“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,28Please respect copyright.PENANA1Q3UvhywzL
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.28Please respect copyright.PENANAAgJdA4JuxI
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,28Please respect copyright.PENANACyGUKqLi9o
holding a silver tray28Please respect copyright.PENANAkNC5C1nc1X
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.28Please respect copyright.PENANATR4N2CVxYI
His eyes fell on the boy,28Please respect copyright.PENANAx5yhcSHUgT
who looked absolutely unrepentant—28Please respect copyright.PENANAMUO0NEL1bd
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,28Please respect copyright.PENANA1Im4xiecH8
his brow creasing into shadow.28Please respect copyright.PENANAAelWekFLtz
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,28Please respect copyright.PENANAiHiZjSFBNC
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—28Please respect copyright.PENANAabgyU6PoDB
he hadn’t even spoken.28Please respect copyright.PENANAQOfMHAaFZt
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,28Please respect copyright.PENANAkEFdqKnSWq
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—28Please respect copyright.PENANAEzVj4EfsMD
the safest place he could find.28Please respect copyright.PENANA7y3PQG7Qgd
He’d given them one warning:28Please respect copyright.PENANAkxfqJDwsWt
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.28Please respect copyright.PENANA48RmHgP2je
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,28Please respect copyright.PENANAGENUf8OxCV
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.28Please respect copyright.PENANAeYYI4e3jh5
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—28Please respect copyright.PENANA3fliyIy0mW
same place,28Please respect copyright.PENANAh5p7aBzUa5
same car.
This time,28Please respect copyright.PENANAr7CjCMihMe
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,28Please respect copyright.PENANA2fE1xqyd9U
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,28Please respect copyright.PENANAhkn1N3dguL
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.28Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2TouRoqUp
How did he even—”28Please respect copyright.PENANAqtFBFWlwD5
Batman muttered,28Please respect copyright.PENANAdKxWMJXyc6
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,28Please respect copyright.PENANADbpYdzZfCi
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.28Please respect copyright.PENANA7npsqcBkD8
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,28Please respect copyright.PENANA7bRhBevRWH
Batman was silent for a long moment,28Please respect copyright.PENANAMK4g0YjWEp
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.28Please respect copyright.PENANARY7uKdRFcr
After dropping them off that night,28Please respect copyright.PENANAib1ZUn5vrM
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—28Please respect copyright.PENANA4sriTAxRyf
no mother,28Please respect copyright.PENANAhL2yFL9MIh
an alcoholic and violent father,28Please respect copyright.PENANA8c1RXyfct8
currently missing.
Nana—28Please respect copyright.PENANAH9nWkPys3C
from a crumbling orphanage,28Please respect copyright.PENANAkfTHkvhaOX
records say she’s mute,28Please respect copyright.PENANANt4oRBadWA
but she’d never had a diagnosis,28Please respect copyright.PENANAAAFLlnQ5QO
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—28Please respect copyright.PENANAYVuOwK6N8z
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time28Please respect copyright.PENANA3wASwJxBxB
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,28Please respect copyright.PENANAwHKzJzvPHZ
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.28Please respect copyright.PENANAvUm4zKH8cL
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.28Please respect copyright.PENANA8GJ9S3nl6J
For now.28Please respect copyright.PENANAzVsZIeIo7o
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.28Please respect copyright.PENANAAFwO3SDiS3
Though he said nothing,28Please respect copyright.PENANAaPdwE36aLe
his expression seemed to say:28Please respect copyright.PENANAWWH2VFfeix
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—28Please respect copyright.PENANAyLiMODIRDt
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,28Please respect copyright.PENANAAG2KZKnXJS
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,28Please respect copyright.PENANA16QJatbGh4
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 children28Please respect copyright.PENANA5jOMgA3bXS
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,28Please respect copyright.PENANAynNZ9PQcuL
his voice as composed as ever.28Please respect copyright.PENANArMMxLGpuWp
Then he added:28Please respect copyright.PENANAiH221nlHOR
“As for young Master Robin…28Please respect copyright.PENANAsCFXbVBl9o
he is currently engaged in a temporary,28Please respect copyright.PENANAzfAzjJR0hw
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,28Please respect copyright.PENANANPCCGnNby8
frowning.28Please respect copyright.PENANAWwZYW157L5
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,28Please respect copyright.PENANAwa2bsVGgG9
signing: “Left?”28Please respect copyright.PENANAmSQKrmrcWt
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,28Please respect copyright.PENANAYK62qvNQTr
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.28Please respect copyright.PENANAOV7uhx1eRN
“He has, shall we say…28Please respect copyright.PENANAjOM4Fbfe5w
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—28Please respect copyright.PENANA5Z0a8bDmex
the same expression on their faces28Please respect copyright.PENANACXJUxvaK6o
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,28Please respect copyright.PENANAjYeoqTOihC
Batman sat in front of the computer,28Please respect copyright.PENANA8MTOYWvFji
scrolling through city surveillance.28Please respect copyright.PENANARUnR93T0Xz
He gave a grumpy huff,28Please respect copyright.PENANABuPnZqol2K
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:28Please respect copyright.PENANAfLyrXfYKgE
“Master Bruce,28Please respect copyright.PENANAqQrUPlCaWE
if you softened your tone just a little,28Please respect copyright.PENANAYJoM7Hgpu8
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.28Please respect copyright.PENANA0xUQMFrgu7
His shoulders moved slightly,28Please respect copyright.PENANATP3Le9V6Oz
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
28Please respect copyright.PENANAeOcImaYLtj
Luckily, it was summer break.28Please respect copyright.PENANAnw8QoYdcLc
The kids didn’t need to go to school.28Please respect copyright.PENANAxc1szhZfJW
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave28Please respect copyright.PENANA2iony0jNvy
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,28Please respect copyright.PENANADWuUoIiMUe
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,28Please respect copyright.PENANAqFVzN96Cw3
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,28Please respect copyright.PENANAgAJpFsScBh
soft Persian rugs underfoot,28Please respect copyright.PENANAalJCd5oR2S
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,28Please respect copyright.PENANAA1ZQSM0cJo
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”28Please respect copyright.PENANAojuWYjfk2P
Alfred said from behind them,28Please respect copyright.PENANAfsM3R5YOCj
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough28Please respect copyright.PENANAStI8WfOBPn
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,28Please respect copyright.PENANAP4eFO7gZRY
a desk,28Please respect copyright.PENANAlsr69GlGg3
and a leather chair so grand28Please respect copyright.PENANAe4S5cIoW4s
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,28Please respect copyright.PENANAnPgQcYhJoE
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.28Please respect copyright.PENANA8rLFo0MIFj
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.28Please respect copyright.PENANAkxGbGuG5m5
We didn’t have time to prepare,28Please respect copyright.PENANAJFUtAPJUKB
but in the future,28Please respect copyright.PENANAJbwM1nPqDU
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,28Please respect copyright.PENANAiPG9aWzZ2C
waved her hands quickly,28Please respect copyright.PENANA8KWum9mnuw
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
28Please respect copyright.PENANArmJqUv0pv9
That night,28Please respect copyright.PENANA905fHmBfwm
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,28Please respect copyright.PENANA6cehgDlWYq
peeked out,28Please respect copyright.PENANAaqLXdruPpV
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,28Please respect copyright.PENANAI5P5MwVeMS
his hair a mess—28Please respect copyright.PENANAx2kSzwVQT3
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,28Please respect copyright.PENANAZT6xs7AQvl
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,28Please respect copyright.PENANAIHq237NWcN
took her hand,28Please respect copyright.PENANAyzTbvcsHS5
and led her in.
28Please respect copyright.PENANA84pbiCnIW2
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,28Please respect copyright.PENANAVDQxNseYdK
sipping his tea.28Please respect copyright.PENANAmQBEof3DI3
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,28Please respect copyright.PENANAyiNSC4qnZU
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,28Please respect copyright.PENANAqzcCAOAgOy
those two children…28Please respect copyright.PENANAgFBERpf6XJ
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.28Please respect copyright.PENANAlQhkIEVYJO
He stared at the monitor for a long time,28Please respect copyright.PENANANi8N8pLfTE
silent.
Inside the room,28Please respect copyright.PENANAL2m2bzhzh4
the lights were off.28Please respect copyright.PENANAvMkzOHnmQf
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,28Please respect copyright.PENANAAhFCL9i2ET
heads resting together,28Please respect copyright.PENANAGzQVYrhse7
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.28Please respect copyright.PENANAaaq2BjoZSP
The Batmobile.28Please respect copyright.PENANAG1UvZg7sAf
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.28Please respect copyright.PENANAYqXIg7p0DP
And…28Please respect copyright.PENANAvAFvhavR45
the bed.28Please respect copyright.PENANAhTqs4wHlyU
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,28Please respect copyright.PENANAk8bHxK1R8E
they both fell asleep quietly28Please respect copyright.PENANAlQKNmYUJUt
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.28Please respect copyright.PENANATUZ9xauBzP
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.28Please respect copyright.PENANA2Z65UjWNDV
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—”28Please respect copyright.PENANAS9jryFXckD
He paused, tilting his brows.28Please respect copyright.PENANAljmWy50Psj
“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.28Please respect copyright.PENANAKNBUObD50B
“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.28Please respect copyright.PENANAOpbBiJfYAJ
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.28Please respect copyright.PENANAM5py4ZlCfG
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.28Please respect copyright.PENANA8nxRUVJyry
“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.”
ns216.73.216.116da2