© Ellie Goodson 2016

Chapter Four-Intimidation is the key

~Arabella Jones~

I sat across from the bouncing, blonde jester. She had chosen not to wear her hat today, and I was to ask why soon. At the moment, I was stuck in a glare war with Harley and my stubbornness wouldn't allow me to loose.

It was me being stubborn that got me through school when I was being horrifically bullied-just for being different. It was me being stubborn that made me never have a day off, my attendance was one hundred percent-completely immaculate. It was me being stubborn that had gotten me here, in Arkham, doing what everybody said I couldn't. I wasn't going to stop being stubborn just because some jester didn't like me.

Without breaking eye contact, I leaned forward, well aware that my next words could cause two very different scenes. "You know Harley; my next patient after you is the Joker." I said slowly, a polite and intimidating smile on my face.

There was a small, sick part of me that liked control. That liked to prove to others that I had more power than them, and to make it hurt while I was at it. I tried to hide it, but when you're a therapist it's an uncontrollable sin. I had been that way for a long time, and I couldn't quite remember what age I was when it first happened.

But I remember it clearly. Pinning the boy who had tried to hit me onto the ground, bending down close so that my mouth was right by his ear. "I am in control." I had hissed at the quivering idiot. "Do not make me hurt you." A teacher had dragged me off of the boy then. But when I looked back and saw tears glistening down his cheeks, the power I felt was something so mesmerising and addictive...it was bound to happen again.

The jester's eye contact failed, and she scanned around the room as if hoping to find some form of proof that I was lying. "Oh." Was all she said, her voice weak and quiet. I nodded my head.

"I didn't ask for it, and I had no choice. But what's done is done, and now I'm stuck as the Joker's therapist."

Harley looked down, and I caught her twirling her thumbs. "If you wouldn't mind, Doctor Jones, I'd like to be left alone now." Getting up from my seat, I collected my stuff and left without a word. Halfway down the hall, I heard a high pitched scream and something crash and bang. At least she had gotten me out of the cell before she had her tantrum, progress.

Back in my office, I simply switched Harley's file for the Joker's. I'd have to sort out the notes, along with all the things I had brought in that morning, later. I hadn't had time to read through his file, and so I was going to the Joker's cell completely blind. Not my smartest move.

If I thought Harley's cell was heavily guarded, then it was nothing compared to the Joker's. I had to show my badge to all the guards and give them someone they could speak to for proof that I was a psychiatrist before I could even enter. I gave them David Black's name.

Eventually I made it in, and my stomach knotted tight. The Joker sat at the table, hands on his knees as he leaned forward slightly. His eyes followed me the whole time as I made my way to my seat and sat down. With trembling hands I put my things down on the desk, breathing deeply. "Arabella."

My heart stopped, how did he know my name? I hadn't told any other patients my full name and I doubted the guards would tell him. "How do you know my name?" I asked, too quickly for my own good. I stared into the Joker's dark eyes, and he stared back into my light grey ones.

"Oh, doll, I have people on the inside. I know more about you than you think I do."

I was truly on the verge of having a panic attack, I thought Two Face was bad but he was nothing, nothing, compared to the Joker. "Okay, Joker. You're going to listen to me and you're going to listen well." My voice was strong and shocking courageous compared to how I felt. My tone seemed to catch the Joker's attention, as his back straightened and he smiled wilder than he already was. My need for control, it was all happening again-all of it.

"Okay, Doc." He said, licking his lips like he did out of habit.

"I am the therapist, and so I am in control here. I don't want you thinking that you can run this cell, because I don't want you...heart broken."

The Joker cackled loudly, flopping back into his chair as he clutched at his stomach. "You got fire." He said, laughing still. He pointed his finger at me, and like that his laughter died. "I like that." He nodded his head, green hair falling onto his face. "Oh I like that a lot."

I clicked my pen and began to write. Everything that had just happened got scratched down onto the plain, white paper. I decided to change the subject, feeling a lot more timid and scared on the inside. The adrenaline was rapidly running from my veins, leaving my hand a shaking mess. "I saw Harley this morning; she's a patient of mine."

"What makes you think I care?" I was momentarily taken aback but the Joker's bluntness.

It was going to be hard, cracking through the Joker's thick shell. "She still thinks you love her. The woman is crazy about you, and she doesn't seem able to process the fact that you feel nothing for her."

"Harley is a psychotic bitch; she doesn't care what she does to anyone as long as she thinks it will impress me. She's a screw up. But she's useful, a good distraction from time to time."

I nodded my head, too scared to look down in case the Joker tried anything. "Hey doll, wanna know how I got these scars?" I shook my head, waving my hand at him.

"Joker, I know your stories." I flipped the notepad closed and clicked my pen. I dropped both of the things on the table.

"You intrigue me, Arabella. You see, I see a little crazy in you. And coming from me, that obviously means something."

Obviously satisfied with his statement, the Joker leaned forward, grinning at me. "While training in psychiatry, I learned one important thing. Wanna know what that is?" The Joker raised his eyebrows, thick black patches leaked over his pale brows and onto his forehead. I leaned in closer, my voice dropped to just a whisper. "Everyone is crazy."

I got up from my chair then, officially finished with our session. "I'll be back whenever our next appointment is, Joker." I told him, collecting my things and walking to the cell door.

"It's been lovely meeting you, Arabella doll." He said with a cackle as I left the glass cell.

It was true, although I had the ability to act strong and brave in front of such an intimidating man, I was honestly terrified of our next meeting. He was unpredictable, and his howling laughter was haunting. I was sure I could still hear it as I made my way back to the office, each hallway looking the same.

Back at my office, I made sure to lock the door. Something in me was petrified, why was my paranoia starting up so suddenly? Shaking my head and praying for my thoughts to clear, I began to wander around my office. I wanted to start decorating, but some part of me was expecting to find the Joker hidden in my office.

Taking a deep breath, and rubbing over my face in frustration, I began to lecture to myself as I started unpacking a few things. Talking to yourself helped you concentrate and allowed information to process. I'd have to write down the Joker and Harley Quinn's notes after decorating.

I put up a note board, and pinned pictures of things I admired onto it. I pinned a picture of me when I was younger onto the board, just for the fun of it. I pinned a couple reminders to the board as well before moving on. As vain as it seemed, I put up a body length mirror. I needed to know I looked presentable without having to check through my phone. I had one last thing after that, a book that I had carried with me ever since I was fourteen. It was old and battered, and barely readable but I kept it with me, and I'd keep it with me for as long as I could.

I decided that it was time for me to return home. So after locking up my office, I began the long walk to my apartment. But I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me.