Breakfast progressed amidst trivial comments and measured silences. When the plates were almost empty and the cups half-empty, Bruce rested his elbows on the table and looked calmly at Richard.
"Do you have plans for the rest of the day?"
Dick put his fork aside, fiddling with his napkin.
"Yeah. I want to stop by the company. During my last stay in Jump City, I noticed something odd at the branch there. Nothing serious, but... I want to check things out for myself."
Bruce's brow furrowed immediately.
"And why didn't you tell me before? Lucius could take care of that in a heartbeat."
Dick bit his lower lip uncomfortably before answering.
"Because if I tell Lucius, he'll turn it into a board matter. And maybe it's nothing. I'd rather check it out myself first, so I don't alarm everyone for no reason."
Bruce watched him silently for a few seconds. Then, in a lower voice, he asked,
"Does that mean you're planning on returning to Jump City soon?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, looking down at his plate.
"I'll be in Gotham for a few more days. Then... yes, I'll return to Jump City. But don't worry, I'll be back in a week."
The tension was sharp enough to cut with a knife. Alfred remained rigid, not moving a muscle. Bruce, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, as if he'd just lost interest.
"Do what you want," he murmured, folding the newspaper again. Then, without looking at it, he added,
"Sebastian."
The man in question straightened slightly, attentive.
"Mr. Wayne."
"You'll accompany Richard. He doesn't have a driver's license yet, and Alfred will be busy with other matters. Consider this part of your... training."
Sebastian bowed his head slightly.
"Of course, Mr. Wayne. It would be an honor."
Sebastian helped Alfred clear the table with the same discipline he had used when he served them. Every piece of cutlery polished, every plate stacked, every napkin folded with precision. Meanwhile, Richard had retired to get ready; he had just woken up when he came down for breakfast, and he still wasn't quite presentable to go out.
When Sebastian finished in the kitchen, he went to the entrance and waited standing by the front door. He stood there silently, his white gloves immaculate, his posture straight.
A few minutes later, Dick appeared coming down the stairs, already dressed in clothes more appropriate for going out. The young man smiled at the sight and raised a hand in greeting.
"Ready, Sebastian?"
The trainee butler nodded serenely. "Of course, young master."
They walked outside together. Sebastian, out of inertia, thought they were heading toward the Phantom that usually occupied the mansion's rotunda. However, Dick walked confidently toward the side garage.
Inside, the smell of oil and old leather permeated the air. Various cars were lined up: classics, sports cars, and modern models. Dick grabbed a set of keys from a hook on the wall and, without warning, tossed them to Sebastian.
"Today it's your turn to drive this."
Sebastian caught the keys in mid-air and looked down. The logo gleamed in the light: BMW 750iL, model E38 .
For a split second, Sebastian felt a slight disappointment. He'd been hoping to drive the Phantom, the emblem of Wayne elegance. But he kept his face neutral. A good butler didn't show favoritism.
With a fluid gesture, he opened the back door for Dick.
"Come in, young master."
Dick slumped into the back seat with a casual air. "Thanks."
Sebastian closed the door neatly and, walking around the car, got behind the wheel. He inserted the key, the engine roared softly, and the vehicle left the garage with the understated elegance of German engineering.
The BMW moved smoothly through the damp streets of Gotham. The sun barely peeked through the gray clouds, and the tall buildings cast heavy shadows across the road.
In the back seat, Dick settled in, leaning an elbow on the window as he followed the cityscape with his gaze. For a long time, he said nothing, letting the purr of the engine fill the silence.
Finally, without taking his eyes off the glass, he broke the stillness.
"So, Sebastian... how come you've never shown up here before? I mean, Alfred never mentioned anything about family."
Sebastian kept his eyes fixed on the road.
"I guess because I wasn't part of his life. Nor was he part of mine."
Dick raised an eyebrow and leaned forward a little.
"So what now? You decided to come meet him after all these years?"
"Something like that, young master" he replied in a neutral tone.
Dick watched him in the rearview mirror, noting the seriousness of his expression. He decided to soften the question.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm just curious. Alfred has always been here, always steadfast. It feels strange to think he has... how do I put it? A son, an heir."
Sebastian let out a small exhalation, almost a dry laugh.
"Believe me, it feels just as strange to be in this car, listening to you say it, Young Master Richard."
The comment made Dick smile. "Okay, fair enough. You're right."
There was a brief silence. Dick looked back at the city, but curiosity won out.
"So what was your life like before you came here? Did you grow up in Gotham?"
"No. Not even close," Sebastian replied, maneuvering calmly. "I lived with my mother. All the time. And then I served in the military. That was my life."
Dick's eyes brightened a little more with interest.
"The military, huh? That explains the upright posture, like Alfred. Were you a pilot, too?"
Sebastian glanced at him briefly in the rearview mirror before getting back on the road.
"Air Force. Not something I like to brag about, though."
Dick raised his hands, smiling.
"Relax, I'm not trying to interrogate you. It's just... it's not every day that someone new shows up at the manor. Especially not someone Alfred seems to accept, however reluctantly."
Sebastian pressed his lips into a half-smile.
"Let's just say I'm still on probation. And I highly doubt Alfred would have accepted me as easily as you think."
"Yeah, I understand that," Dick replied, leaning back in his seat. "Believe me, I know how demanding it can be."
------
Just as Dick was about to continue speaking, the car stopped at a traffic light. The BMW purred quietly along, the red light bathing the interior in a soft glow.
Sebastian frowned, checking his rearview mirror. After a few seconds, he spoke with restrained calm.
"Excuse me, Young Master Richard... but I believe a vehicle has been following us for a few blocks."
Dick blinked and opened his eyes slightly, feigning surprise.
"What? Really? A vehicle following us?"
The performance, however, was clumsy. His voice sounded too forced, and his gestures didn't match. Sebastian picked up on this immediately.
Please, he thought sarcastically. Not even in the worst B-movie would someone act that badly.
Dick leaned forward a little, trying to sound more convincing.
"So... what do we do, Sebastian?"
The trainee butler pursed his lips, concentrating on the mirrors, assessing the traffic and the possible escape route. The black van was keeping its distance too precisely. There was no mistaking it.
"The first thing, young master," he replied dryly, "is to assume that this is not a coincidence."
Sebastian adjusted his posture in the seat, his white gloves firmly on the steering wheel. Determined to confirm his suspicions, he activated the right indicator. The amber light flashed several times, warning anyone behind him that the BMW would turn as soon as the light changed.
The light turned green.
With a calculated move, Sebastian swung the steering wheel to the right, just enough to make it look like he was going around the corner. The car's body tilted slightly... but at the last second, it smoothly straightened out and continued straight ahead.
He looked in the rearview mirror just in time to see the reaction of the vehicle following them. The black van had been completely fooled, having over-committed to the turn, and was forced to brake hard and reverse to correct its trajectory. The taillights flashed red, the tires spun on the wet asphalt, and then it abruptly changed lanes to rejoin.
Sebastian exhaled through his nose, satisfied.
"That was no coincidence."
In the backseat, Dick leaned forward, resting an arm on the backrest. He tried to sound surprised, but his tone was too light for the situation.
"So... they're following us. Confirmed."
Seriously, kid, Sebastian thought wryly, if you ever want to be an actor, don't let it be in drama.
The ex-soldier adjusted the mirrors and assessed the traffic. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, calculating.
Sebastian took advantage of the advantage his little trick had given him and hit the gas. The BMW slid precisely through Gotham's traffic, weaving between taxis and vans, never losing the composure of a professional chauffeur.
"Young Master Richard," he said without taking his eyes off the road, "did anyone else know that you would be visiting the company today?"
Dick frowned, putting a hand to his chin as if he were really thinking.
"I really... can't think of anyone."
False, Sebastian thought, clenching his jaw. He probably already has someone in mind.
Still, he didn't push it. He nodded calmly, maneuvering the car to clear a path.
"If so, this could simply be a random attack. An impromptu robbery. In that case, we'll lose them easily."
For a moment, silence filled the car.
"However..."
Dick looked up, intrigued. "But what?"
Sebastian adjusted the mirrors and steered firmly, taking a tight turn at high speed.
"However, if someone already knew about your plan this morning, then this is premeditated. And if so, they can't be the only ones. Chances are we'll encounter more ambushes along the way."
Dick nodded slowly at Sebastian's reasoning, as if processing every word. Then he leaned forward a little in the back seat.
"So... should we contact the GCPD?"
Sebastian calmly shook his head, keeping his gaze on the road.
"It wouldn't do any good. If they're trying to get the heir to Gotham's most influential family to help, they'll likely already have plans to delay or distract the police. The GCPD wouldn't get there in time."
Dick blinked, surprised by the certainty of the answer.
"Wow... I didn't really think of it that way."
Inside, Sebastian wanted to put his hand to his face.
God, stop acting! You're terrible at this.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter and, instead of replying, simply accelerated through the traffic. The silence in the car deepened, interrupted only by the roar of the engine and the tight breath of his passenger.
Just as he reached another intersection, Sebastian saw it. A truck was emerging from the right, heading straight for his path. There was no room or time to brake sharply: the speed was too high.
In a split second, he released the accelerator, slammed on the brakes, and swung the steering wheel violently to the right. The BMW skidded on the wet asphalt, its tires squealing like beasts in agony, but Sebastian maintained control with surgical precision. The car slid, grazed the edge of the lane, and with a sharp tap of the accelerator, was back on track.
Behind him, Dick gripped the seat and let out a cry of adrenaline and amazement.
"Wooow! Amazing, Sebastian!"
The trainee butler didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the rearview mirrors. Three motorcycles had just emerged from the crowd, pulling up alongside the BMW. Their engines roared, the men's helmets gleaming in the gray Gotham light.
With cold calm, Sebastian reached for the glove compartment. He opened it and pulled out a semi-automatic pistol.
Dick noticed and frowned instantly.
"Sebastian... I know we're in danger, but killing? Is it necessary—?"
The driver kept his eyes on the road, his voice as steady as steel.
"Relax, young master. I'll only use it when absolutely necessary."
Dick's frown softened slightly, though he no longer had the same playful expression he'd had before.
"All right..."