[It's true. He is tired. He's tired and he's hurting. But it's not nearly what he needs. Hannibal dodges so easily and he puts in even more effort. Once upon a time, he'd told Bruce not to let the fight pick him. Right now, that advice is far away. Each swing is avoided but he won't give up. He's determined and he needs this agression and hurt worked out of him before it festers and rots.
He growls again at the question. He should focus on where Hannibal is, not what he asks. It's habitual as breathing to answer though, even when he's also trying to punch the man very hard in the sternum.]
It isn't enough! [To him, devoting the rest of his life to supporting Bruce wouldn't be enough. When it comes to the most important thing that's ever been asked of him, not even dying is enough.] And I shouldn't want him here!
[The punch Hannibal allows has quite a bit of force behind it still. Alfred is known for his stamina in a fight, but it's not as strong as what laid out the blond. He's exhausting himself, not just physically, but emotionally.
He hits the ground hard. His arm aches from where it's been twisted. For a moment he remains in the dirt.] I shouldn't want him here in this place. I should be over the moon that he's back where he belongs! [But he isn't and that's the problem. He hates himself because he'd rather have Bruce here in this sex crazed city, suffering as a Submissive than to know he's gone and back with his Alfred. And he mourns because there's a deep fear that those who disappear don't actually go home at all. He can't outlive another Wayne. He can't.]
I should have been there more for him. I'm supposed to protect him,to support him, so he can walk his path unimpeded. [And when the day comes when Bruce no longer needed him, he'd still be there. He'd stand guard, loyal til the end.]
I should have been stronger for him. [It's with that that he gains his feel again. There's a bit of a sway before he's trying to close in again. The blows a little sharper, slightly more precise, but only because he's just so tired now. He can no longer keep up the bombastic flurry of punches and Hannibal hasn't backed him into the sort of corner where fight becomes kill. That and it had been Bruce's one demand for him here. No more killing.]
no subject
He growls again at the question. He should focus on where Hannibal is, not what he asks. It's habitual as breathing to answer though, even when he's also trying to punch the man very hard in the sternum.]
It isn't enough! [To him, devoting the rest of his life to supporting Bruce wouldn't be enough. When it comes to the most important thing that's ever been asked of him, not even dying is enough.] And I shouldn't want him here!
[The punch Hannibal allows has quite a bit of force behind it still. Alfred is known for his stamina in a fight, but it's not as strong as what laid out the blond. He's exhausting himself, not just physically, but emotionally.
He hits the ground hard. His arm aches from where it's been twisted. For a moment he remains in the dirt.] I shouldn't want him here in this place. I should be over the moon that he's back where he belongs! [But he isn't and that's the problem. He hates himself because he'd rather have Bruce here in this sex crazed city, suffering as a Submissive than to know he's gone and back with his Alfred. And he mourns because there's a deep fear that those who disappear don't actually go home at all. He can't outlive another Wayne. He can't.]
I should have been there more for him. I'm supposed to protect him,to support him, so he can walk his path unimpeded. [And when the day comes when Bruce no longer needed him, he'd still be there. He'd stand guard, loyal til the end.]
I should have been stronger for him. [It's with that that he gains his feel again. There's a bit of a sway before he's trying to close in again. The blows a little sharper, slightly more precise, but only because he's just so tired now. He can no longer keep up the bombastic flurry of punches and Hannibal hasn't backed him into the sort of corner where fight becomes kill. That and it had been Bruce's one demand for him here. No more killing.]