Title: Erase/Rewind
Author: Jen Kollic

Disclaimers: All characters are trademarks of DC Comics. I make no money from this. Wah.
Feedback: Absolutely, but if you're just going to go "OMFG! HARLEY/JOKER OTP!11one1" then don't bother. I'll just make fun of you.
Notes: I have also found out that QuickEdit works much better on broadband. Also, I wrote a porn-esque addition to this chapter, but it's not allowed on FFN. Awwwww.

Spoilers: Vague references to events in the animated series, Gotham Adventures, Batman Adventures and Harley and Ivy. Will most likely not make sense if you've not read Batman Adventures #16.

Chapter 8

It was getting into the early hours of the next morning by the time Harley stopped asking questions. (and she only stopped because Ivy had quite pointedly informed her of the time) By then Ivy had explained about how she'd met Alec while she'd been in the Amazon, and decided to stay with him and send the clone back to Gotham in her place. She'd taken care to place emphasis on her choice to remain with Alec, noting the look in Harley's eyes with some satisfaction. (served her right) Harley needed to realise that she was with someone else now. It wasn't like Ivy needed to remind herself of that. Not at all.

Ivy had shown her to the spare room (also pointedly), then headed to her own, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. It had been over a year now. More than enough time for those feelings to fade. It was over. It was Harley's own fault. It was too late. Much too late.

Because now she was here and committed to Alec. Which wasn't going to change Ivy reflected as she toyed with the lock on the bedroom door. Though it was strange to think that maybe if Batman had dragged her back to Gotham instead of just taking the Darreniam then she'd never have met Alec in the first place. And maybe that would have been better because then… No. If she'd been dragged back to Gotham, Harley would just have driven her up the wall. Again.

And tomorrow Harley would leave, regardless of whether she wanted to. Ivy wanted her gone. Ivy needed her gone. The blonde was just too… (tempting) annoying. Besides, she'd want to run back to the fucking clown soon enough, Ivy was amazed that she'd come all this way just to find her. Clearly Harley was having a spat with her "puddin'", and had been bored. Absolutely. There was nothing else to it, and Ivy did (or needed to) believe that.

Most of all she needed to stop dwelling on it. As she undressed, Ivy gazed pensively at the lock on the door. It would be simple to turn it, the work of a moment. She could easily have done it. Could have, but didn't.

She could also have explained why she didn't. But she never would.

The click of the door handle woke her up a few hours later. (as she'd known it would) Ivy didn't react, feigning sleep, and listened to the soft pad of bare feet approaching her. (she should stop her) Ivy remained in the same position, facing away from the door, lying on the far side of the bed. She heard the mattress creak under the weight of a second person. (she should stop her now) She felt the warmth of another body at her back as Harley nuzzled her head against her shoulder, the blonde's arm sliding across and around her waist. (now!) And worst of all she felt a surge of almost painful arousal on a level that Alec had never even came close to.

"Harley." Ivy felt the blonde start at the sound of her voice; Harley must have thought she was asleep. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Harley could think of several answers to that question. (she wasn't sure whether she should be glad Ivy was actually awake or not) "I was cold?" she offered lamely. "And lonely." she added, pulling her hand back from Ivy's waist before she got too distracted.

"We can't do this Harl." Ivy said firmly, keeping her eyes fixed on the wall. "Not any more. Things are different."

"How are they different?" Harley grumbled. "Apart from us being in a swamp an' all..."

"Because I'm with Alec now." Ivy was trying hard to keep focusing on that herself, but it was far, far more difficult than she'd imagined. The gentle press of Harley's breasts against her shoulder blades wasn't helping at all.

"So? It never mattered that I was with Mistah J." Harley replied, slipping one hand into Ivy's auburn mane and combing her fingers through it. It felt strangely soft and smooth, Harley had gotten used to the vine-like texture of the clone's hair.

"That's different!" Ivy snapped, trying to resist the shiver that rippled through her body as Harley's fingers trailed through her hair. (Alec was on the other side of the country…) She wasn't sure whether it was more alarming that Harley knew how to push her buttons, or that she remembered.

"How is it different?" Harley's voice was impish and wheedling, Ivy could feel her smiling against her neck. "Is it just different 'cause it's you and not me?"

"No, it's different because Alec's never done anything to deserve this!" Galvanised by that thought, Ivy finally managed to pull herself away. "He's never hurt me or treated me like dirt! Unlike your fucking clown, and he'll never change!"

There was a pause, then Harley realised that the Ivy she'd already told the story to had been the clone. "You're wrong Red." she said quietly. "He did change. While you were gone."

Strangely, that thought didn't make Ivy feel any better. It was selfish of her, wrong of her, but she'd always liked being the one Harley ran to for comfort. And if the Joker did change then… no, she shouldn't be thinking like that. "…what happened?" she asked eventually, turning to face her.

"It was weird." Harley murmured, her eyes going distant as she remembered. "He started acting like he really did care about me, and doing these really stupid things for me. Like driving a whole bunch of motorbikes into a vat of tapioca and calling it a 'Harley Pudding'."

"And?" Ivy prompted, trying to hold back a snigger.

"…it… it just wasn't right Red. He was all mushy and crap, and it was… wrong. I hated it. But he went back to his old self after I kissed Batman in front of him." Harley couldn't help a slight grin at the memory. "He totally lost it."

Ivy was trying to control her sheer disbelief. "But… isn't that what you always wanted Harl? For him to be like that?" And though it killed her inside to contemplate it, much less say it, Ivy added "For him to love you?"

Another pause. Harley was still staring blankly into space as she thought about it. She didn't really understand it herself. "…I don't know what I want any more Red." she whispered, her faintly tearful eyes coming back into focus as they met Ivy's. "Except you. I'll always want you. What I said before… I was just angry… I…" Her words were cut off as Ivy laid a gentle finger on her lips.

"I know Harl. I know. It's okay." As she stroked a loose strand of blonde hair back from Harley's face, Ivy couldn't believe how easy it was to fall back into this role, (Alec would never know) here they were sharing a bed, here she was comforting Harley. Just as long as they didn't go any further. (though Alec was far away…)

But Ivy's half-formed resolutions were shattered the moment Harley threw herself forward against her, burying her face in Ivy's chest as she sniffled, hands clinging to her shoulders. Harley's body felt so much different to what she was used to. Not like Alec at all. (better) It had been over a year. Until now Ivy had never realised just how much she'd missed the female body. Soft curves and smooth skin. Ivy closed her eyes as she slipped her own arms around Harley's midriff, (those scars were new, she'd need to ask about them… later) pulling her closer.

Ivy's last shreds of resolve were scattered as she felt Harley's mouth against the hollow of her throat, hot and damp, teasing her way along Ivy's neck and chin until she reached her lips. And as they kissed, deeply, Ivy dimly accepted that although she did love Alec, she'd always love Harley more.