Having successfully resolved the Arkham situation and rescued numerous citizens, Bruce's days had recently been relatively pleasant.
Selina's bouts of jealousy had been quelled by Bruce's persistent efforts, and the two had returned to their usual closeness. With Gotham's crime rate improving, the training of his two protégés was gradually put back on the schedule.
When Bruce got serious, Barbara found it overwhelming. She had school during the day, patrolled with the team to fight crime at night, and spent the rest of her time training—leaving no time for personal moments with Robin. Yet, whenever she felt like giving up, she'd catch Thea's teasing smile, and her competitive nature made her grit her teeth and push through.
In her spare time from crafting a mechanical arm, Thea occasionally sparred with them. Relying solely on her combat skills, she could now hold her own against Bruce for a while. Taking on Barbara and Robin was even easier; even if they teamed up, she could handle them with some effort.
Lately, Bruce had been mulling over Thea's suggestion that he become police commissioner. After much deliberation and consulting various opinions—chiefly that of his old butler, Alfred, whose input proved decisive—he began to warm to the idea.
Alfred believed that being Commissioner sounded far better than being known as a playboy. Whether for the Wayne family's reputation or Bruce's own safety, it was a solid plan. He had watched Bruce grow up and didn't want him spending every night fighting crime, especially after the incident where his back was broken, which had terrified the elderly butler. Though he'd never met Thea, he was immensely grateful for her influence and frequently encouraged Bruce to take the Commissioner role.
To Bruce, Alfred was like a second father, his respect unwavering. Hearing Alfred's repeated encouragement, Bruce found himself genuinely considering it.
Commissioner Gordon also supported the idea. Nearing retirement age, he saw Gotham's police force as stable enough. If Bruce took over, Gordon could rest easy, even if it meant stepping down sooner.
With the two most important elder figures in his life backing the plan, Bruce couldn't find a reason to refuse. However, out of caution, he didn't jump straight in. Instead, he tentatively submitted an application for President of the Gotham Police Union.
Unions in America were everywhere—actors, directors, you name it. The police union, however, was largely ceremonial and had been ignored for years. Bruce intended it as a trial run to gauge reactions, but the next day, the media frenzy caught him off guard.
Commissioner Gordon, as head of the GCPD, had discreetly opened a back channel, leaking some information internally among the officers. Additionally, Thea remotely directed members of the Court of Owls' network, leveraging their connections to boost Bruce's image.
"Prodigal Son Joins Gotham's Finest!" blared the Gotham Times front page.
"Rising Star Set to Clean Up the Force," proclaimed a full spread in the Gotham Gazette.
Gotham Morning News even aired a special segment, ambushing Lucius Fox at six a.m. on his way to work. The bewildered executive caught completely off guard, was bombarded with questions and could only offer praise for Bruce.
Overnight, Bruce Wayne's image flipped from playboy to Gotham's potential savior. The nonstop coverage left him stunned. Did he really have this much public support? Was it a trap? But seeing Lucius speaking earnestly on screen made that seem unlikely.
He also asked Selina's opinion. "Go for it! Why not?" she said, excited by the prospect. After years of being chased by cops, the idea of becoming the Commissioner's partner thrilled her.
Even Dick and Barbara were supportive. Dick, aspiring to be a cop, saw his mentor joining the force as a win. Barbara was simply exhausted from his intense training; she'd support him becoming UN Secretary General if it meant she could get a few days off.
Bruce consulted everyone in his immediate circle and found that everyone in his life supported his bid to become police commissioner. Not a single person objected. Even with his late-stage paranoia, he finally let his guard down. It seemed there really was no conspiracy. So, he decided to go for it.
When word reached Thea that Bruce had officially submitted his application to the city government, she breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how well the Court of Owls hid, traces would eventually surface. Giving the highly intelligent Bruce something else to focus on would make it much easier for her to transfer various resources out of Gotham.
She instructed Kathryn and Luigi to mobilize resources in police, political, and business circles, ensuring Bruce remained bogged down and unable to pay attention to the various financial movements within the city.
From formally entering the public eye to actually securing the Commissioner's seat, she conservatively estimated it would divert his attention for at least two years. During this time, Thea could tap into a steady stream of supplies from Gotham and Wayne Enterprises.
Indeed, the dozens of families comprising the Court of Owls actually held controlling interests in Wayne Enterprises. Combined with the shares Thea personally held, their influence was immense.
However, these controlling shares couldn't be brought into the light. For over twenty years, the Court of Owls had resisted Bruce joining the board of directors, though both sides had exercised restraint, keeping the conflict confined to normal business dealings.
Thea had no interest in controlling Wayne Enterprises herself—personal strength was her true aim.
Though the shares couldn't be flaunted, she had free access to the company's cutting-edge technology and equipment. This quietly bolstered her technical reserves, clearing many hurdles for her Iron Suit project.
Realizing her time in Gotham was nearing its end, Thea began her goodbyes.
No ancient pavilions or endless green fields here—just modern life with phones and video calls. What was there to get sentimental about?
In the end, the farewell took place on Wayne Enterprises' helipad. Bruce's inner circle—four of them—plus Commissioner Gordon threw a lively send-off for the Star City duo.
Selina and Felicity's friendship had blossomed so quickly it baffled Thea. The two slipped off to a corner, engrossed in something secretive on their phones.
"I know I've said it before, but thank you again. Meeting you has been an honor," Bruce said, taking a break from his whirlwind schedule to see her off.
"It's been an honor to meet you too," Thea replied. Though she didn't always agree with his methods, she had to admire Bruce's unwavering principles.
They shook hands. Thea then exchanged a few words with Gordon. Truth be told, she'd dealt with him more than the others, and she could only express admiration for the charismatic old man.
She kept it brief with Barbara and Dick—nothing too emotional. It wasn't a permanent goodbye; they'd see each other again.
"Take care, everyone!" Thea called from the cockpit, waving as the helicopter lifted off. The aircraft climbed steadily, heading toward Star City.