A/N: Hey guys.. It's G! I'm actually the one who will be writing on this story, instead of K. I wrote the first chapter, it was originally planned to be a one-shot about Alfred and Bruce, but I think I'm going to expand it to be a collection of one-shots centered around Alfred and Bruce, sometimes featuring other characters. Like this one, for instance. Let me know what you think! Feel free to review, favorite, and follow! PM us if you have any questions! Thank you!
~G
"Alfred, where is he?" Selina Kyle said, bursting through the doors of Edward Nygma's apartment. Hearing no response her question only be some for frantic. "Alfred. Where. Is he?"
The butler looked into her eyes, those deep emerald eyes that never let your soul linger, and he knew just how much the strange, heart-hardening, cat-like girl loved Bruce Wayne. The torment, the fear of losing the boy billionaire was so evident in her eyes that even the oblivious Wayne boy could have seen it if he had been there. And in that moment, he knew that the two would forever be entwined in each other, no matter how much meddling one butler could do.
It's funny, the butler thought, how ones so young could feel so deeply towards one another, though he remembered just who he was dealing with. This was Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. These were no run-of-the-mill teenagers who were temporarily transfixed by the scent of the other's perfume or cologne. These two children, are truly not children at all, adults trapped in children's bodies, forced to grow up too quickly by a cruel world. These children had experienced so much more than many adults would in their lifetime. So maybe, just maybe, that's why Alfred Pennyworth let the girl stay around, and maybe, just maybe, that's why he did what he did next.
"I don't know, Ms. Kyle. But we will find him."
Selina Kyle stopped in her tracks. She expected the butler to be snarky or rude, especially in the given circumstance.
The two locked eyes, and for a long moment the room was silent, two wills clashing against each other in the form of grey and blue. They saw each other. Both of them, connected through their one mutual link - Bruce. They both love the boy with a passion that is only rivaled by each other's. They see a common goal, and they see a common link. The girl sees the butler, gun in his hand ready to kill for the boy. The butler sees the girl, small and agile, but nonetheless ready to fight. They recognize each other's presence. They understand each other, and each one slackens their gaze. Maybe, Alfred thinks, he was wrong about the girl. But that's another topic for another time; right now, they need to find Bruce, and they need to save him. The weight of the air in the room is lightened when the two nod, and everyone visibly relaxes.
"Right.. Um.. Anyway," Detective Jim Gordon continued, clearing his throat, "Galavan has Bruce, it's just a matter of where. We know he is somewhere underground in the city's catacombs, but we don't know where exactly. We're going to have to split up if we want to have any chance of finding Bruce." Everyone nodded in approval.
"How are we going to know if anyone found him?" Selina asked.
"Easy," Detective Harvey Bullock answered, smirking, "Listen for the sound of gunshots." Selina nodded shakily, but did not show any sign of backing down.
"Alright. Let's go," Alfred said, eager to get to Bruce. That bastard is going to pay for what he's done. If he has laid a hand on that boy, Alfred swears to the heavens above he will put a bullet through every muscle in that man's body. That's his boy they are missing with.
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"I'll go with Ms. Kyle," the butler mumbles to a shocked group of people.
"Alright old man, I'll call your bluff," Selina walks towards Alfred and stands next to him confidently. "Try not to be scared when we go through the dark."
Alfred rolls his eyes.
"Well. Okay then," Jim chuckled awkwardly, "Alright, I'll take Bullock. Ed and Penguin can go together, and that looks like that everyone... We'll meet back here after we get through our search."
The groups split, and soon it was just the girl and the butler, and a long far corridor.
"So...," the girl awkwardly makes conversation, "how's.. Butlering going?"
The butler quirks a smile "Oh it's going quite well, actually. Other than the cheeky little boy who continually gets himself into trouble."
Selina laughs. "I've been chasing this kid for two years now. You ain't got nothin' on me."
"Nothing?" The butler gapes, "I've been raising that boy for fourteen years! You, ahem, "ain't got nothin'", as you say, Ms. Kyle, on me," the butler replies sarcastically. He takes this opportunity, though, to delve into an earlier topic. "So, you've been chasing Master Bruce for two years, Ms. Kyle?"
"I-I, uh-h.." Selina stutters.
"Hmm?"
"I um. The kid has needed some guidance and since I saw his parents.. Death, I figured since-"
"Ms. Kyle. Master Bruce, albeit he not liking my saying, is very much, as they say, "head over heels" in love with you. Now. Bruce does not let people in, nor does he love people, unless he truly cares about them. I advice you to not jump sides, because this is my boy you're dealing with Ms. Kyle. He's quite fond of you," the butler sighs and stops, looking Selina in the eye with the intensity of before, "please. Do not break him any further. He has already had enough.."
The butler breaks eye contact and looks down. Selina blushes and they continue walking forward.
"Bruce is.." Selina starts. The butler stops again and looks at her. "Bruce is different than anyone else I've ever known... And he just... I just.. I-"
They are interrupted by a round of gun shots and both of their heads shoot toward the direction.
"They found him!" Alfred yells. But he was too late; Selina had already taken off in the direction of the sound.
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Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth was out of breath from chasing the girl through the catacombs towards the sounds of gunfire, but he lost whatever he had left in his lungs when he finally stumbled upon the scene. Scores of priest-like people, all dressed in black. There were probably twenty of those damned robed lunatics to every one of them. And in the middle of the fray, Selina Kyle was making her way towards a white robed boy, who was tied to a center pedestal.
"Damn that bloody girl!" Alfred spit out, running towards her. She didn't even have a vest on, damnit. He had already made a silent commitment to himself as he was running back in the catacombs. He was to protect Selina Kyle, like she was Bruce Wayne. That girl - that damn, bloody girl - was the only thing Bruce Wayne had left in this world, other than him, of course. He was not going to let another human being be ripped away from that child.
The butler shot, as he ran into the fray of black robes and gunshots.
"Alfred, look out!" He heard and turned just in time to see one of those bloody mongrels, presumed to be dead, but apparently not, coming towards him from behind. He did not have time to react as a small black knife slipped it's way into the self-proclaimed monk's neck. He turned back around to see Selina Kyle in a high spot, crouched on a shelf like a cat, ready to pounce.
He nodded, albeit awkwardly. What does one do in this situation? "Thank you, Ms. Kyle." Selina nodded, and the continued on their way, working up to the center where Bruce was, fighting together.
In those five minutes, Selina Kyle gained a certain amount of respect from Alfred Pennyworth, as did the butler to the the cat. The two worked like a well-oiled machine, both set towards the common goal of getting Bruce Wayne back home.
And when the last shot was fired, and Jim Gordon finally had Theo Galavan, the two took a breath, and the little girl fell into the butler.
Alfred looked down at the girl for a moment, but did not say anything, nor did he move. It took her exactly thirty-three seconds to stand back up; the same number of men she had killed. Alfred had counted. He just nodded and they, yet again, met eyes with a silent understanding.
"Alfred! Selina!" Bruce Wayne ran towards the two, and crashed into Alfred in an inescapable embrace. Alfred did not let go, like he promised on that dreary night two years ago. After thirty-three seconds - Alfred had counted - Bruce let go of Alfred, and collected himself.
"Thank you, Selina. You didn't.. You didn't have to come," the boy billionaire blushed, but did not turn away. Instead, he looked at the girl with admiration and longing. It was a look so full of emotion, Selina had to look away.
"Don't mention it kid.. Just.. Next time make sure you get kidnapped by someone with a slightly bigger army, kay? This was too easy."
Bruce smiled, at that.
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As the three walked out, Bruce cleared his throat.
"Thank you two, but I had a perfectly feasibly escape plan," the boy billionaire rattled off.
Bruce Wayne was surprised, to say the least, when the butler and the cat-girl looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and ignored him.
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"So. What were you saying about Master Bruce?" Alfred cheekily asked the girl when they were far enough away from Bruce.
"I hate you. I hate you so much, old man."
Alfred smiled.
"Where's the car?" Bruce whined.
"Well you see, sir. I had to park it all the way back at the police station when we came to save your little bum. But, if you have another plan, you can begin walking to the manor if you would like," the butler replied with a satisfied smile.
Selina Kyle smirked and turned left into an alleyway, leaving the two boys to themselves.
