A new morning started for the inmates of Arkham Asylum, the same as any other day. Watching the night shift nurses and guards clock out, giving turn over to the day shift staff, each one clearly glad to have made it through another night without any problems. The departure and arrival of the staff every day was like a strange exchange of emotions between day shift and night shift, one shift gave stress and anxiety while the other gave relief in return. The night shift left with a bomb-blast look on their faces, but as they exited the doors, that look of relief smoothed over their features, taking in huge lung fulls of fresh, free air (or as fresh as it came in Gotham).
The day shift nurses, guards, and doctors walked in with a brave, determined expressions. Determined to get through another day? Bravely facing the patients they'd rather just leave in a dark hole and forget about? Who really knew. The day shift nurses giving them their morning sedatives, few would take them, most would tongue them then hide it in their mattress. Other had their pills mixed into their morning food, since they wouldn't willingly take their own medication. While they could be administered the medicine with injections, the staff never felt it worth the risk. The doctors and nurses worked with the guards here to contain the patients, curing them was rarely on the agenda. Both staff and patients wanting to avoid each other as much as possible.
Only two individuals of the Arkham playing field seemed to look forward to the other one. An optimistic intern and her incurable patient.
While Harleen had slept, it wasn't undisturbed. Even when she woke at 1:30AM and took a sleep aid, she had gotten up knowing she would be awake for a bit. Her bedroom window was her favorite window in the apartment because the fire escape right outside the window. It was an apartment building, white brick with ornate carvings in the brick on the roof and around some of the windows. The fire escape was probably just as old. At one time it might have been black with fresh paint, but not the metal was aged to a copper brown color. The metal had minor detail to it. She had sat on the window sill with her legs hanging outside, her toes barely skimming the cool metal.
Gotham was still alive. Lights from buildings, commercial and residential, flickered in the night. A sound made her look up through the metal bars of the fire escape above her. Some one had just shut a window. Her apartment wasn't on one of the top floors, that was too expensive, but she wasn't on the lower floors either, so that was nice She could just barely see over a few buildings nearby. This raised a paranoid thought... Could someone be looking at her right now? No windows looked into her apartment that she could see. They would have to stand on the roof. and see past the fire escape and that was fine because she normally kept the curtains closed anyway. The cold breeze made her skin feel chilled and the goose bumps told her it was time to get inside and go back into her warm bed.
She had woken up feeling tired but knew she had slept hard after the midnight interruption. She didn't want a repeat of sore feet again so she donned more comfortable attire. She regarded herself in the mirror; a thin grey sweater, black slacks and low-heeled loafers made her feel like she was inspired by Dr. Leland's frump style, but she did want comfort over fashion today. She drank down a second small glass of orange juice before heading out the door. The drive to work seemed shorter today, maybe because she was so trying to zone out best she could. Overthinking today wouldn't be good.
Today was the day. The first session with the Joker after his common visit. She knew she needed to report to Warden Sharp's office before the common room observation and she had a funny feeling that the common room visit on top of a therapy session was planned to see if Joker would mess up before their one-on-one. She wouldn't let that happen.
The walk up the dirt path that turned into the broken-stone path didn't slow her pace today as it did other days. There was a strong breeze in the air. The bushes and shrubs around Arkham swayed with the wind. The guard at the entrance of the gate had held his hand up to shield his eyes from the air, which Harleen had mistaken for a greeting and had waved at the man in return. Her faced burned with embarrassment when she realized her blunder. Overcompensating, she hardly raised her eyes to the guard as she showed her badge who nodded at her to enter the building. She noticed as she passed by him and going through the doors that he looked at her in an inappropriate manner.
Harleen watched the usual bustle of nurses setting their purses in their lockers and talking over their little Styrofoam coffee cups, guards were checking their weapons to make sure they were loaded and adjusted their riot gear, doctors speaking to nurses about their patients. She hadn't given the entrance of Mansion much of a look-see other than the first day when she arrived. The large entrance hall was almost like being inside a large ancient cathedral with dark gray stone walls and columns that supported the ceiling and high stained glass windows with light blue and white coloring. There were stone railings and banisters along small stair cases that led to different corridors.
The floors were carpeted in a muddy red color and large green arched doors to the right and left led to the corridors that held offices and .. well, she wasn't sure what else. Dr. Leland's office was through the immediate door to the right but she continued on. She needed to see the Warden and hopefully wouldn't see the good Dr. Leland. She was at the end of the entrance hall when the large statue of Amadeus Arkham came in full view. The large carved man was wearing a suit from the 19th century. His overcoat was long and in one hand he held a open book, gazing into it as if to look for a answer. She wondered if he had ever cured anyone.
Going up another small set of stairs, Harleen made her way to back corridor that led to the Warden's office. Here she needed to use her badge to swipe the security gates to shut off the electrical currents. She stood outside his doors for a moment.. breathed in deeply and exhaled, almost yawning. She was about to knock when she heard voices through the barely closed doors, as if someone forgot to push them all the way shut.
"... So you're telling me that Dr. Quinzel is still going to go through with therapy on the the Joker even after reviewing his file for a month?"
She knew that voice, it was Cash and he didn't sound happy. She leaned in, her ear almost up against the door where it was opened.
"Yes, Aaron. He is, after all, her patient starting today." Warden Sharp said. Sharp sounded like he wasn't happy either. "Speaking of which, Joan, do you have anything to add that I should know of?"
Dr. Leland was there too?
"Nothing too solid. Joker is, well, the Joker. Eager, making sick jokes, annoying staff and patients. He caused a prank that upset a few patients some weeks ago, made them unruly for other doctors," Dr. Leland huffed.
Yup. Definitely her.
Making assumptions about the Joker, when you don't even know what happened. Hearing this only reinforced her determination to not be as judgmental as her colleagues who were just on the other side of the door. She pleased that she was chosen to be his doctor now more than ever.
"As for Harleen," Dr. Leland continued, "She has been studying her case diligently. Observing Joker in the common rooms, which according to Aaron, Joker hasn't been aggressive. I am happy to say that she did inquire about decorating her office a while ago. Seems optimistic of her."
Although Harleen couldn't see her face, she was sure Dr Leland's expression showed something of a smirk because she said it like she found something funny in that. She straightened up, smoothed out her outfit and knocked, wanting to end their conversation, although she knocked a little harder then she meant to. It worked, the conversation stopped immediately followed by "Come in, please" by Warden Sharp.
Harleen turned the handle and opened the door, acting like it was fully closed so they wouldn't expect her of eavesdropping. Warden Sharp was behind his desk as usual, his polished walking stick to his left. Dr. Leland was standing on the other side of his desk, facing the door Harleen just walked in from, Cash standing casually on the right, arms crossed, but not looking defensive. Almost as if standing that way was comfortable for him.
"Ah, good morning, Dr. Quinzel. Ready to take on today?" Warden Sharp said, his false cheerfulness was a little insulting.
Harleen smiled, keeping her composure, even though she felt stung by their lack of confidence in her. "Absolutely, Warden. I feel prepared enough to initiate the first session. We'll see what to do from there." Her caution needed to be believable if she wanted to keep the Joker, no matter how the first session went. She had to act like she was on their side, so to speak. Her statement seemed to relax everyone a bit.
"Excellent. You'll be seeing your patient in half an hour or so, his common room visit had to be canceled. There was a scuffle earlier and it is being cleaned."
He didn't elaborate on what happened.
"Mr. Cash will be escorting the Joker and will be your guard for the first session. If he feels after a few weeks that you can have two orderlies instead of a guard, that will be his judgement." Warden gave her a pointed look, as if he expected her to argue, but she caught on.
"Of course, sir, do whatever you feel is necessary. I understand the precaution." She made her face seem as serious as it could be. Hard, since she smiled so often on a regular basis.
"Very well. That will be all," Warden Sharp said, with an indignant wave of his hand as if he were a king dismissing a court jester.
Harleen tried to exit quickly -but not too quickly- out of the office to avoid any 'helpful suggestions' from Dr. Leland.
"Oh, Dr. Quinzel," Dr. Leland said, "just a moment, dear."
Not quickly enough, Harleen grumbled in her head. She turned and looked at the doctor who apparently thought she was being foolishly optimistic. Wonder what that said about most of the staff here.
"I just wanted to tell you that if you feel threatened in any way, don't be afraid to let me or Mr. Cash know immediately."
Harleen glanced down for a moment controlling the heat of anger she felt in her stomach. But her smile betrayed nothing as she said, "Not to worry Dr. Leland. I'll know when I feel threatened."
With that, she turned on her heel and left the others behind.
She needed to get back to her office before she did anything else. she could feel her anger rising. She had always had a temper and when riled she was similar to a flood. Once the gates opened, there was no stopping it or putting it back. It had to run its course.
The 'Joker Board', as she called it, was a riot of color that caught her attention in her otherwise white office. Her head fell back against the door as she all but slid down it. If the walls had been made of fabric, it would have looked like a cell in the intensive treatment ward. She couldn't help but laugh under her breath at that thought. Fitting... that the doctor feels like she's in a cell too. She needed a minute to collect herself. Standing up straight again, she sat back in her creaking office chair and looked up at the swirling collage of Jokers on her wall. Her jaw resting in her hand she continued to gaze at the many lines, curves and details of his face. Did he have a moment like this before in his life? What truly drove him to become what he is now?
And what was he? According to press: a madman. According to the police: a criminal. According to the doctors: a dangerous patient. Is that what made up The Joker? a mad criminal? A psychotic killer? Her notes suggested otherwise. He was the leader of a gang. To organize that, with the level of sophistication and control needed to accomplish the things he did.. that took intelligence and focus. Could someone achieve all for that and still be insane? Psychology 101 said that a crazy person didn't think they were crazy, but thought they were sane. He seemed to recognize his madness, seemed to thrive on it. Did that suggest that he wasn't insane? She massaged the her temples with her fingertips gently. Her eyes narrowed on an imperfection on the surface of the desk as she thought.
She was just spinning her wheels at this point- she needed more data. Her watch on her left wrist told her that she had 12 minutes until she met him, face to face.
Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a little mirror she kept next to stationary. Her hair and face looked alright. Her eyes had lost some of the excitement from earlier, but other than that, she was presentable. She grabbed the pink-papered notepad and tried to keep her chin high as she made her way out toward the penitentiary.
Officer Cash was standing by nurses station when she walked in, apparently waiting for her. Harleen had noticed snipers in the guard towers outside the penitentiary and two armed guards stationed outside as well as inside. She hadn't seen security so ramped up before. He had been talking to a another guard when he saw her.
"Dr. Quinzel," he waved her over with his hooked hand. She tried not to stare at it. "So, it's the big day, huh? You really gonna talk to that monster?"
His disdain couldn't be clearer. "Uh, yes, I do plan to start my therapy sessions with my patient, Officer Cash. It's why I became a doctor. I want to help people." She didn't want him talking like this during her sessions, it could create problems.
"There are people who deserve help and those who don't.. but, I guess it's not for me to say," he conceded. "We'll be having his first session in the interrogation room near his cell. We don't trust him not to try anything," he added when she looked confused. "As of now, he's level Red-Alpha."
"Is that why I see more guards everywhere?" she looked around, seeing the Arkham guards adding extra bullet magazines in their cargo pockets.
"Yep. We try not to make any mistakes. Because we end up paying for them. The last mistake we made with Joker, we lost three men."
Harleen didn't know what to say, she just looked away unable to meet his eyes. She understood why they were so on edge. He was a dangerous criminal, psychotic. She now knew why Cash had such animosity toward the Joker, but she still wasn't sure on how she felt about this place. Cash seemed to be a good person. Dr. Leland was pessimistic as best and Warden Sharp just seemed to like his title. Where did tat leave her?
"It'll be us plus a four-manned escort for today," Cash said and motioned for her to follow him. "Until he is secured in his restraints at the table, do not stand next to him. Stand behind the guards-keeps you out of the line of fire." She nodded and followed him. Four other guards fell into step with them. Turning here and there, she looked around more to get more acquainted with the facility. She noticed several tiles were missing out of the walls. There were a few old fashioned wheelchairs with cages fastened around the top to go over a patient's head. She had only seen pictures of those out-dated contraptions. Cameras followed their progress as they went down another hall. A sign above them said HOLDING CELLS. Two police officers were in there filling out what looked like forms. A low banging and rumbling caught her attention. A corridor up ahead was blocked off and had yellow caution tape around it.
"What's going on there?" she asked, pointing. Cash looked to where she indicated.
"Ah. Yeah, I forgot there's a lot to get you caught up on. Well, our facility doesn't make very much off of patient care. Many residents are here by court order. We're funded through the state, through Gotham City Council and any donations we receive. All this," he waved his good hand at the cameras, electrical gates and the construction they were now passing, "Is possible because of our biggest donor. The Wayne Foundation pays our checks and buys our bullets. Hell, Mr. Wayne doesn't know it, but he helps me sleep better at night nowadays," he finished, shaking his head, a shadow of a smile on his face. Every few yards they would pass through heavy iron gates that seemed to section off the building into multiple parts.
They continued on, passing nurses and doctors. Harleen hadn't seen a single patient so far. The penitentiary made Harleen feel trapped. The narrow halls were white tile walls that were stained with dirt over the years. It reminded her of her apartment building's white stone exterior. Along the high ceiling were large electrical cables that were supported by metal cables every few yards. It looked a bit hazardous.
Even with the new electrical components that were being added, you could still see the time when Arkham had been constructed. There was decorative wrought iron built into the buildings main structure. The effect would have been charming if it wasn't so daunting. Arkham Asylum had the unfortunate look of a haunted building, but it wasn't the island's fault.. it had been built so long ago that the Victorian style was embedded in everything.
They had reached the elevator that went down to the patients cells. The elevator was more of a large metal box with cage windows. A flat screen TV mounted in the back of the elevator had Warden Sharp's video droning about rules and regulations for Arkham Asylum on repeat. This was for the new patients to listen to on their way to the cells that would be their new home.
Hitting the (2) button, the doors closed and the lift began to descend. Since the doors were barred Harleen could see each floor as they passed. If it went slower she was certain she'd be able to see people walking down the halls. Officer Cash and the others weren't talking. She wished they would. The silence was making the butterflies in her stomach worse.
"So what is being built up there?" she asked to the group.
One of the guards looked at her as if he was going to answer, but Cash had spoke up first. "It's going to be the new cells for the more dangerous patients. Extreme Incarceration, new maximum security for the patients down on the lower levels, and more isolation cells."
"Extreme incarceration?" It sounded like a hardcore prison.
"Yeah," Cash said. "For those who aren't likely to be cured but can't go to Blackgate Prison. It's not openly said, but this place is as much of prison as it is a hospital." A few guards nodded in agreement.
A small jolt when through her as the lift stopped, bouncing slightly. "The second floor currently houses the maximum security wing," Cash continued, "where most of the super-criminals are kept. Some have speciality-cells, like as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, or Clayface, whose conditions needed certain requirements like atmosphere temperature and are completely sealed that way nothing can slip out or grow in."
"And what's on the third floor?" she asked. She needed to keep the conversation going.
"Animals," one of guards answered.
"What?" He hadn't looked at her as he spoke.
"We call it the lost-cause level. Imagine a person void of their humanity. They bark, howl, scream. They don't normally speak, or have lost the ability to. They're not human." Cash hadn't disagreed. The guard looked down at her as he said "Hope you never have a reason to go down there."
They had reached the patients cells. Either side of the hall was lined with the large glass doors to the patient's cells. Cash moved ahead of her and all four guards readied their weapons, switching safety off, and loading in one magazine of bullets. They began to walk, harleen feeling dwarfed behind them. She tried not glancing at the other patient cells but couldn't help catching a glance here and there. Faces stared back at her. She seemed to only pick up blurs of colors rather than defining shapes as she kept her face forward.
They had reached the last cell. All four guards were aiming their weapons at one fixed point in the cell, but Harleen being shorter than them couldn't see.
"Alright, Joker. We gonna have any problems?" Cash's voice called out. She hadn't heard a response but Joker must have acknowledged in some way because Cash swiped his badge on the circuit reader next to Joker's cell door. Harleen had the instinct to duck down and hide behind a guard but she had to steel herself. She was a doctor! She was a certified psychiatrist and this is what she wanted to do. They begun to walk again, Cash leading what Harleen could now see was a pair of white shoulders, a long pale neck and the back of a head covered in bright green hair.
The sound of metal turning and clicking let her know that the interrogation room was unlocked now. "Stay here a moment," a guard in front of her said over his shoulder. All five guards moved in and more metallic clanking could be heard. Harleen's breath was shaky but she was regaining control of her nerves.
Cash had walked back out to get her. "You alright?" he asked. He looked concerned for her. She tried to smile but could feel it fail. "We're right there with you," he reassured her. If you need a minute, want to cut it early or just get tired of him- just say so and we'll have you out of there in a flash, ok?" He smiled down at her and this time, she was able to return it. She nodded and whispered "Ok," before clearing her throat and saying more confidently, "O.K."
Dr. Quinzel stepped into her first patient interview. Her eyes immediately locked on the green hair, then settled on the green eyes that seemed to almost glow out of the white face. She noticed that his lips were red, but not as exaggerated as it was in the posters back in her office. He must use makeup or paint to exaggerate his smile.
She sat down at the table that was nailed to the floor. Her chair was plastic while his was metal and was also nailed down. A straight jacket kept his arms wrapped up in front of him and there were metal links that locked his straightjacket onto the chair. He couldn't get out if he tried. Yet they all still had their weapons on him as if he could easily slip out if he wanted to.
Harleen sat her notepad on the table and smiled as best she could at her patient. She turned the tape recorder she had been given earlier on and spoke.
"Dr. Quinzel overseeing patient #4479, known only as the The Joker." She looked at him and exhaled as silently as she could. His smile widened as he spoke for the first time to her.
"So doc, I hear I'm your first... ya know what they say: you never forget your first time! I'll try to make it.. memorable for you." He smiled a flirtatious smile. She didn't expect him to be anything but terrifying. She wasn't prepared for him to be charming. Very charming.
"So," she said, "where shall we begin?"
**Author's Note: Joker's introduction is from Batman Arkham Asylum game. I loved how he started the conversation between them in her interview tapes and wanted to incorporate it in mine! Hope you like how I have changed the story up.