That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbD4NhDYnA
Hadn’t done anything unusual.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZxEQu3Z1K
Unless…103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bKWrKhZc3
No way.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY7xVyU76B
Could he remember yesterday?103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6jsS9mioE
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEB2v3L5Ks
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—103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBhQLiCOd2
Oh no.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaQokm3mDy
Don’t tell me.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtpulCl5lu
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5DnhqgHl3
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDs4bu0pEN
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn1NYd1OKC
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf0AyorkKC
Totally lost.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70gvjdHIVL
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQUYVxuA3W
Do something normal.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZRxR2aZeN
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdEPhGDFhT
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmYmS1KmbU
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewPJDmLPyy
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOHbZGW4pL
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LRPPEL2vk
Should’ve charged admission.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYET84FdZI8
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlQ2LLnPLx
Just placed the soup on the table.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFhxrCQLQw
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlbb6d4ymj
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEz5QbizpN
He moved to the table.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2WPHePbi4
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL0lEOMMpT
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR5KeFUEhM
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kKYGSHjKY
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELKngo40n9
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK80nlPw0S
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOtDsM5U1e
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDasELs4HrM
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76NeALDc5S
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHxyShNMpH
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5qJ6UeGV2
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAFBfl7n4J
Used the clearest logic she could.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GZrjGzBlj
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64Unp0y1Qw
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—103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm6Rd5L46t
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme3YIpwzLb
how do I reach him?103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSiDAdHRkV
You know,103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpII8fA4NW
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYwU6Y2sAJ
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVXujpE6PF
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lrlsgotK1
I tried.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42ZeeCqzLE
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgY7y1TTBl
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCQEEGRFIF
Back then, I didn’t know anything.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwWXPz8aPb
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbvdqbM75x
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM3yIa5r0C
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzpkB4CMwZ
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdCTcKoCiP
Not blinking.
Regular?103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8k5JKi2P3
You expect me to believe that?103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ctv2oTs3L
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.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhpfkBCvIE
I am him.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt3sw2O2gP
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPu6DfKTkV
I’m the informant you’re talking about—103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Bc6suG4qr
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…103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAqcdI4xC5
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep7eP4qlZI
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJk3J4oZc2
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdZ9OsR9NC
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5qppeisMy
You used me as an anchor point—103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILLmTGFmXs
sent the clueless version of me to test her,103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMQvyUvWPE
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
103Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtturaX0Vo
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