Alfred heard Dick's phone rang and assumed at once that it must be Ms. Gordon calling judging from the time in his wrist watch. He heard the teenager talking to his best friend while Bruce just waited for him eagerly for Dick's attention. The butler went on to wash the dishes when a similar scenario crossed his mind.
"Is Mr. Wayne ever gonna be done with his phone?" the young acrobat asked him
"We'll have to wait, young sir. The conversation appears to be important" he replied as he saw Dick's pout forming deeper in his face.
"But he told me we're gonna watch the movie" Dick stated
"I'll make sure he remembers, Master Richard. Now, why don't you wait in the kitchen for a while." Alfred ordered the kid who obediently moved his tiny legs to the kitchen, head bowed in defeat.
Alfred gave his full support to the billionaire when the latter decided to take the orphan in. He has always knows Bruce's soft side and what the latter plans to do is also a huge step for Bruce. He didn't mind how the press would tag it knowing that Bruce has only one thing in mind. One thing's for sure, there will be a lot of adjustments just as what is happening now. Bruce may have known what Dick wanted, but the World's Greatest Detective missed what the boy needed.
So Alfred set himself to do all things and help prepare Bruce for what's ahead. He knows the Manor would be a huge but empty place and may not be the best one for a child who saw his family die before his bright blue eyes. He knew how the lad's world fell down with his parents similar to the boy he knew who cried in that cold and dark alley. But…but Richard is different. He still has that sparkle in his eyes. Though they were not as brilliant as they were when he was swinging on those trapezes with his parents, still, there is a glimmer of hope, which can slowly be barren if Bruce continues to act as if Dick is invisible. The butler knew he had to do something.
"Yes, yes, Clark, you have my word." Bruce said before putting the phone down. The Dark Knight turned to the door and saw the older man.
"Oh, hey, Alfred! is dinner ready? It's been a tiring day"
"Indeed it is, sir. But I'm afraid you forgot another appointment"
"What? I thought I attended all the meetings and returned all the calls"
"With someone downstairs"
"Oh" Bruce then proceeded to the kitchen where a sad Dick was waiting his arms folded on the dining table, chin resting on them while his legs were swinging mindlessly back and forth in the chair since his feet were still not able to reach the floor.
"Hey, chum." Bruce greeted.
"Hey, B!" Dick replied softly.
"Ate something yet?" the Dark Knight asked.
"No" said the young boy who still refused to lift his head and look at the man.
"Why so, aren't you hungry?"
"I just…" he then looked at Alfred "I just don't like the cucumber sandwiches" he continued shyly, almost murmuring the words.
"Oh, these? But these are the best" Bruce said holding the plate of cucumber sandwich that Alfred prepared for both of them. Dick just shook his head and went to the living room. Bruce felt the weight of Alfred's stare waiting for him to make a move also. "Relax, I got this" the billionaire assured getting a bag of chips from one of the kitchen cabinets and followed his ward to the living room.
"Chose anything yet?" he asked the young boy
"This!"
"This one's not good" Bruce stated turning the boy's smile upside down "without chips while watching" then Dick's face lit up again, the sparks in his eyes glamming with excitement.
Alfred cleared his throat
"If you excuse me, sir but the boy needs to eat something healthy"
"I love chips" Dick but in.
"He loves chips" Bruce said giving an apologetic look to Alfred.
They called it a night and Bruce carried the boy who passed out in the sofa to his room. Alfred followed bringing Dick's blanket with him to his room. They turned off the lights and shut the door letting the tired boy to get some rest.
"Apologies, sir, I'm afraid spoiling him is not how things work."
"I know, I know, Al. It's just for once" Bruce patting Alfred's shoulder and gave the older man a smile.
Alfred felt his lips responding by itself to the other man's gesture. He has grown familiar with the dull, vintage walls and ceilings in the place and the cold atmosphere in the Batcave so they had to admit that all that sunshine and glee coming out of Richard, his wit, his humor, his high spirits, painted life into the gloomy walls of the mansion. He has been used to a Bruce who fakes his smile for the media but that also changed when Dick came. The child really wormed his way to the Caped Crusader's stone heart. Dick might not have realized what he did but Alfred knew, well enough, that Bruce changed. No one can ever remove from his memory the first time Dick cracked a joke and Bruce could not hold his laughter. This was the time Alfred smiled so wide seeing his son happy, without having to lie to anybody especially himself.
There's hope after all.