That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.80Please respect copyright.PENANAF3w1KqmjGF
Hadn’t done anything unusual.80Please respect copyright.PENANAS4pZQPBXy9
Unless…80Please respect copyright.PENANAZoamnkuQmN
No way.80Please respect copyright.PENANAOb6GWXulei
Could he remember yesterday?80Please respect copyright.PENANAFXWP7TJ2DR
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.80Please respect copyright.PENANAa2LHRG2yLo
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—80Please respect copyright.PENANApunVxTyMMR
Oh no.80Please respect copyright.PENANA9NBntljnAm
Don’t tell me.80Please respect copyright.PENANArAVfGjm2rv
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.80Please respect copyright.PENANARzBo4U6NY4
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.80Please respect copyright.PENANAvcNUvAikPx
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.80Please respect copyright.PENANA4sErWbROMC
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAwjq9E2OnBu
Totally lost.80Please respect copyright.PENANAot1TF15E5P
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAVNQpMFC1ka
Do something normal.80Please respect copyright.PENANAjm3NzPkLBT
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAgmc4rM0AyZ
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
80Please respect copyright.PENANADck07LLGmk
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.80Please respect copyright.PENANA25dwJK4jE5
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.80Please respect copyright.PENANA0B7BBWIkMJ
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.80Please respect copyright.PENANAyQYv7EMFuA
Should’ve charged admission.80Please respect copyright.PENANAgqxEXMI0Nf
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAKoKGkeBW9l
Just placed the soup on the table.80Please respect copyright.PENANAJdJzQpjczk
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.80Please respect copyright.PENANACuVDMR9jCJ
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.80Please respect copyright.PENANAQmlaroImeS
He moved to the table.80Please respect copyright.PENANAiCYenD4nHd
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAMIjzovIZrL
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.80Please respect copyright.PENANAt5KIhE7Ir9
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANA0lhrH8gyjs
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.80Please respect copyright.PENANA0y1M8lL5rF
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.80Please respect copyright.PENANA6ypYb6CrBr
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.80Please respect copyright.PENANAv28uOv8WEV
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.80Please respect copyright.PENANA6oTnrYUFpD
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.80Please respect copyright.PENANATLiTxrh60k
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.80Please respect copyright.PENANAsDjntIHZVK
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANA4CgjgMr3X0
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAqfD0t50pXS
Used the clearest logic she could.80Please respect copyright.PENANAHoRaUC8uHV
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,80Please respect copyright.PENANAjd9vIH1KpY
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—80Please respect copyright.PENANATUpVIrF3nC
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,80Please respect copyright.PENANAEWtINIqjoA
how do I reach him?80Please respect copyright.PENANADvTlxx8tRn
You know,80Please respect copyright.PENANAm0sufPDxkg
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.80Please respect copyright.PENANANxhxhTumSl
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
80Please respect copyright.PENANA37m0A7DoHg
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.80Please respect copyright.PENANABGAdqEsuwG
I tried.80Please respect copyright.PENANAxLUZe0h7Y6
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—80Please respect copyright.PENANApxmOjW7nvb
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.80Please respect copyright.PENANAaO5PayPx6z
Back then, I didn’t know anything.80Please respect copyright.PENANAH8JYfHifVB
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.80Please respect copyright.PENANAo9SKRm48wC
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…80Please respect copyright.PENANA9dok3gJjoR
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?80Please respect copyright.PENANAxN59qUDFBA
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.80Please respect copyright.PENANAHM1QhqErlg
Not blinking.
Regular?80Please respect copyright.PENANAEJWLCmFe1K
You expect me to believe that?80Please respect copyright.PENANAoLgKs3mr2C
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.80Please respect copyright.PENANAuXVJ738uLB
I am him.80Please respect copyright.PENANAfOsS5Lrxxi
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.80Please respect copyright.PENANA0ee0Xy4Jnv
I’m the informant you’re talking about—80Please respect copyright.PENANA1himc1hgWR
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…80Please respect copyright.PENANA5gGtXa9TkV
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.80Please respect copyright.PENANAZe6BUrbvNC
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.80Please respect copyright.PENANAWQst20GswY
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.80Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7zXU9Nych
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.80Please respect copyright.PENANACr5YEjeNA5
You used me as an anchor point—80Please respect copyright.PENANAURdEZ1Hbo9
sent the clueless version of me to test her,80Please respect copyright.PENANAUl1ZNMfTrt
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
80Please respect copyright.PENANALQy5xYEMyV