Early this morning
When you knocked upon my door
And I said hello Satan, ah
I believe it is time to go
Me and the devil walkin' side by side
Me and the Devil / Soap&Skin
"Fuck." I breathed through clenched teeth, without thinking, my hand coming up to cover my eyes. "I'm sorry Joan- I- I, well, I need to," I rested my head in my hands, Jack now panicking and rubbing my back in large circles, just a bit too fast to be soothing. I ignored him and focused on my breathing, working to return it to normal. Stop being a pussy.
"It's okay, Harleen, I understand. I do need to go, but I am so glad you're safe." I thanked her and ended the call with a sigh, looking up into very nervous green eyes. And I smirked.
"You look like shit."
"I-" He blinked at me, and his mouth opened and closed twice before he settled on laughter, "Why are you always so mean?"
I shrugged with a tired smile. "Uh, by the way. You may need to leave."
"Oh? Is something wrong?" The concern was back, and I chuckled.
"Oh, yes, but that's not exactly why, I just think you're gonna wanna head to work."
His face grew even more serious. "Something happened at Arkham?"
"Joker escaped. No official death toll yet." My voice was hollow. I was drained. The worst had happened and I was still here. I needed to go to sleep.
"You were treating Joker…" Jack seemed horrified. "We need to-"
"Princess and Baby are here, I will be fine. Please just go." He looked hurt and I groaned. "No, I didn't mean- Jack. I." I took a breath. "I'm sorry, that was rude. I didn't mean it the way it sounded, please allow me to rephrase. 'Jack, I am very tired and still nauseous. I understand your concern, but I have none. I am not going to leave my apartment out of fear of an overrated birthday clown. I would, however, very much like to go to sleep, with my puke bucket without being self-conscious, so I would like to ask you to please end the visit.' Okay? Please stop the puppy-dog eyes, I'm sick, that's mean."
Jack laughed again, kissing my forehead as he stood and exited the bathroom. "I'll call you tomorrow, alright? I know that this Joker thing is gonna be a pain in the ass, but we can minimize it. I can pull some strings." He winked, before heading down the hall. I didn't move an inch until I heard the front door lock behind him, and I stood, pulling out my toothbrush and brushing while I looked in the mirror at the mess in front of me.
My makeup was mussed, eyeliner smudged, and mascara running, and my hair had come out of its gel and stylers, curling in that way that I always hated, uneven and sloppy, I always thought it looked uneven, though Pam would call it 'wild' I didn't see how that was much of a compliment either. I was too tired to do anything about it right now, the idea of even washing my face exhausting me entirely.
And it was at that moment I realized that the cream-colored blouse was hanging open, and Jack had successfully removed my bra without me noticing. I started to chuckle, buttoning it back up as I walked into my bedroom, flanked by Baby and Princess.
The moment I opened the door I knew something was wrong. Both dogs clung to my sides, eyes focused intently on the door, and a low growl started in Baby's throat. I considered slowly closing the door, but my pride prevented that act of cowardice. Instead, I pushed it further open, steeling myself and clenching my jaw to prevent it from trembling.
Green eyes. I couldn't look anywhere else, but I heard his breath hitch. He was sitting on the stool by my bedroom window, but I knew he must have come in through the Balcony. We stared each other down for a moment, before his eyes went to my dogs, pursing his lips and nodding in approval as he did.
"I didn't know mutant pit bulls were available on the market yet." His tongue languidly came out to wet his scars as his eyes flashed back up to mine. He said it entirely too casually, but I decided to follow his lead.
"Special ordered." I nodded. "Very exclusive. But actually, finding someone to do the engraving was the real challenge."
J snorted. "You're very good at improv, anyone ever told you that?"
I shrugged.
"Great quality in a scene partner, someone who is always ready to 'yes, and', when needed." he mused, tilting his head.
It was the first time I had seen him like this. Made-up. The moonlight made the garish grease paint even more striking, shadows stretching and twisting in ways that made the clown look demonic, He wore that same dirty crumpled suit.
My eyebrow hiked. "Mr. J. You've already crossed several boundaries by coming here tonight, I would ask that you refrain from breaking another by being inappropriate." My voice is cool and measured, and J's face is incredulous.
"I don't think you're in any position to start making demands, Doc." He said in a tone that questioned my sanity.
"Mr. J. Let me be clear. These two dogs? Are trained attack dogs. They will not stop until I call them off, or you are dead." J opened his mouth, but I continued before he could, "Perhaps you have a gun and can dispose of them quickly." Please don't have a gun. "I would ask you how quickly you think you can do that, J? Can you do it fast enough to shoot me as well, and before I reach any one of the hidden firearms in this room?" I lied through my teeth.
His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked frozen, before he fell into peals of laughter, which very much rubbed me the wrong way, but I made no moves. "You know, you look like a soft little… Bunny. But you're a fuckin' pirana. Alright, I'm sorry, Harley,-"
"Dr. Quinzel."
"Dr. Quinzel," he repeated in a mocking tone, "I wanted to apologize for breaking the twenty-four-hour cancellation policy, but when I realized I was gonna miss Halloween… well I just couldn't do that." He said, as though it were obvious.
"And the people you killed? Collateral damage?"
"Uh- No." He laughed. "I just… Missed it. One little Doctor isn't enough to vent my kind of frustration. Though I think Dashing, Dear, Dr. Phillips was the only thing that kept me from going feral in that fucking kennel." He paused, looking back at me. "Overrated birthday clown?" His hand came up to rest on his chest, over his heart. "Words hurt, Doc. Who was that loser, anyway?"
"My house guests are unimportant, J. I apologize for my statement. It was unnecessarily cruel, I can assure you that isn't my opinion of you."
J cocked his head. "Not my business? You're my doctor, I think that makes it my business who you fraternize with,"
"Mr. J, the interesting thing is…" I started slowly, "Me being your doctor is exactly why it isn't your business. This behavior is supremely inappropriate and I don't appreciate it."
"Fine, Doc," J rolled his eyes, "Gotta do everything myself." He muttered, shaking his head.
"Mr. J," I warned.
"Kidding, of course, Dr. Quinzel." His tone was amused but almost resigned, like a parent acquiescing to a child. "I like the look." I rolled my eyes.
"Mr. J," I repeated. My tone was tired, but firm.
"Alright, alright." He stood, and took a half step forward, causing Princess to let out a snarl by my side. Js head cocked.
"Uh-oh" He grinned. "Looks like you're between me and my way out." Fuck.
"Princess, Baby, așteaptă." I said firmly and tried to use willpower alone to force the blood back down from my cheeks when J began cackling.
"Princess? And Baby?" He asked when he could breathe again. "Two of the biggest, meanest looking motherfuckers I've ever seen, and you named them like cocker spaniels, fuck, that's good." He mimed wiping a tear.
"Shut up. I've given them a command, they won't attack unless you touch me."
"What if I want to touch you?"
"Be prepared to lose a limb, and possibly your life."
He watched me for a long moment, head tilting.
"Could be worth it?"
"I guarantee you it isn't."
"Don't be so hard on yourself Doc, I'm sure it's not that bad," He snickered, but stopped after studying my face again. "Alright, alright. I'm going." He seemed annoyed at my insistence. He walked closer, this time not flinching at the growls from Baby or Princess until he stood right in front of me, where he paused, looking down at me, the size difference between us gargantuan and disorienting.
"You're so short," J laughed, "I didn't realize."
I was short, so I was used to looking up at people when I wasn't wearing heels… but this was different. Looking directly forward I could make eye contact with his Sternum. But it wasn't just his size, there was something else, something imposing and threatening about him that intensified the feeling, I hadn't felt so small in a long time and I trembled at the memory, looking up at him with angry eyes, suddenly defensive again. In that moment I hated him so much that it nearly blinded me. He seemed shocked at the change, though his face didn't change, I swear his head tilted just the barest of a degree.
"Goodnight, Doc," He said quietly, in a tone I couldn't decipher, only infuriating me more.
But with that he was gone, slipped past me into the hallway with silent footsteps, leaving me all alone in that dark bedroom, with nothing but unpleasant memories to keep me company.
Two weeks went by and I felt like I didn't have time to blink. The days went the same. Wake up, check the news for updates on The Joker, who was quite the busy man himself, damn him. Then, I would have my cigarette breakfast and a mug of coffee or gin, depending on whether the next step was to go to Arkham, or more likely, to Gotham City News. Somewhere I had been making guest appearances regularly, talking opposite of Jack, who never failed to make me look good, better than usual, I mean. Of course, his high opinion of me had not gone unnoticed, many at GCN commented privately, and his co-host went as far as to joke on air, about what a 'cute couple' we made.
But, then, all they knew was that we had gone on a date and now he speaks highly of me. Regardless, I was silently pleased with the development, getting the respectability without the commitment.
Not for long… I squashed the thought. I had enough going on without an existential crisis on our hands.
After that, I come home, usually around 11, and fall into bed. I hadn't had a day off since Joker had escaped, killing a large majority of both inmates and staff in the process, until today.
"I fuckin' needed this." I giggled, my accent sliding between my teeth against my will. But my head felt like it was full of helium, eyes floating in the warm bath that is my skull. My muscles, for once, blessedly relaxed, tension fled the moment the vapor began doing its job. My head was swimming, and I giggled again, at the thought of what sex would feel like in this state.
"You probably should stop there," Jervis took the small purple pen from me. "If it's your first time you don't want to overdo it."
"Is it dangerous?" I sobered quickly at the thought, but he only snorted.
"Nah, you'll just get really dizzy, and probably throw up. I will warn you, in my experience, it maybe lowered my inhibitions… too much. I won't be playing with this blend again, only for my own sake."
"Whoa now, what do you mean by that?"
Jervis laughed, "Oh please Harley knowing how tightly wound you are, I doubt it will have a tenth of the effect on you. It's most similar to THC, but there are a few other key players to keep things interesting. I wanted to call it GiggleGas, but Pam said that too corny."
"And I'm right. GiggleGas sounds like it would be marketed to 6-year-olds. Greasepaint sounds… scary. Anyway, the fact that you weren't going to give it a clown theme in Gotham City, just proves that you shouldn't be doing your own Marketing." Pam quipped, and I giggled again where I sat, eyes at half-mast as I relaxed on my couch.
"God, I get why you do this so often now, Pam."
"You make me sound like a drug addict," She scoffed. "I just like to have a good time."
"Yeah," I giggled again, pulling my knees up to my chest, and Pam laughed.
"God, are you even gonna be okay to go to the Iceberg tonight? You're already completely faded."
I pointed at her in warning, "Try to go without me, see what happens, Missy."
"Missy?" Her voice had raised an octave.
I giggled again, swiping the pen from Jervis. "This stuff is great."
"Harley-"
"I'll be careful!" I insisted, "I can control myself."
"Somehow I doubt that." Jervis rolled his eyes.
I turned my focus back to the mirror in my hand, studying my eyeliner, deciding if the left eye was crooked, or if I had been looking at my face too long. "Pam is my-"
"Harley the eyeliner looks fine. Just like it did the last time you asked," She sighed, and I flipped her off.
I rolled my eyes, glancing back at the mirror, the black shimmer on my lids transfixing me for a moment. Looking in the mirror feeling giggly and light, I started to feel grumbly. I knew the white dress I had borrowed from Jervis would not look right on me. I knew that going with white would be disastrous. I found myself quite irked with my past self for not taking the costume seriously. What choice do I have now…..
"Jervis!" I turned suddenly, causing him to jump, knocking his top hat off balance.
"Yes?" he said, seemingly concerned by my energy.
"Do you have anything you can make Horns with?"
His eyebrows came together at the speed of sound.
"Horns?"
"Like- you know! Horns! Like a Demon!" I floundered, shrugging.
His eyes lit up and he chuckled, before reaching into the duffle full of accessories, make-up, and basic supplies, "No, but I do have a headband with horns on it." He chuckled. "Made it for an old friend from home who goes crazy for fantasy games, a Tiefling I think she said it was called? Anyway, she gave it back after the convention, because she was worried it would be damaged on the flight home. Ah- there." he lifted it from the box, a basic black headband, with what looked like high shine, black latex for the horns, which were only slightly taller than normal and curved out daintily, after their initial curve towards each other.
"Perfect!" I beamed at him, standing quickly, grabbing the couch arm for balance, leading to another small fit of giggles, before dashing clumsily to my bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Pam laughed.
"Just a minute!" I cried, swinging open my closet door quickly, and grabbing the dress before dashing back to my friends. Jervis stood where he had, behind my couch, still holding the headband, but now recognizing the white garment bag in my hand.
"Feeling brave, Dr. Quinzel?" He said with a smile.
"I mean, it is Halloween, right?" I giggled. "It's just a costume!"
"I love it!" Jervis said, before tilting his head and looking at me, really looking for a moment, before turning to the bag, and pulling out a long strip of lace, and a similarly shaped length of what looked like velvet, before holding both up next to my face and deliberating. "What lipstick will you be wearing? Actually, don't answer, wear the Tom Ford one I gave you for Christmas, It always plays so nicely with your eyes, and I think the red would match the dress so well. And your…" he considered. "You'll want to dance. You should wear flats."
"I'm too short for flats," I rolled my eyes. "I can dance in heels."
"You can, but it won't be as fun. I brought an extra pair of ballet flats. I don't want you curling an ankle before we even get there." Pam said, chucking the soft shoes at me, and her hand raised to silence me when I opened my mouth in protest. "I don't wanna hear it, Harley. You're all off balance. Besides. It's the Iceberg. What is the worst that could happen?"
"You called him?" I hissed between my teeth, eyes narrowing at Pam, when I saw none other than Jack fucking Ryder waiting by Jervis' Ford Explorer, beside Eddie.
Her eyes were wide, and she seemed genuinely shocked by my angry reaction. I took a deep breath, internally cursing the way that the Greasepaint was making it harder to hold my tongue. "No!" She said quickly, before tilting her head guiltily, "He called me. And maybe I told him that our friends were all going to the Iceberg tonight, and that… Maybe he could get a ride with us."
I sighed deeply. "Fuck."
"I'm sorry, I thought you liked him, I didn't-"
"It's okay. Pam. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. I just." I sighed again. "I was really hoping it would just be us tonight. I just wanted-" I stopped. I wanted a night away from being Harleen Quinzel and you've just ruined that. "I just wanted to spend some time with my friends is all." I pulled the corners of my lips up like the corners of a sheet to fold, holding them taut, high on my cheeks on either side of my face. It felt like repositioning a corpse. "I'm being ridiculous. Let's just go." I laughed, and pushed open the door, walking out of the foyer of my apartment building without giving her time to answer.
"Eddie, why aren't you wearing a costume?" I said to the only person not dressed out, to which he rolled his eyes and pointed to his shirt with a smug grin.
"I am." He said with a smile. Looking closer I saw the word 'Ale' had been embossed on his shirt. "Get it? Cause ginger-"
"That isn't a costume… it's a witty t-shirt!" I laughed.
"Well, Oswald said it counted."
"Ozzy would let you come to the Iceberg in your pajamas," I laughed, rolling my eyes, but Eddie just shrugged, knowing I was right.
Bracing myself, I ensured the thumbtacks holding my smile up were firmly planted before turning to Jack, ready to compliment his vampire costume. Only to have to press my lips together to hold back a laugh. The poor man looked as though all the blood in his body had congregated in his face, from the roots of his hair, down the column of his throat was all the same shade of pink, and his eyes were as wide as saucers. Whatever the hell that is.
"You okay, Jack?" I questioned, my voice trembling slightly at the effort not to laugh.
"Yep." His voice was squeaky when he answered, then he cleared his throat. "I like the dress."
"Thanks," Jervis said, brushing past him, and opening the driver's side door, before turning around to smile, "Get in the car or don't but the booze is calling me, I'm leaving." Before jumping into the car and starting it. We barely all had time to climb in after him before he screeched out of the parking lot.
"Jesus, Jervis," I muttered from behind him, moving forward to rest my forearms and chin on his seat. "Are we being tailed or something?"
"No, why?"
"Maybe stop with the Fast and Furious roleplay then? Or I'll barf."
He snorted. "Fine, but only because it's you."
The lights pulsed and swirled through the Iceberg on soft puffs of vapor wisping from smoke machines hidden in the club. I couldn't tear my eyes off them, leaning on Jack's shoulder, and sipping the too-sweet drink he had ordered upon arrival. He had been speaking to what seemed like every single person to enter the club, knowing them somehow. It was intensely irritating.
I looked up at him through my darkened lashes, knowing my mouth had sunken into a pout but unable to control it at this time. He didn't seem to notice, the alcohol turning his friendly-boy-next-door personality up to eleven, the only visible sign of his liquid courage was the slight pink flush to his cheeks. Everyone at the table seemed to be having a wonderful time, but I wanted to be anywhere but here. Looking out at the people dancing, I wondered what it felt like, to be allowed to do what you wanted all the time. Suddenly, Jack's arm felt like a chain, placed around me like a Homecoming Sash for the Queen of Hell.
I shrugged him off quickly, standing. His eyes flashed up to mine, questioning, but not concerned, still smiling.
"I'm gonna go dance," I said with what I hoped was a reassuring face.
"Oh," He said, seeming disappointed, and standing.
"No, no!" I said quickly, shocking him slightly, "It's okay, you're having so much fun, I'm just feeling restless."
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" he asked, concerned, and I laughed.
"I'm a big girl, Jack," I tossed over my shoulder as I slipped into the crowd, and hopefully away from watchful eyes. I slipped between the bodies around me, feeling more at home in the masses than I had in months. The beat of the music slid down my neck and through my torso, moving me more than I moved myself. I relaxed into the feeling, the exertion, and the way it finished the neon green smoke job in clearing my mind, leaving nothing but my body, moving and experiencing. Feeling for the first time in so long it would have brought tears to my eyes if I weren't fully enveloped in the rhythm of the night, wrapping around me as much as the smoke swirling up my body and into my mouth, flirting across my tongue like a shy prom date.
Suddenly hands rested low on my hips, drawing my back to a terribly warm body. I shivered when my back made contact with his chest, prompting a rumbling chuckle in the man's chest. I glanced up at him, wondering in a moment of sobering irritation of Jack had ignored my request. But instead, I found a very tall man wearing a black T-shirt and a Ghost-face mask, and I blushed, before turning away from him, and half-heartedly attempting to take a small step away, but I don't believe the man even noticed, either that or he didn't care, and as the heat radiating off him continued to sink into my long-frozen bones, I found that I didn't care either.
I felt him lean down, to whisper to me, not wanting to shout over the music and people surrounding us, "I hope you don't mind," His voice was low and soothing, and I relaxed slightly in his, rather firm, grip shaking my head. Something about the voice was terribly familiar, but my body and mind were so relaxed it didn't bother me. "But when I saw you dancing, well, I couldn't let a girl as pretty as you dance alone, could I?" His thumbs pressed even further into my hips, nearly to the point of pain, massaging slow circles, and I leaned back into him, earning a low murmur of approval as he continued.
"What's a girl like you doing with a guy like that, anyway?" He asked in a tone that made me smile, something I would only realize later was on purpose.
"I ain't with nobody," I laughed quietly, accent slipping out and wrapping the word up.
"No?"
"Nah, I don't really date."
"Why?"
"I'm bad at it."
"Oh? Bad experience?"
"Nothin' to worry about anymore," I sing-songed, before letting my head fall back to look at him with a giggle.
"Does he know that you don't date?" God, I do not want to do this right now. I rolled my eyes, and pushed away from him, attempting to make a step in earnest this time, but getting the same result as the first time.
"Hey, hey, come on, I'll drop it." He said, pulling me back, his quiet laugh above my earshot through my body like electricity and was so incredibly familiar once again, but I couldn't place it, only knowing I didn't want him to stop. "Give a guy a warning before leaving at least, it's just not fair otherwise. I mean, how is a man meant to know what to say when he meets the woman of his dreams?" He said teasingly.
"You're so full of shit!" I giggled up at him.
"May I cut in?" Jack stood directly in front of us, and I sobered quickly, taking in his carefully curated friendly expression, paired with eyes that seemed both flat and friendly, and somehow still, I could tell he was seething.
"Uh- No." The man spoke louder, to Jack, before turning his back as though the conversation was over.
"Hey, what's your problem, man?" Jack asked the taller man, friendly mask dropping.
"I don't have a problem. Do you?" The masked man said, and I suddenly felt nauseous. I slid my hands down, pulling his hands off my hips, a shock running up my arms, followed by a slow burn when I touched his skin and stepped away.
"Are you kidding, Harley? You're really gonna let this loser boss you around?" the man said in a disappointed tone.
"Nobodies bossin' me around," I said with a glare that I was sure wasn't very intimidating in my current state. "I don't want any trouble with no one, I'm just here to dance."
"And that's all we were doing-"
"Lady said no," Jack said suddenly, and with a small smile, that faded considerably when the larger man took two steps to be directly in front of him.
"The fact," His tone was venomous, and deadly, chasing Jack down like a black Mamba. "That you think you can speak to me, is hilarious to me, you know?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, man?" Jack said, and his voice only just broke, but it was enough to hurt his pride, and that was clear to see from the way his eyes flashed to me, and back to the man, his cheeks turning red.
"You, currently." And with that, the man pushed past Jack and disappeared into the crowd.
I looked up at Jack and his hurt and angry expression, suddenly tired and sick of this conversation. All I wanted was to go home.
"Harley-"
"Jack- I really- I," I stopped. "Can we do this later?"
He looked hurt but nodded, and placed his hand on the back of his neck, suddenly looking slightly sheepish.
"I… I think." He took a breath, and suddenly his face dropped again, showing a heavy layer of exhaustion that aged him significantly, no longer the young and successful News Anchor, but a bone-tired man, who had helped me more than anyone in the past two weeks to both protect Arkhams reputation, and my own, as the escapee's Doctor. He sighed. "I think I should go home. I honestly shouldn't have come tonight, but Pam said you wanted me here… I'm guessing that wasn't true, huh?" He smiled at me sadly, and I felt my stomach twist painfully.
"It's not… I don't," I tried, stumbling for words.
"It's okay, Harley. I get it." He nodded and turned, making his way to the edge of the dancefloor before my addled mind could catch up.
"Jack!" I called after him, stepping forward, I grabbed his shoulder, stopping him and turning him back around by the shoulder. Fix this goddamn it. You need him. I grabbed his collar, pulling him down for a kiss. He gasped at the contact, but quickly his hands came up to cup my face, pulling me closer. I prayed my churning stomach would calm, and that his mouth still cold from his dirty martini, and tentacle-like Olive-brine flavored tongue wouldn't be the straw to break the camel's back.
"Harley-"
"I'm sorry, alright?" I said, looking up at him. "I just… I guess I got carried away, I was dancing and then he was there, and he was just making jokes- I honestly wasn't thinking."
Jack studied me for a minute before shrugging and smiling only a tiny bit. "Honestly, I shouldn't have even come over, you've been very clear with me that we aren't together but… well at first I saw you try to step away and I thought I would help… but that guy… he was pretty full of himself, huh?" Jack asked, eyebrows coming together as he laughed.
I chuckled back, eyes widening, "Yeah, I gotta say, that was weird as hell."
"Did you know him?"
I shrugged, shaking my head, "Nah, I don't know what that was about."
Jack laughed again, "Maybe you just attract the crazies, like they smell Arkham on you, or something?"
"Maybe," I shrugged with a tired sigh, still smiling. "But, really, Jack, I am exhausted. I'm gonna get a cab home."
That same worried look showed itself, piquing my irritation again, Stop acting like I'm a goddamn child, I can take care of myself.
"Are you sure? Maybe Jervis can-"
"No, I don't want to bother anyone, please." I looked up at him pleading. "I really just need to go home, please, Jack."
He nodded, eyes widening and his hand coming up to touch my arm reassuringly. "What do you need?"
I forced my smile to stay where it was, preventing it from becoming a grin. Now you're getting it. "Just tell them I went home, I don't want Pam to worry. She's got to leave for Metropolis tomorrow, she doesn't need my shit stressing her out." I explained quickly, and Jack nodded.
"Got it. I'll make it good." He winked and turned back towards the table.
Without his eyes on me, I deflated, turning quickly to disappear through a door marked 'STAFF ONLY'- a door I knew led to a storage area, that also had an exit to street level, into an alley behind the club. Oswald didn't mind when we used the exit, so long as we were discrete. I opened the door, slipping through and into the chilly night, with the Greasepaint vial between my lips, pulling deeply from the small disposable, but quickly turned, coughing, when the door closed behind me, as when the music was muffled by the door I was able to hear the commotion further down the alley.
The man in the mask, from before, was kicking the living shit out of the dumpster. I watched him for a moment, head tilted, as his leg snapped back and forth and a break-neck speed for just a moment longer, before his fist came down on the metal top just as hard, to finish his tantrum.
With the greasepaint kicking back in quickly, I found the entire display quite funny, and giggled to myself, prompting his head to snap in my direction.
Oops.
"What the hell are you doing out here?" He asked coldly.
I shrugged, stepping forward with a smile. "Did you mean what you said in there?"
"About what?"
"About me." Without realizing it, I had crossed the space between us, standing in front of the man, peering up at him.
"Who's to say," He chuckled. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" I pouted, and though I couldn't see his eyes, I could feel the way they went to my mouth.
"Maybe." He repeated and turned.
"I know you, from somewhere," I said, suddenly, voicing the thought I had had since he had spoken.
"I don't think so."
"I never told you my name." I realized.
"Well, you've been on the news enough." The man said and continued walking without so much as pausing.
"Bullshit!" I cried, gripping his shoulder and trying to turn him myself, and it was clear instantly that pure force alone was not going to win this battle, man was a behemoth and I gave up the moment I started, stepping in front of him, blocking his path instead.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." His voice was venomous again.
"Fuck. You." I snarled back, the swirling in my veins making me brave.
"I would, but I have places to be."
"Take off the mask."
"No."
"Take it off."
"Get out of my way."
"Not until you take it off."
"We will be here a while then."
"Fine by me."
"You're a goddamn brat, you know that?" He laughed.
"I could say the same to you." I countered, with a raised eyebrow, considering if I would be able to reach the mask before he jerked away.
"Did we… go to college together?"
"I didn't go to college."
"High school?"
"I told you, we don't know each other." He laughed, "How much have you been drinking?'
"Only a little," I defended and sniffed indignantly, and he chuckled again.
"Well, Bunny, This has been fun, but I need to leave-" I made my move before he could finish, reaching to jerk the mask off, only for him to catch my arm, I countered by raising the other, just as quickly with a laugh and he snatched that wrist as well.
"Damn, you're quick!" He laughed, and I did too. Until I noticed that during our very brief struggle, he had managed to get my back against the wall, though I hadn't even realized my feet had moved.
When I realized exactly how close he was, I was shocked at the way the heat radiating from his body affected me. I let my head fall back, having to peer what felt like straight into the sky just to look up at him.
"Don't look at me like that." He said, placing the hand not still restraining me under my chin.
"How am I lookin' at you?" I asked softly.
"Like you want me to touch you."
"I don't,"
"Then stop looking at me like that."
"Don't tell me what to do."
"If you don't stop looking at me like that I will kiss you."
I didn't speak, only let my tongue flick out and wet my lower lip, adding a layer of shine to the deep red lipstick, and he cursed under his breath, releasing my wrists, and taking off the mask quickly, leaning down to look me in the eye.
It was Mr. J. The Joker. My patient. For a moment I almost panicked, but then the Greasepaint did its job, erasing all that anxiety, and worry, or even common sense it would seem, and leaving me only with my more sarcastic remarks. New low achieved: grinding on your patient at a Halloween Party while on designer drugs. I giggled at the thought, and his hand came out to grab my chin, eyes suddenly serious, as he peered into mine.
"How much have you been drinking?" His tone was angry. "Don't lie."
"I had like, half of the fruity bullshit Ja-" His finger covered my lips.
"Don't lie." He insisted.
"I'm not!" I insisted back. And I wasn't, technically.
And he studied me intently, before leaning forward again, his closeness making my body buzz in the cold. "Then you should move."
"Or else?"
"I will touch you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"You don't have the balls," I whispered with a smile. Suddenly, I felt his hands grip the skin of my thighs, lifting me, and pulling my knees up to wrap around him, pressing me against him tightly, making me tremble, as he pressed my back into the wall behind me, and as I gasped at the scraping of brick on my back, His lips were on mine, and his tongue slipped past my lips, and made me whimper against his lips, close my eyes and buck my hips, causing him to groan, low in his chest, and wrap his arms around the small of my back, pushing me against his chest so tightly it hurt and I moaned in pleasure.
J was pissed. He had been having a good time, and Harley was so soft, certainly softer than in their sessions. But Jack fucking Ryder had to get in the way. And she had been fun, god, when was the last time someone in this godforsaken city was fun?
And then he had been upset, but understood, she needed Ryder. His escape would have been bad for her image. But then, he had turned, only intending to watch her dance… but instead had gotten a front-row ticket to quite the passionate exchange of saliva.
He had wanted to gag at the image. Ryder was a worm, and J was honestly shocked to see how well-liked he was. It was clear looking at him that the man had never had an ounce of confidence in his life, but knew how to play the part. Playing a part? Who does that sound like? J thought, considering. Is that what she sees in him? That they're both fucking liars?
J puffed on his cigarette again, lip curling. Ryder's smug fucking smile filled his vision again, and J found himself fucking furious. He wanted to go back inside, slit the man's throat, and see how smug he is then. But he couldn't. The Bat would be prowling, and J didn't want to test his luck quite yet- He was waiting for the finale. So instead, he put out his cigarette on his palm, and turned to the dumpster, intent to let out all of his frustration on the poor metal, until he heard that creepy little giggle. They had chatted a bit, but J already felt he was pushing his luck speaking to her at all, he didn't want to push any harder.
But she wasn't having that, the minx. Before he knew it, Joker had the poor woman pressed to the wall with his tongue stuck down her throat. It took him a moment to register the taste coming from her mouth, but when he did, he ended the kiss, unwrapping his arms from her, and forcing her legs back down to the ground- looking away when her hands adjusted her skirt.
"Fuck." He said, leaning his head on the bricks. "I was really hoping you weren't lying."
"I wasn't lying." She defended, and J rolled his eyes.
"I suppose technically speaking that is true, I'll keep in mind that you play the semantics game." He chuckled.
"Not really. I normally just lie." She giggled, and J did too.
"Let's get you home, Doc."
Harley stumbled into her apartment, and J softly shoved her toward her bathroom. "Go shower and get ready for bed." He said, and turned, intending to head back out the door, back down to his waiting car, but her hand caught his arm, and he froze for a moment, not knowing what to do.
"Don't go yet, okay?" She said, sleepily, and J turned, looking at her with eyes that questioned her sanity, but nodded slowly.
"Hey, Harl?"
"Hm?"
"What did you take?"
"Some stuff my friend made." She fished it out of her purse, holding up the small disposable device, it looked nearly identical to a regular vape, but the canister was a deep purple, and the fluid inside was a noxious neon green that was nearly opaque.
"Yeah, I don't think you should take this shit anymore." He chuckled, snatching it from her hand. "It seems to make you a little too relaxed, Doc. Though, I almost do want to stay, just to see your face in the morning."
"Cause you're an asshole."
"Yeah,"
"I don't mind," she smiled conspiratorially at him, before turning to go to the bathroom. "I am, too."
When she exited the bathroom, She was wearing a bubblegum pink bathrobe her wet hair in a scrunchie, and mussed make-up from her drunk attempts to remove it. She slipped between the covers of her bed, then pat the side, and J sat on the edge where she had gestured.
"Why do you talk to me?" She asked in a hushed tone, and her big cobalt blue eyes stared at him in the dark.
"You know why." His voice was tired, and she shook her head. "No? Think about it, I'm sure you'll get there, you're a smart girl." He laughed softly.
"You're damn right." she sighed, rolling over, and J stood, making his way to the door.
"Hey, J." Her voice was so different it gave J pause. "Thank you. For… liking who I am. Without any other stuff. No one ever does. It's nice."
J didn't know how to answer that, so he didn't. He slipped back out her apartment door and back into the darkest parts of the city he loved.
AN: AHHHHHHH I HAVE BEEN EXCITED TO GET TO THIS CHAPTER SINCE I STARTED THIS FIC!
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU READ IT! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!