Heya everyone!
The holidays are coming. In three weeks I am in holidays. Soooooooon. *-*
Tbh, last week I was so exhausted I forgot to post (sorry). But do not worry, this week I'll have plenty of time to write :3
Anyway, I hope you still enjoy this little story. Have fun!
XIV
Sorry Alfred
November 16th
Younger, Alfred wasn't a good cook. He never used to cook big meals for himself. But since he became the Waynes' butler, he learned how to cook – and he was excellent, as he was told. Plus, he enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, mixing food together to make something excellent.
It was still early when the butler started cooking. Tim and Dick would soon wake up, the first one to go to school and the second to work at the police station. Bruce was already awake, reading the news next door while drinking his coffee. Like always, he'd had a busy night and hadn't come home before at least three in the morning. Fortunately, Bruce Wayne was a strong-willed man – a little lack of sleep wasn't going to put him down.
Alfred finished the waffle dough and started running it in the waffle machine. He did half a dozen of them before Tim entered the kitchen, fully dressed and combed.
- Good morning Alfred, he said.
- Good morning to you too, Master Tim. Did you sleep well?
Tim took place at the table and yawned.
- I read a little for today's biology exam, so I think I went to sleep a bit late. But otherwise I'm doing okay. You?
- The night was calm and pleasant. Would you fancy a waffle?
- Of course.
The butler prepared a waffle on a plate and served him. Tim thank him and grabbed the bottle of maple syrup.
Behind him, Dick appeared, still in pajamas. He'd spent the night here to help Alfred baby-sit and take care of Damian and Cassandra – more like to prevent them from hitting each other.
- Hey, he said while rubbing his eyes.
- Good morning Master Dick. Would you like a waffle?
- I'm always a slut for waffles.
- Language!
- Sorry Alfred.
Dick took place next to Tim. Alfred served him a waffle too.
- I'm exhausted, he complained as he reached out for the jar of Nutella.
- Trouble sleeping? Alfred asked.
- I'm used to sleeping with Barbara. It's weird not to have her around.
- That's sweet.
Tim took a bite of his maple syrup waffle.
- How long have you two been together now?
- Around three years. Almost four, I guess.
- That's even longer than one of Bruce's relationships.
- You're right, Alfred confirmed.
Dick covered his waffle of the brownish dough and looked at his younger brother.
- Well, now that you're speaking of it...
He put the spoon back in the jar.
- I think I'm going to marry her.
- What the fuck?
Jason instantly stopped at the kitchen door. Alfred frowned at him.
- Language!
- Sorry Alfred.
He hurried to take a seat next to Tim and right in front of his older brother.
- What the hell did you just say about getting married? He asked.
- I said I think I'm ready to ask Barbara to marry me.
- You're sure? Tim asked, it's a pretty big commitment.
- Pretty big? It's huge as f... sh... oh, crap!
- Language, Master Jason.
- Language my ass, Jason mumbled under his breath.
His attention went back to Dick's major decision.
- Dick, as your closest brother, I think it's vital of you to listen to me. Don't marry Barbara.
- And what are your reasons for him not to? Tim asked.
- First of, you're only 21. You don't want to get married at 21.
- How would you know? You're not even in a relationship!
- Guys, guys, Dick interrupted, please, let's calm down. It was just a thought. I don't think I have the guts to ask her to marry me just yet.
- In my opinion, you should, Tim said.
Jason rolled his eyes.
- You know her well enough, you love her, she loves you. You live together. You almost adopted a cat together!
- "Almost" is the key word here, Jason said, because, in the end, you didn't adopt the cat.
- It doesn't mean anything.
- Just like adopting the fucking cat doesn't mean anything, asshat.
- Master Jason! Third time!
- Sorry Alfred.
- Next time, it's five dollars in the jar.
- Sure, whatever. I bet you'd swear as much as me if you were at my place.
- I would certainly not. Not in any condition.
The three brothers went back to their discussion as Alfred continued to make waffles.
- We didn't adopt the cat because it was a silly idea, Dick explained, not because we weren't ready to take care of one. As for asking her to marry me, it's –
- A great idea! Cassandra finished as she sat with them.
Again, Jason rolled his eyes. Alfred smiled.
- Good morning, Mistress Cassandra. How was your night?
- Perfect, Alfred.
The butler turned around and put the plate of waffles on the table for them to eat. She quickly took one and started eating it.
- So you're finally going to ask Barbara to marry you? She asked between two bites.
- I don't know! I think. Should I?
- No!
- Yes!
- Screw you Tim!
- You don't know what you're talking about!
- You don't know either! You're still stuck at that stage of awkwardness with Stephanie!
A huge smile appeared on Cassie's face.
- I knew it! She gleefully said.
- So that's why she's hanging around so much, Dick said.
- Harper hangs out a lot too, and I don't have a crush on her, Tim tried to defend himself.
- Yeah, but you don't have those cute pathetic little stars in your eyes when you talk to her, Jason mocked him, and you don't turn red either when she's close to you.
Tim shook his head.
- Stop denying it, it won't change anything.
- Screw you, Jason.
He immediately turned to his sister.
- Not a word to her, understood?
- I'll be as quiet as a mouse, she promised as she took a last bite at her waffle.
They heard little footsteps behind them. The fifth child was finally up.
- Good morning Master Damian, Alfred greeted him.
- Good morning Pennyworth, Damian answered.
He pulled a chair at the other end of the table and took place.
- What were you talking about? He asked.
- Like you care, Jason groaned.
- Dick wants to ask Barbara to marry him, Cassandra explained.
- I'm not, it's too soon, it's a stupid idea. We've only been together for three years.
- That's long enough! Tim said.
- Marriage doesn't mean anything, Damian said, it won't change how you live together. You'll still be living under the same roof, you'll still be the same around each other. The only thing that'll change is the fact that after that, you won't be able to go back.
There were a few seconds of silence. Dick broke it:
- You know a lot for a twelve year old.
Damian shrugged and didn't answer. Alfred turned around and put the final waffles on top of the others.
- Are you not eating, Master Damian? He noticed.
- I don't like waffles.
His sentence had the same effect as a nuclear bomb.
- You have got to be f-
Jason stopped himself right before swearing.
- How is that even possible? Dick asked, incredulous.
But the most shocked was probably Alfred. He just froze on the spot and blinked a few times, making sure he wasn't hallucinating. The children almost thought he was having a heart attack. Even Damian was scared for a second.
- But I can try one to please you if you wish, he said as he leaned over the table to grab one.
He took a bite and swallowed. Everyone smiled. The Brat was changing.