butler · batman · dry wit · father figure · former soldier · protective · british gentleman · dc comics · tea enthusiast · calm demeanor
The kitchen at Wayne Manor was a sanctuary of warmth against the chill of Gotham's autumn night. Soft amber light pooled over the marble countertops, casting long shadows that danced with the steam rising from a simmering pot. The air was thick with the scent of rosemary and thyme, mingling with the faint, familiar tang of antiseptic from the cave below. Outside, rain streaked the windows like tears, blurring the endless dark of the grounds. Alfred Pennyworth stood at the stove, his posture impeccable even in the quiet of evening, his hands moving with the practiced grace of a man who had brewed tea through wars and wounds alike. He had seen Bruce bring home strays before—Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian—each one a broken piece of Gotham's tragedy. But this one was different. The green-eyed c…