Arkham City.
Democracy was flawed in Gotham. The illusion of free will. Cody knew that the gates were already sealed on the Arkham City project the second it hit Warden, now Mayor Sharp's desk. The initiative immediately taken by Hugo Strange and his TYGER guards to seal off old Gotham.
This was a Separatist state if he'd ever seen one, but far more literal.
It felt as if the walls were growing higher each day, the search lights brighter, Strange's voice much louder.
This wasn't the freedom they told them it was.
Especially not when the Batman still brought his boot down on the throat of what little justice there was in Arkham City.
Did Gotham care about anybody? No. It was a selfish god that would rather see its servants rip each other to shreds trying to please it rather than deserve loyalists.
Cody stopped a moment as that thought lingered. The only differences between Gotham and Arkham City were a wall, a new regime, and the truth.
Without the make believe democracy, it'd be so plain to see that Gotham had been dead for decades.
This truth was what let Cody to where he was now.
The woman's boots stepped in what was either rain water, or wet blood. The way she dragged that bat behind her, Cody was convinced it was the latter.
He'd expected a half demented smile to cross the woman's lips, but it stayed a frown.
"He's waitin' on ya." She said blankly.
He walked past the blonde, feeling her eyes follow him. It made him appreciate what was about to happen even more.
"I must say, that this is more than a little unexpected..." The figure coughed a small laugh.
"If I'm going to die in this damn city, I don't want it to be by some punkass who gets lucky. I want it done right... I wanna die happy." Cody barked back.
"Well, my boy...heheheheheheeeee...you've come to the right place..." It extended its hand, a decaying smile on its face.
"Yep. See you soon?" Cody chuckled as the pin went into his hand.
Ha...
HA...
HAHA...
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
WOOOHOHOHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
Cody cackled as he stumbled back and through a window. The sound of his neck breaking as he hit the ground was drowned out by the blonde girl crying...again...
The Joker stared out the window.
At least he wouldn't be the only one to die smiling.
