“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtOWOy0yIP
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIkG3ucbsu
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhXfQ7ycLS
holding a silver tray46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KQiobYbse
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ27xRbhfgv
His eyes fell on the boy,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H1zhNAZ4H
who looked absolutely unrepentant—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE3zW4yPGT
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK05DvcU9lj
his brow creasing into shadow.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2P0Zhf09u
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb5Fgzrlsw
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tkTl2aUVn
he hadn’t even spoken.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlvVjFQeiv
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWfScUKfbO
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmA8k2q8KJ
the safest place he could find.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYETTmMBjvt
He’d given them one warning:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5gs38DqJm
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgvDyFy0wm
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB9GAFINGT
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuAiPva0gb
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PZT2lcyDN
same place,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw3br4Lule
same car.
This time,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb8KFeE9NG
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYxR7Ubm4y
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1VmeWdSuv
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOtBuE6hpc
How did he even—”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQw1uKyMMH
Batman muttered,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVy4i6W6Pb
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLdJu71iAP
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0llbVJync5
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VpKS7MnUR
Batman was silent for a long moment,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWEouCV5py
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXsCBLKSwB
After dropping them off that night,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd3YBTEu1G
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ElUVXjsNH
no mother,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPZOopDPdp
an alcoholic and violent father,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL6J4RQtSU
currently missing.
Nana—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49WV3asWqd
from a crumbling orphanage,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3M3NFpQ08
records say she’s mute,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmjiw6i5Pv
but she’d never had a diagnosis,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tCq0j5Lpj
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xSQwx2PnW
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2Q05BY8bb
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kXf9H3Gdf
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZabXzIR9R
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOnEzYmAfv
For now.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOeyy7IuhI
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDducNZ03eC
Though he said nothing,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l8QMxExzg
his expression seemed to say:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1RmVkveNk
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTT4iGw9Zj
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvUX9zt1JR
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKeNbrbeeq
but her gaze never left the vast machines and glowing lights around them.
Batman looked at them.
If a kid could steal four tires off the Batmobile just because he was worried about Robin…
Maybe he deserved a chance.
Alfred placed the cookies and warm milk in front of the two children46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7wu8bD4N0
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreYbjuwQX5
his voice as composed as ever.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GSv4xu8A9
Then he added:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje2qTUEl8i
“As for young Master Robin…46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMQCCxAbnE
he is currently engaged in a temporary,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp80p7o288x
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN5EJC7Y7A
frowning.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5z6jQ0ChW
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoKdu2Q56I
signing: “Left?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbOAYhgB2v
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtFLg3Bao8
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYuvI0qDMo
“He has, shall we say…46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhmiREcBdg
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktuSAfwDoG
the same expression on their faces46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueJoG9t2OS
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYu1KT19mN
Batman sat in front of the computer,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYGapwWgZZ
scrolling through city surveillance.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDWK2EPMwr
He gave a grumpy huff,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0y4ltDt7m
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIoJpkoERk
“Master Bruce,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb77Q2RXUR
if you softened your tone just a little,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfJMYQl04c
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQv4UVw6vz
His shoulders moved slightly,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb5xYOA1Uu
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sok4eTOSU
Luckily, it was summer break.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ewGwxd9ay
The kids didn’t need to go to school.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFGSlMl23n
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SuFszGGHL
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPFONSPHO0
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnBM8bfuiA
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWZRDvhkjK
soft Persian rugs underfoot,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu8mTHwPiP
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxoPXE2wXy
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4iySWzHTY
Alfred said from behind them,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr8rxme3Pa
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h59B59SZA
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGabQW0Qz9
a desk,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1WtWQrtoX
and a leather chair so grand46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxwIZMM921
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilcuN4IOrM
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UF9QvtoOx
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOEvktwjx6
We didn’t have time to prepare,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xqkNJbOPP
but in the future,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtCklKwQWN
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMAv9HTfGH
waved her hands quickly,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTd26VjNTu
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvY7N94tFZ
That night,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTT28SNnS2
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8CS7AcNbt
peeked out,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiQD9rZJDp
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEQLUUvldW
his hair a mess—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3XV3meOfJ
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNIZUAYjB9
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEqD3F1w6i
took her hand,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyEtHRTiEo
and led her in.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb9HaooMZd
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6GM8CEV9e
sipping his tea.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZnfGAdJpi
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4clYiQHpIg
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dkLRs8Quz
those two children…46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOZqG5QBOX
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEGYZT5HOz
He stared at the monitor for a long time,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqte8X2X0WQ
silent.
Inside the room,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqeO10TAQO
the lights were off.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AE4yx4Z1a
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQpfyjIWlK
heads resting together,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vx60X6pRY
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYHVIurraY
The Batmobile.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZs25QaAUx
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S6f7URhfg
And…46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUGwqDIlGi
the bed.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi9RmSxbd6
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr04SarsvzD
they both fell asleep quietly46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxHpeKbJaO
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tywhBkXuj
Morning sunlight poured into the grand study of Wayne Manor. A soft carpet lay beneath the tall windows, and by the window stood an old wooden desk with two thick-cushioned chairs—just enough for two children to sit side by side.
Jason and Nana had come here early. Ever since they discovered this room, filled with what felt like the knowledge of the entire world, they had been excitedly darting through the shelves—leaping from stories of knights to dinosaur encyclopedias, flipping from plant guides to Sherlock Holmes, like two owls who’d just found a secret treasure trove.
Now they sat quietly by the window, each immersed in their own book.
Alfred had placed some black tea and cookies on the desk. The warmth filled the room. Sunlight fell across their profiles, and the children would occasionally point out fun sentences or pictures to one another before diving back into their pages. It was a rare moment of peace.
Alfred watched them with deep satisfaction and whispered to Bruce beside him, “Such a tranquil moment, sir. They’re both good children—I’ve always believed that children who love to read never turn out bad.”
Batman didn’t respond immediately. His gaze lifted from the reports in front of him and lingered on the two small silhouettes at the far end of the study.
There was hesitation in his eyes.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8iBohx5kA
He had seen too many villains who loved to read.
Just then, a door creaked open softly.
Footsteps entered, familiar yet out of sync with the calm rhythm of the mansion—full of youthful energy.
Alfred’s face lit up with a rare smile. He turned and said, “Master Dick, you’ve finally returned.”
“Of course, Alfred,” the voice was warm and light, straddling the line between a boy and a young man—like a spring breeze in the afternoon. “I missed you. And when I heard we had two new members at home, I had to rush back. Otherwise, Bruce would give them a hard time again.”
The two children in the study poked their heads out at the sound.
A tall teenager stood in the doorway, eyes gentle, a friendly smile on his lips. His gaze landed on them immediately—soft and calm—as he slowly walked over.
“These must be Jason and Nana, right? I’m Dick. Just call me Dick. Welcome—”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVWOOAa9bQ
He paused, tilting his brows.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNIpjir9QC
“Wait a minute... Aren’t you the girl who was crying at the junkyard that night?”
Dick stepped a little closer, trying to recall the blurry scene from that late night. It was that voice, that desperate scream of “Robin” that had pulled him across the city.
Nana stared at him blankly, eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty.
That’s when Jason instinctively stepped forward, like a wall against the wind, subtly nudging the girl behind him.
Dick noticed the motion and let out a laugh.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCehZ48eLo3
“Oh right—I forgot to mention. I’m Robin. Nice to meet you.”
As he chuckled, he extended a hand to the girl.
Nana blinked, and her eyes suddenly sparkled.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsikNBKaepR
She didn’t say a word, just reached out from behind Jason’s right shoulder and gently took Dick’s hand, her face glowing in a way Jason had never seen before.
Jason stood beside them, watching the historic handshake between one tall person and one small one, his expression unreadable.
He muttered internally.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwoHn6Y1G0
And in his mind, he drew a giant red X over the title “Robin.”
On Dick’s third day back home, he began to get a sense of the daily rhythm shared by the new additions to the household.
He noticed that Nana barely spoke and communicated mostly through sign language. Jason would occasionally supplement with simple questions or emotions—but most of the time, he used sign too. Their coordination was so smooth it was like watching a well-rehearsed pair of dancers.
But something even funnier happened.
One morning, Dick, feeling eager, headed to the library and grabbed a copy of Beginner’s Guide to Sign Language. He decided to teach himself a bit and surprise Jason later by showing off.
He memorized all 26 letters and even practiced three times in front of the mirror.
But when he finally gathered the courage to talk to Nana, he stared in confusion at what she signed—it didn’t match the book at all!
Puzzled, Dick turned to Jason for answers.
Jason shrugged and replied matter-of-factly, “We made up our own system. It’s faster that way. Plus, we change it every two weeks so no one can crack it.”
Dick was stunned for a second—then burst into laughter.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIPdCy6YwC
“So basically... this is your version of kids’ secret code? What are you two now, an underground intel network?”
Their encrypted communication reminded him of Bruce’s face whenever he encountered unreadable ciphers.
“Well, you know...” Dick grinned and added playfully, “Batman hates codes he can’t break.”
ns216.73.216.171da2
and then Add to home screen.