Sticks And Stones

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

He's never wrong.

He never allows himself to be wrong.

But it's staring him right in the face.

A lapse in judgment.

An error.

The few strips of gauze he's pulled from the drawer just aren't going to be enough to fix this mess.

The blood soaked wad currently in his hand is hurled in the direction of the sink.

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[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

Alfred blinks and stands nonplussed.

"My word."

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

Bruce, on the other hand, stands in complete silence.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Sir?" Alfred's attention immediately snaps back to its usual focus. "Master Bruce?" More quietly, he says, "It's quite all right, lad. I'm here."

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

His gaze drops to the cavern floor. A long moment passes before he's able to turn.

The look on his face is touched with sorrow and strain. It's as composed as it's likely to get given the circumstances. Real or not, the visions has played on his fears and toyed with his heart.

Yes, he does have a heart.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

The old man's hand rest on the younger man's shoulder in an immemorial gesture. "Come now," he says kindly. "Why do we fall, sir?"

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

The answer that follows is more than just a statement delivered by rote. It reaches to the core of his faltering confidence and settles the prevailing uneasiness. "So that we might better learn to pick ourselves up."

His voice is little more than a whisper.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Quite so." The hand tightens on his shoulder. "And with each rise, we grow stronger, and are thus less prone to falling again." Alfred releases his grip to prod a bicep. "Though I sometimes wonder in your case...." His tongue clucks in familiar disapproval.

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

The ghost of a smile sweeps across his features. It stays for all too brief a period of time. Great is the weight that rests on this man's shoulders.

"I should report this," he offers weakly. He should go to the computer while the experience is still fresh. Right this instant. Instead, he remains.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Oh, yes." This is much more familiar territory than anything presented by any gaudy bauble. "But first, allow me to ascertain that you have not unraveled any of my hard work." Again with the clucking sound as he makes his exaination. "Really, Master Bruce. I shudder to contemplate how you would manage without me."

[anotherknight.livejournal.com]

His gaze drops to the almost all but forgotten bloody arm.

How would he manage?

Poorly.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

As Alfred finishes his examination, he adds, in a quieter and gentler voice, "When that day comes, remember, lad: despite your determination to embrace solitude, you shall not be alone. You have never been alone."

He has watched the boy grow to manhood in the shadow of his murdered parents, their ghosts keeping stride with each step he takes. He has seen others flock to the prince of Gotham and to the Dark Knight, with only the most tenacious joining the parental shades in this boy's journey, this man's quest.

Though he must walk in the shadows, Alfred finds comfort in the companions who walk with him.