Batman: Hero of Gotham

3- Within the Waynes

The next morning, Alfred greeted Bruce who laid in his bed, lolling. Alfred had stayed overnight so Bruce wouldn't be alone.

"Good morning, Alfred." Bruce grinned. Bruce was happy. He couldn't believe he was actually happy after the events of the night before.

"I have already prepared breakfast for you. Take your time to get up. I know you're still sore over what occurred last night. You will be for a very long time to come so please, take your time." Alfred said.

"Thanks, Alfred." Bruce credited. Alfred left the room. After a few minutes, Bruce hopped out of bed and walked down the stairs to get to the kitchen. He was amazed when he saw the breakfast Alfred had arranged. There were waffles, sausage, bacon, pancakes, oatmeal, cereal and many more. "Alfred...did you make all of this?" Bruce was astonished.

"Yes I did, sir. Is there a problem?" Alfred asked.

"No. No problem at all. Thank you so much, Alfred!" Bruce ran over to hug him.

"You absolutely are welcome." Alfred embraced the hug Bruce gave him. Bruce then sat down at the table to get started on this epic breakfast that Alfred had made for him. "Remember...you don't have to eat all this. I just prepared more than I should have." Alfred said to Bruce.

"I know. I'm not gonna eat all of this. Are you crazy?" Bruce then laughed for the first time since last night. He didn't know what he should start with. There were so many meals there that mocked his appetite, pleasingly.

"May I suggest that you begin with the bacon? I think I did a splendid job on that if you don't mind me bragging." Alfred suggested.

"Alright. I'll start with the bacon. I was thinking with starting with that too but I wasn't sure because all of this looks great." Bruce said, stuffing a piece of bacon in his mouth. Delicious. That immediately went through his brain as soon as his took a bite of the delectable slab of bacon. "Alfred! This is amazing." Bruce exclaimed with delight.

"I assured you I did a pleasurable job. Was I precise?" Alfred asked.

"Yes. Yes you were, Al. You don't mind if I call you that do you?", asked Bruce.

"You may call me whatever you want, mister." Alfred smiled. After a short while, Bruce completed his immense breakfast and asked what was next for the day. "Well, I'll take you with me to run some....errands." Al smirked. Bruce didn't know what he meant but agreed because he respected Al.

"Where are we going?" Bruce asked when he climbed in the back seat of Al's car.

"That, my friend is confidential. Well, for now at least." Al smiled yet again. Alfred brought the car towards Gotham City. Bruce had ideas of where Al was going to take him but he didn't know for sure. He thought of places he'd never been before. His dad's work. His mom's work. He didn't know where else Al would be taking him. After a half hour, the two arrived at their way point. Wayne Enterprises. Alfred brought the car into the reserved parking lot and he parked the car.

"What are we doing here?" Bruce asked, confused.

"I want to show you around. Chances are, we'll find something secret hidden in your father's office. I want you to learn more about your father. After all, you are only ten." Al explained.

"OK. I'm gonna trust you that we're just looking around. I don't want to steal or anything like that." Bruce professed.

"Do you think I would really be capable of that?" Alfred inquired, offended.

"No, but you never know." Bruce said. The two headed inside the building. Al opened the door to Thomas's office. Bruce walked inside first followed by Alfred. The two waited in the elevator to go up to Thomas's work floor. Al held the door open for Bruce.

"This is where your father worked." Alfred introduced the office to Bruce. Bruce wanted to explore the office all of a sudden. As Bruce searched his dad's desk drawers he found nothing but unimportant papers that were mostly ripped and with sloppy handwriting. "Find anything beneficial?" Al asked after a while of Bruce rummaging through his father's belongings.

"There is all just a bunch of pointless stuff." Bruce asserted.

"Indeed." Alfred declared.

Bruce unexpectedly got up and walked over to Al. "You told me there would be secrets that I could discover. Alfred, did you lie to me?"

"Of course not." Al assured him.

"Then what is this?!" Bruce held up a piece of paper that had handwriting so illegible that not even one word could be pronounced accurately.

"I'm terribly sorry. I thought his work would still be here. I guess the police already brought it to inspection. I had no idea they would snatch it this early. They only died yesterday. I'd have thought they would have waited a couple days or so. I promise you that he did have work that was kept only for him to distinguish." Alfred explained. Bruce looked at Al with belief. "You believe me, right?"

"Yes, of course I do, Al. Just wanted to know the truth." Bruce responded.

"Thank you." Alfred smiled. Bruce then decided it was time to leave and head back to his house. Al agreed and escorted Bruce to the car. The two drove home safely. Alfred sat on the couch, reading an article about bats. Bruce sat down on the couch next to him and noticed the magazine Al was reading.

"Bats, huh? Seems interesting." Bruce noted.

"Yes. It does seem riveting, doesn't it?" Alfred smirked, turning the page.