"A chocolate swirl cone for the little boy." Fries robotically offered another of the endless children that crowded his cart this time a year. Even when the weather got colder, the youth's love of ice cream was never ending. Which meant his business would continue to grow… a business where he got to make children happy...

Fries knew this was something Nora would've approved of, more so than of his career as a criminal. If Nora could see him now, he knew this would make her happy… yet… on a level deep down. .. Victor felt like he was letting her down. It may have been his hubris, it may have been pride and ego… but each day he couldn't even watch his wife smile was a curse.

Every day he felt like pushing it on, stealing funds for bigger and bigger experiments to expand his operations… go back to doing anything it would take to save her, no matter who said otherwise… but he refrained, because he knew… it would just repeat back to losing it all again and delaying her progress further.

Besides, this day and age no one seemed to give him the stink eye… heck, even the Wayne Foundation was offering him a job in cryogenic research… although given his LAST experience with big companies he was very hesitant to accept. It wasn't like time was a factor either way. His condition left him stagnant in the aging process, and his dear Nora hadn't aged a day since her stasis activated.

Maybe ... Maybe this was just his hell to bear. To forever live out his days with his wife, unable to touch or talk to her until the end of time… maybe the delusion of having a happy ending was all he could hope for now.

"Ooooh, ice cream!" Shouted the energetic voice of Harleen Quinzel. "Come on you two, let's have some treats!"

"Ooooh, Frosty Freeze frozen flavors, it's been forever since I've been here!" And what sounded like the daughter of the Commissioner cheered in the air. "I love sweet justice, but there's no beating the tastes of nostalgia being served by a former Batman villain!" …He would choose to take that as a compliment.

"I'll never say no to food." Spoke a familiar voice, as the eyes of a blue haired boy widened in recognition. "Oh, Mr. Fries. It's been a while."

"Ah, Iruma. It has." He nodded with the little emotion, which was none, he could muster. "Pardon me, I had assumed you perished by Daggett's enforcers seven years ago."

"I … ran." He looked down. "This is my first time back …"

"Ahh, I see. I take this is a celebratory moment for the 'Gotham Trio' as I remember you three dubbing yourselves?" Victor asked.

"You know it, Freezy Weezy!" Harleen called out with a grin.

"Please refrain from the nicknames."

"Friesy Wisey with a side of ketchup?"

"I have one ice cannon in storage, you know."

"We'll take the Frozen frost tripp scoop special with extra sprinkles." Iruma spoke up before it could escalate.

"Coming right up." He responded, getting to work. "So, is this a casual visit or are you looking to formally return?"

"Casual. I have a new home in Metropolis." The boy answered. "Barbara lives there now too."

"It was like the luckiest break ever. I was just about to swear off Metropolis as the worst city ever, cause I mean it's good but come on, there's no Batman, but it's turned out to be pretty pretty cool even with all it's non-Batman and non-Batman related superheroes-" He had forgotten how much the commissioner's daughter loved to talk.

"It's such a shame, we only got a day to spend time together." Ms. Quinnzel pouted as she leaned on the boy. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay, or convince you to stand still while I tie you up and keep you locked away in my closet for safe keeping?"

"No, I have to get back to my jobs soon." The boy answered. "Not to mention school. But I'll come visit you and Pam every now and then."

"Oh yeah, almost forgot she lives here…" Barbara Gordon blinked. "Wait, but I saw her in Metropolis less than a week ago."

"I keep up with the little rose bud. She's been thinking of moving somewhere with a little more green around the concrete." Harleen confirmed. "You know, cause she still talks to plants and all. Love the girl, but she can be pretty cuckoo." Mr. Fries had too much reservation to point out the hypocrisy.

"Why is that weird?" Iruma asked. "People talk to animals all the time, why not plants?"

"Cause they don't talk back."

"Yes they do, we just don't understand their language."

The two girls stared at the boy. "Is this a new thing or …" Quinzel asked.

"I'm still processing how he understands math, I'm a bit lagging when it comes to what he does or doesn't believe." Barbara whispered. "He knows how to make a girl's legs feel like jelly yet is completely oblivious to romance."

"I'm not oblivious, it's just never happened to me before." Iruma insisted. "Romance is a long journey of emotional maturity and intelligence on a path of understanding and compromise."

"Wise words." He nodded, as he handed the children their frozen treats.

"... Babsy, I'm scared." Harleen hugged the girl. "I'm not sure if I can handle a smart Iruma."

"Don't worry, I know how to fix this." Barbara grinned as she cleared her throat. "Hey Iruma, do you think you'll ever bury the hatchet between you and Doris?"

"...Why would I bury a perfectly good hatchet? They're too useful for cutting things up."

"Aaah, balance restored." Quinzel relaxed. "So … wanna eat treats as we guess which building is housing a dead body?"

"I bet I can guess them first!" The red headed girl cheered.

The innocence of children … Fries idly wondered if Nora ever wanted them … they never really discussed such a thing before...maybe... Maybe in another… in another dream... That's all he could hope for though, wasn't it… just… Maybe…

Iruma smiled as he and Barbara laughed as they walked down the streets. "Twenty dead bodies in one room, I never would've guessed." Iruma snickered. They had a few hours until they needed to head back to Gotham, so one more stroll down memory lane seemed to be in order.

"That's the power of the girl who studied the ways of the world's greatest detective." Barbara smirked. "Nothing shall be a mystery to me …"

"What about Harley's secret identity?" Iruma asked.

"That dastardly clown has eluded me for the past two years… but don't worry, I'm going to find out who she is and lock her up in the biggest baddest rubberiest rubber room I can find!" Barbara shouted determinedly. "So far, I've narrowed down my theories to a mutant clown bitten by a radioactive jester and an alien from a distant planet of untold chaos and mayhem on a mission to tear down the fabric of society as we speak."

"...Those are your only two theories, huh?" Iruma raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Far too elusive is she. For every time my day seems to be off to a rocky start, she comes by to make it even worse! Always around my every step, lurking in the shadows …"

"Babsy!" Harley's voice called out from the distance across the street. "You forgot your limited edition Batman boombox battery when you moved out of Gotham! I've been holding it on for you for a while!"

"Gasp! Oh my baby!" She hugged the battery, before hugging Harley. "What would I do without a wonderful and caring friend like you Harleen?"

"I don't know, probably lose your head somewhere." Harley smiled as she hugged the girl back. "See ya laters! Make sure to keep Iru on a leash so he doesn't wander off again!"

"Right … cause I'm the one who can't see the obvious." He deadpanned. "This is why you are Nee-san."

"Uuuh …" Harley tilted her head.

"It's japanese for little sister." Barbara pouted.

"You speak japanese?" Harley asked in surprise.

"... I am japanese." He pointed out.

"...Oh right, we literally learned that day you left." Harley muttered, "But Iru's right Babsy, you are the baby sister."

"Hey, it's little, not baby, and I'm not either-!"

"You are, cause I'm already the big sister to you both!"

"Sure thing … Harley-imouto."

"... Translation?" She asked.

"Little sister but slightly rude."

"Ha, little Iru got some sass in his tone…I missed you." Harley hugged him one more time before skipping off. "Bye Bye!"

"She hasn't changed a bit since I left." Iruma laughed. "That's very comforting."

"She always is, in a fun way." Barbara smiled. "Haven't seen her this happy ever since the Joker got a girlfriend."

"Wait, he does...wait… don't tell me it's Harley Quinn.." Bleeeggh, that was a disgusting picture to imagine.

"No, some woman named Punchline." Barbara shuddered. "Although I have heard Harley Quinn mention she wanted to get adopted by them for 'one big smiling clown family' or something while she was blowing up a bank."

"Hm… I don't think I can even imagine the Joker in a relationship." Iruma muttered. "Last I remembered, he seemed more obsessed with Batman than anything else... unless he's been in love with Batman this whole time."

Barbara shivered at that. "Hello tonight's nightmares …" She stopped walking, staring at one spot. "Hey, it's crime alley."

"Huh... so it is." Last time he was here, it was full of homeless people he had spent the million dollars on for providing, but this night ... it was empty. An empty alley full of darkness. "For four years I lived in this dumpster alone..." He rubbed the green pile of metal. "My bed and breakfast… I ate so many moldy tacos and pizza crust in this old thing."

"Yep... we built our first generator for your fan in here." Barbara nodded as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "We knitted you a sweater out of old plastic bags … you always said you didn't want us to sneak you into our houses …"

"I thought it was too much trouble for you two, I didn't want to burden you guys, you already gave me free food for three years straight." Iruma chuckled. "Of course that didn't stop you from sneaking me into your house when I was unconscious. I thought a giant bat was flying me away to suck the blood out of my head."

"… Iruma, did you know that Manbat's an actual supervillain?" Barbara asked with raised eyebrows.

"Wait what?" Iruma blinked. "I thought that's just what the homeless kids called Batman."

"No no no, Batman's a guy that dresses like a bat, Manbat is a man who mutated himself into a bat monster."

"But if he's a man that turns into a bat, wouldn't it make more sense for him to be called Batman and the man dressed like a bat to be called Manbat?"

"No, you see, Batman ends with man, so it explains that for all his mythical qualities, he's still a man, while Manbat is just a giant bat with little humanity. It totally makes sense."

"Not really, I mean if it was originally a bat turn humanoid then I guess it would. But they were both starting as human, so wouldn't-" A vine wrapped around his leg. "A-" And pulled him into the air. "Gaaaah!"

"Iruma!" Barbara instantly grabbed a hold of him. "Couldn't you have dodged that with your overwhelming crisis evasion-!"

"Still not calling it that!" Iruma screamed as he tried to hold on. "And it's not counting it as dangerouuuuus-!" It yanked him out of her grasp, pulling him through the streets.

"Iruma, hold on!"

"TO WHAT!?"

"I don't know, that's just what people say to people when they're being dragged away into mysterious and dark depths!" Barbara took out her grappling hook. "Try to grab it, I'm going to see if I can cut it off in between!"

"Don't aim it at my head!"

Pew

The line reached out … as a vine intercepted it, slamming the grappling hook into the ground. "Holy little shops of horror Iruma, they're living vines!"

"Aren't all vines living!?"

"No, what I mean is that you're being kidnapped by Poison Ivy!"

"... Whoooooo-" He was thrown into the air as more vines formed into a slide, dragging him far away from Barbara. "AAAHHH!"

"IRUMA! Don't worry, I'm going to save you—-!" He heard Barbara's voice echo in the wind as he was dragged off into the night.

Okay Iruma, your … ability to know about danger wasn't working, and you need to get out. Just cut the vines and you'll be fine. Cut the vines with the knife … the knife that you didn't have because your hands couldn't reach your pocket from being tied and dragged! "AAAHHH!"

Okay, cut the vines with something sharp, you needed something sharp … teeth were sharp! Iruma began biting at the vines binding him. "Come on come on-" He moved his mouth off instantly as thorns grew out of it, which would've left his mouth bleeding had he kept it in. "I need … need … need …" How could he get out of this … how could he live!?

Pamela's connection with the green did not diminish as she got older, only stronger and deeper. It fueled her body when she rested within soil filled holes. She lacked hunger when she rested in sunlight. Energy given to the plants around her became more and more amplified... she of course still had cravings for food, like steak, pork rinds, and fried chicken, but that was beside the point.

At first she could only talk to plants and understand their language ... their hopes and fears, their dreams and desires. But soon she could amplify their strength. Give power to their voices, prevent men from tearing them down. The power to show the dim humans mother nature's wrath …

But ... she had only shown the city ... no ... the world just a fraction of her power. She had held back ... held back because she wanted to wait for something... for someone.. not just anyone ... but her perfect Adam... someone she could rejoice in her Garden of Eden with and rule the new world as its King and Queen.

Two beings that would restore the natural world order … restore things to how they're supposed to be. There was only one she could trust to take on such a role... and he had finally come back. He had come back even after this city rejected him ... tried to drive him away and kill him. But they would have their revenge. Destroy the place that hurt his soul. And make it a new paradise.

She could feel his return now. Come, let them rejoice in happiness, compassion, joy, and lo- "AAAAAHHHHH!" He screamed as he was lowered into the room, struggling in now thorny vines. "Okay fly trap! I won't go down without a fight!" Iruma screamed out in fear and hysteria.

... Right, he wouldn't have known about her transition into a supervillain. Guess she got carried away in the moment. "Wow, this is a little embarrassing." She chuckled wrapped as she presented herself in her new found glory. Flawless chlorophyll green skin, perfectly bright rosey red and wavy hair ... and a dress made from leaves that helped ... 'support' her figure so to speak. "Sorry about the sudden summoning. I needed to get you alone and this was the best way to do it." She lifted herself up to the spot Iruma was being held.

"Oh, Pamela, it's just you." Iruma sighed in relief, her heart beating faster at the fact he instantly recognized her. "For a second I thought it was a giant man eating venus fly trap like back in Lian Yu …" He looked nervous. "Sorry about trying to cut and bite the vines, I didn't know …"

"Shhhhhhhh." She pressed her finger on his lips with a chuckle. "You don't have to explain anything. I know it's a bit strange, I've had a bit of a growth spurt so to speak."

"Okay." He nodded. "... Could you let me go please? The vines grew thorns when I attacked and they started digging into my arms …"

"Oh right, sorry, you just can never be too careful." She smiled as she made the thorns disappear.

"That's better ... still tied up though."

"Just in case … not many would stick around for this next part." Pam nervously chuckled. "See, I sort of … became a … supervillain." She mumbled the last part.

"Like Harley?" Iruma asked, looking not at all phased.

"You know about Harley? She told you?" Pam blinked. She figured Harley would've kept that a secret.

He sent her a deadpan look. "Her name's Harleen Quinzel, her nickname is Harley, and her villain name is Harley Quinn." Iruma muttered. "It's not rocket science."

"I guess that's a fair point." Ivy nodded. "It ... it doesn't bother you?"

"Not really. I mean, you're still my friend, and I know you only want to protect plants." He explained with that adorable smile. "And over the last seven years, I've learned the difference between good and bad criminals. So don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure you're a good one."

Badump badump

Flowers grew over the vines as her green skin blushed red. "Ooooh, someone's got some new moves." Philip chuckled.

"Young coupling, always a treat." Martha giggled.

"... You're still quite the flatterer even after all these years, aren't you?" She grinned warmly as she rubbed his soft, unblemished face.

"I always try to be polite." Iruma continued to give that adorable and innocent smile. "So I see you've gotten better at growing your plants. It's like an actual jungle rather than a concrete jungle."

"It's a little more than that silly." She chuckled. "I'm one with nature now, Iruma, I'm connected to Mother Earth like no one else has been before."

"Oooh, like Swamp Thing."

"You've met the champion of the green!?" She grabbed his face in excitement.

"It's been a weird seven years." He nodded. "I've lived in a city of gorillas, once visited a pocket dimension in hell, punched the Greek god of the sea right in the face, ooh, and tried goat cheese pizza."

"..." She snorted. "You say all that so casually…" No arrogance, just simplicity … "I'm glad you're back in Gotham, Iruma … we can begin fixing this wretched world."

"Oh I agree. I even got a million dollars to start with that."

"Yes, this can be our Garden of Eden, our paradise." She held him close, feeling just as connected as ever. "No hunger, no pain, no people to ruin our lives."

"... No people?" He tilted his head. "But … that's… lonely."

"Not when we have our plants, and each other." She nuzzled into his neck, clasping his hands into her own. "I'll give you my powers. It'll take time, but I know it can be done." She could feel it. "Then we can combine our energy and fix everything! We can get rid of the biggest blight on plants! We can get rid of humanity!" Pam gazed at her friends. "Isn't that right everyone!?"

'Yeah, down with humanity!'

'Eh, I mean, they're not that bad. If anything, dogs and canines in general are the more annoying ones always pissing on us."

'I want to watch a watermelon grow in their stomach and explode!'

'Dude, that's taking it too far.'

'Maybe some light maiming will suffice'

"Wait, hold on hold on … you want to give me your powers?" Iruma blinked

"Of course I do … so we can both nurture and protect the life that gives and does not take …" She smiled. "No one will ever take from you again... I can guarantee it."

Iruma looked at her with concern, sighing. "Pamela, I want to help everyone." He held her hands tightly. "From Barbara and Harley, to the people in the slums, to people who didn't have a choice… I know that there are terrible, terrible people out there… but there's good ones too."

"… Even after all these years, your heart hasn't been jaded." She caressed his face. "That's why you will be the perfect father for our children."

… Iruma somehow became an adorable shade of white and red at the same time. "Our what now?"

"I'm not so callous as to think we need to destroy all mankind. Just everyone that isn't us. And then we can start a family ... our very own special garden." she rubbed her head on his. "One we can teach values of comradery and support. Ones that won't be tainted by greed and corruption … just, happiness and peace with nature … doesn't that sound delightful?"

"I… ah… ah…" Iruma was left completely speechless, likely stunned at how perfect life would be from now on.

She glanced up at his arms, still wrapped in caressing vines as she began to gently rub his chest. "Wow … someone got stronger … I can feel the muscles underneath …"

"Yeah... yeah... just something you gain while running from a giant squid..." He chuckled brokenly as she got closer, their breathing being felt upon each other's faces. "I... uh ... Isn't ... isn't it a little soon to be thinking about a family? I mean, we haven't even dated, let alone gotten married…"

"Marriage is just a construct of mankind and modern society…" She pressed her lips onto his cheek. "In the wild … it's much more… direct."

"... I need an adult."

"Age is nothing but a number." She reassured. "Besides, there's plenty of elders within this room."

'Take him by the butt!'

"Pamela..."

"Please ... my Adam ..." she held his face. "Call me Ivy." And she proceeded to pressed her lips against his, his warmth being exactly how she imagined it to be—

Shink Shink Shink

Ivy heard the screams of pain and anguish from her babies... as her Adam was cut from the vines... from a yellow batarang. "Unhand that innocent boy, you vile vegetable of a villain."

"Batgirl …" She growled, multiple thorns covering the room as vines began assisting her. "You have to ruin my goals in public, but private as well!?" And sent them flying to the hero.

"Wherever a villain lurks and preys on the innocent, I will be there to save them-"

"Batgirl help!" Iruma shouted, struggling against the vines for some reason.

"Yes, don't worry, I'm doing-"

"I'm too young to have kids!"

Barbara anticipated a lot of things in her time training to be a hero. She anticipated even more things ever since Iruma came back, cause if Iruma was back then everything truly was possible. From aliens, to metas, to willpower energy, to living lightning women, to amazons, to magic! Barbara tried her best to anticipate anything these days …

"I'm too young to have kids!" Iruma saying that while being held hostage by a plant woman was not on that list surprisingly enough.

"... I'm sorry, what?" She asked, before a vine wrapped around her leg. "Too distraaaa-"

Smack

And slammed her into a wall. "You're not going to interrupt this precious moment!" Poison Ivy shouted. "I've found my Adam and we're going to start our Garden of Eden to get rid of parasites like you."

"Wow Iruma, that's the second villain that's fallen in love with you." Barbara noted as she avoided more strikes of those thorny vines.

"... I'm sorry, second?" The villain asked the boy.

"I still don't know what they're on about." Iruma rolled his eyes. "Me and Carol are just friends!"

"Sure you are Buddy, sure you are!" And this was why Barbara was the older sibling in this relationship. She would never get caught up in this kind of relationship drama in a million years. "So Ivy, you like a human? Here I was assuming you'd be bringing a potted plant to prom!" She exclaimed, throwing some batarangs at the villainess.

"At least I'll be bringing someone to the prom, unlike you, who will be too dead to bring anyone!" The plant girl shouted as she created a wall of vines to block her path. "You and everyone else in this wretched city!"

"I dunno, the last ten times you tried murdering me say otherwise!" She exclaimed, firing off a smoke bomb as she rushed to Iruma, using a small blade to cut him out. "Come on, let's run now." Fighting Ivy was one thing, but not without preparation and good gear.

"How long have you been fighting her?" Iruma asked as she grabbed his hand to pull him out of the way.

"For the last year or so. Her debut was trying to blow up the ace chemical factory, so she's already not that popular with the other villains for her threat level alone." She answered as they began running down the stairs. "Mostly eco terrorism. You know, someone cuts down a tree, she rips them apart, all that stuff."

"And do you know who she is, you know, secret identity wise?"

"She has natural green skin. I'm pretty sure there's no secret identity for her." Barbara pointed out.

"..." Iruma looked at her silently and weirdly for a minute. "That's all it takes huh?"

"That's all what takes?"

He opened his mouth … before multiple flowers began surrounding them, spraying a yellow substance. "Hold your breath! It's knock out gas!"

"Got it!" She ducked underneath it as she took in all the fresh air she could.

"It's fascinating what you can find when nature's in its truest form." Ivy's voice followed them from behind. "One plant can create knock out gas. Another can create acid so strong it can eat through metal. Oh the wonderful pain I can inflict upon you." That was a bluff. If Ivy wanted Iruma safe for … kids, she wouldn't risk that when they were right next to each other. She would stick to non lethals and binding, stall tactics.

"So ah... how often have you fought her and won?" Iruma asked in between breaths.

"Define 'won'." Barbara hesitantly chuckled. "Because I define won as in no one died under my watch."

"Well that's-" A wall of thorns was shoved in front of them. "Comforting! But I was thinking about in a fight."

"... I'll get back to you on that." Ivy was one of the few Gotham villains with powers along with her gimmick, it was only by the Joker's sheer force of will and insanity that she wasn't the top villain in Gotham.

"Do you even have a plan?" He asked as they jumped through a door, slamming it shut behind them.

"Find a window she hasn't covered with vines and run for the hills." She heaved. "Why is she even into you in the first place? I mean I get you have the cute face, naive charm and that voice you use to calm angry girls down-hey why don't you just use that on her?"

"Use what?" Iruma asked in confusion.

"You know, that thing you did to calm Zee down, that dog down, and from what Jessica told me, Star Sapphire down."

"I just asked Zee please, stared the dog in the eye to instill fear into its instincts, and told Carol that she didn't need a guy like Hal who didn't appreciate her and instead just love herself. I have no clue what type of conversation she needs."

"… Do you black out during conversations?"

"Occasionally, why?"

"Oh dear, you might have a split personality." Barbara winced as she held her head. "Was that something that was happening before you went away or after? Crimminey, who knows how much trauma you've had to repress while you were on your own."

"... I can make a few guesses." He muttered as vines tore down the door. "Okay, okay, let's think about this! Despite how powerful and vicious they are right now, they're still plants! They need sunlight, soil, and water!"

"Right, and all I have is batarangs, smoke bombs, and grappling hook-fire, that's it!" She realized. "Iruma, we need to try and start a fire!"

"Done." Iruma held up a torch.

"… How did you start that so quickly?"

"You learn to either start a fire or suffer hypothermia, there's no inbetween." Right, she almost forgot who she was talking to.

Barbara grabbed the torch, opening the door, jabbing it straight into the wall of plants. "This will work!" She exclaimed, swinging it like a spear. "I've always love the smell of roasted veggies in the middle of the night!"

"Wait Batgirl, stop!"

"Iruma, I understand this may be a sympathetic thing, but now is no the time for-"

"You're setting fire to plants while we're surrounded by them in an enclosed building!"

"... I may have NOT thought this through as well as I should have!" Barbara cackled. "...Wow, I'm getting deja vu like you wouldn't believe. Like, I feel like we've been in this exact same scenario a millions times before."

"We have." Iruma nodded. "Remember the time Firefly made a church of flames and you thought it was a metaphorical thing because you wanted to debunk miracles as con men?"

"Right, right, good times, good times." Barbara grinned as the roof collapsed above them. "Shit!" She grabbed onto Iruma, shielding him as some of the rubble landed on her back. "Sorry, sorry, so sorry about this!"

"Barbara, I can take-"

"Not this time!" She waited until it stopped, slowly pushing the slabs of concrete off her back. "Thank you, muscle training." She winced, seeing a few splotches of red on said stones. Luckily it was just her back, so most of the damage went to her cape …

"Barb-Batgir-you're hurt!" He shouted. "We could have tried getting out of-"

"I failed you once Iruma … not again." Barbara cut him off. "I'm going to get you out of here completely unharmed if it's the last thing I do!"

"Could you have done it by going down the fire escape at least?!" Iruma pointed to the window. "That's literally in the name!"

"Well it was a little hard considering the flaming vines everywhere, but now we can-" She began, grabbing his arm.

"They're …" Ivy's voice came from behind. "They're dead."

"... Ivy…" Iruma tried approaching her, but Barbara pulled him back.

"I've seen this before, believe me, you don't want to be face front when she goes full amazon rainforest."

"You killed them... You killed them all!" Poison Ivy screamed in the air as vines sprouted into the air, cracking the walls and pavement. "I WON'T FORGIVE HUMANITY FOR THIS! THE GREEN WILL COVER THE LAND AND FEAST ON THE BONES OF MAN!"

"And that's the cue to book it to next friday!" She tightened her hold on Iruma and jumped out the window, firing off the grappling hook to the next building and swinging them out.

"Shouldn't we get her out of the flaming building!?"

CRASH

… They turned their heads to the knock off YGGDRASIL that was taking over the spot of the building. "Still wanna go back!?" Barbara shouted.

"...Kind of, I mean, I don't want her to be hurt…" Iruma muttered. "Sure, she kind of moved a little fast for me in terms of relationships but… She's not a bad person … just … lost.." He sighed.

"Yeah … a lot of Gotham criminals are …" Barabra looked to the streets as they landed on a building. "... You remember Waylon?"

"Yeah …" He nodded slowly.

"He still has a body count, but it's mostly in self defense. He's running his own little section in the sewers. All outcasts welcome." Barbara said. "Of course, he also works for Penguin as a goon too, but that's honestly on the smaller end of crimes."

Iruma looked over the city. "... It's hard … having to constantly tread the line... I love this city… but... Sometimes it can just… bring out the worst in people." He sighed. "I...I guess I'm proof of that already, huh?"

Barbara hugged him gently and warmly. "... I never once thought you were a bad person when Daggett died. You saved me, Iruma... you saved the slums and everyone in it… you're the kind of hero that the world needs."

Iruma chuckled. "Hah… I don't think I'll ever get used to that title." He looked at her. "Besides, I think you wear it better, literally. One thing you have over Batman is that you smile more."

"I just … like the job." Rescuing people who needed it and defeating crime … just the way she liked it. "So, crazy reunion trip to Gotham, huh?"

"It was exactly like how I remember it." Iruma laughed as they shared a smile. "Except I'm pretty sure there was somehow even MORE fire back then."

"And explosions."

"And rusty knives."

"And broken needles."

"And rabid animals."

"And more fear of my dad finding out what we've been up to."

"Wow." Iruma muttered. "I guess Gotham just got better after your dad quit."

"Ah..." Barbara thought about it for a second. "I'd like to think it's more like the result of over thirty years of service. And he hasn't quite fully yet, he's just semi-retired."

"Doesn't that just mean office work and donuts?"

"Yes, but he can still give Two Face a run for his money in a brawl. Do you know how hard it is to fight someone with two faces? Not as easy as you would think."

"I thought Batman just held back because he viewed Two Face as a friend?"

"...Really, you think so?

"Yeah, didn't Two Face used to be a lawyer Batman worked with?"

"Huh...HUH...You know, I completely overlooked that for some reason." Barbara blinked. "...Huh, you know, I don't think you used to be so Batman savvy either."

"Eh, it's more 'super' savvy." He shrugged. "Seven years of world traveling makes one pick up on more current events."

"Sweet." Barbara grinned. "So... if you had to pick a favorite hero, who'd it be?"

"Robot Man." Iruma answered immediately. "Him or Superman, but I think Kara would murder me if I said it, she usually twitches when people talk about him."

"Yeah, we gotta work on that… why Robotman?"

"Analog technology can't be hacked." … So fun and so weird … she really missed this.

Harley whistled as she waited by the bus stop, hearing Pam shout through her phone. "SHE KILLED MY BABIES! SHE RUINED MY GARDEN! MANKIND WILL PAY FOR THIS ATROCITY, THEY WILL PAY!"

"So… I take it your time with Iru didn't go too well?" Harley inferred from all the screeching.

"It was ruined by Batgirl! Who stole him away and murdered those defenseless plants!" As someone who's been on Pam's bad side, defenseless wasn't the word she'd use. "It was perfect too! I was about to take him away to my new Eden where we would've started the foundation of the new world!"

"Pamy Wamy, I told you, wait at least another year till you have kids." She rolled her eyes. "Iru's readjustin' to everything, he ain't comfortable sayin' yes so fast. You don't even know if he's got any new hobbies."

"Actually I do, he's been writing me via carrier pigeon for two weeks now."

"He trains pigeons?"

"Said it was something he picked up when he lived on a deserted island."

"I'll be addin' that to my info board." Tryin' to hide his life from HER? Dream on little man, dream on! "Anyway, I see them now, gotta bounce, see ya later, future roomie!"

"Don't remind me."

"You know you love me." Harley chuckled.

"As much as a tree loves a termite."

"I'm the weed in your garden." She snickered as she hung up. "Hey Iru Cutie, hey Babsy Wabsy!" She waved.

"Iru-cutie-tight hug, tight hug!" Iru gasped as she held onto him.

"Yeah, cause ya still so small and cute even after all these years." Harley cackled as she ruffled his head. "Enjoyed your last night in Gotham? Smells like it was a blast going by the smoke and the ash covering ya's both."

"It was a trip to be remembered, that's for sure." Babsy muttered. "I'm glad you get to see us off though Harley, that really puts a smile on my face."

"If that puts a smile on your face, wait till ya hear this." She chuckled.

"Hear what?" Iruma asked as the people went into the vehicle.

"That we gotta hurry or we'll be late for our bus!" Harley cackled as she ran forward, taking out all her bags.

"Wait we?" Babsy blinked. "You're visiting Metropolis?"

"Visiting? Heck no, I'm movin' just like the two of you!"

Her two BFFEAEAE's stared at her for a good fifteen second in stunned silence. "You're what!?"

"Surprise!" She cackled as she took a seat on the big couch in the back of the bus. "Hahahahahahah! Didn't see that one comin', did ya?"

"You're moving… BOTH MY BFFEAEAES ARE LIVING IN METROPOLIS WITH ME!?" Babsy giggled with glee as she hugged her tightly. "This is perfect! Now everyday can be the best day ever! The Gotham trio is taking over Metropolis!"

"I couldn't agree more with those words."

"... Wait." Iruma blinked. "If none of us are in Gotham, are we allowed to be called the Gotham trio?"

"We're Gothamites in spirit, Iruma." Babsy grinned as she pulled the two of them in. "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, we are the Gotham trio, young or old forever and ever and ever!"

"Yeah!" Harley grinned. "And the best part is that my parents aren't coming, so we can crash at my place whenever we feel like it."

"How did you manage to snag an apartment if your parents aren't coming?" Iru asked.

"Oh, I managed to find a roommate that also wants to split the rent." She smiled. "It's your old gal pal Pamela, remember her?"

"Huh…" Iru blinked. "I guess that explains why I saw her in Metropolis a few weeks ago… it feels like everyone I know has moved there." He said. "I mean, technically all I did was move back after spending my third year away there."

"Wait, you were back in Metropolis before a few weeks ago!?" She shook him.

"Believe me, I've been trying to shake the details out of him for the past month, I've gotten zilch." Babs rolled her eyes. "Only consistent thing I got is that he went to London and hated it."

"I didn't hate the city, I just hated the one guy who I shall not name." The boy insisted. "He and my parents can bite it."

Oooh, angry Iru… that was a rare and strange sight. "So if I were to ever run into this person and bury him alive, you wouldn't object to it?"

"I'd be more concerned for your safety than his, trust me." The boy muttered bitterly, before shaking his head. "Anyways, that's all in the past. Now I have much better things to look forward to in my life." He grinned as he hugged the two of them. "...Thank you guys... For everything… I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you two."

"Same here little Iru …" She hugged the two of them. "Same here." And she'd make sure her friends always smiled … and break any threat in that goal.

Cleo Cazo, or the name she went by most of the time now, Ratcatcher 2, has a modest lifestyle. As modest as you could get living in the sewers of what was commonly referred to as the worst city in the world. Gathering power from under the eyes of the modern man … even under the eyes of the Bat. All because her dad got sent out of the country …

Many looked down upon the power of the rats, but the truth was… rats were everywhere. They outnumbered the population of the humans in this city one hundred to one, and they only got bigger. Rats never stopped repopulating, they never slowed down. They only got bigger and bigger and bigger. The only thing that stopped them from overpopulating was their own predators … none of which were humans.

This power allowed her many tricks and trades when she wasn't gloating about victory like every other crook. Secrets overheard that could be exploited and blackmailed, jewels that could be swiped without notice. Men dying in their sleep … so many options …

But it still … wasn't … enough. None of it could fill the loneliness in her heart. And while her rats were pleasant company, they didn't compare to her father's touch … his warmth and comforting voice. They couldn't sing the lullabies he would when she felt scared, or rub her head when she was agitated or frustrated. For all the inadequacies of man, Cleo couldn't help but crave human interaction on some level, even if it was fighting them.

"So … I overheard some complaints." And said need for human interaction inspired her to get a few human goons under her thumb … Daggett's old boys. Shared together by a need of employment and a hatred of the child that caused their collective demise. "Complaints that you might be interested in hearing, miss Cazo."

"If it's about sharing a lunch room with the rats, that's nonnegotiable. They do just as much work as you people do." If not more so.

"It's not about that-although lots of the boys are complaining about it, serious mutiny in the works-point is that we got a certain visit from Barbara Gordon." The man continued.

She rolled her eyes. "And why do I care about the ex-commissioner's daughter?"

"Cause she was spotted with a boy … that had blue hair."

That made her pause. She had trouble remembering human faces and names, but she NEVER forgot the face of the boy… that cost her everything. "Did … was he Asian and had a cowlick?"

"His hair was pointy, but no one got a good look at his face. They got cut off by a running crowd when Harley Quinn attacked the convention today … Then they got cut off again when he was dragged into what is now a massive tree near Crime alley."

"... Crime alley…" Where the boy lived... Where he killed Daggett…this was too much to be a coincidence. "Any leads on where they are now?"

"We didn't hear anything specific, but it's well known by now that Ex-commissioner Gordon resides in Metropolis."

"You've done good." She walked up and patted his back. "Tell those who trailed him they can have a solid tenth of our budget to play with."

"Will do… could… could we also talk about having a separate bathroom away from the rats?"

"I'll get a porta potty from the circus." She waved off.

"... Thanks…" Cleo still liked rats more than humans, so she wasn't going to give them TOO much comfort.

Cleo turned to the rats. "Go to Metropolis, find a boy that smells like an asian with too much food. Watch him intensely and report back in shifts."

"Squeak."

"No…don't attack yet… I want to wait until the time is perfect." The boy was uncannily good at evasion the last she recalled… and if he was willing to kill at such a young age, she didn't want to risk being unprepared with a close encounter. "I'll wait until he's weak… then… then Ratcatcher will finally have their revenge."