Trust

Aeo stared at him intently, and Bruce Wayne met his gaze without flinching. At last, Aeo began to seriously consider just how much of what Bruce had said was true and how much was false...

"Listen." Bruce softened his tone. "I won't hold you responsible for killing anyone this time, but you have to promise that if something like this happens again, you'll make sure the other person is safe first. Leave judgment to the courts. If we start killing people whenever we feel like it, how are we any different from those criminals?"

Perhaps he truly wanted to save this powerful alien. Batman patiently tried to reason with the child before him.

"If you can do something good, why do something bad? You're still young. Some things just aren't necessary..."

"..."

Aeo was at his wit's end with Batman. Was he seriously being treated like a child? Well, at his current age, he did give people the impression that he needed looking after... but it was still just an illusion. He'd lived nearly half a century across two lifetimes, and now he was being lectured...

"Wait." Aeo hurriedly cut him off. "Listen, Bruce. I respect your principles and your motto, and I understand your concerns, but..."

His tone turned unfriendly. "I have the freedom to make my own choices! Maybe I won't go around killing humans for no reason, but that only applies as long as they don't come looking for trouble with me!"

Bruce Wayne's expression darkened slightly. He was about to say something when Aeo, already afraid of where this was going, cut in. "Okay, okay, you win..."

Watching the "alien" raise both hands in surrender, his face full of American-style humor, Bruce couldn't help smiling.

"Bruce!"

Aeo Zod said seriously, "You can keep an eye on me, but don't think you can control me. You can't!"

Bruce fell silent in thought.

"Then it's a deal!"

Aeo smiled.

...,...

The next day, the Wayne Family had a guest: a distinguished visitor from outer space.

"Alfred, this is Aeo, Aeo Zod, a new friend of mine," Bruce introduced him to the butler. "He might be staying with us from now on, so I thought I'd let you know..."

Alfred was completely dumbfounded. "What?"

"Just think of him as homeless and me taking pity on him and adopting him," Bruce said impatiently.

A few strands of hairline-black slid down Aeo's forehead. Damn it, your whole family is homeless. You're the orphan...

"Hi, I'm Aeo Zod. Nice to meet you." Aeo forced a smile. "Uh, Al...fred."

The Old Butler smiled. "You can call me Old Alfred, dear boy..."

"..."

Was Aeo's appearance simply too deceptive, or was the Old Butler really that kindhearted? Once he'd confirmed that the boy was who he claimed to be, Old Alfred took an instant liking to the child, whose clear, bright eyes seemed as deep as the universe. (Gray eyes were generally thought to be the eyes of a god.) He believed that Thomas Wayne, the late head of the Wayne Family and Bruce Wayne's father, had watched over his son from beyond and sent him someone to confide in just when he most needed a companion. (The Old Butler had misunderstood the relationship between the two.) And so Alfred poured all his care and concern into Aeo.

"Master Aeo, would you like some pastries? This is just the right time to enjoy the charms of afternoon tea."

"Master Aeo, what do you think of this outfit? It took me ages to find one that matches your eyes. You'll look very handsome in it..."

"Master Aeo, this is where you'll be living and spending your time. Today, you can..."

"Master Aeo..."

"Master Aeo..."

By the end, even Aeo had been made so nervous by the Old Butler's warmth and affection that he was on edge at every little thing. The next time the Old Butler tried to take his measurements so a tailor could make him a suit, Aeo fled in utter embarrassment.

"Listen, Bruce Wayne," he said coldly when he reached Batman.

"What?"

"Can you get Old Alfred to stop being so enthusiastic? He's so polite it's starting to scare me..." The young man's face fell.

Bruce Wayne smiled. "All right." He stopped what he was doing and teased, "It's been a long time since a child came to visit the Wayne Family, so Alfred's a little excited. He doesn't mean any harm. Why not play along?"

Aeo rolled his eyes. "I'm not a child!"

"Who says? You look like one!"

"..."

Seeing that Bruce had no intention of doing anything about it, Aeo gave up. He glanced idly at the documents Bruce was reading and asked offhandedly, "Planning to get back to your vigilante work? Who's this?"

Bruce paused, looking at him with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he finally said, "This is the black accountant connected to the gangsters involved in the Joker incident you dealt with."

Aeo understood what was weighing on Bruce, but didn't want to call him out on it. He merely asked, "So?"

"He launders money for Gotham City's gangs, and the gangs were behind the funding for the Joker incident..."

"...What are you planning to do?" Given the understanding between them, Aeo could only ask out of concern.

Bruce seemed to have been waiting for the question. He answered at once, "Bring him in! Hand him over to the police, and uproot Gotham City's underworld!"

"...Wasn't Salvatore arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the others?" Aeo frowned.

Bruce smiled.

"So you really did know what we said at the police station that day!" He studied Aeo like a fox. "That's how you managed to find where Rachel and the others were being held before anyone else..."

Aeo fell silent.

"How did you do it? Besides super strength, being bulletproof, and flying faster than sound, what other abilities do you have, Aeo Zod?"

Aeo stayed silent for a long time. Then he spoke to Batman, who had been watching him closely. "Listen, Bruce. I'm keeping quiet for your own good. Sometimes you aren't ready to take in more knowledge or accept more unfamiliar things..."

"But we have a right to know!" Bruce's tone was stern, but not aggressive. "If you want to live among us, you have to let us understand you, get to know you! That's the only way we won't be afraid of you, won't fear you..."

"Listen, I know you have doubts, but please trust me. Trust us. We have violence, infighting, and war, but we also have love, family, and faith—beautiful things. Humanity isn't a completely hopeless species..."

"..."

.