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