Chapter 2

So I ended up adding to this chapter. I have no idea how it will read from your point of view as it's currently 4 a.m. here and I have yet to sleep. I also ended up changing Shadow's other name. It's no longer Mariko but it's still similar enough you'll see. Now ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

The next morning, Oswald awoke to the sound of howling. He sat up in bed, more that a little annoyed.

"What on earth is that?" he grumbled, getting out of bed and walking to his living room where he was blinded by the sun reflecting off of something from the couch. There he saw Shadow fast asleep, the reflective thing in question revealed to be a metal bracelet, a silver chain with a flat ID tag making up the rest. He wondered briefly if her real name was printed on it, he also wondered why she hadn't slept in the bedroom he'd shown her the night before and instead had chosen to curl up into a small ball in his living room wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt with her tail taking up the rest of his sofa. Kitty, her fox-dog laid on top of her and her other more wolf looking dog Spike, staring out the window, howling.

"Would you cut out that exceedingly annoying racket!" Oswald shouted, he had nearly forgotten what had transpired last night, until now. Spike stopped, turning his head towards Oswald.

"Oh shut-up birdboy." Kitty growled stretching and then laying lazily back down on top of Shadow. "We're dogs it's what we do."

"Well stop that, it's quite annoying." Oswald said then looked down at Shadow who, incidentally, was still sound out cold, her black fox ears twitching as she slept.

"How in God's name does she sleep through that? Especially with ears of a dog?" He asked. Spike sniffed.

"She blocks out what she doesn't wish to hear." He muttered looking back out the window. Kitty's ear twitched.

"You wouldn't happen to know a person by the name of Mr. J, would you?" she asked. Oswald gave the fox-dog a questioning look.

"There's a human man walking up your walkway wearing a purple suit." Spike said matter-o-factly.

Oswald walked over to his window, to see The Joker, and Harley Quinn walking up his drive. He groaned, the last thing he needed right now was him noticing the stray dog he had brought in last night.

"Should I wake her up, Spike?" Kitty asked, still lying on their master. Shadow grunted in her sleep as Spike looked to Oswald.

"No, I'll just meet with the Joker and Harley out in the entry room." Oswald said looking over to Shadow. Though it didn't seem as though she would be disturbed if Joker came bursting through the front door. Which he did.

"Good morning Penguin!" Joker shouted, his usually twisted grin spread wide across his face as he entered the room. Oswald turned toward the Joker and Harley who stood at the entrance of his living room. Spike got one look at the Joker and a growl bubbled in his throat.

"What's with the mutt Oswald? I thought you were a bird person." Joker said, not seeing Shadow on his couch, until he sat plopped down on Oswald's couch, and landed on Shadow's tail. She awoke with a pained yelp.

"I'll kill the bastard who—"Shadow cut herself off when she saw the surprised look on Joker's face. She then growled yanking her tail out from under him and sat up, Kitty sliding down onto her lap.

"Who the fuck are you?" She growled stroking her tail where Joker had sat on it.

"This, my newly acquainted friend, is Joker and Harley Quinn." Oswald said, Shadow narrowed her eyes at Joker and then shifted her gaze to a woman dressed in a harlequin clown suite.

"Great." She said dryly then grumbled, "fuckin hate clowns."

The Joker frowned as Spike walked past him over to Shadow and sat.

"And what's wrong with clowns? Afraid?" he asked annoyed, shadow pinned her ears back, visibly angry.

"No, but you will if ya dont get outta my face." she growled, Oswald sighed, perhaps he should have let Kitty wake her sooner.

"So, Penguin what's with the kid?" Joker asked as Harley sat down next to Shadow.

"Hiya kiddo, I'm Harley Quinn, you can just call me Harley." She said. Shadow's ears twitched curiously. She said nothing and just gave the clown woman a cautious stare.

"This is Shadow Fox, a young pup I saved from the bat's boy wonder." Oswald said, Joker eyebrows rose in interest.

"Ah so little Foxy's ran into the bat already eh?" he asked, Shadow's ears folded backward.

"What's it to ya?" She said flatly. Joker laughed, making Shadow, and her dogs wince in pain.

"Only been here one day and you've already gotten old Batsy on your tail? I don't think anyone's been that careless eh, Harley-kins?" He said, then laughed again, causing shadow to cover her ears.

"Ah! He sounds like nails scratch against glass!" Kitty shrieked, making Joker stop immediately.

"The mongrel can talk eh? Just what are you?" he asked, picking up Kitty by the scruff of her neck.

"What's wrong clowny, aint ever seen a fox-dog talk before?" Shadow scoffed, grabbing him by the wrist as he let go of Kitty.

"You're beginning to annoy me mutt." He said. Shadow smirked.

"Clown boy's not too happy now is he?" she said, then stood, holding Kitty in her arms. Oswald held his head in his hand and sighed.

"Mind your manners." He said to the young theif. Shadow rolled her golden eyes.

"Whatever, Osy, I'm going out to my car for a change of clothes." She said and with that she walked away, her tail swishing behind her. Joker turned to Oswald.

"So you let some kid spend the night with you? That's not normal. You aren't up to any funny businiss are you Pengy?" he mocked. Oswald shook his head as he remembered the night before when she'd made that offer.

"That's hardly the case. I simply saved her from Robin when he had her cornered in my yard." He said, "It would have been ungentlemanly to send her off after finding out she only recently relocated here."

"So what's her record? Or do you even know that?" Joker asked with a grin.

"Just look in that bag." Oswald said, grabbing Shadow's hand bang and tossing it to the clowns. Joker grabbed it, and he and Harley peered inside.

"Oh, look at all the pretties." Harley said, admiring one of the diamonds she plucked out of the bag.

"Say aren't these from the Gotham City museum? I don't think anyone's gotten this many rarities or anything out of there." Joker said, impressed. Oswald nodded.

"She's also a pretty good negotiator." He said, "We've entered a small partnership."

"For some kid she's pretty clever right Mr. J?" Harley said.

"I'm impressed, I'll admit. Of course it could just be beginner's luck. Even Batsy can have a bad day." Joker said, only to hear a low growl.

"You sayin I can't do it again clown?" Shadow said, returning from her car, and was now wearing a black halter top that was tied off around her neck and mid back. with it a long skirt that covered her tail and a newsies hat which covered her ears but still allowed them enough room to move unnoticed. She leaned against the door lazily with her dogs next to her.

"I ain't some kid, I'm famous back in my home town." She said. "Been stealing rare gem stones for as long as I can remember, and I ain't never been caught."

"Except when old Batsy caught you last night and penguin here save your tail." Joker said. Shadow smirked.

"Ya don't see me behind bars do ya?" She asked arrogantly. "I ain't some ungratful mutt, I earn my keep."

"Newbie's luck." Joker said, this time Spike and Kitty did the growling.

"You lookin' to get hurt? I ain't new to this biz, I could rob you and this while city blind if I wanted to." Shadow said, annoyed. Joker looked over to her and smiled evilly.

"Prove it."

~0~

Meanwhile in the bat-cave, Batman and Robin were looking into their new little fox-eared friend.

"She called herself Shadow Fox last night." Robin said, recalling when Shadow had been in his grasp last night.

"Let's see what we can dig up on the computer." Batman said typing away on his large high-tech computer key board. When the compute finished they got several hits.

"Says here she's a jewel thief from a town called lachrymose." Robin said, looking at the screen.

"Shadow Fox, no known alias's. Shadow along with her fury partners, also of unknown names, have stolen countless pieces of fine jeweler y and rare gemstones from all over Lachrymose town." He read aloud.

"Sounds like a certain Catwoman I know." Batman said. Robin nodded and continued reading.

"Also says she escaped from jail a few days ago but no one on the police force there have seen hide or tail of her." He continued. Batman frowned.

"Because she's been making her way to Gotham." He said, "We've got to find this fox eared freak."

"Hang on, there's something else." Robin said pulling up a news article from lachrymose town. It read 'Lady Justice thwarts theft attempt by Shadow Fox.' And the picture with the article had a girl with blonde hair and green eyes wearing a tiara and somewhat modified Japanese styled uniform and Shadow fox in hand cuffs. Batman looked at the image for some time, reading the article.

Apparently Lady Justice was a vigilante; fighting and sometimes defeating, Shadow in her attempts to steal items from museums and jewelry stores. No one knew who this girl was or why she did it, but the towns people seemed to be very happy that she did. Recently she had Shadow in custody only shortly after a heist with three other people. Shadow escaped jail, however, the other three had been caught the moment they set foot out of prison. Now Lady Justice was on the search for Shadow, to drag her back to jail.

"Whoever this Lady Justice girl is, I think she'd be our best bet in helping us bring that thief to jail." Batman said, Robin nodded.

"But how are we supposed to get ahold of this girl? It's not like she has her own signal." Robin pointed out.

"I don't know, but if this Shadow Fox strikes again, she might get word of it." Batman said. Robin turned to batman.

"So then are you saying we wait until she makes another robbery attempt?" he asked.

"Unfortunately it's the only option we have." Batman said.

~0~

"So, lemme get this straight." Shadow said, standing outside Gotham's city bank. She had gone there with the Joker, and Penguin, in an attempt to show them just how good she was. "You want me to break into this place?"

"That's right, unless you don't think you can do it." Joker said, Shadow looked the building up and down.

"Sure ain't what I normally go for." She said, then cocked her head to the side. Joker laughed.

"Ha! I knew a kid like you couldn't do it." He said, Shadow and her gang snapped their attention to Joker.

"Eat it, old man. I can get in no problem. I just hate banks is all." She growled. Shadow looked around before she removed her hat, her ears twitched in response of the cool air. She was quiet for a while, long enough for the Joker to grow impatient.

"What the holdup little fox girl? Lose your nerve?" he asked, tapping his foot. Shadow growled.

"Would you can it!? I can't hear anything with that annoying voice of your!" she shouted then grumbled, "Christ, sounds like glass in a blender."

"With all due respect Miss Fox, we are a bit pressed for time." Oswald said. Shadow sighed.

"Yeah-yeah, keep ya shoes on." She said, letting her tail slide out from behind her. "I'll be back in a flash."

The skin on Shadow's back then began to ripple as a pair of leathery bat wing grew out of her. The Joker, Harley, and even Oswald, looked with shock.

"Now there's something you don't see every day." He said, Shadow rolled her eyes then used her wings to hover a bit.

"Ya got a request? Or do ya just want me to just bring out some random wad of cash?" She asked.

"Surprise me." Joker said. Shadow rolled her eyes.

"Let's go Kitty. Spike, stay put and keep an eye and ear out for that caped freak." She said, as she grabbed Kitty and flew to the top of the building. Spike turned away from the bank and faced the road. Sitting like a guard dog should.

"Interesting mutt she's got there eh? Penguin?" Joker asked. Penguin sighed, if only he had a clue.

~0~

"Master Bruce, it seems there's been a break-in at Gotham's downtown bank." Alfred said, turning the TV on in the living room where Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were sitting.

"looks like that Shadow Fox girl couldn't even wait one day before she made another attempt." Bruce said. Dick nodded. It was now time to suit up and head into town.

~0~

"Tch, not much of an choice is there Shadow?" Kitty said, looking around. Shadow shrugged.

"Not like we got much choice; there's no way I'm gonna let that clown faced freak make fun of me like that." She growled.

"Spike is gonna scold you for letting that Joker guy ruffle your fur." Kitty said, Shadow tsked.

"So what? Spike can get mad all he wants. I'm still his alpha." She said, "Now hurry it up. I don't feel like getting caught."

Kitty nodded and then began sniffing around, meanwhile Shadow rummaged through some of the cashboxes.

"Tch, of course nothing nice, no gems, golden collars or anything." She finally said slamming the boxes closed.

"What do you suppose we do now?" Kitty asked.

"Let's just grab whatever we see." Shadow said, then began swiping things from the boxes. Kitty followed suit then suddenly turned growling. Shadow also turned to see Robin standing behind them.

"Fuck me!" She cursed "How's a guy your size even able to sneak like that? And where's spike?" Robin smirked.

"You mean your weird wolf dog? He's been taken care off as for you foxy, you're going right back to jail." He said. Shadow ran at Robin, swinging her bag at him. He dodged, ducking as she jumped over him.

"Oh honey you're just too cute." She said, as Kitty ran into her arms. "But I an't goin nowhere but outta here."

With that she ran off to the roof, looking down to see that the Joker and Penguin had fled. Shadow sighed.

"Oh fuck me hard." She cursed again. "Looks like we're on our own Kitty."

"Let's just hope Spike's not pound bound" Kitty said as she climbed inside Shadow's bad. Shadow nodded, then heard Robin close behind.

"You're not goin anywhere but Arkhem Asylum." Robin shouted, Shadow laughed.

"Shows what you know." She said, as her wings appeared.

"And this time," She began letting her claws come out, she swiped at Robin's utility belt tearing it off and now holding it in her hands. "Think I'll keep this. Don't want ya to be able to catch me again."

"Why you..!" Robin shouted, running at Shadow, but missed when Shadow jumped.

"So you later cutie." She said, then flew off.

"Damn it; she got away again. This isn't going to be good." Robin said, as Batman walked up to him.

"Looks like we'll have to try again another day." Batman said putting a hand on Robin's shoulder.

~0~

"You think that fox girl got away from Batman Mr. J?" Harley asked, the three, and Spike had made it back to the Penguin's home. Penguin, who had been getting long hard glares from Spike, was feeling a bit uneasy for leaving Shadow behind. Even if it was to get away from Batman and his boy wonder.

"I'm sure the mutt's just fine. If not she'll just spend a little time, she is a minor after all." Joker laughed, Spike let out a growl.

"Oh relax Fido, I'm sure your momma is just fine!" Joker then said.

"I don't know Joker, perhaps we should have given Miss Fox a bit of warning before running off like that." Penguin said, then jumped when he heard his front door slam. The trio turned to see Shadow walk into the room, then throw her bag onto Joker's lap.

"Don't ever say I can't do my job." She growled, then as Joker opened the bag she grabbed his arm, "And for the record, not one penny goes to you."

"Excuse me?" Joker asked, his smile slipping, Shadow growled.

"You didn't steal anything, you didn't nearly get caught by that Batman, so you don't get jackshit!" She said, poking Joker in the chest as she did.

"You're a real cocky little brat aren't you?" Joker asked Shadow crossed her arms.

"I've been called worse." She said. Joker stood as he glared down at the young theif girl. She stood with her feet shoulders length apart, meeting his glare with her own.

"Listen kid, I'm not one of your little dogs." He warned. Shadow's ears folded back.

"Oh you wanna go clown face? I'll take you on! I beat up gang bangers scarier than you!" She growled, baring her fangs. Oswald and Harley stood and watched. Harley looked positivly horrified, worried almost that the Joker was going to hurt the poor kid. especially when The Joker's face twisted into a grin.

"Say, do you like flowers kid?" He said with his grin. Shadow frowned but before anything could be said or done, Harley stood between them.

"H-hey puddin, why don't we just let the kid go? She doesn't know any better." she said, as she did Oswald grabbed Shadow by the arm with the hook of his umbrella and dragged her off into another room while Harley attempted to calm the Clown Prince Of Crime.

"Ow! Hey! what gives that hurt!" Shadow shouted as Oswald, using his umbrella, swung the young woman into a chair. "What the hell-"

She was intrupted by Oswald thrusting the tip of his umbrella inchest from her face. The glare he gave managed to make her silent.

"Allow me to make one thing perfectly clear, young lady." He began, "I've allowed you to stay in my home, agreed to enter a partnetship with you. However there are some strict rules I will have to insist you follow."

Shadow said nothing. her ears drooped backwards and her tail laid limp beside her as she nodded silently. This act of submission surprised not only her, but Spike and Kitty as well as they too, stood silently. An action that didn't go unnoticed to Penguin, who did nothing to lower his weapon of choice.

"Firstly, my name is Oswald. Not Osy, I will not repeat myself to you about that again." He said sternly. Shadow said nothing, merely nodded and kept eye contact as Penguin lectured on.

"Second; I will remind you that, while talented you may be, Gotham isn't your home town." He continued, , "Whatever trash you associated with in Lachrymose town, aren't here. The man you've acosted is the Joker, and had it not been for Harley, you'd have met a fate worse than the Batman or jail."

"But he-"

"Third, while I'm speaking to you, you will remain silent and listen!" Oswald snapped. Shadow went to speak, but thought better of it. He continued, "Fourth, if you are going to be living here, you will sleep in the bedroom I provided. You only have yourself to blame for someone sitting on your tail."

Behind them Kitty snickered, but was quickly hushed by Spike. The two were of course ignored as Shadow and Penguin kept eye contact.

"You will follow these rules, or so help me, I will throw you out and leave you to the mercy of Batman and Robin. Do I make myself clear?" He asked sternly. Shadow nodded slowly, never breaking eye contact. Penguin lowered his umbrella, "Good. Now, I think I will have that name of yours now. If we're to remain partners some form of trust must be established."

Finally, Shadow broke eye contact as she drapped her tail around her and turned her head to look at the tile floor. It vaguely occured to her that they were in a kitchen. "I don't have one..."

Penguin scowled. "What did I just say? If you can't follow even the most simple instructions, I insist that you leave. I cannot and will not have a partner who won't give me even the most basic of information."

Shadow bit her lip as she brought her knees up to her chest. her tail draped itself over her feet, she then mumbled something that Oswald couldn't hear.

"Speak up."

"I don't know it ok!?" She shouted as she hugged her knees. "I can't tell you something I don't know!"

Behind them Penguin heard a door shut. He gathered that Harley had managed to talk the Joker into leaving, either that or he'd simply gotten bored and thought of another way to try and get Batman. Either way he was aware that the two were gone. He was also vaguely aware that Spike and Kitty had left the room, leaving himself and Shadow alone in silence.

"What do you mean you don't know?" He asked briefly thinking that the girl wasn't all that bright. However that thought left as quickly as it came. No one could be that brainless. Shadow didn't look back at him and remained silent for a while.

"If you don't explain-"

"I have no memory of myself beyond six years ago." She said quickly, then paused and lifted her head. "The last thing I remember is waking up, naked and alone in some back alley in Lachrymose City. No memory of how I got there, just an ID tag."

It was then that Penguin noticed the metal bracelet on Shadow's wrist. He remembered seeing it when the two had met, however thought nothing of it. Now it seemed the obscure piece of jewelry was as obvious as shadow's tail and ears. Imprinted on the small slab of metal wasn't a real name, but an ID number. As well as code name; Project shadow.

"I found Spike...no, that ain't right..." She continued, "Spike found me not long after I woke up. Got no idea how he's the way he is either. Been stealing ever since."

Penguin was quiet for a moment as he mulled over what Shadow had just told him. if he guessed correctly Shadow was no older than sixteen or seventeen years old. which meant she'd been on her own since the ripe old age of nine or ten. It was no wonder the girl hadn't any sense. he crossed his eyes over his chest and thought it over some more. On one hand, Shadow showed to be a talented theif; breaking into the gotham museum, escaping the batman twice in two days, (though the first had been with his halp). On the other hand, the girl was also very brash, spoke without thinking, lacked any sort of real education, and no doubt had some sort of warrent in another city for her arrest. More trouble than it was worth. He looked to Shadow, who was still avoiding eye contact. The smartest thing to do would be to kick the girl out on her tail, and let her be her own problem. After all, Gotham was every mad man for himself, maybe a team up here and there, but nothing permanant. However, somewhere deep within himself, Oswald felt a twinge of guilt for thinking this way. Even if she wasn't helpless she'd never make it on her own in Gotham. Not with people like the Joker around. Given her recent attempt at a fight with him, he knew she had no idea what she was getting into. If she wasn't careful one of Gotham's Arkham inmates would probably kill her.

However, if she were lucky, given her talent she'd end up working for a crime boss; a Falcone or some other family. on the other hand, if they found out about her condition they might not be so quick to use her as a thief, if she got caught it'd be too easy to link someone link her to one of them. She wasn't exactly the hardest person to miss with her dog like ears and tail. worst case senario for her, if she couldn't make it on her own, she'd either sell her body to make a living, or wind up dead. For whatever reason, neither of those sat well with Oswald.

"Very well, you may stay." He said finally. He watched as Shadow's ears perked and she looked up at him. she then frowned.

"I don't want or need your chairty." She huffed, placing her feet back onto the ground and crossing her arms over her chest. Penguin scowled.

"Believe me, this is no charity. I fully intend to use you." He explained, Shadow sat up, pinning her ears back.

"I'm not sleeping with you either. You lost that chance." She said matter-o-factly. Oswald let out a noise of disgust.

"I don't know what sort of thing you're used to, however I have no intention on sleeping with a minor." He spat, "And I will thank you to never bring that subject up again."

Shadow stood and put her index and middle finger to her head in a halfassed salute, "Whatever you say Cobblepot."

Penguin nodded as he led Shadow back into the living room. He then paused, "It will still serve neither of us any good for you not to have a proper name."

"Nothin I can do bout that." Shadow responded in a tone that indicated she wanted off this subject. Penguin, with his back toward Shadow looked to an old painting on his wall of an old woman.

"Marie." He stated. Shadow's ears twitched.

"Say wha?"

"From here on out, when you're out in public, I'll refer to you as Marie." He said, then continued walking. Shadow on the other hand just stood there unsure how to respond. She felt the cold feeling of Spike's nose as he brushed up against her hand. She didn't look to her old companion and just scowled as she watched Oswald go deeper into the house.

"Marie Fox, doesn't have as much of a ring to it as Shadow." Spike said plainly. Shadow's scowl deepened as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Shut up."

I ended up adding something to this chapter, I had honestly planned on waiting before the reveal of Shadow's lack of memory. This is however how I planned it to happen, so there's that at least. Shadow's never had any memory of her past, and her original name was too japanesey for her. yaknow since she has 0% asian heiritage...that she knows of ;D. Marie was a good compromise to her original 'name' Mariko. Basically I ended up dropping the "Ko" and just adding an 'E' at the end. Making her name american while still having a similar sound to her original.