A/N Sorry this one took so long. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out which direction to bring this in, plus school starts soon so I need to prepare for that... well a late update is better than no update! Suggestions are welcomed!
Edward sat down in a worn chair that had obviously lost its padding in the most important places. How much was Bruce Wayne giving to this place again? They should at least be able to afford comfortable chairs god damn it! But, that is besides the point considering Dr. Shaw was staring at them, them being Harvey and he. His conversation ceased with the dual man as soon as the guard opened the door to the small white office. This was about fifteen minutes ago.
The blond doctor seemed determined for one of them to speak first. He considered breaking the silence, but the look on his friend's face seemed to keep him silent. Harvey looked like he rather starve here before one of them began. It had become a challenge for control- to tell who was truly in charge of these sessions. Honestly it was all very uncomfortable, but it needed to be done. The doctor was new and needed to learn the rules. Really it was in her best interest- if we don't toughen her up she might slip to their side like so many before her had. Way more of the psychiatrists became criminals than the criminals become citizens.
He shifted again. Darn uncomfortable chair! Maybe she picked was all part of her plan to torture them with back pain. Edward looked between the two. They were having some sort of staring battle. He rolled his eyes and looked around eyes going back to the couch on the opposite side of the office. Finally he couldn't take it any more got up and retrieved two cushions from it place in one the seat and the other on the back of the chair.
He sat back down feeling relief throughout his body smiling, but when he re-opened his eyes the two other occupants were sitting straight up and staring at him. He just put his hands up.
"Perhaps we should begin." They may be locked up, but the rouges still run the show. No matter what she may think.
"What would you like to talk about Dr. Shaw?" Eddie gave her his most charming smile.
"Well we only have about five minutes left. So whatever is on your minds today." Harvey just sat back intending to stay silent intill it was time to leave.
"Oh no no no, that's cheating doctor." He waggled his finger like a teacher scolding a child. "You're paid to ask questions then dilute the answer to fit your own theories about our mind. While we either refuse to answer, give you complete nonsense, or tell you the truth. Then it's up to you again to decide, if we even bother opening our mouths at all, between the last two." Eddie smiled wider, Harvey snorted. Basically it was a mental high-five.
Doctor Shaw didn't seemed phased by this. Hm, so she might not slip to the dark side after all, but she might just give up hope in humanity and grow to be only a shell of a person. That happened alot here.
"Fine fine." she held her hands up in mock surrender. "Then let's just cut right down to it." Her face held a calm sort of seriousness. "We are watching you. If even one of your actions are contradictory to rumor we will be upping security tenfold."
An eyebrow on each face went up. Two-Face looked at Riddler. Said man thought a moment then spoke. "They don't fully believe we're' together'." He turned back to Doctor Shaw. "You have some sort of foundation for this I assume."
"Your psychoanalyses do not match up." Two groans were earned. She ignored this and looked down at the two files in her hands. "Mr. Nigma, you have a need for control in every situation, while you Mr. Dent, well, chance is your modus operandi." The doctor looked back up at them. "I believe that's enough for suspicion would you think not?"
"Well if your sure." Eddie didn't even bother pointing out the fact that if he made the decisions before Two-Face flipped, or how the act of leaving some things up to chance help both their conditions and made things faster. "But what about the report given to you by Batman himself? Surely that's significant proof."
"Appearances can be deceiving. " What the hell does she think they could have been doing instead of, well, that? "Your plans have been more convoluted and insane before. I would be naive to not be suspicious."
"For a supposable smart girl you're really dumb, do you know that?" The Riddler sighed and shook his head. "Would you believe opposites attract?" He looked at her still serious face. "I guess not. Well riddle me this- how is a overly curious psychologist like a moth?"
"I give up." She learned from other therapist notes it was easier to just give up quickly with his riddles- not to let him see you think too hard.
Edward frowned at her lack of enthusiasm. All politeness left his face as he leaned in "Answer- sooner or later they both get burned."
Just then a small beeping alarm went off signaling the end of the session. Two guards came through the doorway and took each of the rouges by the arm. "Just one thing boys." The doctor stood up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just remember who controls what drugs you get and how much time you spend in reality." Once the door closed Harvey spoke once more.
"I think she may have just threatened us."
"Hm. We'll have to fix that." Two-Face's guard shook him a bit.
"No talking." The two men just smiled and winked as they parted ways. Harvey's cell was five down from Eddie's. And now they knew that. While the larger guard continued down the hallway with the bi-fractured man Eddie's spoke. While unlocking his cell door.
"Sorry about that. Paul just, uh, a little rough."
The Riddler plastered his charming smile on again and turned to the man after walking though the doorway. "Oh I understand perfectly. You men and women have to be tough- we are criminally insane after all."
The guard smiled and locked the door. Fantastic! He should be easily manipulated. Perhaps after a week maybe five days he'll have him smuggling in useful items. Really they need to train the staff here better. And maybe when they get out he can drop in on, Paul was it?
Edward laid down on his bed and stared at his ceiling. Let's see lunch was next which he has to eat in his cell. Then dinner a few hours after that (dinner was the only meal eaten all together. Don't know why). Then tomorrow in between breakfast and rec-time is group therapy. Where Harvey will once again join the group. Well today there was some progress made at least.
2?2?2?2?2?2?2?2?2?2?2?2
Dinner was relatively quiet. Harvey and flipped for it and decided he would give is apology to Harley in group tomorrow.
It had been a rough night. In the protective shroud of darkness when Harvey and Edward couldn't see is when the laughing and jokes really began. As said earlier they were top-notch middle table baddies. Only the few ones stupid enough attacked head on. Sure as small guy like the Riddler was a punching bag now, but when he got out his oppressors normally woke up in a death maze and trust me a few prisoners gone missing does not a bat-signal make.
So when the tormenters could be both brave and cowardly was when they had their fun disguising their voices. Burning the already third degree insanity of the two men. Soon another scandal would be thrown at them or one of the two would do something truly horrific once more and the majority of it would cease, but they hoped the boys would never recognize their voices (or at least the ones sane enough to care would hope). It was an odd amount of respect and ridicule.
Group therapy was mandatory so it was either that or become a drug induced vegetable or a overly happy psychopath since every employ seemed to be needle happy!
In other words neither have gotten a efficient amount of sleep and were a bit cranky while being lead into the group room. Whoever decided it was a good idea to put all of the Rouges in one room together must have been high at the time, but it was now a regular part of the schedule so maybe the employs really are needle happy.
Harley and the Joker took up the middle couch with Ivy seated on the chair next to Harley. Penguin and Freeze were out so seats were empty on the right. On the left of the couch were four seats, two of which taken by Jervis and a drugged Crane, who was giggling like mad man because the night before he had convinced another inmate to commit suicide... again.
"I'm glad you're back with us Harvey, and hellos again Edward. Perhaps we can begin." Doctor Leland greeted as the guards un-cuffed the men while pushing them into the seats next two Jervis and Crane. Two-Face just replayed his act from earlier and grunted as a response.
"Good day Joan." the doctor just sighed. She was the most successful doctor at Arkham, and there have been no attempts on her life in over two years- making her the most qualified for the dangerous job of group therapy and if there is one thing you learn over time it's you let them call you by your first name. It never sticks, and if you do call them on it then half of your time will be wasted on a unproductive rant.
"Before we begin would anyone like to say anything on how their feeling? Besides you Joker." She held up her hand at the, now pretend-sulking man. "Anyone?"
The Riddler nudged Two-Face who half-heartedly glared back. The Mad Hatter cleared his throat also giving the two-sided man a pointed look all of which caught the doctors attention.
"Mr. Dent, do you have something to say?"
Harvey sighed annoyed and sat up straighter glaring at Harley. "I would like to apologize for yelling at you. It wasn't... polite." at this pointed the drugged Scarecrow and Joker were laughing hysterically "Shut up!"
"Everyone calm down!" Leland waited intill it was a little quieter. "That was very big of you Mr. Dent. It takes alot of courage to take responsibility for your temper." At this point Harvey was glaring at everyone with such a fire the sun would be jealous, Eddie rubbed his back trying to hide his smirk. "Harley what do you say to this?"
The blond thought about this for a few moments. "Aw, I forgive ya Harvey! I'm sorry too, lots of people tell me that me and my puddin should break-up all the time. I should 'ave known better." She nodded happily. Earning a smile from Leland (this is why she ran things- if just anyone did this they would still be caught up in the whole first name thing).
"You sure Harles? One word and he's plant food."
"Oh 'cuse that worked so well last time Ivy."
"Shut up Hat!"
"Calm down!" While the doctor got everyone calm again Edward looked suspiciously at the Joker who had been surprisingly quiet this session.
"Ok everyone this has been a rather good start so on to the next topic. In light of recent events I feel we should touch on the topic of your inter-criminal relationships."
"Aw again Doc? Didn't we just go over it at mine and Harles last anniversary?" Fifty dead, 2 million dollars missing with over four thousand of it still unaccounted for.
"Yes Joker, but perhaps we should talk about it again."
"Is it because of the new hot couple in the building? Really are they really out-shining us that badly? Harley next time we get out we should get Batman to watch. Even better, let's do it on his car! Oh now THAT will get them talking!" A red Harley Quinn just sort of giggled.
"Joker that's not really appropri-"
"Really just because Batsy saw bad old Harv pounding into -"
"SHUT UP CLOWN!"
"Oh sorry, is it the other way around? Because I thought..."
"I SWEAR I'M GOING TO-"
"No, no, Harvey definitely tops, although,"
"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Leland stood up and sternly looked at each of its participants, the blushing Harley and Riddler, the glaring Ivy, enraged Harvey, the laughing Joker, and Jarvis trying to push away Jon who was reaching for his face and giggling.
"Alright how about we start with something less controversial, friends first, Jonathan, Jervis, would you like to speak?" She returned to her seat.
"Hey! Harley and I are friends, why can't I go first?"
"Miss Isley, last session you took twenty minutes talking about the 'angel trumpets'. Also we have plenty information on you to. It's time to get to know the others a bit more don't you think?"
"Humph"
"Good, now, Jarvis? Jonathan?"