Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFvNtKNuHC
Nana was still at his side,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN3F2UDEIG
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkxUaLPMXo
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUAtPrsN7T
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2pZcz5J51
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXfPhH1xHV
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdZ0edEYY2
like they were holding a secret meeting.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm610zZ70vo
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE3zejt3M1
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8VkT3O2zI
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYJObmYkdQ
Then, softly:32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYYaRAC2lM
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeL2WPsyhv
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiNtamuXOp
“That’s not good.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lU3udn40f
But only Batman knows for sure.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZveQLCWRJ
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkltPeX7ZL
and said, clearly and firmly:32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCFmeb5OtF
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGQCwGZosy
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4KKDrBHQ7
She would sneak out—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTd9KmxjYT
climb down from her window.
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wOyYA0MT5
The night was thick like ink.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhdLJwrg2n
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL5vueXaJG
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYf817QqnW
They walked slowly,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuEIqTZnBh
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhsXGhjA93
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmowGUUi1q
and suddenly,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHBC5qxQ3Q
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1MjoOKtcq
Up close, it was black and gleaming,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUk3VbdLPy
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqbPQcPTpN
They pressed up against the side of the car,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnnZJNvX7G
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKAvAkQHc8
not a sound from within.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXjswBElLe
The interior was pitch black—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyhfIAPQTl
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi461wfRrsN
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsMJWprL2C
But his mind was already on something else.
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE5yoQGhRi
A shadow approached.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYsw5gxVV8
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufQg79oKpK
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxnZv05nc5
The mask on his face showed no emotion.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZsAVGU8RD
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKE1zbYHbl
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4esC1l8e1m
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUNF40UMkS
he stopped.
Two children.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41EEmH4anj
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHVO316kEN
This wasn’t a place for kids—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKTZy6eRcf
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfpqGp4xXa
ready to speak—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKYZGElRTM
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRssS5VUcG
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KBM1WrH1H
For a second—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6xyOVJTRm
that look,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp8WlAsvxm
that determined tone—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5uBshqUju
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNCznWi7m5
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bz7Uyd8mQ
sleeping in the training room,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJEaPXJNAg
refusing to come home.
They fought.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTmO7elfc0
Gave each other the silent treatment.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL1RSovwP6
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfbgE3XhXV
“You two shouldn’t be here.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoB5PHLSQA
It’s dangerous.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnlzyGvlUB
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCienDxgrm
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ddg75XTAD
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHgFGIyYaA
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9yBi7Jhfo
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYnLePmjGa
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnj01rRGDW
“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—32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiMbeP4L5Y
and in that moment,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFv8m12662
those rebellious, stubborn eyes32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwcqa7Qf0i
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD46WbsUHa
who refused to back down.
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixYUxvEcK0
and then Add to home screen.