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[Hands her a glass.]

[Examines the glass.] Everything looks okay to me.

...I was giving it to you to drink, but if you want to be my royal poison tester, that's fine too.

...I pass on that, but thank you for such a delightful opportunity! [Sips.]

You are very welcome. How're things?

Quite well, thank you. Every time I least expect it, something good happens. Maybe I should expect good things even less. [Sheepish grin.] How are things going with you?

Maybe you should expect nothing at all? Just roll with the punches. Thing's are... good. Except for the normal bat-type-situations. Damian's manageable. Tim's home, if a bit broody.

Mm, yeah. But I keep thinking that with all the crappy stuff that happens to me something good has to happen. Sort of helps me get up in the morning. [She looks pleased, however, when he mentions how 'well' (or a reasonable facsimile of 'well') he's doing.] That's good to hear. As for Tim, just give him time. You know how it is with those little whippersnappers.

Please, you're making me feel old. [He drinks a little more instead of of pinching the bridge of his nose. When did he become the patriarch?] And come on, Zee, there can't be that much bad.

If you're old, I'm ancient. A mummy. So let's not go there. [Really, don't go there. It's not a safe place.] Um... well, it's gotten better. It used to be a lot worse. Excellent house guests tend to make up for the bad stuff.

Eh. You still look great if it's any consolation. Is this excellent house guest taking my place as your new apprentice? Because aside from the fishnets, it still sounds like a good idea.

A little, but that's the kind of thing you'd sat to your mom, too. Maybe he was already my apprentice. And maybe I have more than one house guest~

Again, with the mom thing. I'm okay with going to have a bat-picnic in the park if you want. If it's John? I'm not sure I need to know what you're up to; you know where my loyalities lay.

Hey, I'm just saying that it isn't all that comforting! ...picnic, huh? Well--[IGNORES THAT]--are you suggesting you... what's that you kids call it these days? "Ship" me with someone?

Yeah, picnic. Heck we could probably play the most epic game of frisbee ever. I'm going to put you on a boat with who? I'm just saying that I'm always going to be in Bruce's corner. Even though I know he's emotionally retarded, and I'm sorry.

Frisbee? How extreme! I'm not sure what's up with him -- or that or... whatever. [And she was trying to forget about that so she wouldn't be a wreck all over again, too!] Try to remember that being in someone's corner about something -- or someone -- that they just don't want... it doesn't help, usually.

Did I mention the emotional retardation?

I tried, Dick. I really tried. I'm pushy as it is. I don't want to force myself to be with someone when they don't want me. I just want to see him happy, you know?

With that being said, I'm waiting. And he knows that, wherever he is.

[He sighs and leans forward, brushing her cheek before putting a hand on her shoulder.] I know, Zee. And you know how much I love Bruce, but sometimes...

A lot of the time. He's so broken.

[And here she was totally happy about her not-dead not-boyfriend being not-not-dead. And not her not-boyfriend.] ...I know. That's why regardless of whether we're like that or not, I try -- [tried] -- to be there for him. And I always will be. Sometimes... [She just sort of hangs against him, like dead weight.] It can hurt. But I push past that. I want to be there for him and protect him as best as I can, Dick. So I try. No matter what.

[He wraps her up.] Sometimes that's all you can do, Zee.

I know, Dick. I know. [She's more responsive now.]