The Greedy Kitten
After the longest punishment Mary had ever received from Strange, she was allowed out of her cell now only when the Professor needed or wanted her. As such an occasion was tonight, as Mary walked through the door of the Professor's office at his instruction and found a very unusual sight.
At first glance, she believed it to be Batman; with the black suit and animal ears, who else could it be? But then she realized that the person was in fact a woman, a beautiful woman with short black hair hidden under a cowl with cat ears. And unlike the other patients she had interviewed, this woman did not take notice of her presence. Mary sat down in her designated seat and looked this woman over. The woman was strong, she could see that without her special abilities, and not just physically. This was a woman who had fought for her place in the world and Mary immediately respected her for it. But right now, she looked rather broken. Her head was hung, her eyes unfocused.
Mary looked into the woman's eyes. The memories started off with a little girl coming across an older woman's body in the bathtub, the water and floor red with blood. The next were flashes of the girl, older now, pickpocketing, stealing, and doing what it took to survive. Slowly but surely, the desperate woman became a thief, though one who only took from the rich and occasionally used her abilities to aid the less fortunate. Mary's mouth twitched upward ever so slightly. It was like a character in an old book she'd read in the Library. She couldn't remember his name at the moment but she'd liked him. After that, there were many visions of this woman and her encounters with the Batman, most of which involved him letting her go, or even trying to save her, and vise versa. Mary's mouth had gone from twitching to the shadow of a smile. If the Batman thought she was a good enough criminal to let go, then chances were, she was the kindest criminal she'd met so far. And judging from the fact that she only hurt people who tried to hurt her, and rarely killed, the evidence supported her conclusion. Another person was present in this woman's thoughts; a young blonde girl who couldn't be that much older than Mary herself. This woman seemed conflicted about the Batman and the young girl. Mary was about to say something to the woman when a hand roughly grabbed her arm. She looked up to see the Professor giving her a warning look and she sighed slightly. Of course he would keep her from talking to the one nice inmate he'd had her interview. The young psychic slowly got up from her seat and left the room, Strange following her out. The moment the door closed behind her, Mary turned to Strange.
"She is a good person," she said. "She is not like the other criminals; she does not kill, is not crazy, and only steals from people who have more than enough. And she helps people who need it." Strange raised an eyebrow and Mary sighed and continued. "But while she is a good person, she doesn't let things go easily, especially things she's worked for, so–"
"Her greed often puts her at odds with the Batman," Strange finished. Mary surveyed him.
"You are mostly interested in her because of her relationship with Batman." Strange shrugged.
"You have to admit, it's an interesting affair." Mary giggled slightly at his wording.
"Never thought you would be one for gossip." He glared at her and she ducked her head to show her apology without having to say it. Strange began to walk away and Mary followed him. "If you already know everything you want to know about her, then why make me see her?" she inquired.
"It's refreshing to get another thorough, though slightly naïve and innocent analysis of our patients my dear. Speaking of innocence, don't you have a little rhyme to summarize the patient?" Mary sighed and rolled her eyes internally. This man.
"OH! why do you nibble away at the cake?
'Twas never intended for kitten to take;
"Beware," cried the cat,
"How you meddle with that,
So scamper, scamper, scamper away!"
Then Tiny obeyed her old mother the cat,
But Tittens, the rogue, was too greedy for that;
He liked the sweet crumbs,
With the raisins and plums,
So nibbled, nibbled, nibbled away!
But oh! was he not in a terrible fright,
When Susan, the kitchen-maid, came with a light!
And did not he wish
He'd ne'er tasted the dish,
When beaten, beaten, beaten away!" Mary quoted. "Happy?"
"Satisfied," the Professor stated. "Now, come along Mary. I have another patient for you to visit." Mary blinked.
"Two? In one day?" Strange chuckled.
"Yes, well, after tonight, it will be rather difficult to converse with them."