Chapter 7 - Rebirth

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Harley peered down at the vats of acid before her. Not that she was afraid of heights, but standing on a flimsy piece of metal right above vats of acid was not her idea of a fun time.

"Why are we here?" She asked wearily, eyes fixed on his. There was excitement in the air but most of it resulted from the fear she was feeling.

He walked past her, towards the edge of where they stood. Looking down at the vats, he recalled in an instant the night of his horrific accident. The very accident that made him who he was today.

"This is where it happened. This is where I was pushed into one of these boiling vats of acid, consequently turning me into the physically and mentally morbid being I am today." He explained, arms now raised to his sides, his palms facing up.

She stood silent, not wanting to disturb his train of thought. The more she got out of him this way, the better. Perhaps this would be the only time he spoke of it, she couldn't afford to miss out on this.

"You see, that pesky batman was here to stop a bunch of thieves from taking over Ace chemicals, the very facility we are standing in at this moment. It was supposed to be a takeover. For what, I don't know. I was the frightened victim, fooled into wearing a dreaded "red hood" costume." He stopped and looked at her, mouth hanging open.

"Do you know who the red hood was? What he represented? Do you know WHY they made me wear that dreaded thing and infiltrate this place against my will?" He asked her, looking deep into her eyes. He expected an answer but Harley stood her ground.

She didn't have an answer.

"Me neither," he said simply, turning back to face the vats. She walked to his side slowly, calmly, also looking down at the bubbling acid. She stood there silently.

"Question." He said.

Harley turned to face him.

"Would you die for me?" He asked with a genuinely curious tone in his voice.

"Yes," She said without hesitation.

He seemed dissatisfied by her answer. He shook his head. "No, that's too easy. Would you-- would you live for me?" He asked.

"Yes." Once again, her answer flew out of her lips without hesitation. There was no hesitation. She'd do anything for this man she barely knew.

"Careful." He said sternly, bringing his index finger up to her face. He then reached towards her jaw and covered her mouth with his hand, the careful placement of his open-mouth tattoo replacing her lips seemed to mean something to him.

"Desire becomes surrender, surrender becomes POWER." He whispered, emphasizing on his final word. She stared wide eyed at him, noticing his closeness, his contact. His scent.

He brought his index finger near her lips and placed it firmly against them. "You want this?" He asked, huskily. There was...lust in his voice.

"Yes..." She said, slowly.

He closed his eyes, as if pouting. "Say it." He said, rather impatiently. "Say itt.. Pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty--"

"Please." She said, finishing his sentence.

Suddenly, a hint of amusement was apparent on his face. "God, you are so...good!" He exclaimed in excitement.

Harley knew what she had to do. It would either make her or break her. And with everything She had gone through in a single night, She was pretty sure of the outcome.

She turned around, facing the vats. Then She turned to face him. A smile crept on her face as she spread her arms and fell back, right into the vat.

Joker watched her fall and finally splash into the vat. He simply turned around and started walking away.

Finally...he thought. But his mind raced. Would he be able to do this without her? Something in his mind pushed him to turn back. Save her.

She would surely drown in that thick liquid. She was only human. So was he.

But she was a woman. And she made him feel. Something.

He growled to himself, his thoughts angering him. He felt weak again, she did this. She took away the man who enjoyed torment, the man with no remorse, and indirectly gave him feelings. For her.

He removed his coat and dove in after her. After a few seconds, he emerged, holding her. Her face completely covered by the thick coating of acid. He leaned down and placed his lips on hers, trying to lick off the thick liquid, but it quickly turned into a peck. A kiss.

Suddenly she gasped, eyes flung open. She gathered herself within a few short seconds and realized where she was and who saved her. Overwhelmed by the moment, he lowered his head once again and this time kissed her passionately.

She had survived the very same maddening experience he had. This is what made him who he was. The crazy lunatic, prince of crime. The joker.

And this is what made her Harley Quinn.

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