Chapter 67

Using the premium ingredients stored in Bruce Wayne's mansion, Kara managed to prepare a lavish dinner herself. She wasn't shy about it either, even using the airlifted Wagyu beef to make beef brisket and persimmon soup. Even Bruce shook his head at the extravagance. Alfred couldn't resist commenting, "If she were the lady of the Wayne family, we'd be bankrupt in no time."

After the belated dinner, Bruce offered Kara and Jennifer rooms in the manor, as Wayne Manor had more than enough space to host guests. Late that night, Kara was awoken by unfamiliar noises. She tried to block them out but eventually gave up and slipped out of bed, wearing a silk nightgown that Alfred had prepared for her. She made her way to the main hall.

Alfred had already set out a selection of drinks on a nearby table, including a bottle of red wine. Kara glanced at it but ultimately chose a glass of water before heading toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dragging a chair close to the window, she settled in and gazed at the beautiful night outside. Despite everything, she felt a sense of contentment for her friend. However, as she stared into the darkness, worry crept in for Jennifer. Gotham was far from seeing its dawn, and Kara knew better than anyone that the darkest hour comes just before the dawn. Jennifer didn't seem to grasp that it wasn't the late-night hours to fear; it was the time just before dawn that was the most dangerous.

As if on cue, she heard the soft sound of footsteps behind her. Without turning around, Kara muttered, "You should really get yourself checked." Bruce, who had been quietly approaching, paused, visibly uncomfortable. "I didn't expect that from her..." he started but trailed off, unsure how to continue.

Kara cut him off before he could dig himself deeper. "Jennifer is a good, honest woman. She's rare to find, and you're her first love. Don't let her down," she said, turning to face him abruptly. Bruce lowered his gaze, hesitated, and then poured himself some of the red wine Alfred had set out, finding himself at a loss for words.

"I'm not sure..." Bruce began, taking a sip of his drink. Kara let out a dry laugh. "Of course, you don't know. Back then, you were consumed by your grief and hatred. You barely noticed anything else around you. And then there was Rachel... she was the one, wasn't she?"

Bruce shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, clearly uneasy. Desperate to change the subject, he said, "Actually, Gordon mentioned something to me recently—there's been news of a mysterious—" "I don't want to hear it," Kara interrupted, impatiently waving off his attempt to deflect. She placed her empty glass down on the table next to Bruce, looked at him sharply, and said, "Don't forget, Bruce, you and I are on opposite paths now. I won't be helping you anymore. If you keep making the same mistakes, don't expect me to be there to clean up the mess. You won't want to see me take down those scumbags in front of your eyes again."

Bruce fell silent. They had clashed before—particularly about how to deal with Ra's al Ghul. Though both fought for justice, their methods and outlooks on how to end things couldn't have been more different. Kara believed in using force to stop violence and advocated for removing dangerous individuals permanently to prevent future harm. Bruce, on the other hand, stood firm in his belief that their actions, no matter how noble, weren't legal, and that they didn't have the right to play judge, jury, and executioner.

At that moment, Jennifer, who lay asleep in Bruce's bed upstairs, symbolized the strange tension between these opposing philosophies. She had gotten her wish and was now with the man she admired, but Kara worried about the future. Although Kara had certainly added fuel to the fire, she feared that Jennifer might end up hurt. It wasn't that Kara's views were too extreme or that Bruce's methods were cowardly; they each had their own reasons and guiding principles. Even Kara had to admit that Bruce was a symbol of justice, and she admired his unwavering integrity. But she couldn't follow his path. She both admired and resented him for it, which was why they could no longer work together. Kara had no desire to don Batman's cowl again, nor did she want to tarnish the legacy of the Dark Knight.

Without giving Bruce a chance to respond, Kara turned to leave. "Oh, one more thing," she said, remembering something. She turned back to Bruce and added, "Before I head back to Metropolis tomorrow, you owe me some photos. I need something to show for my absence at work."

Bruce sighed but couldn't argue. This was typical Kara. She returned to her room, and the night passed without further incident, though her plan to sleep in was interrupted early the next morning.

Kara groaned as Jennifer, already fully dressed, sat beside her bed. "Even if you're the future Lady Wayne, there's no need to rush me out of bed," Kara muttered, rolling her eyes. Jennifer blushed, knowing Kara had likely figured out what had happened the night before. "Lady Wayne? You're talking nonsense," Jennifer said dismissively, though she clearly knew what Kara meant. "Come on, we've got to go. I start my new position tomorrow, and I have so much to prepare for. Plus, I need to get familiar with the first case. Someone from the Falcone family, I think? Gotham's criminal underworld is still alive and kicking."

Jennifer chattered on about her work as she dragged Kara out of bed. Now fully awake, Kara looked at Jennifer with surprise. "What? Did you think I came to Gotham just to play house? I've got work to do as Gotham's new judge. And trust me, after last night, I'm more focused than ever."

"Last night?" Kara raised an eyebrow. Jennifer nodded, smiling softly. "Meeting Rachel made it clear. His heart belongs to someone else, so I let go." Kara sighed, pulling Jennifer into a tight hug.