Second, and last, chapter.

Dr Leyland watched as the six patients shuffled into the room, sitting on their plastic chairs, chatting between themselves.

She smiled slightly as she noticed the giggles and smirks passing between both Harvey and Edward, and Jon and Jervis.

Relationships in Arkham were… not exactly encouraged. However, Dr Leyland believed that such things were good, would take their minds off of their mental illnesses.

Watching it was really rather fun, to see them trying to overcome whatever stood in their way so they could be together.

There were those people though, the ones who did it purely for sex, Dr Leyland had learned to pick them out and keep them separated.

A relationship was good, but pure sex, that just made things complicated.

There was also the issue of rape. It had been reported twice in the last month, same attacker, two different victims… however, after a confrontation with the Joker two days before, the attacker was no longer suffering from 'personhood', and the Joker was again under trial for murder.

Eventually the room grew quiet, and Dr Leyland looked over at the two couples, and the two singles.

"Jon and Jervis have been fighting an awful lot," Harley Quinn stated from her chair.

Dr Leyland nodded, "They have?" she asked, pretending it was new information.

Harley nodded, "I'm surprised you haven't heard them, they're so loud!"

"Louder than Riddler and Twoface on date-night…" Pam said with a growl.

"Shut up, Ivy," Twoface snapped, Edward dropped his eyes to the floor, a deep blush on his face. Was he really that loud…?

"Harvey, Twoface, calm down. Please…" Dr Leyland said, holding a hand up to calm him. Once Harvey's face had softened, with the help of Edward's hand finding a place on his knee, the doctor continued, "We were discussing Jon and Jervis?"

She turned her head to Jon and Jervis, who sat side by side, Jon almost squirming under their offending eyes, and Jervis looking up, seeming almost oblivious to their stares.

"Why," Dr Leyland began to ask slowly, "do you all think they have been fighting. What has been going wrong, and how do you think they could improve their relationship?"

She looked around the room, watching as the people in the room either chewed their lip in thinking, or looked away, hoping they wouldn't be picked to comment.

Edward's gaze had fallen to the floor, but it perked up when he felt Harvey's hand take his, and looked up to see the man smiling widely.

Jervis looked around the room, seeming slightly confused, "But…"

He looked over at Jon, "I thought we decided to not fight anymore."

Jon swallowed gently, "…Let them talk, Jervis," he mumbled quietly.

"No, no," Leyland smiled, "Jervis, go on. Why are you and Jon not arguing?"

"Well I-"

"Jervis, they'll make a big deal out of it."

Jervis frowned, "But it is! It's a very important occurrence!"

Jon huffed gently, "Yes, but it's between us, it's not up for discussion."

"On the contrary! It's important that these plebeians know that they may not touch my Alice." Jervis thrust out his hand and took Jon's, bringing up the hand to kiss it, looking into Jon's eyes as he did.

Jon smirked, letting Jervis's lips lay on his hand for a second or two longer than necessary.

"Wait!" Harley said loudly, "Jon? You're the girl?!"

Jon shot her a look that would scare the living hell out of any sane person, but Harley, not being sane, ignored it, continuing on, "I totally expected Jervis to be the girl, he's littler than you."

"…But my rooster doesn't crow as quick," Jervis mumbled, giving Jon's knuckle a soft nip.

Harley let out a short howl of laughter, and Edward smiled over at Harvey, whispering almost silently "At least we don't have that problem."

"So," Dr Leyland smiled, bringing the conversation away from a topic quite so personal, "Jervis, you and Jon have taken your relationship to the next level?"

Jervis nodded, "Yes! To one so high that I'm in the clouds."

Jon let out a tiny chuckle, his hand dropping with Jervis' to hang entwined between them, "But if we could not go too deep into it, I would appreciate it."

Dr Leyland nodded, then looked from Jon and Jervis, to Harvey and Edward, "So let's ask the other couple in the room… What happened when you two decided you were in a serious relationship? Was your experience anything like Jon and Jervis's?"

The pair looked at each other, frowning gently. Edward's hand tightened slightly on Harvey's, and he let out a tiny huff, "Well, we didn't really talk about it or anything…"

Dr Leyland frowned, "…So… Does that mean you're not in a serious relationship? After 2 years and a month?"

Edward's frown deepened, as if he were insulted by the insinuation, "No, no, we are. It just kinda…"

"Happened," Harvey mumbled, looking down at their entwined hands.

Edward nodded gently, smiling again, "I think we kind of," he let out a small sigh, "assumed it was going to be serious, and just… didn't question it."

Harvey smiled and nodded in agreement, "It didn't really occur to me that it was something we should have talked about."

Dr Leyland let out an almost-chuckle, "That sounds perfect. The best relationships are like that. But you know it could have gone badly."

Edward nodded, "If, for example, I had assumed it was a serious relationship and Harvey hadn't… that could have led to a fight and…" Edward's eyes fell to the floor, and Harvey felt the man's hand loosen slightly on his.

He took the hand and squeezed, looking down, smiling gently to comfort his boyfriend, "But that's not what happened, so it's ok."

"Why do you think you assumed it was a serious relationship?" Dr Leyland asked, noting Edward's discomfort.

Edward shrugged half-heartedly, knowing the answer, but not really wanting to say what was on his mind.

"Go on," the doctor said to coerce him.

Edward coughed gently, "…Fear of rejection. W-We both assume because we don't want to face it and have the other person say we're wrong."

An odd silence fell between the two, but they exchanged glances. Harvey could tell Edward was upset by what he'd had to say, he knew Edward hated saying things about himself like that. It was hard enough to get him to talk about himself when they were alone, saying it in a public setting like this must have been torturous for him.

Harvey let out a gentle sigh, "I love you Edward," he said gently, "I would never have…"

Edward nodded, inhaling his emotion, "Yeah, I know. I love you too."

Harvey smirked, and gave Edward a soft shove, "Stop that."

"Stop what?" Edward said, a slight smirk ghosting his face.

"Moping, you're moping over something that has and will never happen."

Edward's head twitched away, "No I'm not."

Jervis chuckled, nudging Jon, "He's like you."

Jon frowned, "What? He is not, I don't mope like that."

"Oh you do, little mouse. My little Alice is a funny thing…"

Jon shook his head, smiling gently at the blonde man, "You're an imbecile…" he said sweetly, a smile breaking on his face as Jervis pouted at him.

"Wait…" Harley said gently, "Harvey… if you have commitment issues, does that mean you'll never propose?"

A silence fell over the room, and everyone's eyes turned to Harvey. The man's eyes dropped to the floor, embarrassed by the nature of the question.

Edward frowned slightly at Harvey's hesitation, the hand of the smaller man loosening slightly yet again.

"I…" Harvey lifted his eyes to Edward's sensing a slight distaste in them, "After what happened to me last time, before I changed, I just… don't want it to happen again. Not with you."

Edward pouted gently, then let out a soft sigh. "I…I would have liked to be proposed to," he said gently.

"It's not just the proposal, it's marriage in general. It's supposed to be… forever, but it's not," Harvey said weakly.

"When have I ever agreed to anything and not followed it through? If I say I'm going to be with you forever then I'll be with you forever."

Harvey huffed gently, and nodded, he knew Edward would never go against his word, not on something as important as their relationship.

Edward frowned suddenly, "Harvey. I am getting married to you even if I have to propose to you myself."

Harvey smiled, chuckling lightly, "You swear?"

"Yeah, I fucking swear," Edward said playfully, "If you don't propose to me within the next year I'm going to do it my-"

The older man pulled Edward into a rough kiss, cutting him off mid-sentence and making him moan gently, his eyes slipping closed. Eventually their kiss broke, "I love you," Harvey smiled as a deep blush fell over Edward's face.

Dr Leyland watched the two couples, listening to their banter. By all standards they were following the lines of any normal relationship. If anything being forced into a confined space like Arkham seemed to be doing their relationships a great service; they were together enough to let the relationship grow, but kept separate enough that they didn't grow bored of each other.

Edward let out a small giggle, and rested his head against Harvey's chest, "You're a dumbarse…" he said sweetly, smiling widely.

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