Chapter 8: Spying On The Bat:
For the past half an hour, Ivy had spent some time trying to figure out what to say to Batman about what she had previously heard from The Police regarding her.
She still could not get It out of her mind. There were actually some Gotham Citizens that wanted her to get on a better path.
After a little more time goes by, she decided to track down Batman and see what he was up to. "Alright Dark Knight, let's see what you're doing this time."
Ivy's plants found Batman at another part of the city, but this time he was talking to one of his most trusted pupils, if not his most trusted pupil, Nightwing.
The two were having a discussion regarding Harley Quinn's assault on the Bludhaven Police Department while waiting for Penguin's Pick-Up Truck goons to show up with information.
"You underestimated Harley, it's why she defeated you." Batman says, in his usual demeanor.
"I mean come on Bats, it's Harley, this is the same woman who knocked herself out with a washing machine in Arkham at one point." Nightwing replies. "No normal person in the level of us would ever think Harley Quinn of all people would be capable of breaking in a police station and causing complete mayhem."
Batman goes on to give a very detailed response regarding Ivy's clown themed friend. "While Joker's gang is compromised of lunatics and psychopaths, Harley Is different and stands out well from all of them. When she was still a psychiatrist AKA Dr Quinzel, she wanted to crack the toughest case in Arkham, that being The Joker. Unlike the other scum in Joker's crew, Harley is a master psychologist with an outstanding degree in psychology and other studies, analyzing people is apart of her job and of course would be natural to her. So it's natural she wouldn't be devoid of thought. So because of you Dick thinking that she wasn't very bright and no different than The Joker's gang, it's why she was able to get one over on you and escape with Ivy."
Nightwing just groans at the long speech Batman had given him. "Geez, way to make me feel like a kid who failed a history test Bats."
"It's so bad." Batman says. "Just pointing out...your flaws."
Nightwing then catches on to Ivy being in the conversation and remembered that he wanted to talk to Batman about that. "Speaking of Ivy, word around town is that she's apparently helping you out with Crane and his BFFs. You do know that she's been trying to kill you and or get you to her side for years right? She'll just try and rid herself of you once this is all over."
Batman goes on to explain why this alliance with Ivy is different from the other criminal scum on Gotham City. "Unlike many of my other enemies, Ivy isn't in it for wealth, prosperity or power, she could have any of that with the snap of her fingers if we're thinking of her extraordinary abilities. She only wants to preserve and maintain the environment around Gotham City as well as the entire world. Had Ivy not gone down the path of killing countless others via her spores and toxins I would not need to get involved. Every time I had fought and captured Ivy I had never truly gotten an evil and psychopathic feeling from her like I would with someone like Victor Zasz or The Joker. Half the time I wish I didn't have to put her In Arkham. Even one of my nightly patrols, I've overheard children that felt I was wrong for locking her up in Arkham."
Nightwing was still skeptical of Ivy's alliance with his mentor, so he went on. "And besides, Ivy's one of the more smarter of my enemies, instead of trying to kill me and rid themselves of me, she's tried to use her pheromones to persuade me to her side, of course that never works. This proves that she wanted me apart of a team Nightwing, just on her own terms."
"I don't know Bats, you have me scared, Ivy's pheromones might be taking over you." Nightwing jokes, remaining very skeptical and untrusting of Ivy. "I mean yeah, the girl's smart don't get me wrong, but she could still kill anyone with a poisonous kiss or one of her other deadly abilities."
Batman, being the detective that he was, had a counter to that as well. "Back at The Asylum during The Joker's takeover of the island, she was never much of a threat, she only wanted to be in the gardens and watch over her plants. She was only turned into a threat when that psychopathic clown overdosed her with the Titan Formula. To add on to this, during Arkham City, she never willingly picked a fight with myself or the other inmates as remained mostly MIA the entire time in her hideout during her time as an illegal prisoner, maybe she's finally realizing that I'm not her enemy and never was her enemy."
"Damn it." Nightwing said. "No wonder they call you the world's greatest detective, you detect and counter everything."
Batman said nothing after this as the duo went back to focusing on their current mission at hand.
Ivy was listening in on this conversation with great levels of interest, both Nightwing and especially Batman had brought up good points regarding herself and Harley Quinn. "Batman has some solid points about me and Harley, I'll admit that."
In fact, this brought Ivy back to the past and a specific event that took place.
Flashback, Seagate Amusement Park Aftermath:
Ivy sat by herself in an abandoned building in Gotham City. Harley Quinn had just arrived moments ago at the abandoned structure to talk to her friend about some 'girl matters' as Harley put it.
Haley's friendship she shared with Ivy was the main relationship in her life besides being with The Joker, to which Ivy could not stand.
She absolutely despised their relationship and was absolutely disgusted by the way the psychopathic clown treated her.
"Harley." Ivy started off, dryly. "That madman was willing to hold you hostage and shoot you just to escape the GCPD, Robin and Batgirl."
Harley, obviously in denial has a response in turn for her friend. "Red, you're just breaking mama's heart, you're too shortsighted. While the pigs did throw the book at little old me, at least my hero and Prince Charming, Mister J, escaped safely." Harley said that last line almost in a dreamy manner, which greatly disturbed Ivy.
"You see Harley?" Ivy goes on. "This is exactly why me and Selina agreed with each other that the Gotham City Sirens is doomed from the beginning, you can't stop following that psychopathic clown around like a lost puppy, the whole point of our trio was to show that we did not need a man to save us or help us with anything."
This however did not phase the Jester themed criminal, she just assumed that Ivy was jealous of her and The Joker. "Red you're just jealous me and my dear Joker are happily together."
"I sure am." Ivy replies, with obvious sarcasm.
Harley makes a statement. "You don't fool me Pammy, I know about all the times you tried to turn on B-Man with your pheromones and get him attracted or whatever, instead you just end up in Arkham with all the other wackos. Mister J busts me out whenever he needs me? What has B-Man done for you? Nada!"
Ivy's patience with Harley was getting to very low levels and her irritation was growing. "Harley, do you not understand, that clown only freed you because you are a very valuable asset to him and his gang? He sees you as a pawn that's very expendable."
Harley fired back at this with her own take on things, not being swayed in the slightest. "But me and Mister J accomplished so many things together Red, B-Man doesn't do anything but crap all over your plans."
"This is why I'm trying to perfect my pheromones." Ivy adds. "Once I find the right formula, Batman is as good as mines, I'd be able to accomplish anything a girl could dream of. That's why Batman would make a good personal general for me."
Harley was not convinced by this though, she had no idea why her friend was so fond of the idea of Batman on her side, or was even smitten with him at all. So she decided to strike a deal with Ivy. "Okay, fine Pammy, because you're my BPFF, Best Plant-Female Friend, I'll give ya the benefit of the doubt, If B-Man ruins the plans of me and Mister J or anything I do on the side, I'll pump him full of lead, no questions asked, deal?"
Ivy already knew this wouldn't last long as Harley was extremely devoted to the Clown Prince Of Crime, but went along with it anyways. "Okay, it's a deal."
End Of Flashback:
After thinking to that particular moment in the past with Harley and listening in on Batman's conversations, Ivy now had a strong idea of what to say to Batman
After giving it some final thought, she now decided It was time to contact The Dark Knight...