"Tell me stories, many stories, about the clown king and the jester queen."

"If you insist my dear, Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess named Harleen Quinzel. She lived it a Castle called Arkham Asylum in an ugly little kingdom bathed in light called Gotham. Gotham was guarded by a terrible black dragon who 'protected' all the subjects of the kingdom and kept them happy. Many brave knights had tried to woo the fair princess but none had succeeded, until one night the dragon brought a clown into the castle and the princess was charged with looking after him-"

The sound of heels echoed through the halls of Arkham Asylum, followed by the sound of whispers.

"So it's true then? He's back?"

Click.

"They put her on the case?"

Click.

"Poor girl…"

Click.

"Only been here a few months I heard."

Click.

There were nods exchanged with the orderlies, a quiet "good luck" muttered, and the creaking of a metal door before the young woman stepped foot in the entrance to hell; a white room with a single man inside.

"Hello," She greeted off hand as she sat across from her patient. "My name is Doctor Harleen Quinzel and I will be your personal doctor during your stay here at Arkham, Mr.-" she glanced down at her notes "Joker." she glanced up at the smiling man with green hair and white skin covered in tattoos. She put down her papers and folders and adjusted her glasses. "And it seems, Mr. Joker, if my papers are correct, your stay here will be quite a long one indeed."

He laughed "Oh Mr. Joker sounds so formal, Doc-TER. Call me J. I should think we will become quite friendly if my stay is going to be as long as you say it is, after all."

"Mr. J, then." She said leaning forward slightly, letting some strands of blonde hair fall in her face. "Let me cut to the chase, who are you?"

"Why, I'm the Joker! Clowned Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves-"

"Yes, yes," she interrupted pushing the strands of blond hair back towards her pony tail and rolling her blue eyes. "I have heard of your many stage names. Heavy handed if you ask me."

"Light handed if you ask me."

She scowled.

He smirked.

"If you are a Prince, what are you prince of?"

"Gotham, crime, chaos, I'm prince of it all, and destined to be king." He wiggled around in his straight jacket, as if he was used to using his hands when he spoke.

Harleen began scribbling on her notepad and muttered to herself under her breath, "Patient has delusions of grandeur."

"Delusions? I can assure you doc, my DELUSIONS are quite real. My kingdom grows every day."

"Alright, back to the question, Joker." She dismissed him with a wave of her hand before pegging him with an icy stare. "Who ARE you? Forget the silly nick names you have given yourself, you have been in and out of asylums and prisons for years but no one has any idea where you came from. Who ARE you?"

"You know what happened to the last doctor to ask me that question?" He asked, pegging her with a stare of his own cold, grey ones.

"Yes."

"And you asked anyway?"

"I thought it would be worth a shot."

"Oh no no no no Doc-tor, you won't last very long if you keep going like this."

"But you like the bold ones, don't you? At least that's what you told doctor number three…"

Jocker clicked his tongue in disapproval "It really is sad how he fell out of that ten story window."

"He fell out of that ten story window seven times, Mr. Joker."

"Ah, ah, ah, what did we say about that name? 'Mr. Joker', Blah!" He made a face, then laughed. It was the kind of laugh that was filled with humor, but the entirely wrong kind of humor. "You should know serious isn't really my forte. We are such old friends after all."

"Of course."

"You know, I like you Harleen,"

"Oh, do you now? And to think, only a few seconds ago you were threatening my life! Sweet memories."

"Has it been that long? Time sure flies."

"It sure does Mr.J"

He smiled wider.

Her lips twitched up for a split second.

"Oh I can tell we are going to have great fun." Joker smiled.

"Likewise Mr.J," she replied before standing and knocking on the door, signaling the orderlies to let her out.

"That was a quick therapy session doc, not even fifteen minutes! The fun was just getting started!"

"You're therapy session start next week, Mr. J. Consider this a meet and greet. We will have two scheduled therapy sessions a week for now, maximum security meetings on Tuesdays and couch sessions on Thursday. Until next time-" She turned to leave.

"You know Doctor Harleen Quinzel," She stopped. "You have a very beautiful name, do your friends call you Harley?"

"To be honest I don't have many friends, Mr.J"

"Hold on! Hold on!" Joker started swaying back and forth and making faces. "Harleeeeeeeen QUINzeeel. Harleeeeeeeee Quuuuuuuuiiiiinzel. Harley Quinn! Ha! Get it?"

"Yeah, like Halequin, the clown character from Italian comedia del arte, the same joke was made by my 11th grade English teacher. Very funny."

"That name puts a smile on my face, Doctor. You know I think I might just keep you."

Harleen turned and scowled at him "How kind of you."

The orderlies closed the door behind her, but it was only until she was half way to her office when she remembered Joker had never given her a straight answer to her question. She leaned her forehead against a wall, silently scolding herself. "Well played 'Mr.J'" she muttered under her breath.