Arkham Asylum (Staff Quarters…)
Tabitha stirred in her bed memories were slowly surfacing in her mind but she was unable to make sense of them at the moment her heart raced when she saw an image of Butch and then the image shattered like glass revealing the memory of his death. "No!" Tabitha yelled in her sleep trying to fight the painful memories from coming back.
Then before she opened her eyes, she heard a woman's voice a woman who said "I promise." Tabitha opened her eyes and gasped for air. After getting ready for the day she was ready to begin her first day as a doctor.
Tabitha now went by the alias Harleen Quinzel, she could not remember anything of her life before her rebirth but bit by bit she was regaining her memories and she was beginning to distrust Milo more and more. Even if he taught her enough to pass herself off as a member of Arhkam staff she couldn't shake the feeling she was being used by him.
She was placed in charge of looking after the Asylum's newest patient a John Doe who had been going by the name Jack Nappier. However, his real name was a mystery even to himself. Yet when she walked in her hair in a pony tail wearing scrubs and a lab coat for some reason Jack instantly recognized well not entirely but as he himself said catching her off guard "You. I think I know you. Never thought you'd be here well I mean I thought you get here one day but never as a doctor or nurse or whatever you are." He chuckled and winced in pain at same time from under his bandages "It's really funny seeing you like this." He started laughing in pain again "I'm sorry it's just this is too funny you of all people are a caregiver."
Tabitha crossed her arms slightly embarrassed she didn't know why but he didn't feel like a stranger and she felt very hostile towards him "You should be nice to me." She took a few steps closer "I'm in charge of you right now so what I say goes." She leaned in and in that moment, she was more like her old self than ever before and she asked in her most intimidating tone "Do you understand me?"
Jack paused for a moment pretending to take her seriously "Hmm… I know your trying to be scary but when you get like this, all threatening and mean, it's really a turn a on. Though I do seem to remember when I was a different me that there was a different you. It's hard to be certain though my memories are really jacked up. I can't remember one day from the next. Tell me though do you know anything about that freak in the suit? The one who did this to me?"
"I think they call him Batman."
"I see tell me what is, your name?"
"I'm…" Tabitha hesitated to answer as she was not entirely sure what her name real one anyway was "I'm Harleen Quinzel."
"Hmm… I think I'll call you Harlequin or Harley for short it suits you better one more thing." Before Tabitha knew what happened next she felt cold steel against her neck and realized he'd freed his right arm from the bed restraints "I need you to loosen these other straps and also help me get out of here."
Tabitha not wanting to die complied and the bandaged patient took her hostage "Now time to get me out of here." He said with joy. After some awkward movements the two made it to the elevator. Jack shoved Tabitha into the elevator "Do you own a car?" He asked acting casual.
"No."
"Then how the hell do you get here by bus?"
"Well I actually live in the asylum?"
"Wait what?" Jack started to laugh "Who knew would have guessed you had a sense of humor."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't get it either I just feel like I know you from somewhere. So, how'd you end up in Arkham?" Jack asked while bushing the button for underground parking lot.
"I woke up in a pod." Tabitha sighed not expecting him to believe her.
"Wait what? I woke up in a pod! Wow, we got so much in common. Say now I remember! You were oh let me think it's oh on the tip of my tongue you were with a fat guy. Uh… sorry my head is still a bit fuzzy."
Tabitha's eyes flashed open as a huge chunk of her memory came back and she muttered "Butch." Tears rolled down her face as her memories of him return.
"Right! Butch Gilzean now I remember well I remember you two together at least. What happened to that guy he was hilarious." Jack burst into laughter "I remember one time I shot in the leg it was so funny ah good times. Say what happened to him?"
"Penguin shot and killed him right in front of me. It was after promising to help fix him from being a weird zombie thing I didn't mind but Butch could not accept himself. Penguin played on that and pretended to be his friend I tried avenging him but…" Tabitha stopped herself beginning to choke up.
"Let me guess you died. So how does a dead babe like you end up working in a hell hole like Arkham?"
Tabitha clenched her fists getting angry at the realization that she'd been manipulated "That son of a bitch Milo has been lying to me about who I am he brought me back and told me my name was Harleen Quinzel. He said he'd make me his assistant I've been working here at Arkham for a bit now. What about you?"
Jack paused to look at the elevator floor counter "Don't know or care really I woke up in a pod in some ruins and just started living my life it's been a bit of a trip let me tell you. I can't even tell what's real and what's not." Jack then noticed Tabitha glaring at him, he rushed and pressed her up against the side of the elevator.
"You know I can't remember how we know each other but dam your hot and the look in your eyes like you want to kill me is really turning me on. Even if you are still a bit dead inside."
"Excuse me?" Tabitha looked horrified at the bandaged man he was completely unhinged nobody had ever actively provoked Tabitha like this before she didn't know what to think
"I said your turning me on sweetheart. I know you hate me and even though I have no idea why I'm about to say this, I'm just going to say it the greatest crime ever committed in this city is that we never got down and dirty back in the day. I mean lust doesn't need love people have hate sex all the time something we can definitely…"
Tabitha shoved him off her and attacked him "I'll kill you!"
He dodged her easily with surprising speed "Well I'm glad to see you are not entirely broken sweetheart. I'll cure you of this Debbie-downer act yet!" The two continued to fight in the elevator for what seemed like forever Jack continued to taunt her. "You know we actually do have a lot in common we both gave up everything for both who and what we loved granted you now remember what you loved and I only have a vague idea but my point is we were both left behind, in the darkness to be forgotten only we woke up from the abyss and found the world moved on."
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on!" Jack laughed while dodging her some more "You died and weren't avenged you must realize that. I mean does anyone in this city even remember you as Tabitha Galavan if you survive this you might just be able to get away with starting fresh in Gotham without even looking over your shoulder for old enemies. Then again with friends who don't even try that hard to get justice for you I imagine you are better off just starting fresh as Harlequin."
"I'll kill you slowly!"
"Again with the I'll kill you! Do you have any other material you'd be terrible on stage at a comedy club?" Tabitha screamed at anger in response but Jack only added "Hey I'm just telling you the hot stoic dominatrix thing only works for so long, I mean yeah it's hot as hell and you got amazing assets pun intended, but I digress my point is your never going to settle down and meet someone new until you start being more friendly and feminine let's be real here you may have cracked a whip back in the old days but I think we both know that judging by your relationship with Barbara and your brother that you're a submissive at heart Harley I mean Tabby you know I like Harley better."
Just then the elevator dinged signallign they'd reached the designated floor Jack shoved Tabitha as the doors opened and laughed as he ran off. The elevator doors closed too quickly for Tabitha to go after him but she knew after regaining her memories she'd never be able to trust Milo so she came up with a plan of her own she'd embrace the life of Harleen Quinzel but she'd do it on her terms.
ACE Chemicals…
It was the middle of the day but the scene looked as dark as ever to Jim he didn't know why but since that night with the Red Hood and Batman he'd been replaying what Jeremiah had said to him that night Barbara Lee had been kidnapped even now the dead mad man's words continued to echo in Jim's mind "How long have you been pretending, that's a joke I know you are not pretending."
Those words should have been random non sense but for some reason they stayed with Jim. That was when he saw Harvey coming up the stairs behind him "Hey, Harvey."
"Hey Jim, what is it with this place and the crazies? First Jeremiah now this Red Hood guy." Harvey sighed looking over where the Red Hood fell "I'm actually relieved that Jeremiah is gone."
"Yeah the exposure to the chemicals were what did him in it poisoned his body and slowly killed him over the years. The doctor's said this other guy got lucky because his helmet protected him to an extent despite some damage he wasn't as badly hurt like Jeremiah. Is it true Scarecrow was trying to reinvent the insanity gas here? Where are we on finding him?"
"Yeah Jim it's true Scarecrow was using this place and was trying to remake the stuff he made for Jerome back in the day. Lord knows why he was, but he's completely gone underground don't worry every cop in the city is looking for him. You think we can trust the Batman after this? Rumor is he let the Red Hood fall into the chemicals."
"I honestly don't know." Jim's cell rang he promptly answered it "Yes? Are you serious? We'll be right there."
"Jim what is it?"
"That Red Hood guy. He's escaped and he has or had a hostage it's somewhat unclear, but we need to get over to Arkham now."