Chapter 58

With Kara's help—or lack thereof—Bruce finally succeeded in thwarting Ra's al Ghul's ambitious plan to destroy Gotham City.

However, after Kara killed Ra's, Bruce realized that her methods might have gone too far. This sparked a heated argument between them, resembling a battle not just between two people, but two opposing philosophies.

In the end, neither could convince the other.

But amidst their argument, they both overlooked something crucial—they hadn't stopped the train. It was still speeding toward Wayne Enterprises at full throttle. Worse yet, they had forgotten to contact Gordon, who had been assigned a critical task when they first arrived on the island. His mission was to use the Batmobile to blow up a section of the viaduct if they failed to stop Ra's. At the very least, that could have bought them more time or, with luck, destroyed the deadly machine altogether.

But no one remembered to inform Gordon.

"You really forgot something that important?" Kara looked at Bruce in disbelief. Are you sure you're the Batman known as the brain of the Justice League? Because right now, you're acting more like some clueless kid.

Bruce shot back, "Didn't you forget to shut down the train? Weren't you at the console?"

Kara's annoyance flared up. "Bruce, do you think I've got a train operator's license with all my degrees? At best, I know how to drive a car!"

"Okay, now's not the time to argue. I'll call Gordon right now," Bruce said, pulling out his phone. "And stop calling me by my name."

"You started it first."

The tension between them could be cut with a knife, but Bruce had no choice but to put up with Kara's sharp tongue—for now. As he was about to dial, an explosion boomed from somewhere ahead.

Bruce and Kara locked eyes. It was too late.

"Boom!"

A section of the viaduct's support had been blown apart, sending the bridge and train tracks crumbling into the ground.

At that moment, Bruce's phone rang. It was Alfred, his voice filled with worry.

"Master Wayne, please tell me you're not on that train."

Alfred, you hit the nail on the head.

"And me, Alfred," Kara added, reminding him, "Don't forget about me."

"It's okay, Alfred," Bruce reassured him quickly. "We'll be fine." He exchanged a glance with Kara and nodded. "We have to get out of here."

Using the glider functionality in their suits, Bruce and Kara weren't in immediate danger—as long as they jumped out before the train plunged into the collapsed bridge.

Just as the train approached the broken section, the two of them smashed the nearby windows, leaping out in one swift motion.

Mid-air, they spread the capes attached to their suits, transforming into a pair of dark, bat-like figures soaring gracefully through the skies, heading towards the Batcave.

The battle was over, but they still had to deal with the toxic gas released during the conflict. After that, the Gotham City Police Department would handle the cleanup, and the entire ordeal would finally be behind them.

For now, Batman could disappear into the shadows again.

The advanced suits they wore proved their worth, allowing them to glide across half of Gotham before safely arriving at Wayne Manor. As they touched down, Kara glanced at the ruins of the manor and smirked.

"If I'd known your house was going to burn down, I would've taken a few priceless artifacts with me," she said with mock regret.

Bruce cast a sideways glance at her. You think I wanted this to happen? You think I lit the match myself?

Back in the Batcave, Alfred breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing both of them return safely.

"Finally, it's over," Kara said,

removing her helmet. She reached behind her back and pulled out her long, golden hair from her suit, shaking it free with a sigh of relief. Despite everything, her hair always seemed immaculate, the kind that made people envious, even without any special care.

The golden locks shimmered faintly, catching the dim light of the Batcave. Even Alfred couldn't help but admire it for a brief moment.

"Miss Kara, you've been of tremendous help during this entire situation," Alfred said, his tone warm and grateful. "Master Wayne was thinking of inviting you to stay here for a few days as a way to say thank you."

Bruce, who had been in the middle of removing his suit, froze and looked at Alfred in disbelief. When had he said that? He hadn't even spoken a word!

Kara, amused, glanced at Alfred. She could sense what he was up to.

It wasn't just gratitude. Alfred, ever the caretaker, was subtly trying to set them up. Perhaps he saw some similarities between Bruce and Kara—both of them warriors with troubled pasts, both of them hardened by their experiences around the world.

But Kara wasn't buying it.

"Thanks, Alfred, but I think I'll pass," she said, shaking her head with a small laugh. "Maybe after you rebuild the manor. I can't exactly stay in a half-burned house now, can I?"

There was another reason too—her family would be worried if she didn't return home soon. And more importantly…

"You're aiming at the wrong target, Alfred," Kara said, her voice playful but firm.

Removing the last piece of her Bat-gear, she changed back into her casual clothes. "If you want to help your young master, you should focus on that Rachel woman. She's the one he's got feelings for, right?"

She leaned against one of the workbenches, her tone still light. "Or, if you're trying to find someone who's head over heels for him, I've got a friend who fits the bill. She's never had a boyfriend, and she's as sweet as they come."

She winked at Alfred. "But as for me? Yeah, don't bother trying to match us up. We're not each other's type."

Her last comment was met with a subtle nod from Bruce. He wasn't going to say it out loud, but he agreed. There was something about Kara's methods, her willingness to cross certain lines, that troubled him. She reminded him too much of Ra's in that way.

As if reading his mind, Kara smirked. "Well, Bruce, I'm heading out."

She had already zeroed in on the Batcycle, a work-in-progress prototype parked near the Batmobile. Sleek, powerful, and still under development, the motorcycle caught her eye.

She grinned mischievously. "Mind if I borrow this for the ride home?"

Bruce raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "That's still in the development stage. I don't want to hear about you crashing it on your way home."

Kara pouted for a second, but then smiled. "Fine, fine, you're no fun."

She walked toward the exit but paused, glancing over her shoulder with a teasing smile. "Don't think you're off the hook, Bruce. You'll get what's coming to you. You know reporters never forget."

And with that, she turned and headed out, leaving Bruce standing there, shaking his head.

"She's going to make your life interesting, Master Wayne," Alfred said with a knowing smile.

Bruce let out a soft sigh. "She already has, Alfred. She already has."