Get down.

Leo Aslan didn't give a second thought as the order came through his mind. Quickly, he ducked down, watching with a smile at his face as his snow leopard Felix dove over his back, tackling into one of the thugs with a roar.

The man began to howl as Felix bit deeply into the man's arm that he was blocking the feline with. His companion, a man clad in black clothing with a pistol drawn, raised his firearm to shoot Felix off of his companion.

Swiftly, Leo—the Ghost Cat—rolled onto his feet, ejecting the claws from his gloves. He quickly ran at the man as his finger wrapped around the gun's trigger. Before he could do so, Leo dove at him and swung his right hand at the attacker, his claws searing across the man's arm.

As the criminal shrieked in pain, sending his weapon flying as his arm dropped, he reached his hand up to cover the bleeding wound. Leo spun around, sending out a swift kick into the man's back and sending him sprawling to the ground. He let out a quiet cry, staggering to his feet.

The man on the ground sent his left hand, which had a knife in it, at Felix's head. The leopard let out a whimper as the wooden butt of the weapon struck him across the crown. The man grunted as he moved to get onto his feet, reaching to the ground where his discarded revolver was. As he picked it up, he spun the weapon's revolving barrel and aimed it at Felix as the leopard shook his head, baring his teeth.

"Felix!" Leo cried out. While the pair shared a telepathic bond, Leo insisted on speaking out loudly to his best friend. This was among the many things that the pair argued about. Felix flicked his eyes to Leo, sending him a message: What?

Leo answered by reaching a hand into one of the pockets of the outfit that was specked in black leopard spots, pulling it out of the gray material with a retractable blade in his hand. He quickly raised it up, sending it flying at the attacker of his best friend. The man shrieked out as the knife buried itself a few inches beneath his armpit, reaching a hand to the bleeding wound. As he toppled over into a heap on the ground, his companion's jaw dropped as he stumbled blindly to his discarded weapon.

Leo, without changing his gaze, flicked his arm to point the retractable claws at his opponent. "Don't try it."

The man's hand froze just above his gun. As sweat streamed from his forehead, the man's eyes quivered from his opponent to his weapon. Leo's steely gaze didn't falter from beneath the glowing lenses. The man finally raised his hands into the air. "I give up," he got out, gulping. "Just please, don't hurt me!"

Leo lowered his arm, the claws retracting into his gauntlet. "Get up," he ordered gruffly. The man obeyed his command. The look on his face showed that he hoped that he would get off—or, at the very least, get off easily.

He was certainly going to be surprised.

Suddenly, Leo sent out a fist and cracked the man across the chin with his knuckle. As the thug sunk to the ground, Leo raised a hand to the communication unit in his hear. He quickly set it to the GCPD's signal, muttering, "This is the Ghost Cat. Send a couple cars out to Jones Street; you'll find these criminals easily enough."

Hmph, Felix coughed. Leo snapped his head to the leopard.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?"

Not even a thank you, I see. And I helped weaken that one guy for you.

"That doesn't matter. I still took him out."

Because I was sinking my teeth into his arm, that's how you were able to do it. I had him weakened.

"I would've been taken care of myself," Leo shot back.

Yeah. Just like you did against that girl that one time.

"Girl? What girl?"

You know "what girl." The one who was accusing you of those "horrific, cruel deeds." Remember, the nutcase girl who keeps on visiting you?

"How does that make her a nutcase?" Leo snapped, crossing his arms. The look on Felix's calm, unmoving face made it look as if he wasn't even speaking to his friend. It seemed almost as if he was smiling at him…

If you saw yourself, you'd see why. What girl in her right mind would want to keep seeing you?

Leo smiled softly as he thought back to when he first met this girl that he and his best friend were thinking about.

Leo tilted the glass of water up, taking a deep sip of his liquid beverage. As he set it down, he turned to Felix as the leopard sniffed in the air.

"What're you doing?"

I'm busy trying to figure out who this intruder is in your place of business, Doctor L. J. Aslan, Felix replied. Don't tell me you don't smell them.

Leo chuckled. "I'm sorry, I don't have senses like yours." He rubbed at the scruff of dark facial hair sprouting on his face, his stark white shoulder-length hair draped past his back.

Suddenly, the door to his office burst open and a young, rather pretty girl strolled in. Her dark black hair was wrapped in a ponytail on the back of her head, and several strands of her unruly hair were draped across her forehead. Light red lips were twisted downwards in a frown, and she looked almost as if she was about to snarl.

"You bitch!" she yelled, shoving Leo back.

He staggered against the nearby desk, reaching a hand out to steady himself. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what're you doing?!" he exclaimed. Felix slowly rose to his four feet, a growl roaring deeply and quietly in the back of his throat.

"Trying to stop you from doing your…your evil experiments on these poor cats!"

Her eyes flicked to Felix. "Not only cats. A leopard, even!"

I like this girl, Felix purred in Leo's mind. She cares about us felines.

Leo ignored him. "Wait, wait! I'm not doing anything to these animals that is dangerous. I love animals, especially cats and their whole family line!"

The woman crossed her arms, huffing. Her chest pumped rapidly, and Leo's eyes slowly drifted down. She must've caught it, because she stepped swiftly towards him. His eyes flicked upwards, and he realized that he had made a mistake.

"Look," Leo started, raising his hands. "Felix, come up to me and show this girl how you think of me." The woman looked down at Felix as, hesitantly, he stepped towards his best friend. Slowly, he began to purr and rubbed against Leo's leg. The young man, a look of confidence on his face, lifted his eyes to stare at the young woman with ease now.

She slowly gulped, looking to the floor. Leo wondered if she was reconsidering her accusations. Quickly, she stepped to the side and went to his computer. "You got any files on here concerning your work?" she asked briskly.

Leo shook his head. The girl muttered another curse, and began to spit them out in rapid succession as she turned and searched the room for any files pertaining to his work. At least, that's what Leo assumed.

She quickly caught sight of his wall safe. She strolled over to it. "There's no point in doing that," he called out. "You'll never get in it."

The girl proved him wrong. She reached to her ponytail and withdrew one of the hairpins she had in it. Apparently she had several, because her ponytail didn't loosen. She quickly lowered her pin and began to fiddle with the lock. Around a minute later, she was able to open it.

Leo examined her with care. Not only because she was easy on the eyes, but because he was curious about what she actually did. The way she got into that safe easily showed that she must've done something concerning thievery. He just hoped she wasn't planning on anything that would cripple him financially or physically.

She shuffled through the papers and the look on her face showed that she hadn't found what she was looking for. "What the hell—you don't do anything to these animals, do you?"

Leo ruffled his white hair. "Like I said, no."

At least, not at first glance.

Leo growled. Shut up.

Felix's eyes widened. It's a miracle—he used telepathy.

Leo ignored him again. He extended a hand towards her. "Doctor Leo James Aslan. I study different members of the feline family, particularly big cats." He made sure not to mention anything concerning his past…his past in which he had been experimented on as a human guinea pig within different laboratories. It was both good and bad; he met with Felix that way and formed his bond with him—as well as developing his new powers—but he experienced lots…lots…of pain.

She offered a sly smile. "Selina Kyle. I…I'm sorry about what happened. It's just that—well, I'd heard that you were doing cruel and dangerous experiments to this cats and I wanted to make sure. You see, I have a personal…connection with cats."

You and I are much alike, Leo thought, smiling.

"Don't bother. I can see where you'd go wrong. Not much in the way of zoologists are here in Gotham."

Selina shook her head. "No, not really." She crossed her arms, dipping her head down. "I hate to run on such a short notice—especially after all this shit I've dumped on you—but I actually have an appointment right now."

Leo nodded. "Ah…I see." I'd really like to see you again.

Almost as if she read his mind, Selina smiled. "I…I may be able to drop in another time, if I have time."

Leo's smile grew wider. "I'll be waiting," he said, almost subconsciously.

Selina nodded, turning to leave. "All right. See ya." And with that, she left his office.

Leo finished tying the two men together, back-to-back against a metal pole. Neither had really come to, just bobbed their heads back and forth. Felix sat nearby, flapping his tail.

Tapping a key on his gauntlet, Leo waited until the light roar of his motorcycle—the Prowler—sounded. As it pulled up on its own, Leo climbed onto it and flung one leg over the side. Directly behind Leo was a second seat, where Felix sat. He quickly jumped up there; the concave structure of the seat was made specifically for the leopard, so he wouldn't have to worry about slipping from his pad.

"Let's get back home," Leo muttered, starting up the bike.

Here's the new chapter, introducing the new hero Leo James Aslan—the Ghost Cat. He was submitted by user W. R. Winters. Let both of us know what you thought of the character—and the chapter itself—in the reviews! Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next chapter.

I also wanted to quickly say thanks to the support you guys have given to the story since the first chapter. It's been a pleasure to have an audience that enjoys what I'm putting out! Thank you all!