Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNBPRIIipN
Nana was still at his side,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mXTO5wkCC
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSNxIHSMvF
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUlnDw5zQ3
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aZZhPgoGk
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTdd49vSLJ
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEugrNX0DKt
like they were holding a secret meeting.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdpFXOPZAb
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAASNSUdWLz
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4CoR20Tkw
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8IdnCSlB7
Then, softly:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebudVvuofK
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SDZKS8p65
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IM3wzibzG
“That’s not good.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD3maa7jqj
But only Batman knows for sure.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPLYPOX8aD
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFGjP55hUa
and said, clearly and firmly:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa0BBLgiIA
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYmuOuV2di
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZIBF9K6Wl
She would sneak out—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvMd4TdDmB
climb down from her window.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEj64QiYT9
The night was thick like ink.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgLqooatpA
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ir9UEN1nu
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MGnRKj7QU
They walked slowly,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMfFjXOnhr
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRheTsQjbpN
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGPwVdSSiq
and suddenly,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg7znVUbgs
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC40sLmRFE
Up close, it was black and gleaming,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKavI9urNAR
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42Kz9LAELw
They pressed up against the side of the car,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbbsE43I3O
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmQ9iU9zc7
not a sound from within.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV3JwiwiZX
The interior was pitch black—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxidB9TqUm
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98encfr1ct
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCkH8HCvO7
But his mind was already on something else.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv49acJ2URf
A shadow approached.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvcNQtWDBb
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQLjn6L87Q
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpCzGGLKjD
The mask on his face showed no emotion.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlDcKhgW8H
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoOVJVUqg2
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8D5T9hngJ
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNIRJpdN0P
he stopped.
Two children.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoybEzFsqMQ
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuLJnybrBG
This wasn’t a place for kids—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRs3uLvyEa
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vf785ykvI
ready to speak—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I4nwVnVCY
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHIILhauCn
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwqDDRHmnV
For a second—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNIlhLPcj1
that look,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HwxjdqoDA
that determined tone—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiv3cWRLnj
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoryjbHJ7s
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkHKTKolN6
sleeping in the training room,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡticmZ2UJ47
refusing to come home.
They fought.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedvaqq3rJq
Gave each other the silent treatment.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvafOKzG5XW
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UPLyld7JL
“You two shouldn’t be here.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7iHgkpgjp
It’s dangerous.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9sl8wBrIQ
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNCw3LMJt7
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxLea7gKxg
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnlkjeS2wO
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gVXtRRddV
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz2ghaCNFD
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YLlYEYThA
“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—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhBRbu1ShT
and in that moment,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccx9VPgC7K
those rebellious, stubborn eyes11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWlV7sEsVE
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbsIlhLaB
who refused to back down.
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNy3WgU3Sk
