The Joker sat in his as he reviled in the chaos that took place outside, he never grew tired of the warning sirens and the sound of confusion and chaos.
From the window of his cell he could see a smile fire burning, he loved the fire and how it started off slow and small but grew bigger and bigger and until it consumed everything in it's path.
It held no distinction between one thing or the other it was simply itself, it's simply moved, and it's simply thrived no matter the challenge.
But as he looked at the small fire he could not help but think of the fire he adored most.
He loved the fire that he found inside her and how it burned differently depending on her emotions.
He loved the pop and crackle fire that was her joy, the slow crackling burn that her fire held when she was romantic; and even though he would never tell anyone, he would be perfectly fine with being consumed by that fire.
The explosive fire that was her anger and she knew very well the he loved this fire because it matched his own, and even though he would never tell anyone he knew that it at times was greater than his own; but he didn't mind he was simply happy to witness her fire burn.
Then there were the slow dying embers that held her sadness, he would leave when this started not understanding why she would let herself get this way.
But what confused him even more was the fact that she would occasionally run off to people who had no idea how to love and respect her fire.
Especially when he would see her with the weed.
He knew that she was aware that fire destroyed plants, yet she still chose to torture him by going to someone who could not love her in the way she deserved and her fire demanded.
Then as he watch the small fire die out, he remembered the first time he ever saw the fire in the woman he loved.
The Joker walked out of his Casino The Deuces Wild on the east side of Gotham, he was happy to see that Johnny had took good care of it in his absence and made sure that it had brought in a fair amount of money.
He grinned evilly as he thought about how he would use the money to take on the bat, but as he looked at the curb he saw an unwelcome distraction standing in front of a jet black motorcycle that was parked in front of his Lamborghini.
"Hey I'm here." Harleen said as she smiled at the Joker.
But Harleen frowned as she saw the Joker walk past her as if she were invisible.
" Hey wait don't leave I understand everything now, I understand what you went through, I understand how you see the world and now that I see the world for what it really is I want to be with you like you said we would be." Harleen said as she moved in for a kiss.
But Harleen's face soon twisted with confusion and fear as she felt the Joker shove her to the ground, and quickly put a gun to her head.
He laughed manically as he watched her begin to tremble beneath the muzzle of the gun.
He never got tired of that look of fear, or the way it made the human body automatically react.
He never thought the look of fear could be beautiful, but as he stared down at his potential victim who's light blue eyes were now widened into beautiful trembling pools, he knew that there could be beauty in fear.
" Please don't hurt me Mr. J."
"Oh I'm not gonna hurt ya because honestly you've become boring to me, and I have better things to do tonight." The Joker said as he stepped over Harleen got into his Lamborghini and quickly drove away.
The Joker drove down the freeway trying to decide if he felt like cooking a steak, or going out for one when he saw a jet black motorcycle pull up beside him.
His body hummed with annoyance, but he refused to let her have any attention so he simply raised his hands his face and kept on driving.
She said she understood him now that was the worst joke of all, because if she truly understood him; then she would have left when he sent her away because that is what clowns do.
They devote themselves to their craft they go where they're needed, and they devote themselves to the idea that they provide the humor and when their time is done they go.
It was just that simple, and if she could not understand that there was no way that she'd ever be able to really understand him.
He was the ultimate agent of chaos the ultimate idea and these things were never meant to be held in one place, they were meant to teach their lesson then leave.
Yet she had the audacity to demand that he stay in one place and love her.
He knew that she knew nothing about him and now he simply wanted her gone, but he stopped in the middle of the road and as he watched her pound on the hood of his car.
" You're not leaving me, you're not leaving me!
The fact that she would dare to damage his car the thing he loved more than anyone else infuriated him.
But as he looked at her he saw that she was infuriated as well.
He knew from the moment he met her that she has a secret side buried deep inside her.
He saw now that her secret side was intensely angry, and even though he wanted to leave there was something about the way she was in this moment; that was beautiful and drew him in.
" You.
You, you, you your a real pain in my ass." the Joker said as he exited the car.
The Joker walked over to her ready for a fight, and ready to see how beautiful how beautiful and deeper newfound anger really was; but became annoyed once again when he saw that she only wanted to plead with him.
" I have done everything you asked I have passed every test, every trial every initiation; I have proved that I love you just accept it.
"Got it, got it got it." The Joker said as he put his hands up to silence her.
He was sick of her talking about love as if that was something she could ever have with him so much so that he contemplated killing her where she stood.
" I am not someone who is loved.
I am an idea, a state of mind.
I execute my will according to my plan, and you doctor are not part of my plan. "
Just let me in I promise I won't hurt you." Harleen said as she stepped towards the Joker and tried to kiss him.
The whole idea was hilarious yet sickening to him, and it was clear that she refused to accept him for who he was.
" A promise, a promise?!" the Joker said he busted out laughing.
Then he stopped as he heard a vehicle door slam closed.
" Hey dick face do you mind yelling at your bitch somewhere else?!"
He started to turn to the man and tell the man that he should find a different route, but before he could he felt his gun being pulled from his jacket and then heard it fire and the man's life is body hit the ground.
" I was going to tell you not to do that but-"
The Joker let out a small growl Doas he felt the muzzle of the good move to his head, then he gave Harleen a pitiful look.
He felt an instant rush, one that he hadn't felt in months and one that was different from the ones he felt with Batman.
He knew Batman had no problem hurting him, and making sure that he spent a good deal of time in the medical wing when he returned to Arkham; but he knew that the idiotic sense of Justice that his enemy clone two would never allow him to do what he truly wanted.
But now this woman stood before him willing to do everything he always wanted Batman to do, and he could not help but find her beautiful.
He also could not help toying with her just a little more.
"Please don't hurt me Harley I'll be your friend." the Joker said is he maintained his pitiful look.
He looked into her light blue eyes and so the anger still blazing there, and decided that maybe she would want to play his real game.
"Do it, do it, do it, do it!" The Joker growled as he let guard down.
"My heart scares you but a gun doesn't?"
"Do it!"
Then with a quick movement the Joker disarmed her and put the gun to his head laughing all the while.
"I if you weren't so crazy I think you were insane.
Go away."
" Fine I'll go and don't worry I'll keep your secret." Harleen said as she started to walk away.
"What? "The Joker asked as he watched her walk away.
" Your secret is that love scares you more than anything else, it was the thing I was always trying to find out back at the asylum; and now that I know it seems so simple, but things like this often do." Harleen said as she looked back at the Joker.
She watch his eyes shoot daggers at her, and vaguely wondered if he would actually use his real knives on her; but she chose not to think about that now, because she was pleased that after all this time she had finally proved that she was superior to him.
The Joker stared at her completely infuriated because though he had won and got what he wanted, she had still managed to take something in the end and he could not let that go unpunished.
"There will be one final test."
" I'm ready."
" Get in we're going for a drive." the Joker said as he walked to the car.
Harleen wordlessly followed the Joker to the car and open the passenger door, as excitement hummed through her.
As soon as the door was closed the Joker raced forward, quickly opening up the engine, not giving Harleen time to put on her seat belt.
She was scared at first but only at first, then she realized that she like traveling at high speeds.
She liked the feel of the engine beneath her as the Joker opened it up even more, she liked the feel of the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she had yet another brush with danger.
Her thoughts turned to Roxanne and she mourned her briefly, but put it aside knowing that it was the last thing list of her old life and that she had to give it up.
She looked around at the interior of the car, and decided that it was as flashy as she always imagined it would be.
She stared out the passenger window and marveled at the city as it sped by in a blur, and to her it look like they were traveling through a painting.
A while later the car came to a sudden stop, and the stop was so forceful that it nearly sent Harleen through the windshield.
Harleen suppress a scream as she caught herself on the dashboard, then she looked up in confusion at the building that had stopped in front of.
" Where are we?"
" The place of my birth." the Joker said as he exited the car, and walk towards the locked gate of the Ace chemical plant.
Harleen scrambled to keep up as she tried to follow the Joker, and process everything she had just heard.
She stopped at the gate as she heard the Joker growl in annoyance, then she saw the there was a guard who press the button to open the gate; and that he had a cellphone out.
She knew that he was calling the police, and with the recent Arkham outbreak they would be here soon; but she could not allow that to happen because she knew that if they ruined this chance she had with the Joker, she might never get another one.
Harleen wordlessly took the gun from the Joker's jacket pocket, and took full advantage of the man fear in distractedness and quickly disposed of him with one shot to his head.
When she was sure that the man was dead she nimbly scaled the gate, then went over to the gate tower and unlocked the gate so the Joker could enter.
The Joker walks forward and passed her, and even though he would never have said it he was impressed by her determination.
The pair walked until they reached the main holding center for the acid, then they climbed up to the cat walk.
"Do you know what a Harlequin is?"
"Yes he was a nimble and astute servant."
"Yes but I have plenty of those already, and plenty more lined up to take their place if the need should arise.
But what I really need is a partner, someone who understands me completely; and wants me for more than the money I could provide.
I've brought you here because I know you can be that person but first you must see what made me what I truly am and accept it." The Joker said as he placed a light kiss on Harleen's lips.
He tried to convince himself that he did not enjoy the kiss but he was unable, so he decided to quickly lead her over to the acid and get on with the rest of the game.
He watched her stare down at the huge vat of boiling white acid, she could see her interest and knew that if he did this just write she would jump into it without question.
"Question would you die for me?"
"Yes."
"That's too easy would you, would you live for me?
"Yes."
" Careful.
Do not say this oath thoughtlessly.
Desire becomes surrender, surrender becomes power.
Do you want this?"
"I do."
"Say it, say it, say it.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty-"
"Please. "
"God you're so good." The Joker said as he wrung his hands.
He watch her climb up on the railing and nimbly stand there for a minute, then he watched her stretch out her arms as he motionally instructed her; then he wants her dive head first into the vat of boiling white acid.
He stayed long enough to make sure she went all the way in, then he turned to leave her there to die.
But as he almost reached the stairs something in his mind nagged at him.
There was the fact that she had been a great help to him, and he could not deny that his escape from Arkham would have took much longer without her help.
She even offered to help him without demanding money in returned, which is something he couldn't say for any of his hitman except Johnny.
Then his mind forced him to admit that she was a very beautiful woman, and that she now did understand him completely: and that some part of him truly wanted that, and some part of him truly wanted a female partner.
He was also sure that this would piss off and confuse Batman and that was something he couldn't wait to see.
He also thought back to when she was looking out the window on the way to the chemical plant, and knew that she would respect and enjoy his other art as well and he decided he would rather enjoy seeing her child like wonderment.
He growled in anger at the realization that she had managed to make him changes plans, by making her be a part of them but he decided that having her around was worth it.
He quickly made his way back to the railing and, quickly pulled off his jacket jump the railing and dove into the vat of acid.
He stretched out his hands as his body hit the murky depths, then he swam back to the surface with her in his arms.
He looked at her with her eyes closed, and he marveled at his now completed creation.
He thought that she could not get more beautiful than she was but he now knew that he was wrong.
He now knew that his partner and lover was the most beautiful thing that he had ever created, and must be protected at all costs.
He quickly put his lips to hers so that he could breathe his life into her, but he was also gentle because after all she had just done for him she deserve another kiss.
He watched her take a deep breath as her eyes opened, then he felt her arms wrapped around his neck in her hands get lost in his hair.
He stayed still and allowed her to close the distance between them, as she gave him a passionate kiss.
Then he let out a maniacal laugh, because the Clown Prince of crime had finally found his queen.
The memory left him, and he was trusted back into the present.
But he did not stay in his cell for long, because the memory only serve to reinforce what he already knew.
He needed to find his queen.
His back was to her but he could still feel her frustration, like another person in the room with them.
And in his mind's eye he could already see her pouting.
He wondered how long it would be before she quit, but that part of him that was still a man so longed to see her lips protrude in that way that was just so feminine.
He smirked because he knew what was coming, the plea followed by the slight whine, oh how he would savor it because even though he was the man he was; was still plagued by the itch that plagued all men.
" Okay then maybe next week."
The Joker let out a slightly confused growl under his breath as he turned to face her.
" I'm not a toy Joker. I came here to help people, and you're not the only resident in this asylum.
I think I'll go talk with Pamela Isley. She's the next one on my list, and she and I have been making a lot of progress.
I don't quite understand all the botanical things that she talks about, but I still think she and I would be great friends if she would get better.
I'll see you next week Joker."said as she started to walk towards the door.
"You may call me Mr. .J. Everyone on the outside does, all but one." The Joker said he took a seat on the leather couch.
Harleen stared at him for a second, before walking over and taking her chair from the metal table and moving it in front of the couch.
They did not discuss his childhood that day instead their focus was on each other's preferences of art, but Harleen thought that a person's preferences of art was as easy a way to get into a person's mind as any.
When the timer dinged signaling the end of the sesion Harleen jumped ever so slightly, and hoped that he didn't notice.
she had been warned multiple times to never let her guard down with The Joker.
But as she got up from the chair she could see the smirk on his face, and could tell her garud had been let down just for a moment.
Harleen admonished herself for a second but then thought there was no way that the Joker could use something so small against her.
Your taste in art is very…"
"Gruesome, dark, disturbing?"
"I was going to say interesting."
"Hmmm and yours is exactly what I would expect from a woman with their Sunflowers, Starry Nights, and Water Lilies.
"Maybe next time we can discuss music." Harleen said as she pulled a pudding cup out of her pocket.
She watched the Joker look at the chocolate vanilla swirl pudding cup, she could tell that he was trying to hide the fact that he was mildly intrigued by this gesture.
" It's a reward if the patient is good and talks with their doctor during their session, they are given a pudding cup at the end."
"So thoughtful. "The Joker said as he peeled off the top and began licking the pudding.
"It wasn't really me, it's just an asylum policy, sorry I didn't bring you a spoon."
"It seems that they forgot to tell you about the newest asylum policy. "
" What's that? "
" They don't use utensils here anymore ever and I'm partly to blame for it."
The dinging of the egg timer snapped the Joker back to reality and before him he saw a disgruntled young man unable to make a breakthrough.
The guards were called to escort Joker to the lunchroom, and as they walked he tried to find some solace in toying with his newest opponent.
But the victory seemed hollow, the game presented no challenge, and as much as it annoyed him he knew the only other challenge he had other than Batman was her.
Joker grabbed his lunch tray of a taco fried okra, and a brownie.
"Oh no fucking way first they decide to feed me fried okra, then you had the audacity to sit down in front of me!"
Joker looked up still in a daze to mildly acknowledge the woman sitting in front of him.
Her red hair fell loosely around her shoulders and the standard gray sweats that the patients were required to wear clashed greatly with her light green skin.
"Shut up you little weed before I force feed you a bottle of Roundup."
"Kiss my ass you horror movie reject, I said you can't sit here now move! "Ivy said as she slammed her fist on the table.
It was a longstanding unspoken rule at Arkham, that the patients usually sat alone during their meals.
The few times this rule was broken was when two villains were secretly planning an escape together, or if Harley and Joker were both in Arkham at the same time, or when Harley and Joker were in Arkham together but when they were having a spat she usually sat with Poison Ivy.
The Joker scanned the cafeteria, but saw that Harley was nowhere to be found.
" Where is she?"
"I don't know she's clearly not here as you can plainly see, although I must say that I'm particularly happy that she's not with you maybe that means she finally came to her senses."Ivy said as she smiled at the Joker's obvious discomfort.
"It's just a temporary thing and nothing you need to concern yourself with. "The Joker spat as he glared at the one person he hated almost as much as the Batman.
" Oh really then why did she blow up Ace Chemicals?"Ivy asked with a triumphant smile.
"That's a lie she would never blow up something so important to both of us!"
"Oh but she did and the display of light that came from it was simply beautiful, I can't remember the last time I had been so blissfully happy."Ivy said as her eyes sparkled with happiness.
" If you ever lie to me like that again I will cut you into a million pieces." The Joker said as he wrapped his fingers around Ivy's neck and began to squeeze.
He waited ever so patiently as her body slowly began to beg for air, he enjoyed this part immensely his victims look of fear their need for something that only he could give then there would be the the decision if he temporarily allow it or not.
But his happiness soon turned to confusion and immense anger, as he watched a smile spread over Ivy's face.
He squeezed even tighter, savoring the way her eyes bulged, as he constricted her airflow even more.
Only one person had the audacity to rob him of the joy of his torture, and he made sure he died for it.
He wanted to savor this and wanted to remember the pain she was feeling, he knew he wouldn't be able to kill her here but what she was feeling now would satisfy him until he got the proper chance.
He held her throat tight waiting for the moment that he would feel her fingers on his wrist trying to pull his hand away.
But that moment never came and he looked down at her hands, only to see that the knuckles had turned white from grabbing the table so hard.
He squeezed even harder knowing that he would enjoy the sound of her forehead smacking into the metal table, but as he listened to the gurgling in her throat he could tell that she was trying to say something.
He didn't want to let go, he wanted to watch her squirm, but he couldn't take the risk that she actually knew something about Harley
The Joker let out an angry growl and released Ivy's throat, and took what little satisfaction he could from her labored breathing and coughing.
Then when she regained her breath she turned to the table where Two-Face and Penguin were sitting.
"Hey Penguin Two-Face who blew up ace chemicals?"
" Harley Quinn did as a kind of fuck you to the Joker Ivy we figured you of all people would know that. "The Penguin and Two-Face said as they turned to Ivy.
Then they spotted the Joker and quickly went back to whispering amongst themselves.
The Joker looked at the scar under Penguin's left eye.
It was from a bank robbery that went wrong but neither one of them could figure out whose fault it was; so the Joker decided to let a plastic knife figure it out.
That was years ago but the Joker suddenly felt like giving him another one, but he thought better of it because he knew; that his beef was not with Penguin at least for the moment.
" See I wasn't lying".
It's time for you to face the fact that Harley just doesn't love you anymore."Ivy said as she met The Joker's gaze.
The Joker glared at her he hated that she was right, but mostly he hated the look of hope in her eyes.
The hope that one day Harley would have eventually come back to her.
The Joker let out a furious yell as he picked up his okra and shoved it down Ivy's throat.
"You bastard!"Ivy shouted as she gagged on the okra.
Then the Joker picked up his metal tray and slammed it across the side of Ivy's face.
He savored the sickening thud as her face hit the metal table, but the riot that ensued afterward and pleased him even more.
He had last found some happiness and laughed wholeheartedly as he watched the chaos swirl around him.
However the scene was short lived as the cafeteria was quickly tear gassed and the patiences returned to their cells.
The Joker laughed through his watery eyes, but as he looked at the hazy yellowness of the tear gas;
He could not help but feel the absence of the person that was usually there beside him.
He missed her maniacal laughter yet still with a hint of bubbliness from what she had been before.
He missed the sparkle in her eyes as she would take in the explosions, fire, and chaos.
She would tell him how beautiful it all was and that no one was better than him..
He would look at her with a loving smile on his lips and as he did he could practically see her blood humming with excitement, he could practically hear every last inch of her begging him for more.
He craved that sound whether they were watching the city burn, or having their alone time at home no sound was more perfect to him.
The Joker quickly turned as he felt someone come up behind him, and through the haze managed to land a few punches.
The cracking teeth and bone along with the whimpers of people his hands connected with
brought him a small amount of pleasure.
'Come on puddin do it!'
He placed his hands securely around one of the guards neck, one little snap was all it would take.
The Joker laughed maniacally wishing that she was here to see this.
Then The Joker let out a cry of rage as he felt the needle jab into his shoulder.
They had a special type of sedation serum at Arkham, it was fast acting in reserve for the most volatile patients.
The Joker quickly slipped into unconsciousness, and the land of fitful dreams.
He watched her walk into the room as he laid on the couch, because after all if he was going to play with his toy he at least wanted to be comfortable.
They discussed many things over the past few weeks but he was not fooled in the least, and knew exactly what her motives were.
She was still intent on getting in his head, and finding something that she could use.
He was fine with letting her do that circles didn't really bother him, and eventually he would enjoy watching her frustration drive her to near madness.
Last week she discussed pets, how she had a fondness for dogs, and how she wished you had one growing up.
He turned this into a discussion about hyenas, and by the end of the hour was actually able to convince her that they were kind of cute.
Then the week before that they discussed food and it turned out that they both had a fondness for steak although she liked hers pink and he liked his rare.
They're taste in pizza did seem to match up oddly enough, and she could not believe that he also liked pepperoni and mushroom.
But none of this was anything of real use to her, and every day when the timer would ding, he would see that look of frustration in her eyes.
He loved that look on her, he loved that look on most people, almost as much as the look of fear in their eyes right before he ended them.
But this time was different; she had accidentally gotten too close.
It started the way it always did she would talk to him about some pre-picked topic, and he would twist it to his advantage.
When asked what music he preferred he casually said classical with the occasional aria.
Then he pretended to be shocked and hurt by the fact that she had assumed that he would prefer heavy metal.
He's savored her look of shock and slight embarrassment at being caught, at making some pre supposed assumption.
He was mildly intrigued to hear that she preferred alternative music, and he smirked when she said that she liked Clair de Lune by Debussy.
Then his smirk turned into outright laughter.
"What?" Harleen asked, forgetting to hide the frustration in her voice.
" It's so typical of a woman to only love a beautiful classical song because it's played in some mushy movie about a brainless teenage girl who falls in love with a one hundred and nine -year-old guy who turns into a disco ball in the sunlight."
"Hey, that movie was beautiful and romantic! "
"No, that movie was about a whiny vampire who doesn't even follow the criteria of a real vampire, and he throws a little angst at a brainless teenage girl and she eats it up. just like all the women that watch it."
"I guess when you put it like that the wolves were a lot better."
"Ugh just go get me a bucket already."
"Okay then what was the last thing you were able to go see when you were out last?"
Harleen said as she raised an eyebrow at the Joker.
There was a passable local production of Sweeney Todd down in the East End.
" Ah right I've heard that he used straight razors, and your file said that you prefer knives so I could suppose I could see why that musical would appeal to you.
" Once again you idiots who claim to know everything about the human brain, have completely missed the point.
Sweeney was a normal man once he had a wife and a child, but then something bad happened and he broke.
Then he was able to see the world for what it truly was, and understand that it takes only one bad thing to break you; but once that bad thing happens you see the world for what it truly is!"
"I don't under-"
My little bird
My sweet Joanna
The ding of the timer brought the Joker back to himself, and he couldn't help but notice the look of sadness and pity on Harleen's face.
"Well I think we've made a lot of progress today." Harleen said as she pulled out a chocolate vanilla swirl pudding and handed it to the Joker.
The Joker opened the pudding and began to eat it still in somewhat of a daze.
This was as close as anyone had ever got to him, and in that closeness he had unwittingly
handed over control.
It was something he swore he would never let happen again.
The Joker smeared the pudding over his lips as he watched Harleen walk towards the door.
"Wait there's something else I need to talk about."
" I think it would be best if we waited until tomorrow, because it would be best if you didn't burn yourself out."
"Please I really need to talk about this." The Joker said as he let his voice fill with sadness.
He watched Harleen approach him with eyes filled with clear curiosity.
Then she came close enough he pressed his lips to hers.
He savored her anger, confusion, but most of all her intrigue by the situation; he even thought that he felt her trying to stifle a moan.
He was sure that what she pulled out of him would be forgotten.
Then he felt the tightness in his pants that only meant one thing.
The Joker clenched his fits as the kiss continued.
He wasn't supposed to feel this, it was only supposed to be a means to an end.
The kiss ended as the door to the therapy room unlocked.
Harley quickly licked the pudding from her lips, and wiped her lipstick from the Joker's.
Then Harleen quickly made her way to the door as it opened, and left the Joker with his confusion.
The Joker's eyes slowly opened and as his mind slowly began to focus, it came to one though.
"Harley."
Chapter 4
A summer wind swirled Batman's cape as he tried to disarm Two-Face, both men's faces were filled with grim intensity as they both fought to fulfill their task
to his right Catwoman did better with the penguin, who wasn't quite in the mood for a battle at that point.
"Oh come on, be a reasonable kitty now, can't I just give you a nice fish and then we call even like always? Penguin asked, quickly as he pulled out his umbrella.
"I'm afraid things have changed Penguin, and for the record the fish you gave me to keep me out of your feathers was never really that good anyway."Catwoman said as she wrapped her whip around The Penguin's umbrella and quickly disarmed him.
Once he knew that the penguin was disarmed Batman landed a mighty blow on Two- face's temple.
Batman watched the man he once considered a good friend slump to the parking lot pavement.
While the Penguins squirmed anpd desperately tried to free himself from a pair of inescapable Bat cuffs.
Batman looked at the side of his face that remained unmarred by acid,and couldn't help but think back to the Harvey he once knew.
the brilliant, handsome, up and coming DA that had his whole career and life ahead of him.
Bruce and Harvey would often join one another for a friendly dinner, or a round of drinks after work.
And the tabloids never seem to get enough of seeing these two handsome bachelors hanging out together.
Then came the day when that part of their lives ended forever.
For Harvey Dent District Attorney it was another typical day, of trying to clean the streets of gangbangers and crime.
Today's court session however would prove to be much more high profile.
Harvey Dent along with the help of the Batman had managed to catch a big fish, in the Italian mob known as Carmine Falconie.
The case was open and shut but also full of incriminating evidence,Harvey and Batman were sure that once Falcony's was put away it would be much harder for the Italian mob to conduct their operations; and it was Batman's and Harvey's hope to slowly but surely dismantle it all together.
Batman took a seat in the gallery because he would not miss a major victory for himself, and Harvey but he also remained alert because he knew this fish would not be reeled in without a fight.
Batman held back a smirk as he took in the surprised murmurs from the jury and gallery,and could have sworn he heard Harvey chuckle as he took in the looks of murmurs himself.
But it was a look of fear in Carmine Falcony's eyes that pleased Batman and Harvey the most.
The trial went on as all trials do. Both lawyers presented their case, and the witness gave alibi's and statements.
But Harvey had put together a mountain of evidence against Falcony, including many credible witnesses.
Carmine fidgeted and sweated at the defendants table , because he knew he was about to go away for a very long time.
Later the jury returned with their verdict which was the unanimous vote of guilty on all charges.
As the verdict was read one loan man in a trench coat, stood and pulled a gun from his coat.
Batman acted quickly and was able to stop the gunman before he had shot Carmine's lawyer, but he would soon learn that the lawyer was merely a decoy; because as the lawyer ducked underneath the table, Carmine took the moment to throw a thermos full of acid at the left side of Harvey's face.
Batman's eyes momentarily widened in horror as Harvey's cries of pain made his blood run cold.
Bailiffs arrive to take Carmine and the other man away, while Batman left the gallery and ran over to his friend just as the pain makes him lose consciousness.
A week later Harvey Dent was finally allowed visitors and his friend Billionaire Bruce Wayne was the first one there with a piece of Tiramisu from their favorite Italian restaurant.
Two cops from GCPD were posted at the door but when they saw who it was, they opened the door and let him in.
" Hey Harvey it's me Bruce they finally let visitors in here so I just had to come and see you,I brought you a little something that might speed up your recovery. "
Bruce said as he held up the piece of cake in the plastic to go box.
"Bruce bro how have you been better than me I'm sure, hey how's that fine girl you're dating you never did tell me if she had a sister; why you holding out on me bro? "
Bruce looked at his friend as he put the piece of cake down on the bed table
He had missed the secret laid-backness of his friend, and was afraid that he would never see it again.
Harvey did not bring up his situation at all.
But Bruce being who he was had to take into account that Harvey had not made eye contact with him during their conversation.
Harvey also seemed much too calm about his situation, almost as if he was in some sort of denial.
But Bruce knew from personal experience that sometimes the truth took a little while to set in.
Bruce also noticed that Harvey kept flipping his stress relieving two-sided coin, that he would always flip when dealing with a hard case.
When they spoke Bruce couldn't help but notice that Harvey almost constantly flipped the coin, almost as if some sort of compulsion had come over him.
He would stop flipping the coin only to catch it, then cover it with his other hand briefly, then check to see which side it came up on, then repeated the action.
Bruce also noticed that one side of the coin had been scared, because Harvey always kept it
in his breast pocket.
"How are you feeling Harvey? "
Bruce nearly choked on the words, and in some ways wished he had because the answer to that question scared him almost as much as the Bats he encountered as a child.
"Oh I'm fine bro you know it's a hospital so it's quiet for the most part,I'm well protected here, but the food's not anything I'd write home about, but then again it's hospital food so you know.
It hurts like hell when the medicine wears off, but what can you do the quiet is good. I like that the most, I've had a lot of time to think and I figured it all out." Harvey said absent mindedly as he continued to flip his coin.
"What do you mean? "
"The things that happen to us are completely random.
On any given day any average person could walk into work and get a raise while another person gets hit by a bus.
It's as random as this." Harvey said as he flipped his coin.
Bruce's gut twisted in horror as he watched his friend catch the coin, then wait for a second
But Bruce knew from personal experience that sometimes the truth took a little while to set in.
Bruce also noticed that Harvey kept flipping his stress relieving two-sided coin, that he would always flip when dealing with a hard case.
When they spoke Bruce couldn't help but notice that Harvey almost constantly flipped the coin, almost as if some sort of compulsion had come over him.
He would stop flipping the coin only to catch it, then cover it with his other hand briefly, then check to see which side it came up on, then repeated the action.
Bruce also noticed that one side of the coin had been scared, because Harvey always kept it
in his breast pocket.
"How are you feeling Harvey? "
Bruce nearly choked on the words, and in some ways wished he had because the answer to that question scared him almost as much as the Bats he encountered as a child.
"Oh I'm fine bro you know it's a hospital so it's quiet for the most part,I'm well protected here, but the food's not anything I'd write home about, but then again it's hospital food so you know.
It hurts like hell when the medicine wears off, but what can you do the quiet is good. I like that the most, I've had a lot of time to think and I figured it all out." Harvey said absent mindedly as he continued to flip his coin.
"What do you mean? "
"The things that happen to us are completely random.
On any given day any average person could walk into work and get a raise while another person gets hit by a bus.
It's as random as this." Harvey said as he flipped his coin.
Bruce's gut twisted in horror as he watched his friend catch the coin, then wait for a second
He knew he couldn't fall apart here but as he closed his eyes all he could see was Harvey now disfigured standing by his slain parents asking why he hadn't done more to help them.
" Mr. Wayne, please don't do that, you'll hurt yourself." The orderly said quickly as she rushed over to him.
Bruce looked at the wall to make sure his fist had not gone through it, then he desperately tried to warn the woman who had so caringly put her hand on his shoulder.
"Harvey."
"Oh yes such a shame he was so handsome, and is in considerable pain right now.
I just don't understand how one human being could do something so brutal to another. " The nurse said wistfully as she looked at the handsome broken man, who was now on his knees.
"No.
When I went in to see him he was rambling about how everything was random, and he kept flipping his coin over and over."
"I'm quite amazed that you've got him to talk at all Mr Wayne, because ever since he's woken up from his sedation he hasn't spoken or eaten; but if what you say is true he may be experiencing a psychotic break, and due to what happened to his face he may even develop a dual personality." The nurse said somewhat shocked.
"Yes, that's also what I'm afraid of.
We must schedule a psychiatric exam right away."Bruce said as he quickly got to his feet.
"I'm afraid we can't do that Mr. Wayne. "
" Why not? If it's a matter of money I can take care of it, and have a trusted psychiatrist here within the hour.
"I'm afraid it's more of a matter of protocol Mr. Wayne we can only use the psychiatrist provided by the hospital, and unfortunately they won't be here until tomorrow."
" No tomorrow will be too late, you didn't see him the way I did, he is very ingrained in this new conviction he will need psychiatric help as soon as possible." Bruce said through clenched teeth.
" I'm sorry Mr. Wayne but we just can not let a random psychiatrist into this hospital, it just isn't safe."
"I understand that you're only trying to do your job ma'am, but please call me if there's any change."Bruce Wayne said as he took out a scrap of paper, and wrote down his cell phone number then handed it to the orderly.
"What's your name ? "Bruce Wayne said, as he looked into the sympathetic eyes of the orderly.
"It's Kelly Richardson Mr. Wayne."
"Kelly, please take care of my friend." Bruce said as he handed her the number.
"I swear on my hippocratic oath that I shall, but you should go home and rest Mr. Wayne you've done all you can and burning the candle at both ends like this will be of no help to Harvey."
Bruce gave Kelly a weak smile then slowly walked out of the hospital.
Kelly watched Bruce go her heart never going out to someone more, then it did at that moment.
Bruce got into the car and sank into the interior of the back seat, as Alfred slowly drove him home.
Sleep was the last thing Bruce Wayne wanted because every time he closed his eyes, he saw Harvey's face doused with acid.
Then a newly discovered Harvey would stand beside his parents and ask him why he had not done more to help.
But he knew that Kelly was right, and if Batman was going to be of any help to Harvey Bruce Wayne needed to sleep.
After a fit full afternoon of sleep Bruce Wayne awoke at sunset and took his dinner in front of the television, much to Alfred's disapproval, But Bruce Wayne was sure that if there was to be any news on Harvey doing something criminal it would be tonight.
He kept the channel tuned to Gotham news network for two hours that night only letting his eyes leave the TV for a brief second only to see if the back signal would tell him something was amiss.
Two hours later the news report changed from the stock market to a breaking news alert that Harvey Dent had robbed The Gotham First National Bank, and now went by a new persona known as Two-Face.
Bruce Wayne fought against the dinner that was trying to claw its way back up his throat, as he prayed that it was only another nightmare but the bat signal would only confirm his deepest fears.
Batman raced to the bank in the Batmobile desperately trying to figure out a way to reach his now former friend.
When Batman reached the bank he quickly took out the henchmen, but approached Harvey slowly hoping that somehow he could help him be the man he once was.
"...Harvey."
"Batman, I will say for the last time that I am happy to see you.
After all, I was hoping you would come to witness my debut.
After all of those times we've worked together, I suppose it's only fitting that you would try to stop me right after my transition.
"Harvey please don't talk like that, we're friends, remember, and you have other friends waiting for you hoping that you'll get better.
"Harvey is gone because Harvey was a lie.
I have embraced my true self, which is Two-Face.
All that gibberish I spouted about truth, justice and the law, was all a lie I told to make the empty headed citizens of Gotham happy.
In the end it couldn't stand up to the truth which is that everything is random.
I fought this truth for so long; but it was always there at the back of my mind waiting patiently to be accepted."
"Harvey please I can see that you haven't hurt anyone so, all you need to do is put down the money.
It'll all be okay.
I'll get you back to the hospital and I'll get you some help." Batman said as he slowly tried to approach the man that stood in front of him, desperately hoping that his friend was somewhere inside of him.
"The coin came up on the good side.
These people will live, and the money will go to an orphanage they got lucky.
But what can you do?"
Batman took note of the clear annoyance in Two-Face's tone and face, as he tried to suppress the cold shiver that was running down his spine and the realization that his friend was slipping away before his eyes.
"Harvey please this is your last chance you have to let me help you!" Batman said as he ran towards Two-Face.
"This is the real me and I'll never go back to the imposter that I was!" Two-Face said as he pulled a gun on Batman and fired.
Dodging the bullet was easy but swallowing the crushing lump in his throat that was slowly, cutting off his air supply as his fist connected with his former friend's face was much harder.
Over the years the lump had grown smaller, but the hope that one day his friend would return had always left a bitter sting.
But tonight the lump was almost back to full size, as the woman who had finally chosen his love over the pursuit of something that would never truly full fill fought at his side.
Having her had been one of the things he wanted most, and having her at his side now kindled the hope that one day the old Harvey might return.
"I'm sorry."Catwoman said as she came up behind Batman and wrapped her arms comfortingly around his shoulders.
" None of this was your fault. "Batman said as he continued to watch an incapacitated two face, knowing that the man had been able to trick him more than once.
" I know when I read what happened in the paper I knew you'd be crushed, and I worried for you; and given everything that I know now I feel even worse for you, your friendship ran so deep.
Then some man with his greed came along and heartlessly destroyed it."
Batman broke free from Catwoman's embrace, turned to her and presented her with a kiss of gratitude for saying the words that he could never speak.
He thanked her for her understanding knowing that if losing his parents could turn him into what he was now, acknowledging what happened with Harvey would turn him into something much darker and that was something he never wanted to be.
Cat woman eagerly accepted the kiss as she felt herself become warm and light-headed, each kiss felt like the first time they had truly kissed not as rivals but at last as true lovers; she lived for this kiss and relished the feeling it gave her.
Catwoman let a gentle moan escape her throat just low enough for him to hear, and then she felt the tension in his body release.
She loved comforting him, and longed to run her fingers through his hair, and across his cheek as he kissed her.
She could tell that he really needed her comfort tonight, and that was perfectly fine with her; she was more than happy to comfort him all day if that was what he needed.
The Joker stared at the white padded walls that surrounded him, then he slammed his head into the wall that his back was against.
But he felt nothing for the padded mesh that covered the walls was many layers deep.
The high he had felt after his dispute with the weed had long since worn off and without that he was forced to accept where he was.
The walls may have been padded but no matter how you look at it solitary confinement, is solitary confinement.
In the days before he had met Harley solitary had not been such a bad place.
It was the place where he could pull his mind back together, the place where he could reminisce about some of the best crimes he pulled off, and the look on Batsy's face as he went up against him once again.
This stay in solitary had not been as tranquil as the others for him.
Not that anyone would care to listen but he felt that he didn't deserve to be in solitary, because the weed had presented an outright challenge to him; and he knew that any man when presented to the same challenge as it referred to his lover, would have reacted the same way.
Yet here he sat in this padded cell even though they never called it that.
No the' medical professionals here called these rooms a place of quiet solitude, so that the 'patients'
could relax and think of something peaceful to help ease their minds.
The Joker slammed his head into the wall again, as he tried to feel the pain that would undoubtedly reverberate through his skull; and numb him even if only temporarily to the rage and confusion that was swirling in his mind.
For instance why had the bat been able to take him down so easily, why had the fact that the brainless feline had finally become his lap kitty upset him so much, why was he plagued with the memories of his past with Harleen, and above all why had Harley not returned to him?
The fight that they had, had been no different than the other ones or so it seemed to him.
He tried to remember what the fight had been about, and concluded that it had been about the thing that they always fought about.
The thing he withheld from her, but he knew from the beginning even before she became Harley that she desperately wanted him to share it.
And why should he share it?
He knew it wouldn't fix it, it would not present him with a time machine so he could go back to change what happened; so he decided that the best thing to do was to keep it locked inside and become the agent of chaos.
He knew that she knew better than to ask, and letting her in that one time had been hard enough and he swore to never do it again.
But there were times when she would look at him and he would see it in her eyes, he knew she still wanted to help him.
Perhaps it was because she truly loved him, but as he told her before he is not something that is loved he is an idea, a state of mind; and these things do not feel pain or love, but when she would look at him with those eyes, he would see what he lost, and the pain would be too much.
After that he would cause a fight over one thing or another out of anger, and at times when his anger was greater than others he would go out of his way to hurt her.
He would regret it instantly as he would watch her leave him in tears, and swearing that she would never return to him.
But she would always return to him, and even though he never told her he was happy for it; but then he never had to she always knew.
Then came the night that she would leave and never return.
They had just finished having some quality time together, and she laid blissfully in his arms.
He loved their quality time and the blissful look on her face, as she laid in his arms.
but when he looked into her eyes he saw an expectancy in them, an expectancy that sent a cold shiver down his spine.
He quickly moved her back to her side of the bed much to her dismay.
"Puddin what is it?" Harley said her face contorted with a look of confusion.
"I can't. "The Joker said, as he moved away from the bed.
"Can't what? "
"Why do you always do this?!"
"Do what I don't get it, everything was fine a few minutes ago!"
"Yes you do, you always do it and just at the moment when you know I don't want you to!"
"Puddin please."
"Don't call me that you know how much I hate it!"
"Look I'm sure we can figure out whatever's wrong and fix it, but I need you to talk to me!"
"I don't have time to talk, I have work to do!"
"Puddin please I just want to help you, it's all I've ever wanted!"
"I don't need your help or anyone else's, you're here because it suits me, and when it doesn't you're gone, why haven't you accepted that yet?!"
"Damn it, why can't you just accept that we love each other, I love you, you're the only thing that matters to me; why can't you ever put me first?!"
"That's it, we need some time apart, so just go somewhere and give me some space for a while!"
"No I don't want to. I just got back with you and I spent so much time away from you already I don't want us to be separated again!" Harley said, as she threw her arms around him, and pressed her lips against his.
He couldn't resist the feel of her lips, and the hardness of the kiss as she tried to gain control of the situation.
He gave in with the groan as he pulled her close and ran his fingers through her hair savoring its scent and softness.
Then a cold shiver ran down his spine as he felt the kiss turn gentle, and he heard the voice that he always heard when she kissed him this way.
'Surrender to me you know you want to, you know I deserve it.
It'll be sweet I promise, just let me in I promise I won't hurt you.'
The voice grew louder and louder until he thought his head might explode.
The Joker broke the kiss and shoved Harley away, he was thankful that she landed on the bed; but the tears she shed were unwelcome.
"Don't you ever try to control me like that again!"
"I'm not going to let you separate us after everything we went through, I know you love me, why can't you just accept it?!"
"If you won't leave on your own fine I'll have you thrown out! "The Joker said, as he called for one of his henchmen.
The Joker watched with amusement as Harley tussled with the henchman, but was eventually overpowered and picked up.
He enjoyed her angry shouts of protest, but frowned as he heard her roughly hit the street.
He wanted Harley gone, yes but the henchman had taken it too far and the Joker was not happy to have what was his damage.
A few minutes later The Joker thought he heard Harley at the door begging to be let back in, but he couldn't be sure because he and his knives were busy teaching that henchman a lesson for daring to hurt his queen.
The memory made his head throb.
The Joker enjoyed a little pain now then, but this wasn't the pain he wanted.
He was also frustrated and tired.
A month after she left came her taunting voice, and it had robbed him of sleep ever since.
Then there were the times that his body demanded sleep, and he would be stuck in fit full memories of the past.
But now all he could hear was the weed's voice telling him that she didn't love him anymore, and try as he might to picture her in the medical ward whining in pain; all he could see was her and Harley laughing at him, then her and the weed walking off together in a lovers embrace.
It was the last thing his mind could take, and his eyes slowly closed and he felt himself sink back into his memories.
He sat at the metal table waiting for her to come, but as he did he heard the guards talking heatedly.
Then he knew she was at the door because she let out a squeal that all women let out when they see something completely adorable.
Then he heard the guards talking again as they unlocked the door, and as she walked through the door he heard one of the guards whisper to the other.
"It's a woman thing if it's cute they're into no matter how demented it is."
"I heard that and I'm here to say that it's not true, if you showed that to any other woman in this place; they would think the people who made it were completely insane." Harleen said as she walked into the room.
"That's because they are!''Rick the gaurd said as the door closed.
"Insane or not it's still cute, now quite down boys I've got work to do." Harleen said, with a giggle as she walked into the room
She walked over to the table and took her seat in front of the Joker.
" What were those two idiots blathering about sports or something?"The Joker said, as he tried to hide his irritation at someone else, making her laugh.
"Ha if it had anything to do with sports then I wouldn't have even bothered talking with them, because the only sport I can understand is Gymnastics."
A coy smile spread across her lips as she watched the Joker's eyebrows rise
"Do I detect a hint of surprise Mr.J?" Harleen asked, as she continued to smile.
"Honestly yes. "
"Really and why is that? "
" Well you're very smart, and you'd have to be if you were talking with someone like me so I just thought that you would have gone to college on an academic scholarship.
" What makes you think I went to school on a scholarship? "
"Just a feeling. "
"Yeah well all the academic scholarships at Gotham University were taken, but it was the school I really wanted so I did what I had to."
"I see and you didn't really enjoy Gymnastics? " the Joker said as he rested both of his elbows on the table.
"No I did, it's just that I didn't really see myself doing it as an Olympic goal you know, and that's really a temporary thing anyway.
"I understand it's always important to know what you want to do in the long term."
"What about you Mr. J?"
"Ugh the twelve years I already drudged through when I was forced to go to school, was boring enough and then they actually expected me to pay to take more boring classes; with snooty professors only to be kicked out when someone was angry, because they came in second to me and decided to retaliate and all I did was defend myself
.
No thanks if I need to learn something I have the money to buy the books and the IQ to teach it to myself."
"A self-made man, I respect that."
"Good it's about time someone did." The Joker said, as he took in the genuine interest in Harleen's eyes.
"But that doesn't explain what the guards were arguing about. "The Joker said, as he looked into Harleen's eyes.
"Oh that it was nothing."
"It clearly wasn't nothing cuz it got a girlish squeal out of you."
"I did not do a girlish squeal."
Oh but you did, it's nothing to be embarrassed about I think it suits you. "The Joker said with a friendly smile.
The Joker watched her as she gave an angry pout, and his smile widened as he thought about how much he had missed that.
"Fine you want to know so bad just give me one second."Harleen said as she pulled out her phone,and made a few quick taps on the touch screen.
"Tada!" Harleen said as she showed the Joker the picture on her screen.
"What. The. Hell. Is that?" The Joker asked as he stared at the picture.
"It's a Funko Pop." Harleen said with a cheerful smile.
"This is an outrage I'm going to sue. I can not believe that my image has been watered down to some cheap bobble head that's just being sold to tourists. "The Joker said, as his voice boomed with fury.
" But it looks so cute though." Harleen muttered as she looked at the picture again."
"I hate you." The Joker said as he narrowed his eyes at Harleen in what she could only think of as a death stare.
" I think you're looking at this all wrong."
Harleen watched the Joker and took note that his expression had softened a little.
"Funko Pops are an omash to the things in pop culture that people like, and the fact that there one of you means people out there like at least a little."
"Hmm I suppose that wouldn't be so bad." The Joker said as he propped his chin on his fist for a minute.
Harleen watched him carefully as she tried to figure out if she had said anything that had gotten through to him.
"Let me see the picture of it again."
Harleen did as she was told, eager to know what his reaction would be.
"Well at least they got my tattoos right. The Joker said as he sat back in his chair.
"What tattos?" Harleen asked, as she looked at the picture again then her eyes widened a little as she saw the sheer amount of them.
"Do you really have that many?" Harleen asked as her eyebrows raised in clear astonishment.
"Yup." The Joker said as he let the p at the end of the word pop.
"But why it must have been very painful."
'Surely you've heard the expression art imitates life.'
"Of course I have. "
"Well I think that life should express art, and my tattoos are one form of that expression.
"I understand but it still seems rather extreme."
"Oh what is it with you mundane people and your fear of the extreme, sometimes it's the only way to get things done; and when a certain someone does it you give him a front page headline, and want to pin a medal on him.
While I am tossed in here and labeled insane, now what type of sense does that make?"
" I happen to think that anything taken to an extreme is unwise because your judgment will eventually be clouded."
"I can assure you doctor that my judgment is never clouded, and that all people secretly wish that they could express themselves as freely as I do. "
"You honestly think that people want to go around blowing things up and match wits with someone dressed up like a giant bat?" Harleen asked, clearly annoyed at the fact that he had suggested that everyone had that desire inside them.
"No, what I meant was that all people long to express themselves freely, without worrying what other people think.
Why I'm sure even you have held feelings or thoughts inside, because you were too afraid to offend your boss or another coworker.
That's not true." Harleen said quickly.
"So you really mean to tell me that you haven't once thought about, just doing what you wanted and not caring about what other people think provided that what you did meant something?"
"Of course I have everyone does."
"But you haven't done it yet."
"I will there just hasn't been time." Harleen said as she tucked a stray peice of hair behind her ear.
"Ah the timeless excuse that everyone uses, I think all your cliches are going to be the death of you doc.
But that's the difference between me and most people.
I make time to express myself; and I like to make sure that each way is more original and thought provoking than the next, but still sticks to the core of what I am.
"And what exactly is that?'Harleen asked as she felt herself moving closer.
"I'm an artist and art was never meant to be kept locked away, it was meant to be displayed for everyone to see." The Joker said as he mimicked her gesture.
"You started with your tattoos.''Harleen said as a look of realization crossed her face.
The Joker's lips spread into a wide smile, and Harleen couldn't tell if he was happy that she figured that out or if he was just patrnazing her.
She decided that it was most likely the latter.
"Well the J on your cheek obviously stands for Joker.''Harleen said as she looked at the J tattoo on the Joker cheek.
"And Captain obvious wins five hundred points in the first round congratulations."
" Hey, give me a break, it's the only one I can actually see." Harleen griped as she glared at the Joker.
"Ha ha kiddo the meaning of my tattoos are very complex, mainly I like the confused looks I get from my prey when they see them; well all except him the man just doesn't understand good art."
"I bet I could understand"
"Understand what?
"Your tattoos that is if you're not too shy about letting me see another one" Harleen asked, as she tried to hide a hopeful smile.
She told herself that this was purely for her work, and that the tatoos did not interest her at all but as soon as the thought entered her head she knew that it was a lie.
"Ha ha doc I can assure you that I am maaaany things but shy is not one of them.''The Joker said as he pulled down the collar of his shirt to reveal a tattoo of a deck of cards.
Harleen stared at the tattoo as she found herself trying to find out the meaning of two completely different things at once.
But decided to tackle the latter first before he changed his mind.
"Hmm, is it a good luck charm?" Harleen said as she continued to look at the tatoo.
"Beginners' luck is clearly with this one today."The Joker said with a friendly smile.
"Yes but why would you get it?"
The Joker sat back in his chair as he decided whether he wanted to continue the game or not.
"The truth is that I have a lucky deck, but when I liberate myself from this hell hole I don't always have time to grab it; so I got the tattoo so I could always carry it with me."
"That's very interesting." Harleen said as she quickly wrote down what she had just heard.
"Yes, this conversation was somewhat interesting to me, and I would like this game to continue." The Joker said, as he rested his chin on his fist.
"Yes I would really like to learn more about this side of you, but unfortunately I can't see the rest of your tattoos."Harleen said as she stared at the gray sweatshirt the Joker was forced to wear.
"Yea I never really liked the couch potato get up that we are forced to wear around here."
"It's meant to be comfortable and non constricting, which is supposed to be relaxing."
"Trust me kiddo, when I wear my clothes I'm very comfortable."The Joker said with a triumphant smile.
A shy smile appeared on Harleen's lips as she tucked a stray peice of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Ah so you've seen my clothes then." The Joker said as he moved closer to the table again.
" A few times in the paper." Harleen said as she chewed her bottom lip in concentration.
"I see and what did you think of them?" The Joker asked as he locked eyes with her.
"Oh I don't really know." Harleen said quickly as a light shade of pink crept into her cheeks.
"Oh sure you do just say the first word that pops into your head." The Joker said, as he focused on the pink that had crept into her cheeks.
"I don't want to offend you."Harleen said as she quickly turned red.
"Oh come on how bad could it possibly be?"The Joker asked, with a friendly smile but his eyes lingered on her cheeks.
"Flashy." Harleen said with a nervous giggle.
Harleen jumped ever so slightly as she heard the Joker burst out laughing, but after a moment found herself laughing too.
"But I will say that Purple is a good look for you, it really brings out your eyes."Harleen said as she looked into the Joker's light brown eyes which now reminded her of two pools of melted chocolate.
"I agree unlike gray which is soo not my color.''The Joker said with an exaggerated sigh.
This made Harleen burst out laughing again, and the Joker wished she had been drinking something so he could see it come out her nose.
" I also think that you would appreciate my clothing choice for another reason."The Joker said with a sly smile.
"They make your tattoos easier to see.''Harleen said, as her eyes shone with curiosity.
"Bingo kiddo."The Joker said with a chuckle as he watched her eyes sparkle with curiosity.
"But I do know how you can see my tattoos."
Harleen looked down at her phone then back at the Joker who was smiling at her.
Then the timer dinged signaling that the session was over.
"Until next week Doc when the game begins again."
"Goodbye Mr. J I look forward to talking to you again." Harleen said as she got up from the table and left the room.
Joker slowly opened his eyes and as realized what dream he had, he began to laugh hysterically as tears streamed down his face.
Chapter 5
The Joker sat in the therapy room he was grateful to at least be out of solitary, and happy to hear the plate that met with the weed face had cost her a few teeth.
It seemed like a small price to pay considering how much she angered him.
Then he heard his psychologist Zack shuffle into the room.
Having some wets behind the ears kid try to pick his brain was last thing he wanted right now, after all he hadn't even straightened out the tangled mess that was his thoughts yet;
And the last thing he wanted was some intrusive doctor trying to get a peek at what he was thinking while he did it.
Zack wordlessly put down his file on the Joker down on the table then took out a pen, and notepad so he can take notes on anything the Joker chose to say.
The Joker watched Zack as he ran his fingers through his slightly disheveled hair trying to tame it.
It was clear to the Joker that his psychologist had not slept well the night before, and as the Joker looked into the man's eyes he could clearly see that he was nursing a hangover.
Seeing a person like this in this setting was a rare treat for the Joker, and he loved toying with people when they were in this state.
He decided he was going to start with the usual question which was why these people never saw fit to take a day off.
Was it the fact that they called themselves doctors, or was it the fact that the young man was dealing with him and thought that if he did not show up it would be seen as a sign of weakness.
The Joker would enjoy playing with this for a short time then he would get the man to reveal more and eventually play with the root of the problem.
But as he looked into the young man's eyes all he could think of was the last person he saw in this condition.
The Joker sat staring at the gray wall, he knew his therapy session should have begun a long time ago; and usually he wouldn't care if the person trying to pick his brain was late, but this time was different.
He wanted to see if she actually bought the Funko Pop as she called it, and studied his tattoos.
He wanted the game to begin again, and he wanted to see her look on her face as she failed to figure out what his tattoos meant.
Then he heard the guards talking at the door.
They sounded sad, and a bit concerned, which was something completely out of the ordinary for them.
If the Joker ever heard them talk their voices were either hush whispers as they talk about sports, or filled with a monotonous that meant that they were just plain bored.
But this meant that something was clearly up, and the Joker just had to know what it was.
He didn't have to wait long because soon the door opened and Harleen walked into the room, but it was in a way that the Joker had never seen.
Harleen sat down at the table with her blonde hair disheveled, and in her blue eyes was a mistyness that made it clear to the Joker that she was holding back tears.
"Why doctor, you're so late today."The Joker said as he sat back in his chair.
"I know, I know it won't happen again I promise."Harleen said, quickly as she tried not to squirm in her chair.
The Joker stared at her in somewhat wonderment, he had never played this game with the woman before; and wondered how it would differ from when he played it with a man.
"I almost thought you had chosen not to see me, and after I had such a nice time with you last time."
"I wouldn't do that to you.
I care too much about my patients, to ever let them down like that."
"I can see that you do.
I just found it strange for you to be so late, when you're usually so punctual.
"Yeah well it was a one time thing and it won't happen again." Harleen said quickly as she forced herself to make eye contact with the Joker.
The Joker returned her eye contact blankly and before she knew it she was talking about everything that had happened that morning.
"It all started this morning when I slept through my alarm, and I barely had time to get dressed.
I grabbed a pack of Pop-Tarts as I raced out the door, and ate them as I made my way to my apartment building's parking deck to find Roxanne.
"Is Roxanne your little pink convertible? " The Joker said with a small smile.
" No, she's my jet black motorcycle." Harleen said with a sly smile as she enjoyed the surprise on the Joker's face.
"Something tells me there's a story there. " the Joker said, unable to hide his interest.
"I had just started college, and I knew that I needed a way to get around campus.
So as soon as I had free time I went down to the used car dealership, to see if I could find anything in my price range.
I managed to find a few cars within my price range but none of them really spoke to me you know?"
Harleen watched the Joker; as he said nothing, but even without him saying anything she knew she had struck a chord with him; and knew that he had a car hidden away somewhere that was just as flashy as the clothes he likes to wear.
"I was just about to give up my search when I saw Roxanne sitting all alone at the back of the lot, I asked the manager about Roxanne, and he said that it was just something his cousin wanted to get rid of.and that he was going to have it taken off to the junkyard as soon as he had a free moment.
I looked at Roxanne and knew that she did look like she had seen better days, but my heart also went out to her because I knew with a little TLC she could be beautiful again.
I paid the man two thousand dollars and it took the extra four thousand to fix which was not easy to do because at the time all I had was a waitressing job which was meant to cover the expenses that my scholarship didn't.
It was all worth it because she's been with me ever since, but now I'm dreading how much fixing her will cost.
To make matters worse I had to take the bus, and the nearest bus stop is a block away from my apartment building, and it took me thirty minutes to get there.
Then I had to wait a whole hour for the bus to actually come back.
Then it was an hour ride across town, and while I was on the bus almost everyone was coming up to me trying to show me different things they wanted me to look at.
Then they got all snippy when they realized I wasn't the right kind of doctor for them.
The closest bus stop to this place is still thirty minutes away, so I was forced to walk again which took another thirty minutes.
But the worst part of it is that I didn't make any leftovers when I cooked dinner last night, and since no restaurant will deliver takeout here; I have to eat the disgusting food that they serve here.
I mean it's not like I'm asking them to come inside.
I'd meet them in the parking lot, and they're still aren't any Cheese Curls in the vending machine; and my Pop-Tarts burned off like an hour ago and I'm getting really hungry."
"For once I completely understand how you feel, we all hate the food here too and to be perfectly honest it's one of the main reasons most of us break out.
I hate the food here, and most of the time I can't even bring myself to eat it.
They also won't even get penguin one measly fish stick, all because it's part of his psychopathy..
So eventually we all get sick of being given the shit, none of us will feed a dog if we had one and we break out.
Then the first thing we do is sit down to a nice meal.
Penguin has a nice fish, Two-Face has two nice meals cuz you know, and I have a change of clothes and sit down to a nice porterhouse steak.The Joker said as he absent mindedly popped his knuckles.
"Maybe they think if you hate the food so much you guys won't want to come back."Harleen said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Aww poor doc It looks like you're just having one of those days, where you shouldn't have gotten out of bed.
She had one of those too."The Joker said as he lazily stretched his arms upward.
"Do you mean Pamela? " Harleen asked quickly.
She knew she shouldn't have asked him, and she also knew that he probably didn't know anything at all; but when he mentioned her first patient of the day, she couldn't help but wonder how she was considering that she wasn't there when she should have been.
"I don't know exactly what happened, but her cell is close to mine.
And I heard Dr. Arkham say that she needed to be sedated.
"Why would he do that without talking to her first?! "
"Clearly you haven't to spend much time around Dr Arkham." the Joker said in a voice that Harleen knew was clearly patronizing.
"No, I only spoke with him briefly during my interview." Harleen said not bothering to hide her annoyance at the Joker's seemingly constant display of arrogance.
"Well since it looks like you might be sticking around for a while I'll tell you one thing about the man."
Harleen stared at the Joker for a second and decided that whatever he's about to tell her was the truth.
"Dr Arkham is a sedate first ask questions later kind of guy."The Joker said as his voice dripped with what Harleen could only classify as extreme anger.
"This is all my fault, if I had been on time today I could have talked to her.
I could have made her feel better, then she wouldn't have had to have been sedated."Harleen said as tears started to roll down her cheeks.
" Don't do that."
"What?" Harleen said as she quickly wiped away her tears, and tried to regain her composure.
Cry over something you can't fix, it's pathetic and it solves nothing. " the Joker said coldly.
"She's my friend.
If I was there I would have been able to help, she would have listened to me and I could have calmed her down."
"If you really think your friends with that woman then you know nothing about her, or the place you want to work at."
"Shut up, you're just angry because all people aren't as cynical as you."
"As usual doctor you are way off, I am simply being realistic and it's time you were too.
The first thing you need to come to terms with doctor is that this isn't the soft ward that they have downstairs, where you give someone a box of tissues,a hug, and maybe a pill or two;then they're all better and it's like nothing was ever wrong with them..
This is the volatile ward and everyone on it has had something happen to them, that has shown them what the world truly is.
We all see the world differently, but we are all different so it can't be helped, and if you want my honest opinion I think Poison Ivy has been changed the most."
"Don't call her that, her name is Pamala Isliey."
"Poison Ivy is the name that she prefers because it was the name that was revealed to her after her rebirth.
Each person in this ward had one and after we had that, we won't ever go back to what we were before because it was a lie.
And Poison Ivy hates the entire human race, because she thinks we do nothing but abuse the earth.
"That's not true.
I know that there is a piece of who she used to be somewhere inside, and if I can get her to see that I can help her.
"Sweet heart."
"Shut up."
"Baby doll."
"Shut up."
"Princess."
"Shut up."
"You poor deluded little thing."
"Shut up!"
"I'm just trying to give you some advice."The Joker said, as he looked at Harleen.
"That's a lie, I know you're just playing with my pain, because your file says you're a saticed which means you like to cause pain!"
"That's true I do but I hate when a person lives in a delusion too, and your delusion is that Poison Ivy actually cares about you.
The truth is that she will never like you because you want her to go against everything she thinks is right because it's not what you would call normal.
"You're wrong, and I know that you're saying that because you want everyone to think the way you do."
"No you're in denial and if you were as good of a psychologist as you say you are you would know that."The Joker said he locked eyes with Harleen.
He watched her stare at him with unchecked anger in her eyes, and vagley found himself wondering what would be if he could find a way to expose her true anger.
Then the Joker wondered why he had thought that at all.
Yes she had a hidden side or two, but there was no way she could have an anger that would rival his own.
Then he quickly pulled himself from his thoughts as he saw that she was about to rebuttal.
"Look Doc I know you're just dying to come up with a reason why I'm wrong and you're right, but right now it would be in your best interest to listen to me."
Harleen stared at the Joker as he used the voice she had never heard, it was gentle and seductive yet also authoritative.
Much like how his eyes could be at times, and before she was fully aware of what she was doing she found herself moving closer to him.
The Joker moved back as she moved closer, wondering what would make her want to do this.
Then he realized that it was the way he spoke to her ,but that in itself left him with a question he needed to answer.
Why had he spoken to her like that?
He had never spoken to any of his prey like that before, but as he watched her move towards him he found the effect that his voice had on her intriguing; and decided that it might be fun to play with from time to time.
He moved towards her until their faces were inches apart. then he placed his hands on the
table.
"You showing up late to work today is the only thing that saved your life, because if you had come and seen her she would have killed you as soon as looking at you! "The Joker said, as he slammed his hands on the table.
Harleen jumped then her eyes widened as she felt her chair tip backwards.
Then her look of fear turned to confusion, as she felt her chair being pulled back to the table.
She knew what would happen if her chair had hit the floor.
There would most definitely be a clatter that he would find most enjoyable and she may have even carried a bruise two.
She assuredly would have been incapacitated briefly, but she knew that a brief incapacitation was all he would need, because she had read in his file that he had very good reflexes, not as good as a certain Cape Crusader was rumored to have but still very good.
She knew that he would have been on her in seconds, and could have done anything he wanted.
Yet he chose to save her and she didn't know why.
Was it that she had physically hurt herself when he wanted the chance to do it, or was it that he wanted to show that he was more in control than she was.
The truth was she had no clue, and she stared at the Joker as all these questions swirled around in her head.
The Joker stared at his prey as he pulled his barefoot back to his chair.
He knew that she was to figure out why he had chosen to save her.
The truth was he didn't quite know himself and for the first time, since he became who he was truly meant to be he felt unsure of his decision.
Why had he chosen to save her?
He knew it wasn't because she was having a bad day, on the contrary he actually took quite a bit of pleasure in that.
He hated how she always came in so cheerful, and like all the world's seemingly important problems we're just one little answer away.
Was it because she engaged him?
He never had any of his prey do that because they had all been too scared.
But today he saw underneath her sickeningly sweet side, lay a strong feisty side.
which he had to admit intrigued him, and then there was the fact that he had not gone toe to toe with anyone since his last battle with the bat.
Then he decided that playing with her feisty side might just be a little fun.
Harleen tried not to flinch as she watched the Joker's lips pull into a smirk.
Then she let out a breath that she wasn't aware she had been holding, as the timer dinged signaling the end of the session.
The Joker frowned as he had heard the timer ding, and watched her gather her things without even saying a word to him.
But what irritated him the most was that the session had ended just when he was starting to have a little fun
None of his sessions had ever been this fun and it was nice to have something stimulating happen, after being stuck in this understimulating hell hole; so he decided to try and make it last a little longer.
"Hey doc, why don't you bring in that Funko Pop of me that you bought, then we can discuss my tattoos some more. "The Joker said with a smirk.
Then the look of confusion and fear crossed her face as she turned back to him, then quickly left the room which made him laugh hysterically.
The dinging of the session timer brought the Joker back to himself, and as he looked at Zach he realized that he was the same greenhorn that he was before trying to tread water in the deep end when he didn't even know how to swim.
Zach quickly left the room much like she had that day, but once again the Joker found no pleasure in it.
Then the guards came and escorted him to the cafeteria for lunch.
Chapter 6
The Joker took his tray absent-mindedly, as he still tried to process his thoughts.
Then he took a seat at a table alone.
Even though he didn't want to, his head swiveled around the cafeteria, looking for any sign of Harley; for what seemed for the millionth time he came up empty.
Could it be possible that for all this time, she had somehow managed to stay under the Bat's radar; or could he have found her then dumped her back in the same place the Joker had rescued her from before.
He decided that the latter was most likely true, and thought that she was in need of his help again.
This didn't bother the Joker, because going back to get her would surely prove that he really truly cared about her; and on their way back to Gotham they could patch things up then everything would be okay.
But there were two problems with that plan.
The first one being that he needed to get out of Arkham t, and the second one being that he couldn't think straight enough to actually form a plan of escape.
During his search for Harley he saw that Ivy was sitting alone at a table at the back of the room, and that the top left side of her face was covered in a big bandage.
This brought him a little comfort but it wasn't long before his train of thought was interrupted.
"What the hell we had this gross Hashbrown thing for breakfast." the Riddler griped
The Joker looked down to his tray and saw that it held the same thing he had refused to eat at breakfast.
The Joker heard one of the guards standing in one of the corners of the cafeteria give an explanation that he didn't need; because he looked down at the thing that was supposed to be his lunch and remembered the first time he had heard anything about it.
The time it took to blow the hole in the wall seemed to be endless to him, but soon he was allowed entrance to the Bastille he now loathed more than Arkham.
He and his crew had to strike fast, because this prison was crawling with guards.
He took out a few of the guards but let his crew do most of the work.
Then he saw her, he saw that they had locked his beautiful queen in a cage like an animal.
He immediately took out a motorized saw, and began working on the door.
He opened the door and went in to meet her.
He could tell by looking at her that she was apprehensive, then it dawned on him what type of clothes he was wearing.
He didn't like the clothes he was wearing either, but when he escaped from the plane his tuxedo had been greatly tarnished; and since they now had to do a ground strike they had to blend in as much as possible.
He took off his helmet and looked at her, but he kept his emotions in check because the leader must stay strong.
He watched her look at him with obvious surprise.
He didn't blame her.
The plane crash was a close call, and watching the turbulence throw her from the plane; to have her back then lose her again was almost too much bare.
"Puddin!" Harley said quickly as she threw herself in to the Joker's waiting arms.
Harley sobbed openly into his shoulder and in between sobs, told him how she was sure that she had lost him forever.
The Joker held his queen tight and told her that everything would be okay now, and that he was here to take her home.
Harley wrapped her arms tighter around the Joker's neck, as he picked her up bridal style and carried his lover to freedom.
The Joker sat in the back of his black SUV watching his lover revel in the softness of the leather seats against her limbs.
Harley was stretched out with her feet in the Joker's lap.
As the Joker watched Harley rest her head in between her interlaced fingers, he wished that he had more of a plan for what he would do when he got her back .
He cursed himself for not grabbing a few pillows from the bed that they shared.
It would be quite a few hours before they reached Gotham, and he wished that he could make the trip easier on her.
He watched her sleep, not moving a muscle so as not to wake her, but also trying to figure out how much damage had been done to her.
Then the Joker stiffed as Harley quickly opened her eyes, sat forward, and groaned as her stomach growled.
"What's wrong?" The Joker asked quickly as he leaned towards her.
"Puddin I'm starving."Harley muttered as she moved over to him seeking comfort.
The Joker wrapped his arms around her as he began to worry.
He told the henchman driving to stop at the nearest gas station, wishing that he had chosen to come to her by helicopter.
But he knew that this would be a mistake knowing that the people who took her had no problem shooting a plane out of the sky.
After what seemed like an eternity the SUV stopped at the nearest gas station .
After the Joker sent one of the henchmen to get Harley's favorite snacks and some Grape sodas, the Joker went back to comforting his queen.
The Joker stroked his lover's hair and whispered sweet nothings in her ear as she grumpily swore under her breath.
A short time later the Joker rolled down the window and took the food from the henchmen.
"Finally." Harley said, as she took the bag from the Joker pulled out her Grape soda and handed the Joker his.
Then Harley took a long drink from her bottle, then dug into a huge bag of Cheese Curls.
The Joker watched her eat a handful of Cheese Curls, then he moved closer to her so he could share the snack with her by eating the end that stuck out of her mouth.
"Mine!" Harley hissed as she quickly pushed the end of the Cheese Curl into her mouth.
The Joker sat back feeling offended that she had denied him a moment of romance after being separated for so long, but her gesture also confirmed that she had suffered much in the hell hole that the Bat had dumped her in.
What did they do to you in there?"The Joker asked as held her tighter to show her that she was safe.
Then he opened a bag of Coffee flavored MM's and fed her one.
"Oh Puddin it was horrible the bed that gave me was as hard as a rock, and I haven't had a good night's sleep since I was first locked in that cage." Harley said, as she snuggled into the Joker's chest.
"Did they not feed you there either, my queen?' .
"They tried to feed me Puddin but the things they called food were completely disgusting." Harley said with a shudder.
"Was it any worse than the food they give us in Arkham baby?"
"It made the food in Arkham look like a dish from a five star restaurant.''Harley grumbled as the Joker fed her another MM.
Harley's eyes narrowed as she felt mixed emotions upon hearing the Joker laugh.
Hearing his laugh reminded her just how much she loved and missed it, but she also knew that he didn't believe her.
"I would like to see you choke that piece of shit down Mr..J, but you should know that it's not no porterhouse steak." Harley said coldly as she sat up then moved to the other window, and glared out at the pounding rain.
The Joker watched his lover then he pulled her back to his chest.
Harley let out a cry of protest as she felt the Joker pull her back into his arms, but when she looked into his eyes she could see that he didn't want to fight; and as she looked into his eyes she could see just how much he missed her.
She's the queen of Gotham City and now thanks to this little misadventure impromptu world savior.
This new title had given her a boost of confidence,and showed her that she was quite capable of taking care of herself.
She is a warrior queen and needed no man to protect her, but it was nice to know that a man actually gave enough of a damn about her to come after her the way the Joker did.
"Describe it to me."The Joker said as he began to lovingly stroke her hair again.
Harley had to take a deep breath in order to regain her focus, as her lover's fingers set her body a blaze.
Then as she heard him chuckle she knew that he knew what his fingers were doing to her, and she knew that he enjoyed it.
" Well for starters it was brown and shaped like bread but it had chunks of stuff in it.
I think I saw a chunk of pasta once, but there was no meat.
I think Ivy would have liked it but I don't think even she would have eaten that.
It kind of reminded me of fruit cake but without the fruit" Harley said as she wrinkled her nose and disgust.
The Joker let out his own growl of disapproval, as he found himself thinking about the only Christmas tradition that Harley didn't subscribe to.
"If any of those brainless guards had tried to feed that to me I would have shoved it back down their throat! "The Joker said as his hand that was draped around Harley's waist tightened its grip
.
He remembered himself momenterrelly and looked down to make sure he hadn't hurt her,then smiled down at her when he saw that she was laughing.
"I'm afraid there would be no shoving puddin because they served us through the door in our cells, or in my case my cage; but to be fair I had already vented my displeasure quite a bit and the guards were most definitely certain that I didn't want to be there."
"That's my girl, daddy is sorry that he took so long." The Joker said as he placed a kiss on Harley's head.
"It's all right, but nevertheless non-conformity came at price."Harley breathed as she basked in her lover's display of affection.
"What do they do to you? " The Joker asks as he felt his anger spark again
.
Harley waited for a moment saving that spark of anger, knowing that he would happily teach the guards who hurt her a long and painful lesson.
It had been the thing he wanted to do since he had first entered the prison, and colonel Briggs was the first man on his list.
Harley hated him for the superiority he thought he had over her, and the torment he had put her through.
The violent part of her wanted nothing more than to watch the Joker teach him a long and painful lesson, and maybe at times she herself would join in after all it was her right and she knew how much the Joker loved watching her work.
But she also knew that if they stayed long they would both be caught and separated again, this time potentially forever and they both knew that they could not endure that; so they both made a quick escape savoring the fact that they were finally reunited.
"They fed me forceatives through a tube in my nose which went down into my stomach.
It was my punishment for not eating what had been previously served.
They had also mixed in my medications, which I was also refusing to take.
It was supposed to taste like strawberry they said, but it would taste more like the fluoride stuff they made you drink to strengthen your teeth in grade school."
The Joker let out an angry roar that made everyone else in the SUV stiffen, and Harley felt the car jerk ever so slightly as the driver swerved.
Harley loved how her mistreatment could make him so angry, but she knew for the sake of everyone else in the car; and for the sake of them arriving home in one piece her lover needed to be calm, or at least calm as a man like him could be.
"It's okay Puddin we're back together now and nothing like that is ever going to happen again."Harley said, as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.
The Joker purred as his eyes slipped closed as he savored the sensation of his lover's fingers in his hair.
He never knew that he could miss something so seemingly simple this much, along with all the other things that she did.
The little things that he missed so much.
Her nails were shorter, and he knew by looking at them unpainted.
His queen had been stripped of her glory, and he would take great pleasure in restoring her.
But for now he missed the feeling of her long fingernails running through his hair.
The Joker opened his eyes again as he felt the sensation stop.
He looked down at his lover's eyes as they sparkled with pure happiness.
It was a look he could not resist as he tilted his head down and captured Harley's lips in a kiss.
"Puddin.''Harley moaned as she turned over in the Joker's arms so that it was easier to kiss him.
The Joker moaned as he felt Harley shift in his arms and wrapped his arms around her waist as he felt her arms around her neck.
He deepened the kiss as he felt her fingers get lost in his hair.
"My queen."The Joker moaned as he felt Harley lightly pull on his hair.
Harley moaned as she heard him use the title he had given her, but never used with her officially.
The kiss ended as the lover's sought air, and the Joker smiled as he felt Harley snuggle into his chest.
"Puddin I'm exhausted." Harley said as her eyes began to slip closed.
"I know baby rest now and when we get home daddy will make sure that you are fed well." The Joker said as he stroked Harley's hair.
Harley nodded as she placed her ear over the Joker's heart, so she could listen to its steady beat while she slept.
The Joker watched as Harley's breathing became steady, and then he had to admit that he was tired himself.
He had not gotten a good night's sleep since he realized that she was truly gone.
There were two things that The Joker found completely hilarious about Arkham
The first one being that the doctor's actually thought they were helping people.
The second and much more appealing of the two, was how easy it was to communicate and plan an escape.
Cell phones could be smuggled in because the guards never bothered to do cavity searches.
Most of the guards think that their measly paychecks didn't make ends meet, so for the right price they would pass along a message as long as they didn't see anything concerning in it.
He had waited a week but he had still received no word from her.
He checked his phone twenty times an hour as he waited for the answer to the text he had sent her two days earlier.
'Where are you?'
He never needed much to get a rise out of her, especially when she was angry with him.
It would usually consist of a screaming match between them, if it was when she was staying with the Cat or the Weed it would be a screaming match over the phone ; but if she was sent to Arkham the screaming match would happen by text.
While she was in Arkham and they were apart they would have the time to cool off from their fight, and remember how much they cared about each other.
Then if she was in Arkham the king of Gotham would free his queen from the dungen, and take her back to his palace where she belonged.
If she stayed with a so-called friend she would eventually realize that she missed her king, and her palace.
And when she returned the house filled with everything that meant romance to her.
Even if he found himself stuck in the dungun with his queen, he would still have the palace prepared for her by giving his henchmen exact orders; even though wanted to take care of it himself.
But he also loved leaving Arkham with his queen at his side, because even though he would never say it he never felt more powerful than when she was at his side.
And even though she never said it he knew she felt the same way.
But that was one of the things he loved best about their relationship .
He knew that this time would be different.
He had left her in the Smiley car as it went into the river ,which he knew she would be furious over.
His plan was simple.
He would let the bat have her momentarily, because he knew that he wouldn't let her drown.
Then he would take her to Arkham like always, and the Joker would rescue her then do something extra nice for her as a way of apology.
But he knew something was definitely wrong when three days passed and he received no text from her, because the longest she had ever ignored him was one.
He spent weeks scouring the web searching every blacksite where villains chose to communicate, trying to find any information on a new place that villains might be sent to.
However his search came up empty.
When the internet proved fruitless he sent his gang out to scour the streets sniffing around for any type of word or rumor that might lead him to her.
The reward was a king's ransom and one favor that had no expiration date, it was a good deal from a man like the Joker.
But even with a reward as great as that finding her still took time, and time without her did not do well for the Joker.
He knew why he had been separated from her, after all the answer was rather simple.
The Bat had blamed him and Harley for the death of his Robin, and even though he claimed to be solely for justice; the Joker knew that he had taken Harley from him out of retaliation.
As the week spread into a month The Joker felt a new type of madness creep in
sleep became almost impossible for him, and when he did sleep all he could see was Harley begging for his help, as she was being held in the tight grip of the Bat who laughed darkly before he threw her down into the seemingly unending pit .
Then the only thing that was left of her were her pleading cries for her Puddin.
Which would end the dream and send the Joker jerking up right in his bed.
The aftermath of the dream would send the Joker into a violent rage, and he would smash whatever happened to be near him.
Which scared any henchmen brave enough to enter the house after a long day of searching, right back out into the street to look for more information.
Eventually his madness became so volatile that no one dared to see him, and at his wits end the Joker preferred the solitude wanting only to see her
Until one day he came to him.
The Joker sat forward shaking his head slowly.
He was tired but he couldn't bare to sleep again, instead he sat there cursing himself for leaving her to be alone with the Bat.
Sure Arkham wasn't where he wanted to be, but at least they would have been together; or maybe this was all going to happen this way anyway, and the Bat was determined to separate them forever no matter what it took.
The Joker cocked the gun that held, as he heard footsteps enter his office.
"It's me."Johnny Frost, The Joker's number one guy said as he walked into the room.
Only Johnny dared to speak so informally because he knew that out of all his henchmen he was the one that the Joker respected most.
"Where is she?" Joker asked as he fixed Johnny with a death stare.
Then the Joker let out a sigh of relief that radiated through his whole body, as listened to Johnny give him the news.
The Joker would never show this much emotion around anyone else but Harley, but he knew that Johnny could be trusted and in this moment relife was all he could feel.
He also knew that Johnny would be the one to find her, out of all his henchmen Johnny was the smartest so he was happy that Johnny would get the ransom because out of all his henchmen Johnny worked the hardest, and who better to give a king's ransom to than your number one guy..
When Johnny asked the Joker what he should do he was told to bring the car around, and that they were going for a drive.
The Joker laid back on his office floor and let out the happiest laugh he had let out in quite a while.
He was unfazed by Johnny watching him, and unfazed by the knives that surrounded him.
After all these knives would be a worthy punishment after thoughtlessly leaving his queen behind.
The Joker tried to settle down into the seat and tried to rest with his queen, but he found it hard because of his five foot four stature and the lack of pillows
.He also kicked himself for not bringing food with him as he felt Harley shift in his arms and whine in her sleep as her stomach growled again.
But after he jumped from the plane and landed on the ground unharmed, he frenziedly gathered his group; and returned to Gotham to get more cars,
Then once he got information that she was back at Belduerve he quickly made his way there determined not to screw it up this time.
Now with things put right again he could finally let himself sleep.
Hours later The Joker was awoken by his henchmen, as they told him that they had arrived back in Gotham and at the house he had requested.
The Joker was still tired but otherwise happy to be back home, and with the woman he cared so much about.
He moved ever so slightly so as not to wake her up, but he found that to be easier than he first thought because Harley was still caught in a deep sleep.
Harley had never been known to be a light sleeper, but still the deepness of this sleep worried him.
The Joker slowly got out of the car and caught Harley as her body reclined backwards ever so slightly, as he no longer held her.
The Joker carefully scooped Harley up into his arms, and carried her bridal style towards that house feeling relaxed as her head leaned against his chest.
"Mmmm Puddin where are we?" Harley asked, waking from her sleep.
"We're home baby.
Don't worry all that's over now and soon everything will be like it was before."The Joker whispered softly, as he carried Harley to the porch
Once her eyes had adjusted to the light Harley expected to see the Joker taking her towards their penthouse apartment .
But was pleasantly surprised to see that he was carrying her to the safe house, which look like any other house on the street; and even had a small yard out front
They had only stayed at this house twice since they had been together, and Harley had loved both times.
She liked the penthouse fine with its ambiance, spectacular views of the city, and status.
But in her heart she gravitated more to this charming little house with its four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
It had given her the home-like feeling that she had craved since her childhood.
And even though she knew the Joker didn't like it being in this house gave her the hope, that one day he would truly settle down, commit to her, and they would be a crime family; with plenty of children ready to take up his mantle
Even now as he walked her to the porch she could not help but look out at the front yard and see a small swing set, and her pushing a baby girl with blonde curls and blue eyes on the swings; as the girl squealed to go ever higher.
While the Joker tried to teach his young son with his brown hair and chocolate brown eyes to drive a child size version of the smiley car around the yard.
all this spread out before her eyes, almost as if Enchantress had granted her another beautiful glimpse into what she truly wanted.
She looked on at the yard unable to stop herself from reveling in this moment, but also thankful that the Joker didn't notice because it would only cause a fight between them.
Then she shuttered briefly as she heard Diablo's voice in her head reminding her rather forcefully that none of what she saw was real.
Harley covered her face with the palm of her hand, and let out a low moan which unfortunately for her the Joker did take notice of.
"Are you alright baby? " The Joker said, if he looked down at Harley with obvious worry.
"Sorry Puddin. It's just been a long trip, that's all. Harley said with a weak smile.
The Joker's stomach knotted as he still tried to keep his emotions in check, but hoped that once he had her home and settled things would return back to normal.
The Joker opened the front door with his thumb print, then carried Harley over the threshold as the door swung open for them.
"I'm going to need a moment alone, boys. " The Joker said as he carried Harley over to the couch.
Harley watched in delight as the henchmen took their cue leave but stay close by, in case they were needed again.
Then the Joker gently sat Harley on the couch, then handed her the remote to the TV.
"Sorry I didn't have time to make the house all romantic like you, like baby, but daddy was in a rush to get you home."
"That's okay Puddin I'm just happy to be back with you." Harley said, with a big smile.
The Joker placed a light kiss on her forehead, as he let her hair down.
Then he asked her the time.
When she told him that it was a little past seven a.m, he told her that he would make her a nice breakfast of Steak and Eggs.
Harley took her espresso machine from the foyer, and went into the kitchen to plug it in with the rest of the appliances.
As she did she took note of the Joker's clear curiosity.
"This thing is amazing Puddin and you know how I love a good cup of coffee"
"Where did you get it?'
"I guess you could say it was a prize of sorts, because the woman pulling the strings said that we could have one thing that we wanted except freedom.
I had to remind her of how we work our asses off ,but eventually she conceded that we did do a good job.
So she let me have that espresso machine, and a few of my other teammates got what they wanted too.
The Joker eyed Harley curiously as she happily watched the cup of coffee brew.
Then when it was finished Harley skipped into the living room careful not to spill her coffee.
Once she left the Joker smiled and shook his head at the wismy that he missed so much.
But he still sensed change in her, and he wasn't quite sure what it meant.
Once she was settled on the couch Harley turned the TV onto Gotham City news, just see if the city have been alerted to their King's return
She knew that if brainless and overrated town cryers did know anything it would definitely be the top story.
But as she watched the top story be something she couldn't care less about breeze past she turned the TV. off.
" I checked the TV and no one knows we're back yet." Harley said, as she walked into the kitchen.
"What makes you think anyone would? " The Joker said as he looked up from the steak he was preparing."
"Puddin I was chosen along with the rest of my teammates because I possess a certain type of skills that this woman could find useful, I know because I read the file she had on me.
. I also know that she would not be willing to let me go so soon if at all.
So I thought that she might have enlisted the help of the Bat, to get me back since he's the one that put me there in the first place."
The Joker slowly left the stove, and walked over to Harley.
Then he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, but not enough to hurt her.
"No one is going to take you away from me again, do you understand?"
The Joker didn't speak again until he felt Harley nodding against his chest.
"If anyone tries to take you away from me again I will make a long slow example out of them and that includes anyone who tries to stop me."
"It's okay Puddin your Harley's right here, and she's not going anywhere.
But you need to know that the supers have flipped the board, and put down a new one which means that we will be forced to adapt."
The Joker's response was a long and low growl .
But Harley let him be because she knew that it wasn't directed at her, just the situation in which they found themselves .
She knew that in time he would come to see reason.
"I'm going to go take a bubble bath, because showers in that place were few and far between.
She watched the Joker growl in anger and mutter under his breath that those guards are only zookeepers, because at least at Arkham they were allowed to shower at least once a day.
Later Harley got out of the bath when the water turned cold, and put on her favorite fluffy red robe, and a pair of matching fluffy red bedroom slippers.
Then she ran a brush through her light blonde hair.
She felt greatly refreshed now that she once again smelled like French Vanilla, and did not fuss over putting her hair up because it was nice to just let her flow free for once.
As she exited the bathroom smelling the heavenly scent of freshly made breakfast, and quickly made her way to the kitchen.
"Puddin this looks amazing."Harley said, as she took the seat the Joker and pulled out for her.
She also smiled happily as she looked at the candles in the middle of the table that were usually reserved for when they had dinner.
"Breakfast is almost ready, I just need to pull the Honey Glazed Croissants out of the oven."Joker said as he walked over to the oven.
"Awww Puddin you only make those on holidays and my birthday.''Harley said she couldn't stop grinning.
"Baby if I ever get control of this city your birthday would be a city wide holiday, and it would be the law that everyone in the city give you a gift." The Joker said as he pulled the croissants out of the oven and finish setting the table
"Oh Puddin no one's pours on the charm like you do." Harley giggled happily and she dug into her plate of food.
The Joker watched his lover eat, liking how she savored her meals, but this time he chuckled because she was a bit more ravenous with her eating than last time.
Then The Joker ate his own plate before it got cold.
After breakfast the Joker put the plates in the sink deciding to wash them later and as he took his seat back at the table, Harley walked over and sat in his lap
"It feels so good to be home." Harley said as she laid her head on The Joker's chest.
The Joker said nothing, instead choosing to take a long sniff of her hair.
But when Harley turned to look into his eyes he knew he didn't need to, because when she looked into his eyes he knew that she could see the words that were too hard for him to speak.
"I missed you too Puddin and I know how you feel, being without you nearly drove me crazy." Harley said as she snuggled deeper into the Joker's chest.
It was at that moment The Joker could longer hold back his need for her, and he was happy to be alone with her as he hungrily pressed his lips. against hers.
Harley returned the kiss, liking the new intensity that she felt in it.
She could feel that he really did miss her and that maybe things would change.
Eventually the couple came up for air, but their eyes still sparkled with the blissfulness of the kss.
"I'm definitely ready for that bear skin rug and bottle of Grape soda now Puddin."
"What a coincidence because I've been craving French Vanilla and if I don't have it satisfied soon I'll go completely insane."The Joker said in his subductive voice that was meant only for her.
"Oh Puddin" Harley said and she burst out laughing
.Then the Joker picked her up bridal style and carried her to their bedroom
A few days later the Joker sat his office with a cellphone to his ear while he ran his fingers through his hair.
When the last call was done the Joker stretched as he put the phone down.
And as he did he smelt the delicious scent of food cooking coming from the kitchen, and he felt his feet lead him there thinking only about what was waiting for him.
However he came to the kitchen was unpleasantly surprised to his henchmen standing in line and holding out paper plates, although he was not a bit surprised to see that Harley was doing serving; as she loaded down each henchman's plate with one Collar Roll one Fried Mushroom Ball , and one Ham And Deviled Egg Sandwich.
The Joker cleared his throat which quickly made everyone turn and stare wide-eyed in his direction, which pleased him because it meant he had in most total control of his house.
The henchmen grabbed their plates and tried to scurry from the kitchen, only to hear Harley call them back for a piece of chocolate vanilla swirl cake wrapped in plastic wrap.
The henchmen looked from the Joker to Harley then back to the Joker, which made the Joker laugh hysterically and made Harley smile brightly.
"It's okay you guys can take it just get out of here afterwards." Harley said expertly, reading the Joker's body language.
The henchmen made a mad dash , for the cut pieces of cake which lay on the cake display. Then they express their thanks to Harley and quickly left telling the Joker that they will be
in touch.
The Joker watched them all go and narrowed his eyes as they all fled.
Then he turned to Harley with his hands on his hips, but his look had softened to that of one would give to a child who just drew on the wall with a crayon.
He even raised an unseen raised eyebrow for extra theatricalism.
The whole scene made Harley laugh so hard that she slowly sank to the floor as she doubled over with laughter.
The Joker watched his lover lay on the floor savoring the manichal yet bubbly laugher he had missed so much.
The Joker took Harley's hand and helped her off the floor.
Harley smiled as her laughter stopped.
"Did your business meeting go well, Puddin?"Harley asked as she fixed him a plate, with a piece of lemon meringue pie for dessert.
"It wasn't so much a business meeting at more sounding the alarm."The Joker said as he took his seat at the head of the table, while Harley placed his plate in front of him.
"I'm guessing this has something to do with my time in Belderve."
The Joker nodded as he ate his Collard Roll.
"When the rest of the villains realized that you weren't in Arkham, they offered their assistance to me".
"That was surprisingly generous of them."Harley said as she ate her Ham And Deviled Egg Sandwich.
"It was all just an act of good business, I think they could see the winds of change blowing even if I'm not ready to accept it yet
.I'm afraid this is a change you will have to adapt to quickly Puddin, because it has become glaringly apparent that the supers have flipped the board,and put down a new one.
"I know that's why I sounded the alarm, after all in good business, business partners look out for one another.
However, all this talk of business does not excuse you from your punishment."The Joker said with a smirk, which sent Harley running from the kitchen giggling as she went.
Ah so Daddy's little monster wants to play does she?
Well you know Daddy's always in the mood for a good game.The Joker said with a laugh as he slowly got up from the table, deciding to give his queen a head start.
The Joker went from room to room calling Harley's name in a sing-songy voice.
Then when he became tired of playinging he went where he knew she would be.
The Joker walked into his bedroom deadening his feet, so as not to alert her to his arrival.
Then he walked over to their double-sided walk-in closet, and pulled back the sliding door with a dramatic flourish.
The Joker looked down to see Harley sitting under his coats on the floor, and couldn't help but laugh at the mischievous look in her eyes clearly stating that she was about to make a run for it.
"No no baby I'm afraid the game is up and daddy wins as always."The Joker said with a laugh, as he swept Harley off her feet.
Harley's lips protruded into a pout as the Joker lowered her feet down to the floor, which only made the Joker laugh.
The Joker quickly turned Harley so that her back was facing his chest.
Then he began to mercilly tickle her rib cage.
"Oh Puddin no not that!" Harley said quickly as she started to laugh.
Her laughter egged him on as he continued to tickle her until she could barely breathe
"P-P-Puddin P-P-P-Please!" Harley said, as she tried to catch her breath.
"Oh does my beautiful captive want mercy?"
"Y-Y-Yes." Harley said as she tried to catch her breath.
" Say it, say it." The Joker said in that seductive voice that was only meant for her, as he turned her to face him; and gently pulled her bottom lip down.
"Please."
'God you're so good."The Joker said as he pulled Harley in for a passionate kiss.
Then when the two lovers came up for air Harley settled herself into the Joker's chest.
"has Goldilocks been giving away all Papa Bear's food? "
" I'm sorry Puddin."
"What have I told you about feeding the henchmen out of our own pocket. "
"That if you do it once you'll never get rid of them, but I just wanted to show my gratitude, after all they worked very hard to get me out."
"They can get drive thru and I gave them big enough payouts this time that they could even have one good meal at a five-star restaurant and still have plenty leftover to be comfortable for a while.
The deal was that you only cook for me. "
"Oh is that so well you didn't seem to mind when Johnny would line up with a plate when I dished out my cooking, speaking of which where is Johnny his food is getting cold. " Harley grumbled, not taking kindly to her food going to waste.
Harley felt the Joker stiffen against her back, and she still knew that she had said something wrong.
But when Harley searched her mind to figure out what it was, she came up with the complete blank.
"Puddin, where's Johnny? "
Harley knew she should not have asked this question, but she also knew that she had to know the answer.
The Joker gave no answer, his only response was him holding Harley tighter but not tight enough to hurt her.
Then Harley's eyes widened as she came to the only rational explanation, as to why Johnny would not be here with them now.
."No-No-N-N-Nooo!"Harley wailed as she felt her legs give out.
Losing Diablo was almost more than she could bare.
He was a teammate turned friend She had barely gotten to know him, but she definitely didn't want him to die.
But Johnny was different; he had been with her since she first became Harley Quinn, and even though he was a henchman and would often be ruthless when The Joker commanded it; he had a sweet shy kind side yet he was also smarter than the other henchmen, which Harley found refreshing.
Over the years he had become like a brother to her and was the only guy that Harley was allowed to get even remotely close to other than the Joker, because the Joker knew that Johnny knew his place and would never try to steal his queen.
Harley continue to sob as the Joker held her
.She was both surprised and grateful for this, because it was something he had never done before.
Usually the only two emotions the Joker ever allowed was humor and anger.
There was no call for sadness with the Joker and when Harley felt this emotion The Joker would always pull away leaving her to deal with it on her own.
It was in these moments that she would turn to Johnny, because he understood that his role as number one guy also sometimes meant being a sympathetic ear for his boss and his boss's lover.
The Joker let out a confused growl as he felt Harley pull away.
Then he watched her take a few deep breaths, as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Then the Joker smirked as he watched Harley's eyes blaze with fury
."It's all that damn Bat's fault I can understand why he took me away from you, but why did he have to take Johnny too?!"Harley screamed as she picked up a French Vanilla scented candle off her nightstand, and threw it against the wall.
The sound of breaking glass gave her a somewhat sense of relief, at least for the moment.
The Joker hung back letting Harley deal with her rage alone just for a moment, because he knew when it was this out of control a fight was unavoidable.
And that wasn't something he wanted at the moment.
The Joker knew that it was okay to approach her again, as he watched Harley sink to the floor and slowly curl up in the fetal position.
The Joker slowly made his way over to her, and then picked her up bridal style and carried her over to the bed.
Then he carefully laid down with her so the two lovers could lick each other's wounds.
"He tried to save me twice, I guess that was just one too many."Harley muttered as she snuggled into the Joker's chest again.
"What?"The Jokers asked quickly as he moved his head slightly away from Harley's.
"It was the night you punished me for erasing your mind."
Harley was silent for a moment, because she knew this was one thing the Joker absolutely hated talking about.
She felt bad for what she had done.
She wished she could take it back and even though she knew he loved her so much,she also knew that he had never quite forgiven her for that; and part of her worried that he never would
"Finish it. " The Joker growled.
Then Harley took a deep breath as she drove back into the past.
"It was during the riot and she was trying to get out of Arkham.
She knew the Joker was coming for her, and more importantly she knew that he would not be happy with her.
She had almost made it to the stairwell that would lead to the next floor down, when she felt two burly arms grab her from behind.
"Get off me get off me get!"Harleen screamed as she felt the arms lift her off the ground and slam her down on the table.
Then she felt a man's hand firmly place itself over her mouth.
She thought for sure that The Joker had found her, and that she was as good as dead until she heard someone whisper to her.
"Hey, open your eyes and look at me. "
She had hoped that it was one of the orderlies, or maybe even one of the other psychiatrists Someone she didn't know; anyone that could help her escape.
No one knew that she had smuggled in the machine gun, the cameras watching their therapy sessions had no sound so they didn't hear him ask, and more important to her at the moment they didn't hear her say yes.
She just wanted to get out of here and the thought of leaving town all together sounded pretty appealing to her at the moment, but mostly she just wanted to forget that any of this ever happened.
She slowly opened her eyes hoping against hope that the person who had caught her could somehow help her get out.
But when she opened her eyes fearful tears clouded her vision as she saw a tall burly man with brown hair that was slicked back and a beard.
His eyes were brown like the Joker's but kinder Harley looked at his navy blue suit, and thought that under any other circumstances this man would be quite handsome.
Although not as handsome as the Joker.
Harley admonished herself mentally for even thinking such a thing, after everything he had done how could she still find him handsome.
Then she was pulled from her thoughts as she heard the man speak.
"Hey I said look at me but not like that, he would have my head if he knew you even glanced at me like that.
You are his girl after all, or at least he wants you to be. "Johnny said as he scrutinized Harleen's face.
"Yeah I see why he would want you."Johnny said, as he quickly made sure that Harleen was secure on the table.
"Oh sorryI guess I should introduce myself.
My name is Johnny, Johnny Frost.
It's a weird last name I know but what can you do?
I'm sure that all these introductions and formalities may seem a bit crazy at the moment but as I'm sure you've already gathered Mr. J is big on respect, and since he wants you to be his girl you get the most respect aside from him; especially from me since I'm his number one guy.
We talked about you a lot Mr. J and I, he thought it was hilarious that they were having a woman try to pick his brain
.Oh no offense of course once again the Joker would have my head number one guy or not.
We talked about you a lot more than I thought we would, and as we talked I could tell that Mr J was falling hard for you.
Even if he can't admit it to himself.
However you committed a major sign of disrespect, and that will not be without punishment .Johnny said as he looked Harleen in the eye.
He watched her mentally digest everything that he had just said, then he watched her eyes widened with fear as she started to comprehend the last part of what he said.
Then Johnny became a little nervous as he saw two tears roll down her cheeks.
"Hey no crying now Mr. J doesn't really care for that sort of thing, if you want to make it out of this alive you got to pull yourself together.
He's pretty mad at you right now, but if you remind him how you helped him; and don't show too much fear, you'll gain his respect and he'll let you live.
After the punishment is over you can decide if you still love him or not.
If you do you'll find him I'm sure.
Although bringing a machine gun and helping him break out of this hell hole is more than enough proof of love to me, but then again Mr J's always been a little different.
But I think you knew that already. " Johnny said with a laugh.
Blink once if you understand everything I just said."Johnny said as he looked into Harleen's eyes.
"Good that means that you'll survive the night, and whatever else happens afterwards is up to the two of you.
But if I can be honest I'm rooting for you two.
Mr J's been missing something over the years, he even said so to me.
As his number one guy I tried to figure it out and find it but I came up dry.
Then when he talked to me about you I knew that you were the one he was missing.
So here I am doing my job as the number one guy and trying to help.
Good luck kid
. I really hope this works out.
I got to go over there now kid
He'll be here soon, and he won't be happy that I spilled my guts."
Harleen blinked saying that she understood, and Johnny gave her a friendly smile as his thanks.
Then he walked away as he heard the Joker coming towards the bed.
"What do we have here?" The Joker asked as he walked over to the bed, and put the light over her head.
Then he let the light shine brightly in Harleen's face.
"I did what you wanted, I helped you.''Harleen said quickly as she tried to do what Johnny had said.
"You helped me?
No, you helped me by erasing my mind.
Taking what itty bitty memories I had!
Is that the type of medicine you practice, doctor Quinzel?" the Joker asked as he walked over to the electroshock machine and turned it on.
Then the Joker walked over to the bed
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't want to do it.
Dr Arkham made me, I tried to speak up for you I really did." Harleen said quickly, as she tried to think of any way she could get out of this punishment.
But as her wide blue eyes stared at him she could clearly see that he was lost in his own thoughts and therefore unreachable.
She was grateful that he didn't notice her fear at that moment, because as Johnny said it would not have served her well.
Then Harleen summoned her courage and asked what her punishment would be.
"So what are you going to do are you going to kill me Mr. J?"
"What? "The Joker asked as his favorite question brought him back to himself.
."Oh, I'm not gonna kill ya.
I'm just going to hurt ya really, really bad." The Joker said as he rubbed the paddles together.
"You think so well I can take it."Harleen said quickly and even though she wanted those words to show that she was strong, she also knew that she meant it .
This was the final test, but even after this, she would take whatever he dished out because she loved him.
Harleen heard a leather snap, she knew that he had picked up one of the restraints from the bed.
She vaguely wondered if he had chosen to whip her instead, even though it went completely against his MO.
The answer to the question was nearly as strange as the question itself, as she felt the thick leather strap being shoved between her teeth.
"I wouldn't want you to damage those pretty little cat pearl teeth, when the juice hits your brain."The Joker said he simulated where the paddles would be put.
She found his statement greatly confusing, because she thought he would like nothing more than to watch her teeth break like glass under the sheer force of the electro shock..
Then her eyes closed tight as the electricity surged through her mind.
She didn't know how long it lasted; the only thing she was certain of was the pain.
The pain that hurt so bad it made her want to scream until her throat bled .
Then when she could take no more she felt her entire body slip into the release of darkness
It was a relief that it also brought fear, because she knew that he didn't know much about this; and she vaguely wondered if he had given her too much.
But as her brain maintained a few seconds of focus she heard the Joker speak..
Well Johnny boy that was fun, but my work here is doing and we better be off before the police get here.'The Joker said, as he casually walked from the asylum while the chaos still swirled within.
Harleen awoke with her back against the cold bed.
She felt dazed, confused, and alone.
She did not know where she was but an intense feeling inside her said that she shouldn't be there.
She felt around in the darkness, careful not to fall and injure herself more than she already knew she was.
She finally felt her hand brush a door handle, and quickly pull the door open.
her fear peaked briefly as she felt an open space in front of her.
She carefully ran her fingers along the wall hoping to find a light switch, but instead her hands came in contact with the railing of a staircase.
She quickly took the stairs downward and as she did she noticed that she was barefoot..
She also knew that the stairway was pitch black so she reminded herself not to move too quickly.
After what seemed like forever she reached the doors of the asylum, and quickly rushed out into the daylight.
What she thought would be welcoming turned out to be anything but, as the sun sent a feeling of searing pain into her eyes.
Her head throbbed briefly as the sensation reminded her of something familiar yet it was still something she couldn't quite place.
She saw the sign for the bus stop and decided to walk over to it, thinking that driving would definitely be too dangerous.
She slumped down on the bus stop bench grateful that it wasn't too hot
.She tried to fight off a wave of dizziness but she had no idea where it came from.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the bench hoping that the wave would pass.
After an unknown amount of time Harleen was startled up right by the shrill honking of the bus horn.
Harleen quickly boarded the bus as she tried to ignore the frightened looks that she got from the bus driver and other passengers.
Once on the bus she went to the back of it where there were no people to disturb her.
Then she slumped down into the seat and let her head rest against the window.
Her eyes were starting to slip closed and she felt grateful for the coolness of the glass, but as she thought of the glass the image of her biting down a leather strap as a thousand volts coursed through her brain past before her eyes.
Harleen screamed as her eyes flew back open, gaining a few disgruntled murmurs and shouts from the passengers on the bus.
Harleen ignored this, only caring about finding out what happened to her.
Then she watched tears stream down her face, as another wave of dizziness once again made her world fade to black.
While out she dreamed of a man in a Navy blue pinstripe suit, telling her that he was rooting for the two of them.
She had no idea what he meant and just when she was about to ask, she heard footsteps coming and knew that she should be deathly afraid
But she also knew that her life depended on the ability to hide it.
Harleen was startled awake by the bus driver telling her that this was his last stop.
But as she looked at him she saw the Joker's face, and heard the last words he had said to her before he subjected her to electroshock.
Harleen quickly rose from the seat, and ran from the bus so distressed that she forgot to pay, as the memories of what happened to her slowly fell into place like the pieces of a puzzle.
Sometime later Haleen entered her apartment, and slowly closed the door.
Then locked the door with a shaky hand.
Harleen still in a daze went over to her couch and flopped down,
Then she took the nearest pillow and pressed it firmly to her face.
When she was sure that she could not be heard she finally allowed herself to feel everything that had happened to her, releasing cries of anger and anguish one after another.
When her throat began to feel raw she slowly trudged to the kitchen for a glass of water, but as she did. fresh tears sprang to her eyes.
How could he do this to me, how could he make me feel the way that he made me feel then subject me to that
Just as she had finished the thought a new wave of pain her
Oh God this pain is unbearable Harleen thought as she gritted her teeth firmly against it. How could one human being subject another human being to something like this, and then be okay with it?
No human being should be treated like that and the fact that another human being would treat someone like this would make them unhuman. Harleen said as she guzzled down the water then threw the grass back in the sink not caring about smash.
Then she walked back over to the couch, flopped down and curled up into the fetal position.
No wonder he had the word damaged tattooed on his forehead, Harleen thought as his tatoo began to make much more sense to her.
How many times has he been subjected to that?
And what did he mean by I stole the last memories that he had left?
Oh God no wonder he wanted to subject me to that, he wanted me to truly understand what I did to him.
I deserved it, and I know that the only thing that saved my life was the fact that I brought in that machine gun.
Harleen thought as a million thoughts ran through her head at once.
Each one demanded to be dealt with first.
Why does my brain feel like this, is it because of the electro shock or because I'm trying to take in so much information at once? Harleen thought as her mind continued to race
.Then her mind settled on one lone thought.
"Dr Arkham."Harleen whispered as her blue eyes widened.
She knew that he had to be dead, and since the Joker was so angry with him she could not help but picture him being cut up into multiple pieces left for the GCPD to find.
The thought turned her stomach, and she had to take a few deep cleansing breaths in order to keep down the water she had just drank.
Harleen hugged the pillow tightly, as she cursed herself aloud, for allowing herself to be so thoroughly duped.
How could she have let a man trick her into throwing away everything she'd work so hard for?
How could she still manage to fall for him, even after she knew how bad he could be.
Then came the biggest question.
What was she going to do now?
The truth was she had no clue, and even more to the point she had no clue why she wasn't sitting in an interrogation room at GCPD right now.
The one thing she knew for certain was that she had been unconscious for hours, so the GCPD could have already wrapped up their investigation there; and when they saw that she was unconscious perhaps left her for dead and would maybe call the coroner to come collect her.
That thought sent a cold shiver down Harleen's spine.
But as she gave it some more thought there came a sense of relief.
For all intents and purposes she was thought to be dead, and no one knew of her involvement with the Joker's breakout from Arkham.
She could just move to another state and pretend this whole thing never happened.
The thought was very appealing to her, but before she could pack a suitcase she remembered Johnny's words.
Those words sounded even more appealing even though she didn't want them to.
But the more she thought about it the more appealing they became to her.
After all she understood him better now, and that was what she wanted wasn't it?
Then she thought of Dr Arkham, and his over abundant tendency to mansplain things
how she was never taken seriously as a doctor by him, just because she happened to be a beautiful blonde.
How his gaze or touch lingered just a bit too long, especially when he was supposed to be her superior.
He made sure that it was nothing she could concretely take to human resources, but she knew his plans for her if an opening ever arose.
Then there was the cruelty with which she treated his patients.
Harleen had never quite forgiven him for being so cruel to Pamela.
Harleen was well aware of how he liked to occasionally flirt with danger, and how he also felt safe enough to do it whenever the mood struck him.
However this time it seemed he had gone too far and paid the ultimate price.
As Harleen thought all of this over, she came to a realization that she never thought she would.
She was glad he was dead.
The realization of that thought set in in like a cold bucket of water being dumped over her head
It scared her, because she had never before thought this way.
She wondered if it had something to do with the electroshock.
Then as she thought it over more, she got a clear picture of the Joker slowly cutting Dr Arkham to bits;and she could not help but laugh.
It was a bubbly and slightly maniacal laughter.
She knew that she should be scared of this laugh yet this had brought her more joy than she had ever felt in her entire life.
Then she is thought about her life as it was, and what it would turn out to be.
She immediately saw herself as an undervalued employee at a dead-end job, and that was just not something she wanted.
She thanked the Joker, for giving her this new clarity.
She thanked him for showing her what it was like to be free, then setting her free.
She looked at her life and knew that she wouldn't be leaving much behind.
Then she thought of the Joker who was a smart, self-made man of means, and a man that she still found incredibly handsome.
The things he did now didn't matter to her, she simply wanted to be with him no matter what that meant.
She even dared to think that she could help, after all his escape from Arkham would have been much longer without her.
Then she heard Johnny's gentle guiding voice in her head again.
"If you love him you'll find him I'm sure. "
Harleen let out a sigh and she slowly climbed to her feet.
She knew that finding him wouldn't be easy.
But she also knew that being with a man like him definitely wouldn't be easy either.
She knew that her life from here on out would not be easy.
But she also knew that love never is..
Harleen grabbed her air fryer off her kitchen counter,
Then left her apartment not even bothering to shut the door..
She walked down the stairs considering the fact that her new life needed a new name.
Then she remembered the moment that the Joker asked if her friends ever called her Harley.
Her response had been shy and minimal.
"I don't really have many friends."Harleen said a bit nervously as she tucked a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Well you do now. "The Joker said ,with a friendly smile.
Harleen smiled dreamily as she remembered the memory, and how it had made her heart flutter with happiness.
The waiting would be torture for her
Oh how she longed to see him after being apart from him so long already.
She longed to see his silver teeth stretch into a friendly smile, and his brown eyes light up when he saw her.
She longed to hear him call her by her new true name.
She knew now that she would live forever by his side, and they would have whatever happiness The Prince of Crime and his new queen could find.
She had never been giddy before, but now she savored the feeling.
She wanted to go to him at this very moment, but she also knew that things had to be done right.
She knew he would respect her for that.
So she could wait just a little longer.
"And the rest as they say Puddin is history." Harley said as she snuggled into the Joker's chest.
She waited on his response and was pretty sure that he wouldn't be too happy about what Johnny had said to her.
Instead she was met with silence.
"What are you thinking,Puddin?"Harley said as she looked into the Joker's light brown eyes.
This was one of the rare moments that Harley could not instantly see into his mind, it was a moment that she didn't care for at all.
" I'm trying to figure out how you would triple a king's ransom."
"Oh my generous king." Harley said as she hugged The Joker tightly.
The Joker smiled as he felt the air leave his lungs.
But when Harley looked at him she could see that the smile had not reached his eyes, and she knew the reason why.
"It's okay Puddin, your secrets are safe with me."Harley said as she placed a loving kiss on the Joker's head.
The Joker waited until Harley was where he could reach her, then when her lips lingered above his he pulled her to him for a heart melting kiss.
.
Chapter 7
The Joker sat in his cell and growled along with his stomach.
Two days had passed since the food in Arkham had changed, and no one was happy about it.
But The Joker was the least happy with this change.
He had eaten nothing since the change to their food took effect, but his resolve had weakened and he was now forced to look for a way to have his needs met .
The Joker looked up as he heard two quiet knocks on his cell door.
Then he slowly approached the door as the flap that the guards used to communicate with the patients quickly opened.
"Hey Joker I got the stuff you asked me for." Dean whispered as he shoved a brown paper bag through the slot.
"What the hell is this?" The Joker asked, as he looked at a bag that had a few grease stains on the bottom.
"It's the food you asked for." Dean said quickly as he shifted uncomfortably outside the door.
The Joker took note of this but was too hungry to argue as he snatched the bag and quickly examined the contents.
"What the hell is this?'' The Joker asked as he held the Fish Stick he pulled from the bag between two fingers.
"Sorry Mr.J it's the only thing that I could smuggle in.
"It's the latest fast food meal that everyone loves,
The Penguin said that I would be paid well if I kept this meal coming." Dean the guard said quickly as he shifted uncomfortably outside the door.
"Do I look like The Penguin to you?" The Joker growled, wanting nothing more than to shove the bag back down Dean's throat.
The Joker heard shuffling outside his cell which signaled Dean's departure.
When he was sure that couldn't be heard the Joker let out a mighty scream as he threw the bag against the wall.
The Joker walked over to his poor excuse for a bed, and flopped down on the even poorer excuse for a mattress.
He knew that he shouldn't have trusted the whispered rumors that he could get Dean to buy him some real food.
But then his view on what qualifies as real food, differed greatly from the rest that dared challenge the Bat.
The Penguin was the worst due to his weakness for Fish Sticks, and his absolute refusal to keep his body in good physical shape.
Two Face was not much better with his six meals a day, and his almost non existent work out regimen.
The Joker however always made time for a good workout, and ate healthy.
Forsaking, anything fried, and red meat; unless he would have a Steak after his escape from Arkham.
He had often tried to explain that it took a peak to face the Bat.
But the others ignored him thinking that the right plan, and piece of equipment was what was needed.
Even Harley stuck to her fondness for junk food, but The Joker over looked
that because of her willing to work out and even though he would never tell her; he loved to watch her play with the gum in her lollypops.
The Joker punched his mattress careful to not have his hand connect with the metal box spring underneath, then he reminded himself that he shouldn't be thinking about her.
it was now clear to him that people thought that he and Harley had broken up.
but the decision had been made with out his consent.
He had waited two weeks without any sign of Harley and at first was very angry that she had not returned to him.
He didn't understand why she wanted things to be different they had fun together, they helped each other and he would give her any material thing she desired just to see her eyes light up with the child like whimsy that he adored, and he kept her well protected.
If anyone breathed one word of disrespect towards her they knew that it would be the last breath they would ever breath.
All these things proved that he cared for her, and the only things he asked was that she be around when he needed her, do as she was told and not distract him when he was working.
He knew that she hated this rule but he had explained to her that his work always came first.
She would usually read, watch Tv or play a game on her phone until he called for her.
But now she had decided that what they had wasn't enough, she should be ashamed for throwing away something so good.
The Joker let out a low growl as another unwanted thought entered his mind.
This was a thing he hated about Arkham even more than the food.
He hated being left with thoughts that led nowhere and in Arkham that was all he had.
He wanted nothing more to pull out a secret cellphone and tell Jhonny that he had devised a way to escape,
But he punched his mattress again as he realized that he could do neither of these things.
The Joker curled up on his mattress unable to think about the first time he met Johnny.
A cold rain poured down over Gotham as the Joker exited the office of Carmine Falcony, escorted by his head security guard.
"I'm sorry that your meeting didn't go well sir, but you must understand that Mr. Falcony can be a bit stubborn when it comes to accepting new ideas." Johnny said as he walked the Joker to the door.
"This isn't just some idea and your boss would do well to pay attention to the wind of change that's clearly blowing." The Joker said as he walked towards the door.
"What do you mean?"
Why do you want to know?"
"I swore my allegiance to my boss who treats me well. "Johnny said as he stopped and turned to the Joker.
"You swore your allegiance to a man who had everything handed to him by his father, and only respects his own opinion.
You are a man who works like a dog for scraps while your master grows ever fatter, and became far to comfortable far to long ago
He has no vision what so ever but I must admit his taste in suits is adqute."
"You have to me what you know."
"I don't have to do anything, all I wanted was to work with your boss so I could stop someone trying to crush hard working entrepreneurs.
But your boss has forgotten that in business there must be respect and honor, so I will let him pay the price.
But since good help is hard to find I will make you this offer.
When your bosses house of cards falls come and find me, I may not look like or have much now; but I have a vision and I need some one I can trust." The Joker said as placed his calling card in Johnny's lapel.
The grumbling of his stomach pulled the Joker from the memory, for which he was grateful.
He walked over the bag and quickly ate it's contents, which were now cold and mushy.
He sighed and closed his as the hollow ach of hunger left him, but as he opened his eyes again he felt a new empty feeling take him over.
He had thought that the fear and self-loathing he felt after being so careless, with the one he cared about most was enough to kill him; but the emptiness he felt at knowing that she didn't want to return to him was enough to tear him in two.
He knew now that he had to find her, and that he had o set things right.
He had to tell her that he was ready to give her what she always wanted, but he couldn't do that here and knew that he escape before the worst happened.
Chapter 8
The Joker turned in his bed, as he heard the locks to cell turn.
He expected it to be a pair of guards coming to escort him to his next meal, he was going to tell them not to bother but when he saw Zack standing behind them he knew that this was different.
The Guard told the Joker to stand, but his eyes lingered on Zack as he once again thought of her.
The Joker laid on his bed with his hands linked behind his head.
But he looked toward his cell door unlock.
"Doctor Quinnzel welcome to my crappie little abode to what do owe this honor? "The Joker asked as he curiously cocked his head at Harleen's obvious discomfort.
"I… I… I need you to come with me Mr.J." Harleen said in a nervous tone.
" Oh and judging by the fact that you came all this way to see me, I guess that means that we won't be heading to the therapy room then?"
" Stop being a wise ass and get on your feet you know exactly what's coming." Chad said as he glared at the Joker.
" Chad go easy it's clear Harleen is uncomfortable enough of it is." Frank said as he turned to look at Chad.
" I know that Frank but it's obviously he's just trying to mess with her head, and since this is her first time dealing with this type of therapy she needs to know that we have her back.
" Guys it's alright I can handle this." Harleen said is she stepped further into the Joker cell.
" Mr. J doctor Arkham requested to see you, and I will be very grateful if you would just come with me now; however if you refuse I will have no choice but to sedate you, and doctor Arkham requested that you be brought him awake and alert.
" Well we wouldn't want to disappoint the good doctor now would we?" the Joker asked sarcastically and team rose from his bed and walked over to where the guards stood .
The group walked in silence, and Harleen stomach grew more unsettled with each step she took.
When they reached the therapy room Harleen pressed the buzzer to announce their arrival with a shaky finger, and as she looked at the Joker she saw that his calm and superior demeanor had changed into one of anger and somewhat apprehensiveness.
"Doctor Quinnzel I must say that I am surprised to see you here so soon, and with inmate forty seven thousand sixty-five looking so subdued as well.
It's clear that even though your therapy sessions have not provided the change we had hope you had to still manage to have some effect on him."
" It was good of you to read my notes doctor Arkham but I would really have to have a few more therapy sessions with him before we begin with this next phase of treatment." Harleen said quickly as her eyes moved to a bed with leather straps on the side.
Dr. Quinnzel you have had thirty in person session with inmate forty seventhousandsixty-five, and you have yet to determine the reason for his sycoses o suggested wiping be properly medicated.
Therefore it is time for us to move on to our next phase of treatment, and perhaps it will allow you to diagnose the Joker better when it is over."
"And what exactly is this treatment? "Harleen asked, with her eyes focused on the bed.
" Electric shock therapy." Doctor Arkham explained, calmly as he motion for Frank and Chad to take the Joker over to the bed.
"Doctor Arkham please with all due respect, that seems far to extreme! " Harleen said quickly as all the color drained from her face.
"Doctor Quinnzel I assumed by now you understood what type of people we deal with in this ward."
" I do you told me everyone in this ward has their own extreme ideology."
" Yes they do and people have lost their life for it, most through no choice of their own but no one has taken as many lives of the Joker.
But that is why this treatment extreme as it may be, still proves to be the right fit for him."
" How many times has he under gone this therapy?"
Exactly elven times."
" My god!" Harleen shouted as she watched the Joker squirm against Chad and Frank, while letting out cries of rage.
"Not to worry Doctor Quinnzel I'm sure that this time I will achieve my goal." Doctor Arkham said, calmly as he walked over to the Joker.
"Which is what?!"
" Why to erase his mind so that we can alleviate him of his sociopath ideology of course.
Once his mind is wiped clean we will rebuild it, and by the time we are done he work as a functioning member of society again.
Then I will write a thesis on how repeated bouts of electric shock therapy can heal the mind of the most extreme sociopaths.
It will revolutionize our medical field, and undoubtedly save countless lives but I need to test on one of the most extreme cases I can find; so I can be completely sure that it works, but as his therapist you must be the one to administer the treatment and as your superior I shall supervise the administration of the treatment."
"I can't! "Harleen said, as her eyes widened.
"I understand what I've asked you to d is quite extreme, but when this works I will mention you in my thesis which will do wonders for your career.
And I am sure that your patients will thank you when they have their lives back. "Doctor Arkham said he walked over to the Joker and waited for Harleen to walk to his side.
Harleen tried to move but her legs but they felt like jelly, and her stomach was churning much that all she wanted to do was find the nearest bathroom.
The smile doctor Arkham gave Harleen when she reached his side, made her want to run from the room but she ignored it knowing that her patient needed her.
"Chad has already put the mouth guard in place, now you need wet his temples by rubbing them with a wet rag, then you turn on the machine and wait for it to charge.
Then you rub the paddle together and place them on each side of the patient's head.
"Will it hurt him? "Harleen asked as she looked at Doctor Arkham with pleading eyes.
"No more than the knifes or specialized laughing gas that he uses. "Doctor Arkham said coolly as he handed Harleen a wet rag.
Harleen shivered at the mention of how he chose to commit murder.
With trembling hands she took the wet rag, and carefully touched his temples.
She wanted to be gentle hoping that it would show him that she only wanted to help him.
The mouth guard made him unable to talk, but his eyes said it all.
The icy glare in his eyes damned her for what she was about to do, and she thought that it was exactly what she deserved.
" Doctor Arkham I-"
"Miss Quinnzel I completely understand your apprehensiveness, and yes the first time can be very difficult but you should know that a true doctor would go to any length to help their patients." Doctor Arkham said in a condescending tone, as he offered her the paddles.
Harleen slowly nodded and took the paddles.
Her stomach turned as she rubbed the paddles to together, and felt the electricity hum through them.
" Don't worry this will make you feel better" Harleen said quickly and she put the paddles to each side of his head before she could talk herself out of it.
Harleen's face twisted in horror as she watched the Joker's eyes close tight, and his head move slightly.
She let out an anguished cry and tried to move the paddles away, only to feel doctor Arkham hold her hand firmly in place.
" The therapy must be administer for full five minutes and no less.
" Doctor Arkham he is in tremendous pain, and we must remember our Hippocratic oath.
"I took no such oath and nether did inmate forty seven thousand sixty-five, and I am sure that the families of his victims would find some solace in the fact that he is receiving this type of therapy." Doctor Arkham said coolly as he watched the Joker react to the therapy
Minutes later Doctor Arkham instructed Harleen to remove the paddles from the Joker head, and she did so without a word.
When Doctor Arkham looked at her he saw that she look as if she was going to pass out.
He tried to lay a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly ran from the room , and to the nearest bathroom where she emptying her stomach.
Harleen laid on the cool tile of the bathroom stall in the fetal position, with tears streaming down her face as she tried to process everything that happened.
Today she had gotten to work with someone everyone who worked her idolized.
She knew that she should feel very grateful, and be prepared to tell her story in the break room the next day.
But instead all she felt was sick.
She knew now that the man everyone idolized was, was nothing more than a torturer who thrived on appearances and power.
She knew now that the Joker was right, and that Doctor Arkham did nothing more than play God when ever he saw fit.
Harleen shook her head vehemently knowing that she was wrong.
Doctor Arkham was the devil, who had crowned himself king of his own little hell.
Harleen slowly climbed to her feet resolving this do all the could to make things right.
"Hey Greg." Harleen said as she walked up to the occupied chair that was placed by the Joker's cell.
"Oh Harleen hey I wasn't expecting to see today, after well you know. "Greg said as he shifted uncomfortably in the chair.
"I was on my way back to my office in order to write up the mandatory report, and I wanted to see him so I would know if there was anything I needed to add." Harleen said as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
"Oh well that's really nice of you Harleen nicer than he deserves actually but I'm afraid there is nothing you can do. "
"What do you mean?"
"Well when they undergo this type of therapy, it usually takes three to four days before they are ready to meet with their therapist again." Greg said as he ran his fingers over his crew cut.
"Then why are you guarding his cell?"
"Dr. Arkham thinks that we should be prepared for every possibility."
Harleen bristled at the mention of the man she now hated, but swallowed her anger.
"Do you think I could go and see him?"
"I don't see why not since you're his doctor, but I don't know what you hope to accomplish. "
"I just want to make sure he knows that I'm here for him as his therapist. "Harleen said as she swiped her ID badge which doubled as a pass key.
"Harleen a loving heart like yours is rare please don't ever lose it." Greg said as he opened the door for her.
Harleen shuddered and blinked back tears, is she saw the Joker lay motionless on his bed.
She hurried over to him careful not to let her heels reveal her urgency.
When she reached him she saw that there was just enough room to cuddle up with him.
She removed her shoes then let the freezing cold floor touched her feet, and leather cold seep through her body as she tried to hold back a breakdown for what seemed like the millionth time that day.
She carefully climbed into bed with him, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
She knew that it was really stupid to do this, and she was terrified when he didn't even react to her touch.
"I'm sorry.
I failed you I never knew that this was going to happen, I'd give anything to take it back.
I don't know if you can hear me but, I promise that I will never fail you again."
She wanted nothing more than to stay with him until he came back around, she desperately needed to know that he had heard what she had said but she knew that she couldn't stay.
She placed a quick kiss on his forehead and when she was sure that she hadn't left a mark, she tucked him into bed.
Greg called to her as she quickly made her way back to her office, but in that moment she couldn't handle talking to anyone.
The Joker laid in his bed trapped in his head once again, he hated when these so called doctors sentenced him to this .
His only solace in this was that he got to stay with her.
His beloved Elizabeth and their sweet little Abigail.
They were the ones that he saw every time he closed his eyes.
They were the world that was his alone, they were the thing that no one would ever know about.
But now they were gone.
The memory of them was growing more fuzzy, for some time now and it concerned him greatly.
He knew that the electro shock therapy was working as Dr. Arkham though it would, and now the last memories he had were gone.
He had tried his best to save them, gladly letting his other memories be stripped away.
He tried his best to avoid this place, but now he found himself in this place thrusted here by someone who had no idea what went on here.
Now the things he held most dear were lost to him forever
To him it was a fate worse than death.
He decided that the people who did this had to be punished.
He tried to think back to what happened before, and it made his head throb but he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain.
He saw Dr. Arkham talking to Dr. Quinnzel who put the paddles to his head.
He knew that Dr. Arkham had put her up to it, and he would be dealt with slowly.
But Dr. Quinnzel was a different matter.
She was the one who took his memories, and she deserved her own punishment.
He pushed through the pain as he tried to think of what to do, then it became clear.
She was a young woman looking for romance and a happy life.
The Joker knew that it would be all to easy to make her think he could give her that.
Then when she was right in the palm of his hand he would rip it all away.
First he would make her sacrifice her job by helping him escape, he knew she would do it she thought he really loved her.
Then he would show her how what she did to him really felt, afterwards he would leave her to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.
The thought of it made him want to laugh whole heartily, but he wasn't yet able.
This didn't bother him, because he knew the best bits of humor came to those who wait.
The Joker felt the familiar throbbing as his head, as his brain tried to recalibrate itself, but he knew that this time was different because he knew that he wasn't in his room.
He tried to make sense of where he might be, but drew a blank as his head throbbed.
Then he turned as he heard a familiar voice call to him.
"Boss you really screwed things up this time. " Johnny said as he glared at the Joker.
"Johnny? "The said as his vision slowly came into focus.
"Yeah it's me and I'm not happy with you.
I gave my life so you could have her back, but I didn't mind because I knew belonged together.
But then you tossed her out again like garbage, even though you love her and after every I sacrificed shouldn't have done that but I just want her back and I'm going to make things right this time."
"It's not going to be that easy."
The Jokertried to ask Johnny what h
Chapter 9
The Joker sat in his as he reviled in the chaos that took place outside, he never grew tired of the warning sirens and the sound of confusion and chaos.
From the window of his cell he could see a smile fire burning, he loved the fire and how it started off slow and small but grew bigger and bigger and until it consumed everything in it's path.
It held no distinction between one thing or the other it was simply itself, it's simply moved, and it's simply thrived no matter the challenge.
But as he looked at the small fire he could not help but think of the fire he adored most.
He loved the fire that he found inside her and how it burned differently depending on her emotions.
He loved the pop and crackle fire that was her joy, the slow crackling burn that her fire held when she was romantic; and even though he would never tell anyone, he would be perfectly fine with being consumed by that fire.
The explosive fire that was her anger and she knew very well the he loved this fire because it matched his own, and even though he would never tell anyone he knew that it at times was greater than his own; but he didn't mind he was simply happy to witness her fire burn.
Then there were the slow dying embers that held her sadness, he would leave when this started not understanding why she would let herself get this way.
But what confused him even more was the fact that she would occasionally run off to people who had no idea how to love and respect her fire.
Especially when he would see her with the weed.
He knew that she was aware that fire destroyed plants, yet she still chose to torture him by going to someone who could not love her in the way she deserved and her fire demanded.
Then as he watch the small fire die out, he remembered the first time he ever saw the fire in the woman he loved.
The Joker walked out of his Casino The Deuces Wild on the east side of Gotham, he was happy to see that Johnny had took good care of it in his absence and made sure that it had brought in a fair amount of money.
He grinned evilly as he thought about how he would use the money to take on the bat, but as he looked at the curb he saw an unwelcome distraction standing in front of a jet black motorcycle that was parked in front of his Lamborghini.
"Hey I'm here." Harleen said as she smiled at the Joker.
But Harleen frowned as she saw the Joker walk past her as if she were invisible.
" Hey wait don't leave I understand everything now, I understand what you went through, I understand how you see the world and now that I see the world for what it really is I want to be with you like you said we would be." Harleen said as she moved in for a kiss.
But Harleen's face soon twisted with confusion and fear as she felt the Joker shove her to the ground, and quickly put a gun to her head.
He laughed manically as he watched her begin to tremble beneath the muzzle of the gun.
He never got tired of that look of fear, or the way it made the human body automatically react.
He never thought the look of fear could be beautiful, but as he stared down at his potential victim who's light blue eyes were now widened into beautiful trembling pools, he knew that there could be beauty in fear.
" Please don't hurt me Mr. J."
"Oh I'm not gonna hurt ya because honestly you've become boring to me, and I have better things to do tonight." The Joker said as he stepped over Harleen got into his Lamborghini and quickly drove away.
The Joker drove down the freeway trying to decide if he felt like cooking a steak, or going out for one when he saw a jet black motorcycle pull up beside him.
His body hummed with annoyance, but he refused to let her have any attention so he simply raised his hands his face and kept on driving.
She said she understood him now that was the worst joke of all, because if she truly understood him; then she would have left when he sent her away because that is what clowns do.
They devote themselves to their craft they go where they're needed, and they devote themselves to the idea that they provide the humor and when their time is done they go.
It was just that simple, and if she could not understand that there was no way that she'd ever be able to really understand him.
He was the ultimate agent of chaos the ultimate idea and these things were never meant to be held in one place, they were meant to teach their lesson then leave.
Yet she had the audacity to demand that he stay in one place and love her.
He knew that she knew nothing about him and now he simply wanted her gone, but he stopped in the middle of the road and as he watched her pound on the hood of his car.
" You're not leaving me, you're not leaving me!
The fact that she would dare to damage his car the thing he loved more than anyone else infuriated him.
But as he looked at her he saw that she was infuriated as well.
He knew from the moment he met her that she has a secret side buried deep inside her.
He saw now that her secret side was intensely angry, and even though he wanted to leave there was something about the way she was in this moment; that was beautiful and drew him in.
" You.
You, you, you your a real pain in my ass." the Joker said as he exited the car.
The Joker walked over to her ready for a fight, and ready to see how beautiful how beautiful and deeper newfound anger really was; but became annoyed once again when he saw that she only wanted to plead with him.
" I have done everything you asked I have passed every test, every trial every initiation; I have proved that I love you just accept it.
"Got it, got it got it." The Joker said as he put his hands up to silence her.
He was sick of her talking about love as if that was something she could ever have with him so much so that he contemplated killing her where she stood.
" I am not someone who is loved.
I am an idea, a state of mind.
I execute my will according to my plan, and you doctor are not part of my plan. "
Just let me in I promise I won't hurt you." Harleen said as she stepped towards the Joker and tried to kiss him.
The whole idea was hilarious yet sickening to him, and it was clear that she refused to accept him for who he was.
" A promise, a promise?!" the Joker said he busted out laughing.
Then he stopped as he heard a vehicle door slam closed.
" Hey dick face do you mind yelling at your bitch somewhere else?!"
He started to turn to the man and tell the man that he should find a different route, but before he could he felt his gun being pulled from his jacket and then heard it fire and the man's life is body hit the ground.
" I was going to tell you not to do that but-"
The Joker let out a small growl Doas he felt the muzzle of the good move to his head, then he gave Harleen a pitiful look.
He felt an instant rush, one that he hadn't felt in months and one that was different from the ones he felt with Batman.
He knew Batman had no problem hurting him, and making sure that he spent a good deal of time in the medical wing when he returned to Arkham; but he knew that the idiotic sense of Justice that his enemy clone two would never allow him to do what he truly wanted.
But now this woman stood before him willing to do everything he always wanted Batman to do, and he could not help but find her beautiful.
He also could not help toying with her just a little more.
"Please don't hurt me Harley I'll be your friend." the Joker said is he maintained his pitiful look.
He looked into her light blue eyes and so the anger still blazing there, and decided that maybe she would want to play his real game.
"Do it, do it, do it, do it!" The Joker growled as he let guard down.
"My heart scares you but a gun doesn't?"
"Do it!"
Then with a quick movement the Joker disarmed her and put the gun to his head laughing all the while.
"I if you weren't so crazy I think you were insane.
Go away."
" Fine I'll go and don't worry I'll keep your secret." Harleen said as she started to walk away.
"What? "The Joker asked as he watched her walk away.
" Your secret is that love scares you more than anything else, it was the thing I was always trying to find out back at the asylum; and now that I know it seems so simple, but things like this often do." Harleen said as she looked back at the Joker.
She watch his eyes shoot daggers at her, and vaguely wondered if he would actually use his real knives on her; but she chose not to think about that now, because she was pleased that after all this time she had finally proved that she was superior to him.
The Joker stared at her completely infuriated because though he had won and got what he wanted, she had still managed to take something in the end and he could not let that go unpunished.
"There will be one final test."
" I'm ready."
" Get in we're going for a drive." the Joker said as he walked to the car.
Harleen wordlessly followed the Joker to the car and open the passenger door, as excitement hummed through her.
As soon as the door was closed the Joker raced forward, quickly opening up the engine, not giving Harleen time to put on her seat belt.
She was scared at first but only at first, then she realized that she like traveling at high speeds.
She liked the feel of the engine beneath her as the Joker opened it up even more, she liked the feel of the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she had yet another brush with danger.
Her thoughts turned to Roxanne and she mourned her briefly, but put it aside knowing that it was the last thing list of her old life and that she had to give it up.
She looked around at the interior of the car, and decided that it was as flashy as she always imagined it would be.
She stared out the passenger window and marveled at the city as it sped by in a blur, and to her it look like they were traveling through a painting.
A while later the car came to a sudden stop, and the stop was so forceful that it nearly sent Harleen through the windshield.
Harleen suppress a scream as she caught herself on the dashboard, then she looked up in confusion at the building that had stopped in front of.
" Where are we?"
" The place of my birth." the Joker said as he exited the car, and walk towards the locked gate of the Ace chemical plant.
Harleen scrambled to keep up as she tried to follow the Joker, and process everything she had just heard.
She stopped at the gate as she heard the Joker growl in annoyance, then she saw the there was a guard who press the button to open the gate; and that he had a cellphone out.
She knew that he was calling the police, and with the recent Arkham outbreak they would be here soon; but she could not allow that to happen because she knew that if they ruined this chance she had with the Joker, she might never get another one.
Harleen wordlessly took the gun from the Joker's jacket pocket, and took full advantage of the man fear in distractedness and quickly disposed of him with one shot to his head.
When she was sure that the man was dead she nimbly scaled the gate, then went over to the gate tower and unlocked the gate so the Joker could enter.
The Joker walks forward and passed her, and even though he would never have said it he was impressed by her determination.
The pair walked until they reached the main holding center for the acid, then they climbed up to the cat walk.
"Do you know what a Harlequin is?"
"Yes he was a nimble and astute servant."
"Yes but I have plenty of those already, and plenty more lined up to take their place if the need should arise.
But what I really need is a partner, someone who understands me completely; and wants me for more than the money I could provide.
I've brought you here because I know you can be that person but first you must see what made me what I truly am and accept it." The Joker said as he placed a light kiss on Harleen's lips.
He tried to convince himself that he did not enjoy the kiss but he was unable, so he decided to quickly lead her over to the acid and get on with the rest of the game.
He watched her stare down at the huge vat of boiling white acid, she could see her interest and knew that if he did this just write she would jump into it without question.
"Question would you die for me?"
"Yes."
"That's too easy would you, would you live for me?
"Yes."
" Careful.
Do not say this oath thoughtlessly.
Desire becomes surrender, surrender becomes power.
Do you want this?"
"I do."
"Say it, say it, say it.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty-"
"Please. "
"God you're so good." The Joker said as he wrung his hands.
He watch her climb up on the railing and nimbly stand there for a minute, then he watched her stretch out her arms as he motionally instructed her; then he wants her dive head first into the vat of boiling white acid.
He stayed long enough to make sure she went all the way in, then he turned to leave her there to die.
But as he almost reached the stairs something in his mind nagged at him.
There was the fact that she had been a great help to him, and he could not deny that his escape from Arkham would have took much longer without her help.
She even offered to help him without demanding money in returned, which is something he couldn't say for any of his hitman except Johnny.
Then his mind forced him to admit that she was a very beautiful woman, and that she now did understand him completely: and that some part of him truly wanted that, and some part of him truly wanted a female partner.
He was also sure that this would piss off and confuse Batman and that was something he couldn't wait to see.
He also thought back to when she was looking out the window on the way to the chemical plant, and knew that she would respect and enjoy his other art as well and he decided he would rather enjoy seeing her child like wonderment.
He growled in anger at the realization that she had managed to make him changes plans, by making her be a part of them but he decided that having her around was worth it.
He quickly made his way back to the railing and, quickly pulled off his jacket jump the railing and dove into the vat of acid.
He stretched out his hands as his body hit the murky depths, then he swam back to the surface with her in his arms.
He looked at her with her eyes closed, and he marveled at his now completed creation.
He thought that she could not get more beautiful than she was but he now knew that he was wrong.
He now knew that his partner and lover was the most beautiful thing that he had ever created, and must be protected at all costs.
He quickly put his lips to hers so that he could breathe his life into her, but he was also gentle because after all she had just done for him she deserve another kiss.
He watched her take a deep breath as her eyes opened, then he felt her arms wrapped around his neck in her hands get lost in his hair.
He stayed still and allowed her to close the distance between them, as she gave him a passionate kiss.
Then he let out a maniacal laugh, because the Clown Prince of crime had finally found his queen.
The memory left him, and he was trusted back into the present.
But he did not stay in his cell for long, because the memory only serve to reinforce what he already knew.
He needed to find his queen.
