Chapter 4
Another sleepless night came and went for Ivy. She had tried to sleep, but Joker's presence in her house made it impossible. She knew what he was doing. He was making her second guess herself. It was very deliberate. She walked in there with the intention to take the clown's life, but he had once again talked his way out of death. She just had to verify if his claims about this gang were true. That was the only thing keeping him alive, the fear that someone stronger than him may be after Harley or herself. maybe she could bribe the assassins with Joker in exchange for letting her live.
Wait... why was she worried? She had left the world of crime. She was changed. Any assassins would have no reason to kill her at this point... but what if they weren't normal.
'Damn you, Joker...' she thought to herself.
Maybe Batman would know what he was talking about, but leaving may cause Joker to free himself and be on the loose again. If only she could draw Batman in without leaving.
It was another sunny day in Gotham as well as its outskirts. Ivy felt it in her skin and the way her babies seemed happier today than on others. She had left Joker alone in that room and it seemed to be working. He had been silent since his last remark, which was probably for the best. Keeping him locked away was for the best.
Her phone suddenly rang. She looked down at it. Harley was calling. She eagerly picked up the phone.
"Hey, Red. How's it been?" Harley exclaimed.
"Fine, I guess. I'm not really sleeping well though. How're you?"
"Great. Every lecture I've had so far has gone super well. I'm getting a lot of attention from the community here. I'm having such a great time."
"I-I'm glad," Ivy said trying to not sound as hurt as she was by the comments.
"What've you been doing up there?"
"Same ol', same ol'. Things really aren't the same up here without you. It's rather sad." Night Shade ran his big head along Ivy's thigh, seemingly knowing who was on the other end of the line.
"Anything I need to know?"
Joker suddenly began laughing from the other room. It wasn't loud enough for Harley to pick up, but loud enough to scare Ivy half to death.
"Nope, nothing. Things are well. I wish you'd call more..."
"Red... I call when I can... I have very busy days sometimes here."
"You're not giving lectures all day..."
"I know. I'm sightseeing as well. Even doing a lil clubbing here and there."
"Y-you? Clubbing? You mean you can't call me in between all of that?" Ivy said agitated.
"I call when I can. I don't have to call you every day..."
"Why wouldn't you? I don't understand. Listen, I gotta go... I don't wanna fight with you. I'm happy to hear things are going well up there. Be back in a few months. Bye bye."
"Oh...bye..."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Joker's maniacal laugh sounded from his prison immediately upon Ivy hanging up the phone.
Fury ran across Ivy's brow and she opened the door to his room to see him in the same position, only a grin on his pasty, white face. She pointed her finger at him. "You need to shut your mouth when I'm on the phone with her. She barely calls me as it is and I won't have you ruining it."
"Me? Ruining something? I'd never. I thought you'd at least respect my integrity to put on a show. That phone conversation seemed to jump off the chair and hang itself, if you get what I'm uhhh... Haha... How rude of Harley to be off on her own little adventure leaving you here to rot."
"I'm not listening to you."
"But when did you start needing Harley to water you anyway? Can't you live without her? She's not that great."
"She makes me happy. She makes me laugh. You'll never understand that," Ivy replied with a hateful heart and narrow eyes.
Joker's eyes darted back and forth and then he winced at Ivy. "Well, you're right about that. She makes you laugh? Oh Pam-Pam Pigelow, who do you think told her all the jokes that make you laugh? I'ver heard her jokes. They're not that funny. In fact, I'd say her best joke ever is her existence itself."
"I'd say that about you. I can't tell you how much better things were when we all thought you were dead."
"Don't go breaking my heart, Ivy," Joker chirped sarcastically.
"I spit on your grave."
"It could use a polish."
Joker's laugh told Ivy he thought his comment was incredibly clever. Joker took the time to study Ivy, her body still wrapped in the leafy skirt she had made for herself. He giggled before continuing to speak. "Regardless of whether or not you can live without Harley, she's certainly living without you. She's got a nice life for herself now it would seem. But, it's no normal and boring. I expected more from her. Not like you. Here you stay, all knocked down and off your feet. You've got nothing to work towards. At least when you were a criminal, you had ambition. Hahaha... But you've lost even that, haven't you. Now, it would seem that, all you have here is... me. You don't have Harley anymore. Harley doesn't care about you. Harley's off on her own. Ironic. By giving her independence, she wound surpassing you and leaving you alone while she's off having solo adventures by herself. If it makes you feel any better, her series will crash and burn. She's not a franchise player. She's always second fiddle to someone."
"You're so full of it, you know that?"
"Am I? You can't tell me you're not hurt that she left you here...alone..."
"What makes you say that?"
"You want her to call you every day. Harley's not going to call you every day. She doesn't love you. In fact, she has you wrapped around her little finger. She learned how to manipulate from the best after all." Joker gestured towards himself with his hands. "You think I don't know what she'll say?"
Ivy paused. "W-what would she say?"
Joker smiled. "You try to raise even a peep about her lifestyle and I bet she compares you to me. And if she does, you can see just how she views you, can't you?"
"I'm nothing like you, absolutely nothing!" Ivy yelled.
"We have more in common than you'd care to admit actually. Just a little more exploration into that fact, you and I could cause...chaos."
"That well's been poisoned."
"And we're both immune to it, dearie. Just watch and see that I'm right. See that Harley was always more to blame than you realize..." Joker smiled and Ivy left the room before he could say anymore.
