Alfred was pushing the dining cart out of the elevator. The moment he stepped out, he saw his Bruce and Clark locked in an embrace.
His eyes went wide, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"
Then, wearing a doting uncle's smile, he wheeled the cart over to the break table — the Batcave dining table Bruce usually used. Halfway there, he spoke up to Bruce and Clark, who had just separated.
"As an old man who watched Bruce grow up, I'm delighted to see your relationship developing so quickly. But we'd best have dinner first. Bruce hadn't eaten a thing tonight before that brawl with you — I wonder if you did the same. Though given your abilities, I suppose you don't need to fight on an empty stomach, so do have some extra snacks and soup, Mr. Clark."
As he teased, Alfred placed the dishes on the table.
Hearing this, Clark shook his head solemnly. "No, Bruce is strong. He nearly killed me. You can see the wounds on my face!"
As he spoke, he turned and walked toward the distant Batmobile, lifting his girlfriend Lois out of the vehicle.
Suddenly finding herself in such a place, Lois looked excitedly at Heisenberg and Diana. Though she didn't know who they were, anyone sitting with Superman and Batman had to be a superhero!
Alfred, still setting the table, nodded first at Lois. "I haven't yet welcomed Miss Lois's grand arrival. With a lover like Clark, your life must often be as thrilling as tonight. So relax, girl. Everyone here is good people."
"Of course. Delighted to meet you all. I'm Lois Lane, reporter for the Daily Planet!"
Blushing, Lois introduced herself to the group, then stood demurely beside Clark, waiting for him to introduce everyone.
Heisenberg seized the moment to help Alfred arrange the dishes. The French cuisine prepared by the Wayne family chef truly whetted his appetite.
Diana smiled as she watched Heisenberg. Every move this sun god made had a truly captivating quality. It seemed no matter how earth-shattering his actions, they always came across as perfectly natural and utterly charming.
Beside her, Clark glanced at Bruce. "Bruce Wayne, the infamous Batman."
"Yes, I've always heard the legends about Batman, but this is the first time seeing the real thing! Who would have guessed that Gotham's dark-night legend is actually the famous Wayne!" Lois's eyes widened. She had only just made out Bruce's face — it was that regular fixture in newspapers and the news, the notorious playboy?! She shot a worried look at her boyfriend. Clark absolutely couldn't be led astray by this man.
Then Clark indicated Wonder Woman. "This is Diana Prince, a remarkable demigoddess and an exceptionally powerful warrior. Her sword cut off the arm of that monster earlier!"
"I'm so envious of you, Diana. I think every woman wishes she could be like you!" Gazing at the valiant Diana, Lois's eyes filled with admiration. How she wished she could be like Diana, fighting at her man's side!
Hearing this, Diana pulled her gaze away from Heisenberg and nodded politely at Lois. Noticing the way Diana had looked at Heisenberg, Lois smiled in relief. This woman had someone on her mind; she wasn't competition. That was good.
Next, Clark solemnly brought Diana over to Heisenberg. After Heisenberg helped Alfred set the last of the food on the table, Clark pressed his lips together.
Noticing her boyfriend's little tell, Lois studied Heisenberg nervously. It was just that Clark's expression right now really was conflicted! A flurry of absurd thoughts flashed through the mind of Lois, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who had seen it all. Could this man of immense presence be her real rival?! Don't blame Lois for letting her imagination run wild — she and Clark were right in the heat of their honeymoon phase! They'd only officially become a couple three months ago, after the Zod incident. Three months of intense romance, and the two were still utterly besotted with each other.
Thankfully, Clark didn't say something a certain kind of Frenchman might say. Clark simply looked at Heisenberg and said softly, "Lois, this is Heisenberg, my... great-great-grandfather. An elder of very high seniority!"
"Great-great-great...?!" Lois was instantly dumbfounded.
"Are you crazy?!" Her exclamation made Alfred jump.
Seeing his girlfriend's utterly shocked expression, Clark smiled helplessly and gave a firm nod. "That's right. I share the same DNA as my great-great-grandfather. He is my ancestor, no mistake."
"Ha, let's keep that among ourselves. Sit down and eat, Clark, and Lois too!" Heisenberg laughed as he ushered everyone to the table. His manner made Bruce, off to the side, frown in surprise. Wasn't this his own home? Still, he sat down anyway.
He looked over the spread before him — the classic French cuisine lineup. Foie gras, sole fillet, truffle, lamb chops, caviar, onion soup, braised beef, apple tart. Accompanied by baked snails, fried toast, steamed mussels, and turbot. Pretty much the classics of French cooking!
Of course, what Heisenberg was happiest about was that they were eating French food and not English. Finally, there were no fish staring up at him with dead eyes.
Lois ate her dinner in a daze, glancing at Heisenberg the whole time. She simply couldn't wrap her head around the fact that this man was her great-great-grandfather! But no matter what, Clark's great-great-grandfather was her great-great-grandfather. She was going to be a great-great-grandchild and that was that!
With an old gentleman like Alfred present, everyone ate and drank their fill. Once the dishes were cleared, they all stepped back into the world of superheroes.
What world?
Just as they were about to continue discussing Darkseid, Clark abruptly stood up. "There's a fire in Metropolis. A big one. Sixteen people are trapped, including children! I have to go, now!"
Even as he spoke, he rushed back to the changing room and put on his Superman suit, then flew straight out of the Batcave.
Watching her boyfriend disappear in haste, Lois opened her mouth in vain... A moment later, she gave a light laugh and remarked to the group, "Being a superhero's girlfriend means always watching the one you love rush into all kinds of danger. You truly great people, who face danger head-on, must have it so much harder than I do."
As she spoke, she linked her arm with Diana's and sighed with emotion.
"What can you do? That man is Clark. He's Superman, the Superman who will always be humanity's hope!"
Diana sighed as well and rose gently to her feet. "Mr. Heisenberg, and Bruce, I must be leaving too. I have a meeting in Milan and I'm afraid I need to fly there overnight. After this meeting, I'll return to my homeland, Themyscira. You can come with me — there are plenty of records about Darkseid there."
She then took Lois's hand. "I'll give Miss Lois a ride home as well. The chaos caused by Doomsday hasn't fully settled, and tonight, Gotham is not safe!"
"Heh, that has nothing to do with tonight. This city of Gotham has never been safe," Heisenberg remarked, before bidding Diana farewell.
Once Diana and Lois had gone, only Heisenberg and Bruce were left, staring at each other...
An odd silence passed between them. Then Heisenberg smiled mysteriously. "Do you have a suitable empty..."
"Not suitable. You know my cover identity is Bruce Wayne, the playboy. So Wayne Manor has only ever had women coming and going," Bruce cut in.
"What about the Batcave..."
"I have to repair the Batwing overnight, so..."
Without missing a beat, Bruce produced two keys. "I don't know if Mr. Heisenberg can drive. If so, this is an Aston Martin. A gift."
"Additionally, a villa on the west side of Midtown Metropolis, near the Eco Park. A gift. Also, these two cards are for the villa's basement. There's plenty of fine wine and gold inside. A gift. I'll handle your identity documents tonight. You bear a resemblance to the Hollywood actor Keanu, so your alias will be set as Heisenberg Reeves. I'll also take care of your inheritance paperwork, transferring everything I just mentioned to you through a fabricated inheritance."
"Don't overthink it. This is all simply my thanks for slaying Doomsday and saving the Earth. If it's alright, please rest early this evening. I'll come visit you tomorrow to properly discuss Darkseid and the Mother Box. Also, regarding the matter of recruiting for the Justice League, I'll share the files with you tomorrow. Perhaps after we journey to the Amazons, we can recruit those metahumans together. Finally, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Heisenberg."
Watching Bruce extend his hand, Heisenberg smiled and shook it.
So this was Batman. He might not mind being upstaged in his own home, but his inner decisions were remarkably firm. It seemed there was no way Heisenberg would become the second person besides Robin to ever spend the night in the Batcave.
Thinking of the fallen Robin, Heisenberg simply pulled Bruce into a hug. The gesture surprised Bruce. Heisenberg's affability had startled him again and again.
After the embrace, Heisenberg casually placed the car keys and house keys on the table beside him. "I haven't sunk so low as to accept handouts from friends, Bruce! But if you ever prepare another top-tier banquet like this, be sure not to let me miss out on the food!"
His words lingered as he abruptly vanished, leaving Bruce alone to face his empty Batcave. In that moment, gazing at the silence that had returned, Bruce let out a long, deep breath.
Finally, the chaos was gone!
A short while later, Bruce, in his pajamas, left the Batcave via the elevator and arrived in the study of Wayne Manor. Walking through the study, he spotted Alfred at the manor entrance, silently appreciating the night.
Seeing this, Bruce quietly went to Alfred's side and sat down lightly.
Only then did Alfred notice the person beside him. "Oh, heavens!" Alfred clutched his chest heavily. "When will you ever break the habit of walking without a sound?"
"Maybe when I'm being Bruce Wayne," Bruce replied.
He sighed and, like old Alfred, turned his gaze to the night sky. Beneath the moonlight, Bruce's temples had long since started to grey. He was getting old.
Beside him, Alfred looked at Bruce deeply. "You have always been Wayne. No matter how accustomed you become to this life, never divide yourself into two people forever. But in any case, seeing that you have made some new friends... I am relieved, Bruce."
"Me too. Because on my own, just maintaining Gotham's daily routine is already a stretch. They can help me accomplish more."
"The friends I'm talking about are not your tools! I have watched you walk this path step by step. I know what's in your heart. But do not see friends as potential enemies any longer, and do not disappoint me and Thomas, Bruce!"
"Of course," Bruce answered.
But as for the outcome, who could say?
/-\
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