Authors Note: There's so many of you reading this! It's so exciting and also intimidating. I'm glad you're all enjoying it so far! And I hope you continue to like it for however long it continues. I'm thinking of continuing it up to, and a little bit past, the movie. Though it will be somewhat AU from the movie. Speaking of, I got to see the movie opening weekend and loved it. It was somewhat of a mess plot wise, but it was just so much fun. And Joker and Harley were perfect. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!
Harleen woke up slowly, blinking in the harsh light. What had happened? Joker... The alarms... Her head... She tried to raise her hand, finding that it was bound to the table she was laying on. Both her hands were, as well as her legs. She looked around with wide and terrifed eyes. "Hello?" She called out.
She turned her head the other way, taking in the room. It looked like the medical wing. Why would she be here? "Hello!?"
Suddenly the Joker was there, standing over her with something in his hands. She couldn't make out what in the light.
Harleen suddenly felt terrified. She had never felt that way with him before. Maybe she should have, in hindsight. But she never had. He was always just so... Sad. Now he just seemed... Angry.
"You gonna kill me Mistah J?" She asked, a half laugh half sob escaping her lips.
"Oh... I'm not gonna kill ya. I'm just gonna hurt ya. Really, really, bad."
Harleen had all but lost her job when the Joker had broken out. If not for what he did to her, she would probably have been implicated in his breakout. She should be thanking him. Or at least that's what she told herself when she woke up from her nightmares.
She didn't remember much of what he had done. Which was probably for the best. But she remembered it hurt. And she had a bruise under her eye to show for it.
She yawned and pushed her glasses up her nose as she attempted to sort her notes into somthing readable. She was sitting on the floor of her apartment. Hundreds of papers surrounding her.
Her apartment wasn't grand, in fact it was pretty small, but it was home. And it was enough. She sighed as she stood. She needed to get out of the house. She needed to get her mind off of her job. And off of him.
Maybe she was crazy, maybe he was insane. She honestly didn't know any more.
She picked up the phone that she had found in her pocket. The one the Joker had given her. She had kept it for herself, not seeing the harm. She still couldn't figure out why he had given it to her. It had served no purpose. Turning it over, she caught a glimpse of something she hadn't seen before. Stuck in the case and covering the camera, was what looked like a piece of paper.
Harleen pulled the case off and turned the paper over. On the back of it was an address, signed with a J.
Frowning, she sat down at her computer and typed in the address. It pulled up a street view of a club. The King of Hearts, it was called. Why on Earth would he have-
She cut herself off. It didn't matter. Maybe she would go to the club. She needed a distraction. And, if she was being completely honest with herself, she really missed him.
But she wouldn't go alone, she told herself, picking up her gun from the table. She had stolen it from her last boyfriend. And it has served her well on late night walks home. She had never fired it, but it usually scared most people off. Speaking of her boyfriend, she pulled her sleeve down her arm further. Hiding the hideous bruises that covered it.
She stuffed the gun into her jeans and covered it with her shirt as she started toward the door. Phone in hand.
A cheer went up from the crowd, but Joker barely acknowledged it. He moved into the beaded off section of his club, sitting down on the white leather couch. His personal guards flanked either side of it, and a waiter brought him a drink.
This was his club. His turf. No one came here that he didn't want to. Not the police. Not the Batman. Well, maybe the Batman would eventually. But Joker had it on good authority that he was busy with some small time crooks. No surprises tonight.
He took a sip of his drink, he honestly wasn't sure what it was, and looked out across the crowd. Some of the entertainers caught his eye, but not for very long. If tonight was a night for honesty, then he would admit to being bored out of his mind.
"Boss." One of his other guards parted the beads and stepped through. He was one of Jokers favorites. What was his name? Bart? Barry? It didn't matter. "Someone's here to see you. She won't leave."
Joker put down his drink, turning to look through the crowd and toward the entrance. No. It couldn't be. But it was. It was Harley.
Why wasn't he rid of her? He should be rid of her. He should never have to see her again. And yet here she was. In his club. Apparently looking for him. Well, to be fair, he had left the address on the phone he had given her. But never in a million years did he think she would actually come.
Joker stood, weaving his way through the crowd toward her. She was being manhandled by some of his guards that were trying to keep her from entering the club fully. But he could see she was fighting them in her own way. Trying to pull her arms free.
It didn't take him long to reach them, and when he did, they all seemed to freeze at the sight of him.
He waved his hand, indicating the guards should leave. Which they did. Leaving him and Harley alone. She looked different now that she wasn't in her doctors uniform. Black pants and a blue shirt, her hair down around her neck. But she was no less... beautiful.
He needed to be rid of her. He had gotten attached to her. He cared. And he wasn't supposed to do that. It was dangerous.
In one swift movement, he grabbed onto her arm and pulled her with him toward the door. He pulled his keys out of his silver jacket pocket, spinning them on his finger as he led her out toward his purple Lamborghini.
He wasn't exactly inconspicuous, what with his hair, skin, tattoos, and his silver suit. And his car was the same. It was purple for crying out loud.
"Let go of me!" Harley was protesting, finally finding her voice it seemed, and struggling under his grip, but Joker only held on tighter. "Let go, ya hear!" She continued to protest. Her accent coming through stronger than usual.
Joker opened the passengers side door, shoving her toward it. "Get in." he said. It was a command. Not a request. And he was mildly pleased that she listened immediatly. Her earlier protests silenced by his tone.
He shut the door and walked around to the other side, getting in. "Where are you taking me?" She asked him, but he ignored her as he started the car.
He pulled out onto the road, ignoring her as he floored the gas pedal. His rational side told him to relax. Let her in. But he didn't let that side win today. Harley needed to go. He couldn't afford to have distractions.
He hadn't driven very far when she seemed to finally have enough of him. Sending him a glare, she opened the door on her side, pushing it open with more strength than he would have imagined she possesed. He pressed down on the gas pedal and the car screeched to a stop.
He watched as she moved in front of the car, hitting the hood with her hand as she pulled out a gun. "Get out of the car!" She yelled at him. And Joker couldn't help but grin. This would be fun.
He opened his door and stepped out, his hands raised a little in surrender. "What now sweetheart?" he asked. Sarcasm lacing his words. "We kiss and make up?" His eyes briefly glanced at her lips. Oh he would love that.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked him. Ignoring his words. "Why did you leave this for me?" She held up the phone with her other hand. The gun still leveled at his forehead.
Jokers smile faded. "It was a gift." He finally said.
"Why?" Was her reply. Why indeed? Why had he given it to her? It served virtually no purpose other than to create a problem for himself. Maybe his subconscious wanted to see her again. Maybe his heart overtook his mind. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Oh forget it. He scolded himself as he pushed the gun away with his hand. She stared at him as he closed the gap between them, cupping her face with his hands as he pressed his lips to hers. Relishing in the taste of her.
Her hands were in his hair, and he purred softly as he deepened the kiss. When he finally pulled away, her eyes were closed. "You fell for me." She murmured softly.
"I didn't fall for you. You tripped me." He said immediatly. And she laughed. It was such a beautiful sound.
He was disgusted with himself. He had enjoyed every second of that kiss. And he almost felt a stab of pity. But there was no going back. He had her now. He could be rid of her if he wanted. She would follow him to her grave.
He smiled, holding his hand out for the gun. "Get back in the car."
He took her to the one place he knew best. ACE Chemicals.
It hadn't changed much since he had been here last. It was dirty, but it had always been dirty. It was hot, but it had always been hot. He hated it here, but he had always hated it here.
He led her down the halls toward the balcony. The clang of machinery, and the hiss and pop of steam causing her to jump every few seconds. No matter. She wouldn't be doing anything in a few minutes.
He stopped her on the edge of the balcony. His hand wrapped around her elebow.
"This is where I died. And was reborn." He said as he studied her expression. Trying to judge how far he would need to push her.
"Did it hurt?" She asked softly. Looking down at several vats of chemicals.
"Yes." He replied honestly.
She turned back to him, her hand going toward his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
He smiled. A coy, manipulative, smile. "Would you die for me Harley?" he asked, stepped a bit closer to her. Forcing her to take a step back toward the edge.
"Yes." She replied softly.
"That's too easy." He said as he covered her mouth with his hand. "Would you... Would you live for me?" he asked as he pulled it back.
"Yes." She said again, leaning closer to him.
"Careful." He said as he held up his finger. "Do not say this oath thoughtlessly. Desire becomes surrender, surrender becomes power. You want this?"
"I do." She said, and Joker smiled. He took a small step back, leaving her at the edge. He would either have to push her in, or she would do it herself. Either way. She was out of his life for good.
He watched as she turned her back to him, looking down at the vats of chemicals below.
He watched as she extended her arms out to either side of her.
And he watched as she fell forward.
To her credit, she didn't scream on the way down. And only a faint splash broke the silence. He could leave her there. She couldn't swim. She would drown. He was free.
With those thoughts in mind he started to walk away.
"You gonna kill me Mistah J?"
Joker stopped walking, closing his eyes tightly as he clenched his fists. Just walk away. He told himself. She's more trouble than she's worth. She's not worth it. She's a weakness. She's... The most beautiful girl I've ever known. She's smart, and funny, and I... I love her.
In one swift motion he turned and ripped his jacket off. Throwing it aside, he took a deep breath before he jumped off the balcony after her.
Harley was going to die.
She screamed, but she just managed to swallow more of... Whatever chemical this was. She had never learned how to swim. He knew that, didn't he? She had told him that.
She felt her back hit the bottom, and she suddenly realized what the Joker had done. He had killed her. He had been lying. He had been lying about it all.
She would have started crying had she been able to.
She had started to spasm as her eyelids grew heavy from the lack of air. What had she been thinking? Was she crazy? Or sane for the first time in her life? It didn't matter now. She was a dead woman either way.
Joker hit the chemicals head first. His arms extended outward to grab onto Harley. She was much further into the water than he expected, and he felt a stab of panic when he pulled her above the surface and she wasn't breathing.
Her skin was several shades whiter than it had been. As well as her hair. Her clothing had all but dissolved, and he could feel his doing the same. The colors from their shirts surrounding them.
He leaned down slowly, parting her lips as he blew air into her lungs. He pulled back as she gasped and coughed. Giving her a moment to catch her breath.
She would push away from him. Leave him. Take him back to Arkham. Do literally anything else than what she was doing.
She opened her eyes and grinned at him. Grinned. He felt a smile spread across his face. She would be okay. She would be more than okay. Harleen Quinzel was gone, and now Harley Quinn had come out to play.
"Do you think I'm insane Mistah J?" She asked him.
"Do you want to be?" He replied.
"Yes."