Chapter 26
How could I be so stupid?! My mind was racing, I can't believe I left Harley alone! They took her when I could have been there to protect her! The city was quieter than usual, I was perched up on the edge of Wayne Industries staring into Gotham.
"Selina, think we found them." Barbara's voice tore me away from my thoughts. I pressed the earpiece she had me, but before I could talk Dick's voice came in,
"We're sending the location to your phone."
"Where's Bruce?"
"He's occupied with the GCPD, escorting Penguin and Two Face to their rightful cells." A ping sounded, and I quickly snatched my phone from its holder. "Batman said to wait, he doesn't want you going alone."
"Tell him, I'm sorry." I pulled out the earpiece I had on, and broke it before she could respond. Just hold on a little longer ladies. A deep breath, and I was off.
~
"-And to prove you're mine... you and I are going to kill the tree hugger - together!" If looks could kill, that bastard would have been dead by now. I saw the look of horror cross Harleys face, she was shaking her head furiously now.
"I would never!" The Joker rolled his eyes, backhanding the blonde as she reached for her reddening cheek.
"Oh but you will." He took a step in my direction now, pulling out a gun from his jacket and placing it down on the small table that was beside me. "Or watch me kill her, as you stand there. Helpless."
~
I heard a scream echo not far from my position, Bruce was calling my phone nonstop since I gone quiet. Flicking my phone to silent, I followed the screams and came across a boarded window that was on ground level. The yelling was coming from inside, and it sounded like Harley. A sick, twisted laugh rang in my ears after and my blood went cold. The Joker.
I kicked at the wood, multiple times before hearing it crack. Crouching down, I saw that Harley was on her knees, pleading for the Joker to not harm Ivy. I tried to rip more of the cardboard off to get a better view, but I soon regretted it when I saw Ivy. She looked like complete shit! Her long luscious hair was cut haphazardly, her body was heavily bruised, and she looked paler than ever before! After a few minutes, the bastard had left, assuming not for long though, I called to Harley. She perked up, running to the window as she reached out to me. I smiled, grabbing her hand "Harls, you're okay."
"Kitty! I'm so happy you found me! You have to hurry, Ivy is hurt bad! She may not make it in the next few hours Selina!" I was trying to reassure the blonde, giving a slight squeeze to her hand.
"Pammy is tough, she'll make it." I peeked behind her, glancing at Ivy once more. The anger I felt, I had to push it down or else I would end up being blinded by rage. I needed to think clearly. "Try to stall for as long as you can until I can get inside, okay? Take this, in case things get nastier than they already are." She nodded furiously, and I hesitantly stood up.
Isley you better not die on us!
~
After Selina had left, I scurried back to Reds side, holding her hand as she was fighting to stay conscious. "Harley..." She coughed, her gaze on me now. Oh Pammy! It drove me crazy that I couldn't do anything to ease her pain! I could see the struggle it was just to turn her head to look at me.
"Pam-a-lamb, shush. You're too weak to do anything." She gave a faint smile.
"You mean everything, to me. Don't let this bastard, get into, your head." Ivy paused for a minute, taking deep breaths "Even if I die, just promise me..."
"No, don't talk like that! You're going to make it, we're going to live happily ever after in a house away from everyone and everything. With Bud and Lou, and all your beautiful plants. I mean who else would put up with me?" My voice was sounding shaky "I want to wake up with you by my side... without you, I wouldn't wanna keep going." I whispered to an unconscious Ivy, placing a gentle kiss to her head. The Joker walked in, tutting as he saw me.
"Why are you such a hard headed girl?!" Joker took a step with every word until he was in front of me, his hand going for my throat and squeezing as hard as he could. He bought me to my knees, my lungs struggling to get air. I glanced over at Ivy's body and felt a surge of anger washed over me like never before.
I was done...
Done with Joker abusing me, done with him hurting everyone I cared for and loved! But most of all... I was done with him treating me as a possession.
"It's over Harley, she's dead and you'll be mine forever," he cackled, coughing a little.
"N-No," I choked out.
"What did you just-"
My hand hurriedly felt around for the revolver Selina gave me, fingers wrapping around the barrel, with all the strength I could muster I swung. The grip on the revolver connected with bone with a sickening crunch, making the Joker fall to the floor, clutching his jaw.
"I said no, you sick bastard!"
The Joker looked back at me with a stunned expression before rolling away and scrambling back to his feet. "Well well well, seems like you need to be taught a lesson. I think it's time for you to come back to your senses Harley girl."
The green haired psycho rushed at me, so I holster my gun and ran to meet him, getting low and sliding right between his legs. As I came back up to my feet he pivoted on his heel to face me, only to have my fist meet his mangled face. I brought my knee hard up into his groin. He started laughing, or trying to laugh that is.
"My, my Harley girl," he hissed, curling in on himself slightly from the pain.
I rolled over his back as he was hunched over, my bat coming free of its loop on my back. As my feet touched the ground, I swung for the fence. The wood had actually splintered and cracked when it connected with his chin. I frown for only a second before tossing what was left of it aside and moved for his stumbling form. My vision was consumed by my anger, all I was seeing now was red.
I wanted nothing more than to beat the life out of him...
Bringing my fist back I threw a punch, putting all I had in it. But my victory was short lived. He caught my hand and bent my wrist back painfully before kicking me in the side of the knee. I let out a yelp of pain and crumpled to the ground. The Joker was up in my face now, his grin even sicker from the singed and distorted flesh.
"I made you Harley Quinn," he hissed.
One, two, three, four hits, all to my stomach. He threw me back but I recovered quickly, using the momentum to roll back up to my feet. I was done playing games with him, my pistol came free and I fired a shot that clipped the Joker's knee. As soon as he started to fall I was on him, bashing his nose in with the handle of the pistol. I tossed it aside and just used my fists. Over and over again my knuckles collided with his face, so many times that my hands went numb...
"You broke me," I cried, the punches starting to lose their vigor now.
I held him by the front of his now bloodied shirt, making him look me in the eye. That sick smile never leaving his face as he leered back at me. Tears were streaming down my cheeks, leaving black streaks on my skin.
"I... fixed you," he choked out, a low laugh rumbling in his throat
"No!"
I backhanded him, just to shut him up before closing both my bloodied hands around his neck. I pushed him down into the hard floor and tightened my grip.
"Ivy fixed me! Ivy saved me! Even when I was blinded and kept running back to you!" A hand came up and across my face, smearing more than half of the makeup from my face, his weak attempt to free himself. The tears were coming harder now, but whether they were tears of anger or sadness I wasn't sure...
"You're... mine," the words slipped from his mouth but they were barely audible.
"Shut up and die already'!"
The words left my mouth in a high pitched yell and I just squeezed even tighter.
"She fixed what you broke! Every time! Red was there for me no matta what! An' you took her away! I-I loved her!"
The Joker's green eyes widened before rolling back into his head and his body went limp. I let go, knowing he wasn't dead, not yet... I straightened up and picked my pistol up off the ground next to where I was straddling the man I used to think I loved. I put the barrel right up against his forehead and I felt the tears come even harder now. It was ready to fire, all it would take was to squeeze the trigger and he'd be gone, never to hurt me or anybody else again.
"Harleen... Don't."
Time seemed to have froze as I heard Pamela's voice. I turned to face her, my feet moving on their own free will. One arm wrapping around her waist as the other shot the chain that held her hostage. Her body fell against mine, she felt so fragile.
"R-Red...." Ivy pulled me into her arms with what little strength she could garner, and I just let loose.
~
I witnessed it all. And I couldn't have been anymore prouder of Harley than right here in this moment. My body felt like it was on fire with every little movement I did, but I didn't care. I reached for the gun in the blondes hand, and shut my eyes tight for one second.
"Red... I thought-"
"Shh. It'll all be over soon." Just as those words left my lips, that green haired psycho slowly stood up.
"You think, it's over?" He wheezed. Why can't they ever die and stay that way? Harley turned to face him, her arms never leaving me as she was supporting me. He walked over to us slowly, and to be honest...
I never felt this satisfied in a long time.
I shot one, two, three, four, five times, the chamber clicking as it was empty now. The Joker dropped to his knees before falling onto his back, one bullet struck his head, while the other four were planted in his chest. I couldn't stop shaking. She knocked the gun from my hand, fully embracing me now.
Selina came rushing through the door, Batman not far behind her as the two just took in the scene. The brunette couldn't help but grin as she ran towards Harley and I, embracing us and whispering "That bastard got what he deserved!" But alas our little victory was short lived when Bruce said he had to take me in for questioning. Harley and Selina were arguing with him now, and I just took in a deep breath.
"Stop it. I'll go, without a fight. It's not like I can anyways."
"Well then I'm coming with! You're not going to separate us any longer!" The blondes grip on me tightened. Batman just glared at us in his brooding way, and finally agreed as he knew Harley was not leaving my side any time soon. Selina frowned.
"This isn't fair Bruce."
"I know." And with that we walked out, sirens echoing in the distance, becoming louder by the second. At this point, I didn't care what happened. My jester and I were sitting in the back of a GCPD car, my head on her shoulder as she ran her fingers through my hair.
"It'll grow back..."
"I know, but short hair doesn't look bad on you. Hell you can pull anything off." I smiled, sitting up, I stared into her blue eyes. Boy, did I miss her so much. I thought I would never be able to see her after tonight. "Pamela Isley... Will you marry me?"
"You have the worst timing in the world Harleen Quinzel!" I leaned in and kissed her long and hard.
"Is that a yes?" I cupped her cheek, nodding as I kissed her again, this time leaving her breathless.