Inflorescence • Poison Ivy's Daughter

chapter seventeen ~ playing dirty

Robin sat on top of the skyscraper, one leg dangling off the ledge as the sharp wind blew around him. He tugged on his hair, boring. Everything was boring, there was nothing to catch his interest tonight. No end of the world to prevent. No complex murder to solve. Boring.

Even the sky was boring he thought as he looked up at the starless sky, covered in a thick cloud of smog. His thoughts caught on the image of glowing green eyes.

He tugged his hair sharply. He shouldn't be thinking of Bella, but lately, she had entered his thoughts anyway. She was a puzzle he wanted to solve, a great enigma. His trip to the East side had stuck with him, this girl had far more layers then he'd first thought, or hoped for admittedly. Villains were easy to take down when they're thought of as villains, not young girls who are trying to do right in the wrong way.

Something moved in the shadows on the top of the buildings, he narrowed his eyes, had he imagined it? No, he spotted it again. Closer this time so he could make out the running figure and their long flowing hair trailing behind them.

'Bella.' he breathed with a smile. He shot out a rope swinging down the roof behind her with a flushed flip. She whirled around at the sound of his feet hitting the concrete.

'It's been a while, Bella, up to no good?'

Her green eyes glared at him from the dim lighting. 'Last time I checked running wasn't a crime, pretty bird.'

Robin's eyes widened at her appearance, hers narrowed, 'What?'

Robin swiftly averted his eyes, a dim rose color spread across his tanned cheeks 'Been swimming recently?

Bella glanced down at herself, her training clothes, a sports bra, and sneakers were all drenched along with her hair and body. She sighed placing a hand on her curved hips, 'I hit something I shouldn't of.' she admitted.

'Well, that's what happens when you go around hitting things. That, and getting arrested.'

She grinned manically at him as she stepped onto the building's ledge behind her, 'You'd have to catch me first.'

Robin lunged forward but Bella took another step backwards.

'Look ou-' Robin cried but her body fell quick and fast over the edge. He rushed forward and off the building using his grappling hook to ease his fall. His feet still landed hard on the floor, pain shooting up from his ankles. He ignored the pain and looked around, no mangled body or splattered corpse.

Something shot out towards him, he spun out of its way as it crashed into the wall behind him. A whip.

'That was dirty,' he said pulling out his staff.

'I usually am,' Bella smirked, her whip retracting before she swiped it towards Robin again in a fluid motion. Robin leapt, grasping hold of an above fire escape, swinging off it landing behind Bella, she turned but Robin was quick and swept her feet out from under her. Bella fell back landing on her hands kicking up towards Robins' chin. He blocked her left leg, but Bella twisted her stance sending her right one across his face. A crack sounded as pain shot through Robins body. He pulled back, clutching his jaw.

'You have acrobatic training!' Robin remarked.

'Upset that you're not that special birdie?' she snarked.

'Not at all.' Robin said as he pulled his fingers into a fist and swung at her, she dodged, he swung again, then again, then again. He was sharper then he was before, faster too. She dodged and blocked but they came quickly, too quickly, hitting her jaw, arms, and chest. Alright time to really play dirty. She waited until his fist connected with her arm before she gasped in pain, staggering backwards slightly. Robin's brow furrowed, partly in concern but more so in confusing, he hesitated. Bella took her chance, took hold of Robins' forearm twisting it towards her before moving her legs up and around his neck, using her strength and weight to pull him to the ground. She dug her knees into his thighs and grabbed both his wrists above his head, pinning him to the ground electric green eyes sparkling as they looked down at him.

She let out a breathy laugh, 'I think you might be even prettier from this angle.'

She was so close to him, the smell of rose petals stroked his lungs, intoxicating. His limbs trembled as he struggled against her grip, but she was stronger than before and she hardly budged. He squinted his eyes, sweat trickling down his forehead and in one desperate push, he bolted upright tearing himself from Bella's grasp. Her hands fell away with ease, her head slumping to fall onto his shoulder.

'What the...' Robin muttered, moving Bella's limp body away from his finding her eyes shut and a thin needle on the side of her neck. 'Aw cra-' a quick zip snapped in the air and he felt a sharp pinch on his neck. Robin crumbled to the floor unable to move as all feeling drained from his body. His vision clouded, he struggled to keep his eyelids open, he looked at Bella, her Mahogany waves spilling around her like blood and click wooden heels sounded behind him, the noise of expensive shoes on asphalt. He couldn't turn his head to see a who was approaching, they stepped over him stopping just next Bella.

Robin tried to shout but he could only manage to make a strangled noise from the back of his throat. The man glanced over his shoulder towards Robin before disinterestedly turning back to Bella and leaning down to stroke her hair. Robin could only make out the man's sinister smile and spectacles as black took over his vision.