Another year had passed.
Jason was still collecting newspapers from trash bins.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD9bsOOrYR
Nana was still at his side,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVI4OAnia6
helping him search for anything about Batman and Robin.
They flipped through pages together,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTt6GEqOUW
their fingertips covered in old ink and dust.
Today, Jason found a newspaper dated a month ago.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOHRG50KAu
That was recent—by trash-pile standards.
He looked down, skimming the content quickly.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RnJzgTaHs
His brows furrowed.
Nana carefully pulled a few stacks of already-sorted papers from her backpack.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhyNXFVRzs
All of them were about Batman.
The two of them crouched on the edge of the sidewalk,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5tZdfL29u
like they were holding a secret meeting.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvYSrzjtUq
They laid the papers out in a long line, sorted by date.
Jason flipped through page after page and shook his head.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TwYxYiJW5
“Still nothing… no news about Robin.”
Nana nodded.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbpESvozWF
She signed: “Three months now. Only Batman shows up.”
Jason went quiet for a moment.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKITLBYDIjA
Then, softly:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA65x1zVwv
“What do you think happened to Robin?”
Nana signed:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT5YjLvjjQ
“Injured? Captured? Needs help?”
Jason’s face grew serious.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yo28OEEvm
“That’s not good.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUTtRf6IYG
But only Batman knows for sure.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYLk5WAsp9
We can’t wait any longer.”
He looked at Nana,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuJpgy0xME
and said, clearly and firmly:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUPneUTscZ
“Tonight, we go to the southeast border.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVSVighh4O
We’re going to find Batman.”
Nana nodded, her hand signs swift and precise.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYlhx6Idu9
She would sneak out—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSje93kOnJV
climb down from her window.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sxRFnBNPO
The night was thick like ink.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgu8zlwmuJ
In Gotham, the air was always damp and full of unknown dangers.
In a dim alleyway,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR2cFbf89v
Jason held tightly onto Nana’s hand.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MmwT4kQNu
They walked slowly,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyh3FPjGCC
careful to stay hidden in the shadows near the buildings.
Their palms were sweaty.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwePX3DHIP
Their hearts beat louder than the wind.
They turned a corner—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAxvFlYq72
and suddenly,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX71PuugZQr
there it was.
The Batmobile.
It was nothing like the photos in the newspapers.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIuUt86S7h
Up close, it was black and gleaming,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNcFCm6YaB
its cold, sharp lines like a beast lurking at the edge of the city.
“Whoa…” Jason whispered.
He pulled Nana closer.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsvvQfAABL
They pressed up against the side of the car,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUSBYzRnJe
peeking inside.
The Batmobile sat silently,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSwigCEXD5
not a sound from within.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX9wKZUrHA
The interior was pitch black—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZgxEoiCsO
they couldn’t see a thing.
Nana signed:13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcibqZJS2tr
“Batman’s not here. Should we wait?”
Jason thought for a moment.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfSLfayeOK
But his mind was already on something else.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ww2N9v3ua
A shadow approached.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIsxQto1py
Gotham’s Dark Knight stepped slowly into view from around the corner.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoik9SDp5e
His cape fluttered softly in the breeze.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoayWVLy8rZ
The mask on his face showed no emotion.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVlsULozYZ
His footsteps were steady and silent.
Tonight had been quiet.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1FQPiqTOt
Only three robberies and one armed thief.
He was planning to finish his patrol at 7th Street,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEuLl1CgBZ
then return home to let his defiant son annoy him with a few more arguments.
But as he neared the Batmobile,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUTWjzv7R7
he stopped.
Two children.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmeCmwoWnv
Standing next to the car.
His eyes narrowed.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6XZ2RfSFR
This wasn’t a place for kids—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOW46IrMPq
not at this hour.
He watched them carefully,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xg6r3jB8l
ready to speak—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMisybxIE6S
but the boy spoke first.
“Batman, may I ask…13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGeMXIvFHC
where’s Robin?”
Batman stared at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7F1etKv5T
For a second—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPqB7ZyCjo
that look,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiySi2JY6y
that determined tone—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeksWZqNYTs
it triggered something familiar.
His adopted son.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj0jwK5w6Z
The one currently giving him the cold shoulder day and night,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVHam9EreM
sleeping in the training room,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwv5UFC79J
refusing to come home.
They fought.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDyzPdpadh
Gave each other the silent treatment.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OJS6gOzU2
Lost their rhythm, even on missions.
Batman’s voice softened.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua3VGhLh6O
“You two shouldn’t be here.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSON7Vm32RJ
It’s dangerous.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z3DOmrEEG
Let me take you home.”
But as his eyes glanced toward the Batmobile,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22FBtjUxWN
he froze.
The wheels?
Both front wheels were gone.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbFrpoADqw
The toolbox looked like it had been opened.
The two kids turned around,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkugOYai9Dp
glancing at the car.
Two wheels.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkmADpSyab
Vanished.
Jason’s eyes were calm.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRuDRXlO8W
Like he had planned for this all along.
“Batman,” he said,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjutVVpOlH9
“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—13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kfOqWF0yL
and in that moment,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEaVlouKRa
those rebellious, stubborn eyes13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEQYmDTyw6
looked exactly like that little wild creature at home13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0R7AbgiKB
who refused to back down.
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gljga94uv
and then Add to home screen.