Wow, this came out way darker than I'd intended... O_O
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The house has been so quiet, so filled with repressed pain and darkness, in the short time since Master Bruce's death or disappearance -- Alfred isn't convinced of the former, yet -- that he's already starting to wonder if there was a time when there was anything more, anything better. A time when the specter of death wasn't lurking in every shadow. A time when there was laughter and light, hope and happiness.
Thinking back, he realizes that recent years have been nothing but heartbreak after heartbreak for his charges. Master Timothy's tenure as Robin has been marked by death as he's watched his friends and family depart this world. Master Jason's held the ghosts of his past, and his yearning for the parents he never really had. Miss Stephanie had the misfortune of serving during Master Timothy's forced retirement. And all along, Master Bruce had to deal with so much pain, himself. In fact, there hasn't been true happiness in this house since Master Richard was young, Robin and a Titan, the light in Master Bruce's life, and his as well.
Alfred pauses in the middle of drying a dish, the ghostly echo of long-ago laughter suddenly ringing in his ears, as clear as if it had been yesterday. So many years have passed since those happier times. If only he could have prevented them from ending, or found a way to make the intervening years as good for his charges. If only.
In fact, there hasn't been true happiness in this house since Master Richard was young, Robin and a Titan, the light in Master Bruce's life, and his as well.
Alfred pauses in the middle of drying a dish, the ghostly echo of long-ago laughter suddenly ringing in his ears, as clear as if it had been yesterday. So many years have passed since those happier times. If only he could have prevented them from ending, or found a way to make the intervening years as good for his charges. If only.
Yeah... I was really bitten *hard* by the angst bug today. *shuffles feet* But they *have* suffered so much. I think, of all of them, Alfred's probably suffered the most, having to stand by and watch it all happen.
* * *
The house has been so quiet, so filled with repressed pain and darkness, in the short time since Master Bruce's death or disappearance -- Alfred isn't convinced of the former, yet -- that he's already starting to wonder if there was a time when there was anything more, anything better. A time when the specter of death wasn't lurking in every shadow. A time when there was laughter and light, hope and happiness.
Thinking back, he realizes that recent years have been nothing but heartbreak after heartbreak for his charges. Master Timothy's tenure as Robin has been marked by death as he's watched his friends and family depart this world. Master Jason's held the ghosts of his past, and his yearning for the parents he never really had. Miss Stephanie had the misfortune of serving during Master Timothy's forced retirement. And all along, Master Bruce had to deal with so much pain, himself. In fact, there hasn't been true happiness in this house since Master Richard was young, Robin and a Titan, the light in Master Bruce's life, and his as well.
Alfred pauses in the middle of drying a dish, the ghostly echo of long-ago laughter suddenly ringing in his ears, as clear as if it had been yesterday. So many years have passed since those happier times. If only he could have prevented them from ending, or found a way to make the intervening years as good for his charges. If only.
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Poor Alfred.
The entire Bat-Clan!
They've sure suffered a lot over the years.
I loved these parts:
In fact, there hasn't been true happiness in this house since Master Richard was young, Robin and a Titan, the light in Master Bruce's life, and his as well.
Alfred pauses in the middle of drying a dish, the ghostly echo of long-ago laughter suddenly ringing in his ears, as clear as if it had been yesterday. So many years have passed since those happier times. If only he could have prevented them from ending, or found a way to make the intervening years as good for his charges. If only.
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Thanks so much, hon!
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