The Rose and Her Thorns

A glare made of fire and ice was sent in the direction of the villains. The girl, Sunni, was assessing which one of the adults were the biggest threat to her and Steel. She recognized all three of them; Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and the Riddler. Nygma wasn't much of a threat anymore, as he was lying on the floor, cradeling his injured arm gently. Harley was currently hiding behind Ivy, looking like a scared bunny rabbit with blue eyes. Ivy was a problem though. Her and steel were in Ivy's element, flora sprouting from various places around the house. They were no match for the plants if Ivy decided to make them attack.

Nygma spoke from the floor, trying to sit up despite his injuries. "What the heck is a packmate? And are you some kind of meta-human, because you're really starting to freak me out."

The glowing irises of the wolf fixed on the man, a death wish falling from the canine. Sunni sent a sharp glare Steel's way, again saying nothing, but the wolf quieted anyways. Ivy narrowed her eyes as the girl spoke again, her voice soft and gentle with only a slight growl for an undertone. "I'm not a meta-human. My family and I were mutated by our father's technology."

Harley popped out from behind her friend, curiosity etched on her every feature. "Did you say family? You mean it's not just you and the vicious wolf-dog?"

Steel snarled. I'm not vicious! You're just a threat and insane to boot, ya blond bimbo!

Sunni started at the sudden outburst from her friend. "Steel! Hold your tongue!"

The wolf growled mutinously, but said nothing further. Ivy stared at the girl for a moment before saying quietly, "You can understand that thing?'

"He's not a thing, Steel's a wolf. And yes I can understand him and my other packmates. My brothers can't understand them though."

Eddie stood, stumbling slightly as he made his way to his feet. Harley ran over and caught him, supporting his weight. "You said brothers. As in plural. If there's more of you...where are they?"

Sunni's amber eyes reflected sympathy for the man as he swayed, bleeding heavily from the wounds on his arm. Suddenly, the girl began to change. The long black hair started to lighten, turning into a honey-colored blond and her fangs retracted into normal looking teeth. The amber slowly faded away from her eyes as well, returning the irises to a hazel-green. Sunni shook her head slightly and winced a little.

"Yeah, there are more of us. They're hiding in the greenhouse with Snow, Fang, and Mel."

Ivy looked startled by the fact that the others were in the greenhouse, but was quickly cut off by a comment by Sunni. "Don't give yourself a stroke Ivy. I told the boys to hide in the plants, not destroy them. Besides, I'm sure Fang will keep them from getting into any monkey buisness." Taking a glance at the very pale Eddie, she added, "And if you promise not to kill us all, I'll stitch up the Riddler's arm for you."

Harley and Eddie answered simultaniously. "Deal."

Sunni nodded and opened the door, allowing Steel to go first and waiting for Harley to lead Eddie to a seat in the kitchen. Ivy was still watching warily, but floated into the familiar space that was her kitchen. Everything seemed to be in order, except for the oven was on and she could smell a pizza cooking in the oven. Harley was sitting Eddie on a chair, wrapping his arm in a towel to try and stop the bleeding.

Sunni jerked her head towards the greenhouse door, beckoning for Ivy to come with her and Steel. Before she left though, she turned to Harley. "Um, Ms. Quinn? Do you think you could boil some water for me so I can sterilize a needle?"

The harlequin grinned, ignoring Eddie as he squealed beside her. She was applying pressure to the wound, which was incredibly painful to the poor man. "Call me Harley sweetheart. Everyone does."

Ivy rolled her eyes. "Everyone knows that Harl."

Sunni grabbed the plant villainess' hand and dragged her towards the greenhouse. "Please try to behave when you meet my brothers Ivy. They're kind of skittish, so be gentle."

"Whatever kid."

Steel growled beside her and Ivy sent a poisonous glare towards him. Sunni called out to the boys, watching the thick foliage around her swirl from Ivy's presence. She had moved from the door and was facing the windows, smiling serenely as the plants around her swayed and slithered towards their mistress. Suddenly, a small voice sounded from behind her, confused and slightly hopeful.

"Mommy?"

Turning slowly, Ivy came face to face with a small boy. He was about six, with dark chocolate brown eyes and thick silky brown hair. The little boy's face fell as she turned, his eyes sparkling with disappointment. Strangely, that made Ivy slightly sad. She wanted to hold that little boy and make him stop looking at her with that horribly sad look.

A cold nose nudged Ivy's bare leg, causing the woman to jump. Looking down, she saw a small wolf, a creamy white in color with bright and curious eyes. Ivy found the little wolf cute despite herself, and tentatively reached down to pat its ears. Sunni walked up beside her. There were eight little boys beside her, three of which were babies. Another wolf, black and scarred this time, flanked a pair of twins.

Sunni, carrying a red-headed baby, spoke. "These are my brothers, Ivy."

The little six year old ran up to Sunni, tears in his eyes. "Sunni, I thought she was Mommy, but she wasn't Mommy."

Ivy's heart tore as the little boy started to cry. Why were these children having this effect on her? This was just plain weird.

"Come on Ivy. Let's go back in and help Eddie."

Ivy nodded and followed Sunni back into the kitchen, where Harley was boiling a needle in hot water. The kids stayed close to the wolves, scared by the new adults in the house. Eddie was leaning on the table, face pale from blood loss. Sunni pulled some thread from a drawer, baby still in her arms. Harley was watching the boys with an excited expression. She loved kids. She really did.

Ivy floated over to Harley, leaning non-chalantly on the counter top behind her. Harley leaned over and whispered, "Aren't they just adorable Red?"

"Yeah. Sure thing Harl. They're cute all right."

Sunni whispered something to the wolves, the three canines intelligent eyes shining with affection for the teenager. Suddenly, the largest one broke off, turning his scarred muzzle twoards Harley. The large male sashayed up to Harley, jumping up on his hind legs and asking her to scratch his ears. The bubbly blond quickly obliged, grinning happily as Fang's tongue lolled out.

I really like this one, Sunni. She scratches my ears in the most wonderful way!

Why don't you take the boys and Harley into the other room and introduce them?

Can I take Snowy with me?

Sure.

Alright.

With that, Fang gathered the oldest children and Snow, herding them into the living room. Snow followed happily, her tail wagging with pleasure. Steel followed her, much calmer and more dignified than his younger counterpart, and pushing the slackers along with a sharp nudge from his nose.

Sunni turned to Harley, threading the needle that she had sterilized while watching Hayden, who sat in her lap. "You can take Howard and go into the living room with the others, if you would like."

Harley squealed, jumping up and plucking the little six month old from where he sat in a home-made highchair. The baby giggled, cooeing and cuddling into Harley as she bounded out of the room. Ivy shook her head, smiling as she watched the happy Howard wave at her on her way out. Sunni smiled and finished threading her needle. Eddie managed to look up from where he was almost passed out, wincing as the sharp metal glinted threateningly in the bright lights.

Frowning, Sunni shifted Hayden in her lap. Looking at Ivy imploringly, she said, "Do you think you could be less haughty for about five minutes and hold him?"

Ivy rolled her eyes, but she strode over and plucked the little red-head from the girl's lap. As soon as Hayden was out of her lap, Sunni set to work on Eddie's arm. By now, the poor man had passed out, so it was easy for Sunni to stitch the muscle and skin together. The teenager had learned how to stitch rather severe wounds because her brother's tended to be very clumsy.

But Ivy was so engrossed with the little boy in her arms, she didn't notice the stitch work on Eddie's arm. Hayden was laughing, burbling happily as Ivy smiled and cuddled him. Something melted inside of Ivy as she looked on the adorable little boy in her arms. He looked at her like no other person in the world had. His eyes, that beautiful emerald green flecked with obsidian, were filled with happiness and joy and...acceptance.

No one had accepted her since her mutation. No one except Harley that is. She felt all warm and fuzzy inside. It was a wonderful feeling. Maybe these kids weren't all bad after all.