Work Text:
The first time Ivy felt something was wrong was when the green woman was sleeping and felt movement beside her. It wasn’t uncommon for Harley and Ivy to share a bed, especially considering the blonde was afraid of the dark.
Now that they were officially together, Harley almost never left Ivy’s sight.
Ivy wouldn’t allow it, and it wasn’t something she wanted to control Harley over. No, it was the fact that after everything happened to Harley, she wanted to make sure no one ever hurt the poor girl again. Not Psycho. Not Harley’s parents. Not the Joker—
Ivy stopped her train of thought. Thinking about the Joker always got her unreasonably — no, reasonably angry.
But of course, there were times where Ivy couldn’t always stand by Harley’s side and watch over her. There were times when Ivy had to leave Harley at their hide out, times where Ivy had to have a private conversation with someone (like the one where she made amends with Kiteman), and, of course, times where she was asleep.
So, Ivy didn’t wake up, even as she felt the small girl squirm between her arms and the weight of the mattress loosen. Harley slipped out of Ivy’s embrace.
Ivy didn’t wake up until she heard the sound of aggressive scratching — the sound of nails rubbing angrily against skin. Ivy sat up in bed, her first thought going to Harley.
The blonde sat in the corner of the bed, scratching at her left wrist, the one that says “Joker’s Property” in black and red tattoo ink.
Ivy looked at her girlfriend, immediately wanting Harley to stop hurting herself.
“Harley,” Ivy cooed as if she were talking to a baby lamb that just learned how to stand for the first time.
Harley’s head snapped over to her, like a deer caught in the headlights. She plastered a smile to her face and gave a little wave with her hand that she didn’t scratch.
”Pam-a-lamb!” Harley greeted, voice too cheerful to be genuine. “What are you doing awake?”
Ivy raised an eyebrow. Wordlessly, she stood up and reached into her night drawer.
”Pammy?” Harley’s voice cracked on the second syllable, fearing that her girlfriend was angry.
“Yes, sweetpea?” Ivy said softly and Harley looked down at her lap.
“I had a nightmare.” The blonde admitted as her eyes watered.
Ivy grabbed her signature green lipstick, the one that had anti-biotics in it and began applying it. The lipstick also had numbing cream.
”I know, baby.” The green woman said gently.
”Mistah Jay wanted to hurt you.” Harley choked out.
Ivy went back over to her girlfriend. Harley currently sat on the edge of the bed and Ivy knelt in front of her.
Harley clutched her scratched and bleeding wrist to her chest, acting as if she had to protect herself from the world.
Ivy tilted Harley’s chin up. “What do we call him, daffodil?” She probed gently, ignoring the anger in the pit of her stomach. Harley does not owe that man any respect at all.
”J-Joker.”
“Good girl.” Ivy praised before holding her hand out. “Now can I see your wrist?”
Harley didn’t seem to hear her, and instead just stared into Ivy’s eyes, lost in thought and clutching her hand as if something was going to hurt her.
Ivy spoke again. “Let me see your wrist, pretty girl.” She cooed.
Harley slowly nodded and put her hand out. Ivy took it gently and began to inspect it. Her once pale skin was gleaming red from the scratches. Ivy leaned down and peppered kisses all over it.
”His name may be tattooed on you but you are still mine.” Ivy said.
Harley felt herself blush.
Ivy stopped kissing Harley’s wrist and wrapped her hands around the smaller girl’s waist.
Harley looked down. “Joker made me get this tattoo when I was with him. He wanted it so badly.” Harley sniffled. “I couldn’t stop him.” She whimpered.
”You’re going to be okay, sweetpea.” Ivy said, brushing through the blonde locks with one of her hands. “I’m always going to protect you. He’s never going to hurt you again.”
Harley looked up at Ivy like she carried the world.
Ivy stood up, holding out her hand. “Watch a movie with me?” She requested.
Harley nodded and took the other woman’s hand.
The two walked into the living room, where Ivy sat down on the couch.
Harley walked by, about to sit next to the green woman, only for Ivy to pull the girl into her lap. Harley looked down at her lap, shy from the sudden physical touch.
“What movie are we going to watch, Red?” Harley asked and Ivy kissed the girl’s cheek.
“Whatever you want, munchkin.” Ivy replied.
Harley poked out her tongue, thinking and Ivy smiled as the girl finally seemed to be returning to normal.
“You want to see what Tawny is talking about on her latest game show?” Harley asked and Ivy nodded, turning on the channel.
Yet, as soon as the TV was on, Harley shifted in Ivy’s lap so the blonde woman could bury her head in the green woman’s neck. They stayed like that for a while and until the sun began to rise.
Ivy thought Harley was asleep when the blonde said, “I don’t want Joker to ever hurt you either.” She admitted. “In my dream he didn’t hurt me, he hurt you.”
Ivy rubbed circles on the younger girl’s back. If it weren’t for the emotional state of her girlfriend, the idea of the Joker hurting her would have made her laugh. The man didn’t even have a super power. But this was Harley — her Harley and the blonde wouldn’t understand that right now.
“He — he killed you before.” Harley said, clutching onto the older woman’s shirt. “Because of me.”
Ivy’s brows furrowed. She tilted Harley’s chin up so that they were looking into each other’s eyes. “Harleen Quinzel, do not ever blame yourself for that. The Joker is in Arkham, but even if he gets out, I will protect both of us. That man is never going to lay another finger on you again. I love you. And I’m not letting anyone hurt you. You mean the world to me, Harls.” Ivy grabbed Harley’s hand. “I can take care of myself.” Ivy insisted.
“B-But—“ Harley stuttered but Ivy shushed her in an instant, putting a finger over Harley’s lips..
“And you are going to let me take care of you, okay?” Ivy asked, but it was more like a statement.
Harley blushed. “Okay,” she said shyly.
Ivy wrapped her arms around the shorter girl’s waist. “Good. Now let me carry you back to bed, little one.” She said and Harley nodded, her face turning a darker shade of red.
Ivy lifted Harley up bridal style and cradled the girl in her arms, abandoning the TV.
She brought the blonde over to the bed and laid Harley down while whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
“You won’t let him hurt us?” Harley asked as Ivy wrapped pulled Harley to her chest in their bed. “Not just me, but you won’t let him hurt us, right?”
“I won’t. I promise, Harls. He will never touch either one of us as long as I am here. He will rot in Arkham for all of eternity. I love you.”
Harley sighed, finally beginning to believe her girlfriend.
“I love you too.”
”And if you have anymore nightmares, you wake me up, okay?” Ivy said sternly, squeezing the blonde closer in her arms. Ivy felt a soft nod into her stomach.
They slept the rest of the night peacefully and the next morning Ivy called the tattoo shop that agreed to cover up the tattoo Joker made Harley get. That, along with kisses to the blonde’s wrists, made it so Harley never scratched at her arms again.