The Green and The Blue

Chapter VII: A Friendly Feast

Author's beginning notes:

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   Ivy and Harley followed the Atlantean Guard down the corridors of the Royal Chambers with Batman beside them. On their way, Ivy noticed the medical chamber, which was most likely the area Aquaman was being kept. Ivy couldn't help but feel she was the reason he got injured. When Aquaman brought up the topic of being partners, Dr. Isley wanted to explain how they weren't as such; merely associates with common goals. He wanted to say otherwise and was caught off guard when Black Manta regained his footing. Then again, he decided to continue the conversation mid-battle. Nevertheless, she still felt somewhat responsible.

   Slightly slowing her pace, she started trailing behind the ground as to not cause a scene. Once a large enough distance was created, Ivy stopped and headed back to the medical room. Upon entering, Dr. Pamela noticed many different individuals. Cheetah was there with several whip marks, bruises, and seemingly incapacitated, most likely due to Wonder woman. King Shark was there, asleep, probably tranquilized. Much to Ivy's amusement, Black Manta was in the poison control quarters. She finally made it to two doors at the end of the hall. Looking at the sign, she noticed it said, "Royal Medical Room and Surgery". Based on the name, she guessed Water boy was behind these doors. Ivy walked in to see two windows looking out to the sea, a Medic's table, and Aquaman asleep on the medical bed. Ivy slowly walked up to the side of the bed. Seeing a sheet was drawn over him to his neck, Ivy pulled it down. To her surprise, the medics left the Moss on his wound. Yet, it was apparent other ointments were added to the wound. Ivy reached her hand down and laid it on the moss. Using her abilities, the moss accelerated its absorption of toxins to a clean state so it could start anew, rejuvenating it for another cycle. Being so close, Ivy allowed for some promiscuous thoughts to enter her head, which she had no problem doing. With her hand on his chest, Ivy noticed how broad his chest was. The strong bone and muscular structure of his shoulders and upper arms. She knew she was eyeing him over, but she didn't care. Ivy began to lower the covers a bit more. Upon doing so, Ivy heard a knock at the window. Looking over, a blob fish bounced on the window. Ivy smirked at the cute sight. Wait.

   Ivy, realizing that Aquaman could sense her through the eyes of the fish, turned to make a run for the door. Nonetheless, the water boy already knew she was there. Quickly reaching up, Arthur grabbed her arm. She silently cursed, realizing why there were windows in the room. Water boy snickered "And you said we weren't even partners". Ivy grunted in defeat. "I came to check on you, that's all". Arthur let her go and fully sat up. "Yeah, sure". "No! I'm serious". She brushed her hair back. "I just got distracted". "Mmhm", the King plainly acknowledged. Silence filled the room. After a moment, Ivy broke the silence. "Your wound's getting better". He looked down. "It is". Silence. Ivy some what thought the water boy was doing this on purpose. She turned and headed for the door. "Wait". Pamela turned around. "If you hadn't continued your fight against Black Manta, I may not be here right now. Thank you, Pamela,". Ivy slightly smiled, then it dropped. "I'm not a team player Arthur but if I hadn't of become defensive at your comment, you most likely wouldn't have been hurt". Arthur sighed and laid back down. "You have survivor's guilt; I've seen it before. This injury is my own to bear". Ivy scoffed. "I'm no damsel in distress. I just wanted to check on you". With a bit of silence, Aquaman popped his head up with a snickered smile. "Want to check anything else?". Then chuckled at his tease. Ivy turned to fully face him. "If you'd like". The green seductress began walking to the King. He laughed, with a hint of anxiety, wondering if he bit off more than he could chew. "Wait, you know I was joking". She kept approaching. He stumbled back. "Halt!". Ivy stopped at the end of his bed and grabbed the bedframe firmly. "I was only going to check your wound. What else would I do?", she asked with a humorous false sense of naivety. Aquaman recomposed himself. "Nothing. Nothing at all", he lied. "Just what you thought, but the Nurses will check the wound". With hardly any hesitation after his sentence, the two doors opened, and two nurses came in. Ivy stepped back as they began to address his wound. "I'll be there soon in the Court Dining Room. You may return". Ivy turned back to the door. "Partner". Pamela winced at the word and turned to see Aquaman smiling with the sheet lowered to his waist as the two nurses worked on him. Ivy turned, not wanting to show any weakness, headed to the door and left. "Fish lipped Lizard" she thought walking to the door to the court's dining room. 

   Upon opening the door, she stormed into a group surrounding the table, breaking the conversation. She waved, trying to soothe the silence she just created. A waiter approached Ivy and the conversation returned to the table. Upon sitting, she noticed she was next to Harley. Did he arrange this? Harl slowly turned to Ivy. "So Red, did you, ya know?". A salmon dip was placed in front of Ivy. She took a chip and dipped it in. "Did what Harl?". Harley giggled, "Yah know, get some fish di-". Dr. Isley yelled cutting her off, "No Harl! He's not my type". The conversations around the table once again were cut off as all attention went to Ivy and Harley. Dr. Quinzel waved at the rest of the table while Ivy sat in silence, pretending she didn't exist. At the table, Batman, Wonder Woman, and a few guards were there. The Flash was also there, ironically missing the battle due to a delayed message; planned to stay for the meal. Batman broke the silence. "We all gave our all protecting Atlantis. It is something to be proud of". Diana joined in. "Agreed. Shall we give a toast?". The Dark Knight sat in his chair thinking. "I think I'll know what we'll toast to, but let's wait for Arthur". "No need".

   At the entrance of the dining room, Aquaman was present, with a nurse helping him to his chair at the end of the table. Ivy glanced at the Atlantean. Arthur caught her gaze. Upon making eye-contact, Ivy retreated, looking at Harley, then to her lap. Wonder Woman stood up. "He has arisen! Did your recovery go nicely". Arthur smiled. "It did. Thanks to a combination of natural and Atlantean remedies". At reaching the word 'natural', Arthur turned his gaze to Ivy, giving a silent acknowledgment of her assistance. Pamela, choosing to hold her gaze instead of retreating, slowly sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. Arthur sat down. "So, what did you want to toast to?" Batman reached for his glass and stood up. "Just a few days past, you spoke of never giving up, despite what we have lost recently. Even though we are without Superman, we still have each other". The dark knight softly thrusted his glass forward. "Hope. Hope is what I toast". Wonder Woman stood up. "To Hope!". Seemingly having teleported, The Flash stood up. "To Hope." The guards joined in. Harley bounced up, almost spilling her ice in her glass. "To Hope!!". Soon, all eyes fell on Arthur and Ivy. They both looked at each other. No one budged. The living embodiments of the Green and the Blue kept holding their gaze, either in respect or competition, it was hard to tell. Finally, Ivy read the room and stood. She hesitated a bit, perhaps at this whole notion of being in a team, then brought her glass out. "To Hope.". retreating her glass back, she glanced back at Arthur. He kept looking at her, then turned his gaze to the rest of the guests. Standing up, he joined in. "To Hope". All of them gave way to clapping and cheer. Except Ivy. She clapped a little, then turned to head to the hallway. She wanted, no, needed some air. Upon stepping outside, she took a deep breathe. The Green. It called to her. She didn't mind the whole team thing but being in a 'team' wasn't her thing. She always served the green, whether for herself or not, because it was who she was. Humanity at one point was the enemy. They were ruining it beyond measure, and no one was willing to go to the extremes to stop it. She was though. Yet, those days were over. Enslaving all of humanity was no longer a mission... mostly. Now, she knew human's role in the Red and its connection to the Green. Yet, she didn't want this team to pull her away from her main goal, protecting the green. Her first family.

   Ivy tilted her head back and rested it on the wall. After a minute, she felt like she was being watched. Opening her eyes, she noticed Arthur was there. Ivy was taken aback. "Sorry Dr. Isley. Didn't mean to intrude but is something troubling you?". Pamela tried to avoid the question with half-truths. "Not really, just needed some air". Aquaman sighed, then joined her leaning on the wall of the court hall. "Usually, when I need air, I'm thinking about something". Ivy grunted in her mind. "Great, another therapist" she thought. Arthur had a feeling she was uncomfortable with his presence. "I'll leave you be. Sorry for troubling you". He turned back to the door. Ivy began to rationalize. "If anyone can relate to me, it would be him. He loves the Blue just as I love the Green". Ivy clenched her fist, knowing if she went to him, there was no turning back from a partnership. Deciding to take the plunge, Ivy caught up to him and grabbed his wrist. "Wait". 

Endnotes:

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