That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNSbDlPT6S
Hadn’t done anything unusual.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGNtbBwd8m
Unless…145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIP4vfRqIz
No way.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG82tjQAZ6
Could he remember yesterday?145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxYyARZmrL
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqnkRQe5ev
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—145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbBDh48XYa
Oh no.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDb7UIy9X2
Don’t tell me.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEEuihrSHW
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVVsYCv8dt
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiK2TyrTsO
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBGTxU6kYF
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCZjmd3rTX
Totally lost.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GJTZqqEXN
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f47lsJIna
Do something normal.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPWRXvzCxU
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohVq3t14kO
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk6kW2hPwT
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYoFJZ4j0z
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtsZfY5rBc
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx6bYjlNkE
Should’ve charged admission.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUcDDD8Npo
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTduHPZh4wc
Just placed the soup on the table.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVKOunA0a9
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRR0CvgyGC
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVVfmcde20
He moved to the table.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaagLrOJJd
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4M2OKsqA2
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyEkZa5gey
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTh3gkGIxM
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxsoiWAZtp
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIR87NGdCN
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC636th6w8
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3d8zA8Wiw
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaU0y6LML1
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf93qTZ4Be
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNgJBw9wFG
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3P4TlcKJK
Used the clearest logic she could.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmznas00lvA
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjA7HUfJte
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—145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6sn5Q52Zn
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjhL1SvTpA
how do I reach him?145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IIPyQHjTT
You know,145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjQMr2a1sE
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfs7Lm50jK
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavFn23YBU7
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltziSnxQkT
I tried.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU950cUfF9g
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXOhbRP1fE
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jwRAjrg7D
Back then, I didn’t know anything.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt5WhWk9Eb
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvOVybhPmk
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcoP9EiFga
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNCr2VI2Ie
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjDWhNk7wt
Not blinking.
Regular?145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYgH5bkZB5
You expect me to believe that?145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN4OcrKprh
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.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIdSIrD7jJ
I am him.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr76iH5R3BK
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOSjvTWkWq
I’m the informant you’re talking about—145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmQzvKygzd
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…145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2edgOuVE1
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNJ1YZBoOj
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGq1xmEWO5
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylGfCk2nR6
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBfXoSNjXI
You used me as an anchor point—145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaIrcsh0W9
sent the clueless version of me to test her,145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIzVNOaEZu
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
145Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qP8ktXVnU
and then Add to home screen.