Anything But Normal

A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

A couple of minutes before 1PM

Joker's POV

I'm sitting on my revolving chair, patiently waiting for the orderlies to get Harley's ass here.

I hear more than one pair of footsteps approach my office. One of them I know way too well, light-padded and sleek like a panther's. Harley's footsteps are like those of a feline's... smooth, silent, and calculated. A talent she acquired from years of gymnastics training. That little girl just comes out of nowhere. I am just so accustomed to her by now that I can practically feel whenever she's near. I practiced my senses on everything "Harley". Why, I'm not sure. I just have this abnormal urge to protect her from everything, aside from me of course. No one else can hurt my Harley girl, just me and only me. And oddly enough, sometimes I get this disgusting feeling, like bile rising to my throat whenever I hurt her.

The first year we're together, the beatings were so bad that she can't move for days. She'll just lay on her side of the bed, curled into a ball of tears. But as soon as she recover from her injuries, may it be a few broken ribs, a leg, an arm, or a combination of those, she'll be her perky self again, purring devotions. "Oh Puddin'" here, and "Hey Mistah J" there.

Then there's this one incident that made the human emotions  rush through my core like a dam being opened for the first time.

-Flashback: Two and a half years into the Joker's and Harley's relationship-

Joker's POV

We are in some abandoned warehouse in downtown Gotham. Harley dragged me here for a surprise she claimed she prepared. I just went along to humor her. She was rambling random things when I caught a line or two of what she was saying.

"You what?!" I asked Harley in disbelief.

"I got Batsy tied upside down over a tank full of piranhas Mistah J! He's in the basement, come on Puddin'!" She announced with excitement as she run to the basement.

I started running after her, and true to what she said, there he is. Batsy, in all his tight leather rat-ass glory, hanging like a chime over a human-size aquarium.

I can't help but laugh, but not because of glee.  I take long strides to where Harley is standing. Anger filling my body like hot lava.

"Isn't this nice Puddin'?" Her back was on me, admiring the job she thought I appreciate. "I got this from one of your plans, only I hanged the victim upside down so he could see the fishies' little frowns as little smiles." She started to turn her heels to face me.

"Did you like-" Her sentence was cut off by my backhand. I hit her so hard that she fell a few feet away from me, landing on the floor.

She was cradling her cheek in one hand as she stared at me. Tears falling from her big blue eyes.

"I don't understand, don't cha want the Bat to die?" She asked with tears still streaming. I can't believe how stupid she is. This dumb blonde, why would I wanna kill the Bat? What else would I do without him?

"Only if I do it, you idiot! Only I can get to kill him, and whenever I want to! How dare you destroy the balance?!!" I am fuming now. All I wanna do is carry this little girl's ass away from here and beat her senseless.

I stalked to where she is slumped on the floor and raised her chin up using my finger so she can look at me. She's shivering, not from cold I assume, but from fear.

"Do you understand what you've done here Harley?" My voice laced with venom, it can kill anyone in a matter seconds. She doesn't answer. She's just staring at me with her big blue eyes. They look so innocent, but I tell you they're not.