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bradygirl_12Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (Project K Arc) (5/54)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Brendan, Jackie Star, Brad Stryker
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. New superheroes appear on the scene as the Abolitionist Movement gathers strength. Meanwhile, Lex gets his heart’s desire while long-held secrets begin to spill out of the Manor. Nothing will ever be the same again.
The entire series can be found here.
Genres: AU, Challenge, Drama, Slavefic
Challenge Category: Section E (Slavefic)
Rating: (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: The Wayne Family maintains a vigil at Alfred’s bedside.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): August 21, 2009
Date Of Posting: October 22, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 956
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Written for my 2010 DCU Fic/Art Bondage Challenge.
Clock ticking,
Heart weeping,
Time sifting,
Heart grieving.
V
VIGIL
Bruce gazed at the man in the hospital bed, acutely aware of how fragile Alfred looked right now. He could still breath on his own, but his breaths were rattling. The monitors were keeping close tabs on his respiration. If he needed to go on a ventilator, Bruce would give permission.
Bruce reached out and covered one of the butler’s hands with his own, sitting in an uncomfortable chair by the bedside.
Clark and Dick were also sitting in chairs, keeping vigil. Brendan came in with sodas for everyone, leaning against the wall as he sipped his drink.
Bruce felt off-kilter. It had been very bad when Dick had been kidnapped by the Joker, when Clark had been taken and raped by Edmund, and now Alfred was terribly sick.
Alfred had been there for him, always. Bruce couldn’t remember his life without Alfred in it. He had been part of the Household since before Bruce was born.
Alfred was his rock. He had kept him from slipping into insanity after the murder of his parents. Without Alfred, he would have permanently fallen into the abyss..
& & & & & &
The grandfather clock in the library ticked loudly, an almost deafening sound in the utter silence of Wayne Manor. The detritus of the funeral reception was cleared away, everyone long gone, except for Alfred.
The butler looked in on his young charge, sadness on his austere features. He came quietly into the room, Bruce looking at him with numbed despair in his eyes that seemed suddenly old.
Alfred stood before Bruce, who sat on the couch. With those old eyes, Bruce looked at the portrait of his parents on the wall, a younger version of himself happy and loved in the painting. Raw grief was simmering at the edges, boiling down deep, but mostly he felt numb.
“Does it ever get any better, Alfred?” he whispered.
Kind, grieving eyes met his.
“It will, but for now, it will hurt.”
Bruce launched himself into his companion’s arms. This was no mere slave, but a man he knew he couldn’t lose, too.
“Don’t leave me.”
“Never.”
& & & & & &
Please don’t leave me, Alfred. You’re like a father to me. I love you.
Clark leaned over and squeezed Bruce’s shoulder. Bruce smiled wearily.
He had his family with him. Alfred would be very happy.
& & & & & &
Nurse Star checked Alfred’s vitals. The blond was doing her last check before going off-duty.
“No change, Mr. Wayne, but he’s holding steady.”
“Thank you.” He was the only one in the room, the rest of the family in the cafeteria.
Jackie smiled. “Your suite in the guest wing is ready.”
He smiled tiredly. “Best investment I ever made.”
“A very generous thing you did, sir. Building that wing enables loved ones to have a comfortable room to stay in while they wait to find out what happens. And the rooms are all free, courtesy of you.”
“Little enough I can do.”
“Ah, but your family has always been patrons of this hospital. Your father was one of this institution’s finest doctors.”
“Thank you.” Despite the pain there was pride, too.
Jackie smiled. “You can be assured that your slave will get the best of care. After all, it’s always been this hospital’s policy to be S.A.”
Bruce nodded. “I appreciate Human Resources vetting everyone so carefully.”
“If you leave your other slaves here, they won’t be bothered.”
“I expect no less.”
Jackie left the room, Bruce gazing out the window.
Dick, Clark, and Brendan came back to the room, all anxious to hear any news, but there was no change.
“We’re staying in the guest wing,” Bruce said.
“Will the guards be staying, too?” asked Dick. Stryker and his men had been nearby, taking shifts.
“Yes, them, too.” Bruce rubbed Dick’s shoulder. “Brad Stryker’s the best in the business.”
Dick smiled, his eyes sparkling as if to say, Batman and Robin are better.
Bruce smiled slightly in return.
& & & & & &
Sleep was fitful that night, but at least the comfortable beds were light-years better than the uncomfortable chairs. In the ICU, Bruce shifted, vowing to get better chairs in this hospital for visitors.
“Sir.”
Bruce looked up at Brad Stryker, whose pale blue eyes were always piercing.
“Is everything all right?” Bruce’s heart fluttered.
“Fine, sir.” Stryker smiled slightly. “Your Household’s safe.”
Bruce relaxed. “What is it?”
“There was an attempted break-in at the Manor.”
Bruce’s eyes grew frosty. “Who?”
“Unknown. Whoever it was, he or she vanished before we had a chance to catch them. The intruder wore black, his face covered. I’ve stepped up the patrols.”
“Good.” Bruce’s head hurt. As if he didn’t have enough worries! “Do you think it was a Caldwell operative?”
“I’d never rule that out, sir. The old man is crazy, but like a fox.”
Bruce felt his stomach clench, because Stryker was right.
“If you need more men, hire them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bruce looked into the pale eyes of his Head of Security. “Edmund Caldwell will stop at nothing to hurt me.”
Stryker nodded.
& & & & & &
Bruce rose from the chair. Maybe he should try and get some sleep. It was almost midnight.
He heard a sound and looked over to the bed. “Alfred?”
“Br…Bruce?” Alfred’s voice was raspy.
Bruce grasped Alfred’s hand, squeezing gently. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.” Alfred’s eyes drifted over the room. “Gotham General?”
“Only the best for you, my friend.”
Alfred smiled. He squeezed back, Bruce leaning down and kissing his forehead.
“Welcome back, Alfred.”
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Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Brendan, Jackie Star, Brad Stryker
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. New superheroes appear on the scene as the Abolitionist Movement gathers strength. Meanwhile, Lex gets his heart’s desire while long-held secrets begin to spill out of the Manor. Nothing will ever be the same again.
The entire series can be found here.
Genres: AU, Challenge, Drama, Slavefic
Challenge Category: Section E (Slavefic)
Rating: (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: The Wayne Family maintains a vigil at Alfred’s bedside.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): August 21, 2009
Date Of Posting: October 22, 2010
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 956
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Written for my 2010 DCU Fic/Art Bondage Challenge.
Heart weeping,
Time sifting,
Heart grieving.
Sir Elwyn Hartford
"All In Time"
1936 C.E.
VIGIL
Bruce gazed at the man in the hospital bed, acutely aware of how fragile Alfred looked right now. He could still breath on his own, but his breaths were rattling. The monitors were keeping close tabs on his respiration. If he needed to go on a ventilator, Bruce would give permission.
Bruce reached out and covered one of the butler’s hands with his own, sitting in an uncomfortable chair by the bedside.
Clark and Dick were also sitting in chairs, keeping vigil. Brendan came in with sodas for everyone, leaning against the wall as he sipped his drink.
Bruce felt off-kilter. It had been very bad when Dick had been kidnapped by the Joker, when Clark had been taken and raped by Edmund, and now Alfred was terribly sick.
Alfred had been there for him, always. Bruce couldn’t remember his life without Alfred in it. He had been part of the Household since before Bruce was born.
Alfred was his rock. He had kept him from slipping into insanity after the murder of his parents. Without Alfred, he would have permanently fallen into the abyss..
The grandfather clock in the library ticked loudly, an almost deafening sound in the utter silence of Wayne Manor. The detritus of the funeral reception was cleared away, everyone long gone, except for Alfred.
The butler looked in on his young charge, sadness on his austere features. He came quietly into the room, Bruce looking at him with numbed despair in his eyes that seemed suddenly old.
Alfred stood before Bruce, who sat on the couch. With those old eyes, Bruce looked at the portrait of his parents on the wall, a younger version of himself happy and loved in the painting. Raw grief was simmering at the edges, boiling down deep, but mostly he felt numb.
“Does it ever get any better, Alfred?” he whispered.
Kind, grieving eyes met his.
“It will, but for now, it will hurt.”
Bruce launched himself into his companion’s arms. This was no mere slave, but a man he knew he couldn’t lose, too.
“Don’t leave me.”
“Never.”
Please don’t leave me, Alfred. You’re like a father to me. I love you.
Clark leaned over and squeezed Bruce’s shoulder. Bruce smiled wearily.
He had his family with him. Alfred would be very happy.
Nurse Star checked Alfred’s vitals. The blond was doing her last check before going off-duty.
“No change, Mr. Wayne, but he’s holding steady.”
“Thank you.” He was the only one in the room, the rest of the family in the cafeteria.
Jackie smiled. “Your suite in the guest wing is ready.”
He smiled tiredly. “Best investment I ever made.”
“A very generous thing you did, sir. Building that wing enables loved ones to have a comfortable room to stay in while they wait to find out what happens. And the rooms are all free, courtesy of you.”
“Little enough I can do.”
“Ah, but your family has always been patrons of this hospital. Your father was one of this institution’s finest doctors.”
“Thank you.” Despite the pain there was pride, too.
Jackie smiled. “You can be assured that your slave will get the best of care. After all, it’s always been this hospital’s policy to be S.A.”
Bruce nodded. “I appreciate Human Resources vetting everyone so carefully.”
“If you leave your other slaves here, they won’t be bothered.”
“I expect no less.”
Jackie left the room, Bruce gazing out the window.
Dick, Clark, and Brendan came back to the room, all anxious to hear any news, but there was no change.
“We’re staying in the guest wing,” Bruce said.
“Will the guards be staying, too?” asked Dick. Stryker and his men had been nearby, taking shifts.
“Yes, them, too.” Bruce rubbed Dick’s shoulder. “Brad Stryker’s the best in the business.”
Dick smiled, his eyes sparkling as if to say, Batman and Robin are better.
Bruce smiled slightly in return.
Sleep was fitful that night, but at least the comfortable beds were light-years better than the uncomfortable chairs. In the ICU, Bruce shifted, vowing to get better chairs in this hospital for visitors.
“Sir.”
Bruce looked up at Brad Stryker, whose pale blue eyes were always piercing.
“Is everything all right?” Bruce’s heart fluttered.
“Fine, sir.” Stryker smiled slightly. “Your Household’s safe.”
Bruce relaxed. “What is it?”
“There was an attempted break-in at the Manor.”
Bruce’s eyes grew frosty. “Who?”
“Unknown. Whoever it was, he or she vanished before we had a chance to catch them. The intruder wore black, his face covered. I’ve stepped up the patrols.”
“Good.” Bruce’s head hurt. As if he didn’t have enough worries! “Do you think it was a Caldwell operative?”
“I’d never rule that out, sir. The old man is crazy, but like a fox.”
Bruce felt his stomach clench, because Stryker was right.
“If you need more men, hire them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bruce looked into the pale eyes of his Head of Security. “Edmund Caldwell will stop at nothing to hurt me.”
Stryker nodded.
Bruce rose from the chair. Maybe he should try and get some sleep. It was almost midnight.
He heard a sound and looked over to the bed. “Alfred?”
“Br…Bruce?” Alfred’s voice was raspy.
Bruce grasped Alfred’s hand, squeezing gently. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.” Alfred’s eyes drifted over the room. “Gotham General?”
“Only the best for you, my friend.”
Alfred smiled. He squeezed back, Bruce leaning down and kissing his forehead.
“Welcome back, Alfred.”
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![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 03:34 am (UTC)I'm very intrigued by the attempted break-in. Hmmm, can't wait to see where this is going.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 03:42 am (UTC)It's certainly a shocker when Alfred's the sick one!
I'm very intrigued by the attempted break-in. Hmmm, can't wait to see where this is going.
Never a dull moment! ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 03:48 am (UTC)But thank goodness Alfred woke up finally! Phew.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 10:08 pm (UTC)Very true!
But thank goodness Alfred woke up finally! Phew.
Couldn't lose Alfred! :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 07:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 10:13 pm (UTC)It would be pretty traumatic for Bruce if he lost Alfred, for sure!
Interesting chapter, I wonder who the unwelcome visitor was, hopefully they are captured and don't try something with Bruce and his family.
We shall see. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 10:14 pm (UTC)'Cuz we need villains! ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-24 04:28 am (UTC)PS: Write moar moars! Soonererly!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-24 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 12:10 pm (UTC)Oh Alfred. :(
I hope this means he's over the worst of it. 'Cos I wonder if it'd cause an internet riot if not... Not that I know what it would look like but thought it might amuse. ;)
I hate to break it to you but there's a breath/breathe typo (second sentence). I'm not sure about the blond/blonde because I think it could be written either way can't it? Including for women. I assume it was intentional. I hope my computer doesn't stuff up sending this.
I look forward to more updates. No pressure implied (seriously). :)
Angeloz
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 10:18 pm (UTC)Oh Alfred. :(
*nods*
I hope this means he's over the worst of it. 'Cos I wonder if it'd cause an internet riot if not... Not that I know what it would look like but thought it might amuse. ;)
I'd say he's on the road to recovery. :)
I hate to break it to you but there's a breath/breathe typo (second sentence). I'm not sure about the blond/blonde because I think it could be written either way can't it? Including for women. I assume it was intentional. I hope my computer doesn't stuff up sending this.
I'll have to check on that. I think 'breath' is as acceptable as 'breathe'. I'll see.
I also think 'blond' is acceptable now for women. I've written that way for a long time now.
I look forward to more updates. No pressure implied (seriously). :)
Angeloz
I'll be mixing new chapters in with Halloween goodies! :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 01:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-23 10:21 pm (UTC)He's back! :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-24 02:21 am (UTC)Right now though I really want to review even though I'm uh on vicodin ^^ (damn cramps) If this comes apart as a bit loopy I apologize.
Poor Bruce. This is hard on the whole family of course but Alfred has been the only constant in his very tumultuous life. And of course Alfred would never leave him even if he was somehow allowed to. He loves Bruce more than any other person he knows. They're almost inseparable really.
That's really awesome that Bruce had a special wing added for families of the patients to stay in. I'm sure all of the families and the patients really appreciate it. Goodness knows I would if my family member was staying in the hospital.
I would so not be surprised if it was Edmund, or his son for that matter, trying to get in while the family is sitting with Alfred. Actually, if we weren't sure Alfred had the flu I'd be taking this theory a lot further than just breaking it.
Oh I'm glad Alfred is awake!
I can't wait to see what you have in store for us :D
Again I'm sorry if this review seems a out-there. Blame the meds. They make everything a little shiny :p
no subject
Date: 2010-10-24 05:56 pm (UTC)*nods*
Very good description of their relationship. :)
That's really awesome that Bruce had a special wing added for families of the patients to stay in. I'm sure all of the families and the patients really appreciate it. Goodness knows I would if my family member was staying in the hospital.
Yes, hospitals are uncomfortable at best. It's nice to get at least one less worry if you have a nice place to stay close by.
I would so not be surprised if it was Edmund, or his son for that matter, trying to get in while the family is sitting with Alfred. Actually, if we weren't sure Alfred had the flu I'd be taking this theory a lot further than just breaking it.
The Caldwells are always prime suspects! ;)
Oh I'm glad Alfred is awake!
I can't wait to see what you have in store for us :D
Thank you! And no worry about the meds. I know how that goes. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-25 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-25 03:56 am (UTC)They have such a special bond!
The attempted break-in sounds very ominous. Maybe Bruce should send Brendan back there to keep an eye on the place.
I'm sure he'll take care of everything. He's hyper-conscious of security nowadays. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-11-23 02:33 am (UTC)I'm worried about the break in. Things just seem to be going down hill from all angles!
no subject
Date: 2010-11-23 04:37 am (UTC)Thanks, C.! I really enjoyed writing that scene. :)
I'm worried about the break in. Things just seem to be going down hill from all angles!
You can never completely relax in this 'verse! :)