The Rose and Her Thorns

Sunni loaded all the little ones into their car seats, her mouth a grim slash of determination. The center row of the Escalade was a single line of infants, safety approved car seats cradeling their fragile bodies carefully. Jaylon, Camden, and Jasper were all seated in the very back row, argueing over the limited space. Gabe was riding with Sunni, face stoic and jaw clenched as he stared ahead in the passenger. Eli was driving the General, carrying a walkie-talkie so he could communicate with his older sister.

"Be careful; the throttle's been a little bit touchy lately. And don't try anything that could potentially get you killed."

Electric blue eyes rolled in Eli's skull, showing the exasperation that the boy was feeling. "Don't worry. I've got the wolves with me."

As if to prove his point, Steel trotted up to the nine year old's side, amber eyes returning to their normal bright and alert state. Don't worry Sunni. We'll get the rest of the pack and keep Eli safe. Fang says that the others won't object at all.

Thanks Steel. Take it easy though. I'm still worried about that shoulder.

Steel snorted, but it came out more like a raspy sneeze than a snort. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Snow's about to have a coniption though.

Chuckling despite the situation, Sunni hugged Eli tightly, whispering, "Be safe."

"I'm more worried about Ivy."

Nodding in agreement, the teen separated from her brother and leapt into the Cadillac. As the key turned, the powerful engine roared to life. With a purr, the SUV pulled out onto the road and shot off through the city. It was time to get the one man that Sunni hated above almost all others; the Batman.

The walkie-talkie that was clutched tightly in her hand sprung to life with static. Eli's voice came in with a key note of determination in it. "I'm on my way to the zoo. Wish me luck."

"Get along little Speedster. We'll meet you at Police Headquarters. I love you."

"Love you too Sunni."

Joker's Hideout-7:00 p.m.

An eerie cackle resounded through an abandoned toy factory, sending chills up the spines of all those who heard. The high-pitched laughter made Ivy cringe as she and Eddie were dragged into the building. Burly men with muscles the size of melons held tightly to their arms, physically shoving them towards a high, concrete dais. It used to be the control platform, but Joker had added his own personal touch to the drab structure...spray paint style.

Day-Glo paint was splattered all over the grey, various colors of purple, green, and red illuminating the darkness of the old building. The crimson paint was the exact same color of the Joker's lips, still curled into his trademark manic grin.

That grin; it disgusted both Ivy and Eddie. The Joker was annoying, appalling, and idiotic all at the same time. He was irritating beyond belief, always laughing and making jokes about the most retarded of things. Harley may have found him charming, but to her best friends he was an abomination.

A sudden wince from Ivy made Eddie growl. The man behind her had jerked Ivy's arm painfully upwards, as if he was trying to dislocate her arm. "Hey! Stop it you brute! Don't you know it's not polite to hit a lady?"

His own goon popped Edward's arm from behind, making him grimace. "Shut up Riddles."

Harley bounded up from behind the rest of them, smiling despite all that had happened. "PUDDIN'!"

"Harley girl! How've ya' been?"

The harlequin was now resting comfortably on her boyfriend's lap, her head tucked in the crook of his neck. "I've been fine Puddin'. Red n' Ed have been takin real good care of me."

From the shadows stepped Two-Face, his eyes gleaming almost as brightly as his partner's were. "Can I leave now? I've got things to do."

Another cackle. "Aww! But Facey! You're gonna miss my new friend, Slicey!"

Confusion crossed Dent's face, transforming into terror as a scrawny man stepped out behind them. His bald head gleamed, the sallow skin stretched taught across his skull. Tally-mark scars were all around his body, low lighting making the tissue look horribly thick and painful. But what was creepiest about the man was his eyes; they were animalistic and bloodthirsty, making the insane sparkle in Joker's eyes look tame. It was Victor Zsasz.

"Victor? I thought he left after the breakout."

Joker shook his head, green hair swaying. "Nope. Slicey's been with me for a while. He's going to take care of Itchy and Riddles for me. Won't that be fun?"

The look on Harley's face was horrified, her blue eyes sparkling with concern for her friends. "Puddin' you can't kill them! Red's got responsibilities!"

Zsasz shuffled towards Ivy, balancing his rusty blade in the center of his palm. Wide and terrified eyes reguarded the scrawney form of the serial killer. The goons that had held onto Nygma and Ivy released them, quickly backing away from the pair. Ivy sidled close to Eddie, clutching onto his hand. Against his usual character, Edward pulled her close, putting himself between Ivy and Victor.

When he spoke, Zsasz's voice came out in a whispery rasp, full of mad pleasure. "I want your blood."

Growling, Edward held onto Ivy tighter, burying her against him. "Piss off Zsasz."

Madness gleamed brighter in his eyes as the murderer crept closer. Two-Face retracted, backing out with a snapped orders to his men, leaving the pair to their fate. Harley was desperate to get Ivy and Eddie away from the blade-wielding man before them. She struggled and kicked, pleading with her Puddin' to let her go. Joker only cackled, saying that Itchy and Riddles deserved it.

Ivy closed her eyes, refusing to let the tears that welled there fall. Whispered words barely reached Edward's ears, but what she said made his heart clench painfully. "I broke my promise. I'm sorry babies."

Eddie kept from crying, but he stroked her hair and silently begged whatever powers there might be that help was coming. Thankfully, there was.

Eli and the pack-4:50 p.m.

The General floated through the traffic, carrying Eli closer to the Gotham Zoo. Soon, he was whipping into the parking lot, coming to a stop just before the front gates. The heavy wrought iron was imposing, but it hardly posed a threat to them. The bars were wide enough that Eli and the wolves would easily slip through.

Turning, the boy grinned at his wolf friends and said, "So you ready?"

They all growled, wagging their tails and bouncing out of the car after him. Eli ran through the bars, the pack on his heels, and headed for the wolf exhibit. He refrained from using his superspeed because of the wolves, but he was becoming impatient. Why did they have to have the rest of the pack when Mom and Eddie were probably being tortured by a psychopath?

That thought burned through his mind as he navigated the menagerie that Gotham called a zoo. Monkey chattered, lions roared, and zebras hiccupped at him as he weaved through the various enclosures, looking for the wolves. The map said they were close to the hyenas, and soon they were passing the giggling beasts. Eli stared at them with distaste, but kept moving towards the sound of the wolves' growling/

Soon, he figured out why Fang had told Sunni to grab the rest of the pack. There were at least six more wolves in the enclosure, all huge and well-fed. The number of wolves here would scare the pants off of that stupid thug!

The largest was a tawny female with deep chocolate brown legs. Other wolves were almost her size, but they gave Eli the empresion that they were still adolescents, and hadn't finished growing yet. The female's tail wagged when she saw Fang and the others, greeting them through their pack connection.

Fang! What are you doing with a human?

Thalia, we've come to get you and the others. The human boy is our friend, and he and his family needs our help.

Count us in. I'm sick of running in the same place over and over again.

Eli leapt into the enclosure with the wolves, Steel and Snow flanking him on either side. The alpha wolf stayed up top, howling and sending orders to his pack. They howled as one, following the boy as broke the lock on their enclosure door. Surprisingly, there was no one there to stop him, as almost all the zoo employees were at a funeral.

For the rest of his life, Eli would never forget the cacophony of howls that resounded as that pack followed him. The powerful and free sound sent chills up his spine, the astounding wildness of it reminding the boy just how dangerous these creatures could be. The world around them blurred as he and the pack ran, the howl still echoing through the empty zoo. Silvers, tawnys, blacks, and amazing chesnuts blurred together in the pelts of the pack, forming a solid wall of wild power.

Thalia, Fang's mate, ran by his side, following Eli as he lead them to the General. So why are we following this child? He isn't pack.

The tone of her mate was gentle, but firm, leaving no room for arguement or discussion. His older sister is pack. And he and his siblings are wise; they are more like wolves than humans. Believe me, the youngest one healed Steel with a touch, and one stayed with me when I was injured.

Okay.

Eli reached the General, stopping and opening the door for the canine mass behind him. The ones that had been in the zoo were hesistant, but with some encouragement from Fang and Snow, they leapt into the car. Sliding back into the car, he fired up the engine with roar. The car was filled with hot wolf bodies and the smell of raw meat, but somehow all nine managed to fit into the Charger.

Resting quietly in Eli's lap, Snow nudged him gently, mentally telling the child that everything was going to be okay now. He seemed to get the message, because he began to stroke her ears with one hand, whispering, "We're gonna get Mom and the others back Snow. I can feel it."

Sunni's voice came in over the walkie-talkie, staticky and deeper, but unmistakable all the same. "Eli? Didja' get em?"

"I've got the pack sis. I'm on my way to Police Headquarters."

"Good. Hurry up though. I've called the Bat, and he should be here any moment."

The tone in his older sister's voice told Eli that she was less than happy with the prospect of meeting the dark vigilante again, which he found incredibly funny. Trying not to laugh, Eli responded right away.

"Affirmative Sis. I'll be there in five."

Police Headquarters-5:00

Watching the dying light of the Sun, a fourteen year old child waited for her younger brother and a certain superhero impatiently. God, why did Eli pick today of all days to be slow?

The others sat out of the way, watching their sister with concern. Gabe had multiplied himself and was holding all the infants, while Jaylon held onto Camden and Jasper. The smaller boys looked to their older brother, confused as to what Sunni was doing.

Surprisingly, the usually silent Jaylon spoke first, his quiet voice laced with apprehension. "Gabe, when are we going to get Mommy?"

Grudgingly, Gabe had to admit that it was a good question. They couldn't wait forever. For all they knew, Joker was siccing Two-Face or, worse, Zsasz on Eddie and Ivy.

"I don't know Buddy. I don't know."

Just as he said that, three shadows dropped from a higher building, landing lightly behind Sunni. The largest was Batman; tall and imposing with thick muscles nearly ripping through his spandex costume. Beside him stood Nightwing, his midnight black hair falling down his back as he stood to Batman's left. The final face was a young Robin, who stood staring at the children so close to his age.

Batman spoke first, his voice deep and ominous. "What do you want Sunni?"

Calmly, the fourteen year old turned to look at the Dark Knight and his comrades. "I want your help."

Robin snorted. "Why would we help you? You nearly killed Batman a just the other night!"

Fury flashed across Sunni's face now, but she kept her tone level. "If you don't, Joker's going to murder Poison Ivy and Riddler in cold blood. I can't let that happen."

Through the mask, Nightwing's expression was one of confusion. "Why do you want to help them?"

"Because they kept us fed and happy and loved for over two weeks now. Our lives were a living hell with Dad, and none of us want to be alone."

Silence permeated the air, the tension around the vigilante's palpable. Now Jasper walked up to them, tapping on Batman's leg. Tears filled his little eyes as he whispered, "Please help Mommy Batman. I miss her."

Just then, Eli burst onto the roof, an entire pack of wolves on his supersonic heels. "What'd I miss?"

Nightwing pulled Batman aside, discussing something with him in hushed tones. Soon they turned back to the others, Robin actually speaking with Sunni on a friendly basis. Powerful and cool, Dick Grayson, a.k.a Nightwing, said, "Alright. We'll help you."