Harleen had managed to get through another day dealing with homicidal maniacs and suicidal craze driven 'things'. After checking off every single thing she had on her list for the day she packed up her purse. She silently walked down the hall, her stilettos clicking away with time. There was a low chuckle as she walked closer to Joker's cell turning into a menacing laugh that echoed off the walls.
Harleen stepped into The Joker's peripheral and he suddenly stopped laughing.
"Hey doc, what's the hurry? Don't ya' wanna stay and talk?"
"Dinner won't cook itself, Mr. Joker." She said slowing her pace.
"You don't seem like the housewife-with-a-job type? Tell me, Miss Quinzel, Where's your boyfriend at?"
Harleen didn't reply. She slowly turned around adrenaline pulsing through her veins. She didn't understand where the burning urge came from but she felt confident. Maybe she felt this way because a man who was said to hate everything on earth had gave her his attention, or maybe the coffee from this morning was kicking in, but she felt good.
"I don't think that's any of your business, Mr. Joker."
"Who says it isn't" He said making his way up to the glass.
"I think you should worry about yourself, last time I checked you don't own me." Harleen's heart stopped when his dusty blue eyes dominated her own hazy eyes.
"I don't have any worries Dr. Quinzel." There was a pause before he found words, "Gotham is my playground and the people are my toys, deliberately letting themselves be thrown around like puppets."
Harleen felt her body grow limp under his intense gaze, all traces of confidence disappearing.
"This city would crawl across barbed wire, to avoid being on my bad side."
With no response he decided to continue. "Do you know who I am?"
Harleen formed a lump in her throat, choking on her breath. "Joker."
"The Clown Prince of Gotham; Batman's ArchEnemy; The only thing that keeps this city aching with anticipation. Without The Joker where's the fun?"
Harleen couldn't speak, paralyzed by his eyes.
"You're business is mine, Got it, Quinzel?" He growled, his knuckles straining at the glass the enclosed him.
Harleen slowly nodded taking cautious steps, backing away from the glass. Just as she was going to bolt and wish for the best, his words stopped her.
Harleen felt a trace of unease wash over her as The Joker glared at her. He probably knew more about her than she knew.
"Doc, I must say you're an attractive, kind hearted, dizzy girl, why wouldn't a woman like you have a man bowing down to you like a queen?"
Harleen dodged an airborne coffee cup by inches.
"Fucking Hell Harleen! Don't you ever listen?" James started chucking pens and books at her.
"I'm sorry." Harleen felt tears stream down her face as she watched him growl in anger. He pegged a stapler, hitting her in her lower abdomen.
"I told you, specifically, DO NOT TOUCH MY THINGS!" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Harleen choked on air as she grew into a crying fit.
"Get out of my sight, you fucking cunt." James' words stung like hell making Harleen's vision grow blurry as tears filled her eyes.
That's when she decided she couldn't take any more of the abuse. She deserved more than the scum that disrespected her, treated her like a peice of shit that belonged in the trash.
Harleen ran to their bedroom to pack up and leave. She didn't know where she would go, what she would do. She recently had gotten her degree in psychology but had no idea where to put it to use. Her plan was hopeless, as if you could consider it a plan.
She packed her bag full, leaving behind everything that reminded her of him. She walked out of the bedroom down the hall. Just as Harleen turned the handle a dark voice called after her.
"Where do you think you're going?" James stopped in the middle of the hallway watching as Harleen turned slowly trying her best not to break down.
"I'm leaving you." Her voice shifted and she scolded herself for coming off so weak.
"No you're not." He growled inching towards her.
"Stay the fuck away from me." She felt electricity shoot through her veins. Something in his eyes changed, making him look like he cared.
"Harleen, stay with me." His voice sounded calm and soothing.
"Stay away, or im calling the cops." She growled as she opened the door.
"Don't."
Suddenly she slammed the door stepping down the stairs to the apartment. A feeling of freedom overwhelmed her senses as she took in a sharp breath, this wasn't going to be fun.
"Hello?"
Her eyes snapped back to the Joker as he stared blankly at her waiting for a response.
"Im- Im sorry" Harleen sputtered as she realized she'd zoned out. She suddenly picked up her bag and ran down the hall.
She opened the back door with a pair of keys she was given when she started working at Arkham. The cold breeze struck her as she opened the door. She looked across the parking lot at the small bunch of cars parked in the staff parking spaces.
All the doctors had left a while before Harleen, wanting to leave before the darkness transformed the crazy into the insane. Most days Harleen spent overtime at Arkham, sadly with no pay, but she didn't mind. She liked being around the people that needed help, it was an interesting time.
Harleen ran to her car almost eating it. "God damn it Harleen, stop wearing heels to work." She scolded herself as she tripped over the concrete falling into her car. Tears ran down her face as she opened the door and slipped inside. Her hands stumbled as she tried desperately to push the key in its slot.
"Fuck!" Harleen threw the keys against the windshield.
Slowly recollecting herself, she took a few breaths wiping the tears from her eyes. She calmly picked up the keys and slid them into the hole. The ignition growled as it came to life.
Her car rumbled as it turned on and a figure pounded on the driver seat window.
"Harleen, get back inside."
"No." Harleen didn't turn, her face was tear stained, makeup running down her cheeks. She rolled down the window about an inch so she could hear what he had to say.
"Baby, come on we'll make this better."
"It won't get better, James. You won't get better. You've got issues, and I don't want to be part of those issues." She pulled the stick shift from park to drive and stared up at James.
"Fine, go." He growled. "But don't come running back to me whenever you don't have anything. Hell, rot in the gutter for all I care. You won't make it in this city, you're worthless Harleen." On that he walked up the stairs of the apartment and slammed the door.
Harleen opened the door and was greeted by a dusty smell. She walked inside closing the door, turned on the light. She placed her keys on the table next to the door and descended down the hall.
Harleen walked into the kitchen staring blankly at a bowl on her dining room table. She walked over to the big bowl and glanced at the note on top. The paper was smudged from the rain and seemed to have been sloppy in the first place. She picked it up for a closer look running a finger over the wet surface. Harleen paused in fear when she heard what could only be described as a pistol cocking from behind her.
"Hey."