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
and then Add to home screen.