Bruce pulled out his phone and opened an encrypted messaging app. He typed a message to Alfred back in Gotham.
"Heading back tomorrow evening. Need Lab 3 ready. Standard prep."
The reply came back a few minutes later.
"Understood, Master Bruce. Another training intensive?"
"Something like that. Will explain when I'm home."
"Very well, sir. Safe travels."
Bruce set down his phone and lay back on the bed. Alfred knew about his training, knew about the hero plans in general terms. The butler understood Bruce was preparing for something important, something that would help Gotham and maybe the world beyond. But the specifics, the pocket dimension, the system, the exact details of what Bruce could do and planned to become, those stayed private.
It was better that way. Safer. The fewer people who knew everything, the fewer vulnerabilities existed.
Tomorrow he'd finish the school exchange, maintain his cover, continue building trust with Clark. The day after, he'd return to Gotham.
And then he'd break the limits of what natural training could achieve. He'd force his body to reach perfection through chemistry and pain. He'd become what nine years of preparation had built toward.
Peak human. The absolute ceiling of natural capability. The foundation for everything that would come after.
'Eight points,' Bruce thought, staring at the ceiling. 'Soon I'll close an eight-point gap that should take a year. And it's going to hurt worse than anything I've ever experienced.'
'But pain is temporary. Being unprepared when the world needs you is forever.'
He closed his eyes and began his meditation routine, centering himself for what was coming. Soon. Very soon. Then everything changed.
The next morning arrived with bright Kansas sunshine streaming through the window. Bruce woke at six AM from habit, his internal clock calibrated by years of early training sessions. He went through his morning routine: exercise, shower, review his plans for the day.
The final day of the school exchange was mostly ceremonial. Tours of local sites, a goodbye lunch, speeches from teachers about cultural understanding and building bridges. Bruce played his role perfectly, the engaged student soaking up the experience.
During the lunch period, Selina found him near the dessert table, eyeing the pie selections with theatrical seriousness.
"You're actually considering the pie?" she asked, appearing at his elbow.
"Why not? When in Kansas, eat pie. I think that's a saying."
"It's definitely not a saying." Selina grabbed a slice of apple pie for herself. "So, mysterious trip to the farm, brooding looks out windows, and now you're stress-eating pie. What's going on with you?"
"I don't brood. And this isn't stress-eating, this is cultural appreciation." Bruce selected a slice of cherry pie and led them to a table. "What's going on with you? You've been quiet this trip."
"It's Kansas. There's nothing to do here. I'm dying of boredom." She picked at her pie. "Gotham's got problems, but at least it's not boring."
"Fair point."
"So did you at least have fun hanging out with your new farm boy friend? Clark seems nice. Quiet, but nice."
"He's a good guy. We had some interesting conversations."
Selina studied him for a moment, and Bruce could see her trying to figure out if there was more to the story. But she was seventeen, not some master detective. She suspected he was holding back but didn't have the tools to push deeper.
"You know," Bruce said, changing the subject smoothly, "you never told me what you're planning to do after graduation. College? Gap year?"
"Haven't decided yet. Depends on scholarships. Can't all be billionaires who don't have to worry about tuition."
"You've got the grades for a full ride somewhere. And the attitude."
"The attitude?"
"Yeah. That 'I don't care what anyone thinks' confidence. Some people spend their whole lives trying to develop that. You've got it naturally." Bruce smiled at her. "It's impressive actually."
Selina blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. A slight flush colored her cheeks. "Oh. Well. Thanks, I guess?"
"Just being honest." Bruce took a bite of pie. "This is actually pretty good. Kansas knows their pie game."
"You're weird, Wayne. You know that?"
"I've been told."
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Bruce noticed Selina kept glancing at him, then looking away when he met her eyes. Interesting. He filed that away for later consideration.
The afternoon passed with more farewell activities. Bruce found Clark before they had to board the buses.
"Stay in touch," Bruce said. "Keep practicing those breathing techniques. And call me if you need to talk about anything. Anything at all."
"I will. Thanks for everything this week. You're the first person outside my family who's known about me. It helps, not being alone with it."
"You're not alone, Clark. Remember that."
They shook hands. Bruce felt the careful control Clark maintained, the constant awareness of his own strength. In eighteen months or less, that strength would be known to the entire world.
'But I'll be ready to stand beside him as equals when it is,' Bruce thought as the bus pulled away from Smallville High.
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