The next afternoon, I was informed by a guard that someone had come to visit. I shrugged, figuring it was probably Harley or Ivy in disguise. That was so like them. They would probably have a plan to get me and Rex out, although Rex could probably walk through the front door and nobody would stop him. They were terrified of him.
I followed the guard to the visitation area. It was two men, both in suits.
One was Damian.
I stopped when the door closed behind me and went no further. He looked relieved to see me. He came up and hugged me, picked me up and twirled me around. I just went with it, but I didn't hug him back.
"Harmony, you're okay." His hands cradled my face.
"Am I?" I asked.
"You… Look great." He looked me over, checking me for damage.
"Do I?" I stared at him.
He frowned. "Harmony…?"
"You should go. I don't want you here."
He looked hurt. "I want to be here, though…"
"You didn't want to be with me when they were taking me here!" I gritted my teeth.
"I did!"
"Then why didn't you stop them." I snarled at him. I curled in on myself, my arms clasped to my chest. "Why did you let them take me!"
"Hey, hey." The other guy came over and stepped in front of Damian.
"You know they're just waiting. Free thing to experiment on." I continued, feeling anxiety knot my stomach. "Society doesn't want this one, that means we can cut it up like a frog!"
"That's not how asylums work!" Damian argued.
"That's how Arkham works!" I snapped. "Did mom tell you? I see guys every day at meal times who look like they're in hell, and they're talking about what the doctors are doing but who is ever gonna believe us? We're criminals, freaks!" I turned my gaze away from him. "Nobody cares about us."
"I care about you." He tried. "Harmony…"
"Go away." I sat down on the floor. "I'm toxic, remember? Do you think someone would have killed my dads if I wasn't this way? Do you think everything is okay?"
"No, wait, you aren't toxic, Harmony." He put his hands on my shoulders.
I felt disgusted with myself. He was Robin, boy wonder, a do-gooder with his whole life ahead of him. I was a monster with nothing to lose, and I was only going to drag him down. Why didn't he listen to me the first time I told him to stay away? People around me get killed. Dad, Wally… He was hurt by Scarecrow because of me. Worse things would happen.
He'd be killed. It wouldn't happen today, but eventually he would get killed because of me. Freaks invite freaks into their lives. I couldn't live with that thought.
"Go away." I said as I stood up and walked toward the guard. "Go away."
"No, I won't!" He grabbed my hand. "Harmony, do you think I'm going to leave you? Because I'm not! I like you, Harmony, and you don't see the things that I see in you! I see a good person who got a shitty hand! I'll get you out of here, Harmony, you just have to give me a chance!"
I stared up at him, finally looking him in the eyes. "You think you can get me out of here?"
"I know I can." He nodded.
"You think I'm… a good person?" The thought was strange. Someone thought I was worthy of saving.
"Yes." His face relaxed and he smiled at me.
You will get him killed, Harmony.
I want him. I want him, I want him, I want to have him, I want him to be mine.
But if I get him, he would be killed by someone. Croc, Baby Doll, anyone could hurt him. He was so fragile. So precious.
"Dick, call mom." Damian turned to the other man. "Tell him to get her out of here. I don't want her in here any longer. I'm scared for her."
Dick pulled out his phone and speed-dialed. "Hey, mom. Demon and I have a request… Will you listen?" Shouting on the other end of the line. "Yeah, we did! We're grown-ass adults, thank you very… You aren't… Look, just—"
That was a no. Mommy Bats was not going to help me out.
I closed my eyes. "That's okay. I'll get out on my own. Thanks anyway."
Damian kissed my forehead. "I'll get you out."
I nodded. I didn't believe him. He knew I didn't believe him.
The guard announced that visitation was over. I went back to my cell.