2
3 YEARS LATER...
Renee checked her watch and her eyes widened a little.
Her partner caught her panicked look and he smirked.
"Late again?"
She nodded, grabbed all the files she could carry and headed for the door.
"Ivy's making dinner."
"And she hates you being late because...?"
"Well her last girlfriend always kept her waiting and I just-I dunno, I don't wanna do that to her."
Her partner mock pouted at her and she glared at him but then couldn't help grinning; she knew he meant no harm by it.
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
He nodded and gave her a salute before she bolted out the door and down to the car park.
She couldn't be late, not again.
Ivy set the plates down and smiled to herself as she glanced at the clock.
Within five minutes, she heard the key in the lock and Renee ran into the living room, pecking Ivy on the cheek as she reached her.
"Sorry I'm late babe."
Ivy gave her a soft smile.
"You're not and please Renee, don't worry so much about that. I know how important your work is to you."
Renee gave her a look.
"I just don't wanna be like...her."
Ivy took Renee's chin gently and tilted it up to meet her green eyes.
"You are nothing like her. When you're late, I know it's due to work. It's not like you're out fucking Joker."
Renee wrinkled her nose disgust.
"Ugh no, no way."
Ivy chuckled lightly and they both sat down to dinner.
"How's the lab work going?" Renee asked as she skewered a piece of pasta.
Ivy nodded.
"Good, good. I think we're making real progress."
"That's great honey, I'm so proud of you. I have to ask though; this thing you're working on, will it affect the citizens of Gotham?"
Ivy smirked at her.
"Define 'affect'."
Renee grinned. She knew when Ivy was teasing her but then Ivy had been a villain for years and that must be a hard habit to break, especially when she had been dating the clown bitch of Gotham, that blonde psycho must have been cheering her on every time Ivy came up with a new diabolical plan.
"I know you're playing but seriously, the people of Gotham-"
"Safe as houses." Ivy assured her.
Renee couldn't help but feel the relief ease her tense muscles.
A comfortable silence descended over them and they both ate without saying a word until they'd finished the meal.
Renee sat back, wiping her mouth on a napkin and let out a breath.
"That was amazing babe."
Ivy smiled.
"Thank you."
Renee lent forward and let the candle light shine in her brown eyes.
"So I was thinking..."
Ivy bit back a grin. She knew exactly what Renee was thinking.
She stood and came around to Renee's side of the table, letting her fingers trace the edge of the collar of the white shirt the detective wore.
"What were you thinking?" Ivy whispered.
Renee swallowed. The red head wasn't even touching her and yet her pulse was racing like she'd just ran a marathon.
"Maybe we should..."
"Yes?" Ivy urged breathily.
Renee licked her lips.
"I love you Ivy."
"I love you too Renee but why can't you just say 'let's have sex'? "
Renee chuckled and blushed at Ivy's straight forwardness.
"Do you wanna?"
Ivy nodded enthusiastically.
"I really do."
"Ok cool." Renee said as she stood, grabbed Ivy's hand and dragged her to their bedroom.
The old man hadn't been expecting such a quick death or any death at all for that matter. Not on the night when he enjoyed sitting down with his tv dinner and watching an episode of jeopardy.
Harley glanced at the man's glassy eyes as his head tilted back in his chair, his throat slashed and his blue shirt now stained with his own blood.
"I'm sorry to burst in on ya like this pal but your place is directly across the street from my ex and it's the only way I can get a look in on what they're up to, ya know?"
Harley waved him away when the dead man didn't answer and looked in on Ivy and Renee.
Harley made a noise in the back of her throat as she watched them.
"Ugh, makes me sick."
Maybe stop watching them then. The rational part of her brain suggested.
"Nah I wanna watch. I wanna see how long it takes Red to realise she's not into boring, vanilla sex."
How is this helping exactly? Ivy dumped you. Get over it. She's not coming back to you and you still see Joker which was the problem.
"I'll stop."
We both know you won't. You don't have it in you to break his hold.
"What do you know?" Harley growled.
Well I'm you so...quite a lot.
Harley rolled her eyes and then turned away from the window. Watching her ex girlfriend have sex with her new girlfriend was perverted even by Harley's standards.
She looked at the dead man.
"Did you watch her? When she was alone in that apartment? Or did you watch them like I am?"
Harley sighed.
"I want her back."
Good luck with that. The voice said and Harley heard the smirk in her voice.
"Maybe if I show her what it was like when we were together-"
Wouldn't make a difference.
"Why wouldn't it?!" Harley screamed.
the voice went quiet and Harley waited.
Because she's in love with Renee. You are her past."
"Fuck you! I'm not her past!"
She's done with you Harley. Renee has shown her what's it's like to be in a healthy relationship. You could never do that for her.
Harley rolled her eyes.
"What? so I gotta be all romantic with the grand gestures and the sweet words?"
No. No, that's not what I meant at all-
"That's brilliant!"
No it's-
"That's what I'll do! I'll be all nice and romantic and Ivy will want me back then!"
She won't. This won't wor-"
"Ok you can shut up now, I got me some planning to do."
Renee laid next to Ivy, one hand propping up her head as she looked down at her girlfriend.
Ivy stirred and opened her eyes, looking up at Renee.
She stretched and smiled.
"What?"
Renee looked all business and Ivy knew the conversation was going to be intense.
"Do you still think about her?"
Ivy frowned.
"Who?"
She knew who but she didn't want to confirm Renee's fears.
"Harley."
"Oh...her. Um, sometimes, I guess."
"Do you miss her?"
Ivy sighed.
"Why are you asking me this?"
"Cause'... I want to know."
Ivy sat up, raking her red hair back.
"What good will talking about Harley do?"
Renee shrugged.
"I think we should be able to talk about our exes without it being weird or tense between us."
"Ok fine. Yes. I do still think about Harley. I was in love with the crazy bitch. Feelings like that, they don't just go away. I mean sure, they fade over time but it takes time...a long time."
Renee nodded in understanding.
Ivy studied her girlfriend's face.
"Don't you think about your exes?"
Renee shook her head.
"No."
"No?" Ivy asked incredulously.
"How come?"
Renee's dark eyes softened as she looked at Ivy.
"Because I wasn't in love with any of them."
Ivy stared at her in shock. That felt...sudden and yet she knew how Renee felt, so why this came as a surprise to the red head, Ivy wasn't sure.
They'd said they loved each other enough times, this should feel no different, so why did it?
"Ivy?" Renee prodded gently.
Ivy smiled at her.
"I'm fine. A little...surprised but it's all good. I'm happy to know that."
Renee could tell that Ivy didn't know how to take that so instead of carrying on with the awkward conversation, Renee pecked her on the cheek and rolled over to try and get some sleep.
Ivy stayed up all night thinking and as much as she hated to admit it, Harley was always at the fore front of her mind.
Author's Note: Uh oh. Trouble in paradise and just what grand gestures exactly is Harley planning?
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