Another day of cold, winter rain was pouring down on Gotham City. Another dark and dangerous night. Batman raced to find evidence that would unravel a plan Poison Ivy had committed months of work to.
"Two Bats. No Bird." Harley whispered to herself.
To his side was the brand new Batgirl. She was about Robin's age, but appeared to be amateur. Her costume looked homemade. Her tools as well. Harley watched from a safe distance as Batman and Batgirl made their way into Ivy's temporary lair by the docks.
Harley Quinn had been watching them from the shadows, determined to stay one step ahead of the heroes. She had been tracking the dynamic duo for days while Ivy retreated to Plan B.
"Ivy's been playing it clean for a year and no one stopped to check in on her?" Batgirl said.
"Harley must have blackmailed her probation officer." Batman replied.
"I thought you would've bugged her new place?" Batgirl said.
"I need my privacy. So do you. We take it away from someone who is innocent and what do they become?" Batman said.
"So is there a day in the future where we don't have to be so private about our identities?" Batgirl said.
Batman swished around. Batgirl rolled her eyes at his response.
She could see the determination in their eyes. Batgirl may have been new, but she was faster and more thorough than any cop she had seen. These two were different than anyone she had ever faced before. They were smart, resourceful, and they had a drive that she couldn't quite understand.
Harley was not about to retreat. She had her own agenda. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty to achieve it.
Using whatever tactics she had learned from Selina, Harley stayed just out of sight as they searched for clues. As they hovered over Ivy's chemistry set up, she remembered a vile that was left over. The younger, redheaded Bat had her eye on it.
Harley's heart was pounding in her chest as she watched them work. Ivy's plan was simple. Turn the abusive, angry men into vegetables. Give the power back to the women. She was tired of Rupert Thorne. She was tired of Carmine Falcone. The corrupt cops. Even the Mister Jays.
Even in her demented mind, she couldn't help but have a sense of respect for them. Bats might have had the moral high ground to stop them. She wasn't about to let that happen.
For a moment, Harley considered coming out of hiding, revealing herself to them, and offering her help. But she knew that would never work. They would never trust her, and she couldn't risk being caught.
So she stayed hidden, watching and waiting as they worked. Wondering how Batgirl even came into the picture. And if it had anything to do with Robin leaving.
If and when they finally found what they were looking for, she slipped away past the shadows of their hideout, her mind racing with the possibilities of what might come next.
"What did you find?" Batgirl asked Batman.
"We need to get this to the commissioner. Gotham might need to go on lockdown." Batman said.
"Tell her what the plan is Bats." Harley said.
Harley usually had a pistol. But this time she came out with a Russian military grade machine gun. Quick trigger. Bullets that would cause internal bleeding and guaranteed death. Even Batman held off on making a move.
"Ivy is going to use toxic gas to turn men of Gotham into..." Batman said.
"You know. If a rabid dog starts biting, we don't have a problem with putting it down. But rabid men have all the power because they bite whoever has it." Harley said.
"You want to turn all of the criminals into bread dead zombies?" Batgirl asked.
"Their families might actually take care of them if they've been treated." Harley replied.
"You're too smart to see that it wouldn't just affect some men, Harley. Your medical background is still inside of you." Batman said.
"That's the great part Batman. Because it was my IDEA!" Harley laughed.
"What do you mean?" Batgirl replied.
"For 6 years I thought that if I could fix one or two criminals then it'd be worth it. Want to know how many came out of Arkham and didn't go back to being a terrorist, abusive husband, shithead from hell?" Harley asked.
Harley walked over to her table. She saw a pink, spray painted canister. Even Batgirl knew that it was a homemade grenade. She had seen the Joker use them for years.
"Here's what's going to happen. I want to see you Batman. When it kicks in. I want to see you after Gotham's male population takes a step back in the right direction. No more chasing us. Batgirl you can take care of him. Or you can join us." Harley said.
Batman stomped his foot. He must have had a powerful flash grenade under his foot the whole time. Obviously fucking with Zantanna had included a magic lesson ro two.
Still blinded, Harley felt Batman pull the machine gun out of her hands and heard him disarm arm it before throwing it aside.
As her vision increased she felt Batgirl place Batman's cuffs onto her wrist. Pushing her butt to the cold cement ground and snapping the other cuff to the leg of Ivy's heavy duty lab table.
"Get off me you fucking Bitch!" Harley screamed.
Batman took the smoke grenade out of her hand.
"Batgirl! Get her other hand." Batman ordered.
But it was too late. t Harley's plans were not yet complete. She pulled out a small vial in a rectangle case from her bra and uncorked it, releasing a sweet, floral scent into the air. It almost sparkled throughout the dark room.
"What.... is that?" Batman.
"I told you my plan was to buy time for Ivy. And I just bought a ton of it." Harley giggled.
Batgirl pulled out a small gas mask from her belt.
