12. Promise me

The silence in the car was tense, while June was looking through the window at the lights of the city. From that height, Gotham looked as the dangerous city of which every clever person would want to flee away. He breathed deeply and with all her courage she said what she must already have said days earlier.

- Rick, we have to talk - after saying those words she took a big breath.

- Sure honey, what's wrong? - He asked, pulling a hand away from the steering wheel to hold a hand of his girlfriend - Are you all right? I have noticed you slightly strange at the party.

- Yeah, no, I'm fine, but you'll see - she did not want to break Rick's heart, whatever it was, he'd been there for her - there's something I wanted to tell you a few days ago and it's complicated but it's about ...

The phone in the car began to ring interrupting to June, who silence their words, so that her boyfriend could attend to the call.

- Flag - said a female voice well known for both of them - There has been a escape this night.

- An escape... Amanda? - Rick questioned her ready for action again.

- Jonathan Crane has been released by force by a group of assailants in the Arkham Asylum, he has escaped with them - she affirmed altered - it has happened scarce five minutes ago - she told to him - Assembles your team this night.

-I'm taking June to safety and I'm meeting my team - he answered speeding up the car - See you in a half hour.

- Not a minute more - ordered Amanda Waller and hung up the phone

- I think that our conversation will have to wait - he said - I've to go with the boys, we cannot leave that a psychopath as Jonathan Crane walking around out the city free as a bird.

- Understood, it can wait - June affirmed.

Although she had to say it to him as soon as possible, Scarecrow being free around the city it was one of the worst things that might happen. And who had help him to scape? With what intention? Rick was driving at full speed for the streets of Gotham, until they came to their flat and he left there June. - Don't go out the flat under any circumstance, have you understood me? - Rick ordered her before going away - - The city is already sufficiently dangerous without the free Scarecrow, with him in the streets, nobody knows what might happen. - Be careful.

x-x-x-x

Needless to say, June didn't sleep a wink during the whole night. She knew the history of Jonathan Crane and whoever had freed that psychopath, it wasn't for anything good. She can feel danger in the air, and it was a feeling she didn't like at all. Rick had not returned, so she prepared a sliced of toast and a coffee for herself. But her apparent calm, was broken when she came out to the dining room and heard a noise on the balcony. She wasted no time and went straight to her room to get a baseball bat that Rick had in the closet. Can't be too careful that day with so much danger in the near future. But when she looked out at the balcony, she saw a gorgeous blue orchid plant in the middle and she smiled eagerly, because that could only mean one thing.

- Harleen - June said her name aloud, and as if she were a top-level gymnast, Harley Quinn appeared from the balcony of the upside floor, still looking at June upside down (hanging on the ceiling).

- Good morning JuneJune - she smiled - Hey! What r you doing with that bat? - She asked her with surprise, since June was still picking up the bat, ready to hit whoever was in front of her.

She didn't think that June was going to hurt her with it, but really the arqueologhist seemed to try to instil fear with it.

- What are you doing here? - June asked astonished and releasing the baseball bat - You can go down, Rick's not here.

- Poor me, who thought that you'd give me a warm welcome - she looked at her pretending sadness - You know... there's a movie that ...

- It's not raining, you don't have a mask and you are hung from the balcony of my neighbor, there are several differences - June affirmed crossing her arms but smiling - What is this? - she asked indicating the flower.

Seeing that she was not going to receive her warm welcome, Harley made another agile movement, one more somersault, and stood beside the archaeologist.

- Blue orchids - she explained - You said that were your favorites - Harley reminded her, looking at her in confusion as she thought she would be happy with them.

- You've remembered it - she smiled slightly, looking at her affectionately.

- Yes and they're not stolen. I had a hard time convincing my friend, who is a plant expert, to allowed me to give it to you, because they're very delicate - she laughed - I told her that you're good to taking care of the most delicate things.

- Are you friends with Dr. Isley? - June asked, accompaining Harley inside the apartment.

- Yes - she nodded proudly.

- So she ... Is she the same metahuman that has provoked so much interest amongst the citicians because of the massive growth of the plants of the botanical garden?.

June was a smart woman and she knew how to put two and two together, Harley supposed. It was obvious that the most logical thing for a person like June, it was quickly discover that if she had been at the party with Pamela Isley who was an expert in plants, Harley Quinn and 'the metahuman' expert in plants, were friends.

- I don't think it's a big deal... - Harley denied - She just love the plants more than humans, you know... Red's pretty harmless if you don't provoked her.

June remained in silence there drinking her cold coffee (it was curious that when Harley appeared, she almost always ended with a cold coffee)

- It's not necessary to be a metahuman to know that something's going on - Harley told her sitting down in the couch.

- Wouldn't you have to do with the jailbreak of last night, would you? - she asked and regretted in a second, if she loved Harley as she knew she did it, she had to trust in her.

- June I've no a clue what you're talking about - he denied defensive - I assure you. After the party, we all went to Red's flat, to have a few more drinks and a little more wild party, but we didn't do anything like an escape, I would remember.

- What do you mean with wild party? - June asked sitting down next to her.

- Nothing you need to worry about, obvioulsy - Harley answered while crossed her arms.

And again a extremely tense silence between them.

- What's going on, June?

- Nothing - she was being unfair with her and she knew it, but her life had changed so much in so few days that the situation overtook her.

- Look, I came to see how you were, and you're super weird and the truth is that I think you're not believing me when I tell you that we had nothing to do with whatever happened- she said offended, she thought for a while - I know that my old me would be in the front line of the worst things happening to this city. But I've changed and I have no idea what you're talking about and I'm sorry, but it offends me that you believe me capable of whatever is going on after our moment last night.

- I'm sorry, I'm so fucking nervous - she sighed - Yesterday, shortly after the party was over, there was an escape at Arkham Asylum. Someone helped out a prisoner to escape using extreme force - she explained - And you're right, for a moment I thought it'd have to do with you, forgive me. I trust you, but ... I don't know them.

- Neither Selina, nor Pamela, nor Lena, would do something like that and besides we were together - she denied annoyed - Who escaped?

- Jonathan Crane - she just throw that out.

- Do you really think that I'd endanger my daughter, my friends and the woman that I love... helping to escape that damn psycho off Arkham?

- No, I'm sorry Harley, excuse me, I'm very nervous - she was genuinely remorseful.

- I hated him before I became Harley Quinn. I hated him from freshman year, he was a damn asshole already in those years, now it's even more dangerous - she said angrily.

- Do you think it was him? - June questioned her. It was her real theory for several hours - He did it with you and ...

- I don't know - Harley interrupted her confused - But of course, it's the Mistha J modus operandi - she looked down panicked of what that would mean.

- You must stay here no matter what. If he has something to do with this, he is planning something very bad.

- Stay here with me Harley, we will explain it to Rick, he will protect you - she affirmed.

- June, how do you believe that ... - she smiled with tenderness after those words - I'm a Gotham's villain and damn it! I'm in love with you. I don't think anything of that could delight Rick when he finds out - she said holding June's hands - I don't need his protection.

- But ...

- Stay here, don't separated yorself from your mobile. Tess and Chloe will be able to find you if you take it with you, whatever happens. Red Tornado is able to enter any operating system and you already know Chloe - she puts a hand on June's cheek - Look at me - she made her look up - We don't know what they're up to, but I must warn my people of what has happened. And I need to know whatever is going on, whether it's with us or not, you'll stay safe.

June agreed and embraced Harley with all her forces, because although the archaeologist had promised that she would stay safe, she knew for sure that the delinquent was not safe and that she was going to put herself in the forefront of the risk which implyed to have Scarecrow planning something in the city. Yes, June was not a saint and she had doubted Harley during a crazy moment of nerves, but Harley Quinn would do anything for protecting her family, and she was a part of this strange family now.

They embraced each other for a long time, until Harley got up from the couch.

- I've to go, I cannot risk Rick coming - she smiled bitterly seeing June on the verge of tears- I don't know when I'll see you again, but don't fear, I'll get in touch with you, okay? - they embraced each other again this time standing - Whatever happens, my feelings for you don't change, neither my promises, if you need Zatanna you just need to talk with Chloe, I will find her for you and I will bring her to you, but don't go out of here alone until we know the real reason behind Crane's escape.

- I promise.

- You know the Scarecrow's powers, don't risk yourself - she knew what she was talking about. First she wanted to stay June safe but also, Jonathan Crane worked with people's fears and June's fear were too much dangerous to risk anything.

- Alright - June could not contain her nerves and grabbed Harley's neck to kiss her with all the love she felt for her - Commit the madness you have to commit, but come back to me safe and sound, okay? - she said stroking Harley's cheek. She feel like she wasn't not going to see Harley for a long time and that broke her heart.

- I will - she smiled - You're not going to lose me so easily.

- You'd better be right - she smiled back at her as Harley stepped out of the apartment to the same place she had entered, not looking back at her.