Heart Song Chapter 2, a batman fanfic

Chapter 2~Gasoline

"Are you insane like me? Been in pain like me?
Bought a hundred dollar bottle of champagne like me?
Just to pour that motherfucker down the drain like me?
Would you use your water bill to dry the stain like me?"

~Halsey

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Harley took careful stock of herself in the mirror as the red lipstick slid across her lower lip, everything about her was a weapon and her appearance was her most important tool. She smiled all teeth making sure no red had smudged on there before she plopped herself onto her bed to pull on her heels. Tonight would be very interesting, a charity gala, to raise funds for Arkham hosted by Bruce Wayne of all people…it made her giggle. She had been working at Arkham for little over two months now and was enjoying her time there. Harley was sure that if she had anyone whom she considered a friend in this life they would be horrified.

Not that she had any friends.

Not that it mattered to her any.

Harley had a hard time connecting to anyone in this life after her father had been killed, and she supposed it was a combination of things. First, she was a lot more intelligent than a normal child so making friends back then was kind of impossible. Not only because she did not have patience for their idiocy but because they thought she was weird. Then as she grew older, women stayed away from her because they didn't like being around someone they considered 'perfect'. As beautiful as she was intelligent, being around Harley was intimating for them and made them feel inferior. Men pursued her… not for friendship but for her body.

Unfortunately for them Harley had standards and if they couldn't hold a conversation with her then why should she bother with them. Some of them had been handsome but as idiotic as the rest and some had been smart but they had no passion in them. Harley was a passionate person, someone who lusted after life, she was a thrill seeker and not ashamed to admit it. After tasting death, life and all its offerings was just too much to resist.

That was why she had such a drive to learn things and do things. Not only because it might be useful to her one day but because she genuinely enjoyed it. She enjoyed acrobatics, pushing her body to an ever further limit. Harley enjoyed playing music and singing and dancing. She enjoyed being a doctor and having someone's life rest in the palm of her hands. Everything she did she enjoyed, she even reveled in the pain, because pain meant you were alive.

Harley freely admitted to being a masochist.

In fact it was something of a point of pride for her to enjoy pain.

Harley giggled and made her way down to the taxi waiting for her on the curb. Time to get this show on the road.

Arriving a little late Harley was gratified to feel many eyes on her as she walked through the door and deftly grabbed a champagne glass off of a passing server. After greeting Dr. Arkham she took his not so subtle hint to start mingling with the guest. Harley was glad she had chosen to wear her eye popping blue dress instead of the gold when she caught sight of all the other gold dresses in the room.

She liked to stand out.

As the night wore on Harley did her very best to try to appear interested in whatever her conversation partner was saying but his voice was particularly dull. That was the problem with being the smartest person in the room (most of the time) it made finding someone she could actually have a conversation with incredibly hard to find. So she let her mind wander only giving the man before her the barest of her attention in order to keep him talking but not really putting any effort into it.

Her mind wandered into thinking about the progress she had made with Ivy, and bit her lip to keep from smiling at an awkward moment. Ivy had been cold to her at first, refusing to speak and throwing insults at her when she did. Harley had persevered though and had been slowly gaining her trust. First she had 'redecorated' Ivy's cell for her while she was getting common room time. Smuggling in a eco friendly memory foam mattress and getting her walls painted a nice forest green. She had been there to greet her when she had seen the improvements, of course, no point in doing something without getting the credit for it.

After that Harley started to bring her botany books during their sessions and slowly Ivy started opening up to her. Just a little bit. It was enough that Harley felt she was making some headway into helping Ivy deal with the trauma of her "transformation". It helped that Harley only ever called Pamela, Ivy, and refused to do any 'treatments' that were supposed to break her out of her "mother nature" role.

A cough brought her focus back to the man in front of her, "AS I was saying, Bruce, this is Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a bright up and coming doctor that has recently been hired on at Arkham. Dr. Quinzel this is Bruce Wayne the host for tonight's gala."

Harley dimly realized that the man who just introduced her to Batman was one of Arkham's board members…Wesley…no…Weatherby…no…W something. She shook herself and smiled at Bruce Wayne and took his offered hand, "A pleasure, I'm sure." The words rolled off her tongue as internally all of her was chattering at once. She was nervous, excited, and maybe a bit intimidated. Bruce Wayne smiled at her, one of those slick lady killer grins that only seemed to be pulled off by rich pampered playboys.

Harley wondered if they took a class for that, if all spoiled rich boys practiced that I'm rich and handsome now bow at my feet smile.

She didn't like it but she kept her pleasant smile firmly in place. "Sorry if I'm interrupting I had to get an introduction to the Dr. that everyone's been buzzing about, I'm pleased to meet you Dr. Quinzel." He said with that same slick charming smile that made her insides queasy.

Harley didn't know what she had been expecting from him, but it certainly wasn't this persona he was playing at now. As W something reassured Bruce that he hadn't interrupted anything so important and he was welcome to join them, Harley looked him up and down. Bruce Wayne was certainly handsome; she would give him that because she wasn't blind. Harley wasn't sure what she had been expecting, what face she had been expecting but it wasn't this one. He looked nothing like that scattered faded memories she had of the various actors who had played his role in films from her first life.

He was so tall and so freaking broad. Built like a freaking linebacker and with the muscles to match Harley wondered how anyone who saw him didn't see all the inconsistencies she was seeing so casually displayed. Body was ripped; she could tell that even with the suit, his movements though were graceful and silent. Not what you would expect to see from a gym rat party boy that wanted some muscle to show off. See that was the problem, his muscles were all wrong for the image he was projecting. As someone who had spent almost the entirety of her new life under one martial artist instructor after another Harley recognized combat training when she saw it.

Which didn't fit his image at all…at least not this vapid Bruce Wayne one he was projecting…now Batman…that image certainly matched his body. Then there was the focus in his eyes. He tried to sound a little stupid but his eyes were like focused laser beams. They didn't match at all. Nothing about him seemed very stealthy to her and maybe that was why she was disappointed. Then again she did have an unfair advantage, knowing everything about the man in front of her…well all the generic important bits anyway.

"Oh, so you sought me out? Whatever for Mr. Wayne, I don't think you were in the market for a therapist." Harley said sweetly as W something choked on his champagne. She suppressed a giggle.

Bruce smiled at her, but she saw that the corners of his eyes were tightening, "No nothing like that it's just that you're something of a mystery and I have always liked those."

Her smile was full of razor blades, "Oh I'm sure." She murmured demurely.

"In fact I heard you were quite the musical virtuoso? Perhaps sometime tonight I might get to hear you play the piano here, it's a lovely grand." Bruce said in turn. W something was beginning to look uncomfortable and excused himself from the conversation leaving her alone with Bruce.

"Well, I would hate to disappoint you but I'm not in the mood to play tonight. Some other time perhaps," Harley tried to waltz away then but Bruce just followed her as she began to walk.

"That's too bad, sure I can't persuade you?" He grinned at her boyishly. Harley was amused to see him deflate a little when she didn't swoon.

"Oh, I'm sure," Harley said trying to get him to go away. Maybe she would want to play with him if he was in his Batman persona but this bland shell he was projecting was not very interesting. Bad things happened when she was bored.

He held out his hand smiling, "A dance then," he asked.

She was going to turn him down but she caught Dr. Arkham looking and didn't want to catch hell for it later. So she sighed and placed her empty glass on a server's tray as he passed by and allowed Bruce Wayne to sweep her out into the dance floor. If he was trying to intimidate her with his classical dance training it didn't work she danced just as gracefully and a part of her was smug as she caught the various envy filled eyes around the room.

They made it look effortless and impossibly graceful.

"Have I done something to offend you, Dr. Quinzel?" Bruce asked her as he pulled her close and dipped her, "I can't help feeling like you're bored with me." He teased.

"Perish the thought," Harley quipped.

"Really," Bruce spun her out then pulled her in close, "you don't seem very interested in being around me, it's a …refreshingly new experience for me."

Harley grinned, "I'm sure your ego will heal from the bruising."

"I can't help but notice you seem to be avoiding the question," Bruce teased her charmingly.

"Oh, no, I'm not I'm just not sure why it would benefit me to answer." She grinned as that skin around his eyes tightened some more.

"Well I find you fascinating," Bruce murmured as he pulled her against his chest to do a slow box step. Harley was glad she was wearing platform heel otherwise she would be closer to the center of his chest instead of by his shoulder (if only barely).

"Is that so? I'm not sure what I could have done to warrant such attention." Harley teased back. Inside she was horrified to see that she might just be flirting with Batman. Then she giggled at herself and let it go. It was certainly exciting and she hated to be bored.

"Oh I wouldn't say that, you're all Dr. Arkham can talk about these days. His newest recruit with multiple PHD.s and apparently your making some real progress rehabilitating Pamela Isley." Bruce rebutted with a raised brow. It was as if he was daring her to refute him.

"I'm not as surprised as I should be that Dr. Arkham has used me in his boast but I am a little disappointed. I cannot calm to have made any significant progress with Ivy, it's only been two months and these things take time." Harley said a small smile in the corner if her mouth. She was aware that Bruce was doing his best to manipulate her into discussing her patient but Harley didn't mind so much knowing his motives. Plus she was a little curious to see where this was going.

"Really? The way Dr. Arkham was going on about you I'd have thought you would agree with his assessment." Bruce cajoled.

Harley grinned at him, "I will not lie and say no progress has been made, because it has. However, as far as rehabilitation goes Ivy is far from being able to rejoin society. In fact, I very much doubt she ever will be truly able to reintegrate." Harley said as their dance came to an end and they began to leisurely stroll off the dance floor.

Bruce tried to hide his concern, but Harley spotted it on his face anyway. "So you're saying there is no hope for her?" He murmured as he grabbed another two full glasses of champagne and handed one to her.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that at all. I'm simply saying that after everything she has been through its going to be a very long road for Ivy. If she were to take the steps for rehabilitation and was released, she would certainly find her feet. However, she would not be able to simply go back into the work force, or continue on as she had before all this had happened to her. I suspect that should that be where things are headed that Ivy would probably join or form a nature advocacy group. I could definitely see her joining into politics with the sole agenda of fighting for conservation or something of the sort. Ivy isn't a lost cause…but she will never be what she once was." Harley rebutted and then took a little sip of her champagne.

Bruce looked very intrigued, "So you're saying there is hope for her yet? That her…eco-terrorism… could be channeled into something legally relevant and constructive?"

Harley knew he was just prompting her to keep talking in order to pump her for information but she wanted to indulge him. "Yes, however, that day is far off first I have to gain her trust. We have to deal with the initial trauma that placed her in my care to begin with and even then nothing can be certain. The man who 'transformed' her not only violated her in the most intimate of ways but he always changed her on a biological level. Ivy…she isn't just hyper attached to plants…she is partially a plant. Who's to say that hasn't changed how her brain fundamentally operates? I can't be certain, tests would need to be run and to do those test…trust…trust is a necessity. I suspect though that Ivy's plant side is in constant communication with other plants. Which if that is the case it is going to be very hard to turn her away from violent retaliation from what she and the plants would view as humans attacking them."

"How so?" Bruce prompted.

"Well, do you know anything about botany Mr. Wayne?" Harley asked.

"No, I'm afraid it hasn't really been an area of study I was interested in," Bruce responded, "Why?"

"I just wanted to see if you were aware that plants actually do 'talk' to one another…just not in the same sense humans do. For instance, do you know why grass smells that particular way after it's freshly cut?" Harley asked.

"No, please enlighten me," Bruce said smiling as he took the tiniest sip of champagne Harley had ever seen.

"Ok," Harley grinned, "the smell is actually a warning to other grass blades that something is damaging the crop. In other words…where you and I would simply enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass and never bat an eye at the person mowing their lawn. For Ivy I deeply suspect it would be different, she would smell the cut grass and hear thousands of little voices screaming from mutilation."

Bruce couldn't quite subdue his look of horror, "So you're saying Ms. Isley would have to be taught to ignore constant signals of pain from the plant life surrounding her?"

Harley nodded, "Something like that, it's just a theory but it is something I very much suspect. That along with her trauma at the hands of a man she had trusted…it caused her very violent break with reality. Bringing her to a place where she will be able to accept help is the first step…its getting her there that is going to be a challenge."

"That's actually very informative, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, Dr. Quinzel." Bruce said sincerely.

"Call me Harley," she said in return, "well if that's it then I better get back to mingling." Then as she was turning to walk away from him, Bruce grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Wait," Bruce said as he tugged her closer, "I think I still have some questions for you if you would be so kind as to indulge me…Harley."

"Sure," Harley giggled, "You are the host for the evening." It was funny, it really was, that she had his attention. Harley felt all shattered parts of her laughing at this situation. Here she was, a fictional character destined to be a villain and before her was one of the big heroes of this universe. It was hilarious, and oddly…very tempting. There was so much about this life that was so odd to Harley, a part of her knew that this world was made by unseen hands and that this life wasn't…real. But then…what was reality?

This life certainly felt real and her lust for it had never really dimmed even over the years of her being here. Life was so short…so fragile…it was ended as easily as blowing out a candle and death was a shredding abyss that destroyed everything you were. It was all so very funny. Maybe she had drunk enough to make her just reckless enough…or maybe she was reckless in her own right. Harley made a decision as she looked at Bruce; she was twenty three years old and had yet to experience sex in this life. Bruce was far from ordinary…he was freaking Batman how hilarious would it be to lose her virginity in some one night stand with a freaking superhero.

"You're right, can't leave your host," Bruce teased, "and please call me Bruce."

That was it…Harley decided, Bruce was going to take her virginity and then she would probably never see him again. At least not as Bruce, but that was ok. Some tiny broken part of her whispered that she had waited for love in her first life before giving it up…it was time to change it up a bit.

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Are you high enough without the Mary Jane like me?
Do you tear yourself apart to entertain like me?
Do the people whisper 'bout you on the train like me?
Saying that you shouldn't waste your pretty face like me?

~Halsey

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Bruce wasn't sure what had come over him, but he didn't want to turn back now. He had thrown the fundraiser for Arkham Asylum in hopes that with more funding security could be upgraded and criminals would have a harder time breaking out. It came as an added benefit that in brought all the Doctors in charge of the various big named criminals in one place where he could subtly get a status update on those currently incarcerated. He hadn't even brought his usual revolving arm candy with him because having a whiny cling on demanding his attention would only distract him.

The first half of the night had gone exactly as he had hoped. The various doctors in charge of the numerous criminals on his watch list were only too pleased by his attention and all too willing to open up to him about their charges. He had been winding down to the end of his list and had managed to track down one of the more elusive doctors. Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a notorious figure within the academia, after all she was something of a child prodigy and she had numerous doctorates.

When she had turned her eyes to psychology and become a doctor at Arkham she had gotten his attention. Musical virtuoso, multiple PHDs, and the looks of a movie star, Harley was not a woman one easily ignored. Beauty and brains, it was a dangerous combination. He had been surprised how dismissive she was of him at first, like he was beneath her notice and it was a feeling he was not used to. However, once he had managed to get her talking about her current career path it was like she had opened up before him.

Truly she was an enchanting creature, and then just like that she had tried to flit away from him again. He should have let her go; Harley was dangerous, because he wasn't sure that once he had her that he would be able to let her go. His life was not a life he would want to bring anyone into…it was hazardous to her health…getting involved with him could very well be a death sentence.

But Bruce just hadn't been able to let her walk away from him.

Just one night.

Just one night, Bruce was sure that if he repeated it inside his head enough maybe it would be true. Just one night together…what harm could one night do?

So he stopped her from leaving, and asked her questions. Stupid and cliché ones, like her favorite flower and food.

Red roses and chocolate pudding.

Diamonds or Pearls, what did she prefer?

Pearls, very classic and rubies over diamonds any day.

Bruce asked her stupid things that you would ask someone on a first date. In his head he knew he was getting in too deep and that he probably should let her go now. Then he found out she was taking a cab home and thought it would only be polite to offer her a ride home. Of course before Bruce could think to tell his driver the new direction Harley distracted him and before long they were deep in discussion on the way to Wayne manor.

When they got to his house Bruce was embarrassed to say he forgot to tell his driver about the change in directions but Harley waved it off. "Since we're here anyway and the night's still young, why don't you show me around?" Harley said curiosity written all over her face. "I love old buildings and your home has a lot of history."

Reluctantly Bruce agreed even though deep down that this was a very bad idea. Harley was just too tempting, her dress showed off all her curves without being trashy…just sexy as all hell and her mind was keeping him very captivated. So Bruce showed her around, took her to all his favorite spots in the house…well not all of them but the ones that were safe enough to show her. He quite enjoyed her reaction to his library, "Ok, this is mine now," Harley said decisively as she tried to push him from the room teasingly and shut the door on him.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Bruce teased back, "I was here first."

"Don't care," Harley nodded to herself, "This is my wet dream right here, all these books!"

It was just too much, she was just being too adorable, too sexy, too fun, and for the first time in a good long while Bruce felt light hearted. So instead of pushing back to her pushing forward, he grabbed her about the waist and pulled her into him and did what he had been thinking about most of the night. He kissed her. Her lips were just as soft and full as he had imagined. Harley sighed and opened her mouth to him and he felt like a beast as he plundered her mouth with his tongue.

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And all the people say
You can't wake up, this is not a dream
You're part of a machine, you are not a human being
With your face all made up, living on a screen
Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline

~Halsey

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Harley was very relieved when Bruce grabbed her and started to kiss her. She had begun to worry that her inexperienced flirting wasn't going anywhere and that the night was going to be a bust as far as getting rid of her virginity went. As far as first kisses went this was very nice, at least first kisses that she could remember. All her little pieces agreed that Bruce was good at this and they thought this meant she picked a good guy who knew what he was doing.

It only took a huskily whispered question of where Bruce's bed was that had him pulling her towards a bedroom. They would stop every so often getting caught up in kissing each other and gliding their hands over each other's bodies. Eventually they made it to a bedroom, Harley wasn't sure if it was Bruce's or if it was a spare…not that it mattered to her anyway. He picked her up then and Harley kicked off her shoes as he threw her onto the bed making her giggle with anticipation.

He was very quick when it came to getting his jacket, tie and shirt off. Harley had only barely managed to unzip her dress that fell into her lap before he was on her again kissing her feverishly. Bruce only pulled back long enough to get to the buttons on his pants and to pull her dress completely off her. Then of course he paused when he finally took her in, she was only wearing her bra, panties, garter belt and thigh highs now…all in matching black lace. He groaned and pulled her into his lap where she could feel him pressing stiffly against her inner thigh.

Harley giggled again and pushed Bruce onto his back. She unsnapped her bra as she straddled him and he groaned again as he cupped her newly freed breasts. Harley was very happy with her pretty little c cups because she had her pick of cut bras…some small piece of her remembered having bigger more troublesome breasts that made her back ache and were a nightmare to shop for. Harley moaned all thoughts flying from her head as Bruce captured a nipple in his mouth and she tried to get the last pieces of clothing off.

Somehow, trying to get to the little snaps on her garter belt was impossible and Bruce got too impatient and finally just snapped the delicate lace panties leaving her exposed but with her thigh highs and garter still on. He pulled a condom out from somewhere; Harley couldn't tell where and left it to some Batman magic, just happy he had anything. Impatience got the better of him and once he rolled it on he was inside her in one rough thrust. The pain rolled over her in a delicious wave, heightening her pleasure and she whined in disappointment when he froze.

Harley figured that he must have felt the flesh tearing as he entered her and now he was doing that guilt trip thing. Harley growled impatiently and flipped him intent on finishing what he started. It took about 30 seconds of her very enthusiastic riding of him to get him back in the game. There was something so empowering of watching Bruce freaking Wayne come apart under her. Right at this moment, inside of her, he couldn't put up any masks and Harley watched him carefully. She read his body like a book; years of studying body language made her a master at the silent communication that Bruce was giving her.

Every experimental roll of her hips she studied his reactions, seeing without him saying a word what he liked and disliked. This might only be a one night stand but Harley was determined to etch it in his memory as one of the best lays he ever had. Suddenly he flipped her and Harley giggled and moaned as he took control. She had been expecting that and simply used her new position to her advantage to push him in deeper.

A few more minutes like that and then Harley got to watch the best thing she had ever…Bruce came undone over her gasping and groaning as he reached his end. Then he collapsed on top of her his head between her breast and panting. Eventually he pulled away and Harley could see he wanted to talk. So she stopped him with kisses and husky words saying that she hoped that this wasn't him giving up yet. After all she hadn't finished yet and Bruce got the hint and a very determined look in his eyes. Of course, Harley knew that she couldn't put him off forever but she figured that tonight at least she could get him doing other more enjoyable things. Then she was going to sneak out in the morning before he woke up and she had felt no shame in planning her hasty exit.

They spent the night in each other's arms and Harley managed to enjoy her first shared orgasm shortly followed by a few more. By the time dawn rolled around Bruce was passed out beside her and Harley was trying her best to sneak out of his arms. That was something she had not expected, Bruce Wayne…a coddler…she barely managed to stop herself from chuckling. But it did give her an added issue that her sneaking away plan was harder to do when your partner just wouldn't let go. It took a while and eventually a combination of her flexibility along with replacing herself with a pillow got her free without waking him up.

Then she tip toed around the room on silent feet gathering up her things and then she slipped out the window. All the years of doing Parkour paying off nicely even if she only had one hand to use seeing as she had to carry her heels to avoid waking up Bruce.

Luckily her cell phone and along with her ID and a credit card were in hidden pockets in her bra. She had a cab waiting for her at the end of Bruce's driveway and it was very easy climbing over the fence. The hard part was doing that without giving the cabby an eyeful since Bruce had destroyed her undies. The thought just made her giggle and the knowing look in the cabbies eyes turned that giggle into a full belly laugh.

She rattled off her address and let the laughter take her as she put her heels on. Once she was home her exhaustion was starting to catch up with her, and she barely forced herself to shower off before belly flopping naked into her bed. Her entire body ached in that naughty way she loved and Harley could honestly say she enjoyed herself. As she drifted off Harley had one small piece of herself smug that she had avoided that award morning after. Bruce would have felt all guilty about being her first and she didn't want him getting any ideas about what they were just because they had sex.

It was an experience she had enjoyed and was ready to put behind her. Harley was far from ready to be in any sort of relationship and Bruce was too broken to even make an attempt at it. She figured this way they both got what they had wanted and no one was hurt so why complicate it with false promises.

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I think there's a flaw in my code
These voices won't leave me alone
Well my heart is gold and my hands are cold

~Halsey

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Bruce growled as he threw himself into his office chair and asked Alfred to get him some coffee. He was so thankful it was Saturday because if he had to deal with this shit on a Monday it would have been worse. He was in a vile mood and it wasn't likely to get any better. When he woke up this morning to an empty bed, his body aching from a night well used and was crushed by guilt. He had wanted to believe that what he felt last night had been something else…since Harley was probably the best he had ever had…but the blood on the sheets told a different story.

He couldn't believe he had done that and that she had disappeared on him afterwards. He didn't have her number or her address but both of those were easily taken care of. However, he had no idea where to go from here. He couldn't stop thinking about her, she was…just wow…but she had obviously taken great care to sneak out of here this morning without waking him and that was no easy task. So that left him with the knowledge that this woman that he was very interested in…might not be all that interested in him in return.

But Bruce had been her first…didn't they have that saying that you never forgot your first?

It left him a confused mess with no idea where to go or what to do to fix this. In the end Bruce decided to just show up and see where everything went. If Harley didn't want anything to do with him…that was her choice but he needed to see her again. He had to at least try and talk to her about last night. He decided to drive himself and took one of his incognito cars into town. He stopped for Roses and lunch and made his way over to her apartment complex.

A voice inside was screaming that this was a bad idea, that it was stalkerish, that she didn't want to see him and that even if this turned out well he was just putting her life on the line for his own selfish desires. He squashed that voice mercilessly and made his way up to the top floor. He had to try and he knew that if he didn't do at least that much this would eat at him for a long while. So Bruce steeled his nerves and knocked.

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Are you deranged like me?
Are you strange like me?
Lighting matches just to swallow up the flame like me?
Do you call yourself a fucking hurricane like me?
Pointing fingers 'cause you'll never take the blame like me?

~Halsey

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Harley was curled up on her couch nursing a delicious cup of coffee that was half creamer and sugar. Her robe wasn't even closed and just draped off her shoulders revealing her naked form but giving her snuggle comfort. She sipped her cup and sighed. This morning had been wonderful she had gotten up to a nice warm relaxing bath, ate some pop tarts and decided to spend the day naked and enjoying the ache between her legs for a while. Maybe read a good book and do some yoga later.

In all she felt thoroughly used in the best of ways and she didn't even have to deal with guilt ridden half apologies from Brucey. Life was good.

Then there was a knock at the door and Harley groaned…there were only two possibilities for the disturbance. She got up put her cup on her coffee table and went to the door to look into the keyhole. There he was, in all his handsome glory, roses in one hand and some sort of takeout in the other. For a second she debated opening the door but food won out in the end. She didn't even bother to close her robe and Harley was glad she hadn't because the look on Bruce's face was worth it.

"Hey," Harley giggled, "Those for me?"

Bruce choked and then cleared his throat and nodded. Silently he handed his offerings over and Harley took them with a hum. She left the doorway in search of a vase and put the food on the counter. "You coming in or just gonna enjoy the view from the door?" Harley asked sweetly and Bruce shook himself walking in quickly closing the door behind him.

"I..I ah…I wanted to talk to you about last night but you disappeared on me," Bruce said as he tried to keep his eyes on her face…it was harder than he would like to admit.

"Oh don't worry sweetheart, I'm not expecting anything from you. I knew you'd be all weird about it being my first time and all so I thought I'd make myself scarce in the morning to avoid any awkwardness." Harley grinned, "Guys get all weird about virgins you know and I wanted you to know I'm not really after a relationship or nothing. But I do love the roses…and is that a sub from Pazones I smell in that bag?"

"Yeah, I remembered you said last night they were your favorite." Bruce muttered rubbing his neck nervously.

"Ahh, well aren't you just the sweetest Brucey. You didn't have ta do that for me ya know?" Harley grinned, "I might just have ta jump you if you keep it up!" Harley giggled at his conflicted face. "So, you wanted to talk. Go ahead, I'm gonna dig into this sub while it's still warm though."

Bruce shuffled, opened his mouth and shut it a few times before sighing and taking a seat on her couch. Harley grinned and bounced over to sit across from him sub in her hands. She looked at him expectantly as she ate. Finally he groaned and said, "I have no idea what to say, I still want to be around you and be with you but you don't want a relationship and to be honest I'm not ready for one either."

Harley giggled and forced herself to swallow her bite before she put the sub down. "How 'bout this Brucey, I'll give you my number and you give me yours. If I'm feeling an itch you can scratch or vise versa we'll give each other a call. Or if you need some arm candy for some event I'm not about to say no to a chance to get all dolled up for a fun night on the town. But we leave it at that for now. If either of us want out or more…well we cross that bridge when we get to it. No strings," she grinned and slinked forward onto Bruce's lap. "That sound good to you Sugah?"

Bruce gripped her hips and looked down at her in his lap. Then he groaned and captured her mouth with his pulling her in closer as he did. Harley took that as a yes and grinned inside. Bruce was good in bed, he was rich, and he brought a little danger with him. That was good enough for her for now. Sure she wished he was little rougher in the sack and wished he would have taken more control over her but this was alright.

AS far as Harley could remember Batman never had anyone in his love life for very long anyway. Sooner or later Bruce was going to talk himself out of this, or he would guilt himself out of this and it would be over. Harley was going to enjoy the ride though.

Let's ruin him for other women.

That's a little spiteful isn't it? You know this is going to mess him up bad if things go the way they are meant to in the comics.

And why not, Batman is a tortured character…what's a little more pain. Pain just means you're alive…we LIKE pain.

~ My voice is twisted, guilty goes the tongue…~

*We should just enjoy it while we have it, nothing lasts.*

Harley hummed and slipped her tongue into Bruce's mouth while grinding her hips down. Bruce groaned beneath her. Yes, she was going to enjoy this and since she knew this fling was going to be just that a fling Harley knew she wouldn't invest much of her heart in this experience. That was one good thing about being all torn up inside…emotions were hard for her…attachments were so hard for her to make that she had to make a conscious decision to form it. Otherwise it seemed that they just didn't…come…it was why the fact her mother hated her rolled off her back like nothing. Because it was nothing to her.

She just hoped Bruce didn't do something stupid like fall in love with her. That would be funny but it would also probably complicate things later if she decided to start killing people. She giggled as he picked her up and took her to her bed. It was funny but her morals were all messed up. Her ideas of right and wrong were all twisted. Because she knew death like a lover, knew its bite, knew life's futility but at the same time she had her own code. She helped people too…but she could just as easily kill them. Not that she had yet but it was a possibility.

Oh well, enough thinking, she turned her full attention to the man above her and grinned again.

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~Halsey

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Harley hummed as she made her way down to Ivy's session room and ignored the various stares she received as she passed anyone in the halls. She had a very satisfying weekend and it showed in the 'glow' around her. Plus she was wearing her favorite red heels that always gave her a boost of confidence whenever she could strut around in them. The guards outside of the session room whistled at her as she stepped through the door and Harley caught the way Ivy scowled at them as she shut the door.

"Good morning Ivy, how are we doing today?" Harley said smiling as she sat across from her.

Ivy still had a scowl on her face as she said, "not as good as yours it seems," she snarked.

Harley grinned, "Nope, I wouldn't think so," she hummed, "tell me Ivy, what do you remember of the Medusa myth?"

Ivy looked at her surprised, caught off track at the seemingly random question, "She was cursed by some goddess after a god raped her in the goddess' temple, why?"

"Hmmm, well that's what most people remember of her because that is the way most…male…academia decided to interpret the story. The way the Greeks saw it was different and I think you'll appreciate their view of her better. Medusa was a very beautiful mortal woman that caught the eye of Poseidon, he tried to get into her pants but Medusa had vowed to remain celibate for her patron goddess Athena. Poseidon wouldn't take no for an answer and raped her in Athena's temple. Now…here's where the story gets different interpretations one says that Athena was so offended by the act that she punished Medusa…the other is that Athena took pity on Medusa and granted her a gift."

"What's the point of this story," Ivy grumbled.

"You gotta wait for the punchline!" Harley retorted, "Now Athena turned Medusa into a gorgon, a being so toxic that all who looked upon her would turn to stone. Some think this was a punishment…but Greek women always saw this as a gift. Do you see why?" Harley asked genuinely curious.

"I can't see how being turned into a monster could ever be considered a gift," Ivy grumbled at her.

Harley chuckled, "That's because you're not thinking creatively. Greek women viewed it as a gift because her toxicity ensured that no one would ever touch her without her consent again. Greek women used to have medusa heads engraved on shelters for battered women. She became a symbol of a victim turned into a protector."

Ivy had a curious look on her face that Harley couldn't quite interpret. "Why did you tell me this?" Ivy finally asked.

"Simple," Harley smiled softly and reached out across the table separating them placing her hand just short of Ivy's own hand, "I wanted you to see that maybe the fact that you are toxic now is not such a bad thing. All your toxicity does…just like medusa…no one is ever going to touch you without your consent." Harley giggled, "At least not without paying the price for it." Ivy seemed taken aback by that and then turned her eyes to the hand just out of her reach.

Then as Harley began to lean back, Ivy reached out and grabbed her hand before it could leave the place it had been before. For a moment they didn't say anything to each other and Harley just continued to smile softly at her. Finally, her expression cleared and Ivy startled Harley by smiling ever so small back at her. Harley gripped her hand strongly once and then pulled back. Ivy sighed and looked her eye, "Thank you."

Harley nodded back, "You're welcome." Then she grinned and reached into her lab pocket. "I have something for you." Harley said and then she placed it ever so slowly onto the table. It was an adorably tiny ceramic pot with some dirt, and Harley slid it across the table over to Ivy. "There's a Lily seed of some sort planted in there. I thought you might enjoy having a flower in your cell. I had to go through all sorts of hoops to get this for you so…please don't do anything stupid and get it taken away alright? I would hate to have Dr. Arkham come around saying I told you so."

Ivy looked stunned…she looked from the tiny pot to Harley and slowly reached out to cradle the pot like it was a small baby. And maybe to her it was. "So, I thought today we could talk about the changes that you went through and how it's affecting your everyday life." Harley began cautiously. And for the first time Ivy just nodded and didn't shut down that line of questioning.

"What do you want to know?" Ivy asked her eyes remained on the pot cradled in her hands. Harley grinned; well this was going to be an enlightening session.

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I think there's a flaw in my code
These voices won't leave me alone
Well my heart is gold and my hands are cold

~Halsey

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harley was satisfied; she had planted a seed into Ivy's mind that Harley hoped would soon bear some fruit. That was the thing about living in a world like this one…everything was chaos that was disguised as order. So even the best laid plans could be broken, an half decent villain of this world could tell you that. Harley wasn't stupid, she knew her like was balanced on a razors edge and at any moment it could cut her in half.

That was half the fun.

Harley giggled; it was why she spent every waking moment of her life doing something to fill it with as much as she could. Life was fragile and Harley thought she might remember how to get out of death again. However, there was no guarantee and so everything she felt like doing…she did. At the moment she had no real urge to be a murderer or a thief. That didn't mean there wouldn't come a time when she felt so inclined but at the moment her plate was full.

Plus she had recently joined a…shall we call it Fight Club and that was satisfying her violence craving. Plus Harley very much enjoyed the glory she had managed to gain the traditional way and so far that was what she felt like following. Harley was ever so curious about the Joker, still, how could she not be? Her destiny laid with him and a part of her wondered if he would manage to convince her to love him…what would that even look like? She had no idea and she was dying to find out.

On the other hand, Bruce was keeping her well enough for right now and she wondered if her fate might be different. Harley was certainly different. From what she could recall in the dizzying combination of movies, tv shows and comics…Harley Quinn had been an intelligent woman who played dumb. In fact she played dumb so well that she even convinced herself that she was an idiot. Harley often wondered if the original Harley had loved plain as much as she did now…it would make sense given how often the joker 'abused' her. Then again…maybe not.

The thing was that there were so many adaptations of this universe, of these characters, that Harley knew she could only believe in the cores of the characters. Bruce Wayne was Batman and typically he didn't kill…well at least not in this universe…she thinks. Clark Kent was Batman... no wait he was SUPERMAN...hahahahahaha Bats on the brain. She knew the identities of a lot of superheroes and a lot of villains. However…the joker remained a mystery. His past was varied and even his name changed constantly.

He was a variable that Harley knew she could never really plan for and that excited her to some extent.