Chapter 2

Dick was almost certain that the patrol that night was going to be canceled. Even if Myra didn't turn out to be staying the night, Bruce would probably go all parental and ground him. But, to his surprise, Bruce showed up in his bedroom an hour and a half later.

"It's time," was all he said, his voice already taking on the monotones of the bat, and Dick was quick to follow. It was a relief to don the suit once more. At last he could escape the nauseating stench of the manor for the crisp night air. They moved in silence through the shadows, watchful for signs of unlawful activities. For a long time they found nothing, not such much as a single mugger, and it seemed it would be a quiet night. That was, until they came to a not so abandoned warehouse.

They almost passed it by; whoever was inside had gotten wise to the patrol of the bat and no light escaped the building to give them away. Nor were there any stirrings in the dust or unexpected footprints to indicate recent activity. This was, in fact, their undoing. The place was too clean for an abandoned warehouse, too clean for even a lawfully in use warehouse. Someone was obviously trying to sweep away the evidence of their passing. Silently, the duo scouted out the building for a way in. The roof was out; anyone who knew them at all knew they were famous for rooftop entries. Batman led the way towards the sewer.

"Terrific," Robin mumbled, "The criminals go clean and we go dirty." Batman didn't bother to reply as he disappeared down into the darkness. Holding his breath, Robin followed. With only minimum trouble they found their way into a cellar. They came out of it into a jungle.

"Three guesses who's behind this," Robin mumbled as Batman wrung out his cape. At least no one would smell them out over the fertilizer. Then they split up, slipping silently passed three muscled brutes in search of the mastermind. Batman found her first, sitting upon a throne of ivy. Robin soon found her as well, looking down from a catwalk above. Unfortunately, their spying was cut short when a fine mist of spray suddenly started up, drenching the plants and super heroes alike. It was most definitely not water.

Robin staggered on the vine covered catwalk. He stared at Poison Ivy, bathing in the mist like some ancient goddess of seduction. Robin felt his skin flushing red as he watched, her long limbs and flowing hair stirring something inside him. This was not the first time he was made to feel desire in her presence, but this time there was absolutely nothing of pleasure in it. The first stirrings of lust brought with them instead an almost helpless fear, his stomach clenching in disgust. Almost, he thought he could smell the horrid violet perfume. And yet, despite the floral display around them, there was nothing of violets. Robin felt like he was about to be sick and his head began to ache as his desire warred with his disgust.

Beneath him, Batman reacted without any such dichotomy, his eyes darkening black. He stepped from his hiding place immediately, gliding towards the vision of beauty and sex. Poison Ivy saw him and laughed. Dick saw and groaned.

"Batman!" she cried gleefully, "I see you've found out about my new phero-fertilizer! What do you think?"

"An invention of brilliance, as always," Batman practically purred, "A new trick to enslave men, I take it? But why waste it upon the plants?"

"Perfume," she answered delightedly, "New fragrances to enchant the senses." Robin tried to decide if Batman had just ingeniously discovered her plot or if he was truly ensnared. He suspected a bit of both. If he weren't so busy trying not to throw up, he thought he might have swung down himself into her enchanting arms.

"But what of the boy wonder?" Poison Ivy asked, her arms wrapping seductively around her captive, "Surely you didn't leave him behind this night?"

"Let's leave this between adults," Batman answered, "He's too young to play." From his hiding place Robin was hopeful. Batman wasn't so far gone that he was ready to give his partner away. Either that or he truly didn't want Robin to show up and ruin their grown up fun.

"Not so very young," Poison Ivy answered, and she turned her head about with narrowed eyes. She didn't think the mist could have missed him when it caught her the bat. Robin lay flat and watched. Unfortunately, there was nothing of red or yellow around him, and her sharp eyes caught sight of his costume through the greenery. She turned her gaze away quickly, pretending to have missed it.

"Never mind," she said at last, "A bat in the hand's worth far more than a bird in the bush." And she drew Batman along with her through a small door to the right of the throne. Robin watched, waited a minute, and then got ready to follow. Which was right when the brute muscles appeared, one at either end of the catwalk and one on the ground below.

"It seems Ivy was right," one said, grinning cruelly, "Little birds who play on catwalks are likely to get caught."

"You think that line up all by yourself?" Robin demanded, grinning back though inwardly he groaned at the guy's words. The cat reference made him uneasy; it would be just what they needed for Catwoman to suddenly show up as well. The goon growled at him and swung his fist. Robin ducked and the struggle began.

Despite their hulking size, the fight was fairly even. The catwalk was too narrow for them to use their greater numbers or size to their advantage; Robin's smaller size actually helped him there. But the two on the catwalk were able to distract him long enough that he didn't see the gun the third one had pulled. He had only managed to knock one goon out when a dart hit him and the world faded to black. It was only luck that had him landing in the second goon's arms and not headfirst over the railing. Ignoring their fallen companion, the two remaining brutes went to find Ivy with their prize.

Meanwhile, Batman was already bound in tough vines; Poison Ivy was taking no chances despite his apparent compliance. If he was faking, he was doing a very good job of it. He didn't even complain that she had tied him up, except to sigh in her direction. The first time he showed any negative reaction was when Robin was born in unconscious. But when he saw he was only sleeping, and Poison Ivy assured him he would wake soon, he seemed to forget all about his partner in favor of gazing longingly towards the woman.

Poison Ivy, meanwhile, ignored the bat and studied the boy. She simply couldn't understand how he could have resisted her mist; teenage boys aught to be affected harder not less. And she knew he was attracted to woman; he had certainly reacted to her before. She watched him impatiently for the drugs to wear off and for Robin to awaken. She didn't have to wait long.