That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZpkqHciP6
Hadn’t done anything unusual.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1NRhptY9y
Unless…92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHBwbrSsoR
No way.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1xhiWX2th
Could he remember yesterday?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7kh0tsyRT
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEZmXLFZZ6
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—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZSQW9DJNB
Oh no.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvhUrUt4tl
Don’t tell me.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHPL2Ln2Tu
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZXiA53Qxk
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i4xtgs5Cc
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyAFcJiSYk
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAwjGZlMVI
Totally lost.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeB10K3VgU
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7XNHYnEyr
Do something normal.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xac5Dy3Au
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXe2F9vJW2
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWYlJfLn9a
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLzYEKMrXP
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDynHUhRYV
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBO6GWT8ie
Should’ve charged admission.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38wziLDBwo
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3qnRwP1Rk
Just placed the soup on the table.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KilIxahx9
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8klnObMsB
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXUTtVKs5X
He moved to the table.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2Wy5Pzeyj
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT6HfqKkkH
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P1FEb3zZ1
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM2pWBR6aR
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsV0jmfsbH
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwnTEphikk
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtCtrmKUbV
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcjTD9cvFf
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkjJsSYtqZ
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jClnl5S3c
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5MrfOGHOG
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oyjvXPoMi
Used the clearest logic she could.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt9bdkH3Ts
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNiG0pEQNE
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—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Ow7YGPEf
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1f7WyxVML
how do I reach him?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrwCYVJFPd
You know,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjvfIdeC7v
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBEOvWq7G2
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMugrOmxWyl
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTbBHdhJwv
I tried.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK45K5FIkXu
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9PGj0fhZW
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtn0bIzQsk
Back then, I didn’t know anything.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp2BPROslb
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V6z3GGYlc
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTf6aqoZ6c
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOmdloPICZ
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYH6scwvUz
Not blinking.
Regular?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90zpHlCiMe
You expect me to believe that?92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5psI4YMdz
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb2ZHtrhsd
I am him.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaFMR9yb36
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyscInwv1f
I’m the informant you’re talking about—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdiZeuCwf2
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…92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrjPPAz0m6
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJISy5NfutD
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO5wmJnFzO
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7txqLorzCI
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCsfedJswy
You used me as an anchor point—92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflg6wQrJxY
sent the clueless version of me to test her,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkzodQD7eR
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4Npj9RcJd
and then Add to home screen.