AN: yay for more late night writing instead of eating or sleeping. Woot! #healthyliving


The music couldn't quite out pace the buzz of conversation. Back when she'd been a college student there was no way she would have ever been found in a seedy place like this. Not just because she wouldn't have been allowed to, or invited to, but she wouldn't have wanted to. Walking in next to the Scarecrow promised the inhabitants would leave her be, but in truth that was only irritating her. So far they were only cautious of her because of her attachment to him. This would not suffice. She let it slide for the moment only because some of the other rogues had gathered here, and she would have the opportunity to observe them. Her job for the evening was to watch, learn, observe her future peers in crime. She was still learning the compounds, and far too eager to begin working on her own designs, no matter how frequently he reminded her that she was nowhere near ready for that yet. Perhaps if she worked with more natural means? The hallucinogens she had continued to study? There was potential there, why even the street rats could cook up meth and other such things in their own home-made labs. She was certain she could do better than them.

All in good time. For right now, watch. Learn. The Riddler was present, he did little more than glance in her direction on occasion. Harley and Ivy were the first two to approach her, almost the very minute her mentor left her side. Should she be concerned? They looked friendly enough, though her guard was up.

"Still not brushing your hair I see." Harley shook her head, playing with a lock and taking a seat. Ivy sat on the other side of her.

"So you're the one our dear professor has taken under his wing." the woman purred, every movement and breath sensual. Harley was nice enough, especially out of her uniform and all done up, but Ivy was breath-taking. The way the red hair pooled around her delicate pale features, Jessica had to pull herself away from staring to give a nod.

"She didn't say one word when in Arkham." Harley informed, though Ivy's fingers began playing at the scar over Jessica's throat with a gentle enough touch to make her breath hitch for a moment and her gaze draw back to the woman's face.

"Oh, I think she's perfectly capable of speaking. Aren't you?" Jessica had no idea how this woman existed. No one was rightfully this...perfect. But she managed an answer.

"I do, yes." she even managed a smile, earning an exaggerated gasp from Harley.

"So she does!" she giggled, the sultry Ivy keeping the conversation going and a hand playing on her face.

"Do you have a name?"

"Haunt."

"Well, Haunt, it's rather nice to have another woman around. You've probably noticed how few of us their are."

"Yeah, it's a real sausage fest!"

"Though, even with so few of us, we really must say, we're quite fond of the professor. In our own way." instantly the atmosphere changed, both woman leaning in to regard Jessica with a threat for violence if she answered incorrectly.

"You're not planning anything untoward for him, are you?" Ivy inquired. All at once the spell broke, Jessica pushing both of them back enough to give her breathing space.

"How dare you! I would never, ever, the very idea-" she was sputtering out words she couldn't even think on before Harley quickly motioned for her to calm down.

"Hey, hey, chill. We had to ask!" Jessica shot a glare at each, but then took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"See, Red, I told yah. I pegged it the day she got that first scar." Jessica did not appreciate being talked over as if she wasn't there, and opened her mouth to say as much when Harley's next words floored her.

"You really love 'im, dontcha?" Her eyes doubled, mouth hanging open.

"What?" she finally managed, "No! Why would you even-"

"Oooh, honey. It's obvious." Ivy soothed.

"No one does half of what you've done if they don't. Why you think I'm with Mistah J?" Jessica did not much like that comparison. Not in the least, but knew better than to correct the idea. If nothing else, Harley thinking they had more in common than they did could be an advantage later.

"You could do worse." Ivy hummed, all but pointedly casting a look at Harley, who either missed it completely or wasn't willing to acknowledge it.

"Well I think yall would be a cute couple. Welcome to the big, crazy, family!" it was only then that Jessica noticed the girls had brought an extra shot glass, which was passed to her in an offer for cheers. Was this some kind of test? Should she trust it? What did she have to fear? She threw on a more confident smile, took the shot glass in hand, and knocked it back at the same time they did, barely managing not to cough at the burning sensation going down her throat. It made Harley happy enough, giggling and declaring she'd go get them round two, they were celebrating. The more calm Ivy gave a simple smile to mark her approval. She considered keeping her mouth shut, but something unknown drove her to correct once Harley was out of earshot.

"It's not really like that." Ivy's expression denoted that she didn't buy it.

"It's not! He's twice my age, for one. For another-"

"There's only one piece of advice I care to give you." Ivy interrupted, and when she only got a curious look she continued, "Never, ever, let a man own you. The professor might be better than some, but at the end of the day he's still a man." once again Jessica was feeling awestruck, words more breathless than she really intended.

"And what's that make you?" she asked. Ivy only smirked, and it made Jessica's heart skip a beat as Harley brought the second round of drinks. If Jessica had any sense, she probably would have refused. Instead when Crane's business concluded and he returned to the girls there was a litter of empty shot glasses. Harley had run off. Jessica was practically in Ivy's lap, unable to take her eyes off the woman for a second.

"There you are, Professor. I was just getting to know your lovely new accomplice." Ivy purrs, hands playing effortlessly over Jessica's side where her arm had wrapped around the girl. Crane knew more than enough to recognize what this was instantly, though he could have sworn those pheromones didn't work on woman? Or was it only that they didn't work on most women? The empty glasses also weren't lost on him, inwardly sighing at the potential mess waiting to happen.

"Je-" he had to stop to correct himself, "Haunt. How much did you drink?" her brow furrowed as she eyed the empty glasses, mentally trying to count them up and failing.

"Three?"

"Yes, three my dear." Ivy answered for her, handling it all infinitely better than the dizzy girl leaning against her.

"Heya professor! We were celebrating! You want to catch up?" an all too pleased Harley had bounced back over, holding out an extra drink for him.

"Thank you, child, but no. Unfortunately, it's time we be going." he turned back to his pupil and inwardly smacked a hand to his face at seeing her so intently buried in Ivy's red locks. Yes, they were definitely going. Could she at least walk?

"Come along, Haunt, say good bye to the girls. There will be plenty of time to play with them later." her attention finally came back to him, a dumb smile over her face as she gave a nod and managed to stand (what a miracle).

"Until next time." she even managed a dignified good bye. They turned to go, and she didn't need any assistance until they got out the door. Harley and Ivy watched them go.

"You think it'll work?" Harley asked, plopping back down in the chair.

"I think we've done all we can for those two."