rogueinladysclothing | Lovesick fools often do foolish things [Tagging Majima and Harley]

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Lovesick fools often do foolish things [Tagging Majima and Harley]

For all the things Amelia was bad at in her life, one thing she could count on was a sense of something not being right. And the current situation with Harley? It had definitely reached that point.

Everything that had followed their Valentine's evening in together didn't make sense. Amelia had sent several text messages to Harley to see how she was doing and to ask if she might see her over the days that followed. Most of the time, she received nothing but silence in response. After a while, though, she got text messages of random words or letters, and the occasional video of a darkness with sniffing and whining sounds that reminded her very much of a dog.

Amelia's been on such a high lately from all of the wonderful things she's been feeling with Harley that this sudden drop off after promises of wanting her around set off the rogue's anxiety. Did she do something wrong? Was it awkward for her to leave at the end of their night in, instead of crashing at Harley's place? She'd had an appointment the following morning that she needed to keep, so going back to the inn had made sense. Was it wrong of her to want that kind of space? Did Harley want something more for her?

Was she doing everything wrong?

The last straw in trying to decide what to do next came in the form of a video message that sounded like the dog answering Harley's phone was chewing on it. It was time to see if the only other person who was as involved with Harley as her knew what was happening. Unfortunately for the rogue, Majima knew as little as she did. Rather than try to work it out with him, she asked him to meet her at Harley's place, to see if they couldn't get the other woman to open the door and let them in.

When Majima finally arrives at the door to Harley's apartment, Amelia's wearing a hole in the floor with her pacing. She turns to him the second he steps through the portal, her hands clenching into loose fists at her sides so she doesn't pick at the embroidery on her fine clothes.

"She won't answer the door. I've called and knocked dozens of times. What do we do?"

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Majima scoots in closer on the bed and loops an arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze and a teasing tap on the nose. "Well, you ain't in jail, alright? Time you upped your culinary standards, cupcake."

And then things explode downstairs. Majima steps to the edge of the loft to survey the damage. Oh wow. He gives Harley a small wave as he descends the stairs. "You sit tight. Gonna just, uh, give Amelia-chan a hand."

Down in the kitchen, he picks up a towel and helps with damage control. He leans in close to whisper conspiratorially, "Look, we already know we ain't cut out for this kitchen shit. Let's say we cut our losses here and order somethin', eh?"

He pulls out his PINpoint and hits a button. "Oi, Pippa? Yanno that one place that sends the food? ChowNow? Have 'em send a couple smoothies our way. Somethin' sweet."

"Alright! I've placed your order. Estimated delivery time to your location is ten minutes," the voice assistant chirps back.

Majima gives his device a reverent look before returning it to his pocket. He sighs. "Goddamn, I love the future."

Harley leans into Majim'a embrace when he loops his arm around her. The physical contact is very nice.

And then he goes to Amelia's rescue. Poochyena hops on the bed, curling by Harley's legs to keep her company while both of her friends are downstairs. He is glad that he let them in now.

Harley stretches out to run her fingers through the Pokémon's fur. Her drive to not let anything get to her is slowly returning. And she knows that she can survive this. She won't let her past ruin her future.

Especially with two wonderful people in her life.

The instant ordering is convenient and Amelia heaves a relieved sigh when the assistant lets them know smoothies are on the way. "I'll cut up some extra fruits, too," she murmurs in a hushed tone. "In case she feels hungry enough for it."

By the time the smoothies arrive, the kitchen is mostly clean and the rogue has prepared a decent sized plate of cut fruits. She allows Majima to lead the way up the stairs with the smoothies, setting the plate down on the bedside table. Once she's sure that the other two are settled, she takes up her place on the floor next to Harley again.

"Let us know if you need anything else," she says, smiling up at Harley. "We're not going anywhere until you want us to."

On his way back up, Majima scrutinizes the cups -- decorated in some unintelligible script, a cute creature mascot -- and gives one of the smoothies an experimental taste. He has a hard time identifying the constituent ingredients outside of "vaguely fruity." They didn't skimp on the sweet, that's for damn sure.

He distributes the cups to Harley and Amelia, keeping the last one in reserve for anyone who wants seconds. He's more about that raw fruit option, plucking up a slice of apple before resuming his seat on the bed.

"So ... ya wanna talk it out, Harley-chan?"

Harley takes the cup offered to her, and nuzzles back against Goro when he reclaimed his seat on the bed. She gets closer to him, so there is space on the bed on the other side of her for Amelia to sit, if the other woman so desires.

"When I left university, I thought I was ready to conquer the world. I was in my 20s... I was confident. Bold. And smart enough to pass the tests that played by the rules... and daring enough to break the rules when necessary."

"I was no innocent when I walked into Arkham, believing that I could solve the twisted mind of Joker. But I was still too naïve to deal with him."

Harley twirls a lock of blonde hair in her fingers. Goro and Amelia might know her well enough to realize she does this when she is upset. Or nervous.

"He pretended that he came from a broken home. Like me. He pretended that he had an abusive father. Like me. He lied to me over and over again, until I thought that we had so much in common... that it made sense to believe every word that he told me."

"And I believed him that he would only get better, if he was able to escape Arkham. I got him a gun... his Goon Squad raided the whole place. They captured me." Harley closed her eyes. "He put me on a table, and decided to see how far he would push my dedication to him... with electro-shock therapy."

"I survived that. It only made him angry. It was not what he had expected."

"He took me to his Factory, where they were making vats and vats of his infamous Joker Toxin. He took me to the catwalk, where we could see everything. And he held a gun to my head." Harley shivered. "He asked me if I would die for him. I told him yes. He said that was too easy..."

"He asked me if I would live for him. And I..." Harley shivered again. "Jumped. Into a vat of Joker Toxin."

"You have to realize the only other person who survived drowning in Joker Toxin was Joker himself..."

"And he thought for certain that I had died. For him. And I did." Harley looked up at the ceiling. "I saw my life flash before me. I felt the Joker Toxin consume me. I laughed myself to death. Glorious Glorious Death."

"The next thing I remembered was seeing a shadow come towards me... it was Joker. He had dove into the vat after me. I thought it was to save me." Harley gasped sharply, drawing in a sobbing breath. "I lived again. But I had been re-born. I was his Precious Porcelain Doll."

"And because of him... those memories haunt me every 16th of February. The moment when everything changed."

With space offered to her, Amelia climbs up next to Harley. She sets aside her smoothie so she can be ready to offer her hands to Harley if she wants or needs them. It's all she can think to do as the other woman explains how she and the Joker became so entwined.

The story itself is haunting, more terrible than she could have ever imagined it to be. To know that someone would do these things to another person, to drive them so far that they would convince another person to do such horrible things for such a stupid, selfish reason makes her angry. She already hated Joker, but now she's furious. If she could get her hands on him now, she would tear him apart limb from limb. Damn the consequences of such actions, because no one should be allowed to hurt Harley this way.

But all of those desires will have to wait. The second Harley tries to breathe through a sob, Amelia inches closer, resting a hand gently on the other woman's shoulder. She wants to say something, to comfort Harley somehow, but she just... doesn't know how.

"I'm so sorry." It doesn't feel like enough, but it's all she has. Her head bows a little under the weight of that thought and she gives Harley's shoulder a small squeeze. "I'm so sorry you went through that."

Majima leans in, propping up her weight as he listens to her story, minutely aware of the effect the telling has on her breath, her heartbeat.

If he's aware of any distinct parallels to his own experience, it only registers in some muted, subconscious empathy for misplaced faith and the sting of betrayal. He captures one of her hands and pulls it away from its nervous activity to clasp it in one of his.

"Thanks for lettin' us know. Shit's hard to talk about," he mumbles into her shoulder, feeling like his words are feeble consolation.

After Goro takes her hand to help steady her from the nervous habit, Harley reaches out with her other hand to take the silent offer from Amelia.

In a way, the fact that they listened meant the world to her.

And even now, when she is trying so hard to find herself again, the sensation of Goro's breath on her shoulder makes Harley sigh contently.

She is safe. They won't hurt her.

"I was his right-handed girl for several years. I tried so hard to live up to expectations. And he just kept... trying to break me. Break the doll he made." Harley squeezed both hands. She knows that they know a little of the ways that Joker tried to achieve this. Because of the video.

"Red... Ivy gave one of her super boosters after one of the worst moments, when I was on death's door again. And that is where the healing ability took effect. So no matter how much he tried to break me... I healed."

"And a few years back, Batman caught me. Then Waller put me on Suicide Squad."

"They were the first ones I really felt... cared about me. That didn't care that I got manic. Or obsessive. Or paranoid. Or schizoid. They saw more than just Joker's Girl. I was Harley."

"And coming here... finding the Nexus. Finding you both..." She reaches one hand up to caress Goro's neck. The other hand gently squeezed Amelia's again.

"I want my new life. I want it so much."

All of this wrenches Amelia's heart in a painful way she's never experienced before. She's never wanted to change her own past, but if she could change Harley's... she'd do so in an instant. Anything to spare this amazing woman she cares so much about the pain she's been feeling. It's not fair that Harley's been put through so much when all she wanted was for someone to feel about her what she did about them.

At that last little confession, the rogue leans closer and presses a gentle kiss to Harley's cheek. "Then have it. We're here for you and will help you live that life however we can. All you need do is ask." She won't say it aloud, but Amelia knows one thing for certain: She'd do anything for Harley. She offers the other woman a small smile and then nods knowingly at Majima. "We can't change what's happened before now, but we can make sure what's ahead is what you want it to be."

Majima quashes a wave of nagging doubt, that white-hot fear of failing again. His heart thumps at the jolt of panic, but he does his best to keep his breath even. Reassuring.

He loops his free hand around her waist and hears himself say, "Amelia's got the right idea. Ya got a chance to leave all that shit behind ya, sweetheart."

Harley takes a few deep breathes. Reassured by both of them.

"Today is a good place to start."

She lets go of Amelia's hand, to reach for her smoothie again.

"And after finishing this smoothie... I should try for a shower." A small smirk. A sign that she is on the path of recover. "Either of you willing to help me do that?"

It's becoming increasingly clear that both Harley and Majima are experiencing some kind of fear that Amelia simply can't relate to. She's never been to the edge the way they have or been pushed to a place where she felt she had no control. When things got bad, she could always do something. Maybe not something good, but if it spared her loved ones? That's what mattered. It hurts to see them both hurting like this, knowing she can't reach them the way she wants to.

Her lips draw into a thin line as she watches them closely, and threaten briefly to tug into a frown - until that smirk comes along. And then it's time for that ever so familiar blushing Harley (and probably Majima) knows very well by now.

"I-I don't think I could... I-I mean I can try if you want, but--" Dreams, this is awkward. She turns her face away from the two of them and raises her now free hand to play with the strands of her hairpin, both to ground herself and distract the other two. "Maybe Majima should take this one. I can try to clean the kitchen a little more after the mess I made earlier..."

It takes Majima a moment to register Harley's request, jostling him out of the thick, emotional cloud he was caught up in. He slaps a palm on his forehead, and shoots Amelia an almost apologetic look.

"Harley-chan. I ain't never seen someone flip that horny switch as fast as you," he snorts, giving her hip a playful squeeze. "How's about you take a second to recover from all that fastin' before we deal with any other appetites, hm?"

Whether or not this comes from a place of legitimate concern or a desire to spare Amelia from critical levels of awkwardness, it's hard to say.

"You are the one who is flipping that horny switch..." Harley gently swats at Goro, more playful than anything else.

"I was thinking about having someone to support me, so I could walk downstairs and get in the shower. I haven't really left my bed, except for the whole dancing and security thing at the Sunshine Club. But if you guys don't think I stink to high Heaven..."

God she loves them both so much right now. Amelia for blushing. And Goro, for being a gentleman, but still teasing her all the same.

The teasing makes her cheeks darken all the more. Of course she made the wrong assumption about someone's intentions. Again. And now she's done in front of Majima, who at least had been spared it until this moment. Dreams, she couldn't make this more awkward if she tried.

"O-oh! Of course. I can do that." A slightly awkward beat. "Whenever you're ready, I mean. We don't have to go right now or anything. ...really."

But she can make it more awkward without trying. Whoops?

If it's any consolation to Amelia, Majima rolls his eye at his own risqué assumptions. He's grown accustomed to double entendres with Harley.

He stands from the bed to help her up and guide her to Amelia's capable hands. He still doesn't trust his eye, so he's happy to pass the buck.

"Just watch her wandering hands, Amelia-chan," he warns with a lopsided smile.

"I promise to keep my wandering hands to myself... until a better time." Harley feels a little wobbly as she stands.

She is wearing a light T-shirt and PJ set. And will lean on Amelia for support, while they get downstairs.

"Consider it a rain check, Goro." She teases him again.

Harley was the last person Amelia was worried about doing something forward right now. Thanks for that, Majima. She certainly still had several shades of red she hadn't shown off yet today.

When Harley's ready, the rogue quickly slips off the bed to help the other woman to her feet. Her strength may not even come close to Harley's, but there's very little strain in her muscles as she encourages Harley to lean into her as much as she wants with an arm about her waist. She can handle this much and more, she's sure of it.

Once they've made it to the bathroom, she offers Harley a smile and a small side hug. "Will you be all right? Or do you really need more help?" It's asked earnestly and out of genuine concern. If Harley hasn't eaten for days, there's no telling how her strength might be holding up.

"Between the two of us, we got a lotta those rain checks pilin' up, Harley-chan," Majima quips.

He follows the two women downstairs and continues cleaning up the smoothie crime scene while they negotiate the shower situation.

Harley considers the situation for a moment. She feels too weak to stand in the shower. But that is the beauty of having a bathtub.

"Could you run me a bath instead, Amelia?"

"Then I can soak for a bit. Enjoy my smoothie at the same time."

"And maybe be able to actually sleep tonight."

"I hear sleep is good for you," she teases lightly. She settles Harley against the counter and then sets about running a bath. She won't do anything special to it unless Harley requests it, but she has a large number of oils to scent the bath with, including things like lavender and citrus, and she's sure they can find something to make bubbles if that's what the other woman would like.

As soon as everything's set for the bath, Amelia takes Harley's hands and pulls her close enough to press a kiss to her cheek. She'd go for something more, but... well. Now hardly seems the time for it. "If you need Majima or I, just call." She smiles and squeezes the other woman's hands gently. "We're here for you."

Back out in the kitchen, the rogue gives Majima a grateful smile. "Thank you for your help. I'm a little out of my element here."

Majima has pulled off his jacket and neatly rolled up his sleeves. He's not about to get any fruit stains on his starched white shirt.

"Don't worry 'bout it," he says as he rinses and wrings out a dishrag at the sink. "I mean, in general, too. Harley definitely likes you, Amelia-chan. Ya don't gotta fret about fuckin' up."

Harley let herself sink into the tub. After Amelia left back into the kitchen, Harley reached behind her to turn on the stereo. Classical music filled the entire bathroom. And she just leaned back in the water, drank her smoothie, and let herself relax completely.

She knew that her past would always be a part of her... but there could be a difference between being haunted by it, or growing stronger from it.

Harley knew that she only wanted to be stronger.

A half-hour later she felt strong enough to get out of the bath on her own. She wrapped a bathrobe around her. And used her make-up vanity to roll her hair up into several curlers.

She walked into the kitchen, smiling at how Majima and Amelia had cleaned up everything. "Now I feel better."

Amelia's cheeks flush a light pink as she takes up a towel to help with the smoothie mess. "I've never done anything like this before," she says, her voice soft and nervous. "For as good as I am in combat, I have a knack for ruining relationships with people. And pretty much anything else I touch."

Days like this, where she wants to do something for someone she cares for, make her miss when she could hide her emotions and manipulate others at will to get what she wanted. The skills were very handy when she needed them to reach her goals, but when she needed to be something else for her family's sake, they fell to the wayside. Now she struggles with balancing how she feels against how she wants others to feel about her and what she wants for herself. She's not very good at it, even as she's been working at it for months, and it's more than a little frustrating.

She shakes her head a little, turning decidedly away from Majima as she cleans a section of the counter. "I'll be happy if she's happy, even if I'm not the cause of it."

Harley's return is a relief and Amelia smiles warmly at the other woman, all dressed to get back in bed as she is. If Harley can smile like that again, the rogue will take it as a good sign. "Warm water helped, I take it?"

"Eh, I ain't exactly some fuckin' relationship guru, either. Can't say I've really been in a long-term, exclusive thing. A few flings here and there." The flirtation and physical attraction is always easy enough to fall into, but the emotional bonds are the risky part. "I can see it bein' scary. Not wantin' to mess up and hurt somebody. 'specially someone like Harley who's seen enough hurt for a few lifetimes."

The kitchen is indeed looking a lot better by the time Harley returns. He leans in to give her a quick kiss. "Glad to see some color back in those cheeks, cupcake."

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Trigger Warnings... it's Harley's backstory. they are there

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