That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPjNavZFpo
Hadn’t done anything unusual.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5pURs1Jvd
Unless…60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjniIyyVoy
No way.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sBPNSaiIC
Could he remember yesterday?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YdvTXfQmC
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69WIcRFkDa
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—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZNh03yAuM
Oh no.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD8KFt2W7V
Don’t tell me.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov1ttLziVz
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4LrZT9ZCg
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXv5I3jhl8
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GFVflE4ID
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo2wwld8kj
Totally lost.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzxM8iBZ1o
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bmhyuWfIv
Do something normal.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx3oSNvAfc
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSDztGPhgl
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjWJfzT1zW
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT9F7PGy7b
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga8BeA0qbT
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66y2tqHCiJ
Should’ve charged admission.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtBD05LyzM
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGWzAvdV78
Just placed the soup on the table.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdf3W0iWUR
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjSt2ZP7C1
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlzXsdqtEj
He moved to the table.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj42aMcMJiI
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjZ2rAdRUg
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqKthHuB1D
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoB94uG7TI
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVcOd2MXV5
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wzoMWmPPj
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQP66tlLpb
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRKTWBbkes
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoYDUjhn3t
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OIqlVHcQZ
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl24jwOiCZ
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5HI4PPxFu
Used the clearest logic she could.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NK6Y14W8F
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcjDs3CMDy
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—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6a449sw5R
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QAWqSBXCf
how do I reach him?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd1noBiHfg
You know,60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d9B58GUGC
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9jAzbfzB1
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1SBuIZEWV
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTcb8P5tTC
I tried.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKs7Aqd49I
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKSWViiDp7
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqePFb9Zxo
Back then, I didn’t know anything.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2IAMTEywZ
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVisxtMCYF
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTbSSI0DqO
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwpfuRenzH
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6dV1igCqS
Not blinking.
Regular?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FvocGLdgl
You expect me to believe that?60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNmA6RVxmf
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.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasMsIUQ8fQ
I am him.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEMaEoEGg8
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUD2Gmh10z
I’m the informant you’re talking about—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3xaXHJJOJ
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…60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRVOWvKDu8
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7oX3BZgbz
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwADaIPATl
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2hke1D38K
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wru5AExP7
You used me as an anchor point—60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxp5UiyjEl
sent the clueless version of me to test her,60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVKBRApzQW
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYcXe8uYUI
