revmeup | call me out

[ Harley raises a brow when he says she could pass for a high class escort (no way, is he blind?), and laughs out loud when he tries to double back. ]

In that case, I'll send you an invoice!

[ She sprawls on the other bed and watches Malcolm set up the restraint system with a fond smile on her face. ]

You know, you are way too good for me.

[ Which is kind of a weird thing to say to the guy who just indirectly said she'd be a successful sex worker, but hell, it's true. ]

[ What he really meant was if she was a sex worker, she'd be the high-priced escort kind. It's a compliment? Not really. Malcolm is bad at words sometimes.

Once the restraints seem secure enough, he takes off his jacket and lays it on the bed. Turning back to Harley, he joins her on the other bed, loosening his tie. ]

Why do you think so?

[ Like he's not a gigantic mess with massive issues too? ]

[ Instead of answering right away, Harley grabs his loose tie and pulls him in for a long, slow kiss. ]

Maybe you just got me all mixed up in my feelings because nobody's been so nice to me before you.

[ Malcolm returned the kiss and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. When she answered, he furrowed his brow. ]

Nobody?

[ Even with his trauma, Malcolm had always had his mother, and Ainsley, and Gil. He couldn't imagine how much worse it would have been if he'd had no one. ]

I want you to know that I'm not just nice to you though. I care about you a lot.

[ If she wan't used to kindness, then maybe she didn't realize that what he felt for her went well beyond basic decency. ]

Almost nobody. They usually give it up after they get what they wanted. Maybe I've got "sucker" written on my forehead.

[ Harley cuddles up to him and presses her face against his neck. She kisses a trail down his throat. ]

I think you really mean that. I just don't totally get why.

[ Just "rotten" on her jawline. He thinks she's anything but.

Malcolm runs his hands through her hair as she lays kisses on his skin. ]

You're funny... you're sweet... you're kind... you're very smart... and you're beautiful. I think those are all great reasons.

[ They both have their own issues, it's true. He doesn't know if he trusts someone enough to give them his heart, and she doesn't feel like she's worthy of being loved. Hopefully they can both work through them together.

He thinks it's sweet how cuddly she is. The hand on her waist moves gently up her back, under her shirt. ]

[ Harley can't help but pull a face when he calls her kind. For a profiler, he's a lousy judge of character. Whatever she did to trick him into having a good opinion of her, she hopes she can keep it up.

A lascivious grin starts to spread over her face as Malcolm's hand moves under her clothes, but it freezes into a grimace before he gets too far. Harley pulls away from him and sits up. ]

As much as us high-end call girls-- [ Yeah, he's not living that one down for a minute. ] -- like to get straight to business, I did spend seven hours on a bus.

[ She stands up and strips as she heads for the luxury bathroom, leaving a trail of clothes in her wake. ] Come join me?

[ He hasn't seen the unkind part of her, not yet at least. She's sassy and teases him sometimes, but that's part of her charm. He wouldn't necessarily call that unkind.

Malcolm pulls his hand away when she makes that face, then sighs deeply at her words, feeling like an idiot. ]

I think what I meant by that was that if you were some kind of sex-worker, you'd be the high-priced kind. The kind men would pay a lot of money to be with-- [ Malcolm, stop talking. ] Okay. I'm sorry. I just... wanted you to know that I didn't mean anything bad by it.

[ He sits up on the bed as he watches her take off her clothes and head to the bathroom. ] Sure. [ He lays his clothes on his bed as he removes them, then wanders after her. ]

[ Harley is leaning over the tub getting the temperature right when he follows her in. She smirks and rises, cradling his face in her hands and kissing him. ]

I know what you meant. But I'm still gonna give you shit about it. [ She kisses him again and turns back to water. ]
That's girlfriend privilege.

[ Girlfriend. That feels so strange to say, but not bad. ]

[ Girlfriend. He likes the sound of it too. ]

I think you just like giving me shit.

[ Malcolm thinks she's absolutely beautiful, even as he watches her do something mundane like fill a bathtub with water. He reaches down and brushes his fingers through her hair. ]

Oh no, he's on to me.

[ Harley smiles and sticks out her tongue at him before turning her face to kiss Malcolm's palm.

There's so much they need to talk about, so many reasons not to give this thing between them a real shot, but for now she just needs to enjoy this moment. Before opening her big mouth and ruining everything, as usual. ]

Do you prefer baths or showers? God, this tub is huge. I think it's as big as my apartment.

[ He laughs quietly at her joke, then wraps his arms around her from behind. This might not work at all, but he wants to try it at least. As much as his mother would probably like for him to settle down with some "nice" girl, that's unlikely to happen. Being normal just isn't in the cards for him. ]

Generally I like showers better, but baths can be very relaxing. Fortunately we've got plenty of space for the two of us.

[ Harley leans into him and covers his hands with her own. She tips her head back to rest against his shoulder and indulges in a rare moment of stillness. She wants to enjoy this while it lasts.

God, she really hopes this lasts. ]

I do love you.

[ Her voice is quiet and even. She feels ... relaxed. Steady. Things she hasn't felt in a while. ]

You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to hear it in person.

[ It's really nice to hear it in person and it brings a smile to his face. He can't say the words back to her, because he doesn't want to lie to her. Admitting he loves someone isn't easy for him, and it has entirely to do with his own trauma and nothing to do with Harley.

Instead, he tilts her chin up gently and gazes into her eyes before brushing his thumb over her cheekbone. She is absolutely beautiful to him. Malcolm leans in and kisses her slowly, intimately, perhaps in a way that she hasn't been kissed before. He wants to show her that he loves her with actions, even if he can't say the words yet. ]

[ The way he kisses her takes her breath away and sets off butterflies in her stomach. Everything about him is too good for her, but he wants her anyway. He really does. Somehow their broken edges fit together. ]

Oh.

[ It's all she can think to say, and it comes out in such a small voice. She can feel a blush rising up her chest. Harley slides both hands into his hair and kisses the life out of him. ]

[ He thinks he might have broken her there for a second. Malcolm has never seen Harley so tender. He's certainly never seen her blush. She really does love him.

Malcolm returns the kiss with equal abandon, reaching up to undo her pigtails so that he can bury his hands in her hair as well. They may both be broken, but that's what he loves about her. They can be fucked up together and try to do better together. They can support each other. Harley may be the closest person who knows what it's like to be inside of his mind.

His free arm wraps around her waist and he tugs her close to him. He's tried to shy away from acting possessive of her, worried that it would trigger memories of her relationship with Joker. Malcolm wants to be everything Joker wasn't.

The tub is full and they manage to part long enough to get into it. Malcolm rests back against the edge while Harley sits between his legs, facing away from him. He closes his eyes, finally able to relax a bit after an exhausting day. ]

[ Harley slips his arms around her and tips her head against his shoulder. She can feel his heartbeat against her back. She fully exhales, and all her tension leaves with her breath. Malcolm's presence is like an anchor for her, grounding her when she's about to spin out of control.

Harley couldn't say when that started. She hadn't noticed his growing importance in her life and then suddenly he was the center of her emotional orbit.

This is a nearly perfect moment. Shame to ruin it. ]

There's something you need to know.

[ Her fingers trace the backs of his hands. She sucks in a breath. ]

Joker isn't going to just let me go, once he finds out I'm moving on. And he will find out.

[ She does know how to ruin a perfect moment, doesn't she?

Malcolm turns his hands over so that their palms are touching. He laces his fingers with hers and leans forward to kiss her shoulder. For a long moment, he's silent, mulling that over. ]

If he comes, I can deal with him.

[ A small part of Malcolm, the same part that has self-destructive tendencies, thinks it might be interesting to go toe to toe with Joker. ]

No.

[ She goes rigid and squeezes his fingers. ]

No. I will take care of him. Just-- Don't ask me how I do it.

[ The idea of what Joker could do, and how unprepared Malcolm is no matter what he thinks, wrenches her gut. And then again thinking about the things she's going to do to keep Joker out of their lives. ]

But you need... It's only fair you get a chance to back out, because of ... all that baggage.

[ Malcolm freezes along with her. He's surprised by the vehemence of her response, and only slightly worried that she might do something illegal to get rid of Joker if he comes for them. ]

You know I'm trained in various forms of combat, right? [ He might not look like it, but he knows how to use a gun, a knife, hand to hand combat and psychological warfare. All in one unassuming package.

At the mention of baggage, he lets out a laugh. ]

Look who you're talking to about baggage, Harley.

[ Ohhh, she is definitely going to do some very illegal things, Joker or no Joker. That's another awkward conversation for down the line. ]

That's not the kind of fight that's coming. I know, I know you're capable, but can't you let someone else take care of you this time?

[ No, he really can't. That's what he wants to answer, but he at least lets it roll around in his brain for a moment before opening his mouth. ]

That's hard for me. I protect everyone. I want to protect you, even if you probably don't need it.

[ Malcolm rests his chin on her shoulder and wraps an arm around her waist. Time for some depressing introspection. ]

What do you even see in me if I can't help keep you safe?

[ He's essentially made it his life's mission to protect the people around him, especially the ones he cares about. ]

Good dick.

[ The quip is out of her mouth before her brain even registers it. Sometimes she really can't help herself. ]

Malcolm, I'm not with you because I want you to save me.

[ Harley turns to face him. It's a little awkward in a tub, but the luxury bath is big enough to make it work. She holds his face in her hands and kisses him gently. ]

You're a good man. You're good to me. I don't deserve it, and you even think that I do.

[ She presses her forehead against his and trails her fingers down his neck, over his chest. ]

I've been the only one protecting me for my whole life. It's gonna be a while before I figure out how to let someone help.

[ He can't help but smile at that, even as his cheeks redden. Count on Harley to make him laugh and manage to embarrass him in a serious moment.

The fact that she might not need a savior is a hard one for him to swallow. That's who he's always been. Most of his romantic relationships haven't centered around that, but being with Harley just feels like a perfect storm of everything he's good at. He loves her and he can help her. ]

Okay. [ It's going to take some work on his part, but he'll try to back off for her sake. That doesn't mean that he's going to stop caring or stop trying to help her, but he'll maybe try to not be so zealous about it. It's honestly going to be a bit difficult for him. ]

[ Harley kisses him again before unwrapping the free bar of soap provided by the hotel. She brings it to a lather between her hands and starts to soap up his skin. ]

I want to let you in. I just don't remember how to open the door yet, you know?

[ If anyone can understand that feeling, it's Malcolm. ]

We'll figure it out. We've been doing pretty good so far and we haven't been trying.

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