Harleen

First Encounter

 Today is a big day for Harleen Quinzel. Not only will it be her first day working at Arkham State Hospital, but she has also be assigned to be the psychologist of Gotham's most notorious and influential criminal, Arthur Fleck. It has been one year since Arthur had been locked up after leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake

And if things weren't already bad enough in Gotham with what Arthur has done, a group of fanatics calling themselves, The Jokerz, have taken to the streets to honor their hero. Dressed like clowns but violently spread terror and fear throughout the city

The young and eager psychologist is nearly finished getting ready for work. All she had to do now is look at her reflection in the mirror beside her bed, brush her hair tie it into a ponytail

Harleen remembered seeing Arthur in his clown makeup and suit, ruthlessly killing Murray Franklin on national television after giving what Harleen considered as a heartfelt speech on how society has kept someone like Arthur down and mistreated him. She didn't condone his actions but Harleen could understand where he was coming from and is determined to get into Arthur's twisted mind and help him to become a better person

Plus just imagine the amount of publicity and attention she would get if she manages to cure Arthur of his illness. For a girl who's young as she is and wanting to one of the world's best psychologists, it would be a huge accomplishment for her. Harleen didn't get into this to be famous, she genuinely wanted to help people and improve their lives, but the fame of being the one to succeed out of all the others who have tried to treat Arthur and failed is a nice thought

" So today's the day huh," said Derek Blake as he stands in the doorway of Harleen's bedroom, adjusting his cuffs on his fancy suit

" Uh-huh" Harleen nodded while she looked at her reflection in her mirror while using a comb to brush her hair

Derek smiled as he stepped into the room " You sure you want to have someone like Arthur Fleck as your patient? That man is a monster, who should be put down"

" The man clearly has psychological issues, Derek" Harleen turned around and frowned at her boyfriend" Yes, what he did was awful. But he doesn't know what he's doing.....not really" she said

" Please" snorted Derek " The man has a group of followers out there in the streets, violently attacking and killing anyone who gets in their way. He knows what he's doing. He just did it for attention"

Harleen didn't take too kindly to Derek's harsh words about her new patient " So, I should just abandon him. Leave him to rot in that hospital and not give him a chance to change?" she asked Derek

Derek said nothing but shrugged his shoulders for his response to his girlfriend's question, obviously believing that she should leave Arthur where he is and help those that really need it

" I didn't come all this way and work my ass off to be a psychologist, who's tasked to treat a man who's probably the most high profile patient in Gotham City, to just suddenly quit and give up on him. No!" Harleen shakes her head " I'm not going to do that. They could have picked anyone else to try and treat Arthur, but they choose me due to my passion and dedication"

" Listen! All I'm saying is be careful of that man. You don't know what he's capable of" replied Derek

Harleen looked at Derek " I'll be fine, trust me"

" Right...well I gotta go. Good luck" said Derek as he kissed Harleen on the cheek before turning around to leave her bedroom and her apartment

Harleen turned to look back at her mirror and finish combing her hair, she didn't care how long it would take or how dangerous Arthur could be, she's going to give him the best psychiatric help and hopefully put away whatever demons that are lurking within his tortured soul

****

" Are you nervous?" asked Duncan the director of Arkham State Hosptial, a man in his late fifties with short grey hair, looking at Harleen from across his desk

" Quite honestly" Harleen shakes her head " No. I'm not nervous"

" You should be" Duncan replied grimly " Mr. Fleck is the most dangerous and unpredictable patient I've ever come across. That man nearly killed his last shrink. We had to keep him locked in his room for everyone's own good" he said bluntly

Harleen raised an eyebrow " Mr. Fleck isn't allowed to mingle with the others?" she asked

" Are you kidding" Duncan chuckled amusingly " I wouldn't dare put the safety of the others in the hands of that lunatic"

" But he has rights. Arthur should be allowed to leave his room and mingle if he wants to. But to keep him confined there for long periods of time? That doesn't seem right" said Harleen shaking her head in disapproval

Duncan frowned at Harleen's disapproval " I make the rules around here and you follow them. Got it!" he then softened his expression "Trust me. When you've been around Mr. Fleck for more than a few weeks, you'll understand why he's kept isolated"

" I know what he's done. The people he's murdered. The riot.......but I know there's something more to him. Something that's causing him to be this way. Once I get to the bottom of it, you will see a new Arthur Fleck. Trust me!" Harleen said confidently

It didn't matter if everyone was screaming in Harleen's face that Arthur is the devil or a monster, she's not going anywhere unless she feels Arthur can't be treated or refuses to have help

Duncan sighed " We'll see" he opens the bottom drawer and brings out Arthur's file, he places it on the desk and slightly pushes it closer to Harleen " Brush up on his case...including notes on his mother who was a former patient of Arkham. Your first appointment with Arthur is this afternoon at Two o'clock" he informed

" Thank you, Mr. Smith" Harleen smiled at Duncan before taking the file and getting up from her seat

Duncan extends his hand to Harleen " Good luck, and I mean that"

Harleen leans forward and shakes Duncan's hand " Just you wait, Mr. Fleck will be a different person by the time I'm done with him," she said before turning around and leaving the room

As she made her way down the corridors with Arthur's file tugged underneath her left arm, passing by orderlies and other patients, ominous laughter roared throughout the corridors. The patients and orderlies knew this laughter all too well, the laughter of a mad man. Harleen, though oblivious, became intrigued and wanting to know where the source of this laughter is coming from

Every step she would make with her heels, the laughter grew louder and louder. Harleen began looking from room to room until she finally came across a room where the laughter is coming from. Harleen peaks through the small window of a door and see Arthur Fleck

Arthur sits on the edge of his bed, confined in a straight jacket and his back pressed against the brick wall. His greasy black hair dangling at the back of his shoulders. Arthur truly looked like a madman, he laughed and laughed until it started to hurt. Thinking of new twisted jokes that only he could ever truly understand and find funny

Harleen watched Arthur with great interest, his laughter piqued her curiosity. What is it that this man found so funny that he had to make everyone hear his laugh? She'd be lying if she said she didn't smile at him a little because she did

She didn't know what it is about him, but she sees something in Arthur that no one else could or would want to see. Something in her gut told Harleen that inside that mentally ill man is a sweet guy looking for acceptance and affection

Maybe it was an act. Maybe there's nothing to Arthur than a deranged lunatic who only wants to spread chaos and kill people. Only time will tell

Just when it looked as though the laughter would go on and on, Arthur suddenly stopped as he noticed Harleen staring at him through the grate plastic window. His eyes looking into hers, he sees her giving her a friendly smile and he gives one back. It may seem like only a few seconds since they held each other's gaze, but to them, it felt like a lifetime

This should be fun thought Arthur