Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9srMultOa
Nana was still at his side,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjd07055Xv
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7csCsRA64d
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDelmpAMtoN
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjflDP3h5AD
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXDvGnv7O4
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0Euvo9Ov9
like they were holding a secret meeting.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7w6oQQySq
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iuUeFWubX
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZloLqZ6eQ3
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTss8boB2G
Then, softly:26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIrXQTQBr6
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vflz4TyDf
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVATKbR32UT
“That’s not good.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWeuL09d3a
But only Batman knows for sure.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylPkaHt0QP
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuUv5S3rrB
and said, clearly and firmly:26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LhGZVxpe0
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu6R1LWbfc
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMiAR73WOl
She would sneak out—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU6nFtHZhV
climb down from her window.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGbLdu0xam
The night was thick like ink.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iezLDm4wk
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjoGCjMmRl
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kgWhHuBOg
They walked slowly,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53tL7QwL3O
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwxPwoWfXU
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFh41xqqfr
and suddenly,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluuitJioOn
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WFkjdyxr2
Up close, it was black and gleaming,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63zQ9tKyAV
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfdQxsoDZl
They pressed up against the side of the car,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wHTSYzEJf
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1XOaG4ogd
not a sound from within.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR31oK9wDB
The interior was pitch black—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1o3uRfTem
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UAxejELcn
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA80UMuMMp
But his mind was already on something else.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWnJQ6EWGX
A shadow approached.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERJGpiKlHW
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXL7TKv3jA
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UU7jVDLjn
The mask on his face showed no emotion.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtbZErUpK7
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodeN8phhXV
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SGcj8XdD7
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACYHF8BMgC
he stopped.
Two children.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP2h4zfIRT
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBksY3D6nWS
This wasn’t a place for kids—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zALHG8sx1
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp1z7wTmsJ
ready to speak—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbt4CVX5Iv
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMNsR7nZ7P
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgKXqugGEW
For a second—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ185n0avbxQ
that look,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIj3SUBHSe
that determined tone—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX18FffQ0H
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT9Q4nC1CU
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA97Cwfv6v
sleeping in the training room,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzcRdv0mkS
refusing to come home.
They fought.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUHhBfDLB8
Gave each other the silent treatment.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI1SKdvgbw
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUJZExtD1y
“You two shouldn’t be here.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrehqY6wmFf
It’s dangerous.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW9upC6ywQ
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznxpAUywGR
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgs4lMposD
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWIiWbSMLR
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8fu3dZqap
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMww3GLcU2
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOJ613o0xF
“do you have time now to tell us what happened to Robin?”
“I’ll put the wheels back afterward.”
Batman looked at the boy again—26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWFR8Ss02B
and in that moment,26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fFgOtzokk
those rebellious, stubborn eyes26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4UOdROHgI
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfPeuJmDtJ
who refused to back down.
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4MlDsWkAu
