Multiverse Reborn: Batwoman

Chapter 2

After Kate had woken up at her old arctic survival retreat, she'd decided to cut it short again, this time without a phone call from Mary telling her that Sophie had been kidnapped, and returned to Gotham.

However, when she returned to Gotham, Kate still couldn't believe how far the city had fallen since Batman left. Kate made a mental note to beat the crap out of Bruce the next time she saw him. She still had no idea why her Bruce had left Gotham 3 years ago, but he clearly hadn't taken the effect his absence would have on Gotham when he left.

As she drove into the more impoverished parts of Gotham, she was reminded of just how little good the Crows truly did for the city. They only protected the wealthy and not the people who really needed it, they weren't really helping Gotham, all they were doing was further dividing the city instead of helping it.

When she arrived at Crows HQ, she smiled at the sight of her father, out of prison and back where he belonged. Barking orders at the crows.

Anyways, as she walked towards his office, she bumped into someone.

"Kate." Sophie said.

"Hey Sophie." Kate said a little spitefully, since she still hadn't gotten over her anger at Sophie for had happened at Point Rock and her counterpart's memories just made her angry all over again.

"What are you doing here?" Sophie asked.

"I'm just here to talk to my dad." Kate said as she walked right past her.

"Kate, can we please talk." Sophie asked as she followed her.

"I don't think so Sophie. You said everything you needed to say that day at Point Rock." Kate said.

"Kate, please, let me explain." Sophie said.

"There's nothing to explain. You decided that graduating that close minded academy was more important than your integrity or your feelings." Kate said without looking back at her as she entered her father's office.

"Kate, what are you doing here?" Jacob asked.

"Hello to you to dad." Kate said.

"No, I mean of course it's good to see you, but aren't you supposed to still be training?" Jacob asked.

"For what, a job we both know you're never actually going to offer me?" Kate asked.

"Kate." Jacob said.

"No dad, we both know that you're not going to give me a job with the Crows. And to be honest, I'm not sure that I want one anyways." Kate said.

"What?" Jacob asked.

"Dad, the Crows only protect people who can afford it and coincidentally, the only people who can afford it are the one percenters. Not the people who actually need that kind of protection. Batman might've been a jackass, but at least he helped everyone in Gotham, regardless of what tax bracket they're in." Kate said.

"You're siding with Batman." Jacob asked.

"While I was training, I had a lot of time to think and I realized that Batman wasn't responsible for what happened to mom and Beth." Kate said, deciding to get this conversation over with now.

"Batman brought out all the crazies in Gotham. If it weren't for him there wouldn't have been a Joker and there wouldn't have been an accident." Jacob said.

"And what about all the other people Batman saved both before and after the accident. Hell, what about all the kids he saved that day. Do they suddenly not matter just because he couldn't save mom and Beth?" Kate demanded, taking him aback.

"No of course not. But." Jacob began, only to have Kate interrupt him again.

"No, you blame Batman for the accident because it's easier than blaming yourself for not saving Mom or searching harder for Beth. Instead you turned your attention on blaming Batman because it was easier. I get the feeling that he kept searching even after we stopped." Kate said.

"Kate. He could've done something." Jacob said.

"How, he's not Superman. He couldn't fly." Kate said as she walked out of the office, already planning on heading towards Wayne Enterprise.