Chapter 51 The Composure and Confidence of the Older Generation of Ninjas at the Top of the Food Chain (…)
"So, young master Thomas isn't eating dinner tonight?"
“I don’t know,” Bruce answered very carefully. “He said he had no appetite and told me to come down first.”
“Well, looks like I might be working a little overtime tonight (giving Bruce a meaningful look). Either I go to the kitchen for a late-night snack or I guard the snacks in the fridge.” Alfred turned to Jason and asked, “So, would you like some more dinner?”
"OK, thanks."
Bruce sat in his seat, hesitating whether to speak up for Thomas and tell Alfred and Dick that there was a new member in the family.
Come down here, Thomas! I can't exactly have Alfred prepare a room for you, can I?
If you miss tonight, how are you going to explain to the remaining two family members that you sneaked out this morning to adopt a child...?
This hesitation made him sit in his chair, feeling somewhat uneasy, even after finishing his dinner.
“Bruce, is there something you want to say?” Dick asked slowly while drinking his milk. At Alfred’s prompting, he had just finished the milkshake he had prepared for Thomas and couldn’t drink any more milk now.
“Uh,” Bruce tried to stall for time for Thomas, saying dryly, “I’m planning a party next week.”
“Great! Is this one of those events on TV where everyone's dressed up, chatting with champagne? Is there anything I need to prepare?” Dick put down his milk, jumped up from his chair, and said, “I’ve never been to an event like this before. What if someone suddenly comes up and says I’m not good enough for it, and then I…”
Thomas, what exactly do you usually show Dick to?
“You can just stand to the side with Thomas and drink your milkshake. Standing next to Thomas will allow you to enjoy the fresh air and quiet atmosphere,” Bruce emphasized. “Generally speaking, no one would dare to come close to you.”
"Is Thomas some kind of air purifier?" Dick quipped.
...It's better than an air purifier, and it can even filter out human voices. With so many functions, all you need is a milkshake, and he can stay in one place until the party is over. Isn't that amazing?
However, some complaints are not suitable to be expressed, so this topic has to be put to rest.
But the stalling continued. Bruce thought for a moment and finally decided to tell some Thomas stories, which should help the two children understand Thomas better.
It was absolutely not to retaliate against Thomas's words and actions that caused his heart to stop.
-
Thomas was completely unaware that Bruce was trying to buy him time; he was summarizing his educational philosophy.
...Well, to be honest, his educational philosophy does seem to have failed somewhat.
Whether it's Bruce or Dick, Thomas's place in their hearts never seems to surpass that of their parents.
Parents, parents, it's always that word. It's as if as long as there's this relationship, their feelings have to surpass those of others... But why?
Why is it that Thomas Wayne could give them everything better, yet he can never surpass those losers?
Why did Bruce choose that wasteful and incompetent couple? Aren't I the one in this family who cares about him the most? Doesn't he know I'll die if I fail?
And Dick, I share my money and power with him, and by any measure, I love him more than his parents, so why did he leave because I killed those two?
These problems upset Thomas, but he still went to the tool shed on the second floor and swept up the debris.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about what he should do.
Gradually, Thomas had an inspiration, which improved his mood a little.
He composed himself and returned to the restaurant...
"...Just a few days ago, Thomas refused to take his medicine simply because he found it bitter."
"Yes, I can testify that there is only iced Coke in young Thomas's office."
"He's actually that kind of person?" This was Jason, his voice sounding a mix of doubt and relief.
“That’s right,” it was clearly Dick’s voice, “Even at parties he only drinks soft drinks, just like a child…”
"I object! This is clearly slander!" Thomas slammed the door open, startling the few people in the room who were excitedly sharing Thomas's anecdotes. "Of course, my office doesn't only have Coke; I drink mineral water. Besides, I only reached the legal drinking age this year, so isn't it normal for me to drink milkshakes? Given my current position, I have absolutely no need to cater to other people's assumptions about me."
The room fell silent for a moment, until a perceptive person pointed out the flaw in Thomas's statement.
“You didn’t refute the idea that ‘you shouldn’t take medicine because it tastes bitter’,” Jason said. “So that’s true?”
Thomas did not argue; he went straight to the dining table.
"So this is actually true!"
“That’s right,” Dick gave him a wink, “That’s Thomas.”
Thomas sat slumped in his chair, displeased. "I have something to say."
Bruce breathed a sigh of relief.
"I just broke a lamp, and I've already swept it up."
Bruce held his breath again.
Alfred seemed to want to say something, but he held back, seemingly intending to save face for young Thomas in front of Jason.
“Thomas, have you forgotten something?” Bruce gently reminded his brother, while trying to get him to look at Jason with his eyes, attempting to get Thomas to regain his rollercoaster-like emotional intelligence.
“Ah, yes.” Thomas sat up a little straighter, not looking at Alfred. “This gentleman (he nodded to Jason) once helped me, and considering I have many enemies in the East Side, I decided to adopt him in case anyone takes the opportunity to retaliate.”
Of course, this was just an excuse he came up with on the spot.
The people at the table had various expressions; the news was truly too sudden.
Alfred was the first to respond to Thomas. He seemed used to young Thomas's unpredictable and whimsical ideas, and calmly asked, "Where is young master Jason staying tonight?"
“He can stay in your room, Thomas. Wayne Manor is too big, and I’m worried he won’t be comfortable sleeping alone.”
Then, Bruce silently moved his lips as well.
Don't let him find out I'm Batman.
……All right.
The owl has been absent from work for a long time, so it's obviously no big deal if it stays up for one more night.
Thomas offered no comment, then turned and slipped into the kitchen, brazenly "stealing" cookies under Alfred's disapproving gaze.
-
"Is this your room?" Jason looked at the bedside lamp, the most out-of-place piece of furniture in the room. "Where's the light switch?"
Thomas reached out and covered the wick with another cover.
"No switch?" Jason asked, somewhat surprised.
"Because this is a wick that can emit light without external energy input," Thomas emphasized, "it's very expensive."
“Okay?” Jason didn’t seem to understand why this thing was better than a regular lamp, but his previous “home” didn’t even have a lamp, so he wasn’t going to comment on areas he didn’t understand.
The two remained silent for a while.
“I think you are completely different from what the rumors say.”
“Is it different?” Thomas was somewhat surprised. “Think carefully about what I did with you today. Your adoption procedures weren’t done through any normal means.”
“I think you’re a good person,” Jason said firmly. “Not everyone would adopt me just because I did them a favor, especially since you didn’t seem to need my help that day.”
“Good person? The greatest contribution I can make to human society in this life is to hurry up and die,” Thomas said incredulously. “I really should take you to get your eyes checked again.”
"I also think the people in this house are pretty nice..."
Yes, except for me.
“I have to go to work tomorrow,” Thomas said, closing his eyes.
"good evening."
"……good evening."
-
“You should go to sleep, Dick,” Batman said with a troubled expression to someone hiding in the Batcave.
"Okay, so how exactly did you find out?"
Dick jumped out from the corner, landing with a backflip: "Richard Grayson, final score: 10 points!"
Alfred applauded enthusiastically.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Dick gestured as he took his leave of the empty bat cave. "Seriously, don't you really need an assistant?"
“I work alone.” Batman sat back down in front of the Batcomputer. “Goodnight, Dick.”
“Okay,” Dick said, a little dejected, as he left the Batcave. “Goodnight, Bruce.”
As soon as Dick left, Bruce asked Alfred with some worry:
“I’ve never understood, Alfred, what’s going on in kids this age. Barbara too, Dick too… Don’t they know Gotham is dangerous at night?”
“Of course,” Alfred replied, “it’s normal that you don’t understand, Master Bruce. After all, you were born twenty-five years old, and you didn’t run away from Wayne Manor at night before you were ten to investigate the Court of Owls, without telling your poor butler with whom you had already made a deal. It’s normal that you don’t understand.”
“…I’m sorry, Alfred.”
“It’s alright, Master Bruce,” Alfred said. “At least you weren’t born in your twenties like Master Thomas, and then you’ve gotten younger every year since.”
“That’s very well said, Alfred.”
Bruce said very sincerely, "Could Thomas hear it too? I'd be willing to eat pickle sandwiches for breakfast for a month straight for that."
“You know perfectly well that I can’t possibly prepare breakfast for you without following the nutritionist’s advice, Mr. Bruce.”
"Would you tell Thomas?" Batman opened the Batcomputer. "For the sake of Wayne Manor's future."
“I don’t see how this relates to the future of Wayne Manor, but I will tell you.”
"Thank you, Alfred. I can already imagine Thomas's expression when he hears that."
But the relaxed atmosphere in the Bat Cave has to end here for today.
Another murder has occurred.
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Author's Note: Question: What's the difference between Alfred and an ordinary ninja?
A: He really is at the top of the food chain.
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