Fic: The Echo of Bats Wings (3/6)
Mar. 8th, 2009 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starsandseaTitle: The Echo of Bats Wings (3/6)
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Bruce/Kal, Dick, Jason, Alfred
Word Count: 1563
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Previous parts can be found here. Lots and lots of thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mithen for all her help and encouragement, and for the beta! *glomps*
Kal was squeezing his hand under the table. Ace shifted at his feet, until he was sitting at Bruce's side, reacting to his sudden wariness.
"Dick. Jason." Bruce nodded at them.
Jason ignored him, instead sitting next to Cassandra, while Dick sat next to Tim, ruffling his hair. Alfred appeared and placed plates of food before them. Dick looked over at him, and nodded. Well. At least it was an acknowledgement.
He reluctantly pulled his hand away from Kal's, aware of his lover's sudden tension, the worry lurking in the back of his eyes. Ace made an enquiring sound and Bruce petted him before returning to finishing his meal.
There was uncomfortable silence until Jason spoke, directly to Dick. "I hear the harvest isn't going to be good this year."
Dick nodded gravely. "There isn't going to be enough food for everyone."
Bruce closed his eyes. Oh, this was just like Jason, stirring up trouble, just because he could...
"I wonder what can be done about it?"
"I don't know. I would hope the council would know. What do you think, Bruce? What should be done so the people don't starve?"
The fake innocence in that question... His brothers were great warriors, and not just of the physical kind.
Ace growled lowly - he had been confused by Bruce's siblings ever since they had been freed from the curse. Bruce didn't know if it was just that he had forgotten them, or if he was honestly confused by them, as if the curse had changed them, somehow. He opened his eyes and placed a restraining hand on Ace's collar. In either case, he could no longer guarantee that Ace wouldn't hurt them. Or that Kal wouldn't, for that matter, if the rising fury in his eyes was any indication.
"We are doing all we can. If need be we will import food supplies, but I am doing everything I can to ensure that we won't have to."
Jason sneered at him, and Dick opened his mouth to say... something, but before he could, Tim abruptly stood. "Excuse me." He left the room quickly, the leathery wing twitching slightly. Dick glared at him as if the whole event was his fault, then quickly followed Tim. Bruce sighed. Jason stood up and left without saying a word. Cassandra gave him a worried look, before slowly following Jason out, leaving only himself and Kal.
Bruce eased his grip on Ace, and was nosed by him, tongue lapping at his hands. "Perhaps the food shortage would be helped if the Princes and Princess actually ate their food, rather than leaving it and bothering the kitchens later." Alfred gathered the plates and then quietly left.
Kal's hands found his and squeezed them. "I don't know what to do, Kal."
"You're already doing what you should be. And, if you have to, you know that Metropolis will help in any way we can."
Bruce tried to smile, but from the look in Kal's eyes he wasn't successful. "I sometimes think..."
Kal tilted his head. "Think what?" He prompted.
"Well, it's still not too late for me to abdicate."
Kal sighed and squeezed his hand again. "Do you truly want to?"
Bruce shook his head. He didn't, but he wasn't sure he could heal Gotham if his siblings continued to act like this. And Dick would be a good leader, already had so much loyalty. If it should come to an all out war... Gotham wouldn't be able to deal with that, not on top of everything else. And whoever did win would have only a broken kingdom, and he wasn't going to let Gotham suffer that. He couldn't. Best to stop it before it began, while Gotham still had a chance to heal herself.
He looked at Kal, saw his troubled eyes, and knew that he had guessed his thoughts. Kal shifted closer to him, so that their foreheads were touching. "You know I - Metropolis - will support any decision you make, my love. But you still have a few days. Try to talk to him."
Bruce nodded slowly, and Kal smiled sadly. They stayed sitting like that until the bell tolled, signalling the start of the afternoon council session.
*****
Bruce was just signing his last name on the last paper for the day - night - when Alfred appeared. "If this is about missing dinner..." Bruce grimaced. Seeing how dark it had become, it was likely he had completely forgotten about it, buried under piles of paper.
"No, but there is a plate of food waiting in your room which I expect you to eat, young sir."
Bruce nodded obediently. You could do nothing else with Alfred. He looked worried, though, now that Bruce truly looked at him. "What is it, Alfred? What's wrong?"
Alfred looked sorrowful for a moment, before his expression cleared. "I was tidying your Father's study today, Master Bruce, as you requested." Bruce nodded. He hadn't been able to bear going through his Father's things, and didn't want to burden Dick or Barbara with it.
Alfred actually hesitated, causing Bruce's stomach to clench in fear. He withdrew a envelope from a pocket. "I found this letter, addressed to you."
Bruce swallowed, and took it from Alfred's hand. "Were there any for..." His question trailed off; he was re-reading his name over and over again in the familiar script.
"No. Only this one. If I may, Master Bruce..." Bruce nodded; Alfred's voice had become soft. "After you and your brothers and sisters... disappeared, your Father... The King fell into despair, believing you all to be dead. But, there started to be whispers that you had survived whatever had happened to the other Princes and Princess. That you were hiding somewhere, waiting until the time was right to return. Those rumours were what kept him alive for so long, what kept the hope of the people of Gotham alive, sir."
Bruce felt tears pricking his eyes. "Yet, in the end, I took too long."
"Master Bruce-" Alfred sighed. "You came as quickly as you could. It wasn't your fault. You were locked in a dungeon, held prisoner. You nearly died, sir. There was nothing you could have done. You were already doing all you could. More."
Bruce blinked down at the letter. "Now, don't forget to eat your dinner." Alfred left the room quietly. Ace, who had apparently been waiting outside padded in and lay down at his feet, whining slightly. Bruce passed a hand over his eyes, blinking, before he slowly opened the letter.
My son.
If you are reading this, then my prayers have been answered, and you are safe and home again.
I'm sorry.
I fear the woman I married is not who I believed her to be, was the one behind you and your brothers' and sisters' disappearance. I am... so confused these days, for there are times when I can see things are clear as day, and times when they seem as dark as night. I can only hope that you, and the people of Gotham, can forgive me for not being strong enough to fight it. I am tired, Bruce. I can feel the sleep of the ages pressing down upon me, and I can only hope I can resist it long enough to see you again.
If you find yourself in need of allies, then you can trust Lucius Fox, the council member. He is the only good one among them. Captain James Gordon, of the guards, is another. He truly hopes for a brighter, better Gotham. And Alfred and Leslie, of course, will ever support you. You may call out to Metropolis, if you have to, for they will honor the old agreements - their Prince, Kal, may be better than the King, for when I looked in his eyes, I saw the same hope for the future that is so often in yours.
I am afraid I can do nothing more, save pray and hope for your return, my son. And if, by some miracle, your brothers and sisters return with you, then I would know nothing but joy for the rest of my life.
If, when you find this, I have left, then do not grieve overlong, nor blame yourself. The people will need you, now more than ever before, and I know that you, Bruce, will build Gotham better than ever before. The people need you Bruce. Gotham needs you.
I am sorry for all the times I was stern with you, the times I let my other duties take the place of my most important one: being a father. I pray that you will find someone, as I found your mother, who will not let your duties to Gotham take over your life, until you have nothing else.
I miss you, my son. I love you. I hope to be able to say those words to you again, before I leave.
You will be a great King.
Your father,
Thomas.
Bruce carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope with trembling hands, before falling back in his chair, and weeping.
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Bruce/Kal, Dick, Jason, Alfred
Word Count: 1563
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Previous parts can be found here. Lots and lots of thanks to
mithen for all her help and encouragement, and for the beta! *glomps*Kal was squeezing his hand under the table. Ace shifted at his feet, until he was sitting at Bruce's side, reacting to his sudden wariness.
"Dick. Jason." Bruce nodded at them.
Jason ignored him, instead sitting next to Cassandra, while Dick sat next to Tim, ruffling his hair. Alfred appeared and placed plates of food before them. Dick looked over at him, and nodded. Well. At least it was an acknowledgement.
He reluctantly pulled his hand away from Kal's, aware of his lover's sudden tension, the worry lurking in the back of his eyes. Ace made an enquiring sound and Bruce petted him before returning to finishing his meal.
There was uncomfortable silence until Jason spoke, directly to Dick. "I hear the harvest isn't going to be good this year."
Dick nodded gravely. "There isn't going to be enough food for everyone."
Bruce closed his eyes. Oh, this was just like Jason, stirring up trouble, just because he could...
"I wonder what can be done about it?"
"I don't know. I would hope the council would know. What do you think, Bruce? What should be done so the people don't starve?"
The fake innocence in that question... His brothers were great warriors, and not just of the physical kind.
Ace growled lowly - he had been confused by Bruce's siblings ever since they had been freed from the curse. Bruce didn't know if it was just that he had forgotten them, or if he was honestly confused by them, as if the curse had changed them, somehow. He opened his eyes and placed a restraining hand on Ace's collar. In either case, he could no longer guarantee that Ace wouldn't hurt them. Or that Kal wouldn't, for that matter, if the rising fury in his eyes was any indication.
"We are doing all we can. If need be we will import food supplies, but I am doing everything I can to ensure that we won't have to."
Jason sneered at him, and Dick opened his mouth to say... something, but before he could, Tim abruptly stood. "Excuse me." He left the room quickly, the leathery wing twitching slightly. Dick glared at him as if the whole event was his fault, then quickly followed Tim. Bruce sighed. Jason stood up and left without saying a word. Cassandra gave him a worried look, before slowly following Jason out, leaving only himself and Kal.
Bruce eased his grip on Ace, and was nosed by him, tongue lapping at his hands. "Perhaps the food shortage would be helped if the Princes and Princess actually ate their food, rather than leaving it and bothering the kitchens later." Alfred gathered the plates and then quietly left.
Kal's hands found his and squeezed them. "I don't know what to do, Kal."
"You're already doing what you should be. And, if you have to, you know that Metropolis will help in any way we can."
Bruce tried to smile, but from the look in Kal's eyes he wasn't successful. "I sometimes think..."
Kal tilted his head. "Think what?" He prompted.
"Well, it's still not too late for me to abdicate."
Kal sighed and squeezed his hand again. "Do you truly want to?"
Bruce shook his head. He didn't, but he wasn't sure he could heal Gotham if his siblings continued to act like this. And Dick would be a good leader, already had so much loyalty. If it should come to an all out war... Gotham wouldn't be able to deal with that, not on top of everything else. And whoever did win would have only a broken kingdom, and he wasn't going to let Gotham suffer that. He couldn't. Best to stop it before it began, while Gotham still had a chance to heal herself.
He looked at Kal, saw his troubled eyes, and knew that he had guessed his thoughts. Kal shifted closer to him, so that their foreheads were touching. "You know I - Metropolis - will support any decision you make, my love. But you still have a few days. Try to talk to him."
Bruce nodded slowly, and Kal smiled sadly. They stayed sitting like that until the bell tolled, signalling the start of the afternoon council session.
*****
Bruce was just signing his last name on the last paper for the day - night - when Alfred appeared. "If this is about missing dinner..." Bruce grimaced. Seeing how dark it had become, it was likely he had completely forgotten about it, buried under piles of paper.
"No, but there is a plate of food waiting in your room which I expect you to eat, young sir."
Bruce nodded obediently. You could do nothing else with Alfred. He looked worried, though, now that Bruce truly looked at him. "What is it, Alfred? What's wrong?"
Alfred looked sorrowful for a moment, before his expression cleared. "I was tidying your Father's study today, Master Bruce, as you requested." Bruce nodded. He hadn't been able to bear going through his Father's things, and didn't want to burden Dick or Barbara with it.
Alfred actually hesitated, causing Bruce's stomach to clench in fear. He withdrew a envelope from a pocket. "I found this letter, addressed to you."
Bruce swallowed, and took it from Alfred's hand. "Were there any for..." His question trailed off; he was re-reading his name over and over again in the familiar script.
"No. Only this one. If I may, Master Bruce..." Bruce nodded; Alfred's voice had become soft. "After you and your brothers and sisters... disappeared, your Father... The King fell into despair, believing you all to be dead. But, there started to be whispers that you had survived whatever had happened to the other Princes and Princess. That you were hiding somewhere, waiting until the time was right to return. Those rumours were what kept him alive for so long, what kept the hope of the people of Gotham alive, sir."
Bruce felt tears pricking his eyes. "Yet, in the end, I took too long."
"Master Bruce-" Alfred sighed. "You came as quickly as you could. It wasn't your fault. You were locked in a dungeon, held prisoner. You nearly died, sir. There was nothing you could have done. You were already doing all you could. More."
Bruce blinked down at the letter. "Now, don't forget to eat your dinner." Alfred left the room quietly. Ace, who had apparently been waiting outside padded in and lay down at his feet, whining slightly. Bruce passed a hand over his eyes, blinking, before he slowly opened the letter.
My son.
If you are reading this, then my prayers have been answered, and you are safe and home again.
I'm sorry.
I fear the woman I married is not who I believed her to be, was the one behind you and your brothers' and sisters' disappearance. I am... so confused these days, for there are times when I can see things are clear as day, and times when they seem as dark as night. I can only hope that you, and the people of Gotham, can forgive me for not being strong enough to fight it. I am tired, Bruce. I can feel the sleep of the ages pressing down upon me, and I can only hope I can resist it long enough to see you again.
If you find yourself in need of allies, then you can trust Lucius Fox, the council member. He is the only good one among them. Captain James Gordon, of the guards, is another. He truly hopes for a brighter, better Gotham. And Alfred and Leslie, of course, will ever support you. You may call out to Metropolis, if you have to, for they will honor the old agreements - their Prince, Kal, may be better than the King, for when I looked in his eyes, I saw the same hope for the future that is so often in yours.
I am afraid I can do nothing more, save pray and hope for your return, my son. And if, by some miracle, your brothers and sisters return with you, then I would know nothing but joy for the rest of my life.
If, when you find this, I have left, then do not grieve overlong, nor blame yourself. The people will need you, now more than ever before, and I know that you, Bruce, will build Gotham better than ever before. The people need you Bruce. Gotham needs you.
I am sorry for all the times I was stern with you, the times I let my other duties take the place of my most important one: being a father. I pray that you will find someone, as I found your mother, who will not let your duties to Gotham take over your life, until you have nothing else.
I miss you, my son. I love you. I hope to be able to say those words to you again, before I leave.
You will be a great King.
Your father,
Thomas.
Bruce carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope with trembling hands, before falling back in his chair, and weeping.
