Thanks for all the reviews guys (although there was one that just totally confused me). So I will try to update this story every couple of days or so. I have a busy schedule so it all depends on when I get some free time, but anyway, on to the story.

Previously

I'll see you around BW." With that parting jab, Shadow jumped off the roof. Batman ran to the edge of the rooftop and leaned over but couldn't spot anything moving down in the alleys. He did however, see the injured man. Glancing around one last time, Batman jumped down from his perch and went to get the man to a hospital all the while thinking about Shadow. How did he know my name and how did he end up on the streets? As Bruce duly continued his Batman patrol, he couldn't stop thinking about that boy. Little did he know that he would be seeing Shadow around more than expected.

That was nine months ago.

Shadow had made a name for himself. After Batman's first run in with the strange boy, Shadow had become more active in the criminal underworld. He had taken over one of the stronger gangs and had quickly made sure that any other gangs or wanna-bes knew that he was top dog. He had become a "feared" thief as he was incredibly skilled and always got what he came for. Batman had seen him a couple of times and tried to talk to the boy but he always evaded answering any questions. It was driving him insane! The first time he had met the boy, he seemed like a decent kid who could have made something out of his life, but now... Let's just say that Batman was very frustrated. Every time he went out he searched for signs of shadow but could never find any. The only times he had ever talked to the kid were when he revealed himself. Glaring at his computer Bruce sighed. He didn't know anything about Shadow. Nothing at all.

Shadow sighed as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Being a gang leader was harder than he thought. Not only did he have to repeatedly show the other gangs that they couldn't beat him, he had to also re-cement his position in his own gang. Sadly, the idiots didn't seem to understand that no matter what they did, they couldn't beat him. Shadow was jerked out of his thoughts when he heard whispering below him. Now who could that be? He thought. Silently he dropped down into an alley where a group of men were talking. He recognized two of them as lower level members of a neighboring gang.

"I'm telling ya, it's not a good idea to set up in these parts." One of the gang members said. I'm gonna call him Baldy. Shadow decided

"I heard you the first time you said that. I don't care what you think, I'm gonna set up wherever I want to and I want to set up here!" Shadow growled lowly and glared at the man

"Look dude if you want to set up somewhere good then I suggest the other side of town." Baldy replied "Shadow don't take too kindly to other gangs in his territory unless they are loyal to him."

"I ain't afraid of Shadow." The other guy spat. I'll call him idiot.

"Well maybe you should be." Barked Baldy. Shadow was really starting to like this guy "Shadow's beaten every mob boss or gang leader in this area to a bloody pulp."

"Just cause he beat some wimpy thugs in this part of town doesn't mean he can beat me!" Shadow finally had enough and stepped out of his shadowed spot before speaking

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Four heads turned to glance at him as he walked towards their little group. Shadow was happy to see that the two gang members looked really nervous.

"Who the heck are you?" Idiot demanded. Baldy visibly winced and the other gang member paled

"Please Shadow I didn't say nothin' to go against you in any way!" Whimpered the less dignified gang member. Shadow sent him a look before speaking again.

"So you wish to set up in my territory is that it?" he questioned

"Yeah. You got a problem with that?" answered Idiot

"I only have a problem with it if you aren't going to follow my rules." Shadow smirked at the confused look on Idiot's face "My turf. My rules."

"What you gonna do about it if I don't follow your rules?" he replied. Shadow answered him by slowly sliding a knife out of a sheath on his belt

"If you don't follow my rules," he began while examining his knife, "I guess I will either have to teach you a lesson or force you to leave." the man had visibly paled when the knife was pulled and was now shaking as he watched where Shadow pointed the object

"Uh, r-right. What were the rules again?" Shadow smiled at the man's compliance before sliding the knife back into its sheath and walking around the small group of men.

"Rule one, there will be absolutely NO killing in my territory. Maiming and beating is allowed but no killing, if you absolutely have to mirder someone, do it on someone else's turf . If I find out you killed someone in my territory," Shadow looked at the man, "you will regret it greatly. Rule two, no selling drugs to women or children unless they are already hooked. Three, you can not smuggle anything without my knowing about it and without my okay. Four, if you see Joker, Harley Bane, or any other insane villains you are to send a message immediately and stay away from them." Shadow stopped pacing in front of Idiot "You got all that?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Good. Then tâmpit*, you are now free to set up in my territory, but if you break one of my rules…." Shadow let himself trail off into silence before turning to the other three men.

"What are your names." He demanded. Baldy answered first

"I-I'm Steve."

"My names Carl."

"A-and I'm Phil." After studying the three men for a while, Shadow spoke.

"Steve come with me. Carl….get back to your own gang and Phil, go do whatever it is you do." Carl and Phil raced away without a second glance while Shadow and Steve exited the alley leaving behind a very confused and scared gang leader.

"So Steve, I have decided to move you higher up my chain of command and allow you to occupy a position in my gang." Steve gaped at him. He had heard that Shadow's gang was one of the most well organized and secure gangs that ever existed

"Th-thank you! I would be glad to take the position!"

"Great!" Shadow replied enthusiastically. It was then that Steve realized how small Shadow was.

How old is this guy? He wondered. As the two of them made their way through alley after alley, Shadow suddenly froze and looked up.

"Well, looks like the Bat came back." He stated. Steve looked up in fear and glanced about him wildly. There was nowhere to hide!

"If you keep heading down this alley, you will see a split. Follow the turn left until you see a man standing guard. Tell him that I sent you. He'll take care of the rest." Steve nodded before taking off down the alley. Shadow simply sighed and glanced up towards the rooftops.

Batman was patrolling the section of Gotham that he thought belonged to Shadow when he heard voice behind him.

"Well hello again." Batman whipped around and stared at Shadow. He had changed his outfit so that he was wearing all black. A mask covered the bottom half of his face and three utility belts crossed his torso. Two in an X shape and one going across his waist. He also seemed to carry knives on both his arms and two strapped to the outside of each dark colored boot. He had on black gloves that looked to have some kind of gadgets on them.

"New outfit?" Batman asked

"Well the old one was getting boring and I can blend in better with this." Batman raised an eyebrow at that. He thought Shadow could blend in no matter what he was wearing.

"So I've heard you've been trying to find information about me." Shadow stated

"Who told you that?"

"Well….if we want to get technical...you did." Batman blinked slowly

"What?" Shadow smirked

"Well you see, when you drove your batmobile home the one time, I decided to follow you and placed a camera in your cave. I must say you are quite the detective." Batman just stared at him dumbfounded. How did Shadow get past his security.

"How did you get past my security?" He asked as he glared at the boy in front of him

"I Hacked in." Shadow gave him a look that said how stupid do you think I am?

"Well since you must know that I didn't find anything on you, I must ask again. What is your name."

Shadow seemed to be debating something before finally nodding to himself and looking back at Batman

"Dick." Batman's brain stalled for a moment at the blunt response

"What?"

"My name is Richard but I prefer Dick." Batman rolled this information around in his head before nodding to himself. The name seemed to fit

"Does this mean you trust me?"

"No. It means I'm tired of watching you stay up four nights in a row trying to figure out who I am. I mean please, can you say obsessed?" Batman was surprised at Sha-Dick's joking manner. The boy yawned and stretched his arms before turning around to leave

"Well it was nice chatting and all but I've got to get back to my guys." Just as Shadow was about to jump down from the roof, a loud bang was heard from a few buildings over and both Batman and his heads snapped in that direction. Batman cursed as he raced across the rooftops and stopped when he reached the building with a large hole in the side. He was surprised to see that Shadow had followed him. Batman leapt through the hole and froze at what he saw. There were at least six men dead on the floor and many others wounded. However, that didn't shock him, what shocked him was the owl looking man standing in front of a notorious mob boss. The same time that Richard jumped through the window, the owl figure stabbed the man through the heart before turning his gaze on the two intruders.

"Who are you." Batman demanded. The owl man just tilted its head and turned its gaze on Shadow who stiffened immediately.

"What do you want." Shadow growled

"The court is missing a Talon." the owl man stated. Batman looked at him confused and Shadow got into a fighting stance. "They are looking for him. It would do you well to turn him in if you come across him." With that, the owl man threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared. Batman narrowed his eyes when the smoke cleared and made a mental image of the man. Shadow turned and walked away leaving Batman by himself. However, before Shadow disappeared completely, Bruce heard him say one last thing.

"De ce could't doar lasă -mă în pace*?"

What on earth does that mean? Bruce thought to himself as he jumped into the batmobile and sped home. He had a lot of work to do.

Okay so tell me what you think. Was it rushed? Should I slow down? Wright shorter chapter? Anything at all.

*Idiot

*Why couldn't they just leave me alone?