“So, Master Bruce… this is the child who stole two of your Batmobile tires?”
A voice—aged, clear,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcNwfww66Q
drifted from the shadows of the Batcave.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV91nlFaiX7
It was impossible to tell whether it was surprised or amused.
Alfred stood there,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEy91KOTMY
holding a silver tray298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5fFbHp3ek
with freshly brewed hot milks and two biscuits.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56zmfnC8vx
His eyes fell on the boy,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8plJdyzpV
who looked absolutely unrepentant—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa99Ehgdc1o
in fact, slightly proud.
Batman frowned,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNpav5Iy5J
his brow creasing into shadow.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW4oDxHyLV
“The first time he did it, I was so pissed,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH60T8B4VVZ
I circled the block twice before daring to come back to the car.”
That first time—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5i8uZGP4E
he hadn’t even spoken.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYxBx2visT
Just grabbed the kids, one in each hand,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFKgkn4ot4
and dropped them back near the church in the slums—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTYcbrBZeS
the safest place he could find.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQNJJBgMS7
He’d given them one warning:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw3CDPdx7Q
“Don’t come near the Batmobile again.”
Jason hadn’t cried.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRdKQMdA7c
He looked angry.
Nana had kept her head down,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmbhrd4blc
but her hand had clung tightly to the back of Jason’s shirt.
They got no answers about Robin.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsuhf512Uk
Just that cold word “Go home,” left behind in the wind.
Three days later—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuciZ5LBPTm
same place,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy7SDDuoHU
same car.
This time,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdqg7xgXsx
four wheels gone.
“Master Bruce,” Alfred said dryly,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY66x78Cwj
“I sincerely believe that if this child turns to crime,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPuekAfyBC
we may never see your Batmobile’s tires again.”
“…Each of those wheels is taller than him.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpOXNRswxD
How did he even—”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguOHJ34WLE
Batman muttered,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KPTvXXq3X
somewhere between shock and disbelief.
Alfred calmly added,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWNQJg93EC
“He also recalibrated the tire pressure.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoie1SisKLV
Perfectly balanced.”
This time,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW5XA4G7mZ
Batman was silent for a long moment,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AAVoGf0Vf
eyes on the two children.
Then he sighed.
He knew who they were.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi05wRsZBIm
After dropping them off that night,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2bb24DoB3
he’d looked into it.
Jason Todd—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMBHBUeoBY
no mother,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfCcAlaKd4
an alcoholic and violent father,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg1guOnLDz
currently missing.
Nana—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ti32zSV0j
from a crumbling orphanage,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYflS49WcL
records say she’s mute,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09iNOzs5So
but she’d never had a diagnosis,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBB2kbr5Ag
never any treatment.
He knew what happened to kids like them—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v3Ex0Py6h
especially without guardians.
Some of them needed just a little time298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oOiL7vAWP
to walk the wrong path.
The pair standing before him now?
Definitely a “buy one, get one free” type.
One moved,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF7vtlkqad
the other followed.
Batman stood quietly for another few seconds.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsDL1ZfFHm
Then turned and said:
“They’ll stay.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanYjkyayhi
For now.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmnUF5gUpN
Observation.”
Alfred gave a slight nod.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYccYfqk5Sp
Though he said nothing,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnZrh2dCbL
his expression seemed to say:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGBYemK4FP
I thought so.
The children stayed still.
Jason’s eyes were still wary—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLO3PthQhG
but also sparkled with something he couldn’t quite hide: excitement.
Nana stood quietly,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5IKouPlNb
her fingers nervously twisted behind her back,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtwm5Jtwnj
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 children298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLqXZkJwFX
with the grace of someone serving nobility.
“You’ve both done well, children,” he said gently,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iJM3h5hyi
his voice as composed as ever.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi8F16fGqf
Then he added:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye63vKSD5J
“As for young Master Robin…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR6DQ49hiw
he is currently engaged in a temporary,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGr2p4XrOR
emotionally-motivated… personal journey.”
Jason bit into a cookie,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso6mzw0Zgb
frowning.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80fhVl6vMQ
“…What does that mean?”
Nana tilted her head in confusion,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx85eEv3WT
signing: “Left?”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmWRRzzhPT
Then “Robin?”
Alfred smiled,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesAqRorkMI
his hand gracefully folded across his wrist in a formal gesture.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Hhsmwral
“He has, shall we say…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkYtmxqScp
run away from home.”
Both kids’ eyes went wide.
Then they looked at each other—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpe1wJEd1h
the same expression on their faces298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z7VlOsQxm
as if they’d just read that Gotham was going to have a week of sunshine.
Across the room,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX4JvtgnRR
Batman sat in front of the computer,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrju4gGd97g
scrolling through city surveillance.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsmmyLHGqc
He gave a grumpy huff,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7UutuxWCT
his silhouette full of quiet annoyance.
Alfred, mildly reproachful:298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuonZjoXJe
“Master Bruce,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7uEmnHep7
if you softened your tone just a little,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1Q6UP4Fgb
I do believe the young master would return immediately.”
Batman didn’t reply.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz4QsFGlZi
His shoulders moved slightly,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfceWUcY9j9
like he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FQh9sV3xU
Luckily, it was summer break.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pQyvatu7V
The kids didn’t need to go to school.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAgpT1Cr5j
They were temporarily housed in Wayne Manor.
When Jason and Nana stepped out of the Batcave298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGVtY9Wl5A
and passed through the hidden passage to the upper floors,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH0fUlDNei
they both froze.
It was a world they had never seen.
An endless arching hallway,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B1PbT72jp
a chandelier hanging from the ceiling like a broken piece of starlight,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOnZYJLVWW
soft Persian rugs underfoot,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KM2vSVmSC
air scented with cedar and sun-warmed fabric.
Nana instinctively grabbed the back of Jason’s shirt,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgI4oYFDv3
as if afraid she’d dirty the floor just by being there.
“Welcome to Wayne Manor, children,”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqpX2Yztol
Alfred said from behind them,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsqbpfWxcd
his expression gentle.
They were led upstairs separately.
The hallway was wide enough298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpyfqqRYpM
for three horses to race side by side.
Jason’s room had a private bathroom,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAbMF48wR4
a desk,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cnrsrwz8d
and a leather chair so grand298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHhFdxu6SA
he didn’t dare sit in it at first.
When Alfred led Nana to hers,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU7m4p6xYm
he frowned slightly.
“Miss Nana, I must apologize.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b4UBtXdXK
This room is currently not quite suited for a young lady.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9ZbPbFlan
We didn’t have time to prepare,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhug12J3FkU
but in the future,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3OuITSkxh
I’ll see to a proper space just for you.”
Nana blushed,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbhO3W9RBx
waved her hands quickly,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf14MN3Ota
and signed: “This is already perfect.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKLuK0jgfZ
That night,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzIfAKcR7h
the hallway was quiet.
A small girl in new pajamas carefully turned her doorknob,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIcCHLf2Sy
peeked out,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pqNrhn2w8
then tiptoed across the hall.
She knocked twice.
The door opened.
Jason—also in pajamas,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCpJsBXXNs
his hair a mess—298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo0xkQ9ATx
looked at her.
His eyes lit up.
They stared for a second,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL9qBoX0x8
hands beginning to move.
“Too big. Can’t sleep.”
“Me too.”
Jason reached out,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXTgBv67vd
took her hand,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tvpqkqtjL
and led her in.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JiT3RA2wj
Alfred stood in front of the monitor,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpfaXZPLHu
sipping his tea.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcB4DzWID3
His eyes landed on the two small figures on the screen.
He smiled,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkraPkEJnAu
his voice calm and unhurried:
“Master Bruce,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruVfSlAoEs
those two children…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE16Bv8fvF
they seem very close, don’t they?”
Batman said nothing.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qloDYhV6x
He stared at the monitor for a long time,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5vZ38Uiym
silent.
Inside the room,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmWRUDCXSl
the lights were off.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBySkcVQ6RN
Night draped itself over everything like soft silk.
Two children lay on the bed,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBvAx5JJxm
heads resting together,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6Vu5fThQa
hands moving in soft signs.
Today’s thoughts.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrneHrJXWAX
The Batmobile.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzEUzTjCb0
Alfred’s milk—it smelled better than church milk.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7hOrg1lTq
And…298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8XLfvKFtX
the bed.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PAcE1tgyn
It was way too soft.
Their hands slowly stopped.
Breathing slowed.
And soon,298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZCD5Q70oS
they both fell asleep quietly298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKtaXp0kE5
beneath Gotham’s night.
Day Three.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjXiLT4klW
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTXmJuzrQU
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—”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDn0AOQx6q
He paused, tilting his brows.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2W7bbGRAh
“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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXlM0E566s
“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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83asTVsIAr
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG5Qmt0ETR
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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKsSEZmm1i
“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.”
ns216.73.216.69da2
and then Add to home screen.