Historia sat quietly, cup of hot tea in her hand, as she examined the man sitting across from her on the table.

"Thank you for meeting me here today." Commissioner Gordon said. "To be completely honest with you I was concerned that you would not come."

"Why ever would you think that?" Historia asked, her voice light and friendly, as she raised the cup of tea to her face. The two were sitting in Gordon's office, completely alone. She was thankful for this. She was confident that she could, if need be, overpower the commissioner if the situation called for it.

"Well, with your husband on the run and all…"

She shook her head.

"We are confident that the situation will be resolved soon." She said smoothly. "Once you release a formal apology."

There was a small silence.

"I cannot do that."

"Why not?" Her voice still light and friendly, she gestured out the window. "I have spoken to many of the residents of this city. Nearly all of them feel as if Eren did nothing more than defend himself from a madman. I find it curious how the authorities don't seem to agree."

He looked at her for a moment. He seemed to be collecting his thoughts.

"I suppose I must explain." He said. "I forget, sometimes, that our cultures are so wildly different. You have done very well to adapt yourself to your new surroundings."

He was trying to placate her. She felt her grip tighten around the tea cup, trying to keep her emotions from her face. She felt she could see right through him. She knew that he was about to explain to her his perspective, and why he would never change his position.

"Gotham." He said. "Is a city that is infested to the core with criminals. Ever since the city's founding it has been a never ending struggle for the law to enforce order. Criminals gather here, from all over the world, to seize advanced technology and sell it on the black market, to illegally enter the country through our sewer systems, and even simply to kill for their own amusement. The criminals in this city are among the world's most dangerous. So dangerous, in fact, that our police force could not possibly hope to overcome any of them."

She stared at him. She thought back to what she and Eren had done when they had both been serving in the 104th. She thought of how all of them had trained relentlessly for the skills needed to acquire and destroy the Titans. Eren had never once believed it to be impossible. Gordon had already failed to win her over. Not only had he done nothing to stop criminals like the Joker, he hadn't even really tried.

"The city." He continued. "Has had to resort to unusual measures to maintain some measure of control of the population. These include the upkeep and maintenance of Arkham Asylum, where these super criminals are taken in and studied, and our partnership with The Batman…. Who utilizes his highly specialized set of skills to deal with the never ending waves of crime that sweep the city."

Historia said nothing. She knew what he was doing very well: He was attempting to absolve himself of all responsibility.

"Despite our best efforts, however." Gordon said. "It is simply not possible to salvage this city. No matter how well our officers are armed or trained, criminal culture is embedded into the very core of this city. In my time as commissioner I have begun to accept that it is never truly going away."

"Forgive me, Commissioner." Historia said, her voice sweet and kind. "But I have no idea what any of this has to do with my husband."

Gordon gave her a look. Again he looked as if he was carefully considering his words.

"We have come to understand." He said. "That is to say, the Batman and myself… have realized that the criminal underworld of Gotham is a carefully balanced equilibrium. Removing any major force permanently from the equation causes a power vacuum, leading to turf wars and civilian casualties. When your husband, Eren Jaeger killed the Joker, he killed the worst possible person. Every gang leader and super criminal in Gotham is vying for his position, and will kill for even a scrap of the power and influence he enjoyed. His net income every year was in the hundreds of millions: His death will destroy this city in a matter of months."

"It seems." Historia said, a little coldly. "That you relied too much on the life of a criminal to maintain a functional society."

"I am saying that it was necessary." Gordon said. "Killing the Joker will cause much more harm in the short term than he ever would have in the long term. On average he kills about ten people a week… an average gang war destroys businesses and property, with even more deaths.

"In other words-"

"Batman can handle the Joker, but even he cannot stop the gangs." Gordon said. "This whole city is about to become a warzone, your majesty, and it is entirely your fault."

He seemed to think that this settled the matter. Historia stared at him, confused. The wheels in her head were turning.

"You'll allow people to die…" She said. "Because it's easier for you?"

"Because it's the only choice we can make."

"But that's not true." Historia said. "Any average person on the street can obtain a firearm, and defend their home and possessions. If you rallied the people of this city, and prepared them to deal with the oncoming hordes, than there is no issue."

"You misunderstand how dangerous these super criminals are." Gordon said. "The Batman is a member of the Justice League, the organization that oversees everything that happens on this planet. Even he cannot truly stop many of these super criminals."

"But Gordon, didn't you just tell me that you are more concerned about the gangs?" Historia responded, confused. "Focus on one problem at a time. The ordinary police should be more than capable of controlling the gangs. Allow Batman to deal with the Super criminals, if necessary."

He seemed to be put off by her words. She smiled.

"We, the people of Paradise, have overcome far worse than simple street gangs and thugs." She said smoothly. "You think your problems are unique, or special. But they are not. They are the result of poor leadership, nothing more."

"You are calling me a poor leader?" Gordon asked.

She could hear Eren's voice in her head. Asking her, telling to keep moving forward. To tell him just what the problem actually was.

"I'm saying Batman is."

For the first time Gordon looked angry. He pounded on his desk with his fist and stared at her smiling, serene face.

"Before Batman appeared in this city, a woman couldn't walk to a grocery store in broad daylight without getting raped." Gordon snapped. "He's done more for this city than anyone else!"

Keep moving forward. Eren was saying. No matter the cost.

Historia closed her eyes and raised her tea to her lips. She took a sip and lowered it.

"More than you, certainly." She said. "But that is not saying much."

He fell silent, stunned. She continued, ignoring his reaction completely.

"Batman." She said. "Has spent his entire existence throwing his enemies into an Asylum, where they spend a short tenure before inevitably breaking out and wreaking havok. Oh, I am very new to this city, Commissioner, but even I have heard the stories. How Poison Ivy wishes to eradicate all of humanity due to her love of plants, and how Killer Croc eats people alive. I find it difficult… very difficult… to understand why these people have not already been dealt with."

"They are criminally insane." Gordon said, his voice a little stiff. "Killing them would be unethical."

"But it would save lives." Historia countered. "Do you not care about their lives, Commissioner?"

"It isn't my decision to make." Gordon said, and for the first time he was on the defensive. "The courts have decided that…"

"Who controls your courts?" Historia demanded. "What possible reason could they have to keep such dangerous people alive?"

"Perhaps you need to do some more research into how things operate here." Gordon said, his voice testily.

"I have already come to my decision." Historia said, standing up. "Someone is simply not being responsible. You are throwing away people's lives… for what? To prevent a hypothetical criminal revolution? You sicken me."

Gordon seemed to have calmed down somewhat. He was, Historia quickly noted, more upset at her dismissal of Batman's accomplishments than anything else she had said. It made her even angrier. He worshipped the Batman, like an idol. She wouldn't be surprised if it was on his instructions that none of the so called super criminals had been put to death.

"My stance." Historia said. "Is that Eren Jaeger did nothing wrong! The Joker needed to be killed, and the Nation of Eldia stands by this decision. We will no longer permit you to hunt him down on the street, like a titan!"

"You do not have the power to stop us, your majesty." Gordon practically sneered.

She threw her hand across her chest and glared at him. "I dedicate my heart!" She cried. "You are the prey, and we are the hunters!"

"Is that a threat?" Gordon demanded, his voice icy and cold.

"No, it's a promise." Historia said. "I will do anything in my power to protect my husband. "I love him more than any man I have ever known. I trust his judgement, and have every faith in his decision to reject being apprehended by petty tyrants such as you."

"Tyrant?" Gordon exploded. "Listen here-"

"I find it curious." Historia went on. "Why you are so eager to go after Eren Jaeger instead of these super criminals you insist are so dangerous."

They stared at each other. For a moment Historia was sure that she had found another chink in his armor, but then he responded.

"As far as I am concerned, Eren Jaeger is a super criminal." He said. "We all saw that footage… what was left of it, anyway. We all know he has powers." He leaned forward, across the desk, and stared at her. "You have to tell me what he can do."

"I will not." She said quietly.

"You are threatening us." Gordon said, his voice quiet. "And refusing to answer our questions. I do believe that you need to be detained as well."

He turned away from her. "It is very possible." He said. "That your husband may be in need of an extended stay at Arkham Asylum himself."

Historia stared at him. She had been angry at him before, but now her feelings were clouding her judgement.

"If an Eldian is ever held in Arkham Asylum." She said, her voice ice cold. "It will be ground into dust."

He turned back to look at her, almost lazily.

"I may not have wanted the Joker to be killed." He said. "But I certainly don't want new super criminals appearing in Gotham, either. No, Eren will be evaluated, and if the Asylum decides he needs to be treated… he will be treated."

He smiled at her. "It would be better for you to simply accept that your husband is clearly not well, behaving the way he does…"

They glared at each other for a moment. The conversation was over, Historia realized they had come to an impasse. There would be no reasoning with him. Because of what he was, Eren was considered dangerous to these people. It was like they had stepped right back onto Marleyan soil.

"I have one last thing to say to you." Historia said. "Eren Jaeger… is free. If anyone tries to take his freedom… he will take theirs first."

She bowed to him, politely, and turned to leave. Gordon watched her go, feeling quite a bit agitated. She was the Queen of a small island nation, a person that was used to having their way no matter what. She was, he was sure, nothing more than a spoiled brat who had inherited her Kingdom from Daddy.

She was what Bruce Wayne would be, if he had been a Princess. A spoiled brat who thought he knew better than anyone else. It was up to working men like him and Batman to keep people like that in check.

Right now, there was nothing more important than hunting down and detaining Eren Jaeger.