Inflorescence • Poison Ivy's Daughter

chapter twenty one ~ under my skin

Robin watched Bella with helpless eyes, she was leaned against the wall eye's closed with the picture of calm across her face. She had been like this ever since he had woken up, back in his cot. He didn't know how long he had been out, he didn't ask. Shame burned through him.

She had been the one being tortured, she had been the one who had needed him, but he couldn't do anything. He couldn't help her at all. Yet she was acting like it was nothing like she was fine just sitting here as soft jazz played through the speakers.

Robin opened his mouth to speak. What would he say, what could he say in this kind of situation? Was there anything? He didn't know how to comfort her, say it'll be okay, that they would get out of this. But he didn't know that, he couldn't say lie to her even if it helped, that wouldn't be fair. Robin closed his mouth, the jazz doing nothing to ease the tension.

'Can't they turn it off?' Robin growled to no one in particular.

Bella's eye's cracked open slightly, 'The music?'

'Yeah,' Robin blurted, caught off guard, 'Isn't it bad enough that we're here in the first place, I don't want to feel like I'm trapped in an elevator as well.'

Bella exhaled out of her nose and when Robin looked at her again he found a slight smile on her face. 'This music,' She said, 'Got me through last time. It's the best damn thing about this shit hole.'

'Couldn't they of picked a song I know then.'

Bella's stare locked on to his, 'You don't know who this is?'

Robin shook his head.

'Frank Sinatra you dingbat,' She exclaimed pulling herself to her feet and outstretching her hand, 'Come on.'

When he hesitated to take it she grasped his wrists, pulling him up to the center of the room. She laced her fingers through his and place one hand on her waist. Bella then placed her other hand to his biceps and began to sway to the tune.

Robin watched her with careful eyes as she masked any signs of pain from her face. She met his eyes with a smile on her face as she opened her mouth and began to sing.

'Don't you know, you fool. You never can win.'

Her voice was hoarse and far from sweet, but she stuck to the tune and Robin found the sound of her to be surprisingly pleasant.

'Use your mentality, wake up to reality'

Bella raised his arm and twirled under it, letting go of his hand only to grasp hold of his shoulders for support. Robin now realized how much pain she was in, her body trembled violently and she was covered in cold sweat. As he looked into her eyes he could see the tears that pricked them and how tightly her teeth were locked in her grin. But she didn't stop, so neither did he. He moved with her, pushing and pulling each other to the rhythm he wasn't too sure on the words but Robin began to sing along, he sang with such a loud cheer that neither minded.

'And each time I do just the thought of you, makes me stop before I begin. 'Cause I've got you under my skin.'

Then Bella stumbled on her feet, her knees giving way so her body pressed into his.

'Keep singing.' She hissed in his ear before he had the chance to stop as she wrapped her arms around his neck. 'I know you don't trust me, but we're out of options so if you want to get out of here play along. Can you do that?'

She pulled back so she could see his face, her eyes bore into his pleading and desperate. As Robin continued to sing.

'I would sacrifice anything come what might, for the sake of having you near. In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night and repeats how it yells in my ear.'

Slowly he nodded, Bella smiled slightly in relief and pressed her lips to his.

Don't you know, you fool

That ain't no just win

Why not use your mentality

Wake up, step up to reality

And each time I do just the thought of you

Makes me stop just before I begin

Because I've got you under my skin

Yea, you grab me under my skin