Historia found herself alarmed when she was told the news.

"Batman threatened you?"

"Yes." Eren said. He leaned back in his armchair and closed his eyes. Historia stared at him, wide eyed.

"But why?" She asked. "You've… done nothing wrong!"

"He thinks I will." Eren said. "He does not trust me."

Historia's anxious gaze turned a bit reproachful. "You did threaten to kill someone right in front of him."

"And I should have." Eren said. "I know that now. If I see the clown again, his blood will be on my hands."

"The Police believe the Joker will be coming after you…"

"Let him." Eren said quietly, gesturing to Mikasa. She stepped forward, head bent. "When he does… kill him."

"Eren…"

"I will announce my intentions publicly." Eren said. "Your reporter friend… Lois. She'll do. Tell her I want to give a formal statement about the incident."

"But-"

Mikasa stepped towards her, a little bit threateningly. Historia felt herself deflate. There was no arguing with him now.

"Very well." She said stiffly. She turned on her heel and marched off, head held high. When she was gone Eren and Mikasa continued the conversation.

"I am certain that the Batman is following us." Eren said. "Alert the guards."

"Yes, Eren."

"And please inform me if Mr. Wayne comes calling."

"Of course."

She had not toured the streets of Gotham as Raven since she arrived. She had found herself flying high above the streets of the city, admiring all of the city's beauty from a safe height. Passerby rarely looked up to notice her, but when they did her powers covered her in such an intense shadow that it was difficult to make out who she was.

She loved the city. It was dark, dreary, and full of interesting history. She found herself checking out the library and some old cathedrals, and found herself flying back to Gotham Manor at a slow, leisurely pace.

She met Starfire on the way back.

"Raven!" She yelled, doing a bit of a twirl in mid-air. "I haven't seen you since the sun rose!"

"Yes… well…" Raven said. "I was… out having fun."

"Glad to hear it, friend." Starfire said, as she grasped her hand. "Robin was getting worried."

She led her back to the Manor and they, conscious of keeping a low profile, touched down a significant distance away and walked the rest of the way, as if they had just been out exploring the surrounding area together. They found the Wayne butler, Alfred, out polishing one of his cars.

"Good morning, ladies." He said politely.

"Hello, Alfred." Starfire said brightly, clapping her hands together. "I hope you are well?"

"I am indeed." He said. "Have you seen Master Dick?"

Starfire looked confused. She had still not quite processed the concept of a civilian identity. Raven had to answer for her.

"We haven't seen him." She answered.

"A pity." Alfred said, sighing, turning his eyes back to the car. "He doesn't like being home when Master Bruce is, does he?"

This wasn't the first time he had commented on this matter to them. Starfire looked at her sadly, as if expecting her to comment. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Bruce and Robin were practically family, and it wasn't their place to interfere with them.

"I wish Robin would get along with the Batman." Starfire said unhappily after that had bid their goodbyes to Alfred. "He has been so kind to us…"

Had he? Raven thought, thinking back to when they had first arrived at the Manor. He had greeted them cordially enough, but the more time they spent around him the more she began to feel a desire to return to Titan's Tower. The atmosphere around the manor was cold and oppressive: She had made the most out of her time in Gotham, but perhaps they would have been better off if they had just stayed home…

She had no reason to consult with Starfire regarding these kinds of thoughts, however. Starfire, she knew, would be offended on Batman's behalf if she voiced her concerns. So she stayed quiet, and find their way to one of Batman's many sitting rooms, where they found Beast Boy and Cyborg watching TV.

"Hey." Raven said quietly, as she sat down some distance away from them, Starfire sitting down next to her.

"Just in time." Cyborg said. "Eren Jaeger is about to give a live interview."

Raven was intrigued. "Really?"

"Oh, nice!" Jason Todd said energetically, as he leapt up over the side of the couch behind and jumped in between Starfire and Raven. He bounced once on the cushion, before settling down on the couch, his arms wrapped around both of them. Raven grimaced and pushed it off, moving away from him. Starfire, however, did not seem to mind. Perhaps the gesture didn't have quite a negative connation on her home planet.

"This is Lois Lane, of the Daily Planet." The beautiful black haired woman said, facing the TV screen.

"Lois Lane, the one Superman always saves?" Raven asked Cyborg. Starfire gasped, flinching. At Raven assumed Jason had touched something inappropriate, but was soon corrected.

"The… Kryptonian?"

She sounded rather frightened. But before they could talk further Lois Lane was speaking again on the TV.

"I have with me today a very special guest." She said. "Gotham City has been the center of attention for the entire world these past few weeks, as the Royal Family of the Island of Paradise explores the world outside of their walled islands. Joining me today, for the first time ever, is King Eren Jaeger."

She had never before seen Eren Jaeger. She found herself surprised at how morose he looked. He somehow looked simultaneously very young and very old. He sat slumped over in the chair sitting across from Lois Lane, his fist pressed into his cheek. Raven could seem immediately why Batman felt he could someday evolve into a tyrant. There was something about the empty look in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, thank you for joining us today." Lois said. "This will be your… first ever live interview in this country, is it not?"

"My first interview ever." Eren rasped. Raven found herself stiffen. She wasn't quite sure why. "There are no cameras on Paradise. There is no television. And I have never spoken directly with the press."

"Yes, your wife has released statements that she usually handles domestic affairs." Lois stands, nodding. "That includes public policy and making announcements to the public?"

"That is correct." Eren said. "My place is to deal with threats to my Island, or my people."

Lois' professional smile faded for a swift instant. Eren Jaeger leaned forward. His cold eyes seemed to staring straight into her soul.

"The Joker must die." He said. His voice was matter of fact and simple, as if was the easiest thing for him to say in the world. Raven felt her heart skip in her chest.

Lois' smile became rather fixed. She glanced behind them, probably checking for the go ahead to continue the interview. Eren was staring straight into the camera. Raven found herself unable to look away from him.

"Strong words." She said.

"I will not tolerate threats." He went on. "Especially not from someone as pathetic as he."

Lois suddenly looked nervous. She glanced back at the camera again as Eren leaned back in the chair.

"Imagine." He said. "If he were dead now."

"Pathetic, now am I?"

The lights above the stage suddenly shifted upwards. There, above the rafters of the set, stood the Joker himself, waving furiously. He reeled backward and, with a grand movement, let down a great thick rope. He leapt onto it, swinging wildly about, until he came to a stop in a third chair on the set.

He landed on it with a loud thump, and sat smiling, facing Jaeger. Jason was already on his feet.

"Come on, we have to MOVE!" He shouted, suddenly looking very paranoid. He turned to Cyborg. "Where are they?"

Cyborg already had his scanners out. "Trying to triangulate their location by using the broadcast signals…!"

It was too late. Jaeger and Joker were staring each other down, a nervous Lois Lane sitting between them.

"Your Majesty." Joker said amiably, smiling widely. "Your Joker has arrived!"

"I have no use for jokes." Eren said coldly, glaring at Joker warily. "Especially not those coming from you."

"Oh, I remember when old Murphy gave me that same song and dance when I first started." Joker said mildly. "I shot him on this very set!"

"Enough triangulating, I know where it is!" Jason snapped.

"Speaking of which…"

Joker raised a giant, comically oversized handgun and set it on the table, facing Eren Jaeger. He placed his hand on the trigger.

"You get what you fucking deserve."

He pulled the trigger. Raven found herself almost screaming as the bullet soared through the air and connected directly with Eren's neck. His head was blown straight off his shoulders, and went rolling through the air.

The Joker was laughing as the tendrils of neck began stretching out, reconnecting themselves to their head. He was so busy laughing that he did not notice Eren stand up, and walk across the table towards him as the head corrected its original position. In a matter of moments it was like nothing had even happened.

He ripped the gun from Joker's loose grip and raised the butt of it. The Joker stopped laughing when the butt of the weapon slammed into his head, caving it in completely.

It was impossible to tell when he died. Eren kept beating him until every one of his teeth was knocked out of his skull. His skin tore open and began bleeding from his face, until, it seemed, there was no more blood to spill. His hands hung limply at his sides as Eren attacked… and attacked…. And attacked…

No one stepped in to help the Joker, or stop Eren. Not until he arrived.

"That's enough!"

Batman dropped in from above, looking more furious than Raven had ever seen him. He swooped in on Eren, as if to rip the weapon from his grasp. But before he could a black haired girl leapt up from behind the camera and whirled, as if to face him.

"It's the babe!" Jason said, shocked. He seemed to have completely forgotten that he too should be leaving for the event.

"You are not welcome." Mikasa growled, raising her swords. Batman stepped forward, and Mikasa moved forward as if to attack. But Eren stopped, and turned to face her.

"We have no quarrel with him, Mikasa.' He said disparagingly, as he threw the weapon aside. "Not yet, anyway."

"You…" Batman growled. "What have you done!"

"What you would not." Eren said, his voice. "I fixed the problem." He turned and gave the Joker's body another firm kick. He rolled over, limply.

"You murdered him!" Batman said furiously.

"He killed me first." Eren said, his voice cold. "You saw it… did you not? Were you expecting I was just going to roll over and die?"

"There was no need to kill him!"

"Yes…" Eren said silkily. "All I had to do was rely on your protection. And I would have been safe."

He shook his head. "You disgust me." He said. "You would allow me to be killed, and the people here to be in great danger… simply to keep your own conscience clear."

He turned to the camera again.

"Let it be known." He said. "That killing the Joker was the right thing for Gotham to do. Your leaders have allowed you to live under fear of anarchy for too long. Today, I took it upon myself to protect my own freedom."

He waved his hand.

"Mikasa." He said. "We're leaving."

Mikasa turned, to obey him, but Batman raised out a hand and struck her across the face. Lois gasped, raising her hand to her face as Mikasa staggered. Raven feared for a moment that she would whirl around and attack Batman again, but she instead kept walking forward, sheathing her sword mid-motion.

Lois looked to the camera, a little flustered.

"W-well… that was the King Eren Jaeger, everyone." She said, trying to force herself to sound chipper. "And… umm… Batman!"

Batman raised his hand and threw a batarang at the camera. The screen went dead.

The Titans stood staring at the screen, which had gone to commercial. It was Beast Boy who spoke.

"Should… we celebrate?" He asked timidly. There was no answer.