The Joker And The Fool

1.(4) The rainy days of Gotham city

1.4

The morning afterwards Diana rushed to Arkham Asylum, this time being obliged to borrow one of Bruce Wayne's cars, for she had promised to return to Wayne Manor after work, to have dinner with Bruce. In the parking lot of Arkham stood but at least three police cars, where some tired officers stood next to, drinking their coffee's, and smoking some cigarettes. Them not knowing who exactly she was, making comments on her car and herself that were not as professional as she had hoped for. In a same way that she had been made fun of that night. Not that it mattered to her, she was used to that sort of things. So, Diana said nothing, she nodded her head and persuaded her way towards the entrance.

"Morning Harley" Diana said as she swiftly walked past the reception.

Harley was one of the receptionists that worked at Arkham on the Fridays. Often would receptionists switch from stations, purely because they themselves would become mad if one would have to stay in the more contained parts of the Asylum. Diana knew Harley well, because she mostly worked on block C and the main reception of the building. She liked Harley more than others, although she was so sensitive and somewhat naïve, she seemed to be as driven as Diana when it came to their career paths. She liked her, but she found her in no way an equal. Harley had graduated from high school only months ago and was studying Journalism, the only reason as to why she worked there was that not many people dared nor were suited to work in Arkham. She aspired to be like Diana one day, she envied Diana's class and style. But as much as Diana liked Harley, did she make it clear that there was a line between the two and that Diana stood above that line, at least while working. She did so, mostly unknowingly, by having denigrating behaviour towards her.

Harleen had a need to impress, she was mostly sweet and mostly interested. But from the first day she worked there Diana had sensed that Harleen needed more than a simple job. Her true request: to have an interview with the Joker. She wanted to write a paper on him for her studies. Diana noticed that Harleen had some sort of affection towards him, as if she did admire him. That was also why she knew that Harleen was poor. For only the poor of Gotham could agree with Joker's seeming motives.

She did not at all intent to give her permission to speak with the Joker. Perhaps it was because Diana felt some sort of jealousy towards that. But mostly because she wanted to retain her authority and her responsibility over the Joker.

"Morning Diana" Harley said naturally as if nothing passed her from the night before.

But she suddenly shook awake and came from behind her desk to follow Diana, the clacking of her heels was heard quite loudly, as she tried her best to keep up.

"Oh, Diana" she said between her breaths, "Joker is under double surveillance, seems he killed a man last night."

"I know" Diana said, "is Jim Gordon still here?"

Harley seemed as shocked as Diana had been, as for her knowing of the current situation. Her eyes were wide and looked across the hall a bit, she noticed that Diana was headed for the less pleasant area of the building. And she feared that area still.

"No, he tried talking to the Joker," she chuckled a bit, nervously, "but he left really quick because there's no talking to the Joker, no sir".

"Ha," Diana exhaled, then jokingly said; "so no talking to the Joker, is he in that bad of a mood?"

She looked back at Harley with a smirk. Diana like dot pretend as if she knew what she was doing with the Joker. She liked to seem very skilful, while as we know, that was not the case. But Harleen did buy her act, such as everybody around her did.

"wouldn't you be if you were woken up in the middle of the night for a murder that you weren't aware of?" Harley asked.

"Not aware of?" Diana asked.