"Wish you were there to see it, Farmboy." Lois said, as they looked over the day's newspapers. Every newspaper in Gotham, and several beyond, had plastered the night's events on the front page. Lois' own piece, she was pleased to see, had led to the Daily Planet outselling the local papers.

Clark Kent looked up at her through those large, thick glasses that she couldn't possibly imagine him without.

"It almost feels like I was." He said. "You did a great job."

Lois was unimpressed. He always tried to flatter her in this way.

"Still though, the fact that Eren Jaeger was a match for the Joker is pretty newsworthy in and of itself." She said. "Even Superman had a hard time with him."

Clark's eyes fell on the paper.

"Is he a meta human… do you think?"

"Don't know." Lois said. "But with the way Historia was acting…"

She was about to suggest that she thought that it must have been the case, but was interrupted as a woman came over to their table, paper in hand, asking her breathlessly if she was THE Lois Lane, the one that Superman always saved. When the woman was sent on her way, as politely as she could muster given the circumstances, Lois had completely lost her train of thought.

Superman, however, had not.

Historia found herself feeling a little nervous as the entered the Mayor's building. She was certain that Eren had done something to greatly offend the people of Gotham. She and Armin ascended the elevator accompanied only by their guide.

Mayor Hill and the Police Commissioner Gordon was waiting for them.

"Ah, your majesty." Gordon was first to his feet. He reached out for her hand and took it. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise." Historia beamed. "I've heard of your work through Bruce Wayne."

"And you are Armin Arlert."

"Yes sir." Armin said, standing stiff at attention. He was being a little bit too overly formal, Historia realized.

It seemed they had set out an especially nice chair for them to sit on in front of the Mayor's desk. Historia was sure that it did not usually belong there, and was only set out for them due to her status. Nevertheless, she sat gracefully as Armin stood, ramrod straight, at her side.

"Your husband did not wish to come?" Hill inquired.

"The events of last night have worn him out." Historia responded, promptly. "He's quite frustrated… the Joker ruined our evening."

"Yes." Gordon said, his voice grave. "He does that."

Hill waved his hand and Gordon fell silent.

"Forgive you for calling you this early in the morning." Hill began. "But I think it prudent that we address the situation at length, with no middlemen between us."

Historia sat silently, watching Hill's eyes as they flickered, as if unsure how to proceed.

"Firstly, I would like to apologize on behalf of Gotham City for the incident last night. Most of our so called super criminals have been, as of late, completely under our control. We believed that a building as secure as Wayne Manor would prove to be a secure location for you to meet the most important men and women in Gotham. Bruce Wayne personally guaranteed me that Wayne Manor would be completely secure from any attacks. Your husband should not have been forced into a position where he had to defend himself."

Historia felt herself relax somewhat. She had been worried that Eren had violated some kind of unknown law or rule regarding his fight with the Joker. Armin, however, still looked a little apprehensive.

"Secondly." Hill continued. "I would like to thank Eren Jaeger for apprehending the Joker before anyone was harmed. Even Batman couldn't have done a better job."

Gordon stiffened a little bit, as if wanting to interject, but Hill continued.

"On behalf of the city of Gotham, we would like to thank you. Bruce Wayne was a little bit upset about his damaged table, but for the most part he too was very impressed."

Historia bowed her hand.

"I am very glad to hear that." She said. "I was worried that we may have… overstepped out bounds here. I was concerned that perhaps… we shouldn't have surrendered the Joker to the Batman."

"On the contrary." Gordon said. "Batman is the only one capable of handling the Joker. Letting anyone else handle him would be dangerous. Even foolish."

Historia wasn't sure that she agreed. Eren had quite easily subdued him with little effort. He hadn't even had to ask Mikasa to do it for him. The Joker couldn't be that dangerous. The only reason Eren stopped his Attack was by her request.

"Be that as it may." Hill said. "You have made yourselves a massive target for future Joker attacks."

Historia started. "What?"

"We are." Hill said. "Speaking about a supercriminal who has evaded the law for as long as anyone can remember. It is not within our power to control him or protect him from you. The Commissioner believes… and I agree with him… that you have made yourself a target for the Joker."

Historia opened her mouth as if to respond, and then shut her again. To be perfectly honest, the thought didn't concern her at all. She was trying to decide how to politely tell them this when the Commissioner stepped forward.

"The Joker." He said. "Is known for holding grudges for a long time. At any given moment he has dozens of schemes involving people all over the city. We believe it's only a matter of time until he pulls something regarding you."

"And what could he possibly do?" Historia asked coolly. "My husband was more than a match for him."

"Perhaps in combat." Commissioner said. "But when it comes to long term schemes, the Joker truly is second to none.

Again, Historia found herself doubting that. The Marleyans, and her own Father, held the Eldians under tyrannical rule through fear of the titans for a hundred years. Eren dismantled the entire thing in about four months. The Marleyans, she knew, had very much believed that the complete extinction of all Eldians was inevitable, that it would be impossible for them to survive.

Gordon reminded her of that. He, like the leaders she had grown up under, were controlled with fear. She tried to hide her disgust.

"It may be in your interest." Gordon continued. "To leave Gotham City."

"No."

The answer came immediately. There was no doubt in her mind what they would do.

"Perhaps you don't understand." Gordon continued. "If you stay in this city, you very well could-"

Historia stood up.

"Eldians." She said. "Are free. We will not allow threats of violence to threaten our desire for peace."

"This city." Mikasa breathed. "It's beautiful."

The only time she seemed to be truly happy these days was when they were alone together. They had snuck out of their apartment room, avoiding their own guards and people, to scale the side of the Hotel building. They had climbed past the top floor and had settled on the roof, and had spent the afternoon together, staring off into the sunset, watching the cars go by.

"Humanity.' Eren said. "Can win."

She cast him a wry glance and looked back down on the city.

"There is no starvation." Eren said. "There is nothing more serious than petty crime. And above all… there are no titans."

Mikasa looked up at him.

"There are." She said quietly. "You."

Eren closed his eyes.

"I will." He said. "Find a way to destroy the Founder when the time is right. When the People are ready."

Mikasa said nothing. She simply watched him. He had been so determined to eliminate the titans ever when he was very young, and even now… nothing else weighed quite so heavily on his mind.

And yet, in the end, the situation was more complicated than any of them could possibly have imagined.

Still though, they had made great strides, in the past ten years. Eren had mastered the use of the Founding Titan, had won the loyalty of the Eldian people, and had brought them all to this brand new world.

Although when the sun had completely set, they did not move. They were at peace. If Mikasa had her way, she would never move from this spot.

Eren glanced upward. He frowned. Mikasa followed the movement, and quicky reached for her sword as a pure black plane made its way across the sky towards them.

It came to a sudden stop in front of their building and turned in mid-air. Mikasa barely had time to note how that wouldn't have been possible with any of their planes when a black figure rose up from it, and then leapt down onto the building.

"Eren Jaeger." The deep, somewhat raspy voice. "We need to talk."

"Batman." Eren said. "A pleasure to see you again."

Batman advanced towards them, and Mikasa almost found herself leaping in front of him. But she could hear Eren's voice in her mind telling her to hold on.

"I had hoped." Eren said. "That you would be spending your evenings going after the Joker. Not bothering with the ruler of a foreign country."

"The Joker has nothing to do with this." Batman said. "This is about you."

"Mikasa." Eren said. "Leave us."

Mikasa shot him a glance, but he did not even move. Mikasa got to her feet and stepped past the Batman. She cast a dark glare at him.

"Touch him and I WILL kill you."

And then she threw herself over the edge of the building. She landed back inside the top floor and made her way back to their room.

Batman and Eren stared at each other. It was Eren who spoke first.

"You haven't done a very good job of snuffing out crime here Bruce."

Batman glared at him. "How did you know?"

Eren did not answer right away. He was now looking past Bruce, down at the city below.

"I like Gotham." He said. "I like the people. I like the city. I like the country. But… I've realized that I don't like you. You stopped me from saving countless lives last night."

"Killing is never right."

"Spoken like a man who has never truly been under threat of death." Eren said. "I have spent enough time in this city now to see how your actions have led to this city's decline. Your policies of refusing to kill your criminals have led to a culture where people live in fear that they may be killed for simply attending a party."

This clearly wasn't what Batman was expecting at all.

"You." Eren said. "Are the problem. And from this point forward I will ensure that the people of Gotham know it."

He got to his feet and raised his hand to his head. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

"Someday…" He said, his voice slowly. "You will be seen as Gotham's enemy. It is not too late to repent, and to do right by what you've done."

And then Batman spoke:

"I have nothing to repent for." He said. "I have done everything in my power to make Gotham City as safe as it can possibly be. My conscience is clear."

"Someday." Eren repeated. "You will grow to resent what you have become."

Batman took a step forward, powerful hands raised. He wrapped his hands around Eren's neck and lifted him upward.

"Give me one reason." Batman snarled. "Why I shouldn't throw you off this building right now?"

"You will not kill your enemies." Eren said quietly. "But you would kill one who questions your good intentions."

Bruce's grip tightened.

"Jaeger." Batman said. "You're planning something. I know it. Whatever it is, I WILL put a stop to it."

Eren stared at him. His eyes were cold.

"I want nothing more than the peaceful relationship between our countries." He said. "You're beginning to sound an awful lot like the bad guy, Bruce."

They stood like that for a long while, staring at each other. Batman sat him down and backed away.

"We will see each other again." Eren said. "But I will not raise my hand against you until Gotham sees you for what you really are. A pampered rich kid who wants to play the hero."

Batman opened his cape wide.

"The Joker will come for you, Jaeger." He said. "You best be prepared."

He leapt backward, onto his plane, and disappeared into the night.