Chapter 21: Little Games

"I don't like your little games Don't like your tilted stage The role you made me play of the fool, No, I don't like you."

Look What You Made Me Do. Taylor Swift. - Reputation (2018)

The Joker threw everything that came into his hands against the wall.

The dresser, the chair, the phone.

"Boss?" Johnny called from outside his bedroom. "Are you ok?"

Before all of this mess his henchman had never asked him if he was ok.

There was never any need. There was never any weakness.

His hands were shaking as he rubbed his face.

Harley Quinn was his weakness.

She always had been he'd just been too proud to see it.

The two men came from his club, he had vetted them, but obviously not well enough. Was their connection to Peter and Wendy? Or Jester? How far did this go? When would he truly know Harley was safe?

He ripped the door open where Johnny stood, as usual no emotions betrayed his face expression.

"It's Harley." Mistah J sighed. "She's in trouble. We need to go now."

The Joker drove the car himself, speeding through Gotham City in a way that had Johnny gripping the door handle with a pale face.

As he drove towards the chemical vat he was instantly filled with memories of Harley.

After sending Harleen away he knew she'd been upset. Upset enough to do something drastic. It was the first time he'd been worried about this woman, scared to lose her. So he'd followed her here and she'd been so relieved when he'd show up beside her.

It had been so obvious then that they belonged together.

After she pledged her life to him he'd watched her fall into the vats, knowing full well she couldn't swim.

He'd been ready to let her die.

But then he'd realized he didn't want to kill her.

He wanted her in his life.

Kissing her had been like breathing. A natural instinct. Easy. Something that kept him alive.

He stopped the car, leaving the car in the ignition and jumped out, hurrying towards the large plant.

He knew there were kids here and he knew they meant a lot to Harley. He didn't understand how Jack and Jon had managed to get her alone. Where had Jodie been?!

"Boss." Johnny muttered. "Will Harley come home now?"

He stopped in his rage-walking and looked at his henchman.

"Yes." He realized a grin spreading on his face. "Yes, I think she will."

After all he had been right in his assumption that she wouldn't be safe without him. He'd never wanted her to get hurt, but he could see the advantages very clearly.

"Boss!" Mistah J stopped in his tracks.

The two traitorous men stood outside the vat, smoking.

"It's not what it looks like." One of them said with a shy smile. "We left her in good hands."

The Joker didn't hesitate and pulled out his pistol, killing them one after another with a close-range head-shot. Johnny looked at the corpses unmoved.

"They raped her."

"I'll take care of this." He pointed to the two bodies and Mistah J nodded.

This was why Johnny was his favorite.

When he went inside the place that had made him who he was and that had given him his Harley Quinn he was greeted by a little boy with a rifle.

"Hello, Mr. Joker!" He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. "I'm looking for Harley."

"She's up on the–"

"Aiden!" It was Jodie who appeared out of nowhere. "What the hell are you doing? Don't let him in!"

"Harley said it's ok."

The child muttered and gave Jodie such a defiant look that Joker felt a pinch of sympathy for the child.

"Well Harley's insane and I'm the one who's on watch-duty tonight."

"We have two queens now." Aiden explained to the Joker. "And tonight Harley is sleeping and Jodie is patrolling and tomorrow–"

"Got it." The Joker held up a hand, silencing the boy. He turned to Jodie. "Harley called me. She told me what happened, I need to see her."

"Jodie." Aiden said, completely ignoring what was going on. "I think I just heard gun shots outside, but I'm not sure..."

He yawned. "Impressive security."

The Joker muttered, narrowing his eyes to slits. "You might want to check it out while I go and make sure my girlfriend is ok."

"Ex-girlfriend!" Jodie snapped and then turned to Aiden. "Let's go."

"Clever girl." Joker muttered and headed inside.

It was impressive how they had managed to camp around the large vats. Some of them were just sleeping out in the open, in sleeping bags. Some were in tents.

The Lost Boys slept peacefully and close together.

In trust, he realized. They feel safe here.

He looked up at the high platform and could see a figure sitting on the edge, long legs dangling. His heart raced quicker as the past and the present came together.

It was his Harley.

He raced up the stairs in the back that led him to her.

There was a tent at the end of the platform shielded from view.

The smell oming from it had him wrinkling his nose and as he poked his head inside he saw two girls sleeping side by side.

He smiled to himself. Convincing her to come home would be easy.

"Harley?" He called out softly.

It was just like it had been back then. He'd called out to her and she'd stood up from the edge, relieved to see him, grateful to be with him. Ready to die for him. Ready to live for him.

But this time Harley didn't stand up from the ledge.

"Puddin'?" She sounded surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?" He dropped to his knees beside her, reaching out to touch her face, but pulling his hand back in the last second, remembering that she didn't want to be touched.

Probably now more than ever.

"Are you ok?"

"Sure." She smiled. "I'm fine. Are you ok?"

"Harley–" The words caught in his throat. "Johnny's downstairs, we can leave right away. I will keep you safe. No one will ever hurt you again, I promise."

"Aww, really?" She smiled sadly, reaching out to touch his cheek gently. "Not even you?"

"Harley!" The clown-couple sprang apart at the loud frantic voice and this time Harley did stand up.

The Joker noticed she did it flinching, putting a hand on her ribs, wincing in pain.

"Jodie." She said breathlessly as she stood. "What's wrong?"

"He killed them!" She pointed an accusing finger at the Joker who also stood up and stood beside Harley. "He killed those two men he sent!"

The former Queen of Gotham doubled over in laughter, holding her side. She laughed hysterically, until she was crying, steadying himself against Jodie, who looked worried.

The Joker was not laughing.

"You lied, didn't you?"

She nodded, unable to speak because she was still laughing so hard.

"Dammit Harley! Those were good men!"

"Harley..." Jodie's voice was shaking. "What did you do?"

"She told me they raped her." The Joker explained in a low tone.

Jodie's eyebrows shot up as she looked at her newly found sister.

"What?!"

"I didn't think he would kill them!" Harley rolled her eyes and looked at Mistah J. "But I should have known, right? You're impulsive, you believe anything and you react to it. You haven't learned anything from this mess at all!"

His mouth popped open in shock as he stared at her.

"I believed you!" He actually looked at Jodie helplessly, but she was looking at Harley.

"Time to go, Mistah J." She said. "You're not welcome here."

Once he had left Harley sat back down at the edge, looking down at Neverland. The laughter came at a price her bruised ribs were pulsating with pain.

"Harley..." Jodie sat down beside her. "I can't believe you did that."

"I didn't think he would kill them." She said. "Honestly. They've been with him for years and he's very picky. He liked them a lot."

"I believe you." Jodie said and patted her hand. "And that's not what I meant. I meant...lying about..." She took a shuddering breath. "About being raped."

Harley looked up at her, her eyes wide.

The two Queens looked at each other wordlessly.

"Valerie said you didn't make it out so quickly." Harley whispered. "But I don't know what that means."

"It means our dad was a sadistic rapist." Jodie said coldly. "And a drunk. He raped her for years and when she finally escaped, he turned to me." She hugged herself as if she were cold. "After Valerie was gone it got so much worse, but she didn't know. She didn't think he would..." She sighed. "She didn't expect him to want me like that." She closed her eyes. "Because we look so different."

"It's not about looks." Harley said. "It's about power."

"Yeah." Jodie sighed. "We know that now, but we were just young girls."

Harley nodded.

"I was a ballet-dancer, until he raped me." She was looking down at Neverland. "He called me his little ballerina and I stopped." They were silent again.

"I am sorry." Harley said. "About lying and about bringing him here. I knew he would come." She swallowed. "If he's given a chance to prove himself, if he thinks I'm in trouble." Tears burned in her eyes. "He'll come running and I..." She stared down at the vats and the sleeping kids below. "And I needed him to come running tonight." She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head against them. "I'm scared to go to sleep. I have nightmares."

"I know." Jodie said. "I was at the house with you. I...I asked him for help, because you were in such a bad state."

Harley smiled sadly. "I thought so. He was there when I woke up."

"Harley." Jodie's voice was strained. "When I asked him for help, he took off your clothes and said he would...he would have sex with you while you're unconscious. I know you want him to be a hero and I know he can be in his own way, but he's not the man you think he is."

Harley smiled sadly. "He didn't have sex with me."

"You can't know that, you were passed out. And he undressed you and himself."

"After I escaped from prison I had night-terrors and being naked under the covers helped me." Harley explained. "He knows that. He's the only one that knows that. When I woke up I was under the sheets and he was beside me, fully dressed." She touched Jodie's arm. "He made you think he would do that because he thinks being honorable is showing weakness. He doesn't want to admit what kind of man he can be."

Jodie sighed. "Bloody hell you guys are so toxic it makes my head spin."

Harley laughed and then muttered. "Ow."

"You can go to sleep." Jodie said. "I'll look after you. I'll even undress you, if it helps."

The clown-girl smiled. "Thanks, but the sun's almost up and then we have some work to do."

"Really? What would that be?"

"I've been thinking." Harley pointed at Neverland down below. "About Ronan. About the young Ronan I mean, the boy that manipulated Lauren."

Jodie nodded. "You said he was malnourished and looked sickly?"

"Yeah. And scared."

"Look at our kids." Harley nodded to the sleeping children and teenagers. "They're healthy and happy. I think we should get Hook's Crew here. Show them that Wendy was a liar, show them how we rule."

Jodie looked torn. "I don't know Harley, I mean it could be dangerous, they were our enemies for so long..."

"Wendy was our enemy." Harley disagreed. "And she used them. We could give them a choice." She paused. "A second chance, right?"

Jodie pressed her lips together tightly and Harley smiled because she already knew she had won.

"Fine, but they get one second chance and that's it!"

A loud crowing sound signaled that it was time to get up. Jodie and Harley stood up from the ledge and woke up Gracie and Rachel, who were both well rested and in a good mood.

Neverland stirred beneath them.

Porter started preparing breakfast with a small group of helpers. Aiden, looking tired helped some of the younger boys put on their shoes and led them to the new dining hall.

"Are we still working with the system of the ladder?" Harley asked Jodie as they descended downstairs.

"I think so, why?"

"I think it's time to push Aiden up, he's really proven himself."

Jodie nodded. "Sure, we should talk to Porter about it first though."

"Yeah." Gracie and Rachel were walking ahead both of them were giggling and Harley's lonely heart felt light in her chest, free with relief.

"Harley, Jodie...could you come here for a minute?"

It was Aiden and he sounded strangely nervous. Jodie turned around first and groaned.

"Oh, hell no."

"What?" Harley turned around carefully.

"He said he wants to join." Aiden explained and Harley's gaze traveled from the little boy to the man standing next to him. A sleeping bag and mat rolled under his arm. A packed bag in the other hand.

"Oh Puddin'." She sighed.

Mistah J smiled at her sweetly. "Neverland is the place for second chances, right?"