Mozzie was playing chess with June when Alfred was let in by a maid. He bowed at her as she left and greeted them both.
"What can I do for you, Mr Pennyworth?" June asked warmly.
Alfred glanced at Mozzie. "I need to speak with Mozart."
June hummed in interest.
"While I would appreciate speaking with him alone, if he would prefer some form of moral support, you are welcome to remain. I just ask that what is said in this room doesn't reach the ears of certain inhabitants."
"You don't want Neal to know?" Mozzie questioned.
"For now. I will leave the choice up to you but you will want to hear me out first."
"Fair enough."
"Take a seat, Mr Pennyworth."
Alfred thanked June and he gracefully sat facing them. "As you know, my name is Alfred Pennyworth."
"You work for Bruce Wayne in Gotham," Mozzie said. "As his personal butler in charge."
"That is correct. However, I was not always in Mr Wayne's employ. I spent some of my younger years travelling around England and other parts of the world."
June and Mozzie waited while Alfred straightened in his seat.
"I did certain intelligence gathering tasks for Her Majesty."
"You were a spy?" Mozzie asked, his voice rising in pitch at the end.
Alfred inclined his head. "I cannot say as I have never been a spy for this country."
"You were a foreign spy?" Mozzie wanted to squeal. He controlled himself. "Does Wayne know?"
"The family is aware of my past employment, although they are not informed of the broad scope of it."
"What is that scope?" June asked.
"The part that concerns you both is the work I did in Detroit around 45 years ago."
Mozzie froze. His brain made the connections it wanted, the story he told himself as a child. However, he just couldn't believe it. No.
"I met a lovely lady. She had been born in Detroit and she and I shared similar backgrounds."
"Was she also a spy?" Mozzie asked, his voice uncomfortably high.
Alfred smiled and nodded. "She was marvellous, though she was American through and through."
"You fell in love?" June asked.
"I wouldn't say what we had was love but we were passionate about each other. Our time together didn't last long enough to be love. However, we were together long enough to create a child. Or so I assume."
"You assume?" June questioned and Mozzie felt like he could breathe.
"Yes. She was in Detroit for almost a year after I left. She had a lovely stuffed bear named Mozart, which I gave her on one of our dates. She loved the name."
"That's still a lot of coincidence Mr Pennyworth."
"Perhaps," Alfred nodded as he agreed. "However, I had a friend of mine compare our DNA-"
"You have my DNA?" That part registered with Mozzie reflexively.
Alfred passed Mozzie a file. "Details are in there. Do not be upset with Neal, I asked him and I am well aware that my charges find it difficult to disagree when I ask for something."
"Why tell Mozzie this?" June asked.
"I only recently discovered it myself and I believe he has a right to know. Just as he has the right to know that he is not my only child. However, my daughter is still quite upset with me so I can't imagine you'd be meeting her anytime soon." Alfred smiled at Mozzie. "We do not have to act like father and son but we can be family or we can be as we were before I told you this, if you would like."
"Why is it my choice?"
"Because I do not have the right to force you. I would like it if we could be family however, I left you. Not knowing that you existed doesn't change that."
"I appreciate that you haven't told Neal. I need to think about this."
Alfred nodded and stood up. He held out a business card to both Mozzie and June. "My contact details, should either of you need anything."
"Thank you. I'll have my staff show you out."
Alfred bowed and followed the maid. Mozzie sat for a while, contemplating.
"I often told myself a story about two spies from opposing countries being my parents but I couldn't believe that I would be able to confirm it. That I was born but couldn't be kept. I need advice."
El took a sip of tea and looked at the files Mozzie had laid out. Alfred had given him all the information needed to confirm that what he was saying was the truth.
"This seems like a decision you need to make for yourself."
"It's what I wanted! Why aren't I jumping at the chance?" Mozzie sighed. "I can't go to Neal about this."
El nodded in agreement. Then a thought occurred to her. "Is Alfred the reason Dick Grayson spoke at Neal's commutation?"
Mozzie blinked and realised that El didn't know what Neal was Dick's brother. He hadn't realised it at first either, especially since Grayson had first appeared as Nightwing. But he wasn't an idiot. He could put the pieces together.
"No. What did Neal say about it?"
"Something about his brother, Peter Caffrey arranging it. Does he really have a brother called Peter?"
Mozzie shrugged. "Something like that. Apparently, he has a big family now. He hasn't met most of them though, something about them being adopted after he came to New York."
El placed her cup down. "He's going back to spend time with them, isn't he?" She frowned. "Peter told me about Dick Grayson's offer."
"I think he will. His family is still in Gotham."
"Peter's not following him to Gotham," El said, her voice like steel. "I will make sure of that."
Mozzie nodded his agreement. Gotham was well known as a city of horrors. However, stories found it difficult to reflect the real thing and so he wanted to see it with his own eyes.
"I will go with Neal should he leave the city," Mozzie said. "And I will keep you up to date as I always do."
El nodded. It would have to do.
Mozzie picked up a burner phone and dialled a number.
"Alfred? I have made my decision. While I don't know what the relationship between the two of us will be, I am willing to find out."
"That's wonderful to hear, my boy."
"Are you willing to show me around Gotham? Preferably before Neal returns."
There was a moment of silence before Alfred responded, "I won't let you leverage our relationship to learn things that Neal might want to keep from you."
"Is this about the Nightwing thing?"
"Not just Nightwing." Alfred had already been informed that Mozzie had already learnt about Nightwing being Danny's brother. "Come to Gotham. I will pay for your flight."
Mozzie was slightly confused about that. Alfred was giving off contradictory vibes. "That is acceptable."
Danny nervously paced back and forth. Everyone else was sitting on the plastic chairs, waiting for him to be told to go in. No one told him to sit down, although they were thinking about it.
"Don't be nervous, Neal," Peter said. "Whatever happens, happens."
"You get a cake either way," Diana laughed.
Danny did stop and that comment and thank El for arranging the cake and party.
"After a few days like this, we all deserve a party. You especially."
Danny was about to respond when his phone went off. It was the ringtone he had assigned to Alfred's number.
"Excuse me for a moment." He ducked away, avoiding the curious glances as he found a corridor where no one was around. "Alfred?"
"Danny, have you heard the verdict yet?"
"Not yet." Alfred would mistake the time like this though. "But you know that. Why call now?"
"I have a question. How much of your life before New York have your shared with your friends?"
"Peter knows nothing about me before I arrived here."
Alfred hummed disapprovingly. "Before you were 15 then. Except the agents are under the impression you were 18."
Danny nervously chuckled. "Well, I am a conman."
"Please don't give Master Bruce the headache and say that around the house. I was actually referring to your other friend, Mozart?"
"Moz? He doesn't know much either. He's met Jason, although he thinks his name is Peter and he met Dick as Nightwing. I think he's put some pieces together and he will put it all together in the future. It won't take much."
"You are okay with him finding out about the family and their secrets?"
"I… Yeah. Sure. What's this about?"
"I have invited Mozart to visit Wayne Manor and learn butlering from me. The boy has potential."
Danny knew that everyone was 'boy' to Alfred, but it was still strange to hear Mozzie referred to in that manner.
"And you're not just making sure I have a friend in Gotham?"
That got a chuckle from Alfred. "You see through me this time. However, I will still be training your friend."
"That's fine. Mozzie would love the practice." And the chance to swipe some silver. "But, even if I go free, I'm not leaving for Gotham right away."
"That is okay, Master Daniel. We will be waiting for you when you are ready."
"Neal!" Peter waved him over.
It was time.