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Published:
2025-11-28
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2026-01-02
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5/?
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Birds of a Feather (We should stick together)

Chapter 2

Notes:

CHAPTER TWO FOLKSSSS

 

I definitely didn't write this instead of like... writing my English Essay thats due next week. Or studying for my math finals. Or psych finals. Or-

Its fineeee

It's almost the end of the semester and I'm so excited guys, I'm so tired of college lol and I'm just in my first semester

 

ANYWAYS

I hope you guys enjoy this chapterr

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Tim wasn’t entirely sure that his parents were following their own lessons in being “Polite and Good,” but it wasn’t really his place to judge, right? He made mistakes sometimes too.  

It’s just... Mr. Wayne didn’t seem all that happy about the interruption.  

Tim was sure that it was because his parents were making him leave his guests. Wasn’t that rude? He’s pretty sure his parents told him that once before.  

But regardless, Tim and his parents followed Mr. Wayne into a different room. The man didn’t say anything, not at first, he simply sat down and waited for Tim’s parents to follow.  

They did, and Janet pulled Tim down with her.  

“Mr. Wayne, are you aware of the subject of this conversation?” Tim’s mother asked, her gaze icy. This was a business deal, no doubt about it.  

“I believe you said it had to do with a business partnership, did you not?” Mr. Wayne asked, flashing a smile. It looked real but-  

Tim wasn’t sure that it was.  

There was something in Mr. Wayne’s eyes...  

“I’m sure you understand that some things cannot be discussed in front of so many people, Mr. Wayne. I doubt you would have wanted me to reveal your little... secret.” Jack said, scoffing at the end. Mr. Wayne’s eyes narrowed and Tim stiffened.  

What were his parents doing?  

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Bruce laughed, but it was forced, Tim knew, “What secret?”  

“Do you remember what we did, all those years ago? You were drunk, I was drunk... A young mistake with no consequences, right?”  

Tim’s breath caught in his throat.  

“Except... there was a little... mistake.” Janet continued, motioning towards Tim. 

“Excuse me?” Bruce asked, but Tim could see the realization in his eyes.  

“I didn’t even know at first, I assumed it was my husbands. That is, until last year.” She glared down at Tim, no love in her eyes at all.  

Pure hatred.  

He resisted folding in on himself. 

“Last year, when we came home to a feathery, bloody mess, and Timothy right at the center of it.” Jack finished for his wife. Tim glanced up at Mr. Wayne, trying to gauge his reaction.  

But there was nothing.  

Only stone.  

“I, of course, am not... one of those, Bruce, and it really isn’t that hard to bind wings. Could you even tell Timothy wasn’t human, until I told you?”  

“Yes,” Bruce said, flatly.  

“Hmm, well, we’re still working on his training. Of course, you will have to continue it now.”  

Tim stared at his mother, moving closer to her.  

“He will?” He asked.  

That was when he realized he made a mistake.  

Both his parents glared down at him, furious.  

“You know better than speaking out of turn Timothy,” Janet said, pushing him away from her, and then he was ignored again.  

As if they weren’t trying to get rid of him right now.  

“I figure, you can use him as you wish, if not as a son, then maybe as... whatever you do with those orphan boys you take in.” Jack smirked, “We have no need for him. He can be a... bonus, for the rest of the deal.”  

“And, what is the rest of the deal?” Bruce asked. He looked so done, like he would rather be anywhere else than having this conversation. Tim could relate. He didn’t want to be there either.  

“You will make a large donation to Drake Industries, and in return we will not tell anyone of your lack of humanity.” Janet said, short and to the point.  

Bruce nodded.  

“And what if I, in turn, tell the world of your neglect and abuse? Or the fact that you're a thief? Or any of the other numerous crimes you have committed?” Bruce asked. Janet stiffened. 

“I think, you will silently sign custody of Timothy over to me, and we will go our separate ways.” Bruce said, matching Janet’s cold tone.  

Jack looked like he was about to argue, but Janet answered before he could.  

“Very well Bruce, just be warned, Timothy is not an easy child.” She said, standing up. 

“I’m sure I will manage.” Bruce snapped, and she simply smirked.  

“Of course you will darling.” She said, before walking away. Jack following close behind.  

Tim bit his lip and stared up at Bruce.  

Then he ran.  

 

 

~*~ 

 

 

Dick didn’t think much of it when he saw Jack and Janet Drake walk out of the building.  

He did however, when he realized that they didn’t leave with their literall child.  

He thought of it even more when he saw said child about to run out of the building, Bruce following close behind.  

Jason saw this too, and Dick’s little brother ran towards the hatchling, grabbed him, and looked at Bruce proudly.  

Tim however, just started sobbing uncontrollably.  

Dick walked over to the two boys, and gently scooped Tim into his arms, holding him close. He wrapped his wings around him, blocking the hatchling from the rest of the world 

“What happened dad?” Dick asked, quietly. As if everyone in the Gala wasn’t staring at them.  

Dick knew it.  

He just chose to ignore it.  

Even if he did wrap his wings a little closer.  

“We’ll talk later chum, why don’t you take Tim and Jason up to your room okay?” Bruce said, gently.  

Dick simply nodded.  

He wanted more answers of course, but he wanted Tim and Jason to be safe more. So, he took Jason’s hand (he ignored his little brother’s scowl, he knew Jason wasn’t a baby, but he wanted him close), and continued holding Tim with his other arm. He took his brothers upstairs (Because Tim was his now and no one could take him) and sat in his nest ontop of his bed, setting Tim next to him.  

“Hi baby bird,” Dick said, smiling warmly. Tim flinched away, just a little bit. But it made Dick angry.  

How could anyone hurt the hatchling like that? That he would flinch from something so... small.  

“Do you have wings?” Jason asked, raising an eyebrow. Dick scowled at his brother, that might be a touchy subject for Tim. Hell, sometimes it was a touchy subject for Dick, and he loved his wings.  

As Dick thought, Tim seemed terrified at the question.  

“I... um... I- I'm sorry.” The hatchling stuttered out, curling in on himself. 

“He’s probably not even old enough little wing,” Dick said softly to his brother, glaring half-heartedly.  

But Tim’s head shot up, staring at Dick. The hatchling frowned, looking worried 

 “That... I got my wings last year... Isn’t 7 normal...?”  

“YOU’RE EIGHT???” Jason gasped, and Tim flinched. Dick knew how his brother felt, but he elbowed Jason anyways. Tim was radiating fear right now, and Jason was not helping at all. 

“Quiet.” He said, and then pulled his hatchling closer and chirped comfortingly, “You’re okay baby bird, shh.” 

He held Tim against his chest, until the hatchling was asleep, snoring softly.  

“He’s so small Dicky,” Jason whispered, looking upset.  

Dick remembered when Jason first came to the manor, how the boy looked small and thin for his age. But it wasn’t like this. Jason still looked his age, just tiny.  

Tim looked like a kindergartener as an eight year old.  

Yes, hybrids were almost always smaller and thinner than a full human, but it wasn’t...  

It wasn’t like this.  

“We’ll take care of him,” Dick promised.  

He had no intention of ever breaking that promise.  

 

 

~*~ 

 

 

“Alfred how did I miss this?” Bruce sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The gala was long over at this point. Bruce just needed to... process the events that had just happened.  

Telling Alfred what happened was the best way to do that.  

“You had no way of knowing Master Bruce, you will just have to make it up to Master Timothy with time and love.” Alfred said, with all the patience in the world.  

“They abused him. They live right next door and they abused my son without me knowing!”  

“Your son that you didn’t know existed until today.”  

“I should have-” 

“Master Bruce, perhaps instead of dwelling on what-ifs and I-should-haves you should be dwelling on your next steps. Master Dick cannot raise your son for you.” Alfred was right, as usual.  

Bruce needed to figure out what he was going to do with the Hatchling in his care. 

Because Tim was going to need a lot of support, and Bruce needed to give that to him.   

Notes:

I love Dick so much in this fic. I think Dick is one of those characters (Like damian) that can really, really suck if he isn't done right, especially when it comes to Tim. But when he's an overprotective sweetheart? he's great lmao.

Jack and Janet suck but what else is new

and Bruce will get better haha he's just processing