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Rex got off the bus at the bus stop and continued walking down the street towards where his appointment will be. Red Hood was happy to let Rex have the day off. He just had to say had an appointment and didn't even need to say why or the reason for it. Rex wouldn't say he was ashamed about what he was going to do but he knows he needs the extra help.
Entering the building, Rex was greeted by the front office that looked a little run down. If you didn't know what this place was you would think it was abandoned.
Rex walked up to the lady that had short blonde hair with bright red lipstick on her lips, who was sitting behind a cream coloured desk.
"Hi," Rex greeted.
The lady looked up at him but didn't stop filing her nails. She blew a bubble from her pink gum and let it pop.
Rex cleared his throat, "I'm here to se-"
"I ain't an idiot. I know who you are here to see. Take a seat and wait for your name to be called," the lady interrupted.
"Thank you," Rex still said, even though he found her very rude.
Taking a seat on one of the uncomfortable, plastic chairs, Rex looked around and let his leg bounce up and down.
The room was a little bit smaller than a normal waiting room. He was 5 steps away from the desk. There was a wooden door that he guessed the doctor was in. Rex was glad to see this place actually had a bathroom, based on one more door that had a messy handwriting on a homemade sign. If Rex was being honest he would be surprised if there was an actual toilet behind the door.
The Doctor's door opened, letting out a goon. They said their thanks to the Doctor, that Rex still couldn't see, and gave a wave to the lady at the front desk.
"The Doctor is ready for you now," the lady said.
Rex exhaled as he got up from the chair and slowly walked inside.
The first thing Rex spotted was two hyenas, both in a dog bed. They both stuck their heads up at Rex, revealing the shiny collars. One was red but it almost looked pink and the other was black. Both had gemstones on them.
Rex walked towards the chair that was in the room but was facing a computer. So Rex couldn't see who it was.
"Excuse me," Rex spoke up, "I'm here for my appointment."
The chair spun around, revealing Harley Quinn.
Her blonde hair was in a bun but Rex could still see the pink and blue in hair. She was wearing a black and pink crop top, a bit of her belly was covered up with her high waisted jeans.
"Good morning, Mister Rex Alexander," Doctor Harley greeted.
"Hi," Rex said, almost shyly.
"Please, have a seat," she said, waving a hand in front of the crouch.
Rex took a seat but not before throwing a quick glance to the two hyenas in the room. Doctor Harley seemed to notice this.
"Bud and Lou won't hurt ya. They are just big sweethearts," Doctor Harley explained.
Rex nodded.
"Now, what seems troubling ya?" Doctor Harley pulled her reading glasses down from her head. Rex had a feeling they were fake.
"I… have been experiencing lots of anxiety since moving to Gotham," Rex told her.
"Have you talked about this with anyone before?" Doctor Harley asked.
"Yeah. With my doctor a couple of years before I moved. He gave me anxiety meds to take, I still do," Rex explained.
"Do you feel like they are helping,"
Rex nodded, "I do. Before I got help and started taking the medication, I had so much anxiety that I couldn't even leave the house without having a panic attack. Even waking up causes one sometimes."
"It seems that you have improved," Doctor Harley pointed out.
"Yeah. I'm proud of myself and I know I will have bad days but it just seems like I'm having more bad days then good," Rex mumbled.
"Could it be due to the fact that you moved? Gotham isn't known for being bright and happy after all."
Rex shrugged, "I feel a lot happy now that I got friends but feels like something is missing."
"I'm guessing you don't want to up your medication dose?" Doctor Harley asked.
Rex shook his head.
"Hmm let me try something," Doctor Harley said, "Bud! Lou! Come here."
The two hyenas got up and walked over to Rex. They sat next to him but instead of staying there, they placed their heads on Rex's thighs. Clearly wanting pats.
"Go on," Doctor Harley encouraged
Rex reached out and started patting Bud and Lou. They nuzzled against his hands. Rex felt more relaxed.
"Would you like a pet?" Doctor Harley asked.
"What?" Rex asked.
"Would you like a pet? You seemed very relaxed having Bud and Lou to pat and pets can help reduce stress," Doctor Harley explained.
Rex thought about it before agreeing.
Maybe a pet is what he needed.
"Is there anything else you would like to talk about before we move onto the main event?" Doctor Harley asked.
Rex was unsure if he should explain this but what harm could it cause by just doing it.
"Nightwing scares me. To the point of having a panic attack when I see him," Rex mumbled, as if he was ashamed.
"Can you tell me what caused this reaction and feeling?" Doctor Harley asked.
Rex moved his hands from the hyenas and started fiddling with his fingers.
"Nightwing was mad at me for hanging around Robin. I… I get it. I'm an adult and Robin is a kid hero but… Robin was also the first real person in Gotham to be kind to me. Like, Red Hood gave me a job but," Rex sighed, "I don't know. I guess that I was so desperate to have someone to talk to that once someone did I wanted to be friends." Tears gathered in his eyes, "I'm fucking pathetic."
"What did Nightwing do to you?" Doctor Harley asked.
"H-he tackled me to the ground. T-tied my arms t-together and pushed me to the e-edge of a r-roof," Rex explained. His tears were beginning to fall faster making it hard to talk, as he tried not to let sobs out.
"Do you feel like you deserved that?" Doctor Harley asked.
Rex went to shake his head but changed it to a shrug of the shoulders.
"Why do you not know?"
Rex was getting tired of these questions, tired of answering them and tired of being here.
Rex folded himself in half. Face partly touching Bud's and Lou's. He sniffled loudly, partly inhaling hyena fur.
"Rex?"
"I w-wanna s-stop," Rex mumbled into the fur.
"That's okay, Rexy. We can stop," Doctor Harley took off her glasses, "do you wanna continue with what else I have planned?"
Rex moved his head, so his cheek was now resting on Lou's head.
He gave a little nod.
Rex sat in the passenger's side of Harley's car. She insisted that since they weren't in the office anymore that it's just Harley now. Rex had asked her where they were going back all Harley said was "It's a surprise," Rex just hoped it was a good one.
Harley pulled up to the pathway with a lot more speed then she needed.
She got out first. Once Rex got over the shock that was Harley's driving he followed.
"What are we doing here?" Rex asked, once he was near Harley.
"We are getting you a pet. One of Ivy's goons has health problems. I'm not saying what because it isn't my place. Anyway, sometimes she finds it hard doing some jobs for Ivy so this goon set up a side business taking in abused or mistreated animals. She does end up finding them a new home." Harley explained.
It was good that there were at least some kinds still in Gotham.
Harley opened the door and was greeted with what looked like a small Cafe. There were cakes in a display case with other little sweet snacks around but no animals in sight.
"Khron!" Harley yelled out to the room.
What sounded like a bang echoed through to where they were standing.
It wasn't long before a girl with forearm crutches, that had live vines and flowers going up them. She had brown wavy hair with small curls down the end of them, also two red streaks were through her hair. She was wearing leggings with a green sweater.
"Hi, Harley," Khron greeted, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to get a pet for my new friend and client," Harley pushed Rex towards Khron.
"You know pets don't just fix problems, right?" Khron asked.
"Of course I do but Rex should get one. It could help with his issue," Harley explained.
"Fine," she turned to Rex, "what pet were you thinking of getting?"
"I'm not too sure. What do you think is the best?" Rex asked.
"Hmm, let's have a look," Khron walked to the back. Rex and Harley followed.
Rex was surprised to see that it wasn't a small room with animals over cowarded. Instead it was as if 3 builds were part of this. There was a door that Rex guessed went outside.
"What type of home do you have?" Khron asked.
"I live in an apartment," Rex told her.
Khron hummed, "I know what you need."
They walked to a massive cage. Khron carefully placed her hand in and grabbed out a gerbil that had orange fur on the back but the rest of it was white.
"This is a Gerbil. They are energetic, usually friendly, and love exploring," Khron held out the Gerbil for Rex to take.
Carefully holding the animal in his hands, Rex couldn't believe how small it was. He needed it.
"How much?" Rex asked.
"He is free. Brucie Wayne pays for everything here," Khron explained.
That was no surprise.
"I'll take him."
Khron took them to the supplies area and picked out a cage and food.
"This cage is 75cm x 45cm x 62 c. It has a normal area and a bottom with see-through walls. You place sawdust in the bottom area and the Gerbil can dig and bury themselves. Two wooden levels are included. You can get a little house and a feeding and water bowl for him. Also maybe get a chewing pole for him and a tunnel so he can run through it," Khron explained.
Harley grabbed the box that held the cage while Rex had the carrier with the Gerbil in it.
"Thank you so much, Khron! I could hug you!" Rex was sure he never felt this excited before.
"I'll take the hug," Khron said.
Rex pulled her into a big hug. Breaking the hug he started to leave.
"I'll see you around!" Rex said, as he made his way to the car.
In the car, Rex held the carrier in his lap as he watched the Gerbil sniff around.
"What are you gonna call him?" Harley asked.
Rex didn't even think about it, just said the first name that felt right.
"Hops."
Rex swore that he would protect Hops with his life.
THE END