It was colder. A chill hung in the dark air and Dick shivered, groggily opening his eyes. He couldn't see anything in the pitch blackness of the apartment complex lobby, and he was suddenly shocked into full alert by that fact. It was dark. He frantically searched for his watch on the coffee table beside the couch, his other hand pressing a button on his mask. He stifled a cry when it was the button for the thermal vision in his mask, not the night vision, and the lenses lit up with white light. Dick immediately turned it off, switching to the night vision and looking at his watch. Four forty-five!? he thought in a panic, and when he tried to sit up was when he realized that she was still there.

Harley.

He slowly lowered himself back down on the couch, exhaling quietly. She was curled up on his chest, her shoulders hunched against the chill, and her hand balled into a fist resting gently on his collarbone. Harley's legs were tangled between his. As he watched she shivered, her small lips frowning in her sleep. Dick smiled gently and reached over the edge of the couch, his hand closing on his t-shirt on the floor. He shook it out and draped it over her shoulders and then added her jacket on top of it, smiling when she relaxed. His hand brushed her messy pigtail away from her face, and he bit his lip.

"God damn it, Jason," he breathed. He'd been right.

"Well don't do it if you don't want your heart broken because first, it might not succeed and second," he kicked his legs up on the table, "hope is written all over your little puppy dog face."

Dick could already hear Jason laughing at him.

Harley was beautiful, if not in a conventional way, and he'd never known he could be more wrong about who a person was. She wasn't a killer, she was a victim of the Joker, same as the rest of them. His hand fell away from her hair, and he traced her lips with his thumb; her dark red and black makeup was smudged around her eyes, but nonetheless, she was breathtaking. Dick scoffed quietly, looking away.

Shit.

Harley let out a deep breath almost like a sigh and stretched her arm out across his chest. She frowned slightly and opened her eyes a crack. She gasped, her eyes flying open as she sat up, clutching his shirt to her chest.

"Oh, uh," she blushed, "hi."

"Hi," he laughed, stretching his arms as well. His neck hurt from the angle he had slept at. Dick relaxed again and smiled up at her. He was awake, sure enough, but he hadn't woken up enough to realize just what he'd done; slept through his entire patrol.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean ta fall asleep." She glanced out the window and tried to gauge the time.

"Neither did I," he said quietly, taking her hand and pulling her down to lay on his chest again. "It's nearly five o'clock in the morning," he told her, an arm around her waist.

"Five?!" She glanced up at his face. "I've been gone for too long. An' so have you," she added. She tried to feel panicked about it, but it was relaxing against his chest, listening to him breathe.

"I know. I'll probably be in big trouble when I get back," he whispered, closing his eyes. "But I don't care." Harley rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn'ta made you do that." She felt guilty about using him when he'd been trying to be nice to her.

"Don't be sorry," he smiled, and then turned his head to kiss her gently. Something was already different about it. Dick sighed and tucked his arm under his head when the kiss finished, watching Harley intently. "I said I don't care. It was worth every second, awake or asleep."

"I know, but even if we both wanted it, it happened for the wrong reasons, an' I'm sorry." She kissed his shoulder. "Thanks for doin' it even though I was a schmuck about everything." Dick laughed and stroked her cheek.

"We should probably go," he sighed, sounding sadder this time, but he smiled instead. He still didn't move.

"Jeez don't rush around so much. You'll hurt yourself." She grinned, cuddling closer to his body heat.

"We could just stay here," he agreed, relaxing into the couch. "Do you mind me asking why your hair is like that?" He inquired conversationally.

"Oh," she grabbed a pigtail nervously, her white cheeks coloring pink, "that. The same vat a chemicals that made Mistah J how he is. So colorful hair an' bleached skin it is."

"Don't worry, I like it," Dick smiled, his fingers sifting through her scarlet pigtail in her hand until their fingers laced together. His other hand was under his head, the angle making the muscles in his arm flex in the most annoyingly attractive way. Dick watched her for a moment longer before looking away, biting his lip anxiously. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, but something was on his mind. His jet black hair fell in tangled waves to his shoulders in the dark, his mask over his eyes the same hollow, foreboding color.

"What?" She sat up a little. "What was that look?"

"Huh?" Dick turned his head back to her, smiling once again. It was as if he was always smiling, never upset or angry; if he was, she was sure he'd hide it as he'd done just then, his face relaxing and that smile spreading across his lips. "What look?"

"The whole anxious, look away, bite your lip not in the good 'fuck me' way but in the 'I'm worrying' way look. That one."

"It was nothing. Just thinking of my next shift, that's all. I'll be on the city patrol in Downtown. It won't be as fun as this one," he smiled again, stroking her cheek. Something had definitely changed in his expression, and she didn't need to see his eyes to be able to tell.

"Well that was your worst lie yet," she told him. "Not even remotely convincing." She nudged him playfully with her shoulder.

"Right, is this one of those 'can't kid a kidder' things?" he asked, laughing quietly.

"No it's one of those psychiatrist trained ta spot lying clients things," she told him honestly, shrugging. "But I won't make ya tell me if you're gonna be a dick about it," she giggled. He rolled his eyes.

"Ha, ha, like my brothers haven't used that one a thousand times," he said dryly, grinning.

"Sorry but I think my jokes are rich-ard than theirs." She giggled.

"Don't make me regret telling you my name," he warned. "And I'm sorry, but I really should go." Dick sat up carefully, taking his shirt away from her shoulders and pulling it on. He set Harley carefully on the couch and rummaged around on the floor for the rest of his clothes, hastily getting dressed.

"And I'm the one who got in trouble for lovin' and leavin' last time," she teased, digging under the couch for her bra.

"I know, I know, I wish I could stay, I just can't. Oddly enough, I would if I could." Dick smiled, looking around. "It'd be fun to build a place in an abandoned apartment." He thought for a moment. "Like a fort."

"Well now ya made me wanna build a fort." She pulled her shorts back on. "Thanks a lot."

"Next time," he promised, strapping his weapons to his leg and pulling his gloves on.

"Who says I have to wait for you?" she asked, shrugging her jacket on. "Or that there will be a next time?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume-" he bit his lip, finishing tying his boots. "I guess not then." He hoped she couldn't see the tinge of sadness in his face as he smiled. She laughed.

"Jeez, it's not assuming, I'm just bein' an ass." She winked before grabbing her gun and reholstering it. She'd think about the consequences of it later. Dick ran his hands through his hair before tying it loosely in a bun on the back of his head. He waited patiently as Harley put her shoes on and then they made their way out into the dark street; Dick smiled as he looked up at the stars.

"See you in a few days," he said, and then kissed her cheek. He smiled, backing away a bit.

"See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya. I'm gonna go home and nap." She grinned, waving. Dick laughed and waved back, before taking off into the night and turning his comm back on. He skidded to a stop in shock, a cold feeling washing over him as he heard his own voice coming over the comms.

"...good, we'll be in soon. Nightwing, out," the voice said, and Dick covered his mouth.

Damian had always had a good ear and a wicked tongue for mimicry, and hearing the boy imitate him hadn't been what had sent Dick into a panic. As soon as Batman's comm went dead, Damian returned to his own voice.

"I don't care what you were doing, Nightwing, don't you ever do that again. Don't make me do that again," he said, deadly quiet. He sounded shockingly like a younger version of his father.

"I'm sorry, Damian," Dick said quietly, breaking into a run.

"It's Robin," he snapped. "Father's stated that shift change is happening early. He's already at Wayne Tower. I've crossed the bridge into Midtown. Get your ass moving."

The line went silent. Dick bit his lip. He'd disappeared for a good ten hours, at least; probably more. That was a bad idea. Again. It was stupid, reckless, dangerous, and forbidden, he knew.

He also knew that he'd give anything to do it again.

Harley Quinn, he thought. Now there's a name I never thought would be so endearing.

Dick knew Jason was right. He always fell too fast and ended up landing too hard- usually breaking his heart in the process. He knew he had a bad habit. The tough thing about habits, though, was breaking them; Dick couldn't help the giddy feeling in his gut at the thought that in four more days, he'd get to see her again. He crossed the river and got on his bike, speeding towards the center of Midtown; towards Wayne Tower. The morning sound-off had begun in his ear, each hero giving an update on their location.

"Nightwing, heading to Downtown for patrol," Dick chimed in.

"Batman, on break," Bruce said calmly to finish the list, and then took his comm out of his ear. "Now focus, Selina," he told her patiently. As soon as he'd returned to the tower, they'd begun working on meditating, trying to control Selina's anger. It had been her idea, but so far she didn't seem too keen to learn. Damian had stolen a few bottles of antidepressants from a pharmacy on his last supply run, and so far, they seemed to be working; she fidgeted constantly and wouldn't keep her eyes closed. It had only been ten minutes and Bruce was nearing the end of his rope. He wasn't about to give up yet.

"I'm trying," she promised, pinching her eyes closed. Bruce took a deep breath in front of her, and Selina peeked one eye open, her lips twisting into a pout. Stephanie had given her some makeup that she'd found as well, and Selina couldn't have been happier. Her eyes were rimmed in smoky black and her lips were cherry red; it made her feel beautiful, and yet Bruce had said nothing. She'd even tied her hair up in a scarf to keep her bangs away from her face. She opened both eyes, her shoulders slumping. Bruce sat across from her, his legs crossed and his hands relaxed on his knees, his face placid and calm as a lake in the still of the evening. Selina smiled a little, her eyes trailing from his graying hairline to his broad shoulders, his wide chest; she could see his abs under the fitted black tank top that he wore, and she smiled as she continued down.

"Close your eyes and sit up straight," he commanded calmly. Selina huffed and closed her eyes again.

"How did you even know-"

"-quiet," he whispered. "Listen to my breathing."

Selina smiled and straightened her back, matching her breathing to his, her hands on her knees. This is boring. She huffed quietly, peeking one eye open again. He opened his eyes to stare her down until she closed it again.

"Concentrate," he told her.

"I'm trying," Selina whined, her shoulders slumping. "You keep your eyes closed," she muttered.

"Selina," he sighed, his breathing still perfectly even. "This was your idea, remember?"

"Yeah, well, I pictured it more x-rated than this," she muttered under her breath and then sighed. "Shh. I'm trying to concentrate." He sat perfectly still and calm. His breathing never faltered, and he waited patiently. Selina pursed her lips, peeking through her lashes at him. She silently and effortlessly slipped her tank top over her head, tossing it aside and quickly resuming her position when it landed with a soft flump on the bed. Slowing her breathing, she could actually feel herself relaxing. Bruce opened his eyes at the noise.

"What are you doing?"

"I got hot," she snapped, her lips twisting down again. "Now shut up." He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, closing his eyes again. For a full minute, Selina sat perfectly poised, her back rigid and her abs tight as she breathed slower and slower, matching Bruce's. He could pinpoint the exact moment when the panic set in, the panic that he'd leave her again in twenty-four hours; when Selina took a deep breath and blew it back out through her lips loudly. She continued to do it, her thumb fidgeting with her wedding band around her ring finger.

"You lost focus," he mumbled, keeping his eyes closed. Her eyes flew open, her lips pressed together as she resisted the urge to scream in frustration. He was sitting as still as he had been when they began, and his resolve was infuriating. She took a deep breath and let it out through her nose slowly, closing her eyes again. Her lips twisted up in a smirk and she made a purring noise. "Selina," he warned. He opened his eyes, his mouth set seriously. She sat calm and poised across from him, her face serene, not a hint of emotion on it. He closed his eyes again. Bruce jumped when she purred right next to his ear. Her new speed was irritating to say the least, but when she used it like this, it was insufferable. As soon as he'd opened his eyes she'd once again returned to her meditative position, her face calm and focused, her eyes closed.

"Do I need to leave, so you can focus?" he asked. She didn't respond at first, and then shook her head slowly. He gave her one final warning look before closing his eyes. The room fell silent again. He listened to every noise in the room and outside of it; aware of everything that went on even with his eyes closed. Selina bit her tongue, quietly untying the scarf holding her bangs back. She tucked it into her lap and was quiet for a while. The silence was peaceful and calm- until Bruce cried out when he was suddenly thrown backwards. Selina had already wrapped the scarf that had been in her hair around his eyes, and she deftly tightened the knot as his back hit the floor. Bruce could feel her sitting on his waist, his arms pinned under her knees.

"Keep your eyes closed, Sweetheart, and focus," she whispered against his lips. Her hands trailed down his muscular chest, her fingernails clawing him all the way. "Focus on how this feels," Selina giggled, slipping her hand down his pants.

"Selina." He struggled to free his arms then grabbed her hand. "You wanted me to teach you how to control your emotions."

"I wanted you to teach me like the teacher in a porno, professor," she giggled against his lips, her fingernails digging into his skin just below his waistband.

"That's not how meditation works." He grabbed her face, making her look at him. "I'm going to have to find someone else to teach you, aren't I?"

"I can control myself," she insisted. "When I want to." Selina bit his chin, kissing down his throat, her hand creeping further down his pants, straining against his hand around her wrist. He took his hand away from her face to attempt to untie the blindfold.

"You wanted to learn control, and are obviously not in control." He finally managed to free his eyes.

"I'm perfectly in control," she snapped, blushing. Her fingernails bit into the skin under his boxers, and she stared him in the eyes.

"Hey." He lifted her chin up. "It's nothing I can't handle, but that's not the point. You wanted to learn to control." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, but I want you to be happy. You're not thinking clearly right now, and that was what this exercise was trying to stop." Selina watched him, moving her face away from his hand.

"I know," she finally said, sitting up. She looked away, pulling her knees to her chest. "I just miss you."

"I miss you too." He pulled her back over to him, wrapping his arms around her. "And I'm sorry, I wish I could be here for you more." He kissed her cheek. "I'll find someone else to teach you meditation, so we can still spend my breaks however you want."

"Ok," she curled up in his arms sadly. "I just… I want to be better for you. There's nothing like looking up and…" she looked up at him, touching his face. "Seeing someone you don't deserve look at you with such love in their eyes. And there's nothing like feeling so inferior, standing next to someone so important. I have to be better for you, but I just-" she looked down again, resting her chin on her knees- "I try."

"Hey," he cradled her against him, "don't try and change for me. You're perfect. Even if you don't see yourself as important, I know you are." He stroked her hair. "Just like I know that that makeup may look beautiful on you, you're just as stunning without it. And just like I know you're one of the strongest women I've ever met." He rested his forehead against hers. "The only reason you have to look up to me is because I'm so tall." Selina laughed and closed her eyes, stroking his cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her nose and scooped her up in his arms as he stood. "Now I need you to focus. Concentrate really hard… to figure out what you want to do for the rest of my break."

"I…" she held his face, looking into his eyes. "I want to learn to meditate, Bruce. Control my- whatever-" Selina took a deep breath. "I mean, I want to fool around, but I don't want to hurt you. If I bit you again, and you turned..." she trailed off, her breathing spiking as she started to panic. "Bruce, I can't."

"You're not Infected remember? But it's okay to be scared." He set her down on the bed and laid beside her. "I'm willing to do whatever you want to, but I still think I'm going to have to find you a better teacher."

"I know. I can't focus with you around," she smiled, hitting his chest. Selina moved closer to him. "I'm sorry. I really did try," she whispered, playing with the collar of his tank top. Her head was propped up in her hand. Selina smoothed some of his chest hair and then traced a scar along his collarbone. She smiled. Her hand had been the one to put it there, years ago; she'd practically tried to rip out his throat. She couldn't remember why anymore. She barely remembered that they'd been enemies, it had been so long.

"I know. You always try. I'm just not sure how to teach you," he admitted. "You're different from all of the boys. Very different reactions." He grinned. Selina laughed quietly, smiling up at him.

"You've got red on your lips," she whispered, tracing a thumb over them to remove the lipstick. "How do you do it? I'm sad. I want to be happy, and I'm sad. But you make me so happy. How?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "It's a secret passed down from butlers on a man's wedding night for generations. I can't tell you." Selina laughed, dropping her head against his chest.

"Oh Bruce," she smiled, closing her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept. "And you never show this side of yourself to anyone but me. You really know how to make a girl feel special," she whispered.

"That's the goal." He kissed her cheek, wrapping his arms around her.

"You know, I think this is the first time you've relaxed in days," she commented, looking up at him as she played with the collar of his tank top again.

"Well I haven't been alone with you in days," he reminded her.

"I know. And now we can-" she was cut off when his comm beeped on the bedside table. Selina smiled, urging him to pick it up, but as soon as he turned away to grab it, her face fell. Bruce pressed it into his ear as Selina buried her face in his chest, closing her eyes.

"Go," he acknowledged gruffly, stroking Selina's hair. Commissioner Gordon cleared his throat.

"A couple of officers have stopped Poison Ivy on the bridge from Uptown. She's insisting that we direct orders to you to let her through, and she's demanding- sorry, settling for Red Hood?" he said unsurely. Bruce sighed.

"Tell her to wait. I'll inform Red Hood." He switched his comm, signaling Jason. It took a few seconds.

"What?!" Jason demanded, smashing his face back in the pillow.

"Poison Ivy is at the Arkham bridge," Bruce told him.

"No." Jason lifted his head up. "No! I'm on break! Why can't you do it?"

"Because I'm busy."

"Bullshit."

"Orders, Jason," Bruce warned, turning his comm back off.

"And this is why I hate when our break days line up," Jason muttered and dropped his face back into the pillows. After a second, he groaned and pushed himself up. He'd just been able to fall asleep, and he yawned as he gathered his things up. Once he'd pulled his jacket on, he picked his Red Hood helmet up and winced. "I need to wash this out," he grumbled as he put it on. He stretched as he walked through the halls. He pounded the elevator button and switched his comm feed.

"Red Hood, heading out to the Uptown bridge," he updated the city patrol.

"Good. Let me know- wait what? Why? You're on break, Red Hood-" Nightwing responded.

"Yeah, it turns out little miss flower pot wants to take another tour of the city," he grumbled as he waited for the elevator to start heading down. Barbara sprinted into the elevator just before the door closed.

"Oh. Keep her on a tight leash, Jay, it's on you if she gets into trouble. And we need to talk when I get back," he told him before the line went dead. Barbara pushed the button for the labs and she glanced up at Jason.

"Hey," she yawned. "Good luck."

"I miss sleep," he whined. "I miss it so much."

"Sorry, Sweetie," she shrugged. "Don't we all."

"Yeah. So how've you been?" He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Long time no see."

"Been busy. And sad," she said thoughtfully. "I miss you guys."

"We miss you too," he yawned. "So why have you been holed up in your lab avoiding everyone… and sad?"

"Don't worry about it." Barbara smiled up at him. "But thank you for giving a shit. You gotta hide those feelings to keep up your bad boy routine, don't you?" She laughed, and then kissed the cheek of his mask. "Your stop. Have fun with Poison Ivy," she gestured to the elevator doors as they opened, and she leaned back against the elevator wall, smiling.

"I won't," he assured her, stepping off. He paused, his hand on the doors. "Dick doesn't have a bad boy routine, at all. He doesn't know when he's being an ass." He shrugged empathetically, releasing the doors. Barbara smiled to herself as they closed, and Jason crossed the lobby to the doors. He went into the parking garage, getting lazily onto his bike by the door. He groaned in frustration as he started it and backed out of the stall, and then sped tiredly through Midtown.

The sun was about to start rising as he pulled his motorcycle to a stop in front of the bridge. All the guards had their guns pointed at Poison Ivy where she stood on the other side with her arms crossed and an impatient look on her face.

"Okay guys," Jason strode forward, "let her through."

"Excuse me?" one of the men asked, his finger hovering near the trigger. Jason put a hand on his shoulder.

"We have two options here," he told the man, leaning over him. "Either let her pass peacefully, or she will poison everyone here before you can pull that trigger." He straightened back up and called, "Let's go, Paisley."

Ivy strode across the bridge as the guards followed her with their guns. Jason didn't wait for her, heading back to his bike.

"Why are we letting her into Gotham with that one?" one of the guards asked. Jason ignored him; he was used to the general mistrust.

"So where are we going, Itchy Leaf?" he asked as he got back on. She climbed on behind him.

"Saint Mary's Park, bonehead."

"Got it." At least they were staying in Midtown for now. He spun the bike around and took off towards the park. "So did you just decide to ruin my one day off?"

"No, but that's a big plus if it's true," she laughed.

"You could at least feel a little guilty," he suggested.

"Wait, let me see." She paused. "Nope, not even a little bit."

"Well you don't have to be a thistle," he muttered. She smacked him on the shoulder before wrapping her arm back around his waist.

"Don't start with the name thing."

"Too late." He turned back to smirk at her before remembering she couldn't see and turning back around feeling like an idiot. "So what's with the getup?" She was wearing a long green tank top with a large recycling symbol on it over black leggings and boots.

"I'm trying to blend in."

"Well you're not succeeding," he told her as he pulled over at the park entrance. He got off and turned to her. "I mean, do you own anything that isn't green?"

"I happen to like this top," she snapped. "And I'm being critiqued by a man with a bat on his chest." She got off the bike and started walking into the park.

"I'm just asking," he defended as he followed her. "And what's with the Danny Phantom green eyes and lips?"

"It makes suppressing my… green skin easier," she stated simply.

"Oh got it. And I'm not a moron, I know what chlorophyll is."

"The not being a moron thing is up for debate." She shrugged.

"So is that why you prefer a toxic kiss?"

"What?" She stopped and turned to him.

"It's easier through the lips?" She blinked in surprise at how easily he'd come to that conclusion.

"Um, yes." She turned and started walking. "Why so interested in my lips?" she teased, smirking over her shoulder at him.

"I make sure to educate myself on anything that could go True Blood on me without warning," he laughed. "But I guess that must be why your eyes are so killer." Ivy fought not to smile. She'd almost forgotten how good he was at that.

"You're think you're so cute."

"I'm adorable," he corrected. "So what are we doing here?"

"Who says I didn't want to get you alone?" she asked in an inviting voice, flicking her hair over her shoulder and somehow making the simple movement look elegant. Oh good, we're doing this again, he internally groaned.

"My mother told me not to follow threatening strangers into strange places."

"Am I threatening?" She looked back at him and swung her hips.

Absolutely.

"Well you haven't offered me candy yet, so I'm a little disappointed in your criminal skills. I personally always carry some Starburst with me in case of diabolical necessity." She stopped.

"You're such an idiot." She shook her head before sitting down on the grass. He stared at her in confusion as she laid down and closed her eyes.

"Okay, you got me, I have no idea what you're doing." He glanced around the park. They were a good twenty feet from the cement path.

"I'm trying to enjoy the sunrise surrounded by nature, but a certain numbskull keeps talking." He stared at her for a second.

"You're a little strange, you know that right?" She opened an eye to glare at him. He walked a few feet away and dropped down in front of a tree. He crossed his legs and leaned back against it.

Ivy sighed. Arkham was a concrete jungle, and she'd missed this. She ran her hand through the unkempt grass. The great thing about the Infection is the humans stopped encroaching upon nature.

After a few minutes, Jason started drifting off. Shit, okay no. Focus. He blinked his eyes open. He took a deep breath and watched Ivy. Her face was relaxed and her eyes closed, she almost looked like she was sleeping. Her lips parted as she breathed in, and her chest rose. Okay focus, but not on that.

She waited for him to say something, but he remained quiet. She peeked her eyes open and glanced at him. He was leaning against a tree, the chin of his Red Hood helmet tucked against his chest. She closed her eyes as she wondered what he was thinking.

He concentrated on his breathing as he waited for sunrise. Streaks of light were just appearing over the trees. Every now and again her lips would twitch, and his eyes followed the movement.

That stupid freaking helmet. What are you even doing? Ivy's lips twitched in annoyance. She couldn't focus with him sitting over there. He hadn't moved or done anything, and she just wanted him to make a stupid comment or stretch so she could have any idea as to what he was doing. She yawned and arched her back, catching herself hoping he was watching. Stop it. This is exactly what you warned Harley about. She sat up.

"Did you fall asleep over there? Or were you petrified?"

"No, but nice Harry Potter reference," he said calmly. She clenched her teeth. He was so perfectly indifferent. "So what's next?"

"I was thinking…" she mused, "I want to go see how everyone around here lives. That doesn't make your job difficult does it?" she asked sweetly.

Her around hundreds of people… the possibilities, he internally winced. Then again, you won't be alone with her.

"Nope. No problem," he said cheerily. Jason hopped up and offered her his hand. She took it, and he pulled her up. He tensed, their chests inches apart. He swallowed and stepped back as she brushed herself off. She glared at the back of his helmet when he turned away. "A lot more fun than a sunrise anyway."

"I don't need your approval, pea brain," she snapped as they started walking back out of the park. He turned toward her.

"Pea brain?" She could hear the amusement in his voice. "As in peas? As in what you grow?"

"No, stop talking," she warned.

"Sorry I can't hear you." He tapped the side of his mask. "Cauliflower ears."

"That was stupid," Ivy muttered, rolling her eyes. "And that's a serious condition."

"I don't know, I thought it was radish."

"Yay, more vegetable humor," she said drily. They made it back to the bike, and he gestured grandly at it.

"Lettuce continue on." She smiled a little before turning away and getting on the bike.

"Was that a smile?"

"No."

"Not even a little one?"

"No."

"Okay, okay," he got on in front of her. "I don't want to nettle you about it."

"I hate you so much."

"I know." He started the bike back up. "But doesn't it just make this trip so much more enjoyable?"

"Why are you so infuriating?" Ivy asked once they started moving.

"Why are you here?" he countered.

"Have you tried living in Arkham City?" she snapped. "Try it then get back to me on that question."

"If you hate it so much, why do you live there?" She stared at the back of his head. "Well if you weren't so bent on hating everyone here, you'd be an asset."

"Oh yeah," she scoffed, "living a life of luxury as the Official Gotham Gardner. No thanks. I think I'll just let the Infection kill you all off."

"Ha!" Jason cried triumphantly, "I thought you'd be immune. And aren't humans a little important? Aren't we the main producers of a little thing called carbon dioxide? You know, the stuff plants need."

"There are plenty of other animals that breathe out carbon dioxide."

"Yeah but you don't want everyone dead."

"I don't really think I'd mind."

"Even me?" he joked.

"If I could Infect you myself, I would," she snapped.

"Aw, you don't mean that." He slowed down and parked the bike on a street corner.

"I really do."

"Then this is going to be a very morbid tour of all your future murder victims," he said as he got off the bike. Ivy glared at him as she followed. The street was mostly empty. There was an old man who'd fallen asleep in a rocking chair on his porch, a woman walked across the street to a neighbor's house, and a few kids played at the end of the block.

"Where is everyone?"

"Avoiding you, the lucky bastards." She got the feeling he was smirking. "Nah, they're working." He shrugged. Ivy looked at the houses. She didn't know why she'd imagined people would just be everywhere, talking and enjoying themselves. Of course they had to work.

"Red Hood!" a voice cried from the end of the street. A little girl in a bright blue dress pelted toward Jason, and he swung her up when she nearly collided into him.

"Whoa!" He laughed. "Hey there Caty."

"Did you come to play with us again?"

"Ah, I can't. I'm working." Caty pouted. "Hey, don't be like that. I'll bring Nightwing around sometime again, and you can be Batman again. Promise." He slipped her a couple Starbursts, and she giggled. She held her pinkie up. He hooked his pinkie around it. "Pinkie promise," he corrected.

Ivy watched their interaction curiously. She never imagined he'd be kind and even… gentle with kids. Caty glanced over at her. She hid in Jason's shoulder.

"Who's that?"

"That's my friend, Ivy," he told her.

"Why are her eyes and lips green?"

"You know, I asked her the same thing. I just think she really likes that color."

"Is it your favorite color?" she asked Ivy, her hands twisting in her blue dress. Ivy smiled gently at her.

"It is. What's yours?"

"Blue."

"What?" Jason cried. "Like Nightwing." He tickled her stomach. "How could you do that to me?" Caty giggled and squirmed out of his arms. She approached Ivy hesitantly. Lizzy stepped out of the group of kids watching.

"Caty! Stay away from her," she called. Caty glanced between Ivy and Lizzy.

"Why?"

"Because I've done some bad things," Ivy said gently.

"Why?"

"Um, because I really like plants."

Caty beamed. "Me too!" She grabbed Ivy's shirt and pulled her along. Ivy blinked in surprise as she was dragged along. Caty led her to a patch of dirt in front of her house. "This is my strawberry patch." She grinned, sitting back on her heels and patting the dirt. "They're gonna grow really big. Just wait." Ivy watched her for a second. She knelt down and put her hand next to Caty's. A sprout of green poked up in front of their hands. Caty gasped and looked up at Ivy.

Ivy smiled at her, and Caty watched in fascination as her garden bloomed in front of her.

"How'd you do that?" she breathed.

"I asked nicely." Caty grabbed a large red strawberry and took a bite. She grinned, the juice dribbling down her chin.

"Lizzy!" she cried, plucking another berry and running it over to her sister. "You have to eat one!" Lizzy glared at Ivy suspiciously before taking it from her sister's outstretched hand and taking a bite.

"I thought you were going to poison her for a second," Jason commented. Ivy glanced up at him, not realizing he'd been standing beside her. Caty pulled at her arm.

"Can you do that again? Are you like a superhero? Can you teach me? I wanna learn how to do that!"

"It's really not fun to learn," Ivy told her gently. A few faces were watching her distrustfully out of their windows. "I really should be going, but it was really nice to meet you."

"Aw!" Caty whined. "Can you bring her back too?" she asked Jason.

"Maybe." Ivy stood up beside him. "We need to keep going though." She waved vigorously at them as they walked away.

"That was a low blow," Ivy muttered.

"I'll admit that I read your file," he shrugged. "Something about a soft spot for kids."

"You really have no shame."

"I'm not the one with the ability to save thousands but uses her ability as a party trick," he countered.

"You really are a dimwit." She shook her head.

"I won't argue with you there, Thorny Rose."

"Why did it have to be you?" She spun on him. "Why did you have to be the one that followed me around?"

"We decided everyone wouldn't look very threatening wearing gas masks. I, however, look rather dashing."

She made a frustrated noise. "Is that all you know how to do? Make stupid comments and hit on girls?"

"Pretty much sums me up," he agreed. "You forgot the unforgettable good looks, but I'll give you a pass on that one."

"And now I remember why I won't care if you all die," she snapped.

"Hey, you're the one who decided to come here on my day off," he retorted. "I'm a little sleep deprived."

"Oh no! The world is ending," she cried. "Red Hood couldn't take his nap."

"At least-" he cut off at when his comm sounded.

"I spotted a flare," Nightwing told him, "I'm in Midtown, are you anywhere near the scene?"

Jason spun around, looking at the sky. He spotted the fading trail of the flare- a precaution they'd passed out the civilians- back the way they'd come from. "Shit," he swore, taking off running and leaving Ivy behind. "Nearby," he updated over comm, "I'll keep you posted." He skidded to a stop on the street they'd left just a few minutes ago.

He took a deep breath as he walked forward and assessed the scene. Everyone was toward the edges of the street, fleeing into houses and double locking the doors behind them. No outliers, all the kids were with an adult, and everyone would be out of the way in time. He reached for his holster as he focused in on the threat, continuing steadily toward the Infected.

The old man who'd been sleeping on the porch was crouched in the street over a mangled body, blood splattered across his face and over the pavement. Probably sunstroke, Jason reasoned, but he swallowed hard. His hand reached his gun as the zombie glanced up. It cocked its head at Jason- approaching fresh meat. As his hand wrapped around the grip of his gun, Jason could hear the rumble of a vehicle; most likely the medical unit dispatched at the sign of a flare. He pulled the gun out, trying to make the decision between tranqs or live rounds. He glanced over at the houses and the faces peering nervously through the curtains. Tranqs it is.

He moved to eject the clip, turning back to the zombie. His eyes narrowed at the signs: tensed muscles, runner's crouch, head attentively cocked in his direction, mouth turned down in a snarl as blood dripped from its lips. Jason ejected the clip, his hand reaching into his belt for the magazine of tranq rounds as the zombie lunged. He hit the magazine into place as the zombie's abrupt burst of speed carried it half of the way to him in the blink of an eye. One shot straight between the eyes, and he stepped aside, the Infected's hands clawing at his jacket as it lunged past. The old man stumbled a few steps and collapsed to the pavement.

Jason sighed and bent down to pick up the clip he'd dropped. The ambulance roared around the corner, screeching to a stop as men poured out. Jason didn't pay them any attention. He took a step toward the bloodied figure before he froze. Even soaked in blood and torn apart, he recognized the small form and her bright blue dress. He turned back and saw Ivy standing at the end of the street, paralyzed as she stared at Caty's body.

The medics rushed around to get everything cleaned up; one of them quietly making sure Caty wouldn't turn. People hesitantly opened their doors and flocked on the sidewalks as their neighbors poured in from all around to watch the scene. Jason could hear people frantically checking on their families. He reholstered his gun with a sigh and walked toward Ivy.

"Where is my daughter?!" Jason tuned as a woman screamed. He could see Lizzy clinging to the lady's waist as she frantically searched the crowd. "Where is she? Where's Caty?!"

Jason stepped over to intercept her before she could get near enough to the street. "Ma'am. I'm sorry. You need to calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down! Find my daughter," she demanded. Jason was glad for his mask. There was no look he could have given her to express how sorry he was.

"Ma'am… I'm sorry." The woman seemed to crumple back.

"No," she gasped, clutching onto Lizzy. "No!" She glanced around frantically. "It was her!" the woman screamed, pointing behind Jason. He turned and saw Ivy still frozen in place. "It must have been her!" Jason stopped her when she tried to rush Ivy.

"It's not her fault," he said calmly. "This is no one's fault." He paused when she saw who the medics were covering with a body bag.

"No! My little girl," the woman sobbed. Lizzy stood stock still beside her mother, blood on her hands and tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry," Jason told the woman quietly.

"It's your fault!" she screamed at Ivy.

"You cannot blame her," Jason snapped. "No one is to blame here."

"You and everyone from Arkham should should kill yourselves before you kill the rest of us!"

"Enough," he ordered quietly. He nodded to a GCPD officer to take the hysterical woman and stopped a medic. "Make sure to thoroughly clean the blood off of the sister." He walked over to Ivy and grabbed her arm, pulling her along. "Cleanup is underway, but I need to get Poison Ivy out of the city. You may need to come supervise," he told Nightwing before flicking his comm back off. Ivy stared at the bag Caty was in as Jason pulled her back to the bike.

"Still think you want the Infection to kill everyone?" he asked her seriously, and she looked up at him. He was staring straight ahead as he led her to the bike, and she fixed her eyes on the ground.