Joker Loves Harley

Outside the sky churned. Black clouds rolled, hurling row upon row of white flakes to bombard the Earth. A house stood tall in the distance looking forlorn in the great expanse of white which surrounded it. Upon closer inspection one could see that the house was not forlorn but merely rather bleak. Its black shadow turned gray all the innocence around it. The fireplace spewed heat illuminating the bedroom and warming Harley. Joker felt nothing. He was too busy looking at her.

Joker

She was so beautiful, so pure, and his. He wanted to go to her but couldn't stop his mind from asking, why? Why did Haley stay? He knew why he wanted her. Someone to clean when he didn't and do what he wouldn't. Someone to keep him warm at night. Someone to love? While he was pondering Harley curled up next to his leg looking angelic and content. She was close enough to kick but he refrained. He had to know why she stayed. She said it was because she loved him but did she really? Under the covers she held his hand. She watched his green eyes with her blue. He was perfect to her.

It had been years since he had felt a touch not meant to scar. And he had never felt a touch meant to love. How, he wondered, could love even be real? He had done nothing to deserve it, had in fact decided that it did not exist! But then she came and she loved him. Loved him like no one else could. He knew it but could not accept it. So he hit her. Not only to show her that he could not be loved but that he should not. Because in his heart he knew she didn't, and that is why he hit her. Today would be no different than yesterday and tomorrow was just a repeat of the past. Still, she loved him. But why? It was a trick, a ruse, a joke. And he hated her for making him believe it. So he hit her. Again. Yet still she stayed! Could she really love him? No. It hurt to think it.

But maybe…

And with these thoughts playing in his mind Joker looked at Harley and smiled. Seeing his hand raise chilled her and she waited for the beating, and the pain, to start. She waited so long but it did not come. Little did Harley know she had waited in vain. Joker slowly lowered his hand and stroked her cheek. She yielded so easily. Rocking, stroking he held her and told her how he needed her, how no one else could love him but her. He needed her to know that her love was real to him. She knew. Harley never left because she truly loved him. It was too much to hope for let alone believe. But not tonight. Tonight he would hold her and show her that he could be worthy of her love.

Harley

I know Mistah J loves me. He just has a funny way of showin' it. Sometimes he holds me and kisses me to show me. Once, he even told me. That night wasn't like magic, it was. I know it hurts him to but he loves me too much to stop loving me. Mistah J loves me. I know he does and he knows too.

Joker

He started from a formless dream and looked down to find Harley sleeping in his arms. He hadn't meant to hold her but he was and he liked it. For a moment he only watched as she slept so calm, so trusting. He held her because she stayed. But—no. Not tonight. Tonight they would sleep. Holding her tighter, Joker settled into a dream.

Joker held Harley till the sun shone. He held her because he loved her.