Bang Bang!

Two brightly dressed women approached the Nexus apartment that Harley once claimed as her own (and had shared with some 'Wayward Boys'). Harley was wearing the brightest jacket in the world, that seemed to be fashioned together with strands of parade tape and police tape. And beside her, was none other than Pamela Isley 'Poison Ivy', who wore flowers that fashioned a dress over her body.

"Doesn't look like I need my key..." The door was busted in after all. Harley kept a bright smile on her face, even as she entered the apartment and was faced with the disaster that was made after those scavenging for supplies during the Winter had 'taken advantage' of the open door policy.

"Greenhouse was over here..." Harley leads Pamela to the greenhouse. Many of the fruits, vegetables and flowers were killed completely during the winter. Pamela tsked her lips lightly. And assured her friend that she could handle this area on her own.

Harley made her way through the rest of the apartment. There was little left of her make-up or hair extensions in the bathroom. With a slight shake of her head, Harley sighed, as she found one lipstick that had not been taken. She felt fine not wearing the extensions recently, after sacrificing two to Hazel, the Autumn spirit. So this was not a horrible loss for her.

Heading to the living room, Harley was not surprised to see that her silks had been taken too. It looked like someone had cut them down. She stared up at her aerial set with a slight sigh. "Well, I hope they made good blankets for whoever took them..."

She didn't bother looking in the 'extra rooms' that belonged to Loki or Cricket. That was their space, and she was sure they would take care of their own salvaging attempts.

Harley headed to her bedroom loft, that overlooked the living room. Everything had been thrown around. And her closet -- well most of her clothes were now gone. Good thing she had run into Alex... it looked like she would need a whole new wardrobe from him.

The bedroom certainly had been given a once-over a few times, with drawers open in the nightstands and dresser. And anything that had any value was taken. Someone had even taken the artwork off the walls! Harley laughed to herself.

Good thing her gun safe was not kept in the wall. No... unlike most other people... Harley had a floor safe. And it had been underneath one of the nightstands. The nightstand was empty, but it was never moved off its spot. And why would anyone think of it? The floor looked the same. There was no indication of something different in this area. Harley moved the nightstand away, and removed the false panel to get to her safe. It was fingerprint and passcode protected. So that was another good way to protect what was hers. Inside... safely stored during the winter... was her gun.

"There you are..." Harley grinned, picking it up with a bright smile.

As bad as things were... Harley knew she could pick up and start again. And that was her plan.

Adrenaline.


     The rush of the heart beating quickly... for each expedition. For each mission accomplished.


There are those that fail. There is blood. And loss.


     And there is more and more crowded into the safety of the tents set up in the plaza.


People breathing.


     People crying.


          People bleeding.

               The stillness of a life taken by the storm outside.

She doesn't know where Cricket is. Hopefully he is safe in their apartment.

    She doesn't know where Loki is.


          She has seen little of her friends. And the ones she has seen...


They are tired. They are worn.


               They are exhausted.

There is no room to breathe.


          No room to scream.


               There is no free space anymore. Every corner, every nook is needed.


There is another mission to take. Another expedition to go on...


     She finds a corner. And sits...



          And laughs.


               Just laughs softly to herself.


          Until it stops. And she stands again. Time to face the Storm.

Harley's House Rules!!
1 -- Don't overfeed Mightyena! No matter how much he begs...
2 -- Careful of Bertha the Venus Fly-Trap. She bites!
3 -- If you play with the silks -- put them away!
4 -- Keep your bloody meat in your own damn fridge
5 -- Last but not least... when Harley has the Do Not Disturb sign up in the Boxing Room --- DO NOT Disturb!

There is a big sign on the door to the Boxing Room tonight. It states clearly, in Red Glitter, DO NOT Disturb!

If one is listening carefully to the side of the door, one may hear the steady thump-thump-thump of Harley is beating the SHIT out of her reinforced punching bag. And occasionally, the chaotic laughter of a girl unhinged.