"One of the things I was taught first was to control my natural instincts," Bruce explained, sitting down on the floor in a cross-legged position. Zatanna mimicked his actions, taking a seat in the middle of the train car.
"When disasters are coming, do you know why the government doesn't announce it to the public?" Bruce asked.
"People would panic," Zatanna answered.
"Exactly," Bruce confirmed. "Instinctual responses are automatic, and unless you train to control them, they will always have command in dangerous situations."
"What does this have to do with discipline?" Zatanna inquired.
"Controlling automatic responses will give you more control in general," Bruce explained. "Consider a hypothetical situation of a bomb going off near you in a crowded location. Everyone starts screaming and running every which way in blind panic. You might instinctively form a shield around yourself, perhaps teleporting away. However, if you were to have control, you would maintain your thought process and be able to do more, creating a shield around the blast zone to limit its range and damage. By staying focused, you could also help the wounded, perhaps saving many lives."
"I see," Zatanna said.
"Instincts far too often take the reins and prevent rational thought in people," Bruce went on. "Taking back control from instinct will give you a better grip on all your responses."
"What do I need to do?" she questioned.
"We'll start with one of the lessons taught to me," Bruce informed her. "We'll sit here without moving or speaking for as long as possible."
"That's it?" Zatanna asked.
"Fighting off boredom and the need to move after being in one place for a long time can aid survival if you're trying to avoid being noticed by enemies hunting you," Bruce informed her. "It was part of my self-defense regimen, but I think it would help you as it requires considerable mental focus to maintain. If you fall asleep, it doesn't count."
Zatanna tried and failed to hide a small smile.
"Begin when you're ready," Bruce instructed, taking several slow and deliberate breaths.
Zatanna copied his breathing technique as she prepared herself for a long wait.
***
The nighttime hours passed by, and the star filled sky of black gradually faded away, replaced by a pearl gray at the horizon. The sky continually lightened in color until it became a familiar blue just prior to the rising of the sun. Bruce called an end to the session before it was time for anyone to enter the car looking for their morning meal.
"Let's not take up the floor while people are coming in to get breakfast," he suggested, shifting position into a crouch. He waited a moment for the blood to return to his legs before pushing off the carpet and returning to a standing position.
"I think I'm stuck," Zatanna said. "My legs fell asleep an hour ago."
Bruce offered her a hand and pulled her off the floor. Her unsteady legs temporarily refused to support her, and she stumbled off balance into Bruce. Even when she ran into him, Bruce managed to stay standing, his muscular arms going around her for support.
"You alright?" Bruce asked, and the two of them laughed together.
"Fine," she told him while favoring him with a dazzling smile. "Did I pass the test?"
YOU ARE READING
Bruce Wayne
Fiksi PenggemarWhat does it take to be a hero? Orphaned at a young age, Bruce Wayne is plagued by nightmares of his parents' murder. His quest to fight against the fears in his own mind will lead him to discover the hero he can become. This is not a story about...
