Nolanverse #2- "The Narrows" Entry
Title: Then and Now
Universe: Nolanverse
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Alfred Pennyworth, mentions Bruce, Rachel
Word Count: 285
Summary: It helps Alfred to remember.
Then, in desperation, Alfred had driven through The Narrows when Bruce first disappeared shortly after Chill's hearing. It was the last place he had been seen, it was the last place Rachel was with him. When Alfred contacted her, she was very forthcoming about everything that happened. The gun. The slap. The argument that expedited Bruce's departure. And, perhaps unfairly, he found it difficult not to blame the young woman for her behavior.
Now, Alfred can understand - on some basic level - what went through both Bruce's and Rachel's minds at the time. Because the former was likely to leave eventually anyway and the latter had no possible way to stop him. It was easy to see now looking back that Bruce had been lost in more ways than one.
Then, the Narrows held the key, he was sure of it, and Alfred drove by the broken down neighborhood often. The look in people's eyes was that of utter hopelessness. The streets and buildings were in grave decay and falling apart everywhere his gaze landed. A sickening smell of loss and rot filled the air whether it was day or night. Amid all that, always Alfred half-expected to find the lost youth wandering the streets and return him safely home. It may have been an irrational belief, but it was all the older man was left with.
Now, when the Batman is out patrolling the streets, protecting the innocents, endangering his life every second he's out there, all Alfred has to do is remember that as bad as The Narrows used to be, the area is currently worse. The Bat is needed and Alfred knows the risks Bruce takes when he dons the mask are indeed necessary.
Universe: Nolanverse
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Alfred Pennyworth, mentions Bruce, Rachel
Word Count: 285
Summary: It helps Alfred to remember.
Then, in desperation, Alfred had driven through The Narrows when Bruce first disappeared shortly after Chill's hearing. It was the last place he had been seen, it was the last place Rachel was with him. When Alfred contacted her, she was very forthcoming about everything that happened. The gun. The slap. The argument that expedited Bruce's departure. And, perhaps unfairly, he found it difficult not to blame the young woman for her behavior.
Now, Alfred can understand - on some basic level - what went through both Bruce's and Rachel's minds at the time. Because the former was likely to leave eventually anyway and the latter had no possible way to stop him. It was easy to see now looking back that Bruce had been lost in more ways than one.
Then, the Narrows held the key, he was sure of it, and Alfred drove by the broken down neighborhood often. The look in people's eyes was that of utter hopelessness. The streets and buildings were in grave decay and falling apart everywhere his gaze landed. A sickening smell of loss and rot filled the air whether it was day or night. Amid all that, always Alfred half-expected to find the lost youth wandering the streets and return him safely home. It may have been an irrational belief, but it was all the older man was left with.
Now, when the Batman is out patrolling the streets, protecting the innocents, endangering his life every second he's out there, all Alfred has to do is remember that as bad as The Narrows used to be, the area is currently worse. The Bat is needed and Alfred knows the risks Bruce takes when he dons the mask are indeed necessary.