Harley awoke before Ivy, she leaned over and kissed the red head before getting up, grabbing a silk robe and walking into the kitchen. She made herself a slice of toast and some coffee sitting at the kitchen table. There was this feeling that was prickling in her back of her head, like something was wrong. Harley pushed it further into her mind ignoring it. It was probably something stupid, or her anxiety getting the best of her. Once she was finished with her breakfast she decided to run a bath.
She walked back into the bedroom where Ivy was still fast asleep. She noticed Ivy's phone was buzzing. Harley walked over to the side table and picked it up looking at the screen. Selina had sent at least four or five warning messages. Harley unlocked Ivy's phone then began reading the messages.
Ivy, you need to be extra careful. Stay away from Gotham it's not safe for you here.
The clown has been going on a rampage through the city destroying a bunch of shit. He's gone completely insane.
He found out that Harley has been with you. Word spread through the city that you two were a thing and he lost it.
He's sent out all his goons searching the city trying to find Harley and Kill you. There's a bounty on your head.
Bruce and I are trying to keep him busy. Please be careful. Set up some security. Love you – Cat
Harley covered her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes, she held the phone in her hand tightly and slid down against the side of the bed. He Knew. Her mind went into a whirlwind of thoughts, horrifying and disturbing. If he found Ivy…He would do unspeakable things. Harley was like his property, if anyone tried anything he would destroy them.
Ivy stretched out in bed then opened her eyes. She rolled over and saw the top of Harley's head, she raised her eyebrow gently. Ivy sat up then slid from her bed, once she saw the tears running down Harley's cheeks her body tensed. She kneeled in front of the blonde and cupped her cheek slowly.
"What is it, what happened." Ivy was frantic.
Harley simply handed the redhead the phone and she read the messages. She frowned slowly putting her phone back on the side table then held Harley's cheeks in her hands.
"Look at me, hey." Ivy stroked her tears away with her thumb. "He will not find us here. We are on the outskirts of Gotham, no one knows where we are."
Harley looked up at Ivy gazing into her eyes. "I found you, If I can find you he can too."
She shook her head slowly. "I gave you hints, on how to find me. Remember? The plant that only grows out here, in the letter I sent you when I said goodbye. Things I knew only you would know."
Harley placed her hands on Ivy's wrist softly, she nodded. "Yeah, I remember."
Ivy helped her up then wrapped her arms around her gently, Harley rested her cheek against the redhead's shoulder. She lifted the blonde up and carried her into the bathroom.
"I'm going to run you a nice bubble bath, you're just going to relax while I go and do a few things around the house." Ivy leaned over and started the bath putting in lots of bubble bath.
She turned back around and placed her hands on Harley's bare hips. She leaned in and kissed the blonde softly. Once the bath was filled enough, Ivy turned off the water and pushed the silk robe off Harley's shoulders letting it fall. She helped the blonde into the water then knelt.
"I'm just going to call Cat and I'm going to put up some security measures alright?" Ivy tilted Harley's chin and kissed her.
Harley nodded her head gently then kissed her back cupping her cheek softly. Ivy stood and walked out grabbing her phone and calling Selina. Harley sank in the water, covered from the neck down in bubbles. She closed her eyes and drifted off a little. It was about an hour later when she woke up, the water had gone from hot to cold and the bubbles had melted away. Harley stood, emptying the water, and getting out. She dried off then pulled the silk robe back over her, tying it in the front.
She looked at herself in the mirror and started to pull her hair into pigtails French braiding each side. There was a thud that came from the bedroom but Harley didn't pay much attention to it. Once she was satisfied with her hair she made her way back into the bedroom, but something wasn't right. The sheets had been torn from the bed and the night stand had been toppled over. There was blood on the floor, a trail of it leading out from the bedroom. Harley ran to her bag and grabbed her revolver, pulling it out in front of her as she walked from the bedroom.
"Red…? Are you okay?" Harley called out.
She followed the trail of blood down the hall to the living room. When she turned the corner she screamed. One of Jokers goons held Ivy in his grasp, his arm wrapped around her shoulder with a large hunting knife to her throat. The knife must have been 15 inches long, 10 of those were the blade alone. Ivy's hands were bound behind her back Her lip was bleeding and there was a huge gash on her forehead that was dripping blood. Harley held her revolver up aimed at the goon's head.
"You let her go, right now you lunatic! I will kill you!" a rage filled Harley like never before.
"Do you know how much her head is worth? The Joker is willing to pay millions for it!" The goon laughed manically.
"I swear if you hurt her, it will be the last thing you ever do." There was a fire in Harley's eyes.
The goon pulled the blade from Ivy's neck and brushed the blade along her arm. He slid the blade along her arm slicing her skin. The guy pulled it away and watched as the blood began to drip down her arm, he brought the blade to his lips and licked it slowly. Ivy cried out struggling against the goon. He brought his hand to her chin gripping it and bringing the blade to her neck once again. Harley looked at her and grit her teeth. She took a step into the living room her revolver pointed at the idiot's head.
"He wanted her alive, I'm sure he has some sort of torture planned for this little vixen. God only knows the disgusting things he's going to do to her before he kills her." The goon licked the side of the redhead's face.
Ivy fought against the restraints trying to get her hands free. She was trying to call on her plants but there was something wrong. The man pulled the knife from her throat again and this time and slid the blade along her stomach over her tank top. Ivy grit her teeth the tears welling up in her eyes. Blood began to drip from her stomach staining her shirt and dripping onto the floor. Harley shuffled closer again, out of the corner of her eye she could see Selina sneak into the house. She was pressed up against the wall her whip in hand and ready.
"You come any closer and I'll open her throat and make you watch as she bleeds out. Don't test me." The goon pressed the edge of the knife into Ivy's throat cutting her just a little. "Joker really is a smart guy. He sent a bunch of use out to find you, and this redhead. He wasn't able to replicate her anti-poison but he gave us something temporary. So, this bitch won't be able to give us the kiss of death." The goon laughed. "I can see why you fancy her, she's one hot piece of meat." The goon slid the bloody blade down the side of her face smearing blood against her skin.
He slid the blade against her cheek, from cheek bone to almost the side of her lips. He dragged it down to upper arm slicing it slowly, then down to her lower stomach again creating another deep gash. Ivy groaned out from clenched teeth struggling against the rope that held her hands. He continued his torture and Ivy let out a small cry in pain. Harley tried to take aim but the goon was hiding his head and body behind Ivy. He took his knife again and slid it across her thigh.
"You see how the knife just slices her skin. Isn't just erotic." The goon grinned slowly. He slid the knife along her collar bone on either side.
Ivy tried to fight against the man but he wrapped his hand around her arm holding her against him. He continued to cut her skin in different places, gashes a least an inch deep. Tears poured down Ivy's cheeks as she looked over at the blonde. Harley couldn't take it anymore her finger hovered over the trigger on her revolver. She just needed him to peak his head out enough to make the shot. Ivy was covered in blood, and beginning to pale.
The goon switched the knife into his other hand placing it back against the redhead's neck. He slid his hand down her bloody torso and slipping it into her underwear and running his fingers through her folds.
"Mmm what a beautiful pussy." The goon laughed slowly.
"Get your hands off her!" Harley yelled out.
Ivy tried to fight it but she was too weak. Harley growled out, the crazy she was so well known for was sparking in her eyes. Selina looked around the wall and ran around the corner she took her whip in her hand and flung it at the goon's hand with the knife in it, snapping against his skin. The action caused him to drop it, he flinched and this gave Harley the opportunity to take the shot.
Her finger pulled the trigger and the bullet flew through the air, hitting the man smack in the middle of his forehead. His head snapped back as the bullet made contact, he dropped to his knees then fell back lifeless. Ivy was freed from his grasp and fell to her knees. Harley dropped her revolver and ran to the redhead, she cupped her cheek slowly.
"Shit, Red!" Harley pulled her good arm around her shoulder then slid her arm under her knees lifting her up. She carried Ivy to their bedroom and Selina followed after, she walked over to the closet and grabbed a towel laying it on the bed. Harley lay Ivy on top and ripped open the tank top she was wearing. She had three gashes on her stomach, one on her upper arm, her thigh, two on her chest and one across her face. Selina ran to the closet again and pulled out a cloth, she ran to the bathroom and soaked it in cold water.
Selina made her way back to Harley quickly. The blonde began to clean on her stomach of all the blood, then moved to the other gashes. Ivy winced grabbing a fist full of bed sheets.
"Cat I'm going to have to give her stitches. These ones on her stomach and thigh are deep. Can you grab me a bowl of water and my kit from my bag?" Harley asked as she wiped the blood from Ivy's cheek slowly.
"Red, this is going to hurt I'm not going to lie to you." Harley leaned in slowly cupping her cheek. Ivy gripped her hand looking into her eyes.
"Just do it." Ivy laced her fingers with the blondes and held on tight.
Selina came back with Harley's pouch, a bowl of water and a bottle of vodka she found in the cabinet. "Here Ivy, drink up."
Ivy reached up and grabbed the bottle bringing the glass to her lips and taking a few big gulps. She handed it back to Selina. She put in on the table then crawled on to the bed putting Ivy's head in her lap. Harley pulled out a fresh hook needle. She strung the stitch thread through the hook then began on the gash on Ivy's thigh. The redhead flinched and clenched her teeth hard groaning. Selina gave Ivy her hand and the redhead squeezed, once she finished with her thigh she moved on to her stomach.
Ivy just looked up at Selina clenching her teeth. Once Harley was finished she walked into the bathroom and rummaged through the wall cabinet. She found some gauze and tape then walked back into the bedroom. She placed gauze over the other, more shallow wounds and taped them. She took a fresh rag dipping it into the cold water and wiped her stomach again cleaning up the rest of the blood. She covered the stitched wounds with gauze and tape, they were still bleeding a little bit.
Ivy was feeling pretty light headed she had lost a decent amount of blood. Harley finished cleaning her up then leaned over cupping Ivy's cheek.
"Red…Hey, stay awake okay. I need you to stay awake." Harley leaned in and touched her lips with the redhead's.
Ivy breathed out gently looking over at Harley. "You are so beautiful." She smiled closing her eyes slowly.
"Thank you, Red. Now come on, open those eyes." She leaned in and pressed her lips against Ivy's again.
Selina slid Ivy's head gently onto Harley's lap. "I'm going to go take care of the body."
Harley nodded then turned her attention back towards to Ivy. She stroked her cheek softly kissing her forehead. Ivy reached up and touched Harley's lips.
"I love you Harls. More than I've loved anyone." Ivy smiled gently. "You being here…with me…it made me the happiest flower in the world."
Harley shook her head as tears fell on her cheeks. "Hey…don't you dare talk like that…don't say goodbye. You're not going to leave me. You gotta fight okay." Harley leaned into the redhead and kissed her slowly.
Ivy nodded softly and took Harley's hand. "Cuddle me."
Harley carefully lifted Ivy's head then shifted to lay beside her. She wrapper her arms around the redhead kissing her forehead softly. Ivy tried to turn into the blonde but winced as it pulled on her stitches. The blonde ran her fingers through her hair kissing her cheek with the cut on it. Ivy's eyes slowly closed. Harley combed her fingers through her red hair watched her chest rise and fall. Their fingers were locked, Harley closed her eyes for a minute. She had to hold herself together.
When Harley collected herself, she opened her eyes. She looked at the redhead that lay in her arms and something wasn't right. She was abnormally still, Harley watched her chest waiting to see it rise but it never did. Harley sat up then shook Ivy's shoulders.
"Red! Oh fuck, Red! Come on you gotta wake up! Red!" Tears poured down Harleys cheeks.
Harley straddled Ivy's hips and began to perform CPR. She pumped the redhead's chest then opened her mouth and breathed into her mouth. Selina walked into the bedroom dusting off her hands then her eyes went wide. She ran to the bed side.
"What happened!" Selina said
"I…I don't know! I closed my eyes for 5 minutes!" Harley was frantic.
Selina pushed Harley off then climbed over Ivy, beginning compressions. "Go to the green house. I'm sure Ivy had something in there for something like this. Adrenaline, a toxin, anything just go!"
Harley stood there for a moment stunned, Selina cried out again. "Harley Go!"
She shook it off and ran out of the bed room and straight to the green house. She threw open the door and walked inside. She walked towards the back to the lab section where she had all her research and different toxins. Harley looked through the closed vial's looking for something that would kick start Ivy's heart. Harley found one of Ivy's journals and flipped the paged frantically. Tears were pouring down her face, finally she found one of Ivy's entries talking about mixing the venom from a viper and one of her toxic plants created almost like a kick start.
Harley looked at the name then went to one of the large cases that held all of her vials. She found the one from the journal then looked around for a needle. Once she found one, she stuck the needle through the top of the vial and pulled out right amount specified in Ivy's journal. She ran back into the house taking the poison with her, just in case. Selina was still pumping Ivy's heart, Harley ran over to the side of the bed and placed her fingers on Ivy's chest counting. She lifted her arm up then jammed the needle into her heart. She injected the poison straight into her heart.
The two stood and waited. Harley began to shake. "No…no…no…no!" She crawled over Ivy's body and began to pump her heart again.
She was crying so hard, everything felt like it was going to fall apart. Selina covered her mouth and slid down the side of the wall tears falling down her cheeks. Harley locked her fingers together and pounded her fist into Ivy's chest.
"Red! Come one!" Harley cried and pressed her forehead against the redhead's chest. She cried pressing into Ivy's body.
Suddenly the redhead's eyes flashed open, she gasped aloud sitting up. Harley was startled but gripped onto Ivy tightly. She looked around then looked down at the blonde that clung onto her. The blonde looked up the Ivy then gasped and cupped her cheeks.
"Red! Oh my god!" Harley gazed into her eyes then crushed her lips against hers.
Ivy slid her arms around the blonde's waist kissing her back. Ivy leaned back against the bed the effects of the toxin beginning to ware off and the pain came searing back. Ivy winced and Harley slid off her. Selina stood and walked over to the bed side sliding to her knees.
"It's good to have you back Ivy." Selina ran her fingers through her hair and smiled.
Ivy looked at Selina and smiled gently. "Thank you, Cat. Thank you for being here."
Selina stood slowly, leaned in kissing Ivy's forehead then waved to the two of them. "I'm going back into the city. Bruce is waiting for me. If you need anything you call me."
Both nodded and said their goodbye's. Selina ducked out and made her way back into the city.
Ivy turned to Harley and lifted her hand cupping the blonde's cheek. "You saved my life Harls."
Harley leaned into the redhead's touch. "I couldn't lose you…I can't live without you."
Ivy lifted her head and found Harley's lips. She kissed her slowly cupping her cheek gently. The blonde kissed her slowly then pressed her forehead against Ivy's.
"I'm so sorry Red. I put you in danger. That fucking clown…" Ivy pressed her finger against the blonde's lips.
"Hey, listen. I love you. Nothing that fucking psycho does will change that. I will get sliced, over and over for you. I will die, over and over for you." Ivy sat up on her elbows wincing slightly pressing her lips to Harley's again.
The blonde kissed the redhead gently, she cupped her cheek gently. Ivy winced and the blonde frowned.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." Harley combed her fingers through Ivy's hair.
"It's okay, I know you didn't." She looked down at herself and sighed. "I don't want nasty scars. Help me to my green house."
Harley nodded and lifted her gently, Ivy winced but took a deep breath. She walked her into her green house and sat her on one of the clear tables. Ivy looked around then pointed to the wooden mortar and pestle that was on the far side.
"Hand me that please?" Ivy asked.
Harley nodded and grabbed it bringing it back to her. "What are you going to do Red?"
"I'm going to make one of my healing creams." She smiled gently "It will quicken the healing, on top of my already heightened healing and reduce the scars by a lot."
Harley nodded putting her hands on the redhead's hips. "Tell me what you need."
Ivy pointed to a few flowers, then she pointed to an odd-looking fruit. It looked like a lemon but it was a dark green, almost like an avocado. She took the petals from the flowers and put them in the mortar. She sliced the weird lemon open, it was bright green inside, almost neon. She squeezed the juice into the mortar then began mixing it all, grinding the petals.
"Harls, in the cabinet over there, there's a jar with a powder the label should say Calendula." Ivy asked gently.
Harley nodded and went to the cabinet grabbing the mason jar with the yellow powder. It was a beautiful yellow mountain flower. It was amazing for burns and cuts. Ivy dried the leaves and made it into a powder for such an occasion. She brought it back to Ivy. She took it and poured a good amount into the mortar. She ground and stirred until she had a paste.
"Alright, would you please put this on me darling?" Ivy looked up at Harley.
She smiled and nodded she wrapped her arm around Ivy's back then under her knees and lifted her again slowly. She walked back into the house and back into their bedroom. Harley lay her down gently, propping her head up on a few pillows. Ivy handed over the mortar to Harley then started to pull the gauze off her wounds. Ivy sucked in a sharp breath as she took in the full extent.
"Jeeze, what the hell, did he want to cut me up and have me for dinner." Ivy tried to joke but Harley looked at her shaking her head. "I'm joking, I'm sorry."
The blonde took some of the paste and started spreading a good helping on each of her wounds. She put most of it over the deeper cuts, the ones that Harley had to stitch. Ivy closed her eyes trying to breathe steadily, her skin still very tender. Harley grabbed a new set of gauze and covered the stitches again taping them up. She put some of the paste on the cuts on Ivy's arm, her cheek as well as the cuts on her collar bone.
Harley brought the mortar in to the kitchen and covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for tomorrow. She made her way back into the bed room, she kissed Ivy's forehead then walked to the dresser. She pulled off the bloody silk robe and pulled on one of Ivy's t-shirts and a pair of underwear. She brought a fresh shirt and underwear for Ivy as well.
The red head looked up at the blonde, she dressed Ivy taking her bloody, ripped clothes and tossing them in the garbage. Ivy reached up and took Harley's wrist, she paused then looked down at the redhead.
"Harls…" Ivy looked up at her
Harley shook her head then looked away trying to hide her tears. Ivy took a deep breath and tried to sit up, she groaned out in pain. Harley looked at her then placed her hands on the redhead's shoulders and pushed her back down.
"What are you trying to do open your stitches?!" Harley said frustrated, tears rushing down her cheeks
"I'm trying to get you to look at me!" Ivy said annoyed. She took advantage of Harley being so close and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and pulling her down onto the bed. "I was just joking around."
Harley huffed slowly as she bounced on the bed beside Ivy, she couldn't look her in the eye. The redhead took a hold of her chin between her thumb and index finger pulling her face only inches from her own.
"Talk to me Harls. I almost died for fuck sake, you're going to get mad at me over a little joke." Ivy raised her eyebrow slowly.
"That's just it Red! You Almost Died! No sorry correction you did die. In my arms. Your heart stopped because this psycho came into your home, took you hostage, and sliced you up letting you bleed all over your living room floor. And why?! Because of me!"
Harley pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes gently to try and stop the tears. "Because that fucking clown sees me as his property. I couldn't even keep you safe! I sat there and watched as that goon cut you, over and over. The sound of you in pain rings in my ears!"
Ivy took Harley's hands and dragged her lips along her fingers. She brought the blondes hands over her heart.
"Do you feel that." Ivy looked at Harley. "It's beating. Its beating because of you. And it beats for you."
"Red-" Harley started but Ivy interrupted
"No, I will fight. Battered, bruised, broken, beaten. Whatever that psycho throws at me. I will continue to fight for you. Because Harley I love you. More than anything, more than anyone." Ivy said gently as she cupped her cheek.
Harley teared up placing her hand over Ivy's. "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't." Ivy slid her thumb along the blonde's bottom lip slowly.
Harley watched the redhead's eyes then leaned into her kissing her gently.