[ Street Near Star City Police Department HQ, Star City ]
Batman looked down on women—but not in the crude, overt way of a common chauvinist. It was more complex, a tangled web of ingrained pride, old-fashioned chivalry, and the iron-willed restraint drilled into him through years of discipline. He wouldn't strike a woman, not really. Not out of weakness, but from a code—something like a fusion of medieval knightly ideals and modern respect for women.
His approach to women was often to ignore them entirely. Talia had once given birth to his son and then stabbed him—not metaphorically, but with an actual blade piercing flesh and bone. He endured it in silence. Catwoman had betrayed him more than once, and still, he offered her forgiveness like it was an afterthought. Even Harley Quinn, in all her chaotic, half-deranged madness, was treated with a weird sort of patronizing patience. He'd never raise a fist to her the way he would to the Joker.
So it wasn't hard to predict the outcome of a fight between such a man and Lady Shiva.
There were simply too many places he wouldn't strike: the chest was off-limits, the waist was too sensitive, and the face—well, just one look at Lady Shiva's cold, sculpted beauty made that entirely unthinkable. With his own martial arts already outmatched, this self-imposed restraint only widened the gap. He held his ground thanks solely to the fortified armor in his suit.
He wanted to check on Catwoman, to see how she was faring—but he didn't realize Felicity had already hacked every surveillance camera in the area. Paranoia still gnawed at him: What if the police showed up with riot gear? What if light and heavy artillery were already en route? The momentary distraction cost him; Shiva landed two clean blows. When he turned his head to yell "Hurry up!", he almost bit his tongue.
Catwoman and Thea were no longer fighting. Instead, they stood side by side, arms crossed like two girlfriends watching a movie. Their faces showed no concern—just mild amusement. They looked seconds away from pulling out popcorn. Unbeknownst to him, Felicity was behind the camera, actually munching on snacks while whispering encouragement to Batman.
Snippets of their conversation drifted to Batman's ears:
"That punch to the face was too soft. Did Shiva skip dinner?"
"Nope, you missed it. That was a feint. Watch the kick—good! Beautiful! That side kick was perfect!"
Bruce wanted to collapse right then and there. Who was he risking life and limb for? Wasn't he out here to protect catwoman? Instead, he was being used as an educational display! He vowed never to engage in combat with a woman again. He considered calling for a ceasefire, but Shiva wasn't done enjoying herself.
Thea, meanwhile, watched intently. Every movement, every change in stance and footwork fascinated her. These weren't just skilled fighters—they were artists. She, by contrast, was just a user of martial arts. She didn't love it for its own sake, not yet.
"Thea, retreat now! The police are on their way!" Felicity's urgent voice buzzed through her headset.
"The police are coming!" Thea shouted toward the battlefield. She couldn't abandon them, not when all four shared a certain… moral grayness. None of them were shining paragons. Thea Queen still had to maintain her "rich girl" image. Catwoman was a thief. Lady Shiva was a killer. Batman? Gotham's most wanted vigilante. None of them could survive the spotlight.
The skirmish halted instantly—mostly thanks to Lady Shiva. Batman had been itching to escape for a while. Shiva, slightly disappointed, curled her lip and called to Thea, "Continue training tomorrow morning." Before the words even settled, she had vanished into the nearby forest.
Batman nodded at Thea. By now, he understood she wasn't trying to arrest them; if she had been, the cops would've shown up long ago.
He wrapped an arm around Catwoman's waist and fired a grappling hook into the sky. The two of them shot upward, rising over thirty meters in an instant before vanishing from sight.
As the clouds parted and distorted slightly, Thea caught a glimpse of the Batwing. Its body was long and narrow, with side-mounted propellers beneath each wing. Clearly designed for vertical take-off and landing. She leaned in for a better look, but within seconds, it had disappeared into the night sky.
"I must study that next time," she whispered to herself. Sirens echoed in the distance. Time to leave. She slipped away along the route Felicity had mapped out.
...
[ Star City Police Department HQ, Star City ]
When Thea returned to the event venue, she assumed that Catwoman's interference had ruined everything—that her efforts to improve her company's reputation had been destroyed. But to her surprise, Moira Queen had already taken control of the narrative.
While reporters and politicians lingered, Moira launched a textbook crisis PR campaign. As Thea entered, she caught the tail end of it.
"...We must not be intimidated or defeated! We must stand together against criminals who try to threaten and silence us. They fear our unity. Inspector Edward and I have submitted joint proposals to the city council. Queen Consolidated will donate equipment worth $5 million to the Star City Police Department to combat crime!"
"Please join us in preserving the dignity of Star City. Let us protect our home!"
"And finally—Queen Consolidated and the city government will each offer a $1 million reward for any information about tonight's troublemakers. We urge the media to spread the word and help us crack down on this lawlessness!"
Even if some of the celebrities in attendance grumbled, they couldn't refuse to play along. No one could be seen donating mere pocket change. If one person gave hundreds of thousands, others had to match the effort or lose face. With no other option, they signed checks, put on smiles, and declared how happy they were to contribute.
Watching her mother turn a public disaster into a political triumph, Thea couldn't help but admire her. Moira Queen had spun the Queen Consolidated into a symbol of resistance and civic pride.
As for whether the donations and bounties would actually materialize? That wasn't Thea's concern. Her goal was the stars. Whether Star City thrived or withered made little difference to her. She would do what she could, when she could. But evil always found fertile ground, no matter how perfect the laws.
Once the funds were pledged, the police inspector beamed. He calculate that the department's budget goals for the year were "successfully completed"—though he couldn't say that outright. Instead, he gave a solemn vow that they would hunt down the night's criminals. If they failed, he swore, he wouldn't return to the station next year. And technically, he wouldn't—he was being transferred anyway.
As the inspector ranted on, nearly pledging blood to the cause, Thea lost interest. She nodded at Moira from afar and tugged Felicity away from the stage.
The moment they stepped out, the building erupted with frenzied press questions.
"Mrs. Queen, how far along is your partnership with the police?"
"Inspector Edward, what's your crime-fighting goal for next year?"
"Detective Lance, do you have any comment on your younger daughter's disappearance—along with your elder daughter's boyfriend...?"
Thea heard the urgent shout echoing through the hall, followed by a scuffle.
Has that reporter ever been punched before? she thought. He's either the bravest guy here—or the dumbest.
Outside, the tension finally lifted.
"Felicity, you got everything on camera, right?"
"Of course. But Thea—Batman is so cool. Do you know his real identity?"
"How would I know? We just met. All I know is... he's a man!"
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]