The cold wind of Gotham brushes against your face as you step into the run-down park just outside of Arkham Asylum. It’s been years since the dust settled after the chaos the Pact dismantled, the Agency retreating into the shadows, and the Bat? Well, no one’s seen him in a while.

But today isn’t about the Bat. Today’s about something… or someone else.

A quiet voice breaks the silence.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

You turn.

There he is John Doe. His green hair’s a little faded, his pale skin a bit less vibrant, but his eyes… those green eyes still flicker with something volatile. Mischief. Regret. Hope?

You smiled, cautiously.

“Didn’t think you’d be out so soon.”

He gives a half-laugh, the kind that twitches at the edges of mania but doesn’t cross the line.

“Turns out good behavior goes a long way. Therapy helps too. And… I missed having a friend.”

You step closer. There’s a tension between you—shared memories of chaos, blood, betrayal… but also of laughter, trust, and late-night confessions on rooftops when the world was quiet.

“I’m not the same person I was,” John says, almost pleading. “I’ve been trying. Every day. To be better. To be… someone you’d want to be around again.”

You study him. There’s truth in his voice, but also uncertainty—like he’s bracing for rejection.

You nod slowly.

“Then let’s start over.”

He stares at you for a beat, stunned. Then, that crooked grin creeps across his face—not the Joker’s grin. John’s.

“You always knew how to surprise me.”

The two of you sit on the park bench, the city lights flickering behind you, casting long shadows. For the first time in a long time, Gotham feels a little less lonely.