Chapter VIII: In the absence, love is recognized.

"What happened here, Frosty?" Harley asked with concern, but as he always did, he used his sense of humor to lighten the situation and cut some of the tension that had formed in the kitchen.

He didn't succeed, Johnny, far from laughing or telling her not to call him that; He stared at her earnestly in his eyes, eyes where Harley could distinguish years of experience and wisdom.

"Harley, I really hope you keep that smile when the story ends or J is going to suspect that I talked more tonight and I intend to remain his right hand for much longer" There was no anger in his words, only seriousness, he didn't want it to sound like a threat or anything like that, but it was necessary to warn Harley. He knew the impact the story could have on her, and yet he had so much brotherly appreciation that he decided to tell her, risking the confidence he'd gained in all those years with his boss. He would do it with the purpose that Harley could understand more the feelings that J had for her.

"Why do you tell me that? Are you threatening me or do you want to scare me?" Harley frowned and Johnny sighed, maybe he had spoken too serious. He relaxed his expression.

"It's not my intention Harley, but I have to warn you, what I tell you will not be a pretty story ... there are some things you will not want to hear and chances are you want to go or do not let me finish" Johnny got up from The chair and handed him a glass of water "If I trust you to tell you this ... you have to promise to listen to everything until the end. Do you understand?" he finished saying as she sat down again in front of her.

"I'm not a little girl, Johnny. Behaving, well maybe not...but I'll put it on my side okay?" She said in a slightly annoying tone, but still pleasant.

"Well...It all started the day J left you in the car, the truth Harley, he didn't take too much importance, knowing that you could always manage very well alone the times that you got into trouble and this time was no exception. J spent several days at the club before realizing that you were not coming back. It was one night, Falcone and his men went to visit the boss to tell him that they were going to make new dealings with a new Russian partner, back then we did not know that it was Double S...you can imagine what it all ended. Once everyone was dead, J sat in the armchair with his back to the club and whistled to call you, obviously you didn't come...and he told me to go get you inside the club and to tell you to wait for him on the second floor" He couldn't avoid laughing knowing that her Puddin intended to reject part of his anger with her in his office of the club and Johnny finally laughed a little to suppose what Harley thought, then hecontinued "In that moment of anger, the boss forgot that you had not turned and touched to remind him, he threw the glass with the drink that was drinking against the wall, telling me that tomorrow we would visit Arkham to get you out of there and that he wanted them all ready at dawn. He assumed that you were having difficulty getting out, did not say much more and left early the club. The next day I went with all the men to the mansion as he had ordered, we emptied a part of the hold of arms and J handed me one of your bats that were there, I assumed that I wanted to take you as an "apology" for leaving you with Batman" Frost laughed a little more as he remembered the words of his boss to justify his order

"Take him, you will need..." his boss would never say a word to apologize, that was his true intention after giving it to him. Johnny continued "After being prepared and listening to the indications of the boss, we went outside, I was struck by the empty space of the parking lot, it was strange not to see the lamborghini there, he noticed my observation and then look a little "I need a new car and...a pool in front of the house"

He nodded to his new order knowing that soon he had to take care of that and we headed our way to Arkham.

"Well… but I'm not in Arkham"

"Exactly" Frost waved his hands.

"By the way, the pool is very nice," he said with a smile and Johnny matched it "Come on! Continue! What else happened?...I know what happened there" Harley raised her eyebrows laughing with a crazy smile and then followe "but... it's more fun than you tell it, Frosty! Continue"

"Well, we came to Arkham and went all over the place looking for you; obviously we didn't find you. We destroyed everything in our path as the boss realized that you were not in any of the cells, needless to say we ended up with almost all the psychiatrists and guards who got in our way. Except for the new director, the boss personally took care of him"

*Flashback*

"And well? WHERE IS HER?!"Joker shouted with all his fury at the man behind the large wooden desk in which there was a small metal rectangle with the word "DIRECTOR" in it.

The man stared in horror as Joker slammed his furious eyes into the black envelope, which all he did was to increase his gaze more and make her tremble with dread.

"Very well...I think we aren't understanding..." He said pushing the desk to the side, making it stop the passage of the man who seemed stunned by his presence.

The terrified man had investigated everything concerning Joker upon assuming the position of new director. Above all, after the other three former directors died at the hands of the patient with more merits to be locked in Arkham. However, increasing security or having researched more about him, they had prepared him to see such a sinister character and everything started with the tattoo on his forehead..."Damaged"... He read it clearly, since Joker did not take away His powerful look from above.

Once the desk collided with the large shelf and dropped all the heavy books, J rushed over him, squeezing him by the shoulders as he sat and motionless

"What happened, new friend?... You didn't expect to see me? Is that why you cannot talk " Joker sneered at the man in the chair, then leaned closer to inches from his face and smiled wickedly.

"I can see in your frightened eyes that you know quite a lot about me ..." He made a guttural sound and released his shoulders by taking him by the neck so hard that the chair fell back. Joker lifted him by lashing him against the wall, causing him to hit his head with the big picture of the first director of Arkham, the old Joker.

"You know?...I'm glad that you recognize me, but If you don't speak, you force me to make you talk..."He tightened his neck tightly making him lack the air and began to babble.

"I do not know what you're talking about..." The director smothered his voice, and Johnny entered the office. Joker let go of the man and he immediately put a hand to his reddened neck as J turned and walked toward his right hand.

"Boss, she's not here, we went all over the place, but we didn't find her" Johnny held one of Harley's bats still unpainted. His boss had ordered him to take him, being sure that his girl would be happy to occupy him with the new director, but that did not happen. Johnny searched for everything Arkham, but there was no trace of Harley and Joker felt a heat wave burn his whole body of rage. Stifled by the heat of his own altered body, he took off his purple crocodile skin and put it elegantly on the coat rack near the door, revealing the number of tattoos on his bare torso. J extended his hand to Johnny and he understood that he had to hand over the Harley bat. Joker put it in the back of his neck as he turned to the new director who looked at him terrified and put a notorious mocking tone in his words

"Oh...This is very…curious director..." He spun the bat with his hand and with his outstretched arm made a gesture as if showing the whole place "Harley isn't here...and I, I have a bat in my hand without his mistress" He spoke seriously, leaving the mocking tone to one side and straightened the bat in front of the new director, throwing him a sinister murderous look "I will not repeat it again ...Where is Harley?"

"I swear I don't know where she is..." Joker always knew when someone was telling the truth or lying and the man seemed to tell the truth "I have no knowledge where it can be, we only receive the patients, we do not ask for them!"

Joker clenched his jaw, those words made him feel that the new director referred to Harley as an object being ordered or delivered by delivery. He furiously hit the bat against the window on his right and it broke, causing the crystals to fall with noticeable noise and his eyes returned to the man within inches of the wall.

"I don't have to say...I swear to god I don't know where she is!" Said the director terrified, clutching his back against the pistachio green wall and stretching his arms around her as he slid his body desperately for a way out. Could get rid of the Joker. To his dismay, he only found the corner of the room. And J began to walk toward him with a sinister look.

The direct one immediately took his hands to the head, crouching and repeating with vehemence

"I swear...I swear ... the ju" It was too late, Joker had already taken the first shot as if trying to make a home run with his head.

Frost obcerved as his boss, blow after blow, took the life of the blue tie guy who had not been able to give the answer he sought and blood spilling on the floor, reached the sole of his black shoe.

*Flashback End*

"Jajaja so my Puddin took care of giving a lesson to the stupid new director!" She laughed.

"Basically yes, he did it" Johnny said quietly "but the trouble was, we had no idea where to find you now"

"Yes...I imagine...it must have been very difficult...um, knowing Waller..." She finished annoyed.

"She did a good job, there was no trace of you Harley, it was as if she had swallowed the earth, nobody told us anything and J began to despair, uselessly blow up several police barracks, visit and threaten really important people that not even you could imagine..."Johnny said sternly.

"Oh yeah? Like who?" She asked uneasily, she was amused by everything Joker had done to find her

"Surprise me cowboy!"

"We'll cover the entire family of the mayor, Harley"

"Waauuw! I did n't expect that!"

"Yeah...the fact is, J, no matter how threatened, we could not find an answer and just when the boss was going to start torturing him, Batman came to rescue him and that was it.

"Oh! That damn bat always ruins everything! Batsy the boring!"

"The worst thing was that Batman told the boss to do what he would never find you, that you were far from his reach and that if he continued to persist in finding you, he would take care of killing you as long as J will stop destroying the city looking for you..." Johnny let out a sigh and Harley looked down.

"But... my Puddin didn't mind?"

"That's why I'm here..." Johnny swallowed.

"No...Harley...the boss took his words seriously, he was defeated when Batman mentioned that he would kill you..."said Johnny turning his face to avoid seeing the sadness in Harley.

"That's impossible! So what happened? What did my Puddin do?! Speak Johnny!" She exclaimed.

Johnny lowered his face for a few seconds and lifted him looking into her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes...how bad can it be?" She said almost in a whisper, but loud enough for Johnny to hear his answer.

"Pretty bad ... the boss after that forgot about you." Harley opened her eyes wide, but before she spoke Johnny followed or so he intended "J went through a state in which he could be described as denial, there was only anger in his eyes and in everything he did. No one dared to cross words with him. It was as unstable as a roller coaster..."

"More than the usual?" There was concern in her tone.

"Yes, more than usual, excessively bad than usual, shooting to kill for no reason at all and having to dispose of the corpses that remained at the closing of the club was the daily bread. But that was not the worst...The boss lost control and began to abuse everything bad looking for fun to fill the void you lef, Harley..." Johnny stopped to take a breath of air while Harley's eyes grew more and more Sad as he spoke "Every week was worse than the previous one, J only lived to have fun without limits and I speak of the kind of fun that is the boss's favorite ... you and I know what"

"Make people suffer..." Harley mumbled.

"Correct" Johnny grimaced at her face and continued "and not only that...he overreached, abused everything bad in the first few months, talked about alcohol, drugs, sex, violence..." When Johnny mentioned the word sex Harley hit with a fist the table causing him to stop talking suddenly.

"What are you telling me? It's not true Johnny! My Puddin wouldn't touch another woman! You're a liar" She said, opening his mouth wide in every syllable of the word liar and then repeating between his teeth.

But Johnny didn't seem to mind her and rubbed a hand over his chin understanding his anger, he knew that part of the story would have that effect on Harley.

"Why would I lie to you?" He said seriously.

"Continue Johnny, I cannot..." But this time he interrupted her in his most reflective tone.

"Harley, when you appeared in the boss's life and I met you, from that moment on...J never asked me to take another woman. That was so until you disappeared, I am not the one to tell you this; but I can understand J, he really wasn't the same, he even completely forgot about Batman at the time, it was like he didn't want to see it either...maybe it reminded him that you would be dead If he was looking for you..." Harley squeezed his fist bitterly deflecting the look. Johnny was sure a tear threatened to come out of his eyes and she dodged his gaze so he did not notice. Frost quickly with his hands took Harley's hand in hand and she turned her gaze on him looking at him with a brotherly expression "Will you let me finish?"

"Yes..." She replied and Johnny released his fist to continue.

"Harley, don't worry...one after another died by the hands of J, the same day they shared a room with him" he said quietly.

"Are you serious? You don't say because I wanted to kill them?" And you don't want it to come out?

"No, it's the truth"

"They were...pretty?" Frost put a hand to his face and sighed. He knew he had to tell her the details or else Harley wouldn't let him finish the story and he wouldn't make her understand what his boss felt for her.

"Each and every one of them, they were similar or similar to you, Harley..."

"But none of them are like me" She said decisively, making Johnny feel a little better, she always somehow or other got her sparkling personality even in the most difficult moments, so she understood the Joker's concern when she had shown fear in him. Her eyes, she wasn't like that. The good thing is that she was back.

"Of course, although in the beginning...the truth, they were different types of pretty women from the club, nothing more, but then the boss changed...and only wanted those who resembled a little to you. I didn't analyze it or anything, but I shared many years with him Harley and I realized that maybe at first they were just fun for one night, of course, obviating the fact that if or if they died after entering that room...That I mean...is that the boss later wanted them similar to you, I guess because you did not leave his head even if he tried to deny it, I can safely say that after all his excesses there was pain in his heart...that was all"

*Flashback*

A powerful sound was felt outside the club "Diamond Harlequin"; the sound was produced by the powerful engine of a flashy lamborghini scarlet color fuchsia that came to park outside the club. The bright neon lights as green as his owner's hair went off in unison as he took the key to the majestic car. Some curious mobsters who knew the dangerous owner of the club and the Lamborghini in front of them wondered if the reason why Joker had changed the pink and blue neon lights of his car was because of his girl's absence in the empty seat at his side...was a mystery that no one would ever dare to ask...Joker set foot outside the car and people outside the club were silent when they saw him completely lower and close the door of his lamborghini. Black colour that wrapped his eyes was more intense of the usual betraying much more the lack of sleep that was increased every time the calendar marked one more day in Gotham city and the dark blue of the night matched with the shiny silver bag that it wore along with the great jewels of gold that shone On his hands and neck.

He walked straight and without looking away at any of the people around him; unconsciously his eyes were placed on a large poster advertising posters to the left side of the main entrance of the club. There was nothing there, the girl with her heart on her cheek and the word ROTTEN on her face were not on the poster posters, as were her long legs, her bright red lips and the flamboyant celestial look she possessed.

The dark eyes of J betrayed him again by looking up the entrance of the club, there was nothing there that could reveal the name of the club ..."Diamond Harlequin"... he had ordered to remove each of the luminous letters, now her name was only a memory.

"They look pretty Puddin!...I love them!...I'll dance all night for you!..."

A soft laughter echoed in the Joker's mind before he reached the main entrance and stopped listening to the loud music inside the large, luxurious building.

"Boss, Maroni waits for you" said one of the three guards at the entrance, while everyone gave him enough space to pass; not to say that they did not want to stumble upon him. Joker didn't answer and he went straight to the V.I.P sector with the cold in his eyes that never seemed to disappear.

"Sorry, the colors pink and blue are forbidden in women here, you cannot enter" said the guard, alluding to the pink dress that one of the girls was wearing in front of him.

Joker was sitting in the long lounge chair of the club's V.I.P lounge, and his neck turned to the right indicated that his sight was lost in the empty cage a few feet away. The empty space in the golden cage was burning like the coldest ice, the absence of Harley felt worse than death and was frustrated in the lost hope of never seeing his sensual body move for him...His despair was severe and though he deny it a thousand times in his twisted mind. He hated himself for feeling pain, a pain that seemed not to disappear with anything, with none of the measures he had taken to don't remember, it was impossible to bury her in oblivion, and that is the lack of her smile, bright and perfect; not like his that was damaged and sinister...He always been able to have it to his will, just by snapping his fingers, he had the power to see her for him whenever he wanted, but now that she was not there, and he could not have her, He wanted her more than ever, never gave him the real importance of what really was worth to him...the radiant smile of his harlequin...could be turned off in some distant hell, far from his reach.

The thick voice of a man in a black tuxedo sitting in front of him interrupted his thoughts, and his firm stare revealed his annoyance.

"Listen to me!" Said the man with thick eyebrows tapping the glass table with both fists glaring. Joker grinned from ear to ear showing his metallic smile.

"Salvatore! Partner...you must learn to be less boring if you want to be paid attention HAHAHAHA" He let out his laughter covering his mouth and inevitably showed the smile in his hand.

"J, I'm not here to waste time! You made me wait two hours for you so that now you come with your antics and do not listen to a word of what I say!" exalted Salvatore Maroni, one of the few men who dared to speak to themselves the Joker. He was a well known head of the Italian Mafia of Gotham city, as its name made it notice.

"Bla bla bla bla bla bla...you don't want to hear my advices, oh, you'll never...PROGRESS!" He cried the last word madly, combing his hair back and Salvatore drank some of his drink bitterly; The Italian was losing his patience and Joker noticed him twisting his neck with his electric blue eyes turning dark and deep. He got up from the couch and approached Salvatore, who looked at him in bewilderment.

"What the..."Joker reached out and took the drink he held in his hand. He drank the strong alcohol into the dry, and Salvatore froze for a few seconds, and then reacted by raising his hand and his men pulling all their weapons at Joker. He did not move, as did Johnny, who was leaning against the wall.

"You're still impatient, Salvatore"Joker set the glass on the glass table.

"And you're still a clown, J" the Italian chuckled. Joker ran a hand through his green hair and answered with his back to him, watching the movement in the club.

"Some things never change..."Joker turned and quickly grabbed Salvatore's face with his two ringed hands squeezed it "Look at us! We are like children on a playground...each with their own toys..." he patted his cheek as Salvatore's men followed him with their weapons. The Italian, disturbed by the Joker's mad eyes, abruptly removed his hands from his face and rose from his chair.

"Enough games J" Joker grabbed his shoulder and pushed him down so he sank back.

"Oh, I decide when it's over, but since I cannot wait to give you what I have for you ... and you're an Italian very impatient…"Joker purred in the ear of Santori "mmm, I'll tell you once because I made you come ..." Then he straightened.

"SPLIT OUT!" asked Salvatore.

"Your nephew..." Joker twirled his wrist as he remembered "Flavio, he's been talking too much to the wrong people...and I hate the speakers!"He exaggerated in the last words and then stuck his ice-cold eyes on Salvatore. "He will die..."He lifted his nonexistent eyebrows.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! IT'S ONLY A KID!..."He shouted and then lowered his voice. He knew that Joker was serious so he decided to take another strategy.

"Come on, J...that can be solved, it does not matter..."

"What does not matter? What does not matter?! He's 27 years old and got into the wrong place, now I'll tell you what I want..."He said opening both arms theatrically "Your dear nephew is very slippery...So I decided that his Uncle Salvatore will have the pleasure of handing it to me personally..."Joker sketched a machiavellian smile on his lips.

"The family is important, J. That anyone knows it!"He looked at him with hate"You can forget that fucking idea!"

Joker in a swift movement approached the Italian and moved his finger in denial before his eyes as he nodded his head sharply.

"No...I already decided...and stop drowling words and let's get some action..."

Johnny immediately pulled out his gun and aimed at Salvatore's head. Salvatore's men turned to Johnny, but he didn't lower his weapon.

"You will calmly wait for me here, Salvatore, and you will tell your men to lower their weapons...oh...you will not want to frighten the gift I have for you..."Joker murmured mockingly in his ear and let go of his head. Salvatore knew that the "gifts" of the Joker were bad, very bad. He raised his hand and made his men lower their guns. Joker started to laugh as he turned to walk out a door a few yards away. A few minutes passed and the door opened, Salvatore mumbled

"No…"

J appeared on the arm with Salvatore's beautiful woman with long brown hair and an elegant red dress, a gray wrapping tape sealed her lips and her makeup was flowing from the tears in her eyes.

"GRAZIELLA!" Salvatore shouted from the couch, stretching out his arms toward her, but Joker quickly pulled out a golden dagger and pressed it to the woman's neck, the Italian in his arms immediately "SON OF A BITCH!" He shouted and spat. The Joker watching as his wife shivered trapped in his arm.

"You said it Salvatore and I agree with you...the family is important..." J raised the frame of his eyes.

"You wouldn't dare..." Joker blinked and before he could finish, he slid the sharp dagger sharply down his neck, killing his life. Joker made more pressure and Graziella's body slid off her head suspended by her tangled hair in the Joker's hand

"You were saying? HAHAHAHAHA"laguhed when Salvatore took his hands in his face and began to move, repeating the name of his dead wife in sobs. But J didn't find it amusing that he didn't pay attention to his laughter and put Graziella's head on the glass table right in front of him.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, DAMN IT!"Salvatore shouted raised his face after seeing the hair and the blood of his wife scattered on the glass table.

"You had the choice...but you let her die ...you preferred to save your nephew's life before her...bad…very bad..."He mocked to the Italian"God! Even to me that is cruel! Don't you think that, Graziella? Ah...it's true! You cannot talk because the jerk of your husband didn't want to talk...ironic, right? HAHAHAHA" He chuckled in his own macabre laugh, but stopped when Salvatore stopped and punched him in the mouth, grave error.

"That's what I like...you reacting to my jokes" He said taking Salvatore by the shirt with his face very close to him "But you know that I liked more, Salvatore? When you open your damn mouth to say what I want to hear...or this will get very dark" Joker let go and whistled with his two fingers in his mouth.

Salvatore's heart sank when he saw one of the Joker's masked men enter with his son on his arm.

"NO...NO, NO, NO...MY SON NO!…"He cried desperately putting himself in front of the glass table so that his son could not see his mother dead.

"Papa, Papa...Moldo stanco, voglio walk home!" The five-year-old boy cried and Joker from behind put his hand on his shoulder and the Italian shouted in exasperation.

"TAKE THE HANDS OUT OF MY SON, UNHAPPY MAN!"

"You see...I don't speak much Italian, but I deduce that the little heir wants to go home, doesn't he?" He said leaning toward the boy pressing his cheek with his two fingers and then stood up, speaking dryly "Speak or the boy will join whit his mother"

"Well...well..."Sobbed Salvatore"I'll give you Flavio... just let my son go..."

Joker slapped the boy's back causing him to run into his father's arms and he dropped to his knees and hugged him with tears.

J stretched his arms, letting out all the air.

"That was easy...now, as you can see..."Joker make his elegant gestures as he spoke "you have a pathetic security, Salvatore and as I said were...very easy for me to take your beloved family...and I will not hesitate to kill little Salvatore Jr. the next time you don't talk again...you understand, right?"

Salvatore's pride was as big as the Joker's, but he was lost and only nodded. The Joker's eyes filled with anger and he stretched his arm, letting his wrist drop to kiss his hand. The Italian looked at him, he had heard of that and never thought that he would have to humble himself before the King of Gotham, but he had his son in his arms and the love for him was bigger, his pride was worth shit in that moment of life or death, making Joker angry was not an option.

He took his son away, and J was still waiting with his arm outstretched. Salvatore removed his tux and threw him back begging all the gods because he fell on the head of his dead wife, God heard his pray and it was there. The next thing he did was stand with his son on the side, he was about to start walking when J with his other hand pointed him to the floor and beckoned him to crawl towards him like a dog. Salvatore gritted his teeth and felt his son's hand pull his pants, the little boy wanted to hurry home...The Italian looked at the ceiling cursing with all his anger to himself and...he obeyed, he crawl like a dog until he reach Joker; He placed under his hand and Salvatore kissed the thick golden rings. Joker smiled devilishly pleased, and Salvatore stood up to one of his men and whispered in his ear.

"Cover her and take her away"

His assassin nodded and the Italian went to his son, taking him in his arms. He walked to the exit while his men complied with his order, but before he could reach the exit, Joker stood in the door and Salvatore saw his life pass before his eyes, but he could only walk towards the dangerous man in front of the door, because he had the life of his son in his hands.

He reached J in front of the door; were the second most terrifying of his life and Joker clasped with both hands the head of his son with madness in his eyes and between the fear of his father, the wild one kissed the front of the small one and it told to Salvatore

"It was a pleasure..."Joker ran from the door and Salvatore left as fast as he could with his men following in a hurry.

He tilted his neck, with his hand combed his green hair and a sweet voice was heard in his head...

"Aw, the little boy is equal to his father, don't you think that, Puddin?..."

Joker walked briskly between the blood on the floor and ran desperately at the golden pearls of the curtain to better hear the noise of the music, blocking the sound of the sweet voice in his head and then passed his gaze throughout the club seeking To his new victim. His cold gaze fixed on the blond haired girl dancing back to him.

"Frost!" Johnny stood beside his boss, he knew what he was going to say "bring her here" he ordered, and turned to go up to the second floor.

"Come with me, my boss want to see you" Jhonny said to a thin girl who was dancing with her friend. Her friend hears Frost's words and holds her by the arm.

"Don't go, Amber. He's crazy and he's going to kill you" the brunette girl said to her blond friend who was slightly drunk. Johnny was about to take out his weapon when Amber spoke.

"Hahaha, don't tell me that you also believe those rumors" laughed the blonde girl "The only rumor I believe, is that they say that he fucks like a bastard" wink at her friend, to which she shook her head In denial and Amber hooked on Johnny's arm.

"Let's go honey; I want to see the boss..." Johnny looked at the ceiling and took the girl to J.

Johnny was standing in front of the door to the Joker's office on the second floor of the club, the blonde at his side was going to turn the knob on the door when Johnny meant it.

"Do not say anything, do not look him in the eye, do what he tells you and avoid asking questions ..."

"Anything else?" Laughed the girl, but Johnny did not care that J heard, his boss's office had sound insulation on the walls.

"By no means, for any reason… don't mention the word "Puddin" "he said seriously but with concern in his voice.

"Puddin? what the hell is that? A key or something?...hahaha" Laughed again Amber.

"It's the key that will lead you to death sooner If you mention it...so shut up your mouth" he answered in a low voice.

"Yeah, sure...what fear! I don't know why I keep listening to you! You're just an employee!" Amber finished speaking and Johnny turned back down the stairs, thinking that the stupid girl really deserved to die for idiot.

Amber opened the door and was impressed by the red decor of the place, red curtains, red carpet, red walls, yet everything looked very elegant and expensive, like the fine dark wood furniture that adorned the place ... at least that was what she could distinguish between the penumbra of the office.

Minutes later, Amber was on her knees giving her oral sex to J who was sitting in a large red velvet armchair. Joker was in his white shirt open and only a few tattoos were visible on his declined torso, as with his shirt, he still kept his pants and his shoes, plus his jewelry and the red on his lips remained intact indicating that no kiss He had given the blonde girl who gave him momentary pleasure. His tattooed hand held his weapon with which he had hit Amber's face repeatedly, to make her hair cover her face before even looking at her and for her to look at his dark face. With a couple of clear orders and with fear of being hit again, the girl did her job well; but from Joker's mouth nothing came out, no sound of pleasure, and there was a cold expression on his face; only the moans that made Amber choke was the only thing that was heard in the mysterious place.

Amber now moaned loudly in pain clinging to the large desk, she always with her face hidden by her hair felt Joker's hand stifling her neck and the other tightening her left breast tightly. Besides, her pelvis was pressed hard against the edge of the desk and the pain grew stronger with each violent thrust of him.

There was only evil and fury in Joker's eyes as he pulled his hand away from Amber's breast and along with the other that suffocated her neck causing her to breathe with difficulty, almost touching the death she now longed for. J knew how tightly he had to clench his neck to prolong the time he wanted the agony of feeling the suffocating, stifling suffocation. Amber started pounding on the desk as she felt J's thrusts increase even more, as the asphyxiation in her neck continued to linger longer and longer.

Tears fell from her flushed face and she could no longer resist the torture. With what remained of force she turned her face to the left ... the madness and hatred in J's eyes hypnotized her and only in that second moment of feeling pain, she was captivated in the deep rancor that emanated with her breathing…and in that minute, J quickly pulled out his weapon and pressed the tip of it onto her neck, causing her to turn her eyes to the desk.

The tip of the weapon continued to press hard on Amber's neck for the rest of the time the sexual act lasted. The shot was heard when Joker reached orgasm and blood spilled on the desk and his expression...still showed no pleasure or satisfaction.

Joker pushed from his desk the lifeless body of the naked woman and she whipped herself on the floor shedding more blood on the red carpet. He pulled up his dark trousers and a syringe loaded with white liquid from the desk drawer. He don't need any elastic, on his forearm anyone could see all his veins from the violent sex he had seconds before.

The long needle stuck into his skin and the heroine ran through his cardiovascular system. The image of Harley began to become more and more diffuse in his mind. Euphoria struck his senses and the pain of her absence was almost completely gone.

*Flashback End*

"The boss was still in it for the first four months that you were absent, nobody could control him..." Johnny said to Harley that as she bit her lower lip.

"Johnny...I need to know what else happened to my Puddin..." She whispered for him to continue.

"Nothing stopped him, Harley, until...well this is the part I don't like to tell...I suppose by how I felt about it ...J continued like this until one night the situation was repeated again. He made me take another blond girl and as usual, I left it at the door and I left, that day J ordered me to visit another of his clubs, because they had informed him that a guy had been involved in several fights in the local and had to go to end this that in mind, I went to the club and didn't return until the other day to the "Harlequin Diamond" the boss was not there that night...the same happened the next day and the next…I called several times, but he never replied. The boss didn't go to the club in a week and I decided to go to the mansion to look for him"

"You did well, Johnny" Harley said, nodding, her elbows are resting on the table and her two hands are close to her mouth.

*Flashback*

In the office of the club, behind a door that led to a hidden room that had a large bed with scarlet silk sheets and a few but fine wooden furniture, a woman with long blond hair moaned incessantly. She was lying face down on the bed and her hand clung desperately to the pillows.

The marquise of the bed struck again and again against the wall causing a heady noise to the beat of the moans of the blonde...The scarlet bedsheet cover her from the waist down to Joker and only her back was seen to move by inertia with the violent thrusts that he gave the woman beneath him. J's tattooed arms were steady vertically resting her hands on the mattress, her breathing deep through her half opened mouth. J's movements were increasing, and the danger of death for the woman beneath him was nearer and nearer, though she was given to the rude pleasure without suspecting her fate.

This time Joker tried to change his own rules, desperate and distressed to didn't find a way out for the pain that felt his soul every day...He decided not to hit the blonde under him, at least until the sex will end, but the change of rules didn't work; Harley's groans echoed over and over...in a tantalizing melody...the melody he waited for madly...

Then the woman lifted her hips and the delirium went further this time...J moved more and more strongly inside her and the light of the lamp illuminated her body as well as lit up too many syringes used on the pedestal. Each dosis had only one purpose, to leave Harley in oblivion...her soft laughter reverberated again, as he mocked the futile attempt to remove it from his mad heart, because yes...he had one, dangerously damaged and rotten...but he had it and Harley's face was on it. Joker surrendered defeated to the sweet and intoxicating strawberry aroma in Harley's hair and the blond woman's cheek now had a black heart, her hair was lighter and with two colors at her tips and J did not notice when her mouth Desperately sought the woman's mouth and swear he tasted the grape soda on her lips...making Joker think that perhaps the dose had been too hard, because the woman's skin was now completely white and with strange tattoos in her honor. His body became warm and J heard her whisper in his ear "Puddin..." "Puddin"... He lost his reason and his hands that were inert before, now caressing his body with madness the moment he began to feel the false pleasure invade his Body, and now Joker was also moaning, grunting and purring with pleasure with every satisfactory thrust he gave as he bit and kissed her white collar. His delirium went to such an extreme that he twisted the woman's body and she took advantage of putting a hand in his green hair and surrounding the waist of the Joker with his legs.

The panting and groaning intensified like the sensations and the almost toxic overflowing pleasure flooded the room. Joker put his hand on hers, feeling the fine fingers of Harley and interlaced his fingers with those of the woman.

"Puddin..." He burned and burned his soul when he saw the face of his Harley reach orgasm, lost all control by grasping the woman more to his tattooed chest. The move he continued to ram it all night until he fell exhausted and surrendered over her...surrendered to the memory and completely surrendered in the drugged toxicity that he called himself Harley Quinn.

Joker woke up the next morning and his senses were still racing, he turned his face to the left and saw a blond woman sleeping next to him...and it wasn't Harley...and he felt a hand squeezed his heart, taking out the worst of him...what he regarded as weakness...that absurd feeling he would never name...

"Good morning, did you sleep well? I prepared scrambled eggs and coffee"

"Puddin ...Can you stay a little longer with me? Say yes, please ... I'll get bored if you leave ..."

He contracted his jaw to contain the salty water that began to border his eyes wrapped in the relentless black...He was feeling real pain, pain he had never felt before and he had the strong need to insert the needle in his forearm again...

J's right arm stretched out and his hand open in the air on the night stand, shivering for a second...He closed it, gripping it, and dropped it on the syringes. Dressed upu and ready to leave the room, growled angrily turning to see the woman bloodied with a bullet in the chest...specifically in her heart. He hadn't killed the woman...but what he had been the best and worst night he had had in the last four long months of Harley's absence.

He went down to the club where was now empty like the golden cage and no one saw him climb into the bright lamborghini to go looking for what he had felt a few moments ago, which made his damn heart feel the cozy fire all night and hurt like hell when he woke up and to discover that cruel and absurd feeling...had to be completely detoxified, so he heard Harley's voice every minute of the day.

The Lamborghini's powerful engine went out when Joker parked in front of his mansion, had not entered his empty house in the last four months, had been living in the club ever since, avoiding feeling the hated feeling at all costs...but there it was, standing in front of the door ready to feel it even though it made him suffer between memories and the pain of loneliness he felt as if he were buried in the coldest glacial of the earth.

*Flashback End*

When Johnny took some air, he continued "I was surprised when I entered the mansion, hoping to find some broken and watered things on the floor, but everything was a complete disaster...as if a hurricane had come bouncing and destroying everything to its Johnny made another pause to continue-he searched in every room, I even dared to enter yours, but J was not there either...and I saw that the room was still intact, I assumed he had not Sleeping there, so I would not be in the house...and when I was about to leave I had a feeling and I remembered the basement, I had never come down to see it, but it was an option-

"You saw the gym he did for me..." she said sadly.

"Yes, you're right..." Johnny sighed and a sad tone appeared for the first time all night as he spoke "the first thing I saw him coming down the stairs in the dark...I went to the boss sitting on the bottom rung of the ladder. He was leaning against the wall and his view was lost to his right, turn to see where he was looking and I realized that your room was not the only one that was not destroyed...Your gym was also in good condition, I knew it because I give a quick view on the rings, the parallel bars, the mattresses...well...all the appliances; were in perfect condition and J didn't take his eyes off the long pink cloth hanging from the ceiling..." Johnny took a big breath of air "I approached to the boss and touch his shoulder moving a little, but he did not respond and remained still with that look lost as if it were drugged, frankly I was scared, I stood in front of him, J just said "get me out of here" and fell on me, Harley. I swear that he had never seen so desolate and lost in all this years I serve him..."Johnny saw Harley looking at her with fear.

"Continue..." She whispered again, tightening one of the sleeves of her blue dress.

"I climbed the stairs with him on my shoulder and closed the door of your gym and take you to an apartment in the Gothic center, feeling powerless to not be able to do more for him at that time ... I felt very useless, was supposed Which was his right hand, and I had to help him as he was. "Johnny under his gaze and Harley felt a sharp pang in her heart...she didn't want to hear any more...Johnny's words were like knives in her heart, but she knew the story wasn't over and she had promised Johnny that she would listen until he had finished.

Johnny lifted his face and after a few seconds as he continued "That day I saw J sleep all day in the apartment and I still worried about him I had to go to the club, for my bad luck to return late at night. As you will see without the boss in the three clubs for a week things were getting out of control and that day I had to take care of two mafia bosses who were facing in the club" said Johnny bitterly-when I returned to the apartment I was surprised Not being able to enter, I tried many times with the key but it did not work, I realized that J had changed the lock...That was his clear warning that meant he did not want anyone to interrupt him, or talk to him...and call him and I knocked on the door many times, until at last he yelled "GO AWAY" and there was not another word, I felt like J was falling behind the door and all he did was slip this" Johnny reached inside his sack and from his black leather wallet he pulled out what looked like a playing card and set it on the table in front of Harley. She bent to see the letter, it was "The Queen of Hearts" and there was an end to end crossword written with black marker "FIND IT".

Harley felt a twist in his heart and a lump in his throat when he saw the letter and looked at Johnny with his lips parted. Johnny took the letter and put it back into his black wallet.

"That was Harley, when I held the letter, I promised myself that I would find the information the boss needed and that I wouldn't bother him until I had something in my hands...So the last two months, J was isolated from the world and I did what I could to take care of all the business of the boss during that time, while I tried by all means to find some information...it wasn't easy...but something appeared. The information arrived saying that Flash had captured Captain Boomerang and that he was going to be transferred to a hidden prison in Louisiana. That was the key...from there on, investigating the other was easier... Finally came the day and gave the information J and well ... there began the plan to get you out of there, leaving with the idiot Griggs" He said omitting the the final part when he found Joker in the circle of weapons, with a smile drawn with black marker around his mouth. At the end of the long story, Johnny looked closely at Harley's face and instinct told him that she was trying hard to sketch a false smile, when all she wanted was to cry.

"Harley...are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes...Johnny...I...I'm fine..." Harley suppressed a sob and her chest began to get up and down giving it away. Johnny stood up from his chair and stood in front of her touching her shoulder brotherly as if it were a child.

"This is good Harley...it's all right...cry, J will be late..."

Harley stood up and hugged Johnny hard, sinking her face into his chest.

"Puddin ... Puddin ..." He cried disconsolately as Johnny stroked the top of his head, because the back was still with the coping adhesives that closed his wound, it was not big, but it was a wound anyway.

Harley stayed several minutes crying thinking that she always believed that her Puddin hadn't missed her much in her absence and that she was the only one who suffered in prison, but he...he also suffered, he also ached not to have her and was more than she ever believed. She understood that Joker loved her even though he never told her, and perhaps that was how it would always be, but she would never, ever again doubt the feelings he felt for her and felt the desperate need to see J as soon as possible, but she knew he couldn't do it or that could make her suspect her Puddin that Johnny had confessed to her some things and what she wanted least was to cause problems for him.

Johnny's strong masculine scent hit her nose, and she swear smelling the same essence that emanated from her father when she was a little girl and was immensely grateful for the support Johnny gave to them both and crying said to him

"Thank you...Thank you for everything Johnny, I love you so much"

Johnny smiled.

"Okay, you don't have to thank me, you see, there's someone else who came to cheer you up"

Harley wiped her tears with the sleeve of her dress and saw the small kitten meow from the kitchen door. She took off from Johnny and went to the kitten to support him again in her chest

"Thanks to you for coming to see me...you're cute..."

The kitten meowed and Johnny crossed his arms to the side of the table

"You must be hungry ..."

"It's true, there is no food ... to be honest I completely forget about that, but what do you want to eat? I'll call someone to bring food" Johnny said with his cell phone in his hand.

"I don't know...spaghetti maybe? but don't worry, I'll cook if K got me what I need" she replied.

"Oh! And do not forget something for F" Said Harley laughing softly.

"Who's F?" Johnny asked, fearing the answer.

"Dah! Of course! My kitten! F, Frosty..., Frosty F" Harley said making the presentation by moving one of the cat's legs with her hand to say hello. Johnny looked at the ceiling laughing, he was not going to bother trying to persuade her to change the cat's name, and it was too late.

"I haven't cooked anything for a long time, but Mr. J says I make a good food" Harley said with a broad smile.

"Are you sure you can do it? Don't forget that the kitchen is newly remodeled, and K can go to your favorite restaurant" he said with a little humor.

"Ah? You don't trust me again? Well, if you don't want to try my food, you'll miss it" Harley said mockingly, leaning his hand on the frame of the kitchen doorway and looked at the small kitten against his chest that meowed "Did you see it? He wants to try my food and believe me, it's not bad" She smiled.

"Well...cook, but before that go to the bathroom to wash your makeup," said Johnny patting his back and went out to call, listening to her say

"Ups..."

While Harley saw her make up run in the mirror of the microwave that betrayed her tears of love corresponded ... and thought that another day, when she and Johnny were once again alone, I would ask how he met Joker and became his right hand, but above all...Why did Johnny help them so much...? One of these days she would know.