Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.8Please respect copyright.PENANAUbXG28IFb0
Nana was still at his side,8Please respect copyright.PENANAoPN4FNmlfa
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,8Please respect copyright.PENANA8MSRJJuNaK
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.8Please respect copyright.PENANADtwDxaO53W
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.8Please respect copyright.PENANASQzt4LQZ71
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.8Please respect copyright.PENANAQnY61rIwLx
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,8Please respect copyright.PENANAqoUA7qNJpj
like they were holding a secret meeting.8Please respect copyright.PENANAiKLVOvqmYq
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.8Please respect copyright.PENANAlx0TKvacob
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMcJneB11a6
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.8Please respect copyright.PENANAUBZ0hl0GbF
Then, softly:8Please respect copyright.PENANAPfygV8FVw0
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:8Please respect copyright.PENANA6MriqHOgtN
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.8Please respect copyright.PENANA9AuRAoTjK5
“That’s not good.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXhAwMpZI6g
But only Batman knows for sure.8Please respect copyright.PENANAnL7sgIs9Yb
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,8Please respect copyright.PENANAeYArv0SgmR
and said, clearly and firmly:8Please respect copyright.PENANApBCi2Sj8dW
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.8Please respect copyright.PENANA4UvXedIn4d
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgDapns7giF
She would sneak out—8Please respect copyright.PENANAi9oq5s2Vpg
climb down from her window.
8Please respect copyright.PENANAb3hL6Oqqov
The night was thick like ink.8Please respect copyright.PENANAeImvtgTRpa
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,8Please respect copyright.PENANAkcnUOm89r7
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.8Please respect copyright.PENANADhcO5WAxug
They walked slowly,8Please respect copyright.PENANANv7nOJQiP6
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.8Please respect copyright.PENANAJtBmq8qVnC
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—8Please respect copyright.PENANAEiD7rRnpWZ
and suddenly,8Please respect copyright.PENANAIL0QhXVZed
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.8Please respect copyright.PENANAHRUpoifwtw
Up close, it was black and gleaming,8Please respect copyright.PENANAjGi2duRBGg
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.8Please respect copyright.PENANAdyFGMH3pCc
They pressed up against the side of the car,8Please respect copyright.PENANAEl6XcUlA6D
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,8Please respect copyright.PENANABEqzDVqn5A
not a sound from within.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYPTyzelsWl
The interior was pitch black—8Please respect copyright.PENANA97SIDLePk6
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:8Please respect copyright.PENANA1Gcr69VQrv
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgDbEiFiyNP
But his mind was already on something else.
8Please respect copyright.PENANAKCmf01fFB6
A shadow approached.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXVHDgbJEDq
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.8Please respect copyright.PENANA1KqDeXC4M5
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.8Please respect copyright.PENANAZFZWbZiZrd
The mask on his face showed no emotion.8Please respect copyright.PENANAFP81pK4VCZ
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgJ8JXfFhcm
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,8Please respect copyright.PENANA4Iv0fjKfx3
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,8Please respect copyright.PENANAFE0mIRO6jf
he stopped.
Two children.8Please respect copyright.PENANAFJUdSvSfGl
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.8Please respect copyright.PENANAlaQrFM9REu
This wasn’t a place for kids—8Please respect copyright.PENANAt9Ma8rOnfH
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,8Please respect copyright.PENANA6ApXdAgHRk
ready to speak—8Please respect copyright.PENANAJEgoUVXwox
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…8Please respect copyright.PENANAnLmzeyHOHJ
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.8Please respect copyright.PENANA67pnhhXupD
For a second—8Please respect copyright.PENANAXnMlCmNRe1
that look,8Please respect copyright.PENANAGiU9fa34My
that determined tone—8Please respect copyright.PENANAfjG4i9ioVI
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2iNMVHvMwl
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,8Please respect copyright.PENANA7F983QIEtD
sleeping in the training room,8Please respect copyright.PENANAcs0NV8Dwoj
refusing to come home.
They fought.8Please respect copyright.PENANAm2MWNR0yXK
Gave each other the silent treatment.8Please respect copyright.PENANARdfcL6t2DB
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.8Please respect copyright.PENANALrVV8mxwnP
“You two shouldn’t be here.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMjtunTSVGi
It’s dangerous.8Please respect copyright.PENANAGdVIzeXVZt
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,8Please respect copyright.PENANANKr8NTL8PX
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.8Please respect copyright.PENANAngDfL38j5I
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,8Please respect copyright.PENANAYtDwqqM5qa
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.8Please respect copyright.PENANAjQayO9IveC
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqFowHwhSyY
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,8Please respect copyright.PENANAfgxlBflaBM
“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—8Please respect copyright.PENANAFMjC3wc1WS
and in that moment,8Please respect copyright.PENANA1rYVD8ipIc
those rebellious, stubborn eyes8Please respect copyright.PENANAi3QOqh0jvs
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home8Please respect copyright.PENANALCe1BBUDnB
who refused to back down.
8Please respect copyright.PENANAUXsnv6TIWM