Re: Dinah & Oliver & Bruce (the bastard)
Bruce raised an eyebrow at Oliver. He could see what he was doing, despite his protestations; he was baiting him. Zatanna was... well, Bruce could never quite figure out what exactly Zatanna was, but Oliver knew she was a soft spot in his armor; something exploitable.
This was the very reason Bruce hating having weaknesses. Or at least, letting people know he had them. He preferred to remain mysterious. Still, as in any good fencing match, instead of retreating, he stepped closer.
He smiled Bruce's lazy, lop-sided grin. "You know, after my parents were murdered," he looked at Dinah. "You're a Gotham girl, so I'm sure you know the story - Anyway, after that, I didn't speak for almost a full year. It wasn't until my ninth birthday party that the daughter of the magician they'd hired found me, off where I was hiding, and she got me to talk."
His smile changed a little at the memory. It was a genuine memory - not a false one he was telling for the effect, but one of his own, personal ones. "She pulled a coin from my ear, which wasn't all that impressive, but when I looked to, well, basically roll my eyes - she made the coin vanish. Then she blew into her palm and suddenly we were surrounded by bubbles.
"Zatanna not only got my first words - she got my first smile." Bruce's expression was soft, but it turned into something far less open as he looked at Oliver. "She is very important to me; and she has done very well for herself, yes. I just saw her in Chicago last month, actually."