Author's note: I'm dedicating this chapter to Allaine, who I know as one of the world's biggest Poison Ivy fans. ;]

~ ~ ~

Pamela Isley wandered through Robinson Park, clad in jeans and a flannel shirt, taking in the freshly planted shrubs and vines. It had taken her all day, but she had enjoyed the time spent laboring in the sun to plant these new children. They were all her children. Every last blade of grass thrived here because of her protection. In turn, the plants protected her when the Dark Knight stalked her in the park.

Brushing the dirt from her hands, Ivy took one final look at her work in the dimming light. With a smile, she headed back to her hideout in the series of old, rundown greenhouses in the park. The greenhouse had been a point of interest in the park years ago, housing flower shows, and exhibits on flora from around the world. Ivy took them over after the funding and interest for such events dried up. Now they were her home, lab, and storage area.

"What are you doing here?" she frowned, looking at the stray cat clawing at the frame of her front door. "Shoo! Go away! And don't you let me catch you using my babies to sharpen your claws!"

The cat looked at her with large, unblinking green eyes. Sitting up straight, it curled its tail around its toes. In a huff, Ivy opened the door of the greenhouse, the cat shooting past her.

"Stupid... Damn furball! Get out of here, you filthy beast!"

She began looking around where the cat disappeared, checking behind the crates and the mishmash of garden items stacked around. The cat couldn't have gotten too far. Still, it was nowhere to be seen. Out of frustration, Ivy kicked the bottom of a large stack of boxes, cursing the feline's intrusion of her space. All she wanted right now was to take a hot bath and soak away the stiffness of her muscles. Either Ivy kicked the boxes a little harder than she meant, or the cat was hiding on the top. Whichever it was, an avalanche of books and papers came tumbling down on her, knocking her unconscious.

~ ~ ~

She first became aware of the horribly itchy, rough rope that bound her wrists in her lap, and wound around her ankles and neck, securing her to a chair. Giving the bonds an experimental tug, she realized that whoever had tied her knew exactly what they were doing. The tugs she gave didn't loosen the knots at all, but simply pulled them tighter.

Ivy took in her surroundings. It was a rather nondescript storage area. Wooden crates sat around on the concrete floor, some covered with tarp. She could just make out the weak glow of windows, showing her the washed out night sky. The entire place was very dimly lit, more shadows than light. Faintly, she could smell the ocean, so she knew she must be near the docks. A few feet in front of her sat a pot of daisies. From her seat she could smell the rich loam of the soil the flowers were nestled in.

A noise caught her ear, just to her left. Staying calm, she cocked her head in that direction. Dead silence met her. The same noise came from her right, closer this time. It sounded like scratching, and a faint nasally breathing. She'd heard that noise before. It was the noise of a large feline. Catwoman had to be behind this!

"Alright, Selina! What have I done now to piss you off?" Ivy said aloud.

"Selina? No, I am not Selina," a voice purred. It came from right behind her now. There was an odd pitch to it, feminine, definitely, but...

"If you're not Catwoman, who the hell are you?"

"You lied to me, Pam. Lied and hurt someone I care for very much." The voice moved from behind her, to her right. "Worst of all, that lie made me hurt him because I made the mistake of listening to your false words."

"Query?" Ivy asked, tentatively.

Ivy nearly knocked her chair over when a full-grown tiger landed in front of her, snarling. Its fangs were at least four inches long, and looked deadly sharp as they glistened in the faint light. The tiger padded in front of Ivy, its large green eyes locking with Ivy's, communicating instant death for her if the tiger pleased. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the tiger vanished back into the shadows to her left.

"Congratulations, Pam. You win the Kewpie doll," Query said, stepping out of the shadows directly in front of Ivy.

A sigh of relief escaped the woman's lips, and she let out a small laugh. "For a minute there, I thought you were that overbearing bitch, Catwoman. Funny, Query. Now untie me."

Query made no move to do as the woman asked. Instead, she took a step backward, the shadows swallowing her immediately. "Give me a good reason to untie you," she said, her voice taking on that strange quality again.

"Oh, c'mon, Q! You're not still mad about what I said in the Iceberg, are you? Get real! It was just sex!"

This time, it was a full-grown leopard that landed in front of Ivy, and this time, it swatted at her with long claws. A swatch of Ivy's flannel, button-up shirt came off in its claws. Her skin remained unblemished, but she visibly paled. As the tiger had done, the leopard disappeared into the shadows.

"You drugged him with your pheromones, and then raped him. That is not 'just sex,' Pamela. That is sexual assault. You're no better than the men who drug and rape women." Her voice was eerily calm.

A vicious smile crossed Ivy's face. "What's the real problem, Dee? Mad that I had him first? I already told you he wasn't good. Probably the worst lay I've ever had. The man couldn't find the clitoris with a map and directions!"

Silence settled in the room. A feline tail flicked across Pam's shoulders, causing her to jump, and she felt hot breath as the feline snarled in her ear. She looked around to see where the cat was, but as fast as it had touched her, it was gone. In rage, she struggled against the rope that held her. The knots grew tighter, cutting off her circulation.

From the darkness, Query answered. "Did you ever think that maybe you're not so good at satisfying yourself? You were the one controlling him." There was a pause, and she continued. "No. I knew I wasn't his first. I could even accept that he had slept with you, had it been his own will. But the fact is you forced him."

"He never asked me to stop! He wanted more! He begged me for more, Query! 'More, my green goddess! More!' It was pathetic!" spat Ivy.

Landing in front of her in a crouch, Query snapped the end of her bo staff under Pam's chin as she stood. "Because you drugged him! You took advantage of him, and raped him! Admit it Pam! Admit that you are nothing more than a sexual predator when it comes to men! You don't really want them, you just want to abuse them and toss them aside like so much refuse!" she shouted.

One redhead looked at the other. Though her outward appearance was cool, Query's rapid breathing gave away her anger. She lowered the staff, and stepped up to Ivy, placing her hand under the woman's chin, forcing her head up.

"You crave power. You crave what you can't have without your tricks. Seeing Eddie with me pisses you off, doesn't it? I know I don't have the looks that you do. I know I'm far plainer in the face. What you can't stand is that Eddie actually wants to be around me, without having to drug him. I don't have to control him to get attention. I don't have to control anyone to get any attention. But you do. It eats at you every day, I can tell."

Ivy fumed at the words. But Query's exposed skin touched hers, and she was going to learn a lesson about playing with poison. As Query spoke, Ivy began to generate toxins that would allow her to control the other woman. A sharp smell of hot peppers and ginger began to fill the area. Query merely smiled as she looked down at the other woman.

"Such a shame that won't work on me," Query said, keeping her hand on Ivy's chin.

Ivy gasped as her chair was knocked over, her head hitting the concrete floor hard enough to daze her. She blinked, spots swimming in front of her eyes. Damnit! Why hadn't her toxins worked?!

"Because you gave me that shot, remember?"

Ivy's eyes went wide, not realizing she'd spoken out loud.

Query shook her head as her hand tightened on Poison Ivy's throat. "It's a shame you don't remember things like that. You really ought to keep track of whom you immunize. But I do thank you for the shot. Which is why I'm not going to kill you."

Taking a hold of the torn shirtfront, Query lifted Pam back up. Settling herself on the floor in front of Ivy, Query took the potted daisies into her lap, stroking the plant. When she spoke, her voice was calm.

"Each of these flowers might look the same, but they're all different. I'm sure you knew that. Each one has a tiny difference here and there. A deviation that separates it from the other. I'm sure that you could easily tell the difference between one of your flowers by these differences. But tell me, Pam, could you tell me any specific detail about any of your victims that would give them an individual face?"

"They're all the same," she growled in response. "All the same. All horny, idiot males!"

"Horny, only because you wanted them to be," reminded Query, lifting a finger. "Do you even look at those you take to bed with you? Do you notice the person you're with? Do you take the time to look at the body of the man you just had?"

"Why should I? They mean nothing to me! Just toys," sneered Ivy.

"Because it's what separates a lover from a rapist. If you were interested in being the lover of any of those men, you would have noticed little things about them. If you can even tell me one detail of Eddie's body that no one, other than an intimate lover would know, I'll spare you any further questions and let you go. I'll forget everything that happened between us, and start new."

Poison Ivy watched Query who sat with her head down, gently petting the daisies. And people thought she was crazy! What did it really matter anyway? Edward Nigma had begged her that night. Begged her repeatedly for sex. Sure, it was her will. She had wanted to be worshiped, and even if she had to force that veneration, she had gotten it. Along with the reverence, she had gotten her revenge on the imbecile for his comments to her that night.

"He has no distinguishing markings," she finally said.

Query's hand went into the daisies, ripping a large chunk out of them. From where she sat, Ivy could feel the sudden pain of the plant wash over her. It felt as if she had been punched in the stomach.

"Don't lie to me, Pam. You just didn't notice, because you treated him like an object. Like a weed in your prize roses. If you had looked, you would notice many things about him. If you had taken the time to look; been a lover, instead of violating an unwilling person." As she spoke, she continued to slowly pluck leaves, flower heads, and stems from the potted plant. Each new tear at the plant made Ivy spasm in sympathy as the sap sang for help. "He's a good man. Something you should know something about. Despite what you did to him, he remained your friend; treated you with respect. Respect you never deserved from someone like him."

Looking up, Query cast her cold gaze at Ivy. Query knew exactly where each and every freckle on Eddie's body was. She had run her fingers over each and every scar, and memorized the exact shape and placement of the birthmark he had. She now stood, carrying the ruined plant to Ivy, shoving it in the woman's face.

"This is what you did to him that night. This plant will heal, and eventually, on the outside, you'll never be able to see the damage. But the plant will retain the memory of the violation. It's the same with each and every man you have ever raped. Though you might tell him he won't remember, his subconscious will. He will always remember the pain you put him through, and how you made him feel like nothing. Even if you don't rape the body, you still rape the mind. To me and Eddie, what you do isn't 'just sex.'"

Thrusting the plant onto Ivy's lap, Query once more stepped into the shadows. Pam waited for a moment, expecting her to reappear at any moment, hands tightening on the potted plant. Five minutes passed. Then ten. Silence.

"Query! Query, get back here! Don't you dare leave me tied up like this! I swear I will get you back!"

"No you won't, Pam," her voice said, echoing around.

"Yes I will!" She had barely said that when a raw steak landed in her lap between her body and the plant. The warm juices from it quickly started to soak through her clothing. From behind her, a large lioness suddenly appeared, walking around front. "Query! Get these stinking cats away from me!" she said, not noticing the hint of fear in her voice.

The lioness stared at her, unblinking. It lifted its head, sniffing in Ivy's direction. Licking its chops, the lioness took a step toward Pam, reaching a paw up, claws fully extended. Pam screamed shrilly, causing the lioness to lay her ears back. Panicking, Ivy started to thrash in her seat, the motion causing the chair to scoot back, away from the beast. The flowers landed on the floor with a thud as the terracotta pot cracked. The movement seemed to energize the feline, and it crouched down, tail lashing as it prepared to pounce. As the creature lurched forward, Ivy closed her eyes, still shrieking.

The expected attack never came, however. Cautiously, Ivy opened her eyes. Standing in front of her, eating the raw steak was Query. Only she was in a humanoid feline shape, with fur the same tawny gold the lioness had. As Ivy looked at her, Query put a foot on Ivy's knee, tearing a chunk from the dripping steak. Chewing it, she leaned in, her nose a fraction of an inch from Ivy's. The smell of raw meat drifted around Ivy, making her feel nauseated.

"You won't tell a soul about this, and you won't try for revenge on me. Why? Because, you know I'm right. No one else, it seems, has had the guts to tell you this. Or maybe they haven't been able to make you listen. The male rogues certainly haven't said anything. They know what you would do to them if they did. Like all the other victims of rape, they're too ashamed to come forward. More so, since they're men." She placed a sharp claw against Ivy's jugular, forcing her face up again. "As a woman, and from what I know about your past, you know exactly what it's like to be in that position. To feel helpless and weak. It's why you do what you do."

"They deserve it." Ivy tried to make it sound like she meant it, but the words came out halfheartedly. With more venom, she spat, "A man took my body away from me!"

"No, Pam. A man didn't take your body away. He took away Pamela Lillian Isley, and created Poison Ivy. From the rape of your mind and body, you became who you are today. You took your own body away from yourself with your actions after. Hate humanity all you want. There are good people out there, even on our side. Eddie is one of them, and he deserved so much more from you.

"So he made a comment about Harvey and Roxy. So what? He makes flippant comments all the time. It's how he boosts his own ego and esteem. It makes him feel intelligent to snap out a witty comment now and then. Why didn't you go after Harvey, the one you were really mad at? Would it have killed you to shrug his remark off for what it was?" Query gave the woman a disgusted look. "It probably would have. You would never relate plants to humans, but I will. The hurt that your plants feel when someone tears a flower, or leaf, is the same as the pain you give to your victims."

By now, Ivy's shoulders sagged against her bonds. Her head tilted forward, and unbidden tears of anger and frustration fell from her eyes. Though she denied it in her mind, she knew in her heart what Query said was the truth. All those men she had put under her spell, she had done so in effort to prove that she was stronger than them. That she, Poison Ivy, would not be brought down by men, because men would heel at her side with a mere flick of her finger! It was how she had always distanced herself from the rest of the women. She didn't need a man in her life. To see another woman fawn over a man made her ill. To see that man return that woman's affections willingly... That pushed her over the edge.

"Why? What makes you so special that he would care about you at all without manipulation?" asked Ivy.

Query now kneeled in front of her, her eyes sympathetic. "Because, Pam. I treat him with respect and care, the same way you treat your plants. I treat him that way, because I really do care about him. Knowing that someone he trusted would go and harm him for a few silly words cut me to the core. Did you know that he trusted you? That he respected you? Before I knew any of this, when I had first met him and we would sit around talking, he always spoke of you with respect." She lowered her head momentarily. "Now, I'm not certain if he would respect or trust me after what I did to him. All because of you."

"Why shouldn't he? If what you say is true, that is."

"Because in the end, I treated him as poorly as you did. I acted like he was nothing more than a male chauvinist, collecting women to him so he can brag. He was always a gentleman to me, though. I know that he hasn't ever told anyone details us. He never will. He's never spoken about what you did to him, either. Do you know why?"

Ivy shook her head.

"He hasn't spoken about us, because it's no one's business but ours. He hasn't talked about you and him, because, not only is it no one's business but his and yours, he's embarrassed." Query paused. "I notice you don't speak of any of these conquests of yours. The only one you openly admit to having sex with is Harvey. We all know you don't have to douse him in pheromones to make him come to you. So why don't you talk about the others?"

"They're nothing to talk about," Ivy answered, stubbornly.

"Stop lying to yourself, Pam. The truth is, your actions don't sit well with you any more than being raped sits well with your victims. Talking about it just reminds you of how shamefully you acted. And those memories burn you, don't they?"

She gave a barely perceptible nod. "I'm sorry, Dee. I shouldn't have been the one to tell you what happened. Especially not the way I told you. I wanted to be your friend, but... The two of you...! I'm so used to Harley and that 'relationship' of hers. I guess I was trying to make you see that Eddie isn't the guy you thought he was."

"But he is." She took hold of the other woman's hands. "Pam, you're beautiful. Men would flock to you without your tricks. It's your volatility that pushes them away, and forces you to use pheromones."

Ivy gave a bitter laugh. "What are you, a doctor now?"

"No. You don't exactly hide your thoughts and intentions. I should've realized what you were doing to me that night. I was too immersed in my emotions to see clearly. The alcohol didn't help. You manipulated me that night, but you did it without your pheromones." Query shook her head as she stood. "I don't expect you to change, and I don't expect that you'll ever apologize to Eddie for what you did to him. Just know that I can communicate with felines in a similar way that you communicate with plants."

"All those cats tonight, those were all you? Or did you take them from the zoo?"

Query simply smiled. "You won't ever be certain if it's me, or a real cat. And I will warn you, that when I'm in cat form, I don't always think with human thoughts. If someone threatens those I love, I won't hold back, and I will kill. I've done it before, plenty of times. I'm going to try to get Eddie back. But if I fail, I will still protect him from afar. Should I hear that you, or anyone else has harmed him, I will not be responsible for my actions."

Looking into Query's eyes, Ivy could see the woman was telling the truth. Her mood was too somber for her to be bluffing.

"You're right, you know. No one has ever told me to my face what they really think of me. Oh, perhaps someone once tried. They never made it to the end of their speech."

She smiled, pulling out the question mark handled dagger Eddie had given her. Flipping it idly in her hand, she walked to the back of the chair.

"You know, Pam, you really aren't a bad person. You just have some serious issues that you need to deal with." Query sliced through the one piece of rope holding the entire bond together. The rope fell away. "I know what you did to him was wrong, but for his sake, and the fact that I already have more enemies than any one girl needs in this city, I'm willing to put this aside and try to be your friend again."

"You won't think ill of me?"

"Oh, no. You're a bitch. A total, manipulating, selfish bitch. When it comes to men, that is. And if you ever lay a hand on my boyfriend again, I'll gut you from nose to navel, and use you for fertilizer. But I'm willing to move past what happened, so long as you keep your fronds to yourself."

For the first time that night, Poison Ivy smiled a genuine smile as Query offered her a hand up. Rubbing her wrists where the rope had been, Ivy tilted her head at Query. "Even Harley would never say that to me."

"You've never seduce her boyfriend," retorted Query, collecting the rope.

"True."

In the same breath, they both added, "Who would want to?!"
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