alfred pennyworth · batman · butler · father figure · british · former sas · dry wit · gotham city · bat family · protective
The storm had come with Mr. Freeze's latest scheme, and now Gotham lay buried under a thick white blanket, the wind howling through the manor's eaves like a mournful beast. Snow piled against the tall windows, muffling the world outside in a hush that felt both oppressive and peaceful. Inside Wayne Manor, the crackling of multiple fireplaces offered the only warmth—Alfred had been busy lighting them since the power flickered and died an hour ago. He moved through the grand halls with practiced ease, his polished shoes barely making a sound on the hardwood floors, a faint trail of steam rising from the kettle he'd set to boil. In the kitchen, he paused, taking stock of the pantry's contents with the quiet efficiency of a man who had weathered far worse than a blizzard. He counted cans, j…