One Bad Day

The Voices

Joker's POV

Ivy and I were still hard at work trying to invent a medication for  me. We keep having an issue with getting the strength to be strong enough. We haven't tested any of them on me yet because Ivy feels they're all still too unstable. In between trying to manufacture a pharmaceutical, I was hard at work researching what, and if any effects PH760-9 might have on the baby. Since my child is the only known case, everything is a gamble. There's zero basis for comparison. I haven't slept in five days because of all the research and testing. However, I have been taking methamphetamines to keep myself awake. I just can't sleep until I feel as though I've accomplished something.

But I needed a break from yesterday tubes and peatrie dishes. Therefore I have decided that today I will start therapy with Dr Quinzel. She's been reviewing my files all week. She knows almost as much about me as I know myself. But I'm really hoping that the hypnosis can find some of the many memories that I've lost over the years. I'm hoping to fill in enough gaps that I can finally piece together my past. I need to find the human being I once may have been. My child needs a father, not The Joker. But the Joker is all I remember and know.

Harley has decided to do the session in my bedroom. There's just the two of us and Frost in the room. I asked Frost to be present during this session to make sure I don't flip out or try to hurt Harley. I look at Harley in a chair next to me and shoot myself full of an intravenous sedative. Harley  says it's to aid the hypnosis. I remove the needle from my vein and lay it on the nightstand. I can feel a slight tug behind my eyes. I take a deep breath and lie back on my bed.

"Ok, Mistah J," Harley says, "Are you ready to begin?"

"Yeah," I sigh.

"Ok Mistah J, I want you to close your eyes and stay relaxed and just focus on the sound of my voice. You have no other concerns but relaxation. You hear nothing but my voice. As you listen to my voice you'll start to feel sleepy. You're  drifting...drifting...when I snap my fingers you will fall asleep  immediately. And when I clap my hands you will wake up. Ok, so I want you to sleep now...(snap)"

My body shoots up as she snaps "No! Wake up you fool! She wants in our head!!"

I realize suddenly that the voice that was always in my head was now in control of my body. I was sitting up on the edge of my bed glaring at Harley hatefully. I had strong thoughts of wanting to hurt her. I wanted to kill her. Frost is positioning himself closer after hearing the low growl of my tone. I then glare at him, knowing that he has orders to stop me. The Joker had given them to him.

"Hello," Harley swallows hard, "I'm Dr Quinzel...can you tell me your name?" I can sense her fear of me. I can smell it.

I snarl, "Call me Boss, I'm the one in charge."

"Do you know who I am?" Harly timidly asks.

"Of course I know who you are. You're the tramp Jack knocked up. You're Mistah J's toy. J's punching bag. The one who got us in this mess in the first place," I hear my voice saying so lowly, seething with detest and contempt.

"What exactly are you in charge of?" Harley asks attentively.

"The business," some part of me answers. "I decide most things...most of the time. That thing in your womb is disrupting the balance."

"I take it you're not pleased about being a father?"

"Pleased? Whatever is there to be pleased about? I don't even want to talk to you."

"You no longer want to talk to me? You say there's a Mistah J, a J, and a Jack with you?"

"Yes. The four of us make up The Joker."

"Can I speak to one of the others?"

I feel a smile take over my face. It's broad and I feel the excitement and joy that goes along with it. I lean back and rest my weight on my palms, "Why hello doctor," says my higher pitched voice.

"I didn't catch your name," Harley speaks.

"Oh Harley girl, you're so funny. You say my name all the time, hahaha." I almost feel aroused just looking at her long perfect legs. I found myself suddenly wanting her.

"M- Mistah J?" She skeptically asks.

"Mmmm, say it again," I moan, my eyes shutting. It was music to my ears hearing her call me Mistah J. It sounded so so sexy.

"Mistah J?"

"Oh yeah baby, daddy likes that," I groan and writhe in place, "I can't wait for you to get Boss and J under control so I can make you scream it." I can see Harley's face blush. I like it. We like it. Well half of us like it. But my glee quickly changes. "Why won't you just go away and leave us alone. You make us weak! You're going to get us killed. We don't need drugs! We just need you to go away!"

"Are you...are you J?"

"Yes, as if it matters!" I snap and feel adgitation sweep through me.

"I take it you don't like me having a baby...?" Harley bravely asks.

I cross over to the window and peer out. As I do I feel the adgitation leave me as quickly as it came. Now I feel a flutter in my stomach and my heart is starting to pound. "I'm scared," comes a voice of mine I rarely hear. The voice of an ordinary man. Jack. Plain old Jack. The core to us all.

"Jack?"

I turn and look at Harley and feel my chest swell full just from the sight of her. She was the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen. I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. But before they can fall a different me claws it's way back out, silencing Jack.

"No! No she makes us fucking weak and pathetic!"

"Ok, I'm going to snap my fingers now and you're gonna wake up feeling refreshed. On the count of three. One. Two. Three. (Snap)"

My eyes blink and I come to standing in the middle of the room. I'm aware of what happened. I remember every word, every thought, every movement. Yet I feel... relieved.

"Why did we stop?" I shrug.