Behind the Mask [Alfred]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

The last few days had just put Nightwing into a spin. He did the work he needed to get done, but his mind was no where near set on what it should be. Not even on the day job patrolling the streets. After his argument with Arsenal, and the news of what Kory had been going through....his mind just wasn't set at that time.

For the first time in several weeks, he had been by Kory's side for sometime during his down time or when he would usually be training. After hearing the news that she had been keeping from him. The reality was hitting him hard.

He was just trying to be there for Kory. It was easy to tell what had happened was taking a tole on her. Though he hadn't exactly make it easy for her to tell him herself. The fight with Roy brought it to his attention. And that was that he was blindsiding himself over other things and was not even noticing when something was wrong with Kory.

It was early enough that Bruce would still be in town taking care of some late meetings or just something for the gossip line to dribble on about. The nice thing about it getting closer to winter was that it got dark earlier.

So, he could go out as Nightwing rather early that night to get to the Batcave. Not that he should or needed to be there. He just needed to clear his head. He thought by going there, he might actually be able to find some more information on the case he had taken on. Though he knew he had gotten extra time because of the mishap with the team. Yet maybe Batman had some information on the computers on linked activities that he might be able to spot.

Nightwing had pulled in on his motorcycle and had gone straight to the computers. He wasn't sure if he would run into anyone this early on in the evening though.

He had plenty of time to get what he would need before someone might show up. Removing his mask for the time being, Dick started to type away at the computer. Pulling up several files. His mind started to wander off.

With his elbows on the armrests, he leaned forward. Resting his chin on the pyramid he forward with his hands, he sat and thought.

What would have happened is she still was? It would change everything. He was still wondering how she was taking it, even after they talked. He had been more concerned for her being around her of course. He wanted to comfort here.

Though now being by himself again and away from work, he was reflecting on his own thoughts. The changes and perhaps the fears he had over the issues that were to come.

His mind was just running a mile a minute. Even the computer wasn't enough to keep his attention. Talking with Kory helped, but he didn't want to get her upset more than she already was over the matters. And Roy...well, Dick still needed some time to bring it to his attention just what went wrong with the mission he was working on.

They never got to end their fight. But he was level headed enough at this time to just explain it rather than being cryptic.

How long he had been at that computer, staring at the same screen image was beyond him. The sound of footstep approaching wasn't even enough to draw his attention. He was lost in deep thought.

[Deleted]

Dinner was coming along nicely, right on schedule, and as long as some mad man didn't do anything unconscionable tonight; Bruce would be on time to eat something unmicrowaved for once. There was little chance of that happening but an old man could dream. It would be unprecedented, Alfred thought that he would have to mark that event on his calendar if it were to happen. Just thinking that, he was sure however, would jinx any chance of that occurring tonight.

Somedays he thought about starting dinner at a later hour. A more suitable to a bat's feeding time hour but the day he'd do that would be the one day that Master Bruce decided to come home early with an appetite.

Alfred left the kitchen to begin to draw the curtains that hung next to the long windows throughout the manor. It looked like a nice night out, he observed as he drew the velvet curtains closed smoothly, nice for Gotham that is. There were little hints of grey clouds and pinprick of stars struggling to be seen through the city's lights. He imagined the lights in the inner city parks were turning on just now and naive tourists were taking their children to the open (under-secure and under-staffed) skating rinks...



The butler entered the mouth of the stair well that descended down into the cave, draped in darkness. These often slick and narrow stairs would be dangerous if he didn't know them so well. The sound of typing that floated up. Alfred was surprised by this. Was Master Bruce home early? How unexpected--Oh.

A brief pause in thought as the nearest parts of the cave became visible to him. Alfred continued down the windy stairs. Illuminated by the computer's pale light wasn't Bruce but young Richard.

As he came to the landing, made of both artificial concrete and cavernous rock, Alfred thought about tapping the boy on the shoulder; he looked so lost in thought but the young sir also looked tense and Alfred knew very well how good the lad's reflexes were. Getting a jump out of someone who might just accidentally toss you just wasn't worth it.

He stopped about five paces away from the computer chair containing the young man and said; "Master Richard, I do so wish you would call ahead before dropping in for dinner."

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Lost in his own thoughts it actually took him a moment to register the voice that was coming from behind him. He had actually be that lost that he hadn't even noticed the footsteps getting closer.

Dick was better than that, he would have been able to call him as he was coming down the stairs. He could even call out Bruce before he got to close. Then again, it was rare for anyone to call Bruce out when he wanted to go unnoticed.

This was a clear sign that there was something else rather than work on his mind. That was also considering he had been studying the same images and text on the screens before him.

"Oh, sorry Alfred...must have slipped my mind," Dick replied at first.

Ok, there was definitely something off when Dick didn't respond with a wise comeback over Alfred's greeting. It was just usually Dick's way of saying hello. Dick usually carried a rather cheerful type of banter with the people closest to him.

Not saying thing to disrespect of course. At least never towards Alfred. To Bruce...it depended on what was going on between the two at the time. But from Dick a usual response would have been saying maybe something along the lines of, I thought my postcard would have gotten here before I would. Or, I'll make sure to send an email or a text next time.

Those type of remarks always were followed by a slight smile. It was just Dick's nature to joke around. He liked to keep the mood cheerful. But this evening was out of the sorts.

His words reflected his concentration was else where. It was only a moment later that he dropped his arms and sat up straight in the chair now. He switched the one screen, but he showed no real interest in it's contents.

Turning slightly away from the computer, Dick hadn't forgotten to show some type of manners towards the old butler.

By his appearance alone, it wouldn't be too noticeable at first that he had been lacking sleep. Maybe a matter of about two days...or maybe three. Either that or lack of hours during the night. The slight neglect to shave that morning was a bit off as well. He was pulling the rough look that evening.

[Deleted]

Alfred was surprised at how long it took the young Richard to respond to him. He was sure the young master was surprised as well. Whatever he was working on must have been consuming him something terribly for him to be that inattentive. Alfred was sure that if Master Bruce has been there he would have scolded the boy for it, in a lighthearted way surely--a thing only he and Dick and a rare few others would detect in his voice. Bruce hadn't said that the young master would be around tonight (not that this would have been the first time Bruce kept Alfred out of the loop). It could have just been that he was here on his own. It didn't matter either way, Alfred was happy that he had dropped by even though Dick looked rather dreadful.

His eyes went up to the computer screen to whatever it was that Dick was working on before looking back down to the boy. The young man sitting in that computer chair; looking as tired and completely worn as his surrogate father Master Bruce. In that respects, the boy was in no uncertain terms like Alfred's grandson. And not that he would admit that kind of thing, but he thought that more of Dick than any of the other Robins and Batgirls Bruce unceremoniously adopted.
 
The old man blinked, of course he had been blinking the entire time as one's eyelids tend to do, but this blink was more of a response to Richard's uncharacteristic response. Master Richard was always so quick witted, even at inappropriate times so the lack of any youthful one-liners took him aback. Was he ill? He certainly looked it.

"That's quite alright, young sir, I'd be careful with a slippery mind. You might just fall..." That was a terrible joke, and Alfred knew it. (One of them have to lighten the mood in this gloomy cavernous place) Better hurry right along, "May I inquire as what it is that you're working on so diligently?"

Alfred realised that he had been mistaken. Richard was not caught in extreme concentration; not, at least, to what he was doing on the computer. Is body language read: Going through the motions. Just like Master Bruce when a case was particularly befuddling or troubling. Alfred wanted to ask what was trouble the lad. well these things were better off handled in a strategic manner. He doubted a young man like Dick would want obvious prying. These things had to come out on their own.
 

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick gave a slight smile to Alfred's comment. "Maybe we should put up the caution wet floor signs up around here," Dick replied.

A slight go at the humor form him. But the slightest smile soon faded as fast as it appeared. His mind tracking back to his thoughts again.

Though he gave Alfred as much of his time as he could. He wanted to make his mind off his worries as much as he could.

When Alfred made reference to a case, Dick turned slightly to look back to the computer. He had completely zoned out for the time and had forgotten just what he really had been doing in the first place.

"I was just digging up some old files from past cases. It seems a lot of our old friends have been appearing again in the underworld of crime," Dick said.

One case he in particularly had on mind, he did not have files for. But he had files on a CEO member of a local company. And a few more of other people no so well known in the criminal world. At least the ones shut down from the start.

His mind slightly flickering to life over the discussion of a case he was working on. And he couldn't help but wonder about someone else looking up possible the same information.

"Not that it's my place to ask, but has Bruce looked into the current competition again the Wayne company," Dick asked.

This was his way of pushing a way from his former thoughts. Though it would all loop back eventually. A lot of things were hitting home with him. It was all a matter of what questions were asked and how he might try to dodge them.

[Deleted]

Alfred exhaled through his nose at Master Richard's weaker than usual banter, "Quite."

He said simply as he saw the young master's smile fade from his face. The weight of the world and all its woes replaced the temporary lift in expression. This new look, it didn't suit his youthful face at all. Alfred thought briefly about when the young man before him was just a boy. It often felt like it was only yesterday that Dick was running around the Batcave, not a care in the world even though they were going out every night to undertake dangerous feats of vigilantece, in that garish, outlandish outfit. My God, Alfred thought, how long ago was that, now? How far they've all come--to this inconceivable place in their lives, down this dark and twisted, winding path like the paths that twisted through the very cave they were in.

Alfred turned his attention to the monitor briefly while Dick explained what he was up to. He wasn't surprised that criminals were re-offending. That's all they ever seemed to do. If only they stayed in place after being caught, it would save everyone the hassle, certainly. At least it made Dick sound a little livelier when talking about the case, which was worrisome. Next he'd be asking Master Bruce for the batcrowl and cape.

"Not to my knowledge, Master Richard," Unless it was something extremely serious that's not something Bruce would feel the need to confined in Alfred; not directly anyway. He tried to recall any offhanded comments about such a thing but couldn't draw anything from his memories about it, "I'll be sure to ask him when he returns tonight, you're free to ask him yourself if you plan to stay until he arrives," The old man paused, "Forgive my forwardness, but as elusive as Master Bruce is I'm sure you would have no trouble finding him. Its not the first time a case has interrupted a faux  board meeting or a late night charade party," Another pause, this time longer than the first as though he was mulling over what exactly to say next, "What's really on your mind, young sir? If I may, pouring over files at night really isn't your style."

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Alfred's answer reflected much of what the bat-family was left to...in the dark. If Bruce had something important to say, he wouldn't say it until it was a possible threat to others.

Though this matter of the new competition against the Wayne company showed a bit of interest into the affairs of Bruce Wayne's work. Maybe it would give off a hint of interest in the business. Though that was unlikely for Dick.

He mainly kept to himself when it came to work. Finding a job as a police officer by day and a vigilante by night. Though the question out raise alarm to note that he might have information that had not yet reach Gotham. Or in other words, the ears of the Batman.

"I've got work in my own city to attend to tonight," Dick replied. A clear sign that he might actually be trying to keep this information from Bruce's ears. And that he had just been digging for possible information.

Alfred was the only one he went to when it came to talking about Bruce in ways. Maybe just a note that he still didn't like to admit to coming back to the cave every once in a while.

And when it came to Tim, Dick rather just enjoy the time with the youngest member of the Bat-family. He knew after all what it was like working with Bruce. And knew the kid could use a break every now and again from the serious tones and tension of critical work.

The long pause between the two was deafening. A drop of water falling from a stalactite would have been heard in the far off distance.

Dick's mind was wheeling with thoughts. Stress and pressure. Maybe it was put n by others, but it was mainly made up of what he had taken on himself. The responsibilities of protecting others, his teammates, his family, friends...always thinking of himself last when it came to the list. Then again, something were just to personal. He had a way of getting close to people. Call it a gift or a curse, but that was him.

And there was one person or rather alien he had been noticeably close with as of late. Alfred's next question was hitting the nail on the head. He knew him too well. Dick only buried himself in work to forget other more personal things. Taking down those problems by putting up walls. It was what he had always been taught.

But this was Dick Grayson. He wasn't Bruce. He was more open when he wanted to be. And at this point, he needed to confide in someone his thoughts. Thoughts he wouldn't dare repeat to just want one.

Thoughts he cursed himself for thinking. Selfish thoughts. Thoughts he felt would further push those closest to him away, more so than he already had been doing.

Dick leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. Bringing his hands to run through his hair as he leaned forward. Lowering his head to look at the ground in a way. Lightly spiking his hair as he didn't look up at first.

Almost seeming to be fighting over the choice of whether or not he should tell Alfred what was going on. All the thoughts running through his head again. His fingers ruffled his hair as he shook his head. His eyes clenched shut as he mulled over the idea.

He had been running from it for a matter of days. Isolating himself from everyone around him. Reverting to what he knew best.

It was finally the breaking point. No one else knew beside maybe Roy from the beginning. Dick needed to confide in someone other than one of his close friends or even Kory. A fear of the reaction he might get for his thoughts. And Alfred stood at the knowing end of life and the decisions one made.

Dick mumbled at first in a low tone. "Alright," a sign of surrender to something. Possible just the inner demons plaguing him. As much as he usually belabor the point, he wasn't himself that night. And he was finally breaking away from his minds own attacks to say something to someone.

"Kory was pregnant," Dick finally said out. Not much weight lifting off his shoulders after that. A clear definition on the past-tense of the conversation. His left hand dropped from his head as he had leaned his head up for a moment and brought it back down to look at the floor again.

"She did not tell me until after the miscarriage," Dick said.

There in itself was a clear sign that even Kory had been afraid to make mention of the subject. Maybe a fear they both held over each other. Commitment for Dick and the wishes Kory wanted, but knew that something like this would possible drive Dick away.

It was the thoughts that came from this that plagued him. Not just the commitment, but the responsibilities. He was still young, just beginning a career in Bludhaven and a new identity as a vigilante. Sure that was a good part of it. But there were more fears underlying these. Along the lines of his fear and worries over Kory as well.

A curse of caring to much for others. Or as Kory would call it a gift.