Hair Dye Or Die?

That night, as I was helping Harley brush her hair out of it's pigtails so that it hung nicely around her shoulders, I announced my decision to dye my hair. She was sitting in front of her vanity applying her lipstick when I said, "I think..."

"Hmm?" Harley put her lipstick down, admiring herself in the mirror.

"I wanna dye my hair." With my newfound freedom I was already making new decisions.

Instantly she was out of her seat, clapping her hands with over enthusiasm which shocked me a little. "Yay!" She squealed. "I can do it for you, Kitten! Oh, first we need to pick a color!" Snatching up her tablet she pulled up a list of different hair colors. After much thought and debating we decided on one. Then she got the hair dye and set to work, turning an inch and a half of my tips orange. When it was all done Harley couldn't wait to show me off to the Joker.

"Hey Puddin!" She sang, holding my hand to keep me from bolting, as I was very reluctant to show myself. "Look what I did to Kitten!"

Joker looked up from cutting his steak. He started eating without us because Harley was fussing over every detail and was bummed out that I wouldn't wear makeup. I pinched my lips together, thinking he wasn't going to say anything like he didn't care and just wanted to eat in quite.

"Very nice," he said as he sipped some wine. He set down his glass and stood up. "Come and let me have a look at you!"

Harley gave me an encouraging smile and nudged me forward, releasing my hand. She clearly wanted us to get along.

I averted my gaze to the floor and took small shy steps towards him, my hands folded in front of me. I guess I can make an effort.

I felt Joker run a hand through the orange part of my hair and I shuddered. He put a finger under my chin to make me look at him. I was trembling; being this close to him was making me uncomfortable. I could see myself in his eyes. He's close enough to feel my fear. I sniffed silently, gathering his scent into my memory.

"What a pretty little kitten!" He grinned, stroking my right ear. I could see the silver of his teeth.

I flicked my ear and looked down again, tracking his movements with my ears as he circled me. Is he admiring me or sizing me up? My tail was bristling. He ran his fingers down my spine till they closed gently around my tail. I shuddered again and looked at Harley for help, not liking this. She looked like she was getting ready to say something as Joker ran his hand along the length of my tail, smoothing down the ruffled fur.

Harley pushed a chair, making a loud screeching noise across the polished floor. I jumped. "Oh! Calamari!" She helped herself to some.

I flicked my tail away. Joker left me too pull out Harley's chair. I seated myself across from her where a place had been prepared. I nonchalantly scooted down a bit so there was a little more space between me and Joker. If he noticed he didn't say so as he took his seat at the head of the table.

I looked across the table at all the delicious foods and opened my mouth slightly, letting all the mouthwatering smells flow in. I shut it and swallowed. So much better then prison food! I loaded my plate up and sniffed the food carefully (a poison checking habit of mine) then I ate, practically inhaling everything! Steak, duck, salmon, calamari (which I couldn't even get past the smell) creamy pasta, king crabs and other things I couldn't name had been placed at the table.

Joker caught up on things with Harley but I noticed he would glance at me every now and then. After a while he turned all his attention to me, watching me eat with his shark like eyes.

I was trying to pry open a king crab claw with a fork, desperate for a taste and getting frustrated. I saw Joker hold out his hand; in it was a crab cracker. I was about to resort to using my teeth.

"Don't break those pretty teeth of yours, kittens!"

"Thanks." I spoke with caution as I took the tool and figured out how it was used. I purred with satisfaction as I got the meat out whole and was finally able to savor the taste.

"Tell me dear, what were you in for?" Joker asked me, when I started on the rest of the claw. I had been eating in silence, respectfully tuning out they're conversation.

"Murder." I muttered past my food. I never liked having people's undivided attention. That's how I ended up in jail in the first place! "You already know about me." It wasn't a question. I was stating the obvious. He had broken me out of prison along with my personal property so I assume that included the file the police had created about me.

Joker cackled. I forced a nervous smile and turned my attention back to my food.

"Yes, yes, but I'd like too hear it straight from the cat's mouth! You didn't even mean to kill and yet they locked you up anyway!" Does he find that funny?

I shrugged "They didn't want someone like me on the streets. Said they couldn't let a creature like me lose just because I was innocent."

"Innocence? Yes I see it." He looked at me closely. "You won't be for much longer! Yes, you're eyes still have a look of innocence in them...but it is fading and you're still young. It will vanish all together before long!" He was talking like I had something I needed to outgrow.

I swallowed uneasily as I started licking my fingers clean, purring to calm myself. I hadn't eaten this much ever and felt happily full. Joker watched me as if studying me. I knew he was but I wasn't going to stop him; he can study me all he wants, as I'm used to it, so long as he doesn't touch me.

"Just so you know, you won't be staying here free. It's gonna cost you!"

I paused in my grooming and tilted my head questioningly. "Cost me what?"

"You have skills, baby. Don't waist them! I would assume that was why you were selected for that bloodbath I've heard so much about!"

"Oh. " I said, timidly. "I um...my teacher died before he could finish training me." I added quietly, "Please don't call me baby."

"What is that method of fighting you use?" He asked, ignoring my request.

"Taijutsu? It's unarmed combat."

"But you have weapons." He pointed out.

I shrugged. "I barely use them. They're mostly tools for survival when it counts. You never know."

Joker nodded as if he understood. "Do you doubt yourself?"

I looked at him and swallowed my food, hesitated maybe too long. I looked down subconsciously.

"No no no no no!" He shook a finger at me. "I need you working with 100% confidence! I run a very precise business here; you need to be able to take care of yourself out there! Now," he leaned forward in a businesslike manner. "How about a test run?"

Now I know this could end badly if I screw up but I may seem shy and reserved but I am always up for a challenge!

I grinned, kinda excited. "Sure!" I felt my confidence rise to the challenge. "I can start at any time; I'm always ready."

Joker waved his hand dismissively. "No need to hurry! But you're confidence is showing now; I like that! Take a load off! We'll try for another day!"

I smiled. "Fine with me!"

Later found me in my room reading a book while I ate cake, then fell asleep afterwards, leaving my plate on the nightstand. What a day!

Nothing really happened much over the next few weeks. I didn't really see much of either Joker or Harley. I had the place to myself and quite enjoyed the solitude. I made my own food and had my own routine. I got up at nine in the morning and did stretches and other exercises stay in shape. Sometimes Harley joined me.

I ate when I felt like eating and went to bed when I wanted to. I might change things when I'm more used to this place.

Joker told me he's test my skills another time just to catch me off guard. One day, when I was home all by myself, he had a group of thugs brake in. Joker and Harley had left somewhere so it was just me. I heard them creeping around down stairs and laughed to myself; they didn't know I was here!

I left my room and stood at the balcony overlooking the room below with my unsuspecting victims. Leaving my katana against the banister I took on my second form and descended the stairs. If they saw me they wouldn't care, thinking I was just an average house cat. I went into the other room where I knew the power box was. I can see in the dark so I cut the lights off.

The thugs started stumbling around, wondering who turned the lights off. Let the hunt begin!

"Maybe their set on a timer?"

I ran back up the stairs without making a sound, returned to my first form, grabbed my katana and jumped off the balcony. In midair I strapped my sensei's katana to my back. I wasn't planning on using it, I just needed him with me!

Suddenly there was a scuffling sound to the left but when they looked there was no one there!

"He's gone!"

They looked around trying to find they're missing comrade.

"Let's just spit up and get this over with!"

The large group divided into two smaller groups, going into different rooms to bag valuables.

I grinned, my pupils perfectly round.

Joker was out somewhere when his phone beeped. The fight he'd had arranged to test me had begun but he couldn't see anything. He scowled in exaggeration and ordered that his car be brought around; he wanted too see this.

I stood in the center of the kitchen and surveyed my work. Job half done. Now to finish it! I ran back into the main room and was about run to the living room where I knew the rest of my targets were. The lights came back on. Joker had just walked in. I skidded to a stop and tried to regain my composure as he approached me. I was confident that I was not doing anything he would disapprove of. Also I was having a great time.

"What is going on?" He demanded, striding towards me in a manner ment to be intimidating.

I held my hands behind my back, my claws dripped blood. Before I could answers I saw movement out of the corner of my eye; two men coming from the living room.

"Hold that thought!" My pupils dilated again as a took off towards them. I was so fast they had no time to react. It was like they were standing still. Running at them full speed I put the one closest to me in a headlock, wrapped my legs around the neck of the guy behind him and we all went down!

I kicked him in the face while the other one passed out from lack of air then I got up and finished the second one off. Joker circled me, watching intently. I took out the rest, two at a time as they came out. There was one left. Before he came out I knew he was big and I'd have to use my wit to beat him. He saw me right away sitting on the floor. A panicked look crossed my face and I pushed myself away from him, unable to get up. He smiled in triumph and walked over to where I was backed up against the wall. He put his gun in my face and was about to taunt me but I knocked his legs out from under him, the gun went off but wasn't even close to me. Jumping on him before he could get up I grabbed his arm, lifted it and slammed it to the ground, braking his hand so he dropped the gun. As he screamed I jumped off him, took his shirt in my teeth and dragged him across the floor. He knew what I was doing and begged for a quick death, grabbing at anything to try and stop me as I dragged him to Joker and threw him right at his feet. No quick death for you!

"Nicely done!" Joker applauded me slowly.

"Let me guess; that was the physical?" I sat down, folding my legs under me and wiped blood off my face with my forearm in a catlike manner.

He laughed. "Yes but your not finished yet!"

I looked from him the last remaining idiot between us. I'm supposed to kill him? I mean I can but I was going...to... My ears flicked. I heard a ticking sound...I located it in Joker's coat pocket! He's trying to kill us! I backed away.

"Oh, you figured it out! Very-" before he could say more I unsheathed my katana, swiping the blade across his pocket. The beeping stopped a second later and the pocket split open, the defused bomb falling out onto the floor. It's wires had been cut. I smiled with relief. Easy.

Joker had some guys come in and clean up the mess. I didn't ask what would happen to the survivor; I know it won't be pleasant.

I looked to my new employer. He was seeing everyone out. His gaze turned to me. I tilted my head, trying to read his expression and found it difficult. That's a first for me! I'm definitely sleeping with one eye open from now on!