Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0gM5NY1Ue
Nana was still at his side,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEEEWdOIsU
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Drmq9qqi3
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFM4GIGgJo
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX9OOAuFEK
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI80P1i1FG
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX0In54ylq
like they were holding a secret meeting.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjwIavbDm2
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDILGUhm4Uv
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s6cp8vnyq
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwapsoA1T6V
Then, softly:14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm30ggwp6p7
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRtEZPyIzi
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzQINtVakL
“That’s not good.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVQgxHZNnz
But only Batman knows for sure.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAXpZT2qPT
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVnofPmXey
and said, clearly and firmly:14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq4QjBlZtT
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwOLKanaoM
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh7Zd9tVOo
She would sneak out—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYGxm6u51A
climb down from her window.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthZITzyBJ6
The night was thick like ink.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImy59IZwEQ
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtbZO2HJbV
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZmlTOteuj
They walked slowly,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi1L9AP1oL
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCYV3cNoiZ
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5CsWW9MEp
and suddenly,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHZ1b2qx42
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMWQKV9Mhm
Up close, it was black and gleaming,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI93EsZ6Pyk
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lz6KUUZDR
They pressed up against the side of the car,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5sTFKwond
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5ApRffrpM
not a sound from within.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Y19fBaiT
The interior was pitch black—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcy5jtZk93
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxMOa9YE34
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXYmZ4Hpk3
But his mind was already on something else.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUtmqfcEa0
A shadow approached.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBrzoRIqKx
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwRLwkH7tv
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjibMeAYpYk
The mask on his face showed no emotion.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6IIyTZUtn
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xoTWEaBAv
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVzaWdnq2F
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdfYNLfORu
he stopped.
Two children.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s5bM9dpjA
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lnRg7YyOh
This wasn’t a place for kids—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAZmC7sN3e
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuUKnvHtEh
ready to speak—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwH0CCEjJD
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJu2qTotoc
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FHuVs8WX6
For a second—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKEM7VWNkN
that look,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc4ibjII1b
that determined tone—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYHADTQSWb
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrOHYNaJZj
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfUiiGjrNb
sleeping in the training room,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoILUghlJ4K
refusing to come home.
They fought.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgRTuLo1Ox
Gave each other the silent treatment.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxgbegTtqZ
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3fnfmDwQv
“You two shouldn’t be here.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYhdmoSuBM
It’s dangerous.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGy2o8I6UA
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2eR296KY3
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgcCEL8TLy
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZXgKuWToy
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t0mSn2ATy
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwg4mhwTS6
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTEs65PA8T
“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—14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcHDRcBmTF
and in that moment,14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejyXOLENIx
those rebellious, stubborn eyes14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC7FxN1slG
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq7tVFEk5k
who refused to back down.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbRRnkojO8
