That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.81Please respect copyright.PENANA4aCTJxUaqf
Hadn’t done anything unusual.81Please respect copyright.PENANAVMeJTIjjZg
Unless…81Please respect copyright.PENANAZhII2DXgrP
No way.81Please respect copyright.PENANAlgELG6dzkd
Could he remember yesterday?81Please respect copyright.PENANAEINilhp9CB
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.81Please respect copyright.PENANAAZpK31bmFG
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—81Please respect copyright.PENANAXEjcbtS1k1
Oh no.81Please respect copyright.PENANAt98jy92ZFR
Don’t tell me.81Please respect copyright.PENANApqyG44TOUC
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.81Please respect copyright.PENANAqA9ZqLKHoW
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.81Please respect copyright.PENANAL1p9ml76Ks
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.81Please respect copyright.PENANA3xli4L1BLQ
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAhS7rDRpJzl
Totally lost.81Please respect copyright.PENANAiYX3HI3Lhi
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAk8X597Uc60
Do something normal.81Please respect copyright.PENANAuhXkKMv0UX
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAszJ6gaEky6
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
81Please respect copyright.PENANAvd9gRFh6YP
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.81Please respect copyright.PENANAdLXv9UUlV2
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.81Please respect copyright.PENANABGqbb5xm8n
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.81Please respect copyright.PENANAj4Xsl52aMq
Should’ve charged admission.81Please respect copyright.PENANAr4y7UptM0j
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANA40mNAztj8i
Just placed the soup on the table.81Please respect copyright.PENANAs4TTFvTlPF
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.81Please respect copyright.PENANAFiXUhpDtb4
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.81Please respect copyright.PENANA8tQtAdwtqo
He moved to the table.81Please respect copyright.PENANAchBm7MmRRP
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAsD9q310rhp
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.81Please respect copyright.PENANAYKQlCVwybk
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAc86QBsIkyw
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.81Please respect copyright.PENANAjaqNsL7YtU
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.81Please respect copyright.PENANAIaKXTFRih5
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.81Please respect copyright.PENANAzeUPrFlFQO
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.81Please respect copyright.PENANA4OurL0475H
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.81Please respect copyright.PENANA77ZzOct24h
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.81Please respect copyright.PENANAEcqSLF8c82
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANADR5o9INo6Z
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANArhShwV2aLv
Used the clearest logic she could.81Please respect copyright.PENANAcxwMpwWf6v
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,81Please respect copyright.PENANAtUD9EiX9qx
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—81Please respect copyright.PENANACgL9FglN2S
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,81Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mk8giu0N4
how do I reach him?81Please respect copyright.PENANAic4nYKdhx1
You know,81Please respect copyright.PENANAx108aNce4o
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.81Please respect copyright.PENANActNEtas31j
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
81Please respect copyright.PENANAgKXzceQGYR
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.81Please respect copyright.PENANAhBWuszTwxF
I tried.81Please respect copyright.PENANAZT9iZBfMgs
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—81Please respect copyright.PENANA5unXQ1nqbi
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.81Please respect copyright.PENANAZK2FVx8PIK
Back then, I didn’t know anything.81Please respect copyright.PENANAs8H2hYbyHq
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.81Please respect copyright.PENANALN4BsuZ9Vz
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…81Please respect copyright.PENANADsNCFrODgb
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?81Please respect copyright.PENANAUFp1vEUE41
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.81Please respect copyright.PENANAMi5YsedvjD
Not blinking.
Regular?81Please respect copyright.PENANAs6KkLVMaxE
You expect me to believe that?81Please respect copyright.PENANAfncMekD1Kr
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.81Please respect copyright.PENANAujfUS210QG
I am him.81Please respect copyright.PENANAmvabkOwfOg
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.81Please respect copyright.PENANACEB7p3eZQ5
I’m the informant you’re talking about—81Please respect copyright.PENANAS2ywstGImT
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…81Please respect copyright.PENANAt0IzWWTMjA
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.81Please respect copyright.PENANAZgeQoB4nmy
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.81Please respect copyright.PENANAZOGsE6ixfn
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.81Please respect copyright.PENANARfFLlGBtZ2
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.81Please respect copyright.PENANAMntrcJmO1w
You used me as an anchor point—81Please respect copyright.PENANAfe7fKRH1EY
sent the clueless version of me to test her,81Please respect copyright.PENANAW6JUOuOTw5
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
81Please respect copyright.PENANADadj4EqyYo