Chapter 3: Distinguished Details
The sun was bright and its light passed through the thin curtains when Harleen woke up in the next tuesday. She was in a great mood for her second session and even though last week she had some troubles with her patient's behavior, this time she was making sure that everything would go according to plan.
She had a delightful breakfast before finally driving to Count Dracula's castle (to Harleen, this was the most fitting way to call the asylum). As she passed through the main gates and got to her office, the secretary knocked on the door.
"Dr. Quinzel, Dr. Arkham wants you at his office."
She nodded and as soon as the secretary closed the door Harleen's eyes rolled up.
"Not again…"
When she got into Arkham's office, he instantly waved to the chair offering a sit though she politely refused and stood right in front of the door.
"Dr. Quinzel are you su-"
"Yes I am. I thought I made that clear yesterday." She breathed in. "I know what I am doing Dr. Arkham, please trust me."
"And you know I do. I thought I made that clear yesterday."
Ok, I think I deserved that.
He continued. "I'm just saying that an officer was almost killed in front of you and you don't really need to do these sessions all week. You can wait more, there is no need to hurry."
She smiled now. "I know, I know. But there's something inside me that tells me that I must keep going." He could sense no lies in that.
"Alright, doctor. Prepare your stuff, your next session will begin soon. And don't forget, the Joker likes to play with people's minds. Don't ever give him any personal information." She motioned an 'Yes, sir' and he smirked.
She left the office and headed to the therapy room. This time she would make notes just on her phone, no more pencils. She waited there for a few minutes before the door opened and revealed once again the tall frame in it's usual orange suit.
Walks in. Lies down. Wrists, ankles tied. Procedures…
Harleen nodded to the guard as he left and gave a warm smile to her patient. Maybe she should pretend that nothing happened in the other session.
"Good afternoon Mr. Joker. How are you today?" She was feeling quite confident.
"Despite the fact that I wake up every day in this prison, I'm good I guess. And you, Dr. Quinzel?" The timbre of his voice was unique in such a way Harleen finds hard to explain.
"I'm good too." She smirked over the fact that the first thing that came out his mouth was already an ironic joke. "So I was wondering Mr. Joker, what do you think about the asylum?"
"Huh?" An eyebrow raised. The Joker wasn't used to this kind of question.
"I mean, do you have any complains about the food, the cells…?"
"Uhh.. the cell has a decent cot. The food is a bit gross, but it's that or nothing." Harleen wasn't really happy with those statements and when he continued she could feel his teeth clenching slowly. "The only thing that get on my nerves... are those damn guards!"
"Are you talking about that specific guy last session? Cole? Because he seems like a good guy to m-"
"Of course he is." He said rolling his eyes. How can people be so fucking blind?
"Hmm maybe I should spend the day watching over you, what do you think?" It may be a good idea actually, since she never really saw his schedule at the asylum.
"Whatever. If that helps me staying away from Mr. Nice Guy Cole, I'm in." He simply said.
"Okay then, how about telling me what are your plans today?" She said, and she had to admit she was more excited with this idea now. Joker took a long breath. He didn't want to talk about his routine, but then again… he hasn't had this kind of conversation in a long time, so maybe it's not that bad.
"Let's see… Today it's gym day. Oh god I hate gym days…" He ended the sentence with a displeasurable face.
"Why that?"
" 'Cause a criminal's mind is so much more than a criminal's muscles. Plus..." He paused for a moment. "We can talk with other inmates in the meantime."
"Is that a problem?" She asked, now taking her phone and making some notes.
"It's.. ahg, that Riddler guy." If he could slap his face, he'd do it.
Ah… The Riddler. He's interesting I think, maybe even smart. Harleen thought for a second.
"That guy is so stupid. Geez.. One day, he was trying to make me solve one of his ridiculous riddles and, man, I just look at him and punch him right in the face." The Joker said remembering the act and smiling. She didn't expect that at all, actually, it was so random that she let a small laugh slip from her mouth.
He watched her more closely now. "And Poison Ivy? She just talks about plants. I'm tellin' you, she smokes weed." He chuckled at this one, and this time Harleen couldn't contain herself but laugh louder. As she did that, the Joker's eyes focused on her.
"There you go." He said with a wide smile and a satisfied tone. She stopped right away and apologized. Joker wondered if she mumbled apologies just to look professional or if she really mean it.
"Pffft, this place is too quiet. I miss some good laughs." He said, with a charming smile. "But not as much as I miss the mayhem! HAHA" He bursted on a maniac laugh and after a moment he opened an eye while still laughing just to see Harleen's horrified expression. He cleared his throat. "I think I got carried away heh.. Anyway, I've told you a bit of my day. But what about yours, Doc? I'm sure it's much more exciting then mine."
Oh no…
She couldn't tell him anything personal, she knew that. So what now? Well she could give some useless information, her daily life wasn't so exciting as he thought it was anyway. Let's give it a try.
"Well, my day consist of getting here every morning, analysing some patients files, treating them and then going back home." The Joker responded that with a 'oh, really?' ironic face. She giggled, she was being naive to think that he'd fall for this crap.
"Oh come on there must be something else. Do you hang out with someone?" His green eyes glowing differently.
No. Too personal. Sorry Joker.
"You see… I think we should focus on you, Mr. Joker. Is there anything else you're going to do today?" Avoiding the mayhem subject may be also the best thing to do now. It's too early to get into his twisted mind just yet.
He breathed deeply. The sort of breath you take when you need to be patient with some spoiled child.
"I could go to the cafeteria if I had 'good behavior', but I clearly don't."
"We will work on it, don't worry." She looked at the clock. "Well… I think our session is over. I'll call a guard and then I'll accompany you throughout this day." She did as she said, and she was proud of her fast decisions. As the Joker was being untied he couldn't think in anything else but how this woman was stupidly ingenuous.
Harleen explained the guard their situation and how she'd be watching Joker's activities during that day. While they were walking through the hallway side to side, the Joker gave her a glance or two, as if trying to find something in her. And there was this one moment that Harleen stole a glimpse and he was looking right at her. She noticed for the first time how his eyes were angled downwards and that meant he was much taller than her. If she was close enough to him, his chin would perfectly cup the top of her head. He gave her his most charming smile before glancing forward again.
When they arrived at the gym, the closest place Harleen could be to the inmates was a room upstairs that had a large glass wall so you could see their actions and at the same time be safe from them. She watched as Nick released him from the handcuffs and he walked freely through the place. He gave a brief look at her and, instead of working out, he just picked up a newspaper from the floor and start reading it.
Harleen studied his moves and noticed how the other inmates avoided passing near him. Well… he was the Joker after all. She chuckled when a guard suddenly showed up and he instantly let the newspaper aside and did some push-ups on the ground. She felt strange to see him like that. He looks so… harmless from here. She even wondered if he would do anything to her if she was right in front of him now.
Harleen stopped her train of thought. He'd probably kill you. Yes, maybe now he'd kill her. But if she earns enough trust from him, she could change that. That's a fact.
When the gym session was over she went downstairs to talk to him. He was already cuffed and another guard was waiting for him this time.
"How was the 'gym'?" She asked walking by his side.
"You could see that it was quite enjoyable." He gave her a smile and she returned pleasantly. They walked through a hall and Harleen felt something squeezing her chest. The Joker was nothing like she expected, he was calm and not a full-time maniac that so much people said about.
As they were heading towards the art room, which Harleen didn't even know it existed, the Joker's expression was smooth again. This was the only place he could relax and maybe even do something useful.
Since the room was small and there were just a few patients there, Harleen was allowed for the first time to be next to Joker without being on a session, although he was still cuffed and under the watch of a guard.
Even though he had a box full of crayons of different colors, he chose just red and black for his drawing. Harleen sneaked closer, curious to what he was about to do. With some unusual sketches she was already able to see what he had in mind.
Batman, of course.
He continued.
In a pool of blood, of course.
Then at last, with some weird calligraphy, he filled the few blank spaces that had left with disturbed laughs. He even broke the crayon at the last 'HA' as a result of the brute force he was using to express his feelings. Paying special attention to his movements, Harleen walked closer and gestured with her hand asking permission to see the picture closer.
"Can I keep your drawings Mr. Joker?"
"Ehh I guess so. It's probably going to end up in the trash anyway." He said and, honestly, he didn't give a shit.
After a few more drawings and sketches the sun was low in the horizon, gently telling every being that's time to return to their respective shelters. Accompanied by Dr. Harleen and a guard, the Joker was back at the front of his cell.
"See you next week I guess." He said with a pout when he entered his room.
"It'll be here faster than you think." She comforted him.
"I really hope so, Doc." A genuine smile could be seen in his lips.
When he heard her steps getting further and further away, the Joker threw himself on the cot and started a quick recapitulation of every time he passed with this new girl.
First of all. Girl. How old is she? Twenty-seven? Has ol' Arkham gone nuts bringing this girl to his room? No, he wouldn't be that stupid. He believes in her, she must have something different. And well… that I guarantee she has. But why?
For him, she was just a silly girl who could be easily… manipulated. He feels like he could shape her like a diamond, so she could finally sparkle for the world. Then again… why not? How could he possibly make this? Killing her? No, definitely not. Hurting her? Hmm maybe, but he feels like that's not the point. What the hell am I missing?
With a defeated huff, the Joker buried his face in the pillow until he was almost out of air.
In some weird way he couldn't wait for their next session.
