(trigger warning for mental illness and mentions of drugs/drug cartels)

"I want to help, Bruce!"

Bruce continued typing on his computer keyboard, pulling up files about Carmine Falcone and his drug cartel. He didn't respond.

As much as he cared for his buddy John, there was no way in hell he was letting him do the whole vigilante thing after their... experience at Ace Chemicals. It was too dangerous to let an insane guy go break the law, even if he was serving up justice. That seemed obvious to Bruce now, but when it happened... it was like he'd zoned out, had an out-of-body experience or something.

Or maybe he was just a pushover for John.

"Please!"

But not today.

Bruce stopped what he was doing and spun his chair around to face his pleading friend.

"Look, John," he began, "I think you're doing a lot better now that you're in a safer environment than Arkham. I wish I'd gotten you of there sooner. But there's still some work to be done before you've proved that you can... go out on missions with me. Okay?"

John folded his arms and sighed. "Okay," he agreed. "But I at least want to help with this profiling business in the Batcave. There has to be something I can do other than sit and mope."

Bruce looked around for something that John could work on... aha!

"Uh, how about you work at the table over there?" Bruce suggested. "I'll set up a simulation of the crime scene and you can look around for clues of Falcone's men."

John scratched the back of his neck. "It won't be as cool as the real thing, but..." a big smile appeared on his face. "Okay!"

Bruce and John walked to the table together and Bruce switched the controls to the hologram setting. It would work for now...

But how long could this hold John off?