That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGRENZIcnV
Hadn’t done anything unusual.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw9ikJe8SP
Unless…372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyBsQabY9b
No way.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29JtpHBQDq
Could he remember yesterday?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX5acjmbq8
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLIfSq2t9F
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—372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93ZkBG3dNe
Oh no.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWilgysKsZ
Don’t tell me.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGNA3VOfNK
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxMKKv6yC4
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciiJKTENh4
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOMfXTFBYC
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6fyV9vuea
Totally lost.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrAjrVrr0R
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoeRtAMmPA
Do something normal.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyTi11zgGa
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RGllbOiDh
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHokxK6ucE5
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS8BqD6Ulm
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5NufurSXf
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJjq5m6SE2
Should’ve charged admission.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD92KaEtD2
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOhhzMi7uW
Just placed the soup on the table.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSXXIZ0A4o
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56wyinRBDe
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pan5e4viM
He moved to the table.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofnS0iZhKH
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GXa8JnlBt
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM3NQdN4N2
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrNAWo4YGR
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQuVHYR7yn
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi60xT4GcNV
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBMjaEBq2T
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlqMkkCPv9
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxYJwh8qbk
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc0bgvNCvb
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVLUOZSkdB
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmVOn8fgOX
Used the clearest logic she could.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1xkT06LxO
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkiVQsmEE6
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—372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRLICQXl1p
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dvhCHDzbz
how do I reach him?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGexK1jhL3X
You know,372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e9ie7cXl0
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ97CaLGKc
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphi3jnGJk3
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF9Gf9hIJc
I tried.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1AXXBCeEh
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJICdhHrxa1
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf93bKTf6s
Back then, I didn’t know anything.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GiZvavkIC
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RgJSOBK7E
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXOCAMA9R5
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHw5tdDti6
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMrl1a8PG4
Not blinking.
Regular?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk6p4MWh3Y
You expect me to believe that?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCNctDgLpS
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIOlCz0H2c
I am him.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqij5eFGH8
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2IvtaTK1m
I’m the informant you’re talking about—372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckbeE2w1Nm
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…372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGDXViiH19
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklF3JjmT3x
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfnqt6jOMz
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLo3XnO7LU
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfxOiJzvlv
You used me as an anchor point—372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhvzEBLmL5
sent the clueless version of me to test her,372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPVLylu1OS
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXtdvsej85
and then Add to home screen.