Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.39Please respect copyright.PENANAM7q0sQiqj3
Nana was still at his side,39Please respect copyright.PENANA1bHYlUw2JP
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,39Please respect copyright.PENANAC4MWTXhKHr
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.39Please respect copyright.PENANAYXmuJuU2JR
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.39Please respect copyright.PENANANamH7GPQqs
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.39Please respect copyright.PENANA0BSDRFw2jf
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,39Please respect copyright.PENANAtBYdqJFntR
like they were holding a secret meeting.39Please respect copyright.PENANAmGPFDOr2HC
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.39Please respect copyright.PENANAARIKrGpLpo
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.39Please respect copyright.PENANAr2fN19uIBI
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.39Please respect copyright.PENANAmSTLdJb0c2
Then, softly:39Please respect copyright.PENANANsA5cZTI6e
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:39Please respect copyright.PENANA0iQ45G5sms
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.39Please respect copyright.PENANAPwcFQwiIA6
“That’s not good.39Please respect copyright.PENANA8pqvhZbry4
But only Batman knows for sure.39Please respect copyright.PENANAUKMxXjaH7y
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,39Please respect copyright.PENANACdtHiaqEnH
and said, clearly and firmly:39Please respect copyright.PENANAjSNmTnUWy8
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.39Please respect copyright.PENANArDuSYp0HRU
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.39Please respect copyright.PENANAo1sc7BhiWO
She would sneak out—39Please respect copyright.PENANAF6M7SYmhS6
climb down from her window.
39Please respect copyright.PENANAs0AhFUYELc
The night was thick like ink.39Please respect copyright.PENANAkCgDtj2Sma
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,39Please respect copyright.PENANADyiD6toAIz
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.39Please respect copyright.PENANABrW71kXjxK
They walked slowly,39Please respect copyright.PENANAbYhaE9NZPi
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.39Please respect copyright.PENANAkWxfGZ7uws
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—39Please respect copyright.PENANAb2J7NSQMmw
and suddenly,39Please respect copyright.PENANAzVeqvvaQi1
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.39Please respect copyright.PENANAeXWxqd6BbZ
Up close, it was black and gleaming,39Please respect copyright.PENANA61exWfwgMk
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.39Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y5u7RD7De
They pressed up against the side of the car,39Please respect copyright.PENANAjBWDZooRu2
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,39Please respect copyright.PENANAbTqtIL2Eeq
not a sound from within.39Please respect copyright.PENANAqO9XmKSsty
The interior was pitch black—39Please respect copyright.PENANAgmkQmZvxrU
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:39Please respect copyright.PENANAEWVMXjV1uL
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.39Please respect copyright.PENANAqo2Zj1AyOo
But his mind was already on something else.
39Please respect copyright.PENANAFlI7N0yuhZ
A shadow approached.39Please respect copyright.PENANALOj1JLmh8P
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.39Please respect copyright.PENANAAEUAhaD0i1
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.39Please respect copyright.PENANAeMZuaDGhex
The mask on his face showed no emotion.39Please respect copyright.PENANAgiQnK00dXB
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.39Please respect copyright.PENANAYzbMPJSK1V
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,39Please respect copyright.PENANAaS3NQSIlBf
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,39Please respect copyright.PENANAw4yfZRmLBk
he stopped.
Two children.39Please respect copyright.PENANASpHH9hB4DY
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.39Please respect copyright.PENANAGWCEqeoGss
This wasn’t a place for kids—39Please respect copyright.PENANAPcfYGsPYNq
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,39Please respect copyright.PENANAIdlxmAp0UF
ready to speak—39Please respect copyright.PENANAeOPADPwEcj
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…39Please respect copyright.PENANAAUq2E0nBGC
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.39Please respect copyright.PENANAWGGNBCnK6H
For a second—39Please respect copyright.PENANAmvtogjjhNm
that look,39Please respect copyright.PENANACLATtCHi3q
that determined tone—39Please respect copyright.PENANACtoRGAZEXI
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.39Please respect copyright.PENANArq1zXeMgVT
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,39Please respect copyright.PENANAL3H8GVX3JG
sleeping in the training room,39Please respect copyright.PENANAWEt470Vg7E
refusing to come home.
They fought.39Please respect copyright.PENANACd3djPfnzv
Gave each other the silent treatment.39Please respect copyright.PENANAb2Iy3kUvg7
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.39Please respect copyright.PENANAldNTsxOR1k
“You two shouldn’t be here.39Please respect copyright.PENANAFxuYQuiXTB
It’s dangerous.39Please respect copyright.PENANAHAT542ao9X
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,39Please respect copyright.PENANAUoim4Cs22H
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.39Please respect copyright.PENANAE7CsHa4sPk
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,39Please respect copyright.PENANAeNjLSocwOp
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.39Please respect copyright.PENANA7UkcIn8LHx
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.39Please respect copyright.PENANAqHpJBAtbn4
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,39Please respect copyright.PENANAMSit3FmkRc
“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—39Please respect copyright.PENANASDTB6jMzGf
and in that moment,39Please respect copyright.PENANAliwNsNgZ1m
those rebellious, stubborn eyes39Please respect copyright.PENANAQbt01RyYYI
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home39Please respect copyright.PENANAhPHNM9lRty
who refused to back down.
39Please respect copyright.PENANAK6naaqvq0d