As soon as Kara returned, she quickly escaped again, heading out to a party and catching up with Dani, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Later, it was Perry who called Kara to arrange everything for her. For instance, Kara's previous desk had already been reassigned to another reporter, Kate, so she needed a new workspace. This time, however, Perry had even arranged a private office for her.
Given Kara's experience, she technically hadn't been there long enough, as she'd only been at the Daily Planet for a little over a year. But her achievements were well-known, and her impact was undeniable; she had quickly become one of the recognizable faces of the publication, making it reasonable for her to have her own office. It was, of course, nowhere near the size of Perry's editor-in-chief office, but it was a good upgrade.
"You really shouldn't keep making things difficult for Perry," Dani said, shaking her head with a laugh.
Perry's voice came from the phone in Kara's hand. "Dani, tell her to show me a little more respect," he joked.
Kara just hummed a dismissive "Sure thing," and hung up the phone. The two women shared a look, then burst out laughing.
To be fair, Perry had always looked out for Kara, going as far as arranging high-profile interview opportunities for her. His faith in her had always been clear, and it seemed she had earned his unique trust. After all, her exclusive stories on Batman had brought significant attention—and revenue—to the paper.
"How's Jen doing?" Dani asked as they shifted topics, bringing up the friend they both knew well.
It was inevitable that Jennifer would come up in their conversations. The three women had been close for years. Kara looked at Dani with a mischievous glint.
"Dani, while you may have had a boyfriend first, Jennifer beat you to the punch—she's got a child now!" she said, smirking as she revealed Jennifer's latest news.
Dani's mouth dropped open, staring at Kara in shock.
"Are you serious? She's only been in Gotham for a couple of months! A kid?" Dani exclaimed.
Kara shrugged. "It's Bruce's, of course. You know how much she's always loved Bruce."
Dani sighed. "Still caught up on him, huh? But isn't Bruce Wayne known for his whirlwind romances with models and actresses? How's Jennifer going to handle that?"
"Nonono, you've got it all wrong, Dani. Sure, he might seem like a playboy, but Bruce's dalliances are more for appearances. Some relationships are real, but with Jennifer, it's different. It's no longer just her unrequited crush; Bruce is genuinely pursuing her."
Kara went on to tell Dani a little more about Jennifer and Bruce's relationship, excluding the most secret details for safety.
Dani listened in amazement, as if hearing the plot of a dramatic soap opera.
Kara didn't hide her secret identity from Dani on purpose, but there was a level of safety in fewer people knowing the truth, including Dani. Due to Dani's own work in security, it was better she remained unaware. Even when she had told Jennifer, it was only due to an immediate threat.
They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on life and recent happenings, their little reunion stretching into the evening.
When it was finally time to head home, Kara, who didn't have her own car, had to rely on Dani to drive her. They'd waited until evening to leave, giving themselves time to sober up from their earlier drinks.
After dropping Kara off, Dani drove home alone, casting a glance up at the two small decorations dangling from her rearview mirror—one a black bat ornament, the other a white bat, identical to one Jennifer had.
"Screech!"
Dani suddenly slammed on the brakes, her gaze locked onto the white bat ornament.
"Kara, you sneak!" Dani whispered to herself, her eyes widening as she pieced something together.
In fact, Kara had let down her guard a bit too much around Dani. She hadn't directly mentioned that Bruce and she were Batman and Oracle, but the connections were there. Every time Kara visited Gotham, it aligned perfectly with appearances of Oracle.
It was also obvious that Oracle hadn't shown up until Jennifer had been attacked and Kara rushed to Gotham—at which point Oracle began moving more decisively.
Dani chuckled with pride and excitement at the realization. Maybe her best friend was Oracle after all.
But when Dani reached for her phone, ready to call Kara, she hesitated. She knew Kara would admit the truth if pressed, but she didn't dial. Perhaps it was a mix of nervousness at potentially being wrong or, more likely, the decision to respect Kara's privacy.
Instead of calling anyone, including her supervisor, Dani held onto her guess. Kara was her friend first, and she decided to keep her thoughts to herself, as if she hadn't guessed anything.
Starting her car again, Dani drove off, fading into the city night.
Meanwhile, Kara had no idea her friend was beginning to suspect her true identity. It was a situation reminiscent of when people in Metropolis once speculated about Superman's identity because every time Superman appeared, Clark Kent was nowhere to be found.
Dani, however, hadn't pressed her suspicions with a phone call, so Kara remained in the dark, unaware that her friend had almost uncovered her secret.
Later, during an incident, Kara would be relieved that Dani had figured things out, because that knowledge would nearly save their friendship.
In the meantime, Kara's life returned to its usual rhythm—work, friends, and her other pursuits. Her new column was off to a roaring start, even surpassing Perry's expectations when her first article sold out immediately.
Her trick? Kara's first piece was an unexpectedly popular guide to making comforting meals.