[He catches the look. It's hard to miss when he's really not giving it his all in the ring. But more than that, he catches the sound of Hannibal calling out to his young opponent. The reaction is what the men is hoping for. The larger Dom does yell that he's not Bruce.
It's not like Alfed doesn't know that. Doesn't know what he's doing. And for a moment, there's a bit of anger there. There's a flash of heated ire directed Hannibal's way. It's resentment. Anger that he's not even allowed a moment of self-pity. He can't be selfish, not even once, to take what he believes he deserves. It's self-destruction without use of chemicals. A temporary high of adrenaline and pain because the person that should be chastising him isn't there anymore.
He'll find no pennance here and the pain is only a temporary distraction from the underlying grief.
The anger is brief and the resentment becomes resignation.
But at least he's not playing with the boy anymore. He makes it quick, dropping the blond with a single uppercut, large kid but glass jaw. He ignores the crowd to lean down and carefully arrange the kid, like he's tucking him in, so the medics have an easier time with him, before he's limping his way to Hannibal.]
no subject
It's not like Alfed doesn't know that. Doesn't know what he's doing. And for a moment, there's a bit of anger there. There's a flash of heated ire directed Hannibal's way. It's resentment. Anger that he's not even allowed a moment of self-pity. He can't be selfish, not even once, to take what he believes he deserves. It's self-destruction without use of chemicals. A temporary high of adrenaline and pain because the person that should be chastising him isn't there anymore.
He'll find no pennance here and the pain is only a temporary distraction from the underlying grief.
The anger is brief and the resentment becomes resignation.
But at least he's not playing with the boy anymore. He makes it quick, dropping the blond with a single uppercut, large kid but glass jaw. He ignores the crowd to lean down and carefully arrange the kid, like he's tucking him in, so the medics have an easier time with him, before he's limping his way to Hannibal.]
Why?
[A single word, loaded with possibilities.]