Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KSvhQxXz3
Nana was still at his side,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDs0Rp93Aw
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOb9dXDxym
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWYwhOgxD8
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDevIV3OkaI
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtkkNJ6iFx
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nhzqTedqj
like they were holding a secret meeting.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYTaKC2Dlo
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8HPbg8mfu
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm6MbRrXnf
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOOUAydWEl
Then, softly:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA8A5hgre5
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMUd2Uautk
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8PdVw2Wr6
“That’s not good.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OPZrgO0eY
But only Batman knows for sure.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KfIx9uQsl
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbJHUpt7a3
and said, clearly and firmly:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3j4Gv759Y
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtvER39PL5
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqLv8OJNGx
She would sneak out—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjHqc2wPVS
climb down from her window.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKbGqLGGyq
The night was thick like ink.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnXLnJHpe7
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVeTHNQKW5
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrc2YkBXSO
They walked slowly,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBgSllivlb
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o4F6QlbDS
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU9CrmrERT
and suddenly,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFjGkjKLjn
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs62avOMuw4
Up close, it was black and gleaming,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCLC4NMb3p
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vOD9DOzqA
They pressed up against the side of the car,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAafqsw8MN
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLacF3SIPi
not a sound from within.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UWuVHQQZU
The interior was pitch black—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBeaCLlFiE
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25UfCQPqpz
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTvAkBc3qg
But his mind was already on something else.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2QBJINUgh
A shadow approached.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXFz9GZgkp
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4capOzo6JS
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15GL1oZaC8
The mask on his face showed no emotion.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjNLEvSmri
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk2l55N1nc
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx11wWtOkR
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Oh8Vwfj3N
he stopped.
Two children.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O0EGSs1Bt
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gl7cEp5Ma
This wasn’t a place for kids—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDe44zibOz
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbfCsxXqCo
ready to speak—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y7FwwQsO4
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZUhogLLTc
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdub0suT7M
For a second—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPZIv6IxLG
that look,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYY5MdaPrI
that determined tone—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuATlWBk8K
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y1LSQfihP
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YO7zd0iUg
sleeping in the training room,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHg80sMm6v
refusing to come home.
They fought.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbnyWHdqF9
Gave each other the silent treatment.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PTjmlVx96
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HcqPvRmB7
“You two shouldn’t be here.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3tVOtrX3e
It’s dangerous.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqpTPRgyD2
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhhBrrQGSm
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3XjVI1gU7
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCLmeOiuMX
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdiG0w9QDc
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorvxWDC0u6
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmL6JxT31b
“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—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6npwDvOogG
and in that moment,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD5m4ryqlP
those rebellious, stubborn eyes18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4RGRzMNzn
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXum20Kai9
who refused to back down.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOcPu8TJUN
and then Add to home screen.