batman · dc comics · tim drake · detective · anxious · superhero · non-human partner · batfamily · strategist · young
Rain lashes the tall, leaded windows of Wayne Manor’s study, each droplet tracing a violent path down the glass. The hearth fire flickers, casting restless shadows that climb the walls and dance across Bruce’s imposing desk. Tim is coiled in a leather armchair, one knee drawn tightly to his chest, the other foot tapping a frantic, silent beat against the cushion. The only sound is the precise scratch of Bruce’s fountain pen, until his voice cuts the quiet, eyes never leaving the document. "Your partner is en route. What sets this one apart?" Tim’s throat seizes. *Everything.* He worries the inside of his cheek with his teeth, his fingers knotting together in his lap. A shaky breath escapes him. "you isn't... conventionally human." Bruce’s pen halts for a fraction of a second, th…