Work Text:
Moving to Gotham City wasn’t the first thing on Jordan’s list when they thought about starting college. It wasn’t even in the top ten. Gotham, with its reputation for chaos, rogues, and nightly explosions, wasn’t the kind of city anyone moved to willingly. But when Gotham University offered Jordan a full scholarship, they didn’t exactly have the luxury to say no.
To their surprise, Gotham wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be. Sure, there was the occasional supervillain rampage, but the rent was cheap, the food was good, and the people were… well, interesting.
But nothing in Jordan’s first semester could have prepared them for a random Tuesday night at the movies with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn.
It started at Gotham Cineplex, a historic, slightly run-down theater on the edge of the city. Jordan had stumbled upon it while exploring their new neighborhood, and it quickly became a favorite spot. Cheap tickets, buttery popcorn, and a nostalgic charm that reminded them of home.
That night, they’d decided to catch Love, Simon, a heartwarming, coming-of-age rom-com that promised to be the perfect escape from their grueling coursework. Jordan arrived early, clutching their ticket and a bucket of popcorn, ready for a quiet evening.
And then they walked in.
Harley Quinn was the first to catch Jordan’s eye. It was hard not to notice her—dressed in ripped jeans, a leather jacket adorned with graffiti-like designs, and her signature blonde pigtails tipped with pink and blue dye. She was holding a giant bag of gummy bears, tossing them into the air and catching them in her mouth with alarming precision.
Behind her was Poison Ivy, a vision of effortless elegance in a green sundress and combat boots. Her auburn hair flowed down her shoulders, and she carried herself with a calm, regal air that contrasted sharply with Harley’s chaotic energy.
Jordan stared, frozen halfway through a mouthful of popcorn. Was that…? No, it couldn’t be. But it was.
"Come on, Red!" Harley called, her voice bright and cheerful. "We’re gonna miss the trailers!"
"Harley, the movie doesn’t start for twenty minutes," Ivy replied with a sigh, but there was a fondness in her tone that softened her words.
Jordan thought about leaving. It wasn’t every day you shared a theater with two of Gotham’s most infamous rogues, and while they didn’t seem to be causing trouble, you could never be too careful. But before they could make their escape, Harley spotted them.
"Hey, you!" she called, bounding over with a wide grin. "Whatcha seein’?"
"Uh…" Jordan fumbled, holding up their ticket. "Love, Simon?"
Harley’s eyes lit up. "No way! That’s what we’re here for!" She spun around, waving at Ivy. "Red! This kid’s seein’ the same movie as us!"
Ivy approached, her sharp green eyes taking in Jordan with a hint of curiosity. "Interesting choice," she said, her voice smooth and measured. "I wouldn’t have pegged you for a rom-com fan."
Jordan blinked. "It’s… been a long week. I wanted something light."
Harley plopped into the seat next to Jordan without asking. "Smart move, kid. Life’s too short for boring movies." She leaned in conspiratorially. "You like gummy bears?"
"Uh, yeah?" Jordan replied, unsure what else to say.
Harley grinned and dumped a handful of gummy bears into their popcorn bucket. "There ya go. Gotta sweeten it up a bit!"
To Jordan’s surprise, Ivy took the seat on their other side, settling in with a serene expression. "Harley has a point," she said. "Sometimes you need a break from the chaos. Even in Gotham."
Jordan glanced between them, their heart pounding. "You guys… really like rom-coms?"
"Who doesn’t?" Harley replied, tossing a gummy bear into her mouth. "Plus, this one’s supposed to be cute! All about love and acceptance and all that mushy stuff." She waved her hands dramatically. "And Red’s a sucker for the mushy stuff."
Ivy arched an eyebrow. "I am not."
"Are too," Harley teased, nudging her playfully.
Jordan couldn’t help but smile. Despite their reputations, Harley and Ivy seemed… normal. Well, as normal as two of Gotham’s most notorious rogues could be.
The movie started, and for the next two hours, Jordan found themselves caught up in the story. They laughed, cried, and forgot—if only for a little while—that they were sitting between two infamous criminals. Harley and Ivy, for their part, seemed just as invested, though Harley couldn’t resist whispering snarky commentary during the cheesier moments.
When the credits rolled, Harley stretched her arms above her head. "Welp, that was adorable. Ten outta ten."
Ivy nodded. "It was… surprisingly heartfelt."
Jordan grinned. "Glad you liked it."
As the theater emptied, the trio lingered outside, the cool night air a refreshing contrast to the stuffy theater. Harley was still munching on gummy bears, while Ivy gazed up at the sky, her expression thoughtful.
"So," Harley said, turning to Jordan. "You from around here?"
"Uh, no," Jordan replied. "I just moved here for school."
Harley’s eyes lit up. "No kiddin’? What’re ya studying?"
"Botany," Jordan said. Then, realizing who they were talking to, they added, "Which I guess is, uh, kind of your thing?"
Ivy’s lips curved into a small smile. "It is. I’m glad to see someone pursuing something meaningful. Perhaps I could help with your studies sometime."
Jordan blinked. "Seriously?"
"Of course," Ivy said. "Gotham could use more people who understand the importance of plants."
"Wow," Jordan said, their voice tinged with disbelief. "That would be… amazing. Thank you."
The trio parted ways shortly after, Ivy and Harley heading toward the East End while Jordan walked home, a warm feeling blooming in their chest. They’d moved to Gotham expecting chaos, danger, and sleepless nights.
Instead, they got movie nights with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy—and, somehow, a promise of help on their next botany paper.
Yeah, Jordan thought as they unlocked their apartment door. Moving to Gotham was the best decision I’ve ever made.