“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB1dbEwXhH
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ9XexLINm
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwWoLX3QR2
holding a silver tray10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRRLwI0xiv
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCddBzxW6Hs
His eyes fell on the boy,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAsopnNwxJ
who looked absolutely unrepentant—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3XWPGGm2j
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RyrniOgCG
his brow creasing into shadow.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4NdER8Ewl
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSTCnlAYGf
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMAxFOuYIn
he hadn’t even spoken.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv7T1KVJwG
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHBNm5fEqP
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMsq0LOJ2a
the safest place he could find.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvaiU0MIQ1
He’d given them one warning:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfX6FS092T
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32bDR8k59t
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihigQdFBP4
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWxFS1NfZW
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4xTnvCGN9
same place,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0vlup6Fh6
same car.
This time,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3zybSuZ09
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv34Ma5XZ2d
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2XvBfn7cC
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LlY9rBcaZ
How did he even—”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVIMvXuWWc
Batman muttered,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxdUx3YiHo
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuhY4ip6GA
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvoLHucMCK
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS9ylcvwM7
Batman was silent for a long moment,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGfvHrh0CY
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN4sdHypRO
After dropping them off that night,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSaN06nIiL
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq4kGoaSTb
no mother,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbUo9gdazg
an alcoholic and violent father,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd4FxioanK
currently missing.
Nana—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFUGFIJnR0
from a crumbling orphanage,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W4UIEve07
records say she’s mute,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTWFSY1mvL
but she’d never had a diagnosis,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCjH62JSe9
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dgwG9GiMV
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6jgIC2TYA
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzcbsYbxlI
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1xYQ4T7oa
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qvcqTelzG
For now.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5EuuYOEig
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzguZux7gYp
Though he said nothing,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRbrQIrMxQ
his expression seemed to say:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGp9wU3ay2
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKy1uOTtLb
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNxI4UrrqV
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT8EmLVqQf
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 children10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjvNVPbVwr
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ust6ICOim
his voice as composed as ever.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSc0uH8xTf
Then he added:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZwcV5xrJt
“As for young Master Robin…10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMcWf34aAC
he is currently engaged in a temporary,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD98DnbqO5X
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcFk3gsjMf
frowning.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMEzhWTyjV
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FzHEIgPRO
signing: “Left?”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxsgY8Yasm
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEw9MyJ4N6
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZhJq0BFNb
“He has, shall we say…10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgnQNV2VAR
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM8zFSKdkm
the same expression on their faces10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKMZ7DO6YM
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHWB2P2rAb
Batman sat in front of the computer,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OZTAST2OK
scrolling through city surveillance.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjk2aSwald
He gave a grumpy huff,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshDKM1bOf7
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4fA1wKkzc
“Master Bruce,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPOV0voOzS
if you softened your tone just a little,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD30eIAIyu3
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zh0zKF6dt
His shoulders moved slightly,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaVQeBdhLQ
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rXdpTIr7a
Luckily, it was summer break.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJcMqGFiqa
The kids didn’t need to go to school.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbBJCUclka
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurvqEun4yK
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpepLbEFvX
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgS8dNkEua
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE4NDEd50q
soft Persian rugs underfoot,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZHuOYbQDT
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pm6buhCSn
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryvsqxQrUh
Alfred said from behind them,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt0xBMpUyy
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91F7VlVhJg
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqXn21sVbj
a desk,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl38b26kYbW
and a leather chair so grand10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbHjsvkuTg
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA9AaNqlEw
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWKCFgOgaq
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O6ee7oSeR
We didn’t have time to prepare,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nxbAtLUXd
but in the future,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwFdnROJng
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOXiTEMRwk
waved her hands quickly,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU9nQ3Q33H
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj04TitU3aY
That night,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuay0OOXd6P
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehGiNKGmJk
peeked out,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3CO23f7mp
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfX9XZyDdL
his hair a mess—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NPGhJigH1
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vNhFoTKOe
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDyXlB4s7W
took her hand,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2toghuIF9
and led her in.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uZ02S4UuL
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCdA7Z3uVF
sipping his tea.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXjfTD6fR0
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhKCE97rA3
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBFUJD5AvG
those two children…10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2UfrvGVD7
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5txfpw5Bnr
He stared at the monitor for a long time,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bBeWTODr7
silent.
Inside the room,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNQTJaxpO9
the lights were off.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aJMb6xtl6
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WNuKT8yek
heads resting together,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nk3A8vVrA
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah9xjgyFBn
The Batmobile.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH6fN3A3P1
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gzi7hk89t
And…10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ27ltzp73T
the bed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWlU7hDb5w
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKzLgCZDKe
they both fell asleep quietly10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpx0HveFuc
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0qRnzQMRH
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSehvGzHfxq
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—”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj7VLqQDwr
He paused, tilting his brows.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6YwyaTPfP
“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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMTuUCZuVP
“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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRdbCWrqUz
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzcChCX570
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODtPGqAUpV
“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.”
ns216.73.216.12da2
