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Trailing through the halls, an older gentleman in his proper butler suit, humming a quiet hum as he steps into the family wing.
His family. His pride and joys.
He knocks on the first door closest to him. He gets no response, not exactly a surprise. He turns around to knock on the door across from it.
Opening the door is he met with the newest member of the family. Duke Thomas. And while he is only the master of the house foster son and hasn’t accepted him as a father, he still is apart of the Wayne family.
The young man smiles at the butler. “Hey Alfie! Need something?”
“I’ve just come to inform you that dinner is ready.” He responds.
“Ah sweet! I’ll be down in a sec.” He responds, turning around to clean up his desk where his homework lies, leaving the door still open.
He nods his head, before heading to the next door. He can hear the music of a pop group blasting through the door. He knocks a bit louder, though he knows they will hear it.
His technically only granddaughter opens the door. Her freshly cut black hair has been braided somewhat. She smiles at the old man. “Hello Alfred.”
“Miss Cassandra. I see Miss Stephanie is with you.”
The young blonde, also not a family member but a very close friend who is practically a Wayne is everything but name. Though Alfred is sure one oh his grandkids will change that.
“Yes, we are doing each other’s hair and nails.”
“Hi Alfie!” A high pitch female voice yells out over the music that is being turned down.
“Well dinner is ready so be sure to hurry along.”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks Alfie!”
Cassandra turns around, putting away the nail polish as Stephanie blows air on her still wet painted nails.
Knocking on the next door he waits as this young man opens the door. He can hear someone trip over some clutter being pulling the door open.
Letting out a yawn, the short young man wipes away the eye crust from his eyes. “Hey Alfred.”
“Hello Master Timothy. If you would be so kind to join us for dinner.”
“Sure thing Alf.” Tim steps out of his room, heading down the hall being joined by the other three.
Heading over to the master bedroom, slipping past the other three rooms, he knocks on the large door.
Opening it as he just finished knocking, the master of the manor stretches out his back before greeting the man. “Alfred. Is dinner ready?”
“Right you are Master Bruce. Be sure to actually join your children today.”
He was just given a nod before turning around to change out of his sleepwear.
Heading down the stairs, over towards the common dining room they use, not the one for show when guests arrive. Each of his grandchildren are sitting down, the eldest and youngest ones were setting up the table and his third eldest was in his kitchen, helping with the cooking.
"Thank you Master Dick, Master Damian." He greeted the two.
"No problem Alfie." Dick smiles before taking his seat to the right of Bruce's seat, with Damian right next to Dick.
Tim sat on the left side, a seat down from Bruce's chair, room for Jason. Cass and Steph joined Tim while Duke sat next to Damian. Jason pushed the door from the kitchen open with his side, his hands occupied by pans of their dinner. Bruce was the last to join them, taking his seat at the head of the table.
Jason pushed back the chair, ruffling Tim's hair earning a squawk from the younger man as he sat down.
Alfred smiles to himself, watching as his growing family was just existing with one another. No case, no fighting, no one is missing. It's peaceful.
Just multiple conversations happening at once. Like what a normal family would have.
"You sure took a long nap B." Dick commented. "Has work been busy?"
Bruce grunted before responding with actual words. "Yes. Clark and John have been out with Hal trying to work out some deals. Diana has some time off visiting her family, and Barry is currently preoccupied with some cases at Star Labs."
"Ah so everyone has been relying on you."Dick nods in understanding.
"Yes, Jon kept on complaining that his father was taking so long to come home." Damian added. "When are they expected back?"
"Hopefully, if everything goes smoothly, the next day." Bruce informed him.
"Will there be a press conference about it?" Tim asks, pilling on some of the mashed potatoes onto his plate.
"Yes, people have noticed both Clark and John absent these past couple days. Everyone has been asking where they are."
"What about you Dickiebird?" Jason asks, tearing apart the lemon pepper chicken. "How has work been for you."
"Well the competition season is coming up so my students have been preparing themselves. We already have our tickets paid for."
"OH where's the competition this year?" Steph asks.
Duke snorts. "Let's hope it's not at Cincinnati again."
"Ugh I would not survive if I have to go there again." Dick groaned. "Nah, thankfully it's in Chicago this year."
"When do you leave?" Bruce asks, cutting up his chicken into bite sized pieces.
"In three weeks, plus next week I have a mission I'm going on with the Titans, so I’ll be gone for awhile.” Dick informs the family.
"Ah, that's why Roy and Kori said they'll be gone." Jason sighs. “They seemed pretty tight lipped about it.”
“Yep, we’ll be heading out to space, one of the planets we saved in our early days is asking for our help again.” He explains. “So all the og titans we’ll be reunited., which technically most of the Leauge members don’t know we went to.”
Alfred raises an eyebrow at the eldest son. “Need I remind you guys no nightlife talk at the table?”
“Sorry Alfie.” Dick apologizes.
Alfred nods his head before walking out of the dining room. “Well try to keep safe and don’t forget-“
“I won’t forget my trackers or my panic button.” Dick sighs, shaking his head at his adoptive father’s antics.
Bruce nods his head before he turns his attention back to his dinner plate.
Damian eyes his third eldest brother, his eyes keep shutting longer, he's sure he'll fall asleep soon. He scoops up his mashed potatoes before kicking Tim's leg.
Tim lets out a yawn before he stabs his dinner, feeling his younger brother's eyes. "Yes Dami?"
“You had Mr. Lopez’s science class when you were in 7th grade?” The youngest asked.
“Yeah I believe so why?”
“He is having us preform in the science fair that’s coming up and I need to have a project for it.” Damian explained to the older teen.
“Mm. I remember having to do that. I believe I made a homemade water filtration system, won first place with that.” Tim nodded his head. “You need help?”
“I would like some yes. I am unsure of what would allow me to stand out.”
Tim gives a soft smile. “We’ll workshop some ideas after dinner.”
“Oh my gosh Duke, I have to update you about Jackson. Tim and Cass already know.” Steph light up, turning her attention to the young teen.
“Ugh.” Duke groaned. “What he do know?”
“He is now claiming that he saw me at a bar getting wasted and trying to use drugs.” She scoffed.
“And how would he have supposedly seen that?” Duke raised an eyebrow.
“That’s what I said. And get this, he said and I quote ‘I was pushed into the bar and that’s when I saw you.’ I’m sorry someone pushed you in?” Steph stabbed her chicken, covered in the pastas sauce.
“That is one of the fakest lies I have ever heard.” Duke broke into laughter.
Steph letting out some giggles with him. “I know! All I could do was stare at the man in disbelief.”
Cass peers over to her father. “Dad.” She called out. “When is the upcoming gala? I can’t remember.”
“It’s happening next Saturday. We will be celebrating the 40th year of the Wayne Foundation.” Bruce answered his ‘only’ daughter.
The younger members of the family groaned.
“Ugh do I have to go to that?” Duke groaned.
“Ha! I don't have to go, I’ll be on my mission.” Dick laughed, his finger pointed at the younger kids.
“And I’m still legally dead.” Jason laughed, joining his older brother.
“It won’t be that bad you guys. I know you all can survive three hours, and at least one hour is my speech.” Bruce sighed.
“I can hardly survive two minutes of the older ladies pinching my cheeks.” Damien grunted.
“I miss dealing with those old ladies. Now I get to deal with the older guys trying to make deals with me.” Tim sighed. “Like yeah I’m young and the major shareholder of WE but that don’t mean shi-anything.”
“Dude, I don’t even want to talk about the young rich pricks that try to start a fight with me.” Duke rubbed his temples.
“You and me both.” Steph agreed. “I’ll probably just ditch it halfway through.”
“Take me with you.” Tim stated with seriousness.
Jason laughs at their misery. “One of the perks of still being legally dead.”
“That’s enough, you guys.” Bruce shakes his head, but a smile was planted on his face. “But now that you have reminded me, Tim…I saw on the calendar have a photoshoot coming up?”
“Yeah, Tam has been working with my pr team, now that I’m getting recognized more, I’ll have to start doing more things like this.” Tim explained.
“Awh our little nepo baby is getting more famous.” Jason coos. “I should start going to you now for things.”
Tim snorts. “Why? Bruce not giving you enough?”
“No. He just refuses to get me explosives and the gun guns.”
Bruce let’s put a sigh before standing up from the table, his plate empty. “I’ll be down at the cave. I have some reports to finish up.”
Alfred heads back into the dining room, gathering up the empty plates with the help of Jason.
Tim and Damien he’s up together, rambling about Tim’s science fair project. Steph had moved on from telling Duke and Cass about Jackson to how stupid her professor is as they headed towards the gaming room.
Dick stretches his back before heading to his room, hoping to take a quick nap before patrol at 11.
The manor settles, as the inhabitants started to quiet down, getting ready for spending their nights on top of the rooftops.