Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR5HHVJldT
Nana was still at his side,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK39isX9wK
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiP8pXhIfP
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76zOEeW92E
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzeWhL0Msa
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1fJ3jjKKA
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhDEa5Z5vx
like they were holding a secret meeting.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2kTJ9Lbu0
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMs2AHNnCN
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFHpVjexxw
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw7VbargMB
Then, softly:80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KiJW5sP4h
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOp6eLdqJt
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd95qKqejC
“That’s not good.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETukS20OXE
But only Batman knows for sure.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcX9Bci4DO
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrqmgA2jzT
and said, clearly and firmly:80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnUMLZ6Zf0
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazKYz3kDOs
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnCOizAEZp
She would sneak out—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBA56JTNM6
climb down from her window.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J3BR1R4wi
The night was thick like ink.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsCwiNUpSI
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpmJ6uDOxh
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmSSLaUt5Q
They walked slowly,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe4Hablwbq
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IhIm0qXta
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWgioGD2La
and suddenly,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p35tv0IeN
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5QIY64p7m
Up close, it was black and gleaming,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW7kLg7OUw
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nfAIj2EKW
They pressed up against the side of the car,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppScKixZlG
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXJ3ecg4LF
not a sound from within.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdns2GbfPoH
The interior was pitch black—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o7GcN7Jy1
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmKTKHMygy
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSipg5CyzoC
But his mind was already on something else.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAmXBk6692
A shadow approached.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKAGAqwRw2
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9t9NUhoLy
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BdTdnXOJD
The mask on his face showed no emotion.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5J2dKbblf
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzK07iTQeq
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWx3mkN9HT
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKWs2YBnLx
he stopped.
Two children.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnprMGP0XMj
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7SEQVBYjA
This wasn’t a place for kids—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjf2AbeK2j
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUYhmRdut3
ready to speak—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckSA7dWBW7
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSehjt0JCmk
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X6pnXjpib
For a second—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagDFDZPCXa
that look,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlkJ0W1wPD
that determined tone—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vdMjFIEoZ
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgz7xVxaqe
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFwAvD03c0
sleeping in the training room,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JL6GMeWBv
refusing to come home.
They fought.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLXABQYWrB
Gave each other the silent treatment.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHKqgwkw0B
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jQpyHiduN
“You two shouldn’t be here.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9bJQt1JOO
It’s dangerous.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAMROONQfC
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1RFHj6Ww5
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl5ZUafA9I
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvLC5qPFdG
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgtzfSzuav
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SPznk5rg5
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNL7C0zvqO
“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—80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDpfoVDf4g
and in that moment,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm5LqOLfs7
those rebellious, stubborn eyes80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dtLrrEIN8
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcnshMyy5N
who refused to back down.
80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBuWdkaU0L
and then Add to home screen.