Was it any surprise I took after you?

“What’s going to happen now?” Jason asked sometime later. It couldn’t have been too long because there were still curls of steam coming from the chocolate. He knew even after failing to protect Bruce (at failing to be Robin like Dick said he would, at once again failing to protect his parent) Alfred wouldn’t send him packing to an orphanage but Jason couldn’t help but wonder of it was better for Alfred if- Alfred had always been old looking - it wasn’t surprising since he was in fact the oldest in the manor and had known Bruce since he had been in diapers - but right now in the chair he looked ancient and fragile; so fragile that Jason was afraid that if someone touched the butler he would just break and Jason didn’t know how to help him. It wasn’t like there was some sort of duck tape or superglue you could use on a person when they were grieving. “The girl you brought will continue sleeping for several more hours after the shot I gave her. Master Richard has been informed of the events that have transgressed tonight. He should be here in a few days.”Something uncomfortable slid into Jason’s skin like a knife could be pushed under one’s fingernail at hearing that.