Hello I know its been a long time but I figured I'd have a go at Arkham Knight! A couple of things first. 1. I'm gonna retrospectively age Genevieve up a bit so now assume she's early 20s. 2. In order to fit with how I ended the last installment i'm going to pretend a a year has passed between the end of Arkham City and the beginning of Arkham Knight. Also apologies if this is a bit different to the last two, I was 16 when I wrote those and that feels like a very long time ago! - Katy
Running an asylum staffed entirely by people older than yourself is hard. Running an asylum when you're friends with several of the inmates is also hard. Over the past year I'd learnt to be grateful for the long running history of escapes from Arkham that predated my tenure in charge as it had made it much easier for me to justify a few of the inmates I was closer to managing to orchestrate their own escapes. Of course, in order to balance that out I had to show that I was making progress in other areas and one way I was doing that was through a new art therapy course for some of the less dangerous inmates, the products of which were then sold off at charity auctions to raise money for improvements to the building. Fortunately, rich people love to splash cash on charity when cameras are about.
Not everyone approved of this softer approach to rehabilitating the criminally insane of course. Just last week in fact Jack Ryder released a damning report describing me as "one of the biggest threats to Gotham's safety since Ace Chemicals decided to expand their inner city production efforts." Naturally I'd made a note to dig up some dirt on him after that. Overall however, this year had gone smoothly for me. I was getting the hang of being a public figure and Harley's pregnancy had managed to go completely unnoticed as if it had never happened. In reality, Harley and her adorable little girl were holed up outside of the city with her parents taking care of Venus (suggested by Ivy after flytrap, chosen by Harley after the goddess in the hopes she would one day be a heartbreaker.) whenever Harley needed to come into the city to take care of business.
One thing had not gone my way this past year though, and that would be a thing with a passion for burlap. Jonny had become obsessed with his plot for vengeance against batman, so obsessed in fact that no matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop it from sucking the life out of our beginnings of a relationship. In the end, with much encouragement from Ivy, I gave him an ultimatum: me or Batman. He chose wrong and shortly after disappeared off everyone's radars.
That was about eight months ago. Right now I was sat in a room with Harley and Ivy, having each received mysterious summonses.
"I bet ya its Ozzy wantin ta promote some new club of his" Harley said
"You realise this is most likely some kind of trap right?" Ivy replied "Next thing we know some vigilante will be bursting through the wall"
"And yet here you are, waiting with us anyway." I pointed out
"Well someone has to babysit you two"
"Aww we know that's just ya way of sayin ya love us Red"
"I really do hope I'm interrupting something 'ere" Leered the Penguin, hobbling into the room. Despite having not exactly gotten off on the best foot at first, Ozzy and I had come to a mutual understanding. I help him out whenever he's in Arkham and in return I drink for free at the Iceberg Lounge whenever I want and neither of us try to kill each other again.
"Was it you who sent us the notes Ozzy?" Asked Harley as she rushed to give him a hug.
"Funny that, I was just about to ask you lot the same thing" he said, producing a calling card identical to the ones we had.
"If it wasn't you then who was it?" Ivy mulled half to herself.
"We would also like to know who is responsible for this." Two-Face barked, entering the room
"Well this is looking like a right proper murder mystery setup" Ozzy chuckled while settling down into a chair and lighting a fresh cigar.
"Oh you're right we really should do more murder mystery parties!" giggled Harley
"Harls the mystery would be who isn't the murderer in this group." I pointed out and she giggled even more.
"Clearly you've never read And Then There Were None, my dear." A chirpy voice called from the doorway "What is this? A school reunion?"
"Eddie you too?" I asked my green clad friend.
"This must be the least exclusive secret gathering I've ever attended" Ivy grumbled, glaring in Eddie's direction.
"Ivy I'm not sure I believe you've attended any secret gatherings"
"Coming from the man so bad at keeping secrets he leaves riddles spilling them wherever he goes."
"Do you two ever stop bickering?" Two-Face growled "you're giving us a headache."
"Surely you must be used to bickering and headaches all things considered" Eddie quipped.
"That's it we're leaving." Two-Face shouted and started towards the door. Before he could get there though it burst open.
Eight months. I hadn't heard anything from Jonny in eight months and here he was flanked by armed men entering the room. One of these men had some kind of holographic mask on and seemed to command the others.
"I'm glad to see you could all make it." Jonny said upon entering, something about him was different. He seemed colder. It broke my heart to see him like this. Where had he been? Who were these men? And of course, what was he doing back here now?
"Crane, what's going on 'ere?" Ozzy was the first to ask.
"I come with an opportunity for all of you. I have a plan to finish the Bat once and for all, Gotham will be ours."
"Every plan is a plan to finish the Bat once and for all. What makes yours so special?"
"Me." The man in the holographic mask spoke up.
"Oh so when he claims to be special he gets invited to the big leagues but when I do it I'm conceited and need to shut up" Eddie exclaimed
"You do need to shut up." Ivy smirked
"Although he has a point. Who even are you?" I directed my question at the man, speaking for the first time since Jon had entered the room.
"Someone who knows all of Batman's secrets and is willing to use them to take him down."
"Why should we believe you?" Two-Face probed
"Yeah! Where are ya credentials mista?" Harley added.
"I vouch for him. That should be plenty for all of you." Jon replied
"Well then out with it! What's this bloomin' marvellous plan of yours?" Ozzy asked. Jonny then went on to summarise the essentials of his plan. I could see Harvey, Ozzy and Harley were on board but Pam and Eddie seemed less convinced. I myself had no idea where I stood, this sounded like a good time and all that, plus any excuse to get at that Bat was welcome but it seemed a bit extreme for my liking. From where I stood it seemed like it would just give all those lowlifes I'd been spending my evenings hunting free reign to cause as much misery as they liked.
"I'll let you think on your positions for a while" Jon said and gestured at Eddie "Edward if I may have a word?" and led him to a side room.
"Are you okay?" Ivy asked me and I sighed.
"Not exactly the reunion I pictured if I'm being honest."
"You were imagining something a little more romantic? From Jonathan?"
"Well not romantic per se but maybe a little less of Gotham's criminal underworld being present. Anyway. What do you think of his masterplan?"
"I think his gas will destroy what little plant life Gotham has left."
"So a thank you but no thank you from you?"
"I was thinking something more along the lines of I will tear you limb from limb if you dare hurt those innocent flora with this ridiculous scheme of yours."
"Hm I'm sure he'll take that well. Though I'm tempted to opt out myself I must say, not really up my street. You think he's convincing Eddie?"
"I have no doubt. Nygma really isn't very hard to convince once you appeal to his overinflated ego" With a giggle I looked up to see Eddie reappear looking contemplative as he walked over to us.
"Pamela, our fearless leader asked me to send you in next."
"Its no use him trying to change my mind, I'm not having anything to do with his wholesale destruction."
"Well then I'm sure it'll be a short conversation." Eddie chuckled as she walked away. "I suspect that's going to end very badly for one of them."
"You reckon?"
"I get the feeling Jon isn't going to take no for an answer."
"Well Ivy made it clear she's not gonna let him go through with this."
"In that case we'll have to assume whoever appears out of that room won the fight." He put a hand on my shoulder "you realise you're next right?"
"Unfortunately. Can't say I'm looking forward to it."
"He was a fool to let himself lose you." I laughed at that and shook my head.
"No I should have seen it coming. After all, almost everyone in this room would pick killing Batman."
"Not you?"
"I'm less invested."
"Or simply invested in other ways." At that point the side door opened and Jonny walked into the room. "I think we can assume dear Pamela is being spirited away to some prison then." Eddie whispered. "If you're still on the fence, and I think we both know you are, perhaps now might be a time for appeasement?"
"You think?"
"I think, my dear, I'd rather not see you get hurt." I smiled at that.
"Very sweet, I may take your advice." I turned as Jonny reached us.
"Genevieve, may I have a word?"