Time for the Honeymoon!
The two newlyweds spent the night dancing, and now it's off to the airport for a holiday. Bruce is tense, leaving Dick and Damian in charge, but Selina can quickly remedy that. The night is winding to a close.
For Harley and Dick, it's just beginning. When Dick receives a call from Commissioner Gordon, he knows he has to go; Bruce is halfway to a sandy beach and he's not about to disturb him. Not even if he's going into battle with the Joker.
Selina hugged her bridesmaids goodbye, the guests chattering around them as she did. Alfred had found them a while ago in their bedroom, 'getting ready to leave'. He knew the truth, however, and he sat in the driver's seat of the car now, waiting to take them to the airport.
"We'll miss you!" Barbara cried, beaming at Selina. She waved happily as she got into the car to goodbyes and luck called from her new family. Bruce stood off to the side with Damian and Dick, talking quietly and sternly. They were nodding earnestly, and Bruce glanced over his shoulder at the car, putting a hand on Dick's shoulder.
"Be careful. I trust you," he told them both. As he got into the car and closed the door, Selina giggled happily, pouring a glass of champagne. "I think you've had enough," Bruce laughed, watching her sip the drink. She beamed and leaned against him.
"Giving the boys a pep talk, were you?" she asked, tracing a hand over her shoulder, pulling the sleeve of her sweater dress away from her skin.
"They'll be in charge while I'm gone," he nodded. "They needed instruction."
"No they didn't. You worry too much," she purred. "Let's just enjoy our honeymoon, Darling. Dick is perfectly capable. Now lets finish this bottle before we get to the airport, and we'll be off." Alfred pulled the car out and drove down the long road from the manor.
Dick watched the car go, walking back to Harley and taking her hand as he led her to the car. Helping her in, he got into the driver's seat and started the car.
"Did Bruce give you a stern talking to?" She smiled gently, studying his profile in the dim glowing of the dash.
"Just the usual. I don't think he's ever left for as long as he's anticipating being gone. He's nervous of course; so am I," he smiled a little. "I'm in charge. Of Gotham. Tim is heading back to the Titans tonight, and he's not going to trust Jason with anything now, not with Ivy back. It will be me and Damian." He shrugged. "Just like old times," Dick mumbled, starting down the snowy road along the cliffs towards the bridge into Gotham. He glanced at Harley. It was nearly one in the morning, but he looked pretty alert.
"Well there's always Barbara and Cass if you ever get into a tight spot," she reminded him. "I can only guess Steph will head over to hang out with the Titans after a while."
"I wouldn't be surprised," he smiled, the street lights flashing overhead as they drove into Gotham.
"You know," Harley stressed, "the deal was you carry me to the car. You sir, forgot." She giggled. Dick laughed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'll carry you into the house. How's that?" he smiled.
"No, no," Harley held her hands up, "you missed your chance."
"Oh. Sorry," he laughed.
"You better be." Harley smirked.
"You sure you don't want to be carried?" Dick asked, coming to a stop in the garage. He glanced at her, unbuckling and getting out. He walked around the front of the car to help her out of her seat.
"No," Harley kept her face straight, "now it's just a pity carry."
"Okay," he shrugged, scooping her up anyway as he smiled. "You don't have a choice then." Dick laughed, carrying her up the stairs from the garage and into the house. The dogs rushed them, barking and licking Harley's hand. Their tails smacked against the kitchen cabinets as Dick carried her through the room. "Should I take you straight upstairs?" he asked, smiling.
"No!" Harley fake squirmed, giggling. "How dare you pick me up!"
"Oh yes, how dare I," he laughed, carrying her up the stairs. He ignored the hallway light and walked into the bedroom, shutting the dogs out. He dropped her on the bed, smiling down at her.
"I can never forgive you now," she told him in mock seriousness.
"Boy, I'm in deep, aren't I?" He bit his lip, still smiling.
"Yep, now get over here." Harley patted the bed beside her. Dick sat down, yawning a bit. He flopped down so he was laying with his head on her shoulder. "I'm too tired to change out of my nice clothes, how about you?" She rolled her head to look at him, stretching her arms out. Dick laughed quietly.
"Me neither. I can think of a few ways to get them off, though," he bit his lip again, and then kissed her cheek.
"Oh, can you?" Harley reached over and pulled his tie off. Dick closed his eyes, smiling. He nodded.
"I think I can manage, yeah," he agreed, laughing quietly.
"Well you may have to help me." She smiled, starting to unbutton his shirt. Dick laughed.
"I know. Are you going to use the 'I'm tired because I'm growing another person' excuse? Or do you just really like it when I help," he concluded, sitting up a bit and reaching around her to unzip her dress.
"Bit of both." She reached up, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him down to kiss her. Dick moaned in surprise and smiled into her kiss, his hands twisting in the fabric at her back. He inhaled deeply and pulled away.
"I think I can live with that," he breathed, and then laughed as he kissed her again. Harley bit his lip, pulling at it before she kissed down his chin.
"Good," she murmured, her lips leaving a trail down his throat as her hands worked his jacket off.
Dick's head dropped back against the blankets, and he sighed quietly, smiling as his light eyes fluttered closed under dark lashes. "What has gotten into you lately?" he breathed, his hands dropping the lace from her shoulders as he pulled her dress down, feeling his way down her arm, his touch light.
"Well first, you, then a baby," Harley giggled, kissing down his chest as she continued to unbutton his shirt. "And you keep starting it."
"Please, how did I start this?" he laughed breathlessly. She could feel his heartbeat quicken, his chest rising and falling faster with his breathing.
"You were suggesting you knew more clever ways to take clothes off, and you know I'm competitive." She finished unbuttoning his shirt and kissed above his belt. He moaned weakly, smiling and catching her cheek. He pulled her back up his chest and kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her lips and the feel of the satiny fabric against his chest. His hands pulled her dress away from her skin, and his smile lit his face as he bit her lip, the taste of her sweet lipstick lingering on his tongue. Dick held her closer.
"You like a competition because you always win," he gasped, breaking away long enough to speak before kissing her again. His hands trailed down her bare back. Harley hummed into the kiss, her fingers sliding into the sleeves of his shirt and pulling them off his shoulders.
"And there would be a second reason," she breathed, kissing his smile. "I like knowing even bloated and puffy, I can still make you want me."
"That's what I've been telling you," he laughed, closing his eyes. Dick groaned in frustration as his cell phone rang in his jacket pocket, draped over the bedpost above his head. "Hold on, Harles, it's probably just Bruce," he said, trying to calm his breathing as he fumbled in the pocket for his phone. He answered it and dropped his head back against the pillows. "Hello?" There was a pause, and he kissed Harley's lips gently, his eyes closed. "Yeah I'm a little busy, but go ahead," he replied. Harley grinned, holding his bottom lip between her teeth as she undid his belt. Dick held back a moan and leaned forward, kissing her as best he could. The phone was hanging half away from his face, and he pinched his eyes closed, smiling. He pulled away from Harley with a gasp. "What? Yes, Sir, I'm listening, I've got it. What else?" Harley grinned as she ran her hands up through his hair, watching him as he talked on the phone. He laughed quietly, shuddering a bit, only half listening to the person on the line. His lips chased hers, and he kissed her slowly, before he stopped and leaned back a bit, his lips hesitating on hers. He pulled away. "Yes, Sir. Yes. I understand." There was another pause. His voice had dropped a bit, and his expression changed. He looked grave. Harley's hands froze in his hair, and she watched him more seriously. Dick pursed his lips, watching her. His eyes were fixed on her face, and he looked straight at her as he nodded. "I'll be there," he said quietly, and then hung up the phone. He stood, leaving Harley behind on the bed.
"Where are you going?" Harley sat up, pulling her dress back over her shoulders.
"That was the Commissioner. There was a nine-one-one call from the circus tonight," he said, opening the door and walking out. Harley followed him to the basement, where he kept his Nightwing supplies, and he pulled his suit on. "The Joker is there."
"Don't go," Harley begged, wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"Harley I can't just not go," he shook his head, sliding his escrima sticks into their holsters. "Bruce is halfway to God knows where, and Damian and I are the first responders."
"Please don't go," she pleaded with him, walking over and putting a hand on his chest. "Cass, Damian, even Barbara can go, but please don't leave."
"Harley, Bruce put me in charge. They are strictly backup. He expects me to handle things," he turned, stroking her cheek. "It's okay. I'll be fine," he smiled reassuringly.
"I don't want you to go. I don't want to be alone worrying again. Not tonight." She shook her head, looking down. Everything was so… happy.
"I'll be back before you know it," he kissed her head gently, walking back up the basement stairs. The dogs whimpered by the door, and he scratched Wally's head.
"I just…" Harley had followed him back up and was leaning against the doorframe. "I don't think you'll be in control if you see him," she decided as a course of reasoning. He took a deep breath.
"I'll be fine. I've got a handle on things," he bit his lip. "Please don't worry too much, and get some sleep. I'll be there when you wake up," he promised, smiling a little.
"I'm not going to sleep," she warned, crossing her arms.
"Don't be unreasonable," Nightwing sighed. "The baby is due soon, and you need your rest."
"So do you," she countered. "I'll just stay up as long as you do."
"Harley," he sighed, growing exasperated. "I have to go. I'll be fine. You'll be fine. If you need me, you know how to reach me," he shook his head, and then kissed her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too." Harley pursed her lips. "And if the offer to reach you is standing, why don't I just be your Batcave responder?"
"We don't need one," he insisted. "And I want you here, the dogs have been in the house all day alone since six in the morning."
"Or do you just not want me on the line when you face the Joker again?"
"That's ridiculous, Harley," Nightwing said in frustration, his hand on the door handle.
"Is it? Then tell me why it's ridiculous?" she demanded. "Because last time I was on the comm with you while you faced him, you turned it off?" She started ticking off on her fingers. "Because every time you face him, you lose control and try to kill him? Is it because you're afraid I'll go back to him again? Or do you want to have another secret conversation with him?"
"Hey, I am trying to handle this as best as I can!" Nightwing defended, releasing the doorknob. "I've figured myself out since then. I have my priorities straight."
"Do you? This is the first night Batman has left the city, don't you think Joker might be using that to his advantage?" she pressed. "The circus is a place you love, and he knows that. You shouldn't just run into it blind."
"I am smarter than 'running in blind,'" he snapped, clearly offended. "And whether or not it's just because Batman is gone doesn't matter. If I don't go, he could potentially hurt people. People I know and love," Nightwing looked at her pointedly. "I have to go."
"You don't 'have to go'," Harley insisted. "You have to be Nightwing. The cops in this city aren't completely useless; they did a number on me a time or two, and they have a massive head start on you. Gordon can take care of this. You just want to be the one to handle it; you won't trust anyone else to do it." She sighed. "Sometimes you're just like Bruce."
"You were the Joker's shadow for two years. You know what he is capable of. The police in this city are good, but he will destroy them," he watched her, crossing his arms.
"I do know what he's capable of, and that is why I don't want you to go."
"It's not your decision!" he cried, dropping his hands by his sides. "And I don't have time for this." Nightwing pressed his lips together and gave her one last look before turning to the door again.
"You don't have time for this?" Harley repeated. "You don't have time to work this out with your fiancee?" She put her hands on her hips. "What about when the baby's born? Is it still just your decision to run away and leave me here with her?"
"That is different, Harley! And you know it! Batman isn't here, we could possibly apprehend the Joker tonight, and if that is a possibility, I have to try!" He hesitated by the door.
"But you won't try to listen to me," her voice was softer, "or end… whatever it is with Barbara, or try to work this out with me. No, Batman is always more important."
"Maybe it is. This is a lot bigger than you and me," he said, suppressing the urge to shout. Nightwing bit his lip, gripping the door handle tight. "And don't think I missed that Barbara comment, we'll be talking about that later." Harley rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to make you understand- this isn't about Batman, this is about doing what's right. I have the means and the knowledge to do what the police can't, and what kind of a person would I be if I didn't help!? When the baby is born, I… Harley, I have every intention of dropping Nightwing altogether. I'll be done, but we have to finish this."
"So you have every intention of doing what's right- what you have to- right now, but as soon as Haly is born, that won't matter?" She shook her head. "What's the difference?"
"The difference is that Batman isn't here," he snapped. "When Haly comes, he'll be able to handle everything. If not him, then Damian. The kid has every intention of taking up the cowl, and believe me, I don't want him to. I want to be the one to take the burden off of my brothers, that's who I was supposed to be, but then you happened! How could I do that to you?! Be Nightwing until I was killed or so seriously injured that I'd never be able to fight again- I was content in going out like that, until I had you to worry about. I can't do that anymore!" Harley ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head.
"That's… that's bullshit. Complete bullshit. You're just going to give up who you are at the drop of a hat? We're going to be the perfect little working family- I guess I'll have to be a stay at home mom- and what? Just forget who we were? Everything? Watch bad things in the news and think 'I'm glad Bruce has that covered'?"
"What do you expect me to do!?" he shouted, surprising her. "Every word out of your mouth is contradictory to anything I have to say, I could say exactly what you want me to, and you'd still find a way to argue it!"
"I'm not-" Harley cut off glaring at him. She lowered her voice. "I'm not trying to be contradictory, I'm just trying to show that you aren't thinking this through. I'm not saying give up Nightwing, or the cowl, or whatever it is you want. But Nightwing isn't your whole life. And that is not encouragement to worry excessively about me," she warned. "I'm fine with you being Nightwing, but not all the time. You can't just run off like you used to, every night, no backup, not a care in the world. Because I do care."
"I know," he rubbed his face. "I know you care, Harley, but you don't understand how little room there is for compromise here."
"Of course there is," she snapped. "I thought we'd already agreed not to let the Joker ruin our lives. That's what this is about, isn't it? You needing to stop the Joker?"
"Of course it is!" he shouted again. "That's what this is always going to be about, because as long as he is out there, I will never, ever be able to ignore it! How you sleep at night, I'll never know. Knowing that he's out there? He knows where we live, he knows who we are- Do you want to raise Haly into that?!"
"Well I don't want to raise her in this fear of him!" she shouted back. "What makes you think tonight is going to be any different? He always has a plan, and you're not Batman. You're not the one he wants to catch him. You're just going to come home, and start this panicked cycle all over again."
"You're right! I'm not Batman! I'm nothing like him, even though I wish I was sometimes- and maybe that's what will be different! Maybe I can do what Batman can't! Maybe I can stop him!"
"And what if you can't?" she demanded. "Are you going to come home, not sleep, and lie to me about it? I can't keep doing this over and over."
"I don't know what to tell you. I'm getting incredibly tired of Batman- and you- constantly tearing me in different directions- one of these days the rope is going to snap, and I'm going to fall right through the net and hit center ring. I don't know what you're expecting me to do, Harley," he said furiously, running his hands through his hair.
"I want you to be happy," Harley cried. "Not this. Not this constant state of worry. This doesn't make me feel loved or safe, this makes me feel scared and sad. You're running yourself into the ground, and I hate watching it happen."
"See, you want me to be happy, and you want me to be me. I've been like this for as long as I can remember, Harley! I have to act like I know what I'm doing. I have to be happy- for Bruce, for Jason, Tim, Damian, Cassandra, Alfred, and you. Everyone expects me to be happy but the truth is- I am just as fucked up as you all are! But I have to be happy, and I'm not allowed to be broken! This is the real me, Harley, whether you like it or not. I worry and I'm terrified and I hate being that way, so I pretend I'm not. This is what I'm really like, sorry to pop your perfect idea." He wrenched the door open, snowflakes drifting in on the cold breeze.
"I don't-" Harley cut off. "I don't want you to be something you're not, but you can't worry all the time. It's going to break you; it's going to break me." She crossed her arms, hunching from the cold. "I understand that all of us are fucked up; I get it. I don't have any 'perfect ideas' about myself. But stop killing yourself over this. I can't live with that. It hurts too much to see that you'd rather go out and suffer, than be here. If that's what you want to do, then this was a mistake." Nightwing's jaw tightened. He stood up straighter, and then pressed his comm into his ear, leaving it off; he watched her through the lenses of his mask.
"If that's what you really believe about me, than maybe it was. Maybe we were a mistake," he said furiously. His words had clearly hurt her, and hers had been a knife in his back, but he didn't care. Not anymore. Without another word, he turned and slammed the door behind him. Harley slammed her fist against the door behind him. She bent her head, already crying. She stood like that for a moment before mechanically locking the door. The dogs ran up, sniffing her heels as she walked up the stairs, pushing the lace back up on her shoulders and wiping her eyes. She made it up to the bedroom and heard the dogs whimper a little as she shut them out; she leaned her back against the door, her shoulders slumping.
"We were a mistake," she repeated quietly to herself, thinking how much it sounded like 'I loved you'.