Healing
By
Peggie
Leslie was stood in the doorway of Bruce's study, the scene in front of her was an unusual one. Bruce was sat on the couch his head bowed and Alfred was sat next to him gently resting a hand on his arm. The very fact the old man was sat down alerted Leslie to how serious the matter was.
"Sir, how are you going to explain Bruce Wayne's presence at the trial?" Alfred asked exasperated at the young mans proposed action. "You and Tim have no legitimate reason to be there! If you must attend then you have to go as Batman and Robin. As colleagues of Nightwing you should be there."
Bruce shook his head. "It would be like denying Dick justice." Bruce muttered.
"Bruce, Dick was Nightwing, that was his life, his inner self. Just as you are Batman. I cannot say I like the fact that you prefer to be Batman rather than Bruce Wayne, but I have to accept it. Like I have always lived with the fear that some night Batman will die and Bruce Wayne will be gone too."
"Whatever happens in that courtroom Master Bruce, you must remember the victim was Nightwing not Master Dick. Master Dick died in a tragic accident at Deadman's Curve!"
Leslie saw the old man shake his head. "There are times I think I did the wrong thing staging that accident. Perhaps you would have been happier if the lad had been found. If the world knew Dick was Nightwing."
Leslie saw Alfred's frail veneer on self-control starting to crack. Dick's murder had hit him hard. He still was plagued by the fear he could have saved the boy if he had only tried hard enough. Bruce's accusation on that tragic night still caused him to wake up screaming. Despite Leslie's assurances and Bruce's continued apologies, those words haunted Alfred. Some nights he hardly slept, Leslie would wake to find Alfred in some part of the Manor cleaning with a frantic determination as if trying to erase the doubts from his mind.
Bruce was just as distraught, he blamed himself for Dick being Nightwing, for the arguments between Dick and himself, and for not being able to save his son that night. He also ached for what he had done to Alfred. Seeing the man, who had always been like a father to him, crumbling under the weight of undeserved guilt tore at Bruce's heart.
Alfred moved to stand up, before he lost his self-control. Seeing how close Alfred was to tears Bruce pulled him into an embrace and held him tight. "No old friend, you did everything right that night. As always, you did exactly the right thing for Dick, and for me. I had no right to say different." Bruce assured his friend.
Leslie saw Alfred struggling to pull away from Bruce before he lost control, but Bruce held him tight. "I will not lose you Alfred, my stupidity lost me my son. I won't lose a father as well." Leslie felt a lump in her throat. Both men were crying at last, they were sharing their grief, instead of trying to appear strong for the others sake. Perhaps now they would start to heal.
