Anything But Normal

An Unlikely Friend

Harley's POV

It's been months, or years maybe. I'm not so sure. There is no such thing as time here in Belle Reve. It doesn't matter what happens in outside, it doesn't matter how much time has passed. Here inside Belle Reve, it's all and the same. No hours, no days, no weeks, no months, no years. Just time to eat, time to shower, and time to sleep.

But it seems like forever since I last saw J. Part of me knows that he's not coming back. But another part of me still holds on. Maybe he's still out there, recovering. The man is practically a God, he can't die just like that right?

That wishful part of me is what keeps me from giving up. That part of me is what makes me dream about date nights, fun times, and bad times with my Puddin'. Every night, when everyone's suppose to be sleeping, I think of him. I relive all the memories I had with him. The great, the good, the bad, and the worst. It doesn't matter as long as J is there. On days when everyone's awake and alert, I dream of him. Tucked in my own world, wrapped around his slender arms.

But as the moments pass by, that part of me is withering slowly. The part that still holds on to him is slowly loosing its grip.

And i'm scared. I am afraid of what will become of me once that part of me gives up. When it falls to the pits of hell, is there any reason for me to live?

"Harley? You still up?" A voice suddenly interrupted my own thoughts. The room surrounding my cage is dark. I see a form just by the entrance. I stood up from my cot and went closer to the bars of my cage.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" I assumed a fighting stance by instinct. Whoever it is, I should be able to protect myself.

Griggs's POV

Harley sounds alarmed when she heard my voice. I try and reassure her that everything's fine and that I don't mean any harm.

"Hey, it's okay princess. It's just me, Griggs." I said as I walk towards her cage slowly with my arms up in the air.

The poor kid has been slipping in and out of consciousness lately. She hasn't had any antics anymore. She's been living in a nutshell. She was once so bright and cheerful. But now, she's as bland as water. You wont even feel like she's around. When she first got here in Belle Reve, she was fireworks. Now, she's just a flickering lightbulb. It seems like she doesn't have the energy to live anymore. And I know why.

It's all because of the Joker. He died about a year ago. His DNA was found in that chopper. The chopper that got shot down and crashed in front of Harley's eyes.

It's been a year since that eventful day in Midway city. The Suicide Squad has not been called out for a mission ever since. Nothing really huge is happening for them to be called I guess.

She's been really quite. She haven't said anything yet.

"Harley, I know you're awake." I whispered enough for her to hear.

I heard her sigh. "What do ya want?" she mumbled.

"Just checking up on my favorite prisoner." I answered jokingly and smiled.

Hey, I know what you're thinking. And that's not it. I'm not hitting on her. She can pass as my daughter already.

I just feel bad for the kid. She didn't really gave me much nuisance since she came back. The first few weeks, maybe. A few typical Harley mood swings. But no one dead, so they weren't serious in my opinion.

"No really, what do ya want Griggsy?" She asked again.

"Okay, okay. I just wanna give you a little heads up. They'll be assessing you tomorrow for transfer." I answered seriously.

"For transfer? Where?" She said questioningly, tilting her head a little.

"To Arkham." I answered.

"Huh? Why?" She paused, but I can see that she's still thinking. Then she turned around to sit on her cot. "Hmm, doesn't matter." She added.

I looked at her sternly, but with concern.
"It'll be good for you kid." I mumbled.

She looked at me then, tears started to gather in the corner of her eyes. "Nothing's good for me except Mistah J!" She slightly shouted. I can detect some anger and despair in her voice.

"They can help you there Harley." I answered, desperate to make her believe that she can go on without the Joker.

"Help?! No one can help me!!!" She started laughing hysterically. "I'm beyond repair, remember?" She added still laughing.

I have no idea what to say now. I have to admit, she is quite scary when she's like this. "Just please, don't screw this up for yourself." I said with a hint of begging in my voice.

Her laughter died and she looked at me as if she's studying me. "Why are you suddenly so concerned Griggsy?"

"Look, I was here when you first got here. You were crazy, yes. But I saw the fire in you, the life in you." She's just looking at me intently. "Now, you're just like an empty shell." I added.

"That's because my life was taken away from me. My life has gone with J. He was the air that I breath." She answered truthfully.

"I know. I saw it. You two are something, you know that? When I worked for him to bust you out, I saw it." I said smiling. I sat down on the floor, and Harley on the other side of the cage, did too.

"The dude was a homicidal maniac, no offense." She smiled as I said that and nod as if asking me to continue the story. "Crazy in so many levels. People said he ain't got any capacity to hmmm...feel. But when I was working for him in that little rescue mission, I saw it. He's tired, eyes as red as the devil, he clearly hadn't slept." I glanced at Harley. She's in tears, but smiling. She looks like a little girl who's listening to her favorite bedtime story.

"He did everything in his power to get you. Everything. As I've known, the guy hated inconvenience, but he looked like he will go through all the inconvenience the world can throw him just to get you back... And that is something." I continued.

"Well, my Puddin' didn't want to show emotions. He said it'd make him look weak." She answered smiling.

"Yeah? Well, still. I saw something back then. He loved you. Maybe you can live for him now. So take that assessment as an opportunity to live kid." I told her.

"Why are you so concerned, huh?" She looked at me questioningly.

"Well, you've been here long. It's my job to look after you. I guess, what I'm saying is, you are kinda like a daughter to me now. And you've been in your best behavior lately." I answered as I laughed.

"That just it? Just because ya see me as a daughter now and I haven't killed anyone since I got back?" She asked, laughing too.

"Well, and because I had bad days too kid. And it was nice to have someone to look out for you while you're loosing your head." I answered.

I got up and started to walk out of the room. I stand by the door and looked at her again. "Don't screw it up princess." I reminded her once again.

"Yeah yeah, pinky promise." She answered dismissively. "Now go away, grandpa!" She added, laughing.

I just shook my head and smiled. And with that, I left the room.

(There's chapter 3. I wanted to twist Griggs' usual role in fanfics. I do think he has a kind heart. Tell me what you think folks. :D)