The Batwing Effect

IV

"Alright Master Bruce, now remember to keep up your guard", Alfred cheered with sweat on his wrinkly face as he stood on this breezy afternoon in the backyard, exchanging light punches with his student. His punches were quick and strong, though he forgot to block often enough for his butler to land a few hits on him that put him off. "Remarkable footwork you got there, though that won't do jack if you-", he hit a softened strike against his belly, "can't block, Sir." The boy let out an annoyed groan, exhausted already but unwilling to give up until he'd get himself to remember to block, even if it took the entire day. "Again", he demanded but Alfred only laughed. "Give an old man five minutes to hydrate, will ya?"
"Three", he countered with a smirk as suddenly he heard the doorbell ring from within the manor. "I wonder who this could be", Alfred muttered surprised before heading towards the door with quick steps, his master curiously strolling after him while striping the boxing gloves off his hands. The man threw a hustled look through the peephole and Bruce shrugged back as his eyes widened in surprise.
"I believe you should get that, Master Bruce", he then stammered and stepped away from the door, disappearing into the back of the room. Suspiciously, he slowly approached the door and slowly opened, only to feel his jaw drop as he stood right face to face with a heavily breathing Jack, supporting himself on his knees, his green waves hanging low in his face. As he heard the door open, he raised his gaze and grinned widely, nearly innocent at Bruce whose fists clenched that his knuckles turned white. All past memories flooded his emotions with anger and he bared his teeth, preparing for a fight.

"What do you want?", he barked enraged but froze as the boy only began to laugh.
"I know what this looks like but I need you to believe me when I tell you I had nothing to do with what the boys did!"
"Why would I believe you?", it bursted out of him perplexed, a part of him intrigued by the possibility this could be true.
"I don't know and I don't expect you to. All I can tell you is I only heard about what they did to you last night and I don't know why my stupid ass would do such a thing but I defended you and earned this!"
He giggled nervously as he pointed at the large bruise covering his left eye and Bruce felt himself stumbling backwards, still in doubt about what he was hearing. Was this another sick game? He looked like he ran all the way from the city to the Estate and the bruise was definitely real, he wouldn't do all of this for fun, would he?
"Say, I believed you. Why'd you come here? What's in this for you?"
He looked at him with perplexity, like he did not understand why he'd ask such a question. "Well, because I don't want you to think of me as a bully and, by the way, you still owe me an apology for just punching me!"

Right, looking back, Bruce started the fight for nothing if Jack wasn't involved.
"Alright", he sighed and shook his head in dread. "I'm sorry. But next time you better keep your people in line."
"Apology accepted and.. sure", he declared and smiled warmly. "You mind if I come in?" "Actually-", Bruce began but fell silent as the clown just walked past him, right into the entrance hall where his eyes directly fell upon Alfred. "Hey there uh.. Mister Pennyworth, isn't it?" He chuckled politely. "Alfred is enough for the guests of this Estate, Sir. Welcome. I presume you have not come to roughen my master up again?" He shook his head and laid a hand to his chest. "No, Sir, we've made our peace." Bruce stepped behind him and closed the door, glancing at Alfred. "Leave us alone, please", he bid and the butler excused himself before disappearing down the corridor. "Nice house you got there, Brucie!", the bright boy chirped while throwing himself onto a sofa by the fireplace. "We're still pals, aren't we?", he then asked quickly, a tad of concern within his voice as he raised an eyebrow and looked at Bruce insecurely. "I don't know", he admitted. "I heard you're a drug addict." Jack jumped up from his seat, hissing shortly as a forgotten pain shot through his back. "Oh no, no, I'm not! Well not anymore", he stammered before he caught himself again.
The billionaire crossed his arms over his chest. "You wanna be my friend? Fine but you gotta earn my trust first", he smirked and sat down across from his unexpected guest. "Fine", he sighed. "But only because it's you and.. I kinda owe you for my friends." He took a deep breath, radiating nervousness, before he began to speak a tad more serious. "There really isn't much to say, I'm still in the biz but been clean for a year now. I promise I never relapsed and I'm trynna get out of there as soon as possible."