Chapter 24: Crane & Todd

In the Kingston depot lied what was left of the Batman. Crane had actually did it...he was actually going to put an end to the legacy of the Batman and an end to Gotham City once and for all.

The legacy was left behind. What Crane had taken to the Asylum was a weak, mortal and soon to be dying man. What was left behind were the remains of a soon to be buried legacy.

And Batman's utility belt...

"Don't touch it man, legend has it that the Bat incorporated some sick fucking security measures into this thing. I heard the last guy that tried to mess with this thing a while back got fifty to sixty thousand volts of electricity running through his veins."

"Big deal, those guys were dumbasses, unlike them, I actually finished school and know my shit when it comes to that. Boom." The thug pulled out two rubber gloves. "Electricity can't do anything to rubber, now are you gonna shut up and let me get this thing so we can get rich or are you gonna keep whining like a little baby?"

"Pfft, whatever man, just hurry up, I don't want to be here longer than we have to. Especially with the pigs slowly taking back control of Gotham."

These two thugs figured that with Batman preoccupied with whatever Batman activities he was involved in, they could get ahold of his utility belt that they accidentally stumbled upon looking while looking for a new hideout. They both decided that they would try and pawn the thing off and get a massive load of money from it.

But unfortunately, they both had another thing coming. The vengeful man in a Redtactical mask kick the door down, and ran towards the two greedy thugs. They both look at him with a mixture of shock and a bit of fear.

"That doesn't belong to you." He said, with full venom and hatred in his deep voice.

"Oh yeah? Well do something about it you bas-"

Bang!

Bang!

The two common criminals didn't even have time to properly defend themselves as Jason Todd gunned the both of them down in cold blood, not caring as they were grasping their last breath. These animals made so many innocent people suffer from their actions in Gotham. This was just them receiving a taste of their own medicine.

"You bastards won't disgrace this already disgusting cesspool of a city anymore."

Jason eyed the room with curiosity. What the hell was he doing? Most people after being defeated by Batman would likely be planning their next interaction with him, shouldn't he be doing the same?

No, instead here he was, stalking after his former mentor for no apparent reason other than curiosity. Jason kept mentally torturing himself. All the months of planning, years of pent up anger and frustration, all his time spent training, all the money he had spent making and building his army...

All of it; wasted, gone, washed down the goddamn drain. All of it amounted to absolutely nothing.

Jason spent the rest of his time following his last encounter with his former mentor trying to figure out what to do with himself. He had no army, no allies he could currently count on; nothing. So Jason decided the first thing he should do was to retrace his old roots of cleaning up the streets of Gotham, with the only exception being that he wasn't Robin anymore. From what Jason had heard about the Bat Family these days, it seemed like the new Robin was genuinely a good kid.

After all, it wasn't the new kid's fault that Jason had gone through everything he had gone through over the last couple of years. As far as Jason was concerned, The title of Robin belonged to the new kid.

He was his own man now; his new moniker was now. The Red Hood.

And all the criminal scum of Gotham City had to look out or before they'd know it, they would be taking their last breath. Jason decided to repent for his sins against the city he has once sworn allegiance to protect, he'd start getting rid of Gotham's scum.

Black Mask, Penguin, The Falcones, The Maronis, he'd deal with all of them sooner rather than later. He'd make sure all them burn along with their criminal empires, he'd avenge all the innocents that have been killed or had to suffer because of their egotistical, corrupt and arrogant tendencies.

But before he could start his campaign against crime, something was mentally bothering him. It was giving him a headache. And Jason for one, did not like headaches or annoyances. Jason put his dual pistols away to try and relax his nerves. What the hell is the feeling? Why is this feeling bothering me so damn much? Jason looked around the abandoned Kingston Depot hoping an answer.

Ignoring the two dead bodies of deceased thugs in the middle of the room, Jason began pacing around back and forth trying to find out just what it was that was bothering him. Soon Jason found exactly what he was looking for;

Batman's Utility Belt...

Jason's eyes locked onto his former mentor's equipment belt. That's it, this is what was mentally driving him insane. He could've just hid the bodies and went on about his Red Hood campaign, but sadly his guilty conscience was winning over the masses. Why should he do this? I mean it's not like he won't just come looking for his belt after he'd finish off Crane. He's Batman right? The Dark fucking Knight.

And with that, Jason sighed heavily, grabbed the Utility Belt and began to make his way towards a familiar place; one that didn't exactly hold the fondest memories for him. "He'd better not be dead when I get there."

After maybe half an hour or more, Jason eventually arrived at Arkham Asylum, much to his dismay, the place was still the same disgusting, unkept garbage dump for Gotham's scum that it's always been for years, with the only exception being that it was closed down and the scum were legally allowed to be freed due to Hugo Strange trying to kill them all.

None of this shit made any sense to Jason. For now, he put it outside of his mind. Jason took one more look at his mentor's former utility belt. He grunted which was followed by a deep breath before trekking along the lines of the Asylum.


Ivy saw Batman glance at her briefly, knowing he had noticed her. After seeing him give her a slight nod.

Ivy knew the time had come for her to confront Scarecrow...

"Here goes nothing...it's do or die." Ivy entered the Arkham Mansion. She eventually saw them. Crane with a captive Batman on television with the entire viewing world watching. "Scarecrow, I'm here to stop you. Before I bring you down, let Batman go...now."

Crane was unfazed. "Doctor Isley...you still live, that's quite the shock..."

"Sorry to rain on your parade, Scarecrow." Ivy had full on venom, sarcasm and hatred in her voice. Outside of harming Batman, whom Ivy had grown to love and appreciate as a person, This man had tried to kill her. Destroy her, make her suffer all because of his petty desires for power and revenge.

"What do you think you'll gain from all of this, Doctor Isley?" Crane spoke his normal gravely tone. It made Ivy's skin crawl. "A chance to rejoin society? A chance to retrace your former human life? A chance at survival...or a chance at redemption?...a rebirth? It's all meaningless...Batman will just have you thrown back in jail after, or should I say if you manage to save him. After his own fears are gone, he'll just brush you off to the side and let you rot away in a prison cell...no one will remember anything you sacrificed...Batman will move on with his life, as will the people of Gotham...all they will remember is the fear caused by Poison Ivy and Poison Ivy alone...Pamela Lillian Isley is dead and gone for good..."

Ivy gritted her teeth. She wanted to strangle Crane for everything harmful he has ever said or done to her. But was he right? Was Scarecrow right about what he had said about her? He couldn't be, after all of the trust they had built up together, Batman wouldn't just toss her away like a pile of garbage.

Ivy was stunned and standing completely still. Batman and even Gordon could tell she was beginning to look back towards a distant memory...

Flashback, 4 Months before Arkham Asylum Incident:

Batman was walking Ivy through one of the Asylum's wings after just apprehending her, with some assistance from the Flash, Superman and Wonder Woman. They had prevented her from nearly turning Gotham, Metropolis and Central City into her own personal plant like jungles. After dealing with his fellow League members cities, he opted to handle Ivy and Gotham by himself.

Mid route towards her cell, Batman stopped. "Guards, leave us alone for a few minutes."

Without any hesitation or concern, the guards nodded and complied with Batman's request. The hero eventually led Ivy into an abandoned office.

"You're trying to find out why I did it?" Ivy sarcastically asked.

"No." Batman bluntly replied. After which he locked the door behind them. To Ivy's surprise and confusion, Batman uncuffed her. "What are you doing, Pamela?"

"Looking for a hot date to settle down." Ivy was clearly joking and not taking the matter seriously. She instead began looking at her nails, before fumbling around with her hair.

"I'm in no mood for games Ivy."

"When are you ever?"

Batman ignored her. "You don't belong here in Arkham, this is just the only place in Gotham that can house powerful or gifted people like yourself."

"Oh please." Ivy was clearly unimpressed. "There's no place in your precious society for me or the rest of Gotham's...special people."

"You could be apart of it if you actually tried to instead of trying rule over humanity. The Justice League wouldn't loathe you, and the people of Gotham as would the rest of the world wouldn't loath you. Your actions will always speak louder than your words if you allow them to do so. Think of it, if you were to end your career as a criminal, it would possibly inspire Harley to call it quits on crime...maybe even leave The Joker's side for good."

This actually caused Ivy to show a small fraction of curiosity and interest. Why was Batman going through so much trouble just to make a statement to her? What was his goal and endgame in all of this? Did he expect something in return from her? Was he trying to mentally manipulate her or was the Dark Knight being genuine with his words? Ivy just didn't know what to make of it.

And Batman could easily tell that his words were making her think. "Come with me." Batman escorted Ivy out of the room and further down the lines of the Asylum. A few short minutes later they've arrived at Killer Croc's cell.

"Batman! And Poison Ivy!" The Croc Beast spat out. "I asked the guards to give me more food." Croc stared at Batman, and then Ivy. "I don't like Salad." Killer Croc began to laugh.

Ivy scoffed at how foolish Croc sounded to her. "I'd rather be eaten by Orca, or even King Shark, at least they have the decency to keep themselves clean." Croc roared at Ivy in retaliation. Ivy was not fazed or frightened by the beast and merely stared at him, and rolled her eyes.

"Enough!" Yelled Batman, silencing the two.

"Why am I here?" Ivy was beginning to grow bored. "We all know there's a nice warm pad cushioned cell waiting for me so let's get this over with."

Batman began to explain to Ivy what he meant about all of this. "What I'm trying to tell you Pamela is that being different doesn't make you a monster. Croc's infamous condition started when he was only a child. No one refused to see him as a human being."

"Which further proves my point that we don't belong in your ideal society."

Batman continued. "He was abused by his own father as a child, a man that was supposed to nurture him, raise him, and protect him until he had the right skills move forward with his life and carve a new legacy. Instead, he was ridiculed by everyone. Waylon's entire life has been about him stroking back against the pain and causing it to the very people who shunned him. To them, he looked like a monster...so they treated him like a monster...and he eventually became a monster."

Croc snarled. "The Bat's got a point. Ya think I didn't try and fit in with their society?! Play by their rules...be...normal...they all shunned me because I look like a freak! I didn't fit their standards! They ridiculed me and treated me like a monster, so I embraced it!"

Ivy chose to ignore Croc. "Is your point to show me that I'm not as bad or crazy as the others?"

Batman walked her away from Croc's cell, eventually coming towards Mr Freeze's cell. "About what you said at Croc's cell, I think it's a simple matter. Like Victor, you simply just lost something that connected you to others. After all, this is exactly why Freeze doesn't connect to anyone else, but his beloved wife Nora." After that, Batman began escorting Ivy in another direction.

"Where are we going now?"

"You'll see."

After maybe another ten minutes or so, Batman had taken Ivy up to the roof.

Ivy was looking around at the entire landscape of Arkham Island. "It's nice up here...quiet and peaceful...is it possible that my cell is moved up here, and away from those animals...I for one am sick and tired of the Joker slipping in his pathetic threatening notes into my cell."

"Actually I'm thinking along these lines." When Batman said this, Ivy was surprised and a bit curious.

"Why would you go out of your way to make sure I'm comfortable?" She eyed Batman trying to figure out his own motives. "What are you playing at?"

Batman explained, "It's simple really, you being around the other inmates influences you even more negatively than either I, or you would want to be."

Ivy had one more important question, and she definitely needed an answer regarding this one particular. "And what will be of Harley? And don't give me the awful cliche heroic talk, I want a true answer."

"Harley's case is more complicated and more of an open debate. However, since you and Harley being friends is one of the Joker's most hated things, that proves that while The Joker continuously tells her to stop seeing you, she continues to do so which proves that there's still a part that's beyond his influence."

Ivy was satisfied enough with the answer but still wanted to know what Batman was playing at. "And why are you making yourself look so gullible by taking so much of a chance in making sure I'm comfortable?"

"We're on a rooftop with no guards, the walls are covered with plenty of vines to use at your disposal," Batman further explained, "And you did not use the vines to attack me during a civil conversation, which further proves that you're different from the others. You're not an irredeemable psychopath like the Joker, or a mindless killer like he and Zasz, you're different from the rest of them, Pamela. You can be a force for good if you actually believed in yourself and put your mind to it. I'll keep looking into an alternative way to keep you out of Arkham and away from the rest of them. And if she makes some progress, maybe just maybe, I'll try and do the same thing for Harley."

Without another word he leapt off the rooftop and glided away, as Arkham security guards came to the rooftop to escort Ivy to her cell.

Ivy watched as Gotham's guardian glided off and disappeared into the darkness of the night. Ivy still didn't know what to believe. Was Batman either being purposely vulnerable, or was her pheromones finally coming to an effect on Batman? Ivy assumed it was the latter option.

Ivy saw this as a sign that her seduction methods were working, though she still had a long ways to go. As she was being escorted to her cell, she became more determined than ever to seduce Batman to her side.

Flashback Ends:

Ivy after remembering an older conversation with Batman, finally replied to Scarecrow. "Well you see Scarecrow, unlike you, Batman doesn't view me as a lost cause no different than you or the rest of Gotham's filth. I'm saddened to say that it wasn't until tonight, after all these years, that I finally understood that."

"Lies." Crane was in disbelief, with a tint of anger and disgust. "It's just wishful thinking, a mere coping mechanism to avoid the fear and the pain of the fact that once we're done here, there will be no more hope for you."

"Ugh, do you ever stop talking?" Ivy quipped.

"Very well, prepare yourself Doctor Isley, this time, there will be no coming back for you...you'll join Batman and the rest of his companions in the same fate." Crane readied his fear toxin Gauntlet, to use it as a weapon against Ivy.

Ivy made note of this as well as the fact that Crane had somewhat of a decent arsenal of weapons to use against her. She could see that Crane had at least three different types of knives and blades attached to his attire as well as the pistol he had shot the injured Robin with earlier.

Crane had gotten some of her arm vines to emerged and with that, the fighting began between the two.


"What the hell? What's going on in there?"

Seeing Ivy fighting Scarecrow confused Jason. Even if Batman nursed Ivy back to health after she survived the fear toxin from the Cloudburst, why is she still on his side? After all, almost all the plants in the city are dead, and Ivy has virtually no connection to people, save maybe Harley Quinn. Even if she's fighting Crane because of all the plants he killed, why is Ivy trying to stop him from unmasking Bruce?

It just didn't make sense to him. Jason could only watch with complete confusion on his face.

But then again, in the months when he was in Joker's captivity, Jason knew that Joker did somewhat hold back when it came to knowing Batman's identity. After all, no more mask would mean no more Batman, something Joker didn't want. Could Ivy have the same mentality? He wondered.

Jason knew from his time as Robin that Ivy didn't really care who Batman was under the mask. But he also knew that Ivy had tried in the past to seduce Bruce to her side. If she succeeded and saw who he was, it'd be easy to see that Ivy would use Bruce's company, funds, equipment and resources for her own agenda. Jason took a look at Batman's utility belt in his hands one more time. Jason then took a look at his former mentor and the dueling Poison Ivy and Scarecrow as well as Commissioner Gordon and the injured new kid that was Robin. The only factor in all of this that wasn't making sense to him was Ivy; he just couldn't make out her true colors and intentions.

Whatever her reasons were, Jason saw that Ivy's actions were clearly against Crane. Unsure of what to do, he decided to leave the two of them to their feud. Firing his grappling hook, he headed for the mansion, deciding to deal with the last of Crane's militia instead.


A/N's: The ending of the game's canon story is near, what shall happen? Will Ivy save Batman? Will Ivy bring down Crane? Will Jason figure it all out? That's for me to know, and you all to wait and see!

Have fun, stay safe and be good people :)