You Might
Be My Last Hope
Disclaimer: I'm baaaaack! Did y'all miss me? I know this is probably unlikely to happen where Alfred's concerned but I could always be wrong.
"Well well, as I live and breathe, the quintessential Butler himself, Alfred Pennyworth. Now what could possibly bring you of all people to my humble establishment? I'm sure you'll find the perfect weapon amongst our selection if that's what you're looking for." Barbara Kean told him with a predatory smile.
"Maybe he's here for a re-match with me? It was a lot of fun the first time around." Tabitha added with a smirk.
Albeit a somewhat forced one considering she was still having trouble coming to grips with the fact her 'Honey Bun' is alive and not so well since he believes himself to be this Solomon Grundy person. The fact that little bastard Nygma had such a grip on him really wasn't helping matters any and Thompkins had told her she had tried more then once to get her Honey Bun to see the truth of things. "I'm here for neither of those things, actually. I'm here to speak with Ms. Kyle." Informed the Butler as he nodded in Selina's direction.
Who jerked a little as she hadn't been expecting that! "Is this about the cinema vs. rooftops thing again?"
That got her curious looks from her two mentors. "Now there's a story to hear." Barbara said with raised eyebrows.
Alfred just sighed. "No, Ms. Kyle, its not. But I reserve the right to bring that up again in the future." He told her and gained an eyeroll in return.
"Right, so what's up? And by the way? Its gotta be serious if you're comin' to me of all people."
"Yes, quite right in that regard, Ms. Kyle… As I've essentially exhausted every other means at my disposal in regards to Master B's downward spiral he's been on as of late for a month now."
"You mean he's not just finally deciding to live it up and be a teenager?" Selina asked in concern for her sometimes boyfriend.
Though she still wanted to hit that dark haired girl right in the face anytime she saw her with the Kid. Alfred shook his head with an air of defeat about him while Tabitha and Barbara just kept quiet. Curious as to how this would go since both were well aware of how much Selina cared for the Wayne kid. And had seen her more then once get rather jealous at the sight of him with some other girl on television. "Afraid not. As I'm sure you both know by now, Ms. Kean here was in the employ of the bugger known as Ra's Al Ghul. Whom was the master mind behind quite a few of last year's problems, chief among them, the clown of Master Bruce that was used to trick us all to believing he was the real deal while the real Master Bruce was somewhere far from home in order to be twisted into something he isn't."
"How do you know he isn't meant to be something dark and twisted, hmm?" Barbara asked challengingly.
Gaining a glare in return from the older man that she was in no way phased by. "Because I know he is not, and Ms. Kyle knows that herself."
"Damn straight I do. Even when he was runnin' with me, that light of his shone bright."
Alfred smiled for a brief moment before sobering. "Yes, well, I'm afraid that shining light has become a bit dim, Ms. Kyle. And it worries me greatly to see him falling into an abyss that myself, Detective Gordon, or anyone else so far has been unable to get him out of. I fear its only a matter of time before he falls into drugs to deal with his issues over taking Ra's Al Ghul's life with the blade Ms. Kean here so urgently wanted." Informed the man and Selina, despite the horror she was feeling, could see how exhausted and worried the man truly was.
"He… He killed this guy?" Asked the young Thief a bit shakily.
"I'm afraid so. The bastard forced his hand so that he could have his centuries of living ended. All because he claimed it was prophecy or some sort of bloody bollocks like that."
Barbara sneered and walked up to him with a cold fury radiating from her. "You'd best hope I don't try anything where that brat's concerned." Threatened the woman coldly.
Causing him to get right in her face with a furious look about him. "You try anything and I swear to you that you will find yourself in another coma. And this time, you won't be a comatose guest at Arkham. No, you'll be a comatose guest at Blackgate, Ms. Kean."
The look in his eyes and the deadly serious tone of his voice told the three all they needed to know he wasn't joking. But Barbara just smiled at him. A smile that had no warmth to it whatsoever. "Mmm… Sounds like a promising fun time." She told him before walking away and missing his look of disgust.
One that was shared by Tabitha and even Selina for that matter. "I'll go and talk to him and this time, I won't let him push me away like I did at the hospital last year." Decided Selina with fiery determination.
Making the older man feel relieved as can be while Tabitha gave her protege a proud look. A scoff could be heard from Barbara but they all pointedly ignored that. "But remember this the next time you get a stick up your ass where I'm concerned, got me?"
"I got you, Ms. Kyle. I got you perfectly clear." He replied quickly and would be sure to remember it for as long as he lived.
Nodding in a satisfied manner at him, the two then left for Wayne Manor with the hope that Selina would be able to do what no one else so far had not.
Author's Notes: I may, if there's any interest, do a second chapter since I left this kinda open ended.