Fanfic: Just Pretend (1/1)
Dec. 9th, 2010 11:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
abbyromanaTitle: Just Pretend (1/1)
Author:abbyromana
Character(s): young!Dick Grayson, young!Barbara Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth
Pairing(s): pre-Dick/Barbara, suggestion of Bruce/Selina
Rating: PG
Genre: general, ship, fluff
Warning(s): none
Disclaimer(s): All characters and things of Batman belong to DC comics, and Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the creators of Batman. Also references to Batman: TAS belong to Bruce Timm. I'm simply borrowing them for creative output.
Author note(s): This story has not been beta'd, so please leave feedback.
Summary: Even the games of children games can touch on reality.
Alfred was putting away the last of the dishes and glasses from lunch when he first heard the argument.
“Why can’t I be Wonder Woman?” The sharp tones of young Barbara Gordon were quite clear to Alfred’s ear. She wasn’t happy and was clearly making that known to the young Richard.
Quickly, Richard replied, “Because Wonder Woman has black hair, and you have red, so you can’t!”
Alfred left the last glass and plate next to the sink. Instead, walking towards the French doors of the kitchen, he peered out at the pair of children seated on the patio steps. Captain Gordon had dropped off Barbara for a play date with Richard and several other kids some time ago. The last of the children had been picked up by their respective parents about an hour ago, but Captain Gordon had called saying he’d be late. Thus, Barbara and Richard decided to continue their games in the backyard.
“So what?” she asked angrily, drawing Alfred back to their argument.
“So, it wouldn’t be realistic,” he said.
Barbara scoffed, glaring at Dick. “Well, then you can’t be Superman, because you can’t fly.”
Richard shot to his feet, crossing his arms over his chest in the way Alfred had often seen Bruce do whenever Alfred had put his footdown on a matter either Batman related or not. “That’s not the same!”
“Yes, it is! You said realistic!” Barbara pointed out very loudly, shooting up to her feet. She was a good three inches taller than Dick and towered over him. Still, the glower on his face did not diminish. Alfred knew there were few things that could intimidate the young master. He was particularly stubborn when there was something he wanted.
Not wanting to see this argument turn into something more physical, Alfred stepped outside and toward the children. “Pardon me, young Miss and Sir, is there a problem?”
Both of them turn their angry looks in Alfred direction. Almost at the same time, they both declared, “He/She is being unfair! He/She won’t let me…” They both stopped abruptly as they heard the other one speak. As the two sets of furious eyes turned on one another, Alfred coughed, trying to draw them away again.
“I do believe you two are missing the point of ‘playing pretend,'” Alfred explained. “It doesn’t matter whether something appears realistic; it’s all about imagining and seeing beyond the surface. While Miss Barbara does have red hair, one can imagine it is black to fit with the heroine Wonder Woman as well as one can pretend that Master Richard can fly like Superman, even if he can not really. I do believe that is the purpose. To pretend to be anyone or anything you can imagine. After all, imagination is limitless.”
Barbara and Richard looked at one another for a few moments, exchanging what could only be described at the silent words of children. After a moment of widening and narrowing of eyes back and forth with a few raised eyebrows mixed in, Richard turned back to Alfred.
“Okay, Alfred,” Richard said, managing a small smile. “We agree that sounds doable. We’ll try it.”
Alfred smiled at the two. “Good to hear, young sir,” he said. “Now, if there's nothing else, I need to finish putting away lunch’s dishes and get ready for dinner for Master Bruce should arrive." As he stepped back into the kitchen, he could hear them talking about what to do.
“If you still want to be Superman, Dick, that’s okay with me,” Barbara said.
“Nah,” Dick said with a dismissive tone. “I’m tired of always being Superman. It’s kind of boring to always be invincible and super strong. I’d much rather be Batman.” The joy to his tone made Alfred’s heart feel very happy. He was sure Bruce would be happy too to hear that from his young ward's lips. After all, he had been trying stop Dick from obsessing about the ‘Man of Steel’ so much. The boy had collected already several items from nightlight to posts involving the superhero, much to Bruce’s dismay. “It would be way more fun to save the world with all those super cool bat gadgets, and I bet it's more fun to think up ingenious ways to fight evil instead of just using your fists."
Alfred chuckled to himself as he picked up the last glass. He was sure Bruce would agree with the young master. Walking over to the glasses' cupboard, he continued to listen to the children’s exchange.
“That’s good, because I don’t want to be Wonder Woman anymore either,” Barbara with joyful tone.
“Oh?” Dick asked with a surprised tone. Just like Dick, Alfred was surprised to hear that. After all, her demand to be the fearless and beautiful heroine started their fight. Curious to hear why, he listened more closely as he opened the cupboard door.
“Yeah!” Barbara replied. “I think you’re right. It’s boring to play the same thing over and over. Besides, if you’re Batman, it would be far more interesting to be someone from Gotham, someone close to Batman.
“Who?” Dick asked with an inquisitive tone that also reflected Alfred’s curiosity. The butler was so caught up in the children’s discussion that he had paused in the middle of putting the glass away.
“I’d much rather be Catwoman!” said Barbara before she made an eerily feline sound: something between a mew and a long, drawn out purr. Then in a low, all too suggestive tone for a child her age, she said. “Come chase me, Batman.”
The sound of a glass smashing against the kitchen floor muffled the two children’s playful laughter as it faded away from the patio. Alfred let out a sigh, mumbling: “From the mouths of babes… to the not-so-innocent games of bats and cats.” Another heavy sigh fell from his lips as he looked down at shards of glass on the floor. “If only they knew. If only.”
Author:
abbyromana Character(s): young!Dick Grayson, young!Barbara Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth
Pairing(s): pre-Dick/Barbara, suggestion of Bruce/Selina
Rating: PG
Genre: general, ship, fluff
Warning(s): none
Disclaimer(s): All characters and things of Batman belong to DC comics, and Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the creators of Batman. Also references to Batman: TAS belong to Bruce Timm. I'm simply borrowing them for creative output.
Author note(s): This story has not been beta'd, so please leave feedback.
Summary: Even the games of children games can touch on reality.
Alfred was putting away the last of the dishes and glasses from lunch when he first heard the argument.
“Why can’t I be Wonder Woman?” The sharp tones of young Barbara Gordon were quite clear to Alfred’s ear. She wasn’t happy and was clearly making that known to the young Richard.
Quickly, Richard replied, “Because Wonder Woman has black hair, and you have red, so you can’t!”
Alfred left the last glass and plate next to the sink. Instead, walking towards the French doors of the kitchen, he peered out at the pair of children seated on the patio steps. Captain Gordon had dropped off Barbara for a play date with Richard and several other kids some time ago. The last of the children had been picked up by their respective parents about an hour ago, but Captain Gordon had called saying he’d be late. Thus, Barbara and Richard decided to continue their games in the backyard.
“So what?” she asked angrily, drawing Alfred back to their argument.
“So, it wouldn’t be realistic,” he said.
Barbara scoffed, glaring at Dick. “Well, then you can’t be Superman, because you can’t fly.”
Richard shot to his feet, crossing his arms over his chest in the way Alfred had often seen Bruce do whenever Alfred had put his footdown on a matter either Batman related or not. “That’s not the same!”
“Yes, it is! You said realistic!” Barbara pointed out very loudly, shooting up to her feet. She was a good three inches taller than Dick and towered over him. Still, the glower on his face did not diminish. Alfred knew there were few things that could intimidate the young master. He was particularly stubborn when there was something he wanted.
Not wanting to see this argument turn into something more physical, Alfred stepped outside and toward the children. “Pardon me, young Miss and Sir, is there a problem?”
Both of them turn their angry looks in Alfred direction. Almost at the same time, they both declared, “He/She is being unfair! He/She won’t let me…” They both stopped abruptly as they heard the other one speak. As the two sets of furious eyes turned on one another, Alfred coughed, trying to draw them away again.
“I do believe you two are missing the point of ‘playing pretend,'” Alfred explained. “It doesn’t matter whether something appears realistic; it’s all about imagining and seeing beyond the surface. While Miss Barbara does have red hair, one can imagine it is black to fit with the heroine Wonder Woman as well as one can pretend that Master Richard can fly like Superman, even if he can not really. I do believe that is the purpose. To pretend to be anyone or anything you can imagine. After all, imagination is limitless.”
Barbara and Richard looked at one another for a few moments, exchanging what could only be described at the silent words of children. After a moment of widening and narrowing of eyes back and forth with a few raised eyebrows mixed in, Richard turned back to Alfred.
“Okay, Alfred,” Richard said, managing a small smile. “We agree that sounds doable. We’ll try it.”
Alfred smiled at the two. “Good to hear, young sir,” he said. “Now, if there's nothing else, I need to finish putting away lunch’s dishes and get ready for dinner for Master Bruce should arrive." As he stepped back into the kitchen, he could hear them talking about what to do.
“If you still want to be Superman, Dick, that’s okay with me,” Barbara said.
“Nah,” Dick said with a dismissive tone. “I’m tired of always being Superman. It’s kind of boring to always be invincible and super strong. I’d much rather be Batman.” The joy to his tone made Alfred’s heart feel very happy. He was sure Bruce would be happy too to hear that from his young ward's lips. After all, he had been trying stop Dick from obsessing about the ‘Man of Steel’ so much. The boy had collected already several items from nightlight to posts involving the superhero, much to Bruce’s dismay. “It would be way more fun to save the world with all those super cool bat gadgets, and I bet it's more fun to think up ingenious ways to fight evil instead of just using your fists."
Alfred chuckled to himself as he picked up the last glass. He was sure Bruce would agree with the young master. Walking over to the glasses' cupboard, he continued to listen to the children’s exchange.
“That’s good, because I don’t want to be Wonder Woman anymore either,” Barbara with joyful tone.
“Oh?” Dick asked with a surprised tone. Just like Dick, Alfred was surprised to hear that. After all, her demand to be the fearless and beautiful heroine started their fight. Curious to hear why, he listened more closely as he opened the cupboard door.
“Yeah!” Barbara replied. “I think you’re right. It’s boring to play the same thing over and over. Besides, if you’re Batman, it would be far more interesting to be someone from Gotham, someone close to Batman.
“Who?” Dick asked with an inquisitive tone that also reflected Alfred’s curiosity. The butler was so caught up in the children’s discussion that he had paused in the middle of putting the glass away.
“I’d much rather be Catwoman!” said Barbara before she made an eerily feline sound: something between a mew and a long, drawn out purr. Then in a low, all too suggestive tone for a child her age, she said. “Come chase me, Batman.”
The sound of a glass smashing against the kitchen floor muffled the two children’s playful laughter as it faded away from the patio. Alfred let out a sigh, mumbling: “From the mouths of babes… to the not-so-innocent games of bats and cats.” Another heavy sigh fell from his lips as he looked down at shards of glass on the floor. “If only they knew. If only.”
