This is my very first fanfiction, so it might be OOC, but I really like fics where the roles or something are switched and I decided to give it a go and try it myself!
Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push.
This was not my morning. First, I overslept which was unnatural for me, since I did not require a lot of sleep. Then I managed to slip while drinking my morning coffee in a hurry and it ended up on my white shirt, so I lost some more time cursing and changing the damned thing.
My cursing got more colorfull in the traffic jam and reached it's most creative level while I pulled into the Asylum's parking lot. I hated to be late. As an intern, no matter how well I did, the „important" people here never turned down a chance to make my days harder. Like it was my fault that they were old, boring and dry snobs, while I was young, handsome and had a sense of humour.
I took a few deep breaths while exiting the car, already forcing a calm smile on my face. I will go insane sooner, than let one of these doctors break me. I did not graduated as the top of my class and get an internship at the Arkham Asylum for some old bastards to pick on me and scare me away. I wanted challenge and there was no better place for me to start than this.
„Good morning, Joe. You are late" Oh here we go. I couldn't even make it to my office. This was truly not my morning...
„Good morning, Dr. Arkham. I am really sorry, I overslept. It will not happen in the future, I promise." I smiled, hopefully in a somewhat apologetic way.
„That I hope. Now come to my office. I am holding a meeting." Dr. Arkham said shortly and was already on his merry way to the said place. It took me a few seconds to gather myself and catch up with him. A meeting? The one day I overslept, there is a meeting at Dr. Arkham's office... And a really important one. Well at least it can't be about the cafeteria's cheese situation, because as soon as I entered the office I could see every big name from the facility cramped up there. And by the way, they should really talk about the cafeteria's cheese situation, because if the quality of the food continues to be like this, our patients will either hold a hunger strike or die from the unholy creations...
„I think everybody know the reason why I asked for this meeting." said Dr. Arkham in a really meaningful tone, while looking around. Everybody but me showed understanding and hummed thoughtfully.
Well, damn. No need to tell me, good ol' boss, no need to repeat the information for the children, elderly and latecomers. I thought, but decided to stay silent. I didn't want to push my luck this morning anymore.
„This morning we have a new inmate which we are already really familiar with. Well at least from the news." He continued after an unnecessarily long pause.
He really loves to be dramatic. I rolled my inner eyes. I saw on everybody's face that something big happened which was a great thing by itself, but the fact that it started to feel like an inner joke, which everybody understood but me just rubbed me the wrong way. First of all, because I was the only person with a sense of humor in this place.
„So the main issue; we have to face is to choose a doctor for her."
Now that is interesting. Her? I thought while smoothing back my brown hair. I did not really have time to make it as neat and stylish as other days, but while Arkham kept up the whole dramatic monologe, I tried to fix it as much as I could.
„Is there anyone who volunteers to take Harley Quinn as a patient?" My whole body froze, my hand stopped mid-stroke on my hair and I forgot to breath as well. Harley Quinn? HARLEY QUINN? As in Harley Quinn, Clown Princess of Crime, Queen of Gotham, insane psyhotic serial killer and criminal Harley Quinn?
I quickly lowered my hand, not to bring any unneccessary attention to myself. There was talking, but all I heard was noise without meaning. I stood like a statue but my mind was working at an inhuman speed.
Everybody knew who Harley Quinn was. We all knew how deadly, unpredictable and insane she was. But at the Asylum, we knew something else. Whoever cracks her, get her to open up, whoever solves her and fixes her... That doctor will basicaly be lifted up to be a God, a genius, a master and a hero. She was a ticket to unlimited fame and recognition.
I wanted her case. I wanted it like nothing else in my life.
But how can I get it? My mind panicked. I am just an intern, they will never just give it to me...
Now, now, why lose our head? I heard a little voice a the back of my mind. Patience is the key. Just stay focused, be at the right place at the right time and keep your ears open. Soak up as much information as you can. Maybe you can go to a session as an assistant or anything.
Now normally, I would not be happy and all that when voices way in on a situation, but this one seems to be rational. And I was way to into the idea of getting close to the infamous Clown Princess to worry about voices in my head.
Too bad that while I was having a pep talk with voices, 5 doctor jumped on the case.
Well... This was definitely not my day...
It had been two weeks since Harley Quinn was brought in and we had that meeting in Arkham's office. I had brought my best form on ever day since. I was always early in, triing to get as much information as I could from anybody who talked. The most talkative ones were the guards and the janitors. They talked about the frightening giggles in the nights, all the accidents and mistakes that were made. Looks like Miss Harley Quinn was not fond of the place – not that I can blame her – so she took it all out on her doctors and guards– again, I can't blame her.
She was already down to the last volunteer. Five started, one left. She broke them like they were nothing. Physically, spiritually and sometimes both. I knew I was supposed to be terrified and worried about the doctors, but all I could feel was giddy excitement. If there was nobody left, I could ask for the case. Or at least ask for the opportunity to be the assistant to the new doctor.
Fortunately, today was my lucky day.
„Joe, as you may know, the case of Harley Quinn is a big one." said Dr. Arkham when he asked me to his office in the morning.
„Well yes, sir, she is hard to ignore. The whole Asylum turned upside down since she got here." I nodded. The doctor just shoot me a nasty glare, which made me want to smile, but I flexed my jaws to keep my mouth from moving. I don't know where he is going, but I am not ruining my perfect image I was working on for two weeks.
„Indeed." He grimaced. „And this is why I am going to take the case myself."
My smiley mood vanished in an instant. Great. Big ol' boss takes the business.
Well if she breaks him, we can freely get our chance right? said the same little voice in my head. I had to admit, it was really practical about things.
„I see."
„But I decided to take you as an assistant with me. Maybe finally you will be able to learn something. It is not everyday that you can look into a session I hold." He added with a smug look.
There were two emotions fighting in me. One was absolutely intoxicating joy. The other was boiling fury. How dare he look down on me like this? Like I am some idiot nonentity who needs his intellect and care to even function and grow.
Eyes on the prize! the little voice warned me. I let out the breath I did not even know I was holding and twisted my lips into a soft smile.
„Thank you so much for the opportunity, Dr. Arkham. I will do my best to learn from you." I was proud, it even came out somewhat believable.
That's my boy! the voice said proudly. It was not a right time now, but sometimes soon I really should look into this while voice thing. It was not exactly normal to hear things like this.
„These are her documents. We start on Monday. I want you to be up to date, so you should cancel your weekend plans." He said pleased with himself as he handed me a big box full of papers. And I mean BIG box.
„Thank you, sir, I will be prepared." I really hoped that my anger did not show in my voice, because he was the kind of motherfucker, who gives you a treat just to take it away right from your hands.
And I am not giving up my prize.
„You are dismissed." He waved, and I left the room with the box. When I closed my office's door behind myself, I finally felt my body to start shaking. It was not from fear, oh no... Far from it. I was shaking from anticipation and happiness. I wanted to shout and laught! I got what I wanted!
We always do. agreed the voice. I was way too into the moment to even answer or tell it to go away. I put the box under my desk and went out to visit some patients and do some paperwork. The time went slower that I ever imagined it could go. There was nothing more I wanted to do than just grab my box, go home, order some food and get into the case of Harley Quinn.
And when that moment finally came I felt like a child around Christmas. I got my present right in front of me on my caffee table and all I could do was just to stare at it for a few seconds. It was real. I really got it.
„Now it is time to dig in." I wanted to laught. My voice shook a little from the excitement, my lips were dry, my hands were sweaty. It was amost unreal and comical what this did to me. I held my breath and with one swift motion, I opened the box and picked up the top folder. I licked my lips eagerly while I started reading.
Formely known as Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, now known as Harley Quinn. Everybody knew her, but her story was a mistery. She was a young intelligent – one might say even genius – psychiatrist who disappeared and when she came back, there was no Harleen left only Harley. I looked through every study, folder and paper I found but there was no information about her personal life. Some things about her childhood, but since her parents died when she was in middle school, there was not a lot about it either. 90% of the box was pure statistics of the crimes she commited, the lifes she had taken and some theories what her diagnosis was.
Split personality, narcisism, mood swings, sadism, and as said at the bottom of the page: She is the text book example of a psychopath.
I grimaced while picking up another folder which contained pictures. Most of them were pretty bad quality or just smudged, but there were a few which must had been taken at a police station or some kind of facility, because it looked almost professional. It was still a mug shot, but at least she was visible. Well, only a bit more than on the others. Batman must had taken her in after a fight, because there was a bloody scar on her forehead and some bruises on her face. Yet, she was smiling. It was strangely captivating. The look in her eyes were nothing I had ever seen. She felt free and happy. Even beaten up and thrown into jail, she smiled like it was a prom picture. If we don't count the scars and bruises, she was really cute.
Woa woa woa, hold the thought... Nobody should think about a serial killer like that. I scolded myself. First voices, now this. What is next?
The next hours I spend with rereading some folders I declared more important and made some notes to myself. The next time I glanced at the clock it was already three in the morning, so I decided to get some sleep. After all, I still had a whole weekend before me to study everything and get ready.
„Monday. I will have a session with Harley Quinn on Monday." I sighed as soon as my head touched the pillow. Well yeah, there will be a third wheel called Dr. Arkham, but nothing that cannot be taken care of. I smiled to myself at the thought. What if I will be the one that changes the game? And right in front of that snob oaf. Oh how mad he would be if I snatched the fame and the recognision from him.
I let out a laugh. It will certainly be a great joke!
My laugh quickly changed into yawning and the last picture I saw before drifting to dreamland was me, as the director of the Asylum, the brightest psychiatrist of his age and the one who fixed the infamous Harley Quinn. Look who's the big ol' boss now?
I was at Dr. Arkham's office ten minutes earlier he ordered me to. I barely slept in the past three days, yet I had never felt so fresh in my life. I had read and studied all weekend, so by now I was able to list Harley Quinn's crime by category, in a alphabetical or chronological order. I knew everything about her that was humanly possible from what I was given. Maybe even a bit more.
„It is nice to see that you can arrive on time." Said Dr. Arkham gathering his notes and getting up. I decided to shut up and let it slide. Today I was in a great mood, I would not let him spoil it for me. „Are you ready?"
„Yes, sir." I nodded while my hands thightened around my notepad and pens. I was never more ready for anything. Dr. Arkham just ignored all of this and started to lead the way the the room where the patient was waiting. With each step I grew more and more excited, yet I kept a cool face. If I don't behave, this moron will not bring me next time.
„So here are the rules." Arkham turned to me when we reached the most secured room. „You are only allowed to observe the session. Do not talk unless you are talked to or you are given permission. Do not provoke or disturb the patient or try to sabotage the session. You do any of that and you will not like the consequences." he glared at me.
Now I wanted to laugh in his face. What a party pooper... But he was serious and I did not want to get on his bad side. For now.
„Understood." I nodded and ran my hand through my hair to keep it in place. Maybe a haircut was in order.
„How is she?" Arkham turned to the guard next to the door.
„Drugged and in a straight jacket. She will not try anthing." the guard – Jerry I believe – growled. They had their hands full with Harley Quinn, and they were always on their toes around her, never sure when would she try anything. So they did not really like her, to put it nicely.
„Great. One hour, or sooner if I alarm you." the doctor nodded and stepped in the room. I followed him without hesitation. My heart was pounding againts my chest while I looked around. There was only a table in the room with three chairs – both bolted to the ground for safety – but the person occupying one of them brought all focus to herself.
Harley Quinn sat in the chair with a blank expression on her face, like she was deep in thought, but most likely they drugged her too much. I sat down where Dr. Arkham pointed and returned my attention to the Queen before me. The photos did not do her justice. Or maybe she was not beaten up now and that really changed the situation. She was calm, unmoving and blank. I could not read anything off of her which bothered me very much. How was I – or anyone - supposed to solve the mystery of Harley Quinn if the drugged her up so much she was just a corpse?
Her frame was small, almost lost in the straight jacket. Her skin was unnaturally pale and perfect. There was no scars or bruises or anything that would indicate that there ever was one on her. Her hair was long and pale blond, almost white, except the ends which looked like they were dipped in some red and blue paint. The only other colors on her were her baby blue eyes and blood red lips.
„Miss Quinzel, my name is Dr. Arkham, as you know I am the head of this facility. And from today, I will be your doctor." the doctor said. „How are you feeling today?"
Only silence was his answer.
That is what he gets for drugging up the girl. I snorted silently, but my mouth twitched a bit. The next thing that I knew was that baby blue eyes were stairing into my cold blue ones with so much force I almost forgot to breath. Had she seen my reaction?
„Now who is that dashing mistah over there?" Her voice was playfull and full of curiousity. She did not look away from me and I didn't break the eyecontact either. A slow smile creeped over her mouth.
„This is... Dr. Joe Car, my assistant." Dr. Arkham introduced me half heartedly.
„Dr... Joe... Car..." She slowly said my name, like she was tasting it, feeling the way it rolled over her toungue. It sent shivers down my spines. „Does he talk?" she tilted her head to the side with an innocent expression on her face. Dr. Arkham gave me a pointed look which said to me: You have permission to speak but I am going to make you regret it.
Oh well. I got permission.
„It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Quinn." I said with a smile. I told the truth.
„He talks!" Harley Quinn squealed happily and rolled her head back with a laugh. Suddenly she seemed to be more energetic. Yet nothing near to the Queen we all knew. I needed to get her off these stupid sedatives so I could see her real self.
„Back to the question, Miss Quinzel. How are you feeling?" Well somebody did not like to be left out of the conversation that's for sure...
„Miss Quinzel is currently away from home. Would you like to leave a message?" she asked sincerely. Dr. Arkham kept addressing her by her old name and it did not get him anywhere. This time I did not wait for a permission.
„Miss Quinn. How are you feeling?" If looks could kill, Arkham just murdered me brutally.
„Aw Puddin' thanks for asking, I am doing great now that I have someone to play with." she flashed me a toothy grin.
„Pudding?" I asked a bit confused. Was that me?
„Your hair reminds me of chocolate pudding. I love chocolate pudding." She smiled dreamily. I unconsciously ran my hand through my chocolate brown hair, pushing it back.
„Miss Quinzel, this is not a place to play. I am triing to fix you." Arkham snapped up a bit. Harley Quinn's smiled died down, her eyes were fixed on the doctor. There were no humor in them.
„Listen here mistah, I don't remember speaking to you, so unless you want that big mouth of your's removed from your face, I think you should shut up." Her accent got thicker and her voice got lower. I did not doubt that she will not hesitate to fulfill this threat.
„You are not in the position to make any threats." Dr. Arkham replied.
Man, he really wants to play the boss. I sighed but even if there were no threats towards me, I shut up. No need to anger big ol' boss anymore. I got what I wanted. The attention of Harley Quinn.
„So, back to the session. How are you sleeping? Any dreams?" he continued, but was greeted with silence. Harley Quinn just stared at us, then looked straight into my eyes again. I felt like her gaze was searching me, my very soul. And then I saw a question.
Until he is here, we can't play? She was like a little girl, triing to get rid of the adult's stare to play with a friend.
I did not dare to speak, but I pulled my lips into a little, apologetic smile. Then she looked away from me and closed us out.
Arkham asked a few more questions, but since there was no reply, he gave up in the end and after half an hour, the session ended. When we were leaving the room, a soft voice hit my ears.
„See you later, Puddin'!" I turned around, if it wasn't for the playfull sparks in her eyes I would had thought I imagined the whole thing.
Needless to say, Arkham was not happy with me. He probably would not mind if during the next session my chit chat got my neck broken. But he decided he wouldn't even allow a second session for me.
How dare he took me off the case? I was the only one to make any kind of progress without violent ending with the patient! I thought angrily after I heard his decision.
Patience. If he is gone, we can go and play! the voice said and I felt myself calming down. It was right. Harley Quinn wanted to play with me. So why not let her make this decision? I smiled. Yes, that indeed sounded like a plan. I was going to had her wrapped around my fingers in no time.
My patience was rewarded by the Gods. It took one week which was torture, but next monday I was asked to see Dr. Arkham in his office.
„Good morning, sir." I said.
„Let's get straight to the point." Well somebody woke up at the wrong side of the bed.
„I am listening." His mouth twitched, which I took as a sign to shut up.
„You will be assigned as Harley Quinn's new doctor." he growled. I seriously thought these words were hurting his mouth while forming them.
„I understand."
„But! I am still in charge of the case. You will only report to me, and I want all of your notes. Also, if you make any decisions, about medication, security, sessions, you will have to come to me first. I handed your other cases over to other doctors. Miss Quinzel will be your only case. Is that clear?" he asked sharply.
„Christal." I nodded and did everything in my power to hide my grin.
„You start at ten today. I am waiting your report and notes tomorrow night. Dismissed." he turned back to his paperwork and I exited the office. While I collected my notepad, folders and pens I smiled wiledly and after a quick hair fix I headed down the corridor which led to the room where Harley Quinn waited me for our first private session.
Thank you for reading! I don't know how long this story turn out to be, but I welcome reviews and feedbacks!