[ Growing up has been one harrowing event after another and it hasn't left Bruce with a lot of time to reckon with teenage hormones or what they mean as he continues to try and deny the human parts of himself that aren't related to finding ways to prevent Ra's al Ghul's return or keeping the leeches on Wayne Enterprise's board of directors from trying to pull his family's company out from under him.
Most of the time he thinks he has a hand on all the confusing emotions that war within him but then there are times like these when he struggles with any kind of vulnerability despite knowing Alfred is the one person deserving of it. ]
Then let's get this over with.
[ He nods, mostly for himself, then takes a beat to cradle his newly bandaged ribs with a hand cupped just under where they hurt the most. Any bracing breaths will just worsen the pain so he stills the air in his chest as he goes about undoing his belt so he can push the waistband of both his pants and underwear down just enough to expose a thin strip of skin below his back. Modesty its own kind of armor he's learned to wear, even around Alfred who Bruce pointedly avoids looking at. ]
I wouldn't say no to pancakes, [ He suggests to take his mind off of the injection. ]
[As always, Alfred is quick and precise. Swabbing the area of skin that Bruce presents to him with an alcohol swatch before swiftly sticking him with the needle and administering the liquid as quickly as he can. With that done the needle is removed and a bandage put in place.]
Pancakes it is then. Regular or something a bit sweeter? Chocolate chip perhaps?
[After all, Bruce does deserve a little treat after having endured that.]
[ The perfunctory care is appreciated without comment or gratitude. They are both familiar enough with this routine of Bruce coming home with scrapes and bruises that it doesn't need any grandstanding. He fastens himself back up, sore now in more places than when he started. ] Chocolate chip.
[ He keeps the eagerness out of his voice, but the comfort of something warm and sweet helps soften the prickly edges he's trying to keep up. ] I'll meet you downstairs.
[Bruce is able to keep the eagerness out of his voice but not the hint of warmth that creeps in when he requests chocolate chip pancakes and Alfred nods, picking up the medical tray and moving towards the door.]
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Most of the time he thinks he has a hand on all the confusing emotions that war within him but then there are times like these when he struggles with any kind of vulnerability despite knowing Alfred is the one person deserving of it. ]
Then let's get this over with.
[ He nods, mostly for himself, then takes a beat to cradle his newly bandaged ribs with a hand cupped just under where they hurt the most. Any bracing breaths will just worsen the pain so he stills the air in his chest as he goes about undoing his belt so he can push the waistband of both his pants and underwear down just enough to expose a thin strip of skin below his back. Modesty its own kind of armor he's learned to wear, even around Alfred who Bruce pointedly avoids looking at. ]
I wouldn't say no to pancakes, [ He suggests to take his mind off of the injection. ]
no subject
Pancakes it is then.
Regular or something a bit sweeter? Chocolate chip perhaps?
[After all, Bruce does deserve a little treat after having endured that.]
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[ He keeps the eagerness out of his voice, but the comfort of something warm and sweet helps soften the prickly edges he's trying to keep up. ] I'll meet you downstairs.
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Very well, Master Bruce.