That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDmK8WN2N8
Hadn’t done anything unusual.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkHzeRTs6Y
Unless…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuTlu5HyzB
No way.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zuHwGts5v
Could he remember yesterday?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXSLPjgK9W
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZpUh1Mf1
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—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIHESFhIVf
Oh no.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF9m9N689N
Don’t tell me.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkwNUXXE6e
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVGpVu5RTY
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30GfK0umvo
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kTh0NO6yg
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx1Tk3hfkx
Totally lost.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeylBP8wm9
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyY1noVc6l
Do something normal.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbHFydYGVH
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk15R4ZiePT
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6QNGpviMp
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTS91c0O0Y
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dQ6jbJuqL
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjM1J94kyz
Should’ve charged admission.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1c1VRsune
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tYCM963ia
Just placed the soup on the table.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHCKLr6pxU
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBBoQouqeN
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc4FbPdlfn
He moved to the table.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGxvdQxmy8
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgB8arb3ot
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnoe7SR37f
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ888MIyTJ1x
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpgHvGbOSX
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWpePfRoBa
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmoFBXdudn
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyXWU5gynm
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXpfKvEqa8
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLyLKkDCM5
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuBNzWOHwc
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kBzov9U0R
Used the clearest logic she could.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpYufRnFoE
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D9Jp3rGDb
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—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeldqgmr2BA
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45Sx3xhl3d
how do I reach him?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXvXjK6lso
You know,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMlmV3KIKs
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhseS2z1xNY
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7ErxNJvbu
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ001LRiccRI
I tried.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hAVnBtTDY
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOcjaPl3ZU
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTS6AGdORR
Back then, I didn’t know anything.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FoggXuDAM
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4OavqRe2Y
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4VtdivhGF
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQW1R4y24o
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXaMkkDayL
Not blinking.
Regular?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7eZY8S1R9
You expect me to believe that?71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGlrBI1QIF
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.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbMgV1KjkG
I am him.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo728J68t4
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK3KxgafOr
I’m the informant you’re talking about—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatr4qjug8H
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…71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vTVenxRAQ
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g4UqHdUVC
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht7Gj5P7TU
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNpnYp8uBw
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2lkzjINmO
You used me as an anchor point—71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvW3y4hMch
sent the clueless version of me to test her,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeybps5MP7Q
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOBDqc7ehm
