That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4xkJPTqff
Hadn’t done anything unusual.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoRuXQpHA0
Unless…43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpj3b41oXS
No way.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF04IO5sgs
Could he remember yesterday?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vt2tgFXdC
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOBL9ul26M
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—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro65xm7B5a
Oh no.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaueV0xj26
Don’t tell me.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcZqy8jRId
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFazZEyBcmi
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnBRZXzKH3
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIHcvPVt6R
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAhPeP60s2
Totally lost.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyD186UdE7
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWksn7ddquH
Do something normal.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY719dwUl3
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgRDaaWrsw
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYTxqjHQta
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31HK2o9HeK
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDzHCE4G18
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIHDt8tk2q
Should’ve charged admission.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bDJwH9tiN
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj0VZdfJpQ
Just placed the soup on the table.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PkWL5lux4
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvo78HrhRw
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq1b1Psqvt
He moved to the table.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYESMs4u6YS
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe11XO18PW
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgB7U4sAlo
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv09g7MjXuA
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga5LmSFKlP
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2mYThljIi
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwshTy3vbV
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwdy6rLo6u
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBN5iNMv2l
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKphssKovF9
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6QCd56Bqj
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7Shl1dsCq
Used the clearest logic she could.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNdWqcJTb1
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jXEvjaw0s
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—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBCH3PB4EP
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfcBwCqsgT
how do I reach him?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wu8r1h51h
You know,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3BkPkx1TI
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0njygR2Kj
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16mBdo056P
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NmcmyUe6s
I tried.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3ZAWOCKfQ
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshSxtPCDsp
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EJV4FKDSn
Back then, I didn’t know anything.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGoT02B583
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrUsDxg4Si
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiKzKCE8sU
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEiAWkrfkg
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpAZBtKMYr
Not blinking.
Regular?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zk5AZomFG
You expect me to believe that?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQinkV8vhbV
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.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjriQVbkTO
I am him.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsffl1UFe0Y
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0Gm50rbvP
I’m the informant you’re talking about—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvjt9uB2D2
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…43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ57w6PZPK
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxpmtkyXjK
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ya773Ezs5
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLV8Xs3FMJ
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KclvxKeMJ
You used me as an anchor point—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ822Byf60NF
sent the clueless version of me to test her,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCs2l3TiQw
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCR42evtls
and then Add to home screen.