Chapter 1
Gotham's streets are not kind. Kindness doesn't pay for food and shelter, nor can it protect you from the thugs, pimps, and crazies that stalk the streets like jungle cats. To survive on Gotham streets, you must be willing to make decisions. Decisions that will keep you up at night. Decisions that will make you lose a part of yourself, or even change you. The most important thing to remember: Gotham does not discriminate against age.
Jason knows this better than anyone, though he hasn't been on the streets too long, it's not a hard lesson to learn. Catherine, his mother, died from an overdose one year ago when he was 8 years old. Since then there have been many sleepless and hungry nights, but the desperate will always find a way. He's gotten through them by doing small jobs for some thugs, pickpocketing, stealing from stores, and working with the girls, on occasion (they understand how hard it is, so they don't say anything). Tonight, however, is different.
"'Ey, shorty! Come 'ere for a sec!" called Tony. Tony was a lower level soldier for Falcone, he usually gave out small jobs for the street rats, since they could get in and out of small places easier with their emaciated bodies. Jason was Tony's go-to-guy for the more profitable jobs; Tony like him a lot (enough to be a regular John, but that was to be kept quiet!).
"Yea', Tony?"
"Ok, kid, I got somethin' good for ya!" Tony said excitedly with a sleazy smile.
"'s that what you think that thing is?" Jason asked sardonically while pointing at Tony's lap.
"Fuckin' Christ, kid, you're a nasty piece a work…" Tony sighed, "Anyway, Falcone wants to send a message to the crazies 'round 'ere, ya know, show 'em they ain't untouchable. So, here's the deal, I want you to either steal something from da bat's car or that plant lady's newest hideout. You do a good job and you'll get a more than you could ever want, sound good?"
"WHAT?!" Jason yelled, "Tony, did ya go nuts?! I'm not goin' near that fuckin' tank! Only an idiot would try to gank somethin' from that thing, I've seen it fry any losers who even look at it wrong!"
"Hahaha! There's that Crime Alley accent!" Tony laughed, "Fine, fine! You can take somethin' from that freaky plant lady, just make sure to grab somethin' good! Her new place is that by old fuckin' overpass off the Bowery!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Jason said dismissively.
It didn't take Jason long to get to the Bowery, when you live on the streets you can find short cuts everywhere. Poison Ivy's hideout was also pretty simple to find, especially since the building was completely engulfed in vines. Once Jason in through the window he snuck into her 'lab' (if you can call shelves of beakers holding multicolor liquids and potted plants a lab). He was looking for something that looked important when he heard yelling, causing him to dive behind one of the shelves.
"Stop!" a gruff voice roared.
"Get back here, Ivy!" another yelled; this one sounded young, probably in his early to mid-teens.
Just then Ivy burst into the room panting from having to run all over the Bowery. She stumbled from exhaustion and fell to the floor. Collecting herself she turned onto her back to stare at the door where a looming shadow now stood. "You chase me for only avenging those who can't defend themselves!" Ivy screamed in rage at the shadow.
"No, we chased you because you poisoned the board of directors for Gotham Oil." The shadow grunted out.
"They were going to cut down an entire forest for a facility they don't need, those disgusting monsters!" Ivy spewed with hatred.
"Come quietly, Ivy." The shadow stepped into the light, revealing it to be Gotham's one and only Dark Knight.
"Yeah, make it easy on yourself!" Robin said, stepping out from behind Batman's massive figure.
Ivy stood with a furious look on her face and raised her hands in the air. A moment later vines covered in long, razor-sharp thorns slithered in from all around and charged at the dynamic duo. Batman leapt into action dodging the vines with ease, while Robin jumped and twisted his way through the tangle of vines. They quickly charged through the storm of vines and simultaneously met right in front of Ivy, Batman landing a brutal kick to her chest while Robin smashed his fist into her face. Ivy was knocked through the air and rammed straight into the shelves behind her toppling them over.
Just as Batman was about to retrieve Ivy an ear-piercing shriek split through the air from Ivy's direction. He sprinted to her to find she was unconscious, but the screams persisted. He lifted Ivy off the shelf and propped it up to see underneath it, "Dear God…" Batman muttered horrified.
"Batman…?" Robin asked confused.
"Robin, call an ambulance!" Batman ordered.
While Robin was contacting the ambulance, he peeked over at Batman only to see him crouching by whoever was screaming. When he told Batman that the ambulance was coming he finally saw the person who was screaming. It was a little boy, maybe around ten years old, he was covered in glass from the beakers that shattered when the shelf fell. The kid's screams were horrifying, like he was a victim from a slasher movie. When the boy finally fell silent Batman stood and stalked to Ivy with a furious look on his face.
"Ivy!" Batman roared in her face until she woke up. "Care to explain?" he asked lowly gesturing to the boy.
When Batman showed her the boy she looked absolutely flabbergasted. Her mouth hung open as she looked at the small boy and muttered unintelligibly.
"What'd you say?" Robin asked confused.
"He's connected…" she murmured stunned. She looked at the boy for a few moments before a warm smile escaped her lips.
"What're you talking about?" Batman growled at her.
"I'm taking him." Ivy said suddenly.
"…excuse me?" Robin questioned, completely flummoxed.
The look in Ivy's eyes alerted the dynamic duo, but by then it was much too late. The spores above their heads spewed pheromones, causing them to lose consciousness. "I said 'I'm taking him', bird-boy." She replied with a cruel smile on her face. Those spores will only work for a short time, I must grab him and leave! She thought rapidly.
She came over to the boy, who's skin was starting to discolor, and scooped him up. "Come, little bud, you and I will protect The Green together." She whispered into his ear. Ivy sprinted from the dilapidated building holding the boy to her chest, desperate to get away from those who would take this sprouting bud from her. I must never let him be taken from me, he and I are too much alike, he will need my guidance. She thought determinedly.