That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JzZyycLgg
Hadn’t done anything unusual.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7hrtErPSb
Unless…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacTGFuKodn
No way.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwTbv2vSYR
Could he remember yesterday?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOOYxa8CKt
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdB3r4LfNM
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—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAETRJuRDJ
Oh no.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViwaUH62b0
Don’t tell me.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGvmxy9Hqu
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVpuO2Xo3h
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0Cicf2TSt
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8JVjmLOaN
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4qEMpzSAr
Totally lost.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0BAP7p4WP
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiNzCHxPQm
Do something normal.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi1WprBJlt
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6J8pLReqt
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGDwrHNGGh
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi70oXGqLm
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX2ITZYVB3
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4lqVMmJuH
Should’ve charged admission.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vorhohkdV
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSQovDDAsK
Just placed the soup on the table.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7lHBvQpQF
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyVkATVNNJ
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPKjXHyAFx
He moved to the table.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaxNjpZyAn
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6Ms77D5NW
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzkdlJPbM4
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56veG063Av
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazTIYqgGCB
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOy1HnUAxR
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkAvemmgDu
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8V6egDRtC
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ793j7d8cgF
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh4EwbGBer
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtMTwNYbJ0
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAqpRm0tEH
Used the clearest logic she could.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JpGQPXJjA
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N7H0PQPEQ
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—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPPV6RVSai
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmZ3904y2R
how do I reach him?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUvawLjams
You know,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXYDuNRKsP
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPncNk7sftg
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpgMo7Vrga
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVjaljYcTK
I tried.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4XhBihZXA
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcIGE4nYZL
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp1UDK9Zq2
Back then, I didn’t know anything.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUShfQ5cI6
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJW1n2Ppy0
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHnOS53C58
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg00MLg4qU
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1ofOGTfs9
Not blinking.
Regular?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKvLJzIvnS
You expect me to believe that?28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqPc7FlRhC
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRm3i21Rbe
I am him.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuTIzQENri
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIJujcXecB
I’m the informant you’re talking about—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jcVXTdaw1
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…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhRLEDCdvD
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KKFVsFahW
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XGBNwa0i6
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1hqER7uFk
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLZgdFevec
You used me as an anchor point—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkGiFwFC0X
sent the clueless version of me to test her,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5cwmdUCWZ
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnd7pc0BKw
and then Add to home screen.