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Outside the restaurant, Wanda slipped her arm through Jiro's and looked up at Gotham's night sky.
"This city feels… busy," she said quietly.
Jiro scanned the streets, using his enhanced hearing to catch the city's whispers.
Sirens. Criminals chuckling in alleyways. Batman's footsteps in the shadows.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand. "Let's find a place to rest."
They strolled through the streets and eventually checked into a luxury hotel.
The front desk clerk greeted them politely. Jiro casually handed over a black card and booked a penthouse suite.
In the elevator, Wanda leaned against his shoulder and yawned. "This city's even crazier than New York."
Jiro ruffled her hair. "That's 'cause you haven't been to Hell's Kitchen."
The elevator doors slid open, and the two of them walked to the end of the hallway. A swipe of the keycard, and they entered the suite.
The room was spacious and luxurious. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the night view of Gotham—bright lights everywhere, yet with a lingering sense of gloom.
Wanda walked up to the window, gazing thoughtfully at the distant Wayne Tower.
"Do you think Batman's watching us right now?" she asked suddenly.
Jiro chuckled softly. "He definitely knows we're here."
Wanda turned around and sat down at the table by the window. "So, should we go see him tomorrow?"
Jiro walked over and gently brushed her cheek. "No rush. Let's first get a feel for how this world works."
"So…" Wanda asked curiously, "do you think Clark would really turn evil?"
Jiro sat down across from her. "In the comics, Superman going dark usually needs a trigger."
"Like what?" Wanda tilted her head.
"The death of Lois Lane," Jiro said flatly.
"In most alternate universes, Superman goes dark after losing her."
Wanda nodded slowly. "Makes sense. That kind of pain… losing the one you love."
"Pretty much." Jiro picked up the remote from the table and turned on the TV.
"But in this world, things might be more complicated."
The evening news was on. The anchor was sternly reporting follow-up developments on the Arkham incident.
The screen switched to a blurry shot of Batman leaping off a rooftop, vanishing into the shadows.
"Do you think Batman would trust us?" Wanda's eyes followed the footage on the screen.
Jiro gave a small laugh. "Bruce Wayne doesn't trust anyone easily—especially not a Kryptonian who just shows up out of nowhere."
Wanda set her cup down. Scarlet energy danced at her fingertips. "Then should we be more careful?"
"No need."
Jiro reached out and held her wrist. The energy immediately calmed.
"If he comes looking for trouble, I'll deal with it."
Wanda's eyes lit up like she'd just had a thought. "Hey, what if Clark turns dark because of kryptonite? Like, someone kills him with it, and when he comes back, he stops trusting humans?"
Jiro raised an eyebrow. "Not a bad theory. But in this world, looks like Batman's already prepared for that."
Suddenly, his watch projected a hologram. The image showed Batman's lab.
He was tinkering with a glowing green rock.
"See? He's way ahead of the game," Jiro said, pointing at the screen.
Wanda frowned. "That's just sad. Clark's such a good guy, and this is what he gets—mistrust and paranoia."
Jiro switched off the TV, and the room went quiet for a moment.
Neon lights from outside filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow around them.
"Every world has its problems," he finally said.
"Just like ours had HYDRA and the Skrulls."
Wanda stood up and walked to the window. "At least we fixed some of them."
Jiro came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Tired?"
Wanda leaned into his chest and nodded. "A bit. I used a lot of magic today."
"Then get some rest."
He kissed the top of her head. "We'll go traveling tomorrow."
They walked over to the big bed. As soon as Wanda lay down, she let out a little yawn.
Jiro tucked her in and leaned back against the headboard.
"You're not sleeping?" Wanda asked sleepily.
"Kryptonians don't need that much sleep." He gently stroked her red hair.
"Sleep well. I'll be here."
Half-asleep, Wanda held his hand and murmured, "Don't wear yourself out, Jiro."
Morning sunlight streamed through the suite's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft golden glow over the room.
Wanda rolled over in bed. Her red hair spread across the pillows, and her eyelashes fluttered as she woke.
She slowly opened her eyes, noticing that the spot next to her was empty—but the sheets were still warm.
She pushed herself up. The silk covers slid off her shoulders, revealing a few faint love marks on her pale skin.
"Jiro?" she called softly, her voice still husky from sleep.
No answer.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the soft carpet and grabbed Jiro's black shirt from the night before, slipping it over her head.
It was just long enough to cover her thighs, swaying slightly as she moved.
She opened the bedroom door—and immediately stopped, drawn in by what she saw.
Jiro was lounging in a chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, sunlight pouring in and highlighting his flawless figure.
He was only wearing black lounge pants. The definition of his muscles glowed in the morning light, like a statue of a Greek god.
His eyes were closed, his expression peaceful, as if soaking in the sun's energy.
Wanda leaned against the doorframe, unconsciously holding her breath.
Even after everything between them, this man still made her heart race.
"Enjoying the view?" Jiro suddenly said, the corners of his lips curling up.
Wanda's cheeks flushed, but she tilted her chin defiantly. "Not enough yet."
Jiro opened his eyes and walked toward her.
"Sleep well?" he asked, brushing her cheek gently.
"Mm." Wanda nodded, her red hair swaying slightly. "But I'm kinda hungry."
Jiro chuckled, his fingers sliding under her chin. "I ordered breakfast."
Ten minutes later…
The doorbell rang.
Jiro waved his hand, and the door unlocked by itself. A food cart rolled in slowly, covered with a variety of delicate breakfast dishes.
The two of them sat down to eat. Wanda kept sneaking glances at him.
In the sunlight, he looked even more radiant than usual.
Literally.
"So, where are we going today?" Wanda asked, mouth full of waffle and maple syrup.
Jiro took a sip of coffee. "World tour."
"Like a regular couple?" Wanda asked with a grin.
"Sort of," Jiro replied, setting the cup down. "Just with a few special tricks."
Twenty minutes later, they stood on the hotel rooftop.
The morning fog over Gotham hadn't completely cleared yet. The city shimmered faintly in the rising sun, like something out of a dream.
"Ready?" Jiro held out his hand.
Wanda took it without hesitation. "Always."
In the next second, Jiro's bio-field enveloped them, and they began to rise slowly into the sky.
Wanda gasped and instinctively grabbed his arm.
"Don't worry," Jiro said calmly, his voice steady against the wind.
"I won't let you fall."
Wanda quickly got used to the sensation, her eyes lighting up with excitement as the city shrank beneath them.
"This is way more fun than flying with magic!"
Jiro smiled—and then accelerated.
Gotham vanished into a dot. They soared through the clouds and burst into the stratosphere.
Below their feet, the Earth's curve was clearly visible. The blue oceans and green landmasses painted a stunning picture.
"First stop," Jiro said, pointing into the distance.
"Paris."
"....."