Talon chapter 23

Chapter 23 - Al-Ba-Dick

For the next day, Harry was all but non-existent in Wayne Manor. He had snuck in and out of his room, taking great care to avoid everyone (apart from Hedwig, obviously). He had snuck into the kitchen once for breakfast, stayed in his room for a bit and then snuck out to the Batcave when he was sure that Bruce wasn't there. After a bit of physical training. Harry headed back to his room and stayed there all day.

He repeated this the next day.

By the third morning, Alfred Pennyworth decided enough was enough.

As Harry opened the door to his room, he found himself face-to-stomach with one Wayne family butler. Harry's gaze tilted up so he could see Alfred's face, which was as blank as usual. Honestly, if he weren't a Muggle, Harry would assume that the man knew Occlumency.

"Master Harry," Alfred spoke before Harry could say anything. "I realise that you and Master Bruce are currently not seeing eye-to-eye on certain matters."

"He doesn't trust me," Harry said bluntly, shrugging his shoulders.

"I doubt that," Alfred said lightly. Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Alfred continued speaking before he could say anything. "Either way, this is your home as well. You do not need to sneak in and out."

"I wasn't sneaking," Harry said, crossing his arms.

"Of course not," Alfred said in a tone that made it clear that he didn't really believe him. "Either way, I do insist that you accompany me downstairs so I can make sure that you've had a proper breakfast. Young men need a healthy amount of food, especially those who choose to engage in the sort of extracurricular activities that you and your predecessors favour."

"Father has decided that I'm not to participate anymore." Harry pointed out, though he did close the door behind him and begin following Alfred.

"Yes," Alfred said as they walked together. "I'm sure that will last." He said dryly. "Either way, I will be discussing the matter with Master Bruce today when he returns from Wayne Enterprises."

"You don't need to do that," Harry said with a shake of his head. "I don't need anyone fighting my battles."

"Nor do I wish to fight them for you, but this is not just about you." Replied Alfred. "Master Bruce is the closest thing I have to family, the closest thing I have to a son. If I feel that he is doing something wrong, then I will tell him so."

"Yeah, well, I'd describe thinking his own son a murderer and not letting him disable a killer crown as wrong," Harry said with an annoyed huff.

"Indeed," Alfred nodded in agreement. "If I may tell you something, Master Harry? Between you and me, I often have these delightful dreams that put a smile on my face when I wake up."

"Okay, I'll bite. What are the dreams about?" Harry asked.

"I'm alone in a room, a gun in my hand, and the Joker is there," Alfred said with a dangerous smile on his face. "I dare say that if given a decent chance, I'd put him in the ground myself." He said, smile fading away into a scowl. "That man took a lot, not just Jason, but countless others."

"Father is broken," Harry pointed out. "You do realise that, right? This 'code' of his. It's not just a choice for him; he needs it. It's part of why he won't kill Joker."

"I know," Sighed Alfred. "Much as I often wish the clown were permanently stopped, I've never wanted Master Bruce to be the one to do it."

"He's not like us," Harry replied. "You're a former soldier; I'm a child soldier. He lived his first few years of life in a wealthy manor with loving parents."

"Indeed," Alfred nodded. "Martha and Thomas loved each other deeply; they loved Master Bruce even more. When they were taken away, something broke deep inside Bruce. I've more than once wondered if Bruce Wayne ever truly left that alley. The boy that he became afterwards was so different. He still had all of his same traits, his genius, but it was all amplified by a desire to make the world make sense. His first few years of life were indeed great, but after that, he was in a state of constant torment. Alone and afraid, unable to function properly. His rule might be problematic at times, but I'd take it over the alternative. We are very fortunate that Master Bruce preferred to direct his anger and rage at the criminals of Gotham and not the city as a whole. I dare say, we'd be hard pressed to survive if he did."

"Killing should always be a last resort," Harry responded softly. "But removing the option entirely is unwise."

"Perhaps," Alfred said as they arrived in the kitchen. "Either way, right or wrong, you are a part of this family. Master Bruce should have handled the situation better. As should you have."

"Me?" Harry blinked. "I didn't..."

"Master Jason worried quite deeply when he found out that your comms were off," Alfred cut him off. "You cut off all communication when you were about to engage with one of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Not to mention sending away your only backup and not informing anyone of your intentions. Can you fully blame Master Bruce for wanting you away from the action when you acted the way you did?" He asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Not entirely," Harry said reluctantly. "But he still should have trusted me. Haven't I proven myself? Victor Zsasz, Deathstroke and the dozens of thugs we've fought. I've never tried to kill any of them."

"As I said, you both could have handled things better," Alfred said gently. "You've both also inherited the Wayne family stubbornness, so I don't expect the two of you to make up anytime soon. Just give it some time, please. Now, what would you like to eat?"

(.)

Later that day, Harry was summoned to the Batcave by Alfred, who had brought him down there himself. Once down there, Harry found Barbara Gordon sitting at the batcomputer, waiting for him.

"Hi, Harry," She said with a friendly smile.

"I will leave the two of you alone," Alfred told them. "Don't hesitate to call if you need anything." He nodded to both of them before walking off.

"You wanted to see me?" Harry asked Barbara with a questioning tone.

"That I did," She confirmed with a nod. "I heard from Jason and Alfred that you and Bruce are going through a bit of a rough patch."

"You could say that."

"I wouldn't worry about it," She told him. "Every one of us has argued with Bruce about one thing or another. It's practically a tradition for new members of the Batfamily.

"Batfamily?" Repeated Harry.

"It's kind of what some people call us," Barbara shrugged. "Whatever you and Bruce have going on between you, I'm sure it'll blow over soon."

"I doubt it," Harry said with a small shake of his head. "I'm just the murderous little child he didn't ask for."

"Harry," Barbara frowned. "You know that that's not true."

"Last I checked, he didn't know about me, therefore he didn't ask for me," Harry said logically. "And he considers me to be a murderer, so yeah, both statements are true. Besides, I'm not exactly his biggest fan at the moment. The way he acted...it reminded me of someone.

"Who? Ra's?"

"An old man who thought he could control me," Harry said darkly. He paused and took a breath. "Either way, I assume you didn't come here just to talk about Father and me."

"You're right about that," Barbara confirmed. "I wanted to know how good your computer skills are?"

"I would assume that they are adequate," Harry said thoughtfully. "Most of my training has so far been about physical confrontation."

"That's understandable, but in our line of work, computer skills matter," Barbara told him. "I've had to hack countless things in and out of the field. There are nearly countless possibilities open to you. Hacking enemy communications, machinery, and enemy robots. Heck, I once managed to divert a jet from crashing into an orphanage. Anything is possible."

"Father has expressed his opinions about me going back in the field." Harry pointed out lightly.

"Cute," Barbara said dismissively. "Now, I distinctly remember installing a mini-computer in your left gauntlet. It'd be a waste of really good technology if you're not going to use it, especially when it's as expensive as all hell. Come on, I'm going to check what you can do, and then I'm going to help you get better."

(.)

"I'm glad you're here, Master Dick," Alfred said warmly as Dick walked alongside him through the Manor.

"For you, Alfred, anytime," Dick replied. "So, how is the kid?" He asked.

"Remarkably mature for his age," Alfred answered. "By no means perfect, but more than I expected. Still, he had spent the better part of the last few days avoiding Master Bruce. At one point, I almost forgot that he was in the house with how little I've seen of him. The boy, he...well..." Alfred trailed off, sighing deeply.

"I get it," Dick said softly. "The League of Assassins are hardly the best people to raise a child. Jumping from them to Bruce would have been difficult even if he wasn't Batman. Add in the genes from Bruce and Talia, and well...I'm almost surprised that the place is still standing."

"His desire to brutally maim and dismember killer clowns aside, I find him to be a remarkably reasonable young man," Alfred said as they stopped near the grandfather clock that led to the Batcave.

"High praise," Dick chuckled as the entrance to the cave opened. The two stepped inside the elevator. "I don't know him that well, but I liked him well enough from what I saw the last time we met."

"I dare say that he liked you as well," Alfred said as the elevator started taking them down.

"Of course he does, what's not to like?" Dick said instantly. Alfred gave him a dry look just before the doors opened. The two walked into the cave and straight over to the Batcomputer, where they found Harry standing in front of Barbara; he had on the gauntlet from his Robin suit on his left hand. He held it up, and his right hand was working with the blue hologram that had come out of the gauntlet computer. Barbara was staring at the kid with a pleased smile.

"Okay, it looks like you got it." She said.

"Appears so," Harry said in a satisfied voice. "I would have hoped that hacking into the GCPD would have been harder than that."

"Yeah, well, you're lucky we already had a backdoor fit in," Barbara told him. "Not to mention the advancements in tech over the years. The first time your dad wanted to hack them, he had to sneak into the building to do so and nearly ended up getting shot."

"Not nearly," Alfred cut in, causing the two to look over and see Alfred and Dick walking up to them. "He did get shot by your father, Miss Gordon. Fortunately, his body armour took the brunt of the damage."

"Hi, Dick," Barbara said as she got up. She and Dick greeted each other with a kiss on the lips. "Good to see you."

"You too, Babs," He smiled at her before he turned to greet Harry. "Alright, Buddy, how's it going?"

"Hello, Richard," Harry said in greeting.

"You can call me 'Dick', you know," Dick said with an amused smile.

"You are sure you wouldn't prefer Richard?" Harry asked in a slightly doubtful tone.

"Dick is fine," The older man assured him.

"If you're sure," Harry frowned. "So, 'Dick', why exactly are you here? Not that I'm complaining."

"Heard you and Bruce were having difficulties," Dick explained with a small shrug. "The guy is like a father to me, but I'll be the first to admit that it's not easy being raised by him."

"I appreciate your concern, but you didn't need to come all the way here for me. I'm not a child," Harry said before pausing and looking down at his ten-year-old body. "I'm just physically a child."

"Still, I wanted to come," Dick told him sincerely. "One thing that always made me feel better was going out on patrol."

"Bruce benched him," Barbara said casually.

"Oh no, what a shame," Dick said dramatically before turning to Harry. "So, go get ready, and we'll be off in about five minutes or so. Good?"

"I...you know what, yeah, good." Harry decided, and a smile appeared on his face before he walked off to put on the rest of his suit.

"He's so adorable," Barbara cooed.

"I know," Dick grinned.

"I heard that! I'm not adorable!" Harry's voice called.

"Sure," Dick drawled. An amused Alfred stuffed down a chuckle as he placed a hand on Dick's shoulders.

"Thank you, Master Dick," Alfred said appreciative, patting him on the shoulder.

"No thanks necessary, Alfred," Dick replied. "Just doing my part."

"That and a bit more," Alfred said with a fond smile. "Still, thank you, both of you." He added to Barbara as well.

"It's no bother at all, Alfred," Barbara assured him. "Still, what about Jason? From what I understand, he and Bruce aren't exactly happy with each other either."

"No, they are not." Alfred confirmed with a deep sigh. "Past experience suggests letting Master Jason have some time to himself. His anger was always rather explosive; it's my hope that some time to himself would help him. Plus, if Master Harry and Master Bruce no longer appear to be arguing, then that could also help matters. Either way, I intend to discuss the matter with Master Jason tomorrow."

"Hmm, you're a good man, Alfred," Barbara said, smiling up at him.

"That I am," Alfred agreed easily.

(.)

A.N: Hi guys, hope you liked the chapter. Not much is happening in this one, but I think the next one will be a bit more action-packed. And given that I'm the one writing it, I would say my guess is probably best. Also, based of a comment from the last chapter, I realised that I'm repeating lines/dialogue a bit, I'll do my best to not do that in future chapters.