That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.87Please respect copyright.PENANATlrTh6By6M
Hadn’t done anything unusual.87Please respect copyright.PENANAAYRYIMtoIf
Unless…87Please respect copyright.PENANAOFzrb9lV0B
No way.87Please respect copyright.PENANAMH73OREltU
Could he remember yesterday?87Please respect copyright.PENANAY3h9dVq2hK
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.87Please respect copyright.PENANA1kbKgAXKex
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—87Please respect copyright.PENANAyoFT2rjVQt
Oh no.87Please respect copyright.PENANAY14ASd9FTF
Don’t tell me.87Please respect copyright.PENANAkbdFGLGyt2
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.87Please respect copyright.PENANAjZjIhUXssz
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.87Please respect copyright.PENANA7cmTUV60hD
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.87Please respect copyright.PENANAFfVdH4Yc4f
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANA0yZhVeQ8x8
Totally lost.87Please respect copyright.PENANA7lRj60gLS9
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAauOCcNVYCS
Do something normal.87Please respect copyright.PENANASq38puj3bH
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANARwpSWjfvFN
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
87Please respect copyright.PENANAnX9uoXvdxW
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.87Please respect copyright.PENANAnbamRCa3rr
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.87Please respect copyright.PENANAHKjBMvyYO5
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.87Please respect copyright.PENANAiJCGm7kX8O
Should’ve charged admission.87Please respect copyright.PENANAT5QNZELE9o
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAec1ZzJnHDL
Just placed the soup on the table.87Please respect copyright.PENANATZV7WT7wUx
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.87Please respect copyright.PENANAW8LjOgZbmU
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.87Please respect copyright.PENANA1SwgmrIII5
He moved to the table.87Please respect copyright.PENANA7YjgJD9e23
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAQPFpbI8FBm
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.87Please respect copyright.PENANAairmT4oJpi
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAvkgdMsB1ml
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.87Please respect copyright.PENANA51o82m67Ix
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.87Please respect copyright.PENANAVMk4IglOAw
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.87Please respect copyright.PENANAENk5y6Pz63
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.87Please respect copyright.PENANAUUhgsFYDza
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.87Please respect copyright.PENANAHCbNFE6U3e
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.87Please respect copyright.PENANAqewiFwTolO
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAXw24w9Xcjj
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANALzn7xHpa97
Used the clearest logic she could.87Please respect copyright.PENANANWBXBH6WDP
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,87Please respect copyright.PENANA2Rof0kmJql
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—87Please respect copyright.PENANABeV2Wxaj3S
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,87Please respect copyright.PENANAzAt1clJmMX
how do I reach him?87Please respect copyright.PENANAFqxUQnKK63
You know,87Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fg0v6VvRQ
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.87Please respect copyright.PENANAllgGNuU7iu
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
87Please respect copyright.PENANA8HlpQo0Dct
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.87Please respect copyright.PENANAfknKVwLg5k
I tried.87Please respect copyright.PENANAto2s2e7ZAV
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—87Please respect copyright.PENANAwb4SORHirD
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.87Please respect copyright.PENANA681ro75ujb
Back then, I didn’t know anything.87Please respect copyright.PENANAJVhS1GHhUg
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.87Please respect copyright.PENANA5qhMnWz95y
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…87Please respect copyright.PENANAioR2Qs1PDj
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?87Please respect copyright.PENANAlACrHHd7sj
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.87Please respect copyright.PENANASydRCDLTAS
Not blinking.
Regular?87Please respect copyright.PENANAFAW71DfwnV
You expect me to believe that?87Please respect copyright.PENANAOViaH8nZrl
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.87Please respect copyright.PENANAws8JoV63Q1
I am him.87Please respect copyright.PENANAarqrsqllju
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.87Please respect copyright.PENANAOJJoQfaaRV
I’m the informant you’re talking about—87Please respect copyright.PENANAmXTZVudgVC
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…87Please respect copyright.PENANAHiDHiRkNBE
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.87Please respect copyright.PENANAWdg6oy6jm6
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.87Please respect copyright.PENANAYAEDnMKeF1
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.87Please respect copyright.PENANAEvpTEur5Vb
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.87Please respect copyright.PENANAtGTwHNhdcn
You used me as an anchor point—87Please respect copyright.PENANAiKORvdGSQb
sent the clueless version of me to test her,87Please respect copyright.PENANA7gFaLvZaT6
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
87Please respect copyright.PENANAOjl5NfweDm