revmeup | call me out

Harley gives him a look as she tries to figure out if he's just messing with her, but Malcolm isn't like that. He honestly doesn't see any reason why her involvement with the project might be a problem.

Bless his heart.

"Because I'm Harley fucking Quinn. They'll take my name off as soon as they think they can get away with it, you'll see." She pours two mugs, hers almost more milk and sugar than coffee. "Honestly, I kinda get the feeling that board member actually offered me the job because he thought I'd give him a very special thank you."

She sighs and brings the mugs over to the bed.

Malcolm sighs, feeling naive. He almost asks why they hired her if they're not going to actually let her do anything.

"That's not right," he says, taking the mug of coffee from her. Of course, she made his just the way he likes it. "I'd tell you to quit, but... it's the first job you've had in so long."

He wonders if his father could grease the wheels a little bit, talk to people who would then allow Harley to do her job. Malcolm hates himself immediately after this thought.

Harley unlocks one of his wrists so she can cuddle up under his arm.

"Well, you wanted me to quit crime, so it's this or. I dunno. Porn." She shrugs and takes a sip of coffee. "I get fucked either way."

"Yeah, no," he says, pulling her in close to him.

Malcolm is silent for a moment before sighing and sharing what he's thinking. "My father could probably pull some strings, as crazy as that sounds. I still don't want to involve him though."

He doesn't want Martin Whitly anywhere near Harley where he might start to influence her or twist his crimes to make them sound less horrible than they are.

She kisses him on the cheek before leaning on his shoulder. "I'll figure something out," she promises. It's probably best if he doesn't know any details.

Harley is quiet for a moment. "Maybe I ... should meet him, though? If you're gonna be worried about it happening, then probably better to get it over with."

He leans his head back against the headboard, slowly exhaling before taking another sip of coffee. "I'm honestly kind of shocked that he hasn't reached out to me yet about meeting you, because I guarantee that he knows who you are. Maybe it's because he knows my answer will be no and he's trying to find some other leverage or set it up so that he runs into you anyway."

Martin tends to get what he wants and he's got all the time in the world to scheme. When it comes to somebody close to Malcolm, Martin absolutely would want to meet them.

"You have a point though," he adds reluctantly. Maybe he can set up the meeting so that he can control as many aspects of it as possible.

"Then don't let him get the leverage. Beat him to the punch. Take the control away."

Harley shifts her legs over Malcolm's lap and pushes his hair back. His father is a difficult topic and taking him on in a power struggle that could either help Malcolm feel more confident or completely blow up in their faces. There isn't a lot of middle ground when it comes to Martin.

"He'll be a smug asshole about getting what he wants, but part of him will hate that he didn't get to pull off some grand puppet show."

Malcolm nods, thinking that over. "I'd rather be there when he meets you anyway."

That way, Martin can't control the narrative. Not that Harley is a fool who will believe whatever comes out of Martin's mouth, but Malcolm can still shut it down quickly if he's in the room. If they don't plan something, Martin will have enough time to figure out whatever he's concocting and then will spring it on them. Malcolm would rather be the one in control.

"It's going to be fine," she promises with a kiss.

She doesn't know for certain that Martin won't twist the knife once he has a chance to be in the same room with his son, but she does know for certain that she will kick his ass if Malcolm so much as flinches.

"We'll swing by for a few minutes and get it over with, then we can come back here and I'll spend the rest of the day reminding you whose girl I am."

He can't help the smile that curls on his face.

"I'll call him tomorrow.. or later today, I guess." Malcolm sighs. He does not love having to call his father. "He's going to turn every bit of his charm on you in order to try and convince you that he isn't a bad guy."

"Why, so he has time to tidy the place up first?" She shakes her head. Absolutely not. "You don't owe him any courtesy."

"You want to just show up?" Malcolm raises an eyebrow and smiles deviously at her. "He'll be so unexpectedly pleased. And suspicious."

It might be good to keep The Surgeon on his toes for once though. That way he won't be able to plan anything. Not that his father isn't good at thinking on his feet, but it's still better to get him in that state of mind rather than when he has a calculated plan of attack.

"Who gives a flying fuck what he'll think? We're doing this for you."

Harley doesn't give a hoot about The Surgeon one way or the other, but she cares about putting Malcolm's worries to rest. He has too much trauma to bear alone and she wants to help where possible, especially when it comes to telling his shitty dad to fuck off.

Is it awful she kind of hopes for a chance to beat his ass?

He laughs, his smile turning to a grin. "I love you." He puts his free hand on the back of her head and draws her closer so that he can kiss her forehead. Harley actually wonders why he thinks she's amazing?

"I guess we're paying a visit to Claremont tomorrow," Malcolm says.

Harley closes her eyes with a smile when he kisses her, and stays as close as he drew her in.

"Today, technically. Hell, we could go now." Staff doesn't need to worry about regular business hours or visitor passes. "That would really take him by surprise."

She doesn't actually make a move to go. The cuddles are too good to give up.

Malcolm has no intention of getting out of this bed right now. "I don't think they take visitors at 3AM, even if you do have a badge." He brushes her hair back from her face.

"Sometimes I can't believe that I found someone like you," he tells her. There are so many things that make them perfect for each other. Malcolm never thought he'd find someone who could understand what he's been through and be there for him like she is.

Harley knows full well Malcolm bends the rules as much as she does, but she's happy not to stay in this bed as long as he's in it. She turns her face to kiss his hand and nuzzles against his palm.

"Samesies. Nobody's ever been so good to me." He's the only one who gets to see her be so soft. Harley sometimes feels like her heart could burst whenever he's around. She still has a suspicion that he's going to break her heart eventually, but he's worth the risk.

He loves her soft side and loves that he's the only one who gets to see it. Harley is special to him, despite all of their difference. Malcolm feels that there's enough to keep them together.

Eventually, he's able to sleep for another fitful few hours before waking up to go through his morning routine. Harley sleeps on while he does his yoga and meditation, then takes his pills.

Harley likes to take her time in the mornings, just lazing in bed for ages after she wakes up. Who needs to do yoga when she can crack open one eye and watch him go through the poses while still snuggled up in bed? Truly, a perfect way to start the day.

She slips out of bed as he lines up his medication and hugs him from behind. "Hi," she murmurs sleepily as she kisses his the back of his neck.

"Good morning," he says with a smile, then turns to kiss her properly. Malcolm loves waking up to her every day. "Do you need to take a shower?"

After his yoga, he needs to wash up before getting dressed. Malcolm tosses one of his pills back and chases it with a drink of water.

"Mmhm." She doesn't move toward the shower yet, taking a moment or two to nuzzle into his hair. Malcolm is her cup of coffee. "Quick one. I need a lot of time to get ready. I'm going all out today."

After all, meeting the parents is a big occasion. If they're going to start playing power games with a serial killer, there's no better opening move than going full Harley Fucking Quinn.

His smile grows wider. "I can't wait to see what you pick out," he replies. "You shower first. It won't take me that long to get ready afterwards." Malcolm will put on one of his suits, but they're all dry cleaned to perfection in his closet so no prep work is needed.

His pills swallowed, he stands up to put on some coffee for the two of them.

Harley gives him one more little kiss before slipping away for a shower, peeling off his Harvard shirt as she goes. She washes quickly and roughly towels off before emerging naked as the day she was born.

"All yours, hot stuff," she chirps as she goes to set out her outfit and makeup. Something tasteful and classy. Skintight striped pants, hot pink bralette, long silver sequined coat, and killer heels. She pairs it with a subtle daytime look of hot pink eyeshadow, silver glitter eyeliner, black lipstick and a few artfully placed rhinestones.

"Would a collar be too much, do you think?"

Malcolm playfully grabs her ass as he heads into the bathroom to take a shower. He comes out smelling like musk and dries off before pulling on a pair of boxers. Standing in front of the mirror, he brushes his teeth and then runs the electric razor over his face, just enough to cut down any excess growth to his permanent 5 o'clock shadow.

He emerges in a three-piece suit, charcoal gray with small navy stripes. When he sees Harley, he can't help but smile. This is what she picks to meet her boyfriend's father. Granted, this isn't a typical meeting. When she met Jessica, he was very concerned about her choice of outfit. For Martin, he could give a fuck. Frankly, she can make whatever impression she wants. Besides, this is who she is. There's no changing her now.

Malcolm gives her a once over. "Depends. Which collar is it?"

Harley gives him a once over as well and changes her lipstick to a deep plum color instead. It will look better smudged on his collar later.

She holds up the collar for his approval. It's a length of chain loaded with dangling charms, the centerpiece of which is a pink glittering bone-shaped dog tag that reads BRUCE. Of course she and the hyena have matching accessories. They are the true couple goals.

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