It was a Tuesday afternoon when Jason Todd proved he was a terrible liar, especially to those important to him.
Harry was taking his afternoon tea break with Alfred when his kid walked in wearing a red hoodie and ripped black pants, his face free and filled with annoyance that only a sibling could create.
“Must say, Harry, your walls have been filling up with a mutual associate. How has he been?” Alfred inquired, taking a sip of his tea.
“Still dramatic. He and the elder one accepted my offer of adoption, so I officially have my kids,” Harry smirked taking his own sip.
“Indeed. Master Bruce royally made a mess of that. And I don’t know what he was thinking taking in the new one. Not that the child is bad but, really, he has chased two away,” Alfred sniffed.
“Harry!” Jason yelled stomping over before pausing when he saw who he was talking to.
“Hey Kiddo. Everything alright?” Harry asked, containing his laughter at his kid’s poleaxed expression.
“Um, yeah. Well, it was Dickie and you know, I should leave,” Jason’s ears flamed red.
“Harry, who is this young man?” Alfred asked, hiding his glee at seeing Jason.
“Kiddo, you should introduce yourself. It’s only polite,” Harry reminded him, signaling for tea for his kid.
Glaring at Harry, Jason smiled awkwardly and said, “I’m…Peter."
“Pleased to meet you, Peter. I do hope I will see you more often,” Alfred returned smiling gently at Jason.
Stammering Jason just agreed, “Sure sounds good.”
Harry put Jason out of his misery by pulling a chair next to him and asking, “What did Dickie do?”
“Dickie said you loved him more because he got a peanut butter sandwich with bananas and I got a ham sandwich,” Jason complained sitting but thanking Candy when she brought over his tea.
Frowning Harry asked “Do you not want the ham sandwich? I thought that’s what you liked. It’s what you always asked for?”
“I wouldn’t mind a peanut butter sandwich sometimes but not with bananas,” Jason mumbled shifting in his seat and taking a sip.
“I'm sorry Peter, I will change up your sandwiches. Do you still like Nutella and marshmallows?” Harry frowned. He hadn’t wanted to create a rivalry between his kids.
“Wait, you don’t have to. It’s fine,” Jason backtracked ignoring Alfred’s amusement at this current conversation.
“Kiddo, I love you and want you to be happy. Having a different sandwich especially since you have grown up is okay,” Harry soothed rubbing Jason’s back.
“Okay. Dickie was just being annoying, but it got to me,” Jason admitted gulping the rest of the tea much to the amusement and exasperation of the two Brits.
“Why don’t you chill here with Alfred and I for a bit,” Harry suggested.
“Yeah okay,” Jason agreed and collapsed back into the chair and leaned against his dad.
“How was the gala this past weekend?” Harry asked combing his fingers through his kid’s hair.
“While the proceeds will be beneficial, I wish he would not cause such a stir with having two ladies on his arms, or cause such mess pretending to be drunk,” Alfred lamented.
“Why does he continue to be outlandish? People can’t expect him to not eventually mature. He had kids,” Harry asked his brows raised upwards.
“He merely states, ‘Alfred my cover is important for my continued success’ then stalks away,” Alfred rolled his eyes and shrewdly suggested, “I don’t know why he couldn’t be like that Lord Peverell fellow.”
Harry felt Jason tense, but he squeezed his neck lightly in reassurance.
“What? Being a recluse and no one really knowing what looks like?” Harry snorted his lips lifting in a sardonic smile.
“Maybe Gotham in general doesn’t know what he looks like, but some do, I believe” Alfred conceded yet pointedly, “however, there are people in Europe that do, and they all love and respect him. Just as the people here do even without even seeing his picture in the paper.”
He studied Alfred for a moment before asking, “Which village?”
“Not a village but while I was serving my country and queen I had quite the run-in with some terrible people. You saved my life that day,” Alfred explained taking a sip of his tea.
“How did he do that?” Jason asked intrigued, wanting to know more.
“These men had ambushed me and already caused some injuries. I was barely holding on when this man appeared in front of me and told me it would be okay. I’m unsure of what happened next as I had lost an alarming amount of blood, but I remember a chastising female yelling, really Lord Peverell again?” Alfred chuckled, “It never left my memory. “
“You know back there, I swear nearly everyone tries to chastise me,” Harry said rubbing his chin.
“I wonder why,” Alfred quipped and smiled at Jason’s snickering.
“No clue,” Harry smirked, happy his kid was feeling better.
“By the by, your youthful features shall continue to remain the best worst kept British secret,” Alfred promised, solemnly holding up his hand.
Laughing Harry asked, “Alright how long ago was it?”
“Nearly 30 years ago,” Alfred said with a straight face when Jason looked at his dad.
“Good thing I stopped aging in my middle-aged look” Harry winked, “otherwise no one would believe I have kids.”
Recovering, Jason snorted, “If middle age means you look late twenties or early thirties.”
“Told you tea was good for you all those years ago,” Harry ribbed, “Besides that’s old news Jason. Remember?
“Yeah, yeah,” Jason waved him off, “still shocking when someone else can confirm it.”
“So, Peter what have you been up to?” Alfred asked.
“Nothing much. Just bumming off my dad,” Jason tried to nonchalantly reply, fidgeting now that the attention was back on him.
“Really? Your father here seems to have a different perspective,” Alfred feigned confusion sipping his tea.
Groaning, Jason covered his face and muttered “Dad, don’t be embarrassing.”
“Well, I’m just so proud of you. Can’t help it.” Harry smiled and pinched his cheek.
Jason smiled when he lowered his hand, “Yeah well Dad exaggerates. He has since I first met him. Don’t believe everything he says.”
“Nothing wrong for a father to demonstrate his love for his child. Some can learn from him,” Alfred sniffed.
“Oh no, what did Wayne do now?” Harry asked sympathetically.
“He is still ‘mentoring’ the third child but the poor dear thinks his behavior is normal and a step up really from his own parents,” Alfred’s distaste was palpable, they have had similar conversations about this third child, however, Alfred still hasn’t mention who it was exactly.
“You would think he should leave the child-rearing to others,” Harry commented swirling his tea.
“Another kid?” Jason scoffed “How long was the Jason kid dead before the new one? He waited a year between the first two.”
“No one could replace Master Jason,” Alfred said seriously staring into Jason’s eyes, “He was loved and grieved.”
“Maybe to someone people,” Jason sneered sinking low into his seat refusing to meet Alfred’s eyes.
“Master Wayne does not handle emotions well, especially after the death of his parents. I have encouraged him to seek counseling, but what do I know?” Alfred rolled his eyes, “However, it doesn’t change that he cared greatly for Master Jason. But I can admit that Master Jason should have stayed where he was with his father from the beginning in this very café. However, as I am reminded by Master Wayne, I am just a butler and cannot understand anything.”
“That piece of shit! Alfie, besides Dad, you were the next best person in my life,” Jason raged forgetting he was supposed to be Peter.
“You have always warmed my old heart, my dear lad,” Alfred smiled gently and reached out to grasp Jason’s hand.
It took a moment before Jason realized and accused, “You knew.”
“Lad, very few people burst into this café like they own it and call for Harry like you do,” Alfred chuckled his eyes twinkling with laughter.
Jason groaned and covered his face yet again as his ears heated.
“I have also known you have been back for a while. I have not and will not inform Master Wayne of this development. However, he suspected but cannot confirm since someone is thwarting his stalking tendencies,” Alfred lifts a brow at Harry.
“I protect my kids,” Harry grinned and shrugged, ruffling Jason’s hair.
“My own suspicions were confirmed when the Red Hood special appeared on the menu here,” Alfred revealed.
“DAD!” Jason shouted exasperated.
“I'm proud of my kids and want to support them in everything they do,” Harry explained meeting Jason’s stare head-on.
“I suddenly understand why people get exasperated with you,” Jason moaned dropping his head to the table.
“There, there Peter Potter,” Alfred taunted and patted his head.