Blurred Lines.

get to know us, jason

I went straight to the mansion. I ran inside the door, dropping the helmet the moment my feet entered and shut the door behind me. I heard Bruce talking in his study. I pushed open the door and seen Alfred sitting on the leather sofa. 

He was pale and he looked much older than he was. Or maybe he just finally looked his age. Either way, the sight was unnerving. But he still scowled at me as I took quick strides to him and bent down on one knee in front of him. 

"Master Jason, that's enough fussing over me." Even his voice sounded weak and uncertain. I didn't want the thoughts of Alfred's death to come back to me, but I couldn't shake them either. He was much more feeble than he was when I left. I  know that when people are sick it happens, but people that are never sick seem to get hit the hardest. 

"Hush now. If I want to fuss over you I will." I said and I didn't raise up. I stayed knelt in front of him. He rolled his eyes and tried to sit up, but couldn't. I say the frustration pass his face then replaced with humor. 

"If you two do not stop acting like I'm on my death bed.." He began then stopped when he seen my pained expression. He rolled his eyes. 

"And you are not staying with me tomorrow! I am a grown man. I'll be fine." He snapped at me. He really was too independent. I guess I blamed Bruce and myself. We were so used to Alfred taking care of us that we never for a second stopped to think about who was taking care of Alfred. 

"Again, I will do what I want. I don't have anywhere to be tomorrow and I think that you resting and taking a break is good for you." Truth be told, I didn't think he would survive being out of bed long. 

"I'm fine." He began, but a series of coughs stopped him in his tracks. He doubled over. Bruce came around with water and once Alfred slowed, he took the water and drank it down quickly. He closed his eyes and smiled at us. Trying to push away what we were seeing. 

"I'm fine as I said. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you both tomorrow." He said standing up, wobbly at first, but being the stubborn man he is, he took off walking by himself. I looked at Bruce who was scowling even harder at Alfred.

"I'm going to walk him up Jason. Then we'll talk." He said following after Alfred. I knew he was scolding Alfred when he caught up to him. That's the thing about Bruce. He cares. He cares about a lot of things and a lot of people. Alfred being the top of that list. 

I walked around the desk and sat behind it. I never spent much time in this office. I never spent much time anywhere in the mansion except my room and the batcave. I was too worried about the next guy we were going to beat up and destroy. I was too worried about my anger and taking it out on anyone. I was more worried about myself. 

I propped my feet on the desk and leaned back in the chair. I closed my eyes soaking up what I had heard today. Thinking about Parsley Brown and thinking about how he had all but said that Agatha had problems. I thought about it all. 

Bruce came back a moment later. I quickly recapped all that had happened today and told him the condensed version of the story and waited for his reply. 

He thought it over for a while and then sighed. I knew he had a lot on his mind, but the fact that he took time and listened to me, helped a bunch. 

"There's clearly more going on here than we know. Have you asked Agatha about her past? About what happened before she was took? Because obviously something happened for her father feel the best thing for her was to be kept away from the public." I rose up. I could have asked her, but I don't think that would have worked out. 

"I would have been glad to ask her, but she's been so worked up and upset that I didn't think it was a good idea yet. I can't handle her with kid gloves though, can I?" I wasn't really asking the question. I was more just accepting it. 

"No, Jason, you cannot. Handling things with kid gloves only causes more problems and only hurts more people." He was speaking from experience though and I knew he was. I looked over at him and sighed. 

"It's much easier said then done though, huh?" He said in response to my frustrated look. 

"I know you feel like you can relate to her and I know you can, but don't get too involved that you become blinded by what she could really be." He stood up and walked around the desk to one of the huge windows over looking the grounds. 

"But what if she's nothing dangerous just misunderstood?" I began, but even as I said it. I knew the answer he was going to give. 

"You can't believe that. I know you don't believe that. Have you ever met someone who was just misunderstood and not an actual danger? Neither have I. That phrase, He's just misunderstood, is so worn out and doesn't hold much merit any longer. Because no one is misunderstood. Everyone is understood just fine." He turned to me again. He looked tired. 

"I need to go out tonight. I have somethings to follow up on. Can you stay in with Alfred?" He asked me. I didn't plan to go out tonight. 

"Sure, I need to rest up for tomorrow anyway. I'm going to leave as soon as you get back. I need to talk with Agatha." Bruce nodded and was already on his way to the door by the time I even finished my sentence. 

"I'm not going into the office tomorrow. I've spoken to the board and I'm going to be taking the meeting in this office." I frowned at him. I had been looking forward to taking care of Alfred. 

"Well then." Was all I could say. He walked out of the door though. I continued to sit in the office alone. Allowing myself to ponder and think about what I learned today. 

When I got back to my home, I needed to talk to Agatha. I couldn't wait any longer for her to be better. I needed to know more. 

I closed my eyes for just a minute, but that minute turned into all night. Because I didn't move a muscle all night.