“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9ru2mNeLi
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LJnekuIBT
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatlnBDFTj8
holding a silver tray41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0FVoPjaAp
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwbCCHimwj
His eyes fell on the boy,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGkyec3hkV
who looked absolutely unrepentant—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE7GvpqgBv
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj8Bz8R8OX
his brow creasing into shadow.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKurOjvJkyb
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ9jMRguZu
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFgYBUXFfV
he hadn’t even spoken.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuWg9qtl0v
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkokhCk7qK2
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKKTzrfW4a
the safest place he could find.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrTsm1GtTw
He’d given them one warning:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC8gPuSZbu
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrOJjoLUcH
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMsyYg76cS
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh1611LO5H
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EZ8NwaThV
same place,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zpb6Xwmig
same car.
This time,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsBxJCFuXY
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUh7Ni8183
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlIWoVWlKh
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUspSHNYwSb
How did he even—”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIFVF3398C
Batman muttered,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwAiLZ4qDz
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxduZ0SUmm8
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8etTqWaNB
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecBzxPKM7v
Batman was silent for a long moment,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk6PsNovYS
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8R2TnNBkZ
After dropping them off that night,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenaF8I0KkO
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdtp0wDWtj
no mother,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj0xGZesCQ
an alcoholic and violent father,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoLJzTMitO
currently missing.
Nana—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrAoVO2v1b
from a crumbling orphanage,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeAq10XVVj
records say she’s mute,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNOxHF7EaT
but she’d never had a diagnosis,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2okie05qC
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4hyESXTej
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjdXeKKLS6
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep6EAGInlD
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJfrOEjfC3
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jhrq1mevL
For now.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZMKKpJ9G3
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56djoCuMkF
Though he said nothing,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5jW9GLdEm
his expression seemed to say:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlASgbLaJRC
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpWMKWYjM6
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ5CeMgl9b
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLUs4Mel5O
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 children41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwixCF0t3eN
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJcTlNC8Hs
his voice as composed as ever.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRugmdhlEo
Then he added:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq0eD03SjM
“As for young Master Robin…41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKkd50rUU0
he is currently engaged in a temporary,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOAMkPwDpp
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysse5AqQDJ
frowning.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57EkQ9isDv
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6n8l7Clvn
signing: “Left?”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXtWfyFpBK
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5bgY1CERh
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT69Lq1PxwG
“He has, shall we say…41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchl8AnD2Xu
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIiBmbT1dO
the same expression on their faces41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibAudjgQeC
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi7QOMHtzx
Batman sat in front of the computer,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMc3uqYYsE
scrolling through city surveillance.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5CLxPpp65
He gave a grumpy huff,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7jojZTocq
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluSH48Xpbo
“Master Bruce,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYZhDojq9O
if you softened your tone just a little,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHFCqRhiNB
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzjwbgMJg2
His shoulders moved slightly,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrf0dNzdYR
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyicvx2WOXd
Luckily, it was summer break.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA0vYFJPtR
The kids didn’t need to go to school.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwfgdvyN4B
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Z5xdz6Eu
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvkQlVuxF2
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn9Kcv5D31
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05ZsNqoJvu
soft Persian rugs underfoot,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9JM0PvovN
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V4qvPwGzy
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxSGfsuLLz
Alfred said from behind them,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0VijydZNH
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXOpZoeHX9
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx59RUD1o0
a desk,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn35nwZjtUf
and a leather chair so grand41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2iwWDyTXI
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv54tp3PRKB
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UFA4smYCX
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtE7Vxsed6
We didn’t have time to prepare,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoKCParxxT
but in the future,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOMWpCt2KX
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTmDBU9m4n
waved her hands quickly,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkaZl8XoHV
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQks0HuMri
That night,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Rm2lXD4u
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd7lQDOlzB
peeked out,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9NzB8leBK
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCbLXG1x2d
his hair a mess—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlGJJ03Qpc
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qAee1rG2H
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jum1plK05
took her hand,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQOnzCk56K
and led her in.
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6xGjc2edO
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3jxvCCHqk
sipping his tea.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMcXDVAZeo
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQYzR8VLQA
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebXnc8FD59
those two children…41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo05lBsPwtF
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bpe5Ljyf5
He stared at the monitor for a long time,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVq7iAmXHK
silent.
Inside the room,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjyigm8oVQ
the lights were off.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DqkJPhpzt
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4XxeOFPGH
heads resting together,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LlawYfgOq
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFGZFnr40j
The Batmobile.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgl56kBUnJ
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iM5eKtPwU
And…41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bLeNL4bqd
the bed.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyPNeGdeNL
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfKNlq5AYo
they both fell asleep quietly41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK0tDNyKuw
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGACxk4kjH
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN4Aai32qW
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—”41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoopPBgkNAi
He paused, tilting his brows.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1rfobqdrU
“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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qI04xIdSn
“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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83byR0x1ri
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TDPBi9aah
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TU8nVBY41
“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.”
ns216.73.216.121da2
and then Add to home screen.