Please Don't Go

Chapter 5

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Harley's question made her heart skip a beat. Everything around her faded away and she was only left with Harley looking up into her eyes with that adorable, hopeful expression that she mastered so well. How was she supposed to respond? This was her chance to confess everything to Harley — to tell her how much she cared and adored her, to promise to never lay a hand on her and to show her how love truly fely like. Maybe if she told her, Harley's eyes would open up and she could finally see how evil the Joker really was... she could leave him and stay with Ivy forever. No more waking up alone in bed because she left during the night to go back to him, no more heated arguments about the same thing over and over again, no more abuse, no more tears.

But then on the other hand, she knew that Harley would be hesitant to leave him. The Joker had quite the reputation and he would be too proud to have HER leave HIM. He was the type that would be like "if I can't have you, then no one else can!" Ivy couldn't risk having themselves murdered by the mad man. But she couldn't have Harley go back to him only to get abused again.

Realising that Harley was waiting for an answer, Ivy shook herself from her thoughts and leaned away so their faces weren't so close. She was blushing like mad and hoped Harley didn't hear the stutter in her voice as she spoke, "Wh- what?" She was flabbergasted.

Harley let out a small giggle. "Are you? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! It can be our little secret..." The blonde bit down on her bottom lip, making Ivy blush even harder as her eyes darted downwards.

Ivy blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't imagining this. "I.. i... what makes you think that?" God, she hated how Harley could make her stutter like a 13 year old talking to her crush.

Harley's smile grew into a large grin, her earlier breakdown long forgotten. "Well, while ya were yellin' an' stuff ya kinda blurt it out, y'know?"

The realization hit her like a truck. Ivy's pupils dilated as she replied with a dead pan voice, "oh."

"Oh?" Harley echoed with an amused smirk, quirking one eyebrow up at her.

After also noticing that Ivy was still on top of her, the woman made a move to get off, but Harley's iron grip on her shoulders tightened, keeping her still. "Sooo, is that a yes, red?" Her finger traced little circles on Ivy's shoulderblade.

"I do love you, but uh, in a way that friends love eachother! You're my best friend, Harley... How can i not care about your well-being?" Ivy denied her love for her because she was afraid of what the other would think of her. She couldn't put this kind of pressure on Harley and make her choose between her and the Joker.

Harley's blue eyes lit up with happiness and Ivy gave her a fake smile, "Aww, red! I love ya too ya big softie!" Harley went to squeeze Ivy's green cheeks.

The woman moved away and went to sit down besides Harley, her back facing the blonde as she counted to ten in her head. She had to get herself under control. Her emotions were messing with her head right now and she couldn't risk Harley seeing her being this vulnerable over some dumb feelings that probably didn't even matter to her. She pushed her slim, green fingers through her thick, copper red hair and inhaled a deep breath.

"Buuuut are ya sure, Ives? Cuz ya sounded pretty loved up an' stuff..." Harley sat up, her pigtails bouncing. She got on her knees and crawled towards Ivy, snaking her arms over the redhead's waist.

"First, how does one sound 'loved up'? Second, yes i am sure, I'm always sure, when have i never been sure!? Third- wait, what are you doing?" The woman looked down at her waist, feeling Harley's cheek press up against the back of her jaw.

Her lips were dangerously close to Ivy's ear as she whispered, "I'm tryna seduce you, pammy."

"What — why?"

She could feel Harley's chest heave with an exasperated sigh, "yer no fun, red! I'm only playin' with ya. Yer my best-est friend in the whole entire world!" She gave her a tight squeeze.

Ouch, friendzoned. That actually hurt, but she sorta deserved considering that she missed her chance at confessing. This was all her fault and now she's going to get friendzoned everyday for the rest of her life. Ivy is going to end up alone as a crazy plant lady, who's too old to get out of her chair and chase off the lousy kids playing on her lawn. She didn't want that.

"You're my best friend too, Harley." Ivy turned to her side, giving the blonde a genuine, warm smile.

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The two women spent the whole afternoon spending time together in the living room, spread out across the couch, their legs tangled together as they were buried deep under waves of warm blankets. Half empty cups of hot cocoa were discarded onto the coffee table as they watched a TV show that Ivy had zero interest in. But Harley had actually managed to convince Ivy to take a break from her lab work ( yay!! ) and spend the evening watching things on the TV with Harley. It was already past 10pm and as Harley looked to her side, she could see Ivy dozing off into her own hand, looking as if she was going to pass out at any moment.

"Hey! Why ya fallin' asleep now? We haven't finished the whole season yet!" Harley tried to keep her awake, wanting to spend as much time as she could with her best friend. It's been months since they've seen eachother last and she really didn't want this moment to end, knowing that she would be returning to her puddin' soon.

She hadn't thought about returning to him yet. Puddin' made it pretty obvious that he won't let her come back until she returned with the money to pay for the loss of his car. She really needed that money and she knew that her puddin' was only teaching her a lesson — making sure that she toughened up and all. Without his lessons, Harley would still be a dumb blonde. Well look at her now! She's hanging out with villains on a daily basis, she know how to build a bomb and works extremely well under pressure. Not only that! Probably her biggest accomplishment was having a infamous plant seductress with a passionate hate for humanity fall in love with her. Red may try to brush it off as some "best friend" thing but you can't lie to Harley. Not if you're the Joker, of course, but that doesn't matter right now. Harley was a trained psychologist. She knew how to read people and knew whenever they lied to her. Reds actions and her cute stutters whenever she spoke to her told her very well that Ivy had a crush on her. Never though had she really thought about love though until Ivy mentioned it.

There is something about the redhead that fascinated Harley and no, it wasn't her criminally insane mind that drew her into Arkham in the first place, no, it was the way the woman stole glances at her when she thought Harley wasn't looking. Oh but she had noticed, many tines.

Harley noticed a lot — she noticed that although Ivy doesn't exactly require food to survive as she is like a plant and is just fine with absorbing sunlight and water, the green woman still keeps around shelves stocked with food for Harley to show up unexpected at anytime. Her favourite cereal was always on the lowest shelf as Harley was quite short, and Harley adored the fact that Ivy cared for her that much. She had also noticed how delicate red is with her. The way her fingertips would sometimes linger on her skin after helping her wash the blood off her body. The way her eyes lit up with excitement and appreciation whenever Harley asked her about one of the experiments Ivy was working on in her lab. She was a cute nerd. Red could go on rambling about biochemical compounds and her plant babies for hours on end — and Harley would listen although she didn't understand a single thing.

Really, Harley loved her back. She loved red dearly — adored her with all her heart. But she was loyal to her puddin' and there was no way she would break his heart like that. Their friendship was something Harley valued and cherished and if she was to ruin something this beautiful and special because of some feelings, she would never forgive herself. Red may love her, but they both knew that she would always pick Joker over anyone.

Harley looked to her side once again and noticed that the redhead had actually fallen asleep. There was a small crease in between her brows which indicated that she was dreaming about something, the curves of her perfect green lips twitched in a small smile as Harley cuddled up to her, muting the TV as she too, shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.