A bullet sliced through the air, its echo ringing inside the shooting booth.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxgiyveacz
The sound was muffled slightly inside Tim’s earmuffs, but he still heard the sharp crack as the bullet hit the target dead center. He glanced at the screen showing the impact point—nearly a bullseye.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpEt5LaHZM
Not luck.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpAi1W9mlB
It was the result of steady, ruthless precision honed through hours of practice.
Nora showed no extra emotion. She simply pulled back the slide and naturally slipped into her second aim, like breathing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2xJezL359
Her shoulders were relaxed, but her wrists were steady as stone.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKBThkEjOM
The next bullet hit the upper left part of the target—a joint, a disabling zone. A combat-style shot.
Tim suddenly realized he had no idea what kind of training this woman had received.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLq7W9D7G6
Where had she learned this?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcaA8OYtuO
This wasn’t the kind of accuracy one gets from just “a few times at the range.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLKj21jDMl
This was the kind born from fear and experience—an instinct forged in survival.
Before firing the third shot, she briefly pulled back her gaze and glanced at Tim.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5icBC5tn8
“Can I change the distance?” she asked softly.
He nodded and adjusted the panel.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHpHReEt6o
The target slid further back.
It was only then that he realized—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh57u2qo13l
he’d been holding his breath.
Not out of shock.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwIf7u7cvh
Out of caution.
And he didn’t like it.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qPdrkLE27
That sense of unease—he never even felt it around actual villains.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRSYpS7wzd
But around this supposed “civilian”?
From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, his body had been on edge.
But she wasn’t a villain.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnRW0Wv2Qx
Not a spy.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFUJkwKkYX
Not an assassin.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1OUm8TiKy
She was… a kindergarten teacher.
Then—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3eGCmyZRu
Bang.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuGps8xSmn
The third bullet fired.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n91JbGPzl
Another dead-on hit, so clean it made his skin crawl.
Tim took a step back and leaned on the table, pretending to check the gun case.
But what he was really thinking was:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMMTPvQlve
Who the hell is she?
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DrJVwwIrR
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXo54Km1u6
Afterward, they cleaned the guns together and packed them back into the case.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCSsdbrqMC
Spent casings rolled lightly across the table, making soft clinks—like the aftershocks of a quiet war.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsXgmSRaB1
Tim picked up a cloth and began wiping down the barrel, each movement precise and cold, the rhythm of someone raised under the Bat's training.
Nora sat across from him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDBHunNBza
Her shoulders had dropped slightly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8POoajmM0
She was still gazing at the rifle she’d just used—almost like she was savoring it.
Then Tim noticed—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLONeHmsHC
her hands were trembling.
Not shaking violently—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyVam7TpSt
but the subtle, accumulated tremble of recoil and exhaustion.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA85dbRjJQ
The kind that creeps in after a long time shooting.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP9hIkB1OV
Like a soldier finally unarmored.
Well, to be fair—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuLFGTUqPN
she had been shooting for nearly three hours.
He saw traces of gunpowder still clinging to her fingertips.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwXrp0lcat
Her skin glowed faintly warm with residual heat.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIgPaQQ3gk
But she hadn’t complained once.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLnU18kLZg
Hadn’t asked for a break.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vpNjgksYo
As if this kind of fatigue had long been a part of her rhythm.
Good.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaQjqYFbET
At least she’s still human.
Tim let out a breath quietly, as if reminding himself of that helped balance his perspective.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeY5IcDEF0
He couldn’t let suspicion cloud his judgment.
He’d only stepped up for a few rounds himself.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3YsIAtYb6
The scores were decent.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0hl7AoteV
But none of his shots had hit fatal zones.
And he knew exactly why.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0R9PJqbTY
It wasn’t a matter of skill.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtDETMQoAm
It was a matter of training.
Batman’s rules were clear:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLUwnzcFpR
Subdue, don’t kill.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrZ0fhzcbm
Be precise, but never lethal.
It was a philosophy.
Nora, though—her aim was different.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMiAaION1i
She wasn’t trained by Batman.
She was faster.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL0iraXCpt
More instinctual.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C2dYddoWf
And she liked aiming for the head.
Tim had noticed.
Not intentionally, perhaps.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTG5ZEsHu0
But something in her subconscious always chose the direct hit, the clean strike, the no-loose-ends shot.
That…89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0VYV6atjt
couldn’t be known by the rest of the Bat-family.
Tim’s mouth twitched.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO3m4ct0GO
If Bruce ever found out, he’d be watched—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7cUOjRq5A
drowned beneath that silent, disappointed stare.
Not everyone escapes Bruce’s morality.
He looked over at Nora, who was calmly oiling her gun.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4KWcdTHby
Her wrist moved naturally, fluid around the body of the weapon, every action muscle memory.
After a moment, he spoke.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOru5vRJToW
“Your aim’s really good.”
Nora didn’t look up.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLIpMvvGUu
“Thanks. I used to have a lot of chances to practice,” she said evenly.
Tim’s lips parted slightly.
A lot of chances to practice...89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RkbXXVL4H
Not something an average civilian would say so casually.
His mind raced through possible backgrounds and scenarios,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ykj1OiEZi
but Nora didn’t offer any more.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgFns8Vs90
She just kept wiping.
Then—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkhQqrvTnJ
she paused.
Cloth still in hand,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyGLTY77Xn
her gaze drifted somewhere distant—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITNokZdSBV
to a time he couldn’t see.
“Actually, guns aren’t my strong suit,” she said quietly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqn8fOdTT1
“I only used them for a short time.”
Tim held his breath.
That sentence didn’t sound like small talk.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGBkcT6Bvn
It sounded like a confession—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3a2hMRg0I
like a smuggled thought sneaking out of a sealed memory.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH4wHFWUi8
Each word soaked with invisible weight.
Then she added—
“I spent most of my time… with archery.”
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSYg8adtx4
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCak7ZyLWD
“Archery?” Tim raised an eyebrow. “So… you like archery?”
Nora gave him a glance but didn’t answer right away.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I1aSWCFVp
Her fingers were still checking the gun bag’s clasps.
“Not really about liking or disliking,” she said simply.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHS4C93i0U
Her tone was neutral, like talking about breakfast options—plain, forgettable.
“It was more like… life demanded it, so I learned.”
She paused, then smiled softly at him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZfIWSiMjN
A gentle curve of the lips—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu3G8gDOrZ
like wind brushing past leaves.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u6zSdClx7
No ripples.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMEjprVtoJ
But it lingered.
Then she turned away and put the arrows back,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjx38EyJmK
her tone a bit lighter:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs7lIiaNHH
“I used to think—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkrH4EXa0q
if I ever quit teaching kindergarten,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU3syxSbQJ
maybe I’d become an archery coach.”
Tim didn’t answer.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7NywcN5bT
Just watched her back.
So that was… her career backup plan?
Or… was it her real passion?
She’d never listed anything about archery on her resume.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHwY2iSHmD
No competitions, no licenses, no training certificates.
How much was she still hiding?
He lowered his gaze to the safety goggles on the table,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mzqwOcT7l
and a more frustrating thought struck him.
If she did quit being a kindergarten teacher…89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrETxZua3h
Finn would absolutely lose it.
That kid basically lived for Nora.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVXwL0LYI5
Declared he’d marry her eight times a day.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvfEVMUfTv
Made weekend cards for her.
Tim rubbed his temples.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaYOthRrxl
He could already hear Finn’s future wailing echoing through Wayne Manor—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSG4vywqWO
and then the inevitable call from Europe.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIhcSXvUFh
“Tim! What the hell happened?!”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiP9Em6IgN
Leila’s voice, sharp and panicked.
…No.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUds86rmT4Q
That backup plan could not happen too soon.
Tim was still calculating the feasibility of buying the entire kindergarten.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz32usj6XU0
Shifting funds wouldn’t be a problem.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDyTuxzQTv
The real issue was how to mask the motive so that neither Finn nor Bruce would catch on.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMVc7C5pPe
He had already mapped out a few potential shell company routes and plausible justifications—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJmjrQxtk5
until he heard someone call out:
“Mr. Drake.”
He turned his head.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwf5BL6jUs
Nora had just placed the last rifle into the case, closing the lid with practiced ease.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr3jTO9Kg9
After locking the latches, she gave her hands a quick clap—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFaznM1pii
as if marking the end of a ritual.
“Just call me Tim,” he replied reflexively, his voice unintentionally soft.
Nora gave a small nod, her expression unusually earnest.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMRE4RnkGe
“Tim, thank you for inviting me today. I really enjoyed it.”
Her eyes still shimmered with leftover excitement—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGHCBfZnN
so different from the cool, sharp precision she had while shooting.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp3YoKUzYY
This was human.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcdOxyMIvO
This was joy.
“Let me buy you dinner,” she said. “I know a great Italian place.”
Tim froze.
For once, he wasn’t strategizing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK6Cap5rHt
He wasn’t analyzing risks.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp75efQYCU
He wasn’t scanning for background intel.
He just… froze a little—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Fgeghop7
and then nodded.
“Sure,” he said.
His voice wasn’t loud,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUlloBlaVE
but the way the words landed felt like the quiet turning of a page—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt7IqjB4lG
a new chapter quietly unfolding.
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OYxuCyrgi
and then Add to home screen.