5Batfamily Week 2020
Day 7: Nightmares | Time-Travel | Mythology AU
Ao3 Link
Tags: batfamweek2020, Time Travel, Alfred and Dick visits the past, Dick Grayson as Batman, Damian as Robin, Dick Grayson as Robin, Bruce Wayne as Batman
Created for official-batfam-week
Alfred blinked as the yellow light faded away, revealing the cave. Normally this wouldn't be cause alarm, but as Alfred had been out visiting Dick in the penthouse, it was unnerving.
What was more unnerving was the display case that was void of the usual uniforms he had grown accustomed to. Alfred stepped up to the bat computer that looked a few models behind the one he was used to and checked the date.
"Oh bollocks," Alfred muttered as he took in the date, many years in the past.
"Agent A, status report." Bruce's voice crackled from the speakers around Alfred.
"Oh… Master Bruce," Alfred sank into the chair, hand resting up over his heart as he felt a surge of emotion at the gruff tone.
"I'm afraid something unusual has occurred Master Batman," Alfred did his best to keep his voice monotone and calm, sitting up straight in the familiar chair with practiced ease.
"You're here too! I thought the blast had just hit me!" Richard's adult voice rang through the speakers next and something inside of Alfred's chest unwound at hearing Dick's voice.
"We're heading back so I can get some answers," Bruce cut in, Alfred had expected nothing less.
"I'm driving B!" Dick cackled and Alfred smiled, he had not heard that laugh in a long time and it warmed his soul.
"I don't think so," Bruce retorted, sounding like it was a knee-jerk reply.
"Come on B! I've been driving this thing since I was 13!" Dick whined causing Alfred to smile at the old, familiar banter.
"That makes it worse, get in," Bruce grumbled as the radio cut out, leaving Alfred in silence.
Alfred wandered the cave with his hands clasped behind his back as he took note of what had changed and what had remained the same after all the years.
Alfred must have gotten lost in a mixture of the past and his present as the Batmobile (numerous versions in the past) roared into the platform. Dick gracefully leapt from the passenger seat still clad in his sweatpants and a faded Bludhaven PD sweatshirt. He had a large, if not pained smile on his face as Bruce rose from the driver's seat. The cape and cowl casting a looming shadow around him, but neither men flinched as they had come to know that shadow meant safety and home.
"Tests, then explanations, right B?" Dick chirped as he gave Alfred a tighter than necessary hug, the butler pleased to return it as he felt relief he had someone to share this experience with.
"My best bet would be time travel that involves some sort of time displacement." Dick tuned into his detective side as he and Alfred allowed Bruce to run his tests in silence and little to no eye contact. Bruce looked unnerved each time he looked too closely at Dick in particular. Alfred could relate, but he refused to look away from the man he raised, from his son.
"You've had experience with this sort of thing then?" Bruce grunted, leaning back going a shade paler when the DNA matches turned up positive for both of them, confirming who they were.
"A couple of times, time travel is more of a Speedster thing. The multi-verse seems to be universal. You haven't told the League about me, uh little me yet right? All my magical contacts will be of no help in this time period. It looks like we only have two options, one we wait for the spell to run its course and pray we get swapped back. Or we hope someone in our time figures the spell out and reverses it. Both options include waiting it out." Dick ticked off two fingers as he spoke, swinging his legs like a child from where he was sitting up on an exam table.
Alfred smiled fondly at the sight; glad there was still some light in his eldest Grandson. Bruce meanwhile blinked slowly as he tried to take in not only the words but the actions that no doubt caused him to see the child, Dick Grayson, he knew almost superimposed over this adult version.
"You have that much faith in your allies then?" Bruce shook his head slightly.
"I trust them to stop it nothing to bring us home, they know I'd do the same for them, have done it for them in a heartbeat." Dick turned serious before he was smiling easily again. Alfred had grown used to Dick's Batman's moments, but he could see that the seriousness had thrown Bruce off for a moment.
"In the meantime, I doubt past me will have any qualms about me cooking dinner for us in his kitchen," Alfred spoke up, knowing Bruce was a minute away from questioning Dick again and not being so passive about it.
"Sounds great Alfie!" Dick launched himself from the table and started up the stairs up towards the manor.
"Remember Master Bruce, no capes in the manor." Alfred chided gently before following Dick up the steps.
"Hey B, do you think we can watch some Grey Ghost while Alfie makes dinner?" Dick asked quietly, toying with the hem of his shirt when Bruce finally joined them in the kitchen in his pair of sweatpants and hoodie.
"You want to watch that?" Bruce was shocked, he would have thought that Dick would have outgrown wanting to watch old detective shows with him.
"It's been a while… That's all right isn't it B? I mean I get that I'm not really Dick Grayson, will the one you know at least…" Dick trailed off; shedding the cock-sure version of himself he had shown down in the cave. Alfred paid attention to their conversation as he cooked on autopilot; he understood why Dick was acting like a lost child now. Down in the cave that had been business, he had to report to Batman as he had for most of his life. However up in the manor, in their home and Bruce bare-face and relaxed in normal clothes, memories must have bowled Dick over causing him to lose his balance. Alfred could relate and he was never gladder for the routine, ease of cooking.
"Come on chum, I think we can watch a few before Alfred is done with dinner," Bruce said softly, settling his hand on Dick's shoulder and Dick's face lit up and he let out a happy laugh as he and Bruce left the kitchen to head into the living room.
Alfred had never felt so at peace as the sounds of Grey Ghost started up in the background and the soft voices of Bruce and Dick mingled with the sounds. Alfred only wished the other members of their family were there to have this extra time with Bruce, but he hoped that both he and Dick would get some sort of closure when this was all said and done.
Alfred found that cooking was in many ways not only a dance but a battle and he gladly lost himself in that battle as he did his best to prepare his son and grandson's favourites as this may be the last time he and Dick had a family dinner with Bruce. Finally, the food was prepared and plated, Alfred wiped his hands down as he looked at the food with satisfaction and left the kitchen to tell Bruce and Dick that dinner was ready.
Alfred's words dried up in his mouth at the sight that greeted him and all he could do was smile fondly and picked up a blanket from the empty chair. Grey Ghost was still playing on the television but no one was awake to watch it at the moment. Bruce had one of his arms laid out over the back of the couch, his other hand tangled in Dick's hair as if he fell asleep while he had been stroking Dick's hair. Dick was curled up against Bruce's side, face peaceful and ear pressed firmly to the older man's chest as if he fell asleep listening to Bruce's heartbeat.
They both looked so peaceful that Alfred didn't have the heart to wake them up for a meal, he carefully draped the blanket around the two and sat on the chair to watch the two sleep, both their slumber peaceful for once and Alfred found himself grateful to whoever hit them with that blast, they had allowed them both this chance to see Bruce again. Alfred found himself following the other two to the land of unconsciousness and while Alfred knew in his heart that he would wake back up in his present he couldn't find it in himself to stay awake, he was content and his heart healed in a way he hadn't ever hoped for so he allowed the darkness to drag him under.
