Hmm, well no reviews so I have no idea what anybody thought about the previous chapter. Hopefully it was at least acceptable. Anyway here's another, not so much action but it really focuses on how Harley is changing.
Five hours later and her emotions were still in a spin.
Excited, horrified, elated, dismayed, all these and more crashed through her mind at dizzying speeds leaving her to wonder once more how he seemed to manage his own dramatic mood swings with such apparent ease. She'd caught herself thinking of Joker at least every three seconds since she had left their session, something she tried to justify as a strong but healthy professional interest in a case that would define her career, pointedly ignoring the strangely light feeling that accompanied these thoughts, like a bubble floating on the breeze of a warm spring day…Fortunately her regular patients, the mindless drooling lunatics, were too unsettled from the violent attacks the night before on their fellow inmates to participate in therapy in any way, leaving her free to sit in her dingy office and ponder The Joker at length. She'd barely bit back her laughter when Dr. Arkham had dropped by and suggested asking the screaming idiots what they had seen and if they could identify the attacker. As if anything they might have to say would matter, assuming you could even understand their babble. Secondly, if they did know the murders were The Joker's doing they'd have to be suicidal or just plain stupid to admit to it.
She couldn't help the slight twinge of pleasure that crept into her conflicted thoughts. He'd never actually said it but he'd certainly implied he'd killed that creep for hurting her. Thinking back to their first session, she recalled his strangely possessive threats with a blush. The Joker was unpredictable and manipulative but there was nothing in his file to indicate he'd ever formed any kind of attachments to anyone other than the Batman. Though she'd never added their early flirty conversations to his file or mentioned the rose he'd given her, she had a strong feeling that such indications of interest were a not a regular occurrence. And while he had repeatedly killed to get Batman's attention, she doubted he'd done it to earn his approval. Of course she couldn't possibly approve of such violent actions even if they were acted out in defense of her honor.
Especially since he'd insulted that same honor so soon after.Her mood plummeted once more as she remembered his painful insinuations and the biting tone in which he'd delivered them. How could he possibly have known how deeply she feared what he said was true? Yes her grades were excellent, but was that really why she'd been hired? Her time at school had reinforced some hard truths about success and what it really cost to achieve it. More than once wild theories had flown about in her mind regarding Dr. Arkham and she feared it was only the shortage of doctors that kept him in line. Treating the Joker had only made it worse. Now that she had such a high profile patient, a patient who could be taken from her without a moment's notice whenever the next doctor was hired, she dreaded the cost of keeping him.
She gritted her teeth angrily. Joker was hers!
Fat lot of good it'd do to have him if he gave up on her!
Cold tendrils of worry wormed through her gut as she remembered the strangely frustrated look in his eyes as he'd been taken away. Was he disappointed in her for her questions? For not figuring things out on her own? For not understanding? Her palms began to sweat as she remembered pitifully offering to give up his case if he didn't want her. He hadn't answered at the time, but now that he'd had time to think about it she feared he would accept her offer.
No!
Next time, there had to be a next time, she'd try harder, listen closer, focus entirely on him. He'd see that she wasn't going to give up just because things got tough.
She wouldn't let him down.
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Batman.
Batman.
It had been ages since he'd gotten to play with Batman!
Oh he could just strangle that dumb Doc for bringing him up now! Like a burning itch just out of reach the irritating agony was slowly building, rising to a breathtakingly violent crescendo as his madness often did.
Batman.
Batman.
Fuck it all it wasn't time yet!
Dr. Quinzel had cracked open faster than even he'd thought; she was so perfectly poised on the edge. Just a little more, so very little more and she'd be ready. The deaths of her three patients had been a wonderful push for her. Instead of being horrified at the thought of him committing murder for her she'd been flattered and charmed, as though he was her very own white knight out to avenge his lady. Or rather a purple and green knight. She was so entrenched in her fairytale world she'd never even notice the danger till it was too late.
He snorted in frustrated laughter.
Batman.
Batman.
He couldn't go. Not yet, not when everything was so close. Maybe one more session, he'd make sure it was a good one. Crank up the charm, throw her a nice tidbit or two to chew on, even play off her desperate desire to be wanted. Oh he wanted her all right, and not at all in the happily-ever-after way her pretty stories came to an end.
Batman.
Batman.
Still, all work and no play…
He grinned as one of the numerous nondescript guards casually wandered through for the final time before the night crew came in, a night crew who routinely sat and played cards in the secure and distant guard room, preferring to monitor their charges via the hallway cameras than actually facing the monsters at night. Perking up considerably, he cracked his spine in anticipation.
It was going to be a fun night after all...
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Hoping to get the next chapter posted sooner rather than later, it's just so hard to get any solid computer time in right now!