Authors note: This hasn't gotten a huge response, but I wrote this short chapter up. Just something to pass the time until to movie comes out. It's based almost entirely on my speculation as to how the characters will be portrayed.
Joker laughed as he spit blood from his mouth. Grinning up at the giant man dressed as a bat. Batman, the papers called him. The man growled and punched him again. The Joker could feel his skull rattling at the pressure, but he just kept laughing.
The Batman dropped him to the ground, the mud of the alleyway splashing onto his pants. And still the Joker was laughing. "You really know how to show a guy a nice time Batsy." He said as he grinned up at the man. Earning himself another punch to the face.
This... Batman, had only recently become the Joker's newest play toy. As far as he knew, the Batman had just shown up not very long ago. And he was making it hell for the criminals of Gotham. But not for the Joker.
Sure, he ruined every single one of his plans. And seemed to enjoy punching people more than talking. But hey, no one was perfect.
Batman grabbed his arm, holding it tighter than was necessary, and dragged him off the ground and toward the street. The Joker's laugh had faded into a chuckle. Back to jail then. Oh well. Maybe Harley would be there.
Harley... Where had that thought come from? Sure they had had a few more sessions, or meetings, or whatever they wanted to call them. But they were hardly close. Or friends. Or anything that should make him excited to see her again.
Joker grimaced as he was shoved against the wall. He was going to be bruised later he could just tell. The Batman left him there, and Joker could hear sirens in the distance.
He looked up at the sky, the rain hitting his face uncomfortably as he tried to spot the stars past the lights of the city. Having no luck.
He wondered what Harley was doing right now... Probably asleep. Or preparing to be. He lifted his head and let it fall against the concrete wall as he frowned. What a stupid thing to wonder. He scolded himself. He had a reputation to maintain.
The sirins came closer but Joker didn't even bother to laugh. He didn't have a back up plan this time. It was over. He was beaten. It was back to Arkham with him.
Harleen walked down the hallways a little faster today. Almost tripping a few times due to her heels. It was all over the news, what had happened to her Joker.
She paused. Freezing mid-step. Her Joker? Since when had she been referring to him as that?
What had happened to the Joker. And she would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about him. That Batman character was no good. So far he was only making things worse. And not just for the Joker. But for all the patients here.
They felt challenged by him. And they rose to that challenge in terrifying ways.
She swipped her new keycard and stepped through the door into the high security part of Arkham. Harleen had been granted a full time job here as acting psychiatrist. The last one had been driven insane and was newly admitted here yestersay. He was actually her next patient after the Joker she remembered as she walked through the doors and down the hall. Ignoring the obnoxious whistles she was getting from the male prisoners. And some of the women too.
She reached the room a few moments later, one of the guards letting her in. She had yet to receive proper clearance into here. But that would change in a few days after the papers went through.
The room was empty save for the table and two chairs that were always there. Harleen made a mental note to perhaps bring something to brighten the place up. It was, technically speaking, her office.
She pulled the chair back from the table and sat down, pulling out her notebook and reading through some of her notes.
The Joker groaned lightly as he was led to the room he that had become his 'cell away from his cell.' He didn't want to talk to anyone right now. Least of all Harley. His face was bruised, and he was just dead tired. He didn't have the enegery to interact with anyone.
Harley was already there when he arrived which was new. But honestly he could care less. He just wanted this over with so he could sleep.
He sighed as he sat down. The guards leaving them alone in the room.
The girl was reading from her notebook, so she didn't look up right away. But again, the Joker could care less. As much as he cared she could never speak again and it would be no loss to him.
Well, he would eventually miss it. His more rational side said. But his rational side was quieter today than it usually was.
When Harley finally looked up at him, he could tell she was startled. Good. People should be when they see me. He told himself. But a pang of remorse shot through him unexpectedly.
"You look aweful." Were the first words from her mouth.
"Oh yeah? Well you look worse." He shot back without really thinking about it. The insult was so juvenile even he had to cringe. But Harley, Harley laughed.
It struck him that he hadn't heard her laugh before. He rather liked it.
She continued to laugh for a few moments as she wiped under her eye. "I'm sorry." She apologized, smiling at him. "I'm sorry. That was just so..."
"Juvenile." The Joker supplied the word for her.
Harley nodded and smiled at him. "Yeah."
Harleen smiled at the Joker. Surprised when he smiled back genuinely. But her smile faded as she got to work, opening her notebook to the page she had left on.
"I won't keep you long. You look like you could use some sleep." She spoke as she looked back up at him. "Maybe we can talk about the Batman."
She watched him closely for his reaction, normally he would smile. Or crack a joke. But he simply stared at her.
Harleen titled her head a little and wrote that down before looking back up at him. "Mr Joker?" She asked to hopefully prompt him.
"Batman," He said, as if testing the words on his lips. "Is a thorn."
"A thorn?" Harleen asked as she absently wrote that down as well. After a few minutes, it was clear he wasn't going to elaborate, so Harleen decided to ask him about something else. Something she hadn't yet in their multiple sessions.
"Lets talk about your tattoos."
The Joker scoffed. Giving her a look. "Now you sound like a psychiatrist."
"I am one." Harleen reminded him.
But he shook his head, looking at her as if he could see right through her. "No... There's something in your eyes." He leaned forward across the table.
"Now who sounds like a psychiatrist?" Harleen said, trying to defuse the tension.
The Joker smiled, titling his head as he leaned back again. "You have a sharp wit Harley. Don't loose that."
Harleen looked up at him, meeting his eyes this time. He smiled, leaning forward again. "There's a fine line between genius and insanity. And I've erased the line."
Harleen stared at him for longer than she would like to admit before she stood. "I'll let you get some rest. And I'll see you next week." She didn't look at him again as she left.