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"Mr. Alfred Pennyworth?" the woman in a white coat asks in the crowded clinic waiting room. Hearing his name, an elderly man in a suit rises from his chair, accompanied by a middle-aged man also dressed in a suit. "You can follow me, Mr. Pennyworth. I'm Dr. Snow—may I ask who's accompanying you?" She smiles warmly, waiting in the corridor for both men to follow her."Name’s Bruce Wayne, you can call me Bruce," the tall, built man answers with a wink and smile while Alfred adjusts his tuxedo while rolling his eyes discretly. "Great!" Dr. Snow replies, disregarding Wayne’s wink and turning back and walking toward her examination room, opening the door for them. Alfred enters with a polite "excuse me," followed by Bruce, both carefully surveying every corner of the office.In the corner of the office, there's a large black box with a window, wide enough for someone to sit inside, connected to a table holding a computer and control panel. By the door, there's another control panel with headphones and an odd-looking device resembling a pen. Both men wait for the doctor to take her seat before sitting across from her. The elderly man wears an expression suggesting he shouldn’t be here, while the other—who could be his son—looks apprehensive."First, let me ask, what brings you here, Mr. Pennyworth?" The doctor asks politely, looking at the elderly man with a smile while holding a pen and notepad. "Well, my—Bruce and my...grandsons," there's a hint of hesitation in his tone, "seem to think I'm not hearing as well as I should be, Dr. Snow, which is unfounded, honestly. My hearing is perfectly fine." Alfred answers seriously while Bruce rolls his eyes and interjects. "Alfred watches his culinary videos at the loudest volume possible, and he's always asking us to repeat ourselves when we're talking! If that's normal, then I have superhuman hearing!""Gentlemen, there's no need to argue," she laughs. "You're in the right place. I've spoken with Dr. Tompkins, who referred me. As you know, I'm an audiologist, and today we're going to evaluate your hearing, Mr. Pennyworth. Have you ever had a hearing test done?""Well, no. I never thought it was necessary," he answers, folding his hands in his lap."That's perfectly fine. I'll explain how today's evaluation will go," Dr. Snow says while retrieving an otoscope from her drawer. "First, I will take a look at your ears to examine your tympanic membranes. Then we will have a chat so I can learn more about you and your hearing habits. Is that okay? And your son—is that what he is to you?—can stay if you'd like." She rises from her chair and moves to Alfred's side. "Yes, that's fine," he answers, turning his head so she can examine him."You have a little bit of earwax, but that's perfectly normal. It seems you use cotton swabs to clean your ears, which you shouldn't do, by the way. After showering, just drying the outer ear with a towel is enough. When you use cotton swabs, they push the earwax toward your eardrum, which can worsen your hearing." Dr. Snow explains after examining both his ears. She sits on the edge of the table while speaking. She rises and goes to clean her hands. "See, Mr. Bruce?" The man asks pointedly at the younger man, who's absorbed in his phone. "If you want to stay, be present.""Yes, Alfred. I'm sorry, Doctor. It's just my youngest son is in trouble again. I'm sending a text so one of the boys can get him from school," Bruce answers, looking like he wants to disappear in his chair as he puts his phone in his pocket. "It's okay, thank you," she says, returning to her chair. "So, your family says that you're not hearing well. When did this begin?""Hmm..." He seems to consider. "When Master Jason was little, it was always hard to understand his mumblings. That was some years ago...""How many?" she asks, making notes."More than 15 years..." he says, holding his head high. "I see," Dr. Snow answers. "Do you think your hearing is the same in both ears?" Alfred nods. "Do you have any strange ringing in your ears? It could be like TV static, or a high-pitched sound—" she demonstrates, "—either loud or quiet?""Yes, but I've always had that since my young days," he answers thoughtfully. "It's like the sound cigars make.""That's called tinnitus. It can be caused by different things," Dr. Snow explains while taking notes. "Mr. Pennyworth, you mentioned your young days—do you have the same job now as before?""I do not. Now I am the butler of the Wayne residence, have been for some years now," he answers proudly, looking at Bruce, who smiles. "I cannot say my previous job, but I was in the war, yes.""That's fine. But let me ask you a few more questions. Did you fire guns?" He nods. "Which side?""I don't understand, ma'am." Alfred looks at her quizzically. "Which side did you hold the gun, sir?" she clarifies."Ah, right side. Why?" She takes note of that. "The repetitive noise can damage your hearing, especially on the side where the shots are fired. Now, do you have or have you had any of these illnesses?" As she reads the list, he nods while looking at her. Bruce is sneakily eyeing her annotations. "Do loud noises make you uncomfortable? For example, doors slamming or cars honking?" He assents."Okay then! Let's begin!" She claps, getting up. "Here's how it's going to happen: this strange device is called an immittanciometer, which checks for infections in your middle ear and tympanic membrane." She pushes a chair by the machine, gesturing for Alfred to sit. "I'll put this headphone in one ear, and this pen-like device in the other. You'll hear some sounds, but you don't need to respond—the machine and I will do all the work. Understand?""Perfectly. No moving," he answers, smoothing his suit, starting to look nervous."Now, since you mentioned that loud noises bother you, I should warn you that this part involves loud sounds. It's not supposed to hurt—we'll leave that to Dr. Thompkins," she laughs at her own joke, "but if it does, just raise your hand and we'll take a break. Ready?"As Dr. Snow conducts the exam, Alfred glances at Bruce, who remains seated but is now turning toward him. The older man frowns as he catches Bruce lifting his phone, poised to take a picture. Bruce snaps the photo, a faint grin forming as he types out a caption: “Starting the exams. Dr. Snow’s already making Alfred doubt his theory of ‘perfectly fine’ hearing.”With a chuckle, he sends the picture to the family group chat.
House Chat
Richard: Hahaha! Everything’s gonna go well, Alfie. You’ll see—we’re right!Jason: Already got the brat. Will head over to pick Alfred up if needed, Bruce.Tim: Is she nice???Damian: Father, ensure that she treats Pennyworth with the respect he deserves.
Liked by Bruce
Bruce slides his phone back into his pocket just as Dr. Snow wraps up her notes and gestures with a thumbs-up, silently asking if everything is okay. Alfred, ever composed, nods and stands.“Great!” Dr. Snow says, her tone warm. “Now, Mr. Pennyworth, I’ll ask you to step into my office for the next part of the exam. Would you like some water or need a moment to check your messages before we continue?”“We can proceed,” Alfred says, bowing his head slightly to step into the cabin.Dr. Snow smiles, her tone professional yet friendly. “Here’s what’s going to happen now: I’ll place these headphones on your ears, and you’ll hear a series of sounds. They’ll gradually get quieter, and I need you to raise your hand each time you hear one. Does that sound alright?”Alfred nods.“Great. So, if you hear a pii from the left side—” she mimics the sound “—what will you do?”“Raise my left hand,” Alfred replies, adjusting the headphones into position.“Perfect!” she says, beaming. “I’ll be just outside. I can hear everything you say thanks to the microphone in the cabin, so if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call, alright?”“Understood,” Alfred replies with a nod.With that, Dr. Snow gently closes the door, sealing Alfred in the soundproof cabin.The silence inside is immediate, the cabin’s design working flawlessly to block out external noise. From his seat, Alfred can see Dr. Snow outside, taking her place at the control station. She begins speaking to Bruce, who sits casually behind her, watching the proceedings with interest.By the reflection in the cabin window, Dr. Snow notices Bruce quietly preparing to take another picture. A subtle smile forms on her lips, but she quickly refocuses on her task.“Mr. Pennyworth, can you hear me?” she asks, her voice calm and clear through the microphone.“Perfectly, Dr. Snow,” Alfred responds, his tone steady.“Good. Here’s the sound you’ll need to raise your hand to.” She plays the first tone, signaling the start of the test.The procedure begins, with the sounds steadily decreasing in volume. At first, Alfred seems confident, his responses precise and timely. But as the tones grow fainter, his frustration becomes increasingly evident. His brows furrow, and his movements turn hesitant.Through the faint reflection in the cabin window, Dr. Snow catches an unexpected sight: Bruce, sitting casually behind her, subtly signaling Alfred when to raise his hand. A small smirk plays on her face, but she says nothing for now, letting the scene unfold.“Did you hear that, Mr. Pennyworth?” Dr. Snow asks, her tone even as she plays a faint tone.“Yes, I did,” Alfred replies confidently, sitting upright in his chair.Dr. Snow tilts her head slightly, her expression curious. “I don’t think you did, sir,” she counters gently, resting her chin on her hand. “You see, that tone was at -10dB. Based on your earlier responses, you shouldn’t have been able to hear it.”She pauses, her gaze shifting deliberately toward Bruce, who straightens just a little in his chair.“Now,” she continues with a knowing smile, “why might that be?”Alfred, ever composed, flushes slightly but says nothing. His lips press into a thin line, his only tell.Bruce, on the other hand, meets her eyes with an unbothered smirk, clearly caught but unapologetic. Dr. Snow lets the silence linger for a moment, her gaze flitting between Alfred and Bruce. Then, with a light chuckle, she leans back in her chair.“Well, Mr. Pennyworth, I’ll consider that tone an anomaly for now. Let’s continue the test without any... outside assistance, shall we?” she says, her voice tinged with amusement.Alfred clears his throat, regaining his composure. “Of course, Dr. Snow. My apologies for the misunderstanding.”Bruce raises his hands defensively, a grin tugging at his lips.Dr. Snow arches a brow at him but says nothing, turning her attention back to the controls. She resumes the test, carefully watching Alfred’s responses. This time, there are no cues from Bruce, and the test proceeds smoothly—though Alfred’s slight embarrassment lingers.A few minutes later, Dr. Snow removes her headphones and steps back into the cabin.“That concludes this portion of the exam,” Dr. Snow announces, her tone professional yet approachable. She sets down the first set of headphones and picks up another device. “Now, we’ll move on to the next part of the test.”Alfred nods, his hands in his lap, ever the picture of patience.“This time,” she explains, holding up a sleek, curved headphone, “I’ll be using this device. It’s a bone conductor—designed to vibrate and transmit sound through the bones behind your ear.” She gestures to the spot just above Alfred’s jawline. “You’ll hear the tones just like before, but instead of relying on your eardrum, the sound travels directly to your inner ear. Is that alright?”“Quite fascinating,” Alfred replies, inspecting the device briefly before sitting back down. “Please, proceed.”Dr. Snow carefully positions the bone conductor behind Alfred’s ear, adjusting it for a snug fit. “Let me know if it feels uncomfortable at any point.”“It’s perfectly fine,” Alfred assures her, his posture still impeccable.Dr. Snow smiles. “Alright then. The process is the same—raise your hand when you hear a tone. I’ll begin now.”As she activates the test, Bruce leans slightly forward in his chair, watching with interest. Through the window reflection, Dr. Snow catches his expression—a mix of curiosity and amusement.The first tones begin to play, soft and steady. Alfred raises his hand without hesitation. The test continues, but as the tones grow quieter, his responses become more deliberate.Meanwhile, Bruce, clearly unable to sit idle, snaps another quick photo of Alfred through the cabin window and smirks as he types on his phone.
House Chat
Bruce: Bone conductor. Fancy stuff for the old man. He looks like he’s in a sci-fi movie.Tim: Pics or it didn’t happen.Jason: Can’t wait to see this one.Damian: Father, stop embarrassing Pennyworth.Dr. Snow, hearing the faint buzz of a phone through the glass, suppresses a chuckle but doesn’t comment. Instead, she focuses on the test, noting Alfred’s responses with precision. When the tones stop, she presses the microphone button again.“Excellent work, Mr. Pennyworth,” Dr. Snow says with a warm smile. “Now, we’ll move on.” She picks up the devices and steps into the cabin, her demeanor calm and precise as she begins adjusting them.“This time,” she explains while fitting the headphones, “you’ll have the regular headphones on one ear and the bone conductor on the other. We’re adding a small challenge.”Alfred raises a brow, intrigued but composed. “A challenge, you say? Do elaborate.”Dr. Snow smiles slightly as she finishes the adjustments. “In one ear, you’ll hear a background noise—like rainfall. Your task is to ignore it and continue raising your hand for the tones, just like before. Does that sound alright?”“Understood,” Alfred replies, settling into the chair. “Proceed as planned, Dr. Snow.”She steps back, double-checking the settings on her control panel. Satisfied, she puts on her own headphones and presses the microphone button. “Alright, Mr. Pennyworth, we’ll begin now. Remember—ignore the rain and raise your hand for the tone.”Moments later, the faint tones begin in his left. Alfred concentrates, his expression tightening slightly as he focuses on the task.Outside the cabin, Bruce leans back, watching the process through the window. He taps his chin, clearly impressed but still amused. Dr. Snow, catching his reflection again, suppresses a knowing smile but keeps her attention on the control panel. Alfred raises his hand promptly for the first few tones, but as the rain grows louder, his responses become slower and more deliberate. The masking clearly working.Bruce, unable to resist, snaps another picture of Alfred through the glass and starts typing on his phone.
House Chat
Bruce: Rain test. He looks like he’s meditating in a thunderstorm.Richard: LMAO. He’s in the zone.Tim: Bet Alfred aces it. Rain doesn’t bother a man who’s lived with all of you.Damian: Father, stop distracting Pennyworth. He deserves focus and respect.Dr. Snow presses the microphone again, her tone encouraging. “You’re doing great, Mr. Pennyworth. Just a little longer.”Alfred nods faintly, maintaining his composure despite the increasingly challenging test. Outside, Bruce glances at Dr. Snow and raises his hands in mock surrender when he catches her pointed glance.The test concludes a few minutes later, and Dr. Snow enters the cabin once more, removing the devices with care. “Excellent work, Mr. Pennyworth. That was a tricky one, but you handled it admirably.”Alfred offers her a small nod. “Thank you, Doctor. Though I must admit, it was more challenging than expected.”Bruce chimes in from the door, his grin broad. “Not bad for someone who claims he’s ‘perfectly fine,’ right, Alfred?”Alfred sighs, his gaze steady. “Master Wayne, if you spent even half as much effort on your own health as you do on mine, I dare say you’d rival me in longevity.”“Now, we’ll do a speech test—with the rain,” Dr. Snow announces as she adjusts the microphone on her headset. Her tone is calm and reassuring, balancing professionalism with a touch of encouragement.Alfred sits back in the chair, his posture perfectly upright despite the subtle strain of the earlier tests. “Very well, Dr. Snow. I trust you’ll keep it suitably challenging.”A faint smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “I’ll do my best.” She adjusts a few dials on the control panel, ensuring everything is in order. “I’ll say small words, and your task is to repeat them as you hear them. The rain will continue in one ear, and the speech will gradually get quieter—just like the tones. Let’s begin.”She presses a button, and the soothing patter of rain resumes in Alfred’s right ear. A moment later, her voice comes through the headphones in his left ear, clear but softened by the rain.The test progresses smoothly at first, Alfred’s responses steady and accurate. But as the words grow fainter and the rain persists, he leans forward slightly, his brow furrowing in concentration. From his spot outside the cabin, Bruce watches intently, his arms crossed but his expression amused. He pulls out his phone, ready to type another comment in the family group chat, but Dr. Snow catches the movement from the corner of her eye and gives him a pointed look through the glass.Bruce sighs dramatically and pockets his phone, earning a small nod of approval from her.Inside the cabin, Dr. Snow’s voice becomes almost a whisper, testing Alfred’s ability to discern speech amid the persistent sound.“Clock,” Alfred replies, his tone clipped, the faintest hint of frustration creeping in.Dr. Snow smiles and presses the microphone button. “Close, but not quite, Mr. Pennyworth. Let’s keep going—you’re doing well.”Alfred takes a deep breath, regaining his composure. “Understood. Let us proceed.”Bruce, ever the observer, leans back in his chair with a smirk. “Bet he’s thinking about how to blame me for that one,” he mutters to himself.The test continues until Alfred reaches his limit with the faintest whispers of speech against the backdrop of rain. Dr. Snow finally ends the session and steps back into the cabin, her expression pleased.“You can come out, Mr. Pennyworth,” Dr. Snow says, stepping forward to open the cabin door. She extends a hand, helping Alfred step down with the kind of grace that belies his years.“Thank you, Doctor,” Alfred replies, adjusting his jacket. Despite his composed demeanor, there’s a faint flicker of relief in his eyes now that the tests are over.Dr. Snow returns to her desk, flipping through her notes as she arranges them into a tidy stack. She glances at Alfred with a warm yet professional smile, waiting for both men to sit.“I’ll prepare the final report for you,” she begins, her tone measured. “But for now, I can confidently say you’re managing very well, Mr. Pennyworth. That said...” She looks up, her expression growing slightly more serious. “There are some things we should discuss.”Alfred nods, folding his hands behind his back. “I suspected as much. Please, Doctor, do proceed.”Bruce sits casually, his arms crossed but his focus now fully on the conversation.Dr. Snow taps the edge of her notes lightly against the desk. “You have what we call moderate descending neurosensorial hearing loss. Now, what does that mean?” She presents the graph for both men. “This type of hearing loss primarily affects higher frequencies—those sharper, more acute sounds like certain speech consonants or high-pitched noises. It’s called ‘descending’ because it starts stronger in the lower frequencies and gradually diminishes in the higher ones.”Alfred nods thoughtfully, his demeanor poised. “I see. And what might be the cause of such a condition?”Dr. Snow smiles faintly, appreciating his curiosity. “It’s often age-related, compounded by prolonged exposure to noise. Given your years of service and, I imagine, some less-than-quiet environments, it’s not entirely surprising. It’s not uncommon in someone of your experience and lifestyle.”Alfred glances at Bruce but remains focused on Dr. Snow. “And what are the implications of such a diagnosis?”Dr. Snow meets his gaze steadily. “I strongly recommend getting hearing aids, Mr. Pennyworth,” she says, her tone gentle but firm. “They’re designed to amplify the higher frequencies where you're experiencing the most loss. This would help you in situations where background noise interferes or when speech becomes harder to discern.”Alfred doesn’t immediately respond, his expression thoughtful. “And would this be something I’d need to wear all the time?”Dr. Snow meets his gaze, her tone more firm but still compassionate. “Yes. You've been privy to hearing those frequencies for quite some time, as you say. The hearing loss is gradual, and while it’s manageable now, prolonged exposure to the absence of those frequencies could lead to a decrease in your overall auditory processing ability. Essentially, you’d be retraining your brain to process sound correctly again.”Alfred absorbs the explanation, his brow furrowing slightly. “So, the sooner I adapt to this, the better?”Dr. Snow nods. “Precisely. The sooner you start using hearing aids, the better your brain will adjust, and the less effort it will take to process certain sounds. It’ll feel more natural over time.” She smiles and glances at her computer screen, tapping a few keys. “I do have some hearing aids I can configure for your hearing loss, if you'd like to have a trial run for seven days, no charge. It’ll give you a chance to experience them in your daily life before making any commitments.”Alfred considers this for a moment, his hands clasped behind his back. “A trial period, you say? That would certainly be a practical approach, Doctor. I’m not one for making decisions hastily.”Dr. Snow nods in agreement. “That’s exactly the reason i’m offering the trial. It’s important to make sure the device suits your needs and comfort before proceeding with a permanent solution. You’d have a full week to evaluate how they work in various situations”Bruce, who’s been quietly listening, chimes in. “And if he doesn’t adjust?”Dr. Snow reassures him with a smile. “No pressure. If they’re not right for you, we can easily return them. It’s just to give you a clearer sense of what they could do for you. We’ll be with you every step of the way. I can also indicate other hearing devices in other clinics, if you’d like other trial runs”Alfred takes a deep breath, then nods. “Very well, Doctor. A trial run seems reasonable. I’ll accept your offer and see how it works.”Dr. Snow smiles and quickly begins preparing the devices. “I’ll get everything set up for you. You’ll be able to test them with both the regular settings and some customizations that will match your specific hearing profile.”As Dr. Snow gets to work, Alfred checks his phone, his fingers briefly swiping across the screen. A soft sigh escapes him as he sees a flurry of messages from the family group chat. He’s about to respond when he notices when Dr. Snow finishes configuring the hearing aids and looks up. “Alright, Mr. Pennyworth, everything’s ok—ready to give them a try?”“Yes, let’s do this.”“Alright, the blue one is for your left ear and the red one is for your right. I’ll do one side, and you’ll do the other, okay?” Dr. Snow explains, handing him the devices. “First, place them right here, and then gently place them inside the ear canal. Can you see in this mirror?” She holds up a small handheld mirror to him.Alfred looks into the mirror, carefully positioning the device in his hands. “Perfect. Now give them a try,” Dr. Snow encourages, watching as Alfred adjusts the hearing aids with precision.“I believe I’m hearing the air conditioner making noise, and the birds outside” he says, his voice steady, though he’s still feeling the weight of the change.Bruce, still watching closely, smiles softly, his expression more thoughtful than usual. “I’m glad you’re hearing that, Alfred.”Alfred glances at Bruce, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “Thank you, Master Wayne. It’s... a lot to take in, but I’ll manage.”Dr. Snow nods in agreement, adjusting the settings on the computer. “It’s completely normal to notice background sounds more clearly at first. The brain just needs time to process everything again.”“The devices are working well. How does it feel? Any discomfort?”Alfred takes a deep breath, his hand resting on the side of his head where the hearing aids sit. “It’s... manageable. A bit strange, but I’ll get used to it.”Bruce puts his hand in Alfreds shoulder, as in silent support.Dr. Snow gives them both a moment, before adjusting the hearing aids one final time. “We’ll check in again in a few days, Mr. Pennyworth. If anything feels off, just let me know.”“I will follow up with you soon, Doctor.”Dr. Snow smiles warmly. “That’s all I ask, Mr. Pennyworth. And remember, I’ll be here to support you through every step of the process. And you,” she glances at Bruce, “are officially banned from taking photos in here.”Bruce smirks, unrepentant. “Worth it.”
House Chat
Bruce: Just got in the car with Alfred, no need for the pick up, Jason. He’s adjusting to the hearing aids, but it’s going to take a bit of time. He’s doing well though, staying calm as usual. She gave us the ones with batteries, instead of the rechargeable ones so he can decide what he wants.Richard: That’s good. He’s tough, but don’t let him stress over it. Sometimes it’s better to take things slow.Jason: If he needs something, just let me know. I’m ready to come through.Tim: How’s he feeling? I know it must be a lot to handle in one day.Bruce: He’s handling it well, but you can tell it’s a bit much. I think he just needs some quiet time to get used to everything.Damian: Father, ensure that the hearing aids are properly adjusted. I do not want Pennyworth to be uncomfortable.Bruce: Don’t worry, Damian. Dr. Snow gave him a good setup. He’s already wearing them, so now it’s about getting used to the sensation.Alfred: I’m fine, Master Wayne. This drive to the park is all I need right now. A bit of quiet will help me focus on the new sounds, and being able to hear the birds sing again.Richard: Take it easy, Alfred. No need to rush anything. We’re all here if you need anything.Jason: Yeah, let me know if I need to swing by and grab some batteries for you, Alfred.Bruce: Thanks, everyone. He’s in good hands here. Just wanted to check in with you all while we’re on the way back.Tim: You’ve got this, Alfred.Damian: Indeed. Rest, Pennyworth. You’ve earned it.Alfred: I appreciate all of you. Thank you.