Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gdqFajqTy
Nana was still at his side,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TpyjTF1Kv
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzDrVNbGVV
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2izXj0ELn
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBBNQPxFnm
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6eyNUd8Gq
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZWFZ31yqM
like they were holding a secret meeting.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GiTfGtfyR
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdTfy32w7o
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalvjQg1O9m
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4MInQKgzY
Then, softly:271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrmKlhYWBI
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexrdTVAwMB
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFijaqmgwi
“That’s not good.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeciQ4y7dcb
But only Batman knows for sure.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxrCjPCyh4
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjfKbzYoEX
and said, clearly and firmly:271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkgCqJ3tuQ
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbfy8bJ1br
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq9tUjtiNl
She would sneak out—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ886ruiqHVS
climb down from her window.
271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdp6hBGQXg
The night was thick like ink.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHYlUOAGtj
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXDuXYZH0h
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBwP8DGJBZ
They walked slowly,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yg1tW3g9M
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzviGHvpiXr
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY699UDPDE
and suddenly,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAds2dTVSl4
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsSh8erQTW
Up close, it was black and gleaming,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUKSX4FWnW
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EWBSn1wGS
They pressed up against the side of the car,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9cq7clrxw
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEtGnXRui
not a sound from within.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVU5aParIf
The interior was pitch black—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LlrwzZEr6
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE76DPnZY4W
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDES4YR1d0H
But his mind was already on something else.
271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uD3r8sQyr
A shadow approached.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09ZDoRs2pK
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKuw8dQ5Ku
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fKeaociIV
The mask on his face showed no emotion.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qr5nXpTXi
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RBDxhJoGI
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCYgxis9WZ
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGgV29MCnP
he stopped.
Two children.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz151oBy8wS
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dvR39TIIw
This wasn’t a place for kids—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnudvGN9mr
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8A0RU2458
ready to speak—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxriS03HFzR
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevU1Jdx3vb
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu7NpkPb5G
For a second—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSClXTz27I4
that look,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0BBG7YXSx
that determined tone—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwuPm3aAuN
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrqX5JFPrW
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIOiZAmZVo
sleeping in the training room,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ud83Ce2U
refusing to come home.
They fought.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccei2edWfZ
Gave each other the silent treatment.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD7V7Od6ZT
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFdPcRmKCw
“You two shouldn’t be here.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEgfm5TVNy
It’s dangerous.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmGqpfAnnd
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmZGY81uc7
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3KLLiw5eG
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YIf7MqfFM
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0LTwx34cn
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VKWjvBTbs
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqOJGb7SaT
“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—271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6nAJYh7Nr
and in that moment,271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DwcMJ414d
those rebellious, stubborn eyes271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn1SbeM5rr
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AUpC4jN73
who refused to back down.
271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43fPYTzNPF
and then Add to home screen.