That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSqdPffDN9
Hadn’t done anything unusual.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rLcvD2cfO
Unless…121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtWOWw3vTE
No way.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdDdaz6H8e
Could he remember yesterday?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTl9AteGH9
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fWE4u2fr5
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—121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqycjJjhxkL
Oh no.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXHfP5Ocxy
Don’t tell me.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgTNgbfmdd
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwxWCwes4B
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMr7nxgkk5
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLao6Z7oSD
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUf2stJ4C2
Totally lost.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4KiAi3sAD
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5HNBmbvIH
Do something normal.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6a1a4OnKZ
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv34Ees0liT
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWneXN5F5g
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD0NKB1bSv
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7xDFORYYE
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpYfTLd3a4
Should’ve charged admission.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46UfmCktGe
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eALL58JFb
Just placed the soup on the table.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8mbI4dIlD
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms8gv3hvJ7
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyySCI7nFh2
He moved to the table.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNhkjxUsFn
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7uAuZkAs5
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf9jDKWIcU
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37RWmfZs7q
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxduTjHkZiO
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGH0zmSvcI
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzObo4t32l
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaAqRg9iK6
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnTK939o0l
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbag7NmujF
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkokx0CBGW
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ehQd4eA6E
Used the clearest logic she could.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWf03GC7sB
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaPpYuxEqp
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—121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ov5qO24zw
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hTaDDaKQ8
how do I reach him?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaIibKcfr3
You know,121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zWAeYY94f
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHQL5I6nxh
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKDmbkoa2N
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk1qDQ3elO
I tried.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVRlZkr1fo
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOJ0jyaoXO
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIfrd6ybu2
Back then, I didn’t know anything.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIuIfugEDw
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9Aa4Rnw7
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIADdG8S1ps
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDtnspzztz
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJozBskSQeN
Not blinking.
Regular?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pDYjQ9imC
You expect me to believe that?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaRdSRkkLy
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.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDi4HXymxh
I am him.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4sXJmOf3p
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFSxtIf0u5
I’m the informant you’re talking about—121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfojxVZJq3V
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…121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNUlAAxu4w
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HTuelQpab
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HDy53sl6F
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk74kXsGlBT
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoM1qzAtYn
You used me as an anchor point—121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrmduHo7WN
sent the clueless version of me to test her,121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJFO2OxOZ7
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh4GxvjJxs
