February 5, 1989. Already 1:26 PM on the clock.
This morning, just like five days ago, all the news and papers were blaring about how Bat-Man had once again turned the night upside down. But if five days ago that news caused near chaos, this time it was more like acceptance.
In the manor twelve miles west of Gotham, Bruce had returned just a couple of minutes ago and therefore hadn't yet had time to read the morning paper.
Alfred Pennyworth: "Read the morning paper yet? You won't believe it, Bat-Man is on the front page, and Bruce Wayne is only on the sixth."
Bruce Wayne: "I'm not interested in fame, Alfred, we've discussed this."
Alfred Pennyworth: "For a man who landed in the paper with the headline 'Billionaire Corporate Raider Rigging Votes for Company Presidency,' you're not trying very hard to avoid fame. And besides, it's illegal."
Bruce Wayne: "Alfred, everything we've been doing in this city for over a week now is illegal."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Don't generalize, Master Bruce."
Bruce Wayne: "And besides, Earle has no proof it was me. The votes are anonymous, and anyone who wanted to could have rigged them for me. Maybe all the employees of Wayne Enterprises suddenly decided to vote for me."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Well, I suppose that means a double celebration today. We should mark the occasion. You know, your father had a very good friend he never got a chance to introduce you to." By 'friend,' Alfred meant the bottle of thirty-year-old red wine he'd preemptively hidden behind the side table.
Bruce Wayne: "Red?"
Alfred Pennyworth: "Well but we didn't happen to have any black wine in the cellar. Was out of your father's tastes." He then pours the wine into one of the three glasses on a tray on the side table next to Bruce's chair.
Bruce Wayne: "If it was me who suggested we celebrate like this, you'd be the first one grumbling that my father wouldn't have approved."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Quite the contrary, Master Bruce. Your father would have approved," he says, opening the bottle.
Bruce Wayne: "And why didn't we celebrate five days ago when Bat-Man was also in the papers?"
Alfred Pennyworth: "No one celebrates the start of a war, Master Bruce, only its end."
Bruce Wayne: "Wrong there, Alfred. The war started long before we both were here, and neither of us will be there to see its end."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Then let's at least celebrate the end of a battle." He pours wine into a glass for Bruce.
Bruce Wayne: "Hardly call it was even a battle. Closer to a bar fight." He then looks at his filled glass. "Don't stay still, Alfred, pour one for yourself too."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Hmm, appreciate it." He said as if he knew Bruce would say exactly that, and then pours himself a glass of wine as well.
Bruce had already taken his glass and brought it to his lips, but before taking the first sip, he paused.
Bruce Wayne: "Listen, what are we drinking to? Any ideas for the toast?"
Alfred Pennyworth, thinking for a moment: "For… for… for the success and well-being of the Wayne family in all their endeavors."
Bruce Wayne, not much impressed by Alfred's toast: "Fine, that'll do." They then clink glasses and both take the first sip of wine.
Bruce then gets up from the chair and simply starts walking around the room, as he generally doesn't like sitting in one place. Alfred remained standing by the side table next to the chair Bruce had just vacated. Both of them were sipping the contents of their glasses very slowly all the while.
Alfred Pennyworth: "So. Was that firefly on the bridge the same fireman you saved five days ago?"
Bruce Wayne: "Firefly?"
Alfred Pennyworth: "That's what they're calling the firebug in the papers."
Bruce Wayne: "He was a man who lived his whole life in hell, and then got a chance to get out."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Yes, he made rather poor use of your chance."
Bruce Wayne: "I gave him a second chance at life when I saved him that day, the city was ready to take him even then. It was him who chose how to use it."
Alfred Pennyworth, lightly teasing Bruce: "Glad you understand him."
Bruce Wayne: "I just get it what he wanted and why. That doesn't mean I pity him."
Alfred Pennyworth, still lightly teasing: "Alright, your alibi is accepted. And I've read about the fake Batman head in the news. Surprised it was with you that moment."
Bruce Wayne: "I made it up for police right after that ambush. Need to be sure on contingencies. Though I'm not glad how its usage turned out."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Yeah, you would better use it against police then some fellow that threatened to harm plenty of Gotham's people." He says, taking another sip. "And what about that Lieutenant Gordon? I heard you saved his family, it was in the paper."
Bruce Wayne: "His family was among those caught in danger on the bridge, that's all. I would have saved them without his asking. Though you know, Alfred. He's different from the other cops."
Alfred Pennyworth: "I'm almost afraid to hear now why."
Bruce Wayne: "I watched over his bio back when they put him in charge of hunting me down. He moved here from Chicago just over a week ago. He's not a Gotham cop, not one of them."
Alfred Pennyworth: "I think you should welcome him him to a bar sometime later then."
Bruce Wayne: "I can't speak about bars for sure, but I sure I can say that he's a cop not afraid to be trusted. He was the only one involved in the hunt for me because of the law, not because of money."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Let's hope it stays that way."
Bruce Wayne: "Even if it doesn't, I won't be too upset. The police's stance in my work doesn't matter to me much."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Unless that 'police' is Lieutenant Gordon."
Bruce just gave Alfred an unimpressed look, then took another sip of his wine. After that, he acted as if he suddenly remembered something.
Bruce Wayne: "Damn, completely forgot. Need to tell Lucius know he's returning to the company. Do you think should I callor write him?"
Before Alfred could answer, Bruce had already opened the drawer of the table by the sofa in the room and saw the last thing he expected to find there—an envelope with a letter, signed 'Alfred Pennyworth,' addressed to 'Bruce Wayne.'
Alfred did nothing to stop Bruce from opening the letter and merely watched as Bruce read its contents.
"Dear Master Bruce. It is with regret that I must inform you of my decision to leave the service of the Wayne household after twenty-two years. The reason is your… backyard hobbies, or more precisely, the reasons behind your hobbies. My decision became final when you stated your intention to go to the South-East End of Gotham. I believe your goals, however you might try to dress them up, will only harm the reputation of the Wayne household, particularly your father's. I do not wish to offend you, nor to decide for you, but you must understand what I mean, Master Bruce. I can only wish you all the best in your new endeavors and, I hope, in your subsequent successes in them."
After that, Bruce puts the letter back in the envelope, then points at it.
Bruce Wayne: "And what's this?"
Alfred Pennyworth, after a pause: "I wrote that letter the same night you first went on what you called your 'patrol,' even before the suit."
Bruce Wayne, first glancing at the letter, then at Alfred: "Alfred, you know you're not a prisoner here. You're free to leave at any time."
Alfred Pennyworth: "When I was going to give it to you, I saw you returning home with a knife in your side. That's when I realized what could happen to you in my absence."
Bruce Wayne: "So you just didn't want the guilt if something happened to me?"
Alfred Pennyworth: "Know that I still don't approve of your nocturnal outings, Master Bruce. But I can't fail your father like that, by not being there for his son when needed."
Bruce Wayne, after a slight pause, then puts the letter back in the drawer: "You know, you'll need to take a vacation sometime."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Hmm, only after you, Master Bruce."
That same expression appears on Bruce's face as the moment he first descended into the cave beneath the house. As if it were a smile, but it was only in Bruce's head, and only he knew about After that, he decides to change the tone.
Bruce Wayne: "Alright, get ready. We're going shopping."
Alfred Pennyworth: "As if we're short on groceries."
Bruce Wayne: "We're going to a furniture one. Need to start setting up the cave under the house with stuff."
Alfred Pennyworth: "So the bat cave has been waiting long enough for a makeover."
Bruce Wayne: "Don't call it that, Alfred, we're not in a childish's comics."