Author's Note: Alright this is more interaction between Harleen and Joker, I'm not sure how I'm doing with writing Joker, so please share your thoughts with me. I'm working on the next chapter right now, so it should be up soonish.
Chapter Six.
Harleen spent the next two days focusing her efforts on Crane and Wayne. Wayne hadn't threatened to eat her since she had starting bringing the TV with her, and had even laughed at a show he had seen, which Harleen considered great progress. Crane had not made further breakthroughs, although he had opened up to Harleen a little more on the matter of Gotham State University, where he had been a professor and, coincidentally, Harleen had been a student.
Word had spread that Harleen was now primary doctor to The Joker, in addition to the infamous Scarecrow and Killer Croc'. Harleen had noticed the stares; some being glares, some being looks of curiosity, although no one had approached her until the day of her second session with Joker.
Harleen was sat at a small table in the staff break room, slowly eating her granola and yogurt, as she considered how Joker would take to the next session she had planned. A tall, slightly plump, woman with brunette hair had taken the seat in front of her and began speaking "I'm Tracey Lynn, you're Harleen right? I heard you have three high security patients, and that one is The Joker. How did you manage that? I mean I- uh, other doctors have had their eyes on those cases for a while and you haven't even been here six months" Her tone carried a hint of envy, and Harleen could tell by the hardness in her eyes that she was unhappy with Harleens quick progression.
Harleen studied the woman for a moment, she knew what some had been saying. That because she was so new, there was no way she could have been given her intensive cases without doing something to get them. Harleen had heard whispers that she was sleeping Doctor Arkham, that he had given her the cases because of her looks. Harleen frowned. She had been silent a moment too long when she replied "I was given the patients I have because I worked for it. My speciality is the criminally insane, I received them because I'm good at what I do." Harleen said, a hint of steel in her tone.
Tracey flushed, clearly unsure of how to respond. "If you'll excuse me, I have a session" Harleen said coolly, as she stood and cleared her dishes. Harleen focused on her breathing as she made her way to the maximum security unit, she had expected this sort of response of course, but she still felt the burn of shame in her chest at the whispered rumours.
Harleen smoothed her clothing and adjusted her glasses, trying to add another layer of cover over her dark under eyes, before greeting Jim and walking past the guards into the room that held The Joker. Her eyes fell on his relaxed form as he pierced her with his eyes. "Hello Mister Joker, how are you today?" Harleen asked, scanning his restrained form as she sat down.
"Doctor, come back to play with me today? Going to keep your promise sugar?" The joker responded, ignoring Harleens question. Harleen scanned his various visible tattoos, before letting her eyes lock with his. Her heart leapt into her throat at the eye contact, it took her a moment to remember what she was doing as she leaned back into her seat carefully.
"I can't free your hands to play properly, but I think we could manage to play a card game. I brought a deck with me if you'd like to play. The rule is that for every game we play, you must answer a question I have" Harleen offered studying Jokers response.
He growled and twisted his neck around before chuckling slowly "Sounds fun doctor, but let's raise the stakes a little, hmm?" He paused, a wide toothy smile flashed his silver teeth at her, sending a thrill through her body. "How so?" She asked, feeling slightly apprehensive.
"Well" He drawled, leaning in "If you win the round I'll, uh, answer a question, and if I win, you'll answer one of mine. Doesn't that sound fair sugar". Harleen considered his words, something in her told her to say no, but she knew that if she wanted to get anywhere with The Joker, she needed to play into his games, at least slightly.
"Okay" Harleen agreed as she shuffled through the deck of cards she had brought along with her. Harleen set the cards out slowly, she was careful not to look at his cards as she raised them for him to see. He flashed another of those grins that had her heart skipping a beat. He seemed to growl lowly, before instructing her on what to do with his cards.
"Wouldn't this be easier if you, uh, let me out of this jacket doc'?" he purred as Harleen shifted her cards and placed them down for him to see. She flashed a small smile at him "You know I can't do that Mister Joker, you have a history of hurting your doctors" Harleen replied, raising a hand to her mouth quickly to wipe away the smile.
Joker inhaled slightly and laughed chillingly "Oh but I like you Doc', I wouldn't kill you" he breathed, before instructing Harleen with his cards. "Well, well, well, would look at that. I won." Joker laughed again and strained in his restraints slightly as he moved forward to stare into her eye "Now, uh, Doc, you're gonna answer truthfully for J aren't you? Daddy doesn't like lying"
"I won't lie to you, Mister Joker" Harleen said, she considered him calling himself J and daddy, it made her throat catch and she wasn't quite sure why.
"I want to know…" Joker sing-songed before his eyes darkened as he almost growled his question "What is your full name, Quinzel?"
Harleen didn't know what she had expected him to ask, but that hadn't been it. She hoped her surprise hadn't shown on her face as she replied "Oh, my full name is Harleen Francis Quinzel" Harleen wasn't startled as he laughed this time.
"Harleen Quinzel. Harley, Harley, Harley Quinn. Harlequin." He sung before twisting his head to laugh for longer than Harleen had ever heard him laugh for. "I like it, I like it, I like it" He muttered, grinning widely "Harlequin and the Joker, were we made to be, Harley?" He teased.
Harleen wasn't sure what to say, no one had called her Harley before, let alone Harlequin. Her previous boyfriend had teasingly called her Lee occasionally, but never Harley. "I take it you like my name Mister Joker? But it's Doctor Quinzel" She eventually said, ignoring his last comment.
The Joker growled lowly before flashing his tongue over his gleaming teeth in response. "Want to play again, Harleen?" He asked finally.
Harleen won the next round thankfully, she thought for a moment as he gave a shark-toothed smile "Why do you have 'damaged' tattooed on your forehead?" She eventually asked. She didn't want him to lie, as she was sure he would have if she had asked a question about his name or parents.
The Joker laughed "Oooh a fun question. I think I'll keep you Harley, Harley, Harley" he said. "Well I thought I'd, uh, save you doctors a little time, sugar, I'm a, uh, nice guy like that. See I'm not sure if you knew this Doc" His voice dropped to a growling whisper "But I've been told that I'm a bit insane" He cackled madly before leaning forward to snap his teeth at the air in front of him, which made Harleen jump a little, causing Joker to laugh loudly again.
"We can play one more round, Mister Joker" Harleen said, collecting the cards. She decided to let go his playing with her name, for now at least. Five minutes later and Joker had inevitably won again, Harleen wondered if he had let her win the second round just to see what she would ask.
The Joker remained perfectly still this time, as he trained his unmoving eyes on hers "Tell me, doc, why oh why have you not been sleeping?" He asked. Harleen froze slightly at his question, he was incredibly observational if he had noticed the marks under her eyes that she had worked carefully to cover up.
Harleen briefly considered lying, and saying that she had been sleeping fine, or that she had just been busy with work, but once she opened her mouth to speak, the truth slipped out "I have nightmares, I haven't slept well in a while". Harleens honest response startled her, she flushed, she shouldn't have told a patient that.
The Joker's eyes darkened in curiosity, a grin spreading slowly across his face "Ahh, little Harlequin is telling the truth! How interesting. Why don't you tell ol' Mister J all about these nightmares?" He growled.
Harleen smiled slightly as she gathered her notes and the cards "That would be two questions Mister Joker, I'll see you next session" She replied as walked out of the room, The Jokers loud, chilling laughter echoing down the hall behind her.
Harleen didn't know what to think of her session with Joker, as she sat on her couch reading through her days notes. She had allowed herself a rare glass of wine, a sweet moscato, as a luxury for once while she thought of the day.
She supposed she shouldn't have told the Joker as much as she had about herself, but a small part of her couldn't help but replay The Joker's voice calling her Harley Quinn, it was inappropriate she reminded herself. That did not stop the small part of her that liked the nickname, she admitted as she downed the last of her glass of wine and headed to bed.