That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnXoGPOOj6
Hadn’t done anything unusual.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzmmvbBi6f
Unless…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2PRfNGOF7
No way.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtydSqrgJXi
Could he remember yesterday?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULDrvJ8Mnr
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA952SSZzf
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—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NA7i8UN7e
Oh no.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3B9sgR7aa
Don’t tell me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCctEeJn5pH
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAMk9akjr9
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZYHFWqOAn
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0S0lK2Cq8
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGLJ9rc95x
Totally lost.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIelE50dm5H
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MnWahX4xW
Do something normal.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlzGqLUn7J
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GbY6sTEeO
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Y6Q8nAhE
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFZ9Ub1fuy
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbcW2iilEk
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vVXb09YTo
Should’ve charged admission.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukzhkAMqpG
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8H6J9JGyB
Just placed the soup on the table.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBpQJruzYW
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi50lZhZTo
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfduq2AKVpj
He moved to the table.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWuq10UAdy
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqKtYhRBVU
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFTWhLgnQG
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf24GI352B
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZyDgQiu10
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyggrsTdQd8
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizWgTfv22V
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4Sul2ZN7Q
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCWmMIxKEg
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRWG3dA9k0
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ761cwCdSiH
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslGvLVraiY
Used the clearest logic she could.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJkJCrZ3st
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CYoDU0sqf
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—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5PIfZOGMd
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyZee0cUS7
how do I reach him?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamGReKkg6g
You know,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHAevQiPWh
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVCDgkFns7
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk04WJ9OQIx
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2Xf4fwJ8O
I tried.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Sm6hcg55T
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxG9xyyOxN
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ouuJ9Hfp
Back then, I didn’t know anything.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAaCVkkAph
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvW6N6Q6Xf
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmZROXxIZS
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pi6HFc94p
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyTo6nzv7k
Not blinking.
Regular?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNcE7kKRBo
You expect me to believe that?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1tn2RZXHc
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.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjI3OTnZmp
I am him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtbpnCijVV
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7riwjV8AuL
I’m the informant you’re talking about—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOByTqY4S4P
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…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mxRuYoJXT
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyiCpFZWW2
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY64wYX6Sl9
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPngh3ddhw
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWGJt6VvFs
You used me as an anchor point—83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCxPHwcpuk
sent the clueless version of me to test her,83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY29Fug2UgW
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5ORmsmhjD
