A/N: So, here we are guys. This is your final full chapter of Toxic Love. There is an epilogue, but this is really it. Super sized and one big thank you to every single person that's read this, followed this and reviewed this. It's been an utter labour of love and at times, it was more labour haha!
I have a few things in the works, two connected to Young Gods and Toxic Love one completely seperate, but I am going to take a break after the epilogue is posted.
I really hope you've enjoyed this story. I hope you've enjoyed both stories and I very much hope to see you soon! :D
WARNING: Sexy times...
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Chapter 25 – Little Finish
Joker was still down in his suite when the club opened and people slowly filled the room. He was very pissed with Harley, she hadn't unlocked the door and he wasn't about to damage his home because she was having a temper tantrum. He'd just wait until she came to him. She always did.
Right?
He jerked his head to the side, stretching the tendons in his neck and he grimaced slightly. He watched the crowds of people as they all surrounded the strippers at their various poles and podiums. The shining golden cage in the middle of the room had remained empty for almost a year now. No one was allowed to dance in there apart from Harley. He'd happily get rid of it if she wasn't going to dance in it anymore. It was just his way of controlling where she was and who she was with.
Joker heard footsteps up to the suite, but he didn't take his eyes from the crowds. It was only Penguin and he didn't intend on talking to the portly cockney villain for long. Business was business and he knew far better than to dally with this man, more time spent with Penguin was more time to be caught by the Batman, police or Maroni's men. Villainy attracted villainy here and Penguin was one of the bet connected in Gotham.
"Joker, good to see you," Penguin smiled and waddled over to the couch. "I brought some entertainment, sweeten the deal, so to speak." He waved his hand and two girls walked into the room. They were very… orange, smelt of cheap booze and mostly plastic. Not his type in the slightest. He liked his women acid-bleached, sex-starved and psychotic.
Stop thinking about her!
"We have very different ideas of entertainment," he grunted and clicked his fingers. Frost moved quickly and poured a scotch into the Joker's glass and then into Penguins before he went to sit in his chair at the doorway, making sure that no one else was getting in or out of the room.
"That we do," Penguin chuckled. "So, why the emergency call? The Shipment's due in on time, nothing's changed."
"The games changed dramatically," Joker said slowly. "But I wouldn't expect you to understand that from your rock. The shipment is due in on time, but I require a 70/30 split. Just to put some grease onto certain gears."
"Now, come on, Joker, I've not taken the piss out of you before have I?" Penguin asked and his face flushed red with offence. "You are just… I'm not putting all of it at stake for a measly 30%. What's changed?"
"That's not any of your business," Joker told him. "I'm not interested in the product, I've got enough in motion. I want the weapons. I have need to shift a few things and replace used items with the best tech Lex Luthor can afford to lose. Seeing as he doesn't want to do business in person with us Gothamites anymore, I say we help his… distribution network expand."
"You're insane goin' against Luthor," Cobblepot frowned and shook his head. "You know what he'll do if he tracks it to us."
"He doesn't scare me anymore than the Bat does," Joker shrugged. "He's just a kid in daddy's shadow. He needs to learn that his money means nothing in Gotham. Especially when he funds both sides of the city. Plus I have two perfect little goats that need shit dropped on their heads. They'll be caught red handed with a haul of Luthor crap."
"You're goin' to send in half your men for a shipment to just drop a couple of kids in the crapper?" Penguin asked.
"Oh not kids, government types," Joker smirked. "I owe them a thank you gift. This feels like the most satisfying way to do it. Just need one of their little toys to go back to his cell and then I'm going to drop them all in it."
"Deadshot, I'm guessing?" Penguin said. "We all know that you don't like him. We all know that the reason you don't like him is because he's sweet for Harley. You wouldn't turn down a shot like Lawton on the pay roll for any reason other than the girl."
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut," Joker growled.
"Speaking of, how is your pretty little chick?" Cobblepot questioned and drank down his scotch. He placed the glass on the table and looked over his shoulder at Frost, who just ignored him entirely. "I've heard the rumours that she's back onto Ivy's arm rather than yours. As I'm giving up most of my share of the loot, you better tell me."
"Or how about I break your other arm in several places and shove your umbrella up your ass?" Joker suggested.
"She'd be a fine one to add to my collection if you did ever intend on letting her go," Oswald grinned to himself. "There's not many that look like her."
"What is it with everyone wanting to die?" Joker snarled and pulled his gun from his holster. He aimed directly at Oswald's good eye and clicked off the safety. "Do you want to continue, Pingu? Or do you want to be Hyena food?"
"I'm only pullin' yer leg, Joker," Penguin said with a very nervous laugh and he downed the last of his drink. "Only pullin' yer leg, you know how it is, we've known each other long enough now to have a chuckle between us as friends, right?"
"I don't believe I've ever counted you as a friend," Joker hummed and put his gun back into his holster. He let his eyes scan the crowd and smiled seeing Croc and Boomerang moving through the crowd. At least his new employees were doing their job properly. He watched the lights over the staged area dim and he frowned. There wasn't a band playing tonight, it was just meant to be the strippers, not anything else. He clenched his fists and kept his eyes fixed on that one point, wondering who was stupid enough to change something at the club whilst he was sat here. He could see a little bit of movement, but he couldn't see who it was. The music in the club stopped, much to the disappointment of the customers. A slow beat and strings sound wafted through the air and the entire club went dark, save for the emergency exit signs. Joker tensed but didn't move. The person on the stage area was moving again and finally a spotlight switched on.
"I'm so tired of playing
Playing with this bow and arrow
Gonna give my heart away
Leave it to the other girls to play
For I've been a temptress too long…"
Harley was revealed in the spotlight, sitting on her white aerial silk like it was a swing. It was spinning very slowly and she ran her hands up and down the material. She pulled the silks across her front and slowly lifted her legs up and over the cross so she was held in the air by her hips, her arms and legs hanging towards the floor. She ran her fingers through her hair and stretched her arms and legs out. She reversed the movement after a few spins, hooked her knees at the bottom of the sling and then used her arms to pull herself upwards a bit, leaving a loose bit of material beneath her. She moved her legs into a v-style split and swung herself upside down again. She held her position for a few seconds before she released her grip on the material and dropped the few feet to the bottom of the sling. She hooked her right leg around the silk and continued to spin upside down for a little bit.
"Just...
Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to be a woman
I just wanna be a woman…"
Harley climbed up the sling, wrapping the material around her thigh and when she was secure, she fell upside down, bent her left leg back and held her foot with her hands. She spun around like a diamond on a string and then stretched her leg so it was completely against her side and she rested her head against her calf. She unwrapped her right leg and slowly moved down the sling to the bottom again. She untangled herself easily and then sat up on her sling once more. She held her arms open and grinned at the cheers and whistles from the crowd. She could practically feel the Joker moving around and she couldn't help but giggle and grin.
She was enjoying herself, she was enjoying the rising temperature of the room and the danger it invited. She revelled in this and it just made her movements so much more carefully planned to show Joker all of what he'd been missing out on. She twirled and danced in her silks, putting the dancers in the crowd to shame, she felt like a million dollars and the euphoria in her head drowned out the voices that were warning her to danger. The instrumental of the song came to an end and she saw the Joker stood on the stage in front of her. He was blocking her spotlight, but he was right on time. She carefully climbed down from her silk and slipped her red heels back on.
"So don't you stop being a man
Just take a little look from outside when you can
Show a little tenderness
No matter if you cry…"
Harley walked up to him and ran her finger up his chest to his chin and almost kissed him, but stopped just short of his mouth, hers open and wanting, but she wouldn't give in just because he was close by. She danced around him like he was a pole and she was paid in dollar bills. But it was a game they both knew well by now. She met his eye when the song spoke of tenderness and paused for a moment before she turned, slipped off her shoes and climbed back onto the silk. She hung upside down by one foot, she spun around, pulled all sorts of shapes and movements, all the things she knew the Joker liked to watch. He was so close by, she could feel his energy and she couldn't wait for it to be unleashed upon her.
"Give me a reason to love you
Give me a reason to be a woman
It's all I wanna be is all woman…"
Harley finished her show, knowing that he wouldn't make it to the end of the music and just as she was coming to the end of her final drop, she saw his gun pulled and fire at someone's head. He didn't care who it was. His patience had disappeared. Frost moved quickly and cleared the club, including Croc and Boomerang. Joker moved towards her and pulled her down from the material. His hands were harsh on her wrists, but she didn't care. She had his full and undivided attention once more. Whatever he delivered to her now would be pure and full of pleasurable pain.
"Somethin' wrong, puddin'?" Harley asked, a smug smile on her face.
"What the hell was that?" Joker demanded. "Huh, kitten?"
"I was havin' fun, Mistah J," Harley grinned. "Y'know, that thing we don't have no more. Oh wait, no, you want to have fun with your little cheap whores that dance for pennies."
"How many times do I have to tell you, baby? I'm not interested in Chlamydia on legs," he purred and tried to pull her against him, but she resisted.
"So that's why Penguin bought two more, is it?" Harley challenged. "Cos ya not interested in easy girls?"
"If I was interested in easy girls, I wouldn't have kept you around," Joker told her.
"He does have a point, Harley," she heard Harleen say in her head and she rolled her eyes. She wrenched her wrists from his hands and walked backwards.
"So whatcha gonna do?" Harley asked. "Gonna stand there and talk to me or are you gonna do somethin'? Cos if it's standin' there chattin', I got my bags packed already."
"Club's clear boss!" Frost shouted from the doorway and left quickly. Joker smirked at Harley and moved as fast as a snake. His hands pulled her against him and he kissed her hard. He grabbed at her waist, hair, ass and thighs. He hadn't touched her like this for so long, he just couldn't get enough now. She moaned into his mouth and her pent-up desire and need for him just rushed through her like a freight train. She needed his attention, his touch, his energy. She just needed to be around him and their separation had been harder on her than she would ever care to admit to. It was almost worse than when he'd kicked her out before Arkham, being so far from him whilst under the same roof was torture.
Harley pulled open his shirt, sending buttons flying and her hands found his bare skin. She whimpered and pressed up against him. He found the hidden zip on her outfit and toyed with it. He pulled it down so her back was exposed and he ran his fingers up and down her spine, making her skin prickle and shiver in excitement.
"Naughty girl," Joker grinned against her mouth.
"Just as you like," Harley giggled.
"Are you going to be more like my Harley now?" Joker asked.
"On one condition puddin'," Harley answered. He nodded to her, keeping her pressed against him.
"And what's that, princess?" Joker frowned. "I've put you at the top of our empire, I've elevated you beyond the restraints of society, I've given you everything I have and I've changed everything to make sure you and our Prince are happy. What more could you possibly want."
"It's just one thing," Harley replied gently and touched his bottom lip with her thumb. Her mind was whirling and her pulse racing. "It's one thing that'll keep me safe for the rest of my life. You, puddin'. I just want you."
He understood what she meant. She didn't need to explain it any better, she didn't need to say anything else. She was asking him to be hers, to complete how much she'd given for him and he'd taken all of what she'd offered as quickly as possible. He'd married her in the most unofficial way possible, they'd had a baby and they had a sprawling kingdom that kept them in the manner to which they'd become accustomed. Yet she thought she didn't have him.
"You got me, pumpkin pie, you got me," he told her and lifted her chin with his index and middle fingers. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, trying to put everything he couldn't say into it. She seemed to understand as she tangled her hands into his hair and pushed herself up against him. He lifted her up and took her to his suite and set her on the leather couch. They undressed each other quickly and Joker took his time to worship every part of her body. They rarely made love, it was normally just fucking, something hard and painful to get them both over the edge, but not this evening.
It's just to get her on side, it means nothing, Joker tried to tell himself. He tried to convince himself that he didn't want her as much as she wanted him. But it was in vain and he knew that for sure. His intensity on the Batman had been him trying to get his priorities back on track and not on Harley. It had failed and with every argument and night spent sleeping in separate rooms, he realised it more and more and sleeping on his own was something he didn't enjoy anymore.
He moved over her body, placing kisses and soft bites over her flat and toned stomach, her rib cage and up to her collarbone. Her fingers scratched and rubbed at his back muscles and sides, just enjoying being close to him. This was slow and unusual, she wasn't used to him taking his time with her. It was amazing and nice, but it was unexpected. She gasped sharply when he bit her neck and in a moment of normal brutality, he tried to break her skin before he pulled himself back and soothed the spot of skin with his tongue and lips. He found her mouth again before moving down to her breasts. He sucked and kissed soft flesh, teasing each nub to a stiff peak before moving downwards again.
"Lucky me, indeed," Joker smirked. He traced the words with his tongue and smirked against her skin when she tugged at his hair. He found her centre and brought her to the edge, hiss expert knowledge of her body meant she was begging for more in no time. Harley pulled his hair hard and he moved up her body once again. She caught his mouth in a fierce kiss and moaned loudly. Her body was on fire and she just wanted more of him immediately. She trailed her hand down his chest and curled her fingers around his impressive length. Feeling how hard he was sent a jolt through her body and she pressed her legs together to try and relieve a little bit of her tension, but it didn't help.
"Puddin', please," Harley groaned against his kisses.
"Please what, Princess?" Joker chuckled but it turned into a growl as he hand stroked him faster and faster.
"Please!" Harley demanded with a whine and she moved her legs to frame his hips. He paused for a moment, his previous rules on no-sex-in-the-club were damned now and like hell was he going to stop now for her to change her mind in the elevator on the way up to the apartment. He let her rub the tip of him through her damp centre, making both of them shudder before he pushed inside. Harley threw her head back and shouted out in ecstasy. She held onto his shoulders and closed her eyes and bit down on her lip. He moved fully inside of her and grit his teeth hard to keep himself under control. It'd be so easy to just take what he wanted now and throw her to the side but he knew he'd lose her if he did that.
So he moved slowly, carefully and made sure that she was enjoying everything. He had to give her this, he had no option. But he knew it wouldn't last, they'd enjoy a honeymoon period, have another argument or crime go wrong and it'd be a repeat of the cycle all over again. That's just how they were. He'd push her around, she'd press his buttons, they'd argue over the baby and then they'd make up and it would begin again the next day.
So for now, he could allow himself this little spot of weakness. He could allow himself to be hers, be there for her needs and not his own. But once they had left this room, it would be back to business as normal. He'd find his assortment of ties and gag's and he'd make her plead for release. Over and over again. That thought alone made him thrust his hips harder and Harley shouted out once more. Joker was brought crashing back down to reality and he set about the task at hand.
"I love ya, puddin'," Harley whispered as she edged closer and closer to a slow burning climax.
"Good," Joker chuckled. He reached down between them and rubbed the nub that he knew would take her over the edge. Without fail, she cried out and clamped her muscles around him. She shuddered and whimpered as waves of pleasure crashed through her. He took the opportunity to move them and without leaving her, he sat himself on the couch with her on his lap. He guided her waist and hips to move as she came down from her high and she took the hint. Harley put her hands on his cheeks and pressed her forehead against his as she rode him. Soon enough, he was groaning and thrusting upwards again and they both came together. She slumped against his chest and twitched and shivered in the cool air of night.
"Mistah J?" Harley said softly five minutes later. They were still pressed against each other, holding loosely to the other.
"Yes, honey?"
"I missed ya," Harley answered.
"Of course you did," Joker replied. "Do you know what else you missed?"
"No?"
"Our anniversary, pumpkin," Joker smirked. "We've been married a year and a few weeks." Harley felt a little deflated that her own ego and selfishness had meant she hadn't even recognised that he'd done that for her too. She felt her eyes prickle with tears and she tried not to acknowledge them. She wouldn't cry, not now, not after this. She wasn't that girl.
"Puddin', I'm sorry I've been a bitch," Harley said honestly. "I just… I'm… I got jealous of Batman and I forgot everything that you've done for me. You've given me this life, our world and our son. I'd still be a dried up doctor if it wasn't for you."
"And you're not going to do it again are you, poo?" Joker asked. "You're going to stay and be my good girl, my Harley Quinn. Not get all high and mighty and rambunctious because of a little envy?"
"I'll try not to puddin'."
And he had her back under control once more.
"Come on," Joker told her and gently moved her off him. He pulled up his trousers and handed her his shirt. He watched as she wriggled back into her thong and his white button-up before he lifted her into his arms. He carried her like a bride through the building all the way back up the apartment and to their bedroom. He laid her down and grinned at her sweaty face and wide eyes. He moved over her again, took her hands in his and kissed her hard. Harley moaned and pressed up against him, just wanting to be as close as she could get to him again. She tangled her legs around his and tried to take leadership over their kisses, but he was just one step ahead and kept her in check.
"Mine," she giggled into his lips and he retaliated by biting her bottom lip.
"Careful, princess," Joker smirked. "Don't make daddy get the toys."
An hour or so later, he was satisfied that Harley was too tired to be annoying or try and get away so he went to find Ivy and Jack. He found the pair in his office and the baby was waving around one of Ivy's vines. His son was definitely growing fast and the constant stream of babbling was a welcome tonic to the stresses of the last few weeks.
"Be good to her," Ivy told Joker and she stood up from the desk. "I swear to god, if you break her down ever again-"
"You'll bring her back to me, Ivy, you always do," Joker smirked. "After all of it, we both know who she chooses. She can have her little trysts with you, but I know she's mine and it doesn't matter what I do to her, she will always return to me."
"No, not now," Red said carefully. "She's got Jack to think about and she so very nearly walked out last week. It was only Deadshot and Selina that kept her here. I was all up for helping her out of this abusive shit-storm of a relationship, getting her the help she needs and letting her be her own person. Unlike you, Joker, I can actually put her first and when the time comes that she needs someone who actually cares for her-"
"Look around you, Ivy," Joker snapped. "What about this isn't for her?"
"The hitting, the beatings, the control," Ivy told him. "The flipping between adoration and hatred. You've damn near killed her a few times when you've gotten pissed with her. At least once a week I got phone calls from her, heartbroken that you'd taken your anger out on her. I don't trust you to change now Jack's around and I will be there to pick both of them up when you can't control yourself. She can't see what you do to her, she thinks you punch her because you love her, she thinks you bruise her because it's her fault and she thinks she deserves it. This is all material and money, when this all disappears, she'll be there for you and you won't be there for her. It can't carry on. Not with Jack. He's the tipping point."
Ivy was terrified for her friend, Harley was in the deep end of a very dark pool and she jumped and played in it like there wasn't a problem. Ivy could see all of Joker's abuse purely for what it was and as much as she was infuriated with her friend, she would never leave her without a get away from this man. She knew Joker cared in his own way, he'd told her before, but he just was a cruel man and she didn't doubt for one moment that he's cruelty would extend to Jack eventually. Ivy loved Harley dearly, not because she was the only human she could stand, but because Harley was intrinsically kind and caring. She was patient enough to withstand Joker's outbursts, whilst maintaining a level of crazy that could only match her husbands. Harley was very special, but by god she made bad decisions and for Ivy, she couldn't actually think of a worse one than Joker.
"Just… be good to her, Joker," Ivy said softly and took Jack from her plants to his father. She passed the baby over and watched the clown carefully. "Because you and Jack are all she sees and she needs to be taken care of."
"Thanks for looking after him, you can leave," Joker said lowly. He took his son and cooed and grinned down at his son. The baby looked more and more like him every day and that made him happy. He watched as Ivy left the office and eventually the apartment before he took the child to Harley. He settled in the bed beside his wife and rested the tired infant on his chest.
"This is what we have, Harls," Joker told her. "You, me and Jack. This is all we need. One day the Batman will be too old to play our tango and if I didn't have you, I'd have nothing. Things have changed, baby, I thought I could keep you at the bottom of the pack. But I can't. Not now. You're my Queen, my Goddess. Can you understand what I'm telling ya Harley?"
"I think I do," Harley smiled tiredly. She put her head on his shoulder and watched Jack with a small smile. She draped an arm around both the baby and Joker before she pressed a kiss into his neck. She was tired now and ready for a night of half decent sleep with her husband and baby close by.
"I love ya, Mistah J," Harley repeated.
"Good, because I'm pretty fond of you too," Joker chuckled. He didn't take his eyes off the baby and Ivy's words resounded in his mind. She'd touched a nerve finally and he made a silent promise to try and be better. He wouldn't ever stop controlling Harley that was something he just had to do, he needed that part of his life. A being he had total domination over, one he'd created and one who was happy to serve him, he wouldn't let her go without a fight.
He'd been silent for so long that he was slightly disturbed by gentle snores and he looked to see Harley had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He smirked and shook his head at Jack.
"Mommy's become a bit of a light weight these days, my boy," Joker said quietly. "We'll get her back into the saddle properly soon. I'm gonna try and do this as right as I can, Jack."
"Da-da!" Jack mumbled and Joker's face lit up. "Ma-ma." He knew it was just paired sounds, but he couldn't help but feel over-excited that Jack had formed those two words already. Joker tickled his belly gently and kissed his forehead.
"That's my son," he grinned. "Come on, time for bed. We'll let mommy seep until you want another feed." He carefully moved Harley to lay on the bed and took Jack to his cot. He settled the baby down and returned to his wife. He removed his trousers and climbed back into the bed beside Harley. She immediately curled into him, her face in his neck and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love ya Harls," he muttered. "For fucks sake, I love ya."
And he felt her smile.
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A/N: And there you have it folks.
Thank you once again for every single read, review, favourite and follow. Your support has meant the world to me.
There is an epilogue, but this is your last proper chapter. The song is Glorybox by Portishead and now I can't get it out of my head x_x
Thank you so so much! The Epilogue will be up shortly :)