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