That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlrTh6By6M
Hadn’t done anything unusual.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYRYIMtoIf
Unless…87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFzrb9lV0B
No way.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH73OREltU
Could he remember yesterday?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3h9dVq2hK
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kbKgAXKex
If he really remembers… am I supposed to cry now or something?
Nightwing jumped in.
Still handsome, still rude.
“Uh, ma’am, sorry to bother you this late… I just wanted to check if you needed… help or something? Like, stress or…”
Claire's eyes went flat.
Help? Stress? That tone—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoFT2rjVQt
Oh no.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY14ASd9FTF
Don’t tell me.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbdFGLGyt2
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZjIhUXssz
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cmTUV60hD
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfVdH4Yc4f
Trying to act casual. Failing.
Claire said coolly,
“Robin’s still on Queen Street. Go pick him up, I’ve got dinner ready.”
Nightwing froze.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yZhVeQ8x8
Totally lost.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lRj60gLS9
Perfect.
She shoved him back onto the balcony.
“Just assume I’m psychic,” she said, turning away to head downstairs to the kitchen.
I need to reset.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauOCcNVYCS
Do something normal.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq38puj3bH
Remind myself I’m still human.
When she returned upstairs with three bowls of soup, both of them were already there.
Damn. They should consider driving Uber.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwpSWjfvFN
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX9uoXvdxW
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbamRCa3rr
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKjBMvyYO5
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJCGm7kX8O
Should’ve charged admission.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5QNZELE9o
At this rate, my life’s a live show and the audience keeps walking in on cue.
Although tonight’s audience looked a little more interesting than usual.
She didn’t say anything.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec1ZzJnHDL
Just placed the soup on the table.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZV7WT7wUx
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8LjOgZbmU
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SwgmrIII5
He moved to the table.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YjgJD9e23
Nightwing, still stiff, edged forward too.
Hunger breaks down defenses. That’s one thing I remember clearly.
Claire gave them a look.
Don’t thank me. You’ll forget by morning anyway.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPFpbI8FBm
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡairmT4oJpi
No one remembers if I’m kind. Or if I screw up.
“Go ahead, it’s still hot,” she said flatly, like she was mentioning the weather.
Nightwing opened his mouth like he wanted to say something.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkgdMsB1ml
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51o82m67Ix
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMk4IglOAw
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENk5y6Pz63
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUhgsFYDza
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCbNFE6U3e
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqewiFwTolO
But honestly, being a weird psychic lady might be easier.
Once they were done eating, Claire struck first:
“Don’t call Batman. I just talked to him yesterday.”
Two pairs of blue eyes jerked toward her.
Now that’s the reaction I’m looking for.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw24w9Xcjj
Like I just recited their home address.
Claire raised her hands like she was surrendering.
“I know this sounds crazy but…”
And she began explaining.
She kept the language simple.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzn7xHpa97
Used the clearest logic she could.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWBXBH6WDP
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rof0kmJql
It’s like banging my brain against a wall.
When she finished, the two were only half-convinced.
“So… this is your tenth loop?” Nightwing asked.
“Yep,” Claire replied.
She leaned against the table, her voice turning practical.
“Now tell me—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeV2Wxaj3S
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAt1clJmMX
how do I reach him?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqxUQnKK63
You know,87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fg0v6VvRQ
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllgGNuU7iu
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HlpQo0Dct
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfknKVwLg5k
I tried.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto2s2e7ZAV
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb4SORHirD
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ681ro75ujb
Back then, I didn’t know anything.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVhS1GHhUg
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qhMnWz95y
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioR2Qs1PDj
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlACrHHd7sj
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSydRCDLTAS
Not blinking.
Regular?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAW71DfwnV
You expect me to believe that?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOViaH8nZrl
Batman’s so-called ‘test point’ is just some guy with a badge and a nice face?
“I’m not sure if you two actually know each other,” she said slowly, “but he really does feel like someone you people placed in the department.”
Nightwing glanced down at his spoon. Didn’t respond.
This is so unbelievably messed up.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws8JoV63Q1
I am him.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarqrsqllju
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJJoQfaaRV
I’m the informant you’re talking about—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXTZVudgVC
and the guy you’re talking to right now.
His chest tightened, a strange pressure building behind his ribs.
Claire went on,
“If he’s really not one of yours…87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiDHiRkNBE
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdg6oy6jm6
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAEDnMKeF1
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvpTEur5Vb
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGTwHNhdcn
You used me as an anchor point—87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKORvdGSQb
sent the clueless version of me to test her,87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gFaLvZaT6
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjl5NfweDm
