EIGHT

"Wayne Manor?"

Jim Gordon scratched his head nervously.

"Uh...yeah, Bruce knows Batman so he lets him use his...basement as his Bat Cave."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Why would Gotham's biggest playboy billionaire be associated with a guy who fucks bats?"

"He does not fuck bats!" Jim shouted.

I couldn't help but smirk. The detective really did admire Batman and to have anything said against the Dark Knight, he wouldn't stand for.

"Ok, ok, fine. Let's just find Harley."

It took a little work but eventually, I stepped on the wrong piece of floor and it opened up.

I fell and kept falling. I could hear Jim calling out to me, saying that he was sorry and then he wasn't until I landed flat on my ass on the ground.

The impact shook my whole body and it was jarring to say the least.

"Ivy?"

I looked up and found Batman standing over me.

I glared up at him.

"Where's Harley?"

"Safe."

"Great. So let me take her home."

"Afraid I can't do that, Ivy."

I snarled.

"Why not?"

"Because of Joker. He's going mad looking for her and soon he'll stumble into my trap."

I sighed.

"Maybe he does love her..."

"He's not looking for her because he loves her, Ivy. He's looking for her because he sees her as his property."

I nodded.

"That seems more believable."

Batman also nodded in agreement.

I got to my feet and looked up at him.

"Can I at least see her?"

He seemed to regard me for a moment and I could have sworn that his eyes narrowed behind the mask.

"Ok. Just five minutes."

I nodded that I understood and followed him to wherever he was keeping Harley.

There was a transparent cell and Harley sat in the corner, her feet and wrists bound. She looked so sad.

I went up to the cell and put my hand gently on the glass.

She looked up.

"Red?"

I gave her a warm smile.

"Hey, Harls."

She went to get up and then remembered she couldn't.

Thankfully, her jester's mask was off and her hair was up in those messy pigtails but she looked better, despite her surroundings.

"Did Mr J send you to come and get me?" She asked hopefully.

I glanced at Batman who was standing just a little way behind me; enough to let me talk to Harley comfortably but close enough to make sure I didn't try anything.

"Sure..."

She beamed and then narrowed her eyes at Batman.

"See? I told ya he wouldn't forget me."

I turned back to Batman and hated myself for what I was about to do next; it was so degrading I didn't actually know if I could do it.

I let out a defeated sigh.

"I don't normally do this...but I'm begging you, let me take her home."

"Home?"

"My home. Not Joker's. If he thinks she's still missing, he'll eventually find this place anyway."

Batman looked at Harley and then at me.

"I had heard you two were friends."

"Yeah, news travels fast in Gotham. So, does that mean I can take her?"

"How do I know you won't let her run back to Joker?"

"Because I hate that bastard almost as much as you do."

Batman stared at me and seemed to be intrigued. I said 'seemed to be', I couldn't tell through the mask, obviously.

"Why?"

"Harley and I are friends but Joker fucked that up. He twisted her mind, made her love him more than-" I cut myself off and shook my head.

"Look it doesn't matter but I swear to you, she won't go anywhere while she's with me and until you give the okay, I won't let her out of my sight, I swear it."

Batman looked at Harley again and finally settled his gaze back on me.

"Fine but if you mess this up, Ivy. I'll come for you and you'll be going right back to Arkham."

I nodded and waved my hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Yeah, yeah, more threats. Can you open the cell now?"

Batman grunted but moved to open the cell.

Harley looked up at him.

"What's goin' on?"

I could hear the fear in her voice and peered over Batman's shoulder at her as he unlocked the cuffs at her ankles.

"It's ok, Harley, you're coming home with me."

"I am?"

I nodded.

She then looked at Batman.

"You're letting me go?"

"I'm releasing you into Ivy's care. You are to stay with her until my mission is complete."

"Which is?"

"It's better if you don't know. Just be grateful that you're getting out of here." He growled.

After unlocking the cuffs at her wrists, Harley bounded out of that cell and into my arms like a rescued puppy.

"Ivy!"

I held her awkwardly and even Bat boy gave me a strange look.

"She's relieved, ok?"

He just shrugged and walked us to a way out of the Bat Cave.

Before we could leave, Batman turned to me.

"I meant what I said, Ivy. Don't mess this up."

I glared at him as I held Harley's arm.

"I won't."

Harley did not look happy at all and no matter what I tried, she wouldn't cheer up.

When I gave her the TV remote she threw it at the TV, breaking not only the remote but cracking the screen as well.

When I served her ice cream and jelly, she threw the bowl at the wall.

When I suggested we watch a movie, she said my DVD collection was crap.

I went out and bought her a fish, she tossed my hair dryer into the tank, effectively frying it.

She even threatened Frank with some pruning shears that she'd gotten from god know's where.

I offered to hug her, cook for her, run her baths but it didn't matter, nothing I did ever pleased her.

I had to face facts, she just didn't want to be with me. She only wanted Joker but I had to keep my word to Batman; I did not want to end up in Arkham again.

One night, she pushed me too far and it was then that I realised everything had changed...

Harley had begrudgingly agreed to watch a movie with me.

She wasn't taking it in, she was still sulking.

She sighed and folded her arms.

"This is so not realistic." She groaned.

"What do you mean?"

She pointed at the screen.

"No love story happens like that."

I smirked and then paused the film, turning to look at her.

"Ok. So tell me how love stories happen."

"Two people meet, they fall in love then they nurture each others demons until they both realise that they're just as bad as each other and they make diabolical plans to take over a city!"

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Uh huh..."

She then pouted.

"At least that's how it happened with me and Mr J."

"Yeah, I know." I muttered.

She suddenly looked at me.

"What about you, Iv?"

"What-what about me?"

"Have you ever found love?"

Oh fuck.

My heart started racing and I felt a little hot under the collar. What did I say? Was this when I confessed everything in the delusional hope that she secretly felt the same?

"Uh...uh, yeah. Well I-I guess I thought I did."

"You never told me!" She squeaked.

"I guess I never found the right time."

She suddenly sat up, interested.

"Well now's a good a time as any! Tell me now! What happened? How did you meet-"

"I'm not sure I want to tel-"

"Oh come on, Red! This is huge! I need to know!"

Her excitement irritated me for some reason and I fidgeted slightly.

"I don't wanna talk about it." I muttered, folding my arms and slightly turning away from her.

It didn't deter her and she turned my face back to her's, to make me look at her.

"You know you can tell me anything, Ivy." She said, her voice soft and gentle. Her blue eyes didn't look mad anymore and I felt peaceful just looking into them.

That's where I fucked up.

"It's you."

Harley stared at me, her hand still on my jaw but her eyes had widened slightly.

"What?"

"It's you, Harley. I'm in love with you." I said softly, almost shyly.

She dropped her hand and my heart dropped with it.

"You...you love me?"

I was probably blushing right now and I felt stupid but I couldn't exactly take it back.

"I uh...yeah. I do."

"Since when?"

"I think...since our first session at Arkham."

"Arkham! Red-Ivy, why didn't you say anything!"

"Because I was afraid of how you'd react!"

"You should have said something!"

"Why?! What difference would it have made?!" I shouted, getting to my feet and she did the same so we were in each other's faces.

"Would you have dropped Joker and run away with me instead?!"

"Maybe!"

Silence filled the room and I stared at her in complete shock.

"What do you mean...maybe?"

Harley rubbed her arms self consciously.

"I just mean that maybe if Joker hadn't come along when he did and you told me how you felt at the start...maybe it'd be us taking over Gotham and not..."

I took a step towards her, gently holding her face with one hand while the other rested on her waist.

"Is that what you would have wanted?" I asked her in a hushed voice.

"Maybe...yeah."

It was good enough for me. I was so pathetically in love, I'd take whatever scraps of affection she threw at me.

"Harley, do you know how you feel about me?"

She nodded.

I licked my lips and moved closer.

"Kiss me."

"What?"

"I said, kiss me."

She moved forward, more unsure that I expected but she kissed me anyway. I waited for her to realise this was a mistake and back off but when I tentatively kissed her back, she held on, hands in my hair, holding me as close as possible.

We kissed until we couldn't breathe and finally, she pulled back and looked into my eyes.

"Are we gonna have sex?"

I chuckled and rested my head against her's.

"Only if you want to but I can promise you that despite all his plant shit, I am very good in bed."

Harley chuckled and ran a hand down my arm which made me shiver pleasantly.

"I think I'd like to find that out for myself."

I grinned against her lips as I kissed her again.

"Ok then."

I laced my fingers with her's and pulled her towards my bedroom.

Once we were through the door, I kicked it shut and started kissing her again, she moaned as I slipped my tongue inside her mouth and lowered her onto the bed.

Everything was perfect; I had this hot but bat shit crazy girl writhing underneath me and Joker was no where in sight. I felt amazing, I couldn't believed the girl I was in love with wanted me like this, like I'd always wanted her.

I sat up, on top of her to remove my jacket and noticed Frank.

"Jesus Christ, Frank! What are you doing in here?!" I yelled.

Harley craned her neck to look at the talking plant.

"Oh, hi, Frank!"

Frank looked down at Harley and then back up at me.

"You said you wanted the living room to yourself so that Harley would feel more comfortable."

"So you came into my room?!"

"You're only one with a TV!"

I slapped a hand to my head and groaned.

"Frank, I'm kinda busy right now." I said, glancing down at Harley who seemed perfectly happy laying between my legs.

Frank nodded.

"Yeah I can see! Well done you two!"

"Frank!"

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving." He said and awkwardly managed to get himself off my bed.

"You two have fun now." He called from the doorway.

"Just fuck off!" I yelled, throwing him a glare over my shoulder.

He shut the door and left me and Harley alone once again.

I looked down at her.

"Sorry about that."

"Eh, it's ok. Mr J liked to have people watch us sometimes."

I felt disgusted by that.

"He...did?"

She nodded.

"And were you...ok with that?"

She shrugged.

"Didn't really think about it."

"Huh."

Harley then grabbed my hands.

"I thought we were gonna have sex."

I smiled at her.

"We are."

She grinned.

"Good. Get on with it then."

I gave her a mock salute and then started to undress as she did the same.

Once we were both naked, I grinned down at her.

"So, Harley Quinn, are you ready to go green?"

She rolled her eyes but giggled anyway.

"That was cheesy as fuck!"

I blushed slightly.

"I know I just couldn't think of anything clever to say and I want to make this-"

She sat up and grabbed me.

"Fuck's sake, Iv! just do me already!"

She pulled me flush against her and I made good on my word about being very good in bed.

I had her screaming in minutes and judging by the marks that I knew were on my back, I had more than done some good here tonight and most importantly, Harley knew how I really felt about her.

Maybe Joker would be a thing of the past now?

Hey I can dream, right?

END