The Green and The Blue

Chapter IV: Reflection

   Poison Ivy was laying on her bed with her head dangling over the side. She knew she successfully escaped Atlantis seemingly unscathed; yet felt that it was too easy. Aquaman was the King of the majority of the seven seas, he could have easily done something to stop her from escaping. Harley could tell she was thinking about something. She always could; not only was she a psychologist but also her best friend.

   "Hun, what's troublin' yah?". Poison Ivy slowly stirred and sat up straight. Her hair was a mess. "I feel like Waterboy let me go", she said with slight disapproval. Harley laughed, "pfff, that guy. He's just a puddle. You wiped him like a paper towel". Dr. Isley knew all the flaws in that statement but took the compliment. "Hear me out Harl, if he really did let me go, does that count as a truce?". Harley didn't say anything. Ivy instantly knew something was up; that was unlike her. Then Harl broke the silence, "Maybe he respects yah?". Dr. Isley was confused. "What does that mean?". Dr. Quinzel got up to grab the bottle of whiskey in the corner of Ivy's lair. "I guess it means that he knows what you're capable of and you two kinda have a past history with Brainiac and all". Ivy laid back down. Quinzel laughed, "What? Did you think he had a crush on yah or somethin'?" Poison rose instantly, "No! Not at all. I was just confused". In all honesty, Pamela didn't know what to think and was surprised at how quickly she got defensive. All her life she had seduced billionaires and top agents. Her idea of love had been crippled due to such crimes, her childhood, and her past insanity of protecting the green. That's all she used to care about. Protecting the green. Then she came to realize that plants need carbon dioxide which is what humans give off. She still viewed the plants as her children, though. Despite the fact that her insanity was mostly gone, her crippled perspective of affection still lingered.

Harley quickly jumped from her seat. "Come on Red, you're rich now! Go buy some plants or somethin'". Suddenly, an excited look overcast Dr. Quinzel's face. Ivy raised her eyebrows, "I know you're thinking about something". Harl giggled, "Let's go on a shopping spree!!". Ivy groaned, "I don't feel like going out". Harl mimicked her expression, "I don't feel like going out. CoMe oN! It's good therapy. Pretty please. We can get hammered!". Ivy considered the getting hammered part; then grunted, "fine". The two friends headed for the door.

***

Batman had made another stop to Atlantis. After Aquaman had hung up on him rather quickly and never called back, the Dark Knight presumed that Dr. Isley had indeed infiltrated Atlantis. Upon docking in the underwater bay and the guards escorting him out, Batman headed to the King's quarters. Once arriving, Batman knocked.

Aquaman answered, "Hey! If it isn't Batman. Come in". Batman was taken aback by his rather inviting demeanor due to what had occurred just a few days ago. The dark knight walked in and sat down in one of the chairs. Aquaman sat across from him. "So, I presume you have come to discuss Dr. Isley". "Yes. Did she manage to get away?". Aquaman nodded, "She escaped Atlantis with a small amount of the Amazonian Ore. I saw her again in the ocean but chose not to intervene". Batman was surprised. "That's not like you, Arthur. You let her get away?". The King scoffed. "I didn't let her get away, she managed to successfully out-wit me and escape". Batman readjusted himself. "So let me get this clear. She stole some of your ore, she out played you, escaped, and then you saw her again and chose not to do anything?". Aquaman got up and sighed, "It's a bit more complicated than that. I knew she helped us in the fight against Brainiac. I just... I don't know". Batman stood up as well, "I know. She got in your head. That's her game and that's always been her game". Aquaman shook his head, "no. She didn't get in my head. Rather, I came up with an idea". The Dark Knight sat back down, eager to listen. "Dr. Isley has a strong connection with the green, which connects with both the surface world and the sea. If I made an alliance or asked for her assistance in some way, perhaps I could connect with the surface world better".