Dick and Batman sat side by side on the bed.
It was a scene of harmony so incredible that, even before their estrangent, they rarely sat so close, because such a posture usually ant it was ti for a heartfelt talk.
But they had not actually had a heartfelt talk in a long ti.
Now, they could not have a conversation because sitting across from them was the very person who had led them to this situation—Shiller.
The mbers of the Batman Family had gathered outside the door, which remained closed, so they were temporarily unaware of what was happening inside.
"You need an explanation," Shiller said with seriousness.
Dick looked up at him, his angry eyes blazing with "And whom do we need an explanation from right now?!"
"You need to see a dentist," Shiller's tone grew more serious.
Dick grew even angrier, his look turning into "And whom do I need to see a dentist because of?!"
Batman stood up, walked out of the room, and soon spoke outside the door, "Dick has eaten too much sweets, Doctor Shiller detected his cavities and conducted a preliminary check. The scream was because he underestimated the severity, hence, no anesthesia was used... yes, he used to be a dentist."
The Batman Family dispersed.
Batman re-entered and said to Shiller, "I'll take him away."
Shiller stood his ground, saying nothing to stop them. Just as Dick was about to speak, Shiller told him, "You will be taken away by him, or else stay."
No Dick under these circumstances would choose to go with Batman, but the Dick here knew he had no other choice. Staying was not an option that would even cross his mind, only the foolishness invading his thoughts.
Dick left with Batman.
But the mont they left the room, Shiller's voice echoed in Batman's earpiece, knowing the source was the miniature listening device he had placed by Shiller's bedside.
"Don't walk in front of him," Shiller said. "Slow down, let him go first."
Batman was puzzled but felt this might be part of Shiller's plan, so he slowed down. The mont Dick passed him, his movent hesitated slightly.
Dick looked back at him.
Batman saw disbelief and sadness in his eyes.
"He thinks you refuse to expose your back to him, thinks you doubt him, but you shouldn't feel guilty because he is a vampire now, so no matter how cautious you are, it's entirely justified."
"Lead him towards the Batcave," Shiller said. "Make sure to sound harsh, like an unquestionable command."
Still suspecting Shiller had other intentions, Batman did as told.
Dick stared at him and said, "You're treating like a criminal."
"You need to see more than just a dentist," Batman repeated Shiller's words, adding, "Or would you prefer to see the dentist we just spoke of?"
Dick, silent, turned away, walking stiffly toward the Batcave.
Batman felt confused; in fact, Dick hadn't been severely injured, aside from losing two fangs. Magic was still usable for him. He wasn't completely without room to resist.
"What a panicked and helpless little lamb," Shiller's voice sounded particularly evil in Batman's earpiece as he pressed the earpiece and said, "What are you planning to do?"
"I think he's a special vampire, possibly a leader or at least a very powerful one. Don't you want him on your side?"
"You want to use him?"
"Love him in a different way."
Batman couldn't manage such a conversation because his counterpart had a way of talking that always seed reasonable or a conversational dominance technique where any argunt from you would just seem callous and rciless. Arguing with soone like that was hopeless.
"Batman, I know you've never used any control tactics on your children, neither physical nor ntal; you think it's the most evil thing in the world."
"But the Dick standing before you is the result of your laissez-faire approach. We never advocate parents' extre desire to control, but lambs always end up belonging to soone, if not you, then so other evil person."
"Would you want your children to have a master like ?" Shiller's tone held an air of the inevitable as he added, "Can you ensure that every forbidden fruit your children sneak a taste of isn't a poison that could kill you, the Batman Family, or even the entire cosmos?"
Batman couldn't be sure, because the facts were already glaringly before him. A traitor had erged within the Batman Family, causing chaos that put his cosmos on the dining table for consumption, sothing Batman could never accept.
But he also wouldn't be swayed by re words; he said, "I never wanted to treat them that way, but if they got out of control, I would..."
"You would lock them in the Batcave's prison, stop seeing them, convince yourself you are only detaining a criminal, then silently bear all the pain, Batman, that's not like you."
"Batman is a person who'll go to any extent to deal with criminals, even if you won't kill them, you have other ways to make them reap their actions, only because he is your child, you choose the most foolish thod, but it only satisfies your paternal instincts, just touching yourself deeply."
"You're not incapable of using those manipulative tactics; you just refuse to use them on them. This indulgence and all the subsequent troubles it brings, the pain it causes you, seed like a sentence you should bear for your sons, but you know it does no good to anyone."
"How would you convince to mind-manipulate my children like so madman?" Batman remained unmoved.
"Then I'll do it."
"You wish."
"I'm almost there," Shiller's tone revealed a smug chuckle. "Do you think you can still retrieve that necklace? Do you feel the real reason you can't take it back is because it once belonged to you, or because I am the one who placed it there?"
Batman felt real pain, sowhat suffocating, with myriad indescribable emotions bubbling in his chest.
He knew very well that Shiller's fear was taking over Dick's mind, and soon the day would co when he wouldn't want to take off that collar-like necklace, not because the necklace had any unique significance, but because he dared not.
For the man who had put the necklace on him had forced him to pull out his own fangs, sever his claws, and ta the Beast into a docile lamb—such pain is unbearable for a common man, and no one could bla Dick for succumbing to it.
By then, it would be too late, Batman thought; he would beco the second Jason, and the pain he endured would beco the unntionable nightmare between them and within the entire Batman Family.
Maybe even worse.
The Joker had never thought about conquering Jason; he just wanted to use Jason to make Batman suffer, so his thods were mostly blatant violence, which only brought Jason hatred.
But Shiller was different; he wanted control. So, the unacceptable yet inevitable outco was that Dick would love him.
But such love would only pull him into an irrecoverable abyss, with no chance of returning as Jason did.
There was only one choice left—Batman had to beco Dick's master, to prevent soone from taking advantage of the situation.
But how could he resort to such despicable mind manipulation on a child?
"It's okay, Batman." Shiller's voice now sounded more terrifying than the Joker to Batman because, unlike the Joker who always spoke nonsense, Shiller spoke directly to the point.
"I'll teach you how...Of course, I know you're also a master of manipulation, but you probably aren't aware of how to apply mind manipulation techniques on soone so close to you, you can't ensure that both of you won't lose control," he said.
"But I am very skilled at this, I can teach you. I can assure you, this is the best way to make your dear dry cookie soak in wine again."
Batman really wanted him to shut up, just as he really wanted to keep himself from being moved, but he understood that at this point, the only way to save Dick was this one.
Locking Dick up to develop a cure potion would definitely allow Shiller to take advantage, yet letting him go ant he would hurt others as a vampire, turning into an irredeemable monster.
This was the damned Doctor's trap, Batman thought, putting him in a dilemma, making him desperate.
"Tell how to do it," Batman said.
"Very simple, you've been doing well so far," Shiller said, his tone now openly mocking, "Just do exactly as I tell you. Maybe you'll get to see another side of this pitiful bird."
Batman internally prayed that it wouldn't be necessary because he already had a premonition of what was about to happen.
Batman followed Dick at a leisurely pace, one ter behind, a distance not too close but perfectly threatening, a fact both were aware of, which made the walk exceptionally long.
Next, every move Batman made, every word he spoke, ca from Shiller's instructions through the earpiece.
"I think you need to move a bit faster," Batman said.
Dick just furrowed his brow when he heard that voice again from behind, "My ergency healing potion can only last for five minutes. If I don't receive any treatnt after five minutes, I might die from internal bleeding."
"I've healed your wounds already," Dick continued to walk forward, speeding up slightly.
"That's the main reason I'm still able to move freely now. Your magic is quite miraculous, Dick. Can you tell where did you learn it from?"
"You know well that it wasn't learned!"
"Then may I consider it a gift from the unfortunate persecution you suffered?" Batman quickened his pace and was almost behind Dick in seconds.
Dick quickened his steps again, trying to shake him off, but no one could shake off Batman in the dark of the night.
"Tell , is it a gift?"
"I know what you want to ask," Dick said in a very harsh tone. "You want to ask if I transford voluntarily."
"No, Dick, I want to know if the pain you suffered and the gains you obtained are proportionate, and if you think all this is worth it."
"That's none of your business."
Batman suddenly stopped, and after walking a few more steps, Dick also stopped; then Batman's low voice echoed in the corridor.
"You are willing to bow to a strange doctor you've known for less than a day, just because he stuffed a cross into your mouth, made you bleed a lot, and pulled your teeth, but you are not willing to do the sa for . Should I understand that I must undertake similar asures to get you to answer my questions properly?"
Dick turned back incredulously to look at him.
Batman felt in his heart that he had gone too far.
This was almost a threat, a violent threat, not the kind of joking threat between father and son like "behave or I'll break your legs," but more like a deadly threat between a sovereign and his subjects as in "how do you like this empty box?"
This level of threat and intimidation did not mix any affection, and it was enough to completely break any fragile relationship between people, pushing any loved ones away.
Without love, manipulation is just empty talk, driving people mad but useless for anything else.
When Shiller's low chuckle ca through the earpiece, Batman really couldn't help but wonder how he could still salvage the current situation.
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