Chapter 5: Nightmares

June didn't understand why Rick had believed her lie. The story about that she'd met some people of the museum of Antiquities of Gotham during the course of photography, and given her reputation as an archaeologist, they had offered her the possibility of spending the night researching some new pieces that they had been found inside the Museum... How could anybody have believed that lie?

Harley laughed out loud after listen that excuse.

- Would you like to investigate some pieces, Doc Moone? - She asked with a mischievous wink and pointing to herself, after June had gotten off the phone.

- You shouldn't tempt fate with your jokes - she seriously warned her.

- But you're so bad with your excuses, and he is even worse believing them - she thoughtful scratched her head .

-Yes, well I don't have a criminal mind - she set out to prepare the dinner.

- Sure, but don't worry, it's all about practice - she stood next to June playing with a knife, the archeologist looked askance and getting nervous. June's behaviour provoked Harley's laugh - Relax - she said leaving the knife above the table in a melodramatic way - I'm not going to do anything evil with it, maybe cut some lettuce for the salad.

They finished preparing dinner in complete silence, and they began to dine seated on the stools at the table.

- Are you going to remain there totally silent? - Harley asked bored. She folded a napkin in the shape of rabbit and gave it to June. And then, she spoke with a weird voice - Speak with me Doc, pleeeease, pleeeeaseee!.

- What do you want to talk about? - June asked covering her own mouth to avoid to laugh, when Harley began to speak as if she was the rabbit of the napkin that she previously had folded.

- How long ago you don't work as an archaeologist? - She asked interested.

- Three years - she replied - Three years, six months and two days ago I entered to that cave and I touched what I shouldn't have touched.

- It seems that is one of your specialties! - Harley teased her. June got up - And now, where are you going?

- Enough of mocking me, Harley! - she ordered her.

- Sorry, don't be angry! I know I can be quite annoying, but I'm not good for socializing - she said.

- You're a psychologist ...

-Well, that doesn't guarantee anything, and less after they have fried my brain more than once - she shrugged - Sorry. It must have been very hard to get in that place and... well... what happened to you.

- It was - she said - She completely owned my body and mind.

- I am aware. You always avoid to say her name - she realised.

- I'm afraid of pronounce her name - June admitted.

- For if it to happen again? - Harley asked while holding her hand. So, June sat down again next to her, June's silence was enough to answer her question - You mustn't worry, I'll rescue you again - she smiled her - It may turn into my new speciality - she joked.

- It won't happen again, but if that bitch returns for getting me... Promise me that you will kill her, no matter what happens to me!

- No way - she refused waving her hands - Doc, that witch and I would have an interesting chat and then, a big Boom! - But I wouldn't hurt you, June. We're friends ... - she winked her again.

- Now, we're friends? - She asked looking her surprised.

- Yes - it was a direct and short answer, Harley didn't gave her way to deny that their relationship at that time seemed precisely that.

- It's late, we should go to sleep - she said going into the bedroom, under the watchful gaze of Harley - I'll get some bedsheets, I am going to sleep on the couch.

There was no response, the flat was completely silent, while June was seeking the bedsheets in the closet. So when after finding them, she turned to exit room and she saw Harley looking at her from the door, she was startled.

- Harley, what do you do? - she asked putting her hand to her own chest, because of the scare.

- You mean other than to scare you? - she teased her with a huge and infectious smile. - Don't sleep on the couch, stay here with me ... at the end of the day, it's your bed ... And it's huge! - She stretched her arms to show the bed's size.

- I'm not sure it's a good idea - she refused - The sofa is also comfortable.

- Why is not a good idea? - Harley questioned her- It's winter, this flat has been empty quite some time, and you can feel a frozen atmosphere.

- But ...

- Ah! Ok! I get it! - she laughed - You don't know if you can resist my charms overnight, huh?

- But what the hell are you saying? - June asked annoyed.

- Relax JuneJun, I'm not trying to seduce you - she winked again - It's a scientific fact, it's very cold, we both know that being cold at night is not a good thing.

Seriously, was she considering to sleep with Harley? Would she share the bed with a killer and completely crazy psychopath trying to find her redemption? But it was true, it's cold. And in spite of her skin problems after the acid, Harley's body was warm. The bed was infinitely more comfortable than the couch and it was her bed. So, who was going to know that she would be there with her? To hell with that! Yes, she would share her bed with Harley Quinn.

- Hello? - the delinquent moved her hand ahead of June's face - Are you there?

- Excuse me, I was thinking - she apologized before Harley's attentive look.

- So?

- I agree - she affirmed with a slightly sure movement of her head - We'll sleep in the same bed.

Harley begun to dance and celebrate, as if she has won the lottery, although the major part it was for bothering June even more.

The hours passed and June and Harley were in bed, the delinquent was sleeping deeply, but June couldn't get to sleep. Who could blame her? She was sharing the bed with a woman so dangerous... "and beautiful", she thought for a moment, but she forced herself not to think about it. Everything had been a bad idea. But the truth was that in the half-light of the room, where she could barely see anything, her eyes had become used to the lack of light and she looked Harley's face who seemed so innocent while she was sleeping so peacefully, as if she hadn't slept so much in a long time. June looked at her tenderly. The "Sleeping Beauty" who slept beside her was going to be her ruin. June knew that even if she wanted to avoid it, it was too late. So, she simply had accepted that fact.

But something interrupted Harley's placid sleep, her body tensed and Harley began to shout in her nightmares.

"NO, PLEASE!, DON'T HURT THEM! NOT TO THEM! LUCYYYYYYYYY"

Whoever she was, Harley was shouting that name non-stop, again and again while she was sweating. It was obvious she was having a very bad moment. But June didn't know whether to waking up her from that nightmare, or what to do, given the situation. So, she simply stroked Harley's hair. The caress seemed to help her to relax, until she placidly dreamed again.

The next morning, June was awakened by the sunlight rays entering through the window and the sound of her mobile phone ringing. However, while her eyes were opened, they stuck in the intense blue eyes of Harley, who was lying in the bed, observing her in silence. For a moment she didn't know if that gave her chills by the terror of having a criminal gazing her, or if instead it gave her panic by something completely different.

- Good morning Moone - she greeted her with a smile after that, June's heart raced faster than usually.

- Good morning Harleen - she answered her sitting up in the bed and attending on the phone. She gave the back to her companion - Yes, Rick? - she answered still with a sleepy voice.

- June? where are you? - Rick asked quite worried, but while she was listening him, June looked at Harley, who kept on observing her without moving.

- Sorry, I'm taking coffee with some course mates - she said, looking as Harley got up of bed, and headed out of the room. Before that, June was staring at Harley's legs and body, covered only by a white nightgown. But June forced herself to quickly turned her gaze away and concentrate on the conversation with her boyfriend.

- I thought you at least were going to come for having breakfast with me - Rick sounded disappointed - Waller just called me.

- What does that... want? - June tried not to say any swear word.

- She sends me in a new mission, I'll leave this evening - he answered - I'm going to be two weeks out of the city.

- So... Am I not under vigilance? - she asked almost without thinking about it.

- I am your boyfriend, not your vigilant - he sounded bother.

- Not for Waller - she tried to rectify her words - It's still early, in a while I will be at home and we'll have a properly farewell - she joked.

-Okay love, I want to see you one last time - Rick said - These two weeks are going to be too much long.

- See you really soon - June hung up the phone and she looked as Harley had returned to the room with two coffees and a huge apple, which June had brought the previous day.

- I have to leave - she told to Harley - What are you doing?

- I bring you a coffee, at least let me sweeten one of your lies... - she laugh - Your little soldier goes on a mission. You won't need to use more excuses to stay here with me.

- Who said I was going to stay here apart from tonight? - June asked surprised with the cup of coffee in her hand.

Harley bit the apple and answered.

- You are alone, I am alone... we could make us company - she said winking an eye - What do you say? - she asked handing her the apple - Are you seriously going to stay in the middle of Gotham when you can stay here?

- Okay, as soon as he leaves, I will come here again - June said trying to hide her feelings.

- Do you want me to pick you up with my motorbike? - Harley asked looking out the window - Maybe it gets dark before you come back.

- Don't pick me up on a motorcycle without license plate - she said - I'll return by bus

- Good, then I'll prepare dinner, I have to take care of you - she winked again.

-x-x

She spent three nights with Harley in the same bed, before the nightmare was even worst. That night June heard her crying and screaming terrified caused by the nightmare. June couldn't let her suffer so much. For a moment she wished to know what was in Quinn's mind. If she still would have the powers of the Enchantress, she wouldn't need to wake her up, just introducing better images in her mind would be enough. But who was Lucy? She knew that she was important to Harley, because if not, she hadn't begged to don't hurt her, between cries of pain and terror. She tried to wake her, slowly, but Harley didn't react. June shook her arm using a little more force. Harley woke up in shock, even with her heart crying out. Harley sat up on the bed, with a blank look on her face full of tears.

- It was a nightmare Harley. Calm down, you are safe. - she tried to calm her, but her curiosity could with her when she finally asked - You were shouting Lucy's name. Who is she?

The next happened so fast that she hadn't time to think. Harley jumped of bed with a knife in one of her hands and she went directly towards June, who stepped back with her heart racing. She was against the wall and there was no way out. She really thought that her hour had come, when Harley's arm restrained her neck against the wall. June couldn't step back more, her back was completely against the wall. Harley pushed her neck tightly with one arm and with the other hand she held the knife in a very threating way. Her face was full of fury.

- Harley ... ple ... please ... - it was hard to even breathe, let alone speak. Harley's arm was hurting her windpipe.

- HOW DO YOU KNOW HER NAME? - she shouted - Dammit! ANSWER ME OR I WILL KILL YOU!

- I don't know what you're talking about - June was running out of oxygen and she couldn't help looking in the eyes of Harley cried out for mercy - Harley, I beg you.

- WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HER? - Quinn slightly separated her arm to push June's neck back again.

- Harley, I don't know anything ... - a tear ran down her cheek. She was going to die, her time was running out. She was in front of the most savage and dangerous Harley's side and there was no way to protect herself. June tried to reason with her - Harley ... It's me ... I am June ... I would never hurt you ... I don't know who is Lucy ... please, believe me - but Harley keep the grip and June couldn't avoid to cry distressed. He had little oxygen and her neck ached like never before.

Something was activated in Harley after seeing her crying and she let drop the knife. She was scared of her own acts and her hands were trembling. She kept looking her hands and the knife terrified. What kind of monster was she? She had been on the verge of killing the only person in the world who had risked everything to help her. She looked down unable to look at June, who ran into the bathroom and locked herself there. Harley stood in the middle of the room, in her white nightgown and barefoot. She had ruined her life again but she was decided to fight to regain one of the only two good things she had. She knocked at the bathroom door and listened to the sobs and coughs of the archeologist. She cursed herself for June's suffering and then, she leaned her forehead on the door.

- Sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry, June - her tears fell as torrents, and she was not used to that.

- Leave me alone, you crazy bitch! - June shouted to her with fear and rage. Harley fell to her knees. Yeah, that was what she really was... a "crazy bitch" "a killer". What she was waiting of June? The girl had given her absolutely everything and she had been about to kill her.

- I'll leave, I'll get out of your life for good - Harley whispered still with her hand on the door.

A deafening silence was installed between the two women during minutes that seemed like hours. And when Harley was about to get up, get dressed and leave forever, June's voice sounded again.

- Don't leave! I don't want you out of my life Harley! - although the door was closed, Harley realised that June had been sitting with her back against the door, so she did the same.

- Are you fine? Did I hurt you? - she asked very worried, still wiping her tears with her hands.

- You scared the hell out of me - June confessed to her - But you didn't cause me a physical damage - she lied - I'm fine.

- I never wanted to do what I did ... - she leaned her nape on the door and she sighed deeply.

- You're sleeping with a knife under the pillow - she reminded her.

- I'm afraid that he could finally find us. The knife was only to protect us - she sincerely said - I never wanted to use it to hurting you. I only was thinking in be able to protect us. Please, believe me.

- I told you, you're safe - she remind to Harley again - You don't have to sleep with a knife under the pillow, I'm not a threat. He never will find us here.

- I've been having nightmares since I've arrived - she explained - A long time has gone since I was able to sleep so deeply. I guess that's why I'm having such nightmares.

- So, do you have nightmares about him? - June tried to reason with her.

- Yes - she confessed with her hands on her face in desperation - I didn't think that he could provoke me so much fear.

- I've been listening to you shouting Lucy's name since the same night that we arrived - she explained - that's why at the end, I've asked you who is she.

- It's a long story Moone, a very long one - she tried to avoid the conversation, though she knew there was no escape.

- Was she your girlfriend? - June asked trying to find out.

- Of course not - she smiled tearfully - That isn't the bond between us, but I love her more than anyone - she sighed.

- Does he know of her existence? - she questioned her.

- Not, that's why I have nightmares. Only there are two other people who know about her existence... I wanted that it remained like that and I was scared when I listened her name in your lips - she told her - June, you must know that I've never thought about hurting you. I totally lost my mind for a second.

- I am not going to hurt her, whoever she is. I am with you in this and it doesn't matter what that implies - she assured her - You must believe me. And I neither will talk about her existence to anyone. Neither to Waller, nor to Rick, nor to anyone.

- What day is it? - Harley asked a question that seemed coming out of nowhere, or so it seemed to June who was surprised before answering.

- Well, it's already half past two in the morning, so it's Thursday - she replied.

- Would you like to go on a trip with me today after dawn? - Harley wished a positive answer, but she was completely scared of that answer too.

- Where do you want to go? - June asked her. She wasn't so nervous because she began to understand that keeping that secret for Harley was painful and paranoid. Harley didn't want to hurt her and she'd have been more cautious for avoiding things like the one that had happened. She didn't justify the actions of the delinquent, but she wouldn't be the first one to cast the first stone.

-Metropolis - she answered - I already got the plate for the motorbike, so it wouldn't be a problem.

- Why do you want to go there? - June questioned her. At the end of the day, she had been about to be killed by Harley, if she was going to go on a trip with her almost killer, she'd be sure about what they were going to do.

- I want to introduce you to someone - Harley's heart was pounding very fast. She was completely trusting June. She also wanted to regain her trust. She couldn't lose June, she wouldn't allow herself to lose her.

Silence fell again and the bathroom door opened slightly, but the archeologist still didn't get out of there. After a few minutes, Harley took that as an invitation to enter and she went in slowly. She found June sitting on the ground, both looked at each other. The archaeologist eyes were red and filled with tears and her hair was matted. Harley glanced herself in the mirror and she realized that she looked just like June. She finally sat down beside her.

- I'm sorry - she insisted without waiting for any response from June. But the arms of her companion surrounded her in a tight embrace. It was difficult for her being able to react, but eventually, they both embraced each other and Harley kissed June's forehead - I'm so sorry, honey - When they parted a bit, Harley could see tears still in June's eyes and on her face and she took a small towel to wipe her tears gently. June's heart beat again strongly with that delicate gesture - You have not idea how much I regret what I've done - Her new life with Harley was a rollercoaster of feelings. Less than two hours had passed since she had been on the verge of being murdered by Harley, and nevertheless, nobody had been so kindly and gentle with her as Harleen in those moments. June knew that she was walking over quicksands, but she didn't want anything else for her.

June stood up slowly and she gave her hand to Harley, surprising her.

- If you want to travel tomorrow, we will have to rest a little bit. Let's get back to bed - she slightly smiled her and she helped Harley to stand up. Both went to bed, hand in hand. Somehow what had happened had made stronger her bond. Although, June had no idea about how much her life was gonna change during excursion of the next day.

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