i wouldn't kill to get you back, and i've officially been asked...

[attending_physician]

Harleen Quinzel is not hungover. Harleen Quinzel does not come to work hungover.

But she does have a lingering headache, which probably has more to do with how she wrapped up her work day yesterday than the half bottle of wine she had once she got home.

She's had two cups of coffee and a couple aspirin to go with them this morning, which have taken the edge off. She needs to be here today. For better or worse, today's her next scheduled appointment with the Joker.

They have a lot to talk about.

Comments

[attending_physician]

"You may not," she replies, serene.

"I do not assault people at my workplace for the hugs."

[manofmyword]

"Awwwwwwww," he says, and hugs himself instead.

It just isn't the same.

[attending_physician]

She sighs.

"And after all I've done to reinforce personal boundaries."

[manofmyword]

"Quin," he says, "do you see me hugging you?"

Nope!

Because he respects her personal boundaries!

This is a little unusual.

[attending_physician]

"I don't," she replies, "and I can't tell you how pleased I am that we've established such respect for one another."

[manofmyword]

"Don't fuck with me, Quinnie," he says amicably.

"So what's today's tough question?"

[attending_physician]

"You'll know when I'm fucking with you," she replies, equally mild.

"I have to ask. Why didn't you kill him?"

[manofmyword]

"Didn't feel like it," he says, smiling crookedly. Not that there is really another option.

"It would've been hell on my reputation, y'know? And I'm not planning to get outta here anytime soon."

[attending_physician]

"Don't want to be known as the problem child?"

[manofmyword]

"We-ell, as much as I can avoid it. Which," he admits, "is probably... nnot all that much."

[attending_physician]

"Might have done a bit too good of a job establishing yourself on the outside," she allows.

[manofmyword]

"A tiiiiny bit," he agrees, with a quick little smile.

[attending_physician]

Compared to the conversation she had in here last night, this one is...nice.

It's also wrong. Everything about this is wrong.

(She's a doctor, goddammit, and she's been acting less and less like one since she met him.

Was this the plan? Was this always the plan? Is this how he gets out?

Or just how he amuses himself?)

Her headache throbs.



"What's your endgame with me?"

[manofmyword]

...He shakes his head, wryly amused.

"Quin. Honey. Why do you assume I have one?"

[attending_physician]

"Fine. Maybe you haven't thought that far, because you're allergic to plans, but--

This isn't right. I don't know what I'm doing with you, but it's not...not productive.





I think maybe you should see another doctor."

[manofmyword]

"Really?"

He blinks at her, taken aback. And maybe a little hurt.

"That is a surprise."

[attending_physician]

"Is it?" she snaps back.

"I don't know what the fuck I'm doing anymore! I'm bribing police officers and threatening to fucking stab people and it's for you. I told that piece of shit it wasn't but...but it was, a little, and I don't know why.

So tell me how I can be your doctor, how I can be anyone's doctor, when I'm acting like this. This isn't me."

[manofmyword]

"Well."

He smiles.

"I can't say I'm not a little touched. But you know, I don't really think of you as my doctor." He cocks his head. "You do know that, don't you?"

[attending_physician]

"It's not really a surprise."

She folds her hands, mostly to keep from tapping her fingers out of nervousness.




"What do you think of me as?"

[manofmyword]

"Mostly," he says with a tiny quirk of his lips, "I just think of you as Quinnie."

[attending_physician]

She laughs raggedly, dragging both hand through her hair.

"Well, I guess as long as one of us knows who I am."

[manofmyword]

"Hey," he says gently. "Hon. You okay?"

[attending_physician]

"I really don't know.


But thanks for asking."

[manofmyword]

"Maybe I should see another doctor," he says wryly.

And then, quieter: "I'll leave, you know."

[attending_physician]

Her gaze had drifted down to the desk, but her head snaps up now.

"What?"