Puddin

Chapter Two - Mr. J

The next day was a little calmer when I went to work. There were no surprises and I was actually looking forward to my session with the Joker.

"Good morning Mr. J" I say, with a smile on my face, as I walk into the therapy room

"Mr. J?" He laughs "oh I like that, I like it!"

I can't help the smile that bites at my lips "I just refuse to call you the Joker, all those news reports and the Batman... They all think your a monster so they have to give you a name"

His eyes narrow "and you don't pumpkin?"

I shake my head "no, I don't think your a monster at all. I think your a man that lost his way and needs help finding it... I hope you let me help you"

"Yes... But first let me help you-"

"Help me?"

"Yes. Now your name, rework it a bit and you get Harley Quinn, like the classic clown character, HarleQuin... The very spirit of fun and frivolity!"

I take a breath and give in "alright Mr. J you want to call me Harley Quinn go ahead"

He nods and motions his hands towards me, with a smile on his face. It's not a sinister smile though it's more sweet and kind

"You can see how I'd be attracted to it, a name-"

I interrupt him, I can not get attached to a patient. Especially one as dangerous as the Joker.

"I guess now if there's nothing else..."

"-that puts a smile on my face" he finishes his previous sentence

My heart swelled at that moment. I realized that staying away from him and keeping our relationship strictly business, would be one of the hardest things I would ever have to do. Call me crazy but I was starting to fall for the man with the clown makeup.

"According to the news papers everything puts a smile on your face" I point out

"Yes, but then again you don't believe all the bad things they say about me"

Once again he smiles and once again my heartbeat quickens "let's begin our session shall we?"

"Oh please!" He yells, excited, and claps his hands repeatedly like a child

I stifle a laugh and fix my glasses, trying anything I can to hide the fact that I am actually enjoying this mans company.

I can not loose this job and I will not be another one of the Joker's victims.

"Alright Mr. J let's start at the beginning... Tell me about your childhood"

Little did I know that the question I asked would receive an answer so horrific, so traumatizing, that it brought tears to both of our eyes. And our hearts grew even fonder.