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CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THERAPY II

The office was small but inviting. Soft lighting. Neutral colours. The chair was positioned at an angle, close enough to feel engaged, distant enough to avoid pressure. Casual. Even the desk was clean, uncluttered, with only a laptop and a few neatly stacked files.

Contessa sat with her hands folded in her lap, posture perfectly upright. Across from her, the therapist—Dr. Jessica Yamada—watched her with practiced patience. She had the air of someone who could wait forever if needed,...

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: NO TURNING BACK

The warehouse loomed ahead, another relic of Gotham’s urban decay—rusted walls, shattered windows, security lights flickering like dying embers. It looked abandoned, forgotten. But Taylor knew better.

The Calculator was here.

Weeks of relentless work had led to this moment—tracking shipments, breaking enforcers, burning safehouses to the ground. She had carved a path through the city’s underbelly, and finally, someone had cracked. Now, there was nothing left to do but fini...

CHAPTER EIGHT: CONSEQUENCES

Taylor’s breath came fast as she ducked under a jab, her muscles burning from the relentless pace of training.

“Keep your guard up,” Keith barked corrections from the side—firm, expectant.

She adjusted, resetting her stance, forcing herself to ignore the exhaustion creeping into her limbs. She was getting better. Not good enough—not yet—but better.

The round timer blared, signaling the end of the session. Taylor rolled her shoulders, stepping back as her sparring...

INTERLUDE: ORACLE

Barbara had seen this before.

The names changed. The faces changed. The city didn’t.

Gotham was a meat grinder. You stepped in thinking you could handle it, that you were the exception. Then it chewed you up, spat you out, and left you broken in a way you couldn’t come back from.

Some tried anyway. Some put themselves back together with whatever pieces they had left. Some didn’t.

And then there were the ones who thought they were fine right up until the moment th...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THERAPY

Maggie set her coffee down with a decisive clink. “I think you should talk to someone.”

Contessa looked up from her own cup. “I am talking to you.”

Maggie sighed, rubbing her temple. “No, hon. I mean a professional. A therapist.”

Contessa tilted her head. “I do not require mental intervention.”

Maggie gave her a look—one of those exasperated, fond, but slightly concerned looks she had grown frustratingly good at directing her way. “It’s n...

CHAPTER FOURTY — SUPERMAN III

Superman didn’t waste words. 

His body tensed, every cell drawing in the ambient sunlight through the storm-choked sky, pulling on reserves buried deep in his cells. The air around him shimmered as his power surged to the surface, molecules shuddering under the weight of what was coming. His eyes burned—not with anger, not with fear, but with something far greater. A will beyond mortal limits.

And then he let it go.

A pillar of solar-forged heat vision erupted downw...

INTERLUDE V: A GLIMPSE

Taylor sat on the motel bed, back against the headboard, legs crossed. The dim glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room. On the nightstand, a small stack of bills lay neatly arranged—the week’s haul. Not much, but enough to get by.

Her fingers rubbed together absently as she stared at the quarter in front of her. It sat in the center of the bed, perfectly still.

She exhaled slowly.

The past few nights had been frustrating. She had tested her power in ...

CHAPTER TEN: THE CALL

Greg lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his arms folded behind his head. His Aura had done its job; no more cuts, no more bruises,

Greg lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his arms folded behind his head. His Aura had done its job; there were no more cuts, no more bruises, and not even a hint of soreness. Physically, he was fine. But the fight with Oni Lee wasn't something his powers could just erase. The weight of it lingered, pressing down on his thoughts, refusing to fade. 2025-03-15 11:22:33 +0000 UTC View Post

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: BLOOD IN THE WATER

The city bled.

Taylor made sure of it.

She moved through the Narrows like her alias, striking fast, brutal, and without mercy. Unseen until it was too late.

The first man barely had time to scream before she slammed his head against the alley wall. Bone cracked beneath her palm, and he collapsed, gasping, blood pooling between his fingers.

“Where’s the Calculator?”

“I—I don’t—”

She pressed her boot into his ribs and leaned in. “Wrong answe...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND APOLOGIES

The diner was quieter than usual. The lunch rush had come and gone, leaving only a few lingering customers and the low hum of the radio in the background.

Contessa sat across from Maggie, her hands resting neatly on the table. Between them sat a half-empty coffee cup, its surface cooling.

Maggie sighed, rubbing her temple. “You can’t just say stuff like that, hon.”

Contessa blinked. “It was the truth.”

“Yeah, but sometimes the truth stings.” Maggie repl...

INTERLUDE IV: A PULL IN THE DARK

The first time Taylor used it on purpose, she wasn’t thinking about testing her power. She was just trying to end the fight quickly.

The alley was narrow, lined with dumpsters and stacks of old cardboard that smelled like mildew. She hadn’t planned on being here—not that she planned much these days—but trouble had a way of finding her when she wandered the city at night.

The guy in front of her was scrawny, dressed in layers of mismatched clothing, his hoodie pulled low ov...

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: OATHS

The fires in the Narrows still raged, thick smoke curling through the air, laced with the acrid stench of charred wood and flesh. In the distance, a building groaned and collapsed, the impact almost in sync with the wailing sirens—too far, too late to matter.

The sound barely registered past the ringing in Taylor’s ears.

Still kneeling, she exhaled sharply, breath ragged, chest tight with something she couldn’t name.

Not grief. Not sorrow.

Something colder. Sharp...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND GRIEF

The funeral home was quiet. Muted conversations filled the space, voices hushed out of respect, and soft organ music played from hidden speakers, low and unobtrusive. The air smelled of polished wood and lilies, a delicate contrast to the heaviness of the room.

Contessa stood near the back, watching.

Maggie was by the casket, speaking in low tones to a woman clutching a crumpled tissue in shaking hands. Her face was drawn, eyes red-rimmed with grief. Around her, mourners carried t...

INTERLUDE III: TESTING THE WATERS

Taylor sat on the edge of her bed, a pen turning idly between her fingers. The cheap plastic casing caught the light as she rolled it back and forth, familiar and ordinary in every way.

So why did it feel different now?

She exhaled, setting the pen down on her notebook.

Attraction.

The word lingered, heavy with implications. Her powers had always been straightforward—enhanced perception and a force field. Simple. Defined. But what had happened at the gym didn’t fit...

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: EMBERS AND ASH

The Narrows burned.

Flames crackled, casting jagged, writhing shadows against the crumbling buildings. The streets—once filled with voices, laughter, and stubborn resilience—were now unrecognizable, paved with rubble and bodies. Smoke hung thick in the air, acrid and choking, mingling with the stench of scorched flesh. Sirens howled in the distance, too far to matter.

Taylor forced herself to move faster.

Her boots struck the cracked pavement, kicking up dust and embers ...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND HAUNTED HOUSES

The line for the haunted house snaked down the fairground path, a mix of excited chatter and nervous laughter filling the air. The entrance loomed ahead—wooden boards painted to look like rotting planks, fake cobwebs clinging to the corners. A sign above read: Enter… if you dare!

Contessa studied it. “The warning is counterintuitive. It invites hesitation while encouraging participation.”

Maggie grinned. “That’s the point, hon. It’s supposed to be spooky.”

�...

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE — SUPERMAN II

Delhi was burning.

The city, once a vibrant display of life and culture, was now a hellscape. Flames roared unchecked, devouring entire districts. Skyscrapers that had once pierced the sky now leaned precariously, their steel skeletons twisted and glowing red-hot. Streets lay shattered, split by seismic upheavals, and the acrid stench of smoke and charred remains clung to the air. The cries of the wounded and dying cut through the destruction—a chorus of terror, desperation, and loss....

INTERLUDE II: MOMENTUM

Taylor exhaled slowly, rolling out her shoulders.

The gym lights cast long shadows across the worn mats, the rhythmic sounds of impact against heavy bags and muffled conversation filling the air. Sweat clung to her skin, her muscles already aching from the earlier drills, but Keith wasn’t done with her yet.

“Alright,” Keith said, his voice cutting through the noise. He stood between Taylor and Brian, arms crossed, his expression as stern as ever. “Light sparring. Taylor, y...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND SEX FILMS

The dim glow of the television flickered across the living room as Maggie flipped through the streaming options, one leg tucked under her on the couch. Contessa sat beside her, posture straight, hands neatly folded in her lap.

Maggie scrolled past a selection of movies before pausing with a smirk. “Alright, hon, how about this one?”

Contessa glanced at the screen. The title was vague, but the cover image—two people tangled in sheets, gazing at each other with intense exp...

CHAPTER NINE: THE CONVERSATION

Greg’s heart was still pounding as he stood in the alley, staring up at Armsmaster. The hero’s visor was unreadable, the dim streetlights

Greg lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his arms folded behind his head. His Aura had done its job; there were no more cuts, no more bruises, and not even a hint of soreness. Physically, he was fine. But the fight with Oni Lee wasn't something his powers could just erase. The weight of it lingered, pressing down on his thoughts, refusing to f...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND DOG PARKS

The park was bustling with movement—dogs of every size darted across the grass, barking, chasing balls, and sniffing each other in friendly curiosity. Their owners stood in small groups, chatting and laughing, occasionally calling out a name when their pet wandered too far.  

Contessa stood at the entrance, watching. The puppy at her feet—small, dark-furred, and still growing into its oversized paws—looked up at her with eager eyes. She had brought him here for exercise ...

CHAPTER THIRTY: THE FINAL TEST

“You’re seriously going alone?”

Spoiler’s voice held no anger, just exasperation tinged with something closer to concern. She stood on the rooftop, arms crossed, weight shifted slightly, shoulders rigid. Behind her, Gotham stretched into the night—steel and concrete bathed in neon and shadow, as cold and unyielding as the silence between them.

“Because I can list, like, ten reasons why that’s a terrible idea.”

Taylor finished securing her gear, double-checkin...

INTERLUDE: SMALL SHIFTS

Taylor had never been one for self-delusion. If something felt off, she noticed. She might not always say something, but she noticed.

And lately, things had been off.

It was small stuff, easy to brush off. The first time, she barely registered it—reaching for her water bottle, only for it to feel like it moved the tiniest bit toward her fingers. She chalked it up to her being more tired than she realized, a trick of perception.

Then it happened again. Keith had th...

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: UNSEEN BLADES

The shipment was scheduled to arrive just past midnight. A barge, unmarked except for its rusted hull, slipped into Tricorner Yards under cover of darkness. It wasn’t the first weapons drop in Gotham’s ongoing war, but it was the first solid lead Taylor had to finding the Calculator.  

From her vantage point on a loading crane, she watched as armed men moved between shipping containers, securing the dock. Penguin’s enforcers—heavily armed, disciplined. Opposite them, a...

INTERLUDE: WATCHFUL EYES

The clock tower was quiet, the hum of Gotham below—sirens, distant traffic, the occasional gunshot—muted by the height. Inside, the glow of monitors cast long shadows across the room, illuminating an array of screens filled with security feeds, maps, and shifting lines of code.  

Barbara Gordon leaned back in her chair, arms crossed as she studied one particular feed: grainy footage from the East Docks, replaying the same sequence over and over. A fight in the dark. Two fi...

CHAPTER SEVEN: FOUNDATIONS

The gym wasn’t much to look at.

From the outside, it was just another aging building in Brockton Bay—worn brick, tucked between a laundromat and a pawn shop, its sign faded from years of salt air and neglect. The windows were fogged with condensation from the heat inside, and the faint rhythm of a speed bag echoed through the walls, punctuated by the occasional sharp crack of a glove hitting a heavy bag.

Taylor stood at the entrance, fingers twisting in the fabric of her t-shi...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND MOVIE NIGHTS

The living room lights were dimmed, a bowl of popcorn sat between them, and the television screen flickered with the opening credits of the film. Maggie leaned back, sinking into the cushions with a contented sigh. Comfortable.

“This one’s a classic,” she said, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “You’re gonna love it.”

Contessa sat with her usual perfect posture, eyes fixed on the screen. “What is the premise?”

Maggie waved a hand dismissively. “Ac...

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: BLOOD IN THE WATER

The ambush went smoother than the last one.

Taylor and Spoiler moved in sync now, a far cry from their earlier missteps. Taylor would take point, slipping past guards with practiced ease, while Spoiler covered her, using her gadgets to disable cameras and create distractions. It wasn’t perfect—Spoiler’s methods were still too loud, too flashy for Taylor’s liking—but it worked.

It had taken time. Mistakes. Adjustments. But Taylor had learned how Spoiler fought—how s...

INTERLUDE: LEARNING TO FIGHT

Taylor sat on the edge of the motel bed, replaying the fight in her head.

Stormtiger couldn’t touch her. That much was obvious. His air blades stopped before reaching her, his fists never made contact, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t land a single hit.

And yet, she hadn’t won.

She had thrown punches, tried to land a hit, but he was too fast, too experienced. Even when he couldn’t hurt her, he had been in control of the fight. She had been flailing,...

CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND BOARD GAMES

The kitchen table was a riot of color, covered in a sprawling board, a jumble of plastic pieces, and a heap of tiny fake money. Maggie shuffled a deck of cards, her expression a mix of patience and quiet amusement.

Contessa studied the setup, her brow furrowing slightly. “This does not resemble any real-world scenario.”

Maggie chuckled. “That’s not the point, hon. It’s about strategy. And luck.”

Contessa picked up one of the miniature tokens—a tiny car—...