"Dick!" Selina cried into the comms, causing him to wince. "Will you tell Bruce he has to take his break sometime?" She was sitting crosslegged on his desk in the lab, glaring at him.
"Yeah Bruce, stay in," Nightwing responded. Selina grinned triumphantly at Bruce like she'd won. "Look, does anyone want to take my Arkham shift?" He asked distractedly.
"I just got off," Jason complained. "At least on supply I have a chance of taking a nap." He was up in his room changing his clothes between shifts. "It's your fault for giving up your break to Steph."
"Come on, anyone. City? Care to trade?" Dick asked again.
"She's been avoiding you this long, why are you so worried now?" Cass asked bluntly. She'd already started city patrol, parking her bike in an alley to continue on foot.
"Ouch," Dick muttered. "Thanks. Fine. Bruce, you're staying in." Bruce looked down at Selina. She was sitting in his way so that he couldn't work. He'd taken to coming down here to the labs every once and a while to help with the research since Tim had been infected. He turned his comm off.
"Selina..." he said quietly.
"No. No no no no! I let you stay down here for the past two breaks!" She snapped at him, frowning. She wasn't really that angry. She was just sick of it. And she might have been attempting to cause a scene, but she'd never admit that to herself. Or Bruce. "Ever since you started coming down here, I see less and less of you."
"I'm sorry," he sighed. "But he's not going to get better if we don't help him."
"Yeah well, working nonstop is going to kill you. Whether you starve or die of sleep deprivation, or if I do it myself." Selina hopped off of his desk and gave him a sarcastic smirk before kissing him slowly and passionately. It was enough to make his head spin. She pulled back and stroked his cheek before walking away. "Your loss then. I'm going to go take a shower." Bruce rubbed a hand across his eyes and turned his comm back on.
"Who's doing what shift?" he asked. Dick took a deep breath.
"Batwoman and I are on Arkham. Catwoman on break, Robin and Blackbat on city, with Red Hood headed out for supply, and Spoiler and Batgirl are in labs. I suggest you go on break, Batman," Nightwing said decisively.
"Yeah." Bruce turned and looked at Tim in his observation cage. It'd been over a month now since the attack on the tower that had led to his being Infected, but they weren't any nearer to a cure. The only comfort was that the sample Tim had injected himself with had stopped him from decaying. Since he couldn't heal, he looked the same as the day he'd turned. They had recreated the sample to give to all the Infected to buy time until they did find a cure, but it didn't feel like enough progress. "You know the drill with Arkham; make sure they're still quiet. And make sure Red Hood checks in often since he's without backup."
"Well I think the Commissioner wanted to go with him, but yeah, I'll remind him. Now go spend time with your wife," Dick ordered. Since Batman began spending more time in the labs, Dick had played a much bigger role in command. He'd kept himself busy, and it wasn't incredibly difficult. He had a lot to do.
"I am." Bruce walked out into the hall and pressed the elevator call button. "Think she'll forgive me?" The doors opened and he stepped on, pulling his cowl off.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Dick chuckled. He crossed the bridge and nodded at the police officer leaning against the support beam.
"I'm sure," Bruce agreed. "She'll be happy because she'll think she was victorious in getting me up here." The elevator neared his floor. "Have a safe patrol, Nightwing."
"Have a safe break, Batman," he chuckled, muting his comm. Dick walked through the empty streets, litter blowing into the gutters on the humid breeze. There had been three raids on the food supply in Midtown in the past month. Arkham needed food desperately, and it had been Dick and Jason's idea to let them take it. Now, the bridge guards were all ordered to step aside when Arkham conducted their raids. There were too many casualties if they tried to fight, and Dick had convinced Bruce that the inmates shouldn't have to starve.
Dick took a deep breath, looking around the abandoned streets. He hadn't been in Arkham in a month, always switching his Arkham shifts with Robin or Red Hood. The stab wound in his side was almost all the way healed by now.
Despite the time, he still thought about Harley. Constantly. But only while he was awake; he never did dream about her. That's why he desperately tried to occupy himself during the day. When he slept he could escape into the past, always sitting in Gotham Park with someone, a woman; he had no idea who she was, but he'd seen her before. Those dreams were no harm. The daydreams about Harley, however, made his heart ache, and Arkham patrol was a dangerous time in which his mind could wander to her.
Dick grappled up to the rooftop the building beside him, walking along the edge. It was hot, humid and bright; summer in full swing. Looking towards the hotel on the skyline, Dick thought about he and Harley's little apartment. He could even see the room. He looked down and bit his lip. He wanted to go there. Another reason why Arkham patrol was dangerous. He knew it would hurt to walk into that room, and he knew he shouldn't do it. All the same; he wanted to. More than anything.
"No," he muttered to himself, jumping down to the street and going on with his patrol.
He still found himself there twenty minutes later, staring up at the balcony. The sun was getting high and hot, and Dick had abandoned his jacket again, tying the sleeves around his waist. He shook his head. "I'll just get something to drink, sit for a minute. I'll be fine. It'll be fine," he assured himself, grappling up. Dick pushed the balcony doors open and walked into the dim room, glancing around. The curtains were closed and when the door closed behind him, the room went dark. He could feel his exhaustion weighing on him; after all, he'd skipped two of his breaks, grabbing naps when he could. The darkness was inviting, and the bed welcoming. Dick fell back on the comforter with a grateful sigh. He knew it was a terrible idea; he still had his entire patrol, but he couldn't stop himself from relaxing into the bed. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
Then he realized it- the slight slope of the bed to the weight beside him, the body heat next to him, and her steady breathing- she was here.
Dick froze. His mind went blank, and he felt calm for a moment, like it was something he was used to, but then the panic set in. It'd been a whole month, but he wasn't over her. Not even close. He should just leave now, and she'd never know he was there. Or...
Dick pulled the blankets away from her face carefully, his fingers brushing her hair. He'd wished for a whole month that he could have a moment with her, to try to win her back. He never thought he'd get the chance. Dick leaned down and kissed her cheek gently, closing his eyes. Harley sighed in her sleep, smiling as she pulled the covers closer. Her pigtails were splayed across the pillow, the blankets up around her shoulders. Dick smiled and then sat back a bit, relaxing next to her. He watched her sleeping face before taking his mask off and sighing quietly. She'd kill him if she woke up. That is, if she woke up. He rolled onto his shoulder to face her carefully, and then his comm beeped. Dick froze, his breath catching in his throat. Harley's body stiffened at the beep, and she blinked her eyes open.
"Oh my God!" she cried when she saw him. "What the hell?!" She shoved him away in surprise, nearly pushing them both off either side of the bed. Dick scrambled back, laughing as he nearly fell. This was it. He'd gone insane. He continued to laugh as he looked down, running his hand through his hair.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion, still chuckling. Dick looked up at her.
"What are you doing here?!" she cried, still in shock. She looked around at the room then at the bed, and she pointed to the spot where he'd been laying. "What were you doing?" She looked back up at him. "We're you... What? What were you... And why are you laughing?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he laughed, rubbing his face. "I'm sorry, it is funny. I wasn't going to come here. I haven't. For a month. And when I do..." He sighed and dropped his hand on his leg. "You're just so cute when you're sleeping, I-"
"-Ya can't just watch me sleep," she accused, "that's really creepy!" She sat up further, blinking her tired eyes to try and adjust them to the darkness. "And you haven't been here in a month so..."
"I just got here!" he defended. "Why are you here?" Dick stood up and laughed.
"I was sleeping!" she cried. "And you- you haven't even been in Arkham. You weren't supposed ta just show up!"
"Sorry to disappoint you," he muttered. His hair was longer, falling over his shoulders in dark, messy waves. His fitted t-shirt hugged his body distractingly, his muscles moving under it as he raised his arms to tie his hair up. Harley fell forward against the blankets and groaned.
"They were really good dreams," she whined.
"Well I didn't ask you to wake up, I would have been perfectly content being the Edward to your Bella for a while as you slept," he muttered, holding his ponytail holder in his teeth. He took it and wrapped it around the messy bun.
"Ew no," she mumbled. "Don't do that; it's creepy. It may seem flattering, but ya just sound like a stalker."
"Well you don't give me much choice, do you?" Dick dropped his hands at his sides. "You scream accusations at me that I'm using you and then storm off, and then I don't see you for a month. Makes a guy kind of desperate."
"No," Harley sat back up, "I voiced... rather loudly, my feelings at you lying to me and, yes, using me. Why should I have to see ya after that?" She crossed her arms and glared at him. She was finding it surprisingly hard to be mad at him now that he was here. Despite knowing she wanted to still be mad at him, her anger had evaporated over the course of the month.
"I wasn't-" Dick groaned and rubbed his temples. "I thought 'hey, maybe if I can get her on our side, it'd leave their side vulnerable.' Once. I thought that one time. And then I got here and I saw you and-" Dick took a deep breath. "That is the extent of how I used you. That was it." He spoke deliberately and to the point. He'd clearly stressed over it a lot. "Using you for- for sex is not- that's not who I am."
"Oh really?" she snapped. "It never once crossed your mind 'hey it'd really get to the Joker if I fucked his girlfriend?' It wasn't even about me." She glared at him. While she couldn't find it in her to be angry, it still hurt, and she hadn't forgiven him. "I just wanted a friend, and you wanted to get to him."
"I wanted to get you away from him!" Dick suddenly snapped, nearly shouting it. Even he was taken aback by his outburst. "Yes. Ok? Yes. I used you. I thought that if I could pull you away from the Joker it would weaken him. I didn't realize that when you pulled away from me it would have the same effect," he snapped right back. If she wanted to fight about it, then he wasn't about to deny her. "I used you for probably a day because it was an idea that my dumb ass brother put in my head, and I thought maybe if I was getting something out of it, then Batman would stop riding my ass about how insane I was acting. I thought that if I could do some good with whatever it is we had, maybe he'd let me keep seeing you. But you know what?! I couldn't do it. I went head over heels for you, and that theory evaporated. If that caused bumps in you and the Joker's relationship, then bully for me, I got a bonus. I got to sleep with the woman of my dreams and stop her bastard boyfriend from abusing her!" He spread his arms, biting his lip to hold back the rest of the rant he was shouting in his mind. Twenty four hours ago, all he'd wanted was to feel her touch; to hear her say his name again. Now they were fighting? Something about her just made his blood boil, and there was something so incredibly exhilarating about that. The passion. There was a heat between them like he'd never felt before.
Harley turned away from him and stared at the wall, her jaw clenching. "He's not the one who hurt me," she hissed through her teeth. She couldn't say it louder; she couldn't risk her voice cracking. She couldn't risk breaking down. Because no matter how hard she'd tried not to, she'd missed him.
"I didn't want to," Dick said, his voice gentler. "I never meant to."
"Well then ya shouldn'ta set it up that way." She pulled her knees up into her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "I was always gonna find out, so was he, you asked me to choose, and there was always going to be a break up. No matter what I was gonna get hurt because that's the way you designed it."
Dick didn't know what to say. He couldn't believe how much he'd missed her, even when she was furious with him. Dick sat down on the bed, looking at the messy hair falling down her back. "I'm sorry, Harley."
"And I'm a Virgo," she muttered, "so what."
"Honestly, what do you want me to say to that?" He couldn't help but smile a little at her sarcasm.
"I don't know," she groaned, leaning back and falling against the pillows. "You're an ass, but I missed you." She huffed air out of her mouth to blow her bangs out of her face. "Wasn't it you who made fun 'a my taste in men?"
"Maybe. And I missed you too," Dick smoothed her hair back. "You do have bad taste in men. I'm not good enough for you."
"Obviously. And I'm still mad at you." She nudged him away before bursting into laughter. "Hey, isn't your comm beeping what woke me up?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh shit-" Dick pressed his comm. "Jason, did you check in?"
"Ooo, Jason," Harley teased.
"I tried to check in," Jason corrected him on comms.
"...Red Hood. Sorry about that. Yeah. You doing ok?" Dick asked, rubbing his neck. He glanced at Harley.
"Yes," Jason stressed slowly. "I just know Batsy gets antsy when one of us is in charge of patrol alone. Did Catwoman end up convincing him to take his break?" he asked conversationally.
"Yeah, Bats went on break. Look, I'm gonna get back to work now, be safe. You said it yourself, you know how Batman gets nowadays if you don't check in."
"Yes mom."
"Alright Jay, see you." Dick muted his comm again and looked at Harley. "You take that to your grave."
"Oh please I already knew his name," she scoffed. "And is it true that Selina's not dead?!" She sat up, grinning hopefully. Dick smiled a little.
"Yeah, she's fine," he assured her. "A little on the crazy side, but you know. All the best people are." She kicked her legs as she sat up.
"I knew she couldn't be dead," she squealed. "An' how's Red doin' living on the straight and narrow?" She giggled.
"Ivy? She's good. Doesn't cause too much trouble. I think Red Hood has a thing for her," Dick sighed and smiled happily.
"Don't tell her, but I think she has a thing for him too." She grinned.
"Oh?" Dick laughed. He leaned down on his arm. "I'll make sure to let him know."
"Really? Neither of them have made a move?" Harley shook her head in exasperation and laughed. Dick smiled, enjoying her smile. He realized he was staring and bit his lip as he looked down.
"I should get back to work..." He sighed a bit.
"I'm having deja vu. Have we had this conversation before?" She giggled.
"Yeah probably. Look, I really am sorry. And I like you, Harley." Dick bit his lip again. He'd sunk down against the comforter, head leaning against his hand.
"Well that sounds like the start of a couple break ups I've been a part of." She smirked at him. "Is it not you it's me?"
"Well breaking up implies we're together." Dick smirked. Harley cocked her head.
"Ya know, I think I've heard that one too."
"Are we?" Dick watched her, smiling a little.
"Are we what?" Her brow furrowed. "Together?" "I love you." He'd actually said it before, and she could almost believe he meant it. But she had promised herself she wouldn't see him. She had promised Joker she wouldn't see him. "What about me avoiding you for a month makes you think we're 'together?'"
"Right." He laughed and looked down. "Why are you even here?" Dick asked curiously. "Don't you... Have a place? Why are you sleeping here?"
"I just…" She pursed her lips. "You weren't using the place, so I figured it'd be okay if… I just sleep here if I... ever need to get away… Why can't I just sleep in a place?" She crossed her arms. "Is it that big 'a deal?"
"No. I just thought something might have happened." Dick watched her, his blue eyes intent. He'd missed her so much, and now she was sitting in front of him, but he couldn't do a thing about it. He was in love with her, and everything he said seemed to make her angry. He was helpless.
"No," she sighed, "absolutely nothing has happened." She stared up at the ceiling and chewed on the inside of her cheek. "So," she rolled her head to look at him again, "how ya been circus boy?"
"Stressed. Batman..." Dick watched her. He suddenly couldn't trust her anymore. When he thought she felt something for him it was a different story, but... Now, he was wary of her. "I've had a lot on my plate. Kept busy."
"Well that makes one of us. Do ya know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop? Because I do now."
Dick laughed. "Bored, were you?"
"Only... colossally," she said dramatically and giggled. Dick smiled. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want her to leave, and he didn't want her to kick him out. Harley watched him for a moment. It was nice to talk to him again. It was easy, and it made her happy to make him laugh, and she'd missed him and the way his shirt fit him... She cleared her throat.
"So, uh, hey thanks for letting us raid food every now and again." She wasn't allowed on the raids, but she helped distribute the food when the trucks came back, and there was no way they'd come back with that much food without trouble every time unless the Bats were letting them. Dick glanced at her.
"Who says we let you?" He smiled a little. There it was again. That look in his eyes, he looked... Infatuated. Completely taken by her.
"I do." She grinned at him. "Either that or you're really slacking."
"You guys shouldn't have to starve," Dick laid back on the bed calmly, staring at the ceiling.
"Yeah, now we're just mildly uncomfortable," she joked. "Hey, completely logical jump from starving Arkham inmates, but how's Oscar Meyer? Is he okay?"
"He's good. Robin likes him a lot, and Titus is the Great Dane that he has, and that dog likes him a lot." Dick sighed a bit. "I should bring him here for you next time." Harley stared at him.
"Is there going to be a next time?" He froze. Dick didn't look at her, still staring at the ceiling.
"The next time you come. I can drop the dog off with some food... He can be here for you to see."
"And what about the next time you come?" she asked.
"I won't." Dick turned his head to look at her. Her face fell.
"Oh." She turned her face away. She knew she wasn't supposed to want to see him but... "Right. Not seeing each other, enemies, mad at each other, all that jazz. I forgot."
Dick still watched her, gently touching her cheek to guide her face back to look at him. "Could you forget again?" She swallowed hard.
"Forget what?" She gave him a lopsided grin. Dick smiled again, laughing. He held her gaze and exhaled slowly.
"May I kiss you?" he asked quietly. The smile slid off her face.
"I know what I'm supposed to say but... Yeah."
Dick smiled a little before leaning over and kissing her gently, his lips soft and decisive against hers. His hand cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone as he kissed her lovingly. Harley ran her hands up either side of his neck, her fingers trailing just at the end of his hair line. She pulled him closer as she kissed him back fervently. She'd forgotten what it had felt like. Her memories hadn't done this justice, and she could remember why she'd been unable to stop seeing him. Dick pulled back reluctantly, his eyes still closed.
"I shouldn't." He whispered, breathing faster. He'd underestimated just how weak she made him feel. He thought he could control himself after one kiss, but he'd also overestimated himself. Harley looked down.
"I know," she sighed.
"That doesn't mean I don't really, really want to," Dick whispered, his lips brushing hers. Harley grinned. She tilted her head up to tug at his bottom lip with her teeth.
"It is what we're good at," she murmured. Dick suppressed a moan, closing his eyes. He almost looked pained, and he put his hands on her arms to gently push her away.
"No. If that's what we are, then no." He sat up, grabbing his mask off of the bedside table before standing up, putting it on to hide his reddened cheeks.
"What?" Harley sat up as she watched him. "What did I do wrong?"
"I can't do this that way," he watched her.
"You can't do... what what way?" she asked in confusion. She looked down at his body. "Is something wrong?"
"No no- jeez no-" Dick took a deep breath, going redder. "I don't want to do this with you thinking that- that you're just some girl I've got on the side. I can't do this if that's all you think you are to me. Even if... Even if that's all I am to you." She stared at him for a long time.
"But that is what I am to you, right?" She was panicking. Her mind felt like it was shutting down, unable to process his words. He couldn't actually love her.
"No. I said it and I meant it." Dick watched her, his jaw set. You idiot, you'll never see her again! he chided himself, knowing full well just how poorly she could potentially react to this.
"No," Harley stood up, "no, no, no." She started pacing. "You can't say... that. You can't mean that. You're not supposed to... There are thousands of girls in Gotham. No. I can't be the one that you..." She shook her head vigorously. "Nuh uh. I'm supposed to be able to flirt the pants off any guy, but you're a hero. The only way I'm supposed to be able to get you to say... those three words is if I get Ivy to help me drug ya."
"You did your job too well then," Dick sighed, sitting down slowly on the bed. He watched her pace the room. Harley stopped and stared at him.
"You can't love me."
"Ok?" Dick looked back at her. "Then what?" He asked, standing up and coming so close to her that she could feel the heat of his chest. He stood a few inches taller than her, looking down at her face through his mask. "You accused me of taking you as a 'piece of ass' that I could have whenever it was convenient, which you're not; you said it's all you were good for, which it's not." Dick took off his mask, his blue eyes watching her face earnestly. His voice wasn't hostile, but it was forceful. Almost angry. "I'm not saying that my lying about the secondary purpose of my actions is excusable, I'm only explaining that it wasn't my original intention or my highest priority." When she tried to look down, he caught her face and prevented it, looking between her eyes for a moment. "My feelings aside, we don't have to be any more than what we were before. Not if you don't want us to be." And with that, he kissed her passionately, his lips moving against hers with nearly ferocious intensity as he held her face in his hand.
Harley sank weakly into the kiss, her hands grasping to hold onto his shoulders. He was never supposed to fall in love with her, and she shouldn't be with him still if he did. But his kiss was dizzying and the thought of leaving his arms daunting. He trailed his thumb across her cheek only for it to come back wet as he wiped away a tear. Dick rested his forehead against hers, looking at her in concern. He wiped her tears away, holding her face.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have- I'm sorry-" Dick watched her, breathing fast. He still stood close to her; he couldn't pull away. He never wanted to.
"No, it's… no." She kept her eyes closed. "It's not you; it's… I'm crazy remember?" She gave him a small smile.
"That doesn't mean you don't have reasons behind your emotions. Something is wrong," he said gently, his lips brushing hers. "Are you tired? Really want cake? Do I smell?" He chuckled. "No reason is too small. What's wrong?" He stroked her cheek.
"It's…" She stared up at him. While the Joker hadn't seemed to mind her occasional foray in the night and would even use it to his advantage, that was different than being in a relationship with someone else. With a hero. The only thing that would be worse is if she started dating Batman. But she couldn't lie to the Joker about her and Dick again, and he'd already made his displeasure at seeing Dick clear enough. The only way he'd be happy with this is if he could exploit the fact that Dick loved her, and she wasn't willing to hurt Dick like that. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. Dick took a deep breath.
"Big reason, ok," he said quietly. "Do you want to talk about it?" Dick took her hand as he sat down on the bed with her standing in front of him. She laughed harshly.
"No I don't really want to talk about how I'm going to have to choose and it's going to hurt and no one is going to be happy either way." She shook her head and looked down. "I can't have both of you, can I?" she asked quietly. Dick bit his lip, looking down.
"I'm not sure. We can... We can figure something out. Can't we?" He met her eyes. All he wanted was her. He wanted to see her happy, and he wanted to be the one to make her happy. I don't know if that's possible, he thought to himself. Dick sighed slowly. "Is there any way... You could still see me, and not be... I don't know, in trouble?" he asked, looking up at her. She bit her lip and stared at him with a pained expression.
"Ok, no. Ok, um..." Dick looked down. His throat was burning. "But I just got you back," he said quietly, laughing a little.
Harley sniffled. "Can I change my reason to really wanting cake?" She smiled sadly. Dick didn't look up.
"What if- couldn't we just-" Dick stood up, squeezing her hand. "I may have an idea. In a week, if we still want... To see each other... We'll meet back here. Maybe we just need some time to think."
"Yeah," she laughed, "because one week is going to change what we've been thinking for the last month."
"What have we been thinking?" he asked with a smile. She glared at him.
"That you're a stupid, stubborn ass that I shouldn't want to see, but I do." Dick backed off a little.
"Jeez, hostility. I'm not a total ass, am I?" He shrugged, smiling a little.
"I just think you're just really good with anything ass related in general." She smirked.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or offended," he laughed. "You wound me, Harley Quinn." She giggled.
"You'll get over it, Dick Grayson." He smiled and brushed her hair away from her face, biting his lip.
"I really did miss you."
She beamed. "Good."
Dick smiled broader at her. "Didn't you miss me?" he asked, stepping closer. His hand was on her waist, and she wondered when it had gotten there. Harley squinted her eyes at him.
"You just want me to say it again, don't ya?"
"Maybe a little," Dick smiled, biting his lip.
"Fine. I may have missed you... a little." She gave him a begrudging smile. Dick grinned and leaned down to kiss her gently. He pulled her closer by her waist. Harley stood on tiptoe, bouncing a little as she kissed him back, giggling against his lips. Dick laughed and kissed her again. He'd wanted to do this for weeks, he'd missed her so much; he wanted to forget how wrong it probably was. Dick kissed her hard, pulling her against his chest. She pulled her face back and looked at him seriously.
"I'm such an ass kisser." She gave him a huge grin and started laughing again. Dick smirked and shook his head, looking down.
"Ha, ha, very funny," he muttered, hiding his smiling.
"Don't be such a butt," she giggled, "I'm hilarious."
"Yeah, you keep being funny then. If I'm here I may as well do something productive like shower, I haven't in a while," he walked to the bathroom, rolling his eyes.
"You do smell pretty shitty," she told him, falling back onto the bed as she smiled.
"Ok thanks," he called, and she heard the shower running.
"I'm sorry you're the rear end of all these jokes," she yelled back as she giggled to herself.
"You're not sorry," came his shouted reply.
"Not even a little!" She pulled the covers over herself and curled up in a ball. It was still pleasantly dark in the room with the curtains drawn, and she nudged her head into a more comfortable position on the pillow as she smiled. She could hear Dick humming quietly.
He finished his shower in a hurry and got dressed again, walking back out into the bedroom. He checked his comm and unmuted it. "Nightwing, checking in. How is everyone doing today?" He asked in his best imitation of an airline pilot.
"Boo," Stephanie replied.
"I fastened my seatbelt and my seat is in the upright position," Jason joked.
"Tray tables up?" Dick laughed.
"How do you two get any work done?" Barbara asked.
"City patrol has been quiet," Robin updated, and Cass agreed.
"So far nothing from my end of Arkham," Kate added.
"Fine here too," Dick added with a wince.
"Yeah I am," Harley mumbled into her pillow. He glanced down at her and kissed her shoulder blade with a smile.
"Ok. Stay safe everyone," he responded and then muted his comm. "You're going to get me into trouble," he muttered, planting his hand at her side as he kissed down her spine.
"And am I the trouble in this scenario?" she giggled. Even feeling his lips through her clothes was fantastic.
"You're always trouble," he informed her with a smile, kissing her ear. He took in the scent of her hair, his lips brushing the back of her neck.
"Oh look, you found skin," she sighed happily. Dick laughed, kissing her neck.
"Were you worried I wouldn't?" He smiled, a hand on her hip, his finger running little circles over her skin.
"Not even a little bit," she told him, turning her head to smirk up at him. Dick smiled, kissing her over her shoulder. His lips were soft, and his hand tightened on her hip. She could feel him pressed against her back, her legs tangled with his. Her breathing sped up, and she reached her arm up the best she could to pull his face closer. Dick kissed her again, his dark hair falling over his shoulder. It was still damp and smelled sweet like the shampoo she'd stocked the shower with. He held her close, kissing her again with the same intensity as before. Harley leaned back for a second and smiled at him.
"Ya know," she gave him a quick kiss, "this position is really uncomfortable." Dick laughed and pulled her over to face him, smiling as she settled against his chest.
"Better?" She could feel his heartbeat under her hand.
"Much." She kissed along his cheek to his ear. "And how is it for you, Mr. Grayson?" she breathed.
"Better," he smiled, closing his eyes. "Much better." I missed you. She giggled and kissed his nose.
"Good."
Dick kissed her lazily, savoring the taste. He inhaled deeply, wrapping his arm around her waist. She wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing him hard. She grinned as she bit his bottom lip. Dick moaned in shock. He melted into her kiss, his hand climbing up her back as he situated himself against her, holding her tight. Kissing her fervently, Dick ran a hand into her hair and gently tugged her pigtail out.
"And how about this position?" she murmured as she arched her back against him and ran her hands down his sides to tug the hem of his shirt up. She could feel him tense under her touch, and he dropped his head back, sighing. He kissed her slowly, pulling her second pigtail out as he nodded against her lips.
"Not bad," he half moaned, laughing when he did and kissing her again. She let her fingers trail across his skin as she pulled his shirt up higher.
"And what would be better?" she teased. Dick blushed, turning his head a bit. He closed his eyes when her lips brushed his neck, and he smiled slowly, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist. Dick sat up, pushing Harley up with him as he pulled her top over her head. When it hit the floor and her hair fell down over her shoulders, he was immediately kissing her again; the passive, deliberate motion of his lips on hers drew her in, and he cupped her face with his palm to hold her there. They were suspended in the kiss for a moment. It was so earnest that it took her breath away; his taste was intoxicating, and his touch was worshipful on her skin as his other hand held her waist, delicately, as if she was made of something more precious than gold.
Harley moaned, her breath gasping past her lips. She yanked his shirt up over his head and tossed it aside. "Would you believe me if I said I was still mad at you?" She laughed. She kissed longingly across his shoulder as she tightened her legs around his waist to pull her body closer to his. Dick smiled, his head dropping back as he grinned, biting his lip to keep from groaning.
"I could use a little punishment," he laughed, one hand grabbing her butt, the other moving up her spine slowly, savoring every inch of her skin. He felt dizzy, drunk on her kiss and the warmth of her body against his. She could feel the almost healed stab wound in his side, more of a scar now than a wound. She couldn't help but grin at him before kissing him again as her hands steadily crept down his skin. She'd missed him so much and couldn't help but feel jubilant at the way his body reacted to her as she moved to undo his belt.
"Quinn!" Came a distant yell, and she froze, her hands still at his belt. "I know you're up there!" Harley groaned in frustration as she glared at the window.
"Damn it," she muttered, "now?!"
"What?" Dick breathed, looking at her in confusion. "Who the- what the-"
"It's my babysitter," she said spitefully and rolled her eyes. Dick still stared at her.
"What?!"
"I was supposed to stay in Arkham." She kissed his cheek and stood up to grab her shirt. "I guess me getting bored since everyone's dead or gone and wandering around Uptown again was seen as me acting out or something." She'd started going outside the wall again to see if Joker would take notice, instead he'd just had someone follow her. The first time she'd noticed the tail on her, she'd been so mad she'd retaliated by staying here again. "So happy go lucky out there follows me around to make sure I'm not doing anything else I shouldn't. Like seeing you." She pulled her shirt on and sighed. "I thought I ditched him over by the asylum."
"Are you... kidding me?" Dick groaned and dropped back on the bed.
"Don't ignore me!"
Harley opened the balcony door to yell back "Yes, okay! Don't get your panties in a bunch." She closed it and started tying her hair back up. "I'm sorry. They really don't like it when stay here. Probably something to do with some hero or other maybe showing up." She smiled at him.
"Who's- who's 'they?'" Dick asked, watching her from the bed. She tugged her pigtails tight and went over to the bed. She leaned over him and gave him a quick kiss.
"Joker really doesn't like you," she reminded him, her thumb tracing across his scar. "And he just has the stupid mob thug down there named Tony Zucco who tails me when I leave the tower." She rolled her eyes. Dick froze, nearly choking on the breath caught in his throat.
"He's- still alive-?" He barely got the words out. Dick took a deep breath, shaking his head. Harley watched him in confusion.
"Who is he?"
"The man who killed my parents," Dick sighed slowly, dropping his head in his hands. "I… I thought he was in Blackgate, but it makes sense he'd end up here. And of course your boyfriend probably has all of the hard copy arrest files that were in the prison so… Yeah. Joker's out to get me, alright."
"The guy who's been followin' me..." Harley stared at him with her mouth open before shaking her head. "Be right back." She kissed his forehead. "Imma go take care 'a him." She headed over to the balcony door. Dick looked up.
"Wait- what are you gonna do?" He caught her arm. She looked back at him.
"I feel like it was heavily implied when I said take care of. I can spell it out if you like?"
"Don't. Don't do that," he pleaded.
"What, why?" She stared at him in confusion. "He's a monster. He hurt you. I've killed people for less. I mean if it makes you uncomfortable as a hero or whatever, ya don't have ta watch."
"I know. But I couldn't live with myself if I let you do something like that." Dick stared at her, blue eyes searching. This was a moment to prove herself. "Don't make me fight you on this."
"This... is going to be a problem between us, isn't it?" She pursed her lips as she looked up at him.
"Quinn!" Zucco yelled again.
"It won't be a problem if you don't make it one," he pleaded. "When it happened... God, I wanted him dead. I've controlled myself for years. I wanted to kill him. After all this time, if I let you do this, it will have been for nothing and I'll be right back where I was when I was twelve. Please."
"Even if I don't kill one person- who deserves it I might add- that doesn't change who I am," she challenged. "This is going to come up again and again. What's gonna happen when you're not here to ask me to stop? Or when I don't listen? I can't stop being me. And this is me. The one trying to go commit a justifiable murder."
"Not this time. It's not worth it. I don't pretend to ignore your past, and I don't pretend that I might change who you are, but right now, in this moment, take my side." Dick's hand slid into hers, and he held it tight. "Don't do this. Don't do this, for me." Harley pursed her lips.
"If I don't do it, can I ask why I can't?"
"I can't have this on my head."
"But it won't be on your head," she insisted. "It'd be on mine. And that's something I can live with. What I can't live with is if him- or people like 'im are left alive to keep doin' what they're doin'." She stared at him. "What if he's killed other little boys families because you wouldn't stop him. I may be a monster and a killer until someone out there stops me, but there doesn't need to be others out there like me. And I have no problem stoppin' them."
Dick looked distraught. He was torn. He couldn't just let her kill him; he couldn't stand by and let it happen, even if the man was a monster. If she didn't, though, she'd have to go with him, and Dick might never see her again. She could disappear into Arkham City and never come back. "Please," he begged weakly. "If you care about me at all, don't do this."
"Okay," she finally agreed. "But I might not always say yes. Then what happens?" She was afraid she'd scare him away. She wasn't a hero, and he would see that eventually.
"We don't have to worry about that now," he said quietly. "You should go, I guess."
"Yeah, see ya-" She realized she didn't know when or even if she'd see him again. "See ya." She nodded to herself and headed to the door. "No, ya know what?" She marched back over to him and pulled him to her by his shoulders as she kissed him with everything she had. She clung onto him as the kiss went on, reluctant to break it off. When she finally did, she put her hand over her mouth as she look up at him. She cleared her throat. "Okay, now I'll see you later."
"Yeah," Dick choked, still breathing hard. He was dazed after the kiss; his mind still lost in it. "I'll... I hope we see each other again." Harley pulled her grappling gun out as she headed to the door. She turned back and smiled at him.
"Bye Wonder Boy."