Chapter 3: Different Worlds

- Hello sweetheart - Flag greeted her when she arrived home that morning. He kissed June for welcoming her - How has the exercise gone this morning?

- Hi there - she greeted him, while she stopped that kiss - Well, I can't complain, I made the most of this morning - she smiled saying a pious lie.

- This afternoon I have taken time off work to stay here with you - the man smiled - What would you like to do?

June looked at him shocked for a second, no, that could not be happening. Months and months had passed without that Flag had a single holiday, and it had to be precisely that day. And the truth was that if she was honest, she didn't wanted to stay there with him, she wanted to go with Harley, she needed to go with Harley and that shocked her even more. Did she prefered to be with the delinquent than with her boyfriend?

- Rick calling June, answer, please - he mocked capturing her attention once more.

- Hey, sorry - she apologized, trying to smile.

- Does everything go well? - he asked holding her hand, in an affectionate gesture.

- I didn't know that you were having free time... - How she was going to tell him, what she shouldn't tell him?

- Is it a problem? - he asked beginning to be a little bother.

- You will see... - "Fast, think on something!" she implored herself - I've signed for some photography classes ... - "photography, really?. I have to keep the lie" - Rick, as she - June made air quotes not to mention her name - is no longer here, I thought I could continue working in my job and well ... as I still can't leave the country, I thought I might take some classes.

- That's great June! - he encouraged her - I'm glad you're back to normal. So, we'll leave it for another day, do not worry, maybe you can put into practice your classes then - he kissed her forehead.

"Back to normal", that was a strange definition, to say that she actually wouldn't be with her boyfriend, because she had found Harley two days before and they were going to the apartment, which no one but the two of them knew about her existence... just outside the city. She was helping a "crazy runaway" trying that the Joker and the so-called "the good ones" lost her track in their radars.

- You are a little bit strange today - Flag said, sitting on the couch and making June sit on top of him - Are you sure you're okay?

- Yeah, yeah, sure - she smiled and kissed him to distract him.

The boy no longer wished to insist more, so they stayed that way, holding each other for a long time.

x-x-x-x-x

Meanwhile in the north zone of Gotham, Harley arrived to the Joker's hideout, he was going to give her a reception very different to which Flag had given to June.

- ¡Puddin! – Harley treated him as usual, but Joker's fists were pressuring her shoulders.

- Quinnie Quinnie Quinnie – his smile was auguring problems, she already knew it – Explain to me why you have been hiding yourself from our friend.

- I was getting bored – she tried to smooth his intentions.

- Are you sure that it was that the reason? - his voice changed with the same tone that he used when he beat up one of his enemies or to her. Harley felt chills - or perhaps you have new friends...

- New friends in Gotham? - she smiled trying to overcome his fear - No, my sweetie sweetie puddin, you know that I am loyal to you.

- And that stupid squad?

- Everyone is in the nick, my love - she said trying to be sweet with him.

Joker's eyes locked on Harley and his voice was the same of a snake catching its prey.

- If I find out you're cheating, you'll shit! - He threatened her - Nobody lies to the Joker. You owe me everything and you must always remember that you're still alive for me. Do you understand? - he asked with a laugh - Don't do anything behind my back, because if I discover you, you're dead - he put a finger in Harley's forehead and he pushed his fingers how if the next time he would have a real gun - The woman couldn't avoid to tremble – And now, go to your room.

When she reached her room, she sat on the floor and she hugged her knees and tried to breathe deeply, trying to forget the terror of the Joker's new threat. But then, she thought about June and her fear became even bigger. She knew she could die at any moment that her delinquent boyfriend decided to fulfill one of his threats, but June? She thought about what Joker would be able to do to June, if he found out about their secret and the terror overcame her. Her mind was telling her to remain there, that she shouldn't go to the meeting that evening. Perhaps, if she did that, June would regret about everything and both might continue with their lives. June would be safe. But her heart... her heart was a completely different story. She felt the needing to see June and trust her. Her heart was beginning to feel the hope to get out of that hole filled with garbage that was her life. She felt that maybe in a large part June must be right. In her adventures with the Squad, she had been a kind of Savior of the world, so in some way, she was better than the Joker, but she was friggin' terrified. Harley was torn between fear and hope. It was then when she reminded Floyd and realized what he wanted to say that night in Midway city, when he said, that for a moment, he felt hope. Because June Moone had made her feel hope and that was the scariest and most beautiful feeling that Harley had felt in a long time.

x-x-x-x

June had eaten with Rick, between pranks and caresses. And later, they had lain down in the couch to see a comical tv show that he loved, but it was very bored for June, who was falling asleep. So she was sleepy when he questioned her.

- Honey, at what time do you have class?

- At five o'clock - she said - It's close to Robinson Park, I should start getting ready.

- I'll give you a ride until there if you want, is that ok? - he asked, trying that June would stay a little bit longer with him on the couch.

- No, honey, I'm going by bus - she smiled getting up and leaving - Take a rest this afternoon.

- I don't mind - he said - I just want you to be sure, they say that there have been strange activity in that park.

- What strange activity? - June asked curious while she peeked her head in the dinning room, while she was changing her shirt - What do you mean by that?

- Plants are growing very fast for this time of year, too fast. The park was half dead before and now it's curiously alive - he explained - It's winter.

- Is that weird? - She asked, laughing wryly.

- It may be that it's an area with some kind of metahuman being - he said taking the matter very seriously.

- A villain who makes plants grow? - She asked laughing at the occurrence - Come on, Rick, we're in Gotham! With everything bad that can happen, I don't think that I have to be afraid of a botanical metahuman.

- Anyway, promise me that you will take care ...

- I promise big guy, I'll take care - she winked while she combed her hair.

These metahuman beings surprised her more and more. Would it be true that in the park could live some type of metahuman being with power towards the plants? It was not sounding too dangerously, but being Gotham the city that it was, she would keep on being careful whenever she was walking on the street. But her desire for seeing Harley and trying to help her, surpassed any fear that June might have.