Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWIpWFFRVb
Nana was still at his side,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLceDjrDhn
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54br3QpBOz
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTqoHOYN94
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DGqyEL0nu
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmw1hb0ePk
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi08ynvCahj
like they were holding a secret meeting.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZPtkwpkzz
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP6rUFtZg5
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0s4s3H8rP
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfu0W2V9jG
Then, softly:34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvbadw1m4p
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBEUmMBsGx
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwkQSSbr7p
“That’s not good.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynd7citTyd
But only Batman knows for sure.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcwAEFISgJ
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpIwgSCXTa
and said, clearly and firmly:34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf1spl7q0I
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz1oUCcqsb
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurBZoue41q
She would sneak out—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCL3EORuzi
climb down from her window.
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGXHGpoL4v
The night was thick like ink.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVkPVLavuh
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJf9gq5YAR
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHdednpfeA
They walked slowly,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6alPZZn6G
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxjxlBQqau
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SIm2GtM3P
and suddenly,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvpPEnc9Np
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsgGP3zfrp
Up close, it was black and gleaming,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAEaBNUrCc
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LYvutKvQE
They pressed up against the side of the car,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6aELphffw
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ93PoxAZA3
not a sound from within.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywKMVy0Mnv
The interior was pitch black—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKnai16aVn
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKS1Hm0kmn
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsCWllbXBD
But his mind was already on something else.
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpkr0Zgqng
A shadow approached.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XwW5CGrpz
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8feVphzqM
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNcWt3V73n
The mask on his face showed no emotion.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnmZo3zMsN
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ04DZTUIA3
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv2bd98qmS
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySkNVaTnRT
he stopped.
Two children.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMFUJlW5Ns
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9RGSJE6gp
This wasn’t a place for kids—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKF23Fu4fy
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlZAearspw
ready to speak—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroGFhBvbXY
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12NIvI5qAy
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyc8dOTPqh
For a second—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORZ7hC9zLx
that look,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51ItBFW0P5
that determined tone—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc1gNamhAI
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JZ9LT1Dsf
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEyjm2HMWj
sleeping in the training room,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7xQBH1HQ5
refusing to come home.
They fought.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4H3wqbzUx
Gave each other the silent treatment.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1JLGM9HdQ
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrcNwXyIgh
“You two shouldn’t be here.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm91xc5jat
It’s dangerous.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuIVAR8W0M
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqO3O3fSQG
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1zZeOwGQi
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkSOtx78D8
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWbZk4nAgE
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uc7JaBKa9
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiCCCNkR9E
“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—34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG3KGbDG1D
and in that moment,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ80sk47a64
those rebellious, stubborn eyes34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws8T7tw5hy
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFW0bjEBip
who refused to back down.
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZuAo2gOeL
and then Add to home screen.