Knowing Me, Knowing You [Harley]

[nick]

15th March, 2009

Nick was not a happy young man, despite the fact he doesn't like blood, has a fear of needles and has to use them every day for his diabetes, he had to say goodbye to his beloved Alsatian dog Rocky earlier that day. The poor animal had a tumor and the veterinary doctor Emma Woods had said that it would be easier on the dog if he was to put him to sleep. It was the hardest decision Nick had to make in his life. One of the only people, (yes that's right, he thought of his dog as a person) who could understand him was no longer in the world.

He walked into the bar with a photograph of Rocky in his pocket which he kept bringing out and fingering the corner wondering what life would be like for him without Rocky in his life anymore. It would be strange not having to shift him on the bed, shift him to the other side of the sofa, pull him out the car when he wasn't supposed to be in there in the first place. Life was probably going to be pretty boring for Nick now.

Of course dogs were a man's best friend according to Nick and no doubt when he was over the upset of Rocky he'd buy himself another puppy, so he would have another friend who could understand him. Right now however, all he had was a pub and a good few drinks.

"Another beer please Roger" he asked the bar man who was in his fifties or there abouts, as he handed over the cash. "Sure son" he said as he handed him over another becks.

"So what's on your mind tonight?" Roger asked Nick, he sighed before answering the question. He wasn't sure if he had wanted to answer it or not, but didn't want to ignore the old guy either because he was nice enough.

"Ah, had to get my dog put to sleep earlier today Roger, kinda depressed over it" he said, as he sighed again and took another sip of his beer.

"Not so good son, sorry to hear that, well can only hope your night will get better" Roger said in a sad voice.

"I guess" Nick replied, as he took another sip of his beer, before settling himself down on the bar stool.

[romzy]

Harley strolled along the streets of Queens with her arms tucked in one another as she walked. Her hood was way over her face, making it hard to see. David, why was he so... ignorant? How could he do that with a woman? The president's daughter, and his unborn granddaughter. Who was fucking sick enough to do that? The thought made her shiver. Harley had seen and heard some things before, but that topped them all. She felt bad for having a go at her newly found uncle, but the thought of him teaming up with a sick individual like that made her skin crawl.

There was a neon sign, indicating BAR in bright pink lights. She pushed it open, ignoring all the faces in the near empty bar. She went to the far end of the bar, passing a young man as she did. Again she ignored him, not bothering to look back. Once Harley reached the far end bar stool she sat down and lowered her hood, revealing her wet blonde hair. No surprise it was raining in New York again. She swore sometimes someone was controlling the weather of New York, it was suddenly miserable from the sunlight earlier. Crazy.

The barman approached her and her icy blue eyes looked up at him. She noticed him step back nervously. "Corona, with lime." It was more of an order than a request, and if he didn't comply Harley felt she would send him flying across the bar and just get the drink herself. She was almost shaking with anger. But it wasn't only anger, it was fright... fright she had just lost the only family worth living for. Not to mention Eric, she had just left him there. Shit. What if he got hurt? Then she remembered the tiger, Tony. He'd be fine. That tiger wouldn't let anything happen to him. That she could bet on. The fifty something barman came back and Harley smiled weakly, searching her pockets for some money. She realised she had none. "Ah bugger it." She hung her head and balanced it in her hands. No money, no family, nothing. An empty World.

"Thanks anyway." She got up to leave her seat, when her eyes drifted to the young man once more. He was actually stunning. She smiled, maybe she would just hangout with her old friend tap water until she had the guts to go up to him. That's if he didn't approach her first.

[nick]

Nick was so down about his dog Rocky he had drunk about four beers by the time the young woman came into the pub pretty soaked with the rain. Nick hated the rain, he had come to America to get away from it, but even here, especially in this state the rain was still a problem sometimes. Nick wasn't particularly looking at her, or meaning to listen into her conversation, but he was somewhat finding himself mesmerised by her. Not really sure why, but like he was in some sort of trance.

He listened to her ask for a drink, and immediately heard the demand in the voice, and he caught her icy blue eyes when she lowered her hood, and even though her hair was really wet and she looked what could only be described as bedraggled due to the weather, she looked stunning. Suddenly he heard her say the words bugger it and begin to live the stool she had sat on.

Looked like she just realised she didn't have any money, "Roger, the drink's on me" he said softly as he made his way over to her and put his hand on her arm gently and pulled her back to stop her from leaving.

"Looks like you've had as a rough a day as I have love, drink's on me, so don't leave, please" he said as he sat down on the bar stool next to her, and dragged his beer across. He didn't introduce himself quite yet, he wanted to make sure she'd actually stay first and accept the drink from him.

[romzy]

Harley's eyes drifted to the young man once more as he called the barman by his name and said the drink was 'on him'. "What I have to lick it off ya now?" She asked teasingly. A wide smirk appeared across her face as she spoke and she grabbed the beer from the bartender. She suddenly felt a hand on her arm and noticed how close the guy was. His eyes were incredible, deep brown and beautiful.

"Yeah has been a rough day, cheers." She said holding her drink up and tapping his without caring if he done it back. He said please don't leave. Huh? Harley raised an eyebrow at him, "Listen bub, you trying to be funny or something? I've had two Englishmen appear in my life today, strange don't cha think?" Her thoughts suddenly drifted to David, and she pulled out the number he wrote down. Uncle David. Gees, what timing. Now she had the cute guy buying her beer with a similar accent.

"I'm Harley, didn't catch your name, you were too busy staring at my beautiful face right?" She laughed to herself, gulping down another swig of beer. "Yeah right... I wish." Harley never found herself particularly beautiful or special, she was just... plain. But her telekinesis proved otherwise, as that was the only thing that made her feel that incredible sense of feeling special and intelligent. Phoenix from X-Men, that's how she wanted to be. "Why did you buy me this? She asked, turning and looking into his eyes once more.

[nick]

Oh, a woman with a sense of humour, what more could Nick possibly ask for? He grinned and winked at her, "Very clever!" he said in exclamation and shook his head slightly, "I think we both know however, that wasn't what I meant when I said that" he continued as he shook his head again with a smile on his face.

"I like a woman with a sense of humour" he decided to say as he continued to smile at her, and allow his eyes to take in all her features again. She really was rather striking, especially those eyes. They were perfect blue.

"Sorry you've had a rough day" Nick said in a soft and honest voice, when she tapped her drink against his, he smiled and returned the gesture, "You're welcome" he added when she thanked him, well assuming the word cheers meant thanks, at least that's the way Nick took it. Not that any thanks was needed, he saw she was in need of a stiff drink, he basically just stepped in to do the honours. It was nothing really.

He raised his eyebrow in question when she asked if he was being funny. "No, not being funny at all, and in case you ask, I don't know anybody else whose English in this State" he added, with a smile. "I genuinely didn't want you to leave, because you need the drink, I think you need the relaxation and I think maybe even a little affection if I'm reading you right" he said as he tilted his head to the side to look at her again.

"Pleasure to meet you Harley, I'm Nick" he said also introducing himself, "I actually didn't mention my name, but you're right about one thing, I was busy staring at your beautiful face" he continued and then when she mocked herself, he shook his head with a sad smile on his face. "Oh no, I'm having none of this self loathing thing, you're beautiful, take it from somebody who knows" he said winking at her again. She really was beautiful, and if she didn't think it, he'd make sure she knew it no matter how long it took.

Then she asked him why he had bought her the drink. "I bought it because you looked like you need it" he began and smiled, shaking his head, "actually I bought it because I wanted to and thought it would be the perfect ice breaker to get to know you more, plus I've not had the best of days meself, so thought I'd try to take my mind of it" he said this time in a serious voice, as he was telling the truth, but he gave her a warm smile.

[romzy]

"Well it's not your fault," Harley said, commenting on his apology of her rough day. "And yeah thanks again." She began gulping down her beer and slammed it against the counter when it was done. Her eyes drifted back to the bartender, she glared at him. "Another would be good..." Of course she realised she hadn't asked the man next to her for another, but he seemed enthusiastic, so now she would take advantage of it. It wasn't malicious or anything, but she needed another drink and unfortunately all her money was at home.

Harley glared at him when he asked about wanting a little affection. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't..." She sighed heavily, rubbing the back of her neck. If it weren't for her uncle being so brutally honest about things she would have someone who loved her and wanted her around, instead she was in an old Queens bar, with a young, cute Englishman... wait a minute. A young cute Englishman. Harley smiled to herself, shaking her head. It had been a while since she had a boyfriend, there were really no guys she was interested in. This one however, was very cute... but possibly a hero, he seemed too nice.

"Nick? Cute name." Harley grinned at him when he complimented her, she was being sarcastic before, never did she expect him to be so... sweet. Then he suddenly looked down, speaking about how lame his day had been. She felt slightly bad now, wanting to say sorry, but her inner self told her not too. "Ah lame, hope it wasn't anything too serious?" She noticed the sudden warm smile and couldn't help but smile back. She leant closer, her lips almost pressing against his ear, "Ya know, you're almost too cute for words?"

[nick]

Nick just grinned at Harley when she said it wasn't his fault when he had apologised. "Yeah I know it's not my fault, but ah well I was just being polite love" he replied with a bit of a laugh. "No worries" he replied when she thanked him again for the drink. He then watched as she knocked the drink back, slamming the empty glass down on the counter and asking for another, or more demanding another. Nick just grinned again, and nodded his approval at Roger.

He handed the money over. He looked at Harley smiling and winking at her. "You can have as many as you like love, no biggie." Alright, so maybe it was a bit presumptuous of her to just expect it to be alright for him to buy her another drink, but Nick found he actually liked that about her. It was almost rude in a way, but Nick felt he didn't really care, he was too mesmerised by her eyes to really care. He just wanted to get to know her better and if nothing else maybe become a friend.

Nick rolled his eyes slightly when she said maybe she did, maybe she didn't, but he followed it through with a slight smirk as well. "Well hows about we just see what the rest of the evening brings us eh?" he asked, as he winked at her again, he was certainly caught by this one. There was just something about her, he couldn't quite put his finger on what, but he liked it.

"Thanks, although I rather think you have a cute name yourself, actually kind of unusual, at least to me anyway" he said softly, as he kept smiling at her. Alright, maybe it wasn't quite villain behavior but come on everybody needed their fun times and romance right?

He looked away for a second, then turned to face her again, "Nah, nothing too serious when you think of other people's problems, had to get my beloved dog put to sleep" he said in a sad voice, telling her the truth and sighing after it. He knew it was for the best, but he still couldn't help but feel deflated by it.

When she leaned in toward him and felt her lips almost pressing on his ear, he grinned, and then felt himself almost blush slightly when she said he was almost too cute for words. "Oh, really?" he asked, and laughed slightly, "That's real nice of you to say so, what if I said the same thing about you?" he asked her with a smile, he hadn't expected to find romance tonight, but if that's what he as going to find, he wasn't going to deny himself it.

[romzy]

"As many as I like? That's fine with me." Harley never usually accepted anything from strangers, but this one was different, not to mention insanely cute. She sipped on her beer, picking at the corners of the label on the cold bottle. It seemed Mr. Hottie here had money, and being in the mood she was currently in, Harley was in no fear of using him. Not that she liked doing that, in fact she hated it. But at the moment she didn't care. And he didn't seem to care much either, he was too busy staring into her eyes. Of course, Harley being Harley, didn't look back. She was far too good at playing hard to get with guys, and he seemed like the perfect guy to do it to at the moment.

When they were introduced, she grinned finding 'Nick' to be more adorable than she could have anticipated. "Harley? Yeah I know, totally strange like. I like it though, it's unique... like me." She could have done it then, moved the ashtray or smashed the beer bottle with her telekinesis, but she didn't, not wanting to scare him away just yet. The whole flirting thing was totally making her feel giddy anyway, she didn't want to ruin it.

But when the sudden seriousness came back into the conversation, Harley found herself slouching over again. "Your dog? What was their name?" She took a gulp of beer, looking straight ahead of her at the mirror behind the bar. Her haunting blue eyes stared back at her, telling her to quit while she was ahead. Never was she normally this eager or enthusiastic about meeting someone and it was beginning to scare her inner self. For now, she decided to ignore it, feeling the need to stick with this guy for the rest of the night. At least until she could call herself drunk enough to fall asleep in an alleyway or something.

Harley giggled when she moved away from his ear. She could smell his cologne, a sweet yet manly smell that was almost brainwashing. He smelt divine. That was the only way to describe it. "Me? Too cute for words? Oh I dunno, maybe." She grinned, shaking her head at her behaviour. It was so not her to flirt back, but it just came naturally with Nick. And for some reason, she was enjoying it beyond belief. "Can you not find a compliment for me yourself? Or ya gotta nick my own?" She giggled when she said 'nick' not meaning his name. Ah Harley, two beers and you're giddy already.

[nick]

Nick nodded his head, as he watched her out the side of his eyes and sipping some more on his beer, "Yeah, you're certainly unique alright, I have to agree with that love" Nick said giving her a smile. She was unique in the way she didn't seem to care what she said, or how she said it. She was unique in the fact she had a unique name, and she was unique because of those piercing pale blue eyes.

"His name was Rocky, he was the only person in the world who could understand me" Nick said softly, and then eyed her with a weak smile, "Yeah, I know, but I thought of him as a person" he added just in case she would tease him for talking of his dog as a human. Nick didn't care what people thought, animals were clever. Most people said animals were just dumb, but they were from dumb, they were the cleverest beings on the planet, at least that's how Nick looked at it anyway.

"Not maybe, definitely" Nick said about her being too cute for words, but then she more or less told him off for not using a compliment of his own on her. Which was a fair point, he had used her own compliment to him right back to her. He began to laugh a little and then winked at her before, thinking of one of the cheesiest lines ever and then said, "Your daddy a thief? Cause I swear he just stole the diamonds from the sky and put them in your eyes" he said, and then unable to keep a straight face any longer he began to laugh shaking his head.

"Alright, alright, that was bloody bad, how about, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met?" he said as he stopped laughing, but continued to smile, showing a slightly serious face, so hopefully she would know he meant it.