In Another Life VII

Chapter 18

"Way to go, Harley!" cried Rocco, hugging her as she entered the new hideout. The henchmen were all waiting for her, and began cheering and applauding her as they all competed for hugs. "That's the way to do a break-out!"

"Knew that whole traitor routine wasn't true!" said Jerry, holding her in a bone-crushing embrace. "I just knew you weren't lying to us! Boy, what a double cross!"

"Thanks, boys!" said Harley, beaming at them. "It's good to be home! Y'know, even though it's a completely different location, but it's the people that make it home, ain't that right?"

They all cheered in agreement, congratulating her again on the daring escape. And then the Joker entered the room and they fell silent.

"Good to see you, boss!" said Rocco. "Didn't Harley do a great job of pulling the wool over those dumb pigs' eyes?"

He didn't respond – just stormed across the room and slammed the door. "Gee, what's eating him?" asked Jerry. "You think he'd be happy Harley just busted us all outta the clink."

"He's probably tired, Jerry," said Harley. "You know, he's had a rougher day than the rest of you, being kicked around all. I'm sure he'll be all smiles and laughter tomorrow, as usual."

She wasn't at all sure of that, but the guys seemed to buy it, because they instantly went back to talking and laughing amongst themselves. Harley accepted the congratulatory beers they pressed on her, anything to distract her and keep her from being alone with her thoughts.

When the party broke up hours later, Harley headed down the hall to an empty room. She passed the Joker's room on the way, but no lights were on, and she didn't want to disturb him. Maybe he'd feel like talking in the morning, she thought, as she lay down on her single mattress alone. Maybe things would seem better in the morning, although she sincerely doubted it.

Her thoughts tormented her, and the only reason she dropped off to sleep eventually was probably from the amount of beers she had drunk. She awoke in the early hours of the morning because she felt the presence of someone in her room.

"Mmm...Mr. J?" she said, rubbing her eyes.

He was seated on the end of her bed, looking at her. "I suppose you think this makes everything ok between us again," he murmured. "That I'm suddenly going to forgive you for stabbing me in the back because you busted me outta jail."

"I told you, Mr. J, I never meant to betray you," she whispered. "You have to believe that. And if I have to spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to prove my love for you, I will."

He didn't say anything. Harley sat up, and it was only then that she noticed he had a gun in his hand, a gun which was casually pointed at her.

"I've been sitting here trying to decide whether I should shoot you or not," he murmured. "I've been sitting here for the past hour with a gun pointed at you, wondering if I should pull that trigger and bury a bullet in your pretty little brain."

"And...should you?" she stammered.

He didn't respond. "I haven't yet," he said at last. "But that doesn't mean I won't someday."

He put the gun away, standing up. "Come to bed," he said, leaving the room without another word.

She obeyed, standing up and following him into his room. "Mr. J, I'm sorry for..." she began, but he kissed her harshly.

"I don't want you to talk anymore tonight," he whispered. "And I don't want you to mention what you're sorry for ever again, because I don't want to be reminded of it ever again. Or I'll shoot you in the face."

His eyes were deadly serious, and Harley knew better than to test if he was joking. She just nodded, surrendering to his mouth and returning his kisses. She was devoting her life to a man who had just threatened her with death, a man who she knew would keep his word if she ever brought up her betrayal to the cops again. It was insane. And she couldn't have been happier about it.

She dropped off to sleep in his arms, and woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains. She planted a kiss on his lips and he stirred, opening his eyes.

"Morning," she whispered, and was relieved when he smiled back at her.

"Morning," he said.

She could have sobbed in relief, but just kissed him again instead. "Lemme make you some breakfast," she said, reaching for her clothes and about to stand up.

He pulled her back down and kissed her again, a long, lingering, tender kiss. Harley knew the Joker would never say things like "I'm sorry," "I forgive you," or even "I love you," but he didn't have to. That kiss said all of those things and more.

He drew away at last, and Harley smiled up at him. "I love you," she whispered.

He smiled, and then kissed her nose. "Go make breakfast," he said, releasing her.

She climbed out of bed and threw on her clothes, and then padded down the hall. She paused in front of the room she'd been using, suddenly remembering something she had been meaning to do.

Joker looked up as she re-entered his bedroom. "That was quick..." he began, but his smile fell and his eyes grew cold again when he saw that she was carrying her notebook.

"Um...I wanted to give you this...to destroy," she stammered. "Burn it or something, please, so I don't have to be reminded..."

He nodded, grabbing it away from her. "I'll take care of it," he said, curtly.

"I...I wanted you to know that...I didn't share anything I wrote in there with anyone else," she continued. "And I never will. You're not my patient – you're my lover. And the things we share together are for us alone to know. The world will never hear about them from me."

He nodded. "Good," he said. She turned to go, hoping she hadn't ruined everything again by reminding him of what had passed.

"I mean, it's terribly written, Harley," he said, flipping through it. "And some of it's not even true. I do not have an insatiable sexual appetite – that's you."

"Really?" retorted Harley, turning to grin at him. "Because as I recall, when you're in the mood, there's no stopping you."

"I think you need to do a little more observation and experimentation," he retorted. "I mean, if you really want to understand all my sexual appetites."

She giggled. "Well, maybe after breakfast, we should start experimenting, Mr. J," she purred, kissing him. "Purely in the interests of science, of course."

"Mmm, it's a good thing you won't be writing it down, since it would probably be banned for gross indecency," he murmured. "Unpublishable in most countries. Really sick, dirty, twisted stuff."

She giggled again. "I'm really looking forward to it, Mr. J," she said, kissing him. "Now lemme go make breakfast."

She skipped out of the room, and he looked at the notebook for a moment, then climbed out of bed and threw it in the trashcan. He lit a match and dropped it inside, and watched as the flames consumed the pages.

"Good riddance, Dr. Harleen Quinzel," he muttered, glaring at it.

The door opened again and Harley entered with breakfast. Joker took her in his arms, planted a kiss on her forehead, and whispered, "Hello, Harley Quinn."

The End