Chapter Summaries

Batman was trapped by Bane while searching for the missing Robin, so Miaomiao arrived and took over the fight. She injured Bane with her claws and let Batman leave to find Robin, then coldly confronted Bane for hitting him.

• Bane blocked Batman and revealed that he had arranged the fight to keep Batman from rescuing Robin.
• Batman realized Bane and Scarecrow had likely planned Robin's disappearance together, but he could not defeat Bane quickly.
• Miaomiao swam through Gotham's underground waterways and arrived to help Batman.
• Miaomiao introduced herself as Quan Ke, Batman's new assistant, and told Batman to find Robin while she fought Bane.
• Miaomiao's claws cut Bane and made his arm sluggish, and Batman left after warning her not to kill anyone.
• Miaomiao turned cold and accused Bane of hitting Batman.

Miaomiao paralyzed and subdued Bane after he helped kidnap Robin and attack Batman, then handed him over to Commissioner Gordon and escaped through a manhole. Gordon ordered Bane taken to Arkham and considered visiting Wayne Manor privately.

• Miaomiao beat Bane with her fists after her paralyzing toxin slowed him down.
• Gotham police arrived, and Commissioner Gordon recognized Miaomiao as Quan Ke, Batman’s assistant.
• Miaomiao told Gordon that Bane had conspired to kidnap Robin and hit Batman, and explained that the paralysis would last about thirty minutes.
• Miaomiao pushed Bane toward the police, then escaped through a manhole into Gotham’s sewers.
• Gordon ordered his officers to remove Bane’s drug tubes, cuff him, and take him to Arkham, then considered visiting Wayne Manor.

After Miaomiao returned to the Batcave, Batman sternly lectured her for acting recklessly, and she fled into Gotham’s underground waterways, feeling that her family no longer wanted her. She ended up lost and hungry, refusing to go home.

• Miaomiao returned to the Batcave, where Batman and the others confronted her about rushing off to help without preparation.
• Batman warned Miaomiao that her strength and charm could not protect her from stronger opponents or human malice, but she felt hurt when no one defended her.
• Miaomiao splashed Batman, Tim, and Damian with water, then swam away while Alfred worried that they had been too harsh on a child new to life on land.
• Bruce found Miaomiao’s pale, bitter-looking pearls and asked Tim to track her; Tim reported that she was moving through the underground river toward Crime Alley.
• Miaomiao swam until she was lost and hungry, but refused to return home or eat raw fish.

After leaving Wayne Manor, Miaomiao sat alone in Crime Alley until Jason found her and offered to take her to get food. Jason discovered that her tears turned into pearls and led the hungry, upset girl away from the corner.

• Miaomiao worried that Pamela and Little Croc would turn her away and wondered whether she had anywhere to go after leaving Wayne Manor.
• Jason recognized Miaomiao in Crime Alley and asked why she was there instead of with Batman.
• Miaomiao burst into tears, and Jason saw that they became grayish-purple pearls when they fell.
• Miaomiao told Jason she was hungry, so he covered her with his jacket and promised to buy her food.
• Jason collected the pearls, and Miaomiao followed him out of the corner while holding on to his shirt.

Jason accidentally triggered Miaomiao’s merfolk transformation by giving her a spicy hot dog, then rushed her to his safe house and cooled her down with ice water and a cold bath. Miaomiao remained unable to turn her tail back and asked Jason to make her food.

• Jason gave Miaomiao his spicy hot dog after she said she was still hungry.
• Miaomiao ate a bite, reacted violently to the chili, and transformed into a mermaid with a powerful tail.
• Jason wrapped Miaomiao in his jacket, carried her to his safe house, and tried to calm her with ice water.
• Jason put Miaomiao in a cold bath, where she gradually settled down but could not change her tail back.
• Miaomiao told Jason her throat hurt and that she was hungry, so Jason agreed to cook and asked what she could not eat.

Jason told Miaomiao his name and fed her in a safe house, where she fell asleep in the bathtub with her mermaid tail exposed. Batman arrived to collect her and faced Jason, whose history of violent clashes with his father resurfaced.

• Jason told Miaomiao to call him Jason or Red Hood, admitted his red bat emblem was meant to spite Batman, and fed her oatmeal and macaroni.
• Miaomiao enjoyed Jason's cooking while he worried that her mermaid tail would make it dangerous for her to return outside.
• Jason's Lazarus Pit resurrection stirred his anger and urge to smoke, but he crushed his cigarette after remembering Miaomiao was nearby.
• Jason found Miaomiao asleep in the bathtub, quietly cleared away the dishes, and made sure she would not drown.
• Batman appeared in the safe house, and Jason instinctively reached for his gun before remembering Batman had come for Miaomiao.
• Batman recalled that his concern for Jason had repeatedly come out as criticism, provoking Jason into bloody fights.

Bruce left Miaomiao with Jason for a few days instead of taking her back to Wayne Manor, after finding her asleep and heartbroken in Jason’s bathroom. When Miaomiao woke, she discovered that her voice was nearly gone and she could no longer transform her tail into legs, leaving her frightened that she was becoming the Little Mermaid.

• Jason told Bruce that Wayne Manor had stopped being his home, then admitted Miaomiao was asleep in his bathroom.
• Bruce saw Miaomiao’s tears and pearls in the bathtub and decided she should stay with Jason for a few days.
• Bruce gave Jason a guide to caring for Miaomiao and explained that she was a powerful, kind Merfolk from another world whose voice could have a hypnotic effect.
• Miaomiao woke with a hoarse voice and found she could not transform her tail into legs.
• Jason fed Miaomiao a piece of apple and promised that the effects of the chili would wear off.

Jason let Miaomiao stay at his safe house under strict rules after chili pepper temporarily left her unable to speak, then fed her a meat-heavy meal that made her cry pearls. As Jason armed himself for the night, Miaomiao’s voice began to return and she asked what he was doing.

• Jason explained that Miaomiao’s sore throat was temporary and set rules for her stay at his apartment.
• Miaomiao agreed to Jason’s rules and eagerly ordered meat without chili pepper for her meal.
• Jason served Miaomiao steak, salmon, and sausages cut into bite-sized pieces, and she shed pearls while eating.
• Jason collected Miaomiao’s pearls in a box, serviced his guns, and prepared to go out for the night.
• Miaomiao strained to ask Jason what he was doing as he put on his armor.

Jason prepared to retaliate against Black Mask’s men for breaking Red Hood’s rules by selling drugs near a school, while Miaomiao stayed behind in his safe house. The chapter ended with Jason heading out to strike back as the feud between Red Hood and Black Mask continued.

• Jason warned Miaomiao not to call him Tao Tao and threatened to take away her meat if she did.
• Jason cooked Miaomiao an all-meat lunch and set up snacks, books, and a communicator for her in the bathroom.
• Jason put on his Red Hood gear and left to punish one of Black Mask’s men for selling drugs to students near a school.
• Jason considered Black Mask responsible for the operation and resolved to return the provocation.
• The narration recounted how Red Hood had attacked Black Mask’s arms and drug trades, deepening their feud.

Miaomiao stayed behind in Jason’s safe house while he went out, then woke to find him returning injured. She realized her tail had caused his bruise during their earlier fight, and Jason confronted her about it.

• Miaomiao stayed in the bathtub after Jason left, missing the comforts and company of Wayne Manor.
• Jason returned late, covered in blood, and Miaomiao woke and worried that he was hurt.
• Jason told Miaomiao the blood belonged to someone else and pointed out the large bruise on his waist.
• Miaomiao recognized that the bruise matched the shape of her tail and realized she had struck Jason.
• Jason said he had dodged most of her blow and asked how she planned to settle the score with herself.

Miaomiao soothed Jason’s anger with her song and magical water, then made pearl milk tea from her tears and offered it to him. Jason learned that her blue-violet pearls could strengthen him and extend his life, while he asked what the purplish-gray pearls did.

• Miaomiao noticed Jason’s irritability as he prepared to leave without washing, then sang to calm him.
• Miaomiao used clear water to wash the blood and grime from Jason while her song settled the anger stirred by the Lazarus Pit.
• Miaomiao asked Jason to retrieve her pearls, and he brought her a box from the weapons cabinet.
• Miaomiao crushed two blue-violet pearls and two purplish-gray pearls into milk to make pearl milk tea.
• Miaomiao explained that blue-violet pearls could strengthen someone, extend their life, and speed healing, and Jason asked about the purplish-gray pearls.

Miaomiao’s purple-gray pearl milk tea healed Jason’s bruises and eased his troubled dreams, but his good mood faded when she asked to join his nighttime outing. Jason agreed to bring her along to scout Gotham Harbor, and Miaomiao eagerly rode off with him on his motorcycle.

• Miaomiao explained that her purple-gray pearls could balance Jason’s temper, then made him drink the pearl milk tea, which quickly healed his bruise.
• Jason slept peacefully and woke in a good mood, allowing Miaomiao to eat as much meat and fruit as she wanted.
• After recovering, Miaomiao asked to join Jason on his nighttime outing, and he decided to bring her rather than let her follow secretly.
• Miaomiao wove herself an outfit from water, then Jason gave her a jacket and helmet before they headed out on his motorcycle.
• Miaomiao clung to Jason as they rode toward Gotham Harbor and delighted in the thrill of her first motorcycle ride.

Jason brought Miaomiao to Gotham Harbor to scout Black Mask’s guarded shipment, discovering that her merfolk instincts made her a quick study at stealth. When Batman ordered them to leave, Jason’s anger at his former mentor erupted, and he openly defied him.

• Jason took Miaomiao toward Gotham Harbor to investigate Black Mask’s shipment and told her to keep her face covered and follow his instructions.
• Jason realized Miaomiao’s experience hunting in the ocean helped her move stealthily, and she quickly adapted to moving on land.
• Jason and Miaomiao watched Black Mask’s guards from atop a shipping container and assessed ways to infiltrate the harbor.
• Batman appeared nearby and signaled for Jason and Miaomiao to leave because the mission was too dangerous.
• Jason stood up and challenged Batman, asking why the man who had abandoned him expected him to obey.

Batman, Red Hood, and Miaomiao fought Black Mask’s guards together, despite Batman and Red Hood clashing over their methods. After interrogating the guard captain and recovering a tube of glowing blue liquid, they escaped before the police arrived.

• Red Hood attacked the guards after Batman tried to stop him, and Batman joined the fight as the two argued and traded blows.
• Batman used gadgets while Red Hood fired custom electric bullets that incapacitated the guards without killing them.
• Miaomiao joined the battle, using her claws and agility to disable enemies as Batman and Red Hood protected her from gunfire.
• Batman interrogated the guard captain, and Red Hood followed the information to recover a briefcase containing three tubes of glowing blue liquid.
• As the police approached, Red Hood took one tube, then escaped with Miaomiao on his motorcycle while Batman followed on his Batcycle.

Batman and Jason fought after their escape, but Miaomiao’s tears stopped them and Jason left with the briefcase. Batman brought Miaomiao home, while Alfred confronted Bruce about his repeated failures to reconnect with Jason.

• Batman and Jason argued about Jason’s death and Batman’s failures, then fought until Miaomiao began crying.
• Jason left the briefcase from Black Mask with Batman and rode away on his motorcycle.
• Batman comforted Miaomiao, collected her purple pearls, and took her home in the Batmobile.
• Alfred welcomed Miaomiao back with blueberry cookies and criticized Bruce for driving his children away with orders and harshness.
• Bruce admitted that he had messed things up with Jason again, and Alfred warned that he might lose him as he had before.

Miaomiao wondered why Jason and Bruce were estranged, so Alfred began telling her the sad story of Jason’s childhood and how he first met Batman. The chapter ended as young Jason swung a crowbar at Batman beside the Batmobile.

• Batman relived Jason’s death and blamed himself for failing to protect or avenge his son.
• Miaomiao woke refreshed at Wayne Manor but worried over Jason and Bruce’s strained relationship, prompting Alfred to explain their past.
• Alfred told Miaomiao that Jason grew up an orphan in Crime Alley, surviving through theft and violence after his parents died.
• Young Jason found the Batmobile and began removing its tires with a crowbar.
• Batman returned and watched Jason work until his shadow revealed his presence, and Jason attacked him with the crowbar.

Alfred told Miaomiao how Jason became Robin and how the growing divide between Jason and Bruce left Jason vulnerable to a trap. Jason found his biological mother, Sheila Haywood, in an abandoned warehouse, where the Joker was waiting.

• Batman adopted Jason after rescuing him from a criminal boarding school, but initially refused to make him Robin.
• Jason proved himself during a mission against the Joker, and Dick Grayson later gave him the Robin uniform and codename.
• As Robin, Jason fought recklessly to protect vulnerable people, while his insecurity and Bruce's difficulty expressing affection widened their rift.
• After learning his biological mother was alive, Jason left alone to find her while Bruce put off dealing with the news.
• Jason reached an abandoned warehouse and found Sheila Haywood and the Joker, who had used Sheila's criminal dealings to lure him there.

Alfred explained Jason's death, resurrection, and reasons for becoming Red Hood, while Tim recounted how he became Robin and complained about the burdens and beatings he had endured. Tim ended by asking why he had been so unlucky.

• The Joker tortured Jason, detonated the Old Warehouse, and killed him before Batman could save him; Jason died protecting his birth mother.
• Jason crawled out of his grave, recovered his memories in the Lazarus Pit, trained under Talia, and became Red Hood to seek revenge on the Joker and Batman.
• Alfred told Miaomiao that Bruce had nearly killed the Joker after Jason's death, but someone stopped him, and explained that Tim had become Robin by accident.
• Tim recounted discovering Batman and Robin's identities as a child, persuading Dick to return, and becoming the third Robin after helping rescue Batman and Nightwing.
• Tim complained that he had to patrol as Robin and run two companies, and that Jason and Damian had both beaten him for taking Robin's place.

Miaomiao learned that Jason stayed away because of his conflict with Bruce, whose strict protectiveness and inability to express love had damaged his relationships with his sons. Tim reflected that every Robin except him had fought Batman, while admitting he lacked the combat ability to do the same.

• Miaomiao asked whether Jason was staying away because he and Bruce had fallen out, and Alfred explained Bruce's difficulty expressing concern and affection.
• Tim pointed out that Dick, Jason, and Damian had all fought Bruce, while he had never done so.
• The chapter recounted Dick's clashes with Bruce, Jason's violent disputes with his father, and Damian's arguments and near-lethal confrontation with Batman.
• Tim concluded that he had not fought Batman because he could not beat him.

Miaomiao realized that the Bat Family loved her despite hiding their feelings behind harsh words and bluster. Bruce worried that he had hurt her, and Alfred urged him to communicate with the children more openly.

• Miaomiao asked Damian, Tim, and Alfred whether they liked her, and correctly identified their answers as truth or lies.
• Miaomiao concluded that Bruce had scolded her because he was shy, prompting Damian to angrily challenge her to a duel.
• Damian put away his blade and went to feed the animals after Miaomiao refused to fight him.
• Bruce returned home pretending to be drunk, then privately asked Alfred whether Miaomiao was all right.
• Alfred told Bruce that coldness and accusations hurt the people he cared about, and reminded him that the children loved him.