Descent

Chapter 5

She is trying to tame us.

"Not gonna happen." Joker growled, his eyes a light with hellfire.

He was trying for all he was worth to keep it in check. Knowing that if he lost his cool now, there might not be a second chance to win the doctor over. All the Joker needed was her trust and then he would be able to escape.

Harleen just stood there watching her patient struggle with his demons. She doubted anyone had ever gotten this far with him. Dissociated identity disorder, it had to be. That would explain the differences in the cadence of his voice. His erratic mood swings. Why he behaved like a 2 year old throwing a tantrum.

Look at her standing there, acting as if you're a pussy cat.

The voice kept hissing in the Joker's head. He flexed his fingers against the confines of the canvas straight jacket, wishing his hands were free so he could grip his head. It was the only way he could still the voices, that or violence.

Joker knew damn well that any outburst would get him more of what Dr. Arkham had given him yesterday. Stupid dick, Joker thought. The shock treatment only made matters worse for him; it caused him to lose the slight control he had over Mr. J.

"I could crush your windpipe with my teeth, pretty, pretty." Joker leaned in close, his mouth a scant inch from her neck.

Harleen felt a shiver of excitement roll down her spine. To be this close to her subject as he actually hunted. And while the Joker was not out on the Streets of Gotham, but behind the cold walls of Arkham, Harleen was positive that any place to cause mayhem was natural to him.

"Don't talk about it. Do it." She stretched on her tip toes so that his lips were now touching her throat.

A second shiver danced up her spine, but this one was very different from the first. Harleen felt like she was waiting for her lover to take that final step. That anticipation one felt when they knew the first thrust was moments away. It almost had her eyes rolling back in her head.

The challenge was clear in her voice. Her lack of fear was a splash of cold water on the voice in his head. Joker pulled back and looked into her eyes. What he saw there gave him, not the voice pause.

Dr. Quinzel was worthy of his time, at least for now. If he grew bored, or the voice got too loud he would get rid of her. One way or the other.

Harleen waited a moment more. When he made no move to rip her throat out she shot him a winning smile.

"Now that you've had your outburst for this session, sit. We only have so much time."

Joker stood as still as a statue, leaning his weight into her. Patting his chest through the strait jacket Harleen slid out from between him and the table. She could feel the ridges of muscle that he held tense, coiled and ready to strike. But she also felt his heart hammering against his chest. She smiled to herself; it seemed he was just as exhilarated as she was with this encounter.

He watched through hooded gaze as she took her seat with all the grace of a queen. As if he hadn't just threatened to kill her.

Unflappable, oh we like her.

When he made no move to sit she cocked her head, "I could just have the guards take you back to your cell."

Oh, she's good. The voice piped up.

"Threats don't suit you, doll." The Joker smiled as he lowered himself into his seat.

Harleen pulled his charts towards her. "Oh it wasn't a threat, Mr. J."