"Batman," Gordon greets. "What happened?"
"Is Maroni downstairs?"
"Yes." He runs a hand through his silvering hair. "I called him, but I didn't know what to tell him."
"Tell him that I killed her."
There is a beat of ringing silence between them before Gordon turns on him. "Bullshit," he says vehemently. "That is bullshit and we both know it. I'm not going to—" "It's what is needed," Batman says tiredly. "Think about it. If you convince Mario that I was working for Vincent—"
"He won't buy that," Gordon interjects.
"He will. If you tell him, he will." Batman walks to the edge of the building and looks over. It is a long way down. "Commissioner—Jim. No one likes Batman. The mob doesn't like me because of what I do, and the public doesn't like me because I have to do it. It's why they believed you about Harvey. It's why they will believe you now."
He speaks all of this gently, each word tearing a strip from his heart. It is the truth. It has always been the truth. Batman is a necessary evil, but still an evil.
"You're a hero," Gordon says, as if reading his mind. "If people knew what you'd done—who you are…"
Batman laughs bitterly. "Maybe I'm just a guy who doesn't know when to stop."
Gordon gives a mirthless chuckle. "That's probably true." He turns to face Batman, still staring over the edge of the building. "But this isn't right. It isn't fair."
"Fair doesn't matter."
Gordon regards him for a long minute before he nods. "I don't like this. But I'll do it."
Batman's shoulders relax slightly. "Thank you." He jumps onto the ledge, about to trigger his cape and fling himself forward when Gordon's voice stops him.
"I want you to promise me something." Gordon steps closer, his voice intense. "If I do this, if I let you take the fall again, then you have to promise me that you will stop this. I have the manpower, and with Mario's help we will take out the last of the mob in Gotham. Go out and live your life. Do whatever it is you do, but don't come back."
Batman lets his eyes slide closed. Wind whips around his face, stirring the folds of his cloak. His chest aches, but he turns and catches Gordon's eye. Gordon's face is creased in sympathy, and Batman can see how much it hurt Gordon to say all of that. He is abruptly reminded of the first time he met this man—a beat cop offering comfort to a child who had just lost his parents.
"I promise," Batman rasps, chest raw with howling grief. He doesn't wait for Gordon's answer—just flings himself into the night.
At 9am, Gordon makes the announcement of Jenny Maroni's death at the hands of Batman, and the subsequent arrest of Vincent Maroni.
At noon, he gets the message that Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum.