Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any Batman characters in this work. I only own Carmel and any other made up characters throughout the story.
Being around powerful supervillains was starting to not faze me much, as I seemed to constantly be meeting and running into new ones. But I must admit, I was a little nervous to meet Poison Ivy because she was big-league in my mind. She was basically the most powerful female supervillain, so hell yeah I was a little nervous meeting her. Yet, here Scarecrow and I were, sitting in the cafeteria across from one Pamela Isley.
Two days had passed since I had seen Maxie Zeus and learned that the Joker was planning something. Scarecrow wanted to talk to Harley, yet for some reason, he said we had talk to Poison Ivy first.
She had bright red hair, green skin, and the greenest eyes you ever did see. But what most shocked me was her wardrobe. All she had on was a red shirt that was held together by just one, maybe two buttons at max. Combined with the fact that she was wearing no bra, it felt like she was barely keeping her tits in there. Only thing she wore below the waist was some green panties that was either designed to look like leaves or actually was leaves. I really had no idea and had no intention of asking. I mean, I was very wary of wearing a very low cut shirt in the Asylum, so I had no idea had she got by. But then again, she had the ability to instantly seduce men with her pheromones, so I guess that helped.
"Jonathan. I'm surprised to see you here. You usually eat later," Poison Ivy began.
"That is correct, Pamela. I came because I know this is when you always eat lunch," Scarecrow explained.
I'm sensing some awkward tension here.
"You came to see me? I'm flattered. This is the new girl?" She turned to look at me.
I introduced myself. "Carmel Ocean. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ivy."
"Mhmm. She's pretty, Jon, I'll give you that."
Considering who gave it, a high compliment indeed!
"That's not why I'm here, Pamela."
"And you're obviously not here to apologize," she added icily. "So what does bring you here?"
"I need you to speak to Harley for me. I'd like to speak to her tonight," the Scarecrow offered.
"And why should I do that for you? And what do you need to talk to her about?" she fired back.
Clearly something happened between these two.
"She has information that I need," Scarecrow answered.
Ivy raised her eyebrows. "Do tell."
"I'd rather not. But I am…sorry."
"For what, Jon? For skipping our dinner? Or for going off the grid and not contacting me after you were nearly killed?"
There it is.
"That wasn't my intent at all. It's just that…" he trailed off.
"It's just what?" Ivy responded in a surprisingly soft tone.
Scarecrow didn't respond at first. "Can you talk to her for me? I'd like to see her at 7. It's important, Pamela."
Ivy didn't respond right away. With a sigh, Scarecrow rose and left leaving the two of us.
"I'll do it. Let him know that I'll talk to Harley." Ivy then also got up and left. I have no idea what just happened, but I guess it worked.
Mentally making a note to investigate exactly what the relationship between Scarecrow and Poison Ivy was at another time, I headed back to my cell to tell my boss of the news.
I found him back at the cell with a look of disappointment on his face. "I thought that was going to go better," he droned.
"Ivy changed her mind. Said she'd talk to Harley for you," I explained.
He quickly looked at me. "Really?" he asked in a surprised tone. "That's very good," he answered, settling back into his monotone.
"Sounds like there's some history between you two," I prodded. I figured it was unlikely he would respond, but it was worth a shot.
"I've known many individuals for a long time," he responded. It was a beautifully crafted diplomatic response that perfectly shut down my line of questioning.
I gotta remember that he is a professor. I reminded myself. "You know what I mean," I fired back.
"Yes, I do. And if I had wanted to answer in a way satisfactory to you, I would have." I could feel the ice of that statement.
"Of course," I responded dismissively in an attempt to hide any embarrassment. "Evidently you know Harley. But you can't directly talk to her?" I pressed. If he didn't want to talk about Poison Ivy, maybe he would tell me about Harley Quinn.
"The Joker doesn't play well with anyone," Scarecrow began. "We've butted heads a few times, so a visit to Harley from me would surely cause a problem. So it's better if I do not go into that cell block."
"That makes sense to me, but then why talk to Harley at all? If you and Joker hate each other, why would she like you?" I asked.
"Harley and I have known each other in a long time. We were professional acquaintances in previous lives. And of course, she's quite close with Pamela."
Of course? How was I supposed to know all the relationships between supervillains that battle to rip Gotham City apart? "I do think that I remember a time that Ivy and Harley went on a crime spree," I confirmed.
"Exactly. Now Carmel, I'll need you to go to the cafeteria to pick up Harley and bring her back."
"That I can do."
I must say that I was really starting to become more confident in myself at Arkham Asylum. I entered as a scardy cat, but here I was spending my days chatting away with dangerous criminals. And now, I found myself waiting in the cafeteria to meet Harley Quinn, the Clown Princess of Crime herself. She was, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating of the super criminals due to her wild backstory as the Joker's former psychiatrist at this very building. Just like with Poison Ivy, I was a little starstruck to be meeting someone I only heard about in wild stories and news reports, but I resolved to remain calm.
"You ever meet her?" I asked Jenna as we ate dinner. Considering that several villains had contracted her, I made the assumption that she had far more interactions with the villains than I did.
"Just once and very briefly, Joker hired me to slightly fix up a Hall of Mirrors in an abandoned amusement park. She came in to see how I was doing and then checked herself out in a mirror."
"Didn't know she was vain," I commented.
"No. She was looking in a distorted one. Cracked herself up. If she weren't psycho, it would have been cute. Anyway, I got paid in fish."
"What?"
"I got a box of fish. The money was stuffed inside the fish. Wasn't a big fan of that, so I haven't done a job for him since."
"That seems like the Joker. Don't know what she sees in him," I wondered aloud.
"That makes two of us. Speak of the devil, here she comes," Jenna said. "Don't get nervous," she teased.
"Hey!" I protested.
"I'll see you later. And I want details!" she commanded before getting up and leaving the cafeteria.
Wait, does she even know what I look like? Apparently she did, because she came right over by me.
"Hi there, you must be Carmel! Red said you'd bring me to the Professa," she greeted as she sat down next to me. Her fashion scheme was obviously red and black. Her blonde hair was in two ponytails with one with a red end and one with a black end. Her tights and boots were also red and black, alternating. The corset and vest was, you guessed it, red and black also. Finally, her face was covered in white makeup.
"That's me. It's very nice to meet you, uh, Miss Quinn," I replied, realizing that I didn't know what to call her.
She laughed. "Call me Harley, kiddo. So ya work for the Professa?"
"Yes I do."
"Johnny's never taken help before, but he should've. It's good, though, 'specially after his injury." Her tone was cheerful as advertised.
"I obviously think so."
"I can't stay too long, so let's go." She hopped up and left.
I quickly followed in suit and we were on our way. "So how'd you and Scarecrow become friends?" I asked nonchalantly.
"I knew him back in the old days. And then, you run into people all the time. We-"
"Hey look, it's Harley Quinn. A nice piece of ass right there," a random criminal called out from his cell.
I know I've got a great ass, but I can also confirm that Harley's got a fantastic bubble butt. So on that, random thug, we are in agreement. However, I was surprised to see that I recognized that criminal. We had hooked up once. He paid me, so we were all good, I guess. Always weird seeing a former client, you know? What do you say? Hey, remember that time you were balls deep in me? Anyways, I digress.
"I know," was all Harley replied without stopping. Now, if that had been the end of the conversation, nothing would have happened. But unfortunately for him, the thug pushed his luck.
"I'd tap it good, sweetheart. Let a real man handle you, not that perverted clown."
"I'm good. Not into assholes with small dicks," she replied, somehow making it sound sweet.
"What'd you say to me, bitch?" the thug fired back.
Harley stopped and then backtracked to his cell. It was currently closed, but he was right by the bars. She got right up by him and put her hands on his chest. "Sorry sweetie…" she said as she moved her hands up to his head, as if she was going to pull him in for a kiss. Evidently, the thug thought that as well, as he let his defenses down. But to be fair, I also didn't expect her next move.
She yanked his head forward, slamming his face in the bars, which sent him tumbling back, falling to the ground. "…but Mama's taken," she finished. She then went on her way as if nothing happened.
Holy shit, that was unexpected.
"Men," she commented to me with a chuckle. "With tits like yours, I'm sure you get that a lot."
I wasn't really sure what the proper response was to that, so I went with, "It happens." Honestly, as long as they paid, I didn't really mind.
Not long after, we arrived back at my cellblock. Everyone was gone but Scarecrow, who was patiently sitting in his cell. He stood, with a touch of difficulty, to greet us. I certainly did not expect Harley to run in and give him a hug, but it had been a day of unexpected happenings.
"How are ya doing, Professa?" she asked. "How's your walking?"
I could see in his eyes that he actually was pleased to see her, although his voice did not betray that.
"I'm doing well, Harley. I'm walking just fine. No more cane," he said to her, which provided me with a nugget of new information. "And you?"
"Same old, same old. Mistah J and I are happy!"
"That's…good," was Scarecrow's noticeably curt reply.
"Ya know how he gets when he's scheming," she continued.
"Indeed I do. And I hear he's planning something big," the Scarecrow transitioned.
"Yeah?" she asked suspiciously.
"Harley, I've heard that he's going to stage a breakout."
She shot me a glance. "I don't know where you head that. I can neither confirm or deny nothing," she replied presumptuously.
Scarecrow chuckled. "She's trustworthy."
"You never know. Is she useful?"
"I'm right here!" I exclaimed indignantly.
"Yes, she is of great assistance. I've already been exposing her to the toxin."
That's about the highest praise I've ever gotten from him.
Her demeanor instantly changed. "Good! I've been suggesting someone like her for years."
"Yes you have. But Harley, I need to know what's going on," he pressed.
I could easily see Harley's uneasiness as she wrung her hands. "I can't say anything, Professa."
"Harley, I know there's going to be a breakout."
"Then why do ya need me?" she challenged.
"Because I need more details. Date and time."
"Johnny, I can't betray Mistah J's trust. He gets very angry…"
"I know that. But I have to know. It's important." I could sense some urgency in his voice.
"Why?" Harley asked. I was wondering the same thing.
"Because…because…Harley."
"What is it, Professa? Ya know ya can tell me."
He shifted uncomfortably, clearly embarrassed by what his reason was. "Because I don't move as well after…" he trailed off, but we all knew what he was talking about. "I'm not convinced I'll be able to break out on the spot. I need to know so I can physically prepare myself. It'll take me longer to escape," he explained with palpable shame in his voice.
Harley's uncertainty melted away. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Johnny."
"I don't need your pity," he snapped.
"No, no, I know." I had noticed that her squeaky, higher pitched voice normally associated with her had somewhat disappeared, replace by a more normal pitched, sincere voice. "I didn't think of that. Friday. Three days from now. 8:00pm."
The Scarecrow nodded gratefully. "Thank you. It will make things easier for me."
"Of course, Professa. That's what friends are for, right?"
I swear I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Yes. But you better get going."
She sighed. "Right as usual." She leaned in and kissed him on the check. "I'll see ya around?"
"I hope so," he replied.
She then left his cell and started to leave. I followed, wanting to get a word in.
"And Harley?" he called out. "I'll be at the Corn Palace."
She smiled. "Got it."
We left our block, and then I stopped her. "Thank you for your help, Harley. I know he appreciates it."
"Ya know, you're not bad, kid. Take care of him, will ya?" she said to me, locking eyes.
"I will," I replied without thinking.
With that, Harley Quinn sauntered off. I returned to my cellblock and Scarecrow.
"You can't tell anyone the specifics of the breakout. If I find it absolutely necessary, I will inform a member of our cellblock. She's risking a lot and I don't want anything to happen," said Scarecrow.
"Of course," I responded.
I lingered, causing him to ask, "Do you have a question?"
"You've got a soft spot for her. Ivy too."
"That's ridiculous," he immediately snapped.
I nodded my head and backed out of his cell, returning to mine. Crawling onto my bed, I certainly had a lot to think about.
Scarecrow, the master of fear, was apparently not a psycho monster, but a man with real feelings. He was obviously soft on Harley Quinn and clearly had a past with Poison Ivy. Seeing this side of the Scarecrow intrigued me. I knew that I had to make a decision soon on whether I was going to stick it out with Scarecrow. And I had just promised Harley Quinn to stick with him. I mean, it was definitely a step up from being a prostitute, and this work would be by far more interesting. I think I knew what I was going to choose.
And we're back! Sorry for the really long break in between, but this story is definitely still alive and kicking! Thanks to all readers and reviewers of this work! I'm anticipating seeing a jailbreak next chapter, so stay tuned.
See ya real soon,
The Mustachioed Academic
