As Fate May Have It (Joker x Reader)

Chapter Seven (Her Hell)

A month had gone by and they'd completed two out of two successful missions since the first day the Joker had joined them. He seemed fairly cooperative, but often made suggestions that were more violent or dramatic than they need be.

(Name) usually modified the suggestions, making them much simpler. Yet, he didn't seem to mind that she'd changed these ideas. He didn't seem to care at all, but his puddin' could tell otherwise.

She knew he was happy and thankful, in his own way, that (Name) would even listen to him. As much as Harley would love to say that Mista' J's fondness of (Name) didn't bother her, she could never say it in complete honesty. It helped that it was an unrequited fondness. Not to say the (colour) eyed woman didn't have feelings toward 'J'. Her emotions were just more negative and clouded. Clouded, like she's trying her damnedest not to feel anything towards him.

Harley let these thoughts swim in her head while she sat in agonising silence with the two she happened to be thinking about. Their 'team captain' planned away for their next mission, sipping from a dark glass bottle with words to small to read from across the room.

Her lover played with his mobile. Occasionally he'd make a sound to emphasise his extreme boredom. She'd usually look up from her planning, like a librarian she'd try to tell him to shut up with her eyes. Then she'd ask if something was wrong with an annoyed tone, he'd say nothing was wrong and that's it. End of conversation. She must've been dense to not see that he wanted to strike up conversation with her, but then there's the possibility that she just didn't care.

They were like an awkward teen couple in a movie that everyone knows will end up together. Would they end up together? They couldn't... Her puddin' loved her, he couldn't move on, could he?

She let her eyes wonder to him. Every so often, when he thought Harley didn't notice, he'd look at her.

Damn, why did that bother her. (Name) refused to pay any mind to him. No more than necessary, anyway.

Another exaggerated sound began in his throat and escaped his lips. She clearly heard it. Other wise she wouldn't have put her head in her hands and attempted to stifle a sigh.

"What do you want?" She queried in defeat. Mista' J stood and strolled towards her. He moved his hand to her chin and gently trailed his fingers down to her jaw from her cheek.

(Name) was caught off guard by this, she looked at him and seemed captivated by his gaze. Leaning towards her, he whispered, 'you' in her ear like you would a sweet nothings in a lover's ear.

She almost couldn't bear the scene before her. Harley stared in terror at 'them', catching her companions' attention.

She heard the low growls her boyfriend had a habit of making, and a world less voice. As her Joker stood in front of her, she leaned her forehead on his chest, hearing the voice, (Name)'s voice, "What happened? Why aren't you one hundred percent?" Though her words were joking, her voice wasn't. The concern was almost palpable in her voice.

Harley turned her head towards 'them' and they weren't there. (Name) was still seated and Mista' J was still in front of her. 'Delilah' was all Harley could think. That's who she needed to talk to.

"I was thinking about a horrible pair of boots Delilah warned me about. I gotta go do something about it, ya' know, girl stuff." She lied so effortlessly to her lover and her friend. She couldn't say anything, she'd make it awkward and more agonisingly quiet when the three had to be together like that.

"Harley, don't scare me like that," she'd started as if she had more to say, but was cut off.

"I'll keep that in mind, I'm gonna go find Delilah now." She rushed her words before leaving quickly.

This left the pair alone, which they hadn't been before, ever. (Name) made sure of it. Anytime they were close to being alone, she'd miraculously have a reason to leave or have a third person with them. She was unprepared, she wasn't expecting Harley to just up and leave, taking (Name)'s best excuse with her, Delilah.

But there was still others to talk to, she just needed a reason. A reason like... consulting. She needed to consult with another, a fresh pair of eyes to review the mission's plan. It would've been a great excuse if it had worked. If a certain green haired man hadn't stopped her immediately. If he hadn't offered to look over the plan. If he hadn't offered to be that fresh pair of eyes.

So now she's stuck in a room with the man she'd tried to avoid. She felt like there was a ticking time bomb between them. He was occupied looking over her plan, but once he wasn't busy, once they weren't reviewing the plan, what would stop them from talking about their obvious tension. There'd be no stopping the conversation she so childish dreaded.

Unless...

Maybe she could run fast enough. It was her last resort, her last hope to escape the colloquy.

Harley walked out of the bedroom-converted-into-office room and to the family room she to start her search for Delilah.

Though, she herself was not in the family room, Orin was. He sitting at his computer as he usually is, drinking what everyone guesses to be coffee.

"Hey, could you tell me where your puddin' is?"

"If you mean Delilah, she's off making plans," he paused to put his drink down and look at Ms Quinn, "these plans likely are to force our favourite alcoholic into talking about none other than our favourite alcoholic." Harley's face twisted into confusion, matching her thought perfectly.

"Delilah won't be helpful, what do ya' need?"

"I just wanted to talk to her about... something."

"I may be of use, she's my Wife. She's bound to have rubbed off on me some." He stated somewhat sarcastically. The usually cheery blonde genuinely considered the offer, beforehand hesitantly accepting.

Crossing his arms and leaned back in his seat, he started the conversation, "So, what's on your mind?"

He continued looking over the plans and without putting his review of the plan on hold, he inquired, "You know we'll have to talk sometime. You can't ignore me forever."

"I can try." Her childishness made him chuckle. But she didn't laugh because she was serious.

"Why avoid me?" He'd asked.

Her heart dropped at those words.

'To protect myself from what I might learn,' she thought.