By midnight, Arias's presidential pardon had become a trending global topic. Many were still angry and appalled that someone like him could be allowed to go free, especially the families of the officers and soldiers he had killed during his escape.
News networks debated the topic intensely, presenting a wide range of viewpoints. The decision's impact on President Ross's reputation couldn't be ignored; he was now believed to no longer be a viable contender in the upcoming election.
Despite the late hour, many political figures who saw potential benefits from the situation were scrambling on social media and making important calls. Some sought to express understanding for Arias, hoping to forge an alliance. Others completely slandered him and the current president, calling for an investigation and proper judicial intervention.
At this time, the man who had set off this chain reaction, President Ross, was in his bedroom, struggling to fall asleep. After several minutes of failing to drift off, he sat up on the edge of his bed and sighed, glancing back at his sleeping wife before heading to the room's private bathroom.
Inside, he retrieved a bottle of medicine from a nearby cabinet, shook out a few pills, and swallowed them directly.
'This isn't going away anytime soon,' he thought as he met his own gaze in the mirror. He soon lowered his head and turned on the water to wash his face. The subtle effects of the pill were already easing his mind as he left the bathroom, intending to return to bed.
However, once back in the room, he stopped in his tracks.
An intruder stood before him—someone he recognized. "Batman..." Ross muttered, feeling no fear, only curiosity about what had brought on this sudden visit.
Without needing much thought, he realized his decision to pardon Arias may have caused more shockwaves than his team had predicted. Still, he chose to remain firm, as befitting the country's leader. "Whatever it is you have to say, I'm sure it could have been said under better circumstances. Please leave before I call security," he warned.
Batman, however, was intent on speaking, regardless of any threats.
"You allowed possibly one of the world's most dangerous people to go free without any consequences for his actions. Why? Were you threatened, or was it a deal?" Batman asked firmly, even stepping closer to the president and staring him down.
President Ross frowned and moved away from Batman, walking toward the exit of his room before warning again, "I'm warning you for the last time. Either you leave, or I call security."
With the situation looking like it might escalate, Batman stepped back and walked toward the window he had used to enter.
"I'll take that as an answer in its own way. From now on, the League will no longer operate under government directives or support. The Hall of Justice will be vacated by tomorrow," Batman revealed in a flat tone, making his exit, but paused as the president called out.
"Wait! If you choose to do this, you'll be going against the agreement we established. Your group won't be recognized under the law, and you'll face the consequences of acting outside the country's legal boundaries. Superman knew this, and that's why—"
"No!" Batman interrupted, his voice growing sterner. "Superman made a mistake by choosing to trust you, and now he's paying the price. Don't worry, I'll break the news to him when he wakes up. Maybe you'll have better answers for him as to why you let the man who nearly killed him walk free."
Saying nothing more, Batman's cape fluttered in the wind as he moved out the window and vanished into the darkness.
President Ross was left standing in complex thought, his face already looking aged from stress.
...
Meanwhile, back in Gotham, Batman wasn't the only one making late-night visits. Hidden beneath Markovic Tower was a sizable underground complex of rooms, most of them large but empty.
One such room had been chosen as the cell for a "guest" Arias had previously captured: Poison Ivy. The room looked plain and dull, but its security was immense. In the center of the room, away from a lone bed, sat Poison Ivy, lacking the usual vegetative environment she was accustomed to.
Even in prison, Ivy had been allowed a special environment, as it was deemed necessary for her mental health and well-being. But here, in this cell, her captivity was known only to Mercy, Slade, and Rose, despite others staying in the building above.
Because of this secrecy, Ivy hadn't interacted with another person since her capture, her necessities being delivered through an automated system instead.
Normally, she wouldn't mind isolation, having made a home out of Gotham's old tunnel systems. However, this time, she lacked the companionship of her children—the plants, which were nowhere in sight. The only thing she could do was sleep and survive, day in and day out—a test of sanity, even for someone as far gone as she was.
It was during another long, uneventful day when Ivy heard a set of footsteps.
As if by instinct, she jumped to her feet and rushed to the room's door, banging on it and yelling, "Hey! Who's there? Open this damn door!"
Ivy didn't care whose steps they were—she simply wanted a response and hoped for a chance to negotiate her release.
To her surprise, the small dot near the door's edge flashed green and beeped, signaling the door's opening. Her next surprise was the identity of her guest: the man responsible for her captivity, Arias, wearing a smirk.
"You!" she yelled before launching an attack.
A suppressive collar, like the ones used in superhuman prisons, was placed on her, but she didn't care. Fueled by anger, she attacked anyway. However, before she could get close to him, Cheshire appeared from behind and kicked Ivy in the stomach, sending her stumbling back.
"Quite the cranky guest you've got here, boss," Cheshire chimed, standing between Ivy and Arias, her hand resting on her hip as she tilted her head toward Ivy.
Arias stood casually behind Cheshire, his hands behind his back, his gaze also on Ivy as he replied, "I think she has a general hate for men—me more than most, apparently."
His mocking statement made Cheshire lift her mask and purse her lips slightly, smiling. "Interesting. Never thought I'd see a green dyke. So, want me to cut her up? She doesn't exactly look fun to keep—maybe as an exotic plant?"
"Take this collar off, and I'll make you eat those words and more..." Ivy spat, her threat clear, but only bringing a bigger smile to Cheshire's face.
"Say, boss, would you mind if I tied her up and rode her face for a bit? I think her smart mouth could be put to better use. I promise to give a good show," Cheshire teased, her tone a mix of playfulness and seriousness, causing Ivy to glare even harder.
Arias paused, showing a contemplative look, as if considering the idea, further increasing Ivy's anxiety.
She did, of course, have a provocative love for women, especially those with exotic beauty like Cheshire. However, she preferred to enjoy them on her own terms, with her in control. The idea of being humiliated—especially in front of Arias—was deeply unappealing.
Thankfully for her, at least for today, Arias had other plans.
"That's not a bad idea. I'm sure it would teach her some humility. But as entertaining as that would be, we have more important things to attend to than this... 'exotic plant.'"
Arias's insult had Ivy fuming inside, though she only frowned outwardly.
Cheshire shrugged in disappointment. "Oh well, the boss has spoken. So, what are you going to do with her, then? A quick interrogation or torture? I guarantee I can make her talk in no time."
Ignoring Cheshire's provocations, Arias turned and began to exit the room. "Nothing for now. I had hoped she would develop a more 'open' mindset during her time alone to think, but I guess we'll need to let her reflect a bit more. Come on."
Saying nothing more, Arias exited the room, and Cheshire followed behind.
Seeing this, Ivy tried to stop them. "Wait! Wait! Let's talk—argh! Damn it!"
Her words fell on deaf ears as the door closed, and a red dot flashed near it.
As the duo walked away, with Ivy's curses in the background, Cheshire couldn't help but smile and ask, "So, what's your plan for her?"
"Oh, nothing yet. I'm just curious about what it would take to break that spirit of hers. Call it a little experiment," Arias replied cryptically, but Cheshire liked the answer, her smile widening.
"You're a bit of a sadist, aren't you, boss? Something tells me I'm really going to have fun working with you."