"Harleen, are you even listening to me?" Dr. Leland asked slightly irritated while tapping her fingers on the plastic table in the rec room. The florescent lights that were abundant in the hospital were giving me a headache, and really not helping with my sleep deprivation. I glanced up at the good Doctor. This once beautiful woman whose features have been eroded by the stress of her job stared at me intently. Her deep brown hair was lightly peppered with hints of grey, stopping just below her chin, accentuating her strong features. Her wide lips pursed, anticipating my answer. Her grey piercing eyes probing me, calculating my every move.
"Honestly Dr. Leland, I wasn't" I frowned. There was no use hiding it, this woman is one of the most well-known psychiatrists around, lying to her would just make me look like an asshole. "I'm sorry; I didn't get much sleep last night." I looked at my hands that held a red coffee mug with bargain coffee in it and shrugged. Here we go….the question everyone asks. She leaned back in her chair and put on a halfhearted smile.
"I could tell," looked at me fondly "I could also tell that you probably don't want to talk about this, I appreciate your honesty, however, Dr. Arkham and I will not tolerate slacking off." She gave me a stern look but softened when I nodded at her. "Now, back to what I was saying before. I have your file here with me and I am very impressed with your achievements. You must have worked really hard to get such a high score on your last paper." She looked at me over my file.
I glanced up and her nervous for a second, but quickly contained myself. "Yes, I did" I gave her my award winning smile, and I wasn't lying…I did work damn hard for that fucking grade. Every turn of a heel had my skirt flying just a little higher, every disgusting kiss after class paid off for it. "It was….difficult at times but perseverance paid off in the end." She nodded her head in approval and closed my file.
"Dr. Arkham was rather impressed with your school work, but we wanted to start you off with someone that would challenge you, but not too much to start off. " I nodded my head for her to continue. She cleared her throat and crossed her long legs, the nylon of her pantyhose making a zipping sound as she did. "We've assigned you to Pamela Isley, she's relatively calm and patient, but is very passionate about her cause. She often goes by the alias of Poison Ivy."
"Thank you Dr. Leland, I won't let you down" I stood up and took Dr. Leland's hand.
"Oh please, call me Joan." She smiled, her crow's feet wrinkling at the edges of her grey eyes, still searching me.
I smiled back at the woman in front of me "Thank you Joan, I look forward to working here." With that, I left the room to head to my office. I didn't plan on breaking the promise that I had made to Joan, I planned on making something of myself. This is the first time that I will actually be able to prove, not only to myself but to my father as well, that Harleen Quinzel can do something other than be someone's punching bag. The first time I will be able to say that I accomplished something honestly, without what that bastard calls my "god given talents". I opened my door and stepped inside my office. The walls were a light purple, another calming color, and my desk was a deep mahogany. Running my fingers over the desk I couldn't help but remember the last time I had seen a desk so beautiful.
"Now Harleen," my mother softly spoke to me while putting me back down on the soft carpeted floor "mommy has to go do some laundry, I want you to stay right here and wait till I'm finished." Her blue eyes lovingly staring into me. I hadn't noticed it then, but her face was thin and her cheek had a yellowing bruise on it from where my father had hit her the week before. I nodded and she left. Looking around the living room I realized that there was nothing for me to do, so as any curious child would do, I went looking around the house. If only I would have listened to my mother…maybe then things would have been okay…maybe I wouldn't have provoked him.
I toddled into his the dark haired monsters library. There were books on everywhere along with papers stacked upon the beautiful desk. Climbing up onto his chair to get a better look, I was unaware of the glaring monster stalking his prey. His hot breath on the back of my neck…his rough hands pulling me out of the room by my blonde pigtails, I knew that I was in trouble. "LILLIAN! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE" he bellowed at my mother.
"What's wrong hone-"she looked at him holding my by my hair and swallowed "wh-what did she do?" he lips were trembling.
"This little rat was climbing around in my office Lillian ….WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE DOING IN THERE? HUH?" he tossed me toward my mother
"I … I don't know honey…. I went to do some laundry and-"
"SO YOU ADMIT TO ME YOU WEREN'T WATCHING HER? IS THAT IT? GOD DAMMIT WOMAN! WHAT KIND OF UNFIT MOTHER ARE YOU?" my mother remained silent, but this only angered the monster further. CRACK! My mother landed beside me on the floor, blood gushing out of her nose and from the side of her mouth.
I hated the desk instantly…I flopped into my chair and put my head into my hands. "Maybe I should check myself into here myself." I mused, giggling at the thought of me behind the glass cells of Arkham Asylum. "Well Harleen…time to get ready for your first patient." I straightened my glasses and smoothed my hair back into my ballerina perfect bun at the nape of my neck.
