"When the night has come,
And the land is dark,
And the moon is the only light we'll see,
No I won't be afraid,
Oh, I won't be afraid,
Just as long as you stand, stand by me."
"Stand by Me"–Ben E. King (cover by Mona)
Chapter Twenty-Three:
"Margot!"
Alfred's voice drew Margot out of her work, catching her off-guard. It was only a steady hand that kept her from lopping off the top of the topiary.
"Alfred," she replied, eyeing him warily. "I was just finishing up."
"I'd like to have a chat with you," he said tersely.
That didn't sound good.
Still, it wasn't as if she had much of a choice. "Can I finish this?"
"Now."
She sighed and followed the man inside, shears still in hand. He led her to the kitchen.
"Am I finally allowed back in here?" she inquired dryly.
He ignored the jibe and pointed to a chair. "Sit."
She sat.
"What's this about?" she asked, trying not to sound nervous.
The man simply sat across the table from her, and clasped his hands together in front of him. "I want you here," he said.
She frowned in confusion.
Seeing her perplexed expression, he clarified, "I think it's best that you stay here at the manor."
Margot sat back in wonderment, frowning curiously at the man. Just last week, he'd barred her from even entering the kitchen. Now he was inviting her to stay? "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I know what you're up to when you're here, don't I?" he pointed out. "It's what you do when you're in the city that troubles me."
She laughed in frustrated disbelief. "I see. You want to keep an eye on me."
"Given the circumstances, I'd say I have every right to do that," he responded.
Margot glared fiercely at him. "Look," she told him firmly, leaning forward and meeting his steely gaze, "I loved this job. I loved working here." She jammed her finger pointedly on the table's surface to emphasize each word. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I gave it up when I needed it—when I needed the two of you the most, because I didn't want to do anything to risk hurting either of you!" She inhaled and exhaled deeply through her nose, watching Alfred as he processed what she'd said. "I made a terrible decision," she admitted in a softer but no-less-stern voice, "and I'm sorry for it. You can lord it over my head for the rest of my life if you like. But don't you dare accuse me of not caring for the two of you. I'd die before letting anything happen to you or Bruce."
Alfred regarded her quietly. Finally, he shifted and leaned forward as well, looking her directly in the eye. "I believe you," he said.
"What?" Margot jerked back. She'd expected a cynical jab, shouting perhaps, but not that.
The man sighed and drew a hand tiredly down his face as he leaned back. He hesitated for a moment before he reluctantly admitted, "I understand that you were in a difficult bind when you made that decision. But," he added with emphasis, "Bruce's wellbeing comes first. Always."
"I know," she agreed quietly.
"People like me—like us…we can't afford to make mistakes. And we certainly can't keep secrets."
Margot nodded and lowered her gaze. "You're right." Shaking her head, she stared fixedly at the table and added, "I really am sorry. I never thought it would turn into what it did, and even then, I thought I could fight my way out of it."
Alfred sighed again and murmured quietly, "Margot, you're not a fighter."
She glanced up. "I'm a soldier," she reminded him bluntly. "That's what we do. We fight."
He shook his head. "Not all soldiers are fighters. You're a defender. While all the fighters are down in the middle of things, you're up above it all, aren't you? Keeping them safe, defending them. You protect."
She shrugged her agreement. As a sniper, many times that was exactly what she had done, keeping the soldiers below her safe from enemy fire. Taking out dangerous targets before they could hurt people. But what did that matter to Alfred?
He reached out to her, placing his rough, warm hand over hers. "I know you'd give your life for Bruce if necessary."
A nod was all she could manage as she stared at their hands. She hadn't realized before how valuable a simple touch could be.
The man's face became more solemn, and he pulled away. "But you lied to us, Margot." The stress he put on the word "lied" sent a shudder down her spine. "You turned to the wrong sources for help, and I'm sorry that you felt you had to go to them before coming to us. I want to trust you. I wish I could trust you."
There was something about the disappointment on the man's face that made her crave his trust, leaving an emptiness inside her when she realized what she'd lost when she betrayed that trust.
"I'll be honest with you," he said, "I have half a mind to tell you to leave and never come back."
"Please," she whispered. "Don't."
He regarded her calmly, his lips compressed into a tight line. "No more secrets. No more lies."
"I promise."
"You know what happens if you break that promise."
She was quiet. "You'll turn me in?"
Alfred shook his head. "I'll kill you, luv."
Sorry for the short chapter. I may or may not do a double update to make up for it. :O