Harley Quinn X Nightwing: Our Story, Yours Truly

Chapter 15: "Home with Harley: Where Love and Laughter Entwine"

"Harley Quinn, domestic goddess?" Ivy teased with playful disbelief. "Which stage of your relationship are you at now? The 'I-can't-cook-but-I-can-look-cute-trying' phase?"

Harley chuckled, "Hey, watch it! You don't need a PhD to know how to bake..." She gestured to the kitchen, where a cloud of flour hovered like a mini-tornado. "I'm just getting started, that's all."

Ivy laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I'm glad I brought takeout along with your stuff."

As Ivy entered Nightwing's house, "Alright Mrs.Nightwing, where do you want my lovelies to put your stuff?"

"Just put it in the same room as Nightwing's."

"Wait, you're sharing a room with Nightwing?" Ivy was surprised.

"Uh-huh!" Harley replied nonchalantly while still busy in the kitchen.

"(Ah...right...this is Harley we're talking about..why should I be surprised...) Does Nightwing know about this?"

(Ivy uses her vines to put Harley's stuff in Nightwing's room...or should we say their room now.)

"Nope, it's a surprise! He said I can take any room so..." Harley flashed a wide grin.

"I imagine Nightwing's expression will be priceless. You are eating him out your palm."

"That's the perk of dating yours truly, never a dull day!" Harley gestured with a flourish.

Ivy raises an eyebrow, curious about the chaos Harley might be cooking up. "Harls, what's the inspiration behind your culinary masterpieces?"

"Master Chef..."

Ivy's impressed, but then Harley adds, "...Junior."

Ivy's face falls, and she quips, "I take back my awe. This explains why your cookies are in rainbow colour..."

As they settled in on the couch, Harley filled the room with the smooth sounds of classical jazz, conjuring up a cozy cafe vibe. With the mood set, they indulged in Harley's sweet treats and Ivy's savory takeout.

The cookies were a revelation - tender, chewy, and bursting with flavor. Each rainbow color brought a new taste sensation, from cherry to blueberry to citrusy yellow. Ivy's eyes widened in surprise, and Harley was pleased with herself.

"Looks like you are ready to be domestic with the Boy Wonder." Ivy smirked.

Harley gave a cheeky grin, "Ooh, yes, he's a wonder...especially in the bedroom...where I loves it when he..."

Ivy grabbed a handful of cookies from the nearby plate and shoved them into Harley's mouth, "No, no, no! Spare me your gory details!"

Harley pouted, pretended to be offended, "Aww, come on! I was just getting to the juiciest part!" Wiping the crumbs spilling from her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You and Nightwing remind me of Selina and Batman. I wonder if they'll ever find their way back to each other." A hint of melancholy crossed Ivy's face.

Harley launches into a rapid-fire assessment, words tumbling out in a breathless rush.

"So Selina and Batman - classic attachment anxiety, push-pull dynamic, intimacy and withdrawal, approach-avoidance conflict... Selina's doing emotional labor, trying to manage Batman's feelings, but he's got sky-high defenses, maladaptive coping mechanisms, fear of vulnerability... it's a mess! They need trust, empathy, conflict resolution skills... healthier attachment style, pronto! If they can do that... maybe, just maybe, they'll find their way back to each other. But until then, it's anyone's guess."

Ivy's face went blank, her eyes glazing over as Harley spoke. "Wait, what? I didn't catch any of that, except the part about them needing trust to find their way back. You lost me at 'attachment anxiety'.

Ivy turned the tables, a mischievous spark igniting in her eyes. "So, how about you and Nightwing? How's that trust thing working out for you two?"

"Of course, we trust each other! See how Nightwing trusts me with his house!" Her smile grows as wide and wicked as a jack-o'-lantern's grin.

Ivy shook her head with a chuckle.

"Go easy on the boy wonder, you wouldn't want to drive him too crazy. Oh, and I invited Selina, but she sent her regards...perhaps she's still reeling from her breakup with Batman."

"Ah, I missed Selina too, those days were wild and fun, creating chaos and mayhem wherever we went," Harley said wistfully, a faraway look in her eyes.

Time flew as Ivy and Harley reminisced about their time as Gotham Sirens.

"I should get going, thanks for the hospitality, Mrs. Nightwing," Ivy teased, as she hugged Harley tightly, happy for her friend's newfound happiness.

With a final wave, Ivy disappeared into the evening, leaving Harley to tidy up the kitchen...

Some time later, as the door unlocked, Harley sprang into action, launching herself at Dick with a squeal of delight. She wrapped her legs around his waist, arms around his neck, and lips on his mouth, sending his eyes wide with surprise.

"Welcome home, Dickie!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled by their kiss.

Dick's initial shock melted into a warm smile as he returned the kiss, his hands instinctively cradling her bottom to support her.

(I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome, but it feels...right. Feels like home to have someone waiting for me.)

With Harley still wrapped around him, Dick stepped into the apartment, kicking the door shut behind them. The warm glow of the lights enveloped them, as they broke apart from their kiss. She led him to the kitchen, where her masterpiece bake awaited. The cake was decorated with a mallet and bat wings, a playful nod to their relationship.

"I didn't know you had a culinary side." As Dick took a bite, his eyes lit up with delight. "Wow, this is incredible! You're a natural!" Maybe you can open a bakery, 'Harley's Sweets Treats'. Dick teased.

As they indulged in the cake, Dick said, "I've studied Magpie's profile. I think you've got this one covered. What happened?"

Harley looked upwards, her eyes narrowing as she recalled her encounter. "I remember now...Magpie had Bane's missing goon with her. That's why, I had to give up my loots!"

"So, now that you've remembered, want to give Bane a call and collect the reward?" Dick teased with sarcasm. "Shall we suit up and get going?"

Harley stuck her tongue out, a saucy retort to Dick's sarcasm.

Dick headed to his room to suit up, but his eyes widened in surprise. Harley's belongings had taken over the space. "Harls, what's going on here? You're not thinking of...?" He trailed off, his face flushing slightly.

Harley's grin was mischievous. "Exactly what you're thinking! Don't you like the idea of us sharing a space...and more?"

Dick's smile spread, despite his initial surprise. "I wouldn't say no to that..."

As they prepared for their mission, the tension was palpable. Dick suited up, while Harley changed into her usual outfit, her mallet at the ready. They exchanged a charged glance before grappling across Gotham's skyline, their destination: the building opposite Magpie's hideout.