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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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."

Harley wraps her arm around Majima's waist, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It did. I am glad you guys decided to come see me."

She knows it was their presence that helped her to find her strength again.

From Majima's answer, it's clear to Amelia that he doesn't understand her worries. Rather than explain, though, she simply nods and continues on with the cleaning work until Harley returns.

"We'd have come sooner if we'd known something was wrong." Amelia would drop everything for those she cares about in less than a heartbeat. Part of her aches knowing Harley suffered while she wasn't answering messages, but there's no point lingering on a past that can't be changed. Only the present and future matter.

"What would you like now? Something else to eat? More sleep? Talking through more things?" She pauses to force herself to take a breath. Slow down, Amelia. There's plenty of time to wait for an answer. "Name it, and it's yours."

Majima loops an arm around Harley's shoulders and gives her a tight squeeze. He can feel the damp of her hair soaking into his shirt. "Yeah, really. Don't do all that sufferin' in silence bullshit again, got it? Got us real worried."

He jerks his chin in Poochyena's direction. "Your weird dog-thing can only do so much."

Poochyena looks at Majima when he speaks about him. He did a good job taking care of Harley.

Harley nods slightly at Goro's statement. "I know. It was just... a rough week."

"I never had anyone to talk to... before."

Amelia's lips draw into a thin line as she actively tries not to frown. She walks over to the others and takes one of Harley's hands in her own, if allowed.

"Please know that we only want to help and be here for you. If we can do something, we want to. I know it's hard and terrifying but... if you don't try, we can't be here when you need us most."

Hollow words, perhaps, but she's trying the best she can. This is all new to the rogue and she's struggling to figure it all out as she goes. So long as she can help Harley, though, she'll keep trying until she gets it right.

"Pardon my French, but ya been through some wild-ass shit, Harley-chan. Can't come close to knowin' how it feels. Doesn't help I got the emotional smarts of a fuckin' rock. But I can listen all ya like."

Majima pauses and his mouth twists in a smirk. "Hell. Even if ya don't wanna talk, I'm all for helpin' take yer mind off that crap. Night out? Bustin' heads? Say the word an' we can paint the town red."

Harley takes Amelia's hand for a moment, then pulls her closer, so she can wrap her other arm around the other woman's waist. She just wants to be surrounded by the two of them right now.

And she really doesn't know which emotion is the best to describe how they make her feel. Supporting her. Wanting to listen to her. Wanting to help her. Taking the time to understand her.

"You two are the best."

And she smiles when Goro offers to take her out for a night of busting heads. "I have been doing a little of that... to keep the club safe for the others. And it did help. A little."

"It bothers me... that Joker has those videos." Harley frowns. "It bothers me that he is still trying to hurt me."

"I just want to feel free."

"So let's make you free."

Amelia always has the worst ideas at the worst moments. This would be one of them. Because of course the idea of going after Joker - someone she knows is the worst kind of trouble - sounds like the only course of action available to them in this moment. He's the source of Harley's pain, therefore they should take care of him to help her. How difficult the task may be doesn't matter; To ease Harley's suffering, Amelia would do anything.

The rogue frowns and leans closer to the other woman so she can press her forehead gently against Harley's temple. "Tell me where he is and let me do this. Please. I don't want to see you hurting anymore because of someone who shouldn't be allowed to have this kind of power over you."

Majima shoots Amelia a look. "Yeah, I mean. There's that."

"And really. When it comes down to it, ya can't be the only person that prick's fucked over, right? Doin' him in would be a goddamn public service. Like puttin' down a rabid dog."

Ah, that nice, easy way to solve problems: good ol' violence. His voice lowers as he leans in, "How'd that feel? Knownin' he was worm food?"

They both might feel Harley tense at the suggestion. And not because she doesn't want to see Joker dead... no, instead she knows that several people have tried and failed. Several people have died trying.

And she finds herself in the same situation she had been with Pamela. Who always asked about killing Joker. Harley remembers how angry Pamela would get... when she would say no. She remembers Pamela thinking it was because Harley still had feelings for Joker.

So she is worried that is the reaction she might get from Amelia and Goro. That if she said no... they would think it was because she still cared about Joker.

But it is the exact opposite feeling that scares her right now. Harley knows from personal experience how Joker could turn an average person into his own personal plaything. And the very thought of him getting his hands on Amelia or Goro makes her scared to her core.

And it is not because she doubts their abilities... she just knows that Joker has dealt with a lot of people trying to kill him. A lot of people with their own special abilities. And he has survived every time.

When she finally speaks, her voice is distant. Cautious. "I don't want that."

"Him being dead ain't going to get rid of my memories."

Edited 2018-02-26 13:17 (UTC)

Amelia feels oddly admonished when Harley tells them no. Even as she can see all the signs that tell her the other woman is afraid, they don't fully register over her own selfish feelings of hurt. Why can't she want this for Harley? Why can't she do something she's actually good at to show she cares? What's so wrong with wanting to set the other woman free from all of the pain and unease that Joker still causes her to feel?

She doesn't understand what she's done wrong, and it makes her feel helpless. Useless. Weak.

A frown pulls across her lips as she slowly nods. "Fine. We'll leave him be. But if he crosses us in any way--" She stops herself with a sigh. Shovel talk won't help and she knows that from conversations with Adia. Time to pull herself together for Harley now and sulk later. "I won't ask again, but I hope we can find a way to lessen the pain of these memories. We don't want you to hurt because of him."

Majima makes a hmmm noise, somewhere between disgruntled and incredulous. He doesn't quite understand Harley's restraint. A foolhardy part of him -- swayed by a youthful, masculine bravado -- assumes that he could take the guy if he had half a chance. "Sure, it don't get rid of the baggage, but sometimes the closure helps. Knowin' the threat's gone."

He sighs sharply and looks down at Harley. "But it's yer call, sweetheart."

She hates feeling like she just disappointed them both. Harley doesn't understand why they think it would be so easy to kill him. Especially when there have been so many people that have tried... and failed. And it sweet that they want so much to protect her from him... but she just can't stop the imagery of Joker torturing either one of them out of her.

"I'm sorry." The apology is instinct. You have no faith in me. You are such a disappointment. The chiding voice in the back of her head is automatic.

"But if he hurt you..." Her voice catches. "And he would. He would hurt you. He would take great pleasure in hurting you. And it would be all my fault."

Her frown deepens as Harley speaks. "It's no one's fault if I'm hurt but my own," she says quickly. "If I put my life on the line, only I can answer for what comes of my actions."

It's not a comforting statement, but it's the truth. Harley shouldn't feel like it's her fault if something were to happen to Amelia in her pursuit of Joker. The rogue knows full well that she's the only one who can be held responsible for what she does, no matter how terribly that may end for her.

"But unless you're all right with this, I won't make a single move on him." She looks over at Majima and nods before looking back at Harley. "Neither of us will do something you're uncomfortable with."

Majima visibly bristles, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "Don't ya go takin' responsibility for whatever messed-up shit this fuckin' creep pulls. That's all on him, Harley." He gives her a squeeze for emphasis then returns Amelia's look.

"Like I said, I ain't gonna go lookin' for trouble, but the minute he starts shit, you better believe all bets are off."

Harley is honestly fighting the depression instincts that are threatening to overcome her. She still feels so scared that she had disappointed Majima and Amelia. That she should just 'flip that switch' in her head, smile a fake smile, and agree with their desires.

It would be so easy to allow her triggers to take control.

But Harley wants to be strong for these two wonderful people.

She reaches up to kiss Majima's lips softly. Then leans over to also kiss Amelia. They are so wonderful to be protective of her.

"We can find other trouble to get into... together." She manages a weak smile. But it is a real smile. Nothing faked here.

That kiss easily takes the fight out of Amelia - and distracts her from any remaining hurt feelings. She lets her eyes fall closed and exhales a soft breath, trying (and mostly failing) to compose herself before she speaks again.

"I'm good at trouble. Name your poison and I can find it for us."

Majima is still a put off, even with the placating kiss -- one only half-returned this time. It's not his place to say how other people should deal with their trauma, but he's concerned by the lack of fight in Harley. Where was all that spirit he saw in Gotham? Losing that doesn't sit well with him.

Either way, not much to be done right now. He grudgingly goes along with the new train of thought. "Yeah, yeah. You wanna get outta yer little hidey hole here? Ya ain't been out but for work, huh?"

It is a good thing that Majima has that silent concern. Harley is still a little in the 'victim' stage of healing from her trauma.

She needs their support to get back to Survivor. And then Thriver.

"It would be good for me to get out of the apartment for a little bit." Harley nods. She smiles a little at Majima. "Yes. I have been to work. I have not been very social to the rest of the staff."

"You've been hurting. No one can blame you for that." She nuzzles Harley's cheek gently then pulls back just enough to offer a wry smile. "Let's find something to do that will make it easier to be around people for you, then. We can rough some people up, break a few things, go hide in plain sight somewhere - like at a club or something like that. Anything at all, you simply have to name it."

It's a good game to play, hiding in plain sight, even if there's little point to it when played alone. With company, though, Amelia thinks it could be worth while. Hiding three people is more challenging than one, after all.

"There's plenty of opportunities for a group such as us, both in the Nexus or on either of your worlds. If something sounds fun to you, we can find a way to make it happen." Between three enterprising people like themselves? There's no way they won't find something fun and distracting to cheer Harley up.

"Eh, let's avoid my world for a bit. Besides, you were already there for work." And Majima's in enough hot water as it is without being caught goofing off with a couple of ladies.

There's always his other favorite way to blow off steam: "Maybe we can find a karaoke joint or somethin'. The Nexus is big enough there's not much risk of embarrassin' yerself in front'a people ya know."

"I would be good for karaoke." Harley smiles. Truth be told, she doesn't think that she would be at her best for roughing anyone up tonight.

"Will you help me pick out a sparkly dress, Goro?" She trails her fingers down his side.

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