"Now you're absolutely sure you want to go Infantry?" Alex asked one of the guys he had recruited earlier. It was the day after he captured Ivanovsky and Alex was already back at work getting these kids set on their career paths. he was beginning to get the hang of this recruiting thing and typing away at the computer all day helped keep his mind off of his confrontation with Harleen last night so he went ahead and threw himself into it.
"Yes Sir, I want to go out there and kill those monsters." The kid replies. He's only in his first year of college but decided to put a football scholarship on hold to fight Isis. Couldn't blame him for that at least.
"I get that I do, but I'm telling you combat isn't like it is in the movies or video games. Rounds are going to be flying overhead, people will be screaming, and there's the very real chance that you or one of your buddies could die, so I'll ask again are you sure?"
"As sure as I've ever been about anything Sir."
"Alright oh three-hundred it is, good luck to you. We'll set up a date to get you down to a MEPS soon."
"Thank you Sir, I'll see you tomorrow morning for PT."
"Yep." He say as he leaves the office. Alex turned back to his computer and started getting their packages ready when he heard the door open. "Marines, how can I help you?" He asked without looking up.
"Well first I'd like a ride to the nearest café…" A woman says and Alex looked up to see that it's Barbara.
"Aw shit, I forgot we were getting lunch, didn't I?" He replies. He didn't have the best memory as it was but with everything that had happened last night his plans with Barbara just slipped his mind.
"Kinda. Hey you don't look so well, everything alright?" It was true he looked like shit after last night but could anyone blame him?
"Yeah, just couldn't sleep last night."
"Oh, nothing bad I hope."
"No, just kept having nightmares about Afghan." It's not a complete lie, he did have nightmares about Afghan occasionally but last night he had dreamt about the fight with Harley but the dream ended with him standing over her bullet ridden corpse. After the fight last night and his earlier talk with Barbara, Alex was finding his want to just kill Harley fading and that's making things more complicated than they need to be. He'd still do it mind you, but only after all other options have been exhausted.
"Oh I didn't realize; do you want to talk about it?" She asks and he can tell that she's sincere about wanting to help but he doesn't want to scare her with any war stories.
"NO! I mean I appreciate it Barbara but I've already talked to a psychologist about it." he blurts out. "And before you ask it wasn't the crazy one." He adds and she laughs at that.
"Ha, ok I get the hint I won't ask. So, you still wanna go?"
"Yeah just give me a sec to change and I'll meet you out front." He tells her before going to the back room to change into his civilian clothes. After hanging up his uniform and changing Alex headed outside and locked up the office as Barbara waits on the side walk. Once that was done he lead her over to his Challenger and opened the passenger door for her before climbing into the driver's seat and starting the car. As they pulled out of the parking lot Alex turned on the radio and Katy Perry's Firework starts playing.
"Oh bro this is my favorite!" Alex exclaimed happily as he turned the volume up.
"This, seriously?" Barbara asks with a laugh.
"Hell yeah, this is my killing song!"
"You killed people to this!?" She asks dumbfounded.
"I was listening to this song in Afghan when some Taliban goon with an RPG tried to shoot our convoy and I lit his ass up with the fifty Cal! Made him light up like the Fourth of July!"
"Oh my god, that's horrible Alex!" She cries but he can see that she's trying to hold in a laugh.
"Yeah your telling me, body parts everywhere!" He emphasizes with a wave of his hand.
"Ugh, that's disgusting!"
"Hey you wanted to know what Afghan was like remember?"
"Your just lucky that I'm used to that kinda talk with my dad's work."
"I bet, he must've seen some fucked-up shit being a cop in this city."
"Who hasn't? Murder might as well be the local pastime."
"Hey you said it not me."
"Well at least I have you to protect me."
"That's what friends are for right?" Alex says as they pull up to the front of a restaurant in downtown Gotham.
"Exactly. You let me know if anyone tries to mess with you and I'll kick their asses for you." She jokes as we walk inside.
Alex had almost forgotten what it's like to just hang out with a friend and have a good time, he loved his boys back at Pendleton but there's a noticeable difference between hanging with fellow Marine's and a civilian. It's nice to have a conversation that doesn't involve all the fucked-up shit Marines are into. They just have a good time joking about the work, her classes, and his questionable taste in music. As they finish eating Alex realized that the sun was starting to go down so he quickly paid the bill before they headed back out to the car so he could drive her home.
Alex stopped the car in front of her apartment and they got out and talked on the porch for a minute.
"Thanks for lunch Alex, I had a great time." Barbara says as they walk up to the door.
"Hey I should be thanking you, you've been a good friend to me and this is my way of saying thanks."
"So Halloween's tomorrow, you going to have the day off?"
"Man I wish, Marine Corps doesn't give us that holiday. I'll be at the office for the day but afterwards I'm free."
"Oh cool, you wanna hangout again when you're off?"
"Only if we're going trick or treating!"
"Aren't you a bit old for that?"
"What!? Never!"
"Alright, alright we'll go trick or treating. Pick you up at eight?"
"Sounds good to me, see you the…" Alex starts to say as the door suddenly opens startling both of them.
"AH HA, GOT YOU!" Yells Commissioner Gordon from the doorway.
"Oh shit Sir! You're gonna give me a heart attack!" Alex complains, placing a hand on his chest to calm his breathing.
"Ah it's just you Sergeant. Sorry I thought you were another boy that my daughters brought home."
"DAD!" Barbara exclaims as her face reddens.
"What? Wait you haven't enlisted my daughter have you." He asks, giving Alex a death glare.
"No Sir, just making sure she gets home safe." He quickly answers, relaxing the Commissioner.
"Oh, well that's different then. See Barbara why can't you find a nice respectable man like Sergeant Westbrook? I swear Sergeant, you would have killed half the boys my daughters dated."
"Oh I believe you Sir. These kids are too focused on the now and don't care about the future."
"Agh, that's enough you two! Come on inside Dad, I'm sure the Sergeant is very busy."
"What? Oh of course, thank you for looking after my daughter."
"No trouble Sir, have a good evening. See you tomorrow Barbara."
"Goodnight Alex and thank you again." She says with a smile before going inside and leaving Alex alone on the porch.
He drove home and relaxed for the evening, wasting time playing games on the Xbox late into the night before finally crashing on the couch. It'd been a surprisingly great day after the mess of last night, but hey he earned it. It wouldn't last though as he'd soon find himself thrown back into it.
...
Harley was still replaying last night's events in her head. Alex was alive, here in Gotham. She could still hardly believe it even though she had seen and felt him. A several different feelings were coming over her addled mind: Happiness, relief, sadness, shame, anger. Happiness and relief that he was alive and well after all these years, shame that she'd been the cause of her childhood friend almost killing himself, and anger that he hadn't contacted her in four years to tell her he was alright and that when they finally did meet again he had said all those things about her. Harley was also pissed at Joker for lying to her about Alex's death but she'd deal with that one later.
She sat in bed for most of the day staring at the scar on her right hand, her badge of shame and constant reminder of everything she'd given up for her new life. The back of Harley's hand had a mark the size of a quarter right in the middle while the exit wound on her palm was nearly the size of a half dollar. It was sorta awkward to use her hand at times and occasionally she could still feel the burning sensation of the bullet passing through it. When it happened, it was so fast, she'd heard the crack of the gunshot and then a fraction of a second later her hand felt like it was on fire and blood splattered on the windshield causing her to panic and crash the car. Harley remembered clutching her hand tightly in an effort to stop the bleeding after Alex pulled her from the wreckage, it was the first time and only time she'd ever been shot and Harley thought she was going to die because it hurt so bad. The doctors at the hospital she was brought to after Alex handed her over to the police fixed it up but the scar wouldn't go away with time, but Harley felt that she deserved it.
Alex had looked so hurt when he learned it was Harley the whole time and she was touched by the effort he went to trying to rescue her but by then it was too late to go back. After her trial, Harley was sent back to Arkham as a patient but it was only a matter of time before Mr. J broke them out. She almost hadn't gone with him though, set on serving her time and getting out to apologize to Alex but then Joker had told her Alex had committed suicide, that it was her fault. He even had the documents from Alex's record to prove it. That had been the last thing holding Harley back and so she went with him, not out of love like when she'd released him the first time but out of having nothing worth living for. Until last night that is.
"Yoohoo! Harley I'm home!" Speak of the devil. Joker struts into the room pushing a cart filled with pumpkins and explosive components.
"You son of bitch!" Harley yelled, slapping him across the face.
"Harley what's got you so rilled up!?" He asks confused.
"You've been lyin ta me for the past four years! That's what up bub!"
"Hmm, there's so many lies though. Which one was it again?"
"My friend Alex! He's alive!"
"Alex, Alex?" He mutters pacing in a circle trying to remember. "Oh that's right, the one that foiled my escape and gave you that lovely mark! Alive is he? How is the old boy?"
"Wouldn't ya like to know!?" She spat, crossing her arms and turning her back to him.
"Come now Harley, you know any friend of yours is a friend of mine!"
"I don't think he shares those thoughts with ya. Pretty sure he wants ta put a bullet in ya head an I have half a mind ta let him!"
"Oh my, still upset is he? And I thought Batbrain could hold a grudge. Well we'll have to fix this won't we?"
"Yeah, good luck with that one pal! Go ahead and try to make friends with him, I hope he kills you!"
"Oh, we'll see about that my dear. Better men than him have certainly tried..."
…Mission Complete…