Chapter Eight - Manor

The manor was more intimidating that he remembered, when he first arrived here after his parents' accident he remembered being so afraid. Afraid of what was to come, afraid that Bruce would change his mind, that Bruce wouldn't be a good father. Terrified at the fact that he'd never see his mom or dad again. Then the massive door to the manor opened and Alfred smiled at him.

It was stupid, Alfred was just being polite, but on that night that still haunted him - Alfred and his kind smile were the only things that were able to calm him down.

Just like that night, all those years ago - Alfred opened the manor door and smiled. Dick's heart pounded in his chest as a smile stretched across his own face. This city was his home, this house was his home, but the walls and expensive paintings didn't make it home - it was the people, Alfred, Ace, and Bruce. His family.

He tried to contain himself as he took a few breaths and looked back at Raven, who was squeezing his hand tightly - reassuring him. She's never seen him smile like that - it made her realize how pretty his teeth were, "C'mon," Dick began "I wanna introduce you to someone."

She barely had time to nod her head before he was dragging her up to the front door. Raven hated to admit it but she was nervous. From what he'd told her - Dick's family meant everything to him and this man was at the top of that list, yeah she was nervous.

He let go of Raven's hand and embraced the old butler in a tight bear hug, tears in the old man's eyes, "I've missed you - so much." Alfred choked out.

Dick sighed, "You have no idea."

Raven felt uncomfortable, like she was intruding on their reunion - she felt dirty.

Dick reluctantly let go of Alfred and took a step back, flashing those baby blue eyes back at Raven with a smile, "Alfred, I'd like you to meet Raven. Raven, this is Alfred Pennyworth."

Raven was still a bit uncomfortable, but still put on her best smile as she shook his hand, "You can call me Rachel if you'd like."

Alfred smiled and looked at her with his kind light brown eyes, "Welcome to Wayne Manor, Miss Rachel."

"Oh, just Rachel is fine."

Dick rolled his eyes with a chuckle, "Don't bother - I lived here for six years and I couldn't convince him."

"It could've been sixty and it still wouldn't have worked." Alfred remarked with a small grin, "Master Bruce is out at the moment. He won't be back until tomorrow morning, I'm afraid, but Lady Diana will be back shortly." Alfred held the entrance to the Wayne Manor open, gesturing for them to come inside, "He sends his apologies, we weren't expecting you until later this week."

Dick's smile suddenly disappeared from his face and the three of them walked in. Alfred noticed all the color draining from the young man's face, "Not happy to be back?"

Raven gently touched him on the shoulder, "Dick?" She questioned to no response, "Are you okay?"

"Where is Bruce?"

Alfred looked genuinely concerned for him, "He's... he's in Metropolis."

"With Clark?"

Alfred nodded, "Indeed. I believe he needed the Batman's help tracking down an over-sized gorilla or something of the sort."

Raven wondered how in the world, the Earth's most powerful hero needed help from Batman. Raven's thoughts were suddenly cut off as Dick let out a large sigh of relief, "Good. He'll be safe there."

Alfred rose a brow, "Master Dick, I wouldn't worry - Master Bruce can take care of himself."

Dick frowned, "This time is different, Al." he looked down at the ground as he pulled off his coat and set it on a nightstand. Dick walked to the living room fireplace and warmed his hands up.

Alfred looked over at Raven, a disturbed look on his face, "Miss Rachel, do you know what he's referring to?"

Raven frowned and nodded, "We should wait for Batman." he glanced over at Dick still standing by the fire, 'You're scaring him.'

'I'm scared.'

She looked back to Alfred with a small smile, "I've been told this place has a impressive library."

Alfred's face slowly formed into the smallest of smiles, "Ah, yes, of course. Master Bruce uses it as his study." he explained, the smile growing a bit, "Shall I show you?"

Raven nodded, "I'd like that."

The two began walking toward the stairs, 'Just say the word if you need me.'

'Thanks Rae, I need to think for a bit.'

She sighed and turned her head back toward the old butler, he guided her up the stairs and down the hall, then taking a right. Raven's eyes silently scanned all around her, marveling at the statues, columns, and paintings littered throughout the halls - bedrooms that looked larger than the Tower's living quarters and kitchen combined. She knew the Batman had to have money for all the cars and armor and gadgets, but this was amazing.

"These halls can be like a maze," Alfred spoke up, "A few weeks after Master Dick arrived here at the manor, he asked me to play 'hide and go seek' with him." Raven snorted a bit at that, "He was very quiet and never talked much in the beginning. He missed his mother and father. I would've done anything to see the young lad smile, so we played." Alfred's smile resurfaced as he recalled the memory, "A few rounds, he was quite young so he wasn't hard to find, but I feigned ignorance and soon his laughter filled these halls."

Alfred's smile lessened slowly until it was completely gone, "This big house can feel quite empty without him."

Raven felt his sadness radiating off of him, she frowned, "He talked about you a lot." she said quietly, "We could all tell how much he missed you."

Alfred chuckled, "He calls me twice a week or so." he glanced at her with a grin, "He's told me a lot about you too."

"Oh?"

Alfred nodded, "Described you to me in great detail, about your prowess in the heat of battle," he smiled genuinely, "And a great deal about how you make him feel."

Raven looked down to the ground, "He's special to me."

"It's obvious that it's mutual." Alfred finally turned into a large arch of a doorway, "Here we are - the Grand Library."

Raven looked in awe at the massive walls of books surrounding the entirety of the giant room - stretching into the third story. She stood in the center of the room, completely dumbstruck. She looked to Alfred who had a bit of a smile, "This is incredible."

Alfred nodded, "It was built by Bruce's grandfather in the late 1800, but Bruce has expanded it quite a bit over the past two decades or so."

"What's all in here?"

Alfred gave a hearty chuckle, "I'm afraid only one person could tell you that and it isn't me." he explained, "I could give you a run down of what I do know."

Raven nodded eagerly.

"Well on the first floor, if it's on the far eastern wall and continuing on the northern - there's a variety of mystery novels, mostly fictional, a collection of Sherlock Holmes and other such novels." he explained, Raven's eyes lit up - mysteries were her favorite. "Then on the western wall and the other half of the northern wall, there's a collection of collegiate textbook in every subject that you can imagine - Master Bruce uses them for himself, to expand his horizons whenever he has a chance and all of his ward's education."

Raven admired them, she respected the value of intelligence greatly - maybe that's why she respected the Batman as much as she did.

Alfred smiled and beckoned her to follow him upstairs to the second level of the library. Raven was even more at awe at the second level. Not necessarily at the books, but the shrine of framed newspaper clippings hung up on the wall below a desk with some papers and writing utensils scattered around the surface.

"The second level of the library is mostly filled with historical collections an-" his voiced trailed off as he watched the young hero as she was drawn to the desk, looking upward and Bruce's collection. Alfred smiled, "Ah yes, Master Bruce's collection of his favorite moments from his other career."

She read some of the headlines:

'Human Bat foils Red Hood Ace Chemical Heist'

'Batman and Robin stop Two-Face Bank Heist'

'Joker foiled once again, No Match for the Caped Crusaders'

'Robin, Son of the Bat?'

Raven noticed a pattern, all of the clippings were from a few years ago and most of them have something to do where Robin's involved. She noticed one toward the middle of the collection and it looked newer than the others: 'Boy Wonder Leaves the Nest? Robin Sighting in Jump City'

Raven wondered why Batman would put up a clipping of Robin after he left Gotham. Didn't he say they left on a bad note? She was pulled out of her thoughts as she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. It was a door on the right side of the room, but there was something off about it. It looked like it was made of metal, lead maybe? Also, there was a blue light coming from it and a faint hum from behind it.

Raven furrowed her brow as she looked at it, "What's that room?"

Alfred glanced over then quickly away, "I'm afraid that's off limits to guests." he read her confused look and continued, "If it makes you feel any better, it's off limits to me too - Master Bruce and Master Dick are the only ones allowed in that room."

"I see." she frowned, she knew the Bat would have mysteries, but something about that door made her frustratingly curious.

"What do you think?"

She looked over at him, "What?"

"The library? What do you think?"

"Oh," she nodded, "It's marvelous."

Alfred grinned, "I'm glad you think so - it's open to you at any time you want."

"I appreciate it." She smiled.

'Rae'

Raven smiled and turned away from the old man, pretending to peruse the collection of books, 'How are you'

'Better now. Come downstairs, I want you to meet someone.'