Liberation.

Chapter 10

Ice

I finally had her in my arms, finally for the first time in months I could breathe. I felt home because my home was right here in my arms. I spent so long searching for her I thought I would loose my mind... Yet my prayers were answered when Joker called. He owed me a favour and now I guess we're even; more than that actually. I feel like now I owe him the biggest favour, he gave me my life back. 

I was slowly loosing faith, losing hope that I'd ever find her. A part of me started believing she will be better off without me... Even if I knew I never would be the same if I lost her for good. 

I held her hand tightly in mine, refusing to loosen my grip in case she slipped through my fingers again. I feared what her parents will say when they see us together, despite anything I meant what I told Hope, I wont give up on persuading them that she is all that matters to me. Hope halted in front of her house and looked up at me, worry in her perfect blue eyes, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "It's going to be okay Angel eyes", she smiled sweetly and nodded, leading us into the house. 

Once we stepped in through the door, everyone's eyes darted to us. Hope stood beside me, and took a breath in, before she could speak, Bat paced towards us. "Oh hell no" he muttered reaching his hand back and pulling out a pistol, well that's expected. Before he got to me, Hope stepped in front of me. Bat's gun was aimed straight at her chest and my blood ran hot with anger. "Move aside Hope" he ordered, I huffed at the asshole, who did he thing he is bossing my girl around. "No Bruce, you move the hell aside" Hope snapped back at him and my chest willed with pride. Bat's eyes flashed to her and the internal battle he was having, I was sure he was defeated. He lowered his gun and took a step back, "How did you find her?" he asked. 

"I told him", Joker stepped forward, surprising everyone. Bat's jaw ticked and he turned to look at his former enemy, "and why would you do that?!" he roared. Joker wasn't phased by him, he merely shrugged and smiled, "I'm a sucker for love what can I say mate". A smirk hinted at my lips, Joker was really something else, I truly owe him my life. "Hope", I looked over at the voice, it was a woman with fiery red hair, I assumed that was Pamela. "Yes mom" Hope replied flatly, "You don't love him baby, you think you do bu-", "No mom, you're wrong. I don't think I love him, I know I love him. It's not some sick infatuation with my captor, because he wasn't my captor. He was just a boy when I was there, he is the reason I know how to read and speak, he brought me books every week so I didn't feel so damn lonely and then HE showed me what love was. So don't you dare tell me I don't love him!". 

Her mom, along with everyone fell silent, my heart ached for her and my love only grew for this insane firecracker standing before me, still protecting me. I stepped beside her and grabbed her hand tightly, I looked over at her family. "I left my father, I left everything he stands for and he let me walk because he knew I was no use for him, he knew I belonged somewhere else. Since you ripped her from my arms, I haven's stopped even for a second from looking for her, because the longer she was away, the emptier I felt. You don't have to believe me, trust me, or even accept me. You stand here with one of the worst men I've ever met; no offence Joker", I paused looking over at him, he waved me off not bothered by my words. "You welcomed him into your home, gave him a chance despite all he's done, I know the story of Harley and him, so why can't you give me the same chance you did him?". 

The room was still silent, it made me nervous, but I've said what I meant and that's all that matters. Then Harley stepped forward, and she broke the silence. "If your intentions towards my daughter are true, then I will accept it; but the second a single tear falls from her eyes for the wrong reasons, you will regret ever stepping into this house. Are we clear?", I tried my hardest to hide my smile, Harley Quinn scared me, but she had nothing to worry about. "As clear as Ice" I replied, and she smiled and nodded moving to grab hold of her wife's hand. 

I looked over at Hope, she was smiling, with dried tears on her cheek. I squeezed her hand and she looked up at me, she nodded once and we both knew. Things will be okay now...