Alfred Pennyworth

Full Nav

[thebatsbutler]

sonofabct​:

Life since the funeral had been… grey to put it into words. There was little emotion to be found in the day to day activities and even when Damian was out on patrols, they didn’t bring him the same kind of closure and sense of belonging that they normally did. He had been ‘Nightingale’ for a short while now and, despite criticism on the multiple colors of his new suit and some people not being able to get past his old ‘Robin’ moniker, the public seemed genuinely accepting of his new role. He was even certain he saw a few social media blurbs about him the other day. Perhaps he could sit down with someone like Ms. Lane -  really get Nightingale into the public eye so they understood. He was Robin no more.     

Times were different now, even as the city seemed the same as it always did - as he swung from building to building with his grapple. They were different - but not so much so that the sight of the elder gentleman entering an alleyway of all places didn’t immediately have him reeling himself to ground level in a swoosh of his cape. 

“Alfred, what are you doing cutting through an alleyway?” Damian stated sharply, glaring at him from behind his emerald mask. “For that matter, it’s late. Why are you even out here?”

-

Alfred was proud of all the family, they were doing their best to move and invent themselves in a world where the man who’d once bound them together was no more. Every time he stepped through the manor in Gotham it felt as though another memory had assaulted him, bringing him to a pause as he watched events from years ago play out once again. Soon it had been too much. Wayne Manor had too many ghosts within for him now. The Star City Manor was newer, it caused him less grief to move through its halls, to clean and cook and continually attempt to hold the family together as best he could. Though, it seemed they were doing so well without him.

At times it was too much, he needed to be out of the building. Years ago he’d have been found at the local pub, but now he simple left the manor in a long coat and hat and, walked... His feet trod the worn paths of the city with little care for his surroundings. It was just something to do until he moved him for a short sleep and it all began again.

He didn’t start at Master Damian’s appearance, his new attire catching Alfred’s eyes. Had he seen him in it before? He couldn’t recall. “Good evening Master Nightingale.” he said dryly, “Am I committing some issue with taking a walk as it strikes my fancy, Sir?”  

[thebatsbutler]

amazingflyingdick​:

That made Dick smile faintly. “Me too.” When was the last time everyone had been under one roof? At the same time? Thanksgiving, maybe, but if so, it hadn’t been for long. People wouldn’t exactly call them a tight knit family, although he’d personally disagree. Just because they had their problems didn’t mean he couldn’t count on every single one of them to have his back. 

He looked down at the documents, sighing softly, but nodded as he scanned the first page. “Who’s going to be invited?” It was hard to imagine Alfred doing a big ceremony, but he knew Bruce had been a public figure. Taking a deep breath, he flipped to the next document. “I’ll fly out to Gotham tomorrow. I can talk to the lawyers and get all the paperwork squared away with Wayne Enterprises.” It would be better if he went. The press would be on Alfred like white on rice. Of course, they’d get word that the oldest Wayne kid was in Gotham, but he could still keep his business discrete - especially if he stayed in Bludhaven. “Tim and Jason should be fine without me for a few days.” He hesitated. “The three of us are going to wear the cowl.”

As soon as Alfred posed the question, Dick felt his insides grow cold. He hadn’t touched Bruce’s things when he’d “died” the first time, although he’d gone in his room. Talked to him. It was strange to dread something so fully and yet want to do it. “Yeah, Alf. I’ll help. Lead the way.”

-

Even on the few occasions everyone arrived to dine under the manor’s roof Alfred had found they were rarely long or peaceful. He did his best to maintain order and often the children were good enough to behave for him, though things hadn’t always been so simple for Master Bruce... He couldn’t help but wonder if such meals would continue in his absence.

Alfred cleared his throat, ensuring he remained composed, professional, “The immediate family of course, Master Dick, and their significant others, should they desire. Also Commissioner Gordon, the man knew Master Bruce almost all his life, it seems only fair he should be permitted to say goodbye to him as well.” Whether Master Dick would invite Master Wilson he wasn’t sure. “I thought Master Grant would wish to attend as well, he and Master Bruce were close.” He sighed, “Sir, I am quite capable of taking care of that issue.” It was his duty now, but he was more overcome when Master Dick shared the fate of the cowl. He took a moment to fully regain himself and nodded, “I believe that is a most wise decision, Master Bruce would be so proud of you all to take that step.”

Alfred nodded and began a slow walk towards his former Master’s quarters. He took no pleasure in the thought of going through and sorting his personal effects but it needed to be done. “Thank you Sir, though if at any point you change your mind by all means, please speak up.”  

[thebatsbutler]

fightbattlesthatmatter​: 

How old was Alfred? Steve wondered it as the other spoke. It was still so surreal to Steve, even after all these years, to hear people say that they had learned about him in books. He was a part of history and living in the now. Though he’d mostly adjusted, he still felt overwhelmed by his own displacement sometimes. Especially now, when things were so much bigger and scarier in some regards than they had been even in the forties. “I didn’t know that. How did you end up a butler?” 

“An actor?” He asked. That was surprising. And incongruous with soldier, SAS, private security. “Was that your dream job as a kid? I wanted to be an artist before I wanted to be a soldier. And then when I became a soldier, I was terrible at following orders, but it’s one of the reasons we won the war. So I guess… I got lucky by being hard-headed. How many people do you know that can say that?” He gave a small huff of laughter as he watched the other with the teapot. “Can I help you with that? The tea, I mean. Or I could help you bake something. I watch Bake Off, and I make a mean torte.” Unexpected of him, perhaps, but Steve had settled well into domesticity. “I wouldn’t feel right just sitting here letting you wait on me.”

-

“It’s quite a long and mostly boring story Sir,” Alfred explained, though he was perhaps playing down several aspects of his life. “During my short tenure as a private security consultant I was hired to be the escort and bodyguard of one Ms. Martha Kane. She was a most spirited woman, Sir, I believe you would have liked her,” Alfred smiled just slightly, “Scarcely needed my assistance and dealt one or two more handsy guests with aplomb. However, I did have to step in at the evening’s end and she took a liking to me. Soon after she was married to Master Thomas and both asked me to stay with them full time. Not even a year later-”

He paused and looked down, words failing as the timeline moved to Master Bruce, “Excuse me.” he cleared his throat, “I toured for two summers with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sir. I must confess it was something of a dream for me and in living it I was utterly enraptured. I was Romeo to a most beautiful Juliet, we had quite the affair, and Puck for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I could have lived it forever but, I suppose I craved something with a little more conflict after my time in the armed forces.” He looked at the Captain, “You bake, Sir? I suppose some help with a torte would not go awry, these old arms of mine cannot mix like they used to. But please, enjoy this tea first, it’s mango and bergamot, one of the late Mrs. Wayne’s favourites.”    

[thebatsbutler]

redrobin-timdrake​:

He shook his head. He was making a lot of concessions to help Alfred through this. They all were and he knew it. But Tim didn’t think that he could just spill his guts to the butler in an attempt to make him feel better about things. After all, Tim was still sorting through his emotions. And he didn’t want to share them. He didn’t have time for a breakdown. They had to get through it and keep going, like they always seemed to. They just had to manage somehow, and Alfred trying to coax him at Midnight with food while he stood in the dim glow of his computer was not the way to do it.

“I know you’re here, Alfred,” he answered, trying to be gentle as he could while he rejected the man who was essentially his grandfather. “I’m just… managing. I can deal with it all on my own. You have enough going on.” He held the tray. “I’ll eat this, though. Promise.”

-

Alfred sighed quietly. It was perhaps a fools hope, an impossible dream even, but that would never stop him trying. In his own way that may make him as insane as half the populace in Arkham Asylum but it was what it was. He wanted all these young people, his young people, to be comfortable with their emotions. To feel they could come to him if they needed. “Very well, Master Timothy.” He knew better than to push any further. “But, if I may, I shall never have so much going on that I cannot stop and listen to you, if you ever feel the desire to speak.”

“I’ll return in an hour and I expect to see a clean plate.” he said, rising to his feet, “Then at least four hours sleep.” his tone left no room for arguments, “Once you’re fed and rested you may continue with your work. It will still be there, I promise you.” Perhaps now more than ever he needed to at least try and stop Master Tim from falling into a never-ending work spiral.

[sssssssim]

spoiler alert

A L F R E D     P E N N Y W O R T H          F # # # E D     T H E     Q U E E N

[thebatsbutler]

sonofabct​:

Damian remained quiet as Alfred explained the nuances of how his father had chosen to set up the children’s ties to Wayne Enterprises. It was surprising, but yet a part of Damian couldn’t help but not be surprised. His father was a lot of things - but a stickler for having him carry on in Bruce Wayne’s footsteps had never really been on of them. “I see.” Damian finally acknowledged and nodded.

He sighed as Alfred gently coaxed him to put those worries to rest and instead focus on the family. His brow furrowed into a uncomfortable expression. “They have their own grief to worry about, Alfred… I don’t.. I don’t want to breakdown like….”  Like a child. Like the child that he still was. Despite age; despite training; despite circumstances. 

-

“It shows no reflection of Master Bruce having a lack of faith in any of you. He and I both knew quite well any of you could steer the company should the need arise. He simply didn’t want you do be forced to take up a mantle that you feel may not suit you.” Given how much of the children’s lives had already been decided for them, it seemed only fair they at least have freedom in their careers.

“Like a human?” Alfred supplied gently. “I can assure you, Master Damian, we’re all grieving, in different ways and at different times. We’re all experiencing these emotions; we’d have to be monsters if we didn’t. And leaning on one another is how we managed such difficult emotions; the only way to get over these feelings, is to go through them.” And that was something even Master Bruce had never been able to master.      

[thebatsbutler]

sonofabct​:   

It was so rare to hear Alfred address any of the men in the family without the honorific ‘Master’ attached to their names, that at first it took Damian by surprise to hear something so simple as his name being spoken. Alfred was right, as he usually was about everything really. Damian knew that he needed to feel these feelings - go through the pain and the heartache that they crashed unto him. He knew it all too well, but it didn’t stop him from holding onto the butler until he finally moved away from him.

Letting out a slow breath, Damian listened as Alfred explained that he and Lucius were taking care of matters involving…well, just about every aspect of this unpleasant ordeal. A small furrow of confusion creased his brow as Alfred spoke about the company. “Father kept us detached?” He questioned. He so rarely had questioned the man about the civilian side of his life that the on-goings of Wayne Enterprises had been sort of brushed under the rug.

-

“Not in the way you may be thinking, Master Damian.” Alfred said kindly, “He ensured you’d all have a stake in the shares of Wayne Enterprises so that should you wish to become further involved you were able to do so. However, he also understood that not all of you would have that desire. So you may continue to remain a significant shareholder and be unburdened by the issues of running and maintaining the organisation.” Of them all he suspected Master Tim may most desire to be involved with the company, but all those Bruce had trusted with his shares would be more than capable.

“Besides, I do not think that is where your mind should be at present, Sir. Leave those issues to myself and Lucius to handle for the time being. I think you’d be better spent if you were to be around Master Dick or the others. Despite your many differences now if the time to band together and put trust in your family to stand you up when it seems you’ll crumble.” That was what they were all there for, in the end.    

[thebatsbutler]

fightbattlesthatmatter​:

He winced, but didn’t repeat himself. He’d prefer ‘Captain’ to ‘Master’. He didn’t like feeling like he was above Alfred. Didn’t like feeling like he was better. He knew that might not necessarily be with Alfred meant, but it still felt that way. Still, if the other insisted, so be it. And, as he explained, it seemed to be part of his process.  

“Ah, I wasn’t too great of a military man,” he admitted sheepishly. “But I know what you mean.” He had been on the move since everything had happened. He had to get it all figured out. “Just… don’t work too hard.” He wanted to say that Bruce wouldn’t want him to, but Steve didn’t have the audacity to say such a thing to the man that was, from Steve’s understanding, essentially Bruce’s father.

-

“That isn’t how history books tell it, Sir. But I suppose literature so rarely gets everything written down as it happens.” he said quietly, moving to the stove and heating up some water. “It was all I knew before the Waynes. I had a deep desire to be a part of something bigger than myself. I enlisted aged sixteen and by eighteen was a member of the SAS.”

He didn’t talk about his service years very often but the need to grasp for a distraction was growing more and more frequent. “From there I moved to private security and flirted with the stage as an actor for some time.” he pulled several cupboards open with barely a glance, pulling out a pot, a china cup and a tray, “Eventually I was hired full-time by the Wayne and came with them to America before Master Bruce was even born.”  

[thebatsbutler]

redrobin-timdrake​:

Alfred knew them all better than any of them allowed themselves to acknowledge. After all, within their family there were so many of them that were so private. So turned inward. It was hard to imagine that someone else could know them like that. And yet, the butler who was more grandfather than anything else would always look at them with that knowing expression. He bit his lip. 

“About what?” He asked, voice hardly more than a whisper. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to exist and he certainly didn’t want to acknowledge anything. It was like when he had lost Stephanie. She was just gone. It was just empty. The massive space where she belonged had been torn to shreds and he had had to curl around it so he wouldn’t bleed out. Now, he felt it with Bruce, but he had been so unprepared for it because Bruce always seemed to come back. So when he curled, blood still seeped through his fingers. He was choking on it and he didn’t want to open his mouth only to have it spill free.

-

“About those feelings you are working so hard to keep locked up, Master...” he paused, “Tim.” It was rare for him to drop ‘Master’ from anyone’s name but surely this situation called for it, “I recall during Ms Brown’s temporary, absence, how you were. It pains me to think of you in such a way, my boy.” he said quietly, “And, while I understand how difficult it must be to even consider facing those emotions, please believe an old man when he says they are necessary.”

“You are not alone in this. You never have been.” he said, not hesitating to put an arm around the young mans shoulder, “Master Bruce meant so much to us all. It isn’t weakness to acknowledge how much his loss pains us. But it also is not a burden made for a single soul to bear.” he paused looking down, voice growing a little tight, “I understand I am not your guardian or parent, Tim, but, I am here, should you need me. And I will continue to be here for as long as you would like. And selfish as it may be, I do not wish to leave you up here alone. Master Bruce would be furious with me if I dared to try.”      

[thebatsbutler]

sonofabct​: 

The butler’s arms wrapping around Damian was the final straw that sent him into a softly trembling mess. Instead of pulling away, the teenager curled into the gentle rubbings on his back and buried his face against the elder’s fine suit. “I’m tired of feeling…” The words came weakly - struggling to keep himself from breaking down yet again. He didn’t want to cry anymore. He wanted to go back in time, to when his emotions were hardened for the task of assassinations and facing death unblinkingly.   

Damian held onto Alfred for a while longer before he finally stepped back, wiping at his eyes as he did so. “Are there any steps I need to take at this time…? Regarding the company, that is? I know I need to talk to Tim about it… I don’t exactly know how the transfer of power works or who has what percentage of stake in the company anymore….” He trailed off in a bit of a ramble before stopping himself and swallowing hard. For being such a blowhard regarding his blood heritage in the past, Damian had let matters of his civilian connection to his father fall to the back of his mind in recent years. 

-

Alfred had experienced tender moments with all Master Bruce’s protégé’s over the years, but had perhaps had the least with Master Damian. The boy worked so hard to conceal his emotions but Alfred knew he felt just as they all did. So he held the boy tight and, perhaps as much for himself as the other. “I know, Damian, I know.” he quietly cooed, for once dropping the ‘master’ from the boy’s name. “But those feelings are necessary, right now they’re causing you pain but I promise this will not be forever.”

Even after Damian pulled back, Alfred rested both hands on his shoulders, a little reluctant to break their connection entirely. “No, Sir. At the moment myself and Lucius are dealing with those things, as well as the ceremony and press releases. Right now all I would like you to do is eat, sleep and be with your family who love you.” Maybe it was a little selfish of him but taking over the lion’s share of the work had provided Alfred with a way to distract himself from all this. “You, none of you, are tied to Wayne Enterprises, Sir, the last thing Master Bruce would have wanted would be to hold you back from your pursuit of happiness.”    

[thebatsbutler]

thatsjasonfkntodd​:

The library at the Star City manor wasn’t exactly chock full of good memories. He’d fought with both Tim and Dick in there. He’d broken a lamp. Of course, there was no trace of that. It had happened months earlier. Dick might have cleaned it up himself, even, but he’d never asked. He’d been entirely caught up in what had been said, which was a whole new layer of a reason to resent Bruce. Not that it mattered anymore. Dying was an easy way out of that.

When Alfred came in, Jason wasn’t reading, but rather standing in front of one of the shelves just looking at the spines of the books. He glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Al. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of this one, but even with a billion rooms there’s somehow not that much to do around here.” But he was too tired to train more, and he wasn’t ready to sleep just yet. He certainly didn’t want to go hang out with any of the others who might or might not even be around. 

-

“I quite agree, Sir. The wood used for these shelves isn’t nearly as dark and characteristic as the Gotham Manor’s. Plus the sunlight doesn’t land on any windows in the same way come early evening.” Alfred explained, stepping further into the room. “I believe there is in fact quite a large amount one could do. However, the mental fortitude to engage in such activities right now is a very different thing.” Alfred stopped a few paces away from Jason, his arms clasped gently behind his back.

“I was thinking of preparing myself a small drink before heading to my chamber. I thought perhaps you’d like to join me in the kitchen while, Sir. Perhaps have a cup of something yourself?” It was a low-hanging fruit, to use food or drink to gain Master Jason’s company but it had never failed him yet. And even if he wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight perhaps he could help put the young man’s mind a little at ease to get him some rest. Looking after the family he had left was all that mattered now.  

[thebatsbutler]

batwomxnkane​:

“Oh, Alfred, I’m not that bad of a cook these days. I make a mean breakfast.” Kate stated, but her joking tone was rather hollow-sounding. She let the elder man take his hands out from her own and watched as he went to work grabbing a few utensils. “I suppose I understand in that regard.” She admitted as he elaborated on the somewhat fragile peace of mind the activities gave him. She could only regard him with sympathy as he paused to lick his lip. She had felt that pain - even though publically she swallowed it down and bottled it up to keep a cool head; just as her father had taught her after her mother and sister’s deaths. In private, she grieved for the loss of her cousin. Close or not, they were family and she had regrets about no longer having the chance to grow closer to him.    

She was drawn out of her thoughts when Alfred spoke once more. “I can definitely get the coffee machine started.” She scooted across the kitchen and pressed a number of buttons on the device before filling its pot with water and setting out a variety of creamers and sugar cubes on a small tray beside it.

-

“I have no doubt as to your culinary skills, Ms. Kane, merely to confirm they needn’t be applied in my kitchen.” No matter the time nor the events this was his domain and he didn’t share it. Especially when he was (perhaps somewhat selfishly) clinging to it as another distraction from the grief he’d eventually have to face. It would happen. He wasn’t like Master Bruce, and several of his wards, who seemed determined to bury any form of sentiment beneath enough concrete to seal up a radiation leak. He knew the importance of feeling. But not yet. Not till he’d put the many affairs which needed sorting in order.

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Alfred nodded, moving to the large fridge and pulling out ingredients for breakfast muffins, those would at least last the entire day cold giving everyone here a little more time to eat them. And if not they’d simply be binned. “In regards to your own feelings on recent events; it is only natural to feel somewhat overwhelmed by them.”    

[thebatsbutler]

fightbattlesthatmatter​:

“Please call me Steve,” he said to Alfred. The butler and Steve were closer in age than Steve and Bruce had been. He didn’t feel right being called ‘master’. It made Steve feel like he was masquerading as something more than a simple guy raised dirt poor in Brooklyn. Steve never would allow himself to forget his roots like that.    

“How about I get you something, Alfred,” he offered. Surely Alfred needed a break, didn’t he?

-

“Of course, Master Steve.” It wouldn’t have been far from the truth for someone to think he was poking a little fun there but right now it was simply force of habit to title everyone in the house. He smiled slightly but the expression was practically numb, “That’s very kind of you to offer, Sir, but I find comfort in my service at present. There’s still a great deal to be done and I feel as though if I stop I may never start again.”

Press releases were out but he still had the private service in Gotham to arrange and encrypted invitations for the wake to send out. “As a fellow former military man yourself, I suspect you can understand how the solidity of a task to complete may be comforting?”  

[thebatsbutler]

sonofabct​:

Damian was quiet - quiet for what felt like far too long. “No.” The word finally came. He rose to his feet and walked over to Alfred; regarding him for a moment. “Let all that… bullshit, wait… take a moment for yourself. Take it as an order from me if you need to…” He stated quietly. “Or let me help… he was my father.” He sighed and felt his gaze drop to the floor.  “You’re all I have left that isn’t a sibling of some sort, or Kate, Alfred… Father is gone… I don’t have my mother or my grandfather on her side… I just have you and I….” He stopped himself and just sighed heavily.

“Just… promise me you will be alright?” He stated finally. He couldn’t even think about something happening to Alfred because he was overworking himself and not dealing with his father’s passing. Not at Alfred’s age. Damian couldn’t stand to lose a grandfather too.

Alfred had several things he thought to say, all of which didn’t voice. His lips tightened and he placed the used dishes down on the bed. A father should never have to bury his child, but that didn’t mean the loss of a parent was any easier for a child to cope with. Master Damian hadn’t always had things easy with Master Bruce. Alfred swallowed, “I can’t quite yet, Sir. There is still much to be done. And my way of honouring Master Bruce is to ensure arrangements are swiftly made and you are all well.” As well as they could be under this godforsaken circumstances.    

Stepping forward he didn’t hesitate to gather the teen in his arms and pull him into a hug, one arm gently stroking his back, the other in his hair, “I promise, Sir. I shan’t be going anywhere for quite some time.” He wouldn’t leave this children. They needed him. “Now, I most highly recommend you perhaps let yourself feel for a moment, Master Damian.”  

[thebatsbutler]

redrobin-timdrake​:

Tim had shut himself away, not really focused on anything but just not imploding. He was fortifying, figuring out ways to make his grief efficient. He needed to work out how to remain engaged so he didn’t just fade away into missions and cases. Tim had to maintain that sense of self. He couldn’t just become pure thought even if part of him wanted to right now.   

He barely noticed when the knock came. He was sorting through files and working through organization, trying to come up with some semblance of how to manage what had been left behind. Still, with Alfred they were all trying to afford gentleness. After all, he had done them the same courtesy for most of their lives. So Tim forced himself to his feet and opened the door, looking down at the tray. He had never felt less of a desire to eat, but he looked up at the butler. “You can come in, if you want.”

-

It only took one look at the boy for Alfred to see he was drowning. They had all taken different traits from Master Bruce but Master Tim more than any had made the logic and thought of the great detective his own. The trouble was, such a brilliant mind often stuttered to a halt when it came to dealing with such a bone-deep grief.

“Thank you, Master Timothy.” Alfred stepped inside the room and placed the plate of food down on a side table. “While I am quite sure your lack of desire to eat is only superseded by your lack of desire to discuss yourself right now, I must ask: would you talk with me?” Even if he could only get a few sentences out of the boy it would soothe some of the crushing grief in his own heart. They were all adrift at sea now but he refused to let any of them drown; that clown had already taken too much from his family, Alfred would not permit any more.  

[thatsjasonfkntodd]

Ashes to Ashes

Who: Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon ( @amazingflyingdick @thebatsbutler @cassandraxxwayne @sonofabct @redrobin-timdrake @clickforspoilers @oraclestandingby ), Mentions: Bruce Wayne. 

When: February 14th, after Dick returns to Wayne manor from explosion at NOVA headquarters.

What: Dick delivers the news of Bruce’s death to the family. 

Keep reading

[thebatsbutler]

batwomxnkane​:   

Alfred was too well-dressed to have even remotely been to sleep yet and Kate could only regard the man with a sorrowful, sympathetic smile as he spoke. It was subtle, but the lack of rest was evident in the man’s eyes. The eyes often betrayed someone. “Yeah, I can understand that…” She responded with a light sigh as he sat the stack of papers down on the island and wandered across the kitchen.   

Kate ran a ruby-painted fingertip across the ornate ‘W’ emblazoned on a folder among the documents and smiled softly to herself for a few seconds before looking up at the older man. “Oh, no. Alfred, come on.” Kate was crossing the kitchen and gently taking the elder man’s hands into her own. “You do too much for this family as it is… why don’t you leave cooking to me? I promise you, I will not burn the manor down making a simple breakfast.” She offered insistently. She could handle some eggs, bacon and sausage, and some toast. “And… sit. Take a few moments?” She added softly. 

-

Alfred had only got so far as pulling a chopping board out of the cupboard when Kate took his wrinkled hands in her own. Her gesture was kind and Alfred appreciated it immensely. He squeezed her hands slightly before speaking, “Ma’am with all due respect, not on you life. These are my duties and I take pleasure in completing them.” he gently withdrew his grip from heres and moved to grab a few more utensils, “In truth it gives me a place to focus my energy so that I can continue making necessary arrangements.” There was still so much to be done, people to call, media outlets to deal with and there were the change of power at Wayne Enterprises; though thankfully Lucius was helping with that.

“Besides, I fear if I did take a few moments and sit,” he paused a moment, licking his lower lip, “I fear I would be unable to get back up again.” And this was not the time for such weakness. “Now, if you’d truly like to help, Ma’am, I would appreciate if you could get the coffee machine grumbling to life.” He could have done it but he suspected giving Kate a small task would cease her attempts to make him stop.