A soft screech leaves Harley’s lips when she’s lifted; she’s not used to this, not anymore, but she can’t help the laughter that follows. Her eyes are soft as she tilts her head happily, Star’s lips finding hers again, and a pleased shiver runs down her spine. Something about how easily Star can manhandle her makes something just unlock in her, something that’s akin to a happiness that she only knows in the woman’s presence. She’s forgotten how much she adores that there’s someone taller than her, someone who can easily lift her, someone who just makes her feel like she’s on fire. Sometimes Harley just forgets that she deserves love, that she’s found it with the most unlikely person –– she loves Starfire, has missed her so deeply that it’s etched in her bones, and she never wants to let her go. She never wants to watch her move back toward space, doesn’t want to have her disappear. She doesn’t know what happens up there or what business Star had been on, but she doesn’t care. Her feet are solid on Earth once more, and Harley gives her ginger hair a gentle tug to remind herself that she’s whole and attainable right at her fingertips.
Eyebrows knit together as Star tries to find the word, her chest aching at the adorable nature of it all. Part of her wants to help her along but she also loves when Star tries to figure something out; there’s something absolutely beautiful in her learning English and Earth customs. It’s something else that’s been sorely missed. Her plan is absolutely ridiculous but Harley merely smiles, her fingers gingerly stroking Star’s cheek before she laughs. “I think it sounds lovely. Over the top, but perfect.” Gently, she pushes a piece of hair behind her ear. “Beavers would also work though, for the record. They chew the trees up and make homes out of them. So you weren’t totally incorrect with your first try.” She’s patient with her –– she knows that it’s not an easy thing to pick up on, and where others would correct her all the time, she didn’t see a reason to. She could gently steer her in the right direction if she needed it, but to full on lash out about it? It doesn’t make sense. Then again, the company she keeps doesn’t make any sense, either.
“I think that would bring them justice.” Cheeks flare up pink underneath her caresses, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment as she takes it all in. It feels like everything has been so loud and crazy in her head, and then one touch from Star has her calming straight down, her thoughts constructing themselves once more. This woman is the key to everything that Harley’s never known she’s needed, and she’s so eager to keep letting that door open. Starfire has a key to her heart and Harley refuses to ever fully lock that door. There were so many times when she had considered it, but this beautiful alien babe had kicked it straight down.
“I love you. I’ve missed you so fucking much.” Harley lets out a slow, shaky breath, overcome with the emotion of it all. She leans forward and buries her face in Star’s neck, taking in the scent of atmosphere and fire that clings to her skin. “Bud and Lou are going to be so happy to see you.”
To say she valued Harley’s patience when it came to bearing with her with the English language would be an understatement. Not only did she forgive Starfire for not knowing proper terms and definitions, but she explained them. Harley took the time to teach her and walk her through the meaning behind words instead of glaring and chastising. If you were to ever ask her to write down the reasons why she loved the one and only Harley Quinn-- well for one, it’d be a pretty long list with no less than nine thousand things jotted down-- but her acceptance and guidance would definitely be at the top. “Maybe there’s an army of beavers inside of the woodchippers that we don’t know about doing all of the wood chipping.” Have you ever taken apart one of those machines? It’s possible!
But then she’s hugging Harley a little closer, a little tighter whenever she feels that burrow into. “I love you.” A kiss is dropped down to a shoulder, accompanied by a squeeze of her arms that remain securely wrapped around. “I missed you more than a lot, there aren’t any words I can use to explain it.” Head pulls back, a kiss to a cheekbone. “Well, unless you want to listen to me say ‘really’ and ‘very’ a bazillion times.” Then she’s moving, crossing the room with Harley still straddling her waist, to carefully lay the blonde down onto her bed before climbing on top and hovering.
“I can’t wait to see Bud and Lou. I’ve got a new pair of shoes that just don’t fit right because they’re lacking in hyena teeth marks.” Grin splits wide open, shining a luminous beam down onto the woman beneath her trapped between outstretched arms.
Elbows bend to lower herself, to lie down beside but only half way, propping herself up on one elbow while her other arm draped over Harley’s hips. Hand wanders up a shirt, skin craving the feel of warmer skin, doting fingers trailing up the side of a torso as her other hand cradled her own head in its palm. “I never meant to leave.” It’s spoken in a hushed tone, a voice barely an octave above a whisper, a quiet confession. “I think I was in-- purgatory? But not physically. Just in my head. It’s hard to describe. There was a lot of fog. And it was very difficult to navigate. And I know I should’ve asked for help but I’m aware of how much of a bowling ball I already am. --Not bowling ball,” eyes squeeze shut and head shakes. A deep breath in, an inward wince, “--Something heavy.” Burden. She was searching for the word ‘burden.’
“It wasn’t you. It was never you. It could never be you.” Eyes reopen, thumb begins to sweep back and forth underneath the thin fabric of Harley’s shirt. “And I hate myself for knowing I probably made you think that. And it hurts. And the hurt got worse every day. Being away from you hurt the most. It hurt so bad that it felt like I was dying, as dramatic as that sounds, I can’t think of another way to describe it.”