Cruel reminders- harley and rick flag

in need of a drink

  I sit at my apartment watching loony  toons though I don't find much joy. I don't feel like my usual self either ever since I found out Cassandra moved out of Gotham and to Seattle while I was in prison at Belle reve. I sigh. it was fun having the kid around for a while. my mind drifts to the girls huntress, canary and the one piggy I'm ok with, Renee Montoya. I haven't seen them, it pains me to stay away them but the birds are now crime fighting goody doo gooders, who would turn me in if I did somethin not the most acceptable but ya think saving Gotham from black mask would have earned me a break.  my mind drifts to rick flag, captain boomerang and the rest. a tear rolls down my cheek at the thought of my friend boomer. I banish the though of boomer and think of rick flag who I had to save from peacemaker. june moone broke up with him soon after our first suicide mission  I think to how much rick flag loved her, maybe one day he'll love me too. yeah we kissed soon after rick recovered from the wound, but I don't know if that meant anything to him.  I know he'd treat me well, I bet. I dismiss the thought, nah he's one of the good guys, he'd never stay with a gal who murdered people along side the clown prince of crime just another good thing puddin ruined for me. rage fills me and I grab my throwing knife off the table and fling it at the drawing of joker I have taped on the wall. I get up and open the freezer and give my hyena Bruce some meat from the butchers shop. "I'll be back brucey" I holler before exiting my apartment. nothin better then after the sun sets on Gotham city where crime runs rampant and ya never know when ya may witness some good old fashioned murder and mayhem. I walk past several shops. I walk into a bar needing some alcohol. "one cocktail please, put it on my tab will ya?" 

"harley right"

"yep"

"your tabs full"

"ugh, Fine then I'll just get it myself." I jump over the counter in one easy movement.

"Hey lady you can't do that"

Ignoring him I grab a glass and pour myself a whiskey. "hmmm, hmm,hmm" I begin to hum happily as I pour my drink

I feel a hand grab me roughly by the shoulder. anger fills me. I won't let no one especially some man grab me like that again.

"hands off!" I yell grabbing a bottle of vodka intending to smash it against the guys head. I pause when I hear a familiar voice

"harley settle down"

"who?." I turn around and see the familiar features of colonel rick flag.

"flag!" my initial excitement dissappear when I hear yelling.

"the crazy bitch was about to smash that bottle over my head." Snaps the bartendef

"I'd watch what you call the lady"

"and who the hell do you think you are?"

"I'm an acquaintance of hers and trust me you don't wanna mess with her so we'll be on our way."

my anger subsides though still annoyed at being called a bitch and as sweet as flag was for coming to my rescue, I feel aggravated. I wish he knew I can handle myself. i look over flags shoulder when someone catches my eye. let's see sunglasses, a black suit, either those are some cheap knockoffs of the men in black or undercover agents who are after me,  but flag wouldn't be with them. would he?

"flag? mind telling me who those fellas over there are?"

"they were assigned by Amanda waller to accompany me here in case shit went south. needless to say the government doesn't trust you."

"can't a girl get a break!" I stomp my foot on the ground before pulling out a pocket knife.

"harley put that away" flag gently lowers my arm to my side.

"don't worry flag I would never try and kill you. this is just to protect myself from the men in black over there" I say as flag takes the pocket knife from my hand.

flag let's go of my arm and takes a step back.

"Hey, you with the skin condition, get out of my bar!" yells the bartender.

"shit" mutters flag but I barely hear him.

my mind flashes to the jokers bleached face in the forefront of my mind, the bar and  flag fade into nothingness and all I see is joker with skin that looks just like mine. the searing pain I felt when thrown into the vat of acid registers. the pain that acid caused felt so sweet then but now, now all I feel is the tingling pain as if my skin is on fire, and the only way to extinguish it is... with well.. you'll see. I turn around in one quick movement and rush at the bartending son of a dickhead, I slam him against the wall with my forearm pressing against his throat. "kill him harley" I hear jokers voice in my head. "shut up, I'm not gonna let you control my actions anymore.. I seeth

"what the hell you talking about" the bartender says, struggling with his voice

i take my forearm off his throat and step back.. "oh just the voices. so instead of killing ya, I'll let you off with a warning. disrespect me again and it'll be the last time you utter any words again. understand mister?"

"yes"

"good, now leave"

I turn back to flag with a smile, feeling proud of myself. flag has a stoic look. my smile fades

"harley, snap out of it"

huh?"

I look up and see flag with a concerned look and a bartender clutching his nose 

"You were frozen in place, muttering to yourself"

"then how?" 

"I punched the bastard" 

"oh. thanks.." I smile until I remember the people who are with flag

"where did they go?" I ask looking around

"I told them to leave, didn't want them to make the situation worse. harley, I made a deal. the government had appointed Griggs to monitor you as condition for your parole. so I volunteered in his place. those men who were with me were just here to help me locate you and make sure everything's settled."

"I don't need anyone to watch over me."

"unless you want to go back to prison you do."

I think it over a minute. "On one condition though."