Work Text:
The first time Alfred holds Bruce in his hands, he believes that his heart will explode. Tears come to his eyes, he is not emotional and yet this little being currently in his arms puts him in all his states. It’s the most beautiful day of his life.
« Alfred ? You’re crying ? » Martha Wayne is surprised.
« Sorry, Madam, » Alfred apologizes by returning her son to her.
Since that day, Alfred has been taking care of Bruce with the same feelings as a father for his son. Marveling at his first smile. Worrying at his first steps. Alfred photographs a lot of Bruce’s childhood, to the appreciation of Thomas and Martha Wayne who love flipping through the albums that their butler makes.
When Bruce begins to babble his first name, it touches Alfred right to the heart. At the beginning, Bruce produces a long « A- » while gripping his shirt, then the toddler manages to pronounce the first syllable, « Alf- », which becomes « Alfed » and ends with the famous « Alfred » after a few years.
Attend the evolution of Bruce, this toddler : avoidant, expressionless and explosive at times. As a boy: always shy with strangers but confident with those close to him, apathetic most of the time but passionate about superheroes and video games, and still too sensitive to the world but never without reason. And the greatest joy of Alfred.
So, at the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne, when Alfred recovers a young Bruce: traumatized, mute, and filled with rage. He had the impression that part of this child whom he helped raise for ten years died forever that day. The mourning of his parents is firstly impossible for Bruce.
The first year, Alfred had to physically hold Bruce to avoid his nightmares. For two years, Alfred wakes up every night to the sounds of young Wayne’s screams.
And after three years, Bruce finally finds a calm.
As soon as Bruce is, in Alfred’s opinion, stable again, the former soldier decides to teach him to fight, to be a protector and no longer a victim of the fear and anger that overwhelmed him. This also allows Bruce to survive in a city like Gotham. Alfred especially does not want to lose Bruce in the same way as Thomas and Martha Wayne.
But even so, Alfred is aware that Bruce will never be independent.
The man remained unaware of his own needs and unable to understand the world around him. As if a part of him cannot.
Under these conditions, Alfred is doing his best to fill Bruce’s gaps. He continues to take care of Bruce because Bruce is unable to take care of himself, forgetting to go to the toilet, to eat, or simply to sleep.
What creates Alfred’s greatest fear, that of leaving Bruce alone in this world. This until the arrival of Clark Kent.
The kind, pretty and naive journalist who Alfred’s adopted son fell in love with.
During the first months, Alfred remained skeptical. It was weird that a stranger from Metropolis and Kansas was interested in a man as intense as Bruce. Because even if Alfred loves him more than anything, Bruce is not accommodating.
Yet, Clark and Bruce spent most of their time together. Alfred was surprised – Bruce smiling as he typed a few things on his phone, collecting all the newspapers from the Daily Planet that contain articles written by Mr. Kent, or even listening to punk-rock bands he had never been interested in before.
It was nice to see Bruce like this. That he was finally carefree, something he had lost with his parents’ deaths.
In fact, Alfred hoped that Clark and Bruce would start a relationship. Because even though the two are clearly in love, neither had confessed to the other. Bruce even refused to call Clark his friend, which would become tense.
Everything finally changed the day that Clark brought back Bruce – or rather Batman – from one of their patrols, blood staining the floor of the Wayne tower. The labored breathing of Bruce betrayed his injuries.
« He has three broken ribs but he categorically refuses to go to the emergency room, » explained Clark by holding Bruce as if he weighed nothing with his suit.
« It’s not... that serious... » Bruce whinced between his teeth.
« I wouldn’t agree with you, Bruce. You can put him on the couch, Mr. Kent. I’ll be right back, » Alfred assured, giving them a moment to bring back the first aid kit.
Stopping on the doorstep leading to the living room where they are, Alfred discovered the most intimate scene. One of Clark’s hands held Bruce’s, and on the other side he caressed his face. He cannot make out what Clark was saying, his hearing no longer being what it was.
« It will be necessary to remove the top of the suit, » Alfred interrupted after a moment.
Clark suddenly raised his head, his blue eyes as big as saucers. It seems that he didn’t notice Alfred’s approach.
« Oh... he... he fell asleep, » Clark confessed, red cheeks.
« It’s alright. Lay him down, » Alfred guided.
After bandaging a drowsy Bruce and making a stitch for a deep cut, Alfred asked, « Do you want to drink something Mr. Kent? »
« No thank you, » the journalist declined.
A silence echoed in the room, only interrupted by Bruce’s still superficialbreathing. « Can I ask you a question, Alfred ? »
Alfred didn’t expect it, he paused putting away the first aid kit to focus on the man next to him. « Of course. »
« What does Bruce like as a gift ? » Clark asked. « He always tells me that he needs nothing. »
« I believe that coming from you, anything would please him. »
« That doesn’t help me much, » Clark sighed.
« But I advise you to ask him what he is doing, what he has been watching or listening to lately. When I ask him, he always spends two hours monologuing, » Alfred jested. « That should inspire you. »
« Thank you. »
« You’re welcome, Mr. Kent. » Alfred thought before in turn asking a question. « If I may. When are you going to tell Bruce you love him? »
This question made Clark stumble.
« How... how do you know that... That I... that I have feelings for him? Is it so obvious? »
« You are not good at hiding your emotions, » Alfred confessed in the face of Clark’s embarrassment.
« Don’t tell him, please, » Clark begged, the words so hard to understand with his face in his hands. « It’s already so difficult to stay by his side, I don’t want him to reject me. »
They are really two idiots, thought Alfred.
« Don’t worry, I won’t say anything, » reassured the Wayne butler. « Even so, I wouldn't worry about it in your place. To confess, since you entered his life, I am no longer afraid that he will find himself alone. The last time he was this happy was before his parents died. »
Alfred didn’t know what made him say everything. What he knew is that it felt good.
« Do what you want with this information, » Alfred concluded, getting up from a chair he had moved and retrieving the first aid kit.
A week after their discussion, the two idiots were officially together.