“Bruce that’s insane!” Barbara exclaimed. “You’re putting a lot of lives in danger just for some test of yours!”

“It’s the only way to attract Cobblepot’s attention,” Bruce said. “Besides nobody at the gala will be in danger. I’ll lead Cobblepot away before it comes to it.”

“How can you be so sure of that, Bruce?” Barbara said. “You can’t predict criminals! They all get sent to an Asylum for a reason.”

Bruce remained quiet, the Batcomputer casting an ice-cold glow on Bruce.

“And what’s this about testing Peter?” Barbara asked. “He’s just a kid Bruce, he doesn’t deserve to be dragged down in our mess!”

“By that logic, that means you shouldn’t be Batgirl?” Bruce said, getting up from his seat. He cast a large shadow, like a mountain upon Barbara. His cape trailing behind him like a snake.

“That’s different Bruce!” Barbara objected. “He might not be doing this because he wants to!”

“That’s where you’re wrong Barbara,” Bruce said. News articles flashed on the large LED screens of the Batcomputer, articles about Spider-man stopping a drug sale, a mall robbery. Even one about how Spider-man alongside the Batman were all on the Falcone’s hitlist.

“If he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t be throwing himself into these dangerous situations.”

“So, what?” Barbara asked. “You want him to stop.”

“No,” Bruce said, sitting on his seat in front of the Batcomputer.

“I want to see just how much he can take,” Bruce said. And he said so calmly, his face like stone, his voice like ice that Barbara felt cold down to the pits of her stomach.