Chapter 24: Are you the devil?

"Are you the devil?"

"Maybe."

Harley Quinn and Amanda Waller Suicide Squad, Extended Cut (2016).

"Remember, what we talked about." Jodie muttered. "Stay strong."

Harley nodded wordlessly.

It had been a long night.

She felt much better since her conversation with Mistah J. It had felt so good to be close with him again and to talk to him. Despite everything that had happened, all the awful things he had said and done to her, the Joker was the only one who really knew Harley Quinn. He understood her on a level no one else did. Not even Jodie.

Gracie had been so upset. Rachel had gone to sleep somewhere else and Harley had been stuck with challenge of calming a hysterical child down, without being able to physically comfort her. She had told her stories, had assured her that she loved her and that she was safe.

But it had taken hours for Gracie to go to sleep and then Harley was left alone with her thoughts. She and Mistah J had almost kissed. She remembered sitting so close to him, his face just inches from hers. His blue eyes boring into hers.

"Harley!" Jodie snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Drink your coffee, eat your breakfast. And focus."

She had found Jodie early this morning and told her everything.

About Peter and about the uncertainty eating away at her soul. About how much she missed Mistah J and how that thought terrified her. She begged Jodie for help to cut this dysfunctional cord once and for all.

"Remember what we talked about." Jodie muttered and Harley glanced up, seeing the Joker come into the dining hall, his eyes searching the room, looking for her.

She dropped her gaze and opposite her Gracie made a "hmpf!"-sound.

"Harley." He said her name gently, the way he usually did when they were alone together. "Are you ok?"

She made a point of not looking at him.

"The Queen doesn't want to see you."

Jodie said next to her and Harley didn't need to look at her friend to know she was keeping the Joker's cold gaze.

"She doesn't want to talk to you, she wants you to leave and never talk to her again."

She heard him scoff. "Are you serious right now?"

"Yes." Jodie said cheerfully.

"I'm not talking to you."

"Yes you are, because you're certainly not talking to Harley."

Harley waited five seconds before she looked up and watched him walk away with a heavy heart.

"Wow." Jodie chuckled. "That was harsh."

Gracie shot tiny little angry daggers at her and then went to follow him. It hurt her to put the little girl in this position, but as much as Gracie might be wishing for it. She and Mistah J were not going to get back together. They weren't good together. He was charming and loving towards her right now because he wanted her back.

But as soon as she got back together with him he would let her down again. She was sure of it. Yet, her heart hurt and she wished more than anything she could go over to where he was sitting and tell him, she loved him.

"Focus." Jodie repeated. "He'll be gone in a day, Harley. And then you can finally put this part of your life behind you and forget about the Joker once and for all."

He had known it wouldn't be easy, but last night he had fallen asleep with more hope inside of him than he'd had in a long time. They would have kissed. Whatever idea she'd had about not wanting to be touched by him was obviously gone again.

"I think she's being silly!" Gracie sat down opposite, carrying a plate with toast. She was pouting. "I want her to be nice to you."

"You and me both, Gracie." He drank a sip of water.

This lifestyle was getting to him.

He wanted to drink alcohol, he wanted to sleep until noon.

He wanted Harley back.

"Are you going to leave?" The little girl asked as if she had read his mind.

"I..." He was running out of options.

He didn't know how to prove to her that he loved her, that he wanted her back.

"I don't think she'd miss me."

"I would miss you." The little girl announced cheerfully and despite everything he found himself smiling. He felt like he would miss her too.

"Are you ok?" He asked her in a gentle tone, studying her pale face and bags under her eyes. "I heard you were crying last night."

The child nodded with wide eyes. "It was scary, I had bad dreams, but Harley chased them away with stories!"

He smiled despite himself.

"Yeah, I'm sure she did."

"Sometimes I dream about my time with my first mummy."

There was a darkness in Gracie's eyes that tugged at his heart, filling him with rage.

He knew nothing of her origin story, but he knew that Neverland took in kids who had no other place to go or had escaped a terrible situation.

Mr. J didn't know what to say, but Gracie didn't seem to need him to say anything. She carried on eating slowly and then went to find Harley, when she was done.

"I would take Rachel and some of the new girls." Jodie declared. "And Gracie."

"No." Harley shook her head. "Gracie had a bad night, I want her to stay and rest."

"Ok." Jodie agreed immediately. "Porter, what do you think?"

"I think the new kids should get to see what we do." He looked as tired and worn as Harley felt. "It might help them trust us."

Wendy as Captain Hook had barely provided for them. She had let them fend for themselves, leading them to distrust one another and steal from each other. If she needed help with something she'd pick one of them out and manipulate them with gifts and food.

"How are we on money?" Harley asked and he nodded.

"I'd say three days at least, we're good." He had started saving money without telling Peter and Wendy and that was what had gotten them so far in the first place.

"Valerie said she can provide some more clothes." Jodie said.

"Actually I'm going to see if I can meet her today." She looked at Porter. "Are you ok on your own in town?"

He nodded. "Guys." Harley said. "I can come along, I'm–"

"No." Porter and Jodie said in unison. "You should rest Harley."

Porter said and pointed to her cast hand. "You're still hurting and you're not sleeping well."

"Take all the time you need." Jodie urged. "We've got this covered."

"Actually, do you know what?" Porter said. "How about we clear out Neverland for today? The kids are antsy and restless, they'll be glad to have something to do. We'll have a group to perform, one to talk to Valerie about the clothes."

Jodie nodded. "I'll take care of it."

"And one group can start scouting." He gave Harley an apologetic look. "We can't stay here."

"I know." She sighed. "It was just a temporary fix."

"It was a good one." Jodie said and Harley smiled at how supportive she was.

Little did she know Jodie was lying.

"Ok, great and now you fold it back, like this." Harley showed Gracie how to fold the clean T-shirts and pile them according to size.

Resting wasn't her strong suit.

"Good job, Honey."

She couldn't just lie down and sleep. There was too much to do. She trusted Porter and Jodie, she trusted that they knew how to help out all the kids that had lost so much in their young lives. But despite the physical pain she was feeling, she wanted to be active. So she and Gracie folded laundry and tidied Neverland up as good as they could.

"I like it when it's empty." Gracie said. "It's so quiet."

Harley laughed. "Yeah, I thought you might say that."

She enjoyed the silence as well.

At first she had thought it was eerie, but then she realized she and her favorite Lost Boy were all alone and the place to themselves.

"Harley, I don't want Mistah J to leave."

She actually sighed.

Leave it to somebody who wasn't even present to ruin the moment.

"Honey, Mistah J isn't who you think he is."

"And who is he exactly?" A familiar voice said behind her. "Why can't you just accept that I love you? I've proven it over and over."

She turned around to her former lover and smiled sadly, remembering what it was like on the other side of this conversation. The one who wanted to be let in by someone who had closed off all emotions.

"Gracie, Honey. Go upstairs to your tent."

"No." Mistah J stepped into the path of the little girl. "Gracie, you can stay. You should hear this."

"Don't talk to her!" Harley snapped. "She's not yours!"

"Well, technically she's not yours, either Harley." He muttered and she balled her hands to first, causing him to chuckle.

"Gracie." She repeated in a gentle tone and the little girl with the fairy wings turned to her. "Go upstairs. I'll be right there and tell you a story, ok?"

She nodded and headed upstairs, walking around the Joker, keeping her distance. Harley smirked.

"Even a six-year-old understands loyalty better than you do, Puddin'."

He lifted his arms questioningly.

"What do you want me to do? Last night you were all over me."

"I wasn't!" She snapped and pointed a finger at him. "You're twisting everything again!"

"Fine." Mistah J sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "But we almost kissed, didn't we?"

She dropped her gaze, unable to reply, scared of what she might say. He stepped closer, closing the bridge between them. Mistah J ran his fingering over her arms, causing goosebumps to spread all over her body and she closed her eyes.

"I know you miss me." He whispered. Her eyes snapped open and she wanted to drown in his gaze.

But she didn't.

She stepped back, trying to put distance between them.

"I want you to leave, Mistah J. You don't belong here."

"Neither do you!" He finally exploded, running his hands though his hair.

"You belong with me." He sounded so desperate it tore at her heart. "I mean...this is it, Harley. It's me, it's us." He shook his head. "How can you turn your back on that?"

"The same way you did." She said coldly, holding his gaze and stepping back. "Without regrets. Without a second thought. Pack your bag and get out of here, Puddin'."

The former Clown-couple stood before each other wordlessly.

Neither of them willing to give in or break eye-contact.

"Fine." He finally said. "I'll leave, but you and your little friends are on your own, Harley. I'm done." He narrowed. "Whatever problems you may still encounter are yours. I won't come running when you scream for help."

Arkham Asylum was worse than she had imagined.

Jodie felt confined just by walking inside and she was on the side that was allowed to leave again.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Valerie asked.

"Yes. I need this." Jodie whispered. "Thank you for making it happen so quickly."

She had calmed Harley down, promised to help her detach from the Joker, promised to help her with this step.

She had found herself agreeing with the Joker.

Something that bothered her on a whole over level.

But he was right in not taking the blame for Wendy's actions. She hated that she was actually graetful for the way he had spoken to Harley.

But all of this was secondary.

The most important thing was Wendy.

Once Harley had finally fallen asleep Jodie had called her sister.

Their relationship was strained, had been due to their complicated past.

She had blamed Valerie for her father's actions and Valerie had never known that he had so easily moved on to fulfill his urges with his younger daughter. But last night none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that she knew where Wendy was and had the chance to talk to her in a controlled environment.

"Do you want me to wait outside?"

"No. I want you to take care of the kids." She felt bad for lying to Harley, but she'd known Harley would have tried to talk her out of this.

And she had to see her.

She had to see the person responsible for Alison's death.

It had been a year and not a day went by that she didn't miss her.

That she didn't think of her best friend.

The first person she had told her entire past to.

The person who had showed her how to trust again.

To trust Peter and Wendy.

The guard gave her an encouraging smile and then led her into the small room.

It was strange being in the same environment in which Harley and Mistah J had first met yeas ago.

Who knew, maybe this had even been the room they'd had their sessions in.

Wendy looked strangely put together. Her long hair was up in a bun. She wore a dark blue jumpsuit, typical inmate clothing.

Her face had changed, it had lost it's softness, just as her eyes had.

Had it all been a lie?

"Jodie." Wendy smiled and the smile caused her to shiver. "What a nice surprise. What are you doing here?"

"I know you killed Alison."

Wendy actually laughed. "You never were one for small talk, were you?"

"How could you?!" She spat. "How could you do this? Alison? Lauren? Kaitlyn and Kurt?!" She was shaking. "How could you do this to us?"

"Simple." The calmness radiating off Wendy made Jodie's stomach churn. "This passion and this love that you feel for Alison. You take that and you channel it into revenge."

Jodie shook her head. She was beginning to wish she hadn't come. "

All of this is Harley's fault." Wendy continued. "I know the little bitch survived, so you can get your revenge for Alison, if you use your emotions correctly."

"You're sick." Jodie whispered. "You're so far gone." Although she was ashamed she couldn't stop the tears from coming. "Was any of this ever real? The whole concept of Neverland? Did you ever love any of us?"

The inmate sitting in front of her bit her bottom lip and had to think about this questions.

"Most of you, yes. I was very grateful for all the work you did, you and Porter especially." She grinned. "I hear that's still going well."

"It is. Harley is our queen."

Wendy started to laugh and the sound made Jodie shiver. Even with her experience with Mistah J she'd never heard such a horrible sound before.

"Oh Honey." She smirked. "You know that love-sick puppy will want to reunite with clown-boy as soon as she gets the chance."

"No she doesn't!" Jodie snapped. "She's finally come to see reason and wants to stay with us."

"Aww." Wendy mocked. "It's like Alison number 2." She shook her head. "Oh Jodie, you're going to fall down so hard and this time no one will save you."

"I don't need saving!" Jodie snapped. "Harley and I are a team and she said herself she doesn't want to be with Mistah J anymore. She's done with him."

Wendy giggled. "Aww, poor Mistah J...Jester kept me up to date, you know." She grinned. "He never slept with her. Their little relationship was strictly for PR purposes. He was shattered and she swore she even heard him cry when he thought he was alone."

Jodie's heart sank.

"Well it doesn't matter now. They'll both be dead at the end of today anyway."

Upon seeing Jodie's shocked expression Wendy giggled.

"What do you think, Jodie? That Peter and I would let them go? He's been hiding in the chemical plant! For days!" she laughed. "He was there before you guys showed up. Harley Quinn is so predictable, it's painful."

Jodie felt sick.

She had to leave right now. She had to make this right. She was already at the door when Wendy spoke again:

"We're getting our revenge, Honey. We don't care who else has to die for it, Harley and the Joker are going down."

"Gracie, come on."

"No, I'm mad at you!"

Sighing she sat down on the floor of the bathroom. The little girl had locked herself in one of the toilet stalls and wouldn't come out. Harley had bribed her with chocolate, story-time, the best game of hide and seek in the empty large space.

But Gracie wouldn't budge.

The Joker had left Neverland an hour ago and had taken a part of Harley Quinn with him.

She was heartbroken, but she knew it was for the best. She couldn't trust him. She could barely trust anyone in this world. Peter and Wendy had proven that.

"Honey, I'm sorry." Gracie was crying and it tore at the pieces of her heart. She couldn't stand the sound any more. All she wanted was for Gracie to be happy, to finally be happy after everything she had encountered.

"I know you're sad." Tears burned in her eyes. "I'm sad too."

"Then bring him back!" Gracie sobbed and Harley leaned against the door, fighting against sobbing herself.

"I can't do that, Sweety." "

But you love him!"

"I do." She said softly, wiping at her eyes. "But sometimes even though you love someone you can't be in each others' lives."

"That makes no sense."

Harley smiled. "I'll leave you alone now, but I'll be outside when you're ready to talk again, ok?"

The little girl didn't answer and Harley went back to Neverland, where she and Mistah J had broken up. It was fitting somehow that it would end here where it had all began.

She took a deep shuddering breath. She couldn't break down now. She wouldn't. She'd come this far. Even if it hurt now, she knew it had been the right choice.

The strange whistling sound that had been accompanying her life here in the new Neverland came again.

And it was followed by a blood curling scream.

"Gracie!" Harley threw the sheets she had been folding onto the dirty floor and sprinted towards the toilets.

The little girl screamed again and Harley almost passed out from the stress it caused her.

"Gracie!"

"You're running away from her, Harley." The familiar voice turned her blood cold.

It was the voice that haunted her nightmares.

She turned around slowly to see Peter. He looked terrible, ragged and the smell coming of him made her stomahch turn. He had one arm around Gracie, who was shaking. In his other hand he was holding a gun and he pressed it to her head.

"No, please." She stepped forward. "Please let her go. I'll do anything you want."

Peter laughed and the sound made her heart drop into her stomach.

"Harley Quinn begging, some men in Gotham have fantasies about that you know."

She barely cared what he was saying.

All she could do was stare at Gracie and hate herself for sending Mistah J away. What had she been thinking?! She was all alone. She and Gracie were all alone and without protection. Gracie was crying, struggling in his grip.

"Please let her go." She repeated. "Please."

Peter actually rolled his eyes, before pushing the small girl to the floor roughly.

"Let's play a game, Gracie. You have ten seconds to hide. When I find you, you're going to take a bath in the chemicals. One, two..."

"Run, Gracie!"

Harley pulled her up from the ground and pushed her towards the exit.

"Run baby, and don't come back! I love you!"

She heard Gracie sob and watched as she vanished through a side door. Her broken wings the last thing she saw of her.

Then she turned around to Peter.

He had the gun pointed at her.

"You're supposed to be dead." He remarked.

Harley took a steadying breath.

She would not go down crying or begging.

She would buy Gracie as much time as she could.

"Well, if you want advice from an expert, you can always mess up the corpse afterwards. That way you know you're victim really is gone."

She thought she heard a familiar chuckle.

But of course that was her imagination because she wished more than anything that she could see Mistah J one last time.

"Victim?" Peter sneered. "You're no victim, bitch."

They both heard the tsking sound that came from one of the tents.

"That's no way to talk to a lady, Peter."

A mixture of relief and panic exploded in her chest as the Joker emerged from the tent closet to them.

"You're supposed to be gone." Peter scowled, pointing the gun at him and then back at Harley. "She sent you away."

"Yeah I rarely do what she tells me to." Mistah J chuckled. "Works quite well for us. You and Wendy should try it." He smiled a crooked smile. "But I guess things are rough with her locked up aren't they?"

Peter's face hardened as he took a step towards him, cocking the gun.

"Don't you dare to talk about my wife."

The Joker lifted both of his hands as if he was offering peace.

"Ok, chill." He winked at Harley. "This guy can't take a joke, can he?"

"Puddin'!" She half sobbed, half laughed. "What are you doin' here?!"

"Savin' you, of course." He chuckled.

"Shut up, both of you!" Peter roared, obviously tense.

The gun was still steady in his hand. Harley could see the Joker looking at it intently, analyzing the situation.

And then he stepped in front of her. Putting himself in harm's way and shielding her. She was trapped between his body and the wall.

"Puddin'." She whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder.

He put both of his arms on either of her side, locking her in place.

Peter chuckled.

"You're just making it easier, J. I'll kill you both. This isn't a neither / nor situation. It's just the question of which one of you will go first."

"Or..." Mistah J began. "You let Harley go and we'll talk man to man."

Peter scowled at him. "You're not a man."

"Man to Half-God?"

Haley heard Peter sigh and closed her eyes, wishing Mistah J would stop provoking him.

"Vampire?" Mistah J prodded. "Fey?"

Peter stepped closer, ignoring his jokes. He was trying to look around him and the Joker pushed his body closer to Harley's.

"Ah ah ah... eyes on me." He whispered.

"What do you think will happen after I shoot you?" Peter muttered.

"I think my little harlequin made an oath towards me."

The Joker gripped her hand, pressing it gently and then he stepped forward, until he stood right before Peter.

"Take me with you Peter and torture me. You can get her later." Mistah J grinned as Peter pressed the gun against his temple.

He was momentarily thrown back to when Harleen had held him at gunpoint.

But she had been emotional, insecure.

The hand holding this gun was steady. Peter had no second thoughts.

"It's more fun if you torture me and chase her." The Joker winked at him. "You'll see."

But Peter didn't see.

He was done.

He wanted Harley and Mistah J dead. He wanted this to be over. The Joker's hand shot out just as Peter pulled the trigger.

Harley was pressed against the wall.

She couldn't breathe. He couldn't die. Of course a lot of this mess was his fault, but she didn't want him to die for her.

The gun shot rang loudly threw Neverland and Harley screamed.

She could hear Gracie screaming too and began to sob.

Both men were on the ground and there was blood everywhere.

"No! Puddin'! No!" She fell to her knees beside him, shaking him.

His shirt was covered in blood and she shook him again.

"I love you, Mistah J I'm sorry. I can't live without you, please don't make me! Please, don't leave me!"

The Joker opened his eyes and began to laugh.

He sat up with a wide grin.

"Fooled ya." He smiled, pointing to his chest. "This isn't my blood."

Sobbing she hit his chest with her uncast hand.

"Ow, Harley, chill!"

She threw herself into his arms with a sob and he caught her immediately, cradling her against him.

"No more games." She whispered tears still streaming down her face. "Please. I can't do this anymore."

"No more games." He agreed, cupping her face in his hand and leaning down to kiss her deeply.

She melted in his arms, clinging to him as she had so long ago in the chemicals that had made both him and her.

Someone nestled between them and when they broke apart they saw that Gracie was between them, hugging them furiously.

The Joker was dumbfounded and surprised by the softness that was Gracie.

She was so small, so delicate. Harley leaned down to her.

"It's over Honey, you were so brave."

Mistah J said nothing, but pulled both of them into a tight embrace.

Trust, he thought feeling surprised. This is what trust feels like.