Chapter 7: Want some candy? Seeing Afu's bedroom scene made me laugh...
“I suspect Bruce really has post-traumatic stress disorder, and I’m not suited to comfort him.”
While Bruce was washing up, Thomas sat at the dining table and quietly reminded Alfred.
"He clearly had symptoms of intrusive re-experiencing."
Alfred nodded slightly: "I have already consulted professional psychiatrists and psychotherapists."
In fact, Alfred didn't need to be reminded; he was very familiar with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
He had seen many people driven to despair by this disease, which tormented many of his comrades to the point of wishing they were dead, and he himself had been troubled by uninvited images of the past.
The two exchanged views briefly and quickly, stopping to talk before Bruce rushed into the restaurant.
Good morning, Alfred. Good morning, Tommy.
He was trying to appear nonchalant. As the older brother, he felt he should avoid showing negative emotions in front of Thomas and should become the pillar of the family as soon as possible.
But this is a bit too difficult for an eight-year-old child.
“Your face isn’t clean, Bruce.” Thomas looked at him. “There’s soap suds on your right sideburn.”
Alfred silently walked over and wiped Bruce's face clean with a towel.
“Thank you, Alfred.” Bruce casually sat down next to Thomas. “What are we having for breakfast this morning?”
He seemed to be trying hard to control his emotions.
“Sandwich, Master Bruce.”
Alfred prepared breakfast today; everyone else was temporarily sent home.
He believed that gossipy outsiders were not beneficial to the two children's mental well-being.
"Thank you, Alfred."
Bruce mechanically took a bite of his sandwich, trying to stop thinking about his parents, and what they would do if they were still alive...
How could that be? How could I not want to?
Thomas should be laughing merrily at his soap-bubble-covered sideburns, and Martha should be nudging her husband's ribs with her elbow, telling him to take care of the little boy's self-esteem.
Afterwards, the group would eat breakfast and chat, mainly about yesterday's movie.
Bruce could almost see Thomas and Martha sitting at the table.
Thomas would ask him if he was still having trouble sleeping because of the bats, and Martha would glare at him with a laugh, then say, "You need to pay more attention to your sleep, or you'll only be as tall as your dad, Bruce..."
"Bruce?"
He came to his senses, and Thomas Jr. and Alfred stood anxiously beside him.
"What's wrong?" Bruce snapped out of his daze and took another bite of his sandwich as if nothing had happened.
“We’ve called you several times,” Thomas said, “and you’ve been spacing out.”
“Sorry, Tommy,” Bruce replied casually. “I think I didn’t sleep well last night.”
"I think so, because I only called you once just now."
Alfred put his hand on Bruce's shoulder: "Didn't you like breakfast today, Master Bruce? Would you like to come for a walk in the garden with me?"
Bruce couldn't wait to get out of there; if he stayed any longer, he might burst into tears.
So he breathed a sigh of relief and put the sandwich back on the plate: "I'm honored, Alfred."
-
Isaiah Thomas isn't the right person to comfort Bruce.
Putting aside his mental state, which is a hundred times better than the average in Gotham, his twisted sense of good and evil, and his unreliable psychology (can we really put that aside? Hmm?), his very identity makes him unsuitable for comforting Bruce.
It's not suitable right now, at least not.
Bruce has always idolized their father. And Thomas in this universe is almost the best example of what society defines as an excellent human being.
He is intelligent, mature and composed, loves life, is kind and upright, empathetic, and has a high sense of responsibility towards both his family and society.
Bruce clearly possesses these excellent qualities as well, and intends to take over Martha and Thomas's responsibilities, wanting to shoulder the family's burdens, hiding his negative emotions, and not wanting his younger brother to worry as well.
Therefore, his words of comfort may backfire, making Bruce mistakenly believe that he is not as mature and stable as his younger brother, thus increasing his psychological pressure.
Therefore, he could only remain silent.
His hands gripped the edge of the table tightly, and he looked out the window.
From this angle, you can only see Alfred. Presumably, to reassure Thomas, he deliberately didn't go far.
Alfred glanced through the window and then patted Bruce on the head.
Bruce buried his face in his waist and cried his heart out.
“You don’t need to suppress yourself, especially since you’re still a child.”
“But I’m old enough to grow up.” Bruce’s voice was a little muffled. “I’m the older brother, Tommy is only four years old…he needs me.”
Alfred sighed.
He doesn't like the societal notion that older children should take on more responsibility.
But this mindset is not something he alone can easily change.
And it's impossible to tell him that although Thomas looks only four years old, his actual age is unknown, right?
So this matter has to be put on hold for now. Alfred hugged him and said, "I've called a professional psychiatrist, and she'll be here this afternoon."
As expected, Alfred could feel Bruce tensing up with some resistance.
Before Bruce could refuse, he added, "Have you noticed that young Thomas is acting a little strange?"
Upon hearing this, Bruce relaxed considerably: "You noticed it too, Alfred?"
“Of course,” Alfred retorted firmly, “patients with post-traumatic stress disorder may have a diminished response to emotional stimuli, and young Master Thomas yesterday…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but simply patted Bruce on the back.
Bruce tightened his grip on Alfred, and Alfred guessed that young Thomas must have done something outrageous in front of Bruce yesterday.
Perhaps I should advise young Thomas to act a little more like a child.
“Young Thomas is too young and has some autistic tendencies, and he is resistant to communicating with strangers.”
“And I want to set an example for him,” Bruce said. “I’ll go see a doctor first, and then tell Dr. Tommy it’s not scary.”
No, you don't need to be anyone's role model, just be a child.
Alfred suddenly became worried and began to question whether the plan that "Isaiah Thomas has separation anxiety" was correct.
Bruce is clearly putting pressure on himself, and telling him that Thomas has serious mental problems would not be good for his mental state (although Thomas does seem to have mental problems).
“Young Master Bruce, I know you want to become an adult that Young Master Thomas can rely on all at once.”
Alfred stroked Bruce's hair and whispered to him, "But at least in my eyes, you'll always be a child, Master Bruce."
"I will always be your support."
Bruce didn't say anything, he just hugged her tighter.
-
In the afternoon, the doctor arrived. He was accompanied by a truck, and several people unloaded a bunch of sand tables and other items from the truck. Following Alfred's instructions, they placed the items in the room he designated.
She is a very easygoing person. Alfred said she is an excellent child psychologist dedicated to healing children who are shrouded in darkness.
Even someone as suspicious as Thomas Jr. couldn't find anything dangerous about her.
Therefore, Thomas Jr. temporarily assumes that she is safe and poses no threat.
Bruce, clutching the hem of his clothes, stood up with a look of grim determination and was the first to enter the room that Alfred had temporarily designated as a consultation room.
At Bruce's insistence, Alfred had no choice but to stay outside with Thomas.
“This doctor is very understanding,” Alfred said first, seemingly determined to treat Thomas as usual. “She understands our special circumstances of not wanting to leave home and agreed to let me have things moved to Wayne Manor.”
“These reporters are so annoying, like flies. If they could focus on something useful, we wouldn’t be bothering the doctors like this.” Thomas stared intently at one of the guys, who was panting heavily and insisted on resting against the “clinic” door. “Isn’t that right?”
His gaze was nothing like that of a four-year-old child, which startled the other person so much that their lips trembled slightly, and they abruptly took a few steps to the side.
“…I think so, young master Thomas. It’s unbelievable that a reporter could sneak in like this.” Alfred said sternly to the reporter, “Sir, please leave your recording equipment here and leave immediately. Wayne Manor does not welcome guests with ulterior motives.”
The reporter didn't resist; he obediently took out the recording pen, tossed it to Alfred, and ran away.
“I bet I’ll be on the front page of tomorrow’s newspapers. Want to bet five dollars?” Thomas seemed to have regained a bit of his sense of humor. “Most likely it will be about Wayne’s youngest son being possessed by a demon. I also guess he originally wanted to write that Wayne’s eldest son had a mental illness.”
“I guess so,” Alfred said. “That’s why I’m not betting.”
Bruce was unaware of what was happening outside. To ease Thomas's psychological pressure, he tried to come out in a cheerful manner.
“Tommy, don’t be afraid,” he tried to lighten his voice, but it was difficult. “The doctor is very gentle, unlike the dentist. You just have to answer her, and you see—”
Bruce showed Thomas the candy in his hand: "If you're honest, there'll be more candy. Do you want some?"
That piece of candy should be a piece of Turkish delight, pink in color, coated with powdered sugar, and hastily wrapped in transparent plastic, like homemade candy.
Thomas the Tank Engine blinked: "I want to eat."
He wasn't just craving something, but homemade products are obviously not very safe. What if the doctor put something harmful in them?
"Then answer the doctor's question properly. If she gives it to you, I'll give it to you."
“Okay, Bruce.”
A note from the author:
----------------------
Thomas wasn't being stubborn... he genuinely suspected the doctor might have poisoned the sugar.
It's hard to explain to you guys who aren't from Earth 3; you have typical non-Earth 3 thinking.
I've finished my final exams (whether I failed or not is another matter). I'm going to harass every reader who leaves me a comment [hugs] hehehe
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