Chapter Text
Jack Drake was not a good person. He was not better as a father.
He did know his son developed a meta gene, shifting into animals.
When Jack and Janet discovered his son was a meta, they refused to let Tim shift, but as Tim grew, he got more and more curious about his abilities. He learned he could turn into any small animal and communicated with the species he shifted. It was a great ability being small while stalking Batman.
Jack hated animals.
But when someone with Tim’s abilities doesn’t have electricity it could be quite useful. While his parents traveled Tim got used to shifting at home. Sleeping. Eating. Stalking
Jack catches him a couple times when he did that which resulted in a beating, Janet just ignored him. Tim knew they hated him, but Tim loves them.
At age 7 as a consequence of Tim’s action his parents forced him to stay shifted while they were there. If he wanted to be an animal, they would treat him as an animal.
They start by ignoring, punishing when he shifted into human form, putting his plate on the floor.
At least it was just temporary while his parents were at home, his life continued after they traveled.
At 9 Tim discovered the identity of Batman and his family. His new robin was his biological son. Actually, he and Tim were in the same grade, Tim skipped a couple years. Tim was too scared to actually talk to Damian. Just being in the same class as him was enough emotion.
A couple times they did their work together, Damian told him “He was the least annoying of them all” Which it was a bit true because Tim was very quiet.
It was friday night, so Tim was getting prepared to do some stalking, grabbing his camera and taking the long path to his favorite picture spot. Obviously none of the bats had found him, Tim was very proud of that.
Tim was exhausted after 3 hours, although it wasn’t normal, but Tim did study hard for the exam he had today. He deserved some good sleep, so he took a walk to Drake manor.
As he began laying in his bed, he shifted into his cat form, well kitten? Form.
And slept.
Tim was woken up by a hand on his scruff making him limp. Seeing the furious face of one Jack Drake.
“You filthy cat, what are you doing in bed!” Jack holds him tight and throws him against the wall.
Tim was fully awake by the time he touched the ground, whimpering softly. Father has never looked so… angry. Tim sees his father taking off his belt, a second later knowing what is next. But Tim has never talked the belt before while shifting. It is mostly a roller new paper or a shoe but not a belt.
Tim knows his dad is not going to stop until he punishes him, escaping always makes it worse, but he is so scared.
He runs for it.
Noticing the entrance door is open he makes a run for it. Running on his little paws. To the fence border of Drake manor. He hears Jack cursing behind him. Tim can’t jump that height to cross to Wayne manor and hide a bit there until his father calms down. It is impossible to jump.
His dad catches him.
Leather and fur make contacts. Again. Again and again.
Tim feels something broken on his front right leg. Yowling in pain. Cream hair with patches of red.
“Hello?” A voice grows near
His dad quickly buckles his belt and grabs him by the scruff again. The action was not seen immediately because the fence was covering nearly a half of Jack’s body.
Tim couldn’t see who it was, his head was dizzy and hurting.
“Oh, Hello Brucie and Brucie’s son, I was just getting rid of this pest in my garden” Showing the poor kitten as if something with no value.
“Oh my! what are they doing here, and they are so hurt.”
“Father…” Damian whispers something to Bruce.
“Don’t worry I will call animal control to get rid of it” Jack lies.
“Or you can just hand it to me, and we will rehabilitate them at home.” Bruce looks at Damian and Damian nods.
Jack is thinking about it. Bruce could get rid of the cat or take him in, it doesn't matter to him, and all the problems of ‘taking care of Tim’ will fall on him and not jack.
So, he accepts.
And hand Tim to Bruce..
“Well, you can take care of it if you want.” And Jack heads home, like nothing happened.
Just the sound of pitiful meows.