Harley was never one who handled boredom well…and it would have been hard to find a more boring situation than the one she was in now.
The old freighter they had commandeered may have made a good hiding place as it made its way slowly across the Pacific, but it was hardly a pleasure cruise. There was nothing to keep Harley entertained. The few crew members that they'd taken with them were little more than emotionless zombies, thanks to the mind-controlling toxins that Ivy had infected them with. And Ivy herself was almost always in the make-shift lab she'd cobbled together in the cargo hold...constantly working on 'something REALLY important'.
Harley knew that whatever her partner was working on was vital for their future. She had complete faith in Ivy's plan...whatever it was. But that didn't stop the blonde from wishing Ivy would take a break once in a while to spend a little quality time with her. They'd been stuck on this damn boat for weeks already, and Harley still didn't know where they were going...or how long it would be until they got there.
So on the day when Harley caught sight of an island on the horizon and then realized that the freighter was heading directly toward it...she was both excited and relieved.
******'******
Ivy joined Harley on deck as the freighter dropped anchor close to shore. There was no sign of buildings or any indications of human habitation at all. Instead the island seemed dominated by a thick jungle. The sight of it brought a smile to Ivy's lips.
"Wonderful," she said. "They've established themselves beautifully."
"What are you talking about?" Harley asked.
"I seeded this island over a decade ago," the red-haired beauty explained. "Most of the plants are special hybrids. Flesh eaters, but able to survive using only the nutrients in the soil. It's an ecosystem that can exist without any animal life whatsoever...but still able to defend itself from any intruders." She sighed happily. "Paradise."
Ivy fetched a backpack from her lab and asked Harley to carry it as they went ashore. Once they were on dry land, the female clown made sure to stick close to Ivy...as it soon became apparent that the redhead's power of plant control was the only thing stopping every bit of green on the island from attacking them all at once.
"I first learned of this place when I was doing a research project back in college," Ivy commented. "It's just outside of Japan's territorial waters and has no claims on it from any country. No mineral wealth. Nothing worth mining. Nothing to attract anyone to it. So I always knew it would be prefect."
"Well, it is pretty," Harley commented. And while she was being truthful, the beauty of the jungle didn't erase the feeling of unease that the blonde felt. The jungle was silent. Oppressively silent. Not a single bird call to be heard. Nothing scurrying around the underbrush. Not even the sounds of insects. Literally the only living things on the island were plants...and Harley and Ivy themselves.
Of course, the fact that the jungle was so eerie and deadly may have made Harley uneasy...but it also made her enjoy it all the more. She appreciated danger after all. And she was glad to see that Ivy was so happy to be surrounded by all her killer plants.
She just wasn't sure how this odd hidden jungle figured into Ivy's big plan to keep the heroes off their trial and let their lives get back to normal.
The two women hiked for nearly an hour before coming to an idyllic looking clearing. Ivy told Harley it was a good time to rest, and the blonde didn't argue.
Laying back in the cool grass, with a soft breeze blowing and bringing the scent of beautiful tropical flowers to them, both Harley and Ivy felt truly relaxed...a very pleasant change from what their lives had been ever since they'd gone on the run. Harley's unease about the deadly plants was even forgotten when, to her surprise, Ivy reached over and took hold of her hand. Usually, Harley was always the one who would initiate physical contact between them...but while this was different, it wasn't unwelcome.
They didn't speak. They didn't do anything but look up at the clear blue sky and enjoy the utter peace and quiet of this deadly paradise where there were no heroes to hunt them.
It was nice. It was more than nice.
It was so nice that if Harley had known her simple question would have ended the blissful interlude, she would never have spoken.
"So what's our next move, Red?"
Ivy's response was to momentarily tighten the gentle grip she'd had on her partner's hand before slowly...reluctantly...pulling away. She sat up and opened the pack that Harley had been lugging with them.
"I've been working on these serums for our entire journey here," the redhead said in a controlled, somewhat cold tone. "I had to be certain they were perfect."
She handed a vial of a blue liquid to Harley.
"Now, this should be tasteless," Ivy went on. "But once you drink it you'll feel very uncomfortable for a bit. Possibly as long as 15 minutes." An apologetic look flashed in her eyes. "It will pass though and then you'll be fine."
Harley shrugged. "Like I can't take a little pain. But how will drinking this solve our problems?"
Ivy looked her directly in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Harley's response was as quick as it was certain. "Bottoms up," she said cheerfully and then chugged the blue liquid down in an instant.
The spasms began less than a minute later. It wasn't an unbearable pain...but the intensity of it was still considerable. Still, Harley was no delicate flower. And the way Ivy grabbed her in a tight embrace and kept whispering to her, in an uncharacteristically emotional tone, certainly helped.
"It's going to be okay," the redhead said. "It's going to be okay."
She kept repeating those words even after the spasms stopped and Harley gently hugged her back.
"Geez Red," she laughed. "That drink had some kick. Next time I'll just take some Cream Soda."
Ivy ran her fingers through Harley's hair once and then pulled away from her. She took a small device from out of the pack and scanned the blonde with it.
"Hmmm...perfect," she said as she looked over the readings on the scanner.
"Oh, I wouldn't say I'm 'perfect'," Harley cracked. "But I do have my moments." She paused. "Seriously, what did your little potion do to me anyway?"
"A total DNA alteration," Ivy answered in a clinical tone. "I basically gave you plastic surgery on a molecular level."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because now there is no technology known to man that can identify you as...you. Skin samples, hair samples, blood tests...none of it will match up with Harleen Frances Quinzel. Even your fingerprints have been altered."
"Neato!" Harley replied. "That should come in handy."
Ivy nodded. "You'll still have to keep the Neuro-flash devices and the mystic wards to stay hidden from telepathy and magic. You can always opt for conventional plastic surgery to change your face...though I don't think that will be necessary where you're going. Just a change of hairstyle and color should be enough."
"Wait...what?"
Ivy pulled out some papers from the pack. "Costa Morena. A small sovereign city-state on the western side of South America. Most people don't know it exists. Official languages are German and English."
Harley barely glanced at the papers that Ivy handed her.
"It's comparable to a modern American city. Very high standard of living. You'll be-"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Harley screamed.
Ivy swallowed once and struggled to keep her tone neutral. "I've set you up with a new identity."
"Yes...you've set ME up," Harley said pointedly. "What about you?"
Ivy remained silent for an uncomfortably long time. She finally looked away from her partner and cast her gaze towards the ground. "I'll be staying here."
"What?"
"They're going to keep hunting us," Ivy said. "They won't rest. Together we're too conspicuous. We have to split up."
"No!"
"This will work," Ivy said firmly. "You've never been to Costa Morena...there's no evidence to link you to the location. And who would expect the infamous Harley Quinn to be living a quiet life of luxury there? Alone...you can vanish there." She paused. "It just wouldn't work if we stayed together."
"WE ONLY WORK TOGETHER!" Harley cried out angrily.
"Don't make this harder." There was a noticable catch in Ivy's voice.
"How could you stay here anyway?" Harley demanded. "How will you live?"
"How I've always dreamed of," the redhead answered. Reaching into the pack she pulled out another vial. This one contained a bright green liquid.
"My body was altered years ago when I got my powers...and my connection to the plant world," she explained. "Over the years I've found ways to increase my powers...and my connection. But now, this serum will take me all the way."
"All the way?"
"I will become a plant...here surrounded by nothing but other plants."
Harley made no reply. She knew that most 'normal' people would have regarded Ivy's words as pure insanity, with good reason, but that was besides the point. Harley knew she was serious.
"They'll never find me," the redhead went on. "Here on an unknown island, I'll be free. Free from the sickness of humanity and the animal world, my consciousness one with the plant kingdom...immortal."
Harley just stared at her.
"I...will miss you though," Ivy said quietly. "But you'll be fine. And you'll be free too."
"I'm not going to change your mind, am I?" the blonde asked.
Ivy shook her head. "The mind control on the freighter crew will last long enough to get you to South America. When it wears off they'll have no memory of anything, so they won't be a problem. You'll find you have plenty of cash in your new bank account. It's all detailed in the papers."
Harley's face wore a surprisingly blank expression. "I'd best get back to the boat then," she finally said. Then she turned without another word and began marching towards the beach.
"Wait," Ivy called after her, but the blonde did not respond. Ivy was hurt that her partner had nothing else to say in farewell...but realized that this situation was as rough on Harley as it was on her.
But that didn't change the fact that Harley was not safe in trying to walk away by herself. Ivy followed at a distance and used her powers to stop any of the island's plants from attacking the blonde.
When Harley had reached the safety of the beach, Ivy almost called out to her once more...but managed to remain silent. Harley had never once turned back...perhaps it was best this way.
Ivy started back into the jungle, heading towards the clearing where she'd left the backpack and the serum that would transform her...but she wasn't even halfway back before she heard the explosion.
Running back to the beach, the redhead saw the burning hulk of the freighter sinking into the ocean. She also saw Harley emerging from the surf and stepping onto the beach. She'd obviously swam away from the doomed ship...and judging from the complete lack of surprise on her face, she was most likely responsible for the explosion.
"What? What have you done?" Ivy asked once she'd run up to her now soggy partner.
"Blew up the boiler," Harley answered matter-of-factly. "It's not like it was hard. I killed the crewmen first...but that wasn't as fun as I'd hoped. With them mind-controlled, they weren't much of a challenge."
Ivy was besides herself. Now there was no way to get Harley off the island.
"Why would you do this?" she demanded. "You can't survive here!"
The blonde rolled her eyes. "Like I have anything left to live for."
Ivy all but exploded in rage. "But I'd fixed it all for you! You would have been safe!"
Harley gave her a dirty look. "Safe? Living a life of luxury in a hidden city? Keeping a low profile and eventually dying of old age?" She let out a bitter laugh. "DO YOU KNOW ME AT ALL?"
"But-"
"I get that your heart was in the right place," Harley continued. "It would be sweet if it weren't so damn stupid. Because I am NOT going to die peacefully in my sleep! I'm meant to go out violently! Very violently...and likely very stupidly as well. Anyone with half a brain can see that! Even I know it! So how could you not know it?"
Ivy opened her mouth but no words came out at first. She did not like what she was hearing.
"Since when do you have a death wish?" she finally shot back.
"It's not a death wish. It's just reality." Harley gave her partner a sad look. "I'm not suited for a long life. Neither are you."
"Me? I'm going to be immortal!"
"By turning yourself into a plant!" Harley countered. "Damn it, Red...you're even crazier than I am!"
The blonde took a deep breath before continuing, but when she next spoke her manner was noticeably changed. Her Brooklyn accent was gone and her voice took on a more serious tone, much like she'd used back when she'd been a psychiatrist.
"Look at the facts logically," she lectured. "You and I both suffered immense emotional trauma that led to our respective lives of crime. I lost my inhibitions but along with that went my instinct for self-preservation. For crying out loud, I tried to be the Joker's girlfriend! If that's not a sign of self-destructive tendencies, what is?"
"But I'm not like that," Ivy protested.
"No, you're much worse." Harley's tone softened slightly. "You make no secret of your hatred of humanity, all the while ignoring the fact that you ARE human. It's classic self-loathing. You're a textbook case."
"How dare you? I'm nothing like that!"
"Of course you are. You're ready to turn yourself into a vegetable rather than live in the real world. You would have probably done it years ago if you hadn't met me." She sighed. "And that's the most damning evidence of all...you and I together."
Ivy's anger was overpowered by other emotions upon hearing those words. "What do you mean?"
"Who's the one person you care about, Red? The one person you don't show contempt for? Me. The one person you don't hate is a psychopathic murdering lunatic with a warped sense of reality. Yet I'm the only tie to your humanity you don't reject."
The redhead wanted to argue, but, much to her dismay, found Harley's words more than a little convincing.
"Now here's the funny part," the blonde went on. "As sick and twisted as we both are...we WORK together. My caring about you is just enough to keep my self-destructive side from getting me killed. And your feelings for me keep your humanity from slipping away."
Harley's tone changed once more, the professional psychiatrist demeanor faded and her Brooklyn accent returned. "See, that's the punchline. Without me, you're just a vegetable. And without you...I'm a corpse."
Ivy slowly became aware that there was moisture on her cheeks. She hadn't realized exactly when she'd started crying.
"But we can't...we can't stay together anymore." Her voice was thick with emotion.
"Yeah, I know," Harley replied. "They'll catch us if we stay together." She forced a smile and did a stunningly good job of sounding cheerful. "But since my days are numbered if we split up, I figured why prolong it? Besides, having your face be the last thing I see before I die...I think I'd like that."
"No...Harley...no..."
"It's not like we have a lot of options at this point, Red." The blonde went to her distraught partner and put her arms around her. "Just point out which plant here you think would do the best job...and let it eat me."
Ivy tried to argue further, but both women knew there was no way for Harley to leave the island now. Despite that, the redhead still couldn't bring herself to send her partner to any of the flesh eating plants. So Harley took the decision out of her hands.
"That one should do it," the blonde said as she walked over to a large bulbous pod that resembled the plant that had devoured Zatanna so many weeks ago. It was not exactly the same species though, as it lacked prehensile vines. Instead it was an ambush hunter...leaving it's pod open until prey stepped inside.
"Gotta say," Harley commented lightly. "Never imagined I'd end up plant food."
She stepped inside the deadly trap with no noticable hesitation. The sides of the pod shuddered momentarily...but did not close. Harley was not surprised by this.
"Let it go, Red," she said as she looked back to Ivy. "We both know I'm doomed."
Ivy continued using her plant control power to keep the pod from closing. "Harley, we can figure something out."
"You know, for a super-villain you really aren't that good a liar." She managed a laugh but then her humorous facade dropped. "Come on...I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let it happen, then you can go drink your serum and turn into a plant. You won't be sad then."
Ivy knew that was likely true. Though her consciousness would continue on in plant form, she had anticipated that the structure of her thoughts would change. Her emotions would no longer be subject to human sensibilities. She'd been looking forward to that change...viewing it as an improvement.
Except now, she realized that this improvement would strip away most, if not all, of her feelings for Harley.
Yes, it would strip away the pain of her loss...but it would take so much more with it.
For so long, Ivy had wanted to be rid of her own humanity but now she had to face the truth...Harley was her humanity.
And she could not...she would NOT...rid herself of Harley.
No matter what.
"Ivy," the blonde called out once more, a slight catch in her voice. "I'm trying to keep a brave face on things here, but this isn't exactly easy. Please...let it happen."
"N-Not yet," Ivy answered. "Not just yet."
She walked slowly but deliberately towards Harley, then joined her in the middle of the plant's pod.
"Now we can let it happen," she said as she let her control slip. The sides of the pod begin to move again.
Harley grabbed Ivy and begin to push her out of harm's way, but the redhead would have none of it.
"No, you were right, Harley. Right about everything. We only work when we're together. And I don't want to go on without you. Not as a woman...not as a plant...not at all.
Ivy clung to the blonde with all her might, and soon Harley stopped trying to force her out of the pod and simply returned the embrace.
"I love you, Red."
"I love you too."
"We had a good run."
"We had a great run...and we went out by our hands...nobody else got us."
"Damn straight!"
They were both crying by this point. Crying as the held one another and waited for the pod to close.
And waited.
And waited.
"Umm...is this getting a little awkward?" Harley finally asked.
Both of them looked at the sides of the pod. It had closed a good 3/4ths of the way around them but was now stopped. The sides continued to shake but some force seemed to be holding it back.
"I...think my subconscious is doing it," Ivy said with a hint of embarrassment. "I'm not trying to control it, but-"
"But you aren't as overtly self-destructive as I am," Harley concluded. "And here we had a great dramatic death scene about to happen."
They gallows humor helped relieve the understandable stress both were feeling, but didn't solve their problem.
"For my control to drop completely, I'd need to be unconscious, or mentally exhausted," Ivy said.
"I'm not going to knock you out. But waiting until you're exhausted is going to be..." Harley let her words trail off as an idea came to her mind.
"What are you thinking?"
Harley let out a low chuckle with a slightly wicked undertone. "This is too perfect. And exactly how two insane super-villains should go out." She paused. "Plus it will be fun."
Ivy began to question her again but was stopped when Harley begin to pull off her clothing.
"I'm going to exhaust you, Red," the blonde said in a playful but forceful tone. "I'm going to exhaust us both."
"You can't be seriou...oh!" Ivy was unable to finish her sentence once Harley began touching her in all the right places.
It was hardly the ideal place for lovemaking, but the circumstances provided a mixture of lust and fear in a way that resonated with the admittedly twisted mindsets of the two women. They knew that when they reached the crescendo of pleasure, Ivy's senses would be so overwhelmed that her control of the plant would be lost...and that would be the end of them both. Every touch, every caress, every kiss...these would be the last ones they'd ever experience.
Their survival instincts warred with their suicidal intentions...while their mutual pleasure continued to build more and more...threatening to explode.
Finally Ivy could take no more.
"HARLEY! OH GOD HARLEY! THIS IS IT!"
The screams echoed throughout the island as the pod continued to close. Ivy's body was still in the throes of orgasm, but she forced herself to speak.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Are you scared?"
"I'm terrified."
"Hold me."
And they did hold each other...for the rest of their lives.
End
******'******
Author's note: It took me a long time...but here is the conclusion, finished just in time for my friend SilverTurtle's 2013 birthday. Please review.