~I can't remember when you hurt me so bad

But now the tables turn

Apocalypse is coming

I can't remember how you made me so sad

But in the end I learned

It rains in hell

And angels could be bad.~

The cool steel of the bed frame that jutted out from the brick wall was pressed against the inmates back. He ran his hand through his flame colored hair and his eyelids closed in contentment.

She had been so beautiful.

So magical.

Like an endangered flower in need of protection.

He wanted to hold her bones broke, till his eyes burned right through her soul.

He wanted to shatter her and tear her apart before building her up again, to create a wound that then he strives to cure with the most delicate attentions.

The headlines and rumors described her as someone deranged and bonkers. A killing machine. And he had no doubt that she could do all those things. But the girl he met in that cell had been so calm, so certain of her sanity.

But this, this was just a front for the devil that hid behind the angel's face. Her very presence crackled with energy, with potential, even when she didn't move a muscle. She was like the human embodiment a snake, keeping quiet, evaluating her prey... before she striked.

And her venom would no doubt be powerful. He chuckled. Oh yes, he thought, fingers gingerly flitting over the two puncture wounds left by his mother's precious python. He'd had his fair share of experience with snakes.

Maybe if he lay tight enough she would see him as a worthy opponent. Or better, a potential accomplice.

His thoughts wandered to the memory of Harley upset at the thought of possibly being insane. It was just so funny! Never had he met someone so sure of there sanity, yet being so unstable. That got him to thinking... was he insane?

Everyone thought he was, and he loved to act the part, accentuate it to the point of no return. There was an art to it. It took a certain theatrical finesse. This is what he loved to do. But did he really think he himself was crazy?

No.

The solid confirmation resounded in his mind. He was not insane. He knew he was what others would call nuts, but that was the very proof that he was not. That's because they were afraid. Afraid because they knew that they were just like him, the monsters inside of them yearning to be released.

Just like my little harlequin.

It was just so funny.

Tonight he refused insomnia's clutches. Instead he closed his eyes and welcomed sleep. And he dreamed of her hands holding his bloodstained face with tenderness, her kiss tinged in cruelty. In the dream her eyes were twinkling angelically and her smile was scarlet with viciousness.

The fluorescent lights reflected off Doctor Strange's bald head, blinding Miss Peabody.

Needless to say what she just witnessed frightened her.

With Harleen and Jerome.

Not the blinding light emanating from her fellow doctor's scalp.

"This is preposterous! This throws the entire operation in danger! How on earth are we... Doctor?"

Her tirade was interrupted by the look of glee on her coworker's face. She knew this expression. It always flitted across his features whenever he made a new discovery, or experienced a scientific epiphany.

It never meant anything good.

Miss Peabody pulled her ace out of the deck.

"Strange, the Court won't like this!"

If only momentarily, her words knocked the Asian man out of his stupor. He readjusted his glasses and beamed at the befuddled woman.

"Is there a problem?"

Her eyes almost popped out of her head.

"A problem? There most certainly is! And what do you suppose we do about it Strange?"

The strain showed in the screech of her voice, the erratic twitching of her fingers. She ought to lay of the coffee a bit, Strange thought to himself.

Very slowly he plucked his glasses off the perch of his nose, produced a handkerchief out of a pocket, and began to rub the lens. He cast a glance at Miss Peabody, who was still waiting, impatiently he might add, for an answer.

He let out an exasperated sigh, "Nothing."

Miss Peabody thought she might die of shock. "Nothing?" She squeaked.

Strange lifted his glasses towards the light, examining every angle for imperfections. "There is something abrew Miss Peabody. A rumble in Gotham's underworld. And it almost certainly has something to do with the Valeska boy. If it has anything to do with Miss Quinzel, that has yet to be seen." Ah, there! He pressed the cloth against a smudge that had just made itself known.

"Jerome Valeska is something special. He doesn't have abilities like her. He isn't a meta-human but that's the thing, he doesn't need to be. His logic and world view is frightening enough. The things he should have no way of knowing, but does..." He shook his head and placed his now smudge free glasses upon the bridge of his nose. "Is absolutely fascinating. He has scared off all of his counselors and has attacked half the guards and inmates alike. His energy and ingenuity have shown no bounds but we have never seen weather he is capable of something such as love. He has shown no interest in it so far, and has only acknowledged sexuality when it can be used as a tool. And yes..."

He put up a hand to stop Miss Peabody from interruption. "I know Harleen Quinzel will never open up to anyone sexually either but she may learn to love him."

Miss Peabody was bewildered.

"Love? She's not capable of that, Doctor you've seen the CAT scans, SHE CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING!"

At this Strange span to her with such ferocity that she took a hurried step back. She didn't trust for one second the gleam in his beady eyes. They shone with excitement and greed and something else she couldn't quite identify but looked almost crazed.

"Really? Are you so sure Miss Peabody? Science is all about proving the impossible is it not? Despite the scans she can indeed feel, her obsession with despair is the proof. I believe her emotions are certainly there, just muted. And who better to bring them out than the happiest boy on earth?"

Pleased with his argument he turned toward the computer screens, showcasing Harleen as she sat smirking in the solitary cell.

"Anyway, I'm sure the Court won't mind if I carry out a little experiment of my own."

Realizing how futile it was to argue with the stubborn man, Miss Peabody changed the subject. "So what do we do with them?"

Strange turned to his colleague, his face eager once more. "Like I said, nothing for now. We will let them continue their little playdates. They needn't know we've cottoned on to their little shenanigans. Until Miss Quinzel's next fit of course. And then like a snake, we'll strike!"

So distracted were they as they plotted, the two doctors failed to notice the computer screens, as the blonde haired girl's eyes stared directly into the camera.

Why, it was almost as if she was watching them.

Notes:

I'm back! And yes I know what you're thinking. You are currently in a state of shock because all you can say right now is, "did she really just say that Harley has powers?" Well, HELL YEAH I DID! What powers though, are you curious? Well all shall be revealed... later in the story. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. On that note, MY PRECIOUS LOOKS GORGEOUS IN THAT TAN TRENCH COAT HE'S BEEN SPORTING IN THE GOTHAM PROMO'S! And I totally know nothing about what happens in the new episodes next year.

Nup.

Nothing.

What are you talking about?

*runs*