<div class="floatleft">(http://imgur.com/TykbW8T.jpg)</div><strong>Character Name:</strong>Alfred Pennyworth<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>Wednesday the 1st of May 2019<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Wayne Manor - Bat Cave<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>as shown<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Selina Kyle<br/><strong>Warnings:</strong>None<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Alfred was indeed at home. In the bat cave, to be precise, surrounded by control panels and TV-screens. The screen in front of him displayed a map of Gotham City, where a fast-moving blue dot indicated the bat mobile’s location. “Noted, Sir,” he replied, his British accent unmistakable. “And, I am glad to hear it, Master Bruce, if I may be so bold.” As he spoke his attention was drawn to another screen, showing the Wayne Manor exterior.<br/><br/>A motorcycle had approached the gates, which was unusual enough on its own but there was something about the driver that made him lean forward. His heart beat faster, and he tapped the zoom function on his control panel.<br/><br/><em>Could it be?</em><br/><br/>“Pennyworth?” came the young man’s haughty voice over the intercom, answering<em>that</em>question. No one else called him that, but Damian had persisted despite his polite offer to use the same form of address as everyone else. He had understood, though, or thought he had. Underneath the arrogance and haughty demeanour had been a young man, very much out of his element, who had struggled to retain his status as someone special. Alfred had accepted the name, trusting there would come a time when Damian would realize he needed neither antics nor arrogance to secure a place in his heart. He’d had that, the moment Master Bruce had brought him home. Not that Alfred had said it. He never thought words would’ve done much good, nor would he presume. He’d been there, though, whenever Damian had needed someone. Just as he’d been there when Master Bruce had found the locator his son had left behind.<br/><br/>His throat felt too tight for words, and he swallowed as he tracked the blue dot moving through Gotham City. It wouldn't be much longer before Bruce Wayne would come home, and he didn't know of an easy way to break the news. The silence between them had lingered too long already, and Alfred suspected it had not gone unnoticed. When he spoke, his voice was formal, an indication that Alfred was not certain how his next words would be received. “Also, Sir, it appears that young Master Damian has come home.” He shut down the microphone and peered at the young man waiting outside the gates.<br/><br/>His finger hovered over the button that would activate the intercom when yet another voice, female this time, called over the speakers: “Bruce? Alfred? Anyone here?” His gaze snapped to a screen to his left where the security cameras had honed in on the landing where a young woman had begun descending the stairs. He froze and stared, feeling as if time had rolled backward. How long had it been since he’d heard that voice? Fifteen years? Twenty?<em>Impossible</em>he thought, watching the young woman reach the bottom of the stairs.<em>It can’t be her.</em><br/><br/>“I know you’re home. Let me… I mean… can I come in?” came Damian’s voice again, and Alfred pressed his finger down, without taking his eyes off the screen showing Selina’s progress through the manor. “Master Damian, welcome home,” he said, sounding as if the young man’s sudden appearance had been the most normal thing that had happened all day. “Would you mind taking care of the screaming wench in the kitchen while I put the kettle on? Master Bruce should return any moment.<br/><br/>“Oh, and do try not to break anything, please, Sir,” he added, opening the gates without much hope he would be heard.<br/><br/>The few seconds it had taken him to welcome Damian home, had been enough for the female to discover the cherry and sour cream filled donuts he’d kept in the cupboard. The last of the donuts disappeared into her mouth while he watched, and Alfred couldn't help but notice that the thief shared more than just her appearance with Master  Bruce’s ex-girlfriend; the ravenous appetite for sweets reminded him so much of the Selina he had once known that his gaze flitted to the time stamp at the bottom of the screen. May 1st, 2019. Check.<br/><br/>"Bruce! Alfred! Anyone?" Even her voice was the same. As was her impatience.<br/><br/><em>Right here,</em>he thought, shutting down the control panel as he stood and headed towards the entrance.<em>I am right here, Miss Kyle, or whoever you are.</em>