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