nexus_crossings | (no subject)

(no subject)

Harley is sitting cross-legged on a random Nexus couch today. She has found a pamphlet from the Pokémart and is looking through some of the Pokémon that could be adopted and trained.

She seems in a good mood today. Twirling her hair, as she reads the pamphlet. And there is a huge bag of caramel popcorn at her side.

"If you could have any kind of pet, what kind of animal or creature would you have?"

"What do you think qualifies as being a suitable pet owner?"

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He arches an eyebrow and nudges her back. "Ya ain't been much of a challenge thus far. Or have ya been goin' easy on me?"

"Wow, what's up with this one?" This time he points at a ditto. "How 'bout a purple blob hangin' out, smilin' at ya?"

"Of course I have. Silly."

Harley grins at mention of the ditto. "I have a bigger smile."

"Well, you can take those kid gloves off, sweetheart. Gimme yer worst," he chides, swatting the pamphlet on her knee.

"So which critter's speakin' to ya the most, Harley-chan?"

"Just remember... you asked for it." Harley grins back at him.

She looks back through the pamphlet. "There are lots of choices. But ya'know, maybe I will get lucky and find one that reminds me of Bud and Lou."

"Do we need a safe word?" he laughs.

"Maybe one of these dog-lookin' things?" He taps on a growlithe. "They look scrappy."

"Always better to play and tease when you have a safe word in place," She wraps her arm around him. And tease her fingers up his shirt slightly.

"Then you know when you crossed a line."

She grins. "Now that is what I am talking about. Something that could stay by my side, no matter what kinda shit I get into."

Majima starts laughing again, then sighs. "Shit, I ain't flirted this hard in a while. Other than helpin' the girls practice for work. They usually keep their hands to themselves, though."

He throws an arm over the back of the couch behind Harley. "Seems yer taste in friends translates to pets, huh? Fuckin' ride or die."

"Well, I am a different kinda' girl." Her touch is just friendly right now. If he tells her to back off, she would.

"I do better around people who have seen shit. They seem more real to me. And in a way, I feel more real."

"Yeah. You can say that again. Girls back home ain't so forward 'bout what they want. An' when they are it's usually uh, lotsa commitment. Can't blame 'em, I guess. We harp on the ladies 'bout starting families and shit. They can't be fuckin' around." For his part, Majima seems relaxed, allowing this closeness to continue despite his earlier edict about fraternizing with co-workers.

"And yeah, I getcha. Ya been through some shit, and it just ... I dunno, makes ya feel miles away from other people?"

"Well I can never ever start a family. So I don't need the speech." She trails her fingers up his spine. Glad to see him relax under her touch.

"I can. Sometimes I see how happy other people are and just... meh..."

Majima shivers a little at the touch. He shifts on the couch to angle himself towards her, crossing one leg over the other, almost boxing her in. "I'm kinda in the same boat. Dolly's daughter calls me 'daddy' and it gets me thinkin'. But I sure as hell ain't real dad material and I've already made my choice -- what kinda family I'm a part of."

He curls a lock of her hair between his fingers. "Happiness ain't 'one size fits all.' If you could have any kinda life ya wanted, what would it look like?"

Harley moves her caramel popcorn to the opposite side of her body, so there is nothing between them on the couch.

"I found my family with the Suicide Squad. And really think I am building a new one here in the Nexus with all the great friends I have."

She smiles at the touch of his fingers in her hair.

"I am building that life. Getting to do what I love... thanks to you..." She grins. Harley is extremely happy being a Hostess/Bouncer. It combines all of her skills into one great job. "And being with people who support me."

"I feel happier than I have ever been. No need to pretend anymore."

"Gotta say, it's been nice havin' friends again. Been kinda lonely since my bro got locked up an' ... uh, everything went to shit."

He looks down self-consciously when she ascribes some of her happiness to his help. What he's learned about her history with Joker comes to mind and he takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. "Glad yer finally seein' some happiness, Harley-chan."

"It does suck to be locked up." Harley nods.

Harley smiles when he squeezes her hand. And she takes the opportunity to pull him closer to her. "And you? What is your happiness?"

Majima exhales and rests his head on Harley's. He rubs the top of her hand with his thumb. "I'm livin' on borrowed time. My happiness comes from bein' alive at all, honey."

An ambiguous dodge of an answer if ever there was one.

Harley nods slightly. She understands that feeling very well. She was on a bloody team called Suicide Squad for that exact reason.

"I just started living. For real."

"Maybe you should do that, yourself?"

"Fuck if I even know what that looks like," Majima snorts. "You might have to teach me what this 'living for real' is all about."

"I can do that." Harley wraps her arms around him. Hugging him tightly. But not with her whole strength. Just enough that he knows that she cares.

Majima hesitates briefly before relaxing into the hug and wrapping his own arms around her. He's gotten more hugs during this time in the Nexus than he has in years. It's strange, but ... nice?

"How'd we go from talkin' pets to this, anyway?" he mumbles over her shoulder.

"I don't know about you... but I get distracted easily." She rubs his back a little. "Why? You complaining already, old man?"

"Who ya callin' old? I'm twenty-four!" he takes this opportunity to get revenge for that earlier move and gives her side a quick tickle.

She laughs at the tickling. "Oh dear... I am older than you. Does that make me a Cougar?"

"Only if you're lookin' to rob this cradle," Majima says as he tilts his head and shoulders back enough to look at her. "Judgin' from how cozy you're gettin', all signs point to 'yes.' An' we're talkin' big, flashing neon signs."

"Big neon signs sounds like how I usually broadcast my feelings."

Harley shrugs her shoulders slightly. "I like being cozy with ya, Majima."

"I kinda noticed. Like I said before, it's refreshin'." He sets his elbow on the back of the couch and props his head on his hand. His other arm slides to rest around her waist. "You just seein' how far you can scooch a toe over my professional boundaries, or what?"