Author's Note: I decided to drop a few plot bombs and rush this chapter out with everyone being so upset over Harley's impending death. I give you chapter 14
Ivy fights valiantly to save Harley Quinn's life one more time but the Joker knew exactly what he was doing when he stabbed her. The wound had provided him exactly enough time to gloat, say goodbye and escape with Rabbit. Ivy holds Harley's lifeless body in her arms and carries her to the greenhouse. She lays her best friend and sister in chaos out on a table. Harley had always liked the greenhouse, she called it her "quiet place" Ivy would often find her there talking to the plants. Ivy arranges a few of Harley's favorite mutant plants in pots around her fallen friend. Ivy pulls up a stool and sits with her head in Harley's shoulder. Poison Ivy sobs her soul out. She had lost Harley so many times only to get her back for brief moments before the Joker killed her again in one way or another. Ivy kisses Harley's hands and stands up.
"I'll be right back Harl," Ivy's voice hardens "I'm going to stop him before he does this to Rabbit or any other lost girl."
Ivy leaves the greenhouse and goes back into the mansion. Paola had been keeping her head down and avoiding all the super villains hanging around. Paola comes into the front hall and sees her mistress so upset she gasps.
"Miss Ivy," Paola puts a hand on her shoulder "What you need from me?"
"A cup of tea and a hug," Ivy hugs her loyal companion "I'll be in the study."
"You going after that payaso gangster?" Paola's eyes bore into Ivy's soul.
"I have to." Ivy turns her back and goes into the study. She gets on her laptop computer for a moment and scans the news. Scarecrow and Hugo Strange were nowhere in the media. There were blogs claiming Jonathan Crane arranged the pile-up targeting the Joker but that was yesterday's news. The Iceberg Lounge was undergoing a heavy investigation and Penguin was already out on bail. She didn't bother checking Victor Zsasz's status he was protected by the crime families and likely laying low somewhere. Ivy needed an assassin and it couldn't be just any hired gun. An article about a sniper attack catches her eye. The shooter had taken down the target with one bullet from half a mile away. Whoever performed this assassination was the one for this job. Paola brings her a cup of tea and leaves the room quietly. Ivy gets busy and works all of her contacts until she gets a name and a place. Ivy isn't able to smile so she smirks and snaps the computer shut. Focused on her mission, Ivy goes up to her bedroom and starts getting ready for a night out on the town. Her assassin had a fondness for mediocre bad guy bars and Ivy knew exactly where to start. She slips on a tight, slinky gemstone green cocktail dress with matching stilettos and does her makeup quickly. Ivy slips a handgun into a thigh holster and straps it on. She checks her reflection one more time and heads for the door. The Joker would not live to see another sunrise. Ivy would avenge Harley tonight, sometimes revenge is sweeter when served scalding hot.
The Cat wakes in some sort of cell. It was plain to see this wasn't the Gotham Police Department. The cell was more like a large box or containment cube with no privacy, the entire thing was made from blast-proof glass. The Bat hadn't unmasked her and Selina was laying on a cot with a pillow and blanket. How had the Bat gotten the drop on her? She couldn't see much through the thick glass but there was a giant screen with more computers beneath it and bat logos everywhere. Had he really brought her to the fabled Batcave? Selina groans and stands up, noting that the claws had been removed from her suit. Why didn't he unmask her while he had the chance or turn her in for her many crimes? Selina hears his heavy boots coming toward the cube and puts her back to a wall. The masked Batman becomes visible on the other side of the cube.
"You got a good whack to the head," the Bat leans against the cell "I cleaned your wounds after I brought you here."
"Well aren't you just a fucking saint," Selina hisses "Why won't you let me go home?"
"I will," Batman does his best to sound assuring "I just want to help why won't you let me help you?"
"Help me what," Selina groans and sinks to her knees "If I needed a therapist I'd go to Harley."
"Very funny," Batman crouches so they're at eye level "I can save you from the Joker I don't know what he has on you but I can set you free of your debt to him."
Selina begins to laugh, her face and eyes eerily remind Batman of the Joker when he really gets going.
"You moron," Selina giggles "I don't owe the Joker anything actually he owes me a very large paycheck that you're preventing me from collecting."
The Bat recoils in shock. It couldn't be true his long-time adversary and sometimes lover the Catwoman was working for that psychotic kingpin of her own free will.
"What has he done to you," Batman slams a fist against the glass "Does this have something to do with Crane's drug?"
"Go find Harley and Ivy," Catwoman turns her back "Harley Quinn has the answers you're looking for."
"You'll be cared for during your stay here," the Bat turns on his heel "I'll be back try to rest."
"Fuck you!" the Cat spits at the glass. Batman exits with a swoosh of cape and cowl and heads for the Batmobile. It seemed he needed to track down Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy again.
Floyd Lawton was celebrating his most recent payday at the 8-Bar. The place was one of the deepest dives in all of Gotham it tended to attract the villains no one took seriously. His version of celebrating was making anyone that challenged him at darts look incompetent. It wasn't their fault he never missed, hence the name Deadshot. He had played the vigilante game for a while before making his services available to anyone that could afford them. Deadshot was throwing darts, making some goon in a purple suit look even worse at villainy when he is distracted by a dangerous aura. Someone powerful had just entered the 8-Bar either they were there to kill him or hire him.
Floyd flicks the dart and throws a quick glance over his shoulder. A stunning redhead in a shimmery green dress is sitting at the bar, watching him. Floyd drains his drink and slams the glass down before making his way to the bar. She doesn't say a word as Floyd sits next to her and orders a round of shots. Ivy sizes him up but says nothing as the shots are placed on the bar in front of them.
"I know who you are," Deadshot is first to speak "You're that killer plant lady."
"Poison Ivy or Pamela will do." Ivy throws her shot back and motions for another.
"Now that we're acquainted," Floyd holds up two fingers to keep the shots coming "You haven't tried to kill me so I'm assuming you have a target for me."
Ivy reaches into her purse and pulls out a folder. She pushes it across the bar to Floyd and keeps her hand on it, meeting his gaze.
"This is a big job," Ivy takes her hand off the folder "I need it done immediately."
Deadshot holds up a finger as another round of shots are placed before them. They toast and gulp down the shots before Floyd opens the folder. The moment he opens it his eyes widen. It was filled with every detail Ivy had on the Clown Prince from his home address to his work schedule.
"I'll go do my homework and have your assignment done by morning." Deadshot says coolly.
"There will be a girl with him," Ivy stands up to leave "A blond with pink eyes and rabbit ears I need you to get her out alive."
"That'll be a grand extra." Deadshot flips through the folder and finds a photo of Rabbit.
"Money is no object," Ivy says quietly "I need him dead and her safe."
"Simple enough," Deadshot shakes Ivy's hand "See you in the morning."
Ivy nods and exits the bar. She can feel Deadshot's eyes checking her out all the way to the door. She catches a taxi and heads back to the manor to bury Harley. The Bat was also on his way there Deadshot wouldn't be Ivy's only meeting tonight.
After Ivy left the greenhouse the plants and flowers arranged around Harley start to grow out of their pots. They weave around Harley like a cocoon. The plants recognized Ivy's serum in Harley's system and felt their mistress was in pain. Somewhere locked in a broom closet in Harley's brain is the tiniest spark of life. No doctor or drug could save her, anyone but Harley Quinn or Poison Ivy would remain dead. Ivy's plants wouldn't allow that. The flowers bloom in beautiful patterns as the cocoon becomes thicker and the roots go deeper into Harley's skin, repairing the damaged tissue. The plants trade their life force for Harley, pushing all the water from their roots to restore all the blood Harley had lost. All is quiet in the greenhouse but a hurricane is about to hit the front yard. The Batmobile is idling in Ivy's driveway when the taxi pulls up.
"Holy shit is that Batman?" the cab driver gapes. Ivy dusts him and gets out of the taxi.
"You now hate Batman," Ivy tells the cabbie "Go become a super villain."
"Yes ma'am!" The driver waves and smiles as he drives off. Batman waits for the taxi to depart before approaching Ivy. He wasn't caught up on current events and he didn't want to piss her off any further.
"Hello Pamela," Batman nods respectfully "We need to talk."
"Give the Cat back," Ivy takes off her stilettos "Then we can talk."
"All in good time," Batman takes a step closer "I need to see Harley Quinn."
Rage wells up in Ivy's throat. That Bat-bastard just turned up at all the wrong times Ivy debates whether or not to kiss him then she turns her back and stomps to the greenhouse.
"You want to see Harley," she yells over her shoulder "Come on she's out back!"
Batman follows Ivy cautiously knowing this had to be some sort of trick. Ivy rushes into the greenhouse and vanishes into her garden. She notices the plants were all spilling out of their pots or leaning toward Harley. Ivy reaches the table Harley's body was on and gasps at the cocoon of flowers working overtime to save Harley. Batman appears at Ivy's side and lowers his head.
"I'm so sorry," he says "This is why I offered to help you I knew the Joker would hurt you and Harley."
"Shut up!" Ivy starts peeling the vines off of Harley's face like wires. She touches a patch of Harley's skin and feels warmth, her blood was circulating. "Go grab an oxygen canister!" Ivy shouts at the Bat. She pulls the rest of the plants off Harley's face down to the neck and snatches the canister from Batman when he returns. Ivy puts the mask to Harley's mouth and nods for the Bat to crank the oxygen. Poison Ivy and the Bat stand in silence, praying to any benevolent deity that might be listening for Harley's life. Their prayers are answered in the form of Harley taking a shallow breath. Her eyes open and she gasps for more oxygen. After a few more deep breaths the plants give Harley the rest of their life force and die, withering up and falling to the floor. Harley sits up and throws her arms around Ivy. All Pamela can do is cling to Harley and cry tears of joy. Batman puts down the canister and quietly makes his exit before Harley notices him. He had all the answers he needed now once the Cat was healthy he'd deliver her to Ivy as a show of good faith. The Joker had screwed up royally alienating half of his staff and ex partner in crime. Ivy gets Harley inside the house and Paola goes to work in the kitchen, overjoyed that Harley had survived. Ivy tucks Harley into her own bed, not wanting to let her resurrected friend out of her sight ever again. Harley pulls up the blankets and curls up in a ball, feeling the scar where Joker stabbed her.
"Don't worry Harley Girl," Ivy climbs in the bed "When you wake up he'll be gone."
"Bummer," Harley snuggles up to Ivy "I wanted to do him myself."
"You need rest," Ivy slings an arm around Harley "Go to sleep I promise I'll protect you."
"I'm fine Pammy," Harley closes her eyes "He needs protection and I want Frost too."
"We'll get them both," Ivy kisses Harley's hair "Then we'll take his empire together."
"I'll be the boss," Harley smiles "Wake me up when you have him I want him to know I survived before he dies."
"Of course." Ivy holds Harley until they both fall asleep. Paola comes in and leaves a tray of snacks on a table before turning out the lights and closing the door to Ivy's room. The day was a tragedy but the night brought life and hope. Both were rare commodities in Gotham and would be needed in the coming era. Ironically enough Harley Quinn was about to take the Joker's throne of her own free will.
Author's note: Hope everyone liked the chapter. Did you guys really think I'd kill Harley? I'm flattered the writing sold her death. Will Deadshot assassinate the Joker? What is Joker doing with Rabbit? Will Catwoman ever get to go home? Na na na na Batman! Roll credits