Chapter 4: Barbara Talks
"Robin, let's go!" Batman said, appearing in the rafters. My smile faltered.
"Batman, we can't just leave her here."
"Then take her with you." Batman disappeared out the window. Robin took me in his arms again and followed him. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Can you find your way home from here?" Robin asked. I looked at my surroundings and nodded.
"Yes, thank you again, Robin." I smiled.
"You're welcome again, miss."
"Victoria Isles."
"Huh?" He seemed flustered.
"My name is Victoria Isles."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Isles. I hope to see you again, hopefully not when you're a hostage." He smiled and my smile disappeared as I recognized him. He must have noticed because he quickly vanished into the shadows.
"Dick Grayson!" I whispered, covering my mouth. I ran back home, unlocked the door, wrenched it open and shut it, leaning against it. I sunk to the floor. Mom appeared, looking concerned.
"Ivory!" She embraced me, kissing my head over and over.
"Mom!" I wriggled from her grip.
"Oh, sweetie, you had me worried sick! It said on the news that you were taken hostage by the Joker. I wouldn't think he'd take you. Are you all right?"
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. Actually, I was saved by Robin."
"Was Batman with him?" She said, icily.
"Yeah…" I winced as Mom's eyes flashed.
"Well, I guess I owe him one." She said, bitterly.
"No, Mom, I owe him one." I gently corrected her.
"I refuse to let my daughter be in his debt." She huffed.
"You're gonna set him up, aren't you?" I said, knowingly.
"Of course. Would you like to help me?" She smiled as I nodded.
"Just promise me that we'll capture Batman and not Robin."
"Why 'not Robin'?" She looked at me, confused.
"Because he's different than what you said. He's kind and sweet and I like him." I blushed lightly.
"You have a crush on him, don't you?" She smiled, knowingly.
"No, I don't!" I fold my arms and stand up.
"Then prove it by helping me capture both of them!" She stated.
"Fine." I pouted.
"I promise not to harm Robin." She added, softly.
"Thank you!" I hugged her as the doorbell rang. I answered it and was surprised to see Dick standing there.
"Dick! What're you doing here?" I heard the back door shut.
"I, uh, wanted to see you." He rubbed the back of his head.
"That's really sweet! Why don't you come on in so we can talk?" I offered.
"Ah, um, okay." He seemed quite flustered.
"Something wrong, Dick?" I raised an eyebrow.
"N-no. Nothing's wrong!" He chuckled slightly.
"You sure about that?" I pressed on, carefully.
"Well, it's just that I really like you Victoria, but I can't lie to you anymore. It's not fair to you. You're an amazing person and I hope you know that." He bit his lip. "I have to tell you something. Something that even Babs doesn't know."
"Victoria, dear?" Mom called from inside.
"I… I gotta go!" I ran back inside, closing the door behind me and leaned against it breathing heavily. 'Maybe you were just imagining things last night? I mean, Dick Grayson can't be a vigilante, right?' Mom grabbed my shoulder, interrupting my train of thought.
"Ivory, are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be." I smiled and went inside. Little did I know what was in store for Batman and Robin. As I watered our mutant Venus fly traps, they nuzzle me affectionately, I noticed a new form of plant growing. It seemed like an incubator, but I figured out quickly what it was as it stood in front of me.
"Ivory, meet your brother." She said, proudly.
"B-brother?" I sputtered, nearly dropping the watering can. The boy waved at me. "Oh, um, I mean, nice to meet you little brother!" I smiled and kissed his head. He embraced me tightly.
"Aww, he loves you already!" Mom smiled happily.
"Good thing too!" I hugged him back and carried him to his "room" in the basement. When I came back upstairs after he'd fussed for around half an hour, and I'd changed into my costume much like Mom's including my mask, I smirked as I saw Batman.
"Who is this, Poison Ivy?" Batman glared at Mom. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"My name is Ivory." I said shortly. Hearing something behind me, I whirled around to come face to face with Robin. I swallowed a gasp and concentrated. Soon, he was tied up in a thick layer of ivy. Mom laughed.
"You see, Batman, you can't win this time. Soon all men will feel the pain that we felt when our precious roses were torn up and murdered before our eyes!" She said, passion in every word. It tore at my heart strings that people could be so cruel to nature. After all, what had nature ever done to them?
"Wait... Ivory, your face is familiar." Robin said, staring at me. I bit my lip, but regained my composure.
"You must be mistaken. I've never seen you before in my life." I said firmly.