category: Gen
fandom: Batfamily
characters and relationships: Tim Drake, the Professor (whumper oc)
warnings/additional tags: unethical experimentation, animal cruelty, mentions of human trafficking, wingfic, implied needle jab of mysterious substance, non-consensual sedation, anaesthesia mask
word count: 855
Summary:
@ailesswhumptober Day 14: Self-surgery | Unconsciousness | "Look who's awake."
Day 21: Stranded | Search and rescue | "You really think they're gonna look for you?"
Day 25: Magical bind | Pinned down | "And what do we have here?"
Ever since he was kidnapped by traders and bought by an austere mad scientist, Tim has learned that being summoned to the Professor's lab is something you never return from. Unfortunately, that's exactly where he is today.
notes: I don't know what to call this AU but Tim has wings lol (he's probably about 14 here). vibes somewhat inspired by that one scene from Arcane where Singed and Silco are doing dubiously ethical testing on a rat.
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He barely dared to breathe as the Professor went on.
“Beautiful, aren’t they? At the peak of what they can be.” He let the mouse scurry over his hand, leaving dents where its metal claws dug in for purchase on his skin. “Anything’s capable of killing, really. If you have the right equipment.”
He looked up at Tim, who was still silent. “Well, speak up, feathers. I didn’t bring you here to stare.”
Tim swallowed. “Wh- Why did you? Bring me here.”
The Professor set the mouse down and walked over to him. “To show you the beauty of the underworld. Those of you up there, you think that beauty is golden rings, jewels that shine in the right light. We know – I know – that you are all madly deluded, softened by your easy lives Uptown. Tsk. It’s a true shame, that your kind have evolved into what you are.” He trailed his fingers through Tim’s feathers, then sharply plucked one out, ignoring his yelp. “Pretty, yes, but almost useless.”
“I’m not useless,” Tim said almost automatically, not knowing whether to be more disgusted or flattered.
“For now, for me, you are. Remember what I told you when I bought you.” You will speak only when spoken to. You will move when I tell you to move. You will be what I tell you to be.
“That was illegal. Really illegal. My- my parents will find me, and they won’t be happy you’ve kept me down here. But if you- maybe if you give them a call and tell them where to find me… Maybe they’ll even reward you.” Tim edged away from him as much as he dared.
The Professor only laughed, head tipping back. “My, you are naïve, aren’t you?”
Tim gave a tiny shrug. “I’ve been told.”
He laughed again. “You really think they’ll look for you? Oh, birdie, you are amusing. It’s almost worth keeping you here as a companion.” That was a horrible thought, being forced to stay in this lab to amuse a madman. “But not quite.” At first, that was a relief. Before he realised there must be something worse to do to him.
Tim wrapped his wings tighter around himself, the chill of the lab and cold dread sending shivers over his skin as the Professor pressed a button and the window shades started to rise. Outside they could see the Downtown skyline, slightly blurred with smoke that swirled around the wings of a flock of giant condors. Each one had a metal collar built into its neck instead of attached around it, chaining them to the Professor’s building, and occasionally they let out loud shrieks into the night.
“Magnificent. This, little one, is true beauty.” He turned to Tim and smiled – smiled, as another piercing cry rang out.
“They’re in pain.” Tim winced, taking a step back from the window. “That’s not beautiful. That’s not how nature made them.”
The Professor pressed a button, and the shades came down again. “No, it’s not natural, but this is the apex of their species. Nature birthed them, and I simply brought them to completion.”
“You’re sick,” Tim breathed in horror, feeling like he could still hear the mutilated birds screaming in agony at their empty, uncaring inventor.
“I am a visionary, feathers. I chase an idea and bend reality to my will. How many others can say that?” He came up to Tim and put a hand on his shoulder, and Tim shuddered at the cold touch. The Professor leaned in until Tim could see him out of the corner of his eye. “My work is very important to me. I hope you understand the significance of something like that.” He put a hand to the back of Tim’s neck, and there was the cold press of metal, then a sharp stab of pain.
Heart pounding, Tim jerked away, instinctively batting at the Professor with a wing. “What- What was-” He whirled around to look at the Professor and restrained a gasp as he saw him on the floor. “I’m- Sorry. I didn’t-”
He got to his feet slowly, fixing Tim with that disdainful, almost disgusted look. “Don’t worry, birdie. You’ll learn soon enough.” He nodded, and Tim was starting to back away before the guards lunged at him, knocking him to the ground where the Professor had been moments ago.
He struggled as hard as he could, but he was small and weak, and they were clearly well-trained, pinning him down as he thrashed.
“Stop- Let- Let me go- Please-” One of them shoved something at his face, and he gasped on reflex before realising it was an anaesthetic mask. Fear spiked in his chest, but no matter how hard he shook his head, the things were stronger and held it firmly against his face. The world started to dim, and his struggles grew weaker as the Professor stepped into his view.
“Goodnight, birdie. I’ll see you on the other side.”
The last thing he saw before everything went dark was the mournful eyes of the lizard in its pod, and a tear running down its scales.