Ahem.
I am here to clear somethings out in case people didn't catch it. About Zion's relation with Harley.
The reason Zion immediately went to pulling triggers is because Both Harley and Ivy have yet to fully mature out of their villain phase and Harley still has 'feeling' for Joker and she is also a psychiatrist.
Zion care about the kids too much to let them be used a a threat against him.
And Again, if you have doubts about his actions or if something feels stupid, just comment.
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Fun Fact: If you look at Comic Superman's 'S' its more of a Symbol, like a rune or a glyph than an English letter. Its 'S' is not actually and S but something that looks like it.
I know its a shocker(Sarcasm) But think about all the Superman designs where they just use and 'S' on his chest.
Its not even accurate.
Sorry, just wanted to say it. I hadn't had my appointment yet.
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The newly transformed Metropolis glowed under the night sky,
Its crystalline structure illuminating the city in dazzling colors. The streets buzzed with life as people explored the futuristic cityscape. Their faces a mix of awe and apprehension.
Kara flew above it all, her energon cape fluttering behind her as she surveyed the changes Nion had wrought. Flying above the floating Globe of Daily Planet, she spotted him—Kal-El, floating still with his arms crossed, staring out at the transformed skyline.
"Kal-El," Kara called, her voice carrying warmth. Her tension melting as she saw a familiar face after a long days work.
Superman turned, his expression softening as he saw her, "Kara."
She floated next to him, facing the skyline of the changed city. Up close, Superman could see the faint marks of her recent battle—dust covered face, fine sand on her ears. black spots on her new outfit and subtle tension in her movements.
"You look like you've been through a lot," He observed, concern evident in his voice.
Kara let out a dry laugh, running a hand through her overgrown hair. "You could say that. Kahndaq's not exactly the friendliest place, especially with Black Adma's stubbornness."
Superman's brow furrowed. "You fought Black Adam?"
"Yeah," She replied, combing the sand out her hair. She need a bath. "Zion sent me to help stabilize the city after his 'renovations' started. But Adam wasn't exactly thrilled about outsiders interfering. Things got... heated."
Superman's eyes darkened slightly. "How bad?"
Kara shrugged, though her voice carried annoyance of the fight. "It was a fight, Kal. He's stubborn, backed by power. But he stopped before we leveled the place. He was not happy, though.
Can't say I relate." Last sentence carried blatant sarcasm.
Superman gave faint smile. "Black Adam's always been protective of Kahndaq. He sees it as his responsibility, his kingdom. Any outside interference is a threat to him, no matter the intent.
Similar to us and Metropolis."
Kara huffed, crossing her arms. "It's frustrating to say the least. I can still feel sand on my skin. Its annoying as its protector. Can't he just accept a help? All I wanted to do was help, to make things better for the people there. And instead, I'm treated like a nuisance."
Superman place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's not easy, Kara. Sometimes, even when we're trying to do the right thing, people won't see it that way. You've just got to stay true to your intentions."
"Then I should have killed him. Put my hand through his chest and ripped his heart out," She looked up at him, her expression softening. "Thanks, Kal. That helps."
Kal-El didn't know what to say about that blood thirsty answer. For a moment, they stood in silence, the bustling city below a sharp contrast to the quiet rooftop.
"Metropolis looks like... Home," Kara said, changing the subject before Kal-El goes on about his Turth and Justice. They already had a problem with her misting the Human Traffickers. They had agreed on not killing further since Kara could not be even convicted in Moral sense.
Superman chuckled softly. "That's one way to put it. Zion's changes are... dramatic."
Kara smirked, "Dramatic is an understatement." Her smirk gave way to a sense of nostalgia. "It's like Krypton decided to make a comeback." She breath in the air, reminiscing memories of her lost home.
Superman's smile faded slightly, a hint of unease creeping into his expression. "That's what worries me."
Kara raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice thoughtful. "On the surface, everything seems positive—cleaner cities, advanced technology, safer streets. But this much power, this much control... it's a lot for one person to handle."
Kara tilted her head, studying him. "I thought you trusted him?"
Superman hesitated. "It's not about trust. It's about the potential for things to go wrong. Krypton fell because we relied too much on our technology, on our systems. We fell because of our arrogance."
"True," Kara agreed. "Zion does have a bloated sense of arrogance."
"But you trust him still," Superman said, expectant of assurance from Kara.
But to his dismay, "I don't trust him one bit," Kara's answer was anything but assurance. "Last time we stayed in a room, I burn half his face and nearly killed him."
"You did what now?" Superman could not hid his shock and confusion. "Why?"
Kara's lips shut tight, she did not want to answer. She was taken advantage and she didn't like that at all. But seeing how exasperated Kal-El looked, she decided to give a feasible answer.
"Training got bit out of hand."
"Haaa," Superman felt like he was dealing with teenagers, so he returned to the main point. "Again. If Zion's changes create to much dependency. A veil of false security. What happens if something goes wrong? If he's not there to fix it? What if we can't protect the people?"
She nodded slowly, her tuning gaze thoughtful. "If things go wrong, we can just beat him up. I think two Kryptonian's should be able to handle his tricks.
How can Superman lose?"
Superman smiled faintly. "Maybe, but we have to keep an eye on things. To make sure history doesn't repeat itself. This is our home now, we will protect it."
Kara returned his smile, a flicker of warmth passing between them. "When were you the cautious one?"
"Someone has to be," He replied, his tone light but firm. "And Batman has been grilling me about it before you arrived."
She laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Well, at least, Someone is cautious in your group. I got your back and you got mine."
"Always," Superman said, his voice steady and reassuring.
"Okay, I need to go wash up," Kara tapped on his shoulder before flying up. "Later, Kal."
"Later, Kara," Superman waved as he watched her before a streak.
He returned his gaze to his City, steeling his resolve to protect it. Even if he would have to fight Zion for it one day. He would protect his city.
....
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland"
Isaiah 43:19
....
Gotham Skyline
A tear in space spat a colorful bird onto a rooftop next to a man cosplaying as bat in a very costly dress. Robin's boots touched down on the ledge of Gotham's tallest spire, and he immediately froze, his head turning to take in the sight.
"What the..?" Robin muttered, stepping closer to the edge. His wide eyes scanning the horizon. "When did this happen? Was I gone for years? How much did I miss?"
For a moment he doubted he was still in Gotham. If not for his Mentor's presence, he would fully believe so. The skyline filled with crystalline spires glowed bright against the darkness. Neon veins ran through the streets below, illuminating the city with a cold, otherworldly hue.
Batman, standing a few feet away with his cape blending with the shadow, didn't turned to his protege. His face remained fixated on the transformed cityscape. "While you were underground. Only few hours. This happened all around the world."
"WOW!" Robin let out a whistle, his awe unmistakable. "I mean, is it still Gotham? Its like someone hit the 'upgrade' button and forgot to stop. Its unnerving."
"It's a facade. Beneath all this glass and light, Gotham hasn't changed, "Batman's voice was sharp, cutting through Robin's wonder. "It's still broken."
Robin glanced at Batman, his expression doubtful. "It doesn't look broken to me. The Sentinels are actually doing a great job about crime. The streets are clean, people aren't afraid to walk around, and people are looking up again.
You can't tell me that's not progress."
Batman finally turned to face him, his white lenses narrowing. "Progress isn't always what it seems, Robing. What you're seeing is the surface. It's what Nion wants you to see. When everything it bright, you can't see the shadow hidden underneath."
"Hmm," Robin folded his arms, his brows furrowed. "You don't trust him. You never will, fully."
"Because trust isn't given," Batman's voice dropped lower, his words deliberate. "Its earned. And Nion hasn't earned it. Not yet."
Robin sighed, stepping back from the edge and leaning against the spire. "He's done more in weeks than both of us have done in years. Schools, hospitals, cleaner streets... Gotham feels alive for the first time. Doesn't that count for something?"
Batman's jaw tightened, his gaze returning to the city. "It counts for everything. But it doesn't mean he's above scrutiny. Someone who acts without accountability is a threat, no matter how noble their intentions seem."
Robin hesitated, then asked quietly, "Do you think he's lying about wanting to help?"
"No," Batman admitted after a pause. "I think he believes he's helping. But belief isn't enough. Power like his needs boundaries, or it'll consume him—and everyone else along with it."
Robin frowned, looking back at the city. "You're saying we need to stop him?"
'Can we even?' Robin ask the second part to himself.
"Not yet," Batman replied. "We watch. We wait. And we prepare. If his vision starts to crumble, Gotham needs to be ready to stand on its own."
"I don't think this city would ever," Robin said, studying his mentor for a moment before changing the subject. "Zion took me to some ancient crypt under Gotham today. Deeper than we ever traveled. Said it was the source of the city's curse."
Batman's head snapped toward Robin, his curiosity piqued. "And?"
Robin shrugged, though his tone was less casual than his body language. "We fought a bunch of creepy shadow monsters. He said they were Revenants? Something about Gotham's despair taking shape. Then there was this warlock guy who cursed this city, Zion brought back to life just to force him to absorb the curse."
Batman's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "A warlock? Revenants? Did Zion say why he wanted you there?"
Robin gave a half-smile. "He said it was so I should 'learn Gotham's true darkness.' Not gonna lie, it was intense. But I think he was trying to teach me something."
Batman's voice grew quieter, more introspective. "And what did you learn?"
Robin looked out over the city again, his expression thoughtful. "That Gotham's darkness isn't just in its criminals or its streets. It's deeper than that. But it can be fought.
With cool looking Swords!"
Robin said cheekily as he flaunted the twin swords and its craftsmanship. "You should have see us fight! Even though its the first time using swords, it was awesome. We dances at the edge of death and exorcised all the revenants and burned their core. Then I fought the warlock alone, he put me in his hallucination and My..."
Robins words slowed to a halt, his throat going soar. Batman caught to his proteges distress easily, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Robin looked at his dad's worried face even though there was no way to say it with his cowl and his stoic expression.
Robin took a deep breath, "I saw my parents, in circus, on the day they died. But they were alive, happy. They asked me to come with them, but I couldn't. I have... had moved forward..." Robin felt his breath clog, his words slurring.
He felt a hand wrap around him, firm and comforting. Batman was hugging him. Robin felt his breath return to him. "I wanted to stay but it was not them. I had to continue. Continue their Legacy. I-I...."
Bruce felt his son sink into his arm. He didn't know how to sooth him, he was not an expert in emotions. Finally he spoke, his voice heavy. Not as Batman, but Bruce Wayne, or what remained of the boy in the Alley.
"You already know the answer, Robin. You had done what I couldn't. Instead of letting vengeance drive you, you celebrate their lives. They way you life is the proof of their legacy.
That why you are Robin, something better than Batman."
Robin finally gathered himself, remembering the day he took his mantle as Robin. He was not ready, never. But now he felt like he was, he was finally ready to don the mantel.
Batman released his son from his embrace and watched as the teenager wiped his tears, smudging the stain all over.
"Man, this is awkward," Robin said with a faint smile. "We still doing patrol?"
Batman didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the glowing skyline. It was almost dawn, but there was still time. "Okay, but this time take lead."
Robin looked shocked and confused before running over the ledge and jumping. He then angled his body right before he shot his grappling gun and glided through the air. Batman followed after as Batman and Robin continued their work.
Gotham never rests.
Nor do they.