Dirty Little Freaks (OPEN)

[Joker]

Monolith Square was usually a bustling and busy area. It held shops, alleyways, and people. Well... Normally there were a lot more people but the sun had dropped behind the buildings and horizon. People had gone home for the night. The only people still out and about were villains, criminals, and drunks... And the insane, but they were out all hours thanks to Arkham's 'revolving door' system, as someone had said on the news a few days before. Which reminded the hunched figure who was currently slouching his way down an alleyway that he should really kill that guy. Well, he would. One day. It was more than likely that he would, anyway... But not yet. He'd just gotten back from his 'holiday' in New Jersey. He'd gone to pick up some things to help him start some inventing and some Joker brand experiments... But now he was back! Now he was walking casually through Monolith Square...

Trotting along the pavement once he got out of the alleyway, Joker looked around. He was bored. He needed something to do... And today he had a gun. Good news for him. Bad news for anyone who happened to be his next victim. He wasn't planning on shooting someone, but things rarely went according to plan when Joker had a weapon and no plans to use it... Things also rarely went to plan when he didn't have a weapon and wanted to use one... Okay, Joker's plans were kind of terrible in that they never actually worked out as he imagined. He just needed to think more about the outcome than how much fun he could have... Maybe...

Giggling a little to himself, Joker shook his head. No. It was more fun when things didn't go according to plan. He shot at a car as it drove past and hit the driver in the head. The car swerved into a wall, the horn blaring loudly. Laughing, Joker watched the car as he continued to walk and nodded in approval. It was a good idea to bring this gun. This lovely, little gun. One of the goons had got it for him for Christmas. That goon had been target practice when Joker had loaded the gun with ammunition 2pm on Christmas Day.

The police had found the body at 6 this morning.

Giggling to himself, Joker carried on his merry walk. It was dark, and cold, and near the beginning of January, but he didn't care. He had a gun. He'd just shot a guy dead. How could this possibly go wrong? Bat wouldn't turn up, Joker was sure of that. He wouldn't! Joker doubted that he would, anyway... His giggling and grinning stopped as he thought of that. His little Bat probably hadn't noticed. Joker was almost sad about that. He wanted to be noticed by his favourite little Bat Bat... Oh well, he'd figure out his way. Joker always did...

[Harleen Quinzel]

How long had it been? A few weeks since she was let out of the hospital, deemed sane. Not that she was completely she had so much work to do. She only wore her costume in secret and even then it was just to run her hands over her fabric and dream of her Puddin’ not that she had even seen him. It had been so long. She had started a new job at the police station with Jim. He allowed her to answer his calls in her own perky way, take notes and never commented if there were little doodles on the edges of them. She wasn’t even patted down anymore when she entered. The police had become use to having the girl in their station. At least that’s how she saw it.

Harley was actually enjoying her job. It allowed her to look through the Joker’s file and sigh happily at the memories. One of the things she managed to sneak away with was a complete colored copy of it. Now, walking around in the park she ran her fingers over the pictures. His face, the scares along it, just like the scare on her arm that said Joker. She ran her finger across his lips and down his face a little. She missed him, she needed him again. She tried filling his void with so many things. None of them were right however. Just as she turned to go home she heard shots then a crash followed by a car horn.

No, she was not sane, instead of calling the police, or even running away from the danger, Harley ran towards it. She ran towards a dragon killing people, and she was running towards this. The car was the first thing she saw, then in the distance there he was. It had to be her eyes, there was no way that this, this man was her Puddin’. Her apartment was no more than a block from here! He had to be coming to get her. A soft squeal of happiness escaped her lips and she yelled, “PUDDIN’!”

She ran, ran towards him as fast as she could, and as long as he didn’t shot her, she would throw her arms around him and hug him. “I knew you’d come look for me, I knew you’d find me!”

[Joker]

As he skipped off after shooting the car, Joker hummed to himself cheerfully, distracted by multiple thoughts running through his mind. One of them was about what he could possibly invent - maybe he could put poisonous green gas in a whoopee cushion - while one was about the Bat. Of course one would be about the Bat. With an obsessive ex-patient like Joker, it would be barely a surprise to anyone if they found out he was thinking about the Bat... And the last of the most active thoughts? A small surprise for his Harley Quinn. He hadn't seen her around since getting back, which was a small shock for Joker as he'd been expecting his literal partner in crime to have been waiting for him, and he'd found that a couple of his more loyal clowns knew where she was. He had already planned on finding out where to send her a small gift... Before he could give that more thought, though, he heard something that brought a smile to his face... A real smile, that is, and not just the painted one that was settled permanently onto his features.

Stopping, Joker turned. With the smile having turned into a grin, Joker chuckled. Yes. He'd come looking for her... That was exactly what he was doing... It wasn't, but he could lie. It would just be a tiny white lie. There went the surprise, though. It seemed that he wouldn't need to send her a gift after all. That's a shame. It would have been a little something to remind her of when they first met... Oh well. There was always a chance if he ever disappeared again. He might just do that for fun, actually. It would stop the Bat from finding him before he was ready, at any rate.

"Oh Harley, of course I did." He replied, his tone almost fond as he waited for what he assumed was coming. His arms spread for a hug from his favourite clown. He gave a small chuckle, his grin widening. "Have you been good, Harley?" He asked, raising an eyebrow before licking at the corners of his mouth, dampening the tips of his scars as he waited for the answer. He hoped not. This was his Harley Quinn! She couldn't have been good! That just didn't work with them! Or, it never had before. Besides, being good just took all the fun out of life...

Looking down at Harley in what could be described on anyone else as lovingly, Joker's grin didn't fade. It was a nice night, Joker had found his Harley - if found was the right word for what had just happened - and there was no Batman to cut this meeting short. Joker could have sung! No, that's a lie. Joker could have blown something up. That was how happy he was. Either that or he just wanted to blow something up. Both were likely with Joker.

[Harleen Quinzel]

There was something so magical with seeing him again. Something about running into his arms and feeling them wrap around her. The smell of his suit, the feel of his arms wrapped around her. A soft sigh escaped her lips, one full of love and lingering want. She didn’t realize how much she missed him, how much she needed him until this very moment. Her hands slid up his back gently as she pressed her body against his. In her mind she didn’t want to let him go, however she knew she couldn’t very well cling to her Puddin’ either.

Though when he looked down at her, her hand reached up to touch his face. Trace his scar as he smiled and all she could do was think about kissing him for a moment. No, silly though, the woman pulled away slowly, which was slightly out of character for her. She normally stayed almost attached him. “I, I..” She had been good. She hadn’t done any capers, or done anything to draw attention to herself since they separated. “I am working at the police station now.” She said proudly with a grin. “The Commissioner gave me a job as his secretary. I have a uniform and everything… I have been trying to find you though them… It.. I didn’t know where you go and Bruno and Charlie wouldn’t tell me. They said you took the babies and left. So I have been looking all over for you and…” She sniffled as her tears started to fall down her cheeks. She wiped her eyes and looked over to the car that crashed.

“Honestly Puddin’ I just haven’t been the same without you. I jus’ don’t know what to do.” Her eyes went back up into his and she became instantly lost in them. Melting into his eyes, and moving closer to him. She could resist him better when she wasn’t looking in his eyes, but the moment she did she was lost again, under his spell completely. Her eyes closed to blink away the tears an angled them more at his chest. She wanted nothing more than to be swept away be with him away from here. Maybe set a building on fire, or six. Perhaps that car can explode! That’s when her mind started spinning.

She could picture him picking her up into his arms, kissing her, then with a single shot the car blew up. Ah the explosion and heat would hit them and cause her heart to flutter, but in his arms she would be perfectly safe and then…. She squirmed in her own thought, ‘don’t think like that Harley, you’re going to get yourself in trouble!’

[Joker]

Joker hadn't truly been expecting her to cling. Despite the fact that he knew what she was like and he knew how much she cared for and loved him, he had expected some form of telling off for leaving so long. Who would like to be left alone without any explanation by the person they loved? But no. She didn't. Instead, she moved her hand up and began tracing his scars. This was going better than expected. Seemed there'd be no 'I'm sorry, Harley. I'll make it up to you later' today...

She began to move away and Joker's face fell a little. That wasn't normal. That wasn't normal at all. He didn't try to stop her, though. Much better to wait. Wait and find out. Wait and find out whether she wanted to tell him or not. He knew where the hyenas were, after all... When she told him that she was working at the police station, Joker frowned as his eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. Harley Quinn... At the police station? She continued to talk and Joker gave a small giggle. Harley. His Harley. His Harley in a uniform at the police station. Had he ended up in an alternate Gotham? Would he get arrested by Commissioner Joker if he stayed around much longer?

Seeing her crying, though, Joker's mouth turned down despite the fact that he was still a little amused by the thought of Commissioner Joker. Who the hell would make him a commissioner, anyway?

She spoke again and looked at his eyes and he gave a small, somewhat sympathetic smile.

"Don't worry, Harley. I won't be disappearing again." He told her, probably lying but not knowing whether he would be or not. Eh, if he did then he did. If not then he wasn't lying. "But those" bloody stupid "hyenas are safe. We're all back where we used to be. We're just missing you." He said kindly, looking down at her with his smile turning more 'loving'.

Joker's Guide to Winning Manipulated Girlfriends Back; step one in play right there.

He moved to put his arms around her again, ignoring the gun in his hand while he did so, and giggled softly to himself. His gaze turned to the car that had crashed earlier and he began thinking.

"The things we could do, Harley..." He mumbled to her, his eyes widening with ideas. The explosions. The murders. The kidnappings. The chaos! They could all be caused by Joker and his Harley Quinn... So long as the police station hadn't corrupted her against him. He wouldn't stand for it! He wouldn't run, walk, sit or lie for it either. She was his and his alone...

[Harleen Quinzel]

She knew that he might disappear again, but she clung to every word he said. She savored it and pulled it into her heart. She told everyone over and over again that eventually he was going to come find her and that he loved her. He couldn’t live without her, and she knew she couldn’t live without him. Was that the case? She honestly didn’t know but that’s how she defined their relationship. Them together, always and forever and nothing was going to pull them apart. “The babies. I miss them so much Mr. J. Have they been eating alright? Have they been going for their walkies? Have they been brushed?” She looked up at him with hope filled eyes. She wanted to know that they were taken care of, almost like if she came with him now she would see them with bows tired around their necks like when they were pups.

Then his arm slid around her and a soft excited squee escaped her lips. Her hand went and rested on her chest as she leaned against him. It felt so nice to feel him touch her, and… He… He…. He Joker touched her! Her breath caught up in her throat and her body leaned into his to feel him close. Her hands rested against his chest and she leaned into him resting her head on his shoulder. She missed this, it didn’t happen often enough in her mind. She wanted it every day, but she also knew the rules. Limited touching in public, which is where they were. Her hands ran down his chest and around his body so her hands were resting on his lower back.

“I would do almost anything with you Mr. J.” Almost, that was a new word. She never said almost anything. It seemed as though the part of her that had started to surface. That Jim was supporting and nurturing was starting to find it’s way out. “I have an early day with Jim tomorrow. We are going out for pancakes, and he was going to take me shopping for a puppy to help…” Because she missed her babies so much, “But if I am going to be seeing my babies I don’t think I need a new puppy.” She grinned her head resting still on his shoulder her arms resting on the small of his back.

“Why don’t you come up, I’ll make you your favorite dinner.” She grinned at him a little and pulled her head from his shoulder then leaned up and pecked his lips softly. “Did you miss me Puddin’?”

[Joker]

She began asking about the hyenas. He forced back the urge to roll his eyes and merely grinned before nodding. Joker suddenly felt very lucky that he'd employed someone just to look after the hyenas. She didn't need to know that, though. Or maybe she did. Well, let's face it, it would stop her worrying... Or, he thought it would. Maybe it wouldn't. No one knew those animals like Harley did. Joker knew this. Joker hated the hyenas but he knew what they meant to her. He knew she knew them better than anyone.

"They've been fine with their keeper." He assured her, attempting an expression of knowing what he'd been doing. He didn't have a damn clue when it came to her babies, but then again he didn't need to... Their keeper did. "He's... Knowledgeable." Joker said with a hint of a nod. He suspected that their new keeper was the same guy who used to look after them before Joker and Harley got hold of them, but wasn't sure. Oh well, Sneaky could check later if it bugged either of them. He didn't doubt that Sneaky would be able to find out...

Sneaky could find out almost anything...

He heard her squee as he held her close and gave a hint of a giggle. She reminded him of a school girl. Not just a stereotype, but an actual school girl. He could remember one. He had no idea who the hell she was but she certainly hadn't been squealing at him, from Joker's memory. Oh, that was strange. From his memory. He'd never had something from his memory before. He wasn't certain as to his feelings towards this, either...

His thoughts were broken by her words. Would do almost anything. Not could, would. Almost. Joker pulled his upper body back a bit to look at her. His face holding no grins. No smiles except the ever present scarring on his cheeks. His eyes narrowed momentarily. Ignoring her rambling, the wheels in Joker's head began to turn. She rested her head on his shoulder and he didn't even bother to hide the slightly sour expression on his features. Almost. It almost burned him. The fact she's said almost. It was like...

Like she wasn't his Harley anymore. Oh yes. It burned.

Seeing her grin, though having not listened to a word she'd said since the sentence that had sent his thoughts into a flurry of slight anger, Joker looked down at her grinning face and felt his own turn into a small smile. He didn't answer and was almost glad of the peck. It meant he didn't have to pretend he hadn't been oh-so busy thinking paranoid thoughts over one damnable word. Then came another question. This one he paid attention to. Had he missed her.

His lips pulled into a grin. His dark eyes looking down at her fondly. Had he missed her? Well... He hadn't thought so until now. It was probably just the possessiveness taking over his brain, though. Regardless of what it was, he gave a small hint of a nod.

"Of course I did. You're my Harley Quinn." He stated, grin still on his lips. He shifted ever so slightly in her grip and continued to look at her. The grin faded. His eyebrows were raised. "You said 'almost', Harley." He began, his tongue darting out to dampen the corners of his lips. The tips of his scars. He sucked in his cheeks momentarily in a movement of... Disappointment? No. Annoyance. Yes. There was definite annoyance in his cheek sucking movement. They returned to their normal state - not being sucked in - after merely a moment and he continued to look at her. His expression was most definitely anger fuelled, though not much. "What did you mean 'almost'?" He asked, his voice low, a soft growl purring along the edges of each word as he lowered his face closer to hers. His eyes looking into Harley's as he chewed on the inside of one cheek. "What are your limits?" He asked, the growl becoming more obvious, his arms tightening a little around her. Oh, he wasn't happy. His Harley Quinn seemed to be disappearing. His Harley Quinn. She was his. Not Gordon's. Not the Bat's. No. No. His. Joker's little Harley Quinn...

((Notes: I'm so sorry this took so long. D: I haven't had any muse for Joker. For some reason, Harley/Joker fanvids give me a lot of muse... And ideas for fanfics... <_< >_> *shuffles off*))

[Harleen Quinzel]

Her babies had a keeper, not Joker himself? She was a little disappointed at first, but slowly it began to make sense to her. He didn’t love the babies as much as she did. Perhaps there were many reasons for that. The main one likely being that they didn’t seem to like him as much as they liked her. Starving hungry and half mad she could walk to them and hug them both. Kiss them on the head and rub their ears, anyone else would have been snapped at if not bitten. She was their mother and they were her babies and she would have it no other way.

She could remember when he brought them home for her. She fell in love instantly. Then again she had been talking to him about wanting a real baby. The hyenas stopped that thought all together, they were her kids. She almost went insane when they had gone missing one day. The couple found them eating one of their gang members. All she could do was giggle and scold both animals about “playing rough” with their friends. In the end, they both got a bunch of treats and baths. Since then, they always bite and chase people wearing orange.

Her soft eyes looked up at his her fingers moving up to trail across his scars and over his cheeks. Touching them with affection. She watched his array of emotions, not sure what was causing him to be so focused on one thing. Perhaps he was just planning the death of the bat. After all that blasted man kept separating them and deserved to know what that felt like. Maybe he was coming up with a lovingly plan. She loved that idea, no she was loving it more and more as her mind. “I will always be your Harley Quinn.”

She smiled at his smile and she was leaning into kiss him again, when he grin faded and the tight around her waist ever so slightly. He said she said almost? Was there an almost? There was, and she knew that more than anything but how could she have said that out loud. “Well, I didn’t really I..” She watched his tongue run over his lips, wetting the his cheeks she started to get a little nervous. “W-well I-i-I didn’t mean… I…” the growl caused bumps to rise on her skin as she started to tremble in his arms a little. He was getting angry, and not just angry but angry at her. He was getting mad at her!

She became a little panicked and when she pushed away from him he pulled her closer back in. It was a curious sight. Normally she cling to him and he was pushing her off, though this was a different situation many might think of it almost comical. She couldn’t meet his gaze her eyes were cast at the ground unable to look up at him. She didn’t want to see that look in his eyes. She couldn’t bear to see that look. Was he going to kill her? Could she somehow fix this?

“It.. It’s not like that M-mr J…. I… I jus…. I..” She was shaking rather hard in his arm. “I don’t want to hurt the Commissioner. He’s not like how we thought him to be Puddin’.” There she said it, she didn’t want to hurt Gordon. The man that had been helping her all this time. Carefully, cautiously, she looked up at him hoping that his anger didn’t surface, that it stayed locked in his eyes and how he held her.



((Heh no worries I can understand that. I love you playing Joker though, well worth the wait.))

[Joker]

Joker was beginning to doubt that she would always be his Harley Quinn. Of course, he was obsessive, possessive and slightly paranoid though. She didn't really seem to want to be there as he pointed out that she'd said 'almost'. No one would. No one who knew him would, anyway. And why would they? If they couldn't get away, he could do anything to them. If they couldn't get away, he would do so much and they wouldn't be able to stop him. He knew it. He knew the power he had at that moment. He always had power over her, true, but not like this. At the same time, he didn't want her to be scared. It didn't suit her. It didn't suit them.

She was speaking, trying to come up with things to say. He didn't doubt it was an attempt to keep him calm. The goons did it often... Usually just before he got bored of their stuttering excuses and shot them. This was Harley, though. This was his Harley Quinn. He tried vaguely to get her to meet his eye, just by moving a little, trying to get eye contact slightly while she was looking at the ground. She continued talking and he could feel her shaking. It wasn't what he had been expected but at the same time, he hadn't been expecting the almost.

One hand moved to stroke her hair back as she stuttered and shook. His movements were quite soft despite his anger. She was his Harley. He wouldn't do anything right now. Not until she'd explained things. Then? Then he had no idea. Most of the time Joker didn't have a clue. He just tended to go with the chaotic flow of his life. Sometimes he'd alter something, but other times? Other times he'd just go with it. Plant a bomb here, shoot a guy there... It was all just a part of how his life seemed to go. He didn't mind it too much, though...

She finally got words out without stuttering and Joker looked at her with narrowed eyes. She didn't want to hurt the commissioner? His hand that had been stroking back her hair stopped moving as she looked up at him. He shifted on the spot slightly and licked at the corners of his lips again. His bottom lip was momentarily sucked into his mouth a moment later. He began chewing softly on the inside of his cheek as he looked at her. The annoyance was bubbling under the hard-to-read, almost emotionless expression. He gave a nod.

"I... I understand." He began, nodding still before he put the gun down on the highest near by object and looked at it instead of her. His other hand remained where it had frozen, half way through stroking back her hair. "I understand, Harley..." He nodded again before looking at her, his other hand moving to almost cup her jaw. He doubted she'd move away, though it was possible. If she hadn't, his thumb would have been gently brushing the corner of her lips on one side.

The expression on his face was not one of understanding when he looked back at her, though. It was anger. Calm, controlled anger. And there was betrayal. Just a little. A ghost of betrayal floating with the anger. His hand went back to stroking back her hair. "He's..." He sucked on his front teeth while trying to pick the best word. His bottom jaw jutted forward before moving back to its usual position slowly. "Corrupted you... Against... Against me.." He took a deep breath and sighed, no longer looking at her face before doing so again. "It's okay." He nodded, licking at the corners of his lips again. "It was bound to happen." He almost hissed, chewing on the inside of his scars on one cheek again while nodding as though agreeing with himself with his eyes closed.

When Joker opened his eyes, he looked straight into hers - or tried to - and nodded again, the betrayed expression still stirring. "I didn't expect it to happen to you, though. I thought you understood." The last word was almost growled out. His anger coming back in that one word as he leaned his face a little closer to hers. His hand on her hair having frozen again if she hadn't moved away already. "Must have been wrong." He almost snarled, his painted lips twisted into a snarl of anger. It was growing, though. How dare he?! How dare he take Joker's Harley Quinn?!

Joker didn't move now, though. He remained close, his head tilted to one side as though trying to figure her out. His dark, seemingly almost hollow eyes never looking away from hers. Any feelings of betrayal were helping to fuel the anger that was stirring and twisting... And his expression showed that quite well. Anger had never looked exactly pretty on Joker... But the scars and the face paint just made it look so much worse, in Joker's opinion. It helped with moments like this.

((Notes: Heehee, I'm glad you think so and thank you. Have fun with these 848 words of rambling. XD))

[Harleen Quinzel]

Harley didn’t know how to feel about Joker at the moment. She loved him, more than herself more than anything. There was only one condition to her being with him now. She had known that he didn’t do well with conditions. He didn’t do well with anything that might stop what he wanted. However, she had been hoping he would take the news well. You know, roll with it? However, it didn’t seem like that was going to be the case. Was she ever going to go back to how she was? No, no she wasn’t, she was always going to have a spot in her heart for Jim. Right?

The moment his hand was on her head, she calmed. He had never been horrible to her, he had always treated her different than the other goons. It calmed her nerves and she was finally able to tell him about him. The moment the words her left her lips she knew it was a mistake. His stroking stopped and she met his gaze. She was trying to read him. Harley herself normally could read the clown well. However, she was so nervous she couldn’t read his expression. Was he going to hit her? Was he going to go out and kill Jim because she had said his name? What was he going to do?

“Y-you understand?” She smiled a little, he understood? She felt him shift to set his gun down but when his eyes looked back into hers she froze, he didn’t understand. He was trying to sooth her but he didn’t get it. No no no, she had to make this right, she had to get Mr. J to believe what she actually meant by what she said. No, she couldn’t let this stand. She had to some how fix this. His hand gently cupped her jaw and she felt his thumb brush against the corner of her lips. Her eyes closed and all was forgotten for a moment, the young woman leaned into his touch and nuzzled his hand.

When he began to speak again she looked up into his eyes. There was a moment she froze and swallowed hard. “No, no Mr. J it’s not like that I am still your Harley. I am still your girl.” She bit her lower lip as she met his eyes and fell silent. She still wanted to be his, she still wanted to be with him. She had spent all this time looking for him, wanting to be with him. Tracking him down. She wanted to always be his Harley, she wanted to be with him in every way. She took in a shuttering breath as she watched him.

Then his words hit her hard, she stopped dead in her tracks and just looked at him. Her mouth staying slightly open as she watched him. Tears started to form in her eyes. Her hands reached up and touched his face. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.. I understand Puddin’ I understand it all.. I.. I want nothing more than to be in there with you.” She meant that more than anything. Leaning in she wanted to kiss him. So, she leaned in to try, if he allowed her, the kiss would have been passionate, soft, and loving. However, if he prevented her, she would just take a small step away from him, but remain close.

“I love you Mr. J. Whatever I have to do, I will prove that to you anything at all!” The words came out quickly and either way kiss or no, she reached up to touch his face, to run her fingers along the sides of his cheeks and just look deep into his eyes. “Except, hurt Jim. He has family, kids, a-a wife. We shouldn’t go after him Joker, he isn’t worth the time or effort. The batman, we can kill the Batman, that’s where our focus should be right?” She had learned to love Gordon, and more than that she was starting to like some of the police officers as well. How they treat her now was different than before. There was a war in her heard. Harley vs Harleen. Her new life where she was starting to enjoy it. Or her old life. Her mind began to break it down. Joker was a drug. He was her addiction on life. At first she had gone though a strong withdraw of him. She went crazy without him. Then, after time went on, she started to relax. Jim filled that place for her. It was a nice feeling, he was arm caring but not the same. He protected her, saved her from herself. Believed in her, and now, she was looking up at the only other man that believed in her.

However for the moment she was letting him down she was disappointing him. This was her fault that she wasn’t strong enough to push away the influence. She had been weak without him and now she was bringing on a new evil to them. She was shifting, she could feel it. Just being in his presence she was changing a little on the inside. She would please him, she had no doubt, she wanted nothing more than to take him upstairs and make him happy in any way she could. Make him dinner, plan an attack on the Bat. Receive information on the bat from the police station.

“Think of what we could do with me working with Jim. I-I could get files… O-or change papers work to get the guys out… I-I could be helpful there and we just need to keep that bridge open.” HA! There, did she just find something that might change how he saw this? She had hoped so but her mind was still in a panic she was still worrying. She didn’t want to lose him. Anything he wanted, she was almost ready to give him everything just to see him smile. To be in his favor, for him to claim her again. Perhaps talking to Jim about this would make everything easier.

((Woops that was long sorry about that but enjoy... 1019 words of Harley ramble and trying to figure herself out.))

[Joker]

Joker didn't say anything more while she was talking. He didn't need to. He didn't need to speak more than he had. He didn't need to add anything. He knew he didn't. He knew that he could just leave what he'd said twisting into her mind. He wasn't expecting the array of emotions, though. He wasn't expecting the smile, the seemingly content moment when she closed her eyes, the swallow, the bite... He didn't expect any of it. He expected her to just agree. Anything to make him happy, right? No. There was none of the agreeing. None of the that. It was just emotions and words. Simple. Of course, to her it probably wasn't so simple, but Joker had a very black and white way of looking at things. Well, black, white and red way of looking at things...

When tears started to form, his thumb moved gently over her cheek. He didn't feel at all bad for this, though. He couldn't. She had forced his hand in his mind. She had made him do this.

Watching her still, Joker didn't pull away as she kissed him. At least, not at first. If there was one thing Joker was good at along side manipulation, murder and planning, it was being cold - maybe even cruel. There might have been something wrong with him besides what everyone had already guessed, that is. What had everyone already guessed, anyway? Joker couldn't remember... Well, at least his memory wasn't working again. That had been weird... Even by Joker's standards, that had been weird.

When her fingers reached his cheeks, Joker almost forgot what he was angry about. She continued talking, though, and he remembered. In a swift, almost aggressive movement, Joker moved to grab her wrists and pull her hands away from his face. His lips were pulled into a snarl again. He gave a hint of a laugh as she told him that Gordon wasn't worth the time or the effort. This was the commissioner of the GCPD! Of course he was worth the time and effort! He'd changed Joker's Harley Quinn. That wasn't something that could just sit with Joker. No. He had to do something about it. He had to. She was his. Only his! Joker didn't share very well...

"He's locked us up so many times it's not funny." He growled at her before narrowing his eyes. He pointed in the vague direction that he thought the station was with one hand while searching for the words, his hands not letting go of her if she hadn't stopping him grabbing her wrists. "Do you think... Do you think he'd care if he saw us now? Do you think he'd care about our family?" He asked. Joker had never considered himself, Harley and the hyenas to be a family, but he knew she did. Come on, she called them her babies. It was kind of obvious. "He'd lock us back up and... And throw away the key." Joker probably sounded like a rambling conspiracy theorist - albeit an angry and therefore raging conspiracy theories - right now, but he felt it was justified.

Going silent momentarily, though still looking at her with a slight look of anger and distrust. "He only cares while he can use you. I'll show you, Harley..." He moved one hand to gently brush her cheek in an almost loving manner. "You can only trust the ones you can understand." He nodded, his voice a little calmer as his tongue darted out to lick at the corners of his mouth. He seemed to be using the word 'understand' a lot today, he noticed momentarily while looking at her.

She suggested staying there and Joker paused. Actually, that was a good idea... And probably useful, too. It didn't mean that he wasn't still annoyed about Gordon, but the fact that something useful could come out of her working at the police station was making him stop... Making him think... It was clever, Joker had to admit that.

Taking a small step back, Joker still seemed to be thinking. His hands had moved away from her now, both were at his sides until he gave a small nod of... Agreement? Agreement or approval. He wasn't sure he trusted her to actually do what she was saying, but if she didn't then he could find a way to show his displeasure at it... Of course he could. He knew her... And he was The Joker. Where there was a will, and his usual cheerful demeanor, there was a way... Certainly...

((Notes: Gah, only 763 this time. I blame the fact it's gone 6am. Yup... Eep I love this thread. <3))

[Harleen Quinzel]

She wanted nothing more than Joker to agree with her, to trust her enough to just let everything else go. She needed to protect Jim at all costs. He was a good man, a loving man, he was the kind of hero that this city needed around. She wasn’t going to let anyone take that away. Not Batman, not the Joker. He was the type of person that should be saving this city. Now only if Joker could see that, only if he could understand and accept that this was right. It WAS right.

“Family…” The words escaped her lips. He thought they were a family? He understood?! He loved her that much?! It was almost like a dream come true for Harley. Joker called her family. He loved her enough, that meant that some day they might marry, that dream she had pushed off. If he saw them together, if he saw a family out of the same things that she saw as her family than that meant. He saw her in the same light that she saw him. That had to be it. He loved her more than anything, and she loved him so that had to be enough. They could be together forever now! He would always love her and she would always love him. Her heart beat in her chest quickly and the young woman could barely hide her excitement. Oh heck who is she kidding she was practically giddy.

If he saw her as his, as family than she would always be with him. He would always be with her. They would live happily ever after and that would be the end of it. In this moment, she wanted to remember this date. Darn it, if she had her camera she would take a picture, the first day she realized that he loved her as much as she loved him. That they were going to be together for ever. The two of them, together until the end. Loving each other, they would die an old age with their own kids, or maybe just pups from her.. No their babies.

“No Jim isn’t like that anymore Puddin’ he cares about me. He’d never hurt me, and he knows I love you so he wouldn’t hurt you because that would hurt me.” Yes, that’s how she reasoned this out. Was she going to be proven wrong? Yes, most likely, and deep down she knew that. It showed though, and anyone that even half knew the woman could see it in her eyes.

However, Joker pulled away when she made her suggestion. She knew it had been a good one. Perhaps now he could see that, that they were better off leaving Jim alone. She just grinned when he nodded in agreement. Well at least that’s how she took it. “Come with me.” She said with her most seductive come hither voice. Taking his hand she lead him across the street and up into her apartment just as sirens started to sound near her home.

“Home Sweet Home!” The apartment was a small studio apartment. Something that Harley hated, she always had. She liked huge buildings, someplace many people would get lost in. She loved planning escapes, having secret rooms and tunnels. However none of that was here, and some how she didn’t mind until this very moment with Joker. She had thought it was small ish, but now standing with him, she felt like the walls were closing in on her. It was to small. Because it was fine because she lived so close to Jim, however, now, it wasn’t fine. It was, dangerous. “I’ll make your favorite Dinner!”

With those words his little Harley skipped into the kitchen, her hair bouncing slightly as she went. Stopping stove she looked over to him. “Mr. J. I will always be your Harley Quinn. I could never not be who I am…” She meant that, she was always going to be his. Always going to love him and need him. Though she had to admit, she might forget it from time to time.

[Joker]

As Joker heard her repeat the word family, he realised he'd made a huge mistake in saying that. Even though Harley was happy, he didn't doubt that there would be more to come. Would she start on at him about babies again? He really didn't think they were... Parent material. Patient material, definitely, but he could imagine himself killing any children who annoyed him enough. They had a seventeen year old goon working for them. Joker was happy to have a seventeen year old around, though that was as close as he was planning on getting to becoming a father. Besides, knowing Harley as well as he did, he suspected any children would have strange names... Like J jr. That wasn't a thought that Joker really wanted in his mind right now. He much preferred the thought of blowing something up... And that right there was the exact reason they should never have children. Their children would be homicidal maniacs...

Maybe they should have kids.

No! Joker thought to himself as soon as he realised what his thought process was doing. No children. No mini-J and mini-Harley... Yet. Wait! Yet?! Never. Never having mini-clowns.

Damn the word family. Damn it to Hell. Joker was really regretting the idea to say that they were a family now. On the plus side, she didn't say anything more. Maybe there wouldn't be more talk of children... Could they breed the hyenas? Joker couldn't remember if they were both males or not. He thought so, but had never actually checked... God help him if the hyenas had pups. The adults hated him enough...

She spoke again and Joker shook his head. That never worked! Well... It never worked as far as things with Joker went. He didn't bother to point this out though - nor the fact that she obviously didn't believe it herself. He registered it, though. Oh yes. He registered it. He made a mental note to remember it if this subject was brought up again... It probably would be, especially as Joker could practically feel himself beginning to get obsessed over the thought of hurting Gordon for corrupting his Harley. Well, it would be something he could look forward to planning. Joker needed something to do when he couldn't sleep, anyway...

When she spoke again, Joker looked at her with a frown of confusion as he tried to figure out if she'd ever used that voice before and if so, when. The confusion was only momentary, though, as he heard sirens. Well, at least someone was probably having fun... Joker might later, but he didn't think it would be the same kind of fun... And it also probably wouldn't be his idea, either. Well, as long as they didn't get any mini-clowns from it then he didn't mind.

Being half-dragged across the street - Joker trying to stop her for only a moment so that he could grab his gun because like Hell was he leaving that out here for some nobody to steal - Joker began to pick up the pace a little. On the plus side: his arm wouldn't be dislocated. That was always nice. On the other hand, though, he had no idea where they were going. It was Harley, though, so he doubted that she'd take him somewhere dangerous... Or rather: dangerous for him... He needn't have thought of that, though, as he found himself being taken to a small apartment. Well, wasn't this cosy?

Looking around as she spoke, Joker raised an eyebrow. He didn't like it. He liked warehouses and huge abandoned buildings... This place just seemed... Wrong. She spoke again and he nodded distractedly. He really wanted to break something in here to make it less normal... He didn't dare, though. She might set the hyenas on him... They'd been difficult enough when she wasn't around. He didn't much fancy a repeat of the first day they'd been away when the damn creatures jumped on him and woke him up by trying to eat his arm. He still had the teeth marks...

Moving around the room he was currently in, Joker glanced around as she began to speak again. He didn't believe her for a second... Maybe he was having trust issues... Whatever the reason, Joker didn't really believe that she would always be his Harley. His Harley would agree to hurting Gordon. No. No. She wasn't his Harley. She wasn't his perfect monster... She'd be back there, though. He was sure of it...

Nodding regardless, Joker continued to look around while moving to sit on the nearest chair. Why was everything so... Normal?! And why was this place so small? It didn't suit her... Oh, how much he missed lounging around their home... With the goons doing... Um... Whatever the goons did... Joker never really paid much attention to what the goons did. They did whatever they did and Joker left them too it until they annoyed himself or Harley. What they did wasn't generally important to Joker. As long as they didn't do anything ultimately ridiculous - like phone the police - then they weren't interesting to Joker...

"This doesn't suit you, Harls..." He commented, a small hint of dislike on his features as his gaze floated over things that were near-by. "Too small!" He added, looking at her while moving his hands - splayed - to indicate around them. "Y'know..." He began, sitting up a little and looking at what was in front of him momentarily before his dark eyes turned back to her. "Y'know, we're still where we used to be... That big place near the docks." He told her. Wait, had they been there before? Joker couldn't remember. It had always been in his possession, but he couldn't remember if she'd ever actually been there... Hm... Oh well, he was sure she'd tell him if she hadn't.

((Notes: 979 words of idek what... Probably all rambling. Haha, enjoy!))

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[Harleen Quinzel]

His gun, how could she have been so silly? Harley let Joker back track and pick it up before she continued to drag him forward. Her mind still focused on kids. Should they have them? They would be the perfect mix of him and her. They could buy them their first guns, have them light their first stick of dynamite. Watching them shoot at Batman. Just the thought caused a sigh to push out of her lips. It would be perfect. She could feel the baby grow inside of her, have Joker feel the baby kick and move within her. It would be a miracle, and maybe they could be a happy family. That’s what she wanted more than anything else.

However, once she got him in her apartment, she found herself nervously thinking about him being there. What if he didn’t want to be with her anymore since she wanted Jim around? What if he didn’t mean his words? He had lied to her many times in the past. What if this was another lie? The young woman looked over at her lover and sighed happily, though he did look completely out of place. He was in his clown garb, his sexy, sexy purple suit, with his green hair and his makeup. Sitting among her tan furniture, the laid back colors, that looked more like she bought it form a normal store than made the covers. Which she always did for their places. She always decorated in the way that they liked together. The goons called it clown sheek. Putting the food in the oven she reappeared to look at him, sitting there, among her things that until now seemed right.

Now everything seemed so subdued, boring, they just didn’t feel right as they once had. She watched him lean forward and look at the small clown figurines that littered her tables, it was the one thing that never could give up on. Small things that reminded her of him. She always hid them before Jim came over. “I know it’s small.. Only one true exit.” She looked towards the front door, a feeling of panic setting in a little. This place was far to small, she could be killed if she stayed here. The fire escape wasn’t nearly a good enough exit to be considered as a main point of entry. The front door, all she had was the front door.

Harley’s arms wrapped around herself slowly as she looked back to Joker. She walked over to him, and gently put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. The woman sat down on his lap and straddled his legs so she was facing him, well as long as he let her. “The warehouse on the docks?” She had seen it only a couple of times. It was a secret place. They had set it up years before she but she had never really stayed there. He had always had several other places for them to be, safer places. Or so he said. Now he stayed there? She had always loved the water and now she wanted to near it again. Her house was trapped in the middle of the city, so many people, so little goons doing goonie things.

She could remember their poker games, and how at times they got into some real trouble. Oh that time they robbed the diamond store, and Harley was allowed to pick out a couple of things to keep and those silly clowns sold them. She had gotten upset, and instead of yelling at him stomped over to Joker and complained. She never saw them again, well at least not those ones. They always had goons, and honestly, they tended to listen and let her do whatever she wanted. It wasn’t worth upsetting Joker themselves.

“Mr. J are you asking me to come home?” Was it wrong that she was hoping he was? She wanted him to want her, to need her, and not just to find his socks. She wanted him to want her more than just as a play thing but as a partner, someone worth being with and spending time with. She wanted to believe that him sag family meant just that. Family.. There was that word in her head again. “Puddin’ I missed you.” She said it honestly, looking directly in his eyes her hands reaching up and touching his face.

She wanted a moment before laying her head on his shoulders, her arms wrapped loosely around him, if she was in his lap. She wanted nothing more than to just be with him as a couple should be for a night. However, the longer she was within his range of influence, the more she just wanted to go blow something up instead. Skip cuddling in her house, lets blow up a building and lay on a roof top looking at the flames. That was romantic right?

(822 words of random Harley lol)

[Joker]

The clowns on Harley's table amused Joker a little. They almost made the place seem like a home instead of just somewhere to stay. Actually, it just made it seem like she was trying to make it more home-like... He giggled ever so softly while he was looking at them and, once he'd looked back at her, he nodded along. She looked towards the front door and Joker mimicked her. That was ridiculous! One exit?! That wasn't safe at all... Not at all. He gave a hint of a sigh and shook his head while leaning on his elbows, which were rested on his thighs

"That... That's not safe. Not for you! You're infamous. Someone could come after you..." He stated, an expression of almost... Concern on his red, white and black features. He wasn't sure if he was actually concerned or just wanted her to go back with him. Probably both. That sounded most likely. Even though Joker would never admit it, he did care for her... If only a little bit. As such, he wouldn't want anyone coming after her. He doubted anyone would want to go after her, though. Who would want Joker hunting them down through his city? Who would want Joker hunting them anyway? Through his city or not. He would find them. Always...

Looking up at her as she pushed him back, Joker didn't stop her from sitting on him. Why would he? She was his Harley. His and only his. No one elses... He would never let her be anyone elses. As she asked whether the current home was the werehouse on the docks, Joker watched her before nodding. It had never been his favourite place for himself, Harley and the goons but after he and one of the goons - Bam - had accidentally blown a hole through one of the walls of the last place... Well... The warehouse was safer than that place, anyway. He'd employed the Carpenter to fix the hole. She'd suggested that they move out for a little while... He had his eyes on another building anyway.

"We blew a hole in the last place..." He told her after nodding, looking at one of her hands as his gloved ones moved to play with her fingers gently. "It's being fixed, though! But... Uh... We had an accident with a bomb..." He pulled a face of slight uncertainty and glanced at her face for her reaction. "One of the goons died too... He was new, though..." He added dismissively with a shrug. His tongue darted out to dampen the corners of his lips as he went silent again. Her voice broke him out of the thoughts of what the goons could be doing right now. Of what they could be doing right now - Harley and Joker that is. They could be doing so many things and instead they were sitting in a too normal apartment... This whole situation was too normal. Joker didn't like it. It was too quiet. Too homely. Too normal...

Too uncomfortable. Joker wasn't comfortable with normal things. He was comfortable with unusual things. Explosions! Blood! Murders! Not... Dinner in the oven and having a discussion as though they were like everyone else. They weren't. They probably never would be. Joker wouldn't want to be, either. They were who they were. Pretending wouldn't change that...

Anyway, the question brought him back to the here and now instead of thinking how uncomfortable this was. Was he asking her to come home? Of course he was! Why wouldn't he be?

"Of course I am, Harley." He answered, throwing one hand up as though it was obvious. "It's strange... Strange without you there. There's Clip and Snap and Bam and they're all..." He shrugged and looked at her hands again. "They don't understand." He said almost under his breath. She told him she missed him and he looked at her face instead of her hands. His black smothered eyes looking into hers as he felt her hands on his face again. Was she addicted to that or something? At least it would be a cheap addiction... Joker wasn't unhappy with the face touching, though...

"Next time I go somewhere, you're coming with me." He decided quietly, his eye lids dropping a little from the face touching. It was something unique to Harley. He would be happy with it... But then her hands were gone from his face and he looked at her. His tongue poked out to dampen the corners of his lips again as she put her arms around him. Now he wanted to move around, though. He wanted to see something abnormal, damn it! It was all... Regular. Like a normal couple. Ugh. Normal. Joker was getting annoyed with that word now... They weren't normal... And no one would believe how much Joker wanted to do what Joker did best...

((Notes: 816 words. I don't like it too much but it's a post and I've been working on it for hours so... Hope you enjoyed!))

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