They drove the rest of the journey in complete silence. Focusing on the road ahead Joker took an extra long route back to the hideout he knew that once he let Harley out of the car she'd kick off again.Harley just stared down at her bruised wrists mentally shouting and swearing at him. Although she felt like crap she had to admit that her senses felt sharper like she'd just downed 20 cups of coffee. A new found energy.J had dragged out the car journey for far too long when he approached the final corner towards the hideout he finally spoke."When was the last time you ate something?" The question was quite random but he had to defuse the tension somehow and acting like he cared about her wellbeing was a good start.There was a pause for a moment not looking up from her hands. "This morning." Her answer was blunt but it was a start if he could cool her down before they entered the house then they might be able to get through the night without killing each other.Joker rolled his eyes at her response how the woman hadn't starved to death by now was beyond him. He pulled into the garage and switched off the engine he sat there for a moment before finally casting his eyes on the broken but angry looking blonde."Calmed down yet? Or do you need to have timeout?" He instantly regretted that remark he was meant to be keeping the peace not antagonizing her."Don't treat me like a child." That comeback rolled off her tounge so quickly it was as if she was expecting it."Stop acting like one then.""HA." She laughed sarcastically. "Are you?"Joker threw his hands onto the steering wheel then quickly climbed out of the car Harley half expected him to leave her locked inside but to her surprise he opened up her door.Grabbing her harshly by the forearm he pulled her out and dragged her across the garage through the door and into the reception area. With her hands still cuffed she didn't have much of a choice but to follow him."Get upstairs." He ordered unlocking the handcuffs and releasing her arm. Joker then disappeared quickly into the kitchen and left her standing in the centre of the room."Prick." She muttered rubbing the bruises that were forming over her new unpigmented skin. Harley advanced towards the stairs when she reached the top she soon realised that he hadn't specified where she should go. So to piss him off further Harley chose to slip into one of the spare rooms and she shut the door firmly behind her leaving the lights off so he wouldn't be able to find her.She needed time to herself to process the nights events and to figure out what she really wanted. Harley sat in the centre of the bed and played with the two-toned ends of her hair. To her the pink represented the love in their twisted relationship and the blue represented the coldness.Harley grabbed two stray hairbands that she found on the floor. She ran her finger from the centre of her forehead to the nape of her neck separating the two colours with a defined parting. She tied blue side up first and then the pink resulting in two pigtails.Footsteps rattled through the hideout like thunder then she heard several doors open then slam he was obviously trying to find her. The footsteps and the sound of doors being knocked of their hinges grew louder.Harley quickly leapt off the bed and ran to the door
turning the lock just in the nick of time.J's fist hammered on the wooden door repeatedly. "Harley! Open this ****ing door right now!"Remaining silent Harely leaned her back against the door and slid down the frame pulling her knees up to her chin she sobbed.Joker stopped pounding the door and listened to her quiet tears. He rested his forehead on the door placing both hands either side of his head. "I know your in there baby I can hear you." He travelled his right hand down to the doorknob and twisted it still nothing."Open the door." His voice was calm but still sharp. Harley just continued to cry hoping he'd give up and leave her alone."C'mon Harls lets just forgive and forgot huh?" He bit the inside of his cheek.She may not of responded but her crying had stopped she couldn't believe he was being so callous about the whole situation.Fuck you.J banged his head against the door he screwed his hands up into tight fists he was just about to unleash hell upon the weak wooden door separating the two of them when he heard a quite voice penetrate the silence."I need to be alone.. Please."How could he refuse her? He couldn't and she knew that. His fists relaxed against the frame and he pulled his body away from the doorway."If thats what you want-what you need then fine. Just come back to our room I'll sleep in my office or something. But just come back to our bedroom." He emphasised the word 'Our'. Hoping to tug at her vulnerable heartstrings.Again he was met with the cold breeze of silence he couldn't bare it any longer but he didn't have much of a choice. Violence wouldn't solve this situation so he'd just have to leave her to her own thoughts which after a chemical bath was a dangerous thing.Joker walked away kicking at the air in his steps. He'd just reached the entrance to his office when he heard the spare room door unlock smiling to himself he stepped out of sight.Harley looked around the corridor checking that J had left the area before she darted towards their bedroom. When she opened the door she was struck by the distinct smell of vanilla bubble bath and Tomato soup. Her heart melted when she saw a hot bowl of steaming thick red soup sitting on a tray accompanied by two thick pieces of bread and a glass of water.She walked towards the ensuite bathroom and saw the bathtub filled to the brim with piping hot water sparking with soft bubbles under the dim candlelight."Oh J.." A single tear slipped out of her tired eyes. She was still mad as hell but he had gone the extra mile to make her feel better.After Harley had consumed her soup she sunk into the delicious smelling bath cleansing her bleached skin and hair with soap. But no matter how hard she scrubbed her flesh and dyed hair it didn't shift. She had to accept that this was the new her the new Harley Quinn.Meanwhile Joker sat in his office tending to his bullet wound he'd managed to get the bullet out with no fuss but the pain became overwhelming he had to clean it properly otherwise and infection would most likely happen. He quickly came to the conclusion that he needed another pair of hands to clean it for him it was at an awkward angle and needed to be treated soon.This meant he'd have to get Harley to do it
but the question was...How? She was still pissed off with him and he was ****ed off with her too but he had to let Bygones be Bygones if he wanted to keep his arm in good working order.Joker stood up from his desk chair and made his way to the bedroom he wasn't going to ask for Harley's help out right oh no he was going to make it look like it was her idea to help him.J gently tapped his knuckle against the door to await a response but nothing. After two more attempts he burst in.He noticed the empty soup bowl with bread crumbs littered around the tray he smiled to himself. Joker you genius.She wasn't in the bedroom so he sauntered towards the bathroom the door was agar and from the slight gap he could see two pairs of long pale legs resting over the side of the tub the candlelight reflecting perfectly off her wet skin.He stood quietly in the doorway staring at her tempting legs he decided he had to even the playing field. Joker stripped off his shirt and discarded it on the floor he cleared his throat and pushed the bathroom door open fully.Harley had her eyes closed resting her head under a towel using it as a make shift pillow. Her colourful hair was dancing in the water around her neck and chest her arms and body where concealed by mountains of vanilla bubbles.She knew he was standing in the doorway but chose to ignore his presence. He didn't speak a word he just watched her."Can I help you?" Harley's eyes remained shut she just arched her back in the bath trying to adjust her position.Her tone of voice already started to aggravate him this was a bad idea. He knew he'd probably end up drowning her. At least she isn't crying anymore."No I just came to get the first aid kit." Hoping these words would motivate her to help him he began to dig through the cabinet under the sink.Harley still didn't acknowledge him she just grunted and continued with her bath. But she couldn't help but feel a nagging voice in the back of her head."It's on the top shelf right handside." The sooner he got what he came for the sooner he could leave her in peace."Thanks." He pulled it out of the cabinet and opened the box over the sink making as much noise as humanly possible trying every trick in the book to get her attention. Nothing.He was defiantly not going to ask her for help no defiantly not. She had to come to him not the other way round."Harley...""Yes J." She snapped"Could you- could you pass me your towel?" He would say absolutely anything to attract her attention."There's plenty on the towel rack. Right behind you."Damnit."Err-" Trying to think of the next tactic.A deep tired sigh escaped Harley's lips as she opened her eyes and looked in his direction. He was shirtless and had a tiny bullet hole wound in this arm blood trickled down his bicep to his forearm covering his magnificent tattoos in red liquid. Harley's eyes saddened at the sight of her Clown prince in pain she may of hated his guts but she still loved him."Do you need my help?" Harley spoke reluctantly. She hated to see him like this."Do you want to help?" J Turned the question back on her.Harley rolled her eyes and grabbed the edges of the bath
"Harley.. What did you think about when you fell? I mean when you thought you where going to die?""What? You mean when you pushed me?" She wasn't going to let that drop."Watch it." He snapped.Rolling her eyes Harley debated whether to tell him the truth."You all I could think about was you." She finished dressing his wound and looked up to him. "Why?""No reason." J cupped her face and looked deep into her blue orbs. "You really are somethin' Harley.""Where's all this coming from? First you make me food and run me a bath now your- your being affectionate?" Harley pressed the back of her hand on his forehead. "You ain't dying are ya?""HA. HA. Very funny." He chuckled.Checking his pulse Harley mocked a confused look on her face. "Nope you ain't dying.. No.. It couldn't be- Could it?""What?""Guilt." Harley began to laugh but J didn't find it very funny."No no it's not." He snapped pushing her off him."Your voice tells me one thing but.. Your face tells me another.." She taunted him."It ain't guilt!" He moved back over to his side of the bed and sat upright staring disapprovingly at Harley."Awh c'mon Puddin' I'm only messing." Harley bit her lip and slowly crawled over on her hands and knees to his sitting form she straddled him once more.His groin twitched at the sight of her. Her chest pressed against his and those lips. Oh those lips.Harley began nipping at his earlobe. Despite his resistance she could feel him going hard underneath her."Stop it." He protested weakly."Stop what?" She whispered grinding her hips against his."That!""This?" She grinded his harder and began kissing his jawline tugging at his skin."Fuck." He moaned and leaned his head back onto the headboard while Harley kissed his neck. J was now completely rock hard and it was all her doing. Part of her wanted to get up right now and walk away leaving him helpless. But the other part of her wanted to finish what she started."J?" She stopped her teasing and looked up at him."Mmm?" Digging his hands into her hips."Do you love me?"Joker's eyes shot open. Oh crap.