Hunter x Gotham

"Master Bruce..." Alfred's voice came through the radio.

Batman replied "Yes Alfred?"

"It's Ms. Isley, Sir"

"What happened?"

"I think you should go see for yourself"

...

Robinson Park was quiet. Batman moved through the shadows. The sound of leaves rustled under his boots. The city's noise didn't reach this deep. The usual night sounds—crickets, owls, the hum of traffic—were absent. The park felt like it was holding its breath.

He scanned the area. His lenses shifted through different visions: infrared, ultraviolet, sonar. The soil was disturbed. Branches were broken. Grass was crushed. Blood was smeared against tree bark—green, not red.

"Ivy," he said under his breath. He moved toward the trail. The park smelled off. Not just plants. Blood. Pollen. Something sweet and wrong. His gloved fingers brushed a half-buried vine. It twitched. It was still alive. The park was healing. Slowly.

A low groan caught his attention. He turned, following the sound. Near the roots of an old oak, he found her. Ivy.

She was half-buried in the dirt. Roots were wrapped around her arms and legs. Her skin was pale green. Veins were dark beneath the surface. She twitched. Her body was trying to heal. Slowly. Too slowly.

Batman knelt beside her. He scanned her vitals. Her pulse was faint. Her blood pressure was low. Toxins were in her system—foreign. Different from her usual plant-based defenses. He pulled a small injector from his belt. He pressed it against her neck. The adrenaline hissed into her veins.

Ivy gasped and eyes flew open. Her body convulsed, then stilled. She blinked, trying to focus. "You…" Her voice was raw. "You shouldn't be here."

Batman leaned closer. "Who did this?"

She coughed. She struggled to sit up. Vines curled around her for support. "I tried to stop him." Her eyes darted around the darkness. "The park tried."

Batman's brow furrowed. "Who?"

She shivered. "Hisoka."

The name hung in the air. Batman's eyes narrowed. He didn't press further. His priority was clear. Ivy was in no condition to fight or explain. Her breathing was shallow. Her skin was cold. The toxins in her system were spreading.

"You need help," Batman said. His voice was firm. "I'm taking you to the cave."

Ivy shook her head weakly. "No… no hospitals. No labs. They'll… they'll dissect me."

"Not a hospital," Batman said. He reached for her, carefully disentangling the roots that bound her. "My place. Alfred will take care of you."

Ivy's eyes flickered with distrust, but she was too weak to resist. Her body slumped as Batman lifted her into his arms. Her head rested against his chest. Her breathing was ragged.

"Alfred?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"He's… good with plants," Batman said simply. He activated his communicator. "Alfred. Prepare the med bay. I'm bringing in a patient."

There was a brief pause on the other end. Then Alfred's calm, measured voice responded. "Understood, sir. Might I inquire as to the nature of the patient?"

"Pamela Isley," Batman said. "She's been poisoned. Foreign toxins. Prepare the botanical suite."

"Very good, sir," Alfred replied. "I shall ensure everything is ready."

Batman ended the communication. He adjusted his grip on Ivy and moved swiftly through the park. The shadows swallowed them as he made his way to the Batmobile, parked discreetly near the edge of the treeline. He placed her carefully in the passenger seat. Her head lolled to the side. Her eyes were half-closed.

"Stay with me," Batman said. His voice was low, almost gentle. "You're stronger than this."

Ivy didn't respond. Her breathing was shallow but steady. Batman slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. The Batmobile roared to life, cutting through the silence of the park. The city's skyline loomed in the distance as they sped toward the outskirts of Gotham.

---

The Batcave was quiet when they arrived. Alfred was waiting, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was calm, but his eyes flickered with concern as Batman carried Ivy into the med bay.

"Ms. Isley," Alfred said, his tone polite but tinged with urgency. "Let's get her on the table, sir."

Batman laid her down gently. Alfred moved quickly, attaching monitors and IV lines. He adjusted the settings on the botanical suite, a specialized area of the cave designed to handle Ivy's unique physiology. The room was filled with the soft hum of machines and the faint scent of soil and greenery.

"Her vitals are unstable," Alfred said, studying the monitors. "Heart rate is elevated. Blood pressure is dangerously low. The toxins in her system are… unusual. Not plant-based, as far as I can tell."

"Hisoka," Batman said. He stood at the edge of the room, his arms crossed. "That's the name she gave me. Tall. Pale. Purple hair. Golden eyes. Moves like a shadow."

Alfred raised an eyebrow. "Hisoka? I'm not familiar with the name. Shall I run a search?"

"Later," Batman said. His eyes were fixed on Ivy. "Focus on her first."

Alfred nodded. He adjusted the IV drip, administering a mixture of antidotes and nutrients tailored to Ivy's biology. "She's strong, sir. If anyone can pull through this, it's Ms. Isley."

Batman didn't respond. He watched as Alfred worked, his movements precise and efficient. The older man's hands were steady as he checked Ivy's pulse, adjusted the monitors, and prepared a second round of treatment.

"She'll need time," Alfred said after a while. "The toxins are potent, but her body is fighting back. The botanical suite should help accelerate her recovery."

Batman nodded. "Keep me updated."

"Of course, sir," Alfred said. He paused, then added, "And might I suggest you take a moment to rest yourself? You look as though you've been through quite the ordeal."

Batman shook his head. "Not yet. I need to analyze the samples I took from the park. Hisoka left traces. I need to know what we're dealing with."

Alfred sighed but didn't argue. "Very well, sir. I'll monitor Ms. Isley. Do let me know if you require assistance."

Batman moved to the computer terminal. He pulled up the data from his earlier scans. The soil samples, the broken branches, the green blood smeared on the trees—it all pointed to something unnatural. Hisoka wasn't just a man. He was something else. Something dangerous.

As he worked, Alfred tended to Ivy. The older man's voice was soft as he spoke to her, even though she was unconscious. "Now, now, Ms. Isley. You've been through quite the ordeal, but you're in good hands. We'll have you back on your feet in no time."

Ivy's breathing steadied. The color slowly returned to her skin. The machines beeped rhythmically, a sign that her body was stabilizing.

Batman glanced over his shoulder. "How is she?"

"Stable," Alfred said. "Her body is responding well to the treatment. She's not out of the woods yet, but she's strong. Resilient."

Batman nodded. He turned back to the screen. Hisoka's name flashed in his mind. The man—if he could even be called that—was still out there. But for now, Batman's focus was on Ivy. She was the key to understanding what they were up against.

And until she woke up, the hunt would have to wait.