AN: I keep trying to update fast, but I keep failing miserably. Whooooops...
ANYWAYS, Guess who just started HRT! I don't even know if y'all know, but I'm a transman ✌️Had my first shot 08/02/2024 and I finally feel like my life is moving after so long of just kind of floating.
Now enough of my personal crap, enjoy the chapter!
The Wayne manor is a well-oiled machine. Despite what the public believes, or hears, the Wayne family was rarely every not put together. That's not to say they didn't have their moments. Every machine was bound to break eventually, every machine needed a little TLC. Those breaks were always reserved for within the manor walls, only for the eyes and minds of those involved. There was one person in the manor that knew essentially everything. The person that was always sweeping in and giving the machine what it needed when it couldn't.
The person that seemed like the glue to the Wayne family, even if not very many knew it. After all, who would think a simple butler was good enough for the job. A simple butler that held enough power in the family. A simple butler that could have Bruce Wayne taking a break even if the man didn't want to. One that could make Jason Todd give up all his guns for a weekend. One that could force Tim Drake to go to sleep despite others' efforts.
A simple man that held the family's well-being and safety in his hands at all time.
Alfred Pennyworth was not a man that abused that power. He knew when it was time to step in, and when it was time to let his family be. There was a balance to the way Alfred did things, a special balance that only he knew. The man had a sight for things others miss, even in a family of amazing detectives, no one saw as much as Alfred does.
Two weeks. Alfred waited two weeks to see if things would change, if it would resolve themselves, or if he'd get a hint of what was really going on. He was used to Bruce sulking away by himself. The man had done it since he was a child, and he still continued to do it. The only thing that changed was the methods. He saw all the signs within the first day of Bruce's return to the manor.
The man had jumped head first back into patrols. Increased his training regime, hours spent out in the suit, hours spent playing the role of Brucie Wayne. He was trying to ignore something, forget something that had happened when he was away. Alfred could respect that, it wouldn't be the first time his ward felt the need to forget something. It won't be the last time.
When things didn't slow after the first week, Alfred started to pay more attention. Started taking more frequent trips to the cave to drop off snacks or meals. Started screening certain calls from WE without Bruce realizing it. It wasn't hard, not when everyone was used to seeing Alfred pretty much everywhere. At first, Alfred assumed it had something to do with that unsavory character, Vlad Masters.
It was soon clear that wasn't it. If it was, the family would be in bigger trouble. Bruce didn't act like this when he was he stone set on taking someone down. At least, not this way. There would be more anger, aggressive in his actions. He'd be trying his hardest to find everything he could on Vlad. Vlad would be his sole focus. No one else would have Bruce's attention until his target was taken down.
Except, Bruce seemed to be giving Vlad very little attention. Brushing off the possible threat of the man. If the Batman wasn't concerned, where was Alfred to say any different? If it wasn't Vlad, that left the butler with very little options. Bruce hadn't mentioned another soul, another person aside from Vlad. No one else that could have caught Bruce's attention, expect someone had.
"I think it's time we talked, Bruce."
The shift in the cave happened instantly the moment Alfred spoke Bruce's name. A rare occurrence that only happened when Alfred wasn't listening to debates. It was his turn to talk, and no one was going to stop it. It was clear that Bruce knew it. By the way the younger man's shoulders tensed, and the look that washed over his features.
It was a look Alfred knew all too well. The same look Bruce had every time Alfred needed to sit him down and talk. Usually because Bruce was doing something he shouldn't be, a look Alfred was used to seeing on young Bruce, rather than a grown man. However, it was a look and state of feeling that Bruce has needed to be in again.
It was a repeat of a familiar scene. Alfred placing himself in a seat across from Bruce, handing the man a mug of fresh tea. A comforting space of safety and trust forming between the two. Alfred rarely knew what he was going to say, never truly planned anything out. Instead, he let his heart do the talking. Letting the words flow from him without a second thought.
Alfred wasn't a perfect man, far from it. Yet, he seemed to have a way with words. Managing to break down the toughest of walls with just a few syllables, choice touches, and warm smiles. He didn't jump straight into the questioning, simply recounting how Bruce has been acting. Letting Bruce hear and understand Alfred's point. Something he had learned helped him get through to Bruce. The man's mind was always looking for connections and clues, and Alfred was willing to offer them before the hit.
"Who is it?"
A simple and open-ended question. Alfred left the ball in Bruce's court, hoping all the work up to it didn't go to waste. It was only a moment, barely a breath, before Bruce seemed to cave. A resigned exhale, muscles sagging against the seat followed by a long drink from the mug. With each passing second of silence, Alfred had started to lose some of his hope.
Bruce would talk to him, when he was ready. Alfred was certain that now was the time, but he wouldn't call his estimations perfect. There was no guarantee, and Alfred understood that. Some times Bruce isn't ready, and that was okay. That was perfectly fine. Alfred could continue trying to figure it out without any extra help. Whatever helped Alfred's family the most was what mattered.
"I... I met this kid, back in Amity..."
Just like that, the pieces fell into place with ease. With each word recounted by Bruce, Alfred only understood more. Hearing the short tales of Bruce's time with this kid, it was a familiar sight. Alfred has heard similar words leave Bruce's lips, has seen that slight twinkle in a different scenario.
It was almost uncanny how much Bruce looked just like this, when he was talking about his sons. The same feeling when Bruce had first introduced Dick to Alfred. The same thing when Jason came along, as every child Bruce had brought home. Whether officially adopted, or not, they were Bruce's kids. Alfred always knew Bruce had more love in him than he could contain. Always knew the man would seek for a large family.
Alfred had pictured Bruce settling down with a sweet young woman, or man. Just a few kids to keep things lively and fulfilled. A simple, happy future that Alfred had hoped for his ward. Now, Alfred never wished for Bruce to create and take on the mantel of Batman. Never expected a gaggle of kids to follow in Bruce's vigilantism. Never expected to spend his nights administering antidotes, and stitching wounds closed.
Despite all that, Alfred wouldn't change a single thing.
"Does he need you?"
Another seemingly simple question from Alfred's lips. A question that Alfred knew would be hard for Bruce to answer. For as long as Alfred could remember, Bruce was not an easy man to get to. Yes, Alfred was there for every time a different rouge or vigilante got under Bruce's skin. Except, they all had common traits. There were keys things that caused someone to worm their way into Bruce Wayne's brain. Key things that can also vary drastically. It was something not everyone could understand about Bruce, but Alfred does. Alfred always does.
There was always a reason for someone to join the Wayne family. Each one that Alfred had heard was a valid reason. It has always been a valid reason. Ever since Bruce walked in with Dick, Alfred knew there would always be a reason. Too many kids, too many families weren't safe. Some innocent people dealing with the aftermaths of a broken world.
Alfred would never tell Bruce his reasoning was wrong. Unless it was glaringly obvious that Bruce's motives were selfish, Alfred would happily welcome another mouth into the family. He had been unsure at first when Bruce brought a child home. Richard Grayson was far from the easiest child, but that was to be expected. Alfred tried to find his best way to make a connection with the child, which was hard considering the last time he truly dealt with a child. Until they made their connection and Dick had become Alfred's grandson.
"He has a family, Alfie... something just doesn't feel right."
There was the answer. Even if Bruce didn't want to admit it, he knew just as well as Alfred. This boy need Bruce. Whether it be the Wayne family as a whole, just Bruce, or just Batman. It didn't matter. If something didn't feel right for Bruce, than it was likely not right. Yes, Alfred will admit that sometimes his ward got paranoid. Made ant hills into mole hills.
But most of the time, especially when it came to innocent civilians, Bruce Wayne was right. If something didn't feel right, than something wasn't right. Something revolving around this boy, Danny, wasn't right. This boy needed help, even if it wasn't in the conventional term. Alfred exhaled softly, pressing a loving kiss to Bruce's temple.
Something didn't take a lot to say. That simple kiss and pat on the shoulder was enough between the two men. Alfred was proud of Bruce, always will be. Bruce's gut was one thing that Alfred was almost always willing to follow. If there is a feeling there is a reason.
"Trust your gut. Just like I trust it, B."
The parting words were like a glue, sealing the topic. Giving Bruce the impression and guidance he needed to think about the future. But for Alfred, it was his way for telling his ward that he supported him. No matter what, Alfred supported Bruce. Blood, biological, lineage, those things didn't matter. Bruce was his son. In every way of the word, Alfred's heart and mind already started viewing Bruce as his son, well before the murders.
Alfred Pennyworth has lived a full life. He had stories that made his life seem like multiple life times in one go. He wasn't a simple man, which made him perfect for the Wayne family. Just like Martha and Thomas had known. Alfred was made for this life, even if he hadn't realized it sooner. After hearing Bruce speak, Alfred couldn't help wanting to meet this Danny.
Despite that, Alfred accept that the likelihood was low. They may joke about it, but Bruce didn't take out any random possible stray he ran into. That was vented through Bruce's extremely high donations to all and any non-profit, honest charity in search for helping orphaned youth. No, this was Bruce trying to give a child the best options. Even if the Wayne family was a mess of it's own.
The night, Alfred walked away from the conversation feeling completely content with the ending. He didn't want to dictate Bruce's choices. Alfred didn't want Bruce to feel like he wanted another family member, or he didn't. Alfred likes being a neutral party for the family because it always ended well for him. He had yet to fully disagree, and he was okay with that.
When Alfred Pennyworth fell asleep that night, his mind couldn't help drifting away to the idea of this Danny.