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[toconquerfear]

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[toconquerfear]

[ She folds herself into the back seat -- she keeps getting taller, go figure -- and leans her head back against the headrest with a sigh of relief.

No scenic routes, and little traffic at this hour of the night, but there's still a bit of a drive ahead of them.

So . . . who's going to break the silence first? Because if it's not Alfred, Bryce will, eventually, in a tone more suited to a socialite than a vigilante. ]

So how've you been?

[inforapound]

[It won't be Alfred. as much as he wants to. As much as he wants to ask how she is. As much as he cares, that's not his place anymore.

She breaks the silence and he can't be more glad. Except he ends up putting on his best brave face. Bryce doesn't need to worry about her former but let.]

I'm good. Got me a decent place to stay and been offered a full-time. [He won't say where.] Been thinking about going back to London for spell.

[He won't. He'll never go back. He won't because Bryce is here and as she proved tonight, she might still need him. So he'll stay.]

How have things been for you?

[It's impossible to keep the care and concern out of his question.]

[toconquerfear]

London. When was the last time you were in London?

[inforapound]

[He has to think a moment.] Long before you was born, Mistre.. [He stops himself halfway. She's not Mistress Wayne anymore.] Bryce.

Right after I started up working with your Father. [So a very very long time.]

[toconquerfear]

[ It's always odd to think about Alfred having a life before the Waynes. Or a life after them. Maybe that's why she falls back on the kind of socialite chit-chat she's been perfecting. ]

Do you still have people there?

[ This also lets her avoid the question of how she's been. That's no accident. ]

[inforapound]

[He notices the avoidance. It worries him more. It eats at him and his hands tighten on the wheel. It takes a lot of effort not to stop the car and tell her she can talk to him. He'll just let her get away with it for now.]

Not really, no. Left that all behind when I joined Her Majesty's Marines. It was just me dad and mum. But don't mean I can't go back. Might be nice to visit.

[Visit. Not stay. He can't make himself leave Gothem. She's here.]

[toconquerfear]

Sure, it sounds like it. Get your mind off of Gotham.

[ Assuming that's even possible, for either of them. ]

[inforapound]

[Silence. He knows he shouldn't be thinking it. Shouldn't even suggest it. It would be too much like the old days. Too much like all their trips to Switzerland. Still...she sounds so tired.]

I you wanted, I wouldn't mind having you along Miss.

[toconquerfear]

[ She gives him a sharp look in the rearview mirror, trying to read his expression. ]

And get my mind off of Gotham?

[ That's not happening. ]

[inforapound]

[He looks at her for a moment before focusing on the road again. His shoulder slump. He'd had known it had been out of line. Of course she can't go. Won't go. Which means he won't go either. He has to stay here, just in case she needs him again.]

Guess not.

[toconquerfear]

Alfred, I wish it were that simple, but -- you know it isn't. There's too much work to do.

[inforapound]

[There's a soft, sad sigh.] I know, poppet. I know. [He hasn't called her that since she was small. But he still adores her and he's still here for her.]