Batman: Hero of Gotham

56- Two-Face

While on the way to Wayne Manor, Bruce reminisced about the good ole days with him and Harvey, hanging out. He thought about the time when Harvey came up with the idea to run for mayor

One Year Ago...

Bruce and Harvey sat around a fireplace in Wayne Manor. They clinked glasses full of champagne. They both took a sip of their drink. "I want a safer Gotham." Harvey said aloud. "A Gotham where working people can raise their families without fear of being robbed or stabbed or worse. I just know I can make the city better."

"Okay, I'll back you." Bruce interrupted Harvey.

"Come on Bruce! That joke is in poor taste."

"I'm serious, Harvey. I'll fund your campaign. Completely. I've lived in Gotham my whole life and I've never seen an official I could believe in until you."

"Thank you, Bruce! I promise I will not let you down!"

"Never even crossed my mind. The only real question is this election, or next?"

"We'll let the coin decide!" Harvey snickered and flipped a quarter that he was fidgeting with.

Bruce stopped contemplating as he arrived at Wayne Manor. He pushed open the doors and walked inside. "Harvey!" Bruce yelled as he saw Harvey pointing a pistol at his assistant, Deborah.

"Wayne! About damn time." Two-Face growled. "I wasn't sure you'd even come. I try throwing you in Arkham...I practically burn down your home...and nothing. You actually grow a backbone?"

"I came here to help my friend, Harvey." Bruce said, walking forward.

"I don't want your help. I want you dead!" Two-Face shouted, pointing his gun at Bruce.

"That is the sickness talking. I know you're in there somewhere, Harvey."

Harvey shook his head. "Wait...what am I saying? I've tried to fight it, Bruce. But I can't! I only ever wanted to help Gotham. Now look at me. I can't stop him!"

"I've known you a long time, Harvey. You are stronger than your demons."

"I could always count on your friendship, Bruce. Until what happened with Selina and you." Harvey stopped. "This city needs to be purged of people like you!" Two-Face yelled. "All of you! Traitors! Terrorists! Cops who don't take their mayor's orders!" Two-Face grabbed one of his hostages he had which was one of Gordon's officers that Bruce recognized as Sergeant Kelly.

"No, please!" Kelly pleaded.

"Harvey, don't!" Bruce hollered.

"This is the only way to clean up this cesspool!" Two-Face yellled and shot the officer in the head. He threw his body down the stairs. The body landed in front of Bruce. Two-Face then picked up another hostage which was the famous and well-known news reporter, Steven Kooper. "This is what happens to people who cross me, Wayne!"

"You were the fiercest DA the city ever had. You were someone who fought for people's dreams. So much for a 'safer Gotham'."

"You're right! This isn't me." Harvey spoke. Harvey nudged Steven. "Go, get away!" Steven ran down the stairs and out the door.  "I would let them all go but it's not up to me." Harvey picked up Deborah and marched her over to the top of the stairs. "Debbie. My not-so-faithful assistant. You've been feeding my enemies info since the start!" Two-Face shook Deborah violently.

"I swear I didn't!" Deborah screamed.

"Beg all you want, but it's not up to me!" Harvey pointed his pistol at her head. "Your life, his life, even my life...they all hinge on chance. A flip of a silver dollar." Harvey got his coin ready to decide Deborah's fate.

"You have always known right from wrong. I am begging you!" Bruce kept convincing Harvey.

Harvey let Deborah go. "Oh, god. What did I do?! What did he make me do?" Harvey said to himself. Bruce then ran forward at Harvey. Harvey picked up another hostage which was a random civilian. "Don't come any closer!"

"Harvey, no more." Bruce said, cornering Harvey.

"No more? I'm just getting started!" Two-Face spoke. "This is the only way to keep people in line!"

"Harvey, no! This is not who you are! You once said you wanted a better Gotham. Is that what you had in mind?"

"I wanted so much for this city, Bruce. But I failed. We were good friends once, Bruce. I'm glad you're here. At the end." Harvey pushed the civilian away and turned the gun on himself. "Maybe you can remember me the way I was before. Before him. Before my alter ego, Two-Face." Harvey flipped his coin in the air. Bruce lunged his hand forward and caught the coin before Harvey could. "Bruce. I need the result!" Harvey pointed the gun at Bruce, losing a little bit of sanity he had left. "DROP THE FUCKING COIN! Without the coin, I can't decide! I need it."

"If you insist." Bruce then threw the down the stairs. Harvey pushed Bruce out of the way and jumped to grab it. He couldn't grasp it and he tumbled down the stairs, injuring his lower body. "Bruce. I don't know what to do. I can't decide. It's too much. I can't."

"A safer Gotham, Harvey. Just like you wanted." Bruce then contacted the police to come pick up Harvey. Gordon and his remaining men arrived and took Harvey into custody. Harvey walked past Bruce, handcuffed.

"It's all over for me." He kept muttering. He turned to Bruce. "You should have let me pull the trigger. It would have done Gotham a favor. It's what I deserve, isn't it?"

"Before you leave, I want you to know that I still have hope for you. You'll have the best doctors. They can fix you."

"They won't be able to stop him. No one can."

"Goodbye, Harvey." Bruce said goodbye as the cops escorted Harvey out of Wayne Manor. Out of nowhere, a voice yelled at Bruce.

"You should be rotting in Arkham!" It was the final hostage that Harvey had which was a merc. The merc lunged at Bruce. The cops shot him twice in the back before he could touch Bruce. He fell to the ground but didn't die before he gave everyone in the mansion a message. "Lady Arkham hasn't forgotten you. Everything you love will burn." The merc died shortly after.