That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrwybC9qYV
Hadn’t done anything unusual.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeehf1xzfk7
Unless…111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXPtslb0Wd
No way.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdDChd7gep
Could he remember yesterday?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmglrWmOq8
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHg2tkPBjL
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—111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzSVYuyjj8
Oh no.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx1qtQXqHI
Don’t tell me.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm4DZr94CB
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaqVLVqkDu
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiweuFiQQOc
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQc1wBjWFF
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFBTYUVSfr
Totally lost.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFvfruUATI
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQmFWzInaE
Do something normal.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZEc47F7Gd
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZfY4kjtr7
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBX5Bn5O6I
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRZimf3im9
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhinJBiyiPo
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYezyk2LAu6
Should’ve charged admission.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinuR2IglB
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4pIAtEhGC
Just placed the soup on the table.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtNIU41qQD
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9Hg9BBHCk
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCh5Ao2M3D
He moved to the table.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszujryLoot
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNDcsxLNVp
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjugjPrGgwO
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6vhDC21AR
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYTFRkLFkv
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym3jVSuedE
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SL0wEFkv7
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajtGYX5NMc
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb8aRQ1p1i
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFFMhoFzIN
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqoBCwYN9
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRD7w98jk5
Used the clearest logic she could.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5LYqVnSgq
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZAl0gel98
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—111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xr45AVJxT
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhxVioE11k
how do I reach him?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTt0aSVnfA
You know,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkl9nSYKTI
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifStxO63aQ
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y2d8Auw6X
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CCHI3gVaY
I tried.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzQzcVSDu4
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstDUYEfF5g
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl1hbAVzWr
Back then, I didn’t know anything.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzwwo2A6II
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFMnTWMs4Z
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh5RgAmmjp
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwfdMAstRo
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAE3Ome4EQ
Not blinking.
Regular?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR0jbAqw3i
You expect me to believe that?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAccSjogPsJ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldfb2bqXJH
I am him.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4h1RMmS6b
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEziiSH83p
I’m the informant you’re talking about—111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTiUQ9dtjp
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…111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA3KXwQbNe
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iYqyLJJ98
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUZPNoKysn
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnWxzkI7BD
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqS6UJD56m
You used me as an anchor point—111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OgXKgvdGd
sent the clueless version of me to test her,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDTVL6qTLC
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vIsPyplH8
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