Dreams: Subchapter 1
It's the small things in life that makes it worth living. For instance, just lying in his bed with his arm wrapped ever so protectively around the love of his life. His garnet red hair, now grown long, loose and spread out like a thin blanket over her chest, his head resting at total ease on her breast. From the constant pa-poom, pa-poom of her beating heart he knew she too was awake just laying there in a languid manner. She felt just as he did, it was too nice to get up just yet. It was just too good to awaken onto reality and recall that they were wanted criminals, that they were the people that they were, hearts tinted by their sins, and hands stained with blood.
This was too good, people like them rarely got such peaceful moments, hell he didn't even believe villains such as they deserved such peace and happiness sometimes. At least that's what common belief was, bad guys had to have it rough in repercussions for their wrong doings, but they were far from that. They were in self-made paradise.
Something cool pressed against his dangling hand nudging him to arise onto the new day a little earlier than he had planned. Erik, go away. He muttered pulling his hand back beneath the ultra thin covers. He slowly inhaled taking in the sweet spicy smell of Harley along with the scents of his precious plants. But wait there was a foreign scent mixed in with the rest, a cool and salty scent that reminded him of the beach.
Came a tired moan from above his head.
He wrapped his arms around her midsection indulging in the moment for as long as he could. He's your pet. He muttered onto her.
The whine came before the words, But you promised.
He buried his nose into the silken fabric between her breasts enjoying the smooth feel of it against his skin. What did I promise?
From down the hall a small cry could be heard elevating slowly into a low toned wail. You promised me that if I took care of your baby from dusk to dawn you would walk mine. Harley said crawling from beneath him.
He asked sitting up allowing her freedom from beneath his weight.
He watched as Harley wrapped his favorite purple bath robe slackly around her nearly bare body, he was tempted to reach out and bring her back to bed but the leash landing on the bed atop his lap told him otherwise. Now hurry up or you'll be mopping up piss again.
Yawning he stretched out his muscles fighting the urge to lay back down in the warm oblivion that was their bed and sleep another hour, it was at that moment his yawn was caught short in his mouth when he looked out the window that wasn't usually there at the clear blue skies.
Clear blue skies? That wasn't right. Wait where were the large dull colored buildings blocking the view? Where was the everyday din of Gotham city? Where was that slightly polluted stench of the city he had become accustomed to? Where were the fat lazy pigeons cooing at the window his carnivorous plants took joy in consuming?
It was so bright and clean, outside, the noise wasn't a loud clamor of car horns, radios, and people shouting but a pleasant comforting commotion. Something he had only thought as a myth after living in the dreary city for so many years.
Where am I?' He wondered looking about the room he had no recollection of ever being in. It was his bedroom, he knew that for a fact from the many plants overtaking the walls, but it was larger than their fixed up firehouse of a home. Chris was about to get up and take a look for himself when the hyena jumped onto the queen sized four poster bed and looked him directly in his eyes growling lightly.
I get it; I get it, walk you or get mauled. He muttered reaching out for the leash then hooked it onto the impatient hyena's collar. His stopped when a flash of white gold caught his green eyes, on his finger was a lovely but ordinary wedding ring.
Married? Him? And to who? Harley? Was she wearing a ring? When did this happen? His questions were drawn short when Erik gave a yelp announcing loudly he was more than prepared to go.
Dressed in some discarded sweat pants and stained wife beater Chris allowed the anxious hyena to pull him through the spacious apartment to the exit down the stairwell.
Of all the things Chris had imagined his future home like nothing could compare to what he was seeing. They lived in such a beautiful town, the buildings weren't dark and high like those of Gotham, they were lovely with their many colors, and at most the buildings were six floors high, though built close to together. In the distance he could see the green-blue sea stretch out over the horizon. Seagulls cried in the clear skies above moving from building to building in search of scraps of food or settling down to preach lazily on the roofs. He barely had time to look at the stores most of the apartments were built atop of as the edger hyena pulled him along the way.
Ah Christopher, how nice to see you. A husky elderly woman called as she prepared her produce stand before a small grocery market for the days shoppers.
He timidly waved to her with an amiable smile though he had not the faintest idea as to who she was and why she spoke so calmly to the crook. She tied a lovely ruby colored scarf over her beautiful crinkled silver hair that shined in the bright morning light. You look well rested this morning, is the little miss sleeping all night now? She asked with a smile.
He didn't know what she was implying, and the little gleam behind her lively hazel eyes made him wonder exactly what it was that she was hinting towards. Oh not just yet. He said in a playful tone Harley was prone to use when hinting towards certain events, if it had to deal with his personal married life then he would think that his wife was being allowed much sleep.
The woman laughed picking two of the bigger tangerines from the pile and tossing it to him. Tell the wife I said Hello' and to come by sometime.
I will. He said looking down at the fruit in his hands. And thank you.
It wasn't long after that Erik had finished his business and had lead the way back home to their lovely blue and white apartment built just atop a bakery shop.
He called releasing the hyena that scrambled quickly into the kitchen in hopes of finding some food.
In here, Harley's musical voice called from down the plant covered hallway. We're having breakfast.
He traveled down the long hallway touching his hands against the many lush leaves of his darling plants as he made his way to the doorway. He looked into the brightly painted room and stopped as he felt his heart skip a beat and his breathing halt in his own throat.
There in the room seated in a large rocking arm chair was Harley with her legs crossed beneath her, and in her arms suckling on her nipple was a baby.
He braced himself against the door's frame trying to put together what he had gathered so far: He was married, married to Harley. His green eyes stole a quick glance at her left hand falling on the wedding ring on her finger that matched perfectly with his. Yep, happily marriedwith a baby.
Good morning, daddy. Harley said looking up from their child up to him. Oh ya saw Ms. Cobb this morning, how is she?
He looked down at the tangerines in his hands and stuttered. Oh she is fine, just fine. She says hello. He muttered walking up towards her.
He felt speechless looking onto the flesh and blood that was his own creation. Still a bit fat but yet so small, her eyes were shut but the subtle movement from her lips he knew she was awake and feeding.
Amazin' ain't she? Harley's loving voice full of wonder brought him out of his stupor to see that she was looking down on the child as well. With a laugh she removed her nipple from the child's mouth and covered herself with the borrowed robe. Each time I see her I can't help but think that. Each time I have to touch her to prove that this is all real. Here you burp her while I go take a shower. With that said he found himself seated in the chair with the babe in his arms, a ghost of a kiss lingering on his unresponsive lips, and staring at the empty doorframe wondering what the hell had just happened.
Chris felt awkward holding the child; he must have done it a hundred times before since her birth but it felt like the first for him. In fact everything seemed so new to him. New home in a new town with a wife and daughter. He didn't remember any of this happening; in fact the only thing that he did remember was Harley nagging that they needed better security at their house and going out with her to steal it. But how long ago was that?
His daughter's body jerked slightly finally releasing her burp along with a little spit up. Tenderly wiping the creamy colored substance away with a baby wipe from the nearby container he looked her over affectionately. Skin the color of the elm tree's bark and near auburn colored down crowning her round head. How did he have a child, when he was suppose to be barren, thanks to his biological change that rewarded him with his green skin and influence on plant life? But yet, there she was, in his arms.
Her large eyes opened staring up at him with their beautiful brown depths, much like her mother's, but the sparks of green showed who the father was. He wasn't aware that he had stopped breathing until the slight dizziness kicked in.
After a long while of just sitting there stocked with amazement Chris smiled running his finger over her ultra-soft cheek. M-my little girl. He whispered.
Correction, our little girl. Our little Cayenne Isabella Isley. Harley said from the doorway with a towel wrapped around her dry midsection.
He said in a soft tone, testing her name for himself. I say she looks more like an Iris.
Harley pursed her lips as she folded her arms over her bare chest. Hey we agreed that since I went through nine months of towing her and 12 hours of labor I won the argument of her name. And I wasn't about to name my baby after some prissy flower. Besides I like cayenne peppers.
He wanted to laugh; his Harley was the mother to his child and still acting her old stubborn and carefree self. Ok, ok, but when she gets older I'll bring it up to her for her to decide.
She rolled her lovely brown eyes before turning away to leave him be. Stop playin' around and make my breakfast already, I want to eat something when I get out of the shower.
I don't recall breakfast being apart of our deal. He stated getting up and heading into the area he had seen to be their living room. In fact I don't recall anything.'
With Cayenne asleep in her pin Chris went through the simple pains of preparing an all-star breakfast, looking within the cupboard he chuckled at seeing the top shelf aligned with colorful sweetened cereal boxes. Knowing Harley, her idea of breakfast was about three bowls of Fruit Loops, something he could not stand for.
By the time Harley made it into the kitchen dressed in simple jeans and a shirt with her hands braiding her last pigtail she paused eyeing the pancakes, grits, biscuits accompanied with jam, and fried apples topped off with a tall glass of juice. Whoa big spread. Wait is your mother comin' to visit this week and ya didn't tell me She asked her eyes narrowing murderously on his body.
Chris laughed gently placing his hands to her shoulders and sitting her down at the table. No, mom's still in South America doing what she does best. He kissed an area of exposed skin on her neck. This is just for us because I think you need to eat healthier.
Hey, a cup of orange soda and two bowls of Post Cocoa Pebbles cereal is healthy enough for me! She protested picking up her fork and pointing it at him as he took his seat.
He gave her a disappointed look of disbelief.
'Ey it was better than when I was inhalin' a sheet of Oreos dipped in creamy peanut butter each day while I was pregnant. Wait, I actually liked that. She laughed digging into her food.
The morning slowly drifted by as they ate together then retired into the living room to lay on the floor with the resting baby talking in soft voices about trivial things as they always did in Gotham.
Harley pulled the TV Guide from the table and sat it down between them. Ok, let's see if we can actually do the crossword today.
Chris laughed, You and your habit of puzzles, it's a wonder you wasn't the Riddler Jr. or something like that. He teased only to be rewarded with a loving yet hard punch in his shoulder.
Just do the puzzle laughin' boy. Harley warned trying to restrain the laughter in her voice. Alright I work on across you go Down.
His nodded taking a pen in his hand before looking onto the first clue.
Sitar Atlas Ernest'
What sort of clue was that? He skipped down onto the next finding the chose of words just as confusing. Something definitely wasn't right, maybe Harley was playing a trick on him.
He looked over onto her clues to see they were
just as funky as his own yet she had managed to put down an
answer in a few blocks.
Harley, help me out with four down. He said pointing
to the words Thigh high mobile raspberry cellular airways'.
Harley laughed. Oh that's easy; her name on that show was Pinky. You should know, you watched that program almost religiously when it aired last year.
He filled the answer in careful not to look onto her. I thought it was talking about that Tears of Tomorrow movie.
Harley's eyes looked onto him with concern her naturally arched brows coming together completing her face of worry. He knew she was about to voice his peculiar behavior but had no desires to tell her just yet that he had no memories of anything but Gotham city. He loved and trusted her, but he wanted to be sure before telling her such disturbing news.
She was just about to speak when Cayenne began to cry as a foul smile drifting from her diaper. I've got it this time. He said quickly taking her into his arms and heading into the nursery thankful for the quick escape.
Harley's voice rang from the living room. Hon, I'm gonna go out for a tick to get a few things for dinner. Love you, be back in soon.
He listened as the door opened and closed again. Cayenne, daddy's really screwed up. Did mommy convince me to go dancing with her again and I drunk myself stupid? The half naked baby only stared at him before letting loose a stream of urine targeted on his shirt.
By the time the clock in the hallway struck two PM Chris had searched throughout the apartment looking at photos of moments he had no recollection of but seemed so happy in. He was sitting on the foot of the bed two photo albums resting at his side when he heard the door open and the sing-song voice of his wife announcing her return. It wasn't long before she stepped foot into the bedroom and gave him a soft kiss on his lips. Miss me? She asked joking.
Yeah, I was considering taking up another woman you were gone so long. He teased before looking back down at his organizer/journal which seemed to answer most of his questions somewhat conveniently.
Harl, I want to get my calendar right for surprise anniversaries, and I mean surprise as in if I do forget I'll be sleeping on the couch for a week. He said looking down on the faux red leather one year planner in his green hand.
Harley took off her over shirt letting it fall carelessly onto the floor near the hamper. Oh, you haven't forgotten anything important, like when we met. She tested.
April 28, good try. I mean things like when was our last heist? He asked testing her.
Our last heist? Oh we haven't done anything like that since.well since we moved from Gotham. She laughed taking a seat on the bed beside him. Strawberry cheesecake, ya sure ya're alright?
Yes, Harl, it's just sometimes it's so hard to believe that this is real, that this is our life.
Ya need to take a nap, you're green as it is but now ya're actin' the part. She said letting her worry show in her voice.
The baby monitor alerted them that their daughter was restless by transmitting soft sounds that were steadily growing into cries. Instinctively Harley arose and vanished from the room to tend to her daughter.
Shush shush. Aw there we go, did something wake you up? Her soft voice asked in a loving non-baby talk tone over the monitor's small but effective speakers. C'mon lets go to daddy, I think he's losing his mind.
Chris laughed as the two lights of his life appeared once again in the bed room. Talkin' about me behind my back, aw I'm hurt. He teased falling over dramatically onto the bed.
Harley simply rolled her eyes at this childish antics, I can't wait until she's a toddler; I swear I'm developing a phobia to her cries. She said laying Cayenne to rest in the portable baby bed near their bedside. Oh looking at the pictures?
Yeah, re-evaluating my favorites. He said holding out two photos, one of him and a pregnant Harley lay down on the couch. And the other of him and newborn Cayenne in his arms for the first time, his face a mixture of happiness, pride, fear, and thousands of other emotions one usually did not experience in the same instant.
Harley squealed trying to snatch the pictures away. Not my pregnant pictures! Oh I dont want to see those ever again.
The pregnancy wasn't so bad. He said hoping that what he said was somewhat true, either way with the playful tone he used he wouldnt sound as clueless as he really was. His eyes drifted onto her instantly causing him to winch, she looked at him with a dark blatant glare as if trying to burn a hole into his head, Ok maybe not. He chuckled as she punched him not so playfully in his shoulder.
You're only saying that because you didn't have to go through it. I was always stuffing my face and you only let me have one serving of meat every other day, I looked like a beached whale, and I swear Cayenne was doing cartwheels in my womb. She pointed an accusing finger at the baby.
He looked from her to the photo; she was laid down on the couch with her swollen stomach bare. He couldn't help but smile at the cute little way her bellybutton pouted. He was in the photo with her, sitting behind her with his hand rubbing over her stomach affectionately.
I think you found me sexier when I was pregnant, you never stopped touching me. She accused.
He stood onto his feet approaching the woman who was his mate. You were, and still remind, my wife and pregnant with my baby. All the things in the world that's all I've ever wanted. He said wrapping his arms around her resting his head down against her shoulder. Besides, I still can't keep my hands off you.
Thinking lightly he sunk down against the wall, his life, for the lack of better words, was perfect. He was married, he had a family, and he had everything he could ever ask for. Everything was absolutelywrong. It was wrong because it was perfect and for it to be perfect it had to be wrong.
What had happened that night so long ago? What was the last thing he could recall?
Walking into the building, a scream, a flash of light, then this. No, that wasn't it. There was something else, something, no, someone orange andit was gone. He cursed as the memory slipped away going back into the dark recesses of his subconscious.
He opened his eyes to see the walls before him a transparent shade of green. What's going on?
Stubborn aren't we? The words came onto him heavily distorted and slow, like some booming voice belonging to a bodiless being in a dream.
For a moment he felt weightless and sweetly intoxicated a feeling usually experienced in a splendid dream.
A short cry from the living room brought him onto his feet and running.
What the? He looked up at the high ceiling staring at his girlfriend, no wife, holding onto the rafter for dear life beneath her feet laid the collapsed ladder.
I told you that damn thing was defective. She whimpered kicking her dangling legs. Now help me down.
Crossing his arms over his chest he leaned against the wall, C'mon you can get down yourself.
Harley whined, If you haven't noticed I've been out of practice ever since we left Gotham and I had Cayenne. Now help me before I- Too late her hands slipped and her body began to fall the short distance to the floor.
Out of reflexes Chris ran to her aid catching her falling form before she could hit bottom.
Wrapping her arms around his strong neck she sighed dramatically, My hero. She said in all seriousness.
Sitting Harley down onto her feet he watched as she turned on the light satisfied to see the small glass globe covering the bulb glow. It was then that he knew, much to his displeasure, that it wasn't real.
Night had come soon after and dinner was prepared and eaten with joy. Placing his daughter into her crib for the night he looked down upon her the longing and pain visible in his green eyes.
If things go right between your mom and me and everything else goes alright then I hope I see you again someday. I'll even try to give this to you. But you don't really need this, the only things you will need is me and your mom. Yeah your mother, she's an amazing woman when she wants to be. Smart, strong, creative, and caring. You know she learned how to operate a stick shift from watching television? She cant drive all that well but shes pretty good on a bike. Oh when you meet the real Harley, you wouldnt be prouder to have her as a mother. Letting out a deep breath he kissed his daughter tenderly atop her brow watching as her large eyes focused onto him before slowly drifting close, See you later.
Standing on the small balcony of their apartment home Chris looked out onto the night amazed at how quiet and peaceful it was. He could hear everything there was to hear, even the approach of his lover from behind him. Perfect isn't it? He asked as Harley hugged him dearly around his neck.
She purred contently. Like a dream.
Just like at dream. He said, with a dip he pitched her over his shoulder and over the balcony rail.
Out of instincts she deemed dulled her hand flew out to grasp hold of the cold iron railing flaking of its brick colored paint. Reaching out with one hand she looked up onto him in desperation, Red! Red, help me! Harley cried as her hand began to slip on the rail.
Frowning down upon her he reached down taking hold of the sliding hand removing her so that she hung suspended by his grip alone.
But I can't live in a dream, Harl. With that he released her watching as her eyes wide with neither shock nor fear stared blankly into his own as her body descended the four stories down onto the cobblestone walk of the alleyway. When her body crashed down the ground about her cracked like glass the spider web-like cracks slowly ascended up onto the near buildings and up into the empty air itself, the shards falling away revealing a bright green glow surrounding him.
"No, no, how can this be?" A voice asked frantically to no one.
Bit by bit the green grew until the dream was gone and the light faded revealing a man dressed in an orange and black swirling uniform standing behind a large computer panel working in vain to stop his awakening.
Removing himself from the plat form he stepped onto solid grounds, ignoring the small waves of nausea.
Spellbinder, nice to meet you. Nightshade stated smiling curtly balling his hands ready to inflict pain on the mammal who dared challenge the deadly Nightshade.
TBC
DSP *looking over her work*: I really need to extend my vocabulary. Anyhow next time it's Harley's turn.
HJ: Um there's some people here about a Justice League fic position...
DSP: They weren't suppose to come until later, much much later, like when I had a chance to watch a few more JL episodes. Well tell them to wait in the...um-
HJ: Dungeon?
DSP: No that's full.
HJ: Study?
DSP: Do we even have one?
HJ: The flying purple monkey room?
DSP: NO! Put them in the longue. Ok now like I was saying next time we see Harley's dream.