Little Talks [Alfred]

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The roar of the Batmobile's engine had begun to fade as it had come to a stop in the Batcave. The top of the modified car rolling forward ever so slowly to allow the driver to make his exit from the sleek yet all more intimidating vehicle. A small squish sounding from beneath his boots as they had made contact with the slippery ground below him. His cape fell over his shoulders at the Dark Knight trudged across the many platforms making up his secret hideout. Dawn had just risen and his nightly patrol was finished. The Batman could rest once more as he clicked the buttons on the side of his cowl to release it.

With a heavy groan Bruce sat himself down in front of the Batcomputer and wasted no time pulling a small sample of DNA on his utility belt. While his patrols were over - the Batman's job was never done. He'd just recently taken up a missing person's case that had suspected ties to gang related activities. He'd found this small sample of DNA back at the crime scene. A vial containing a single strand of hair laid in the Dark Knight's hand only moments before he slipped it into the analyzer and the system began to search for a match. Bruce's bloodshot eyes trailed across the screen as it continued to search and search while he was left to impatiently wait for the match to finally make it's way into the system.

But even in the few moments it had spent - none had come. This hair did not match up with anyone in his database which rose his suspicions. Just what kind of ground was the Dark Knight treading on where a piece of hair did not have a direct connection a human being? He let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hands over his face and into his thick black hair as he was left with virtually no results. He rescanned and rescanned the strand time and time again, in hopes that this was just the Batcomputer acting up. That his trail hadn't truly gone cold when a person's life had hung in the balance. He allowed his head to rest in his hand as he continued to open another file containing the surveillance taken at the scene of the crime.

His eyes scanned the recording over and over as it played on repeat. His icy blue hues taking in any and every detail they could make out as the crime scene unfolded on the screen in front of him. The captors had been clever enough to remain off camera - or from the looks of the security tape they had tinkered with it to make it seem like they hadn't been there in the first place. Like the woman who had been yanked from her home had disappeared in thin air without even the slightest trace of where she had gone and who had taken her.

Nothing went unnoticed to the Dark Knight as his eyes remained glued to the scene. Nothing including the butler who he'd seen approaching him out of the corner of his eye. "I just don't get it Alfred." He began as his hand rubbed over his chin. "How could this woman have vanished without a single trace of who took her and where...."

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For once it seemed, Master Wayne arrived back from his nightly patrols on time, not delayed by over zealous thugs. Alfred didn't need the alert that sounded to know he had returned, the roar of the Bat-mobile arriving in the undergrounds of the east wing of Wayne Manor seemed to rumble the very foundations. While inconvenient sometimes, it was a good thing the Manor was so far out of the way of the city as no-one would easily miss such a racket. At least with Master Wayne back at this hour - even if ungodly - he would get a hot meal after his trials and quite possibly medical attention. He covered the bowl of soup and the warm, fresh baked bread and coupled it with a glass of water before making his way down to the Bat-cave. He didn't need to bring a first aid kit with him, the underground layer came equipped with sophisticated medical equipment and supplies as standard. It took some going, but Alfred had become a Master at traversing the ledges and paths that lined it in the years since it's implementation. He made no attempt to silence his approach, Bruce would both know and expect him to still be up and around at this time so it would be pointless and unnecessary to keep his footsteps quiet.

As usual, Bruce could be found at the Bat-Computer though Alfred could tell from his repeated re-analysing and body tension that he was frustrated by whatever case or project he was now working on. He didn't have to ask to find out though - just as Alfred knew something was amiss, Bruce knew Alfred would eventually ask anyway and they were both long past keeping secrets from each other. Well....important secrets anyway. Alfred hadn't yet mentioned his recent hospital visit to Master Bruce - only Oracle knew and that hadn't been by the butler's choice. He had asked for her silence and discretion on the matter, but Master Bruce was a relentless force when there was something he was intent on knowing. 

Alfred glanced up at the screens as he approached, hearing Master Bruce's question, coming to a stop at his side without putting the tray down just yet. He looked over the repeating footage, modified clearly, though not in the way he suspected Master Bruce was looking at it. He raised his eyebrows with a small shake of his head before looking back to the man who he had come to see as a son over the years. While the man's eyes scanned over evidence and the puzzle before him, Alfred's looked for clues in the armour that would give him an indication his charge was injured.

"If I may, Master Wayne, in my experience people who disappear so thoroughly simply do not want to be found. With no clues left behind, it may suggest the tracks have been almost too well covered. Even untrained people have a sense of survival and would look for any opportunity to leave something behind - particularly in Gotham City. You are known for your detective skills as well as your ruthless handling of the darkest of Gotham's streets." he commented lightly before pulling out the retractable ledge from the desk to rest to tray of food on.  "One thing I do know though, sir, is that thinking is best done on a full stomach."

The meal Alfred had brought to Master Bruce was far from luxury food, but he had insisted to Alfred that he was to be on a strict diet to keep his health and fitness in top condition. If Alfred didn't stick to that without some discussion for diversion from it first, Master Bruce simply wouldn't eat what had been made. It was at least home made though, nutritious and warm against the coldness of the winter air. 

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If there was anything that frustrated the Dark Knight beyond belief - it was an unsolved case. There was just no telling where this woman had gone and what she had done to vanish. The woman in the security footage was quite literally a complete Jane Doe to the Batman as unbelievable as it was. He would go back out tomorrow night - answers were needed and he was bent on getting them as soon as possible. The gang was best known for their habits of picking up women across Gotham and forcing them into prostitution across the country. For all he knew this Jane Doe could be in the process of being shipped off as he sat here angrily watching the footage.

She was not gone. Not on his watch. He would spend his every last breath finding this woman if it meant that justice could persevere. There was no escaping the Batman - and for the gang that had the balls to take her vengeance would come in the form of a shadowy demon. His eyes trailed off from the computer and back to Alfred as the old butler spoke. Bruce's ears took in every word Alfred said. He had always been a voice of guidance for Bruce and was often the one person Bruce turned to for well..anything like he had done for so many years. He dreaded losing the man who had become like a father to him.

Not that he was suspecting Alfred's time was near and not that Alfred would ever let him of course. The butler would quite literally serve Bruce and his family to the end of time if Bruce let him. "Thank you, Alfred" He replied to the butler with a nod - thankful for both the advice and the warm food placed in front of him. He took the spoon within his hand and dipped it into the bowl. The soup's warmth a heavy contrast to the usual chill of the Batcave. Bats shuffled about overhead as Bruce continued to dig into the soup Alfred had prepared. 

His motions were a bit strained however - sore and slightly injured from the successful night of patrol. Not that he had suffered anything worth directly complaining to Alfred. If the butler saw anything worth a good patch up he was almost positive he would be drug to the small sector of the Batcave filled with medical supplies in a moment's notice. The Dark Knight set the empty bowl aside and stood up from his seat. He wasted no time walking over to where the Batsuit display was and begun to remove the night's attire.  

"I just don't want to think that i've failed her - them. The gang is known for abducting women and frankly I want to find out where they are taking them and how many are left."

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Alfred watched with some satisfaction as Master Bruce made short work of the soup he was given, a sense of relief always rising when his stubborn charge would let Alfred make sure he was eating. More than once, Master Bruce had forgone meals for snacks here and there when times were busy or particularly stressful – though usually a combination of both – and it always made Alfred worry. He had made a promise to the Wayne Family that its generations would be cared for and protected. It was bad enough Alfred saw failure in so many things during his service to the family – not protecting Thomas and Martha, not being able to pull their son from the darkness their murder had smothered him in, not being able to steer Jason Todd clear of his anger that had gotten him killed. He never spoke of it, but he felt it deeply, and it motivated his intense dedication to Master Bruce’s cause. He could not fail to keep Master Bruce alive and well on his quest for justice. Something simple as getting him to eat therefore, helped to keep that focus on track.

He let the man eat in peace, simply giving a nod and backing away to tidy some of the clutter around the cave as the silence fell between them again. Of course, Alfred hadn’t failed to notice the awkward and strained movements Master Bruce had been making in such a simple action as eating, and he gradually made his way over to the medical area. While Bruce rarely confessed to needing medical attention, he would never be able to escape Alfred’s eagle and well-trained eye. He pulled one of the smaller medical kits from the cupboard, making his intention very clear as to his next task. He looked over as the scrape of the chair moving backwards echoed through the cave, followed by Master Bruce’s words and heavy footsteps. Alfred moved to where he saw the man heading, ready to help him off with the armour and in putting it away. Close up, he would also be able to see what injuries he was looking to deal with.

“The only person who can make you feel like a failure, is you, Master Wayne. Whether you wish to accept it or not, you have limits and therefore so must Batman.” Alfred countered as he helped Master Bruce with the suit. “That being said, you have a genius level hacker and computer expert at your side, and a Robin waiting for the chance to prove himself to you. Your limits are far lengthened when you utilise the resources available to you.”

Alfred understood that Master Bruce didn’t like to ask for help, least of all from the people he mentored. But like it or not they were committed to his cause, and willing to help far more if the burden he bore would only be shared across all their shoulders. Tim was perhaps the most frustrated by it – if Master Bruce was even slightly concerned someone too dangerous was involved he simply wouldn’t let the boy get involved even though he continued to push the young man hard in his training. The fear of failure was deep rooted in him, and only seemed to have worsened after Jason’s demise and Barbara’s accident. Once the suit was away, Alfred gestured Bruce towards the medical portion of the cave.

“Perhaps you may even come back your normal colour instead of blue and purple if you did.” He commented with a raised eyebrow, already having caught a glimpse of the deep bruising once more blotching Master Bruce’s skin.

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Bruce unclipped the utility belt from his costume - setting it on the display to move onto the remaining chunks. Failure wasn't acceptable. Not when the lives of the innocent hung in the balance. No. The Batman stood for too much for him to fail this woman. The Batman in truth would spend his every dying breath tracking her down and serving whatever justice she deserved. That was perhaps what was eating at him most as he lifted the batsuit's chestpiece over his head. He didn't know the victim's condition, her whereabouts, he didn't even know if there was a victim to begin with. Just a blank slate for the detective to vomit various theories on.

He stared at the batsymbol proudly displayed on the chestpiece as Alfred replied. Although his eyes were avoidign the butler's gaze - his words were not certainly falling on deaf ears. No. Far from it. Alfred had always been a voice of reason, of advice to Bruce. Ever since he was a boy and his father had stepped out of the picture Alfred had stepped in. He had stepped in and shared with Bruce the wisdom only he could offer. He'd kept Bruce calm, safe, sane.  Bruce was no doubt in debt to the butler for all he had done for him and the family they had come to acquire. Alfred understood Bruce more than he understood himself quite honestly.

He'd seen the cocoon form around the orphaned Wayne only for the Dark Knight to emerge out of it. He'd seen the fear rising within Bruce following the things he couldn't help. The things he failed. Jason. Barbara. Both of them had something taken from them from the monster he created. He'd failed to save them both from something he could have and it ate him up at his core. He'd felt the familiar sting of failure before. Not again. Never again. He would not let this woman fade away like the tapes made it seem.

"Thank you, Alfred." Bruce spoke, eyes glancing down to the elder as went about his usual check-up. But just as well as Alfred could read Bruce - Bruce could read Alfred. Not that he would ever voice his suspicions but he could feel them. An elephant in the room that neither were willing to address.  Something he wanted to question but knew he was better off leaving it alone.