The Batwing Effect

V

"I have to admit, Sir, I wasn't too sure when that boy came into our home at first", Alfred spoke to his master from inside the kitchen, hovering over the stove as he filled his plate. "Of course it's always good to cut rivalries and avoid confrontation but..", he paused for a moment as he entered the room and served the boy, looking at him worriedly, "you don't actually intend to befriend him, do you?"
Bruce didn't understand where his all so very kind butler's averse attitude towards their precious visitor came from but it left him glancing at him perplexed. "Why would that be so bad?", he asked almost outraged and the man shifted, pouring him a glass of water calmly. "Sir, with all respect, if not for his shady friends, his involvement in the business of intoxicants seems more than concerning. I simply do not judge him to be an enriching influence to your person."

Bruce couldn't argue, he himself was still unsure of whether he even should be hanging out with Jack after all that's happened, aware of what it must look like. Sure, Jack said he wanted out and promised he wasn't doing any drugs himself but without solid proof, words wouldn't suffice to satisfy his overly worried guardian and certainly not Bruce with his deep distrust in people. Despite the strong note of tomato and spinach within the incredibly creamy sauce of his meal, the billionaire was left with a foul taste of his mouth and with a sigh he had to promise Alfred to not become friends with Jack White. After that, he remained silent throughout the entire dinner and only sluggishly managed to creep up the stairs to his room. Too lazy to turn on the lights, he just threw himself onto his bed and reached for his phone, squinting his eyes at the light of the bright screen hitting his eyes within the dark.

Chat - This morning
1 new message from Clark
C: Hey bud, heard you got suspended! How you feeling?
B: Great..
C: Thought so, told ya White's a freak
B: You're right, should've wiped the floor with his face
C: Haha that's the spirit! Listen, imma come by this week, yeah? Don't want you dying of boredom spending two weeks with your old geezer
B: Thanks man

Chat - Just now
1 new message from Clark
C: Spoke to the boys, we're gonna roughen that bitch ass clown and his guys a little up ;)
B: It's alright, I think.. it's all good now
C: Aha?
B: He came by today
C: Brave ass
B: We talked and I don't think it was his fault
C: Ah yeah? Still couldn't hurt to teach him a lesson
B: No need, just leave him alone
C: Didn't know you had a thing for clowns all of a sudden!
B: I just don't want any beef, alright?
C: No shit dude, should I buy tickets for the next cirque to watch you juggle your balls with him?
B: Nah, your smell tells me you're already in with their elephants
C: Bastard
B: Son of a bitch
C: See ya on Friday
B: Yeah

With his stomach turning, Bruce chewed his lip as he stared at the screen. First Clark, then him and now Alfred, people didn't go easy on Jack, no surprise he got in with the wrong people. Still, he felt not being able to befriend him despite their newly found bond ridded him of all his energy. He stared at his ceiling and remembered their conversation, how much fun he'd had, it's been ages since he's smiled like that and he even found himself smiling now only thinking about it. Perhaps nobody had to know if they stayed friends, the manor was big enough to hide from Alfred and perhaps if he really did manage to leave the drugs behind, the butler, too, would see what a good guy he was.

'But why make such an effort?', he caught himself asking, the question echoing uncomfortably within his head. He remembered what he thought during dinner, he wondered whether he should admit Jack's influence, whether he shouldn't keep his distance from him. But he remembered how he felt sitting with him, not formally, not awkwardly, rather like two friends whom've known each other for a lifetime. Jack was different and deep down, Bruce had always known. He has walked earth long enough to recognise when people were after his money, his fame, recognition, and he felt it then just as now that neither had been the case for Jack. Quite the opposite, it felt like all he was after, was to make Bruce laugh. He'd give anything to laugh like that right now after his conversation with Alfred and Clark, the two people he should actually be relying on most in this situation, though Bruce just knew he couldn't. Instead, he wished he could text Jack now, catch another of those fun moments like the one from this evening. The boy looked at the ceiling and smiled, thinking the next time the green haired kid would come by, he'd ask for his number and with that thought, he subconsciously closed his eyes and faintly felt himself drift off to sleep.