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Previously on Photosynthesis:
Maybe for a moment like this. A moment when a child was dying, and the hospital wouldn't arrive in time, despite the urgency. She crept towards the boy's mangled form, quickly having her plants move him to a more private area before anyone noticed.
She followed, creating the drink as she went. She only prayed it work.
Chapter 2
The child woke up the next morning, gasping for breath, and he stared up at the unfamiliar face staring down at him. He panicked, rolling out of bed and backing away from her.
"Relax." The woman said. "My names Pamela Isley, and I saved your life with a blood transfusion, and some Jewelweed."
"Where's my mom?" Richard asked, making sure to speak clear, concise english.
"At the circus, with the rest of them." Pamela said, choosing to allow the child to think his mother was alive to give him some hope. "I'm going to take you back soon, but I need you to understand what I did by saving your life." Richard stared at her, and his eyes widened as she reached her hand for a plant, and it grew over to her hand, before curling around it. "I work to protect plants as Poison Ivy, and because of the cure I gave you, you now have my powers."
"No..." Richard said, eyes wide.
"Yes." Ivy said. "I'm immune to poison made from plants, which is almost every poison, have a toxic kiss that kills men, second kiss is the cure, though, and can control plants. There is no one other than me who can teach you how to harness your abilities. It's your choice, when we get to the circus. Stay with me, or stay with the circus." She refrained from saying with your mother, not wanting to tell the boy quite yet. He'd seemed cheerful enough back at the circus, when he was performing.
"My mami." Richard said, and Pamela looked at the boy, before nodding.
"If that's what you want. But be warned, if you don't have control over your powers, you could cause major damage." She warned him.
"I'm still going with my mami." Richard said.
"Do you remember what happened?" Pamela asked.
"...Da." The boy nodded. "Familia mea cu excepția mami a căzut?" She gave him a puzzled look, and he paused before translating into english. "My family, except my mom, fell. Their dead. I have to stay with mom, so she's not alone." Pamela nodded, before offering him her hand. Then he hesisated, eyes widening. "I was testing you. You lied. A murit prea. She died too..."
"I can understand." She said. "Come on, let's go." Richard followed the red-haired woman, knowing that he probably shouldn't trust her, but she had just saved his life.
True to her word, Pamela Isley took young Richard Grayson back to the circus, and back to Haly, and the two had a quick discussion in another language- which honestly annoyed Pamela- before Richard turned back to her, offering her his hand, and she shook it.
"It was nice knowing you, Richard Grayson." She said.
"Actually, Pop Haly wants me with you, in case the wires ever snap again." He said. "So that way he can be at rest knowing I'm safe, and with someone he trusts Or is at least connected to me, considering you saved my life." Pamela's eyes widened, for she'd resigned herself to losing the boy.
"Thank you for trusting me with your grandson, Mr. Haly." Pamela said. "I'll take good care of him, I promise." Haly nodded tears in her eyes as Dick walked back over to him and gave him the last hug the two of them would have for a while.
"Take care, Dick." Haly said. "I wish I could watch you grow up, but I can't. Pamela will take good care of you, I can tell. You'll know where to find me once you're older." Richard nodded, tears in his eyes. "Pamela, I have everything wrote out, all you have to do to become his guardian is sign." Haly held out the legal papers, and Pamela took them, and a pen.
"You want to do this?" She asked.
"I want him to be safe..." Haly said. "As last night showed, I can't do that, the circus can't keep him safe. I'm trusting you, Pamela. You've already saved his life, now hold it dear and protect it."
"I will." Pamela said, finally signing. "Where do I take this?"
"I'll take it where it needs to go." Haly said. "Don't call him Richard, he thinks it's too formal. He prefers Dick, if you can believe it. You'll learn his quirks in time, just love him, and it'll be easy to take care of him." Haly stepped forward and pulled Pamela towards him. "Take care of him for me." Then he turned and walked away, and Pamela looked at Dick.
"Well, it's time to go to your new home, I guess." She said, and Dick nodded, furiously blinking tears from his eyes.
"I guess." He said. "That you're also going to teach me about my powers."