A bullet sliced through the air, its echo ringing inside the shooting booth.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5BIsTMHRX
The sound was muffled slightly inside Tim’s earmuffs, but he still heard the sharp crack as the bullet hit the target dead center. He glanced at the screen showing the impact point—nearly a bullseye.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7tu3s8IjQ
Not luck.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TtnkX2mST
It was the result of steady, ruthless precision honed through hours of practice.
Nora showed no extra emotion. She simply pulled back the slide and naturally slipped into her second aim, like breathing.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzSKFQYYBJ
Her shoulders were relaxed, but her wrists were steady as stone.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7juF7vbAN
The next bullet hit the upper left part of the target—a joint, a disabling zone. A combat-style shot.
Tim suddenly realized he had no idea what kind of training this woman had received.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IDAaoG15D
Where had she learned this?159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL867pQl6A
This wasn’t the kind of accuracy one gets from just “a few times at the range.”159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXejWbydl4
This was the kind born from fear and experience—an instinct forged in survival.
Before firing the third shot, she briefly pulled back her gaze and glanced at Tim.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTSRG5Em75
“Can I change the distance?” she asked softly.
He nodded and adjusted the panel.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBfkuM1esC
The target slid further back.
It was only then that he realized—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz0yPwwgiq
he’d been holding his breath.
Not out of shock.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ713kMGCAkP
Out of caution.
And he didn’t like it.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aUshTK5xv
That sense of unease—he never even felt it around actual villains.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqmn7uosOF
But around this supposed “civilian”?
From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, his body had been on edge.
But she wasn’t a villain.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAWPYOTyFi
Not a spy.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvopZd6j3Mc
Not an assassin.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPihdTCTDJ
She was… a kindergarten teacher.
Then—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9TqbqI7EH
Bang.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM95jvw9gR
The third bullet fired.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yDNk1OfIB
Another dead-on hit, so clean it made his skin crawl.
Tim took a step back and leaned on the table, pretending to check the gun case.
But what he was really thinking was:159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vdB5CkHYl
Who the hell is she?
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeEapyJXTn
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMngx3fqp7C
Afterward, they cleaned the guns together and packed them back into the case.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1iQJ2u9BN
Spent casings rolled lightly across the table, making soft clinks—like the aftershocks of a quiet war.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06l4M30ojV
Tim picked up a cloth and began wiping down the barrel, each movement precise and cold, the rhythm of someone raised under the Bat's training.
Nora sat across from him.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuk3ibIwYL
Her shoulders had dropped slightly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMac2QvD4oW
She was still gazing at the rifle she’d just used—almost like she was savoring it.
Then Tim noticed—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETDvHBwL4G
her hands were trembling.
Not shaking violently—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw2kbyX43Y
but the subtle, accumulated tremble of recoil and exhaustion.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmlJ8woMge
The kind that creeps in after a long time shooting.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfDZ2v4uTj
Like a soldier finally unarmored.
Well, to be fair—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAVCCikeLV
she had been shooting for nearly three hours.
He saw traces of gunpowder still clinging to her fingertips.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1ZBR8Rllm
Her skin glowed faintly warm with residual heat.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7BHoM4fxU
But she hadn’t complained once.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRKXIiRSAC
Hadn’t asked for a break.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtgynMke60
As if this kind of fatigue had long been a part of her rhythm.
Good.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrKxiYOQkw
At least she’s still human.
Tim let out a breath quietly, as if reminding himself of that helped balance his perspective.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1rqWzi01G
He couldn’t let suspicion cloud his judgment.
He’d only stepped up for a few rounds himself.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhLEgnp3tf
The scores were decent.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp00Ei1vSOY
But none of his shots had hit fatal zones.
And he knew exactly why.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7v1STdqQs
It wasn’t a matter of skill.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQcdm2e3GS
It was a matter of training.
Batman’s rules were clear:159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8KsE6SzOq
Subdue, don’t kill.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMUoJBKbhB
Be precise, but never lethal.
It was a philosophy.
Nora, though—her aim was different.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJwGVQ5CLn
She wasn’t trained by Batman.
She was faster.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOhYm5HxaG
More instinctual.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaZ8i0ZPfp
And she liked aiming for the head.
Tim had noticed.
Not intentionally, perhaps.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFhkAE8AE0
But something in her subconscious always chose the direct hit, the clean strike, the no-loose-ends shot.
That…159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClgWGzBKQV
couldn’t be known by the rest of the Bat-family.
Tim’s mouth twitched.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNXtKt8RHW
If Bruce ever found out, he’d be watched—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dww4mZ4N5
drowned beneath that silent, disappointed stare.
Not everyone escapes Bruce’s morality.
He looked over at Nora, who was calmly oiling her gun.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oOp8Hr9SA
Her wrist moved naturally, fluid around the body of the weapon, every action muscle memory.
After a moment, he spoke.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelz8426JIP
“Your aim’s really good.”
Nora didn’t look up.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1JLG0NGxu
“Thanks. I used to have a lot of chances to practice,” she said evenly.
Tim’s lips parted slightly.
A lot of chances to practice...159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJB3UcOern
Not something an average civilian would say so casually.
His mind raced through possible backgrounds and scenarios,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqLSGm3dZx
but Nora didn’t offer any more.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70UDJ2LxN2
She just kept wiping.
Then—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqZSESwIVd
she paused.
Cloth still in hand,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lNqUX7T26
her gaze drifted somewhere distant—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaRTGczgVi
to a time he couldn’t see.
“Actually, guns aren’t my strong suit,” she said quietly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sJTW0pwyJ
“I only used them for a short time.”
Tim held his breath.
That sentence didn’t sound like small talk.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKu6TNITms
It sounded like a confession—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50wrV3f5so
like a smuggled thought sneaking out of a sealed memory.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIdT7QG826
Each word soaked with invisible weight.
Then she added—
“I spent most of my time… with archery.”
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eixRkjx6L
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbqO4tZHOS
“Archery?” Tim raised an eyebrow. “So… you like archery?”
Nora gave him a glance but didn’t answer right away.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EhHInCBeL
Her fingers were still checking the gun bag’s clasps.
“Not really about liking or disliking,” she said simply.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNsHSlg4dt
Her tone was neutral, like talking about breakfast options—plain, forgettable.
“It was more like… life demanded it, so I learned.”
She paused, then smiled softly at him.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw2iWUsIE8
A gentle curve of the lips—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqq4WnwBK6
like wind brushing past leaves.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP54a7NDce
No ripples.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eMN0GelzD
But it lingered.
Then she turned away and put the arrows back,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUc0E6fYSF
her tone a bit lighter:159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesTTNZud5x
“I used to think—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YoMsRRuji
if I ever quit teaching kindergarten,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SvcsjxVrS
maybe I’d become an archery coach.”
Tim didn’t answer.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28miXV2XYs
Just watched her back.
So that was… her career backup plan?
Or… was it her real passion?
She’d never listed anything about archery on her resume.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEBTu3ignw
No competitions, no licenses, no training certificates.
How much was she still hiding?
He lowered his gaze to the safety goggles on the table,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QSbHioyuP
and a more frustrating thought struck him.
If she did quit being a kindergarten teacher…159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0UcLGP4ZV
Finn would absolutely lose it.
That kid basically lived for Nora.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2gX473ZN9
Declared he’d marry her eight times a day.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJeq3iuczs
Made weekend cards for her.
Tim rubbed his temples.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuBCYe5c5p
He could already hear Finn’s future wailing echoing through Wayne Manor—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82yrIVKdEd
and then the inevitable call from Europe.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXeqo8ud0h
“Tim! What the hell happened?!”159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw9K0XKrIP
Leila’s voice, sharp and panicked.
…No.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDNS3CN2rb
That backup plan could not happen too soon.
Tim was still calculating the feasibility of buying the entire kindergarten.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjr4X2D6gs
Shifting funds wouldn’t be a problem.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlTMW0oFrl
The real issue was how to mask the motive so that neither Finn nor Bruce would catch on.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7b3JBksDV
He had already mapped out a few potential shell company routes and plausible justifications—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhASBc6V5xE
until he heard someone call out:
“Mr. Drake.”
He turned his head.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg9SgDZOYJ
Nora had just placed the last rifle into the case, closing the lid with practiced ease.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp38Og5RS0p
After locking the latches, she gave her hands a quick clap—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHAJ0GmIyP
as if marking the end of a ritual.
“Just call me Tim,” he replied reflexively, his voice unintentionally soft.
Nora gave a small nod, her expression unusually earnest.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJU1yv1OcX
“Tim, thank you for inviting me today. I really enjoyed it.”
Her eyes still shimmered with leftover excitement—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmrWxOINSc
so different from the cool, sharp precision she had while shooting.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrMbq89tZ2
This was human.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNfkmi1Qqr
This was joy.
“Let me buy you dinner,” she said. “I know a great Italian place.”
Tim froze.
For once, he wasn’t strategizing.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ljhMnIAbW
He wasn’t analyzing risks.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJzVIvinJt
He wasn’t scanning for background intel.
He just… froze a little—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIflrH8MwGo
and then nodded.
“Sure,” he said.
His voice wasn’t loud,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS0nnKgkVQ
but the way the words landed felt like the quiet turning of a page—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA5L7PLHzm
a new chapter quietly unfolding.
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppT1GmM3z1
and then Add to home screen.