Post by Jade4813 on Jul 11, 2012 13:27:50 GMT -5
"Master Wayne, if you insist upon spending so much time in these caves, might I suggest that it would save time if we simply closed the house and moved your furniture down here? It seems a waste to keep the Manor open if you never step foot inside of it." Alfred Pennyworth suggested in a droll fashion as he placed the breakfast tray next to Bruce's elbow. This was the fourth morning in a row that he had found Bruce down in the caves, rather than in his bed, which was where he belonged at this hour.
Bruce barely glanced in the other man's direction; he was staring at his computer screen as he waited for it to finish analyzing the chemical compound he had discovered at a crime scene the night before. "I'm all for it," he agreed. "The only reason the Manor is open to begin with is because you insist that I keep up appearances. Don't tell me you've changed your mind." Absently, he reached for a piece of toast on the tray and bit into it, grimacing slightly when he realized it was stone cold.
"It was warm when I took it up to your bedroom. You do remember that you have one?" Alfred chided him, before Bruce could say anything. "And I haven't changed my mind. Might I remind you that it's all well and good for the Bat to spend his every waking moment in pursuit of justice, but you are also a man, and that means you need the occasional good night's sleep. At least once a month or so." He paused and then added significantly, "And a social life."
The computer finished its analysis, and Bruce's lips curved in grim victory. Just as he'd thought. Compiling his evidence together, he slipped everything into an innocuous manilla envelope. Time to bring his findings to Gordon, so that the police could make their arrest. "I have a social life," he pointed out. "I have you."
Alfred's long-suffering sigh spoke volumes about the inadequacy of this response. "My heart palpitates to be of such service, sir," he replied with dry sarcasm. "I was thinking more along the lines of female companionship, actually. Miss Parker called to reschedule your date. For the fifth time. Shall I make arrangements for you, or -"
"Send her my regrets," Bruce interjected, staring at some new readouts on his computer. "Something's come up."
Alfred sighed again. It was strange how the older man could convey so much with just an exhalation of breath. "Something usually does," he admonished.
For the first time, Bruce turned fully to face his butler. In mild exasperation, he asked, "Are you a butler, Alfred, or a mother hen?"
"With you, Master Wayne, I am both," Alfred offered with a slight nod in his direction. Bruce bowed his head so that Alfred couldn't see his smile. "Which reminds me, shall I go prepare your shower, sir, or should I see if I can install some sort of hose down here, to spray you off every once in a while?"
"What?" Bruce asked, thrown by the question.
Alfred gave him a significant look and then turned to go. "You may live down here like a bat, but there's no reason you have to smell like one."
Bruce rolled his eyes to the heavens. With one last glance towards his computer screen, he capitulated and followed after his butler and oldest friend. "All right, all right, I get the point," he muttered.
The figures on the computer warranted investigation, but he knew he wouldn't get a moment's peace if he didn't give in to Alfred just a little. There would be time to look into the strange readings he'd just seen after Alfred was appeased.
---
BRUCE'S STORY CONTINUES HERE.
Bruce barely glanced in the other man's direction; he was staring at his computer screen as he waited for it to finish analyzing the chemical compound he had discovered at a crime scene the night before. "I'm all for it," he agreed. "The only reason the Manor is open to begin with is because you insist that I keep up appearances. Don't tell me you've changed your mind." Absently, he reached for a piece of toast on the tray and bit into it, grimacing slightly when he realized it was stone cold.
"It was warm when I took it up to your bedroom. You do remember that you have one?" Alfred chided him, before Bruce could say anything. "And I haven't changed my mind. Might I remind you that it's all well and good for the Bat to spend his every waking moment in pursuit of justice, but you are also a man, and that means you need the occasional good night's sleep. At least once a month or so." He paused and then added significantly, "And a social life."
The computer finished its analysis, and Bruce's lips curved in grim victory. Just as he'd thought. Compiling his evidence together, he slipped everything into an innocuous manilla envelope. Time to bring his findings to Gordon, so that the police could make their arrest. "I have a social life," he pointed out. "I have you."
Alfred's long-suffering sigh spoke volumes about the inadequacy of this response. "My heart palpitates to be of such service, sir," he replied with dry sarcasm. "I was thinking more along the lines of female companionship, actually. Miss Parker called to reschedule your date. For the fifth time. Shall I make arrangements for you, or -"
"Send her my regrets," Bruce interjected, staring at some new readouts on his computer. "Something's come up."
Alfred sighed again. It was strange how the older man could convey so much with just an exhalation of breath. "Something usually does," he admonished.
For the first time, Bruce turned fully to face his butler. In mild exasperation, he asked, "Are you a butler, Alfred, or a mother hen?"
"With you, Master Wayne, I am both," Alfred offered with a slight nod in his direction. Bruce bowed his head so that Alfred couldn't see his smile. "Which reminds me, shall I go prepare your shower, sir, or should I see if I can install some sort of hose down here, to spray you off every once in a while?"
"What?" Bruce asked, thrown by the question.
Alfred gave him a significant look and then turned to go. "You may live down here like a bat, but there's no reason you have to smell like one."
Bruce rolled his eyes to the heavens. With one last glance towards his computer screen, he capitulated and followed after his butler and oldest friend. "All right, all right, I get the point," he muttered.
The figures on the computer warranted investigation, but he knew he wouldn't get a moment's peace if he didn't give in to Alfred just a little. There would be time to look into the strange readings he'd just seen after Alfred was appeased.
---
BRUCE'S STORY CONTINUES HERE.