#the emanciption of harley quinn

[storiesforallfandoms]

man’s world ~ harley quinn;birds of prey

word count: 1965

request?: no

description: every bad guy in town is after harley quinn after the announcement of her breakup with the joker, but harley is about to make a very powerful friend to have on her side

pairing: harley quinn x female!reader

warnings: swearing, violence, mentions of murder

masterlist

There was no need in counting the money given to me. I could tell by the size of the tack that it wasn’t enough. “You stiffed me again.”

Roman rolled his eyes at me. “I told you I’d pay for a clean kill, that wasn’t a clean kill. You’re lucky I paid you at all.”

“What do you mean? How can a kill be any cleaner than arsenic poisoning? I even framed that chemist guy that had a grudge against the target, it’ll never be traced back to you.”

“Sorry, did I say clean? I meant I wanted a messy murder. Your plan was smart, but I love the theatrics of it all. Next time, I want a show.”

I rolled my eyes and started to walk away. I really wished I could find a new employer. Roma was the absolute worst boss. He was an asshole misogynist that overworked and underpaid me. But he had a lot of leverage on me, what with me being his hitwoman and all, so until I could find a new employer, I was basically bound to Roman.

“Wait!” Roman said. I sighed and turned back to look at him. “I do have a pretty big job for you. If you do this, I promise you I will pay you in full. A large sum, too.”

“I’ve heard that before, Roman,” I said and turned to walk away again.

He stood from his desk and quickly approached me, grabbing my arm to stop me. I raised an eyebrow and yanked my arm away. Most people were too afraid of Roman to behave like this around him. However, most people weren’t his hitwoman, meaning they didn’t have the dirt on him that I did.

It was a balanced relationship we had, whether Roman wanted to admit it or not.

“I mean it, (Y/N),” he said. “This is a big job. If you do this, I will pay you double, no triple the original price of this hit.”

I should’ve walked away, I could’ve walked away. Roman wouldn’t stop me if I did. But I couldn’t lie, the money sounded good - if Roman actually gave me what he was promising this time.

I sighed and motioned with a hand for Roman to go on. He smiled like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Do you know who Harley Quinn is?”

~~~~~~

It didn’t take long to find where Harley Quinn decided to live after the Joker kicked her to the curb. It was severely under protected, unless you classified a sweet Asian man as “protection”.

He tried to stop me as I made my way to Harley’s apartment. “Who are you?”

“I’m an old friend of Harley’s from Arkham Asylum,” I responded. “I wanted to surprise her, I just got out.”

“She’s not home right now.”

“Even better! It’ll be a big surprise!”

I hurried away before he said anything else. I knew he’d be suspicious, but I trusted him to not tell Harley I was there.

I picked her lock and let myself in. The moment I stepped into her apartment, her pet hyena sat up at attention, assessing the stranger that had just entered his home. I pulled the hamburger I had bought from the bag in my hand and offered it to the hyena. He raced over and excitedly gobbled down the food.

I knelt down to pet his coarse fur. “Good boy. I’ll take you in when I finish with this job.”

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait for her long. Shortly after my arrival, the sound of the doorknob turning alerted myself and her hyena that she was back. I pointed the gun as the door swung open. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

“Hello Harleen.”

Roman’s words - “I want a messy kill” - echoed through my head as I pulled the trigger. Harley quickly jumped to the side, just narrowly avoiding my bullet. She dove behind her couch and I continued to shoot bullets into it, causing feathers and fluff to fly into the air. Harley’s hyena let out a laugh-like bark that was drowned out by my gunshots. When my clip was empty, I quickly changed it to a full one.

Knowing that the gunshots would’ve alerted Harley’s landlord, I quickly crossed the room to her open door and closed it, locking the door and even breaking the knob a little for good measures. I wasn’t going to let this job bust, not with so much money on the line.

“Look, whatever Mista J did to you, I’m sorry!” Harley called from somewhere in the room. “Haven’t ya done your research? He brainwashed me! I only did what he said cause I thought I loved him!”

“Joker never did anything to me,” I told her. “I’m just here on someone else’s behalf.”

“That’s a long list to narrow down,” she responded. “Mind giving me a hint? Maybe an initial?”

I traced her voice to a desk that was turned to face me. This wouldn’t have normally been suspicious, if it weren’t for the fact that the desk was pushed right up against a wall, rendering it technically useless. In the small slit between the bottom of the desk and the floor, I could see Harley’s colorful shoes peaking out.

“Actually, I have a message from him,” I said. “Roman says ‘Good Riddence.”

She must’ve known I had found her, as, just before I pulled the trigger, Harley jumped up from under the desk, successfully launching it at me. The sudden movement startled me enough that my shot lodged itself in the ceiling instead of in her head.

“Oh, Romy!” Harley exclaimed. “Couldn’t even be bothered to come kill me himself? What hurts!”

She dove behind another plush chair as I took another shot at her. I exclaimed in frustration and went to approach the chair. Before getting close enough, Harley raised her hand, which was now holding the white t-shirt she had arrived in.

“Truce!” she called. “Just for one minute, give me a truce. And then you can decide if you want to continue with your killing. I won’t stop you, you ain’t the first to try and off me today.”

Against my better judgement, I sighed and shoved my gun back into the waistband of my pants. “You have five minutes to say your piece, Quinn. I have a lot of money on the line here.”

She popped up from behind the chair like a Whack-A-Mole. She was now in a plush, pink sports bra, her suspenders pulled over it now instead of the white t-shirt she was holding in her hand.

“I can’t blame you for wanting to cash in on a good paycheck,” she said. “I wanted to get a look at ya for a minute. You know, without the bullets and whatnot obstructing my view. I wanted to see if I recognized ya.”

“Why would you recognize me?”

“I frequent Romy’s club a lot. I think he only tolerated me because of Mista J, which would explain why he sent a hitwoman after me when I announced our breakup,” she explained. “You do look familiar. Do you frequent the club, too?”

“I don’t tend to talk with Roman about business in public. It’s not exactly the smartest move.”

“I suppose not, but I’m sure I’ve seen your face there before.” She thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. “Oh! I know! You were there the last time I was! I broke a dude’s legs and you were talking to Romy at the time!”

Oh wait, she’s right. I was there that night.

I could remember well: I had just finished a job. Roman had called me to his club for my payment. I guess he knew I wouldn’t lash out in front of all those witnesses when he stiffed me again. I was furious when he handed me less than half of what he had promised. That job had almost gotten me killed, but he viewed that as a failure. He told me he was debating not paying me at all, but knew I’d walk if that was the case.

His smug as smile as he walked away still infuriated me to that day. I wished I had punched him right in his stupid fucking face, made a scene in his club and announced to the world that Roman Sionis had hired a killer to take down the people he didn’t like. I’d go to prison if it meant Roman went with me.

“Man, you were angry,” Harley said, leaning her arms against the chair and resting her head in one of her hands. “What were ya talking about? Did a hit go wrong or something?”

“Nearly,” I responded, looking away from Harley so she wouldn’t see my anger again. “Listen, I gave you five minutes and they’re almost up, so maybe you should - ”

“He stiffed ya, didn’t he?” Harley cut me off. “I bet he does that a lot. He doesn’t exactly treat his female employees all that nicely. You heard the stories from that singer he has? The Canary? I can’t believe she quit working for him and made it out alive.”

She almost hadn’t. I had to save her ass from Roman that night. It was the night I almost walked out, too. The first time, anyways.

“He’s a misogynistic prick,” Harley hissed. “Thinks women are objects that should be beneath him. I don’t know why you let him treat you like dirt when you do all the dirty work for him. You should be the one stiffin’ him for cash!”

“It doesn’t work like that,” I told her. “Being the killer for hire for Roman Sionis, he has too much dirt on me. If I tried to leave, or if I did anything he didn’t like, he could ruin my life in a second. I’m stuck with him until I can know for sure that I’m safe.”

“How do you know you wouldn’t be safe with me?”

I scoffed at her question. “You’re wanted by everybody - every villain, every hero, and every regular pedestrian. You don’t have the Joker to protect you right now. You’re a walking target, being with you is the unsafest place to be.”

“Safer than with Roman Sionis,” she said. “Sure, I can’t pay you top dollar for killin’, but I like to get my hands bloody myself. I ain’t here for this hitman/hitwoman shit. You and I, we could do some serious damage together.”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like her proposal. Even if it would land me in a world of danger, working with Harley Quinn was a lot better than having to work for Roman Sionis anymore.

“The two of us alone, no matter how powerful or how...psychotic, are not enough to go up against Roman,” I told her.

Harley smiled brightly, knowing that what I was saying was technically an acceptance to her invitation. “Way ahead of you sister! I’ve already recruited Romy’s ex-Canary, and that legendary Crossbow Killer. We’re puttin’ together our own little girl gang.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “Sounds like you were prepared for this.”

“Let’s just say, you’re not the first person Romy has sent after me.”

I had a feeling there was a reason Roman didn’t warn me about the first person sent after Harley Quinn.

She approached me and threw an arm over my shoulder, as if we were magically best friends. I looked at her close proximity before looking back up at her smiling face. “I could kill you right now, you know.”

“I know, but you won’t,” she said. “We’re best friends now, and we’re gonna take down Roman Sionis together.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her as she said this.

[directorsnarrative]

Birds of Prey: and the Fantabulous Emanciption of One Harley Quinn • Director Cathy Yan

[storiesforallfandoms]

rescue mission ~ harley quinn;suicide squad

word count: 1576

request?: no

description: after the tragic death of joker, he entrusts one person to break his queen out of prison 

pairing: harley quinn x female!reader

warnings: swearing

masterlist

Harley was sat innocently in her cell, reading a book and sipping her cappuccino, when the explosion went off. A group of people dressed in suits and masked swarmed her cell as she scrambled to the back, confused as to what was happening.

One figure led the pack. Their sites set on Harley as a female voice said, “Harley Quinn! Come with us!”

“No way!” Harley snapped. “Who the hell are you guys?!”

“We worked for J,” the woman responded. It was all she needed to say. Harley stood excitedly and followed the woman out of her cell and into a large truck. To the others, she demanded, “If anyone comes after us make sure you stop them! You heard the boss, Harley goes free no matter what, no one gets her but us!”

The men nodded and the doors to the truck slammed shut. The driver stepped on the gas and sped away from the prison. Harley watched as the prison guards came running out to see what was going on, only to be mowed down by Joker’s men.

Beside her, her unfamiliar saviour took off her mask. She was a young woman, around Harley’s age, and Harley couldn’t remember ever seeing her. Suddenly, her jealousy kicked in and she crossed her arms. “How did you say you knew Mista J again?”

“I’m (Y/N), I worked for him,” the woman responded. “Head of security at his club, head of operations when it came to his missions. He left this last one with me: free Harley no matter what the cost.”

Harley’s arms and face fell. “Wait, last one? So...so Mista J is really...”

(Y/N) sighed and nodded solemnly. “Unfortunately so. Waller got the one up on us, we didn’t see her attack coming. We hoped there was a chance but...” She trailed off, sparing Harley the gory details.

Harley stared out through the windshield, letting the news sink in. Of course, she had said goodbye to any chances of getting the Joker back when she helped kill the Enchantress. But when these people broke into her cell to save her, and told her they worked with the Joker, she had a tiny sliver of hope that meant he had lived.

She stayed silent for a long time, unable to speak. She was sure she’d start crying at any moment. She bit her lip to keep the tears away.

“Where are you taking me?” she finally asked.

“To J’s old hiding place,” (Y/N) explained. “We have your stuff there. When we get there, you can decide what your next plan of action is.”

Harley nodded. The rest of the drive was quiet as Harley looked out the window and tried not to cry.

They arrived to the old hideout soon enough, and the minute that the truck came to a stop Harley jumped out and walked away from her saviors. She looked around the hideout, all the memories of her and her lover running through her mind. She still couldn’t grasp the fact that Joker was gone forever. She was just wishing that this was all a bad dream and she’d wake up soon with her lover still here.

Her rescue team entered just after her, with (Y/N) leading the pack. Harley glared at her. She knew she had no reason to be so upset with this woman, after all she had saved Harley’s life, but something about her made Harley annoyed. She just wanted to ring this bitch’s neck, but she wasn’t sure if even that would cheer her up.

“Where’s my shit?” she demanded. “I want to leave this hell hole.”

“We have it all in your old room here,” (Y/N) explained. “We can equip you with whatever you need to get out of here.”

Leaving was her current plan, although she really didn't know where to do. She had been following the Joker for so long, she really didn’t know how to exist without him anymore. There was no way she could leave the hideout and be “normal”. Normal just wasn’t an option for her, it never would be again. Her only option was to keep running and hiding.

“I don’t wanna leave yet,” she shrugged. “I need to figure out my plan. And then I’m gone.”

“You can stay as long as you want. Follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”

“I know where the room is,” Harley hissed. (Y/N) smiled and shrugged, which pissed Harley off more. She glared at (Y/N) as she walked away, taking the familiar route to the room she once shared with Joker.

Walking into the room filled with their memories was bittersweet. Harley was happy to be back and to no longer be in prison, or under the thumb of Amanda Waller, but being there without the Joker felt wrong.

On the bed was Harley’s clothes from her mission with the Suicide Squad, including her handmade “Puddin” choker. She picked up the choker and held it close to her heart. She also picked up the only picture in the room, a picture of her and the Joker fleeing from a crime scene that she had taken from a newspaper and framed; the only picture of them together.

Harley looked at the picture for a long time, still clutching the choker against her heart. She didn’t realize she was crying until her vision completely blurred and her tears started hitting the picture. She sat down on the bed, still looking at the picture. She didn’t want to ever look away. She wanted to climb into the picture and be with her one and only again, forever.

~~~~~~

Hours passed, although it could’ve been days as far as Harley knew. She was still sat on the bed, not staring at the ceiling. There was no indication of time in the room, but it sure did feel like a long time.

A knock came on the door. Harley debated on telling the person to go away, but she didn’t have the energy to even do that. The person on the other side took Harley’s silence as an invitation to come in. (Y/N) stood in the doorway, holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“You want some wine?” she asked.

Harley sat up quickly and responded, “Fuck yes.”

(Y/N) chuckled and entered the room. She poured up two glasses and offered one to Harley. In one gulp, she downed the wine and offered her glass back to (Y/N).

“Slow down there,” (Y/N) laughed. “We have to make this bottle last, it’s the only one we have.”

“My life fucking sucks, I wanna get drunk,” Harley declared.

“You seem to have a pretty good life,” (Y/N) noted. “You know, despite being a criminal on the run. You caught the attention of a pretty powerful man. Even after he’s gone you’re guaranteed protection for life.”

“He tricked me into thinking he loved me so I’d help him escape, drove me to insanity, then left me to be captured by the stupid Bat. Among other things. He only loved my devotion to him, and now he’s dead.”

(Y/N) raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you so upset over his death?”

Tears pricked Harley’s eyes again as she responded, “Because I don’t know hoe to exist without him!”

She wrapped her arms around (Y/N) and buried her head in her shoulder. (Y/N) awkwardly patted Harley's shoulder, unsure as to what to say or do. Luckily, Harley continued speaking before (Y/N) could.

“Ever since Arkham Asylum, I’ve followed Mista J. I’ve done everything he’s ever told me to. The only time I haven’t was when I was forced to fight that witchy bitch, and even then I was told what to do. I don’t know how to exist on my own!”

(Y/N) took hold of Harley’s shoulders and pushed her away. Harley looked at her, confused.

“You do know how to exist,” (Y/N) told her. “You did it before the Joker, and you’ll be able to do it again now that he’s gone.”

“I don’t think I can,” Harley responded.

“That’s the part that J manipulated in you, the part that would make you stay with him, but you are so much more than the Joker’s pet. You just have to get out there, leave all this behind, leave the Joker behind, and start a new life.”

Harley was stunned. This was the first time someone had ever given her a choice, to let her truly decide what she wanted to do. There were so many possibilities, so much she could do with her new found freedom.

She looked up at (Y/N) with wide eyes. “Will you come with me?”

(Y/N) raised an eyebrow at the question. “Really? You didn’t seem to like me very much earlier.”

“You’re the only person who’s told me I could be independent, who has made me think maybe I could be. I need someone to help me start a new life, I want you to help me.”

(Y/N) smiled and took Harley’s hand in hers. “I can’t leave right now. I have some lose ends to tie up for J.” Harley’s face fell. “But, when all that is finished, I promise I’ll come find you.”

Harley’s face lit up with excitement and (Y/N) giggled when Harley lunged at her, wrapping her in a tight hug.