paused, wondering if this was a good idea at all, since she hadn't even been the one to give me her number. I'd had Frankie find it for me. I knew it probably wasn't a good idea but couldn't stop myself from pressing Call.

It rang once, twice, and then she answered. "Hello?"

I took a breath, "Hiya, Red."

"Who is... Harley?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How did you get my number?"

"Well … I had Frankie get it for me. Since I didn't have a phone when we met?"

"Shocking, you had a man do something for you."

"Aw, don't be like that, Red."

"I'm surprised you'd even think of me after running back to your daddy." She said the word with such disdain. It was clear she didn't like me and Puddin' together. Or maybe it was that he was a man at all.

"I told you that I loved ya, Ivy. That's not gonna change."

"Sure it will, kid."

"Don't say that. Look, those hours at your place meant a lot to me. And I know they meant a lot to you too. How many other people have you vaccinated against your living situation?"

She huffed, "You're not the first."

"I'm not?"

"No." But I could tell she was lying by the pause before her next words, "I haven't wanted anyone out here, why would I bother with mixing up more shots?"

"There's nothing wrong with us being friends, right, Red?"

"Why would there be anything wrong with us being friends?"

I sighed with relief, "Good. Because I think I need a ladies' night."

"Just because we're friends doesn't mean you can just drop in on me whenever you feel like it."

"Sure, it does! And it goes the same way back to you. You can just drop in on me whenever you like."

"I'm not so sure your Puddin' would agree with that statement."

"Ok, so maybe you call first." I laid down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, phone plastered to my ear the way it had been when I was a teenager, "And maybe I have to meet you out somewhere. But whenever you need me, I'll be there for you, Red. I promise."

"You know I don't have a lot of friends, Harley."

"I know."

"I can't have you making promises you aren't going to keep."

"Of course, I'm gonna keep 'em. Why wouldn't I keep 'em?"

"Because if I actually rely on you and you don't show up, it could mean my death."

"Oh, you're talkin' a heist gone wrong kinda situation, aren'tcha?"

"Yes, Harley. A heist gone wrong situation." I could hear her rolling her eyes through the phone.

"Well, look, if we plan a heist I'm definitely gonna be there."

"I think I just … expected a different turn out when you were here last."

"I know we were having a fight, but did you really think I was walking out on him? I told you I knew we'd end up back together."

"Yeah, you did."

"Hey, why didn't you believe me, Red? Why did you expect a different turn out when I straight up told you that I was going to be going back to him?"

"Because I expected better of you! Once I heard how he was treating you I assumed it would be clear to you that you deserve so much better!"

I laughed, "Better than Puddin'? No such thing."

"Be serious, Harl. He hurts you. He did something to you so that you can't have children?"

"Not fully his fault."

"Partially is enough! And why don't you care that he's always hurting you?"

"Because I love it." I shrugged. "Pain is pleasure."

"Pain is pleasure? What the fuck does that mean?"

"It's something he taught me. Pain is pleasure, pleasure is pain. They are interwoven. I can't cum without feeling waves of pain along with it. I can't feel pain without getting off on it. I let him hit me because I love every second. It feels good to feel pain."

"That's utterly ridiculous."

"No, it's just different to you."

"Are you saying you have no use for tenderness?"

"Of course not! He's incredibly tender."

She started laughing then, "The Joker? Tender?"

"He is with me!" I thought of the way he'd rubbed oils into my ass cheeks after getting spanked heartily, how he'd washed me in the tub after my long punishment. His aftercare was always loving and tender.

"When are you going to see the light, girl?"

"I love him, Ivy. He brought me joy when I was living in emptiness."

"Just because he's done some good things doesn't mean he's good for you."

"And just because he's not you doesn't mean he's bad for me!"

There was a long stretch of silence and I knew I'd pushed one too many of her buttons. "I don't want to fight."

"Oh, of course you don't, Harley."

"I wish you knew him better."

"Better than having him show up at my house with dozens of men planning to break in and murder me? Yeah, I think I wish I knew him a little better than that too."

For a moment I thought about bringing the two of them together over dinner, but quickly realized what a disastrous plan that was. He already hated her for trying to keep me away from him. To then tell him that he needed to sit down with her and convince her he had good qualities? Yeah, no way was that going to fly. And to get her to sit down and actually take the time to get to know him, well I didn't see that happening either.

"Can we meet up? Get a drink?"

"Not tonight, Harl."

"Please, Red?"

"Look, give me a few more days. Call me back after the weekend? We can go out Monday night."

"Which will make Sunday date night. Perfect."

I could practically hear her rolling her eyes again, "Yeah. Great. I'll see you in a couple days, Harl."

"Good night, Red."