Chapter 1

Joanna Keera Ettenalia was not a normal person. For one, she had short, spiky mass of hair, that she colored at anytime she wanted. Two, she dressed however she felt, whether it be a tank-top in December or a coat in July. And three, she was almost never afraid. Living with a disappearing father, and having a long vanished mother can do a lot to a girl, but instead of losing it, she toughened herself up. She taught herself, trained herself, took care of herself. She was ready for everything.

Or so she thought….

Joker raced through the streets of Gotham, Batman close on his tail. Laughing, he vanished around a corner. Batman went right past his hidden car. Joker cackled to himself, staring up at the house that he was hiding behind. A TV was on upstairs, and downstairs. Music blared, and was muffled slightly by the windows. He circled the house, examining it. One room with its windows open was filled with books. Another, a load of physical training equipment.

"Looks like the perfect place to spend the night!"

He looked up, searching for an open window to sneak in. Instead, his gaze eyes met with the lime-green eyes of a girl who was staring straight at him. It was a normal thing to do, other than the girl looked utterly bored to see him, instead of screaming in terror. He saw the girl vanish from the window. The music became quieter, and the girl appeared in the gym room of the house. Joker knocked on the glass, grinning. The girl pointedly ignored him. He knocked harder. She again ignored him, continuing her pull-ups. Finally, he took his gun and shot the glass, stepping through the shards. The girl once again ignored him, acting like he wasn't even there. Joker frowned, and sprang forward, pinning the girl to the wall.

She simply gazed at him, her expression neutral, "I would let me go if I were you."

"Why? Am I scaring you? It's not nice to ignore your guests, girlie."

"You are not my guest though. And the previous comment was because, at the angle that you are holding me, I can do this." She kneed him in the groin. He dropped her, and she walked calmly out of the room, leaving him to his own devices.

Joker growled as he recovered, and stalked out of the room, searching for the retched girl. He found her in a minute, standing in the kitchen, calmly watching her food spin in the microwave. He reached for the girl, but she moved forward, just out of his grasping reach. The microwave chimed, and she opened it, pulling out the hot plate with her bare hand and setting on the counter. She continued to move as he lunged at her, turning to a drawer, and removing a fork. She picked up the food, and spun, leaning on the counter, and staring at the lunatic, who was fuming by this time.

She was the first to speak, swallowing her food, "Aren't you going to like, charge at me like an idiot again?"

He growled and charged. She stepped to the side, letting him ram into the counter. She laughed mirthlessly, and set the empty plate in the sink, once again leaving the room.

The TV in the next room clicked off, and he followed her, no longer smiling. When he again found her, she was half-asleep on the couch, reading a book. He took his knife out and pulled her to her feet, careful to keep a safe distance from her leg.

"It's not very nice to run from people, sweetie." His voice was low and menacing.

"As I saw it, I was walking, not running, and it's my house."

He slammed her head into the wall, "Don't be rude to your elders."

The girl laughed again, "Elders implies someone I respect. You, I do not."

He held the knife close to her neck, and she stared at him, a slight grin on her face, "Now you wouldn't do that would you?"

"And why shouldn't I?" He grinned, pushing the knife into her neck. She grunted slightly as the blood oozed from the wound.

"Because, one, I called the police almost ten minutes ago, and you cared to much about little old me to think about that," She smirked at his realization, "And two, that gives him all reason to attack you. I'd no longer be a possible hostage." The girl gestured with her hand, pointing behind her attacker.

"What?" Joker spun, staring at the Batman.

"Give it up Joker, let the girl go."

"No way Batsy. This girl is too snotty, she needs to be taught a lesson, and she's my ticket out of here."

"I have to keep reminding you of the police that are gonna be here soon." She quipped sarcastically.

Joker grabbed her and held her in front of him, holding the knife closer to her neck, "Move closer, Bats, and I'll kill her, right in front of you!"

The Dark Knight paused, looking for a way to get around this. It was the girl who again, made her way out. She snapped her head back, taking her away from the knife, and bashing Joker in the nose. He screamed in pain and rage, but released her. She plucked the knife from his hand as he tried to grab her again.

"I'll take that."

Batman charged at the Clown Prince, and they fought. Joker eventually came out on top, grabbing a second knife from his pocket, "Say goodbye Batsy."

A throat being cleared made him turn his head, "Excuse me? But I think you deserve this." It was the girl, holding her book. She swung it at his head, knocking him sideways. He hit his head on the table, knocking him unconscious. Sirens filled the air.

"Late," She muttered, heading to the door, "As always."

The police pulled the handcuffed Joker towards the cop car. He was streaming a string of curses at the smirking girl, who was sitting on the trunk. They shoved the man in the car. She turned her head toward him.

"Hi there. Gonna miss me?" She laughed. A few cops nearby stared at her in wonder. No one had ever acted so unafraid of the man, other than the Batman himself.

"I'm gonna get you kid. When I find you, you will wish that you had never been born."

She smiled at him, "I'm sure. When you get out, be sure to look me up. We'll get coffee. My name is Joanna Keera Ettenalia. People call me Jo. But then again, you aren't people. I'm not even sure if you're human."

A lot of people stared at her now, she had just insulted the Joker, AND told him her name. The nearby reporters went nuts. Cameras flashed throughout the area.

"Well, got to go. See ya." She hopped off the car trunk, leaving Joker seething with rage. Batman stood in the shadows, slightly smiling to himself before vanishing into the night.