The final Joker POV chapter. Enjoy!
After another week I felt like a whole new person. Like I saw everything in a new light. Harley opened her world up to me and I was lost in it. But I enjoyed every second of it. The voice in my head stopped talking whenever I was with her, but it multiplied when I was alone.
I liked most of them, there was only one that I really hated. One that always asked me to walk away from Harley and to shut her out of my mind. Maybe that was the last piece of my mask which I kept for the public. The one piece I used when I was away from the only person who liked me for my real self. And this annoying little voice did not stop the mindless chit chats.
She manipulates you! Do you seriously think she likes you? Have any emotions toward you? it screamed at me during the nights I could not sleep. She is a murderer, a criminal, a lunatic! She is only using you!
No, she is not! I snapped at it. She sees a friend in me, someone who can be her equal.
You are pathetic! She is playing with you and you don't even realise it!
Shut the hell up! I screamed silently. I love her!
The voice went silent and I sat up in my bed. Love? Is that even possible? I was not one to fall in love. I had been in several relationships in the past, but they were not memorable or longterm connections. But Harley was different. She did not ask me to be perfect for her or to hide my mistakes. She adored them and encouraged me to show them to her.
Whenever I was with her, the voices stopped and I felt more relaxed than ever. It felt like I belonged there, next to her, in her world. I had even smaller patience with my collagues and everyday people. They bored me to no end and their disgusting sweet talking made me want to do bad things to them. Just to shut them up. Forever.
When I closed my eyes I saw Harley in front of me, free from her restains and holding her hand out for me. Her smile was the most perfect thing in the world and she only smiled at me like that. I felt my lips curl into a smile and a laugh started deep in my throat. After a few smaller giggles I broke out into a loud laugh. I felt weight dissapearing from my chest, my heart beating faster and adrenalin running throught my veins.
I never laughed like this before in my life, but I never felt more alive either.
After this night I tried to sneak in small surprises for Harley as much as possible. She mentioned that she got bored quickly in her cell since she had nothing to do all day, so I got her some books. My other little things were mostly food or drink related, because I highly doubted she ate anything normal at all.
One day I got her a little toy kitty.
"What is that?" she asked curiously when I held it up.
"It is a kitty. For you."
"That is so adorable! You are spoiling me Mr. J!" she smiled at me happily.
"I do not." There was no way for me to spoil her in the Asylum in the way I wanted to. If I had the chance I would spoil her with jewels, clothes, presents and more.
"Sure you do!" she laughed while I placed the toy in front of her. "And I can do nothing in return! I would love to give you something too!"
"You already did." I answered honestly and watched as she tried to claim her present without her hands. The straightjacket and the chains were starting to get on my nerves. She never tried to attack or hurt me, she did not even move on our sessions. And I knew she was on her best behaviour. So what was the point of them?
Her soft laugh brought me back to reality. She was poking the kitty with her nose while talking to it. She spoke to the toy like it was real cat. I wanted to talk about so many things during this session, but I was perfectly fine with just watching her.
One day, I will truly spoil you. I tought to myself smiling.
When I entered our room the next session I found her smiling on her chair, wearing her straightjacket but I could not see any chains on her.
„Dr. Arkham said I was a good girl so he took away my chains." She explained seeing my questioning look.
„That is soooo sweet of him... I asked for the remover of the straightjacket too but well." I snarled. She looked at me giggling. „What?"
„Are you afraid of me?" she asked out of the blue. I looked at her in disbelief.
„Why would I?"
„Well I hurt a lot of people."
„They are in your way. Or annoy you."
„I am not a good girl."
„You just do things differently." I snorted. The next thing I heard was the soft noise of buckles undoing themselves. I looked at Harley with amazement, who was happily working her way out of the jacket. When she was done she placed the restrains on the table and stretched out. Her spine gave out some loud cracks.
„Oh how I missed this freedom!" she purred then she put her hands on the table and fixed her eyes on me. She was wearing a white tank top which showed her arms covered in small tattoos. This was the first time I had seen her like this, and I loved the view.
„Comfortable?"
„Oh, yes" she smiled.
"Good to hear. Now let's start this session."
After talking about random topics for half an hour she started fidgeting.
„Is everything all right Harley?" I asked concerned. She almost looked nervous.
„Can I... Can I ask something from you Mr. J?" she started playing with her hands and avoided my gaze. "It may seem silly."
„Of course." I did not even hesitate with my answer.
„Can I... Can I hug you?" she almost looked tinier than usual. I wanted to laugh. She was nervious about this? Did she think, I refuse such a request?
„Sure you can Harls." I said with a smile and stood up with open arms. She basically flew to me and burried her face into my chest while hugging me tightly. My arms closed around her and I slowly started stroking her back. I felt complete with her in my embrace. She belonged here and I belonged to her side. I heard that annoying little voice at the back of my mind but all the other voices shouted over it. This felt right.
„Thanks Puddin'"she said quietly before moving away with a smile.
„You're welcome Harls."
After our hug I could hardly keep myself from seeking her touch. When we were left alone in the room, she removed her jacket and allowed me to hold her hand or touch her.
„Can you love?" I asked her one day. I both waited and dreaded her answer.
„Oh, Mr. J can't we all? But your pretty little book with big words says I can't, doesn't it?" She smiled while she slowly caressed the back of my hand.
„Yes, is does..." I sighed. She was not seen as a loving person.
„But do you know Puddin' what the real question is?" she leaned in. She only called me Pudding when she was overcome by affection.
„What is it?" I leaned closer to her unvoluntarily. She looked like she wanted to share a secret and my undivided attention was hers.
„If someone can love lil' old me... I am a crazy criminal after all, am I not?" she breathed and I wanted to protest - both about the loving her and crazy criminal part - but she silenced me with a wave of her hand. „Don't worry your handsome head over it Puddin', I know the answer. For both questions. I can be loved, just by a special kind of somebody."
„And who's that?"
„A gangster."
„A gangster?" Why one of those? I am not one and I was able to love her.
„Yes Puddin', someone who will always forgive me, ride or die with me, that's just what gangsters do" she singed lightly the end while leaning even closer to me.
That gave me a pause. Maybe I was a gangster. I was ready to do all of those things for her. We were so close to each other that I could feel her breath on my lips. I dreamed of kissing her, being with her, taking her, making her mine and mine alone, but this was the reality. I tried to reason with myself why kissing her would be a bad idea, but as soon as I felt her lips touching mine, all reasons went out of the window.
It was a short but meaningfull kiss. It felt like life itself. I knew then that we belonged together. I would never be complete without her ever again.
„My time is almost up here Puddin' " she whispered quietly which made me stop. She wanted to leave? Of course I could understand that this was not her dream place, but I did not want her to go. Before I got far ahead in my plans of preventing this, she saw my expression and laughed softly.
„You are being silly Mr. J. I want to take you with me. I won't leave you with these mindless dummies." I felt the tension leave my body and a smile appeared on my face.
„And what will I become then?" I asked. She stayed silent for a minute, deep in her thoughts, but then she looked at me.
„Hm... How about... The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime and the King of Gotham?" she smiled at me. King. Prince. Joker.
„Joker... I like it" I tasted the name.
„I only ask for one last favour" she said and gave me a peck on the lips.
„Yes?" Whatever it was she would get it.
„I want a machine gun."
Maybe hiding in my office while there was a mass shooting in the Asylum was not my brightest idea.
This is where your pathetic obsession gets us! Dead! She will kill us! the annoying little voice screamed in my head, louder than the bullets.
„Oh shut the hell up" I growled. „She will not."
Maybe I shouldn't have got her that machine gun. I thought.
Well duh, idiot, but now we are dead meat!
Shut your annoying little mouth! Harley will not hurt us! More and more voices decided to take part in the conversation causing me a big headache. Maybe this was the reason why I did not realise that some thugs found me, grabbed me by my arms and started to drag me away. And maybe they found me because I was screaming at the voices at the top of my lungs.
„Now carefull boys, that is my Puddin' over there. Just put him on the table!" As soon as I heard Harley, the voices calmed down and I turned my head to search for her. She was not far away from me, giving orders to her men. She wore the same white pants and tank top as always. Her hair was up in her signature pigtails and they bounced happily when she moved.
„Did the voices hurt you Puddin'?' She asked me.
„Only one." I admitted. Only that little annoying one can hurt me, which insisted on betraying Harley.
„And what did that one do?" she stepped in front of me. I was sitting on a table, yet she looked so small compared to me.
„It wanted me to leave you." I said honestly.
„We can't have that, can we? Lay down Puddin' I will take care of that voice." she ordered and I obeyed. When I realised where was I laying, I was already strapped down.
Your stupid twisted love got us into shock therapy! Congratulations, moron! the annoying voice screamed at me.
„It might hurt a little Mr. J" I heard Harley's voice somewhere near me. She came into my vision with a smile and caressed my face a bit. She was already wearing gloves.
„I can take it."And I meant it. For her I could take anything. She squealed happily and kissed me soundly on my lips.
„Bite down on this, won't ya?" she hold a belt to my mouth and I bit down on the leather without hesitation. She did not even gave me a chance to prepare myself for the electricity, but perhaps that was for the best. I don't think anything could prepare you for something like this.
Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turnd into hours... Maybe days. I had no idea. I fell in and out of consciousness, my throat started to hurt from screaming, but I kept fighting my way back to the world, because I knew Harley was waiting for me.
„One more round Puddin'! You are doing great!" I heard the pride and joy in her voice so I grabbed into it with all my will and took that one last round. I smelled burned flesh, the heat and pain reached a whole new level before everything stopped. I expected the pain to stay with me, but it faded away and I felt strong. Powerfull even.
„You are done! You were so good Mr J!"
I could feel the straps disappearing around my body and I was free. I sat up carefully and touched my temple. I felt the burn marks under my fingers, but I cared little for them. All I cared about at the moment was the small blond in front of me.
„It will go away soon Puddin' ." Harley cooed and pressed a light kiss on my nose. „How are the voices?"
I took a minute to observe what was going on in my head. There were voices for sure, but the annoying one which caused me so much pain was silent. Normaly it would be screaming at me for what I had done, but it just vanished.
„It's gone, toots." I smiled my best smile for her. She giggled happily and stepped away.
„Get ready, there is one more thing I need you to do before you can be my King." she said while she headed to the door. I followed her immediatly.
„Frosty! Do you have my keys?" Harley screamed, triing to be heard over the shooting and shouts.
„Yes Boss." A serious looking guy said and held out some car keys. Harley snatched them from his hand.
„We are going first! Do me a favour and mess this place up like I would!" Harley laughed while she skipped to the main entrance. While I followed her I took off my white doctor coat and loosened my green tie. My body moved differently than before and it was an amazing feeling. I felt free and unstopable.
„Where are we going sweetheart?" I asked while I caught up to her.
„It is a surprise Puddin'." she winked me and stopped at a bloody red lamborgini. „I am driving!"
I hopped into the passenger seat and made myself comfortable. I didn't even bothered to use the seatbelt.
„You ready Mr. J?"
„You bet I am, Harls." I didn't even finish when she floored the gas and we vanished into the night.
„Do you know where are we?" she asked seriously, while I stared into the chemical tanks.
„No."
„This is where I died." she followed my eyes and looked into the acid. "And where I was reborn."
„How?"
„You know how it is in 'Apple Society'... You are being hardworking, solving cases, helping people, becoming more and more famous... But one day a bitter bitch decides that your time is over. She is jealous of you and your career. So she sets you up. She knocks you out..." her voice became distant, like she wasn't even talking to me anymore. The folder which contained her photo and disappearence popped into my mind. „... and to get rid of you for good... She throws you into the acid bath."
Anger rose in me. How dare anybody hurt her? She was a genius, a gem, a Queen!
„But she fucked it up you know. The acid did not do what it was supposed to. It created the most dangerous Queen of all time." she looked at me and there was a single tear running down her face. I was in front of her before she could continue and kissed the tear away.
„Smile, my Queen. That bitch doesn't deserve your tears." I purred to her which made her shiver, but she rewarded me with her prettiest smile. The one that only I got to see. After a moment of silence she stepped away from me and cleared her throat.
„Question. Would you die for me?" she asked.
„Yes." I said without missing a beat.
„That was too easy... Would you... Would you live for me?" her eyes were locked with mine, searching and studying me like a predator. This was not the time and place for playing around.
I understood the weight of the second question. Dying was so easy, but living! Fighting and never giving up... That was something way harder.
„Yes."
„Carefull... Do not say this oath thoughtlessly." she warned me. She gave me one last chance to back out. „Desire becomes surrender, surrender becomes power... You want this?"
My eyes never left her while she spoke. I knew I was way past the point of returning. I did not desire to be anywhere else than her side.
„I do." I said.
„Say it. Say it. Say it." she started to walk towards me and gently pushed me at the edge of the platform. „Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty..."
„Please."I said quietly. My body ached for her, my mind wanted to be complete and I was willing to do anything to get what I wanted.
„God, you are so... good!" she closed her eyes in pleasure and let her head roll back. She stepped away once again, allowing me to do what I had to. And I did not make her wait. I leaned back and let myself fall. It was like flying. I felt free and alive.
Suddenly the falling stopped and I was surrounded by liquid. I let my body sank deeper and deeper, taking in the slow, burning sensation. I knew it was a special kind of acid, but after the shock therapy this pain felt like tickling. It was a wonderfull experience. It was like I was changing and in a way I suppose I was. When I started to lose my air, I moved my arms and legs and started swimming to the surface. I was half way there when I felt a hand gripping my arm and pulling me upwards. After a few seconds my lungs were filled with oxygen again and I opened my eyes.
„Welcome to my word Joker." Harley said with a smile and she swam closer to me. I smiled and hugged her immediatly. „Green is definetaly your colour."
I stared at the green locks in the field of my vision and studied them for a while. When I was done I growled and smoothed my hair back with one simple movement.
„Thank you toots. Not chocolate brown, but I can still be your Pudding, right?" I asked with a grin.
„You will always be Puddin' for me Mr. J!" she giggled. I quickly captured her lips with a heated kiss, which she happily returned. When we separated with the need of air we just looked at each other and breathed for a few seconds. Then we broke into a loud, crazy laughter which was probably heard from far away and sent chills down anybody's spine. But we didn't care.
Because tonight a new royality was crowned in Gotham and the Queen had finally found her King.
The end
In this AU, Harley can swim.
Thank you so much for reading my first story! I am working on a Bonus chapter at the moment which I mentioned before. It will be Harley's POV and some of her plans and feelings!
Thank you so much for the reviews, they made my days!
