"Well, I'm out of luck tonight."

Theodore grimaced, trying to get past Batman.

"Please give way, I'm going home."

However, the bat's heavy palms, which covered the carapace, silently pressed against Theodore's shoulders.

Theodore: "!! ”

He jerked his head up and glared at the man who was like a Gotham nightmare legend: "What are you doing?!" ”

Batman didn't let go.

He didn't exert much force on Theodore's shoulder, but the mere presence of some people is enough to put a lot of pressure on you.

"Go to GCPD, or go back to the orphanage?"

Theodore really jumped this time.

Being able to accurately point out the place of the orphanage shows that Batman directly saw through his identity through the mask - Batman really knows everything!

Theodore gritted his teeth and looked up at Batman, maintaining the last bit of stubbornness he had.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Batman didn't even change his tone.

He stood in the dark night, his body smooth and tall, like an unshakable piece of pig iron: "Go back to the orphanage, or go to GCPD?" ”

“…… Is there any difference between the two? ”

"If you go to GCPD, Wayne will pick you up at the police station tomorrow."

"-If I go back to the orphanage, Wayne will pick me up at the orphanage tomorrow, right?" Theodore grinded the back socket and continued, "Excellent." ”

In his opinion, there is no difference at all between the two options!

Also, how could the news of Wayne's adoption of him spread so quickly, and it was known to Batman in less than a night?

Theodore tapped suspiciously: "Excuse me, did I make a newspaper headline when I didn't know it?" ”

Could it be that his face has been printed in the Gotham tabloids and everyone knows it?

"Nope."

So how did Batman know this?

Because he is Batman？

His eyes wandered back and forth over Batman a few times, and Theodore's mind moved, and a very low possibility came to his mind like a bubble on the surface.

What if Batman knows because he's been keeping an eye on Bruce Wayne's every move?

If...... Is he saying what if, Wayne's covert child abuse, has already been discovered by Batman?

According to rumors, even Penguin Man and Black Mask have been repeatedly sent to Arkham Hospital by Batman.

So, maybe Batman won't be afraid of Wayne?

If that's the case, then wouldn't he be able to turn to Batman for help now......

Licking his parched lips, Theodore's heart pounded violently.

The words rolled repeatedly on the tip of the boy's tongue several times, and finally were thrown in a very conservative way, very tactfully.

Theodore stared intently at Batman's face and asked tentatively, "Could it be that you are familiar with Mr. Wayne?" ”

Batman glanced down at him.

Theodore couldn't tell his emotions by the white markings on his mask, only that the man's jaw tightened a little as he heard the name "Bruce Wayne".

…… Is this expression disgusting? Or is it vigilance?

But then, Batman gives an answer that shocks Theodore.

"Wayne is an investor in the Justice League."

Theodore: "!! ”

Good guy, good thing he didn't ask Batman for help!

Otherwise, wouldn't you be caught in the net!

Grass, understood, Theodore now fully understood.

Bruce Wayne, he's the owner of Batman!!

It turns out that the big guys in the world are really printed in the same mold.

The playboys who live on the manor love to raise bats!

Reminiscent of Stanley S. W. Mena, Theodore couldn't help but clench their fists.

He spreads the wings of his imagination to the fullest, making very reasonable guesses about Wayne.

Known: Stanley S. W. Mena was a pervert who lived on a manor house with many carnivorous bats and a basement that Theodore didn't want to recall.

It is also known that Bruce Wayne is a pervert who lives on a manor and also keeps carnivorous bats.

So, Theodore thinks that Wayne also built a basement, which is a logical assumption, right?

Considering that Bruce Wayne is not even raising an ordinary bat, but Batman-

The basement of Wayne is most likely not an ordinary basement, but an enhanced version of the eighteenth floor of the basement, the kind that even takes the elevator up and down!

Theodore: It's terrible, how can it be! How so!!

*

After sorting out the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Batman, Theodore didn't want to stay by the other party's side for a second, so he just left.

Now, he didn't wonder why Batman had found him: someone had probably been hired to keep an eye on Theodore.

But Batman still stands in Theodore's way.

"Let me go back to the orphanage, if you don't feel at ease, you can follow." Under the mask, Theodore's teeth clenched lightly, "Isn't this okay, Mr. Batman?" ”

Batman was silent for a moment.

Wanting to adopt Theodore was not a spur of the moment.

It's not because Theodore has a secret, it's not just because Theodore is ruthless, and certainly not because Theodore happens to have black hair and blue eyes...... This last one is a complete coincidence.

Batman just sensed that the kid was standing precariously on the edge of a cliff.

He is far superior to his peers, sharp, aggressive, and defensive, and looks like a natural villain reserve.

But Theodore still has an unquenchable goodness.

He would speak up for his classmates when he thought Tim was being abused; The little girl in the orphanage will also hold his calf defenselessly to get Theodore justice.

The boy had trekked as best he could, in the direction of the upright, toward the light.

But there is also something dark and hateful about the boy in his body.

Their existence is like Gotham itself, lurking in the shadows of buildings and alleys, waiting for an opportunity to weaken and jump out and tear hope to shreds.

That's something Batman doesn't want to see.

Batman himself harbors a similar monster - he himself walks on the edge of a cliff all year round.

The principle of not killing is that Batman pulls on his last rope. But the boy in front of him, with nothing at his waist, swayed in the gale, could leap down to a height of a thousand meters at any moment.

As a person who has come over, Batman wants to hold Theodore.

At least until the boy reaches adulthood, Batman can help him, teach him, restrain him, and be the safety rope that ties around Theodore's waist.

He hadn't decided whether or not to train Theodore to be Robin.

But being adopted by Bruce Wayne would at least make Theodore a man with a bright future.

Batman raised his hand and gently patted Theodore's soft black hair in Theodore's surprised eyes.

He could feel Theodore's defensiveness against him.

But it doesn't matter, Batman happens to have a child who looks a lot like him.

Referring to Jason's sample, at such times, Batman knows exactly what he should say.

For example, now......

"-Are you hungry?"

“……”

Theodore was a little unsure of what the subtext of the question was.

Hungry must be hungry, after all, six or seven hours have passed since dinner time, and the food in the stomach bag has already been digested.

But even three-year-olds know not to eat what a stranger hands you to.

If he had answered "hungry" directly, perhaps in the next second, Batman would have warned him that this was the treatment he deserved for his escape, so that he could remember the lesson of the moment.

Or, Batman will feed him something weird, and he will become very obedient after eating it - this world even has aliens, and it wouldn't be surprising if there were one or two more miracle drugs.

One of the most terrifying possibilities, Batman's "hunger" is a metaphor.

Just wait for Theo to give him a little more head, and the other party will press him against the wall in the alley and feed him some bat intestines or something......

Don't say it's impossible for Batman to do such a thing.

Before tonight, Theodore couldn't have imagined that Batman would bow down to do things for Wayne!

With a vague shudder, Theodore shook his head resolutely: "No, I'm not hungry at all, I'm going back." ”

However, as if deliberately against him, Theodore's stomach grumbled extremely loudly before he could finish speaking.

Theodore: "......"

The situation became a little awkward for a while, and it was extremely anxious.

Just when Theodore subconsciously wanted to go backwards and avoid being hurt by lying, the man above his head seemed to let out a laughing voice.

Theodore looked up uncertainly.

Just now...... Did he see Batman laughing?

The man's exposed chin, the corners of his mouth did rise by a slight arc?

"Follow me, kid." Batman said calmly, "Before I send you back, I'll take you to get something to eat." ”

***

So now, Theodore and Batman sit side by side on the eaves, staring suspiciously at the Batburger in their hands.

Between the two, there was also a box of hot Robin potato wedges, the kind with ketchup.

The burger set is ordered at the fast food restaurant, completely eliminating the possibility of someone doing tricks.

Theodore poked the burger and looked at Batman with incredible eyes, surprised that he was really willing to treat himself to something normal.

"You, you...... I mean, Mr. Batman......"

"What's wrong?"

Batman asked knowingly, and even picked up a potato wedge and dipped it in the ketchup.

Seeing that the potato wedges stained with sauce were naturally sent into the other party's mouth, Theodore's brain went blank.

Theodore: "!! ”

Oh my God, who's going to pinch him, it's not a dream.

Batman actually eats potato wedges!

Maybe the potatoes in the frangled potatoes are some kind of special energy material, the red ketchup is actually concentrated blood, and the bat burger in the hand...... Well, Theodore can't make it up.

He tentatively took a bite of the burger: it tasted pretty good.

When you open the bread again, the meatloaf is the most common round shape.

Noticing the tangle of the boy next to him, Batman spoke: "What? ”

"I thought that since it was called a bat burger, the hamburger patty might be a bat shape or something......"

"It's just the most ordinary burger, but with a bat printed on the package." Batman recalled, "It tasted pretty good. ”

Occasionally, at the end of the night watch, he would quietly enjoy a set meal with Robin behind his back.

Hearing this, Theodore was shocked.

"You've eaten the Bat Burger too!"

"You still eat potato wedges!"

Don't they all say that Batman is a shadow, a shadow, a shadow of a demon, a vampire who lurks in the shadows of Gotham and only travels at night?

Do non-human creatures have such a wide range of easy-going recipes?

Unless, unless......

Theodore's throat rolled, as if swallowing a hard object, and finally realized something.

He said in a strange tone, "Oh, I see......"

"Batman, you're actually human, aren't you?"

Batman: "......"

The last time I heard such outrageous reasoning was last time.

…… No, Batman has never heard such outrageous reasoning at all!

What's going on with his newly adopted child?

The time I invited Jason to eat, things were going very well.

Under the helmet, Batman couldn't help but look at Theodore's head with suspicion.

For the first time in his life, he longed to have superhuman perspective.

Compare that to the talent of the current Robin - Tim is a keen detective good enough to uncover Bruce's true identity.

As for the first two Robins: Dick and Jason also have excellent detection skills.

As for the boy in front of him......

Batman silently dips the second wedge into the ketchup.

Whether it is relieved or entangled, at this moment, Batman feels that there may finally be a child in the family who can neither be Robin nor be another vigilante.

Well......

Pretty good.

It's actually really good.