No one was at the door when it was opened. The empty rooms and hallways were almost the exactly the same as the last time Jason had seen them. Seeing the manor on the inside sent a chill down his spine. The place he had lived, it seemed like forever ago.
"Alfred, we have a guest" Dick called to the kitchen. Hearing those words, Jason wanted to run. Alfred, just like the rest, thought him dead. Well he was dead.
"Shall I prepare a room Master Dick?" Alfred said back. His footsteps echoed through the hallway. Once he was able to see Alfred, Jason was worried and anxious and disappointed in himself. He gathered up himself and looked Alfred in the eye.
"No, I'm not staying that long". Alfred was carrying a plate of tea and scones but once he looked at Jason's face the silver platter fell to the ground. The tea cups broke and the tea spilled everywhere. Crumbling scones littered the rug.
Usually Alfred maintained a stoic, calm, almost robotic manor. But right now you could see every emotion on his face. Well toned down a lot because it's Alfred. "Dear lord... Master Jason?.."
Jason looked at Alfred and smiled an old smile he had. It was the slanted smile that any street kid had. "Hey Alfred". Jason reached in for a hug, he now was about as tall as Alfred, maybe a little taller. Things have changed.
After a long embrace Jason stepped back. "Well it's time to leave" he said looking at the door, ready to move his feet.
"No, Jay, you've got to see Bruce" Dick said while walking in front of the door. "Come on, why are you so opposed to seeing him again?"
Tim thought of why Jason wouldn't want to see Bruce. He did die waiting for Bruce to show up, but that doesn't seem like that's it. Maybe a grudge, maybe it's more him than Bruce. Tim wasn't sure, but he didn't want Jason to just disappear.
"I'll go give Master Bruce a call" Alfred said and walked out of the room. He stole another glance at Jason. Tim didn't blame him he had been staring knives at Jason, he wanted to see that face, that smile, again.
Dick directed a reluctant Jason to the library. "Come on, just do it" Dick was trying to soften Jason up, "Why don't you talk more to these two". Dick moved his eyes to Tim and Damian.
Thank god for Dick, never say that out loud. Tim was thankful that he was given a chance to actually talk to Jason. Walking to the library and sitting down, tons of questions entered Tim's mind. Alfred came into the room with a new platter of scones and tea, now with one more tea cup.
"I only told him he had an important guest, I believe you should be the one to tell him, Master Jason".