... Like last night
They are not like tremors
They are worse than tremors
They are these terrors
And it's like
It feels like as if somebody was gripping my throat
And squeezing
And-
They are not like tremors
They are these terrors...
BATMAN
"It's clear that we don't have the... facilities to house Poison Ivy at Arkham Asylum."
"Which is why I had to leave her where she was." Batman supplied as an explanation for his actions the night before.
"But you took her sidekick?"
"I had no choice, Gordon. She was begging me to hide her from Ivy."
"Hmm... Poor kid. Has anyone figured out what exactly it is Ivy did to the kid?"
"From what I could tell... she tried to make Florence like herself."
"... That's just wrong."
"Miss Caldwell feels the same way."
"So what are we going to do with the kid? Did she actually commit any crimes?"
Batman brought up the holographic gadget on his forearm and conducted a brief scan through the database before bringing forth Nova's file, "2 counts of minor assault on an officer of the law and... jailbreak. One I suspect she had less than a minor part to play in."
"You're telling me 2 counts of minor assault on a cop and a breakout from the asylum she wasn't an accomplice to gets her locked up in Arkham? Again?"
"It's the best bet we've got at keeping her out of Ivy's reach. She begged me, Gordon. I said I'd keep her safe from her."
"I hope you know what you're doing, Batman."
Batman nodded, evidently not able to make any promises on the subject. He didn't have the time to stand around discussing this, anyway, he needed to get back to the asylum and work out how he was going to keep the girl safe from Poison Ivy. The problem was that these villains were all powerful and all too familiar with breaking in and out of Arkham Asylum by now. They knew the ins and outs and they knew how to get their way.
That wouldn't happen this time.
NOVA
Nova was... bored. It was as simple and as unfortunate as that. She was...
There was...
There was too much going on. In. Her. Head.
She felt this overbearing need to be away from it all, but... there was no... away. Nova was stuck in a little jail cell, after all. It was too closed in for all the... flipping she wanted to do. She wanted to flip and twirl and soar away and live among the clouds, and maybe even Ivy couldn't reach her there...
Nova's eyes widened as she thought this over, her breath leaving her in erratic little puffs. This was a good idea. A good idea. Her... she could maybe even get away with it. She could. She coooouuuuuld.
"Sparky?" She called to the guard outside her cell. There was an aggravated groan almost instantly. Nova got the impression he actually looked forward to conversing with the inmates. Something about the way he responded or played along told her Sparky was more than willing to interact with the crazies.
"That's not my name, lilypad, you know that," Sparky's response came to a close just as he rounded the corner from his post.
"Oh, no, you're Sparky because you... spark, spark, spark, spark..." Nova trailed her fingers in little steps across the transparent separator,
"I wasn't the one who electrocuted you, Florence, you know that..."
"No, no, no... you weren't the one electrocuting Nova, but you were the one laughing with me."
"Why do you switch between first and third person like that?"
"Like what, pal?"
"Do you... know you're doing that? It's like you're-"
A new voice cut across Sparky's. It was new and fresh and male and... Swedish. Woof.
"You're not her psychologist, Jeremy. I am."
"Doctor...?" Sparky (and yes, she was irritated that everyone insisted that wasn't his name) asked, obviously implying that the good Doctor's name held no merit or relevance in the asylum. Which, to be fair, it didn't.
"Brenner."
He was handsome and reasonably young and blonde, and...
Mmmmm.
Poison Ivy would eat someone like him up the moment she met him. Nova was not Poison Ivy. But the... she could sense a possibility for... for exploitation. It was there and she could take it, but there was this insane struggle pitting itself against that part of her already. It was like green and gold were at war with each other. Parts were toxic and withered and dead and those were the hissing wastes of herself. The rest was... golden. It was fierce and thriving and impossible to burn down like the other half. It was the lesser section but it was by no means the weaker. It was palpable and solid and even while her brain was warped, Nova could still feel Florence lingering in the depths of herself.
So the choices were in front of her.
But why would she need the choices when she didn't want to escape? She was exactly where she needed and wanted to be, surely. Yes. Yes, she was. She was.
But was she?
Ivy had known her. Ivy had picked her name out of thin air and it was so very perfect and it was her. She was Nova now. Nova was Nova and she was more plant than human being, and hadn't she always loved plants?
No. Ivy abused and manipulated and harmed her. Ivy had took her choices away from her and-
"Miss Caldwell?"
"Mmm, doc?"
"Are you... lucid?"
"Who knows?"
"Are you seeing things?"
"Could you possibly mean hallucinating, good sir?"
"So your memory's working fine..."
"Oh, my memory is flawless, doc. It's never been so crystal!" Nova broke off into a whining laugh, part of it breaking off into a second part that was something more like a sob. The good doctor looked at her with pity, scratching at his chin. An angry, twisted spite reared itself inside of Nova.
"Don't get it fucking twisted, doctor. You are no better off than I am! We're both stuck in here, far too involved with insanity and psychology and all the ins and outs of the miiiiind. The only difference is that I'm on this side of the glass, and you're over there." Nova spat, eyes wide and magnetic like black holes, hands contorted into claws against the glass.
Doctor Brenner had the good grace to try and placate her,
"Nova, please, I need you to understand that I am in no way judging you. I'm just... really bad at keeping up a poker face."
Nova gaped at him for a moment, and then she smirked, and then a giggle slipped past her lips, and then she erupted into a full on, unashamed fit of giggles. Before she knew what was happening it was full blown maniacal laughter. Except to her, maniacal was now the new normal kind of laughter. And, oh, not to sound vain; but it was such a beautiful sound.
Doctor Brenner really was bad at keeping a poker face, because he was unable to keep the slow building grin from his face.
Oh, but Doctor Brenner, you're really making this far too easy.
But you're not like that, are you? Not like her. No. You do not want that. You want to stay. You do. It's safe here. She's not here.
She's not. Okay.
"Oh, doc. That really was funny! Doctor's aren't usually funny. How come I got the funny doctor?"
"My father was a comedian, sötis."
"That little word at the end there doesn't sound like it would be deemed entirely professional, Doctor Brenner."
"Probably not, älskling, but we all have our own method when it comes to working."
"It's dangerous to carry on like that," Nova pressed her forehead against the glass, all signs of her demented joy leaving her face as she eyed him, "don't you know how easy it would be for her to get you like this? When she came for me, I took it like a glorified doormat because she was beautiful! Don't you know how she got me?!" Nova was wailing at the glass now, slamming her fists against the harsh material and her eyes streaming with the toxic green tears she was forever doomed to shed.
Once again, Doctor Brenner was back to placating, except that this time, he was also scribbling things down in his little goody two-shoes, Swedish notebook. Nova scowled, her eye twitched.
"Manipulator," she snarled, eyes wide and darting between the notebook, his coat, his shoes, his eyes, his hair, his...
Nova jerked her head back and brought it back towards the barrier with a sickening smack,
"MANIPULATOR! MANIPULATOR! MANIPULATOR! MANIPULATOR!" She screamed at him, bashing her forehead against the glass again and again and again and again and again-
It didn't take long before an entire fleet of guards came rushing in to knock her out with some kind, sweet little drugs to ease the anxiety.
?
Patient Therapy: Florence Caldwell - Session One.
"Patient... 018163. Florence Caldwell-"
"Nope."
"My apologies. Nova."
"Apologies are words."
"Words are all we have, are they not?"
"Actions, doc. It's said they speak louder."
"You're sounding... more rational today, Nova. Is this due to the change in medication?"
"Rational?"
"Uh, yes. Do you feel... calmer?"
"Are you asking me if the little voices in my head and all the flashing lights and the scratchy writing on the walls and the fury has been taken care of? Yes? No? Well, I don't have any of those. I don't."
"No, no. Of course you don't. I was asking if you're feeling... better today. You were distressed yesterday."
"That was your fault, doctor. You pushed me. To. The. Limit."
"You called me a manipulator, Nova. The word seemed to mean a lot to you."
"Yes, words. What were those Swedish words you called me yes-"
"Quiet, Nova. You're becoming distressed again-"
"Yes, yes. Hush-hush."
"Do you like to be in charge of conversations, Nova?"
"Only if they're appealing conversations."
"Poison Ivy also likes to lead conversations. Is this something you're aware of?"
[ there's a loud, metallic bang that is the result of Nova throwing her fist down on the table in outrage ]
"I want a new doctor."
THERAPY
Patient Therapy: Florence Caldwell - Session Two.
"How are you feeling today, Nova?"
"I said I wanted a different doctor."
"Your request is being processed, but until then, these sessions need to continue."
"So you want to talk about... what? My journey?"
"You're sounding even better today. This looks like progress."
"Are you doing any actual psychology at all?"
"I'm doing my job, yes."
"Was that a hint of irritation, Doctor?"
"It is my job to do the research into emotions, I believe."
"You're about as good at keeping your temper in check as you are at maintaining a poker face."
"Let's talk about Poison Ivy."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"We need to talk about her. It's important you come to terms with the ordeals she put you through."
"I can talk about the ordeals, if you'd like, Doctor Brenner. They happened."
"And now your skin is green and you have vines trailing over you. Your internals have been burned to ash and resurrected as toxic replacements, you in yourself blur the line between human and... more."
"Oh, looksie, you're right!"
"I'm not joking around when it comes to your mental state, Miss Caldwell."
"I wish you were. You're slowly boring me into the insanity you're supposed to be dragging me out of."
THERAPY
Patient Therapy: Florence Caldwell - Session Ten.
"Good afternoon, Nova. Hur mår du? Sorry, sorry; I mean, how are you?"
"Afternoon, Eric."
"That would be Doctor Brenner, please, officially."
"Anything for you."
"I... ah, yes- Ah. Of course." [ a distinct sound of Doctor Brenner clearing his throat ] "Thank you."
"What are you going to ask me today, Doctor Brenner? How I'm sleeping? 'Cause I'm not."
[ a psychotic little giggle cuts through the white noise in the background of the tape when there's a brief pause between the two, no doubt coming from Nova ]
"No, no, Nova. We can up your dosage of sleeping pills, if that helps, but we need to delve deeper into your issues."
"Oh, the pink little pills, riiiiight? I love those ones. I can pretend they taste like strawberries. I don't even really like-"
"Nova, älskling, please try to focus."
"That word again, dear Doctor? Remember yourself. You're on tape!"
"I'm just trying to keep you focused. You always pay more attention when I call you these names, you know?"
"Because it's dangerous. As you probably know from my case file, Eric, I love to let the darkness string me along and toss me right over the edge."
[ more psychotic giggling - louder this time ]
"Please call me Doctor Brenner."
"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable? Am I really breaching protocol?"
"I'd... prefer it. Please. Let's get back to you, now. What do you remember before the day you got admitted to the asylum?"
"Wrongfully."
"What was that?"
"I was wrongfully admitted."
"It's interesting that you seem to recover some semblance of your sanity when aggravated..."
"Pssh."
"Please meet me halfway, No-"
"I remember Jared."
"Jared? Who is this Jared?"
"He was the love of my life, you know? He'd just about be getting ready to leave work, right about now..."
THERAPY
Patient Therapy: Florence Caldwell - Session 38.
"Nova!"
"Aw, Doctor Brenner, are those for me?"
"Please call me Eric. Please. And yes, älskling, these are for you."
"You remembered how much I love forget-me-nots?"
"Of course. How are you today, dear Nova?"
"Oh, I'm all bright and shiny today!"
"Are you really? That's... wonderful."
[ there's a long silence during which Doctor Brenner can be heard sighing in a dreamy fashion ]
"Tell me something, doc, how many sessions is today?"
"Today is session number 38."
"Mmm, 'kay... they have me hopped up on so many meds. I can't... Mmmmm..."
"You look so beautiful today, you know?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you hear me properly? Is the medication affecting your senses at all?"
"Mm. Mhm. Yes. Yep. I think so."
"That is okay. I have something I am needing to tell you, älskling."
"Might wanna be carefuuuuul..."
"I find it hard to care. I am in love with you, Nova."
"That's nice."
"... Nice?"
"Look at that jellyfish over there by the wall..."
"Nice? Nice? Nice? NICE?"
[ at this point the recording hits a spike as Doctor Brenner tosses it from the table in rage ]
End of Final Therapy Session.
Nova sighed wearily, merely blinking at the Doctor who was attacking her. Why was he doing that? Why was he so angry? Was he okay? Mmm... no. He was-
Ow.
"Ow. OW. OW. OW!" Nova screeched, eyes suddenly flying wide open and bulging almost out of their sockets. He was strangling her, his large, surprisingly strong hands wrapped like an iron-clad vice around her throat. His eyes were so very bloodshot and wide and teary. Why was it always love that drove people to do things like this?
LoveLoveLoveLoveLoveLoveLoveLoveLove-
And she had felt it. Oh, she had. In her past life with Jared, she'd actually known it, and yet she'd still lost it. Perhaps that was just her way. Maybe Florence Caldwell had been doomed from the start to become a psychotic, overpowered but also underpowered leaf. So Nova was used to losing and she was used to abuse. She'd lost the only love she'd ever had the moment Poison Ivy had dragged her out of Arkham Asylum against her will. And so Nova found it hard to care what happened to her - because, really, what kind of a life was this?
It wasn't a life at all.
It was bloody torture.
Nova let herself go limp in the hold of the man who had somehow fallen in love with a drug riddled vegetable, and she let herself smile up at him because, oh, he was giving her everything she wanted! He was giving her an out. An easy way out. She would take it. She would willingly take it. Except-
In rushed the squad of guards who had been neglecting the duties they had in watching over the therapy sessions between herself and Doctor Brenner. In essence, they had allowed and permitted this to happen to her. They'd signed off the papers to say everything was going well and that she was improving and they had ignored her request to get a new Doctor. These men and women, in all their armoured glory, had practically signed her death warrant. Only to rush in when they realised their jobs would be on the line if she died. The good Doctor Brenner was prised away from her, kicking and screaming and calling for her, with shouts of:
"Oh, Nova! You are my love! Mitt hjärta, min skatt, mitt liv, mitt allt! Wait for me! I'm coming back for you! Nova, Nova, Nova! Wait for me!"
Nova would rather die. She almost had, in fact. The beautiful purple bruises all over her neck gave evidence to the fact.
Goodbye, Eric.
NOVA
It was all covered up very well. Even for Gotham, this was shady. Nova watched it from behind her see through, impenetrable barrier of almost 8 months (maybe?). Her forehead was always pressed against the glass. It was cool and chilled and kept her focused enough to observe and take in and remember the things she was seeing and hearing. For the most part, the Asylum just assumed she was too out of it, of her mind, to be able to comprehend what was going on. Which was good. Which was convenient. Because this meant Nova got to hear and witness a lot more than she would if she were considered a normal, 'sane' person of the everyday masses. And it seemed like her luck was going to turn, too, when rumours of Batman coming to pay the asylum a visit started to fly about the place like a bug trapped in a jar. A jar which walls were always closing in and taking away more room to breathe. And yes, seemed was the right word, because as was the trend with the bigger events of Nova's life more recently, things did not, in any way, turn out how she'd expected or wanted them to. In fact, the only way things could have been worse in the way they turned out were if Nova's benevolent creator herself turned up.
She didn't, thank the heavens.
But someone else did. Someone Nova had been right to worry about all those months ago. She was somewhat impressed, though, with his patience. All that waiting and plotting and biding of time had obviously, finally paid off for him, because now here Penguin was, strolling down the asylum corridor towards her, twirling his pretentious little cane about beside him.
He even had the audacity to whistle.
The Joker liked to whistle. It seemed that all the male villains of Gotham had this in common.
"Aaaaaah, my little lilypad! There she is! All green and tortured lookin'!" Penguin exclaimed with arms spread out either side of his tiny self. Lilypad? Where had she heard that before...?
Sparky! Sparky was an insider for Penguin!
Nova gasped out loud and bashed both her fists and her forehead against the separator glass,
"Sparky!"
"Uh... yeah. Okay. Considerably more nuts than reported, it seems."
"She's not coming, is she?"
"Who, Ivy? Hah! Nah, lilypad, no worries on that. We can't be sharin' the spoils wiv your fellow Queen of the Plants, now, can we?"
Nova let herself droop down like a dehydrated flower and sighed in relief, her shoulders dropping along with all the tension.
"Okay," she breathed, "then I'm all yours."
"Excellent," Penguin snarled and Nova visibly tremored with the full body shiver that ran down her spine.
... Sometimes I see flames
And sometimes I see people that I love dying
And it's always the same...
Wake up!
And I can't...
I can't ever wake up...