Sorry for the wait, ya'll.
It was dark by the time Pam locked up the shop for the day. She'd been late closing almost every day for the past week, but business had been picking up and that meant longer hours. The tattoo parlor was still open, but Harley had already gone home, offering to wait for Pam, who insisted otherwise.
Now she wished she hadn't. The streetlamps flickered around her and a cold wind blew in the air, cutting through her jacket like a knife. She could hear a dog barking faintly in the distance, the shouts of an arguing couple, the cheers from a party being hosted in some faraway apartment.
Pulling her jacket more tightly around her, Pam shoved her keys in her pocket and hurried down the street towards the apartment. The wind rustled the fallen leaves on the sidewalk and her footsteps echoed as she passed darkened alleyways, making it sound as if she was joined by another walker. A quick glance over her shoulder told her otherwise. Still, Pam was nervous, her heart thumping against her ribs as she walked even faster. Every night that she walked home alone had an eerie air about it, but tonight, something felt… off. It occurred to her then, that all of Selina's words about carrying something for self-defense may have actually been warranted. Especially in a city like Gotham.
And that was when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She looked around again, scanning the shadows behind her for a sign of movement, but there was nothing. She paused, listening through the wind and the rustle of leaves for any sound of another being. Nothing. But Pam could still distinctly feel a pair of eyes on her.
She felt panicked, trapped and suffocated all at once. It took her back to the lab. The table. His eyes on her, piercing and merciless. Taking a deep breath, she shoved the feelings deep down, swallowing them so that they couldn't swallow her. And then Pam dashed home as quickly as she could.
She paused outside the door before going inside, fighting to even her breathing. Harley didn't need to see her panicked, there was no reason for it. No one had bothered her on the way home. No one had followed her. She was safe. Besides they had an SIT session scheduled tonight and she didn't need anything to distract her. Plastering on a smile, Pam pushed open the door and stepped inside.
I can do this.
/
Progress was slow.
If Pam had to guess, a lot of Harley's ability to help her with her at home therapy sessions came from her own psychiatric training, limited as it may have been. For someone who had difficulty exhibiting even a modicum of patience, Harley was incredibly enduring when it came to Pam's Stress Inoculation Therapy.
The bedroom setting had been Pam's choice, but the rest was in Harley's control. Relinquishing control hadn't been easy, it brought the panic back, the dark thoughts. But Joan's advice was also at the forefront of her mind.
Breathe. Affirmation. Fear is normal. Feel it. Let it pass. Repeat.
"Is this okay, Red?" Harley asked, sensing the tension thrumming through Pam's body as she brushed her fingers across the red head's abdomen. Harley was already half-naked, her shirt abandoned somewhere in the corner of the room and Pam had an unabashed view of the tattoos that decorated her torso. For some reason, she found herself fixating on the tips of the looped letters just below Harley's navel: 'Lucky You'. There was also a small 'J' on the indent of her right hip; Pam decided to ignore that one.
"Pam?" The concern in Harley's voice pulled Pam out of her thoughts. She nodded to answer Harley's earlier question and the blonde mirrored her response, her fingers dancing lightly over Pam's ribcage. Pam twitched and cringed away from her feather light touch.
"That tickles," she explained in a grumpy murmur, making Harley giggle.
"Maybe that's a good thing?"
Pam raised a questioning brow.
"If we can help you associate these moments with things like joy and laughter, it will help combat your tendency to resort immediately to fear." Pam's jaw almost dropped. Almost a full week into their 'sessions', it still surprised her to hear Harley go into 'psychiatrist mode.'
"Is there a textbook printed on the inside of your eyelids?"
Harley laughed again, continuing to stroke Pam's sides gently. "Nope. But that was pretty impressive, huh?"
Pam shrugged, her mind beginning to wander to the wonderful pressure of Harley's hips pressed against hers. "It just proves what I've known about you from the beginning."
"What?"
"You're incredibly intelligent."
Harley blushed. "Nah. You're the doctor here."
"And you would be too," Pam countered. "Were it not for…." Her eyes flickered to the 'J' on Harley's hip and she trailed off.
"We don't have to talk about him right now," Harley murmured, shifting so that she could straddle Pam more comfortably. "Let's focus on this. Us." She let her hands drift higher, fingers grazing the underside of Pam's bra. "You tell me when to stop."
Pam sucked in a sharp breath when Harley leaned forward and began pressing soft kisses against her neck, trailing her lips just below Pam's ear down to the hollow of her throat, allowing her hands to lazily caress Pam's chest over her bra.
Pam's heart began to pound, her fingers clenching around Harley's hips. A mixture of animal arousal and panic rose within her chest. It was confusing, paralyzing, but she didn't tell Harley to stop.
Not yet. If you don't push yourself, you won't get anywhere…
Sensing no resistance, Harley let her hands drop from Pam's chest to the waistband of her pajama pants. Slowly, Harley dipped her fingers just below the lip of her pants, stroking the warm skin between Pam's hips. Pam's breath hitched in her throat but Harley didn't give her a chance to catch it, moving to capture her in a deep kiss instead.
Harley's lips were hungry against hers, her fingers stroking lower and lower. It was bliss. It was overwhelming. It was too much.
Pam tore away from the kiss, struggling to catch her breath and Harley retreated immediately, removing her hands and lifting them to Pam's shoulders slowly, as if to let her see them coming.
"I'm sorry," Pam gasped, forcing herself to meet Harley's clouded gaze. The blonde shook her head and took Pam's face between her hands.
"Nope, stop. You don't get to apologize, remember? That's what Joan said." She stroked her fingers through Pam's hair, her smile kind, but tight. No matter how hard Pam tried, she couldn't stem the wave of disappointment that flowed through her. "This was great. You did great. That was my fault, I moved things a little too fast."
Pam hated this. She felt weak. Insecure. She felt like she'd failed. She felt… powerless.
She wasn't a maiden in need of defending. She wasn't a child that needed caring for. She wasn't a broken doll that needed to be handled gently. She was strong, she'd beaten Woodrue before. On her own, without silly breathing techniques or affirmation words, or SIT or whatever the hell else Joan had suggested. She was tired of struggling through every intimate exchange she had with Harley. She was tired in general. And she hated the man that had done this to her with an unquenchable passion. None of these thoughts would be running through her head now were it not for him. She wouldn't be trapped in this awful moment. She wouldn't have to struggle to prove to Harley how much she wanted—
"Hey, you in there?" Harley interrupted, patting her cheeks to bring her back to the present. "I lost ya for a sec."
No you didn't. You haven't lost me. You have all of me, I promise…. Keep going.
"Can I…" Pam paused, lifting her own hands for Harley to see. "Can I touch you, Daffodil?"
Harley's eyes darkened and she nodded once, suddenly very quiet. Pam placed her palms on Harley's bare stomach, running then gently over smooth skin. She could feel taught muscle quivering just below the surface as her hands glided upwards.
She glanced quickly at Harley's face, smiling when she saw the blonde's eyes fluttering shut at her touch. Slowly, Pam pushed herself off the headboard, meeting Harley's lips in a kiss that was slow and sweet.
A small moan escaped her, sending a thrill through Pam. It was easier to touch Harley than it was to have Harley touch her. It was the control, she knew. The ability to make Harley fall apart with her own hands. To set the pace and limits. It was already doing wonders for her wounded confidence.
Harley's hands came up to tangle in her red hair and then drifted down to cup her cheeks.
"Is this…Are you okay?" she breathed, breaking away just far enough to ensure her words weren't muffled against Pam's lips.
"Yes." Pam's reply was equally breathless. "Are you okay?"
"So good," Harley replied with a crooked grin that drew a chuckle from Pam. She paused, blue eyes boring into green and then, "Can I kiss you again?"
Pam raised a single brow. "I'm fairly certain you don't have to check in with me every step of the way."
Harley sat back on her haunches, her hands sliding to rest against Pam's shoulders again. She cocked her head in confusion. "Really? Because I'm pretty sure that's exactly what Joan said to do."
Fair point.
An amused smile spread across Pam's lips. Harley had been right about mood association. In the beginning, the panic had been overwhelming. Their sessions were tense, quick and often disappointing. But Harley had been patient and gentle, and now, a week in, it felt natural to crack a smile. It felt right to be giddy.
"Look at that, Red," Harley said softly, drawing her fingers through Pam's hair. "You're smilin'."
Pam's smile only widened as she leaned forward to press warm wet kisses against Harley's neck, nibbling and licking the sensitive spots she'd mapped.
Breathe. Affirm. Feel. Breathe.
Harley sighed, wrapping her arms around Pam's shoulders, her fingers clenching against whatever skin they could find. Pam let her hands slide away from Harley's stomach around to the slope of her rear. She slipped them beneath the waistband of Harley's pants, gently stroking the smooth skin there.
"Red…" Harley panted suddenly, her lips brushing Pam's ear. "We should probably stop."
Pam understood why she suggested it, but she couldn't quell the disappointment that swept through her.
"We don't have to stop," she insisted. "I'm alright."
"I believe you," Harley replied, untangling herself and sitting back to look Pam in the eye. "But we should probably quit while we're ahead. The worst thing we can do is push too far and ruin the progress we've made."
There's that textbook talk again.
Slowly, Pam pulled herself away, removing her hands and lips and resting her forehead against Harley's shoulder, taking deep breaths through her nose to center herself.
"Gee, Red," Harley chuckled after a few moments of tense silence. "You really know how to tease a girl." She lifted Pam off her shoulder and beamed.
Pam smiled back, running her fingers across Harley's flushed cheek. "I'm sorry."
"Okay, first, don't apologize for that. Ever. Second, you don't get to apologize period. Remember?" Harley's expression was equal parts amused and reprimanding and Pam found the contrast adorable. She smoothed the wrinkle between Harley's brow with her thumb.
"Then thank you."
"For gettin' you all hot and bothered?" Harley laughed when Pam snorted.
"For helping me," she amended.
"It's a pretty big sacrifice, ain't it?" Harley teased.
Pam scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest, her features pulling into a scowl. "I'm trying to be transparent with you."
"And I'm tryin' to make you laugh," Harley insisted, running her fingers down Pam's sides again. Her smile softened when Pam continued to pout and she stroked the red head's cheek gently. "I'm glad I can help you." She pushed her hips against Pam's. "Real glad."
Pam rolled her eyes when Harley winked lewdly, finally allowing a smile to crack her stern expression. "You're impossible."
"Awww, you love it." Harley climbed off Pam, rolled onto her side and pulled the covers up to her chin, patting the mattress beside her to signal that they were done for the night. But Pam didn't lie down right away, her mind was still stuck on Harley's words.
Love?
She hadn't considered it. She'd never really loved anybody. Her parents were more of an obligatory affection. And there was Selina. But that wasn't a romantic love. Then again, Harley hadn't used the word in a strictly romantic context.
Still, she'd never needed another person to depend on. She had her studies, she had her plants, she had her shop. She didn't need anything else. Not until this tattooed bundle of sunshine had walked into her life and turned everything upside down. And Harley wasn't wrong.
I do love it when you tease. I love your smile and your laugh. I love how giddy you make me feel. I love that you're passionate about your work. I love that you're so patient with me. With this. I love that you're willing to help. I love that you feel things so deeply. I love…
"Red?" Pam looked down to find Harley, who was still burritoed in the blankets, blinking up at her curiously. "You okay?"
Pam nodded, finally shifting so that she could lie comfortably next to Harley. She searched for Harley's hand beneath the covers, squeezing when she found it.
"Good night," she murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to Harley's forehead before settling back on her own pillow. Harley looked confused but she didn't question Pam again.
It took a while for Pam to find sleep, her mind returning to the moment she'd left the shop. The moment she'd felt someone's eyes on her. It had unnerved her, to say the least. She couldn't help but think it had been the reason that this session hadn't gone as far as she would have liked. A sudden shiver ran down her spine and Pam squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shake the uncomfortable feeling that had followed her home. She sidled closer to Harley, until they were practically sharing the same pillow, and allowed the girl's warmth to lull her to sleep.
But her dreams were haunted by a pair of dark eyes watching her from the shadows.
/
"Wow."
Pam looked up from where she'd been smoothing the already perfectly smooth fabric of her dress to find Harley standing in the doorway of their bedroom, staring at her with rounded eyes.
"Wow?" Pam repeated, quirking a brow and smiling when Harley's cheeks turned red. "How incredibly articulate of you, Harl."
"I'm sorry, it's just you look…hooaaappphh," Harley trailed off into a noise that Pam could only compare to an elephant. She snorted (a sound only Harley was familiar with) and propped one hand on her hip, pinning Harley with an admonishing gaze.
"Should I take that noise as a compliment?"
Harley bobbed her head quickly, her eyes roaming Pam's body and then snapping up to her face. "Definitely. I was gonna say you looked hot but I thought that might make you angry so then I was gonna go with 'absolutely amazing' but that didn't feel like enough, but 'fantastic' felt too easy so… Hooapph."
"You, on the other hand," Pam replied. "Look gorgeous."
"Aw, that's a good one." Harley smiled and looked down at her own outfit, a short powder blue dress that matched her eyes. Her multi colored hair had been pulled into a single ponytail, the pink and blue tips blending together. "Okay, I've got one."
"Not another sound effect, I hope?"
Harley shook her head. "Perfect. You look perfect." Her face scrunched into a frown. "That one was too cheesy, wasn't it?"
Pam sighed and reached around to gather her hair off her shoulders and pin it into a bun. She didn't miss the quiet whimper Harley emitted as she watched the process. She inched closer to Pam, surprisingly graceful in the heels she wore, and slid her arms around Pam's waist, brushing her lips against the older woman's bare shoulder.
"You sure you wanna go out tonight?" she murmured against Pam's skin.
"I don't think Selina and Bruce will appreciate us canceling on them," Pam replied, her hands coming to rest on top of Harley's. "Besides you were the one who wanted to see this movie."
Harley grumbled, her fingers tracing tiny circles in the fabric of Pam's dress. "Yeah, I just…."
"Just what?" A smile quirked Pam's lips when she felt Harley huff behind her.
"Just…. You look so good and the bed is right there and we haven't done any SIT today…."
"Come on." Pam turned in Harley's arms and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It'll be good for both of us to get out of the apartment for the night. Besides," she added. "The bed will still be here when we get back."
Harley grumbled again, but allowed Pam to lead her out of the room without further protest.
/
Harley was crying. She'd been crying since they left the theater, and Pam couldn't blame her. The end of the film had been touching, to say the least. Keeping one arm around Harley's shoulders, Pam guided the blonde down the street, trailing behind Bruce and Selina, who walked together several yards ahead of them.
"It was certainly a well-crafted film," Bruce commented, nudging Selina, who hung on his arm.
She shrugged. "I don't get musicals. All of that random singing kept pulling me out of the moment. And what was with the part where they started dancing...er flying…in the conservatorium?"
"I think it was meant to be symbolic," Bruce replied, an amused smirk tugging on his lips.
"Symbolic of what? Tripping?"
Bruce raised a brow. "Of falling in love."
"It was pretentious," Selina scoffed, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "Unbelievable, romanticized."
"Romanticized, yes," Bruce countered. "But I don't think it was meant to come off as pretentious. It was artfully made. Beautiful camera work."
"That's the problem," Selina said. "Artsy for artsy's sake, does not a good movie make." Bruce grunted in response. Silence fell over the group until a hiccupping sob came from Harley.
Selina heaved a sigh. "Harley, are you still crying?"
"No," she whimpered unconvincingly. Pam squeezed her shoulders and Harley gave her a watery smile.
"It was just a movie, sweetie," Selina said.
"I know! But it was so sad. They loved each other so much and they didn't get to end up together but they both owed each other everythin' and they both got their dreams, but not together an' it's just…. Just… it wasn't fair."
"Life isn't always fair, Harl," Selina continued. "I think that's one of the points the movie was trying to make."
"Like a theme or a motif…. Some might even call it symbolic," Bruce added with another smirk.
"Exactly. I... Hey. Alright, one more peep out of you and there will be no sex tonight," Selina threatened through narrowed eyes. Bruce's shoulders bounced once in an amused chuckle. "Pam? Thoughts?"
"I think it was a painfully honest look at the complexities of human relationships," Pam offered.
Selina rolled her eyes. "English please."
Pam glowered back at her. That was English. Just because you choose to play dumb to aggravate me doesn't mean-
"I think that we meet many people over the course of our lives that push us to be better. They offer insight and understanding into our own character and change us in ways we couldn't have done on our own. And sometimes they drift out of our lives just as suddenly. Sometimes, the purpose of those fleeting relationships is to love and let go and move forward with the lessons they've taught us."
Selina nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Astute, Pam. Sounds like you're a romantic at heart."
Pam pursed her lips and glanced at Harley to find her staring with wide eyes, terror etched onto her face. "Red, you… You don't think… That's not us, is it?"
"Of course not!" Pam didn't bother to keep the astonishment out of her voice. "Of course not, Daffodil."
Harley's bottom lip was quivering again and tears shone in her blue eyes. Leaning forward, Pam pressed her lips to Harley's forehead, murmuring against her skin, "I'm not going to leave you."
Harley sniffled against Pam's neck, one hand slipping around her waist and clutching the fabric of her dress.
I love that you feel things so deeply, Pam thought again, for the second time in just as many days. I love that you care so much.
Smiling, she removed her arm from around Harley's shoulders, taking her hand instead and pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles. Harley's cheeks were splotchy, her eyes swollen and red from crying and her makeup had started to run, but Pam couldn't stop herself from staring. Harley had mentioned love teasingly during their SIT session the day before, but Pam hadn't been able to shake it from her mind. And every moment since only reassured her of what she already knew. She was falling in love with this smart, silly, selfless mess of a girl. The kind of love that she'd felt was illustrated for her on that theater screen.
Not long ago, that realization might have scared her. Depending on another person was a frightening concept. It presented opportunities for weakness, selfishness and loss. But it also held the promise of support, happiness, and trust. Experiencing it firsthand gave Pam the desire to pursue it. She wanted Harley and she wanted whatever inevitable chaos that brought. The Pam from Seattle wouldn't have felt the same way, but that Pam was quickly being left behind in the wake of this Pam. The one who woke every day with a smile on her face.
Harley sniffled quietly again and Bruce shot a quick glance over his shoulder, the amused smirk dying on his lips as he caught a glimpse of something far behind her. He paused, Selina jerking to a stop next to him. She whipped her head around to see what the delay was.
"Bruce?"
"Sorry," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the darkness behind Harley and Pam, who cast cautious glances over their own shoulders. "Thought I saw something."
"Uhhh…" Selina drifted off, glancing nervously between Bruce and the shadows. "Can we keep going then, please?"
Bruce nodded, wrapped his arm more tightly around Selina and beckoned for Harley and Pam to follow. They scurried after him and a chill went down Pam's spine that had nothing to do with the early winter air. She felt those eyes on her again and she clung to Harley, who was practically glued to her side.
Bruce led them downtown to the Iceberg Lounge, where they were immediately ushered inside the second Bruce dropped his name. The club was gorgeous, far more glamorous than Pam could ever hope to be. It wasn't hard to believe that Bruce and Selina visited the venue so often. They fit right into the ritzy crowd with their expensive clothing and confident strides. Pam on the other hand, was beginning to feel frumpy despite the fact she wore her most impressive dress.
Harley didn't seem to be bothered at all by their surroundings. In fact, she was absolutely in awe, her head swiveling on her shoulders as she tried to take it in all at once.
They were led to a white clothed table in a far corner of the dining hall. Bruce pulled out a chair for Selina, accepting the kiss she pressed to his cheek. Harley scrambled to do the same for Pam only to almost knock the chair over in the process, which in turn upset the candles on top of the table and they were only rescued from setting the whole club ablaze by Selina, who set the candles upright with uncanny speed.
Harley blushed a deep red, smiling apologetically as Pam helped her take a seat. As soon as they were all settled, Pam opened her menu to find dozens of dishes she couldn't even pronounce the names of. Harley was scanning the pages of her own menu, her brow twisting in confusion. She caught Pam's eye and leaned towards her, asking in a conspiratorial whisper, "Do you have any idea what all of this is?"
Pam shook her head, fighting a smile. "Nope."
Harley giggled and peeked over the top of her menu to find Selina giving them an 'if you two don't settle down right now…' glare. Ducking behind her menu again, Harley affected her most serious expression, glancing at Pam out the corner of her eye and breaking immediately.
Chuckling, Pam slipped her hand on top of Harley's thigh underneath the table, squeezing gently to calm her. Harley squirmed for another moment before settling into her chair, her eyes growing unfocused with the way Pam's fingertips stroked her skin. Selina was eyeing them again, but her gaze had softened considerably.
"So, Pam," Bruce said suddenly, setting his menu aside and folding his hands in front of him. "How do you like Gotham?"
"It's… pleasant."
"That's not exactly a ringing endorsement," Bruce chuckled.
Pam cleared her throat and sat a little straighter in her chair. "I've enjoyed my time here, but I've also noticed quite a few areas of the city that could use improvement."
"Oh?" Bruce was leaning forward now, intrigued.
"Robinson Park, for example, is in a horrible state of neglect. A large portion of the city's homeless have taken up residence there. And the crime rates in the neighborhood around my shop alone are appalling. The GCPD is either ignorant or incompetent. Or both. I-" Pam paused when she noticed Selina and Harley staring at her. "I… Understand that these aren't problems you're necessarily concerned with fixing, Mr. Wayne-"
"Bruce."
"…Bruce. But considering you are who you are… that is, one of the most influential men in Gotham, I'd venture to say you have a bit more pull than others when it comes to making changes within the city." Pam clasped her hands in her lap, her eyes trained on Bruce, who looked back at her with just as much intensity.
"I think I'd like to introduce you to the DA," he said after a pause. "You haven't met Harvey have you?"
"I haven't had the pleasure."
"I'm sure he'd be very interested to hear what you have to say about the state of the city. I could set up a meeting, if you're interested." Bruce caught the surprised look in Pam's eye and chuckled. "Don't worry about giving me an answer now. We're here to enjoy the night. We can talk shop later. So," he began again. "Selina mentioned you're a doctor?"
"I have a PhD," Pam answered, pride creeping into her voice when Bruce bobbed his head appreciatively. "I studied Botany and Biochemistry."
"But you're running a flower shop now?" Bruce questioned.
Selina sighed, dropping her head into her hand. "I thought we weren't going to talk shop…"
Harley had resorted to making little figures out of torn pieces of her napkin.
Pam tried not to be offended by the surprise in Bruce's tone. "Yes. I run a flower shop at the moment. Gotham isn't exactly rife with opportunities for someone with my education."
"Not true." Bruce held up a finger. "Wayne Enterprises has a botanical branch that's looking to expand. We could use someone with as much intelligence and dedication as you. I usually like to employ branch directors from the inside, but I think I could make an exception, just this once. Of course, we'd still go through with an interview process. But I expect you'd fit in very well with the scientists there."
Pam was rendered speechless, Harley looked up from her torn napkin, and even Selina waited with baited breath for her response.
"I'd…I'll…I'll consider the offer."
Bruce nodded, offered a small smile and took Selina's hand, running his thumb across her knuckles before continuing. "That's all I can ask. But the avenue is open to you should you choose to… expand your horizons."
They were interrupted by obnoxious, nasally laughter and a loud, "Mr. Wayne! How lovely to see you again."
A short, fat, balding man wearing a sharp tuxedo and carrying a matching black cane, hobbled towards the table. He had a long hawkish nose and a single spectacle that covered one of his beady black eyes. Pam's nose wrinkled at the sight of him.
"Mr. Cobblepot." Bruce stood and shook the man's small hand cordially.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your business tonight?"
Bruce smiled tightly and took his seat again. "Just enjoying the night with a few new friends."
Cobblepot's dark eyes flickered over Harley and then landed on Pam and a smile more akin to a sneer spread across his face.
"What lovely company." He made a short little bow, tipping the hat he wore at Pam. "I don't believe we've met before, my dear. The name's Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot. Entrepreneur, owner of the Iceberg Lounge, and extremely pleased to meet your acquaintance, Miss….?"
"Isley."
"Miss Isley," the man repeated, clearly a little disappointed his 'charm' hadn't warranted a first name. Broadening his attention to Selina and Harley, he spread his arms and asked, "Are you ladies enjoying the club tonight?"
Hard to say. We just got here and were subsequently interrupted by a short, obnoxious, chauvinistic little-
"We're having a lovely time, Oswald," Selina cut in, all charm and smiles. She shot Pam a look that said, 'chill the fuck out.' Pam glared right back at her.
"I love it!" Harley chirped, gesturing to the room around them. "I've never been anywhere so fancy."
Oswald chuckled. "The Lounge certainly has a sparkle, doesn't it? An air of 'joie de vivre'.
Harley nodded enthusiastically while Pam merely rolled her eyes.
"Well!" Cobblepot continued. "I've bothered the lot of you enough for the evening. Please, enjoy yourselves. Let me know if there's anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable and by all means, join us for the dancing later this evening."
The small man tipped his hat again, patted Bruce on the shoulder and waddled back the way he'd come. Harley watched him go, her head cocked curiously. Turning back to the group she cupped one hand to her mouth and whispered, "Is it just me or does he totally remind you guys of a penguin?"
Selina burst out laughing.
/
Harley flopped face first onto the bed, groaning as she rolled into the soft sheets. Pam plopped down beside her, every muscle in her body aching and tired.
"I'm gonna kiss you so hard…" Harley's voice was muffled by the pillow. "…Here I come." She didn't move and Pam giggled.
"I'm waiting."
Harley flopped out an arm, letting it come down on Pam's stomach where she patted her gently a few times.
"Gimme a sec."
Pam giggled again, the after effects of the alcohol they'd enjoyed at the Lounge making her feel giddy and floaty. She shifted to move closer to Harley, but the tight fabric of her dress restricted her movement. She looked down at herself and then at Harley, who hadn't even kicked off her heels.
"We should change."
"You should change," Harley shot back, her eyes still closed. "I've never been more comfy."
"You can't sleep in that dress."
"Izzat a challenge?" Harley growled, her brows furrowing. Without waiting for a reply, she tugged the covers around her shoulders, finally pushing her heels to the floor and smooshing her face into the pillow again.
"Harley."
"Mmph."
Pam sighed and rose slowly to change into her pajamas, surprised when she couldn't even get Harley's attention by letting her dress pool around her ankles, leaving her only in her underwear.
She really is exhausted.
Throwing on her pajamas, Pam slipped underneath the covers, squirming across the mattress until she could press herself against Harley. She'd just closed her eyes when her phone buzzed on the bedside table. And then again. And again. Groaning, Pam rolled onto her side and picked up the phone, glaring at the screen. Selina. Of course.
Hey did you two enjoy the Lounge?
You aren't up there doing your inoculated therapy thing are u?
Paaaam I know you're awake answer me
For a moment, Pam considered ignoring the texts, just to aggravate her. But then again, she couldn't be sure how persistent Selina would be. And if she wanted any sleep tonight, it would probably be in Pam's best interest to appease her.
Yes we enjoyed the Lounge, no we aren't in the middle of any therapy and I'm only awake thanks to you.
Listen, Selina continued unapologetic. Bruce says he was serious about the whole job thing so you really should consider it. I mean…anything's going to be better than the shop right?
Pam frowned, unsure why everyone jumped to the conclusion that she owned the shop out of some form of desperation. She enjoyed it there. It wasn't as rigorous as the jobs she knew must exist at Wayne Enterprises. But it made her happy and it had allowed her to meet Harley. That counted for something.
I'll keep it in mind.
Good! That's all he wants. By the way I just wanted to tell you how cute you and Harley were tonight girl can't dance but damn if she didn't try.
Pam chuckled under her breath. Harley wasn't the most coordinated of people, but she had tried when Pam asked her to dance after dinner. She'd thrown herself into it whole heartedly in spite of the odd glare, or sneer, the other patrons threw at her.
She's good for you Pam, Selina continued. I'm glad you have her.
I am too, Pam thought to herself, replying instead with: Shouldn't you be doing something besides bothering me? I don't know, say, 'not' having sex with your boyfriend?
Who says I can't do both? It's called multitasking and I'm a master at it.
Disgusting.
Jealous? ;)
I'm going to sleep. Good night.
Niiiiiggghtt 3
Rolling her eyes, Pam set her phone down and snuggled against Harley again, sliding one arm around her waist. The blonde was already fast asleep, her breath coming slow and even. Pam pressed a gentle kiss against the back of her neck as Selina's words spun in her mind.
/
Jay scrolled slowly through the pages of dense text he'd collected. It hadn't been too difficult to find the information he needed in the Seattle Police Reports. Just a little patience, some diligent digging, a few called in favors, and he'd found all he needed to about Pamela Lillian Isley.
"What a tortured soul," Jay grinned to himself as he scrolled through the profile of one Professor Jason Woodrue and the resulting case file.
And what a twisted man.
An idea began to form in Jay's mind. A cruel one. A much deserved one.
Pammy, precious little Pammy, had shoved her way into his life. Taking what was his, spitting on his authority. And he deserved revenge. She should have known better than to fuck with a man like Jay. And she was about to learn what happened to those who did.
Closing his computer, Jay stretched and rose from the couch, crossing to the kitchen where he poured himself a glass of scotch, chuckling to himself all the while. He would need to be slow. Meticulous. He would need to take her apart piece by piece.
But what fun it would be to watch her slowly crumble right before his eyes.