Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Not making money off 'em. This is just for
fun. =)
IMAGES IN DREAMS Author: Onyx Rating: PG-13
Chapter 2
Later that evening, Bruce and Dick finished up in the cave, having only the duplicant to tend to, and the pile of scrap to be gotten rid of.
The computer was another matter all together. Bruce was going to have to obtain a new monitor screen, seeing where this one was smashed to pieces.
"I'll use the other computer in the lab until I get the new screen," Bruce said. "Thanks for all your help, Dick." He headed for the lab and started up the system.
"No prob," Dick said, shrugging his shoulders as he followed the other man. "Hey, Bruce?"
Bruce grunted an acknowledgement, already falling into Batman mode as the criminal files began to load on the screen.
"What happened last night?"
The question caused Bruce to pause and face Dick, a look of bewilderment passing over his features.
"I mean, I know what happened, but what has Alfred acting so funny?"
Bruce's features didn't chance. "Dick, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on, Bruce. You mean to tell me you hadn't noticed?!"
"Dick, I've hardly seen Alfred all day, let alone have had time to notice anything out of the ordinary. If you think something is wrong I'm not aware of, than just tell me, don't accuse me of being ignorant."
"Sorry," Dick mumbled. "He's. . .acting. . .distant."
Bruce's eyebrow raised. When was Alfred not acting distant?
"I mean, like. . .something's wrong, distant. He stuttered when I asked him if he was alright. I don't know how to put it. He just. . .didn't quite seem himself. You and I both KNOW Alfred doesn't stutter."
Bruce nodded. "I understand what you're saying, Dick. But you've been around Alfred along enough to also know that if there is something wrong and he doesn't want to talk about it, than he won't and it's best to leave him alone."
Dick looked put out.
Bruce sighed. "Look, if it bothers you that much, when I'm done here, I'll ask Alfred myself."
"Ask me what, sir?"
Both men jumped as Alfred suddenly appeared out of no where with a small tray containing two cups of hot coffee.
"Alfred, I really wish you wouldn't do that."
"My apologies, Master Bruce. I did not mean to startle either of you." He set the tray down on the table.
"No, I mean using your hands when you know you shouldn't be," Bruce corrected.
"They are quite alright, sir, I assure you."
Bruce nodded, not buying it, especially since Leslie told him otherwise, but then, Bruce never took doctor's orders, so he really couldn't reprimand Alfred for going against them either.
"Are you alright, old friend?"
Alfred gave Bruce a questioning look. "Sir?"
"Are you alright?" Bruce asked again, the tone in his voice dropping to take things to a more personal level rather than professional.
There was a hesitant pause before Alfred nodded. "I am fine, Master Bruce, thank you." He then fixed Dick with a questioning look of his own.
Dick looked to the floor.
"If there is nothing else, Master Bruce," Alfred said, turning his head back to his employer, "than I believe I shall retire for the evening."
Bruce nodded. "No, Alfred. Thank you. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir. Please do not stay up too late."
Bruce smirked and nodded.
"Master Dick." Alfred nodded.
"Night, Alfred."
With that, Alfred left the cave.
Bruce turned back to the console, bringing up the files he'd been searching for. Perhaps he'd take Alfred's advice and turn in early tonight. There really wasn't much going on. Nothing the police couldn't handle, and all the really dangerous criminals, like the Joker, were locked up in Arkham.
"So, what? That's it?" Dick asked.
Bruce nodded.
"But, Bruce, yo-"
"Dick, what did I just tell you?"
"I know what you just told me, but don't you care?"
Bruce turned in his chair. "Dick, I think you're making this into a bigger deal than it is."
Dick blinked at him. "So, that's a no?"
"No, Dick. Look, I understand you are concerned, but pushing him isn't going to make him talk, you know that. Alfred reveals what he wants, when he wants, and only IF he wants. The fact that I don't push him about it doesn't mean I don't care, it means I respect his wishes."
Dick sighed. "I'm just worried about him, Bruce. He puts up with a lot. He's always there for us, patching us up when we get hurt and listening to us when we need to talk. . .I just feel bad not doing the same for him."
Bruce smiled. "Dick, Alfred knows we're here." He turned and shut down the system, officially deciding tonight Batman was going to sleep in and get some much needed and deserved rest. He stood. "Be here, but don't be in his face."
Dick nodded. "So," he began as they headed for the elevator. "Do you think know what's bothering him?"
Bruce glanced back at the lifeless duplicant and sighed. "Yeah. I think I do."
To be continued. . .
IMAGES IN DREAMS Author: Onyx Rating: PG-13
Chapter 2
Later that evening, Bruce and Dick finished up in the cave, having only the duplicant to tend to, and the pile of scrap to be gotten rid of.
The computer was another matter all together. Bruce was going to have to obtain a new monitor screen, seeing where this one was smashed to pieces.
"I'll use the other computer in the lab until I get the new screen," Bruce said. "Thanks for all your help, Dick." He headed for the lab and started up the system.
"No prob," Dick said, shrugging his shoulders as he followed the other man. "Hey, Bruce?"
Bruce grunted an acknowledgement, already falling into Batman mode as the criminal files began to load on the screen.
"What happened last night?"
The question caused Bruce to pause and face Dick, a look of bewilderment passing over his features.
"I mean, I know what happened, but what has Alfred acting so funny?"
Bruce's features didn't chance. "Dick, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on, Bruce. You mean to tell me you hadn't noticed?!"
"Dick, I've hardly seen Alfred all day, let alone have had time to notice anything out of the ordinary. If you think something is wrong I'm not aware of, than just tell me, don't accuse me of being ignorant."
"Sorry," Dick mumbled. "He's. . .acting. . .distant."
Bruce's eyebrow raised. When was Alfred not acting distant?
"I mean, like. . .something's wrong, distant. He stuttered when I asked him if he was alright. I don't know how to put it. He just. . .didn't quite seem himself. You and I both KNOW Alfred doesn't stutter."
Bruce nodded. "I understand what you're saying, Dick. But you've been around Alfred along enough to also know that if there is something wrong and he doesn't want to talk about it, than he won't and it's best to leave him alone."
Dick looked put out.
Bruce sighed. "Look, if it bothers you that much, when I'm done here, I'll ask Alfred myself."
"Ask me what, sir?"
Both men jumped as Alfred suddenly appeared out of no where with a small tray containing two cups of hot coffee.
"Alfred, I really wish you wouldn't do that."
"My apologies, Master Bruce. I did not mean to startle either of you." He set the tray down on the table.
"No, I mean using your hands when you know you shouldn't be," Bruce corrected.
"They are quite alright, sir, I assure you."
Bruce nodded, not buying it, especially since Leslie told him otherwise, but then, Bruce never took doctor's orders, so he really couldn't reprimand Alfred for going against them either.
"Are you alright, old friend?"
Alfred gave Bruce a questioning look. "Sir?"
"Are you alright?" Bruce asked again, the tone in his voice dropping to take things to a more personal level rather than professional.
There was a hesitant pause before Alfred nodded. "I am fine, Master Bruce, thank you." He then fixed Dick with a questioning look of his own.
Dick looked to the floor.
"If there is nothing else, Master Bruce," Alfred said, turning his head back to his employer, "than I believe I shall retire for the evening."
Bruce nodded. "No, Alfred. Thank you. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sir. Please do not stay up too late."
Bruce smirked and nodded.
"Master Dick." Alfred nodded.
"Night, Alfred."
With that, Alfred left the cave.
Bruce turned back to the console, bringing up the files he'd been searching for. Perhaps he'd take Alfred's advice and turn in early tonight. There really wasn't much going on. Nothing the police couldn't handle, and all the really dangerous criminals, like the Joker, were locked up in Arkham.
"So, what? That's it?" Dick asked.
Bruce nodded.
"But, Bruce, yo-"
"Dick, what did I just tell you?"
"I know what you just told me, but don't you care?"
Bruce turned in his chair. "Dick, I think you're making this into a bigger deal than it is."
Dick blinked at him. "So, that's a no?"
"No, Dick. Look, I understand you are concerned, but pushing him isn't going to make him talk, you know that. Alfred reveals what he wants, when he wants, and only IF he wants. The fact that I don't push him about it doesn't mean I don't care, it means I respect his wishes."
Dick sighed. "I'm just worried about him, Bruce. He puts up with a lot. He's always there for us, patching us up when we get hurt and listening to us when we need to talk. . .I just feel bad not doing the same for him."
Bruce smiled. "Dick, Alfred knows we're here." He turned and shut down the system, officially deciding tonight Batman was going to sleep in and get some much needed and deserved rest. He stood. "Be here, but don't be in his face."
Dick nodded. "So," he began as they headed for the elevator. "Do you think know what's bothering him?"
Bruce glanced back at the lifeless duplicant and sighed. "Yeah. I think I do."
To be continued. . .