𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂 | 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 (𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙢)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟯

"Bruce! Bruce, come here! Hurry!" Eularia dropped onto the ground next to Alfred, tearing off the bottom half of her shirt.
"Lara? Lara, what is it? Are you–" Bruce froze by the doorway, his heart dropping. There was his father figure, bleeding out on the floor.

"Call an ambulance! Quick! He's losing a lot of blood." She applied pressure to his wound, using the cleaner side of her torn shirt. It was brand new, but that was just the least of her worries. With shaky hands, Bruce dialed the nearest hospital.

"This is Bruce Wayne. I need help at Wayne Manor. My friend has been stabbed." He said in a rush, his words becoming jumbled. He slammed the phone back.

"Mr. Pennyworth, please hold on." Eularia begged. "Bruce needs you. Help is on the way. Take deep breaths and focus on keeping your eyes open."

She couldn't remember anything after that besides flashing lights and the sound of sirens.

"Slim pickings at the food court."

"Shh." Bruce held his finger up to his lips, gesturing at the sleeping girl in his arms.

"Lara's asleep. " He stated, careful not to jostle her. Gordon made a quiet apology.

"Brought you a bagel." Gordon handed it to Alfred.

"Thanks. But nothing for the invalid?" Alfred complained jokingly.

"Sorry. Hospital food only. Doctor's orders. How are you feeling?" Gordon asked.

"Alright." He obviously wasn't, though. "Slight puncture, leaked a bit."

"So I know last night must be kind of a blur, but do you have any idea who did this?" Questioned Gordon.

"It was– It was–" Bruce stuttered, making Eularia stir.

"Dark. It was very dark." Alfred interrupted. "I saw a shadow, then my savior, Eularia, was leaning over me." He smiled fondly at the girl.

"Did you get a look at the guy?"

"No." Alfred lied. Gordon's phone buzzed again.

"Sorry, my captain keeps calling." He explained.

"It's okay." Eularia had woken up, rubbing the tiredness away from her eyes. "I can take care of Mr. Pennyworth."

"No, I can stay." Gordon insisted half-heartedly.

"I appreciate you sitting with Eularia and Master Bruce, but as you can see, I'm completely fine." Responded Alfred. "Go."

"I'll make sure he doesn't overexert himself." Eularia promised. "You can leave to do whatever world-saving, heroic things you do."

"I'll try and stop by later."

"Thank you again for coming, detective." Alfred said.

"Why not tell him the truth?" Bruce asked the moment Gordon was out of earshot. Eularia leaned forwards, since she, too, was very curious.

"Well, believe it or not, Master Bruce, Reggie is a mate." Alfred still considered Mr. Payne a friend, after all that? "You don't set coppers on your mates, do you?"

"But he nearly killed you." Bruce voiced her thoughts.

"I served with that bastard." Alfred explained, although that only left Eularia even more confused than she was to begin with. "Anyone sorts him out, it's me, nobody else. It wouldn't be right."

"Why would he stab you?" Eularia questioned rhetorically. "What does he have to gain from that?"

"Now, that's a bloody good question." Said Alfred. "And one I mean to find out." He stumbled to his feet, making Eularia gasp.