That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpqOiX40gy
Hadn’t done anything unusual.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvniLqGP7P
Unless…104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6C9j79ZFS
No way.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruhyEScdFD
Could he remember yesterday?104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Nt08pTuTf
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJnCiJGbRW
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—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uJYI22buY
Oh no.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WsbtdrWoq
Don’t tell me.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGgex7xmoE
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi0Jh8gsh7
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKawPubky05
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9iqwVRFZS
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7Aw49qo3R
Totally lost.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF47AqnSq8J
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgcvPxLLZO
Do something normal.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaujmfyhic9
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9La26XUDG
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyeiVhD4JV
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq5KdPWsGE
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOeguGnSEK
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjWLpJGvRN
Should’ve charged admission.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjdIznL6ca
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPJaETJbiR
Just placed the soup on the table.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA8TnmxNIO
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB0fIC03fu
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyxbzUfBPk
He moved to the table.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MTYOh5IRs
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJkznOZ24J
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PpnpEdzGo
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zWmvgsAOA
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqonbpgDVi
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFIn2si50l
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8W3KpFw5S
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmLWJDsVb4
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaxi7KE6AZ
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBba6aPPo0E
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZhA4Zu8tb
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCldZsmhUa
Used the clearest logic she could.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscxwnI9SO8
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH68GgI8xv
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—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RWfzEQ6el
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvIbCW3jPc
how do I reach him?104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1wyVDyQNz
You know,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m2JdbEOD7
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF9tcYzek1
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxgSneIOMt
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBjuP9adTV
I tried.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TeLgLLNdc
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXuGzWj4cU
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0DjsMMoV6
Back then, I didn’t know anything.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMHtps0Sqp
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztsZYl37P2
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x6Ilmt81T
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FrPfA2BAa
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ag4Ci9CfD
Not blinking.
Regular?104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAQgX9ZBHo
You expect me to believe that?104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbqCY0uh5G
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.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWRsqHJFul
I am him.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED3tpLeMl4
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oPVX5RFNB
I’m the informant you’re talking about—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmTSlHdfrI
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…104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMdsvqa6vA
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY11kvssSVe
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6GpXEGwql
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTDNVlIbyA
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wNkLiqpsL
You used me as an anchor point—104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMviIFuYD2
sent the clueless version of me to test her,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79BOO0rumS
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tijOOxUbW
