2008 Nolanverse Gift Exchange for raz0rgirl- drabblefic and icon

[nikki6]

 

“How do you know he’s alive?” Lucius asked as they sat, drinking their brandy before the huge fire in the study of Wayne Manor.

“The same way you do. My gut tells me he is.” Alfred answered.

“It’s been a long time, 6 years.” Lucius pointed out sadly.

“I know. But he was very lost at the end. He needed to find himself, and sometimes....sometimes Lucius, finding your way can take a long time.” Alfred smiled at his companion softly.

Lucius nodded sagely. “It can indeed.”

Lucius was in his office the next day, working on some specs for a new project when the head of the Wayne Enterprise Board came in. Lucius smiled but it wasn’t his usual friendly smile. It was a civil smile, a politically prudent one, and both men knew it.

“I need your help, Fox.” William Earle said briefly. “I’m taking the company public and I want your support with the board.”

“I don’t support that move, Earle. You know that.” Fox answered evenly.

“He’s dead, Lucius. It’s sad, but it’s a fact. If he wasn’t, he’d be here. We’d have heard something...” Earle snapped impatiently.

“Until I see Bruce Wayne’s body in front of me. I will not believe he’s dead. And neither will Alfred Pennyworth.” Fox added.

Earle’s face became darker. “I’m well aware of your special...friendship with the butler. Regardless of what two sentimental old fools think, this decision is mine and I’m going through with it. You might want to consider what kind of place you’ll have here if you don’t.”

And Fox watched the man walk out, shaking his head. Alfred was not going to like this at all.

“Useless git!” Alfred snapped. “Bloody useless git!”

“I know, but what can we do?” Lucius asked calmly.

They were sitting in bed, Fox was reading, or had been trying to, while Alfred watched the late news. They’d breached this subject over dinner, after dinner and now again.

“Well, there has to be something!” Alfred said again.

“When you think of it, let me know.” Lucius said mildly, looking at his book.

“How can you bloody read at a time like this?” Alfred demanded.

“There’s nothing else to do right now. Getting upset isn’t going to solve anything.” Fox told him calmly. It was often like this. Alfred had a temper, which Fox actually found endearing. His calmness was pretty unflappable, which was a virtue on its own, but he did envy other people their tempers.

“We can’t allow him to...”

“We won’t.”

“If he manages to...”

“He won’t.”

There was a pause and Lucius looked sideways at Alfred, who was staring at his hands, not saying anything. He looked over almost entreatingly at his partner.

“I would know, Lucius.” He said firmly. “He’s like my son...I would know.”

Lucius smiled softly and placed either of his hands on either side of Alfred’s face. “I believe you, so quit worrying. He’ll come back, when he’s ready.”

He moved forward and kissed Alfred gently, lingeringly, then smiled and lay back on the pillows. “Now, let me finish this, I’m trying to come up with some more special features on the Tumbler.”

Alfred Pennyworth shook his head and watched Lucius affectionately. “Always working...”

Lucius read for a moment longer then to Alfred’s surprise he put the book down and took his glasses off. He turned off his light and pulled Alfred into his arms. He kissed him again then spoke and Alfred could hear the amusement in his voice.

“Not always....”

Later, in the darkness, Alfred sighed and rested easily in Lucius’ arms. He doubted whether he would ever find another man who was such a perfect match for himself. They complimented each other so well, and whenever he was troubled, Lucius always knew exactly what to say and do to make it better. He was a lucky man, and he knew it. If Bruce Wayne was home, his life would be perfect.

“What are you thinking about?” Lucius asked sleepily.

“How good you are for me. How good we are for each other.”

“True.” Lucius agreed.

“I know that whatever Earle does, as long as we’re together, we can stop him.”

“That’s all I’ve been trying to tell you.” Lucius smiled in the dark.

“I know. Sometimes my stubborn British attitude gets in the way, I apologize.”

Fox stretched a bit and said, “Luckily for you, I’m a very patient man...”

“Oh, bloody hell...” Alfred rolled his eyes.

“Immensely patient...putting up with British drama queens...”

“British drama queens...?” Alfred demanded indignantly, he started to sputter but then he heard it. That deep, rich laughter, and he sighed and finally chuckled himself.

“You’re a bad man, Lucius Fox.”

Lucius leaned over, kissing Alfred so passionately that the butler’s breath was taken away for a moment.

“Yes, a bad, bad man...” Lucius agreed, amused.

Alfred let the other enfold him in his arms again, and they slowly drifted off, confident they would deal with Earle when they had to.

And await the return of the son.