A/N As you can see, this chapter is much shorter than the first. The reason is that I only had a tiny bit of time to write it in, because my brother said I was allowed to use his computer while he was out if I did the dishes. This is also why there may be a bazillion spelling and grammar errors. Sorry, and I'm pretty sure the next chapter will be longer. Not a lot of Bruce in this, and Ivy doesn't come in for a while, but there's plenty of Harley/Joker interaction.

Reviews are greatly appreciated, treasured, and loved. So, yea. Give em up. I know you got one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman:TAS. Harley Quinn, The Joker, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth and Gotham are all registered Trademarks of the DC company which I do not, as of now, own.


Chapter 2

The First Session


Harley strode determinedly to school on Monday, head going wild. The first therapy session would be at 8:00 sharp today. She'd go to first period until 7:45, when she'd be called by the speakers to go to the Library, which would be closed for the quick little presentation on how to handle peers who had come for counseling. Any other Monday, and she'd be leaving first period at 7:55. The counseling would last 40 minutes, and each student would have one day on the Counselor's calendar of the week. Harley had four students- one of which was Jack Napier. She'd have Friday off, and have a regular schedule.

Finally, she arrived to her first period classroom, and she sped to her desk. First period couldn't start soon enough- the sooner it started, the sooner she could leave.

"Hey, Harley," She turned.

"Hi, Bruce," She said tightly. "You're here earlier."

"Yea, I wanted to talk to you," He said smoothly, sliding into his new seat, which was directly to the right of Stacey's.

"So, go ahead." She answered huffily.

"Listen- abo-"

"Hi Bruce!" Stacey had followed him into the classroom. Big surprise. She jumped into her own seat, and, Bruce casting a reluctant glance at Harley, burst into a conversation about how his outfit looked great today. He forced a smile- though Harley had to admit it looked pretty real- then turned to Stacey to enter the conversation.

The period was slow, and horrible, and finally, a voice crackled over the speaker, and Harley grabbed her backpack, ready to pounce.

"Will All Peer Counselors Please Report To The Library. Once Again, Will All Peer Counselors-" She was already out. "Please Report To The Library."


It was already pretty crowded. Harley scanned the sea of faces for Jack, before stupidly reminding herself that he wasn't due to come, since he was a patient. The Principle, a lean woman, and the guidance Counselor, a stocky man with a bushy beard, stood in front of the chattering students.

"Now-" They grew quiet easily. "-you're all here to help your fellow students, and there are a few guidelines and rules to help you do that." The Principle began. "Now, first of all, while you can give some personal experiences to help your peers, don't do all the talking, since talking is what they came here to do. For any serious problems, such as drug usage or child abuse- or thoughts of suicide- talk to Mr. Monroe, the guidance counselor, who is the head of this program for our school. Don't try to give advice for these types of situations- it's what Mr. Monroe is here for." She smiled tightly at the short man. "If you have any questions, here he is," With that, she left the library. Mr. Monroe turned to the students.

"You each have your own room back there-" He pointed to a hallway. "And I expect all students to stay back there for the full forty minutes. If you have any questions- that aren't serious, such as the ones Mrs. Markoke spoke of- wait until after the time limit is up, and speak to me then. Here are some pamphlets going over the rules in detail, and if you have any questions, feel free to come up and talk to me." His face lit up, then he looked down at his hand. "And is there a Harleen Quinzel in here?" Harley walked through the mass of students, worry crinkling her forehead.

"Yes, Mr. Monroe?"

"The boy you'll be speaking to- Mr Jack Napier-" He seemed nervous, but excited, too. "Mr. Napier has had a difficult past, and I fully expect you to be both patient and courteous to him. I've been trying to speak to him since he got to this school, but he's refused. He's very volatile, so please, watch the way you speak to him, and if you feel you are not capable of handling him-"

"I understand, Mr. Monroe-" Harley interrupted firmly. He nodded.

"He's never signed up for any sort of counseling- ple-"

"I get it," She cut in again. She understood what he was trying to say- 'Don't screw this up'- but this was getting boring. He nodded, but seemed as though he wanted to talk again. Harley didn't give him the chance. She walked away and grabbed a pamphlet, then headed down the hallway. As she sat in the room she was designated to, she vaguely heard the loudspeaker. The door opened, and she leaped into the air.

"Jumpy." An amused voice hissed. She turned, and smiled, blushing. Jack slid onto the chair in front of her. "So- ready to fix me up, doc?" She smiled again.

"Mm- yea." She opened the drawer of the desk separating them, and took out the notebook and pen within. "Ready?"

"Yep. Let the healing begin." She giggled under her breath, then forced herself to remember the top ten questions the pamphlet had listed, that were supposed to break the ice.

"So- um…why did you sign up for Peer Counseling?" He smiled, and the scars lifted.

"Why do you think?" She blushed, but responded,

"That's not much of an answer."

"Only one I'll give."

"Are you really going to make this difficult?" She asked wearily, then blanched as she realized what she'd said. "I mean-" She looked up fearfully. She was never supposed to put any sort of pressure on the person she was talking to- that's what the pamphlet said. Be courteous, and patient. That's what Mr. Monroe had said. And she'd already blown it.

"Yep." She relaxed. He didn't take it as an insult. "But you're sort of snippy, aren't you?" She frowned. She'd taken insult.

"Mm. So. Are you having any problems at home?" She grumbled out, remembering the top ten. She didn't think that was one of the first, but they'd jumbled together.

"None whatsoever." She rolled her eyes.

"Really? Not even about cleaning your room?"

"Nope."

"God, could you at least be honest?" Joker howled with laughter, slapping his knee for extra effect. Harley rolled her eyes, slumping back on the chair.

"I am." Joker said, smiling at her.

"Sure. Every kid has some messed-up thing in their home life, even if it's small, and stupid," Harley told him. He smirked.

"Is that so?"

"Yes." She answered curtly.

"And what small and stupid thing is at your place?" She frowned.

"We're talking about you."

"You might be, but I'm not." She rolled her eyes.

"Here- I get in fights with my mom. How's that?"

"Perfect," He answered with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "About what?"

"You answer mine first." She told him coldly. Two minutes passed with nothing said, so Harley forced out, "Guys."

"Guys?" Joker asked with a smirk. Harley shrugged.

"She doesn't think I should be able to date."

"You're sixteen!" He laughed.

"Fifteen," Harley answered meekly. "But you get it, don't you? I mean, I liked this guy last year, and she practically grounded me for a month."

"Because you liked someone?" Jack asked in shock. Harley nodded. "Girl, your Mamas Wacko!" Harley laughed. "Did you sneak out?" Harley blinked.

"Well, no." Joker smirked.

"Well, that could have solved your problem."

"I didn't want to make things rough on her, though. I mean, my mom and I have always been real close, you know?" Jack nodded understandingly, but Harley thought she saw a hint of a smirk on his face. She brushed this off, and continued to talk. "My Dad died when I was really young. Like, three. She and him got married because of me, and it practically ruined her life, even though she's never outright said it like that. I know I'm not like that- like her- but I don't want her to be worried."

"Of course not," Jack said easily.

"I mean, her life has been so hard, and she's always trying to do things for me. Why should I ruin it over one stupid middle school crush?" Harley shrugged. Then she realized she'd been talking for six minutes, and only eighteen had passed since the session had begun. "Um- anyway- home problems? You?"

"None."

"Come on, that isn't true."

"My parents and I just don't fight," Joker answered with a shrug, then teasingly added, "The Perfect American Family." Harley giggled again. "So you might want to skip that question, huh?"

"Okay…umm…" She glanced down at the pamphlet. "Do you have social problems? And don't try to squirm out of this, cause there are loads of rumors about you." Jack laughed.

"Kinda blunt, aren't you?" Harley blushed, then forced out,

"Answer the question, bub."

"'Kay. Yea. People are freaked by the scars." Harley averted his eyes. He smiled. "Yea. Just like that." She blushed.

"I'm sor-"

"Don't be. I was terrified when I got them." She shivered, and he smirked. She murmured,

"How did you-"

"Leave that for the next one, Doc." A few minutes passed in silence.

"Um- any, things you like?" That wasn't a question. But Harley was interested in what he liked, and, heck, the questions weren't helping anyway. He smirked as if he knew she was asking her own questions.

"There are things I like." She blushed as she felt his eyes on her, then blinked, surprised, when he said, "Clowns."

"Clowns?" She repeated, flabbergasted. He nodded seriously. "Like- rubber noses? Huge pants? Clowns?"

"Yep- Jesters, Jokers…"He licked his lips. "-Harlequins." She forced her gaze up to meet his, then managed,

"Harlequins- the clown character, Harlequin." He nodded, looking very serious. Very interested.

"Like Harley Quinn." He told her softly. She jolted suddenly as the warning bell tolled. Ten minutes until class ended. Thirty minutes hadn't passed yet…or how long had they been staring at each other? She looked down at her desk, the whispered,

"Harleen Quinnzel, Jack."

"Stupid names, the lot of them." He answered briskly, as though he didn't care that he was insulting her. "You'll be Harley Quinn, I'll be Joker. Two clowns, laughing at a sad world." She shivered, the words somehow crawling into her brain. In her mind's image, she saw the two of them standing together, laughing as the Earth burned. It was a sick and tempting dream.

"It's time to go." She whispered.

"Not for another ten minutes." He answered in the same low charismatic voice he had used when she'd seen him in the hall. "I think we should talk."

"Forty minutes. Every Monday for the first quarter. Excluding holidays." The words poured out of her mouth perfectly practiced, as though she'd stood in front of the mirror, practicing them, memorizing them, breathing them. She finally looked up at him again.

"Or tonight." Her blood froze. Or maybe it boiled. She'd forgotten the difference as she stared at his eyes. The scars could have bled, or disappeared. She wouldn't have noticed. The walls could have crumpled around them. She wouldn't have cared.

"Tonight…?" Her voice sounded small and feeble in her throat.

"Tonight."