[The part of him that feels trapped and cornered wants to snarl don't treat me like a child, even though he can see the projection. The part of him that is an arrogant child wants to say there is no we, you don't have power like I do, you only kill people. But he knows that's just cruel, bitter, pointless.

Bruce doesn't know how much he's fought to lock down his temper in the two years since he lost Deanna - nearly three, counting barge time - how much he is his own master and how much he can't be, not over the part of him that's a star. Bruce doesn't know about Helena - but he promised not to tell. And in the end, the important part is that Bruce isn't wrong. He sighs, looks down.]

I know. I'm working on it. I hadn't - I hadn't snapped in almost three years. And I'd never done this on purpose. I don't ever want to again.

I'm going to take a few days, okay? Get my head on straight, make sure he's taken care of and back like he should be, god help us all. David and Ben can cover for me. But I've still got my key, and that means I have a job to do, and shirking it isn't going to make up for anything.