#dad-au

»Oswald.« His voice held the same distrust and perhaps repulsion it usually did when they would meet. Oswald, on the other hand, didn't quite seem to be bothered by his tone of voice. He had probably grown used to it by now. »What are you doing here?«

At least that seemed to prompt an adequate response from the mobster as he puffed his chest like the peacock he was as he slowly stepped a little closer, each of his steps underlined sharply by the tick-tick of the metal tip of his cane on the fake-marble tiles. »Just enjoying an afternoon of the fine arts. The nutcracker has always been one of my favorite ballets that I enjoyed often with my mother growing up.« What he didn't say was that he used to watch it on TV because surely his mother didn't have the money to buy tickets for the ballet for herself and Oswald as Oswald had been a child. He didn't know much about Oswald's childhood and he didn't want to either, but at least that he could figure. He was a detective, after all.

»I didn't know that the rendition of the Nutcracker at an elementary school could be considered fine arts.«

Oswald pursed his lips as if he had been personally insulted by Jim’s words. he was curious to see how much longer Oswald could keep up this charade before he would inevitably unveil his evil masterplan to Jim which probably involved Oswald setting up a bomb in this school and taking everyone hostage. »Well, perhaps you are blind then to the minute details of the play we just enjoyed.«

»We?«

»Well, I figured that you are not here to arrest some of the children for their rather … well, let’s say lackluster performance.« The glance Oswald shot over Jim’s shoulder directly at Mrs taylor who was still standing behind Jim and watching the scene unfold before her, did not escape him. Neither did the sharp gasp coming from the woman that told him that not only had she noticed Oswalds glance at her as well but had been able to understand the underlying meaning. Who would have thought? »And since you are not here to instill the fear of the law in those poor little future delinquents, you probably watched the play. Even though that makes me quite curious as to why the great Detective james Gordon would come to watch a elementary school’s play of the nutcracker.«

»I could ask you the same.«

»And I would have to disappoint you when I tell you that it's a personal matter.«