A bullet sliced through the air, its echo ringing inside the shooting booth.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXfcSIP8qb
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLmjhl92B8
Not luck.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRL5gmU8BW
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDXSYuhYPM
Her shoulders were relaxed, but her wrists were steady as stone.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuSDGlyjQj
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Yzv78DyN
Where had she learned this?159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDED3s9UMV
This wasn’t the kind of accuracy one gets from just “a few times at the range.”159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfcCOgzY5Z
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZf7fFVSKx
“Can I change the distance?” she asked softly.
He nodded and adjusted the panel.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdyEADxcSI
The target slid further back.
It was only then that he realized—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4eHa6GLJr
he’d been holding his breath.
Not out of shock.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWq85HI3HR
Out of caution.
And he didn’t like it.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMu7SrngMg
That sense of unease—he never even felt it around actual villains.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mGw5caMbU
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z9i8uPZk0
Not a spy.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU9OJb0DAN
Not an assassin.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvMqFQGq5L
She was… a kindergarten teacher.
Then—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lBtx7mNR4
Bang.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGX8OvUckW
The third bullet fired.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXEyDK1pDz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5xLgoLIK5
Who the hell is she?
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhgglOCe68
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5koUQZrqU
Afterward, they cleaned the guns together and packed them back into the case.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAPXLvr2TL
Spent casings rolled lightly across the table, making soft clinks—like the aftershocks of a quiet war.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Zd60VPNR
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmzS04VvoS
Her shoulders had dropped slightly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN3ClemM18
She was still gazing at the rifle she’d just used—almost like she was savoring it.
Then Tim noticed—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7d1fKZ6oC
her hands were trembling.
Not shaking violently—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY6RMF3TLW
but the subtle, accumulated tremble of recoil and exhaustion.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XXYSpmBQz
The kind that creeps in after a long time shooting.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kOxam9cs0
Like a soldier finally unarmored.
Well, to be fair—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXn7Yw8PTy
she had been shooting for nearly three hours.
He saw traces of gunpowder still clinging to her fingertips.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMJEKWkjxG
Her skin glowed faintly warm with residual heat.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gOa2NDZGF
But she hadn’t complained once.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8s0yCDjql
Hadn’t asked for a break.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql6ZdVGtsT
As if this kind of fatigue had long been a part of her rhythm.
Good.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0tIVD61YK
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm9w8f4U95
He couldn’t let suspicion cloud his judgment.
He’d only stepped up for a few rounds himself.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyZQgAnAjC
The scores were decent.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlvJACO3UP
But none of his shots had hit fatal zones.
And he knew exactly why.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXH5UCSpwe
It wasn’t a matter of skill.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxDhDDWVOC
It was a matter of training.
Batman’s rules were clear:159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth6GDMtci8
Subdue, don’t kill.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GyPPDnJqJ
Be precise, but never lethal.
It was a philosophy.
Nora, though—her aim was different.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO98hyG0fA
She wasn’t trained by Batman.
She was faster.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCq0QqjOiR
More instinctual.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtBxEjryPQ
And she liked aiming for the head.
Tim had noticed.
Not intentionally, perhaps.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tFGdsJ39d
But something in her subconscious always chose the direct hit, the clean strike, the no-loose-ends shot.
That…159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QEU6n3eaB
couldn’t be known by the rest of the Bat-family.
Tim’s mouth twitched.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRg6YMSZj8
If Bruce ever found out, he’d be watched—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgv6eK9BEV
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELm6TBmD1v
Her wrist moved naturally, fluid around the body of the weapon, every action muscle memory.
After a moment, he spoke.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEvLyKfhyA
“Your aim’s really good.”
Nora didn’t look up.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9sr0SM6LR
“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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjumeIJ1ORO
Not something an average civilian would say so casually.
His mind raced through possible backgrounds and scenarios,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Y2sUaRp9
but Nora didn’t offer any more.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqCaZjx6hj
She just kept wiping.
Then—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJxuZG5mZ1
she paused.
Cloth still in hand,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5LFc5fLN2
her gaze drifted somewhere distant—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxznqJOUj5B
to a time he couldn’t see.
“Actually, guns aren’t my strong suit,” she said quietly.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsASldQaZk8
“I only used them for a short time.”
Tim held his breath.
That sentence didn’t sound like small talk.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYqmh86S1U
It sounded like a confession—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYVBNeA8qW
like a smuggled thought sneaking out of a sealed memory.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqaqJyShIj
Each word soaked with invisible weight.
Then she added—
“I spent most of my time… with archery.”
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxuF3jZIgA
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjrKSy35KA
“Archery?” Tim raised an eyebrow. “So… you like archery?”
Nora gave him a glance but didn’t answer right away.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IAoUC2lTA
Her fingers were still checking the gun bag’s clasps.
“Not really about liking or disliking,” she said simply.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡastBiVqLZi
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0tRNcD8mW
A gentle curve of the lips—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEjBqEN8SH
like wind brushing past leaves.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69k0XbIK5q
No ripples.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrtPaSRIVJ
But it lingered.
Then she turned away and put the arrows back,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLKiraE5ef
her tone a bit lighter:159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR6EtokyLA
“I used to think—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuB2iP0QN5
if I ever quit teaching kindergarten,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C1cW2CKjr
maybe I’d become an archery coach.”
Tim didn’t answer.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHXFZvXX8A
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqwgDFfXtz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BXZGlxypP
and a more frustrating thought struck him.
If she did quit being a kindergarten teacher…159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdz3TRfNxx
Finn would absolutely lose it.
That kid basically lived for Nora.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90AbspSdJ7
Declared he’d marry her eight times a day.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsjxhJAG8o
Made weekend cards for her.
Tim rubbed his temples.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0IuceO9zQ
He could already hear Finn’s future wailing echoing through Wayne Manor—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyxxrvcSBL
and then the inevitable call from Europe.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwhZGX57kI
“Tim! What the hell happened?!”159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck8yUrLGXu
Leila’s voice, sharp and panicked.
…No.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vdRBoeDoX
That backup plan could not happen too soon.
Tim was still calculating the feasibility of buying the entire kindergarten.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21mZjLND5U
Shifting funds wouldn’t be a problem.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6N3W1gK8r
The real issue was how to mask the motive so that neither Finn nor Bruce would catch on.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvsRrCYN9J
He had already mapped out a few potential shell company routes and plausible justifications—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZV6Hbh4SK
until he heard someone call out:
“Mr. Drake.”
He turned his head.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RpueLISq0
Nora had just placed the last rifle into the case, closing the lid with practiced ease.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AcBSiPd4h
After locking the latches, she gave her hands a quick clap—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1krkyVQIFO
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDE5Sehsib
“Tim, thank you for inviting me today. I really enjoyed it.”
Her eyes still shimmered with leftover excitement—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNjJLlSGyU
so different from the cool, sharp precision she had while shooting.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S9hKWRGKq
This was human.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxodRKebYM
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QOsON73My
He wasn’t analyzing risks.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lYSrhNQoZ
He wasn’t scanning for background intel.
He just… froze a little—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo0JZfAFSV
and then nodded.
“Sure,” he said.
His voice wasn’t loud,159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4fZdwV6DB
but the way the words landed felt like the quiet turning of a page—159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRQ6FpM9nL
a new chapter quietly unfolding.
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9Ov6lvfJA
and then Add to home screen.