Sorry for the delay everyone! But I managed to drag this one out! I'm pretty happy with it and now I think I've got an idea of where I want this to go.
Sacrecrow: Thanks so much man! I really love the two and it's so much fun writing their scenes. I just wasn't feeling that one but I'm happy you liked it! I hope you enjoy more of Joker's and Harley's interactions in this one! ;) Thank you again fam!
Go ahead and leave a review! I love seeing your feedback and it actually helps with the directions I want to go or just seeing it from someone else's perspective! And if you have a question or leave a review, I'll always try and message you back or post the answer to your question on the next chapter! :)
Harleen stepped in the empty lunch area for the employees. Although it was a short visit, she felt that she observed enough to see the relationship Joker and Sofia had. A relationship she never had herself. She stood near the vending machine in the room, mindlessly thinking about the relationships and friendships she had. Sure, she had her parents and even those few classmates in college. But that was it. Harleen wasn't one to have friends. She was normally by herself and up until this point, was she starting to really think about it. Granted, her father always told her that she never needed friends. That she was the only person who was going to be there for her. Not even an older brother or sister to confide in. It had just been her and her only till now.
"You're a quarter short."
Harleen snapped out of it and turned to see Sofia standing just a few feet away from the entrance, since the exit was right passed the doctor. Harleen glanced down at the small screen on the machine to see that she was indeed missing 25 cents.
"Oh," she shook her head and adjusted her glasses before digging into the large lab coat pockets in order to find some spare change.
"Here."
The blonde looked up and noticed a shiny piece of silver flying toward her. She swiftly caught the quarter. Sofia smirked and placed her hands in her coat pocket, "You have nice reflexes."
"Was that supposed to be some sort of test?" Harleen asked with a raised brow as she placed the last quarter into the slot.
Sofia shrugged, "When handling my brother. Fast reflexes are something I deem necessary. Especially when he gets in his moods."
This sparked up Harleen's interest, "Can't imagine how many times you've had to deal with that."
Those words made Sofia pause for a moment, her eyes wandering slightly off to the side as if in a daze, "Not as many as I hoped." She spoke softly
Harleen noticed the change in her demeanor, "Has he always been…." The young blonde didn't exactly know how to finish that question. Trying to find the right words.
"A lunatic?" Sofia finished the question for her.
Harleen stopped, eventually nodding her head.
Sofia scoffed, "He's definitely been bossy I can tell you that much."
"What happened?" She asked, her face full of curiosity. It still amazed her to know that while the Joker was one of the most feared men in Gotham with no records of his past. The woman before her, knew a lot more than anyone in this place or the entire planet for that matter ever did. So it was only natural for Harleen to want to know more. Especially when it came to the Joker.
Sofia stared at Harleen for a few moments before frowning, "None of your business."
The blonde blinked, almost surprised by the sudden shift in Sofia's attitude. One minute she had been welcoming and willing to pick up a conversation and the next she completely shut down. As if feeling threatened by questions she didn't want to answer.
Sofia glanced back at the door and began walking passed Harleen before looking at her one last time, "I hope you know what your doing Dr. Quinzel. My brother may be a criminal. But he's not stupid. And I'd hope his doctor isn't either."
What was that supposed to mean? Harleen thought. She knew very well that the Joker was no one to mess with. But what was she getting at?
Something struck a nerve inside of Harleen and she clenched her jaw, "I'm fairly capable of handling my patients Ms. Black. I'm not just some piss on doctor who wants to mess with his mind. He needs treatment. And I'm willing to listen to him in order to do just that." Her accent unintentionally coming out toward the end of that sentence.
She half expected Sofia to shoot something venomous back to her, but she never did. Instead the young woman observed Harleen with an intense glare. Like she was trying to read Harleen's mind. The doctor attempted to ignore her and reached down to grab her beverage. Sofia's eyes shifted to the drink in the doctor's hand.
After what felt like a good long minute, Sofia's green eyes met Harleen's blue orbs before eventually leaving the room. Harleen stood there in confusion, wondering what that whole thing was about until the door behind her opened. Aaron Cash poked his head inside, "Dr. Quinzel, your patient's ready to see you."
"Pardon?" Harleen asked, she still had 30 minutes left.
"He wants to see you now." Cash answered the questions that were muddling inside of her head.
She blinked, "Now? Did he give any reason why?"
"Does he really need a reason?"
Fair, She thought about it before nodding, "Very well."
Harleen fixed herself up and making sure she looked presentable. For who? She ignored her pestering thoughts as she finally told herself she always needed to look personable just in case the higher ups saw her, she didn't want them thinking she wasn't capable of taking care of her first patient right? Shaking her head, Harleen took a long breath before opening the door to the interview room.
That's when she saw Joker's back, the straight jacket strapped tightly to his body while his vibrant hair almost glowed in the sunlight that came in through the barred-up windows. She casually walked passed the clown and almost ignored him as she took a seat.
J's eyes watched her every move as she did, noticing the grape soda pop set just before him. She had nothing else on her person. Just her drink and nothing more.
J couldn't help but smirk at her effort of disregarding him, "Aw. Harls. You aint still mad at me are ya?" His question clearly mocking her, but she simply sat there and watched him. Not saying a word. Knowing that he couldn't just sit there in silence. He always had something to say.
"No basic doctor note pad for you today doc?"
She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms along with her legs, almost in a pouting position. J always thought her immature little pouts were cute. In her own little way, she seemed like a big kid and J could tell she was an only child.
"Aw Harls. I just hate it when you give me the silent treatment."
"Why did you want to see me early?" she finally spoke up
J sighed, "Is it too much to just wanna see that pretty face of yours?"
Harleen tried to avoid any redness she felt creep up on her face, but J could see it. He always saw. Making a triumphant grin cross his lips. "There she is."
She cursed to herself for allowing him to see right through her. She hated that about him. But found it intriguing all the same. Th way he knew exactly what a person was thinking just by the way they did certain things. She could even say that he could have been a great doctor himself.
"What do you want?" She asked, trying to keep her voice as passive as she could
J purred, "Now Harley. I think you may be confused. Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
Harleen frowned and shook her head, "No. I give up J."
J continued to watch her.
"I'm just going to sit here and listen to what it is you have to say."
He snorted, "And you think because you decided to leave your little clipboard behind, I'll start blurting out facts about myself huh?"
She remained indifferent, "Whether you do or don't isn't my problem. I've tried to get any information out of you after all this time. Something as small as a childhood memory—
"Oh but I've given you plenty," J grinned
She rolled her eyes, "Memories that actually happened. Not the made-up bullshit you feed everyone else."
J raised his naked brows and feigned being impressed, "Goodness Harls. You mean business today don't you," he said in amusement.
This only made her more frustrated, "Nine months and I still don't even know who you are. I know more about your sister than I do you."
J's face grew darker, "You don't know anything about that little brat."
Harleen leaned forward onto the metal table, staring into J's eyes while he did the same, "You always refer to her in those terms, but treat her differently when you two are together."
"Ah, so you were watching me eh?" J said smugly
She rolled her eyes, "You already knew that."
"Smart girl," he chuckled, "Yes. Well, I'm a bit obligated to as an older brother to that mood swinging terror."
Hearing him speak of another person in such a normal way made her smirk.
J quirked a bare brow, "What?"
She covered her mouth, hiding a small smile, "Nothing."
He narrowed his eyes, "Oh yea? Well if it's nothing, then care to share?"
Her hand rested back on the table, "I just think it's cute when you act like a big brother."
J blinked, "So I'm cute now? I thought you were mad at me."
She could see his irritation and chuckled once again, "I am."
"Ah, so your torturing me then."
The blond relaxed a bit, "Okay fine, I won't tease you."
"Do I get an apology?"
She looked at him and made a face, "Why would I apologize to you? In any case I suppose I can be generous and call it even. Unless you'd like to apologize for snapping at me."
J moved his jaw around, lightly tapping his metallic grin together, just watching her. And after a few seconds, J sighed and leaned back in his chair, "Fine. I'm sorry Harls. There, you happy?"
Oh she liked this, Harleen smiled, "Hm.. Let me think."
J grunted, "Don't get carried away. Cuz I aint sayin it again."
She placed her chin on her hand, "Well one was plenty enough for me."
He smiled at her, and it made something flip in her stomach. Not in a sick way, but in a way that made her freeze and want to see more. Times like these made it seem as though he were completely normal. Like an old friend to her having a lunch date.
Friend, there it was again. Why was this so important to her now?
"Harls?"
She snapped her eyes back to J's. He looked sort of confused until her eyes met his again and he grinned, "Do I get my apology now?"
She furrowed her brows but eventually scoffed, "I'm sorry for making you feel human."
He shook his head, "No, no, no. What was that?"
She didn't understand, "Was that not an apology?"
Scooting up in his seat and leaning on the table, where his tried to get a bit closer to her, "How's about you give daddy a kiss?"
Harleen backed away slightly and froze once again, that feeling in her stomach making itself known. "I don't think so."
"Oh c'mon Harls. You said so yourself. After all this time, don't you think I deserve at least a tiny bit of gratitude for not ringing your neck?"
"How inviting." She said unenthusiastically
He shrugged, "I know, I try to be charming when I can."
Rolling her eyes, she replied, "No."
"I'll tell you something you want to know if you do."
The young blonde's ears perked up at this, making J smile even wider. Chuckling he lowered his chin to give her his wide-eyed gaze, "C'mere Harley, no one's watching us. Come sit on daddy's lap."
Harleen once again turned red, only fueling the clown. "I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. Isn't that what you want?"
"I mean it's fine if you don't. Some people just aren't good at kissing and if you feel insecure about it I won't push you."
She quirked a brow, "You think I'm not a good kisser?"
"Can't know if I don't try."
Harleen sat still for a while until finally sighing and hesitantly standing up, slowly walking over toward him. And for a brief moment she noticed his eyes wander down to her legs and back up, his face nearly anticipating having her near him. Which was unsettling considering who he was.
She was now standing in front of him, "Don't be shy Harls. Come here."
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