Harley: Little Mind, Big Heart 🌈🧸💕

Chapter 24: Into the Night 🌙

The evening had settled over Gotham, the city's usual noise dulled under the quiet hum of streetlights flickering to life. Harley sat on the edge of the couch, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, her thoughts swirling. She had spent the entire day with Kate and Sophie, but the peace she felt earlier was starting to slip.

A part of her still itched for the thrill—something she hadn't felt in a while. Not in the same way she used to when she was with Joker, but more like a call back to her chaotic past. Something deep inside her was pulling her toward the darkness again, a pull she hadn't felt in ages. But she couldn't tell Kate or Sophie, not when they had worked so hard to keep her safe.

As Sophie walked past, carrying a laundry basket, Harley glanced up with a faint smile. "Mommie?"

Sophie paused and turned to her, raising a brow. "Yes, honey?"

Harley hesitated for a moment, swallowing back the urge to ask about Joker or bring up what she'd been feeling. Instead, she forced herself to stay in the moment. "Where's Mama?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady.

Sophie smiled softly, setting the basket down. "She's out on a mission, sweetheart. Just routine Batwoman stuff. She'll be back soon."

Harley nodded, a little knot forming in her stomach. She wished she didn't feel this pull toward her old ways, especially when things were finally stable. Sophie sat down beside her, placing a gentle hand on Harley's back. "You miss her, don't you?"

"Yeah," Harley admitted, biting her lip. "I know she's out there saving people, but... I just wish she was here."

Sophie rubbed her back in slow circles, her touch soothing. "She'll be back before you know it, Harley. And I'm here with you, okay?"

"Okay," Harley whispered, leaning into Sophie's side for a moment, breathing in her calming presence.

But deep down, Harley's mind was elsewhere. The pull toward the night was growing stronger, and she knew she wasn't going to be able to ignore it much longer.

A few hours later, after Sophie had gone to bed, Harley quietly slipped out of the apartment. The streets of Gotham seemed to stretch out before her, familiar in their shadows and coldness. She knew she was taking a risk sneaking out, especially after everything that had happened with Joker, but something inside her needed to feel that rush again, just for a little while.

She found herself wandering toward Arkham. It wasn't intentional at first, but the closer she got, the faster her heart raced. Joker had escaped, and part of her wondered if he was out there, waiting. For her.

Without thinking, Harley ducked into the shadows, slipping past the security of Arkham like she had done a thousand times before. She knew where Joker would be. It was as if her body was on autopilot, guiding her to the place where they used to meet.

When she arrived at the hidden spot within the old abandoned wing, her heart pounded in her chest. But instead of finding Joker waiting for her with that twisted smile, she found only emptiness. The room was cold and dark, and the memories flooded back—memories of when Joker had been her Dada, her partner, her everything.

But it wasn't the same anymore.

Harley turned to leave, but as she reached the doorway, she heard a voice from behind her. "Leaving so soon, Puddin'?"

Her breath hitched, and she froze. Slowly, she turned around to see Joker standing there, a sinister grin spreading across his face. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, and Harley's heart sank.

"I've been waiting for you, Harley," he drawled, stepping closer. "Missed me?"

Harley didn't respond. She could feel her pulse racing in her ears, her instincts screaming at her to run, but her feet stayed glued to the floor.

"Look at you," Joker said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Still playing the good little girl for Batwoman and her sidekick. How pathetic."

Harley's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists, trying to fight the urge to retreat into her little space. She didn't want Joker to see her that way, not now. Not after everything.

But Joker stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You've gone soft, Puddin'. You're not the Harley I used to know."

Harley shook her head, backing away. "I-I'm not... I'm not yours anymore, Joker."

His grin widened, and he leaned in, his breath hot against her cheek. "Oh, but you are. You'll always be mine."

Something snapped inside Harley, and before she knew it, she was bolting for the door. She didn't even think—she just ran. Joker's laughter echoed behind her, taunting and cruel, but she didn't look back. She couldn't.

As she stumbled out into the night, tears blurred her vision. Her chest tightened as she gasped for breath, her body shaking uncontrollably. The familiar panic started to set in, and she felt herself slipping into her little space, desperate for safety. She needed her Mommie, her Mama—anyone to make this feeling go away.

She ran through the streets of Gotham, her surroundings a blur, until finally, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the sidewalk. The cold pavement pressed against her cheek as she curled into a ball, her thumb instinctively finding its way to her mouth. She didn't have her pacifier, and the absence of it made her feel even smaller and more vulnerable.

People passed by, glancing down at her with confused looks, but no one stopped. Harley whimpered softly around her thumb, wishing she were at home, in her safe space with her caregivers.

Finally, a kind stranger bent down beside her, their voice soft and concerned. "Hey, sweetie, are you okay? Where's your mama?"

Harley blinked up at them through her tears, sniffling as she tried to form words, but her mind was too jumbled. She felt so small, so lost.

"I-I wanna go home..." she whispered, her voice shaky and barely above a whimper.

The stranger gently helped her to her feet, keeping a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, honey. Let's find your mama, okay?"

Harley nodded, still trembling as she clung to the stranger's hand. She was slipping deeper into her little space now, the trauma of seeing Joker sending her mind spiraling. All she wanted was her Mommie and Mama. She needed to be safe, to be held, to forget that Joker ever existed.

As the stranger led her toward a nearby phone to call for help, Harley's tears started to slow, but the fear still gripped her. She suckled on her thumb, trying to soothe herself, but it wasn't the same. She needed her paci. She needed her family.

When they finally called Sophie and Kate, Harley's heart ached with longing. She couldn't wait to be back in their arms, to feel their love surrounding her once more.

And as the night stretched on, Harley knew one thing for certain: she was safe with her family. No matter what Joker said, no matter how scared she felt, Kate and Sophie would always protect her.

And that was all she needed.