“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JKJqWhZLf
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmatIv1JDek
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Xuk0ItH5
holding a silver tray30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfD6m2Nusg
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupZgxIWSBs
His eyes fell on the boy,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu6UfW8oHr
who looked absolutely unrepentant—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8urB6WJS5O
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmTWJO6Hsm
his brow creasing into shadow.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pxypzf9kj
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElhGj19sdA
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmd4kKjeQH
he hadn’t even spoken.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBRkHo8Qfp
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5xDgCWL0H
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9RigHOiU0
the safest place he could find.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT19UXiLVP
He’d given them one warning:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U9YONvLay
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziWHvMXJuo
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zyvs9mXPT
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c7h5b9nvx
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzRtSpORNa
same place,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCmEEZMJKE
same car.
This time,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs0vI4Otav
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0QCYgQWbS
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hdQbIL1nS
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq0pqQqFS2
How did he even—”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAVEyY2xqQ
Batman muttered,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUHzNvPn4x
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LRjRHza51
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxTUpRWLmL
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7w6CK6af6
Batman was silent for a long moment,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb61x0oFku
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv2QG1Y3yq
After dropping them off that night,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQdOVGnnXX
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK4MLDs3kx
no mother,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aqHJihYNB
an alcoholic and violent father,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0nhsqpmBn
currently missing.
Nana—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpvp69Wprs
from a crumbling orphanage,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkPzlhnh4u
records say she’s mute,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sARifY4Jw
but she’d never had a diagnosis,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKQeQVF1SA
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9SllRHnlo
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVcKOhSi3s
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27GJn9OS1J
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7fugdXjlk
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP2XOqde14
For now.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMfQuzQwwD
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg7VJzT0pa
Though he said nothing,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs1HOFCkup
his expression seemed to say:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vj1IyKvCd
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTshpamatuW
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A4wFOya1Y
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JsYxH2Npx
but her gaze never left the vast machines and glowing lights around them.
Batman looked at them.
If a kid could steal four tires off the Batmobile just because he was worried about Robin…
Maybe he deserved a chance.
Alfred placed the cookies and warm milk in front of the two children30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bqaB6zOX2
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCNdsH5HG7
his voice as composed as ever.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdebRNdkR6W
Then he added:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tcJ4ww7t6
“As for young Master Robin…30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNBm8HJV85
he is currently engaged in a temporary,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmca0aXDASZ
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAggyhYMuE
frowning.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAiTUNRdrT
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oCVGxMGbD
signing: “Left?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb73Fa5nAA
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoYmSCkvJt
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa1vvgNrQb
“He has, shall we say…30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgJ7VtgUzc
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKakTnCdOPK
the same expression on their faces30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlbylWE4na
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1SUdWVjYK
Batman sat in front of the computer,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQnMR06jM2
scrolling through city surveillance.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTB1eAUxK7
He gave a grumpy huff,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBzk3e9bsx
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOK4FoU4vL
“Master Bruce,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs5UKRNZCk
if you softened your tone just a little,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtxLYZPIWK
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TXg9qU2oo
His shoulders moved slightly,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eFviNlbZr
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4PMXzBOwD
Luckily, it was summer break.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYhDR4JklR
The kids didn’t need to go to school.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBzsxouSF0
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mci9evgmY
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfMuTni7ga
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtIcHY6urt
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZqxDlkVne
soft Persian rugs underfoot,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4hNqFT7kC
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF1vjgyvMk
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkW8Kt4ScH
Alfred said from behind them,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ175a1fO2e
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs8X8rf9bl
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyfWr1RLiD
a desk,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR8xrVn08W
and a leather chair so grand30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCVQCCQyeg
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY9bsj6U1y
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhCGe4k5s6
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXDAoKg1NT
We didn’t have time to prepare,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3VgaBG6I5
but in the future,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcxuxMaWZM
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE87op6FApv
waved her hands quickly,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoOkYSe3S0
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwLutBBPQM
That night,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b2EpFpnLG
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXDz0cVNvP
peeked out,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOzjI8m0Ya
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsQn5700yr
his hair a mess—30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ354WVmVG0i
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9EddB6bpl
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGC2eHEf9n
took her hand,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CKjoBi3RB
and led her in.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiQNYijTor
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oICpVSoUs
sipping his tea.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqZjhKipHU
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YzO6mUgp5
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1XxACW7rP
those two children…30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfspoBRsw2e
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcHj2kaiyj
He stared at the monitor for a long time,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIOchCo5Dp
silent.
Inside the room,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVC8Ddzagu
the lights were off.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjiWuBRSA0
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bCRpULgay
heads resting together,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbDlSHwvtq
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3razoJpFY
The Batmobile.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pe0QtN8iG
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyDZ0jYfU4
And…30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv51V8w8ic
the bed.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FoJgHQw1L
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU7qy8d3uH
they both fell asleep quietly30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0QxcE62Vh
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMMF4VGn9p
Morning sunlight poured into the grand study of Wayne Manor. A soft carpet lay beneath the tall windows, and by the window stood an old wooden desk with two thick-cushioned chairs—just enough for two children to sit side by side.
Jason and Nana had come here early. Ever since they discovered this room, filled with what felt like the knowledge of the entire world, they had been excitedly darting through the shelves—leaping from stories of knights to dinosaur encyclopedias, flipping from plant guides to Sherlock Holmes, like two owls who’d just found a secret treasure trove.
Now they sat quietly by the window, each immersed in their own book.
Alfred had placed some black tea and cookies on the desk. The warmth filled the room. Sunlight fell across their profiles, and the children would occasionally point out fun sentences or pictures to one another before diving back into their pages. It was a rare moment of peace.
Alfred watched them with deep satisfaction and whispered to Bruce beside him, “Such a tranquil moment, sir. They’re both good children—I’ve always believed that children who love to read never turn out bad.”
Batman didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lifted from the reports in front of him and lingered on the two small silhouettes at the far end of the study.
There was hesitation in his eyes.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHCcgiAxzw
He had seen too many villains who loved to read.
Just then, a door creaked open softly.
Footsteps entered, familiar yet out of sync with the calm rhythm of the mansion—full of youthful energy.
Alfred’s face lit up with a rare smile. He turned and said, “Master Dick, you’ve finally returned.”
“Of course, Alfred,” the voice was warm and light, straddling the line between a boy and a young man—like a spring breeze in the afternoon. “I missed you. And when I heard we had two new members at home, I had to rush back. Otherwise, Bruce would give them a hard time again.”
The two children in the study poked their heads out at the sound.
A tall teenager stood in the doorway, eyes gentle, a friendly smile on his lips. His gaze landed on them immediately—soft and calm—as he slowly walked over.
“These must be Jason and Nana, right? I’m Dick. Just call me Dick. Welcome—”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgJuv9hlof
He paused, tilting his brows.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBZTi4TqRh
“Wait a minute... Aren’t you the girl who was crying at the junkyard that night?”
Dick stepped a little closer, trying to recall the blurry scene from that late night. It was that voice, that desperate scream of “Robin” that had pulled him across the city.
Nana stared at him blankly, eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty.
That’s when Jason instinctively stepped forward, like a wall against the wind, subtly nudging the girl behind him.
Dick noticed the motion and let out a laugh.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pRDBgp37P
“Oh right—I forgot to mention. I’m Robin. Nice to meet you.”
As he chuckled, he extended a hand to the girl.
Nana blinked, and her eyes suddenly sparkled.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziHm898rF5
She didn’t say a word, just reached out from behind Jason’s right shoulder and gently took Dick’s hand, her face glowing in a way Jason had never seen before.
Jason stood beside them, watching the historic handshake between one tall person and one small one, his expression unreadable.
He muttered internally.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48n4zcBuR7
And in his mind, he drew a giant red X over the title “Robin.”
On Dick’s third day back home, he began to get a sense of the daily rhythm shared by the new additions to the household.
He noticed that Nana barely spoke and communicated mostly through sign language. Jason would occasionally supplement with simple questions or emotions—but most of the time, he used sign too. Their coordination was so smooth it was like watching a well-rehearsed pair of dancers.
But something even funnier happened.
One morning, Dick, feeling eager, headed to the library and grabbed a copy of Beginner’s Guide to Sign Language. He decided to teach himself a bit and surprise Jason later by showing off.
He memorized all 26 letters and even practiced three times in front of the mirror.
But when he finally gathered the courage to talk to Nana, he stared in confusion at what she signed—it didn’t match the book at all!
Puzzled, Dick turned to Jason for answers.
Jason shrugged and replied matter-of-factly, “We made up our own system. It’s faster that way. Plus, we change it every two weeks so no one can crack it.”
Dick was stunned for a second—then burst into laughter.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM5L44PZeI
“So basically... this is your version of kids’ secret code? What are you two now, an underground intel network?”
Their encrypted communication reminded him of Bruce’s face whenever he encountered unreadable ciphers.
“Well, you know...” Dick grinned and added playfully, “Batman hates codes he can’t break.”
ns216.73.216.251da2
