Harley knocked tentatively on the Joker's office door. "Puddin?" She peeked her head in. "Deadshot stopped by. They got all the food distributed." She puckered her lips as she watched him sitting in his chair. She would have liked to have seen what they'd all gotten before it was distributed, but hadn't dared to leave the Warden's Tower once the Joker had brought her back here. "How's…" she glanced over at where Dent was tied in the corner of the room, "how's everything goin'?"
"Peachy, Doll; just peachy," he hissed.
"At least we got the food, right?" she asked hopefully, stepping into the room.
"Of course. Everything went perfectly. The meeting was enough to distract from Deadshot crossing the bridge; I knew that GCPD uniform we had would come in handy." He sat with his back to her in his chair, his elbow planted firmly on the arm, his head in his hand.
"So…" She moved over to him, "what's wrong?"
"Nightwing." Harley froze.
"What about him?"
"I don't know. You tell me," Joker said, deadly quiet. She could hear the grin in his voice.
"I thought... you said I could go out of the walls," she defended. "I'm getting intel, like we agreed."
"Is that all?" he lifted his head a bit.
"I-I guess you could say we're sorta friends. But he wouldn't talk ta me if I wasn't nice to him."
"Of course," Joker purred.
"But I-he did-we got the meeting, didn't we?" She wrung her hands in the bottom of her tanktop. She was wearing red and black silk pajama shorts and camisole, her hair up in it's usual high pigtails and red and black spotted fuzzy socks on her feet. "So… it's okay?"
"We'll see," he turned his head, and she could see his green eyes gleaming in the light of the computer screens. Joker grinned. "I'm sorry about Dent. But you see why it had to be done?" Harley looked down at the floor and scratched the back of her leg with her other foot.
"No," she mumbled. "You knew he was my friend." She winced as Dent snarled from the corner. "An' I asked you not ta hurt him," she breathed.
"And if I asked you to stay here? To leave Nightwing alone? To stay with me?" He stood, walking towards her angrily. A grin spread across his face. "You wouldn't. Dent was a massive liability. He was good and he was bad." Joker cupped her face with his hand, staring at her darkly. "You can't be on both sides," he said pointedly. "You can't be good and bad. It's good or bad. And the definitions of the two can be bent depending on which side you're on," he whispered, a thumb tracing along her jaw.
"And are you gonna ask me?" she whispered, her eyes glancing between his. "I'm here aren't I? I'm staying. We can-we can go to bed. It's late, and you should rest, and we can just go to bed."
"We can," Joker cocked his head. He took his hand away from her face and turned it over, his knuckles stroking her face as he watched her thoughtfully. "It's been a long day." Joker agreed quietly. He stared down at her, his eyes intense in the half dark. Harley stood up on tiptoe, reaching up to grab his hand as she bit her lip.
"But it was a good day?"
"Productive," he sighed, the corner of his lip pulling up. His thumb caught her lip, pulling it away from her teeth.
"If ya think it was too productive, we can rest." She grinned and grabbed the lapels of his jacket. "If not, we can get busy," she giggled. Joker laughed lightly and then took her hands away from his coat.
"Oh, Dr. Quinzel, always working. Burning the midnight oil, as it were," he glanced at the door before grinning. Joker wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
"I really brought my work home with me, huh?" She grinned and draped her arms around his neck to pull herself up against him. Joker's arm around her waist pulled her off of her feet as he picked her up, and he kissed her hard.
"You always did, Doll, it's what I liked about you," he chuckled against her lips, carrying her to the bedroom they shared. There was something behind his eyes, but he smiled and kissed her tenderly; how odd he made her feel, her head spinning as he pushed her against the wall and kissed her again. The Joker lifted her up, her legs around his waist as he pressed himself against her. His touch was electrifying. Joker's hair fell over his face as he kissed down her neck, his hands on her waist holding her against the wall, cool on her shoulder blades. Harley gasped, her back arching her body against him. She ran her fingers through his hair and twisted them in the strands. She pulled his face up to kiss her. Joker caught her face between his thumb and fingers, and he leaned back from her with a gasp, staring into her eyes. He grinned slowly, a deep laugh rising in his throat. It escalated until he laughed at her as he stepped back, letting her fall to the floor. He glared down at her.
"Oh Harley. Harley Harley Harley. I can taste him on your lips; I can feel him on your skin," Joker spat, grinning darkly. His hand wrapped around her pigtail and he looked at her thoughtfully, pulling her head back to examine her. "It's a shame. You used to be so beautiful," he purred, his lips brushing her neck.
"I-I just-it's," she stuttered, breathing heavily. "It's not…" She stared up at him.
"It's not what? It's not you, it's me? It's not unusual?" Joker laughed, biting her ear. "It's a shame, that's what it is. A damn shame."
"I didn't mean to," she whimpered. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. It was- I'm sorry."
"Are you?" he snapped, pulling her body against his.
"Ye-yes. Yes. Please don't… please don't hate me," she pleaded.
"I can't hate you," Joker released her, pushing her away from him and against the wall. "I'm just… disappointed," he snapped. Grinning again, he walked to the door, pausing just to look at her. "Used to be so beautiful…" he sighed, and then grinned. "Sleep well, Doll. And don't come out until you've really thought about what side you're on," he laughed, slamming the door behind him. Harley winced when it hit. She slumped down the the ground, hiding her face in her knees. Her shoulders started to shake as she sobbed.
Why? she asked herself. Why did you even do it? She dug her fingers into the skin of her legs. She didn't know what she'd do if the Joker hated her. He was all she had. She wiped her eyes as she looked up at the closed door.
He didn't return.
An hour passed, and then another- Harley waited where she sat, she waited on the bed, she sat in front of the door, crying until she couldn't anymore. He'd wanted her. And then he hadn't. Just like that. Because of him. She lay on the bed in the utter darkness, curled into a ball, picking at the soft cotton sheets until she finally got up the courage to leave the room. The lights outside must have been extinguished; the door didn't give off any light as it opened and closed behind her, and she crept into the darkness.
"Mistah J?" she sniffed, rubbing her eyes.
"Harley?"
Her eyes went wide at the voice. Harley scrambled back so quickly that she fell backwards, grabbing the lamp on the end table as a weapon and turning it on as she held it, wound up like a bat. Dick grinned at her from the dim light across the room, his hands shaking as he held himself up on the ledge of the window. His head was barely visible over the top, his face drenched in sweat.
"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks," he panted.
"What the-" Harley quickly lowered her voice to a whisper, "hell are you doing here?" she demanded.
"You didn't show up today. So either A: he killed you because of yesterday, which I'm relieved that he didn't, or B: you're avoiding me because of yesterday, and I was never good at remaining avoided," he gasped, grinning. "Can you help me out here, Rapunzel?" Dick finally pulled himself up onto the window ledge.
"Someone could… you could be seen," she hissed. Instead of moving to help him, her hands tightened on the lamp and she pointed it at him like a weapon. "You need ta leave."
"What?" he stared at her incredulously. "After I hoisted my ass up your tower? I just wanted to make sure you were alright!"
"Keep it down," she shushed him, glancing around nervously. "I'm fine. Please leave me alone."
"Leave you alone?" Dick's brow furrowed, and he took his mask off. "Harley did… what happened? Are you sure you're ok?" he asked quietly. His feet still dangled out the window, his arms propping himself up on the ledge.
"I'm fine," she swallowed hard, "just go away. I don't wanna see you anymore." Her voice cracked. Dick stared at her in shock before taking a deep breath, pulling himself silently over the ledge and walking across the room to pull her into his arms, hugging her without a word. She couldn't help leaning into his chest. He finally spoke after the pause.
"Did I… what did I do wrong? Is it me? Is it him?" he asked quietly, releasing her and stepping back.
"It's nothing." She held the lamp between them. "Please go away."
Dick stared at her, his mask still in his hands. "Ok. Ok, I'm sorry," he breathed, turning back to the windows. He stepped up on the ledge and looked over. It had taken an immense amount of effort to climb all the way up, and he wasn't sure his aching arms would make it all the way back down. He didn't want to use his grappling hook; it was loud and left marks in the concrete, but he may not have a choice.
"What were you thinking coming here?" Harley demanded in a whisper. "Do you wanna get yourself killed?"
Dick turned his head to look at her, smiling a little as he put his mask back on. "I get a little reckless when I've got you on my mind," he confessed. "I'm reckless a lot lately."
"Why?" She stared at him. "Why are you here? What…" she shook her head, "have we been doing?" She leaned the lamp against her leg.
"I'm here because I…" he stopped himself, and stared at her in surprise. "I was worried about you," Dick said slowly, before looking down. "And we… well there is no 'we,' is there? We haven't been doing anything."
"We've done enough," she mumbled. She glanced nervously at the Joker's closed office door and took a step back toward the bedroom.
"Well we don't have to do more damage," he said, following her glance to the Joker's office. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Damian, you were right.
"I-I can't." She looked down and closed her eyes. "We can't see each other anymore."
"Alright," he nodded, looking away. The guilt, the panic, the humiliation; they were already blossoming red hot in his chest, and he didn't want her to see it. He'd known it was coming. Just not this soon. Harley tilted her head up to the ceiling, her eyes still closed, and nodded slightly. She was trying to not think of excuses to not say goodbye. Even staying out here this long was a bad idea. She puckered her lips as she waited to hear the sounds of him leaving.
"We-" Dick choked. "You could have-" he stopped again, pinching his eyes closed. "Right," he breathed, dropping over the ledge and holding onto it. He found his footholds in the old crumbling brick and started back down, his arms already strained with the effort. Harley jumped when there was a snarl from behind her, spinning around.
Dick froze, listening. Nygma had somehow gotten off of his chain and was slowly walking towards Harley, his white eyes catching the light of the lamp like a deer in headlights. His hands twitched and he growled again, suddenly shooting towards her in a burst of speed. Dick's escrima stick hit him in the face, and he staggered backwards as the weapon bounced back into it's owner's hand; Dick stepped in front of her and cocked his head, assessing the room. Riddler stared at him in fury and lunged again, but Dick was ready. He flipped over the zombie's head, catching it's collar and dragging it back to it's chain on the wall, securing him once again. Dick marched towards Harley and dragged her into his arms, kissing her passionately before breaking away, panting. He watched her for a moment, his lips twisted into an amused scowl.
"You are being a huge pain in the ass tonight," he told her, and then let her go, walking back to the windows.
"I'm sorry," she breathed. She looked down at the lamp she still had clutched in her hands. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, you'd think a guy like me would be used to being rejected by now, right? I just didn't want to lose a friend." Dick smiled a little, holstering his escrima stick as he stepped up onto the window ledge. His chest ached with everything he wanted to say to her, and he bit his lip, his tell. Physically holding his words back. Damian, Bruce, Barbara, Jason- they were right. There wasn't room for a gray area.
"I don't either," she sniffled. "Dent's already..." She wiped her eyes as she started to cry again. "I'm just not supposed ta be... We're not supposed ta be..."
Dick sighed quietly, stepping off of the balcony and into the room yet again. He walked across the room and hugged her again. "Shhh. It's okay. You'll be fine," he stroked her hair. His jacket was wet, and he smelled like rain. He was hurt, yes, but he couldn't stand seeing her cry.
"Ya shouldn't be here," she mumbled. Her hand clung to him. She couldn't help it; this close, she didn't want him to go. She hated herself for it. She hated being a sniveling mess.
"Right now I'm okay with being a guy. Not a hero, not- the Prince of Gotham- whatever- just a guy, and a pretty girl is crying." Dick smiled a little, stroking her hair.
"I'm..." She wasn't supposed to come out of the room until she'd thought about what she'd done, until she'd picked a side. And here she was back in Nightwing's arms only a room away from where the Joker was waiting. "I'm not supposed ta see you anymore," she whispered, leaning back to look at him. She'd been so sure she'd decided, then he'd showed up at her window. "He's mad at me because 'a us." She realized she was still holding the lamp in her hand. "I'm not supposed ta see you anymore."
"Oh. Okay," he said sadly, smiling a little. "I'm sorry. Just... Give me a smile before you kick me out?" He chuckled, whispering.
"Is that really a good idea?" She remembered what had happened when she'd tried to set ground rules keep them distracted. "And I'm not even supposed ta be out here let alone... Did you really just climb all the way up here?"
"Grappling hooks are loud and messy," he laughed. "And it hurt my arms a little," he grinned.
"Someone coulda seen you," she accused him.
"I'm a bat. I learned stealth. Darkness and stuff," he bit his lip, taking her hands. They still stood close enough to feel each other's heat. The rain on his coat smelled so sweet and inviting as he smiled. "I just... I wanted to see you."
"But why?" She stared at him. "Why me? You know who I am and what I've done... who I'm with. Why have we been doing this?" She'd wanted to pretend nothing had been happening, but now that everything was falling apart anyway, she wanted to know.
"We both wanted an escape. I wanted an escape. And there's something about you..." He trailed off, again biting his lip. She couldn't put her finger on what he was thinking. "Why does there have to be a 'why'? I've grown to- I've taken a fancy to you. A shine, a liking- whatever-" he shook his head and looked down. "You're pretty cute, you know that?"
"It's the pigtails," she smirked.
"I think it is," Dick chuckled and his lips brushed her cheek, his eyes fluttering closed. He sighed slowly.
"We shouldn't," Harley breathed. "You shouldn't be here." She moved the lamp back between them. "He's," she looked down, "already mad at me."
"Well we can't have that," Dick muttered, a smile flickering across his lips as he jerked a thumb towards the other room. "He in there?" Dick grinned, stepping away from her. "Well maybe we need to have a little chat. See eye to eye," he giggled, still whispering as he walked towards the door.
"What are you doing?!" she hissed. He'd never acted like this before. She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the bedroom. "You're gonna get us both in trouble." She shoved him in the room and carefully closed the door behind them.
"Well I can protect you, and like I said- you make me a little reckless," he grinned, catching her waist and spinning her into his arms.
"You're such a jerk." She rolled her eyes and swung the lamp at him. Dick caught it and twisted it out of her hand, wrapping his arms around her. He dipped her low to the ground as if they were dancing, his other hand placing the lamp on the bedside table silently as he smiled down at her.
"Now don't get too violent, people might hear," he whispered, grinning. "Look. I'm not saying that what we do is right or wrong, it just is. There aren't supposed to be sides in things like these, Juliet, so let me be your Romeo," he laughed at his own words, still holding her in a dip.
"There are sides," she corrected him quietly. "And ya hafta pick one. There's no room for gray. Not in this world."
"You're wrong," he whispered, taking his mask off to look into her eyes. "The whole world is gray. Nothing is black and white. It's killing in self defense, it's watching a murder and doing nothing to stop it, it's ugly bystanders and..." Dick stroked her cheek gently, his fingers trailing down her neck as he exhaled slowly. "And beautiful killers. It's all gray. It's never simple, and it's never easy. There aren't two sides. There are many, and I'm taking my own," he breathed, his lips brushing hers.
"But we can't have a side." She smiled gently. Dick frowned.
"Who says?"
"You're not supposed ta be nice to me, remember? You're supposed ta hope I get bit by a zombie or fall out a window, and only bats fly."
"Well I'm supposed to save people. That's all I know." Dick kissed her neck gently. "If you get bit, I'll help. If you fall, I'll catch you," he whispered, lifting her up, his arms still around her waist.
"Ya can't help me if you get bit first." She gently bit his neck and giggled. "Looks like you're Infected."
"No! You're too powerful-" he choked, laughing quietly as he stumbled back and tripped, crying out as he fell against the floorboards, Harley's hands planted firmly over his mouth. Dick trembled, his eyes wide.
"Ya know, zombies around here that cause trouble tend ta get silenced." She gave him an amused half smile. Dick kissed her hand and then smiled up at her.
"I'll take my chances," he whispered quietly, reaching up to kiss her gently. Harley leaned away.
"This... isn't right," she breathed. Not only had the Joker asked her to stay away from him, not only had she been about to do it, but they were in her and the Joker's place. This would be the worst betrayal. "He," she looked down, "doesn't want me because of you." Dick stared at her before dropping his head back on the floor.
"Right. I understand," he breathed, closing his eyes. "Well. That was a bit anticlimactic," he yawned, sitting up with her in his lap. Dick kissed her cheek. "I should go."
"I know." Harley nodded as she scooted back from him. The Joker didn't want to be near her because of her relationship; it only made sense that Dick felt the same. "I guess this is goodbye."
"You know you only have to ask. I don't care about him. If you want me to leave, I'll leave, but if you say the word- I'd stay," he said quietly in the dark, smiling a little. "I'd stay in a heartbeat."
"I can't." She looked down. "Please don't ask me to pick."
"I'm not. He's making you pick. I want you to want what you want-" he sighed and stood- "but it's pointless arguing with you. Good night Harley." Dick glanced out of the room, and then quietly slipped out the door. Harley stared at the door in shock before blinking slowly.
"Night," she mumbled to herself, standing up. She tugged at the hem of her tank top as she shuffled over to the bed and turned the covers down.
"Damn it," Dick snapped as he came back into the room. "I'm not done with you yet. I was gonna stay quiet, but now I'm not- I'm not even sure what I'm doing-" he ran his hands through his hair. He still hadn't put his mask back on, and he bit his lip nervously. What the hell are you doing?! He never would have done something like this, but she'd struck a chord. He knew he wasn't thinking clearly. "This is insane. I can't just leave you here after fighting undead and thugs and murderers all the way here and then climbing all the way up- and I can't tell you why I can't leave you here, because I don't even know myself. You- you are downright crazy. You're with him, I get that, but damn it- he's- you're just- he's not good enough for you," he said lamely, his furious whispering losing its steam.
"He's... That's..." Harley was still reeling from his abrupt return. "He's all I have, and I love him. You said we pick our sides, and I'm on his. Why can't ya accept that? Yeah, he's crazy and so am I. I'm in a freakin looney bin. I'm dating the most notorious criminal probably still alive. I end up screwing the guy who I'm supposed ta gather intel from. And you think I'm too good for anyone?"
"You are. Too good for me, and too good for him," Dick nodded. Crossing the room purposefully and grabbing her by the shoulders before kissing her passionately. He pulled away with a gasp. "And he is not all you have. You've got me going crazy over you, too," he grinned, kissing her again. Harley's hands hung lamely at her sides in surprise. She'd said goodbye to him so many times tonight, but here he was. Joker hadn't wanted her as she was throwing herself at him, but Dick was still here no matter how many times she pushed him away. She grabbed his face, kissing him back furiously as she pressed herself against him. Dick kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her tongue on his. "You know you're starting to confuse me," he panted, kissing her again.
"That makes two of us," she mumbled, pulling him down to her by his jacket. Dick moaned quietly and wrapped his arms around her. I can't just leave you. And I can't tell you why. He bit her lip, pulling her close. Because I think I love you. Harley's hands slid up his neck and into his hair, her thumbs tracing the spot on his cheekbones where his mask usually was. Dick kissed her slowly, inhaling as he did, savoring every touch of her hands on his skin, her lips on his. His hands twisted in the silky fabric of her tank top at her hip. She hooked her leg behind his and pushed him back against the bed. She held him down by his shoulders and sat on his hips.
"Ya know what I said about the girl ya like not being your type?" she murmured, kissing along his neck. "I think I was wrong. Apparently ya love danger," she whispered. She didn't know what the Joker would do if he found Dick here, and she didn't want to think about it.
"I'm a rebel like that," he gasped, closing his eyes as he held her close, his hands resting on her hips.
"Well rebel boy," she kissed his cheek, "you can't do it again," she said seriously. "You can't come back here."
"I know. I just had to see you," he breathed and kissed her ear, pulling her pigtails out and sighing as her hair tumbled over his face.
"Promise ya won't come back into Arkham?" She sat up, her hands trailing down his chest as she smiled at him.
"Promise," he smiled, catching her hand and kissing her fingers.
"And," she hesitated for a second, "I dunno if I can come visit ya on your patrols anymore." She bit the inside of her cheek as she looked down at him.
"Go back one day. We can meet on my break days, just before my patrol- it'll be safer that way. For both of us. That is, if you still wanted to..." He bit his lip as he trailed a hand up her leg.
"What I want ta do and what I should do are two very different things." She grinned and leaned back down, brushing her lips along his throat. "For instance, I think some 'a the things I wanna do ta you aren't legal."
"Good thing I make the law around here," he moaned quietly, his hands tightening on her hips.
"You're in Arkham, Wonder Boy," she reminded him, sitting back up. She pulled her tank top off over her head with a smirk. "There is no law here."
"Then there's nothing preventing you from doing what you want," Dick sighed, sitting up to kiss along her collarbone. His hands slid down her back slowly, and he began kissing down her chest. She gasped, her back arching as she yanked his jacket off his shoulders. She fumbled to undo his utility belt. Dick kissed her skin tenderly, before biting the lace trim on her bra as he grinned. "We should be fast," he groaned, kissing her chest. His fingers tightened on the skin of her back, pulling her closer. "But not too fast," he breathed.
"You're Infected remember?" she teased, biting his ear. "So ya got zombie speed," she giggled. "But that's okay because I know the way to take care of a zombie is through their head," she murmured, finally getting his utility belt unclipped. Dick moaned and bit his lip, laughing quietly. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her hard, falling back on the bed with her.
"You know, I'm starting to get what you mean by the zombie smell," he muttered, chuckling.
"Oh?" She slid her hands up under his top, pulling it up. "And how's that?" She kissed down his chest.
"Well first of all, I didn't know you actually lived with them," he moaned, his back arching a bit as he bit his lip. She grimaced up at him.
"Not by choice." She grinned as she kissed along the top of his jeans. "The real issue I'm having is why," she undid his belt buckle, "ya have so many damn layers." Dick moaned quietly, trying to remain silent as he caught her face and pulled her back up his torso to kiss her slowly.
"Keeps me protected," he reminded her, laughing.
"Well it's annoying," she muttered, her hands sliding into his hair and pulling him to her. Dick sighed into her kiss. When he was with her, his brain shut down. He wasn't thinking about his job, or anything else- It was just her and him, and no distraction. Dick bit her lip, yanking her shorts down over her hips. Harley grinned, biting him back. Her legs wrapped around his waist as she rolled them over, grinning up at him as she undid his jeans. His breath came in heavy gasps as he pulled her against his chest, kissing her hard, pressing his hips against hers. One hand tangled in her hair and held her closer, Dick's lips locked with Harley's. He had to make a conscious effort to remain quiet. Harley moaned against his lips, her back arching and her legs tightening around his waist. She tightened her hands in his hair as she gasped for air before kissing him harder. Dick's back arched and he tore her bra off, kissing her again. His lips tasted sweet against hers, one hand trailing down the smooth skin of her leg around his waist to her hip. His thumb hooked in her underwear and he pulled it as far as it would go before pulling her against him.
"Ya know," Harley pulled his head back so she could kiss along his neck, "you're not supposed to be here," she reminded him. She grinned at him as she slid her hands down to the waistband of his underwear and tugged at it. Dick pulled her underwear the rest of the way down and he panted for a moment, his hair falling down around her face.
"Tell me something I don't know," he gasped, his hands twisting in her hair.
"Well did ya know you're incredibly cute when you're breaking the rules?" She smirked, leaning up to kiss him again. Dick moaned into her kiss, letting his hands explore her exposed skin.
"And you're pretty hot when you're playing the hero," he breathed against her lips. His fingers traced every scar on her body, moved with every motion she made. "You save my skin a lot, you know that?" He chuckled, kissing her neck. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She savored the feel of him on her skin.
"Don't spread that rumor around," she laughed breathlessly, "you could ruin my reputation."
"Your secret is safe with me," he whispered against her skin, kissing her throat. One of his hands slid under the small of her back, pulling her against him, and the other trailed over her skin to cup her face as he kissed her passionately. Harley rolled them over again, yanking his boxers down as she grinned at him.
"I thought ya wanted to be fast," she reminded him, leaning down to brush her lips against his.
"But not too fast," he whispered, his chest heaving. She made everything difficult, including breathing.
"I've seen grandmas faster than you," she taunted and pulled at his bottom lip with her teeth, smirking at him.
"I really hope not in the same setting," he chuckled, moaning. He kissed her slowly, his hips pressing up against hers as he held her close.
"It's not like that would be the worst thing I've ever done." She laughed and kissed his nose. "If it was the same setting." She placed her hands on either side of his head. "Why? Are you jealous of a fictitious little old lady?"
"Not as long as you assure me that I'm better than this fictitious old lady, so my easily bruised ego doesn't get wounded," he laughed. Harley smiled and kissed him slowly.
"You're much better than a fictitious old lady," she murmured.
"Mmmm ego restored," Dick smiled against her lips, his fingers lacing with hers cradling his face.
"Mmmm good," she mimicked. She leaned down and kissed him hard, her tongue tying with his. Dick kissed her back, pulling her close.
The fact that he was in the Joker's bed, the fact that he was dead center of Arkham City, the fact that he was blowing off his patrol- again- couldn't phase him. Not with her here. If anything, it made the high better. She was addictive, and he needed his fix; not thinking about the consequences. Not until they'd finished, and he was hastily getting dressed again. Only then did he realize that a decision would have to be made. Choose her, or don't. Dick bit his lip as he pulled his pants up.
"I guess I'm really bad at tellin' someone I don't wanna see them." Harley propped herself up on her elbows as she watched him get dressed.
"And like I said, I'm not very good at remaining ignored when you want to avoid me," he laughed, pulling the top of his Nightwing suit over his head. Harley groaned and fell back against the pillows.
"I'm in so much trouble." She hid her face in her hands.
"Hey that's a theoretical problem. If you don't tell, nobody has to know," Dick shrugged, sitting down to pull one of his boots on when there was a knock on the door. Even in the dim light from the lamp, Harley could see Dick's face go white.
"Harley?" Joker said outside the door. It was calm, but already impatient.
Harley sat bolt upright and stared at the door. She turned to Dick, her face panicked. "Bathroom," she mouthed and shoved him up. "Um, yes?" she called, pushing Dick toward the bathroom door.
"Harley open the door please," Joker called anxiously. Dick grabbed his jacket and his other boot, and he halted when he saw the window.
"You think I'll fit through that?!" He hissed, yanking his boot on. Harley looked between him and the door desperately; she looked dangerously close to hysterics.
"I don't..." She looked around like she hoped another option would present itself.
"Okay okay calm down. In three days I will be waiting in our safe house, ok?" Dick threw a towel around her shoulders to cover her up and ran a hand through his hair. If they were found, they'd both be in big trouble, but Dick would be dead. She was amazed at how level headed he was. "Just go-" Dick stole one last kiss before shoving Harley out the door. She closed it behind her. He took a deep breath and then let it out, bracing his hands on the frame of the small window. He quietly slipped his legs out, freezing for a moment when he heard the Joker.
"I heard voices, Doll, you weren't talking to yourself again, were you?" He laughed, but there was an edge to his voice. Dick bit his lip.
"I just got out 'a the bath and couldn't find a towel," Harley mumbled, trying not to blush. The fact that there was still sweat beaded on her skin helped with the lie. Joker smiled and stepped closer to her, his lips brushing her neck as he inhaled deeply. He stepped back thoughtfully and then looked around the room.
"Of course," he said quietly, looking at her carefully. Harley jumped when she heard the drain in the bathroom, and Joker's head snapped towards the bathroom.
Dick quickly screwed the cap back on his empty canteen and shoved it back into his utility belt, slipping the rest of the way out of the window. He braced his hands on the sill and searched for footholds beneath him.
Joker stepped towards the bathroom. Harley chased after him, putting her hand on his arm.
"Was there something ya wanted, Puddin?" She beamed at him.
"Just checking on you. You're not usually this quiet," he breathed, grinning. He pushed the bathroom door open, and his smile faltered as he looked around. No one was there. "Did you have a relaxing bath, Doll?" Joker asked, running his fingers along the edge of the tub. His fingers came back wet.
"Not really." Her eyes flickered around the empty bathroom and she clutched the towel tight. "I never really relax after we fight."
"Of course," he breathed, touching her hair falling over her collarbone. Joker walked past her and left the bathroom. Dick's head popped up over the windowsill and he flashed her a grin before he suddenly slipped, crying out as he fell a few feet, grabbing a ledge to stop himself. Harley immediately slipped and cried out, trying to cover up his noise. She caught herself on the tub and glanced over at the Joker. He ignored her, walking back to the door. "Have you thought about what you've done?" He asked casually, looking around the room. She slowly righted herself.
"I have." She bit the inside of her cheek. Joker smiled darkly.
"Good. Get dressed, and we can go to bed," he walked away from the bathroom door, looking down at the carpet. He cocked his head thoughtfully and knelt. Harley glanced back at the bathroom window before closing the door and following him.
"So is everything okay now?"
"Oh. Peachy," he grinned, standing as he slipped Nightwing's mask into his pocket.