Chapter 85 (edited)

Kara was by no means easily outplayed by the Joker again and again. While the Joker was undoubtedly a criminal mastermind with a high IQ, Kara was far from naive and had even begun to piece together parts of his true motives. 

However, what she hadn't accounted for was the Joker's sheer madness. 

Who would have thought that he would reveal his true colors on such an occasion? The Joker had taken a colossal risk to execute his plan to assassinate the commissioner. His insanity reached levels that even Kara couldn't have anticipated. 

It wasn't that Kara couldn't have reached the Joker in time; she was more than capable of doing so. But she couldn't afford to expose herself—not yet. Clark wasn't ready. Both she and her adoptive father, Jonathan, understood that Clark was far from prepared to reveal himself to the world. 

Kara had to be selfish in this moment. She had only enough time to shield Jennifer with her own body, using her back as protection against the chaos. 

But what about Commissioner Gordon? 

Before Kara could act further, someone else stepped forward. Gordon. He had noticed something off during the second shot and lunged forward, pushing the commissioner out of harm's way. 

The price? Gordon took a bullet in the back. 

The scene descended into chaos. The crowd, made up of civilians and officers who had come to pay their respects, erupted in confusion. Many of the officers, unarmed for the ceremonial occasion, scrambled to make sense of the attack. 

Officer 023 reacted quickly, pursuing the firing squad. It became clear that the entire squad had been planted by the Joker. Their coordinated assault on the podium left no doubt of their allegiance. 

How had the Joker managed to infiltrate the firing squad? The answer only deepened the unsettling reality of his meticulous planning. 

From the corner of her eye, Kara saw Bruce emerge from one of the rooms nearby. The original firing squad members were bound and restrained in his place, exposing just how far the Joker's influence had reached. 

Kara clenched her teeth. She had been outmaneuvered again. 

"Kara," Jennifer said, her voice firm as she pushed herself out of Kara's protective embrace. Her serious expression startled Kara. "Go after him." 

Kara hesitated, worry flashing in her eyes. 

But Jennifer pressed on. "This is your best chance. Don't let him escape. Gordon's life hangs in the balance. He has to pay." 

It was the first time Kara had seen Jennifer this resolute. 

Nodding, Kara instructed Jennifer to stay safe and then leapt from the podium without hesitation. 

Even in high heels, she sprinted after the Joker, her determination overshadowing any discomfort. The sharp click of her heels echoed through the streets as she pursued him. 

The Joker's escape route was clever, weaving through the panicked crowd. Most people didn't even notice him slipping away. But Kara was faster, locking onto him as he darted toward an alley. 

Just as he was about to vanish, she struck. With an iron grip, she forced him to the ground. Her heel dug into his back like a sharp blade. 

"You can't kill me," the Joker said, his voice disturbingly calm. 

Kara sneered. "Why not? You don't have anything left to threaten me with. Expose my identity? I'll make sure no one talks." 

The Joker's grin widened. "What about that lady judge?" he said, his words cutting deep. 

Kara froze momentarily, her gaze darting back toward the podium. Jennifer was no longer there. Panic surged through her until her Super Vision located Jennifer being escorted away by a police officer. 

Relief washed over her. 

But the Joker continued, his words venomous. "How do you think I knew who to place on the firing squad? How do you think I got in so easily? That officer... he's one of mine." 

Kara's foot pressed harder, her heel puncturing the Joker's back. Blood seeped through his clothing, but he didn't flinch. 

"You see," the Joker said, laughing despite the pain, "she's your weakness. Everyone has one. And once the identity of a 'masked hero' is revealed, it's game over. You'll be controlled, manipulated, cornered. You're just as much a pawn as anyone else." 

Kara's jaw tightened. He was pushing her to the edge. Could she fly in broad daylight? Could she unleash her full power in front of so many witnesses? Could she end the Joker here and now, knowing the consequences? 

Her hesitation made the Joker laugh even harder. "You can't kill me. You know why? Because deep down, you're not that different from me. You're restrained by your own rules. You're as chaotic as I am, Kara Kent." 

The Joker's words were a knife twisting in her heart. 

Kara unconsciously stepped back, her resolve shaken. The Joker seized the opportunity, standing despite the pain in his back. 

"You and Batman are nothing alike," the Joker continued. "He clings to his little rules, his precious order. You? You thrive in chaos. And that's the beauty of it. You don't belong in his world. You belong in mine." 

His words struck a nerve. Kara had always believed in decisive action, even if it meant crossing moral lines. She believed in ending threats permanently, not binding them in chains and waiting for their return. 

Kara's conflict with Bruce over Ra's al Ghul had made that clear. She believed eliminating Ra's would save countless lives, while Bruce insisted on due process, trusting in the system to deliver justice. 

Order versus chaos. Two opposing ideologies. 

For a moment, Kara's focus wavered. The Joker's laughter rang out, echoing through her mind as she stood frozen, grappling with his words.