"Alright," Harley did a quick spin. "What'cha think, Ma?"

Her mother glanced up from what was cooking on the stove to give Harley's outfit a quick lookover. "Cute! But maybe bring a jacket? Won't you be sitting outside?"

Harley deflated slightly. "Well, yeah, but…I don't really got one that matches, and that isn't, like, baggy…and smells like Goodwill."

Ms. Quinzel took a step away from the stove and crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Since when does stuff like that matter to you?"

"It doesn't, really."

"Is it because of Pam?"

"No, no," Harley was adamant. "It's just…now that I started hangin' out with her friends it's…ugh, never mind. It doesn't matter." Please drop it please drop it please drop it.

"Harley, come on, you can talk to me,"—damn it!—her mother urged. "I do my best and give you everything I can, but I'm definitely not like your new friends' parents."

The blonde found herself studying her shoes, feeling guilty for even bringing it up. "I know, Ma. It's OK, it's really not a big deal, I…" she sighed. "I love you."

"I love you too, Harl. And if they want to be real friends to you, then they won't care if you don't have a jacket to match every outfit."

Harley nodded, but she couldn't bring herself to meet her mom's eyes. "Selina and Pam are probably already waitin' outside," she said, tightening her pigtails. "I'll text you after the game."

"Have fun! And am I ever going to meet this famous Selina, by the way?"

"Ugh, she's an…acquired taste, Ma, we'll see. Later!" Harley's smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she grabbed her oversized down jacket that hung on the hook, folding it over her arm and closing the front door to the apartment behind her. She took a deep breath, leaning against the door for a second before she was startled by a honking horn.

Leaning over the balcony, she saw Pam's Tesla parked below, Selina leaning out the passenger side window. "Aye, Bubbles! Get a move on! Blossom doesn't like to be late!"

"Does that make you Buttercup?" Harley shouted in response.

"I think I've made that pretty fucking obvious!"

Grinning, Harley took the stairs two at a time, arriving at the car in a matter of seconds and sliding into the back seat.

"I'm serious, Harl, you don't want to see her when she's angry," Selina warned as soon as Harley had closed herself inside.

"Selina, will you shut up?"

"—she'll rip your tits off."

"That is absolute nonsense," Pam huffed, speeding off down Harley's street. "And I happen to like Harley's tits, I mean them no harm."

"Ugh, gross," Selina complained, crossing her arms and sulking back into the passenger seat while Harley giggled. She stayed like that for a block of two before twisting around to look at Harley. "What's up with that jacket?"

Shit. "What do you mean?" Project confidence, otherwise she'll smell your fear!

Selina furrowed her brow. "It's not school colors. We're sitting in the student's section."

"Oh," Harley relaxed, as that wasn't the complaint she'd been expecting. "I mean, I don't have to wear it. Not too cold outside, I think I'll be fine."

"Harley, it's not even 50 degrees," Pam scoffed at the same time as Selina said, "What are you talking about? It's freezing." The two girls looked at each other once they reached a stop sign, deciding who was going to proceed.

Pam was silently elected. "I have a spare jacket in the trunk, you can wear that."

Smiling, Harley settled back into her seat, her relief at skirting any embarrassment mixing with her blush to make her feel warm, and oddly at home. "Thanks, Babe."

15 minutes later, the three girls were standing outside in the cold, staring into Pamela's trunk, the contents of which Harley was slowly trying to process. Selina's reaction was much the same—disbelieving, while Pam had her arms crossed, gloved hands gripping her sleeves, bracing against the mid-November chill.

"What?" the redhead finally demanded, breaking the awkward silence.

"She can't wear that, Isley, you dweeb!" Selina gestured wildly at the letterman's jacket as Harley lifted it from the trunk gingerly, like it was spun from gold. "You may as well tattoo a damn pride flag on your forehead. Are you trying to get disowned?"

Pam rolled her eyes, her focus shifting from Selina to Harley, expression softening. "She's cold, Cat. I'm not going to let her freeze. And look, it's school colors," she took this opportunity to take a step towards Harley, helping her into the sleeves and kissing her a moment longer and with a bit more tongue than Harley was expecting…not that she was complaining… "You don't mind, do you?"

"M-mind?" Harley forced out some ungodly mixture of a snort and a laugh, not sure she'd need the jacket at this point based on how hot her skin felt. "Yeah, no, I don't—I don't mind."

And Pamela grinned—happy (maybe a little relieved). They stayed like that for a moment, just gazing at each other in the busy parking lot...until Selina complained.

"Oh my God, I cannot do the sexual tension. Take that shit under the bleachers, and be considerate, some of us aren't getting laid," she dismissed them, waving her hand and starting towards the student entrance.

Harley was the first to drop her attention, her eyes falling to her shoes as she playfully bumped Pam's shoulder, biting her lip to contain a grin of her own as they turned to follow Selina.

They all flashed their student ID badges and were waved through the gate without having to empty their bags for the school security officer. Yikes, is this what privilege feels like?

Diana was already waiting in the front row of the student's section, waving them over with a big smile on her face. She was wearing war paint, a black stripe below her left eye and a green one below her right, with a foam finger on her waving hand that Harley had to assume was ironic…or, maybe not? She still didn't totally understand these people.

"Hey!" Diana shouted. "You were almost late!"

"No fair scolding us for maybes, Diana," Pam countered, stepping up onto the bleachers next to the other girl, letting Selina and Harley slide past.

Diana leaned forward, ignoring Pam to talk to Harley. "Nice jacket," there was a legitimate thrill in her expression, and for some reason that made Harley giggle. Diana Prince ships me and Pam.

Just then, the bleachers erupted in applause as the Gotham Prep Rogues streamed out of their tunnel, breaking through the banner that the cheerleaders were holding up (aka, the girls who were cut from the gymnastics team). Dick was leading the pack in his #38 jersey, carrying a flag with the school mascot printed on it, which looked kinda like a pirate.

"I thought we were all just big X-Men fans!" Harley joked to Pam, who didn't seem to get it, but smiled and nodded anyway she probably can't hear me, that was solid! So she turned to repeat the same joke to Selina. "I was hoping we'd fly an Anna Paquin flag!"

"Harley, that wasn't funny enough to say twice," Selina dismissed her, arms crossed rather than clapping like everyone else, and Harley turned to find she was watching Bruce exit the tunnel, the last of the team. The rest of the players had been wearing their helmets, but Bruce's was clutched in his hand as he jogged out onto the field, stopping near the sideline to turn and look into the bleachers.

Harley could feel Selina brace beside her, appearing to make a distinct effort not to wave. Instead, she nodded as his eyes passed over her…but then his gaze continued further up into the stands, staying there for a moment before he turned back to the field, pulling his helmet on and buckling his chinstrap.

Frowning, Selina turned around as well, trying to follow the path Bruce had taken, and Harley followed suit, the two girls finding Talia al Ghul a few rows up from them, smiling from ear to ear, an expression Harley was positive she'd never seen before.

"Oh, for the love of Anna Paquin!" Selina complained, throwing a middle finger in Talia's direction.

"Ha! You did think it was funny!" Harley pointed an accusatory finger.

"It's mine now, don't worry about it," Selina lowered her hand only after she was sure Talia had seen it. "Also, there's no way I'm staying for this whole thing if he and Talia are going to continue eye fucking each other."

"Well, he's gonna have his helmet on now, right? Eye fuckin is kinda hard to do through a face mask, I think. Not that I have much experience…with the face mask part, I mean."

"Harley, listen," Selina turned to her with a sigh, taking the blonde's hands in hers and looking her in the eye with a sincerity that caught Harley off guard. "If Pam is going to insist we be friends, I need you to know that I'm a salty bitch and I simply refuse to absorb your sunshine, got it?"

"Uh—well, sure, but—,"

"Nope, no buts," Selina dropped her hands. "Two things make me happy in this world. Shopping and the suffering of others. You are, unfortunately, neither."

Diana leaned forward again, having overheard their conversation. "Oh, stop it, Selina. You're just in a bad mood. Harley, ignore her. And Selina, here," she bent down, reaching into the duffle bag at her feet and pulling out her letterman's jacket, which had a few more athletic patches than Pam's. "In case you're cold…or want to feel included."

Selina raised an incredulous eyebrow. "You just carry that around with you?"

"Of course," Diana answered like that was a silly question…and then didn't elaborate, instead turning her attention back to the field just in time for kickoff.

Selina quietly took the jacket from her still outstretched hand, hanging it over her shoulders without commentary.

Pam subtly took Harley's hand, squeezing it with a soft smile that she aimed towards the field even though Harley knew it was for her.

"This is what I've been saying!" Selina yelled at the start of the 2nd quarter. "Our protection up front is so fuckin' soft. How's Bruce supposed to get the ball off if he can't even do a three-step drop?" she wasn't complaining to anyone in particular, more just out loud to the universe, though, by Diana's nod, it seemed like she agreed. "Jesus-fucking-christ!

Pam didn't seem to care all that much, though she did clap at the appropriate times, dropping Harley's hand every time she did, and then taking it again.

At the end of the 1st half, Gotham Prep was up 35-6, so Harley wasn't totally sure why Selina spent the whole time so annoyed…other than the Talia thing, which was something she seemed unable to get over, even while wearing Diana's jacket.

"Let's get out of here," Selina grumbled as everyone moved in unison towards the snack bar.

"Ooh, are we getting food?" Harley wondered, turning to Pam. "Can I have a hot dog?" she wasn't exactly sure why she'd just asked permission…maybe because Pam was a vegetarian and Harley wanted to make sure she'd still be able to kiss her later.

"No, we're not staying," Selina answered instead. "There's no point. We'll win by 40 points and still get our asses kicked by Metropolis in the playoffs."

Diana seemed disappointed. "I think Bruce would like it if you stayed."

"Well, Bruce has Talia for that now," Selina snapped. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Bruce and I are—,"

"Alright, never mind," Selina cut her off. "I'm taking Harley shopping tomorrow, text me if you free up."

This was news to Harley. "You're—we're going shopping?"

"Yes," Selina answered, leading them down the stairs and towards the front gates. "We don't need a repeat of this jacket fiasco."

Harley left Pam behind, jogging to keep up with Selina. "But, Selina, I don't have any—,"

"Money?" the brunette finished for her. "I know that, Crotch Rocket. It's on me. If we're doing this girl gang bullshit Pam is so keen on pushing, aesthetic is vital."

"I really resent having to run in these shoes," Pam complained once she'd joined them, placing her hands on her hips. "Why are we leaving like the place is on fire?"

"I think Selina is distracting herself by fixating on me," Harley explained. "You know, because the thing with Bruce is out of her control."

Pam blinked while Selina frowned. "Why do you have to talk like that?" the brunette finally asked. "We're 17, Harley, we're supposed to misunderstand each other."

Harley shrugged. "Sorry, I can play dumber, if ya want?"

"Just…get in the fucking car, losers. We're going shopping."

/

Selina was at Pamela's house promptly at 10am, just like she said she would be. Locking the front door, Pam spotted her leaning against her Corvette, dark sunglasses shading her eyes despite the cloud covering, looking effortlessly chic as always in her leather jacket and dark jeans.

"Is your mom gonna shit a brick if I park my car here?"

"As long as you don't park it in my garage…" Pam answered, walking down her front steps and unlocking her own car, setting her purse down in the back seat.

Selina pulled her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose with a smirk. "Pammy, are we being clever?"

"Harley suggested I start using humor as a deflection, I guess it's worked wonders for her," the redhead joked, sliding into the driver's seat while Selina took the passenger.

"Mmm…what are we deflecting?" Selina teased.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Pam started the engine, backing out of the driveway and starting towards Harley's house.

Selina glanced over her shoulder at the back seat. "You guys hook up after you dropped me off?"

Pam tapped her manicured nails on the steering wheel. "Maybe," she admitted before changing the subject. "I appreciate you trying with her."

"Who? Crotch Rocket?"

"Harley," Pam corrected. "And yes. I appreciate you attempting to understand how important she is to me."

Selina rolled her eyes with an annoyed sigh. "She's fine, Pam. I don't totally hate everything about her, and she does really help my gymnastics team out. Sweet of you to assume my reasoning isn't completely selfish, though. I'm simply trying to succeed where both Regina and Janis failed."

"I still don't get that reference," Pam admitted.

"Ugh."

"It's your fault, really, we had plenty of opportunities to watch it together and instead you chose…" Pam trailed off, pursing her lips as she realized the trap she'd just led herself into. Although, miraculously, Selina didn't take the bait, instead, she pivoted away from the topic altogether.

"You think she's a winter?"

"Yes."

"Should we start at the mall?"

Pam shrugged. "It's on your dime, remember?"

Selina's response was to gaze out the window for a block of two. "I texted Bruce last night."

Pam glanced over at her, Selina's tone not exactly implying a good end to this story. "Did he text you back?"

"No," Selina answered, dragging her attention down to the phone in her lap. "I saw on his story he was hanging out with Dick and Diana at his place, though."

"Oh," Pam said, fighting the instinct to be offended by her own lack of an invite. "Talia wasn't there, was she?"

"Not that I saw…"

"Well that's…a good thing, I suppose."

"It's the bare-fucking-minimum," Selina grumbled. "So anyway, fuck him. Harley's right, if I can't fix my disaster, I may as well fix yours."

Pamela hated herself for the relief she felt in that moment, relief at the realization that, as long as Bruce and Selina remained distant, Harley could continue wearing her letterman's jacket and holding her hand at football games.

For most of her adolescent life, she'd daydreamed about a reality like that, one in which being her authentic self wasn't so terribly uncomfortable. Admittedly, in her fantasies it had always been Selina's hand she was holding, but Harley had presented her with a different type of affection. It was softer and warmer and…kinder. Easier, really, and the thought of losing it and her so soon after finding it was a painful one. One she wasn't prepared to truly entertain.

Besides, it wasn't like she was actively keeping Bruce and Selina apart, really…and actually, she was being a better friend than she usually was during this time. Usually, this period—this Bruce and Selina aren't talking to each other period—is when whatever semblance or version of Pam and Selina's relationship existed. Which occasionally stalled Bruce and Selina getting back together. Not because Selina ever actually entertained the idea of dating Pam…it wasn't like that, it was…Pam was a distraction, she knew that. But now Pam had Harley, so…them not getting back together was completely on them and their own issues. Well, OK, Pam had been partially responsible for that issue, but—

"Pam!" Selina snapped in her face, ripping her from her thoughts. "Earth to Pam, hello? You passed her house a block ago!"

"Sorry, I—,"

"You can't go all empty vessel on me when you're driving, holy shit," Selina was beside herself. "Turn the car around, Jesus, I already texted her, she's waiting outside. Bitches be trippin', I swear."