Author's note: Hi guys! Sorry this chapter took a little longer… I'm really nervous how you'll receive it, but I hope it lives up to your expectations. Thank you to everyone who's favorite, followed, and reviewed so far! It's really the thing that motivates me to keep writing so fast. Anyway, hope you like it!
Light seemed to be obliterated when a person descended vertically into the confines of Arkham Asylum. The simple answer was because there were no windows, which even on the ground level floors allowed in barely enough sunshine to keep the place sufficiently lit. Another answer could be that the lighting system was decades past its sell by date: providing for a brief glimpse into the distant past of the bleak Asylum. Though, the guards that had the misfortune of being assigned to the high security area of the hospital had another theory. Some swore it was to remind the employees of Arkham how the place used to be, before the bright white walls, stark tile floors, and shiny metal doors: a reminder of Arkham's disturbing past. Others theorized that it was an attempt to scare the patient's back towards sanity and the comforting light of day. And then there were the superstitious guards, who believed the light was extinguished by the sick individuals housed beneath, in some eerie and unholy effort to make the place resemble what they looked like on the inside: dark… mysterious… dangerous.
This theory, was the Joker's personal favorite. He relished in any little thing that turned humanity upside down, that revealed exactly how much of a coward even the bravest of men were. He loved hearing the guards call out to one another as they descended the steep stairs, how they purposefully spoke louder in order to ward off the heavy blanket of silence that fell upon them. The Joker especially got off when the halfwits would approach his cell, not because they wanted to, but because they had to in order to make sure he hadn't escaped again. Whenever they approached he would keep silent until their faces were pressed against the thick glass, their eyes vainly searching for his form in the darkness, and then he would let out a laugh that would have them jumping back, bumping into one another, in a hopeless attempt to get far, far away from him.
The funniest part was when they convinced themselves that they were safe with the thick barrier of glass between him and them. He knew better, knew that the worst kind of pain wasn't always physical. And it was so damn easy to get in their simple little heads. Within a week of his stay at hotel Arkham he had managed to get three of the nine apes to quit, and the other six where running from every distorted shadow that creeped along the dingy hallways. Although, he was growing bored of playing around with such easy targets… he needed something more. Of course, he could effortlessly escape the Asylum, had already done so on several occasions, but something seemed to be keeping him here. Perhaps, it was simply because Doctor Arkham had yet to assign him a new plaything… maybe he just wanted to see how it all played out. He wasn't a man who believed in fate, he made his own, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what had kept him here quite so long this time around. However, he got the sense that he was soon going to find out.
The guards approached his glass bubble of solitude that day adorned in the the entirety of their coal colored uniforms. 'Bullet proof vest and all.' He mused, giggling as he watched them begin the tedious process of unbolting his metal door.
"You didn't have to get all dressed up just for little old me." The green haired devil smarmed as soon as the first guard stepped foot into his dimly lit cell.
"Quite clown." Barked the second guard who entered. This demand, only served to further the madman's laughter, turning it darker and somehow more threatening.
Despite being in identical uniforms and having the same overdone helmets concealing their gruff faces from view, each guard got the sense that the man before them could see right through it all, as if he could simply pick apart their brains and discover their greatest fears within seconds of laying his cutting emerald eyes upon them.
The largest guard made a swift but subtle hand movement, indicating for the other guards to get moving. Swiftly, the prisoner was shoved to the ground, while several of the guards took hold of his strait jacket and began forcefully dragging him towards the doors.
"Oh, I do adore when we play rough." The man teased as another group of guards flicked to the sides of the hallways, wielding their guns directly at him.
"Come on guys, he's completely helpless with that thing on." Reasoned one of the wardens directing everyone's attention to the white straitjacket; though it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself of the statement than attempting to convince them to ease up.
'Ha. Ha. Ha. As if this could hold me.' He laughed demonically, after all, he'd gotten out of worst situations. He could practically see the shivers that ran up each of the guards spines at the sound.
"Let's get moving." The guard from the beginning snapped as they pulled Gotham's most feared villain back towards the light of day.
Tapping his long, elegant fingers against the inside of the strait jacket while whistling a tune far to pleasant for a place like Arkham, the Joker registered just how extremely bored he was. Craning his head around to glance at the guards standing watch at the tightly locked door the certified psychopath broke into a sardonic grin, laughing as he watched them each shrink away from his penetrating gaze, it seemed they thought even eye contact with him would cause them tremendous pan.
"So" He began turning back to face the white wall before him. "Arkham's finally decided to bestow me with another one of his crotchety old bag of bones?" And he was not surprised when the guards refused to respond. "What took so long this time around? Hmmm?... had to wait for him to ripen to the golden age of 90?"
Just as he was about to really rip into the unnerved guards a voice, the door creaked open and a voice sweeter than any he had ever heard before descended upon the small room. "Sorry to disappoint, but you're aiming a little too high."
'Now that's more like it.' He thought, however he did not turn around in his chair, would not grant whoever this woman was the satisfaction. If they wanted to speak to him face on, well then they would have to submit to his will and take the seat across from him. "Why don't you take a seat Doctor…?" He trailed off on purpose wanting her to reveal her name without him having to ask. At the same time he nodded his head towards them empty seat in front of him.
Harleen knew exactly what he was doing, trying to establish his authority even before their first session had really begun, but she figured it was best to play along...for now and let him think he had the upper hand. However, she was not prepared for what she saw. In fact, when she had settled into the cold chair she was taken aback by him. And though she felt hot shame for doing such, she found herself absentmindedly admiring him. 'How was it possible that someone so...dangerous be so damn breathtaking'. Her eyes wondered around his face...taking in his green hair, scars, and devilishly handsome smirk. Harleen shook her head 'What the hell am I thinking?! He's a murderer, a psychopath even, and as manipulative as they come.' She reasoned, completely thrown off by her apparent interest in him.
"Like anything you see?" His voice suddenly cut into her daydreaming. Although, it took a beat longer than it normally would have taken him: he found himself struck by the big blue doll eyes that were hidden beneath a pair of black, thick rimmed glasses.
Harleen cleared her throat sharply before saying "You just aren't what I expected."
He chuckled, his eyes dancing at the sight of the blush that surfaced on her face. "And what did you expect? Horns and razor sharp teeth?" He laughed at his own joke.
"Not exactly.' She responded.
"If it's any consolation, beautiful, you aren't quite what I expected."
Suddenly one of the guards butted in "Watch it, freak."
He growled and a shiver clawed its way up Harleen's spine. Up until that point she had completely forgotten anyone else was in the small room. She also made a mental note to remind the guards to mind what they said to the patients.
Rolling his neck, he spoke harshly, in a voice that startled Harleen. "I didn't exactly sign up for a group therapy session Doc."
Stunned by his rapid shift in tone Harleen taunted "You didn't sign up for anything actually." Turning her attention towards the guards she said. "Would you mind terribly if you guys waited in the hallway instead?" Her voice was sugary sweet and the guards quickly devoured each word.
"Of course not Doctor Quinzel… but if you need anything or if he tries anything we'll be right outside." The bigger one answered.
The Joker rolled his eyes, annoyed with how quickly the idiots fell for his pretty little Doctor's false niceties.
"Better?" She asked in a cold voice only after they had heard the click of the door's lock shifting into place.
Ignoring her question his eyes glanced away from her. "So is there a first name to accompany that?"
"There is, however you can address me as Doctor Quinzel." She stated firmly.
He almost giggled, as if that could deter him, nothing stayed hidden for long when it concerned the Joker.
She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to decipher the look on his face, but she couldn't. "And how would you like me to address you?" Harleen asked, her tone indicating that she was about to get serious.
"You...you my dear can call me anything you like." He sighed, revealing his silver grill to her in a full grin, growling softly.
Harleen tried not to falter as she spoke "How about we go with Mr. J?"
'I like the sound of that'. He indicated through a subtle tilt of the head that he approved.
"Mr. J it is." A small smile broke across her face at his intense gaze, however her eyes remained frosty.
Their first session together continued in a manner similar to the Joker's past sessions. While she attempted to gain any kind of knowledge over him, he began looking for signs to begin manipulating her… and ultimately breaking her. Although, he found himself focusing less on what she was saying to him and more on the way her pouting lips moved around each syllable.
"Mr. J?" She called out, frowning slightly.
His eyes reluctantly slide up her face, away from her damned lips, and towards her icy blue eyes. She huffed, annoyed that he clearly hadn't listened to anything she had previously been saying.
"Hmmm?" He purred.
Trying not to roll her eyes Harleen tried again. "I was simply explaining how I wanted these sessions to go...however I would like to know what you would like to get out of them?"
"Isn't it obvious?" He giggled. "I'd like to make the unconscious conscious ...to at long last acknowledge my latent memories, and hopefully one day be fit to rejoin mainstream society." He off laughing following the false declaration.
"Ha. Ha." She said, unimpressed.
He grinned, relishing in her evident annoyance. "Come on Doc, I had you going there for a second."
"Can we speak seriously please?"
"Now where's the fun in that?"
"I guess you'll just have to search a little for it." She challenged, not having time for his games.
"Where are you from?" He suddenly asked soundly more interested than he had their entire session.
"That's not an appropriate question."
"Come on, beautiful how am I supposed to open up and trust you if you can't do the same for me hmm?" His voice was like lace and diamonds all in one, and Harleen felt herself pulled in deeper with every word he spoke.
"Brooklyn." She tossed out, indulging him.
His grin widened. "Brooklyn's quite far from Gotham Doctor." He said, tilting his head to the left. "Are there not people who worry about the distance?" He said in an almost bored tone.
"Ha." She laughed drily. 'If this was his first attempt at gaining some kind of information to hold over her head, he was going to have to try a lot harder'.
"And why should I tell you that?"
"Easy Doctor, I'm only trying to be friendly." He declared in the same tone as before.
"Is this how the game started with the other Doctors Mr. J?" Harleen began, leaning in towards him. "You start out the session with an interrogation and act like it's just for fun, just to build trust?" She snapped, putting air citations around the word fun.
This only serves to have him break out into wild laughter. "Doctor if I was trying to have some fun you would know that." He throws out between laughs. "And they say I have issues."
"I think we're done for today." Harleen said, pulling back sharply as her chair grated against the white floors.
His laughter followed her out the metal doors and remained suspended in her consciousness for the rest of the day.
Author's note: Wow, that was harder to write than expected… I'm really nervous about this chapter so don't be afraid to let me know what you think! Also, within the next two chapters or so this story's really going to become deserving of the mature rating so be prepared...Haha! Thanks so much for the support so far!