When Bruce came to, he found himself still lying face down on the bed, only much softer than the operating table. Noticing the patterns on the floor, he realized he must be in Shiller's office in the New Arkham Mental Hospital. Once he had dispelled the illusions before his eyes, he saw Shiller sitting next to him.
It was likely their continued disease-state discussion, as Shiller, dressed in a crimson prince suit and a blue and gold paisley tie, lounged in the chair with his eyes halfway closed, as if dozing.
Behind Shiller, on the couch in the office's visitor area, Diana and Hal seemed to be encouraging Clark to mess with Shiller's prized cigars, or maybe the two of them were doing it, leaving Clark to take the blame.
What surprised Bruce a little was Amanda standing in front of his bed with her arms folded. She was the first to notice that Bruce was awake.
Amanda looked at Bruce, her face expressing reluctance to speak. When she saw Bruce's eyes on her, she shifted her weight, opened her mouth but didn't utter a word, glanced at Bruce and Shiller, and then finally spoke.
"Listen, I don't care what your relationship is, I just want to fucking know why you guys always have to stir up this kind of trouble in my prison?! And twice too?!"
"Language," Shiller reminded languidly, opening his eyes.
Amanda took a deep breath and let it out, not letting go of her arms around him, and said, "I'm sorry, Professor, I just want to know who's responsible for this. It can't possibly be me?!"
"Elliot." Bruce blinked steadily, uttering a name that made Amanda frown.
"Elliot has escaped the pursuit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Bruce's voice was parched, sounding weak. He continued: "On his escape, he came across a farmhouse and killed them, sparing only the little girl Bellika."
"He always wanted to acquire the identity of Bruce Wayne, so he kidnapped Bellika to blackmail me into exchanging identities with him. I had no choice but to try to save Bellika."
Amanda was taken aback and said, "I knew Elliot was your crazy fan, he even had plastic surgery to resemble you, did he plan this all along?"
"Perhaps so," Bruce replied.
Soon Amanda's face flushed with anger, her teeth grinding together as she said, "The treacherous, serial killer! You actually fell into his trap?!… Forget it, where is he now? I'll make him pay!"
"As I've said, he has assumed the identity of Bruce Wayne. How are you going to arrest a Wayne in Gotham?" asked Bruce between pause and continuation.
Amanda frowned and said, "But you are here. You can accuse him, and then the FBI could arrest him. If the FBI can't take action, then your friends can capture him and hand him over to the police."
"That's the problem, how do I prove that I am the real Wayne?"
"Your teachers and your friends..."
"And how do they prove it?"
Amanda was left speechless. She finally threw her hands up in the air and said, "His disguise can't be perfect, there must be a flaw."
Shiller sat silently, watching their verbal confrontation. He didn't interrupt, as Amanda wasn't exactly stupid.
"Oh, I remember now," Amanda realized suddenly, "The little girl could testify for you. She heard all of what Elliot said to you when she was kidnapped. She would be the best witness."
"Sorry, Professor, may I use your phone here?"
Shiller gestured her to go ahead. Amanda briskly walked over to office phone and dialed, "On behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, summon the surviving girl, Bellika, from the Bandaged Murder Demon's last case. Provide witness protection for her."
"Yes, Elliot has committed a major crime. He blackmailed Bruce Wayne into exchanging identities with him, attacked other prisoners in my prison... Help me contact Edgar's lawyer; he's done for!"
After she finished, Amanda hurriedly left the room.
By then, Diana, Clark, and Hal had gathered around Bruce's bed. Shiller sat in his chair, watching them with a hint of a smile on his face, "Would you believe me if I said this was another accident?"
The three of them crossed their arms, Diana brushed her hair and said first, "Better than the last time, Professor, at least this time only Bruce is laid out."
"It wasn't his fault," Bruce said as he hugged his pillow.
"I just want to know, if the suit we made for you can't even resist a scalpel, what's the point?" Hal questioned in a not-so-friendly tone.
"Your good intentions have been noted," Bruce replied.
"Bruce." Clark sat on Bruce's bed and called his name. Shiller's gaze fell on his damp jeans but soon looked away.
"We're planning to establish a group to respond to emergencies, to protect the Earth and the cosmos. What do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea."
Clark paused, looking at Bruce, "Don't you usually say something like 'I want to protect Gotham'?"
"So you wanted me to join?"
"Of course, you'll be the soul of the group!" Clark raised his voice.
"But the condition is, you have to assure us that you won't engage in these kinds of academic exchanges with your professors," Diana interrupted Clark, locking eyes with Bruce and saying, "Look, we just want to give you other things to do. Weren't things fine in Metropolis?"
"The moment you returned to Gotham, all hell broke loose!" Hal huffed, dragging a chair over to sit on the other side of the bed.
"I can join, but I won't leave Gotham."
Clark tried to persuade him further, but Bruce beat him to it, "Aren't you forgetting something? I have a child, Aisha is starting elementary school next year."
This reason made the three of them unable to argue, but Clark still said, "No one here is trying to kidnap you. We don't have to get you out of Gotham for our own peace of mind, but..."
"But I have to make sure I don't get injured every two to three days." Bruce's tone was tired. He hadn't finished clearing his codes, so the illusions hadn't disappeared yet. Therefore, he candidly said, "On normal days, I can guarantee that. But you never know who will bring accidents."
All three of them turned their eyes to Shiller.
Shiller crossed his fingers in front of him, took a sideways glance at Bruce who had shut his eyes and fallen asleep.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's talk over here." Shiller stood up and invited the three to the guest area. He sighed softly at the sight of the messy cigar box, and spoke while clearing the table.
"This will be suspended temporarily."
"What?"
"The scenario you don't want to happen." Shiller used a piece of paper to scoop up the scattered tobacco leaves on the table, and continued, "The frequent academic exchanges between Bruce and I will be suspended temporarily."
"What happened?"
"He graduated and achieved excellent grades." Shiller threw the tobacco leaves into the trash can, and said, "He has broken free of his cocoon. Many things to come are beyond my control."
Shiller looked at the trio and said, "The universe is vast, but dangerous. I endorse your alliance, mutual support, mutual help. But I hope you understand that no one bears absolute responsibility for it, including each of you and Bruce."
"Maybe." Clark said.
"You don't have to give me a definitive answer, but the situation today made it clear that Bruce's home is in Gotham, and he can always run away from any other place."
"If one day he comes back, I wouldn't mind sparing some time for academic discussion to ask what happened. This is a necessary concern a teacher has for his student, you all understand, right?"
Hal swallowed, clenched his fists and looked into Shiller's eyes. "Even without that concern, we would protect him as much as possible. We unanimously consider his brain a treasure of human civilization."
"If possible, we would prefer him to remain in Gotham." Diana frowned and said, "Apart from his home being here, you are here too, this treasure would be safe."
"Of course he will."
"So be it, then." Clark propped his face with a hand and said, "We might call him from many different places for his intellectual support and logistic backup."
"Just as he's doing right now." Shiller put away the cigar box and said.
Diana nodded and said, "When all of us have special abilities, it's unreasonable and inhumane to put an ordinary person in charge. This is enough."
"Don't discuss the name of this alliance with me, nor am I interested in a consultant's position." Shiller interrupted Clark's upcoming words and said, "Each generation has its own savior. I have my own things to do. I don't have any experience to pass on to you. It's all with Batman now."
After finishing, Shiller stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and put his precious cigar box in the highest place. Clark touched his nose awkwardly and explained, "I've never seen this before, so I opened it. I'll pay."
"I appreciate the sentiment."
The other three looked at each other, shaking their heads helplessly. They really were cut from the same cloth, master and student.
After the others left, Bruce crawled up from the bed, the stitches from just now haven't affected his moves. Shiller, standing in front of the bookshelf, turned back to look at him and asked, "What are you planning on doing?"
"Making your investment worthwhile."
"I'm used to paying up-front, or are you still afraid that I would actually pay?" Shiller looked at him with a smile.
Bruce sat on the edge of the bed. Shiller came over, took a dagger from the side cabinet and gave it to Bruce.
Shiller unbuttoned his suit and took it off, draping it over the back of a nearby chair.
Bruce looked up at him, their eyes meeting.
"Do you know where to strike to reach the heart fastest?"
"Beneath the ribs, through the stomach."
"Theoretical lessons are excellent, how about practical ones?"
"You're going to let me test it on you?"
"I'm not your professor, the gray mist can heal all." Shiller adjusted his tie and said seriously, "More importantly, only if you can kill me, will I believe that you can kill anyone... This is a significant moment, I deserve my medal too."
"Splat."
Without any time to react, Shiller felt the sharp blade penetrate directly below his ribcage. He leaned forward, and Bruce steadied him. It looked more like a hug.
With a loud bang, the door was forced open. Clark roared, "I knew these two lunatics were up to something! Stop!!!"
Bruce looked back at them, holding Shiller tightly, slightly applying force to the dagger. "Swish", the tip of the blade went straight into the heart.
The three of them stood dumbfounded.