@clearcarrion asked me how do the Bats and Robins show Alfred that they love and appreciate him? And my answer is that Alfred is the one member of the family that every Bat and Robin would be ride or die for no questions asked and they constantly show him love and affection through various different channels.
Bruce knows that money or gifts or any sort of thing of monetary value means nothing to Alfred. He shows his love to Alfred by getting in certain English delicacies that Alfred misses from England. He has them brought over and Bruce usually hides them where Alfred can find them just like Alfred used to do with the sweets that Bruce wasn’t allowed or toys that Alfred bought him on the sly. Just little things to show Alfred that Bruce loves him, that’s he’s grateful for every day they had together.
Damian helps out in the kitchen or around the house. He lets Alfred teach him lifeskills like cooking and cleaning, how to prepare food and how to bake. Damian has training in numerous skills, how to kill, how to survive and so many other things but he would say mastering the perfect pancake was the hardest of them all. He and Alfred usually set aside an hour or so on Sundays, before Alfred makes Sunday dinner, to make something new for dessert. It usually ends in Damian covered in flour, sneaking raisins with he thinks Alfred isn’t looking and Alfred sending him up to wash his hands and face before dinner, smiling like a mad man to himself because look at his boy’s baby boy.
Steph shows her appreciation and love through hugs and kisses. She never really had a grandpa so she has claimed Alfred for her grandfather, her Pee-Paw though Alfred looks horrified at that exact moniker. Steph shows her affection with bone crushing hugs that practically lift the old man off of his feet, her arms tight around his middle usually followed by a very grandchild question about food or taking her side against Bruce’s ranst and of course, a kiss on the cheek when she’s leaving or arriving or that she just appreciates him to much for words. Alfred is moved every time.
Jason shows Alfred love through baked goods and time spent together. Even when Jason was fighting with Bruce or on the outs with his siblings or just too angry at the world to sit through one of Bruce’s lectures, Alfred would often find Jason sat in the kitchen late at night, drinking coffee out of Bruce’s favourite mug with a coffee cake or a sourdough loaf or macaroons, the more intricate the more struggling Jason is doing. Alfred will sit with him, talk if that’s what he wants, because this is his grandson, going through the exact same demons as the boys he fought wars alongside. Allowing Alfred in assures them both, because true love and affection comes with no guile, no hesitation, it is an open door.
Cass shows her appreciation to Alfred through little gifts she acquires from around the world. Usually what seems like cheap knicknacks like magnets or snowglobes to anybody else but Alfred adores them because Cass never buys them on missions, she buys them when travelling for fun, travelling for her interests and with friends. They are milestones, his granddaughter growing as a person, emerging from a life as a weapon, discovering her life and to share it with Alfred? The greatest gift.
Duke shows his appreciation in his interest in Alfred and his life, sitting at the kitchen table asking him questions about the events he lived through and people he met, tuned in with fascination because Alfred as been around the world, seen it all and probably influenced history etc. Duke loves to hear his stories though sometimes he suspects that Alfred is telling tall tales only for Alfred to produce reciepts oike newspaper clippings and photographs. Alfred thinks it is all flattery when Duke is amazed by Alfred and teases him. But Duke still comes back every time, asking questions, taking an interest and Alfred feels seen as a person, which is not to say the others don’t treat him as such, it is only, he’s never taken pride in who he was before because of all the water under the bridge. But Duke makes him reconsider that all.
Tim shows affection through the making of tea. Making tea exactly how Alfred taught him, strong enough to kill the Pope, with just a hint of sugar and a drop of milk, served in a proper mug (one of those mugs you used to get in your Easter Egg before Cadbury’s git cheap on us) and leaving it where Alfred can find it or bringing it to him. The making of a cup of tea is a very sacred ritual, to make somebody a cup of proper tea that is tailored to their taste without even having to double check, that is the definition of being know, being treasured and seen. A cup of tea gets delivered every time Alfred doesn’t have one in his hand or has a spare minute, like that running gag with Lily from HIMYM. “Thank you, Timothy.”
As for Dick, Dick was his first grandbaby, his do-over from Bruce who he will always feel that he failed despite Bruce’s assurances that he didn’t, who Alfred is so sure he let down as well. But Dick is alright, he’s thriving, he’s come so far from the little eight year old boy who had threatened Alfred from the chandelier, who had donned the Robin costume to find his place in the world, who had become Nightwing: a leader, a friend, a hero. And Dick shares everything with Alfred. Alfred hates technology and phone culture but he does keep a smartphone on him because the kids are easier to communicate with through it. Dick sends Alfred picture upon picture of him doing seemingly random stuff, cooking (failing) in his first shared apartment, hanging out with his friends in his civvies, performing at Halleys when it comes through town and every little part of his life. Alfred finds peace in that, that this grandchild of his has found his place, that he’s happy and thriving and Alfred knows that each photograph is a gift, a reminder that Dick is happy and Alfred had a hand in shaping the wonderful young man in those photographs.
