Chapter 88 (edited)

Kara guessed right; Bruce and Harvey did have a plan, which became evident when Bruce called her. 

"Harvey is trying to use himself as bait to lure the Joker," Bruce said. "The idea is for him to draw the Joker out so I can catch him." 

"The Joker knows your identity, Bruce," Kara reminded him sharply. "Even if Harvey manages to draw him out, it's only because he's already the Joker's target. He's in danger." 

Bruce knew this too, but desperation pushed him to call Kara for help. "That's why I need you," he admitted. 

"Impossible, Bruce. You know that's not going to happen," Kara responded coldly. "Because you won't let me do what's necessary to stop the Joker. So, no." 

"He needs to be punished," Bruce argued, his voice rising. 

But Kara's idea of punishment differed entirely from Bruce's. To her, prison wasn't a punishment—it was a delay, a path leading to further chaos. The Joker needed to be stopped permanently, but Bruce would never allow it. 

Their conversation reached an impasse. Kara, her voice colder than before, replied, "Harvey's life is a life, Bruce, but so is Jane's." 

Bruce was silent as Kara pressed on. "Joker has already targeted her more than once. Yesterday, when I captured him, he threatened her again. If I leave, who will protect her? Harvey has you. Jane only has me." 

Her words carried an undeniable truth, but they also sounded selfish. Kara didn't care. "If you want to talk about selfishness, Bruce, let's talk about who's really being selfish here." 

Without waiting for his response, she ended the call, flipping her phone shut. 

As she put her phone away, she noticed Jane standing behind her, holding two boxes of ice cream. "Want some?" Jane offered, a small smile on her lips. 

Kara walked over, snatching both boxes. "It's not good for you to eat anything too cold right now," she chided. 

Jane laughed softly. "When did you become a doctor?" Then, in a gentler tone, she added, "So, you let the Joker go because of me? I'm sorry." 

Shrugging, Kara reassured her, "Don't think too much about it. Bruce will handle it." 

"And if he doesn't?" 

"Then let him fail," Kara replied with a smirk. 

"Kara?" 

"I'm joking. Batman will figure it out," she said dismissively before walking away with both boxes of ice cream. 

Jane, left behind, sighed and sat down, watching Kara's retreating form. Kara, halfway through one of the ice cream boxes, paused and handed it back to Jane. "Here. And don't overthink it." 

Jane smiled and took it, her gaze warm. Meanwhile, Kara pulled out her phone. "Alfred, bring the equipment," she said into the receiver. 

Alfred, as efficient as ever, responded immediately. "Miss Kara, I'm already downstairs. Shall I come up?" 

Kara raised her eyebrows. It seemed Bruce was determined to involve her, whether she liked it or not. Annoyed but resigned, she hung up and turned to Jane. "Alfred will be here. Stay with him, and don't do anything reckless." 

Jane didn't reply immediately, her eyes flickering with concern. She reached out and rubbed her stomach gently. "You're so sure it's a boy?" 

"Just a feeling," Kara said, her expression softening briefly before turning serious again. 

She wouldn't admit it, but her dreams of a stubborn child named Damian Wayne had weighed on her mind. She didn't know why the dreams felt so real, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the boy was meant to exist—and that he would cause her no end of headaches. 

When Alfred arrived with the equipment, Kara wasted no time preparing. She donned her silver-gray suit, her demeanor shifting to match her role. "Jane is your responsibility now, Alfred," Kara told him before leaving. 

"As always, Miss Kara," Alfred replied dutifully. "I'll protect her and her…little Wayne." 

Jane blinked. "Little Wayne? It's my child, not his." 

But Kara didn't stick around to argue semantics. She left swiftly, stepping out onto the street, where Alfred had prepared a sleek, silver-gray vehicle for her. 

As Kara approached, her presence commanded attention. The crowd that had gathered to admire the vehicle turned to watch her instead, their phones snapping pictures. 

"Never seen anything like it?" Kara asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. 

Some shook their heads, others murmured in awe. 

"Then take a picture for posterity," Kara said with a smirk before stepping into the car. 

The sleek design and advanced interface excited her, but her confidence faltered when the dashboard suddenly flashed red. 

"Goodbye," an automated voice said. 

Moments later, the vehicle exploded. 

Kara, unharmed but furious, emerged from the wreckage on a motorcycle she'd managed to salvage. She sped off, leaving the stunned crowd behind, her mind racing with frustration. 

"Bruce," she muttered under her breath, "this is all your fault."