Chapter Text
“Master Jason,” Alfred said, his voice choked. “It’s so good to see you well.”
Jason eyed him silently, then finally nodded. “You too,” he said.
Alfred hesitated, something in Jason’s voice putting him on notice. “Are you- is everything all right, sir?”
The young man took in a long, deep breath, looking away. Then he took a few steps away from the entry to the store, Alfred following, until they were in a quiet corner where they could not be overheard. Jason’s jaw was set on an angle that Alfred had never seen before, and it was incredibly disquieting. He knew Master Jason when he was angry, or frustrated, or hurt, or scared. This version of the lad was something else.
“Why are you asking me that?” Jason said. His voice was quiet.
Alfred blinked. “I am merely concerned for your welfare. As I would be for any member of the fam-”
“Stop,” Jason said, and this time there was a firm snap in his voice. He took a deep breath. “Here is the thing, Alfred. I thought I had a Dad. I thought, things were rocky, maybe, but I definitely still had a father.”
“-you do, Master Jason-”
“And then I got myself into a bad situation,” Jason said, without pausing. That alone had Alfred nervous. Jason had always been so attentive to Alfred. He had always known he was the lad’s favourite, the whole family knew. In this moment, however, Jason was giving Alfred about as much emotion as the brick wall behind him. “It was mostly my fault, I admit that. I made some stupid choices.” His voice slowed. “But instead of my Dad helping me, trying to show me a better way, or protecting me-”
He swallowed, and turned his head to the side, dragging at the collar of his t-shirt. The scar was raised, and red, and hideous. “He stabbed me in the throat.”
He must have heard the choked sound from Alfred, and turned back to face the older man.
“And that was when I knew I didn’t have a Dad anymore. Not if my father could do that to me.”
Alfred raised a shaking hand to his mouth.
“And then, as I lay there trying to stop the bleeding, the building I was in blew up.” Jason closed his eyes. “And do you know who came to dig me out of the rubble? Do you know who helped me?”
Alfred shook his head slowly, silently.
“No-one. No-one looked for me in that rubble, Alfie. The Joker was dug out and taken to get medical attention, though. I saw that in the news. And then was when I knew I didn’t have any brothers anymore.”
“And then.” Jason’s voice slowed, dropped low. “I got myself to hospital. And I was there for days, more than a week, I think. And do you know how many visitors I had? Do you know who came to see me, to check on me?”
A single tear traced down Alfred’s cheek.
“No-one, Alfred,” Jason whispered. “No-one came for me in all that time. And that,” he said, swallowing hard, “that was when I knew I didn’t have a grandfather anymore, either.”
“Oh my boy,” Alfred said. “My poor boy. How can I ever ap-”
Jason held up his hand and Alfred stopped like he had run into a wall.
“Please don’t,” he said. “Alfred. Really. There’s no point.” Jason took a breath and said, “You don’t have to torture yourself, or feel guilty. This is just… where we’ve ended up. And I’m not- it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s over, and there’s a clarity to that. I’m doing all right. I’m not self-destructing, I’m not hurting innocents or on a rampage, it’s fine. You’ve got a nice family waiting for you back at the Manor, and you should just focus on them and forget about the one little cuckoo that never quite fit.”
“I could never-” Alfred began.
“Well, I’m asking you to,” Jason said, a little snap in his voice this time. “It’s too late. The time for that was in the past. We are where we are, and we all just need to move forward now.”
He reached out and rested a hand on Alfred’s wrist. “Take care of yourself, Alfred. You’re the best of that bunch, so please look after yourself, okay?”
The old man stood, head bowed, Jason’s hand on his wrist. For several beats, neither of them moves. Then Alfred took a deliberate, slow breath and raises his head. “Indeed, Master Jason,” he said, in an approximation of his usual calm tone. “I can promise you that I will endeavour to return to my normal standards of care.”