'Where did you get these scars?'
'I don't remember…I've always had them.'
'But your skin is impenetrable.'
'…I know.'
Karm jumped in her seat with a start, her lower back throbbing thanks to the reminder of its scar.
It always gave off vague pangs whenever she thought of it, as did the other scars, even if she couldn't remember where they came from.
Grumbling about needing more coffee, she grabbed a large mug that read 'World's #1 Weightlifter'.
For some reason, the reveal of her scars to Batman kept replaying in her head along with the familiar nightmare and would keep troubling her sleep.
"Karma…"
Looking over her mug at Superman, she noticed his discomfort and sighed, sipping her coffee.
"Hey. What's up?"
"…We have a mission for you."
The moment's hesitation spoke volumes, and she tilted her head in mild curiosity, hair falling over her shoulder.
Karm was used to how fast it grew, since was already passing her mid-back in length, but couldn't help feeling frustrated when it got in her way.
'I always hate when my hair gets this long.'
'I like it.'
Almost blushing at the reminder of another talk with Batman, Karm sighed in order to loosen her muscles.
"What is it, then?"
"Hell no."
"But Karma-."
"HELL-NO."
"You have no choice."
Glaring at Batman first before returning it to Superman, Karm did her best to reign in her anger.
"NO."
"I thought you wanted to do more missions."
"THIS isn't a mission." Karm claimed.
"Anything involving a DRESS and HIGH HEELS is NOT a mission."
"This is important." Superman reasoned.
"What's important right now is that I don't smash your skulls together to get my damn point across!"
"Karma, you know I need you to do this."
She couldn't argue that point, and Batman knew it.
After finding out his secret, (mainly through a panicking Robin and an accidental trip up into Wayne Manor), she knew how important it was for him to have these charity ball things.
It was just that…
'I don't want to look like just another conquest.' Karm realized.
'I don't want to be just some other girl he's gone out with. I want to be something special.'
Not voicing these thoughts, but nursing them deep in her heart, Karm huffed, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Fine…But Alfred better make those homemade cookies I love."
The charity ball was fully underway, and Karma wasn't anywhere to be found.
Sure, Bruce Wayne was known for being fashionably late, but even HE was there already.
Beginning to feel edgy, Bruce checked his watch again, VERY close to calling and 'yelling' at Karm for being late…
When he saw her.
Of course, it took a moment to figure out it was Karm.
Her longer hair was half-done up in an elegant, messy bun, the rest cascading over one shoulder.
The dress she wore was a simple, soft blue, sleeveless and tight enough to hug her curves down to her hips where it pooled down to her feet.
It even had a slit up one side, so show the silver high heels she was wearing along with the silver decorations in her hair.
DAMN IT, but Karma looked beautiful, and Bruce had to remember this was just for a mission.
'It is NOT a date. Nope. Not a date. Couldn't possibly be.'
…
Why did he feel like he was lying to himself?
"Damn heels…"
Grumbling softly as she stopped beside Bruce, Karm seemed to glare down in the general direction of her feet.
"If I trip in these heels and fall on my face or flash the room, OR BOTH, I will be forced to kill you and all witnesses."
'Ah, THERE'S the Karm I know.'
"You don't want some champagne before you go on a killing spree?"
"I don't drink." Karm admitted.
"Besides, it wouldn't change the fact that I'm here and wearing heels…"
"At least dance before you kill the musicians."
Looking nervous and mildly embarrassed, Karm looked down at the floor to try and hide it.
"I don't…"
It was obvious what she meant, and it made perfect sense once Bruce thought it through.
Taking care of a younger girl and working a car repair job left no time to learn how to dance.
Not that Bruce thought Karm would care to know how…
"I'll teach you." He offered, reminding himself that she was out of her element.
Like Karm would give up her pride to ASK…
Seeming to think it over, going through the pros and cons, she answered before coming to a decision.
"Alright."
'GOD FRICKIN' DAMN IT! WHY DO I TALK BEFORE I'M DONE THINKING?!'
It was too late to back out now, not if she wanted to keep her pride intact, so Karm followed him onto the dance floor.
Hesitant to move so close, she berated herself for being so flustered around him as Bruce instructed what she needed to do.
Once she got the hang of the steps, Karm felt brave enough to look up from her feet and not fall over.
But DAMN, Bruce was handsome even without the mask, and Karm was already fighting down a blush because his hand was almost uncomfortably close to her ass…
"Relax."
Karm almost jumped when she felt his chuckle rumble through his chest, glaring slightly to hide her surprise.
"Kinda hard when our chests are practically touching…" She grumbled.
Of course Bruce had to look when Karm mentioned it, and immediately looked away when he got a good view down her breasts.
"…You just peeked at my boobs, didn't you?"
"No."
"…You totally did."
"No."
"…I can tell when you're lying."
Karm was clearly enjoying herself now, in her element if the smirk was any indication, and Bruce wasn't about to be outdone.
Jerking her closer jolted the brunette from her teasing, and her eyes widened in surprise at the smirk now on his lips.
"And if I am?"
'Damn it, why does he have to be a smartass when he's not wearing the mask?!' Karm thought, brain spinning and paralyzing her throat as a fire flared up in-between her legs.
Luckily for her, a strange monster busted through one of the main doors and roared at the partygoers at that moment.
"Gotta run!" She stated, rushed, pulling away and running to one of the coat rooms.
Karm had left a bag in there with her 'uniform', and yanked it open roughly as she slipped the dress off and stuffed it into the bag.
Letting her hair loose as she yanked up her shorts and quickly latched her boots, the brunette fumbled with the chains as she headed back to the party.
It seemed that the monster was actually a very large wolf, with its bones jutting out painfully and slobber dripping from its jaws.
The creature was at least twice her height, with long claws and beady yellow eyes, and kept snarling and moving erratically.
"HEY!"
It snapped around to face her, and the 'audience' seemed relieved that the wolf's attention was no longer on them.
"Why don't you chew on someone who can hit back?"
The proposition seemed to interest it, and the wolf creature rushed for her with its mouth open and a snarl in its chest.
Grabbing the shoulders before its fangs found her stomach, Karm lifted the wolf over her head and slammed it into the ground.
Whimpering in pain, it snapped at her from its crater in the floor, and Karm bopped it on the nose.
"Bad dog!"
Giving another whimper, it laid its ears back and tucked its tail between its legs as a sign of submission.
"See, now that wasn't so bad…" She almost cooed, untying the chain around her waist and fashioning a collar and leash to tie around the canine's neck.
Putting a hand to the earpiece she had been given, Karm sighed.
"Two for the Watchtower-."
"Wait!"
Looking over her shoulder to see one of the women there, looking wary of the wolf and slightly distressed, Karm paused.
"Yes?"
"You saved all our lives…But we don't know who are."
"…Karma."
Then she was gone in a beam of blue light, along with the wolf, leaving the room in silence until the police and the press arrived…
He was not a happy Batman.
Not only was the charity ball interrupted, by Batman Rogue's or not, but someone had gotten a picture of Karm.
It was all over the television and newspapers, asking if she was a new superhero, putting her out in the spotlight.
Lucifer would have no trouble knowing who she was, putting both Karm and De in even more danger.
Batman was going to make sure Karm never did anything so fool-hardy again, but was distracted by what she was doing in the middle of the recreation room.
Karm was in the center of the room, with the wolf standing in front of her.
The creature was almost twice her height at the shoulder, with shaggy silver and cinnamon-colored fur, imposing even through its starvation.
Sitting on its haunches, it whined softly, and Karm seemed to soften, looking sympathetic as she held out a handful of steak chunks.
"Here you go, girl."
Looking particularly docile, the canine proceeded to carefully eat the meat out of her palm.
"She seems to like you."
Almost jumping, Karm whirled around to notice Batman standing behind her.
The wolf didn't even flinch, but her ears cocked forward, interested beside her intent to eat.
"JEEZ! I thought I told you to stop doing that!"
"You should have put her in a cell." Batman stated, seeming to ignore her scolding tone.
"The poor girl was just hungry." Karm defended, scratching behind the wolf's ear and earning an appreciative growl.
"Whoever let her loose was starving her, and I couldn't just lock her away. She was terrified."
It was hard to imagine a giant carnivore being terrified of anything, but it was possible.
"You can't keep her."
"Superman said I could!" Karm replied childishly, hugging the wolf around the neck.
"Karma-."
"Please? I've always wanted a dog, and she needs me."
Batman was starting to suspect that Karm knew how much her vulnerability swayed his judgment, and tried to fight it.
When Karm actually stuck out her bottom lip and gave the Puppy-Dog Eyes that De had perfected, fighting was futile.
"Fine."
A grin crossed her face like sunshine, and Karm hugged him tight enough to squeeze his ribcage.
Maybe it was worth keeping the dog, if it made her smile like that…
