Chapter 27 - Change is a bitch.
She hung from the ceiling with the reminisce of her sheets. How many was it now?
Who cares?
It was the only way she could sleep anymore and the lightheadedness was better than any drug.
The floor wasn't safe.
Floor bad. She thought. She let her eyes flutter open. Air safe.
It was true. She had lost the ability to sleep on the ground years ago, wait was it years now? She wasn't sure about that. Time was a difficult thing to pinpoint here. Days melded together and nights didn't mean much.
You slept when you could, you ate when they said you ate and more than once she'd gone without. Huger strikes didn't phase them anymore. Nothing phased them anymore.
I'm bored. She thought to herself as she let her arms dangle.
So did it really matter if it had been years or weeks since she'd been here?
Yes.
She hated this place in a way she didn't think she could. This was worse than any hell, if she died right now and ended up in the place they called hell she thought it would be better than this.
Belle Reve was unchanging, routine was torment, bullying by guards and punishment for everything. Whether you deserved it or not. The world kept moving forward but this place stayed the same.
Always the same.
Maybe it worked for some of the others, maybe the mundane routine and constant chatter was enough but not for her.
She hated being watched by their cameras, she hated that she could count every step by heart and knew just by the sound who it was.
Harley tried to focus for a moment, it wasn't easy. Her brain scattered a million miles a minute and it didn't want to stay still.
How long had she been here?
A year, no, it wasn't a year. It was longer than that. Two years, maybe. Three?
It was hard to remember, she knew that she'd been in here a long time already when she'd overheard the guards talking about superman dying. That had been the last interesting thing to go on around here.
She threw all the thoughts away though, none of it mattered.
Only one thing continued to be important.
J.
With a hand to her heart she could say he was the thing she thought of day in and day out. He was the first image she conjured and the thing that filled her dreams.
She had to, if she didn't then she'd start forgetting.
She hated the idea of it, of forgetting the most important person in the universe but this place did that to you.
It made you forget who you were, what was important.
It sucked your soul out.
Sometimes, she noticed that she couldn't really remember her own name.
Harley, I'm Harley Quinn.
The sound of footsteps perked her interest but she kept her body relaxed, as if she hadn't noticed it.
Time to play.
"Open the goddamn gate!" she heard the sergeant, Ames? Call out.
"Come on guys. Don't waste my time!" Griggs.
If there was a man she absolutely despised, it was Griggs. A servant with illusions of grandeur.
How many times had she thought of that one?
"Sector C, pull your heads out of your ass. Boss is on deck."
"Open."
"Bravo 14."
She listened to all of it sharply, she'd learned the hard way hadn't she? The mistake was not paying attention to what they were doing.
"Open perimeter fence."
The buzz of her outer cage being opened, five seconds.
She heard griggs footsteps stop in front of her cell. "Stay back. She moves, fire her up. All right?"
She could feel his eyes on her and she turned to look at him with a smile on her face.
"You gonna come down from there or what?" He asked pleasantly.
She kept smiling and with a giggle she flipped her way down her makeshift rope towards him.
He chuckled. "Look at you."
Harley wrapped her hands around the bars, she knew it was against the rules but she didn't care.
"You know the rules hotness, You gotta keep off these bars." He scolded with a sigh, as if he were talking to a child.
"What, these bars?" she asked innocently.
"Yeah, those bars."
Without thinking about it she stuck her tongue out and seuctively licked the forbidden metal.
"Oh my god" He always talked like that, like he was two seconds away from losing his hormones.
Both of them laughed at her antics.
"You are really in bad shape upstairs, lady." He crowed.
"Gonna come in here and tell me that?" Her voice was soft but anyone with a lick of sense could have heard the threat in it, the insult. "Or are you too scared?"
She watched his face, the taunt bothered him and they both knew it. He was afraid of her. These bars, his guards. That's all that kept him safe.
"Come on, I'm bored." she complained honestly. "I'm bored, play with me."
"You put five of my guards in the hospital honey. No ones gonna play with you." He gave her a smug look. "You sleep on the ground."
That pissed her off. "I sleep where I want, when I want, with who I want."
She hated that smug look of his, the way he thought she belonged to him.
He laughed at her and breathed in ghthard. "Oh man, I love you."
He grabbed his com and spoke into it.
"Alpha q, hit her." He ordered and just light that, the bars became electrified and she felt the painful jolt course through her whole body.
She was on the ground and memories flooded her mind, the way it always did. Everything this bastard had done to her.
"You're six foot fourfootfour, she's a tiny little girl." He complained as she terrorized another guard.
Strapped down to a chair, being forced fed with a nasal feeding tube. "You got a choice tonight, Chocolate, strawberry or vanilla?"
"My job isMy is to keep you alive until you die. You understand that?"
Taking selfies with her strapped down, making fun of the fact she was helpless.
"Spring break" He cried out gleefully.
She couldn't take it, she had to do something. Getting up in a rage, she ran towards the bars again. Not caring about being shocked, nothing mattered except killing this man.
Her head hit the bars and she crumpled to the ground, consciousness a forgotten thing but as she faded, she heard Griggs exclaim.
"Wow, that is just a whole lot of pretty in a whole lot of crazy."
You better believe it.
The next time she woke up, she could still feel the strap residue from where they'd held her down. Her nose burned and there was a taste of something in the back of her throat..
Eggs, apples and oat. the hell thought that was a good combination. Especially for a feeding tube?
The doctor whined about the fact they didn't do it right. It had been a very, very long time since she'd dealt with a feeding tube.
One of the guys had been badly shot and hadn't been able to eat normally. She'd had to do a feeding tube for him but she'd known what she was doing. These idiots didn't know their heads from their asses.
If they only have to care for me until I'mi'm dead, then why not do it? She thought as she peeled herself off the ground.
Griggs was long gone, only the guards that stayed for the shift were there. She could see them properly though, her eyesight still a little blurry.
They were going to end up killing her though, she was sure of that. Affixation was a real threat for her, nasal tubes were iffy.
They don't care.
So why did she?
This place was hell, why didn't she just end it. She could do it easily. They'd never be able to stop her and just like that her suffering would be over.
Except.
The thought of dying wasn't appealing. She couldn't imagine not being in the same world as Mr J.
He is the reason I live. She reminded herself. Everything else is just a distraction from that.
In another life she'd have judged any woman who clung to a man like she did but that girl had been young, naive.
He was her other half, as always and that's all that mattered.
Love sick? Crazy in love.
No, just aware of the truth.
Loneliness was terrifying, loneliness wasn't for her.
She sat there for a while and contemplated what she was going to allow today.
Was it a good day or a bad one?
The scale had gotten progressively blurred. Good just meant not crying quietly in the corner, where the camera couldn't catch her and bad was letting it all spill out in violence.
Now if only they'd come in here and help her with that.
Mr J, where are you. Pudding please I can't do this forever.
How many times had she called out in her head. As if he could hear her plea.
Maybe he'd forgotten her, maybe he'd moved on without her.
It crossed her mind too often, the idea that he'd just thrown her away.
No, you can't let them win.
Harley grabbed her hair and pulled roughly. Allowing the pain to discourage the dark depressing thoughts before they took hold.
Puddin'. She thought, pulling her body up, off the ground. Her hands pressed flat on the cold concrete.
Even the madness had become routine, Harley felt like someone who was dying of thirst.
A drought of change that left her throat so dry she couldn't scream.
Days turned into years and years turned into seconds.
Maybe it should have been a sign to her when it started to rain. N end to the drought and the beginning of change.
Something was going on, something different.
Harley came out of her own mind and wasn't exactly sure how long she'd been there.
How long was I gone?
She got up off the floor and listened, something was wrong.
Something had changed.
The guards were antsy, all of them.
New noises came down the halls and assaulted her ears. She didn't recognize them.
Was there a new inmate coming in?
It happened, not very often but someone new was considered awful enough to be sent to this pit.
No, this is new.
It was the sound of heels. She hadn't heard that sound in a very, very long time.
Clip, clip, clip.
Such a strong and confident step.
Someone important, someone that scared all of them.
She was shorter than Harley but not by much, dark skin and a stocked figure.
Harley could smell how clean her clothes smelt. Detergine, fresh and fragrant. Red, when was the last time she'd seen such a bright red?
She looked at the woman and she looked back. There was something about her that seemed familiar but Harley was sure she'd never seen her before.
An aura surrounded her, powerful and commanding. The kind of woman you would live to regret crossing.
There was no warmth in those eyes, no personal feelings towards Harley but a hunger, a desire that made Harley feel uncomfortable.
It wasn't sexual, no it wasn't that. She was looking at her like a predator who enjoys eating other predators.
"Are you the devil?" She asked seriously. This wasn't the time for laughing.
"Maybe." the woman said and the way she said it left Harley feeling insecure.
She felt exposed, as if she'd been tied to the ground naked and presented on camera.
Was she going to eat her? Was this red dressed demon going to peck her liver out?
They said nothing else but the woman continued to stare at her, sizing her up.
Why are you here? Is it time to die?
Rain continued to fall outside but Harley couldn't keep her eyes off the woman.
Why are you staring at me?
Are you real?
Then just like that, the woman lost interest and turned to leave.
Harley continued to stare, even after the sound of the women's heels echoed far away.
She thought it had been a figment of her imagination but Harley had never thought of anyone like that.
She'd never never conjured up a person so dangerous.
Things didn't settle either, they got stranger.
The rain stopped but suddenly the sound of gunshots could be heard from her window.
She ran to it, a crazy hope that her puddin had finally come for her and was killing them all but it wasn't.
No one screamed, no one cried out in terror or pain.
What was going on?
She knew she wasn't imagining it. The guards tensed up with every shot. This was happening.
"What the hell is going on?" she mumbled, still staring out the window.
Gotham city
Johnny stepped off the elevator and swallowed hard. Finally, it had taken years but they'd finally found her.
Louisiana.
Belle Reve.
Their contacts had tracked down the name Griggs and it turned out he was the head of security.
In two hours, Frost knew everything about him. Even his underwear size.
He had to be careful how he approached this, he couldn't just blurt it out. J was touchy nowadays. You couldn't just walk up to him and talk.
Some of the guys thought he was finally getting over her but they had no clue.
He was eating, taking care of himself but that was a more dangerous state.
This was a Joker who'd lost patience for depression, he was obsessed with being obsessed and that could cost you your life and the lives of everyone else.
The list of people allowed near J had shrunk down to 5, himself included and they were only allowed near him because they'd been pre approved before Harley was lost.
He had to remember every detail he'd learned. J wouldn't tolerate anything but perfect facts.
With a deep breath Johnny walked into the room.
He was meditating in his circle like always. The echo of her laughter fading as he heard the quiet movement of someone at the door. His arm reacted before his brain and the gun was pointed at Johnny before he looked up.
Johnny had the good grace not to flinch, he was used to this already. He stepped down and sat on the bottom step.
"Where is she?" He growled slowly putting down the gun.
There was something different in Frost's face. A calmness that hadn't been there. The tension was gone.
He knew today would be different than any other day. Today, Johnny had the answer.
"It's Complex, this is not just her. Everybody's disappearing." He explained. "There's this new law, where if you're a bad enough bad guy, they stamp 'terrorist' on your jacket."
J groaned softly as he listened.
"They ship you to this swamp in Louisiana. A black site. That's where she is."
J hunched his shoulder, a mix of frustration and relief blending into a new feeling. So close and yet so far.
"So what are we doing?" Johnny stared at him and J knew exactly what they needed to do. There was much more information, he was sure but they needed to move. They needed to get down to Louisiana and get her the fuck out of there.
"Bring the car around, we're going for a drive."
With that he fell back onto the ground. Johnny left him as he began to laugh.
Johnny couldn't consider himself J's friend but the only person who knew him better was Harley.
If there was a god, Johnny would thank him or her. He wasn't sure how much longer they all could have kept going like this.
He'd even moved Shelley to a different building, J snarled at any couple in the same room with him. He didn't put it past him to hurt her just to get his frustrations out.
"Get the cars ready." He ordered once he was downstairs. "Full crews."
"Yes sir." One called. "Where we heading?"
"Louisiana."
Whatever else happened, that's where they were heading.
24 hours at least. He thought to himself. Maybe a stop for gas but the boys better pack food.
J wouldn't want to stop, he wouldn't even let them stop to pee or take a shit.
It took an hour to get everything ready, ice coolers of drinks, food, change of clothes and bags full of cash. All three SUV's full of gas and ready to go.
J came down and slid into the front passenger of the first car. Johnny got into the driver's seat and typed in the GPS address to the safe house he'd set up in Baton Rouge. They still didn't have an exact location for this prison. There was no way to find it through computers and the only lead was a single man.
That was alright though.
"Tell me the details." J demanded as they pulled onto the interstate.
"Griggs is a security guard holding her. The head guy, married with a few kids, looks like his wife is ready to split."
"And?"
"He's got a gambling problem."
J grinned, cracking his neck as he got comfortable.
"Well, that's something we can work with isn't it?"
"I asked around, he's in deep with a casino in Morgan city, New Orleans, Baton rouge. If there's a place to lose your money, he's there."
"Well, then he shouldn't be hard to find. What's his favorite place?"
"This one casino, once we get to the house, we'll drive down there. I had a chat with the owner, he'll let us know when he's there."
"Good, good." He stared out the window.
It was dark now, they'd have to drive down to the south and then make their way to Louisiana. They'd be exhausted by the time they got there.
"Boss?"
"What is it?"
He couldn't believe he was going to ask this.
"Is she worth all this?"
Johnny wouldn't have been surprised if he shot him right here and now but he had to know.
It wasn't that Johnny didn't get it, he loved someone. He'd do anything for her. He had done anything for her but he'd known J for a long time and he'd never been so devoted to a woman. If all of this was over an obsession, then what was the point?
J didn't answer, the silence thickening into a strangling vine.
"Yes."
That's all he said, he didn't explain himself, he didn't offer Johnny any insight into what he was thinking but that was alright. The answer was enough.
Johnny couldn't accuse him of lying to him. He couldn't afford to.
They had a strange understanding between both of them. A trust because they needed each other. J was the brilliant mind, the cruel king but Johnny kept it all moving, he made the impossible reality for J and they both knew it.
J had a lot of things to think about and so did Frost, plans, accounts, people.
When J turned the radio on and changed the station to classical music, it caught Johnny off guard.
Was she worth it?
Yes, of course she was.
Joker considered himself a man of ingenuity, of chaos and unbreakable will but he couldn't deny that Harley fit in the puzzle.
She was the piece that fit just right, he fought it a lot but at least to himself he could admit that he needed her.
Johnny, he was his right arm and that had taken a long time to swallow, but Harley, she was his lungs, the blood in his veins that kept him alive.
"Do you think of them?" she'd asked once.
"Who?"
"Your family."
He'd shrugged. "Don't remember, remember?"
She'd smiled sadly. "You do, I know that sometimes you do. It's okay to think about it. Their… my family too."
She was infuriating like that. So the answer would always be yes.
She was worth getting back, she was worth destroying the world, worth killing for.
The rest of the drive was uneventful, a few news reports, some commercials but nothing that raised their red flags.
When they arrived the next evening at the two story house they unpacked but J didn't get out of the car.
"What do you want to do?" Johnny asked him before getting back in.
"Find him." He ordered. "Now."
"You don't want to change?" J just glared at him.
Stupid question
In 10 minutes they were back on the road. Lucky for them Griggs had just arrived at the casino.
Three of his men were in the back seats, guns and the bags of money on their laps.
Finally, Harley was coming home.
AN Shorter than I usually pull, still getting a feel of writing again. Sorry for the years it's taken to pull this off. I already said it in MaP but I do intend to finish all of the stories. I won't leave them abandoned, it's not fair on anyone if i do that and i think that finishing them would be good.
Now as for all the movies that have come out since this all started, well I'm not going to add too much into it. Few reasons but he main one being I don't really like the way it all worked out.On their own good movies but difficult to thread all of it into this. So for the moment I'm not touching them unless i really need to. I know the second scuicide squad movie is out and my favorite actor is in it yay, John cena but again, going to leave that one alone for the moment. It's not chronologically required unless i write something about them down the line.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who's been so patient, I hope you all enjoy it. Like I said it's been a while. I can't promise I'll write and post every day but I will definitely keep it updated.
PS. Everyone please stay safe in these trying times I know a lot of people don't believe that covet exists but it's best to be safe and not sorry. Even if you don't believe in it, please respect everyone's opinion on the matter. If you're unsure about the vaccine please talk to your doctor. Remember none of us are doctors or biologists who deal with viruses and talk to the people who actually know what they're talking about.