Harley sat alone on her and Alex's bed back at the apartment in Gotham. She and Barbara had made it back before Alex and Ivy, their flight from Seattle had been delayed several hours due to a freak storm. With nothing to do and bored out of her mind Harley got up and paced around the room, stopping occasionally to look at Alex's things. His uniforms were hung up in the closet as he'd left them, pressed and inspection ready, not that anyone was here to inspect them. On the wall next to the window a poster of Darth Vader pointing at the viewer captioned "Your Empire needs you!" Was tacked up with the Lego AT-AT built and displayed on a shelf below it. Alex was such a nerd, Harley remembered him spending his weekends in high school binge watching every Star Wars movie in order.
On his desk sat a laptop, the backside covered in random stickers Alex had collected. Next to it sat a framed picture of her and Alex at a casino in Las Vegas, him in his Dress Blues and her in a dress, both smiling happily at the camera as Alex had his arm around her waist. Alex and Harleen, Marine Corps Ball 2011 was written on the back in permanent marker.
That night had been both crazy and wonderful. Harley had met Alex's friend Daniels and the rest of his platoon, danced with Alex before the dance floor had turned into a mosh pit as the Marines partied on, and after Alex's NCO's snuck them both a few beers, they retired to their room where they had explored and expanded their relationship past being mere friends. Alex had been so shy and nervous, even though Harley had been the one to initiate. She had been nervous as well, neither of them had been with anyone before but she trusted Alex, he was her best friend after all. Kissing had turned to light touching and by morning Harley lay cuddled up next to Alex, his arm securely around her under the covers. It had been one of the most wonderful nights of her life and she cherished the memory.
Looking at that picture also brought on a lot of regrets, she could have been as happy as she was then now if she had never fallen under Jokers spell. She had realized too late that Alex's feeling for her were stronger than just simple friendship, that the only reason he hadn't acted on them sooner was because he didn't want to put her through the pain of worrying about him while he was deployed, or worse, the heartache if he had been killed. She often wondered what life would have been like, would they have been married? have had a kid or two by now? There were so many possibilities she'd missed out on because of her stupid mistake. But despite the odds she had been reunited with Alex and he had forgiven her, and somehow his feelings for her still remained and she was grateful beyond measure that they were finally together after all these years, even in these trying times where they were in more danger than ever and she imagined that Alex constantly worried about her when they were out in the field.
As Harley finished reminiscing about the past she heard the front door open and left the bedroom to greet Alex as he walked in. Alex smiled at Harley as he set his bags down by the couch. She crossed the room and hugged him, giving him a quick kiss before returning his smile.
"Hey, I missed you too." Alex chuckled as he held her. "You alright? Heard you guys got thrashed pretty bad." He asked, looking her over for injuries.
"Yeah, we're fine though. Bab's was great, they just got the jump on us is all."
"That's good. We'll get them back don't worry. Ivy and I are fine too." He told her, but there was something in the way he said it that made Harley think otherwise.
"You sure? Sounds like something's bothering you?" She asked concerned.
"Well, let's just say I learned some stuff about Ivy that she'd rather I hadn't and leave it at that."
"Was it something bad?" Harley was afraid to ask, that she wouldn't like the answer.
Alex sighed before looking at her. "Harley, the man that experimented on her, he hurt her real bad. Interpret that as you will but I can't tell you more than that."
It didn't take a genius to understand what he was referring to and Harley slowly sunk to the couch as she came to that same realization. "Oh Red, why didn't she tell me? I could've helped her! She didn't need to keep that bottled up." Ivy rarely talked about her early life with Harley, but from what she did reveal Harley never would have guessed.
"She said she's come to terms with it and that she doesn't want to be treated differently and I agree with her. If she wants to talk about it she will but we can't force her to, got it?" Alex told her as he sat down next to her.
"Yeah, I just... she's my best friend Alex."
"I understand that, believe me I do, but she needs to be the one to ask for help. Don't pressure her into talking with you." Alex wanted Ivy to get help just as much, but he was torn between his duty as a Sergeant and his friendship with her. He believed her when she said she was fine and had decided to give her the benefit of the doubt but wouldn't hesitate to send her to counseling if any issues arose.
"Ok. Can we talk about something else please? I don't wanna think about this right now." Alex was right, if Ivy said she was fine then she was fine. Harley worried about her friend but she knew Ivy was strong enough to deal with anything.
"Sure. How'd your little matchmaking plan work out?" Alex asked, grateful for the change in subject. "You didn't set Barbara up with some asshole did you? If she comes back pregnant..."
Harley smiled slyly and giggled. "Oh trust me, there's no chance of that happening. Besides, Bab's ain't the type to just jump into bed on the first date."
"Well, that's a relief. So who'd you set her up with?"
"Nope, you'll just have to figure that one out yourself. But they're sweet, a bit awkward, kinda like how you were back in the day."
"I wasn't awkward, was I?" Alex asked as he tried to remember.
"Oh yes you were. I remember you nearly had a meltdown the first time you saw me naked." Harley said with a laugh.
"Well, yeah! I totally wasn't expecting that at all!" Alex exclaimed.
"But you certainly liked it..." Harley purred, pushing Alex so he laid back on the couch. She had missed him in the week they were apart, and reminiscing about their night in Vegas had made her miss him even more, and after the crazy week they had she thought they could definitely use this.
"You did too, if my memory's correct." Alex smirked as he tried to sit up only to have Harley push him back down and straddle his waist.
"Oh I certainly did." She said before leaning down to kiss him as his hands hovered over her waist, not quite touching her. Even years later and after everything he'd been through, Alex was still unsure of himself so Harley had to be the one to initiate. She didn't mind though, it was rather endearing that he was so nervous.
Harley sat back up and smiled down at Alex before pulling her shirt off and revealing her bare chest. Alex took in the sight of her, memorizing every detail as his hands reaching up to touch the various scars that she had acquired. Harley frowned slightly, feeling rather self conscious as Alex traced his finger down a scar along her side. She wasn't ashamed of how her body looked, rather she was mad at herself for letting her body end up that way.
Alex didn't care though, he loved her just the way she was. "Your so beautiful Harleen..." He whispered. Harley blushed and smiled happily as he pulled her back down to kiss her again. Alex felt her smile against his lips as she reached for the bottom of his shirt, pulling it off as they broke apart and tossing it aside.
Harley hummed appreciatively as she ran her hands over his chest. Unlike most of his peers Alex hadn't worked on getting as bulked up as possible, instead his muscles were more lean, giving him a smaller but more agile frame. Harley stopped her hand over the scar tissue on his chest from were he'd been shot, poking it with her finger. Alex hissed quietly as a small jolt of pain passed over him.
"Sorry! Still sensitive?"
"Just a bit, nothing to worry about!" He reassured. While his body had recovered he still experienced phantom pain from time to time, usually in the form of a slight burning sensation.
"Here, let me make it better." She leaned down again and pressed her lips to the scar, kissing it gently. "Feel better?"
"Much." He replied, leaning forward to do the same to the gunshot wound on her own chest. Harley gasped as Alex kissed her chest, his hands sliding up her sides to cup her breasts. Alex kissed his way down her body while his hands continued their attention on her breasts.
"Mmm, god that feels good..." Once Alex got over his nerves he certainly knew how to use his hands for more than just pulling triggers.
"I'm glad you think so." Alex smiled as he took her hand in his, circling his thumb over the scar from the bullet he'd shot her with. He kissed the palm of her hand and looked deep into her eyes. "You don't know how much I love you Harleen..." He whispered.
Harley smiled and kissed him again. "Why don't you show me..."
...
Ivy walked into Gotham National as she did every other week to deposit her DOD paycheck that she received in the mail. The pay she made as a Lance Corporal wasn't much, coming just short of two thousand a month, but it was enough for her to live off of if she saved it right, which she did.
As she stepped up to the desk the teller jumped in surprise at the sight of her, reaching for the panic button on instinct but stopping just short of pressing it as Ivy held out her check.
"Must we do this every time? I'm not a villain anymore." She said in annoyance.
The teller relaxed as he nervously took the check from her hands. "My apologies miss Isley, it's just with your reputation... well it's taking some time to get used to seeing you is all."
"Yeah, yeah. Just deposit the check, I have more important things to do than be hassled by security because of your nerves."
"Of course, right away!"
As Ivy waited she glanced around the room to see the other patrons eyeing her suspiciously. Thanks to the Marine Corps PR campaign most everyone knew that she was signed on with them but since her work was done in secret they didn't have any actual proof that she was really reformed. Ivy couldn't have cared less what they thought, but the stares rather annoying.
Finally the teller finished but as she turned to leave a gunshot rang out. "Nobody move, got it!"
Ivy spun around and saw a group of armed gunmen standing in the middle of the lobby. "Now might be the time to press that button..." She told the teller before walking forward and putting herself between the civilians and gunmen.
"Hey lady, back off!" The lead robber shouted, leveling his pistol with her.
Ivy scoffed at the threat. "Oh you poor little man. You idiots must be new to Gotham, otherwise you'd know better than to threaten Poison Ivy..."Ivy smirked as the robbers looked at each other nervously, lowering their weapons slightly.
"So...so what? There ain't no plants in here for you. You got nothing!" The lead robber shot back, his confidence coming back as Ivy seemingly had no means of offense. He stepped up to her and pressed the muzzle of his pistol to her forehead.
"Get that gun out of my face." Ivy snarled. She had survived too much, sacrificed too much, to be killed by some punk on a power trip because he had a gun.
"Or what?" The thug asked, ignoring her warning.
"Or this!" Ivy spat in his eyes, her toxic saliva burning his retinas and blinding him. He'd live, but her acidic spit would render him permanently blind. The robber screamed in agony as Ivy gained control of his weapon and swept his legs out from under him. She pointed the pistol at the second goon as she used her off hand to shoot a vine and ensnare the third before he could get a shot off. "Unless you want to end up like your friends you'll drop that weapon." Ivy warned, clicking the hammer on the pistol back for emphasis.
The goon looked at his buddies writhing on the floor and gulped, dropping his weapon and surrendering. "There's a smart boy." Ivy smirked before ensnaring him as well. With the robbers tied up she lowered her confiscated weapon and looked back at the crowd of people. They all stared at her awestruck before someone broke the silence by clapping and soon the rest of them joined in applauding and thanking her.
Now it was Ivy's turn to be surprised, she wasn't used to receiving praise like she was now but she couldn't deny the feeling was...nice. But her sudden good mood was dampened by a voice she loathed to hear.
"Poison Ivy..." Ivy turned around again to find Batman had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"Batman...What a pleasant surprise. I hope your not here to cart me off back to Arkham." She greeted disdainfully.
Batman looked down at the would be robbers and back up at Ivy. "I don't see a reason too. Looks like your becoming quite the hero." He praised.
"Don't patronize me. This was self preservation, nothing more." Ivy hated that stupid smirk on his face, like he had just scored a victory over her.
"Really? So you didn't step between these innocent people and loaded guns? You only wounded these men instead of killing them?" She had, hadn't she. Ivy cursed internally as she realized Batman had her there.
"Pure coincidence." Ivy replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Uh huh. I think you've really changed Pamela, for the better." Ivy couldn't deny that she'd changed, though wether it was for the better was up for debate.
"That's an interesting theory you have, but an irrelevant one. I do what's necessary."
"Of course. Wouldn't want to ruin your sparkling reputation." Ivy was surprised at his sarcasm, he was usually so stoic. But clearly he wasn't buying her self preservation story as evidenced by the smirk still plastered on his face.
"Ugh, go fuck a bat..."
...Mission Complete...