That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwceO91ibn
Hadn’t done anything unusual.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zbh2OjRlp
Unless…43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaSzJZsCrC
No way.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEy5LJu0VG
Could he remember yesterday?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XO7aj2wLh
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTetrqVnQn
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecly3a084P
Oh no.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vd7SnxAtC
Don’t tell me.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFzKpIxxjf
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eSEvJOgsN
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrgFzcESxI
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkiIiuDd7b
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeOXMBdBg0
Totally lost.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUrOTaE5QG
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiR3gy5SXi
Do something normal.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyVuOP9Rk3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSboZLccpa
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4l953M2Li
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsywKheZDLt
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9clOMkW4mA
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlhKvuQaJL
Should’ve charged admission.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft3gajzFPi
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYItCElnjtT
Just placed the soup on the table.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9vAmDoaQj
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JWPkaKASC
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDCYbtl37u
He moved to the table.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPH0a0kG0M
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqNUolbABr
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXMZhlV5m3
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCz5kQfwSy
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxbpXQQmGu
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLjRQnTxwr
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2kdXbmCwH
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR3BagSHjJ
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE2GbN5ce0
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQYYCpnfIr
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdA9Ve0rzH
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi80mPgQgf
Used the clearest logic she could.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZQkVJzTg7
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDpIIdBNWv
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjkOGlc5F
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXxSQAdS0H
how do I reach him?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybtR2NLGlP
You know,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgY1q4TjHK
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TlT6jAoLz
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPWpgtjzSK
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhosQg7INDq
I tried.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdfO4XFgbT
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCNkjtWixH
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPRqLwZ2uN
Back then, I didn’t know anything.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoJ07zCapu
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp1TCRwSFn
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfhIReAArL
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhBoO89aNd
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7RsPwGPpb
Not blinking.
Regular?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XKQr2sSxo
You expect me to believe that?43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSHgGWt2f0
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT4LcHB7W7
I am him.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjCcSUjflA
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOFRqX7Pah
I’m the informant you’re talking about—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGAuXmmsdM
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KKIzrL2o5
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71BoSCNkak
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM1OGA27mM
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FhNXqe2dJ
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxAJudL7ol
You used me as an anchor point—43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZpQAPMvMJ
sent the clueless version of me to test her,43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBeg6sGpP3
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQq5BgAU6Q
