This Should Be Quite Interesting

Alfred Pennyworth. Butler of Wayne Manor and general caretaker of the entirety of the Wayne family. You could say I've seen it all.

[babsnary-code-deactivated201610]

“Alfred!” she yelped, quickly putting the weapon away and placing her hands over her mouth to hide her look of shock. Oh, god. She’d attacked him. Not for the first time and, probably, not for the last. It was an unfortunate side-effect of being a member of the Wayne clan; they were all stealthy and paranoid. Fists often flew before words could be comprehended. She made a mental note to work on it as she approached the older man to make sure he was okay. “I’m so sorry,” she finally said, lowering her hands, “with him out there, I’m still paranoid that…” A pause. “It doesn’t matter. Please, come in!” 

Barbara wheeled her chair backward into the apartment and veered off to the side in order to allow him entrance into the unit. If he should accept, she would close the door behind him and not-so-subtly eye the food he’d brought with him. She’d had to learn to cook at a young age since her father was always out on patrol, but nothing could beat Alfred. He was like a wizard; amazing at everything he put his mind to.

The first thing she did was head into the kitchen to get ice in the event that there was swelling where she’d hit him. She returned with ice wrapped in a dish-cloth and handed it to him sheepishly. “You remembered,” she remarked with a genuine smile, “thank you. You didn’t have to bring me anything… But I’ll bet it beats pre-fixed leftovers.”

[alfredtpennyworth]

He knew Bruce trained the kids he brought in well, but holy hell did that smack hurt. Alfred would remember to be impressed when the throbbing stopped. “Nothing to worry about, Ms. Gordon,” The butler assured, shifting the tupperware down so he could get a good look at Barbara. He hasn’t seen her in awhile, and he needed to make sure she was looking healthy. While everyone was on edge with the Joker running loose, he knew that Barbara was one of the most nervous about him. “I completely understand.” 

Barbara was one of the members of the family he wanted to keep close to home, he has a room at the ready for if she ever said she wanted to stay at the penthouse, just as he has for Dick and for Jason. When invited, he made himself at home in her kitchen, leaving the small and expertly wrapped box on the table. If she noticed it when he was here or not, that was fine. He just wanted to make sure she knew that Alfred was thinking of her. 

Scoffing good naturedly, Alfred shook his head. “As if I could ever forget,” He started organizing the containers and setting the biggest one aside. “I made your favorite, and managed to get the cake out of the penthouse before the boys found it.” He said. The butler stopped what he was doing, and gave Barbara a look that said really? “You didn’t have to bring me anything, she says,” He said in a stage whisper as if he was talking to someone else. “Of course I did. Now while I warm these up, why don’t you tell me how you’e been. Is New York treating you nicely?”

[alfredtpennyworth]

[babsnary-code-deactivated201610]

It was Barbara’s worst nightmare in the flesh.

She should have known better than to believe that Joker would not make an appearance at the event; he probably believed it glorified his horrific acts and saw it as an opportunity to shine. There was no one left for her to contact by way of her database; everyone was there. Everyone… And she believed that Joker knew this as well. She wanted to reach for her gun or her taser - anything, really - but the version of her which had been paralyzed by this man’s bullet seemed to halt her movements entirely. She was completely frozen. Helpless. And she hated herself for it, especially when the first bomb went off.

The force of the blast sent her out of her chair. She landed on the now-cracked marble flooring and rolled for several more feet before coming to a final stop by one of the pillars. Barbara was disoriented, and the ringing in her ears overwhelmed her senses, so she did not hear the first of what Joker had to say as he began to speak. Instead, she searched for her clutch, which contained her phone and weapons.

Just out of reach.

“Damn it,” she breathed. Her eyes sought out the exits and the guards were preoccupied with those attempting to leave. This was her shot. Barbara used what little force she had left to drag herself toward the bag, stopping only when an explosive playing card was set off near her hand. She hissed and placed her hands on top of her head, unsure if it was a warning shot or simply a coincidence. Either way… It was too close. The smoke resulting from the small explosion entered her lungs, and she instantly felt weary. The chemical composition of the explosive likely had something to do with her current state, she realized… As her eyes were closing. Just five more minutes. She’d be fine.

Barbara had no idea how long she bobbed between conscious and unconscious states before she felt someone grabbing at her shoulder. She was slow to react, which worked in the man’s favor; she couldn’t strike before realizing who it was.

“The hell are you doing here?” she asked, both relieved and worried to see Alfred, “He could still be nearby you shouldn’t-…” Yeah, like he was going to listen to her, anyway. Barbara, having come to terms with this, wrapped her smaller hand around his wrist and attempted to shift into a sitting position; rather hard to accomplish when one’s legs didn’t work. “My chair,” she stated, “you see it? Or my bag? I can probably deploy the fire suppression systems remotely if I get my-” She paused to cough. “My stuff.”

[alfredtpennyworth]

His concern and desperation to help everyone switched gears the second he saw Barbara. The paralyzed bat girl was without a chair, on the ground away from all her belongings. Going straight into his over protective grandfather mode. Waiting for her to be conscious, Alfred wasted no time in taking her hand and scooping her up into his arms, carrying her to the hallway, where the smoke was dissipating and where he knew he could set her down comfortably. 

“It’s lovely to see you too, Ms Gordon,” Alfred said, pulling his handkerchief out of his pocket and holding it out to her. “Cover your mouth and nose, I don’t know how much more smoke there will be.” He ignored her question until they were out of the room and into the hallway, taking steps far away from the room until he found a bench to set her down. “When I saw the news, I knew that my entire family needed help. Who would I be to just sit and let this happen.” He said.

Alfred’s voice was slightly strained. Hew as getting older, and the smoke he had inhaled was affecting him more than it usually would. “Your chair. And your bag. Got it,” He said, standing up and turning to return. Before he ran back in he turned around. “Stay here Barbara. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He said before disappearing into the smoke filled room. 

Keeping his jacket over his nose and mouth, he weaved through groups of people, those being checked on by heroes and other better off civilians as the NYPDs emergency team finally began to get through the confusion to the main room. Barbara’s chair. That was his first job. It wasn’t very hard to find an abandoned wheelchair in the commotion, especially with how high tech Barbara’s chair had become. The bag was a bit more difficult, but he’s started to familiarize himself with the types of bags the bats use to conceal weapons and the rest of their belongings, and he swiped her bag off the floor as he made his way out, wheeling the chair in front of him. 

The butler returned to Barbara in record time. Setting the chair in front of her, he offered her a hand, and smiled as much as he could. “Your carriage, my lady,” he said, extending a hand to help her into it.

[alfredtpennyworth]

’ We’re a broken family, aren’t we? ’

LILO & STITCH QUOTES STARTER PROMPTS.

Alfred had become used to this almost nightly ritual of having to clean up the members of the Wayne family, however he wasn’t used to having to get out the materials to stitch them back up - that was a monthly thing at most - yet here he was, standing over Tim who sat on a silver table that looked like it belonged in a morgue instead of a secret room in Bruce Wayne’s penthouse, stitching him back up.

Working slowly and carefully, Alfred had a lens clipped onto his glasses, magnifying the bleeding section of Tim that needed to be sewed back together. He knew better than to ask questions of how the injuries were procured. He just needed to either turn on the news or wait. He preferred the second option. The butler liked knowing that the Wayne’s trusted him enough to tell him. 

The question posed to him wasn’t what he was expecting to hear however. The question hung in the air as Alfred completed the final stitch and set his instruments down before going to get an ace bandage to wrap around the area. When he made eye contact with the young heir finally, Alfred had a look in his eyes that he wasn’t sure was either grief or sorrow. 

“I think,” he said finally, as he began to wrap the bandage around Tim’s wound. “That you can’t identify something like that as broken, Timothy,” Alfred exhaled before continuing. “The world has been nothing but awful to you, sir. You and your brothers and Bruce himself, and I’ve been privy to these awful things first hand. So I think that the family was created by broken means. But nothing about us is broken, I can promise you that. Now dysfunctional? Maybe,” The butler couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“But I find this family to be the most functional dysfunctional family I’ve ever seen. And when we’re around, Tim,” He said, setting the rest of the bandage roll aside and looking the teen straight in the face. “You’re never going to be alone. Is that clear?” His tone was firm, but the grandfatherly lilt in his voice that the entire answer held stayed the way it was. He loved the Waynes, the entire batfamily as they have called themselves time and time again, and Alfred refused to let anything keep him from keeping them safe. 

[cluelessrebel1988]

A butler does not eavesdrop. He discretely overhears.

Alfred Pennyworth (via cluelessrebel1988)

[stuupidhead]

◆ —— LILO & STITCH QUOTES STARTER PROMPTS.

’ Why are you all wet? ‘ 

’ Aloha! ’

’ You’re vile. You’re foul. You’re flawed. ‘ 

’ Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. ’

’ If you want to leave, you can. I’ll remember you, though. ’

’ I remember everyone that leaves. ’

’ You! You’re the cause of all this. ’

’ This is my family. I found it all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Ya. Still good. ’

’ Oh, good! My dog found the chainsaw. ’

’ No more caffeine for you. ’

’ Did you lose your job because of me? ‘ 

’ The managers a vampire. He wanted me to join his legion of the undead. ’

’ Trust me, this isn’t gonna end well. ’

’ I’m sorry I bit you. And pulled your hair. And punched you in the face. ’

’ GIve us a sign you understand any of this. ’

’ Show us that there is something inside you that is good. ’

’ I didn’t teach him that. ’

’ Come on, what’s the big deal? ’

’ Leave my mother out of this. ’

’ You are such a pain. ’

’ Then why don’t you sell me and buy me a rabbit instead? ’

’ I hate it when you use Ohana against me. ’

’ I’m lost. ’

’ Don’t interact with her. ’

’ Oh, we can’t do that. Uh-uh. That would be a misuse of resources. ’

’ Why do you act so weird? ’

’ You look familiar. ’

’ We’re a broken family, aren’t we? ’

’ I shouldn’t have yelled at you. ’

’ You are built to destroy. You can never belong. ’

’ We need something that can defend itself. Something that won’t die. ’

’ I hear you cry at night. ’

’ Do you dream about them? ’

’ You came back. ’

’ Nobody gets left behind. ’

’ I need someone to be my friend. Someone who won’t run away. ' 

’ His destructive programming is taking effect. ’

’ Did you ever kill anyone? ’

’ Are you.. happy? ’

’ I am the one they call when things go wrong and things have, indeed, gone wrong. ’

’ Our family’s little now, and we don’t have many toys. ’

‘ If you want, you could be a part of our family. ’

’ We’d raise you to be good. ’

’ She likes your butt and fancy hair. ’

’ I read her diary. ’

’ Not guilty! My experiments are only theoretical, and completely within legal boundaries. ’

’ He was designed to be a monster, but now he has nothing to destroy. ’

’ I never gave him a greater purpose. ’

’ What must it be like to have nothing, not even memories to look back on in the middle of the night? ’

’ If you promise not to fight anymore, I promise not to yell at you, except on special occasions. ’

’ Stupid head. ’

’ Did you catch fire again? ’

’ This is your badness level. It’s unusually high for someone your size. We have to fix that. ’

’ Don’t leave me, okay? ’

’ Do you want to be taken away? ’

’ You’re just jealous 'cause I’m pretty! ’

’ My friends need to be punished. ’

’ Heard you lost your job. ’

’ Thus far you have been adrift in the sheltered harbor of my patience. ' 

‘ After all you’ve put me through, you expect me to help you just like that? ’

’ He’s very persuasive. ' 

’ I know you had something to do with this. ’

’ Oh, good! I was hoping to add theft, endangerment and insanity to my list of things I did today. ’

’ I prefer to be called evil genius. ’

’ You smell like a lawn mower. ’

’ I have just determined the situation to be far too hazardous! ’

’ Don’t worry. I won’t hit her. ’

’ This is low even for you! ’

’ You are all mine. ’

’ You know I have no choice. ’

‘  Please don’t do this. ’

’ You’re making this harder than it needs to be. ’

’ She needs me. ’

’ Leave me alone to die. ’

’ What is that monstrosity? ’

’ Does this look infected to you? ’

’ You’d better not have rabies. ’

’ Hiding behind your little friend won’t work anymore. ’

’ Didn’t I tell you? We got fired this morning. ’

’ That is the ugliest thing I have ever saw! ’

’ It has no place among us. ’

[alfredtpennyworth]

It wasn’t that Alfred was inherently distrusting of big galas that the Wayne’s are invited to when the city has a psychotic clown on the loose, but....well, okay that’s exactly what he is. But he wasn’t about to tell them that because he was hoping that his hunch was wrong, he was just being a pessimistic old man and the gala would be fun and just the thing they needed to relax. 

But regardless, he found himself sitting in front of six different screens, watching the news on every channel he could find - and also stomach, he found channel 2 to be extremely rude - and waited. As he watched, he still prayed that he was wrong. And as the night went on and broadcasts online of live interviews at the gala showed nothing more than just people trying to brag about their wealth, and some heroes Conner trying hard to be as neutral as he could. Everything was fine.

Alfred was sorting laundry into baskets when shit hit the fan. There was a laugh, a scream and then a speech made by the voice he was hoping that they’d never have to listen to again. The Joker finally made an appearance. It only took Alfred three seconds to make a decision. He was already running down to his car. 

It was almost an outer body experience, the drive down to the gala location. All he could think about was that everyone was in the same room as the Joker, and something bad was about to happen in 12 hours. And as far as anyone knew he was only a butler. But he was running into a problem situation like he was still a spy. Alfred wasn’t going to lie, he’s always wondered what it would be like to work with Bruce, but...anyways. 

Alfred stuck a light on the roof of his car at the last traffic light before his destination. Okay so he shouldn’t really have it. But he borrowed it from the GCPD a long time ago and they haven’t asked for it back yet - and it works for situations like this. He jumped out of his car and yelled some stupid lie about being a member of the GCPD who had come to help the FBI with the hunt on the Joker to the security guards who were scrambling around to find out where the Joker had run off to. No one paid him any attention and he ran up the stairs to the door, hand on the gun he had in his jacket pocket, waiting for someone to jump out at him. 

The scene was so much worse than what he expected. Debris was everywhere, people were screaming and covering on the ground. Alfred couldn’t find anyone specific so he just exhaled and started moving around, looking for a familiar face. When he found someone, he exhaled in relief. Crouching down, Alfred shook their shoulder. “Hey, hey. You alright then? No falling asleep, no knowing how bad your injuries are, and we don’t want to make them worse.”

[iwontbeoverlooked]

“Moxy?” he grinned, a laugh at the edges of his tone as he spoke the word, “You, use interesting words.” he said eventually, “And that’s coming from a guy who can speak backwards, “Do you have the ‘moxy’ for the kid?” If he did then the guy was sturdier than him.

Zach chuckled a little at the response, “So you’re a fan of the tree in the forest theory?” he asked, “If no ones around to hear it fall then the sound doesn’t exist.” he explained briefly, “Does that logic apply to them getting up to shenanigans?” he asked with a grin, thinking the residents had to get up to some kind of mischief.

Zach considered it for a moment, “My Uncle was gonna teach me. Never got around to it.” he took another sip, “So then, oh sage of tea, how exactly does one make and drink it correctly?” he asked, cocking his head a little. “Are they all assassins or just the youngest one? He made several threats on my life when I was holding him in the air.” 

[alfredtpennyworth]

“I believe I do,” Alfred said, thinking of all the times that he decided that well Tim if you’re not going to sleep I guess I’m going to have to stay up and help you with whatever you’re doing, back in Gotham. “And I tell you, I’ve never once fallen asleep when working with any of these vigilantes.” He said with a chuckle. “You get used to their boundless energy at ungodly hours soon enough.”

Considering for a moment, the butler nodded. “In a way, yes.” He finally said. “They’ll come to me about their emotions soon enough if they really want me to know,” that was the best way to explain it, and Alfred was happy with the answer. Licking his lips, Alfred shook his head at Zach’s next question. “No. Not at all, I make sure I know about the shenanigans. whether they’re high or low scale.”

“Just Master Damian,” Alfred said. “He’s the only trained assassin, however don’t give that any sort of ideas, they’re all very capable of destroying an opponent.” The butler chuckled, before giving Zach a side eye. “Well sir, that’s a lesson that shouldn’t happen at 2 in the morning. However I believe I can teach you.”

[stillunexpectedwayne]

                          “They have all successfully been injured enough to prevent running and dropped at the nearest station, prepared to confess.” None of them were dead, and only one of them had an injury that was going to leave him crippled permanently. His knee would never bend the same way again. Not that he didn’t deserve it. Damian had been merciful, as were Father’s wishes of him. He’d personally gotten out with little more than tired legs from running all night and jumping from place to place. His equipment was limited since he wasn’t allowed official bat-gear.

                          Damian sipped his tea. Alfred never put in enough sugar, but he would never say it out loud. “The everything else, Pennyworth. You have no reason to be involved in the vigilante heroics, even less to stay, even with what Father pays. I’m sure your years of service qualify you for the butler position at any household. Perhaps one less… active.”

[alfredtpennyworth]

“Very noble of you sir. I’m sure the city is thanking you,” Alfred was as well, but he’d never tell Damian. The butler, though he thought that sometimes they were insane for doing what they do, always held a deep sense of pride in his heart for the heroes in his home. They were doing something for the good of the community, and how could he be angry at that? Well, okay when one of them came stumbling in tracking their own blood through the living room, trying to claim they were fine and ready to do more work, that’s when he got angry.

Alfred took another bite of his own cookie, chuckling lightly. “Well, Damian, I’m not only a butler, don’t you know. I’ve had a...let’s just say history, with weaponry in my day. I believe that’s what qualifies me in terms of a resume standpoint....from a personal standpoint..” Alfred hesitated, fingers wrapped tight around his mug. “I’ve been with your father through everything. Would be a rather awful guardian if I were to just up and leave now, wouldn’t I?”

[thorodinson]

[batfamily-apologies]

Submitted by- http://badassusername.tumblr.com/

[alfredtpennyworth]

@ofgunsandhoods

[batfamily-apologies]

Submitted by- http://thescootybootycootypatootie.tumblr.com/

[iwontbeoverlooked]

“But I fell asleep didn’t I? I haven’t done that somewhere I wasn’t supposed to in….” he paused, he only ever slept in his house or where he was staying, otherwise he didn’t, “Huh, ever I suppose.” he frowned a little, “I was on my way out when you caught me and here we are.” he gestured about, “I won’t overstay my welcome much longer.”

He let out a breath that might have been a life, “Well I can understand that real well.” he had his own story which was kept vague. “Really? But doesn’t everyone cry?” he asked, curious, “I mean, behind closed doors, backstage where no one can see.” Just because people didn’t see it didn’t mean it didn’t happen. That was a rule of magic.

“Uh, yeah.” he nodded, “It tastes like the tea my uncle used to make. He loved tea, drank a cup before every performance. Told me it was the secret to a healthy throat.” he cocked his head a little, “Aww, I thought family members couldn’t wait to spill the beans when it came to embarrassing stories.” That was how TV showed it anyway.

[alfredtpennyworth]

“That you did,” Alfred admitted. “That just means that you don’t have the energy to deal with Master Drake, or maybe not the moxy to.” Was moxy still a word in the vernacular? Was it ever a word? He didn’t know, but Alfred liked it, so he went with it. 

Alfred studied the teen in front of him but didn’t say anything. If he wanted to be vague, let him be. Alfred had learned the hard way on multiple occasions not to pry. “Maybe,” He admitted. “But as far as this family goes, if it doesn’t happen in my line of sight and I’m not told about it, it doesn’t happen.” 

Nodding sagely, Alfred took a sip of his own tea. “Well, if you’d like I could give you the name of the type it is, and how I drink it. The proper way to drink it.” The butler was an unapologetic tea snob. Snorting, he shrugged. “Well I mean, most families don’t have trained assassins in their midsts.” 

[babsnary-code-deactivated201610]

The room was pitch black, save for the ominous green glow of the monitors at the center of the room. Seated before them was Barbara Gordon, her red hair tied back into a ponytail and her eyes straining to read the screens beneath her glasses. The city was unusually quiet on that particular evening; a few silent alarms here and there which she dealt with by quickly dispatching police to the area. Nothing note-worthy. She sat back in her wheelchair and, after a moment of silent contemplation, ran her fingers over the keyboard to prepare a beacon to the Batfamily members she knew were in the area.

User: Oracle Subject: …

Her hands hovered over the keys, seemingly frozen. It was her birthday, and she certainly didn’t want to spend it alone. However, summoning them to the watchtower through a beacon didn’t seem like the right way to go about it. She cancelled the order, turned off the monitors, unsecured the watchtower to let a little moonlight in and wheeled into her kitchen.

“Okay, let’s see,” she muttered to herself, reaching into the fridge for her evening meal which she’d prepared the night before. When she did, however, she heard a knock at her door. She froze; nerves jolting with electricity. While she doubted he knew she was there, the Joker was loose in the city, and he’d come knocking at her door, once, and it ended with a bullet shattering part of her spine. She swore to herself that she would never be helpless like that again.

She grasped one of her batons and twirled it between her fingers before wheeling toward the door. When the knock came again, she centered herself, flung the door open and prepared to strike before she even saw who was there.

[alfredtpennyworth]

Alfred would never admit this, but he kept a calendar of all the important events in he family, and it was color coded for each member. He wasn’t really ashamed of it, but when the children in the family were younger, he told them it was his superpower - super memory. Look, being a caretaker got dull sometimes, he had to liven the job up in moments that his family weren’t throwing themselves into the jaws of death, aka: once ever two years.

Regardless, he had a calendar of events - mostly birthdays. And in each box of the calendar, a little list of things to know. Like which members of the family would rather have their birthday go unnoticed (to which Alfred scoffs and leaves a simply wrapped gift on their beds), what their favorite dinner was, etc. 

So that’s how he found himself at Barbara Gordon’s door, a neatly piled tower of tupperware in his arms, as well as a gift at the top. When the door flew open and he was greeted with the end of a baton, Alfred sighed. “You know,” He said, “this isn’t even the first time this has happened to me. However warn me next time I might bring a better weapon than dinner.”

[awhiteshirt]

I don’t deserve you, Alfred.

[stillunexpectedwayne]

                           Damian bit into the cookie, chewing it slowly, drawing out his time to answer, avoiding it. He was glad he’d at least had the forethought to tuck his sword away before he’d tried to sneak past Alfred. “Father is concerned with the Joker related crime, following those leads, and stopping the higher caliber criminals of this city. He, and many others, have been neglecting street level crime. I was putting an end to a group of men in their early twenties attempting to pursue a chain of robberies from convenience stores open late that the police had incorrectly profiled and thus, could not seem to find on their own.”

                            He picked up the cup of tea, examining the surface of the water with a small frown. He may be young, but he was capable of taking care of himself. Damian al Ghul had not needed anyone. The longer he was Damian Wayne, the more difficult it seemed to be to maintain that stance. “What qualifies you?” Alfred’s file, along with several other select few, were kept stored under layer after layer of password far beyond Damian’s hacking skill. He had no idea outside of the fact that Alfred had been under the employ of the Waynes since his Father’s youth why the man would want to stay.

[alfredtpennyworth]

Alfred helped himself to a cookie and broke it in half as he listened to Damian’s story. “Ah, noble of you sir. How did that go, by the way?” He asked. The butler knew full well that Damian was trained to take care of himself, but he was mostly concerned for the teenage boy having a normal life. The same way he was worried that Bruce wouldn’t have one all those years ago. 

Fully expecting to be interrogated by the young Robin, Alfred was ready for any question. Except for that one. Tilting his head to the side, Alfred took a sip of tea. “I’m not sure I know what you mean, sir,” He finally said. “Qualify me for what? Being your butler, or being involved in, everything else?”

[alfredtpennyworth]

Alfred was pleased that Tim was allowing him to check him out, most of the time, people who cared, were shoved away. But the tech whiz let him check over the wound, which Alfred was internally grateful for. Moving the ice away from the shoulder, Alfred turned and busied himself with finding the pain relievers that he kept in the first aid kit - of which, every room of the penthouse was equipped with - and presented two to the young man. “Take these while I get your coffee,” He said with gentle authority. 

Turning to the coffee pot which had just finished it’s late night run, Alfred took no time in creating the concoction of caffeine, milk and sugar that was essentially the only thing keeping Tim alive. Turning back to him, the butler smiled, presenting Tim with his mug before he grabbed his own tea, and the package of cookies he had planned on nibbling on before and setting it in front of Tim. There was a good chance that the young vigilante hadn’t eaten yet today. 

“I think just talking would be very nice, sir,” He agreed, sliding into the seat in front of the young man and chuckling. Alfred had been very busy the past few days, and he quirked an eyebrow up at Tim. “What have I missed in this big city hm?” 

[ofriverdwelling]

closing a fist around the pain killers offer to him, tim forced the corners of his lips into smile before thanking the elder. “ yes sir. ” raising a free hand to his head, the teen offered a flippant salute as he reclined back into the chair. settling his shoulder blades into the wood of the chair backing, tim rolled the pills around his plam as he reopened his fist, darting his attention over towards the only grandfather figure that he had ever known when he moved into the kitchen.

there’s a certain nostalgia that came with this. reminiscent of the night spend in the damp cave of the batcave when bruce had decided it would be best for tim to remain back at home base along with alfred when he left on particularly dangerous cases ( or the one notable time the boy wonder had caught the flu ). those were always some of the quietest nights tim had ever experienced, if you excluded the explosive chatter of the bats just before tim had set out the food of them in the make shift food contains he had scattered out through the high ledges of the batcave. he missed nights like those. nowadays calm nights were a rare commodity. and tim would have been lying if he said he wasn’t curious of the bats back in gotham, he wondered if they were managing with their nightly feedings

gratefully accepting his mug offered to him, tim threw back the pills before washing them down his a sizeable gulp of coffee. “ nothing too noteworthy. “ the noted as he set the mug back down on the tabletop, ” you’d be surprised just how gotham and new york are so similar. “ but new york still wasn’t home. “ huh. i think i’m actually pretty homesick still. ”

[alfredtpennyworth]

“Thata boy,” Alfred retorted, returning the salute, letting Tim know that the joke behind the gesture wasn’t lost on him. He might be old but he was still hip, or so he liked to believe. Being around the slew of teenagers that walked in and out of the home - whether it be the penthouse or the manor - kept him knowledgeable in at least some pop culture events. 

Raiding the fridge, Alfred found one of the many cling wrapped sandwiches that he kept there for situations such as these. Whenever there were leftovers - and Alfred always made sure to cook enough so that there was enough for left overs - the butler set aside enough to make some sandwiches for the heroes for when they came home after fights or patrols. It was how he ensured they ate. Grabbing one of them and his mug of tea, Alfred returned to the table, sliding to sit next to Tim. “Here,” He said, setting the tightly wrapped sandwich in front of him. 

“I’m starting to see that,” Alfred agreed, “And it doesn’t help that all the heroes seem to be following everyone here.” He said. “I’ve guessed that your team has arrived in full now?” The butler said casually, taking a sip of tea. Raising an eyebrow, Alfred nodded. “I can see that. But if you’re truly feeling homesick for Gotham, you can tag along the next time I go to check on the manor if you’d like.”