That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiLNJdIGJJ
Hadn’t done anything unusual.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP03R2XNlN
Unless…59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2df7VGBOn
No way.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOubgAJ6h8
Could he remember yesterday?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlszmjWYuaw
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG6QH5tWR3
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—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2dcpIKYzm
Oh no.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvnul7QWqv
Don’t tell me.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ry3jt9DR5
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPKN0rewAQ
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrHfkhp74g
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vqeJ3Qkkj
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdI0dMc0xy
Totally lost.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PGG0oZn6Z
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkacreDpa4
Do something normal.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHlhNR1Kso
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y9nsUr8tf
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq9O676BXL
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJjFA062xc
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5uaM9x0RV
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0V6vZpKSL
Should’ve charged admission.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpy7lIdDqD
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9msZFQKLk
Just placed the soup on the table.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQLOipFJyY
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2SIGI3xjs
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aUnyxJk6k
He moved to the table.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDWnaY3nSQ
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrK46TF09y
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DWTURaeZR
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRcqZcNj3K
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq0XdRpryW
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLpLDz0eZO
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL9uwkNK7Z
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8yoeUDOZe
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZk3hlPBn5
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSqO2NTYob
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXr9Dqpu33
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbNdjb4A5Z
Used the clearest logic she could.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDfkYp7y8z
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSSJZgpjbE
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—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UIBoFG44k
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsOadP9Msq
how do I reach him?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CGEsa4bzO
You know,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdeQsQspD1
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92uaVJoYGa
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WidcON4TO
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITtpUBvUI2
I tried.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRbQHO1gLC
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u9umZHDp9
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs122jbiCIR
Back then, I didn’t know anything.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pDhNYbHLC
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkmphbDc79
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T6gd2gWIl
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLrRAshmHs
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu1JigqQxD
Not blinking.
Regular?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHOQtpuZ66
You expect me to believe that?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnDDzrajxl
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.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP7pEW08LX
I am him.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ce8i9M4P
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fZK7aAvR6
I’m the informant you’re talking about—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS2VxvE68P
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…59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRLEXEnodm
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wpXUYdMie
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv9rrhB9er
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fQeo8FzRa
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iceJcEewL
You used me as an anchor point—59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4mFyzhEoz
sent the clueless version of me to test her,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta8KgJZeVH
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ2Z6skqZb
and then Add to home screen.