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Bruce Wayne had never been good at displaying his feelings, not since his parents were murdered in front of him as a kid. He did have his moments though, particularly around his oldest friend Alfred, his legal wards Dick and Tim as well as his eldest's on-off girlfriend Barbara. They knew he was a loving and kind man who did his best to protect them and always looked out for his family and friends. Clark and Diana were among those who were also aware of Bruce's persona, both the flaws and the struggles.
So when the Light's agents with the United Nations stifled the Justice League, it was made all the more worse for the Bat Family. Because - courtesy of Ra's al Ghul's affiliation with the group - Batman believed that everything was personal.
And that's when he started to slip in his emotions and for the first time since he was taken in as his second ward, Tim Drake was afraid of what Bruce could do.
"Master Bruce! Stop that at once!" Alfred shouted from the entrance to the Batcave as Gotham's chief protector was yelling and trashing his workshop area, finding anything breakable to smash on any surface. Tim was blessed with this as he'd sat helplessly behind the now-dented Batmobile as his mentor broke anything he could get his hands on.
The voice of the butler got through to Bruce, as the man simply dropped the tool he was about to throw and collapsed to his knees, tears raging from his blue eyes and sobs escaping his mouth.
Alfred stepped around the mess like a true master, glancing at Tim to reassure him with a look as the teenager stood from his hiding place and tentatively moved around the front of the dented wheeled vehicle. Moving towards his old friend and former ward, the tall, balding man dropped to a single knee in front of the other, his left hand moving to lift his employer's chin.
"You've overdone it, Master Bruce," he said calmly. "I hope you know I don't expect to clean up this mess. An unnecessary one, at that."
"S-sorry, Alfred," the man stuttered as he felt clogged up again. "I-it's just that...wh-what th-they've done. What s-she's done!"
"And what about what you have done, Master Bruce," Alfred countered. "You've scared Master Tim," he gestured to the boy. "This was just unnecessary. You're an adult, Master Bruce. Not a child throwing a temper tantrum."
Bruce looked to Tim, who was tense at the side of the battered Batmobile, blue eyes full of remorse. "T-tim, I-I'm s-s-sorry, I-I didn't mean to -" he broke down again, unable to say anything.
Alfred pulled the man's head into his own chest, ignoring the wet patch from the tears escaping his employer's eyes. "It's okay, Bruce," he said, dropping the 'Master' title. "We'll figure it out. We always do," dark eyes turned to Tim's own blue. "Help me guide him to the washrooms, Master Tim. And then let him be for a time."
Tim nodded tentatively but said nothing, coming instead to the butler and his own legal guardian's side to help guide him to the change rooms. It was surprisingly easy as Bruce was able to cooperate and didn't leave his weight to the older man and the young teenager. Leaving him to undress and shower, Alfred took the silent boy upstairs to the kitchen, Tim having already changed when Bruce cracked it. Settling into his seat, a bowl of food was placed in front of him along with a glass of water by the butler.
Realising how hungry he was, Tim took up a fork and started eating, pausing to take a drink. When he put it down, he looked at Alfred.
"No energy drink, Alfred?" he asked the older man.
Alfred chuckled. "Oh no, Master Tim," he replied. "Not at this time of night. You have bed after this. School tomorrow for you, young man."
Tim smiled. "I do like school."
He resumed eating, finishing the bowl and pushing it back across the bench. The butler then took it away to be cleaned as the teenager continued to drink his water. The comfortable silence continued for a time until they both glanced at the entrance.
"He's okay, right?" Tim asked. "He's not breaking things again?"
"He isn't okay, Master Tim," Alfred replied. "Not after hearing it from...that woman," a growl escaped the man's throat, a rare thing since he was normally pleasant. "And say what you do about Miss Kyle, Miss Vale or Doctor Isley, nothing will ever allow me to respect that witch Talia al Ghul. And I am a gentleman."
Tim sighed. "I heard the message she sent," he said. "It's bad enough she had his son but...to do that to -"
"I'm aware, Master Tim," the old butler said, cutting him off from saying the name. "This is what I suspect made Master Bruce do what he did down there," he then looked at the teen. "And to you, which I suspect is what she wanted."
"She doesn't like me," the boy spoke, remembering his own encounter with the daughter of Ra's al Ghul shortly after he took the mantle of Robin. "She made a snide remark about how I could ruin everything for her and Bruce."
"And for that I hope Miss Kyle gives her a slap," Alfred snarled, startling Tim somewhat. "Or Doctor Isley strangles her with one of her plants. Either or, does not matter to me."
"Don't let your emotions cloud you, Alfred," Bruce said as he stepped through, dressed in a simple black sweater and gray workout pants. "You're too old for that."
Alfred smiled. "Forgive me, Master Bruce," he replied. "It appears Miss al Ghul has that effect on me as well, I'm afraid."
"Yes," Bruce spoke as he sat next to Tim. "I'm sorry for what happened, Tim," he said. "I forgot you were still there."
The teen nodded. "It's okay, Bruce," he replied. "I'm not hurt or anything."
"No, it's not okay, Tim," the older man said. "You're still a child. And you've been hurt too many times to have to see me melt down because of circumstances out of our control."
"Then maybe we should do something about it," Tim then stood up and went to where he left a notepad on a nearby display case from before he was on patrol. "We just got a lucky break," he said, taking a pen and opening to a blank page. "A means to bring down the Light. And hurt those that hurt us."
Both adults looked at Tim, then at each other and then at the teen.
"We need a plan, Tim," Bruce said. "And it can't be just us."
"And it can only be those who you trust to aid you," Alfred replied in agreement. "I fear that you, Master Tim, Master Dick, Miss Barbara, Miss Kate, Miss Stephanie and Miss Cassandra are not enough."
"The Justice League won't approve this, nor involve the Team," Bruce countered. "And we should account for all scenarios, including possible exposure."
"Bruce," Tim shot in. "You know the entire Justice League inside and out. Don't tell me you don't know who wouldn't aid you. The same with the Team. Dick and Barbara can help with that," he then looked down. "But we can't involve all of them. Even if it hurts all of us."
Alfred's eyebrow rose. "You and Miss Sandsmark?" he asked.
The teen nodded. "Wonder Woman wouldn't allow it for starters and what I'm thinking can't involve her. She's too recognisable."
"Compared to Robin?" Bruce asked. There is something more there.
"I just don't want the Light to have a means to tarnish Wonder Woman," Tim replied. "But the Bats can handle it. We always do."
Alfred and Bruce exchanged a look.
"Let's not plan big tonight, Tim," Bruce said. "Go to bed."
The teen frowned. "Is that an order?" he asked.
"More a suggestion," the older man replied. "We're all exhausted. And it's well past time you slept."
"Sleeps for the lost," Tim chuckled but obeyed, yawning as he did. "Night, Bruce. Night, Alfred."
"Good night, Master Tim," Alfred said.
"Good night, Tim," Bruce spoke.
The teen disappeared through the door and up to his room, leaving the two adults together in the kitchen. They stayed there for a while, Alfred finishing his cleaning as Bruce looked at the open notepad, blank but filled with possibilities.
"Damian," Bruce eventually said. "She called him Damian."
"A fine name, Master Bruce," Alfred said. "For whom I hope will be a fine boy if he escapes his mother."
The other chuckled morbidly. "Yeah," he spoke solemnly. "The universe always unites family, no matter what," he then looked at Bruce. "And what about -"
The butler cut him off with a single raised hand, palm forward. "Don't," he replied. "Don't think that. Not yet."
Bruce allowed his eyes to well up with more tears, but they didn't drop. "We'll beat them," he said. "And we'll bring them home. Here, where they should be."
Alfred nodded. "Yes, Master Bruce," he said. "We will."
It would take months, it would take a few interactions, but the conspiracy against the Light would succeed and free the Justice League from their control. Sure, they weren't defeated completely and Ra's al Ghul was still seemingly unaware of his daughter's machinations. But as it as was with everything else, the Light always fades to Dark, even those with claimed that claimed to have good intentions but do terrible things. And the true Light would rise to stop them, and perhaps one day reunite a family.
That's just how the world is.