"Kid...napping..." Barry's face showed a conflicted expression; this word didn't sound like a good word.
"Hmm, let's put it differently. It's surveillance that restricts personal freedom for the survival of the world," Su Ming thought for a moment and reorganized his words, but the actual action wasn't going to change.
Briss nodded first, surveillance, that was acceptable, she did just that for Gotham City.
"That sounds much better, thank you." Barry sighed helplessly.
Su Ming clapped his hands, telling Cindy to continue resting here; her injuries and internal toxins needed time to be dealt with. Next, it would still be just him, Barry, and Batwoman taking action.
"So Barry, once you're full, we'll hit the road. Let's head to Gotham's flower market first."
"Alright, let's go."
Barry picked up Su Ming and Briss, and dashed out from the Bat Cave's main door. Within Divine Speed, Briss guided the direction, and the three soon arrived in the area dense with flower shops.
It was just past six in the morning, but it showed no signs of daylight. Dark clouds blocked everything, and a storm swept through the city.
The streets were still pitch black, the three emerged from Divine Speed wading in water above their knees, with heavy rain washing over every inch of their uniforms.
"This is the place with the most concentrated flower shops in Gotham, and Poison Ivy often frequents the area," Briss led them to a street, behind each shop were several enormous greenhouses, which looked like a botanical garden, but some roofs had been damaged by the storm.
"Speaking of Poison Ivy, Cindy first got a task where the Jester wanted to send word to find you. Next time she asks, you'll be able to prove we delivered the message, right? Cindy is still waiting for her money," Su Ming kicked open a store's door, and inside was a scene of flooding, with everything submerged in water, and debris floating on the surface.
"The Jester had better behave now; I don't have time to deal with her."
Briss remained noncommittal, following her inside, and from her belt began taking out money, pressing it under the cash register as compensation.
"What does the flower look like?" Barry asked Su Ming; the room was filled with an array of flowers and plants occupying every corner, with soft branches even hanging from the ceiling.
"It has white flowers with black roots. I can't describe it specifically, but the flower shop should have labels. You can look at the name on the pot; snowdrop is it, and white-flowered scallion is another name, it might also directly say Moly."
Even if Su Ming had seen it, it was only the two-dimensional image from comics; who knew what it looked like in reality?
Both he and Briss had night vision equipment, and after searching the large flower shop while wading through the water, they finally found some in the greenhouse.
Barry looked at the pot Su Ming was holding, touched the leaves, and leaned in to sniff: "It's actually quite beautiful, but it doesn't have much fragrance; instead, it kind of smells like... green onion."
Su Ming shrugged: "Before seeing Circe, we need to eat these plants. I hope you like the taste of onions."
Briss's attention was not on that; she asked Su Ming: "You said it can break witchcraft, is that a general statement?"
"To be more precise, it's specifically related to witchcraft in Olympian mythology. I'm afraid it won't work on African Voodoo," Su Ming picked up two pots, with scattered stems, which were enough.
"Vayne Group would invest in cultivating this plant; if it's indeed useful, it might come in handy in the future."
Su Ming headed out, shrugging easily: "You'd better hope it works; if it doesn't, going to see Circe is really asking for death."
Barry sighed; as a new-age tech-savvy youth, he never really believed in magic, witches, or any of that stuff. Even after becoming The Flash, most of his enemies were physicists or engineers, all about science.
It was only after joining the Justice League and seeing Diana's enemies a few times that he realized what kind of monsters she was dealing with?
Mythical creatures were everywhere, magic and witchcraft were innumerable, roaming the earth and the heavens like it was nothing, and nasty curses came in countless forms.
He didn't like a mishmash of things he couldn't comprehend.
"Where to next?" he scratched the top of his head, asking Su Ming. After several collaborations, Barry had gotten used to following Su Ming's directions.
"To the Joker Gang's territory; Poison Ivy of this world is there, and I need some of her venom," Su Ming, keeping his habit of closing doors, pieced the door back together.
Barry didn't say much; lightning enveloped the three as they disappeared from the spot.
Returning to the circus territory, the corpses on the ground seemed completely submerged, Su Ming handed the pot to Briss.
"Wait downstairs; they probably won't be too happy to see you."
Briss, expressionless, took the pot and moved to the eaves. She wasn't afraid of rain, but the flowers would be smashed by the downpour. Su Ming let Barry take him upstairs, inevitably showing him the bodies strewn across the floor.
"Did you do this?" Barry looked at him disdainfully. To follow Deathstroke back to the crime scene, this.....
"Guess?" Su Ming pushed open the dance hall door. The revelry of Harley and Ivy seemed to have ended, at least the music and dazzling lights had stopped.
He pushed open the door to find Harley and Ivy cuddled together on a huge circus trampoline sleeping soundly.
Harley was still smiling, who knows what she was dreaming about.
Perhaps she could get drunk, but Poison Ivy definitely couldn't; her body was nothing but chlorophyll and venom. She was a real 'plant person,' and alcohol was like a nutrient solution to her.
"Ivy, I know you sensed me," Su Ming walked closer to the bed, speaking to her as she hugged Harley.
Sure enough, she opened her eyes; for plants, sleeping or not made little difference.
"Why are you back? Planning to join our party?" Poison Ivy tossed a flirtatious look with a smile.
Su Ming removed his helmet, indicating no ill intentions, and shook his head: "No, I need your help; I need some of your Charming Venom."
"Oh? And why should I help you?" Poison Ivy stretched a little, sitting up, with a few vines tidying her hair.
"There are about 500,000 plant species on Earth; even if a great flood submerges the world, some plants will survive. Still, marine plants account for only 2% of the total plant species. There's now a chance to save the other 98% if we have your venom."
Armed with a lot of Slade's memories, Su Ming rattled off a string of data, and Poison Ivy, as a botanist, knew he wasn't lying.
She tilted her head, looking at Su Ming and then Barry, finally nodding.
"Alright, you convinced me. The more plants, the better."
She stuck out her tongue, licking her lips lightly, and her big eyes blinked at Su Ming, as if expecting something.
Su Ming remained unaffected and took out his canteen from the gear on his leg, handing it over.
She gave him an indignant glance, as if blaming him for being unromantic, but still extended a vine to take it.
"...Alright." She held the canteen under her lips, letting her saliva drip into it. After a sigh, she used a vine to return the canteen to Su Ming.
"How long is the effective time?" Su Ming screwed on the lid, fastened it back to his leg.
Poison Ivy shifted slightly, leaning back, letting vines support her body.
"My venom... hehe, without an antidote, it can last a lifetime; it makes people madly fall in love with the opposite sex in front of them. You're the first man to actively seek this, you know." She gently stroked Harley's hair, weaving a braid with her vines.
"Thanks for the reminder; I won't use this canteen again. We still have serious business," Su Ming indicated it was time to leave, but Barry didn't react. Turning to slap him lightly: "Barry? Why are you closing your eyes?"
"Oh, hehe, right, time to go, let's go." Barry snapped back, and his face flushed almost as red as his suit. He let out a couple of awkward laughs, and a lightning flash swept by.
Their exit process was unseen, but the vines felt their departure, and the door kept swinging as if blown by the wind.
She sighed somewhat disappointedly, considering...
Gently, she lay back down, kissed the smiling Harley's cheek, and closed her eyes again.