“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