Artemis entered the room. Banks was not reading through his notes and instead met Artemis' gaze steadily. The prodigy frowned slightly and took his seat. The unknown reason for last week's distraction hung in the air between Artemis and his opponent.
This was beyond distracted. Banks looked resolute; steady in the face of adversity. The psychiatrist had plainly undergone something significantly negative. Whatever the cause, a week had been insufficient for recovery.
"You're not even bothering to pretend that you're fine," Artemis observed.
"You'd see through any attempt at deception and you've already established that you won't ignore whatever state I'm in," Banks countered.
Artemis smirked.
"I know your policy on personal information…" he began. He didn't really expect to have his request met. It was more to test the waters and gauge Banks' response.
Banks uncharacteristically cut his patient off. "It was the same individual that was at the root of my previous distraction."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected. In the light of this information, Artemis had already formed his own dark little theory about what could be causing his psychiatrist this sort of stress.
"It was a car accident," Banks admitted before Artemis could work through the implications of his theory.
"Intentional?" Artemis asked mildly.
Banks smiled bitterly. "That's a good question, and one that they are not in a position to answer. I doubt I'll ever know for certain."
Artemis was taken aback. Not at the news. He had never met the individual in question, after all. But he was utterly surprised that Banks would discuss something like this. Artemis suddenly found himself in a position of unrivalled strength. A few carefully placed words, a few seemingly innocuous questions, would be enough to inflict real damage to his psychiatrist. Even if he decided to be restrained it would be a simple matter to give Banks sufficient reason to retire.
In the back of his mind, Artemis was beyond certain that the psychiatrist was as aware of this as he was. There was something at play here, some game that he hadn't managed to pinpoint yet. The risk outweighed any possible benefit that Banks could obtain from appearing before his patient in such a weakened state.
He could be insane, of course. Artemis had toyed with the notion that Banks had some sort of psychological dysfunction. The questions about psychopathy had led him to believe that Banks possessed 'callous and unemotional' tendencies, as he had put it.
Psychopathy was also linked to narcissism and poor risk assessment, essentially a lack of fear. A legitimate argument could be made about Banks being narcissistic and his disregard for the danger he was currently putting himself in, supported a lack of fear. However, since he seemed genuinely concerned about the tragic fate of his patient, he must possess empathy. It probably wasn't insanity. A psychopath wouldn't make a particularly effective psychiatrist. Banks was also required to have regular therapy and undergo psychoanalysis as part of his profession. It was doubtful that Banks' own psychiatrist would allow a psychopath to practice.
Regardless of the reason, a clear choice was set out before Artemis. He could press his advantage and achieve his ultimate aim of retiring Banks, or even go so far as to facilitate a breakdown. It would be beyond simple. It was unlikely that a chance like this would present itself again. If he didn't press his advantage then he would be stuck with a psychiatrist who had beaten him in the past, when Artemis had been hampered by his low expectations.
Where would that leave him? It would leave him with a succession of professionals at the insistence of his school and parents. It would mean new games, new psychiatrists and more distractions. Artemis did take a certain amount of satisfaction in proving his superiority to these so called 'professionals', but it could be trying, especially when they were incompetent.
It was also beyond the reasonable and vaguely defined rules that he had set himself. To win now would achieve his aim, but at the cost of a meaningful victory. There was no challenge in this. It was also a matter of: better the psychiatrist he knew than the one he didn't. As for humanitarian ideals, well that might be stretching it, but it didn't seem appropriate to destroy Banks like this. It was petty, and a worthy opponent deserved more than that.
This flow of thoughts only took a second. Artemis frowned and addressed Banks.
"You know with this sort of situation, I'm surprised you only took one week off. I am beginning to wonder what motivated you to put yourself in this position."
Banks gave a tight, mirthless smile. "Call me a pragmatist, if you will. It is more useful for me to be here than it would be for me to stay away for another week or so."
Artemis gave him a look of measured scepticism. "Surely you don't think that I am so great a threat to society that two weeks without my psychiatrist would lead to some sort of rampage?"
Banks regarded his patient steadily in silence. Artemis thought furiously. Banks' silence was an indication that the facts were sufficient for Artemis to reach the right conclusion.
Moments later, the prodigy's expression froze as comprehension dawned. The idea was far-fetched at best, but it fit the available data.
"That can't right. You couldn't possibly be that ruthless with yourself in the pursuit of your aims. Not even to treat a patient," Artemis scoffed.
Banks' bitter smile remained firmly in place.
"You cannot be serious," Artemis reaffirmed.
Banks raised an eyebrow.
Artemis let out a long exhalation. "You were seeing how I would respond to your painfully obvious vulnerability to further your diagnosis of me. In fact, you were putting yourself at my mercy to test whether or not I would rip you apart, knowing full well, that I probably could have."
Banks nodded, just once.
"You are insane," Artemis pronounced flatly.
Banks snorted. "There are so many ways I could respond to a comment like that, I don't even know which one to choose."
Artemis refused to be drawn into the banter. "I could have given you a breakdown."
"But you didn't," Banks pointed out reasonably.
"You couldn't have known that."
"No I couldn't have," the psychiatrist agreed.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or disgusted by your reckless stupidity."
"History is written by the victors. If you had 'given me a breakdown', as you put it, then my actions would be recklessly stupid. Since you didn't…" Banks shrugged with a faint smile on his face.
"Then I should be impressed," Artemis finished. He sighed. "Is this some sort of rebellious act? I won't talk about myself, so you put yourself in this situation purely as a way to get information?"
"While that makes me sound like some sort of petulant teen, essentially that was what I was doing. Professional pride can be quite a burden. I also needed more information about you in order to make a preliminary diagnosis."
"A diagnosis which I am still waiting for, doctor," Artemis pointed out.
Banks nodded again. "I think I finally have the bare minimum of material to give you a basic assessment. Thank you for your most recent contribution."
Artemis scowled, but leaned forward. He was eager despite himself and he certainly conceded a sort of horrified respect toward Banks' actions. There was such a thing as professional pride, but there was such a thing as sheer stupidity. If Banks had been this susceptible in their first few weeks, Artemis would have crushed him without hesitation. He refused to believe that it was anything more than grudging respect that held him back. Artemis may not be a psychopath, but he favoured logic above emotional empathy.
"So tell me, doctor, what's my dysfunction?" Artemis asked.
