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For someone in finance troubles, Gotham City was perfect, if that person had family too, even better. The rent was dirt cheap, same with the healthcare, and there was always someone looking to hire. The insurance was incredibly thorough and being the home of Gotham University, the education system had to be good.
If only Camila Noceda looked into why Gotham was so amazing. It might have saved her a few dozen heart attacks.
---
The first day they moved in was spent with Luz unpacking and her Mama going around the complex with baked goods. That night, while Mama got dinner, Luz discovered that the tv was absolutely destroyed. The screen was cracked beyond repair, making it impossible to see, and the audio was a bunch of garbelly-gook. The second day was spent helping her Mama unpack and that night setting up the kitchen. By the end of the day, Luz fell asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
She woke up on the third day to the smell of fresh baked cookies. It taunted her to find the source until she could no longer ignore it. She made her way out of the room to the kitchen, where the cookies sat on a cooling rack, placed on the island. Mama, busy cleaning up, had yet to notice her, so the ten year old walked as quietly as she could and crouched down behind the island. She reached for the cookies, they were so close she could practically taste them already, she just needed to stretch her hand a little more and-
“Hey!” She yelped, pulling her now stinging hand to her chest. So close.
“Don't ‘hey’ me, mija.” Mama chastised, lowering the hand that stopped Luz. “these aren't for you.”
“Then who are they for?” She asked, more than a little annoyed.
“Our neighbor.”
Luz groaned, “I thought you did that when we got here.”
“Our neighbor across the hall wasn't home. I want you to take these to them some time today.”
“Why me?”
Mama began to place the cookies on some plate and grabbed a roll of wrap. “Because last I checked, you don't start school until next week.”
Luz grumbled, not finding a hole in the older woman’s reasoning. They had moved some time into the first semester. While Gotham wasn't too far from Gravesfield, Mama wanted to give the girl time to adjust to the new city. At least the older woman began making breakfast, even if she would need to take her own to go.
---
Luz put off the task as long as she could. She reread the Good Witch Azura 2 for the nth time, despite having both books memorized, had a snack, she even drew over and over again. Eventually all she had left to stall with was some school work she was given from before they moved and the ten year old refused to even think about the pointless busy work.
That was how she found herself across the hall, waiting for her neighbor to open the door and take the cookies which taunted her. The girl was more than sure she had knocked loud enough yet she had stood there for what felt like hours without so much as an ‘I’m coming’. Just so Mama couldn't be mad at her, Luz knocked again, louder and for longer.
“Would you wait a goddamn minute!” A woman like Luz had never seen opened the door. A young woman with green skin, eyes, and lips, and long red hair. She wore a green jacket over what seemed like a white tank top, green tights with a vine like pattern and black high heels. While the child was getting over her shock at the pretty lady, the woman looked around to find who knocked.
“Wow.” Luz couldn't help but gasp.
The woman’s eyes widened, looking down at the ten year old holding a platter of cookies. “Aw, shit.”
That snapped Luz out of her stupor. “Mama says that’s a bad word and that you shouldn't say bad words.”
“Well, uh,” it was clear the green skinned woman didn't fully expect Luz to get onto her for such a thing. “I-it’s a grown up word. Only grown ups can say it without getting in trouble.”
Luz hummed, remembering how her Mama would murmur such words when she thought Luz wouldn't or couldn't hear. “I guess that makes sense.”
“Can I help you?”
“Oj, right,” Luz shoved the platter out to the woman, “I’m Luz Noceda and me and my Mama just moved in across the hall.”
She hesitantly took the cookies. “Ok?”
They stood in silence for what felt like forever before Luz spoke again. “And you are?”
Her eyes widened, as if the idea of being unknown was impossible. “Oh, right, uh, I’m Ivy.”
“Ivy…”
“Just Ivy.”
Luz shrugged, there was no real need to question the woman. Besides, she could go enjoy her free time now, maybe see if there was a good place to set a plant up. And look into how to take care of one.
“Well it was nice meeting you, Ms. Ivy.” The girl smiled, waved, and walked off wondering if the computer was set up.
---
Luz hadn't seen her neighbor in a while. Luz had started school not too long ago. She mostly kept to herself in class. She was still holding out hope that they would move back. There was no need for her to make connections if they would be destroyed. Now she was on the way back to the apartment. She had no clue if Mama would be home for dinner but she highly doubted it, the pet clinic was always so busy.
Before she could think any on what she would do for food, the apartment entrance came into view and with it Ms. Ivy struggling. The woman was carrying two large fertilizer bags on top of four grocery bags. Luz could have carried on, Ms. Ivy seemed fine at the moment really, but they lived on the top floor and the elevator felt like it was gonna break at any moment. The stairs were always the safer bet. There wasn't any other choice in her eyes.
She approached her neighbor with a kind smile. “Do you want some help, Ms. Ivy?”
Ivy looked at Luz. “oh, uh, thanks but I’m good.”
“Are you sure? It’s a bit of a long walk to your place.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Luz frowned and crossed her arms. “Mama says it's not good to push yourself. And I bet you've been walking for a while already.”
Ivy sighed, as if accepting something. “Your mom is a smart woman. Alright, you can help.”
She maneuvered things around so she could hand Luz three of the four grocery bags. The one she kept was moved on top of the fertilizer bags and seemed to have some kind of plant in it. The girl made sure she had a good grip on the bags and led the way to Ivy’s apartment.
---
This was the first time Luz had been in Ivy’s apartment. The basic floor planning, the apartment seemed to mirror her own. Although Ivy’s was covered with plants of different kinds. Even her rug looked like grass.
“You really like plants, huh?” Maybe Ivy could give her a few tips?
“Well, I am a botanist.” Ivy shrugged, placing the fertilizer down and taking a flower out of the bag.
“A what?” Luz tilted her head in confusion.
“I study plants and some of the medical uses of them.”
“So you're like a plant doctor?”
“I guess, yeah.”
“So cool!” Luz gained a grin so big it felt like her face was going to split in two. “That means you know a lot about gardening, right?”
“I do take care of more than a dozen plants.” Ivy joked and Luz was practically jumping in place now.
“Can you teach me!?”
“What?” The redhead’s eyes widened in shock and the girl was starting to feel bad.
“Sorry,” her cheeks felt hot, “it’s just my Papa always wanted a garden but he wasn't very good at it. I thought I could give it a try while we’re here.”
Luz wasn't too sure what her facial features meant. Ivy seemed to be deep in thought, a light scowl upon her face. It felt like there was a tug in the back of her mind, it felt somehow encouraging. Luz chalked it up as her mind trying to give her hope.
“Alright, I’ll teach you but lessons may be a bit sporadic.”
“Yes!” Luz cheered. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
They had their first lesson that night, Ivy ordering some pizza.
---
It was early in the morning and their teacher was late. Luz had quickly learned how common this was for Mrs. Sharp. The teacher was always late, allowing the students time to chat with their friends. Well, most anyway, some like Luz and Dylan, a boy who looked old enough to be in high school, kept to themselves.
The girl had just gotten over possibly her worst sickness yet. It felt like her body was burning up from the inside out. She was bedridden for several days and had just gotten back. She was still pretty tired, even resting her head on her desk as she listened to those around her.
“Did you see the news?” A boy at the table next to her asked his friends.
“The internet is still down in my complex.” Another said.
“What happened?” A third asked.
“Poison Ivy attacked some factory with a huge Snapdragon!” Luz nearly jolted up at the word Ivy. Her first thought was of her neighbor but that wasn't possible.
“Like the flower?”
“Yeah, but it was shaped like a real dragon! Take a look.” There was silence as the first boy, presumably, pulled out his phone.
Out of curiosity, she angled her head to see the phone and watched. She focused on the person on top of the plant dragon and nearly said a bad, adult only world. She knew that red hair and green skin anywhere. Her neighbor, the woman across the hall who had been teaching her about plants and gardening, was standing confidently upon the plant monster.
‘Does that mean I have to cancel our lessons?’ She thought with a frown. ‘Because I will fight someone if that’s the case.’
---
Ivy couldn't believe it. It seemed like everyone in her apartment complex knew who she was and avoided her like the plague. Those who moved in left pretty quickly after learning Poison Ivy lived there. It seemed like everyone knew who she was and most treated her like a ticking time bomb. Then, nearly half a year ago, the Nocedas moved in and Luz entered her life. The young girl had no idea who she was and had no fear, she was somewhat energetic and could hop from topic to topic. It reminded Ivy of Harley, one of the few (if not only) humans she could stand. Ivy would have kept her distance but when Luz asked the woman to teach her, she could feel the Green telling her to do so. Luz was quick to worm her way into the metahuman’s heart. She grew close to the family, to the point she found herself taking care of the child when her mother was busy. By some miracle, Luz had yet to learn who she was and Ivy wanted to keep it that way.
---
Ivy sighed as she unlocked her door. Camila had called her asking her to pick Luz up from school after… well…
“I’m sorry.” Luz said quietly, her lip split open, eye bruised, and a bloody nose. The ice pack the nurse gave them had melted some time ago.
“What were you thinking?” She pushed the door open. “He was nearly twice your size!”
“He was going to hurt someone.” She mumbled, stepping into the apartment.
Of course the kid had a bit of a hero complex. She couldn't have just minded her own business. Ivy shook her head and sighed. “That doesn't mean you can be so rec-”
Um, Ivy?” Luz cut her off. The meta made sure the door was locked.
“What?” Luz stood just at the end of the hall before the living space.
She pointed to the couch. “Who’s the woman?”
Ivy balked at the sight of Harley Quinn relaxing on her couch, fresh out of Arkham given the orange uniform paired with her weird jester hood. Her skin was still as pale as paper. “Harley!”
“Hiya, Red!” Her accent was the same as always and was like music to her ears.
“Do you know her?” Luz asked, glancing between the two adults. Harley seemed to only just notice the girl.
“A kid?” She asked, and Ivy could hear the gears turning in her head. Harley gasped. “Ive! You never told me you had a kid! Who’s the father? I can’t believe you finally found your Puddin’! Do I know him? Why didn't you tell me you were settling down?! What’s-”
“Harls!” Ivy interrupted, her cheeks a darker green then before. “Luz isn't my daughter. She’s my neighbor’s child.”
Ivy glanced at Luz, who refused to meet her eyes. Harley sat up. “Oh, well, I’m Harley Quinn, Clown-”
“Hey, Luz!” Ivy interrupted, putting a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Why don't you go get the first aid kit from the bathroom.”
“Ok Ivy.” She watched carefully as the girl left.
Once out of sight, Ivy turned to her friend and glared. “Harley! Be careful!”
“Jeez, Red, what’s the big deal? Everyone already knows who we are.” Harley rolled her eyes, not getting why Ivy was worked up.
“Luz doesn't!” She hissed, “and I will keep it that way!”
She was trying to keep her voice down so Luz wouldn't hear.
“That’s impossible. Everyone knows about Poison Ivy.”
“Everyone in Gotham. The Nocedas moved here.”
There was movement from behind her and the two looked at Luz, holding the first aid kit. The blood from her nose had been cleaned as best as she could. “I don't know what the big deal is. I already know.”
Ivy paled, “What?”
There was no way the most normal person in her life, who accepted her without truly knowing her past, knew. What Luz said next changed everything.
“I’ve known for months.”