2 Chapter 2-The Fated Meeting!
Chapter 2
ALFRED PENNYWORTH
Alfred smiled as he saw the elder Wayne brother sitting to his right. He had showered and now wore simple trousers and a white shirt, the smell gone and replaced by a simple floral scent.
He could see his eyes taking in the surroundings as the car moved through the City slums. A route which the man had insisted on taking for his own reasons. His eyes scanned the city slums, and Alfred could see his mind racing, especially as they entered parts of the city away from the Narrows where major construction seemed to be taking place.
"What is all that construction?" he questioned her with a frown, and Alfred smiled as he proudly answered.
"That would be your brother's work, Master Bruce," he told him with no little sense of pride.
Gotham City was rotting. The death of Thomas and Martha Wayne had shaken the very foundation of the city, and the wave of fear that had followed had nearly swallowed up all that was good in this city.
The death of Thomas Wayne also brought an end to various charities run by the man, all of them shut down by the new administration of the Wayne Enterprises for profit.
"That was a school and a shelter," he told him and Master Bruce raised a brow.
"After your father's death, Mr. Earle and the management shut down most of the charities and grants offered by Wayne Enterprises, and they had remained shut until a couple of years ago when young Master Thomas took his seat on the Board and forced them to revive them all. Those two are the first of his two projects, a school for the children and a shelter for the homeless," he said, and he saw that Master Bruce was impressed.
"And what of the gangs? I don't believe they will have taken this lightly," Master Bruce inquired, and his lips thinned at that. They had not. Alfred was aware of a number of threats that the young Master had received for this and was sure that there were many more he was in the dark about.
"They have now, threats have been made against him. Thankfully, Master Thomas takes his safety rather seriously, unlike someone else in his family," he said in a pained tone.
He was aware of the years spent by Master Bruce undercover, acting as a criminal in his efforts to understand the criminal mind. Alfred could never understand the reason behind his actions, yet he had no right to stop the man.
He saw his lips thin at his words, as the car left the slums and entered the main road headed to Wayne manor.
"What do you plan to do, Master Bruce?" he questioned, already having an inkling of the man's intentions.
"Gotham is my city. It has been good to our family. It is time I do my part in saving this city from the rot that has infested it," the man answered, and though Alfred had expected so, the words and conviction in the man's tone surprised him.
"The city has fallen enough that it needs someone more than a man to save it, a symbol. An everlasting, unkillable, incorruptible symbol. Something elemental that would strike fear into the hearts of the scum of this city," he said in a cold tone as he stared into eh palm of his hand.
"And I cannot do that as Bruce Wayne," the man whispered, and Alfred realized his intentions or at least part of it. And was saddened by it, yet also proud of what the young Master had grown up to be.
"And I believe you plan to keep Master Thomas in the dark about this endeavor of yours," he questioned, and Master Bruce nodded.
"Yes, he seems interested in the running of the business. I will encourage him to take over it. He will do right by our family's legacy," Master Bruce said with a smile, and he nodded.
"That he will," and the massive black steel doors were opened as the car entered the Wayne mention, slowly moving through the winding path as they headed towards the main entrance.
His eyes narrowed as he saw a car parked outside the main entrance. A car which was often used by young Master Thomas.
"An Audi," Master Bruce spoke up as he recognized the car.
"Whose car is that?" he questioned as he looked towards him.
"Your brothers," Alfred answered and saw the man still at his answer, words as he realized just what this meant.
It was his choice. He liked the brand, though the car was anything but simple. It was bulletproof and could withstand quite some damage. Afterall he had commissioned the car for the young Master himself.
Yet he was surprised by the car as well, he had not expected him to be present for their return. They had thought young Master Thomas would have left for the Board meeting already, but it appeared as though that was not the case.
Master Bruce shifted nervously as he got out of the car and adjusted his clothes, his eyes still not fixated on the Audi parked infront of the stairs, before he looked towards him and raised a brow.
"An Audi, really?" he questioned nervously, and Alfred chuckled as he saw through his attempts to stall and replied with a small voice.
"Why don't you ask him about it yourself?" he said as he motioned for him to move. The man shook his head and, with a deep breath, began to walk up the stairs.
Alfred himself was a little nervous about the meeting between the two brothers; their relationship was a little complicated yet nothing that was unsalvageable, and in the time he had spent with young Master Thomas, he knew him to be rather reasonable and knew that the young man cared for his brother.
And as he walked up behind Master, he stopped just like the man as soon as they entered the manor, for their in the corner of the Hall on a simple sofa, sat the very man he had been thinking of.
Young Master Thomas was leaner than his elder brother. One would be hard-pressed to tell that the man sitting infront of them was only just in his twenties.
His hair was combed perfectly, and he wore a Black suit, his eyes buried in a folder as his dark eyes skimmed over its contents. And Alfred saw him glance up at Master Bruce and saw his eyes glint as he placed the folder to the side stood up, and began to move towards them.
He could tell that Master Bruce was nervous, yet he still walked toward his younger sibling, and he gave him a smile.
The two approached each other slowly, and as Master Bruce opened his arms.
"Broth…." His words were cut short as Master Thomas pulled back his arm and swung it in his face.
THUNK!
Master Bruce seemed surprised by the punch, just like him, and faltered as he raised his hand to touch his cheek.
"Ouch," he winced in pain, and as he straightened up, young Master Thomas swung again, this time from the other side. Alfred was sure that the man could have dodged the punch or even retaliated, yet the man simply let the hit land again.
"ARGH!" Master Bruce grunted in pain, and Alfred saw blood drip from his lips onto the floor.
Still, he straightened up once again, wiping the blood from his chin as the two men stared into each other's eyes before young Master Thomas said with a smile.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused me," the young Master said, and Master Bruce said nothing, as his lips simply thinned.
"No more punches?" questioned Master Bruce with a smile, and Master Thomas smiled as he shook his head.
"Nah, that was punishment enough for my wrists," said the young Master with a wince as he shook his hand, his face scrunching in pain.
The two brothers then broke into a chuckle before they moved and hugged each other.
Alfred smiled as he saw that, knowing that despite his many failures, he had done right by the boys and had raised them well.
"It is good to have you back, brother," said Master Thomas, and Alfred joined the two brothers.
"It is good to be back," added Master Bruce as the brothers separated.
Master Bruce looked towards his brother and questioned him with a frown.
"Alfred told me you had a Board Meeting at Wayne Enterprises. It seems my younger brother is colluding to usurp the illustrious Chief executive of Wayne Enterprises," he questioned, and Master Thomas raised a brow.
"So, you have heard about that already," the young Master said with a shrug yet nodded.
"Need any help with that," Master Bruce offered, and young Master Thomas shook his head as he glanced at his watch.
"Nah, I have got that covered. You should rest," said the young Master Thomas as he picked up the file and began to move towards the door before he suddenly stopped just at the entrance and called back.
"Though be ready at five," the Young Master shouted from the entrance, and Alfred frowned at that, though the young Master quickly elaborated.
"I have thrown up a little something for your return," added the Young Master as he looked towards him.
"I will send you the details, Alfred," said the man before rushing out of the manor.
"I am not in a mood for any big gathering, Alfred," Master Bruce added from the side, and Alfred assured him.
"Master Thomas is not fond of big gatherings as well. I believe it will be a simple affair with only one or two friends at most," Alfred replied. He saw Master Bruce relax as he nodded.
"That's good."
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