In Love With A Good Man

Chapter 26: New Things

"This is the new place? Oh, I love it! It's so peaceful and quiet – like a little farm!" Harley said with a giggle, excitedly getting out of Casey's car, "I'll get Red's stuff if you can get the gift basket." She said, hurrying to the trunk to grab a bag of things that Ivy had left behind.

Casey got out of the car and opened up the back seat, pulling out a gift basket with sweets and soaps that Harley had bought as a house-warming gift for Ivy. His hands gripped the handle of the basket nervously, while Harley boisterously made her way to Ivy's hideout ahead of him.

He still hadn't told her about Ivy's kiss. The fact that it made him nervous to tell her seemed like reason enough to be guilty, right? She was Harley's best friend after all, and while he didn't do anything wrong, how would it affect their friendship?

"Hey, love!" Harley greeted Ivy enthusiastically as they went inside. She ran up to Ivy and threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly. Ivy chuckled and returned the hug, "I love the new place! It's so you." She complimented.

"Thank you. My babies chose well," Ivy smiled. "What's that you have for me?" She asked, pointing to the bag in Harley's hand.

"Oh, just some stuff ya left at the house. Here ya go." Harley handed it to her.

"Really? How unlike me. Well thank you," She took it before noticing Casey coming in with the gift basket. "I don't remember leaving that at the house." She said humorously.

"Yeah, haha, Harley wanted to get you a little house-warming gift basket...from both of us." He said.

"Well thank you. You can just set it down on that table right there." Ivy pointed to a table next to him.

"Okay," Casey set the basket down on the table. As he did, one of Ivy's 'babies' snapped its teeth at him and hissed, causing him to step back defensively with his hands up. He nearly backed into a few more planted in a garden behind them, and they snarled at him.

"Whoa whoa, hey...Red? Help?!" He said nervously.

"Hey! Down!" She quickly called them off, "Be nice to Casey. He's a friend." She smiled sideways at him before resuming her conversation with Harley about her new home.

At Ivy's word, the plants no longer showed any hostile aggression towards Casey. He swallowed nervously, turning towards the one by the table. It lowered its head suspiciously, sensing his eyes on it. He leaned a little closer to study it.

"...hey there, little...piranha plant." He said in a quiet voice.

The plant perked its head up a little, tilting its head curiously before chirping a little. Casey chuckled softly and moved in closer, bringing his fingers closer. It flinched back defensively.

"It's alright. Here." He brought his hand in closer.

The plant leaned towards his hand, rubbing its head against it. Casey pet its head, and it licked his hand before becoming a lot more excited and cheerful.

"Ha, just like a dog." He said, petting it with both hands now then holding its head in his hands. He played with it a little longer before taking a step back.

Hearing more chirping behind him, Casey turned around and noticed that Ivy's other babies in the garden were now interested in him, likely wanting the same loving treatment. Casey made his way over to them, and they all began to lean in closer.

Casey reached out and began to pet them one by one, rubbing and caressing their heads. It was like running his hands on living leaves. The more he touched them, the more they appreciated his touch. He didn't even notice that one of them was snaking a vine around his torso.

"...and it'll give me privacy to continue my work. I can't afford another run-in with any villains, or for that matter, Batman and Ro-hey! No!" Ivy shouted, noticing what was happening.

"Whoa!" Casey yelped as he was suddenly pulled into the garden of plants. Immediately, Harley and Ivy ran to help him.

"Baby!" Harley shouted, getting there first. She was ready to start swatting the plants away, but when she saw him then she stopped.

"I told you not to...oh." Ivy stopped too.

They realized that the plants weren't attacking him, they were embracing him. They had him on the floor of the garden, wrapping themselves around him as they nuzzled up against him and licked him. Casey, even though he was freaking out, couldn't help but laugh.

"Wow, these guys are friendly! They did a 180 real quick!" He laughed more, reaching out and petting them wherever he could reach them.

"Aww, they're lovin' on him!" Harley giggled, pulling her phone out and taking a picture.

"I've never seen them do that before." Ivy said, stroking her chin thoughtfully before smiling to herself...

"Bye, hun! I'll be back soon!" Harley waved to Ivy as she and Casey left. Ivy stood at the door and waved to them.

"See you soon, love. Take care, you two!" Ivy waved back. Casey waved to her as well before they both got into his car. Harley sighed happily as she sat down in the passenger seat.

"Ah, that was so nice! I love the new place! I'm glad she's got a new place to hang her hat." She said, getting comfortable.

"Yeah, it's really nice." He agreed.

"And now Ivy's babies love ya too! They were all over you, baby. I was almost jealous," She joked and laughed. "I got a picture, you wanna see?" She offered.

"Ugh, maybe later," Casey chuckled before his smile faded. "Babe, there's something I need to tell you." He said as he started driving home.

"Okay? Is something wrong?" Harley asked, picking up on his serious tone right away. She turned in her seat to face him, resting her forearms on the middle compartment between their seats.

"Well...okay, so last night when I was taking Ivy here with her stuff, we started talking a little and...she gave me this kiss on the cheek." He nervously revealed. Harley's eyes widened at this.

"She did?!"

"Yeah...it kinda caught me off guard. I wasn't sure what to make of it. It felt really...I'm not sure what was behind it." He said slowly, shaking his head.

"I see...that's great, baby!" Harley exclaimed enthusiastically. Casey's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. This reaction was the exact opposite of what he was expecting.

"What?"

"That means she trusts you. And you're not dead, so that means she likes ya!" Harley chuckled.

"You're not...upset?" He asked slowly.

"Nahh. That's just how Red is, babe. She's always been like a sweetheart like that. You're lucky! She doesn't warm up to just anyone like that. Hell, it took her forever to warm up to me. And with you being a guy, you must've really won her over." Harley pointed out.

"Huh...I thought you'd be mad." He admitted honestly with a surprised chuckle.

"Why? Did you do something?" She asked curiously.

"No, I didn't!" He said quickly, "I was just so surprised by it! I've never had that happen to me before so I didn't know what to do." He explained rapidly.

"Aww, babe. You're not used to affection, are ya? It's okay! I've got plenty to give ya! C'mere!" Harley reached over and put a hand on Casey's face, pulling him towards her and planting a kiss on his cheek, "Mmmwah!"

"Heh, thanks, babe." Casey blushed.

"You're welcome, doll. I love you." She smiled.

"I love you too."

It felt weird, receiving two kisses on the cheek one day after the other from two different women. Now he was feeling that same tingling sensation as before. But if Harley didn't have a problem with it then perhaps he had no reason to either.

Still, he couldn't help but find it weird just how okay with it she was. Harley must really trust both him and her not to feel some kind of way about it. He knew for a fact that if one of his friends did something like that to her, he would not react the same way...

"Well, I don't have any other plans today. What do you wanna do?" Casey asked as the two of them walked into their house. Harley hummed in thought as she locked the door.

"Hmm, I dunno. Why don't we have a nice dinner tonight? Little date night? Hmmm?" She suggested with a smile, looking back at him.

"I'm good with that. Still doesn't decide what to do now though." He pointed out with a chuckle, sitting down on his living room couch.

"I'm good just lazing around!" Harley said, hurrying over and laying on the couch next to him. She rested her head on his chest and relaxed. Casey chuckled and shifted how he was sitting so she would be more comfortable.

"I could use a lazy day." He said, rubbing her arm and shoulder soothingly. She smiled and closed her eyes, resting against him.

"You know what I've been thinking?" Harley asked.

"What have you been thinking, babe?"

"I really like how things have been going between us. Don't you?"

"I do," Casey nodded. "It's been really good. I was telling Ivy the other day, I think things just work between us. You know?"

"Totally. And after talking to Red today, I'm realizing that I don't have to worry about the crime or the Bat-brain anymore. So I'm gonna retire." She decided.

"Retire? You mean like...no more Harley Quinn?"

"I think so...kinda makes me nervous." She admitted, turning onto her back to look up at him.

"Why?"

"I dunno. It's been who I am for so long. It's the perfect time to let it go...but then what happens after?" She proposed the hypothetical question that had been weighing on her.

"We'll figure it out together. I mean, we don't have anything as exciting going on here in the normal world, but I am completely okay with that if you are." He said with a chuckle.

"Heheh, we'll just have to make our own excitement." Harley said, sitting up and giving him a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled after the kiss.

"Sounds good to me. I guess I can't call you Harley anymore, huh? You're reverting back to Harlene now." Casey said with a chuckle.

"Oh no, baby, please keep calling me Harley."

"Harlene Quinzel, right?" Casey recalled.

"I'm just retiring the crime, baby, the name is still mine." She giggled.

"Harlene-Davidson? Quinzel Washington?" He joked.

"Baby," Harley put her hands on his cheeks. "You're adorable. Please shut up." She teased.

The two of them started laughing before kissing again...