Chapter 3

Ivy is absolutely enthralled with the boy she picked up. His ideas were either lovably outlandish, like completely encompassing certain areas of the city in plants, or spine-chillingly remarkable, to the point in which she wondered why she hadn't thought of them herself. The boy had unknowingly imbedded himself so deep into her heart that it was difficult to imagine being without him, this causes her to sometimes concede to some of his demands, like eating more than just plants (she doesn't know what the appeal of meat is, but the look on Jason's face as he dug into the burger she 'acquisitioned' was adorable). If there is one thing that she is reluctant about keeping the boy it is that he is easily able to sway her.

For example, since Ivy has gotten the boy she hasn't committed has many crimes as she used to. No random attacks on oil companies, no slaughtering of clearcutting crews or construction companies, not even the occasional theft of rare plants! That can be attributed to Jason, as he pouts whenever Ivy does something unnecessary, but when the crime is obviously justified, like the killing of those ACE chemical dogs, Jason actually enthusiastically participates. Such a troublesome little bud I've taken in…

On positive note Ivy has found that the boy is quite the quick learner, he has already learned how to manipulated the growth of the plants around him. Though he can move and manipulate their growth he hasn't picked up on how to mutate them yet. He doesn't look discouraged when his efforts are wasted, maybe slightly frustrated, but he continues his training to channel his powers with much gusto.

He has a long way to go before he reaches my level, but that's not so bad, is it? Ivy thought fondly while overseeing Jason's newest experiment.

Just as it looked like Jason was about to finally achieve his first mutation he stiffened sharply and stared with panicking eyes at the root of a willow that protrudes from the far wall. He watched the root with laser-focus before looking at Ivy worriedly, "They're comin', Ivy!"

Ivy stiffened as well and started to plan their escape just in case they were truly found. If there is one thing Jason outclasses Ivy in it would be his connection to The Green, while Ivy did have a deep connection with The Green that only deepened day-by-day it paled in comparison to Jason's that was naturally close. After confirming that their guests were zeroing in on their position she sat up with a snarl and started gathering up important specimens that couldn't be replaced. "Get your things, little bud! We need to go!" Ivy shouted over her shoulder to Jason, who was already sprinting around their garden grabbing what he could.

Their 'guests' were already at the door of the tool shed clad in their gear with filtering masks. The Dynamic Duo seemed intent on their capture since their culling of the ACE dogs; which baffled Ivy as those scum have been illegally dumping waste into Gotham waters for years and no-one has said anything, but when they took it into their own hands to correct wrong-doings they were branded monsters (thank you Vicky Vale). Hypocrites! Ivy cursed in her head as she finished packing.

Just as she and Jason were about to leave they heard the floor of the toolshed being forcibly broken causing them to dive behind one of the mutated trees to avoid being seen. Ivy was furiously brainstorming an escape plan without incorporating the plants here (if they were used it was highly possible that Batman would torch them after their capture) when she felt Jason tug her ear to his mouth and whisper his plan. The longer she listened the more the devious smiles on their faces grew, when he finished telling her his plan she whispered back to him, "Do it."

As soon as she finished whispering her consent Jason started crying. He stumbled from out of the cover of the tree with large tear streaks cascading down his face, "H-h-help! Anyone!" he screeched painfully. If Ivy didn't know it was an act she would have ran to his aid immediately, but as Batman and Robin didn't know they did just that, though while keeping a healthy distance.

"Hey, kid, you ok?" Robin asked soothingly.

"Where's Ivy?" Batman growled, not completely fooled by Jason's act.

Not deterred by Batman's continued suspicion, Jason kept the act up, "Y-you g-gotta get me outta here!" he cried pathetically, "She left a b-bit ago… it - it hurts…." He whimpered while clutching his head.

"C'mon, B!" Robin complained at Batman's lack of empathy. "Look at the little guy! We gotta help him!" Robin got close and hugged Jason while muttering comforting words while shooting a small glare at Batman. Batman ignored the two and scanned the area for a moment. Probably sensing the movements of Batman through The Green Jason went limp and started muttering causing Robin to draw Batman's attention.

While Batman and Robin were distracted by Jason's act, Ivy silently maneuvered herself to her small lab behind the vigilantes. There were many vials of plant extract; she carefully checked each vial for the specific plant and took as many as she could carry.

"What's he saying. B?" Robin asked worriedly.

"…G…t…a" Jason muttered weakly.

Foolishly, Batman got on level with the boy and spoke as softly as he could, "What did you say?"

Once both vigilantes were within grabbing distance Jason's eyes flew open and his mouth stretched into a mischievous and deadly grin, "GOT YA!" he yelled as he clutched at the Kevlar of Batman and Robins' armor. Before they could retaliate Ivy tossed a couple bottles of Oleander extract at their backs while she and Jason cackled.

Once the bodies of the vigilantes were incapacitated she and Jason sprinted out of the garden and up into the park, not slowing despite their cackling that was wracking their bodies. They made it to Crime Alley before they had to stop and catch their breath. They laid back against the alleyway wall and laughed breathlessly, Ivy holding Jason in her lap and stroked his head listlessly. It took a few minutes, but the reality that their garden was discovered eventually sunk in; their laughs quickly turned anger.

"What're we gonna do now?!" Jason growled as low as his prepubescent voice could go.

"We will have to build a new garden." Ivy said tiredly, though her anger burned just as bright as Jason's in her eyes.

"Where 're we gonna go?" Jason asked, his adrenaline falling away giving way to tiredness.

Before Ivy could reply, a dark voice answered from above, "To Arkham."

Both of their heads snapped up and saw the dark knight and the boy wonder standing over them, "How?!" Ivy yelled while shielding Jason behind her back.

Batman didn't answer her he only swept down and knocked her to the side. Ivy's head smashed violently against the dumpster they had hide near, she didn't get up. Jason scrambled to her side and placed himself between her and the dynamic duo. He leaned down and whispered worriedly into her ear, "Ivy…? Ivy are you there?" he asked hesitantly. When she didn't reply he got more frantic, "Ivy, Ivy please… please answer me!" Still no answer, she laid still, too still, "…I can't do this without you…"

Batman approached the, now sobbing, boy cautiously, "Come quietly and she will be treated immediately."

When Batman got within 5 feet of the boy and Ivy the boy stood with his back to him, "Don't. Come. Any. Closer." The boy ordered coldly. When Batman didn't slow his charge, the boy's hand flew into the air.

At the boy's motion a thick vine exploded from the ground and separated them. The vine grew briars from almost every inch of it and lashed out at the vigilantes if they got too close. During this time, the boy leaned down to Ivy and held her motionless body close. As his cries increased, more and more vines emerged from the ground to protect the plant-users. Before the boy's cries could reach its climax Robin nimbly dove through the vines and struck the boy across the head, knocking the boy into unconsciousness causing the vines to still their motions.

Once they secured the criminals and assured Ivy's survival Robin turned to Batman with an unsure look on his face, "Sooo~… What're we gonna do with this one?" he asked while motioning to the boy.

Whatever question Batman had anticipated it certainly wasn't that, "We take him to Arkham…" he replied with tension in his voice.

"Arkham?!" Robin exclaimed, "Are you sure, B…? I don't think that's a good idea…"

"If the staff can't care for him then they will transfer him to a facility that can." Batman said while carrying their bodies to the Batmobile.

The ride to Arkham was tense, halfway to the facility Ivy woke up and started panicking until she saw the unconscious body of the boy next to her. What the duo saw next shock them, the usually cold and distant Ivy start crying and holding the boy to her chest. She tried desperately to wake the boy, almost as desperately as the boy had for her in the alley. Neither Batman nor the boy wonder had ever seen the femme fatale react that way towards anything that wasn't a plant. When the boy awoke and heard where they were going he held onto Ivy like she was his lifeline.

Soon enough, they arrived at Arkham and trudged them into processing. When everyone took notice of the boy they were awestruck at the bond that the two plant elementalists shared. A guard tried to separate the boy from Ivy and received a quick, but vicious, punch to the jaw from the furious looking boy. When told they were admitting the boy, all the guards and doctors were stunned that they were receiving such a young patient, but as there isn't any institution for minors so they were required to take them in.

Gordon approached and led Batman to the side, "Is that who I think that is…?" he asked neutrally.

"Yes, that's our mystery boy." Robin replied from behind Batman. They had tried searching through any databases they could find, but it was like the boy didn't exist. No paper trail, no electronic footprint, not even a DNA analysis could be found to compare with the boy (not that the last one would do any good, since he changed).

"He's certainly… attached…" Gordon commented, staring at the boy who had come from nowhere and his strange bond with Poison Ivy.

In the processing area a doctor was smiling softly at Jason, who stared back disinterested. "So, Sweetie, what do we call you?" the young blonde woman asked.

"What?" Jason asked confused, "What're you talkin' 'bout, blondie?"

"Oh, you know! There's Two-Face, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy… So, who are you?" The doctor asked enthusiastically, she was fascinated that they had such a young patient; she just had to analyze him!

Jason stared past the behemoth guards who stood on each of his sides to Ivy, who was going through the motions of her processing with a regal air. For a few moments he just stared before a devilish smile creeped onto his face and he turned back to the young doctor, "Call me Hemlock. And you are…?"

"Oh, right! I'm Dr. Harleen Quinzel." She said proudly.

"Too long…" Jason complained, "I'm just gonna call ya, Harley."

"That sounds…" Dr Quinzel paused with a complicated look on her face, "That sounds great." She smiled brightly.