Alfred lay in the guest bed sleeping. He had learned to be a light sleeper after Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered. Bruce began having horrible night mares. He had endured a front row seat to his own parents demise. He would suffer these dreams throughout the rest of his life. And Alfred has always been there to comfort Bruce in those moments. This was the first Alfred had been away from Bruce. And it made Alfred feel empty.
Outside of the Joker's penthouse, Batman lands on the balcony. Bruce let's out a sigh of relief when he notices that thick blackout drapes were drawn over the patio door. Bruce pulls out a device that was linked to the tracker on Alfred. On the screen he can see how close he is to him. He leans out over the railing and checks for a entry into the room where Alfred was.
He pulls out the grappling gun and fires to a window he believes will be in the room where Alfred lay sleeping. Bruce pushes off the balcony as he swings out. He perches outside the window and looks in. The room was dark, the only light coming from the moon and a light coming from under the bathroom door. Bruce cups his hands on either side of his eye, blocking out peripheral vision. He could make out Alfred in the bed.
He raises his fist to the glass and lightly knocks. In the bed Alfred switches his position. Bruce lightly knocks again. This time Alfred's eyes open. He pushes himself up into a sitting position. His head shifted from side to side, looking around in confusion for the sounds origin. Bruce taps at the glass again, and Alfred looks to the window. All he could make out was a dark shadow, but he knew who it was. He felt it. It was Bruce.
Alfred gets out of the bed and crosses the room to the window. He raises it and Bruce climbs through. "Master Bruce, what a lovely surprise," Alfred says, thinking that Bruce is here to rescue him. "Just let me grab my shoes.
"W-wait," Bruce says. Alfred freezes and turns back toward Bruce. "I didn't exactly come to rescue you," Bruce says in his normal voice.
"What do you mean sir? What other reason would you be here?" Alfred's confusion shows.
"I need your help Alfred," Bruce says.
"With what sir?" He asks as one of his brows raise.
Bruce pulls out the powder that would neutralize the acid in Jason's blood. Alfred glances at it, then looks back to Bruce. "This is a drug. It will effect the acid in Jason's blood, by weakening it. This will allow the drugs he takes to affect him more. It is odorless and tasteless. It can be put in anything he consumes. It must be administered once a day," Bruce informs him.
Alfred just looks at Bruce a moment. Was this task his to preform? "Sir, why do I get the feeling that I am the one who is to administer that powder in your hands?"
Bruce's eyes fall down, unable to watch the disappointment that had cast itself over Alfred's features. "You're the only one who can Alfred," Bruce sighs. "I wouldn't even ask if there was any other option."
"Yes, but why would I be doing it? What purpose does it serve, master Bruce?" He asks and watches Bruce's eyes meet with his own again. Alfred could see the unsettled feelings that the discussion seemed to evoke in Bruce.
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