So, it comes to mind that i've been monstrously unfair to you guys. No one should have to wait a whole week for the Joker. Bad things happen. I planned update yesterday, and then my 5 second memory failed. same thing this morning. So. here it is. and like I've said before, I write short chapters. Sorry. Feel free to review and tell me how you've suffered in wait for this chapter :) And yeah, thanks so much for the reviews/story alerts. it's so much fun to check my email and find lots of alerts sitting there.
I'll shut up now so you can read it.
13: Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice Found There
Harley looked smooth and professional as she walked through the door carrying a pen and pad of paper. I scurried after her, feeling about six instead of twenty-six. A guard brought in another chair for me, and then we were alone with the Joker.
Harley introduced herself. "Hello. I'm Doctor Harleen Quinzel, and this is Tierney."
Taking a breath, I said, "Hi." Do I get bonus points since my voice didn't shake?
He had been staring at the table between us the whole time; now his head lifted and his gaze connected with Harley's.
"Well. Hel-lo beautiful." He grinned.
"What would you like me to call you?" she asked, putting a new twist on the frequently asked question.
"Anything you like, doll." The grin stayed on his face, but his gaze snapped to me.
First thought: deerintheheadlights!!!
Second thought: his makeup is coming off.
"Well, looky here, a legitimate crazy. What're you in for?" The muddy brown color of his eyes enhanced his strange appearance.
"Amnesia, mostly."
Harley took the reins back. "So, you're fine with me calling you Joker?"
"The Joker, if ya don't, ah, mind, Harleen?" He asked her. He was pushing his boundaries, seeing how far he could go.
"Dr. Quinzel." I couldn't stop the smile that bloomed on my face, but I covered it with my hand. I had this almost exact conversation with her, and that fact made some of my nerves go away.
The Joker noted my smile anyway. "If I gotta call you Doctor Quinzel, you gotta call me Mister."
"But don't you think Mister Joker sounds a little strange? Why don't you tell me your name?"
The Joker wasn't that easily baited. "Then call me Mister J. That sounds fine, doesn't it, Doctor?"
Harley let the name thing go. "Alright Mister J. Do you want to tell me about what you do?"
"What I, ah, do?" he repeated, staring avidly at Harley. "What I do is generate… chaos."
"Why?" I whisper-mumbled to myself. Harley gave me perhaps the strongest "look" I have ever gotten. I shut up.
The Joker answered me anyway. "Because it's fun, because it shakes everyone out of their little comfort zones, because chaos is a limitless commodity. Whatdidja say your name was, toots?"
"……Tierney," I said, checking with Harley first that it was okay for me to answer.
"Right, right. Doctor Quinzel, you wanna know how I got these scars?" He licked his lips, running his tongue over the scars. It was distracting and disconcerting.
Harley clicked her pen. "Sure. Go ahead."
He thought for a second, and then began his tale, obviously enjoying the attention. "I was born… on the wrong side of the tracks. Never had a dad. Mom…slept around. I was picked all during, ah, junior high and high school. Then senior year, I fell in love with this really beautiful girl." The sound of his voice was enticing, pulling the both of us into his story. "But her boyfriend didn't like that, so he and his jock friends would bully me. If any, uh, teachers saw them or if I complained, they would just say I couldn't take a joke." He wriggled his arms and shifted his shoulders throughout this monologue. "One day, they grabbed me, tugged me into the restroom, and stuck a knife in my mouth. Said I was too serious about things. They were going to teach me to smile. So they did this," He licked his scars again, making a big show out of it. Harley made a soft sound of sympathy. My eyes shifted to her; she sat on the edge of her seat, having completely abandoned her note taking.
Frowning, I told her, "Harley! He's playing you. He's probably got a million versions of that story." She blinked and shook herself, but he latched on to what I said.
"Harley… Harley Quinzel, Harleen Quinzel, Harleen Quinn, Harley Quinn, HarleyQuinn, Harlequin!" He said in sing-song, and burst out laughing. Gordon stuck his head in and motioned; Harley stood.
"Good-bye Mister J," she said, grabbing her pen and paper.
"Buh-bye, Harlequin!" He said, still cackling. I got up hurriedly too and made for the door. The laughter cut off abruptly and the Joker said, "You, crazy –wait." I turned slowly; was he talking to me? "You should try generating chaos sometime. You might even find it fun, little Piper."
I could feel the blood drain from my face. "What?"
"You heard me." He grinned his arrogant grin again.
Harley was yanking on my arm, trying to get me out of the room. I grabbed the doorframe and wouldn't let go, trying to find a purchase on the smooth metal. "How do you know my name? How?!" One of the orderlies pried my fingers off the frame before the door slammed down on them. All the way back to my cell, I kept thinking one thing: HOW DOES HE KNOW?!?!
HOW DOES HE KNOW?!?!?!
If you review... you might find out. XD