"Long meeting, Master Bruce?" Alfred didn't need to turn from his work as he finished cleaning the kitchen counter to know it was Bruce who'd slunk in so late. He could recognize all his wards (his children) by their footsteps.
Bruce's sigh was tired. "If you can even call it a meeting." He came to a stop next to Alfred. "Sorry I missed dinner."
"Perhaps it was for the best tonight," Alfred allowed with a smirk. "Your newest relationship was quite the talk among the children."
Bruce groaned and rolled his eyes. "Not you too, Alfred."
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're implying," he said smoothly. With the granite sparkling, he tucked his rag into the waistband of his apron. "I'll warm up your dinner now if you've still got an appetite, Master Bruce."
"Thanks," the other man replied, settling himself down on one of the bar stools. That was a relatively new behavior, one he had picked up from the children as they preferred the casual nature of the kitchen to the dining room unless there was a large group. He sat quietly as Alfred prepared his food, neither of them needing to fill the silence with words.
Bruce nodded his thanks when Alfred set his full plate and utensils down, along with a napkin– it was never too late at night for proper manners.
"I would assume the meeting was, shall we say, 'karma' enough for leaking said list?"
Bruce glanced up at him, eyes dark. Alfred had raised him though, and he could see the amusement nestled in his gaze.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're implying," he echoed Alfred's earlier words, lips curling in a smirk.
Alfred chuckled lightly as he turned back to his tasks in the kitchen. "As you say, Master Bruce." There were many dishes that needed cleaning, after all.
A/N: You know that one "Coffee Pot Mystery" scene from Parks and Rec? Yeah this was always how the fic was going to end haha. I hope you enjoyed this side quest!