Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or any other characters he is affiliated with. They are the property of DC Comics.
Author's notes: Hi readers, this is my first attempt at a fan fic but I hope I did okay. Anyway, I got this idea after watching the movie "Under the Red Hood" which is awesome in my opinion, but I thought they could have gone deeper into the way Jason Todd's death affected Batman so here is my take on things. So all that's left to say is: Enjoy ! Please rate and review, any comments (negative or positive) are appreciated !
Chapter 1: Travel arrangements and sad news
Alfred Pennyworth struggled to keep his calm. He had not heard from Bruce Wayne since he had hastily left Gotham to rescue Jason Todd, the second Robin Boy Wonder, from the clutches of the infamous Joker. The only news of his employer the butler had had were the flight details he had gathered from the Wayne bank account.
Since Master Todd's disappearance, this was the only way that Alfred had to be in the know concerning his employer's movements. The Batman had been searching Gotham all night, every night and searching police and criminal databases in the Batcave during the day. Then, when the Joker's message was intercepted, he dropped everything and immediately left for the mountains by Keystone City in a desperate attempt to save the only real family Batman still had.
The crunch of tires on the Wayne Manor driveway alerted the old man to Master Wayne's return. He allowed himself a relieved sigh, straightened himself up and stepped into the rain, all the while opening a large black umbrella which he held over the driver's door of the sports car. Bruce Wayne, or rather a shadow of the man, emerged from the vehicle.
"I trust everything went smoothly, sir?" the butler inquired, but the empty man stood before him gave no answer. His eyes fixed to the ground, Bruce Wayne looked as if he hadn't even heard his butler's words, nor did he even acknowledge his presence.
Alfred then turned to look at the passenger side of the car, but his gaze met an empty seat. "Master Wayne, where is Master Todd?" he asked apprehensively. Again, Bruce said nothing but bowed his head in sadness. Alfred gasped and froze, leaving Mister Wayne to enter the manor alone, not caring about the rain that was now soaking him.
After a long minute, Alfred regained his composure and entered the Wayne Manor. Jason Todd, the boy who had been so dear to both himself and his master, was gone, murdered by a psychopathic, sadistic clown. The Batman will of course blame himself for the Boy Wonder's death. This had always been Alfred's fear when he learned of Bruce Wayne taking the young Jason Todd under his wing.
Unlike Dick Grayson, the original Robin, he was taken in by Mister Wayne solely to fill the role of the Boy Wonder after Batman had seen his potential as he was escaping from petty criminals in one of Gotham's many alleyways. He had also managed to steal the Batmobile's tires. He had been a mischievous lad that much was certain, and yet there was a kindness in him. A kindness that he and Batman both could see, making him a perfect candidate to take up the Robin mantle.
Alfred set out to search for the owner of the house. He found him in the dark, dingy cavern the Batman adapted as his hideout, the Batcave, hidden far beneath the Wayne Manor. The Dark Knight was sat in front of one of the many computers in the laboratory section of the cave, typing furiously into the keyboard. Alfred deposited the tray of food he was carrying on a small table besides the Caped Crusader. "I prepared your dinner, Master Wayne," he announced. But, again, he was met by silence. He turned to leave and, as he did so, his eyes fell upon the Robin costume that Jason Todd used to don.
He had grown a lot over the years he had been Robin, and it had been upon Alfred to make adjustments to the outfit. And then, as he grew older, so did his fashion sense; he no longer wanted the green shorts and boots of the child Boy Wonder, and submitted to Alfred the design of a new Teen Wonder. It was this revised suit that Alfred found himself contemplating.
He looked back at Bruce who now has holding his bowed head in his hands. Alfred could not think of anything to say to the Dark Knight, no words of comfort came to him. After all, what was there to say? It broke the elderly man's heart to see the man he had cared so much for since he was a mere boy in such a state. He had not seen him so grief-stricken since the death of his parents. He had, however, been eight at the time thus much easier to comfort. The idea of the butler cradling Gotham's Dark Knight in his arms as he would have done all thos years ago, was laughable, though there was no humour to the situation.
With a sad sigh, he left the dank cavern with tears streaming down his face. While in the elevator leading back to the manor, he felt sure he heard Batman let out an uncharacteristic, desperate and devastated howl.