KilroywasNOTHere
"BEEP!"
Alfred frantically wiped the sweat of his brow as he dusted every nook and cranny of Wayne Manor. At this point cleaning was practically therapy for him. It was about the only thing he could do to cope with the death of his employer and best friend. He hadn't had a good night sleep since that day. Every night when he put his on the pillow, he could see the scenario play over and over again. If only he had been with them that day. had he been there with them perhaps he could have been the one to take the bullet and given them time to flee. Maybe he would have died, but they could have lived...and Master Bruce would still have his parents.
But he wasn't there, he didn't take the bullet, and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne were forever sleeping in Gotham City Cemetery. Master Bruce moved away after his parents' death, and once he came of age, he ran off to join the army. There wasn't a single day that went by where Alfred wasn't biting his nails. He dreaded the idea of Bruce being caught in a combat situation. As much as he tried to tell himself that Bruce could take care of himself, that his uncle would give him everything he needed to keep himself safe, he always dreaded the day where the doorbell would ring, and he would receive that letter reading That Bruce Wayne Son of Thomas and Martha Wayne was Killed In Action. Till that time though, Alfred would keep the place clean. Waiting for the day that Bruce would come home
Ding Dong
Alfred raised an eyebrow. At least once a week, someone from some sort of organization would knock at the gates and ask for a handout, sorry donation for whatever new cause came up. In fact, in his mind they were all starting to blend together.
Ringing the doorbell directly however, that was new, especially given the fact that one would need a key to unlock the gate. Alfred slowly inched toward the door and slowly turned the knob. his muscles tensed as his fight or flight instincts started to kick in. He made a note to himself. If someone with raggy clothes appeared at the door, he would shut the door in their face and call the police.
"I'm afraid we aren't available for any charities or benefits at this..."
Alfred stopped mid sentence as he saw a young man in a marine uniform. His heart jumped to his throat. His body tensed. Had his worst fear come to pass? His voice dropped off, almost turning into a meek whisper.
"I beg your pardon officer, how may I help you."
The young man removed his hat. "Excuse me is this a residence of Bruce Wayne?"
Alfred felt his mouth turn dry. His voice started to crack.
"Yes...might I inquire who's asking?"
The young man's lips started to form into a grin. "Bruce Wayne."
Alfred let out a gasp, his eyes started to water as he gave the biggest smile he ever gave in his life.
"Master Wayne?"
"Hey Alfred."
Alfred let out a joyful laugh as he embraced the young man in a bearhug. "Oh it's so good to see you. Look at you, such a strapping young man. If your mother and father could see you in that uniform they'd be so proud."
Bruce gave Alfred one more hug. "Alfred buddy, I'm just happy to be home. May I come in?"
"Well I would hope so. You are the master of the house Afterall."
Bruce steeped into his childhood home and felt his breath leave him. "Wow, it's just like I remember it."
Alfred puffed his chest out a little bit. "I tried keeping it as true to form as I could. Now, can I interest you in any refreshments, Coffee, sandwiches?"
"Coffee would be great, thank you."
"Right away Master Bruce."
Alfred happily hummed to himself, Bruce carefully packed his uniform and took in his surroundings. After his parents died, he had went to live with his uncle Jacob Kane, while it was still in Gotham, Jacob's working class apartment was a far cry to the luxury of Wayne Manor. It definitely gave him a new perspective on life. Though technically he was one of the richest men in the world, he was no high class socialite, and he was no politician like his father. Living with the working class, he quickly realized that most of Gotham's enemies were not from outside but the inside.
Still, this was his home and it was good to be back Alfred came in with the coffee. "Is there anything I can help you with Master Bruce."
"No thanks Al, I can manage myself."
a hour or so later, Alfred cleaned up the kitchen when he suddenly heard the TV in Bruce's old room began to play. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized what it was that was playing. Sure enough, as he opened the door he saw Bruce staring intently into the TV with his fingers to his chin. The footage of "Live! With Murray Franklin." began to play.
"Oh, how I wish you wouldn't play that." Alfred said. "Such a sick horrible man."
"Was his right Alfred?" Bruce asked.
"I beg your pardon?" Alfred asked.
"When we first met. Alfred Fleck claimed he was dad's son."
Alfred cocked his head to the side. "You remember that?"
Bruce nodded. "Was dad having an affair with Penny Fleck?"
Alfred let out a sigh. "Master Bruce, Penny Fleck was a mentally ill woman with schizophrenic and narcissistic tendencies. She wasn't even Arthur's biological mother."
"And you're positive that Dad didn't forge her records to hide the fact that he was having an affair?"
"Of-of course Master Bruce."
Bruce gave a reassuring but sad smile. "Alfred, I know my dad wasn't a saint, but if he did something bad...you'd tell me, wouldn't you?"
Alfred gave a bit of a nervous smile. "Of course Bruce."
Bruce didn't buy it, but he was willing to let it go...for now.
"Alright, in the mean time I think I'd like to spend Dinner with Carmine. I have some business to discuss."
Alfred grinned. "Are you sure you're not looking for an excuse to see a certain young lady."
"Alfred you know me so well."
"Shall I drive you sir?"
"No thanks Alfred, I got this."
"Everything will be in order when you get back. Have fun, but not too much fun."
With that, Bruce smiled bided his goodbye and then left. There would be much to discuss with "The Roman" Indeed.
But he wasn't there, he didn't take the bullet, and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne were forever sleeping in Gotham City Cemetery. Master Bruce moved away after his parents' death, and once he came of age, he ran off to join the army. There wasn't a single day that went by where Alfred wasn't biting his nails. He dreaded the idea of Bruce being caught in a combat situation. As much as he tried to tell himself that Bruce could take care of himself, that his uncle would give him everything he needed to keep himself safe, he always dreaded the day where the doorbell would ring, and he would receive that letter reading That Bruce Wayne Son of Thomas and Martha Wayne was Killed In Action. Till that time though, Alfred would keep the place clean. Waiting for the day that Bruce would come home
Ding Dong
Alfred raised an eyebrow. At least once a week, someone from some sort of organization would knock at the gates and ask for a handout, sorry donation for whatever new cause came up. In fact, in his mind they were all starting to blend together.
Ringing the doorbell directly however, that was new, especially given the fact that one would need a key to unlock the gate. Alfred slowly inched toward the door and slowly turned the knob. his muscles tensed as his fight or flight instincts started to kick in. He made a note to himself. If someone with raggy clothes appeared at the door, he would shut the door in their face and call the police.
"I'm afraid we aren't available for any charities or benefits at this..."
Alfred stopped mid sentence as he saw a young man in a marine uniform. His heart jumped to his throat. His body tensed. Had his worst fear come to pass? His voice dropped off, almost turning into a meek whisper.
"I beg your pardon officer, how may I help you."
The young man removed his hat. "Excuse me is this a residence of Bruce Wayne?"
Alfred felt his mouth turn dry. His voice started to crack.
"Yes...might I inquire who's asking?"
The young man's lips started to form into a grin. "Bruce Wayne."
Alfred let out a gasp, his eyes started to water as he gave the biggest smile he ever gave in his life.
"Master Wayne?"
"Hey Alfred."
Alfred let out a joyful laugh as he embraced the young man in a bearhug. "Oh it's so good to see you. Look at you, such a strapping young man. If your mother and father could see you in that uniform they'd be so proud."
Bruce gave Alfred one more hug. "Alfred buddy, I'm just happy to be home. May I come in?"
"Well I would hope so. You are the master of the house Afterall."
Bruce steeped into his childhood home and felt his breath leave him. "Wow, it's just like I remember it."
Alfred puffed his chest out a little bit. "I tried keeping it as true to form as I could. Now, can I interest you in any refreshments, Coffee, sandwiches?"
"Coffee would be great, thank you."
"Right away Master Bruce."
Alfred happily hummed to himself, Bruce carefully packed his uniform and took in his surroundings. After his parents died, he had went to live with his uncle Jacob Kane, while it was still in Gotham, Jacob's working class apartment was a far cry to the luxury of Wayne Manor. It definitely gave him a new perspective on life. Though technically he was one of the richest men in the world, he was no high class socialite, and he was no politician like his father. Living with the working class, he quickly realized that most of Gotham's enemies were not from outside but the inside.
Still, this was his home and it was good to be back Alfred came in with the coffee. "Is there anything I can help you with Master Bruce."
"No thanks Al, I can manage myself."
a hour or so later, Alfred cleaned up the kitchen when he suddenly heard the TV in Bruce's old room began to play. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized what it was that was playing. Sure enough, as he opened the door he saw Bruce staring intently into the TV with his fingers to his chin. The footage of "Live! With Murray Franklin." began to play.
"Oh, how I wish you wouldn't play that." Alfred said. "Such a sick horrible man."
"Was his right Alfred?" Bruce asked.
"I beg your pardon?" Alfred asked.
"When we first met. Alfred Fleck claimed he was dad's son."
Alfred cocked his head to the side. "You remember that?"
Bruce nodded. "Was dad having an affair with Penny Fleck?"
Alfred let out a sigh. "Master Bruce, Penny Fleck was a mentally ill woman with schizophrenic and narcissistic tendencies. She wasn't even Arthur's biological mother."
"And you're positive that Dad didn't forge her records to hide the fact that he was having an affair?"
"Of-of course Master Bruce."
Bruce gave a reassuring but sad smile. "Alfred, I know my dad wasn't a saint, but if he did something bad...you'd tell me, wouldn't you?"
Alfred gave a bit of a nervous smile. "Of course Bruce."
Bruce didn't buy it, but he was willing to let it go...for now.
"Alright, in the mean time I think I'd like to spend Dinner with Carmine. I have some business to discuss."
Alfred grinned. "Are you sure you're not looking for an excuse to see a certain young lady."
"Alfred you know me so well."
"Shall I drive you sir?"
"No thanks Alfred, I got this."
"Everything will be in order when you get back. Have fun, but not too much fun."
With that, Bruce smiled bided his goodbye and then left. There would be much to discuss with "The Roman" Indeed.