Chapter Text
The first time Alfred had met Danny was when he was a teenage boy. He’d been running away from home and Danny had found him shivering at a bus stop in the rain. They had been about the same age then. Danny had sympathized with him, sharing his own poor home experiences. He hadn’t tried to force Alfred to return home, even if in the end Danny had walked him home to make sure he got back safe.
The next time he’d seen him was during his MI-5 days while he was training to become the Dark Knight. Danny was the one who had helped him figure out Briar had gone insane. He looked nearly the same as he had the last time Alfred had seen him. He’d explained to Alfred more about who and what he was. During their first meeting, Danny had not mentioned his death or half-dead status. Or that he was the Ghost King.
Danny came to see one of Alfred’s plays when he was performing at the Globe Theater. He’d also been there after Alfred had learned of his father’s death and helped him pack and move to America to become the Waynes’ butler. He’d appeared not long after Thomas and Martha Waynes' deaths as well.
Danny had visited Alfred a few times during Bruce’s childhood, giving Alfred some advice on how to raise the boy, including sending him to Arkham’s rehabilitation home. Alfred had been reluctant to send Bruce upstate, but in the end, had agreed. It had helped, even if it didn’t fix all of the young man’s anger issues.
Danny had visited when Bruce dropped out of college to travel the world. He’d comforted him as best he could, and had helped him finally get a phone call through to him.
That was the last time Alfred had seen the boy.
Not long after Bruce returned to the manor, another ghost named Clockwork had visited Alfred instead. He’d explained that he’d sent Danny back in time all the times Alfred had seen him. That Danny would need his help one day. He can’t tell him more because of something relating to the sanctity of the timeline. Clockwork had answered some of Alfred’s questions, assuring him that Danny would be alright, at least until the time he came to Alfred for help.
That had been the last time he’d spoken with a ghost. He didn’t know when that time would be, he just had to assume that his ghostly friend was alright. He was always prepared, always looking out for any sign of him. He’d listen for any hint of Danny from Bruce and the children on patrol. He’d waited, half hoping for Danny to show up after the death of Jason.
He knew he would see Danny again. He did not know when, how, or why, but being prepared for just about anything is much easier when you have a very paranoid billionaire vigilante in the house.
At least, that’s what Alred hoped.