That evening, Nightwing knocked on the window.
Claire blinked. The window? Really?
She hadn’t left out any bagels today.33Please respect copyright.PENANAhxMPMIOsMb
Hadn’t done anything unusual.33Please respect copyright.PENANAmLI2veQEAB
Unless…33Please respect copyright.PENANAXKZ0wNsNqR
No way.33Please respect copyright.PENANAxU3lDvLRTy
Could he remember yesterday?33Please respect copyright.PENANArJ7nZNEDsZ
Already?
She opened the window with the cautious hope of someone half-expecting a miracle.33Please respect copyright.PENANArmLonnXZzB
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—33Please respect copyright.PENANAsS1fYInJ3s
Oh no.33Please respect copyright.PENANAn91LFLDeVm
Don’t tell me.33Please respect copyright.PENANAfLi9TQusbY
Blue Eyes really was the informant.
He actually reported back.33Please respect copyright.PENANAlym86g5EiA
That fast.
She stared at the vigilante awkwardly fumbling through his sentences.33Please respect copyright.PENANAG7D8zdgFcL
Nightwing, huh?
He looked over at her.33Please respect copyright.PENANA4xr1VL1LcJ
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANA75YuFZfqNo
Totally lost.33Please respect copyright.PENANA3tdUjBt7Xg
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANA1GqHdMqatL
Do something normal.33Please respect copyright.PENANAP8vHZWRID8
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANAhnZtTt42wa
Nobody in Gotham moves faster than these two.
33Please respect copyright.PENANApq6CSrMuQH
Claire opened the door, balancing the tray.33Please respect copyright.PENANAJYqAPjxITm
Nightwing sat bolt upright, still recovering from the earlier shock.33Please respect copyright.PENANAESxp6I6CzY
Robin, on the other hand, was giving her the kind of stare usually reserved for ticking bombs.
Great. Everyone’s here.33Please respect copyright.PENANAOEk1dPED7Q
Should’ve charged admission.33Please respect copyright.PENANAGmxHzg257P
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANA9jq3MjsmR7
Just placed the soup on the table.33Please respect copyright.PENANAphYOv856pT
Ceramic on wood. A soft, solid sound.
Real. Tangible.33Please respect copyright.PENANAz3HZfGqOo9
Shame I’m the only one who’ll remember it.
Robin was still suspicious, but his nose didn’t lie.33Please respect copyright.PENANAwsGlmEqgRa
He moved to the table.33Please respect copyright.PENANAVyZHUS1RqX
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANA3RP6jfUESB
Which, honestly, is kind of nice.33Please respect copyright.PENANATPkOyNhpZe
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANAHbswCfFyv2
Ended up mumbling,
“How did you know he was on Queen Street?”
Claire stared him down.
“Eat first.33Please respect copyright.PENANAE4XW0BLVyc
Then ask.”
She turned to get more utensils.33Please respect copyright.PENANAib6fCONQSY
Behind her, she heard Robin whisper,
“Is she actually psychic?”
Nightwing didn’t answer.33Please respect copyright.PENANAjIt8chPnKX
Just sipped his soup in silence.
Good. Silence means doubt.33Please respect copyright.PENANAFKQbEchI0J
Doubt means I got to him.
Claire leaned against the doorway.33Please respect copyright.PENANAEsQbMHJ6Mg
Didn’t smile. Didn’t frown.
I’m not psychic. I’m stuck.33Please respect copyright.PENANAhI0oKzTHZn
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANAeXAs8lOgND
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANAojVuUCE3mO
Used the clearest logic she could.33Please respect copyright.PENANARbNXDVAmLi
But the more she talked, the more that old fatigue crept up her spine.
Every time I explain this,33Please respect copyright.PENANAiwnvTaCPtk
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—33Please respect copyright.PENANAjBZH3snHkF
That young blue-eyed cop at the station,33Please respect copyright.PENANAS5cANeAS0V
how do I reach him?33Please respect copyright.PENANAy6gCZQy6D7
You know,33Please respect copyright.PENANANl0FxBWiSt
when every day starts over.”
Nightwing and Robin exchanged a look.33Please respect copyright.PENANAR4iSPllzq0
Robin’s face said it all:
Dude. She’s onto you.
33Please respect copyright.PENANAPzfO0OY5Qg
Claire looked at him, voice calm.
“Batman said he’s a test point.33Please respect copyright.PENANAcu7bpcyWfI
I tried.33Please respect copyright.PENANAkyh2gT67L8
He thinks I’m crazy.”
Nightwing pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was trying to rub out fatigue—33Please respect copyright.PENANAPqTUbkmuW2
or maybe guilt.
Of course he thought that.33Please respect copyright.PENANAeYyjwhjHVq
Back then, I didn’t know anything.33Please respect copyright.PENANAltxE90r44p
Every time I meet you for real… I’m wearing this damn suit.
He looked up, meeting her eyes.33Please respect copyright.PENANAzWsCfPEXgI
His voice was careful.
“I know this sounds insane, but…33Please respect copyright.PENANAzh5FaLsGyi
have you considered maybe he’s not a plant?33Please respect copyright.PENANA5ciCdweIcd
That he’s just… a regular cop?”
Claire stared at him.
Not moving.33Please respect copyright.PENANAHoFQ13l7Md
Not blinking.
Regular?33Please respect copyright.PENANAmr4HNTxrMT
You expect me to believe that?33Please respect copyright.PENANAkKwhMDAjl8
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.33Please respect copyright.PENANA9GyMXcDMfx
I am him.33Please respect copyright.PENANApMxQBlcP7r
But the daytime me has no idea this is even happening.33Please respect copyright.PENANAf3vooE1iUh
I’m the informant you’re talking about—33Please respect copyright.PENANAHz1uNQXypu
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…33Please respect copyright.PENANAvgfGnYREmX
then maybe I need to try something else.”
That made Nightwing look up, fast.33Please respect copyright.PENANAuMbyxcfn6G
His eyes sharp, voice caught in his throat.
Don’t.33Please respect copyright.PENANAfeFL1dR4BR
Please don’t.
I don’t know what you’d do to him.33Please respect copyright.PENANAPE4gQFzkke
I don’t know what I’d do to you.
Damn it, Batman.33Please respect copyright.PENANAIlQQNYMDe6
You used me as an anchor point—33Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ddmn4movR
sent the clueless version of me to test her,33Please respect copyright.PENANA0yhtehVsfv
and the suited version to analyze her.
What the hell are you trying to pull?
33Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ah7kSsuc4