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Chapter Text

There was a time in Gotham where seeing a hybrid was common. As common as getting mugged when you were walking through crime alley. As common as someone breaking out of arkham, as common as- 

Well you get the point.  

But anymore? They were rare. Exceptionally so. It was dangerous to be a hybrid in Gotham.  

It was especially dangerous to be a hybrid in Gotham when you were part of the elite.  

Tim wasn’t entirely sure where his hybrid features came from. Neither of his parents had any features other than completely human, and from his father’s reaction when his wings came....  

He wasn’t entirely sure that Jack Drake was his father.  

Regardless, he was expected to keep his wings bound whenever his parents were around, whenever he went to school, whenever the housekeeper was there...  

And god help him if anyone ever found a feather in the house. 

It was easier just to always keep them bound.  

The only exception was in the shower.  

He would carefully undo the binding, letting it fall to the floor as his black, shiny wings spread out.  

Right now? They were small, to small to fly.  

He didn’t have the right feathers yet either.  

In a few years though? He could fly.  

(He was lying to himself, he doubted he would ever fly. They would never be free long enough.)  

He preened them the best he could, but he didn’t really know what he was doing. He wasn’t even supposed to preen his own wings, that was a job for his flock.  

The flock he didn’t have.  

The flock that probably would never exist.  

The thought of that hurt. It hurt more than his parents never being home. It hurt more than bruises that came when they were home.  

It hurt more than anything that Tim had ever been through.  

It hurt more than the 8-year-old could really comprehend.  

He just sat on the floor in the bathroom, silently crying.  

~*~ 

Tim let his mother wrap his wings for the gala. She always did it tighter for special occasions. Making sure it wouldn’t come undone so Tim couldn’t “Disgrace the Drake name” more than he already had.  

His wings almost always hurt from being bound all the time, but when they were wrapped this tightly? He knew he was in for a world of pain later.  

He didn’t voice this to her though. Maybe he would have when he was younger, less experienced, and more of a burden. But now? He knew better.  

He knew way better.  

He let his mother dress him and get him ready, he let her put makeup on his bruises and under his eyes, he let her do his hair.  

“Timothy, today we have something very important for you to do okay? I’m not going to tell you yet, but you must be on your best behavior, and you must listen to me and your father.”  

Tim nodded, smiling softly at her.  

He could do that. He already did that at Galas.  

“Yes mother,” He said. She smiled.  

Not a warm, soft, motherly smile.  

But a smile that said “I’m in charge, and you know it.”  

Tim knew it was the best he would ever get. 

He followed his mother downstairs and did his best not to flinch as his father glared at him.  

“You better not mess this up Timothy.” Was all he said.  

Tim was determined not to. 

~*~ 

Tim was used to galas. He was used to people touching his shoulders and cheeks and squeezing. He was used to forcing a smile. He was used to making polite conversation. He was even used to staying still and quiet during the speeches.  

But Tim wasn’t used to being this stressed out.  

His parents made it very clear that this gala was important. That they had something important for him to do.  

This could be his chance to make them love him, despite the wings on his back.  

He needed to make them before his more bird-like features came in.  

Sure, he could keep talons filed down, he could use contacts if his eyes changed (It was a 50/50 chance with hybrids)  

But they would still know.  

They would known and they would hate him even more for it.  

But if he could prove he was an useful asset to them? That he was worthy of being a Drake even if it wasn’t in his blood?  

He might be tolerated when that day came.  

Jason’s first thought when he saw the Drakes was “Why the hell do I have to meet so many people”  

His second thought however, was “Why does that kid look like he’s about to explode?”  

Then again, Jason himself was about ready to explode. But while Jason was about to explode from boredom and frustration, the kid looked like he was going to internally combust from anxiety.  

He was trying to hide it. He was just... failing, to say the least.  

“Hello sir,” Tim said, straitening.  

What the hell- 

WHAT THE HELL? 

Sir?  

Jason was older than this kid of course, but they were still both kids.  

Both under the age of 18.  

No one should be calling anyone under the age of old-as-hell “sir”  

Especially not this... 5 year old?  

Yeah, Jason decided. 

This kid was definitely like, 5 at most.  

Jason didn’t voice any of this, and simply blinked at the kid, shocked.  

“My name is Timothy Jackson Drake, You’re Jason, right?” The kid asked.  

Jason almost rolled his eyes at the full name drop, but he pushed that away.  

Don’t be mean to 5 year olds 

Don’t be mean to 5 year olds  

Don’t be mean to-  

“I apologize for my son’s poor manors, He knows better,” Mrs. Drake said, digging her nails into Timothy’s shoulder.  

Timothy didn’t flinch, at all.  

He just looked guilty.  

So guilty. 

That’s... concerning. 

“Oh actually, I just wanted to know If Tim...othy... wanted to walk around with me? These things can be kind of boring.... Besides, He could meet Dick, I bet they’d get along.” Jason said, smiling.  

Mrs. Drake’s gaze sharpened, glaring down at Jason like he murdered her parents or something.  

“And why do you think my son would get along with him?” She asked, cooly.  

But every instinct Jason had was screaming retreat-run-run-run 

Jason’s instincts rarely failed him.  

But he decided to press on anyways.  

Like an idiot.  

“They just... seem similar? Same uh... smile? I’m sure if you met my brother you would get it.” Jason said. In reality, he didn’t know Tim well enough to make the comparison. He just knew Dick would be able to handle the situation better, “Plus he’s really good with kids.”  

This explanation did not really seem to appease Janet.  

“And does Mr. Wayne agree with your assessment? That Grayson and my son are... similar?” Mr. Drake asked, with far more blunt malice than his wife.  

Jason opened his mouth to speak but-  

“I think what my brother is trying to say is, Timothy seems very likable, and I like most people. Nothing more Mr. Drake. Although, I’m sure you would agree that being compared to me isn’t all that bad... is it?”  

~*~ 

Dick was used to racist assholes.  

Jason was used to his own form of prejudice of course, the boy was from crime alley. He had nothing before he came to live with Bruce, and his childhood was filled with pain.  

They both knew how it felt for people to judge you for something completely out of your control. 

But there were still differences.  

And Jason was to young to realize that some battles would never be won.  

Normally, Dick would have left the conversation after shutting it down, and whisked his brother away for a private conversation.  

But there was a hatchling right there.  

He wondered if Bruce could feel it too, the man was far away, mingling with other guests.  

But Dick’s insticts had been going crazy ever since the hatchling stepped through the door. 

The boy was just radiating sad-lonely-hurt-sorry-sad 

It was killing Dick.  

It really was.  

But the look of awe the boy had when he caught sight of Dick’s wings?  

He spread his wings just a little more than usuall. Not enough to get in the way...  

But enough so the boy could see just how awesome they were.  

(Dick was proud of his wings, and he loved when people thought they were as cool as he did). 

He wondered if the boy’s wings were bound- (Bruce always bound his own wings when they were in public, there just wasn’t any point for Dick to, everyone knew already from his time in the circus) -or if he simply hadn’t presented yet. He seemed young, 5 maybe?  

Most hatchlings got their wings around 6 or 7. 

That begged the question however, how the Drakes acquired a hatchling in the first place.  

“Of course not,” Janet responded, faking a smile, “Simply curious.”  

“Why did it matter, if our father agreed?” Dick asked, raising an eyebrow.  

“Just curiosity, nothing more,” Janet said politely, before continuing, “Speaking of Bruce however.... I believe we had some business with him, Jack. Come along Timothy.” Janet tacked on the last sentence like an afterthought.  

But Timothy followed her with no complaints.  

Dick glanced at Jason, who glared at the two elder Drakes.  

“They treat him like a pet. Like he’s not even human” He spat, Dick simply sighed.  

“That’s because he isn’t fully human little wing, he’s like me.”  

“And them?”  

“Completely human.”  

Jason’s eyebrows shot up as he stared at Dick.  

“You don’t mean-” 

“Don’t jump to conclusions little wing, we don’t know the story.” Dick said, his wings lowering slightly, “We’ll figure it out okay?”  

Jason nodded, but the boy still looked concerned.  

And mad.  

Dick was mad too.  

He really needed to talk to Bruce.  

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.   

Chapter Text

When Bruce finally went up to Dick’s room, Dick was the only one of his sons who wasn’t asleep. He instantly noticed Bruce approaching, his head whipping up to acknowledge the man.  

Dick was angry, Bruce knew that, the boy was radiating angry-protect-flock-safe-hatchling-sad-angry.  

Dick was mad at Bruce, Dick was mad at everyone.  

Well, everyone except Timothy and Jason it seemed.  

“We should talk,” Bruce said, quietly, “Do you think you can get out without waking them?”  

Bruce could admit he was playing a dangerous game. Dick had clearly imprinted on this hatchling, essentially making the younger boy a part of his own flock (not officially, not until Bruce made it happen). So the boy was going to be prone to lashing out for the foreseeable future, especially since it was the first time Dick had been around an actual hatchling, not just a human child.  

But Dick just nodded, effortlessly slipping away from Jason and laying Tim down, right next to the sleeping boy. Dick smiled softly as the older of the two wrapped his arms around Tim in his sleep, holding the hatchling close.  

The smile was shortlived however, because as soon as Dick turned to Bruce it morphed into a scowl.  

Bruce wondered if he was going about this in the right way.  

~*~ 

Dick was quiet on the entire walk to Bruce’s office. He really just wanted to get this talk over with so he could go back to his brother’s and cuddle them again. But he needed answers, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be tolerating Bruce’s interruption.  

But something was bothering him, and he knew he couldn’t have this conversation about Tim until it was addressed.  

“Your wings are still bound,” Dick snapped, his own wings flaring as he spoke, “How is Tim supposed to feel comfortable about his own wings if YOU AREN’T.”  

“Dick, chum, I’m sorry, I’ve been thinking about Tim a lot and I didn’t even notice they were still bound. I’m comfortable with my wings, you know that,” Bruce sighed, “Do you want me to unbind them first or to talk with you first?” 

“Just... explain.” Dick said, crossing his arms. 

“Timothy is my biological son.” Bruce said, “The Drakes came in today with the intention of using the fact that they know I am a hybrid to blackmail me, they planned to throw in custody of Timothy as a “bonus”, I told them that I would expose their illegal practices if they did not sign custody over to me quietly. I didn’t know he existed before today” 

Maybe that should have made Dick feel better about the situation. Maybe the boy should have felt comforted by the fact that Timothy was theirs to keep, forever and always.  

But Dick was just mad.  

“His parents GAVE HIM UP and you didn’t even comfort him??? You just let him run away and told me TO TAKE HIM AWAY???” Dick shouted, his wings spreading further, “Does he even know you want him??? Or does he just think you don’t want your secret to get out!”  

Dick didn’t wait for Bruce to answer, he simply turned around and went back to his brothers.  

He ignored the tears streaming down his face.