Stark and Shiller were locked in a standoff at the entrance of the Stark Tower Laboratory. In the end, Stark reluctantly tiptoed and braced himself against the door frame, looking at Shiller saying, "I really have urgent matters to attend to now!"
"But without the psychological evaluation, there is nothing you can do. We agreed on this before, didn't we?" Shiller replied calmly.
Stark heaved a long sigh, took his hand back, and stepped aside to let Shiller pass, asking, "Alright, I'll complete the form and then chat with you. How long will it take?"
"Anything between two to five hours."
No sooner did Stark's behind touch the couch than he sprang up like it was on fire, exclaiming, "Why does it take so long?"
"Because you never answer my questions properly. Our last session lasted more than four hours. I figure it would be the same this time."
"That's because I…" Stark made a grimace and looked away, muscles around his eyes tensed, saying, "You know I'm not comfortable sharing my inner thoughts with anyone. It has nothing to do with your profession or status. I just have... psychological barriers."
Sitting cross-legged on the single-seat couch on the other side, Shiller asked, "Do you consider emotional fragility a sign of weakness, do you find blushing and crying shameful?"
"That's not the point, but anyway, can't we shorten the time for this part?" Stark pulled up his coat and put his hands on his waist.
Shiller reached for a pen next to him and teased, "Just a few hours ago, someone enthusiastically offered all-day company."
"But the situation has changed now!"
"Then go ahead, I can shift the psychological assessment to tomorrow. I'm not in a hurry."
"But you can't…" Stark held his head in his hands, realizing he was wasting his breath.
Shiller flashed a malicious grin at Stark and asked, "How does it feel to be desperate but unable to do anything?"
Stark stared wide-eyed at him, and Shiller shrugged and said, "Anyway, it is what it is. If you want to stay, do nothing; if you want to leave, feel free."
"Are you doing this intentionally?! Is it because you…"
"I know you and the guy inside your head have always been up to something concerning the fundamental rules of God and the cosmos. I've been waiting for this opportunity, and I didn't expect it to come today."
Shiller's tone was buoyant, full of the schadenfreude that drove Stark crazy. Batman, meanwhile, chimed in Stark's head, "Do you know? There's a person in my universe too who enjoys putting people in such impossible situations."
Shiller stretched out one hand, flipping his palm upward and proposed, "Let's make a deal. You go do your thing, and I do mine. We won't interfere with each other. Sounds good?"
Stark looked straight at him, then sat in the chair in front of Shiller, gazing into his eyes and said, "Shiller, I know you must've found loopholes, but considering your mental state is relatively normal now, I won't mind."
"Are you trying to conjure leverage out of thin air?" Shiller returned the gaze with a smile, "But you should know that won't work on me."
"Alright." Stark threw his hands up indicating his lack of aggressiveness and said, "I really have urgent matters, so I truly don't have time to fool around with you, but you must assure me that you won't do anything dangerous while I am away!"
"That's settled then, you do your thing and I do mine. We don't interfere. Deal?"
Stark stared into Shiller's eyes as Shiller leaned back and declared, "I never lie to friends. You can trust me."
Stark snorted, "I'll trust you one last time."
"I advise you not to do anything overly daring." Shiller pointed at his temple, "That guy inside your mind might provide you with more audacious ideas but it's best if you don't actually execute them."
"Only you are foolhardy enough to gamble with your own life. You're incorrigible." Stark retorted, "But I won't do that, because I'm not a lunatic."
"You'd better not be."
Half an hour later, the two stood speechless inside the Star Devouring Engine.
"Shiller!"
"Stark!"
Both shouted each other's name in a heightened tone, locked in a stare-off in the central control room of the nearly completed Star Devouring Engine.
"Can you stop torturing me, Tony?" Shiller frowned and folded his arms saying, "I just wished to race this thing and hit a bunch of people, then frame it on the Cancer universe. What's so dangerous about that?!"
"I thought you just wanted to steal this thing, but you're actually planning to run people over with it?! That's not dangerous?!!"
"Did you get it wrong?! And you dare claim you understand me?! Why would I go around such a grand detour just to steal this thing?!"
"He hasn't told the whole truth." Batman rushed his words in Stark's mind, "He purposely used an exaggerated fact to catch your attention, stir your emotions, and distract you. I'm certain it's not his ultimate goal."