Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBXNHJ4tSn
Nana was still at his side,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDXqp9pSln
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsh3VM4uJ7
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn0OnnT1kt
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMJEMra2zZ
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAZFhywGgx
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipBNQatPst
like they were holding a secret meeting.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfXheKnU81
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JhevP9wYm
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDpgmuuzHr
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceXZMaYXBc
Then, softly:31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0R3pX4uUs
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonWsCF2FA3
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SUCI1IdWE
“That’s not good.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS2OqsUPP0
But only Batman knows for sure.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmZklSQuzu
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukb8pM6K9P
and said, clearly and firmly:31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdhc4sECX6
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDJiFAii4w
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJbdSx1B1b
She would sneak out—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWRPPvhLi8
climb down from her window.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxjr0lvGLi
The night was thick like ink.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvDANk4zpk
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eOXY7gsrR
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mT9XB4O2d
They walked slowly,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KH1Mla7ZL
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIImUjvwCA
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9r2v25ggG
and suddenly,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0afoc8HCh1
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTyxvbEZEA
Up close, it was black and gleaming,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEUl5HTs42
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaYX27W3KU
They pressed up against the side of the car,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO97AgX4asm
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dtyid0y0n
not a sound from within.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR82ejACOGB
The interior was pitch black—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuVuhaJprD
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq2pOBoHHD
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qOPbvXpE8
But his mind was already on something else.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxEaV6jP5T
A shadow approached.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3vHfl2k1G
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt38hE68Xg
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB55xF8jVwl
The mask on his face showed no emotion.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe6zvGX2wQ
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk2tFoepUQ
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UFODaceLK
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYjR0nlJGA
he stopped.
Two children.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1P6IhGMVR
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQMHMR25Kb
This wasn’t a place for kids—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyt6gfaeoL
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRmDBMbylo
ready to speak—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJz4vEjkoT
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeocyhRriN
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfabbFqfCA
For a second—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rlOoIPBf7
that look,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH33y6xReL
that determined tone—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHj1srq2UL
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNswC5SmJRT
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSkoCXdNLV
sleeping in the training room,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqGYRvfkq6
refusing to come home.
They fought.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LduDtCC6T
Gave each other the silent treatment.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsbY1Ta36f
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPlBe0tHiA
“You two shouldn’t be here.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaAosszioF
It’s dangerous.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjFifowu5D
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMfYwDArH9
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6GifvElPi
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhH1KNEkZ7
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4rkngcFxN
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cxBcJnhFb
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvvZ0r8QDX
“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—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKkypQQacc
and in that moment,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6PNrFA3cB
those rebellious, stubborn eyes31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN0bwZ9bZv
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXehubWDh4
who refused to back down.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnLGwzugqn
and then Add to home screen.