The Darkest of Knights

"Well yeah she shot you.." Dick said in a moment of confusion, and not having the right words to say, scared he might screw up. "But you were attacking her with a chainsaw at the time." Dick said uneasily.

"I figured.." Karmy grumbled as she put her forehead against her knees, covering her head with her arms in frustration. Her entire left arm gave a sickening throb every time her heart beat. "I don't even remember any of that.. I'm not even sure if I want to. You hate me and Alice obviously does for whatever happened. I've lost her again."she gave a heavy, tired sigh, her body shook with grief and exhaustion.

Dick was about to do a darring move that might get him sent to the North Pole or the Andes Mountains, he still had to search for Barbara. He had to. Dick rested his hand on Karmy's shoulders. "We don't hate you Karmy. The reason why we do these things are to keep you safe. We love you." He said. "I checked the rooms Dick, she's not there." The voice of Alice came as she walked downstairs. "I thought you said that she would be- Oh my god!! Karmy!"

Karmy wasn't sure if she believed Dick or not, but she could worry about that later. She had jumped when she had heard Alice's voice her head spinning a a bit from the blood loss. "Sh-..." she wanted to get up and run, to portal away from them, but she had no energy left. So all she could do was to not look at Alice.

"Oh, don't worry about it, You didn't hurt yourself running into me, didja'?" Cyrah said, realizing this was the first time she had poped a joke about herself without feeling all emo afterwards- the encounter at the pit did mroe then heal zero, she noted she really did feel mroe confident about her body then ever after that speech. "Hey, y'know, you're one of the only people in this tower I haven't really thoroughly pestered quite yet." She said playfuly, jokingly leaning on Robin and giving a devious look.

Cassius had plodded about the tower looking for Karmy to make sure she was allright- he knew she was still probably in rough shape from being without the bag an all, something he still owed Slade for in the form of breaking a few of his limbs.

But even knowing she was in rough shape, him finally finding her in a room with a slit wrist and puddles of her own blood was shocking to say the least. "What the F*CK!?!" He said in shock, and moved to her at blinding speed. He took one look at the injury to know what had gone down. A tense moment passed.....

And then Cassius pointed a scolding finger at her. "Why would you do something like this?! Explain yourself!" He said, his intense voice laced with concern- deep down, he was truly scared sh*tless for Karmy......

Batman pulled his mask over his face, and turned to Alice and Cassius. "If you don't mind," He said, lightliy pushing the two away from Karmy, "we we're having a conversation." Alice took a step forward. "Why did you tell me Karmy was in one of the rooms?" She asked Batman angrily. "So you won't look here." Batman said pushed her back again.

Great, now Alice and Cassius were here, Karmy should have killed herself when she had the chance. Now she was gonna have to deal with both of them and probably Cyrah later, and pretty much everyone else. Maybe if she could slip away, she could go jump off the tower or find some pills to overdose on, she wondered to herself.

"Now Alice. We were having a breakthrough." Batman told Alice shooing her away. "Cassius leave. Now."

Cassius was about to protest the matter, but decided he needed to trust this phase to Greyson. Besides, lord knew he was better at rasing his family then he was. He gave Greyson a 'I hope you know what you're doing' look and left the room

"Yo, what's going on in there?" Cyborg asked Alice and Cassius as they walked out.

"Where were we?" Batman asked Karmy unmasking himself again. He needed her to trust him. He needed to find Barbara.

The villains of Gotham gathered on a small island listening to a radio. Scarecrow was on a phone he nabbed from a gaurd talking to The Riddler. "Why did you bring him along?!"
"You're the Riddler! You figure that out!"
"Why on earth did you bring The Joker?!"
"Because I thought he could be helpful"
"He's going to kill everyone on that island! And laugh about it! That wasn't a part of the deal Crane, you work for me now, and if you want any more material for your happy gas you're gonna have to make sure the raven crows twice!"
"What?" The Scarecrow asked as The Riddler hung up the phone. "Is that... A riddle?" He asked perplexed.

"I was trying to kill myself if I recall correctly." Karmy replied, kinda wanting to be left alone, but she had a feeling that after that stunt, they would be keeping a close eye on her. "Thank you, by the way." she really didn't know what she was thanking him for, but she felt like she had to.

"Don't mention it." Dick said looking back at the door, he was taking Cyrah's example of selflessness and taking his time with Karmy instead of leaving her to herself. He kept thinking in his head that it was for the better. "Karmy. I want you to trust me from now on, okay?" He asked her. "I only do what I do because I'm either looking out for you or the others."

"Hey Joker." Scarecrow called. "Joker get over here." He called him over.

Karmy looked Dick in the eye's, her own changed to a pale rose color. She wasn't too sure if she could or would ever really trust him, but that didn't mean sure she couldn't try. For the sake of Alice. "Alright.." she said in an ever so sad tone.

"Ah ah ah," Joker leaned back in his chair and wagged a finger. "You didn't say the magic word!" he grinned wickedly.

Dick smiled, he wasn't sure if her eyes changing colors meant anything, but he knew that if she even hinted a "yes" that was good sign. He helped Karmy up. "You want to see Zero? He can heal you. He really has changed after the pit, and I'm sure he wants to see you too." Dick encouraged.

"Joker get the f*ck over here now." Scarecrow said unamused. "We're planning to jump the bat when he first arrives and you're only gonna hurt us, we need to talk." He said.

"I don't want to be healed." Karmy said as they headed up the stairs. "And I'm sure Zero is showing Ivy just how healed he is, so I'll see him in a few hours." she kept her eye's peeled for Cassius. "Can.. Can I be by myself for a while?" she asked, not really knowing why she did. She could easily escape from Dick and never be found alive, but... Maybe she could.

"Well, I do love hurting people." Joker smirked as he stayed in his seat. He was back in his old uniform, with all the accommodations he had kept stored away in the pockets. "I think I'll just watch you guys fight the bat, I've got my own ways." he leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "I love a good show."

"Yeah. But only because I trust you." Dick said pulling his mask back on and heading to the garage to try to find some clues on where to find Barbara. Dick knew she had to be healed if they were going to go to Metropolis. Alice was trailing behind him. "Where's Karmy?" She asked. "She wants to be alone." He said inspecting the area around where the R-Cycle use to be. "Shouldn't we.." "No just leave her alone. Are you going to help me find Barbara or not?" He asked. "Yeah..."

"Not the point. You can't be with us so beat it before I get Bane on your ass." Scarecrow explained. "The boats at the docks of the island arre still there, go take one away from Gotham." He said.

"Nuthin'." Cassius grumbled to Cyborg as he clopped out. He began to wonder just why he bothered anymore- the bats and Alice were on better terms with two of his three children then even he was, he felt attempting was a lost cause and withdrew his flask, taking an unhealtily large swig and replacing it. It's not like he begrudged it- like any decent parent, he wanted the best for his family. But it was depressing if he wasn't needed in that figure...............

"Nahhhhhhhhhhhh. Just means we ought to hang out or something." Cyrah said to Nicole, in a friendly tone. She figured she needed to start getting comfortable around the Bats, and Nicole seemed cool in her book.

"No one should trust me.." Karmy whispered after everyone was out of sight. Almost immediately, she turned on her heal and headed towards the entrance of the tower. Once out side, she headed straight for the water, dropping the lantern bag down, she didn't need it where she was going. Without any hesitation, she walked right into the chilled pacific waters and kept on walking. The waves crashed against her, but she didn't care. The water was up to her waist now, she kept on. Stumbling a bit from a large wave, she held her ground for a moment, but continued. The salty water was stinging her busted arm, but she didn't care. "It'll be over soon.." she mumbled as she continued on, mentally unstable and delirious. It was up to her shoulders by the time she reached the drop off of the sandy bottom and she began to sink down, not even bothering to try and resurface.

Cassius was about to further drown his mind in the foul grog he was swigging when he caught Karmy wading in the water out the window. His initial thought was that Karmy was just taking a breath. But when she waded out UNDER the watter, he decided it was as good a time as ever to freak. Charging like a bull- nearly running over a few people in the process- he dashed outside as quick as he could. He dashed to the watter and plunged his hand in, snatching up Karmy by the seat of her trousers and plopping her back on the sure. "Karmy what was THAT about!?! Any reason You're TRYING to kill yourself?" Casisus barked, panicked as a deer in Bass pro shops.

Good thing that not all the blood stains on Karmy's white shirt had been washed away. She lay on the ground shivering from the cold and hiding her face from Cassius. "I don't belong here! I'm useless to all of y'all. Just let me die Cass! I was going to do it 2 years ago if you remember, and you didn't try to stop me then!"

"I didn't consider you my daughter two years ago, and those were very different circumstances!" Cassius scolded. "Don't belong here? Get a grip, Woman!" He further scolded. "Think of all the good you've done! THink about Alice, you pulled her back from Slade! ANd Sarah, you helped to save her from that bastard Ben! All this good you've done and you still doubt yourself? All this talent and you don't recognize it!?" Cassius scolded intenseley. He then knelt down by Karmy. "You don't need to shoulder this pain- you are a talented, wonderful person, you belong here more then most people." He said, and held out his hand to help Karmy up.

Slade had taken a while, but he finally reached Jump City. Ras had hire dhim for a big job- a big BIG job. And he needed nothing short of a whole army, just collecting dust in a warehouse. Slade figured it was high time he came back for what was his.......

Karmy stared up at Cassius for a moment and then reached for his hand "I-" she stopped. The lantern ring was bright red and the needle was pointing to the north instead of the east. It was hot on her finger and she knew right then and there; "Slade.." she hissed and looked at Cassius. "He's here." and without another word, she snapped her fingers and was off in the city, starting her search for him.

Crimson had just overheard Karmy and Cassius talking and wish he hadnt. "Did that girl just attempt suicide?!" he said. Dear lord.....whats the world coming to?" Crimson then became very sick to his stomach and sat down. "And now she's going off looking for trouble in that condition?!" Crimson said.

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious, einstein!" Cassius snorted as he ran past. He flipped on his headset in his helmet as he clopped it on. "Karmy just took off after Slade, I need some goddamn wheels and I need 'em PRONTO!" Cassius said, impatient to no end. Crimson was right about one thing- in her current condition, Karmy didn't stand much of a chance against Slade, which only made Cassius get all that much mroe antsy......

Ivy clung to Zero tightly, examining his younger appearance with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Without the tattoos, should we even call you Zero now?" She teased lightly. Just then, Cassius's message beeped through, and she loosened her hold on Zero. "Karm!" she groaned, wondering how her friend always managed to make a scene.
---
Astro was glad to have found the mission to be a success and giddily awaited for their departure to Metropolis. Soon everything would be fine again, the generator knocked out and the world, for the moment, safe. At least, that was his way of thinking. He wandered aimlessly through the tower, exploring.
---
Poison Ivy frowned.

Her expression deepened, she stared at the blank wall with dissatisfaction in herself. Batman, the grand Bat, and his whole merry crew were out of Gotham. The Police Department were hardly, if ever, a challenge. And, to make things worse, she had Harvest at her disposal.

And she had done nothing.

"Nothing. I haven't done a single thing." She spat to herself, turning from the wall to the other side of her cluttered residence for the moment. Really, it was some boarded up apartment building she had scavenged, most likely scheduled for demolition. For her own safety, she chose the sturdiest room she could have found on the first floor. Already she had grown sick of the place, hoping to find another more civilized home in a greenhouse, or temporary hotel room. With Bats gone, I may as well claim a whole hotel as my own. she thought, joking only for the moment.

Harvest followed her every movement, leaves rustling as it did. Surely he had grown tired of the scenery as well, the only light supplied by sunlight filtering through grimy windows, the room itself filthy. Such thoughts of complaint weren't within the thick minded creature's grasp, it relying only on the sense of it's "Mother's" company. As long as Poison Ivy was there, he was fine.

"Come along, sweetie." She cooed, walking out the door. "Time to find another home." The villainess pranced out the door, her child pursuing her quickly. She found no actual need to cling to the shadows, hide from the police, without the overhanging threat of Batman, but she did so nonetheless. She wasn't in the mood for any ruckus now, not after the Zombie Apocalypse she had to survive. The only trouble she would tolerate would be her favorite kind:

The kind she caused.

(Getting back into it post. Wee~)