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Chapter 368 Christmas Gift
Kara was in a daze the whole time, just listening to Karen and nodding along, occasionally interjecting with a few "uh-huhs," "ohs," and "okays."
After the conversation, the young girl had bewilderingly transformed from a high school student in Gotham into the president of a Top 500 Global Company.
There wasn't even any need for handover procedures; Karen completed the transition in just a few words. After all, to outsiders, she had always been the Chairman, so nothing had really changed.
Suddenly, Kara went from being a freeloader to the richest person in the entire HISHE Cafe. Orin Vale found it a bit strange.
“Don't worry, it's not that hard. The secret is to use your super brain more often.” Karen patted Kara's back and said with a laugh, “I’ll take you to see the company before I leave. It's very easy.”
Helena kept glancing towards the door, occasionally checking her watch. Although she seemed to be trying to hide it, someone still noticed her strange behavior.
“Waiting for someone?” Orin Vale asked.
“What?” Helena hurriedly shook her head. “I’m not waiting for anyone.”
“If you're waiting for him, he probably won't come... But you should know that already.”
Helena's expression dimmed slightly.
Indeed, she knew her 'Father' wasn't the type to waste time on something like a Christmas party. She remembered from her childhood how her father would often argue with her mother about it. The phrase he used most was, "Criminals don't celebrate Christmas."
Gotham certainly didn't quiet down much just because it was Christmas. Not to say Christmas made no difference; Batman's fan club always had its own way of celebrating. They would throw all sorts of Christmas-themed whimsical ideas at Batman, and then after being tossed back into Arkham, they'd boast to one another in their cells, competing over who had the more creative idea.
Even though she knew it was unlikely she'd see him at this party, Helena couldn't help but hold onto a sliver of hope, as if deep down she fantasized about seeing that caped figure one more time.
Yes, she knew that wasn't her father. But she just missed him so much.
Karen patted her best friend's back to comfort her, and Helena waved her hand to show she was fine.
Barry sidled up to Orin Vale curiously. "What's wrong with her?"
“She's Batman's daughter, and she happened to witness her father's sacrifice right before she was thrown into this world,” Orin Vale glanced at him. “What do you think?”
The Flash let out an "Ah" of realization.
“So that’s how it is, huh? I just had a brilliant idea for a Christmas gift!”
Orin Vale raised an eyebrow, having a vague idea of what he was about to do.
“Uh, I wouldn't advise you to—”
However, before he could finish his sentence, a circle of golden lightning crackled in front of Orin Vale. The Flash had already turned into a whirlwind, leaving a trail of electric arcs as he shot out.
Of course, before most people at the party could even notice he had left, he was already back.
In his arms, held in a princess carry, was Batman.
There was even a carefully tied bow on Batman's chest, looking like a ribbon, as if he had been packaged as an exquisite Christmas gift.
The moment he entered, the entire room fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stopped their conversations and whatever they were doing, their gazes all turning in his direction. Someone even gaped in shock.
*Click*.
Having been prepared, Orin Vale skillfully took a photo to commemorate the moment.
Another addition to Batman's collection of embarrassing past moments. The material for this project was becoming more and more abundant.
Batman stared stonily at The Flash.
"Put. Me. Down."
It was only then that Barry suddenly realized he might have been a bit thoughtless.
If looks could kill, Barry figured he would be riddled with Batarangs by now.
“Oh! Of course, right away.”
He put Batman down. The two stood face to face, staring at each other in silence until their gazes fell simultaneously on the comical bow on Batman's chest. The Flash untied the bow at supersonic speed, then grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
*Crash*.
That was the sound of Helena shattering a mug.
Her eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe this was real. Karen, meanwhile, smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous, girl. You've got this."
Helena took a deep breath and walked up to Batman.
Batman looked at his daughter from another world. He could vaguely sense some kind of connection through their bloodline; although this was only their second meeting, he felt as if he'd known the girl for a lifetime.
"Heh heh." Helena tried her best to look natural.
"Hn." Batman grunted.
Helena: "How have you... been lately?"
"The usual," Batman replied coldly, crossing his arms and looking away.
After a moment, he spoke again. "And you?"
"The same."
"Hn."
The two bats, one large and one small, stood shoulder to shoulder and fell into silence, seemingly unable to find anything to talk about.
The Flash snorted with laughter and whispered, “I know this one. It’s called ‘Awkward Bat-Chat.’”
Batman shot him another disapproving glare. The Flash quickly covered his mouth, signaling that he was just a statue and that they should continue.
As it turned out, putting the two bats together was like having two conversation terminators collide; making small talk was proving difficult. But Helena was already content with this. After all, the father in her memory had also been a man of few words. Just being together for her last Christmas before leaving was already more than she had expected.
Although he'd been reckless, she'd even felt the urge to pick The Flash up and give him a kiss. He was simply the kindest superhero in the world.
Unfortunately, this moment only lasted for about an hour.
A beam of golden light shot through the night sky, projecting a giant bat against the snowy Christmas night.
Batman stood up, flicking his cape. "I have to go."
Helena was a little disappointed. But she quickly added, "Maybe... maybe I can go with you? You know, I was trained by Batman too. I can definitely help..."
But Batman didn't respond, simply continuing towards the exit.
It seemed like a rejection. Helena sighed softly and said no more.
However, Batman stopped before leaving. Without turning back, he left behind a single, cold sentence.
"Don't slow me down."
Helena's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
Under the Bat-Signal, Commissioner Gordon lit another cigarette.
“Will he really come?”
Detective Harvey Bullock tightened his overcoat, looking out at a Gotham blanketed in snow.
"Maybe the Bat celebrates Christmas too?"
"He will."
Gordon blew a smoke ring.
"Criminals don't celebrate Christmas, and neither does he. Besides, my gut tells me we're going to especially need him for this case..."
He glanced at the evidence bag to the side, which contained several small, bloodstained knives.
Clearly engraved on their hilts was the mark of the Court of Owls.
(end of chapter)
Kara was in a daze the whole time, just listening to Karen and nodding along, occasionally interjecting with a few "uh-huhs," "ohs," and "okays."
After the conversation, the young girl had bewilderingly transformed from a high school student in Gotham into the president of a Top 500 Global Company.
There wasn't even any need for handover procedures; Karen completed the transition in just a few words. After all, to outsiders, she had always been the Chairman, so nothing had really changed.
Suddenly, Kara went from being a freeloader to the richest person in the entire HISHE Cafe. Orin Vale found it a bit strange.
“Don't worry, it's not that hard. The secret is to use your super brain more often.” Karen patted Kara's back and said with a laugh, “I’ll take you to see the company before I leave. It's very easy.”
Helena kept glancing towards the door, occasionally checking her watch. Although she seemed to be trying to hide it, someone still noticed her strange behavior.
“Waiting for someone?” Orin Vale asked.
“What?” Helena hurriedly shook her head. “I’m not waiting for anyone.”
“If you're waiting for him, he probably won't come... But you should know that already.”
Helena's expression dimmed slightly.
Indeed, she knew her 'Father' wasn't the type to waste time on something like a Christmas party. She remembered from her childhood how her father would often argue with her mother about it. The phrase he used most was, "Criminals don't celebrate Christmas."
Gotham certainly didn't quiet down much just because it was Christmas. Not to say Christmas made no difference; Batman's fan club always had its own way of celebrating. They would throw all sorts of Christmas-themed whimsical ideas at Batman, and then after being tossed back into Arkham, they'd boast to one another in their cells, competing over who had the more creative idea.
Even though she knew it was unlikely she'd see him at this party, Helena couldn't help but hold onto a sliver of hope, as if deep down she fantasized about seeing that caped figure one more time.
Yes, she knew that wasn't her father. But she just missed him so much.
Karen patted her best friend's back to comfort her, and Helena waved her hand to show she was fine.
Barry sidled up to Orin Vale curiously. "What's wrong with her?"
“She's Batman's daughter, and she happened to witness her father's sacrifice right before she was thrown into this world,” Orin Vale glanced at him. “What do you think?”
The Flash let out an "Ah" of realization.
“So that’s how it is, huh? I just had a brilliant idea for a Christmas gift!”
Orin Vale raised an eyebrow, having a vague idea of what he was about to do.
“Uh, I wouldn't advise you to—”
However, before he could finish his sentence, a circle of golden lightning crackled in front of Orin Vale. The Flash had already turned into a whirlwind, leaving a trail of electric arcs as he shot out.
Of course, before most people at the party could even notice he had left, he was already back.
In his arms, held in a princess carry, was Batman.
There was even a carefully tied bow on Batman's chest, looking like a ribbon, as if he had been packaged as an exquisite Christmas gift.
The moment he entered, the entire room fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stopped their conversations and whatever they were doing, their gazes all turning in his direction. Someone even gaped in shock.
*Click*.
Having been prepared, Orin Vale skillfully took a photo to commemorate the moment.
Another addition to Batman's collection of embarrassing past moments. The material for this project was becoming more and more abundant.
Batman stared stonily at The Flash.
"Put. Me. Down."
It was only then that Barry suddenly realized he might have been a bit thoughtless.
If looks could kill, Barry figured he would be riddled with Batarangs by now.
“Oh! Of course, right away.”
He put Batman down. The two stood face to face, staring at each other in silence until their gazes fell simultaneously on the comical bow on Batman's chest. The Flash untied the bow at supersonic speed, then grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
*Crash*.
That was the sound of Helena shattering a mug.
Her eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe this was real. Karen, meanwhile, smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous, girl. You've got this."
Helena took a deep breath and walked up to Batman.
Batman looked at his daughter from another world. He could vaguely sense some kind of connection through their bloodline; although this was only their second meeting, he felt as if he'd known the girl for a lifetime.
"Heh heh." Helena tried her best to look natural.
"Hn." Batman grunted.
Helena: "How have you... been lately?"
"The usual," Batman replied coldly, crossing his arms and looking away.
After a moment, he spoke again. "And you?"
"The same."
"Hn."
The two bats, one large and one small, stood shoulder to shoulder and fell into silence, seemingly unable to find anything to talk about.
The Flash snorted with laughter and whispered, “I know this one. It’s called ‘Awkward Bat-Chat.’”
Batman shot him another disapproving glare. The Flash quickly covered his mouth, signaling that he was just a statue and that they should continue.
As it turned out, putting the two bats together was like having two conversation terminators collide; making small talk was proving difficult. But Helena was already content with this. After all, the father in her memory had also been a man of few words. Just being together for her last Christmas before leaving was already more than she had expected.
Although he'd been reckless, she'd even felt the urge to pick The Flash up and give him a kiss. He was simply the kindest superhero in the world.
Unfortunately, this moment only lasted for about an hour.
A beam of golden light shot through the night sky, projecting a giant bat against the snowy Christmas night.
Batman stood up, flicking his cape. "I have to go."
Helena was a little disappointed. But she quickly added, "Maybe... maybe I can go with you? You know, I was trained by Batman too. I can definitely help..."
But Batman didn't respond, simply continuing towards the exit.
It seemed like a rejection. Helena sighed softly and said no more.
However, Batman stopped before leaving. Without turning back, he left behind a single, cold sentence.
"Don't slow me down."
Helena's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
Under the Bat-Signal, Commissioner Gordon lit another cigarette.
“Will he really come?”
Detective Harvey Bullock tightened his overcoat, looking out at a Gotham blanketed in snow.
"Maybe the Bat celebrates Christmas too?"
"He will."
Gordon blew a smoke ring.
"Criminals don't celebrate Christmas, and neither does he. Besides, my gut tells me we're going to especially need him for this case..."
He glanced at the evidence bag to the side, which contained several small, bloodstained knives.
Clearly engraved on their hilts was the mark of the Court of Owls.
(end of chapter)
