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
