Roselyn was woken up from her sleep with the alarms blaring loudly. She put her pillow over her head to attempt to block out the noise. This didn't help too much. The loud noise brought tears to her eyes and she began to panic. What if there was a fire and they were going to let her burn alive? She was terrified at the thought and began to bang on her cell door loudly. She let out frustrated screams because she was locked in and nobody was doing anything. Why wasn't anyone coming for her?
Roselyn retreated back to her bed and held her knees to her chest. Her cell door was ripped off which frightened her more. She took the blanket and put it over her head. She knew this wouldn't save her from anything, but if she couldn't see it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. But when she peaked out and saw vines, she was afraid she caused this. When she looked around, she noticed Poison Ivy was standing there in her cell. The grape vines! She stood up and slipped on her shoes. It was too loud to speak and she was surprised when Ivy picked her up.
"I want you to keep your head down and close your eyes," Ivy said into her ear. The amount of trust she had in Poison Ivy seemed to be limitless because she simply nodded and closed her eyes. She kept her face pressed to Ivy's shoulder. She wasn't entirely sure why she had to keep her eyes closed, but she didn't question it and she wouldn't question it later.
Over the alarms, she could hear gunshots being fired and a lot of screaming. She also heard the Joker laughing hysterically at one point. Eventually, she felt the cool air on her skin and she shivered. She pressed herself closer to Poison Ivy for warmth since the Arkham jumpsuits weren't particularly considered winter wear. The sounds of police sirens now added to the chaotic noise around her. She went to look up when an officer demanded Poison Ivy put down the girl. "Don't look," Ivy said to her. She couldn't hear anything else over the loud noises all around her. It was overwhelming and she tried her best not to cry.
She felt herself being passed over to someone and she clung to Ivy as if her life depended on it. "Let go of me," Ivy said in a frustrated tone. She did what she was told and let someone else hold her. She kept her eyes shut as she was placed beside someone on a bench. She finally opened her eyes and was relieved Ivy was sitting beside her with her arm placed around her shoulders. She noticed she was in a van, a van without heat.
She couldn't see much in the dark, but Roselyn noticed how revealing Poison Ivy's clothes were and she wondered how she wasn't so cold. "Hey, Rosie!" The person sitting across from her must have been Harley; her voice was pretty distinct. She felt Harley move towards her and kneel in front of her. "Aw, Red, she's cold." She could picture the frown on Harley's face as she made the statement.
"She'll be fine," Ivy replied.
"Mistah J?" Harley stood and walked towards the front of the van where Two Face sat driving and Joker kept look out.
"What is it now, you dumb broad? Can't you see I'm busy?" he snapped.
"Rosie's cold," Harley replied. "Can she have your jacket? I think we lost the cops, anyways."
"Anything for little Daffi!" Joker exclaimed; his mood completely changed as he took off his jacket. "This kid's a great gag, ain't she?"
"The best, Mistah J!"
"Well, maybe the third best gag," Joker said.
"What're the other two?" Harley queried.
"You're number two, poo," he laughed at his own joke.
"And Batman's number one," Two Face growled with an annoyed tone.
"Hey, let me deliver the punchlines, meat face," Joker growled and crossed his arms. Harley decided not to say anything else and draped the purple suit jacket over Roselyn's shoulders. She realized these people took her out of the asylum. As much as she did like it there, she was glad she was getting out of such a strict routine. She had never been completely accustomed to a routine as strict as the one they gave her at Arkham and welcomed the possible freedom of being on the outside.
She felt these people deserved to be talked to. After all, they didn't have to drag along an eleven year old girl and she felt pretty important as she was allowed to wear the Joker's purple jacket and be cuddling up to Poison Ivy. "Thank you," she said in a small voice to Harley.
"Whoa, you can talk!" Harley exclaimed. "You were right, Mistah J!"
"Of course I am," he retorted. "I knew Daffodil had a voice."
"We all did," Two Face said to Joker. "Rumor had it she whispered to plants."
"And that is why she's the weed's new sidekick!" Joker laughed.
"She is not my sidekick," Ivy informed them. Roselyn frowned at this because she was hoping she'd be staying with Ivy and not be dumped off somewhere on the street to defend for herself. "I'm not as crazy as Batman. I won't be putting some under aged kid in spandex and put her in dangerous situations."
"That's real responsible, Red," Harley agreed.
"That's right; Daffi has to grow into her spandex," Joker replied.
"Why do you even call her Daffi?" Two Face interrupted.
"Hello, short for Daffodil. You're a little slow, there, Harv," Joker explained. "And it's Daffi with an 'I' to make it distinct."
"Why did I even ask?" Two Face muttered to himself.
"What's going to happen to me?" Roselyn asked and she looked up at Ivy with worry in her eyes. She bit her lower lip to combat the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. One tear fell from her and began to slide down her cheek until Ivy took her thumb to brush it away.
"Don't cry," Ivy said in a motherly tone. "You're coming to stay with me."
"Really? I promise I won't be annoying and I won't get in your way and I'll be really quiet and be good," Roselyn said quickly.
"Yes, really," Ivy replied. "I know you'll behave yourself. I'm not worried about that at all."
"So, Daffi, like your new family?" Joker asked her as he turned around to face her.
"Just think of him as your creepy uncle," Two Face suggested.
"Hey! Mistah J isn't creepy!" Harley stood up for her boyfriend.
"He kind of is, Harl," Ivy replied.
"I'm the creepy uncle that means well," Joker decided.
"Oh yeah J, you always mean well," Two Face probably rolled his eyes. Roselyn laughed at what they were saying and she was just so happy that she really did have a family. So what if Joker was the creepy uncle who went around killing and maiming people? It wasn't like he planned to harm her. There was suddenly a thump on the top of the van which made it swerve. Roselyn felt Ivy hold her tightly as they bumped around in the back. "Shit," Two Face swore. "It's the Bat!"
Harley turned on her flashlight in order to look for her weapons in her bag. This was when Roselyn realized there was blood on the Joker's jacket that he let her wear. At first, she was paralyzed with fear because she then had an idea of why Poison Ivy had her close her eyes. Next, she began to cry, and then finally she screamed and threw the jacket on the floor. "What's wrong?" Ivy asked her. She followed Roselyn's finger as it pointed to the jacket on the ground. Harley used her flashlight to shine it on the dirty jacket. "What is wrong with you?" Ivy yelled towards the Joker who was now laughing hysterically at the situation.
"Red looks real mad. Don't do that again, Puddin'," Harley said as she picked up the jacket and threw it at Joker.
"Relax, I won't do it again. Can't repeat that joke because it just wouldn't be funny."
"Can we focus on the fact that the Bat is staring at us through the windshield, please." Two Face seemed to be the only one who was paying attention to the situation. It obviously didn't take long for Batman to punch his fist through the glass and grabbed Joker. Thinking fast, Joker grabbed his gun and shot at him. And missed. Roselyn decided to withdraw from the situation because a man dressed up as a bat terrified her.
Roselyn felt vines strap her into place right before the van began to flip. "Keep your head down," Ivy said and she also felt Harley get in a protective position around her front. The blonde gripped onto the vines, laughing hysterically along with Joker as the van flipped and slammed into a tree. The wind was knocked out of Roselyn and she gasped for breath. The vines released her and she fell back against Ivy. Harley had already gotten up despite her possible injuries and joined Joker and Two Face to fight Batman. "You okay, sweetie?" Ivy asked her.
Roselyn stood up and nodded, but she was a little sore. She watched as Ivy stood up and cracked her back and neck; it looked as if she was able to shake off any injuries she had. Perhaps she had enhanced durability, too? Or she healed ridiculously fast. Either way, it amazed her how she didn't seem hurt at all.
"Hand her over, Poison Ivy," Batman stood in front of them. Roselyn didn't know what to do, but she did begin to hyperventilate. Batman was easily over six feet tall, very dark, and incredibly intimidating.
"Get away from her, Bats!" Harley yelled as she swung a bat at his head. It collided with a loud thud. She whacked him a couple of more times until he fell to the ground unconscious. As Joker enjoyed drawing a beard with a Sharpie on Batman's face, Two Face left the area because he wasn't going to wait for Batman to wake up.
Poison Ivy knelt down to get closer to Roselyn's height. The girl wasn't sure how to handle all of the emotions she was feeling, so she began to cry. "Come on," she said. "We're going home." She stood up and held Roselyn's small hand. "Hey Harl, I'll see you later," Ivy said. Harley stopped putting shaving cream on Batman's rear end and skipped over to them.
"I'll come visit real soon," Harley promised and brought her into a gentle hug. The blonde smiled and rushed back over to finish whatever it was she and Joker were doing to Batman.
"Wait, you said we're going home?" Roselyn looked up at Ivy as they began to walk away. Ivy nodded. "I've never had a home before," she whispered.
"You do now," Ivy smiled as they made their way towards the outskirts of Gotham.
This chapter was fun to write, especially the part where Harley and Joker have some fun with Batman :) Thanks to the new readers, followers, people who favorited this story, and the reviewers! Some of you have great questions that will be answered in chapters to come!