Everything seemed to have passed.
Gotham City narrowly avoided a major crisis. With Batman's previous efforts, the criminal underworld was falling apart, and Gotham City appeared to have returned to a state of peace.
As for Kara, she didn't even bother to watch the news about Gotham City lately and focused on resting at home.
Now, she had started putting on her sportswear every morning and evening, going out for runs and walking her dog along the way.
"You're not old enough yet," Clark said one day, unknowingly hitting one of Kara's sensitive nerves.
Kara was ten years older than Clark. Unlike many origin stories, Kara hadn't spent decades in the Phantom Zone because of a meteorite's impact. Instead, she had arrived on Earth at the same time as Clark.
Clark was eighteen now, while Kara was twenty-eight, soon to turn thirty.
"You're saying I'm already middle-aged?" Kara put her hands on her hips and stared at Clark with cold eyes.
Clark quickly raised his hands in surrender.
If it had been before, Kara might have let it slide.
But today was different.
"Crack-clack."
Kara clenched her fists, making a series of ominous joint-cracking sounds.
"Sister?" Clark began backing away.
A slight smirk appeared at the corner of Kara's mouth. "It seems I've been too kind to you, Clark. It's time you remembered that offending your sister comes with consequences."
Kara wasn't actually upset with Clark, but she used his comment as an excuse. "I've noticed you've been slacking off lately. I haven't had time to teach you what I've learned. Today feels like the perfect day."
Clark asked with a wry smile, "Can I say no?"
The answer was an obvious no.
Using this opportunity, Kara started an intense training regimen for Clark during her time at home.
She was teaching him the combat techniques she'd learned, using hands-on methods so Clark could experience and internalize them.
To avoid causing too much of a scene, Kara set a rule: no using super-strength. After all, the point was for Clark to develop combat skills, which would be meaningless if he relied solely on brute strength.
Kara also began teaching Clark about psychokinesis, a skill she had developed using information from an ancient magic text.
"Clark, we're not invincible. While we're incredibly powerful, we also have weaknesses," Kara explained seriously. "For instance, red sun radiation."
Kara started breaking down the vulnerabilities of Kryptonians for Clark. He needed to understand what could hurt him—and even kill him.
"If the golden rays of the sun strengthen us, then the red sun's rays weaken us. Always remember that. If you ever find yourself in outer space, avoid red stars at all costs."
She also cautioned him about kryptonite. "There's another danger: a mineral from Krypton called kryptonite. It can nullify all our powers, and prolonged exposure can even kill us."
Kryptonite had always been the deadliest threat to Kryptonians. Even the indestructible Doomsday wasn't entirely immune to its effects.
"That's why I'm teaching you how to control your mind through psychokinesis. When your mental strength is strong enough, you can create a protective shield around your body before kryptonite gets close."
Kara explained how she had discovered this technique during the recent Gotham City crisis. By using psychokinesis as a shield, she had resisted toxic fumes, which otherwise would have seeped into her pores and poisoned her.
Now, she hoped to teach Clark this skill, believing it could one day save his life.
To be fair, Kara treated Clark with a lot of care. Because of their age gap, she had always seen him as someone to look out for—not quite a son, but more than just a cousin. They were the last of their kind.
Clark understood Kara's concern and trained hard, determined to master everything she taught him before heading off to college.
Superman's enhanced learning abilities certainly helped. As Clark matured, he began unlocking powers similar to Kara's. After all, they were both Kryptonians from the same family.
Kara's one-month break passed quickly, filled with productive days. Before she knew it, it was time to return to her job in Metropolis.
Clark had already left for Metropolis a few days earlier to start school. Kara had driven him there in her car—a vehicle she was still paying off.
Jonathan had wanted to send Clark off, but since his kids were grown, he trusted them to handle things. Clark, not wanting to see his adoptive mother Martha cry during their goodbye, had convinced his father to stay behind. He promised to visit home regularly.
Martha, however, shot a look of mock accusation at Kara. "Your sister said the same thing when she left. Then she disappeared for three years."
Kara sheepishly stuck out her tongue and motioned for Clark to hurry up and escape.
Afterward, Kara returned home for a few quiet days. But once her vacation ended, she packed up and headed back to her life as a white-collar worker in Metropolis.
On her drive back, Kara loaded her car with groceries from home, as Martha and Jonathan insisted on sending her off with enough food to last weeks. Her trunk was full, and if she hadn't protested, the back seat would've been crammed too.
She turned on the radio to enjoy some music on the drive. But just as she started to relax, her phone rang—a flip phone, as smartphones were still rare and impractical. She picked it up, already feeling a sense of foreboding.
"Kara, I've got great news!" Jennifer's excited voice came through the line. "I'm being transferred to Gotham! Isn't that amazing?"
Kara hit the brakes so hard she almost flew forward. Gotham City? Amazing? Kara didn't think so.
Jennifer perfectly interprets what is called surprise—no, it's shock.
The shock was that she actually requested to be transferred to Gotham City.
In fact, not long ago, about a month earlier, Gotham City had an honest district attorney, and at that time, he was Rachel's boyfriend.
But according to Bruce, that district attorney is dead.
At the time, Kara had jokingly complained that Bruce wanted to play the "widow's plot," though it was just a complaint. Rachel wasn't the wife of the district attorney, so she wasn't technically a widow.
And now, a month later, due to Jennifer's voluntary application and Gotham City's dire need for a new district attorney, her transfer had been approved.
Jennifer was already serving as the district attorney of Metropolis, so she could assume her new position immediately upon arrival.
When Kara got the news, she rushed to Jennifer's house that very night, leaving her work behind.
"Are you out of your mind?" Kara burst through the door, yelling as soon as she stepped inside.
She had a key to Jennifer's place, as well as Dani's, and they both had keys to her home as well.
But when Kara didn't see Jennifer in the living room, she realized immediately with her super hearing that Jennifer was in the kitchen.
Suppressing her anger for the moment, Kara stormed toward the kitchen.
Inside, Jennifer and Dani were busy preparing dinner together—it seemed they were celebrating something.
Kara yelled again, "Jane, are you crazy?"
Jennifer glanced at her briefly before motioning to the floor with her finger.
Kara realized she had come in with her shoes on.
Grumbling, she bent down to take off her sneakers, carrying them in her hands.
"Honestly, at your age, you still act so impulsively," Jennifer said sarcastically. "And by the way, maybe you should try wearing high heels and skirts sometime."
Jennifer twirled in place, showing off her beautiful blue dress, which flared like a blooming flower.
But Jennifer didn't notice Dani's face darkening even more.
"I'm really sorry that I don't wear skirts," Dani snapped, clearly irritated. Her work made it impractical to dress as elegantly as Jennifer did.
Jennifer, realizing she had unintentionally offended Dani, quickly hugged her. "Don't be mad," she said apologetically, "you know I wasn't talking about you."
Kara scoffed—of course, it was directed at her.
"Don't change the subject, Jane," Kara said, her tone sharp. "Do you even realize what you're doing? Is there anything in that brain of yours besides that playboy? Do you really have to go to Gotham City? Have you seen what's been happening there?"
Jennifer sighed, clearly exasperated. "I know you think I'm moving to Gotham because of Bruce, but you're wrong, Kara. You really are. Metropolis is too peaceful—what do you think my daily job is like? Sitting in an office, drinking coffee, and reading the newspaper. That's all I do most days.
"Sometimes I even envy the stories you write in your column. I want to go out and make a difference, and Gotham City needs me. That's why I'm going."
Kara stared at Jennifer, searching her face. Jennifer met her gaze head-on.
After a moment, Kara relented slightly. "Do you really have to go?"
Jennifer shrugged. "The application has already been approved. I'll be moving in a few days. And who knows? Maybe I'll meet someone or find something meaningful there."
"I knew it! You're still chasing Bruce!" Kara accused, her frustration boiling over. "You're just as infatuated as ever. Ten years, Jane! Ten years you've been obsessed with him!"
Jennifer's expression turned aggrieved. "You don't like him, Kara, but that doesn't mean others don't. And you can't deny he's charming.
"I don't want to settle for just anyone for the rest of my life. You can't project your standards onto me—we're different people. You're not married, and neither am I.
"And do you even know the kind of men my parents have tried to set me up with? Idiots, Kara. The same idiots you used to beat up when we were younger. Who do you think I'm going to choose?"
Kara sighed, unable to argue further. Bruce was indeed wealthy and handsome, with an undeniable charisma in his every move. But Jennifer had been infatuated with him for a decade—ever since they had spent just one year together at school.
One year of acquaintance had fueled ten years of devotion.
Kara sneered inwardly, thinking Jennifer would learn her lesson soon enough. She'd see that Bruce had his childhood sweetheart, Rachel, and realize her mistake.
Jennifer would return heartbroken, and Kara would be there to pick up the pieces.
But Kara never expected what happened next.
Gotham City welcomed its new district attorney, Harvey Dent.
Rachel fell for him instead.
And suddenly, Jennifer saw hope…
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