My Best Friend Harley Quinn

Nine

I wake up to the room bathed in the green light again. My eyes adjust to the light before I look out into the forest again. I can see the sun through the canopy of trees. My body aches as I slowly get up. My neck particularly. I realize I did not sleep with a pillow last night, something I will never do again, I hope anyway. I lift myself off of the bed and slowly walk to the bathroom.

I wonder what time it is. Is Bruce here still? What will I do today? I sigh as I reach the bathroom. I turn on the light. A soft white glow lights up the area. I look at the mirror and sigh again.

I look awful. My hair is all over the place and my face is kind of dirty from the explosion yesterday.

Yesterday felt like weeks ago.

I stare at myself in the mirror for a long time. I can see my eyebrows need fixing and the bags under my eyes are becoming more pronounced.

I look down into the sink. I turn on both the hot and cold water. I let it run a little before I run my hands in them.

My hands are a lot like my face, dirty and need work. I look around for a bar of soap. There is a small cabinet above the toilet. I open it and find a small wooden box labeled soap. I almost laugh, what a curious little thing. I grab it and open it up. A cream white bar of soap sits inside. I take it out and get it wet with water. I rub my hands over it and place it on the ledge on the sink.

I scrub at my hands and watch the dirty water wash down the sink.

My hands are finally clean. I take more soap on my hands and begin to clean my face. I splash water to clear away the soap and look back up at my face.

I've cleaned my face so well I can see the tiny freckles on the bridge of my nose. I look in the cabinet again for a small towel. I find a dark grey one and wipe my face with it.

I almost feel clean except for my hair and clothes.

I turn off the water and the light in the bathroom. I place the towel on the bed and go to the bedroom door.

Before I have a chance to grab on to the handle, the door opens to reveal a very cheery Alfred.

"Well, good afternoon." He speaks. In his hands are a tray full of food and water and juice. I look to him and then to the food and then to him again.

"Good afternoon?" I ask. He smiles and walks past me. He places the tray on the night stand.

"You've been asleep for two days, it's the the afternoon of the third day since you've arrived." He speaks softly.

"Damn." I'm almost shocked Bruce let me sleep that long. I must have protrayed that emotion because Alfred turns around and looks at me with a smile.

"I would not let him wake you. I could tell that you were drained from yesterday. I also noticed that you were running a fever, I feared you had some kind of infection but I could not see anything on the surface. You wouldn't move either."

"So I stayed in that spot for almost 3 days?" I pointed to the bed.

"Yes, sorry I did not move you, I didn't want to wake you." He says apologetically. I have never met such a nice man. I can see why Bruce keeps him around.

"Thank you Alfred."

"It's my duty." He smiles and proceeds to leave. I smile at him as he does. He nods to me before walking out the door, closing it behind him.

I sigh contently and sit on my bed. I look at the food on the table next to me. Soup and sandwiches have never looked so appealing. The soup looks like some kind of chowder, which is my absolute favorite. I grab the spoon and set the bowl in my lap as I begin to eat.

The chowder is warm and tastes amazing. I wonder if Alfred made this himself. I shovel it down my throat and set the bowl down. I then grab the sandwich and take a bite. It tastes just as good as the soup. I munch on it slowly and begin to drink the grape juice.

I feel like a child who has just been taken out of school for an illness. I smile as I enjoy the juice and the sandwich. I finish both after several minutes.

I take a swig from the water glass and then set it down.

I lay back on the bed and feel content.

I lay there for a second and think about of the things that have happened in the just the last week.

I saw my friend, I had my penthouse blown up, I slept in Bruce Wayne's house without sleeping with him.

I am checking off the things on my bucket list like crazy.

Hopefully I don't kick the bucket any time soon.

I hear my door open and I sit up in bed. Bruce walks in with a black suit on, I look at him for a second before I open my mouth.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"I am going to be gone for a couple days. I heard you woke up and I wanted to let you know that the Batcave is now set up to help you train. I don't know what kind of powers you have or what you can already do with the skill set you learned from your work with Waller but I can assume that you're skills have enhanced greatly." He speaks.

I nod slowly.

"I'll start tomorrow."

"Good. I'm leaving now. Stay well." He begins to leave.

"Wait." I call out and stand up.  "Where are you going?"

He turns around and looks to me.

"I'm going to find Waller before the Suicide Squad does. I vowed to keep her protected, something I wish I had not done." He speaks before turning back around and walking away again.

"Please, don't hurt Harley if you see her. I know she's crazy but she was my friend and I tried to fix her after what that Clown did to her. I can't lose her, I've already lost everyone else." I call out. He stops again. He turns his head so I can see his profile.

"I won't." He whispers and continues to walk. I stand in the door way and watch him turn and go down the stairs. I let out a breath and slowly shut the door.

I am almost mad at myself. How could I still protect that woman? How could I still care for her?

I walk to the window and look outside again.

The green hits my skin, turning it into a pale green color.

I turn away from the window and shut it.

I never want to see that color on my skin again.