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First Date

In an office within Gotham city limits...

"So, tell me about your childhood, Dr. Quinzel."
She paused her pen's movements in her initial note scribbles and looked over at her patient. A small professional smile, filled with seemingly unending patience, formed upon her perfect red lips.
"Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
He grinned but it looked odd. More than usual because he was stretched out and half lounging over a side arm of the couch so that he could look at her upside down.
"Pfft," he replied dismissively. "That's so cliché."
He then sat up and rolled off the couch. It was a such quick and fluid motion that she was on her feet before she knew it.
"A shield and sword?" he asked in reference to the trembling notebook and pen she now held out defiantly between them. His eyes dance with amusement. "Shall I draw forth my own and subdue the dragon?"
"I…"she stammered taking hasty steps backward half tripping over her chair as he started to close the distance.
He cut off her path to the desk and as soon as her back connected with the wall behind her, he smacked the items from her hands. She heard the notebook connect with and slide down the wall as he continued forward. Soon she could feel his hot breath in her face though he made no attempt to initialize actual contact. She could see the insanity in his eyes and immediately was silently berating herself for getting in so far over her head.
"Well Doctor," he asked again with a hint of threat in his voice. "Are you going to tell me about your childhood or not?"
"I…" Her wide eyes searched his face as he studied hers. She was fighting for an answer for his unexpected action and he took stalk of the woman before him. Then suddenly, just quick as it started, it ended. His face lit up as he grinned and the terrifying crazy was simply gone.
For a brief second she was certain he would pinch her cheek as he gleefully laughed but he did neither. Alternatively, he turned on heel and headed back, flopping carelessly on the couch.
"I'll take that as a not."
He sighed in exaggerated disappointment, seemly oblivious as the doctor took a moment to collect herself then the notebook.
She moved to her desk and hit the call button and immediately an officer of the law and her secretary entered the room. Neither questioned her brief orders as the session was ended without explanation.
The patient was cuffed and led out and the secretary closed the door behind them, allowing the good doctor a moment to add last minute notes in private before the next patient.
Instead Doctor Quinzel called her dutiful secretary by phone, canceling the rest of the day's appointments then excusing her for the day as well. She next gathered up her purse and keys from the small lock box and headed for the back door.
Her heart was racing and she knew she had been stupid to allow him to get that close but something else was there as well. Something else which she didn't understand though she knew she wasn't going to find the answers here.
It wasn't until the next day did she realize those weren't the only things she wouldn't find in her office.

*********************

Later that night, after lights out and alone his cell, Joker lay on his side away from the infrared cameras. He pulled his new keepsake from his crotch and clenched it tightly in his hand. Sooner or later he was going to need a new hiding place but for now the guards were hesitant in searching him there.
Though he couldn't see it well in the dark, he knew exactly what it was. An expensive, blue ink, ballpoint pen with the initials HQ etched in. In the quiet of the night, he stroked the writing implement with his thumb, knowing the beating he'd receive when they did find it would be well worth it. He rolled onto his stomach subtly tucking the pen away as he started to giggle.
Today he had gained much. Not only had he taken away a prize, he had also seen into the doctor's soul. Oh what a marvelous second date it would be.