“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjagXkwisT
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33dxfGRTVw
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzeYKWA1sW
holding a silver tray28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM05VPphtB
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLOtRCxH51
His eyes fell on the boy,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WRUHlNJwf
who looked absolutely unrepentant—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRghM9eQZv
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwRvAFb9Vz
his brow creasing into shadow.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLTxtOTcab
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCmPnOMcff
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6eGkx7Tx1
he hadn’t even spoken.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2iq8HMYaM
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi9ojYCykn
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbJQVkro5V
the safest place he could find.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX193bsziqR
He’d given them one warning:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEglMVOAIM
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnKTYxKsjI
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8DW6ewhTT
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OUtNYHRDO
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScu24xo3JJ
same place,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9H2nLRjZi
same car.
This time,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiK7ykKfij
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBLM35bpFn
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw9iUXYy0c
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP01gpVHaEZ
How did he even—”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMt27ZGQHN
Batman muttered,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHY0e3tdVV
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X0gZtDeHO
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jPqGAhaEb
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2izy1BKtL
Batman was silent for a long moment,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNn3RSxDxM
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHZZkGTuPL
After dropping them off that night,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhsZsRBhN2
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoQQ79iX0F
no mother,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE441rKP6H
an alcoholic and violent father,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9ZFDrYhMO
currently missing.
Nana—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjImo9mpDP
from a crumbling orphanage,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmyloz0Zz
records say she’s mute,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dGxkNeUKJ
but she’d never had a diagnosis,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtObwJHtkj
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpJmMX9a7k
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlsIPIa1yb
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT9CroDJJI
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpaIZAtpsg
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiPWFjmIqT
For now.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla8QYIfe8m
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzo3TuO59F
Though he said nothing,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG73vPnzNW
his expression seemed to say:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2EJYOl2kf
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6su2D1p7e
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaOR9l2nZN
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAnJpVeXUr
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 children28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNpN1qEKVS
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Ua6XKiCF
his voice as composed as ever.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHn67UkUb8
Then he added:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pZrs8rXH0
“As for young Master Robin…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWjBcWmuSX
he is currently engaged in a temporary,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CffFhRxtk
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe4I8WpsTF
frowning.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCF2fl8GRl
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiWihookpO
signing: “Left?”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0aQOYBEo3
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf69ur3fZ5
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVHKPYn9ku
“He has, shall we say…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd8etRjJal
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLbmcm3Q91
the same expression on their faces28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2cQ6VJRKI
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WD4xxAOuC
Batman sat in front of the computer,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrTHUfJ9Dt
scrolling through city surveillance.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoR44mmvaB
He gave a grumpy huff,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yxGue3YSe
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyfVrmi6jQ
“Master Bruce,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoJ32SIOOE
if you softened your tone just a little,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZXNgcdbo5
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kKTDSP3pY
His shoulders moved slightly,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmWsTn1rBr
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbjvtdna8e
Luckily, it was summer break.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRwaPQmfgi
The kids didn’t need to go to school.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxZpPGoCXY
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCcbJtCkBc
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRvA7AKote
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyXVxnE4Vn
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkqVKqGsw9
soft Persian rugs underfoot,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oW66Fmg2F
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYafGUnwcB
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJYgvIARw9
Alfred said from behind them,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmZqu7msfE
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMg86rlmuK
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsNbZ1f4M3
a desk,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeK1Cn85Qg
and a leather chair so grand28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLMhFMk1uZ
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzs6Qj0fKt
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRFJURvzGh
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYBXCkE099
We didn’t have time to prepare,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwBKejaXUZ
but in the future,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPEUdztvvI
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2OtfEafLM
waved her hands quickly,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAaRnf1T1J
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1f2Srokan
That night,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXiXnTBqWJ
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilUvW9j4sA
peeked out,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhytZ2XuHvv
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgZ9SVdFpL
his hair a mess—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSObuuJAR3
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXz70ebV5r
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5WdSB8xaX
took her hand,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxna2246gfv
and led her in.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO9788pMDF
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXL7vLLFe3
sipping his tea.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerNUJWxX4t
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVG4xJEZ6I
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN4jFlWcax
those two children…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO61tjS5Yb
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeTYOajmtj
He stared at the monitor for a long time,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWENZGUExVy
silent.
Inside the room,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VWbmIr50C
the lights were off.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVmCK68KWZ
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H8Z3XsE4v
heads resting together,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDeXYFymir
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDoRoFgIEv
The Batmobile.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEK3lIgtay
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW8G3902nb
And…28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kUJrpUlLu
the bed.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDDQjiqOFe
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3647ecljA7
they both fell asleep quietly28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4ZKdE7O0n
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtlxSu2x3n
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2VpwtxoBb
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—”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGSuuI8d9e
He paused, tilting his brows.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy1hLuxqmd
“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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4ap76BGyy
“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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLQegooRDY
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC91mRuPPQO
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.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWpyJe8CGO
“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.”
ns216.73.216.146da2
and then Add to home screen.