Chapter 6: I'll Do It Tomorrow

1 Year Earlier: Metro City Correctional Facility

"Welp…you're all set, Travers," the guard verified as he unlocked Cody's handcuffs for the final time – without the brawler breaking them apart on his own, for once. "Here's to a good rest of your days."

"Right back at ya," Cody waved, feeling almost sentimental. The missing weight he'd grown accustomed to felt strange – but he had no reason to turn back now. He drew in his first, humid, breath of secured freedom as he hoisted his backpack with what little belongings he had. This particular summer seemed incredibly warm - he didn't remember the summers starting with scorchers this early in June - heat radiated mercilessly off of the pavement.

Despite the unbearable heat, he still couldn't grasp that he was done with his time on the inside. His life had been completely reset as of today - and after nearly a decade of drifting in and out of cells and solitary, all his decisions were his own again moving forward.

Not that he hadn't made his own choices…or so he thought.

A tinted vehicle parked by the curb lowered its windows. The blond recognized the hulking figure that came into view despite the dark shades that donned their powerful features. No one else's mustache was nearly that recognizable.

"Get in," the driver said gruffly. Cody swallowed, somehow transported to when he was just a young boy when he first met the giant of a man. He hated feeling like a little kid, yet somehow, he was still treated like one.

"So…you've come to set me on some sort of 'straight path,' huh?" Cody scoffed, wiping sweat from his brow. It was way too warm out here, but he could manage. "Look. You've already done me more than a solid. I told you, I don't need any more of your help, pops. I've got this."

"Just get in the car," Haggar growled, with zero intention of getting into it with him. Cody couldn't be more stubborn than a mountain in an earthquake. Mike knew better than to try to volley with him. He was even willing to let his disgusting lack of gratitude slide. "We're in a heatwave. You have nowhere to live. You have no job. You're coming straight to my office. Traffic's gonna be rough and there's a game this afternoon, so pick your poison."

Cody sighed. It was gonna be a long ride.

1 Traffic Jam Later: Mayor's Office, Uptown

"Whoa whoa whoa - you want me to do what now?" Cody stood suddenly. "That's a bit of a jump in responsibility, don'cha think?!"

"Is it?" Haggar pointed his pen toward his face. "Who, then, do you think would be a better candidate for mayor than you?"

"Oh, I dunno - Carpenter Joe or Hot Dog Chris? Anyone else could run the city better than I can," Cody tutted, turning away, his instinct screaming at him to make a break for it. It's what he did when he was in prison…but now that he was actually free, why did he want to run for the door instead? Did Haggar have a screw loose? "I haven't even been to college! I've barely been outta jail for crissakes!"

Cody grabbed his wrist reflexively, the phantom of his shackles threatening to confine him beyond his fists. It dawned on him that he had no idea what to do with his hands when they weren't bound or punching. He started pacing as he ran his hands through his shaggy, blond hair, hoping he could convince himself he was just having a nightmare. The sudden weight of expectations…he had half a mind to go back to his cell.

"Cool down, kid. Sounds like fear talkin'. We've got plenty of time to go over everything. I understand your nervousness about the proposal," Haggar started matter-of-factly, "but if you just look at who you're up against, you'll quickly see that they don't stand a chance. Besides, there's no one else I know that would even consider taking things into their own hands when the going gets rough…"

Haggar paused before folding his hands before him. He expected pushback, but he also had no intention of standing down. When Mike believed in someone, he believed in them with his whole soul. "I'm not as young as I used to be. I've had a lot more time than you to consider my mortality. My body's not the same it was 10, hell, even 5 years ago. It got me thinkin' about how much more I have to go…and how much more you have ahead of you. You were wasting away in that cell."

Cody's gaze was fixed toward the ground. He knew Haggar hadn't meant physically - exercise was all he did, after all. He wasn't used to people telling him they cared about his future. The young man didn't know what to do with the sentiment. He turned around to face the hulk of a man who sat at his desk, seemingly unbothered by his inner turmoil. The sun was shining brightly outside the windows behind him, and he'd never recalled Metro City's air being so clear.

"You've met thousands of folks over the years, and I was the first guy to come to mind as your successor?" he raised his arms above his head, interlocking his fingers behind his neck. "Interestin' choice…"

"Not the first, no - but you were the last. You can't deny my brilliance," Haggar huffed proudly. "No one's gonna see it comin'. Now that you're exonerated, your optics are through the roof. Use this to your advantage. Turn your power into something good for everyone," Haggar urged, conviction unwavering. "You're a smart guy. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that, trust me."

Cody shook his head as his hands dropped to his waist - he could hardly trust himself right now - this was getting way too overwhelming. "It's too late for me, Mike," he'd only call him by his first name when he was feeling a bit spicy. He scoffed as he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm too far gone. Sorry to disappoint, but you've got the wrong guy. Takin' a wild gamble on me…"

"Cody, you idiot! You listen here and you listen good," Haggar growled as he came around the desk suddenly, jamming his huge finger right into the blond's chest. There were enough walls between them - nearly ten years' worth of plexiglass. He was going to break them down every time until he couldn't anymore.

"I put my career on the line for you. You thought you were doing everyone a favor by secluding yourself in that hellhole of a cell when you had no business being in there!" he roared. "Meanwhile, we've got folks out there who want to see you fall! So you're just gonna let it all slide?" Haggar turned away as he pounded a fist into his palm. "Not on my watch. I'm done with your excuses."

"Tch." The blond man's gaze stayed averted, but he was getting increasingly frustrated as he stepped back, rubbing his wrists. He hated being told what to do, especially not by someone who questioned his very being all the time. Haggar knew he was losing him - but not this time.

"Cody! Look me in the eye and tell me you don't care about this city."

The former prisoner's tired eyes finally met the mayor's. "What're ya gonna say now that ya haven't already said before?" he drawled, reaching up to stifle a yawn. His other arm seemed to travel with it before he realized he did have the freedom to move them independently. Being on the outside again was gonna take some getting used to.

Haggar briefly removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh. This kid was stubborn as a mule.

"I know - sometimes you feel like all I do is lecture you," Haggar started.

"More like all the time," Cody interrupted.

"Fine. All the time. But, it's not just because I see you as a s—"

"Don't," Cody hissed sharply. "I'm no kid, least of all yours…"

Haggar bore his eyes into the young man's glassy ones.

"I get it. You're mad. You feel like the world turned its back on you. Kyle let me in on your twisted brain and practically begged me to be there for you when you got out until he's back from his latest rounds. I wouldn't be sticking my neck out - for you of all people - if I didn't know you were capable. I get it."

"You can't possibly understand what I was goin' through, man," Cody snapped. "You always knew what to do while I was always tryin' to figure it all out."

Haggar closed his eyes in deep thought.

"I'm sure you think I can't possibly make mistakes, don't you?" the large man countered as the blond shook his head.

"Look. I'm sorry. I've just got a lot to work through," Cody responded, clearly exasperated.

Haggar walked back to his seat, chin in hand. He thought he resonated with Cody at a foundational level, having been through plenty of hardship together, but something was just off in his outlook. The older man decided it was time to reveal a part of himself he hadn't even relayed to his only precious daughter.

"Don't let the demons win, Cody. Trust me - I've had my share of them after Nancy died. I couldn't protect the love of my life, and I wasn't sure if I could go on. But I had so many people who relied on me and I know in my heart that Nancy wouldn't want me to be incapacitated by my own self-doubt. So…I dedicated my life to doing what I believe to be the right thing in this wretched world, and I couldn't be better for it." Haggar leaned forward, his eyes locking with Cody's through his spectacles.

"You're a man I know who cares about the people of this city, period. Every single citizen of Metro City—yourself included—deserves nothing less, and believe it or not, we've got your back. Your sense of justice from back in the day essentially campaigned itself. We are a community who have stayed together, even when the city was literally on fire. You're born of this struggle, so who else understands what it's like more than you?"

Cody knew Haggar had all the reasons in the world to not bother with him after all this time. He was really looking out for him lest he got lost in the throes of the world. He exhaled with resignation, the suffocating sensation on his wrists easing up. The blond turned to face the window, surveying Uptown from the 27th floor.

Haggar stood up and placed a giant hand on one of the brawler's shoulders. "Sleep on it. You'll see that all this is not as crazy as an idea as you think it is. You can do this. I just know it. Why would I waste my time if I didn't truly believe that?"

Perhaps the old man might have been going senile…but it dawned on the blond one that he quite literally had nothing left to lose at this pivotal point in his life - except for his pride, perhaps. Oh well - what's the loss of a deadly sin in a world on fire?

"All right, all right…" Cody inhaled deeply as he turned away to stretch his arms above his head. Metro City deserved a chance, didn't it? It didn't ask to be ruled by violence and death for decades, just like no one asked to be born. A struggle that could end by his hand. A true possibility in such a broken world…

"I'll…consider it. Only 'cause if I hear another word, I'll walk myself back to prison…"

"Excellent," Haggar grinned. Walls were no match for him. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Later that evening: Cody's New Studio Apartment, 6:45PM

It would take Cody several months to rise above his struggles to reintegrate into society. Haggar walked him through the process of applying for low-income housing until he got back on his feet. He connected with Tom to have Cody work at his gym to support himself. The ol' mayor wasn't going to go easy on him because he had plenty of time spent on self-pity.

Cody couldn't understand why Haggar was going all out for him. After all those years of resistance and frustration, he would have given up on himself already. He sighed as he unlocked the door to his new abode - it was a studio-sized apartment, but it felt like a mansion compared to his cell. Lightly furnished, bare walls, and hardwood floors, but with a surprising amount of natural light - he had a direct view to the Atlantic Ocean, after all. The old man insisted it would be good for him.

For the Industrial Area, this was pretty nice. It was also close to the subway…so he'd also know each and every time the train arrived to the station, in all its loud, rackety glory. There was no elevator in this shorter building, and he resided on the fourth floor - the top floor - so at least he'd get some brief cardio in each time he had to leave his apartment. He was fortunate that his particular room faced the sparkling ocean water instead of being shrouded in the skyscrapers' shadows, and the view was a surprisingly relaxing site to behold.

Could be worse.

"Things sure changed around here," Cody said to no one, as he placed his pizza, minimal groceries, and brown bag on the bare kitchen counter. He kicked off his sneakers at the entrance and surveyed his living quarters, knowing he had more to take care of over these next few weeks. He was overwhelmed enough at the supermarket as it was - since when were there more than 50 variants of peanut butter? One was plenty…

His top-floor apartment was sweltering as beads of perspiration started forming on the brawler's forehead within minutes upon entering. Thankfully, he was wearing just a fitted A-shirt and jeans on this hot summer evening. The fact that his tiny apartment had air conditioning was another miracle. He knew what it was like to suffer through heatwaves without any sort of cooling system growing up, but that didn't stop him from wanting to find the air conditioning switch as soon as possible. No one deserved to live like that.

The sun was starting to set, giving the apartment a deep orange and creeping purple cascade, speckled with city lights across the glistening water. He made a mental note to add curtains to his ever-growing shopping list even though he didn't expect to have to close them often with that view - he definitely got a lucky break there. After being confined between lightless, concrete bricks for as long as he was, the perception of an open world was quite welcoming. He had no television yet - not that he was in a rush. He made do without it for a couple of years. What was another couple of months? He had to make sure he could afford the next 3 months of rent, first. He finally located the air conditioner's switch and flipped it on, sighing with relief.

Responsibility. His survival now depended on how responsible he was instead of how many thugs' noses he had to break. Haggar had been practically begging him for years to just "grow up" but how could he when he never had the chance to?

He then thought about his younger brother, Kyle, making a name for himself in the Marines. His discipline was outmatched. Kyle was significantly less headstrong than Cody was - far more cool and collected - but he had that same level of strength and determination to see life through. Cody essentially served as his father figure and figured that if anything turned out right in his twisted life, it was how Kyle escaped Metro City's clutches at its worst as he dedicated himself to the greater good. He could learn something from him…

"Funny how life works…student surpassed the master." He was proud of his younger brother and was relieved he found his way long before he did. Now if only he had any pride left for himself…

The blond sighed as he headed toward the corner of the room that would serve as his sleeping area. Haggar lent him an oversized sleeping bag from his camping days, and it was still rolled up, but somehow it still looked more comfortable than his prison cot ever was. Cody thought about how Guy owned a shikifuton at their apartment and how that was a surprisingly comfortable piece of furniture despite it being strange to him that was intended to be on the floor. Hell, maybe he'd invest in one himself. He didn't need much…

Even though everyone was coming to mind…he lived alone, after all.

"As long as I have a place to lay my head, huh?"

There was no one there to respond. The reality struck him as annoyance at first. Then it started to creep. He hadn't emptied his backpack yet - his effects were like a time capsule of the life he had before, his most valued possessions during the first of his many arrests. He hadn't bothered to pick them up the first go around- he only felt obliged as he vowed this would be his last time in prison.

He wasn't lonely or anything - at least, he thought he wasn't lonely. He'd been on his own these last—what—eight, nine years? The nagging feeling at the corner of his stomach couldn't possibly be "loneliness" could it? He figured he'd know the feeling. After feeling abandoned by people he loved, repeatedly…maybe his wounds were so far deep under the scar tissue, he just couldn't reach there anymore. That, or he was just hungry.

He started on his first slice of pizza. It tasted leagues better than the "food" he had been consuming. He was incredibly thankful he didn't have to do another day of lacking prison cuisine - definitely something he would not miss. Much easier to maneuver without being cuffed from his days of breaking out of jail for the hell of it.

Eventually, he removed a whisky bottle from its bag with one hand as he absentmindedly chewed on his fourth slice of pizza in the other. He was generally careful about what he put into his body, but tonight was a treat. He survived prison and Haggar. Not many folks could say that with his level of confidence, but the pride felt insignificant compared to the nagging sense of emptiness that sat in the pit of his stomach.

The last new apartment he moved into was with Jessica after he suggested that they move-in together so long ago - and it was painfully short-lived. What started off as a joyful next step in their relationship ended up as a broken dream just a few months later once he was arrested. He thought it would fix everything; as long as she was close to him, he could ensure her safety in the hell that was Metro City. His logic was infallible, so he thought, but life wasn't.

His heartbreak started to feel like a wound reopened. He hadn't allowed himself to feel anything of the sort in a long time - so emotions were starting to hit him from every direction now that he didn't have the distraction of incarceration and confinement. He was on the outside once again, and he was going to have to get used to it. Getting up to rinse his pizza hands, he finally mustered the energy to empty his backpack.

A knife holster. A photograph. A sake cup. A wallet. A small jewelry box.

He put his effects back in the bag. He'd deal with it tomorrow. Tonight was about…liberation.

Cody slumped to the ground, using one bent knee as a rest for his arm. His air conditioning really started to kick in, bringing much-needed relief to his sweltering abode. He figured that if he didn't want to lose his mind, he had to flex his atrophied optimism muscle. If that photo he briefly looked at was any indication, he used to know what it was like to have a sunny outlook. As dense as his fog was, he knew there had to be blue skies beyond them.

So what was going well in his life? After thinking for a second, the truest silver lining he could find was that he would be working at Tom's gym after all - at least there was plenty of comfort in the familiar there. He also had in-unit laundry. A miracle in this godforsaken city. He could work out every day without running out of clothes, ever.

All he had to do was lay low for a few months, not pick any fights, and earn his living like any other citizen in this city. While running for office to lead said city. No big deal. It was going to be great.

"I did my time, how much worse can it be?" he asked no one, the sound of his voice echoing through his quarters. The bounce back of the sound got him again - he was feeling lonely. The irony stung deeply - he had his freedom, yet it felt distinctly more empty…more raw. He didn't want to feel that. Anything else would do. He hastily unscrewed the whisky's bottle cap.

"Bottom's up."

The fire of the whiskey shot burned all the way down, and he was surprised at how he reacted. "Fuck," he retched. "I dunno why people celebrate anything with this stuff. Don't see how you let it ruin your life, dad."

Cody's mortality hit him suddenly. He couldn't help but reflect on Haggar's words earlier.

Cody survived prison and a whole lot more in his young life. He was alive and still standing, but yet his soul felt otherwise. He knew he felt distinctly alive in the middle of a fistfight - nothing could compare to that rush. The lingering, bitter burn made its way to the pit of his stomach and stung his mouth.

He hated to admit it was something.

He downed another shot, thinking perhaps it would feel different this time - he figured he wasn't used to it. It still burned all the same, even though he could feel it travel down his leg this round. Nothing compared to the rush of getting into a fight…he had to make sure. One more shot - until the moment he realized he was chasing a high, he stashed the bottle deep into his upper cabinet, the action of lifting his arms over his head making him a bit woozy. That was too much of a risk for him.

…Maybe there was value in toning down impulse.

"Great," he slurred. "Now I'm just drunk and sad." He swayed, holding onto his counter for support. "Good job, Travers," he grunted to himself as he slumped to the floor in an attempt to steady himself and try to focus. It wasn't working.

First night out on the outside and you get plastered. Of course. Run for mayor, my ass…

He managed to disappoint himself in less than 24 hours as an actually free man. Whoever said that alcohol was supposed to numb the pain was a goddamned liar. Before he knew it, his sorrows and anxieties were amplified in his body, but his fuzzy mind was too slow to recognize them. The sense of overwhelm was jarring. He felt stuck between two worlds - as he always had been. The swirling dichotomy churned his stomach.

This was not the escape he meant to have. Liberation and loneliness. Peace and violence. Love and hate. Yearning and independence. Determination and apathy. Night and day.

"Ugh," he hiccupped. His body must have been trying to protect him from his destructive tendencies. His legs knew what to do as he dragged himself to the bathroom. Good thing he didn't have to travel far - his stomach rejected everything.

Getting reacclimated to the outside was gonna be lots of fun.

8:30AM - The following morning…

The sun rose faster than he'd anticipated. Before he knew it, the light was shining brightly through his lack of blinds and there was incessant banging at his door. All Cody wanted to do was sleep…

"All right, all right, I'm comin' already," he hollered, throat dry. Last night was a bust. Maybe he could try starting from scratch again today. Every day is a chance to begin again. "Hold ya damn horses."

He opened the door groggily, knowing he'd be met with Haggar's very annoyed face.

"Cody - are you hungover for crissakes? And can ya put on some pants? My god."

"No need to rub it in, pops…not the greatest way to wake up," he grumbled, letting Haggar in.

The larger man shook his head. Perhaps this transition was going to be tougher than he anticipated. He hadn't even considered what terrible habits the brawler probably picked up during his time in the slammer. He knew the transition was not going to be a breeze by a long shot…but to him, Cody was a risk worth taking.

"You're gonna have to take care of yourself a lot better than that if you're gonna run this town!" Haggar scolded. "That's it. We're going for a run, 5:00am sharp - every weekday."

"You're a drill sergeant now?" Cody groaned. "It was just last night. I figured I'd make a toast to my…freedom," he emphasized with air quotes. "This ain't gonna work out if you keep treatin' me like a kid…"

"Then it's up to you to stop acting like one. You've got a lot to learn, pal. It's now or never."

Cody dragged his palm over his face. The mayor-in-training walked right into that one.

1 Week Later: Cody's Apartment Climb

Haggar recruited Officer Lucia Morgan, a trusted friend and confidant to support Cody in his transition as she already oversaw much of Industrial City's area in her usual patrols. If anyone could relate to being wrongly accused of crimes they didn't commit, it was her! The brawler finally upgraded his quarters with an actual mattress and bed frame, and just needed a little extra help this afternoon to get it up his four, elevatorless floors.

Not that he couldn't do it alone…but asking for help was never a bad thing.

Cody was wrapping up in the shower when he heard rough knocking on his door. Damn it, he thought. She's early! He hastily shut off the water, shook the excess water from his hair and made his way out, wrapping himself with a towel.

"Just a sec!" he called out.

"Hurry up in there, will ya? It's blazin' out here—AH!" she turned away quickly, mostly to hide her reddening face as he flung the door open in annoyance. "Can you at least put on a shirt?!"

"Just tone it down, will ya?" Cody mocked. "I'm not the one bustin' down on the door like a cop! Heheh, no offense…"

"Whatever," Lucia smirked. "Just get decent and lemme in, huh?" she rapped her watch hastily. "I've got places to be after this!"

"Don't you worry, I'll be outta your hair soon," he echoed as he retreated to quickly get dressed in his bathroom. "You won't have to babysit this washed-out ol' convict for much longer."

Lucia could sense that maybe there was a bit of self-depreciation with that statement. She folded her arms after closing the door behind her. He had quite the gem of an apartment – but she could tell that he still had a lot of time on his hands to think. He emerged from the bathroom.

"Hey, Cody. Don't say ridiculous things like that – as if you're some sorta burden. For the record, I always believed in you, so you can't convince me otherwise. Now let's get this mattress of yours up these ridiculous stairs…"

30 arduous minutes later...

Lugging a mattress up four flights of un-air-conditioned stairs was about as fun as anyone could have anticipated. Even a pair of experienced, trained fighters had to take a brief respite from the effort. Nothing that leftover takeout and soda couldn't cure. There was no TV yet, so all that was left to watch were the faint shooting stars over the city, via the fire escape. It provided an excellent view of the ocean during sunset which was a sight to behold. There was a lot of catching up to do.

"Cody, old pal…what's goin' on between you and Mike? He's clearly watchin' out for you, but it's like you can't stand to be in the same room as each other. What gives?"

"Ah, it's nothin'. We just…don't see eye to eye on certain things."

"That's weird, 'cause I heard you're runnin' for mayor, so I'd hope you see eye to eye on that!" Lucia exclaimed, her city accent nearly twice as saturated as Cody's. She was thrilled when she heard about his sudden trajectory. "You know you've already got my vote, right? As long as your policies are reasonable, of course…"

"I appreciate that, Lucia," Cody couldn't help but smile, realizing that it really was up to the folks for his potential election, after all. It was weird for so many people to put their faith in him of all people. "Enough about me, what's goin' on with you?"

"Oh, y'know - the usual. Metro City's changin' for sure, but I don't think it's all that bad that people feel safe nowadays. Sure makes my job easier! More time to enjoy life, ya know?"

"That sounds good! What're you doin' to enjoy life these days? I could use some pointers," Cody said, trying to add some levity to the darkness.

"Well…I'm actually datin' someone and she's real special to me," Lucia said in an almost dreamlike state. "We have plans to catch the late-night Cyberbots movie this evenin' - didn't really wanna subject her to helpin' us get your ridiculous mattress up these ridiculous stairs which is the only reason you didn't meet her yet," she radiated, a grin almost as wide as her face.

"Well, well, well!" Cody whooped. Everyone seemed to have someone nowadays. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"Before you judge me - you can't help who you fall for," Lucia blushed. "But…Roxy and I have been goin' steady for a couple of weeks now…and I've gotta say, I couldn't be happier."

"Really, now?" Cody exclaimed. Things really did change since he was in and out of jail. He knew Roxy quite well – she grew up in the same orphanage as Poison did before they came over to Metro City, another individual he knew a lot better than he cared to admit…but, a Mad Gear member dating a cop? "Well, color me surprised. How'd you two come about?"

Cody hadn't realized that Lucia's smile could get wider than it already was. "Haha, it's no earth-shatterin' story or anythin'. Haggar's been a bit worried about Mad Gear resurfacing even though we're not really seein' that at the MPD…so to quell the concerns of an old man, I started hangin' around Abigail's shop, y'know, as a customer. Roxy's there all the time, and…well, we just started talkin' about nothin'. Next thing you know, Abigail's shop is a must-stop on my daily patrol and my favorite part of the day because there was always someone willin' to see me," Lucia looked out over the water, the city lights reflecting in her eyes.

"It's just…really nice. I think a lot about how Mad Gear once threatened us as a city, and now most of the old members want nothin' to do with that association. Most ex-members are runnin' pretty legit these days. Haggar doesn't care much for it, but what can ya do? We're all payin' the same taxes…"

"Huh. Guess everyone's gettin' tired of livin' the shitty life," Cody mused. This was…interesting. A certain pink-haired vixen also seemed to have alluded to being 'done' with Mad Gear long ago, so perhaps that was the norm these days. "Do you ever feel like you have to keep your relationship under wraps? Y'know…'cause you're a cop?"

Lucia sighed. "I just think…you can't help who you fall for."

"Oh, is that where you are?" Cody couldn't help but smile at Lucia's reddening face. "Tell me about it…"

"I'm not worried about it," Lucia declared boldly. "We're all jus' tryin' to be better'n we were yesterday, after all. 'Sides, our history makes for a lot of interestin' conversation…" Lucia couldn't help but smile at the thought of her. "She makes me happy. Shouldn't be more complicated than that, I think."

"That's really good to hear, Lucia. I'm happy for you. Kinda gives me hope for this wacky world we live in...a world in which I could actually become mayor of all things…"

Lucia couldn't help but notice a subdued sort of melancholy in his voice despite his declaration. She didn't doubt it one bit, but she couldn't help but wonder if he'd been thinking about his own situation…it was undoubtedly a difficult subject for him, so she didn't want to push. He had it pretty rough these last few years, and she thought he was the last person who deserved to deal with the tribulations he had, given what he'd done for the city.

"Thanks, Cody. I really appreciate you havin' my back. Anywho…enough about me, I'm here for you! Long story short, Mike adores you. He prob'ly wouldn't ever admit it, though," she huffed. "You men and your gargantuan egos, I swear. At least now you can finally get a good night's rest! I can't believe you were in a sleeping bag all week! That can't possibly be good for your back."

"I'm adaptable! What can I say?"

"Whatever!" They exchanged silly smiles as they looked back out to the night sky. Cody's eyebrows knitted deep in thought.

"Y'know…sometimes, I wonder if it was my ego that pushed Jessica away – didn't exactly make it easy for her to stick around these parts," he said, feeling a weakness in his gut as soon as Lucia shot him a concerned look. She hadn't expected her name to come up, as she heard the fallout from their breakup was pretty rough for both parties. "Ah - sorry. Forget I said anythin'."

"Aww," Lucia pouted, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Sounds to me like you still have a soft spot for her, don'tcha?"

"Heh. Can't seem to help myself," Cody scratched the back of his head. "Hard knock life and all that…"

"Sorry I'm over here gushin' about Roxy – but honestly, there's nothin' wrong with that," Lucia said as she took a swig of her pop. "Ya can't really control how ya actually feel about someone, ya know? Just…how to deal with it, I guess."

"You can say that again. Turns out punchin' doesn't cover all the bases. Sometimes I dunno if I'm actively losin' my mind, or if it's been long gone," Cody laughed dryly. "I'm all sorts of messed up."

"Don't worry too much about that kinda stuff," Lucia waved him off. "It'll just keep you from getting where you really wanna go. I learned that pretty early in the Academy with all the crap you see on these MC streets," she started. "At first, I was real nervous about the possibility that I wanted to…really get to know Roxy. I'd never felt that way about anyone before, especially not someone who used to be with the Mad Gear - my literal job was to make her family's life a living hell, and hers…mine."

"So…what changed?"

"I dunno. Once we started talkin', everything sorta clicked. I can't explain it - I just figure life's too short to sweat ALL the small stuff," she shrugged. "And I'm a cop! When you actively see or experience all the horrible things that break apart families day after day on the job, it kinda makes you appreciate the good things more," she said looking up at the illuminated night sky. "And, well...those horrible incidents are getting to be less and less thanks to all of our hard work as a community, so we can actually have the time to enjoy the good life."

Each time the subway trains passed by, they had to stop their conversation before they could hear one another again. Lucia turned to Cody and smiled a huge grin. "You're runnin' for mayor, ain'cha? Not that you asked, but the best advice I can give ya is to consider is that there's no hazard pay for just being alive in Metro City, that's for sure. Tomorrow's never promised ta anyone."

"You're not wrong about that. Sometimes, I think all I ever know how to do is survive."

Lucia knew that Cody had a hard life. She couldn't blame him for how he saw things.

"Ya know…there are folks you can talk to about things like that," Lucia offered.

"What - you mean like a shrink? Haggar's already got me enrolled in a program," Cody rolled his eyes. "Twice a week feels a bit…much. Don't need a stranger to get in my head. I don't even wanna be there."

"A little retrospect never hurt no one. At least you've got this awesome view."

"Noise aside, it's pretty nice…"

"The fire escape's not a bad place to come reflect at night, especially with this sorta cool night breeze. I'm sure it beats agonizin' over your own mind in a cell."

"By a long shot."

The two of them took a moment to appreciate the forming night sky - despite the light pollution from being in a city, the stars were shining brightly. They were just specks in the grand scheme of things…

"Welp! My shift's over, and I don't wanna keep Roxy waitin' so I'd better get goin'."

"Sheesh, and here I thought you were here as a friend, not a cop," Cody scoffed mockingly. Lucia hit him in the shoulder.

"I'm kidding, of course. Not about Roxy, though! Good night, Cody. Don't let it get you down - you're here now, ain't ya?"

"You're not wrong. Thank you, Lucia."

Cody walked Lucia out if only to get that last bit of exercise up his flights of stairs again. He was happy that his little steps were progressing, even if it felt like he had miles to go. It was late enough as it is, so he decided it'd make sense to hit the shower and get to bed. If it wasn't for Lucia, he wouldn't have had sheets for the night after going through the effort of setting up the delivery. Not that owning a car in the city was a necessity, but he had to also go through the process of reinstating his drivers' license as it had been naturally suspended during his prison time - so bigger items just had to be delivered for the time being. So many little things to remember…

He sighed. He was going to have to start writing things down. Having Lucia to talk to felt nice…and he had to make sure she knew of his gratitude. One citizen at a time…

The first time on a proper mattress in years felt surreal. He hadn't appreciated just how important it was to be comfortable when trying to go to sleep, especially as he was getting accustomed to his sleeping bag and was accustomed to the cot before it. The sound of sirens, the subway and police radio chattered below his window as they did every night. Metro City never slept after all, but it was calling to him. He was far too tired now…maybe Lucia was right and all he needed was to just slow down and reflect. He certainly had the space and time to do so.

Still, as exhausted as he was and as comfortable as his new mattress was, he couldn't quite drift off to sleep as easily as he expected to. At first, he figured he still had to acclimate from having to sleep with one eye open. He knew he was safe now, but each night as he always drifted off, someone managed to fill every recess in his mind without fail.

He used to be able to look over to his left and see the one who would start and end his days for years at a time…

Damn it. I miss her.

A few months later on Halloween - by the Bay Area at sunset…

Cody felt inadequate compared to the legacy of Guy and Mike Haggar. He, too, fought to make the city a safer place the same time as they did, only to be considered worse than scum the last couple of years of his life. These days, they had something going for them - Mike ran the city, and Guy actually completed his training and mastered his art. It took him a long time to free his own soul from confinement.

Next thing he knew, weeks away from the election, he was…leading the polls.

He couldn't believe it. He fully intended to put forth an effort, but he hadn't expected it to pan out the way it had. Cody's somewhat feigned apathy was a frequent point of contention between himself and Haggar, but Haggar's determination always won it out. The blond figured they were Ls worth taking at this point. He was coming into his own, after all…

One day, alongside Marlowe, Cody had a moment of frustration as they were going through their final campaign agenda. Marlowe was frustrated with Cody's pacing and Cody was frustrated with Marlowe's condescending advisories.

"I think I need a minute," Cody said suddenly, leaving the office in a haste. Marlowe could sense he might have been having a mild panic attack without realizing it and reached out to Haggar as soon as he stepped out.

"Mayor Haggar," Maisie started. "You're giving me a run for my money here. He's having a particularly hard time today, and it's becoming a bit of a nuisance," she complained.

"I'm sorry Maisie. I'll try to talk to him - did he say where he was headed off to?"

"He just said he needed some time to himself. And I could use the same," she groaned. "Mayor Haggar…I'm trusting you, here. This better be worth it."

"I've got him."

Haggar made his way to the path of the Bay Area, almost certain he would find Cody along the way. It was decorated with skulls, bats, zombies, pumpkins and more – Metro City was enjoying the festivities of the spooky Halloween season in full effect. There was no better spot to see the heart of the city from the edge of the bay, after all.

"I knew you'd be here. What's going on with you?"

"I'm doin' all right, old man. Just…thinkin'."

"Thinkin' about what the future holds, I'm guessing? I see you're doing great on the polls."

"Yeah, sure," Cody started. "It just…all feels so weird…to be 'free' but I still feel stuck. I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that people want me to run this crazy place. I don't know if I can do this. There's no way I could fill your shoes. You've been doin' great things since forever, man."

"You're just growing up," Haggar looked across the bay with him. "Nothin' wrong with that."

"But…even now, you still treat me like I'm some kid, like I can't think for myself," Cody said. Sometimes, having his life controlled in prison was enough to keep him from thinking for himself. "Maisie's great an' all, but…I have my reasons for making my choices. I don't plan to live a life of regret."

"In that case, politics will suit you just fine. Your every move is pretty much going to be on display - not that much different than the last couple of years, anyway. The world can learn from your trials, your journey."

The two men leaned over the railing that faced the sea, their silence clearing the air. Cody seemed unfocused but Haggar realized that the brawler was fixated on the huge, international ad rotation. For about ten seconds at a time, it would show the one he anticipated. A strong-looking blonde woman, dressed in an ornate red dress that accentuated every one of her features. Her blue eyes were shadowed as she glanced down at the bracelet that was prominently featured on her wrist. The slogan being: make a statement that shines brighter than the stars.

"Today is Jessica's birthday. And somehow, she looks so sad over there," Cody observed, feeling a dull ache in his chest, where that woman used to lay her head.

Haggar noted the latest international splash advertisement that featured itself by Sixth Avenue. It must have been at least 60 feet tall, and the whole world saw just how beautiful she was without knowing anything about her soul.

"She told me that was her least favorite shoot," Haggar replied. The only other person on the planet that knew Jessica as well as he did would be able to discern that.

"As long as they treat her better than this place did," Cody said. "I'm guessin' you spoke with her today. I hope she's doin' all right."

"Jessie's a tough girl," Haggar almost boasted, knowing the toll it took on her. "But…she's a sensitive soul. These last couple of years have been tough, but she's enjoying herself overseas. Her birthday doesn't nearly get overshadowed by Halloween over there as it does in the states. She says it makes her feel free."

"No kiddin'."

There was a thick silence between them for a few minutes. Cody never wanted to bring her up, but he couldn't help it. She was distinctly not a part of this new life of his, and yet she was everywhere at the same time. It was maddening.

"You really hurt my daughter, Cody," Haggar said with a weight of unresolved frustration. "I was disappointed with you for a long time. Some days I wondered if, deep down, I was letting you rot in prison because of my own anger," Haggar said matter-of-factly. "But it seemed like you wanted to be there. You know Jessica's a passionate girl. She loved the holy hell out of you and you chose to remain in prison. I'm not gonna lie when I say that's gonna be hard for me to forgive. But it still doesn't change that I believe in you. I've been fighting my whole life, Travers. The hardest fight was convincing you that you're a better person than you think you are."

Cody had to center himself.

"Mike…you also convinced me that I was ruinin' Jessica's life," Cody felt his blood getting hot. "…when you knew it wasn't that simple." They were together for nearly a whole 24 hours that fateful night of her rescue, after all.

"Enlighten me."

"I knew I was willing to die for her," Cody responded, already at peace with that fact. "But when I realized I was willing to kill for her, too? …I knew she deserved better. I didn't choose to be in prison. I was no better than Mad Gear. Just…had to suffer the consequences of my actions like anyone else."

Mike sighed. The boy really hadn't been the same since that fated day. The moment he started to regret asking for his support to rescue his kidnapped daughter, he realized he would have done it again himself. Metro City was captive in corruption, and he did what he had to do to rid of it when the judge, jury and executioners wouldn't.

"You're a good guy, Cody," Haggar crossed his arms. "Don't know why you're working so goddamn hard to convince yourself or anyone otherwise. What are you trying to prove?"

"Not a thing."

While Mike and Cody had their perspectives, they understood each other on a different plane than most folks of their dynamic would.

Haggar initially hadn't expected his legacy to unfold the way that it had. As he predicted, it wasn't easy. As a mayor, he wasn't worried. As a father, he had complicated feelings about how Cody and Jessica's relationship ended, but the last thing he wanted to do was intervene in any way - he understood each of their perspectives and he respected both of them enough not to meddle - so as long as Jessica was shielded from pain as much as possible.

"How about this," Haggar started. "You show me you have what it takes to get elected - I'll stand back as a citizen and get out of your way. I'm entrusting eight years' worth of effort to you, boy," he said. "Don't disappoint me. Don't disappoint Metro City. It's all up to you."

"You won't havta worry about that, pops. I have no intention of returnin' to prison, so from here on out, I'll play by the rules. I'll just do it my own way."

Coming from Cody, this was huge - and Haggar was proud. Despite it being a commonly avoided topic, Cody had always been like a son to him - a very stubborn son. A son he hadn't initially approved. He was happy that his good friend was finally willing to shed his former self-doubts and do better for all people, but most of all, himself. He was finally seeing the way again after the darkness took over.

"That's how you've always done it, huh?"

6 Months Later: City Hall - Mayor Travers' Inauguration Day

It was almost time. Cody was finally stabilizing and his experience and potential and time in the doghouse would be invaluable for enacting policy that would be beneficial to the city as a whole. With Marlowe on board to support his transition, he'd be set in no time.

Haggar trusted Marlowe with Cody - she had the smarts and empathy to deal with such an "impossible" case, and was perfectly no-nonsense to boot. He understood that this would be a trial of growth for both of them in their professional careers - because if Marlowe can have an ex-con run the city, she can run the world! …if that's what she wanted.

Cody looked at himself in the mirror. He hardly recognized the reflection staring back at him. A little effort went a long way. "Can't believe that I'm the freakin' mayor of Metro City."

He had a hard time convincing himself of the fact. The back of his mind insisted that this was all a façade, but the voice of the people said otherwise. Haggar placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm proud of you. You've got this, Mayor Travers."