p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"They reached the bottom step and Roy looked up into the eyes of Bruce Wayne. Mr Wayne had a few inches on Roy's 5'9 frame, as was to be expected. Thanks to Roy's last growth spurt, he most likely only had a couple of inches to go before he reached maximum height. In fact, Roy was taller than a lot of boys his own age. But tilting his head back to look at Bruce Wayne was certainly intimidating. Roy reminded himself to maintain eye contact, but he was nervous, understandably. Bruce probably wasn't Roy's biggest fan, considering the bar and Jason's grounding. It made the entire encounter even more daunting./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason seemed oblivious to Roy's anxiety, or perhaps he simply knew that Roy wouldn't want attention drawn to it. Jason cupped a hand over Roy's shoulder and smiled up at his guardian. Bruce may have had a few inches on Roy, but he had a full foot on Jason. Roy almost smirked in fond amusement./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Bruce, this is Roy." Jason introduced, there was a smile in his voice that didn't go unnoticed by either his friend or his father./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce Wayne's eyes crinkled at the corners as he offered Roy a smile full of warmth, a reception that Roy had never thought to expect. Roy fumbled as he thrust a hand forward for the man to shake./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""It's nice to meet you, Roy." Bruce chuckled warmly as he gave Roy's hand a firm shake./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You too, Mr Wayne," Roy got out./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy wasn't used to being unsure of himself in this way. Regardless of his mental doubts and insecurities, he prided himself on being outwardly sure of himself, it was his key defense. He felt vulnerable, exposed in this environment. He wasn't sure how he felt about these people seeing him this way, but the heat of Jason's hand on his shoulder and the seeming acceptance in Bruce's eyes were enough to ease his discomfort./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Suddenly, the butler reappeared in the foyer and cleared his throat to refocus attention. He looked between the people gathered at the foot of the staircase casually, a small smile graced his lips. Alfred inclined his head towards the dining room down the hall./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Dinner's served," he informed them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The took their seats quickly, large squares of cheesy, creamy lasagna were in the center of each large dinner plate, and deep, steaming dishes were passed around containing a selection of homegrown vegetables./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Alfred has loads of stuff in his greenhouse, he's trying to grow strawberries right now," Jason imparted, smiling over at the aging man with adoring impression./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy really felt a sense of genuine family, for the first time since leaving the reservation. Alfred Pennyworth wasn't just the hired help, he was a member of the Wayne family, he was someone that Jason looked up to and valued and loved. There was a sense of warm familiarity in every inch of the manor, and instead of feeling out of place - the way that Roy feared he would - he felt welcomed. More at home than he ever had at Queen Mansion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy tore off a piece of baguette bread, the garlic butter dripped down his palm as he dunked it into his hearty meal. Jason chuckled as a smear of meaty sauce marred Roy's chin. If the boys weren't so absorbed in their own laughter, they might have noticed the look that the two older men exchanged./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""So, Roy...Jason said you like music?" Bruce ventured./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason beamed at his guardian, he knew that Bruce was feeling out of his depth, and he was extremely grateful for the man's effort and interest. Roy stiffened slightly beside his friend, unsure of how to proceed without bringing up the unfortunate 'I took your son to a dive-bar' situation. Jason smiled encouragingly and discreetly squeezed his knee under the table./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Uh, yeah... I, uh, I'm good with drums. I like music 'cause it's like... Like self-expression, y'know? Like people really listen to you, and they get it." Roy tried to explain, he wasn't sure if they could appreciate his sentiment./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce nodded almost thoughtfully and took a few more bites of his dinner as he pondered his response. Roy looked down at the table top, he was apprehensive about whether or not he'd made sense. Though he felt very welcomed by them, he was still the new guy, and disrupting their usual dinnertime dynamic. He wasn't sure what was expected of him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What does your guardian think of your pursuit?" Bruce asked casually. It was a perfectly logical and warranted question, there was no way for Bruce to know how close to the mark it hit./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Uh, he..he doesn't really care all that much. Pretty much just lets me do what I want, I guess." Roy figured it was best to be vague, give Bruce no ammunition for another inquiry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce furrowed his brow but didn't wrangle for a more elaborate answer. He glanced at Alfred briefly. Jason cleared his throat a little awkwardly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""How's the new orphanage coming, Bruce?" Jason asked, before he turned to Roy to fill in the blanks, "There's an old orphanage called St Peter's, it's on its last legs, and pretty much wasn't salvageable. The Wayne foundation are opening a brand new home, and transferring all the St Peter's kids and staff to the new location. It's still under construction, but Bruce has been donating and helping out at St Peter's until the move."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy flickered a glance over Bruce Wayne, he hadn't expected the man to be so selfless. In his experience billionaire playboys were entitled and self-absorbed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That's uh...that's very nice of you." Roy said./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce smiled at him before launching into a story about the faculty of the orphanage. Bruce had been helping them sort through the donated clothing so that they could match it up with children the same size. Alfred, Jason and Roy were deeply engrossed in the tale, and Roy marveled again at Mr Wayne's willingness to go out and do the dirty work himself for the sake of other people. He couldn't help but think that Ollie could learn a thing or two in this kind of company./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Though Roy felt awful for having the thought, he couldn't help but be envious of the supportive home environment that Jason had at Wayne Manor./p