Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In a small room a young family huddled together in a corner holding on to each other. The mother held her newborn son in her arms wrapped in a tan old ruff blanket, the only one they owned.

The father had his arm around his wife’s shoulder while the other rested on the baby’s chest feeling it rise and fall with each breath. The parents pressed close together holding their baby as near to them as they could.

“He’s perfect.” The father said choked up with fresh tears stains on his cheeks and unshed tears in his eyes. “You did an amazing job love, I’m so proud of you.” He pressed the side of his head against her as he said so. “Looks just like you to. Our little fox kit.” “I wish he looked like you.” She said back sorrowfully.

“Cathy.” The father said looking at his wife. The only light in the room hung in middle of the ceiling, it barely gave any light. But it was enough for the man to see the sadness in his wife’s eyes. “Just because he’s not mine by blood doesn’t mean he’s not mine.” He knew the way their child was conceived broke his wife’s heart as it did his own. But the joy of being a father out waged his grief of their trainer being the child’s sire.

“I wish we could name him.” Cathy finally said “I wish it was our decision to have him. I wish he didn’t have to grow up in this place like we did and I wish you were his father not that man.” She broke off with a shuddered voice. “it doesn’t mean I don’t love him. I truly do. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in this horrible place but I…I ca… Michael… I don’t want this for him.” Her red heir fell in her face as she looked up In Michael’s eyes her blue meeting his brown.

“I know.” He said softly cupping her face “I know.”

It was quiet after that. Nether saying a word just letting the silence and each other comfort them. They’ve never needed to fill the silence with conversation, the silence was far more comforting than noise. The humming of the old light and each other’s breathing was the best two sounds in the world, they watched the rise and fall of their son’s chest taking in the peacefulness it provided.

That peace however didn’t last. Sounds of footsteps coming down the hall from outside their cell made both hybrids inside freeze. The locking mechanism for their door sounded and the wolf hybrid gave a low growl as the door slowly opened. “Michael stop that!” Cathrine hissed at her husband “he’ll beat you if he hears that!” The fox hybrid begged her husband as the door opened fully and relived three figures standing outside.

“Well let’s see it.” The one in the middle said. He stepped into the room while the other two men stayed outside. Wills Todd, a tall and fit human had on a red dress shirt, a black vest and tie with black dress pants and shoes. On his wrist was a golden watch and his hair was curly and black with brown eyes hidden under expensive sunglasses.

He rolled up his sleeves and looked to the couple. “Come on Cath, give me the kit. I let you two have it right after it came out now I need to look over my new fighter.” Wills said hands out waiting for the mother to comply.

Slowly Cathy got up as her husband stayed where he was watching his wife with their baby walk towards the man. Cathy slowly handed her son to the man anxiously watching as he unraveled the blanket on the baby’s head revealing two soft red fox ears and black curls similar to Wills with tuffs of white in the front. The baby had a pale skinned face and freckles painted across his nose and on the tops of his cheeks.

“So” Wills started as he turned the babe side to side examining him “thought of any names? I know, I know typically that’s my job but I’ve been busy as of late and don’t have anything good other than Bobby.” He said then turned to the couple with a raised brow “well? Oh and Michael you can stand up.”

With the permission he got up from his knees and stood next to his wife. Her hands shook ever so slightly behind her back so Wills couldn’t see, yet they stilled as he held them tight in his own.

“Jason,” she said, “if you like it, we’d pick Jason.” Cathy met Wills eyes as she spoke. Her back straight and head held high, like the trained fighter she was. “Jason?” He questioned, “that was your brother’s and father’s name if I’m not mistaken, correct?” He asked already knowing the answer. He had bought her on her eighteenth birthday, her old trainer was needing to get rid of her to make space for a new fighter. Wills had gotten her whole family history that day, just like he got Michael’s the day he was bought.

“Yes,” she said, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice. “My brother got sick and died before he turned six. But my father was a strong fighter and only ever lost three fights his whole life.” She finished not taking her eyes away from the man who held her son. Michael rubbed his thumb on her wrist hidden from view to comfort his wife the best he could. He couldn’t speak as much as he wanted to, couldn’t force the man give them their child. He didn’t have the power here, neither of them can do anything if they want this chance, this amazing, beautiful, wonderful chance to name their son.

Having a choice of any kind in the Pit was a gift, a gift that wouldn’t be free he knew. But Michael would fight 10 times in a row to have this chance. A chance that they would be the ones to pick their son’s first name. A fighters last name was whatever their trainers last name was and it changed whenever they changed owners. But your first name was something you always got to keep. One of the few things that was theirs and theirs alone.

“Yes I remember.” Wills said “shame about that kit, I’m sure he would have been a wonderful fighter like his parents.” He hummed in thought walking back and forth in the cell. Then he held the babe up towards the light making both his parents tense. “Yes, Jason. You’ll make a good fighter won’t you.” A greedy smile came to the man’s face. The babes small red ears flattened as he was held up, and tuffs of white hair fell in his face “you can have him back now Cath, and Michael you fight in a hour you’ll have to pick up the slack while Cathy has to feed the kit so much. I expect you to stay on top of your game.” He handed Jason back crossed arms as he finished his sentence. “Of course sir.” Michael answered looking at Wills while Cathy’s shoulders dropped slightly in relief at having Jason back in her arms. “Good.” Wells said then turned to the men at the door “Luke, Josh bring Michael to the medical room in an hour to make sure he’s fit for the fight.” The men nodded as Wills walked out the cell, and the door closed behind him with a loud click.

Both parents broke from their stances and looked over the child in Cathrine’s arms.

“Hello, Jason.” His mother said smiling at the baby, Michael laughed slightly and both parents looked at each other and shared a soft kiss.

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At two years of age Jason was alone most of the day in the small cell, trapped within the four stone walls and floor that made up the young child’s world. Being so young the child couldn’t leave the safety the cell provided him from the other fighters. Many fighters wouldn’t hesitate to try and get at him the moment his parents weren’t close enough to protect him.

There’s only two times Jason is ever brought out of the cell. One, for yearly check ups and vaccinations (which the boy is never happy about) and two, for weekly showers with his mother after all the other fighters have finished.

The day starts with the loud ringing from the wake-up bell in the hall right outside their cell. Each parent gives him a hug and a kiss on the head with promises of breakfast when they return. After around 30mins they come back and eat with him till they have to leave again for training. The training can last from 3 to 5 hours all which Jason is left alone without any form of company except a wolf plush. All children in the Pit are given a stuffed toy to keep them company while their parents train and fight. Jason’s plush, a gray wolf with black button eyes was given to him on his first birthday when he became old enough to be left alone.

After training they comeback with lunch and spend the next two hours with Jason till they have to leave again. During this time they tell the boy stories of their fights, they tell him how they won their past fights and teach him. They teach him the way they’ve been taught, they have him copy their moves to make sure he’s ready for the day he’ll have to fight in the Pit as well.

When they leave again for the last time, Jason is left with his wolf that he named Prince. (He got the name from his parents calling him their little prince) Till 2am the boy waits for his parents to come back. He waits by the door, he practices his fighting having Prince watch, he retells his parents stories to Prince. But most of his time is spent waiting by the door for them to comeback.

When they do he Jumps into their arms not noticing their wet hair and bandage arms. They hug and kiss him promising to tell him how they won the next day.

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Chapter Text

Heavy rain fell from the night sky a young as mother stood in front of her kitchen window watching it fall. The yellow glow of the street light made the droplets glimmer as they hit the window screen on the other side of the glass. She watched as cars splashed through the puddles of water that gathered on the side of the road, sending water onto the sidewalk.

It was a peaceful August night in Mary Graysons opinion. It made a calming atmosphere in her small one level home, the sound of the rain hitting the roof above only added to it. She opened the window just a bit and leaned in to smell moist air, letting out a content sigh.

It reminded her of growing up in the circus. Waking everyday and smelling the early fresh water dew before the hustle began. Running in the tent in a hurry to get out of the rain, and laughing with John at being soaked to the bone. Then watching the water fall as they held on to each other, his arm around her and her head on his shoulder.

She missed those days.

A soft cry made her come back to the moment. She made her way to the living room that also stood as the bedroom. Next to her bed was a crib, and in the crib was a fussy little guy who demanded his ma’s attention.

“What’s wrong my little robin?” She asked as she picked up the babe. “Do you have something you’d like to say hmm?” She asked slowly rocking him and turning towards her bed. She grabbed a blue soft blanket from the end of the bed and laid it down. “It’s a chilly night Dicky.” She said laying the babe on the blanket and began swaddling him with it “the last thing we’d want is for you to catch a cold with this weather.” Picking him back up she placed a kiss on his temple as the babe struggled in the blanket and made a small sound to show his displeasure.

His mother laughed “what?” She asked “do you not appreciate being wrapped like this? All ready a free spirit my little robin aren’t we.” She hugged her baby closer moving back towards the window. “Your papa was too you know.” She began looking out the window once more a far look in her eyes. “He and I both really, but your papa could never say on one thing or in one place for very long.” She laughed slightly at the memories coming back of John starting project after project but never once finishing it. “We left the circus when we found out about you. We loved it so much there but… you wouldn’t have any friends your own age.” She moved her eyes from the window and to the babe in her arms.

“We wanted you to be around kids your own age, go to school and learn things that me and papa never did.” She smiled at the boy still pushing against the walls of his blanket. Sighing she moved the blanket to free his hands revealing to soft black ears on top of wild black hair.

“Is that better?” She whispered as he looked up at her with gray eyes slowly turning blue.

“Our circus family gave us money for this house. They were all so sad when we told them we had to go, but they understood that it was time for us to start a new chapter of our lives. I hope one day you’ll get to meet them.”

A sad smile came to her face “there’s a lot of people I wish you could have met.” She looked back to the window letting her son hold one of her fingers. “My parents your grandmother and grandfather, your papas family, our circus family who helped us through so much. But most of all I wished you knew your papa.” She said the last in a whisper.

She walked back over to her bed and took a frame off the bedside table. It was a wooden frame with beautiful flowers carved into it. The frame showed a man with tan skin and a head of black untamable curls with a large grin. He was muscular yet thin wearing a red hoodie with a white undershirt. On the top of his head was a pair of black cat ears just like the ones the baby in her arms shared.

“There’s no doubt in my mind Richard that you’ll be a spitting image of your papa.” She held the frame closer to the babe and he reached out with his hand touching the face of the man.

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The two year boy happily kicked his feet back and forth sitting at the edge of the bed munching on a store bought powdered donut. His fingers and face were littered with the white sugary powder. He hummed a song quietly to himself as he licked his lips and then his fingers.

“Mama!” The boy called “are you done yet! I’m all ready to go and you’re taking foooooreverrrrrrr!!!” He stretched out the word leaning back as if to let the sound of his voice go out longer and farther. “Almost love!” His mother called back from the bathroom.

“But we’ll miss the bus!!!” Dick called again “no we won’t.” She said coming out of the bathroom dressed in her uniform. It was a simple tan dress with a white apron on the front, her black hair was tied in a bun and she wore simple black shoes. “Grab your backpack Dicky. Don’t want to forget anything.” She said grabbing her purse off the small dining table “on it mama!!” The boy ran over and grabbed his red backpack off the dining room chair he quickly struggled to pull it on his other shoulder after getting it on the first. “MAMA!” He called in distress “I need help hurry we’ll miss it!!!” He said while spinning in circles trying to get the other strap and failing.

His mother laughed “come here Dicky.” She bent down and began helping the boy as he hopped in place “stay still love you’re making it a little hard to get your backpack on.” She chided gently. “Sorry ma.” Dick said, “I can’t help it! I don’t want to miss the bus! I love taking the bus.” He said with a big smile. “Oh really. I never would have guessed.” She giggled taking his hand and walking out the door locking it behind them.

The family made their way to the bus stop all the while Dick happily told his mother why he loved taking the bus. “So many different people take the bus!” He says, “and we go so fast! Super fast woooshh!” He says while sticking both his hands out running a little ahead of his mother “sssuuuoooosh!” He said jumping over a crack “woooouuuuushhhh!” He runs around his mother all the while she laughs at her little robin.

It continues this way till the bus arrives at the stop.

The rest of the day is a normal day for the Graysons. Mary attends her first job cleaning at a motel with Dick following right along side her. He does the best a two year old can to help clean, although Mary doesn’t let him anywhere near the chemicals. They take a break at lunch at the small restaurant next to the motel and after Dick takes a nap in the employees lounge while his mother folds towels.

At the end of her shift they take the bus back home so Mary can quickly change then they take the bus to her second job as a waitress.

While she works Dick draws and plays with his toys at a table in the back of the restaurant in his mother’s section so she can check on him through out her shift. He’s quiet and leaves the customers alone and the manager Jeff, gives him a free chocolate milkshake. At six his mother’s shift ends and they take dinner home with them from the restaurant.

At home his mother sets out their clothes for the night and for the next day and sets the food on the counter in the kitchen. Then and her Dick take a quick shower together washing away the days grime. Dick laughs while his mother drys his hair ruffling it all up with a towel.

When they’re all done they sit on the bed in the living/bed/dining room and watch an old cartoon as they eat dinner.

At the end his mother cleans up their meal, then tucks them both in. She kisses his head and gives him a hug and as they lay down she whispers “I love you my darling, Goodnight.” He says it back.

Chapter Text

“Keep your back straight, good just like that. Now make sure you keep your head down and ears flat. Also your tail, either between your legs or curled to the side whichever you prefer but it has to be one or the other got it? Good, now let me and your mom get a good look at you. Stay just like that don’t move.” his father slowly walked around him making sure his position was perfect. “What’s your opinion Cath?” His father asked his mother, as he stopped moving, tilting his head side to side examining every inch of Jason.

“Hmm?” His mother began, “his shoulders are slightly slouched.” His father looked at his mother then back to Jason and smiled a bit. “Ah, yes you’re right love, his shoulders are definitely slouched.” His father walked behind him making the boy tense just a little, but made sure he didn’t show it. Cold fingers made their way by his neck causing the boy to let out a squeak of a laugh. “Yup!” He dad said as his hand moved under his arms “there definitely slouched! This should help!” Jason began squirming in his father’s hold trying his best not to laugh while his mother laughed openly at the two.

“Dad!” Jason finally managed to get out “st-AHpff!!” He bit back the laugh wanting to escape from his mouth. “Okay Michael,” his mother finally said holding up a hand from where she sat watching them. “That’s enough, we have to get ready.” “You’re right.” Michael sighed putting the boy down.

Cathy stood and walked over to Jason getting down on his level placing an arm on the six year olds shoulder as Michael stood right behind her. “You know what to do, right my prince?” She asked her son in front of her “you don’t look at anyone in the eye, unless it’s the doctor, you don’t talk unless given permission and you stay in your stance the whole time. Got it?” “I got it.” “Me and your mom will walk with you to the medical room but we can’t go in with you.” His father said kneeing next to his wife looking at his son “we’ll be just outside the room waiting the whole time, then when you’re all done we’ll come back here.” Jason frowned slightly and shifted on feet, he looked down at the floor fidgeting with his fingers “will it hurt?” He questioned in a small voice “I don’t want be alone if it hurts.”

His parents shared a look, his mother closed her eyes talking a breath and stepped away while his father gently lifted Jason’s face to meet his eyes. “Yes it will,” he began “they’ll take your arm just like this” he said while taking the boys hand in his own “then, they’ll take a cold gel and rub it on your arm then take a very hot stamp and place it here, for only a little bit.” He took his other hand that wasn’t holding Jason’s, and took two fingers and gently pressed on the boy’s upward facing wrist. “It’ll hurt very bad Jason.” He said making his sons eyes go big and start to water “but I do-“ his father cut him off “Jay,” he said making his son look back at him again “it will hurt, but you can’t cry, you can’t pull away. Don’t make any noise, it’s very important you don’t. A very important man will be there to meet you so you have to be strong. I know it won’t be easy but you have to try ok?” He said wiping the boy’s fallen tears.

“If you move they might mess up then they’ll do it again on your other hand or move it up higher on the same one.” He continued “you’re so strong son, I know it’ll be scary and I know it’ll hurt, but you can do it.” His father finished, then pulled the boy in for a tight hug and started running his hand through the boys black curls.

“Can I see yours again?” Jason asked after getting out of the hug “I want to see what mine will look like.” His father smiled sadly then pulled up the sleeve of the old tattered shirt he wore.

On his wrist was a burn mark, about the size of a half dollar coin with the letters LP in the middle. “These two things right here.” He pointed to the letters “are called letters, I don’t know what kind of letters they are or if they have a name but I know they stand for Lazarus Pit.” Jason watch as his father explained, nervous to touch it in fear of hurting his father “it’s okay you can touch it, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I got it when I was your age. On my sixth birthday.” Carefully Jason’s soft fingers moved across the mark, barely grown claws traced the edge of the circle.

“It’s a very important mark,” his mother said after managing to compose herself, “it means you’ll be able to go out with us. To eat in the cafeteria, the shower house but most of all, the training room!” She said trying to left the spirit in the room even just a little. “Then I could practice with you for real?” Jason asked, some excitement entering his eyes “you bet.” His farther said smiling at the boy cupping his cheek.

Neither parent mentioned the other meaning of the mark. Something neither of them even wanted to acknowledge. The mark meant he was of age, that if Wills Todd chose to he could sell their little Prince to another trainer, one that doesn’t fight for the Pit Master here. One that belongs to a Pit Master somewhere far away meaning they would never see Jason again.

20 minutes later Wills Todd, along with Josh and Luke arrived to take them to the medical room.

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The door to the medical room closed behind them leaving Jason inside with Wills and three other people, but also leaving his parents on the other side. He fidgeted with fingers standing by the door where Wills told him stay while the man went to speak with the other people in the room. The cold tiled floor bothered his bare feet making it hard to stay still.

His nose itched from the smell of the room, he scrunched it for the third time forcing him to restrain himself from rubbing it. His parents said the reason the medical room makes his nose itch was because he has a better smell then humans.

Jason really wished he had a human nose right now, because his nose is going to get him in trouble. He also wished he had Prince with him, Prince always made him feel brave when his parents were gone.

“Jason! Here.” Wills called standing next to a plump man with an odd thing on his head or it was part of his head, Jason couldn’t tell.

He ran over to Wills at a medium pace coming to stop at the man’s side. “Well Oz.” He said to the bigger man putting a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Here’s Cathy Kit, he’s grown pretty fine if I say so myself.” Jason did his best not to  shy away from Wills as the man began to pet his hair and touch his ears. “He listens well, and I’m sure he’ll be a fine fighter just like his parents.” “I’m guessing you want my permission to keep it till fight’n age?” The man, Oz said in odd voice. He dressed much fancier than Wills, he had a white dress shirt with shiny yellow buttons and a black jacket over it. Some of his teeth were also shiny yellow color like the buttons on his shirt and he had a thing hanging from his mouth that made the room smell worse. He also used a long cane with a figure of some kind at the end. His nose looked to long to be a humans and Jason wasn’t sure what was on his head. It was black and somewhat shiny, it was also tall, if it was a part of his head the man was lucky he was short or he would hit his head.

Wills nodded taking his glasses off and put them in the front pocket of his shirt. “Yes sir I do.” He started, “Cathy and Michael are two of the best fighters here, you’ve said so yourself and so has the big, big boss. Just think how great the kid will be when he gets older and with proper training!” Wills said gesturing with his hands to try and prove his point.

“Nnn.” Oz said thinking “have it get on the table so I can get a good look at it.” Wills signed for Jason to climb on the table next to them. The table was taller than Jason was making him take a while to climb on it. After a second of him struggling to get over Wills grabbed the waste line of his pants and pulled him up the rest of the way.

Jason quickly sat up leaving his legs dangling off the side ignoring the red coloring of his cheeks and the weird feeling in his stomach. He should have been able to climb up all on his own. Wills never should have had to help him, the stinging in his eyes added to the boys frustration, not aloud to cry he reminded himself.

“It’s not off to a very good start.” Oz said coming to stand in front of Jason. “He still young, some proper training time with Cath and Michael will fix em up.” Wills said crossing his arms and leaning against the left side of the table. Oz set his cane down on the table next to Jason looking over him. Jason tried not to squirm under the mans gaze, he kept his eyes downwards looking at his hands in his lap. He flipped his right wrist over and used his thumb from his left hand to trace a circle trying to imagine a mark like his mothers and fathers there.

Oz lifted Jason’s head by his chin and turned it left and then right. “Took its eyes from its dam. Looks like the rest is from you except the white in it’s hair.” Oz said while moving his hands across Jason’s face. “I’ll emit it’s strange seeing a tiny version of myself as a hybrid.” Wills said moving to stand beside Oz “I hope that’s not the reason you want to keep it. It’s not good to get attached to these things Will.” Oz said looking at Wills. “I know sir, and I assure you me fathering it has nothing to do with my desire to keep him as apart of my team.” Oz nodded after Wills finished “good. I’d hate to loose one of my best trainers. Now Val. Can you come here please.”

“Yes Mr. Cobblepot?” A dark skin woman in a white coat came forward. She had shoulder length brown curly hair and clear glasses on her face. Jason knew her, the doctor was the one who gave him shots and did his check ups, he didn’t like her.

“Look at its lips and finger tips please. They’re darker than they should be.” Oz said gesturing to Jason. “Are they?” Wills asked tilting his head to look the boy. Dr. Val put on a pair of blue gloves and walked over to the table “well let’s see.” She said, moving closer “Mr. Cobblepot if you could step aside please.” Oz stepped back and let Dr. Val get a better look at Jason.

She took his hands in hers looking closely at each finger. Jason watched her with curious eyes as she looked the over. “You’re right sir.” She said moving so Oz and Wills could see “you see right here,” she pointed to one of his fingers “their turning gray. It’s nothing to worry about, it’s a common mutation in canine hybrids and others like them. Though I’m surprised he developed it, usually it’s something more common in pure blooded hybrids and your his biological father correct Mr. Todd?” She asked still looking over his hands “I am.” Wills confirmed “so what does this mutation mean for him? Like what exactly will it do?” Wills asked.

“Well.” She began looking at Oz and Wills “nothing that will hinder him in the Pit if that what concerns you Mr. Todd. It simply darkens his skin, it affects the fingers, toes, lips and it can even affect his nose or around his eyes. It gives hybrids a more animalistic look to them, makes them look less human than they already do. It also tends to make them more valuable.” Dr. Val finished her explanation.

Jason looked down at his fingers noticing the different coloration from the tips to the first joint. His claws were dark also, darker than they were yesterday he thinks. The cell doesn’t have very much light and the medical room is much brighter so the difference is far more noticeable. His gaze went down to his feet, they looked the same as his hands. His toes were far more darker than the rest of his pale skin.

“I must say Todd,” Oz said clapping Wills on the back “you’ve managed to not only make me the best two fighters I’ve ever had, but you’ve also managed to produce me something special.” Wills laughed “why thank you sir. So I’m I to guess that means I have your permission to keep him and add him to my team?”

Oz laughed a horrible sounding laugh that made Jason cringe internally. “First let Dr. Val finish the check up. I want to make sure I’m getting a fully healthy fighter.” Dr. Val took that as a cue to continue checking over Jason. She looked at his feet next and then his lips and eyes “there’s a high chance they’ll turn black as he gets older, the end of his nose as well and around his nostrils.” She said making Wills and Oz eyes shine with greed. She opened his mouth and moved her fingers around looking at his teeth “Matt. Can you bring me the light please?” She called over to the other person in the room. A young man with tan skin and blue hair, he wore a white coat like Dr. Val.

“Here Doctor.” The boy said handing her a small light. “You’re the new intern right? I don’t think we’ve met yet im Wills Todd, one of the trainers here.” Wills said sticking his hand out “nice to meet you sir. And ya just started last week.” He said returning the gesture “ah” Wills said “that explains it. My fighters haven’t been in here for a couple of weeks.”

“Matt!” Dr. Val called, “you’re supposed to be helping me.” She gave the young man an unimpressed look “sorry Doctor!” He joined her at her side with a bag of equipment “here’s the rest of your tools doc.” He handed them over, “thank you. Can you go put the stamp on the heat please we’ll need it soon. Oh and get me the gel need to apply it before we put the stamp on.”

Jason almost forgot all about getting his mark. The fear of getting it came back full force making the weird felling in his chest return. He paid no mind to Dr. Val talking to Oz and Wills about how long it’ll take for his claws and fangs to fully come in. Didn’t listen to the question they asked about the parts of his skin that are changing color. Followed Dr. Val’s instructions, breathing and out as she placed the thing around her neck on his chest and back. Didn’t care about her touching his ears and his tail. It’s going to hurt, is all he can think about. Dad said it’ll hurt, they’re not here with him, they can’t be here. He wants  to cry, wants to hug Prince and hide in his soft fur, wants his mom and dad to hold him in their arms and protect him from the hurt that he knows is coming.

“Well doc?” Wills voice brought Jason from his panic “we got a clean bill of health?” Dr. Val put away her tools then turned to both Wills and Oz “he’s perfectly healthy for a fox hybrid for his age. He’s got the okay from me sir, no reason to believe he won’t do great in the Pit when he gets older.” Oz nodded and hummed “come on boss you heard the doc. Clean bill no reason to believe that he won’t do great in the Pit.” Oz sighed and looked at Wills “fine I see no reason the kit can’t join your team. Where’s the paperwork?” Wills smiled went wide like a child on Christmas morning getting the toy they always wanted. He pulled a file from out of his jackets inside pocket and handed it to Oz. “Of course you had on you. Dr. Val can you and Mr. Madison please mark the kit while me and Mr. Todd sign paperwork?” Oz asked flipping through the file. “Of course sir. Do we need to tie him down?” She asked Wills, “na, he’ll behave right Jason?” Wills asked the boy who was barely keeping his breathing even. “Yes sir.” Jason said making sure not to stumble on his words. “See? Good boy.” And with that he turned around following Oz.

“Matt go check the stamp it should ready by now while I apply the gel.” Dr. Val said opening a smelly jar. “On it doc!” Matt went off to the other side of the room. Jason’s heart began beating faster his chest watching the two doctors work. He wasn’t ready, he didn’t want the pain he knew was coming, his dad said to be strong, he said Jason was strong. But he didn’t think he was strong, he didn’t feel strong, he wanted his parents, he wanted to hug Prince and hide from everything else.

“It’s all set Doc!” Matt called out coming towards them with a stick in his hands. It wasn’t a big stick, the end that Matt was holding had a cloth and the other had a small circle that glowed a mix of yellow and orange. A cold feeling touched his wrist causing Jason pull it back from Dr. Val’s grip.

“Jason.” She said in a dangerous tone “give me your arm back. If you can’t stay still we’ll have to tie you down and you won’t like that.” Jason shakily gave her his right arm back with a quiet apology “the gel startled me. I didn’t mean to.” He put his head down with his ears pressed tightly against his head. Dr. Val sighed “that’s alright, just don’t let it happen again.”

She went back to applying the gel on his wrist. “Okay. Matt you hold his arm I’ll press the stamp on.” Matt nodded and took Jason arm. Jason watched no longer keeping his breath steady. He closed his eyes tightly as Dr. Val got the stamp into place.

Pain, pain was the next thing he felt. His eyes snapped opened as he hissed in a breath “Don’t move.” Matt gritted out tightening his grip on Jason’s arm. Tears pulled at his eyes, it hurt, it hurt so much more than he thought it would. The three seconds it was on his skin was agony, the smell of his own flesh cooking and the sound it made would never leave the poor child’s mind.

Almost as soon as the stamp was put on it was taken off. The pain however didn’t leave with it. Dr. Val wrapped a bandage around his wrist and called both Wills and Oz over letting them know he was all done. Wills happily patted him on the back telling him he did a great job. But all Jason cared about was getting back to his parents and going back to their cell.

Wills and Jason walked out the door leaving Oz and the two doctors in the room while Jason held his still hurting arm close to his chest trying to stay calm. At the sight of his parents he desperately wanted to jump into their arms and finally let the tears he’s held in out. Wills told Josh and Luke to take him and his parents back to their cells while Wills went back into the room, they didn’t talk as they walked back towards their cell. Both of his parents wanted to but there were other fighters out right now so it wouldn’t be safe to put their guard down.

Once the door of their cell locked his mother scooped him up in her arms as he hid in her neck. His father and mother sank to the floor by the door as Jason rasped out in a choked voice “dad? Is it okay to cry now?” His ice blue eyes met his father’s dark brown “yes our sweet prince.” His dad said, crying himself along with Jason’s mother “you can cry now, you can always cry in here with us.”

So he did, sobs poured out of the boy making it hard for him to speak of the pain he felt and asking them to help it. But all they could do was hold him and talk to him in soft words as he cried himself to sleep holding Prince tight in his left arm while his parents held on to him.

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A week later Jason could finally go out with his parents. His arm still hurt but not as bad as before, but it still had to be wrapped. He woke with his parents at the bell, and hung on his mother’s back while his father walked behind them watching their back. They didn’t talk and Jason didn’t move, he stayed low on his mother, not daring to make a sound.

His parents drilled it into his head what could happen if another fighter grabbed him. So stayed the way he was, not looking at anyone trusting his parents to keep him safe.

When it was time to eat he sat in the middle between his parents with their backs against the wall. They talked a little then, while eating the same food that was always served.

They stayed there till it was their turn to use one of the training rooms and Jason sat and watched wide eyed as his parents practiced and showed him moves that they never could before in their small cell.

Then they showered and used the restroom, his father had to go into the men’s room by himself while Jason still being young went with his mother. He would shower first while his mother watched his back staring at the other fighters daring them to just try. When he was finished she would only do a quick rinse so she could keep an eye on the others in the room and keep Jason safe.

After that they’d go to lunch the final meal of the day. They sit in their same spot as before and do their routine again.

Finally they relax in the cell together and Jason would nap in their arms falling asleep to the humming of their light on the ceiling and his parents breathing.

They’d later wake him up to kiss him good bye. While they’re gone Jason showed Prince the moves his parents thought him pretending to teach them to his friend. In Jason opinion Prince was an excellent student.

Then at 1 or 2 in the morning his parents returned with wet hair and sometimes banged up arms. And each time they walked through the door he jumped in their arms.

Then the next day they did it all again. And soon the pain in his arm disappeared and his mark went unwrapped, showing he would soon be a fighter just like his parents.

Chapter Text

Dick sat in a booth in the back of the restaurant with his head laying on crossed arms resting on the table. His feet kicked slightly underneath the table and his thin black tail laid on the seat swaying back and forth. Long curls went down to the base of his neck and fell in front of blue eyes. It was a full day at the restaurant, his mother and the other workers were busy running back and forth taking orders, cashing checks, cleaning tables and taking people to their seats.

A little girl about one years old was screaming across the room for the second time demanding her parents to buy her dessert. Once again they refuse, letting her know she can’t have any till she eats her vegetables. Which Dick can understand, truly he can, he to hates the evil plants as much as any other six year old does. But he however understands that the only way to get the good food is to eat the poison his ma insist is good for him. His ears flatten against his skull as she once again begins her banshee screeching.

“Dang that kid has some pipes.” Jessie, a waitress and good friend of his mother said coming over to where Dick sat. “Good on her parents though not giving in. How are you getting along Dicky.” Dick shrugged his shoulders then pulled his blue hood up over his head as the girl screamed again. Jessie cringed at the noise, she wasn’t even a hybrid and that one made her ears ring. She looked at Dick and frowned, this little girl wasn’t the first loud little kid they’ve ever had, heck she wasn’t even the loudest! And during those times Dick never acted like this before.

“Hey.” She said sitting across the young hybrid, “what’s going on with you bud? You normally talk my ears off.” Dick once again shrugged his shoulders not looking at her. Jessie sighed “why don’t I go get your mom? Kay?” She was about to get up when Dick finally spoke. “No, she’s busy.” His voice was soft but she could tell something was bothering the boy. “Dick,” she said, reaching her arm out and placing it on his elbow “what’s going on? Are you nervous about school tomorrow? You were so excited about yesterday.” She asked tilting her head trying to meet his eyes. At her question Dick hid his hands in sleeves and said nothing.

She looked at the boy across from her for a second trying to think of anything Mary told her that would have Dick acting this way. Then she looked at where the boy hid his hands and then it hit her. “Oh.” She said her eyes softening “Dick, are you upset with your claws?” Dicks head snapped up, blues eyes wide with shock “You Know!” He asked, a bit of fear in his voice. “Ya I do.” She said smiling a little. “Your mom said the coloration around your nails came in fully today.” She looked away for a second trying to think of the right words. “Is that what you’re upset about?”

“They’re horrible.” Dick said throwing his hood off and crossing his arms leaning back against the booth huffing. She laughed a little at the action, happy seeing the boy behaving a little more like himself. “I can’t go to my first day of school tomorrow with them! All the other kids are going to make fun of me!….. no ones going to want to be my friend. I asked ma if a could ware gloves but she said I shouldn’t hide them. I already talked funny with my fangs, now my hands look weird.”

Jessie’s heart went out to the boy.

She wasn’t a hybrid, and most of her family were humans. But her husband Joel was, a husky hybrid to be exact. They faced a lot of challenges to together and she’s seen him deal with all kinds of things. Once he told her the story when some of his other features came in and how it took him years to get comfortable in his own skin again. In fact she was the one who asked him out, took her awhile to convince him she loved him just as he was.

“Would you like a second opinion?” She asked, looking at Dick who gave her a questioning glance “sometimes it’s better to have a second opinion when you think something about yourself or when you’re making a decision. Getting an outside opinion can be helpful.” Dick looked away for a second, then uncrossed his arms and met Jessie’s eyes. “Second option about my claws?” He asked.
Jessie nodded “you’ll think they’re horrible too.” He said almost warning her. “Did your mom think they’re horrible.” She asked but Dick just eyed her. “Jess,” he deadpanned . “She’s my mom. If I turned into a worm! She’d say I looked fine! A WORM Jess, a worm.”

Jessie smiled at the boy, then took his hands that he placed on the table in her own and held them up. “You might not believe me but, your mama would be right. Worm or hybrid there’s nothing wrong with you Dick.” He opened his mouth but she quickly cut him off. “Hang on, just humor a second okay?” She asked him, “Dick, your claws fully coming in is normal, as is the skin color around your nails turning darker. All young hybrids your age go through this, some are even born like this.”

“What?” He asked confused. “Yup.” She said, “some hybrids even develop a mutation that gives them a more…” she trailed off trying to think of a good word. “different appearance than others might have.” she decided on “some get darker skin in some places or feathers on their arms and face, some even get different coloration on their fur! It really depends on the hybrid.” She learned in closer to Dick smiling at him. “But that’s all natural, and nothing to worry about. Other hybrids in your class will be developing just like you are so you won’t be alone.” Dick looked at her and hesitantly asked “you sure?” Jess nodded. “Positive. Now I have to get back to work, how about I grab you a peanut butter swirl shake.” She asked as she stood from the table. “With chocolate and peanut butter sauce on top?” Dick asked with a shy smile. Jessie laughed and fixed the pony tail holding her blonde hair up. “You bet kiddo.” She ruffled his hair before she walking off.

Dick looked down at his hands after watching Jess walk off. There was a small itch under his fingers nails reminding him about fully grown claws underneath. When he was littler his mama took him to the doctor worried that his claws didn’t come in when he started teething. The doctor said there was nothing to worry about, that some hybrids developed later than others.

For a some time he was worried that he’ll never get his claws. That maybe he was broken in some way. But now that they’ve come in….

Dick held up his right hand and turned it back and forth slowly. The back of his hand was the same as ever, tan skin was there like always and the lighter color under his nails. But now the barrier around his nails were a shade of black, proof of the new claws hidden under his very human looking nails.

With quick flic of his hand five claws came out from their hidden spots under his nails. They were sharp, but didn’t hurt as they came out. He looked at each nail, they curved naturally off the edge of his finger tips, they were a mix of black, gray and tan.

Flicking his hand again they disappeared at once as though they were never there. “Natural.” He said looking at his hands flicking them both this time. “Just like papa.” He said to himself a small smile coming to his face.

“Looking good Dick.” Jess said as she came back and placed down a glass filled with the promised shake. It was topped with whipped cream and drizzled with peanut butter and chocolate sauce. “The color looks good on you.” She added before putting a straw on the table and walked off to get back to work.

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At the end of her shift Mary sent Dick off to the kitchen to help Gary pack up their dinner for home. Dick had seemed a lot happier than he had been earlier that day, he jumped off the seat and did a small cartwheel on his way to the kitchen after Mary told him to go help Gary. It made her smile that her son was feeling like himself again, and she knew just who to thank for that.

She had seen how was Dick slumped over in the booth while she was working, but the restaurant had been so busy today she didn’t have any free time to go check on him. Then when she finally had some time the little girl in her section started having a meltdown. Now they’ve had hundreds of kids come in the restaurant and they’ve seen their fare share of tantrums and meltdowns, but one look at the young parents who were trying their best with the little girl who couldn’t be older then one was all she needed to go over and help.

The poor mother was on the verge of tears and her poor husband was trying to console both his daughter and his wife. So she walked over and told the young man to take his little girl out and walk around for a little while she talked to the mother.

In a couple of minutes the mother was calmer and the father walked back in with the girl no longer crying her eyes out and a snotty nose. He put her back in the high chair and the mother whipped the girls nose, while the father began thanking her, she simply waved him off before pulling him in a hug. She made sure to tell both of the parents that they were doing great.

And by the looks they gave her it was clear no one had ever told them that.

When she turned back to head over to her son she saw Jessie sitting with Dick holding his hands and talking to him. It made her heart melt to see someone she considered a very dear friend look after her son.

So while Dick was busy she headed over to where Jessie was cleaning one of her last tables. Jess was only two years younger than her and probably one of the kindest people she’s ever met, as was her husband. Both of them were always more than willing to help out anyway they could. Their church helped out at one of the local food and clothing pantries every week. (She knew this because once when Dick was five months old money became extremely tight, there was little to nothing in the fridge and Dick was in desperate need of new shoes and clothes. She felt like an absolute failure having to take her and Dick there, then she saw Jess volunteering and almost walked right out the door overcome with embarrassment. How could she face someone she knew?

How could she look at someone she’s known for almost five years and admit that she’d failed? How could she admit that she’s barely hanging on without John?

Even though she wanted to leave she couldn’t, they needed food, and Dick needed clothes, she just prayed that Jess wouldn’t notice them.

She did.

Mary could tell the moment she noticed them too, how her brows creased, trying to figure out why they looked familiar and the moment she knew why, she started walking over. Now Mary knew Jessie quite well, she was always kind to everyone, even the customers who got on everyone’s nerves. So Mary knew Jess would never say anything that her mind was insisting that she was about to say.

When Jess came over to her and Dick with a kind smile and understanding blue eyes. She didn’t laugh in her face and tell her all the things she had done wrong as a mother. No, instead she was kind, understanding, and made Mary feel like she had no reason to feel ashamed. She didn’t treat her any differently, and her husband Joel helped them carry their bags back home. Jess had told her there was nothing wrong with needing help, and confessed that her and Joel once had to come to the pantry as well when they first got married.

After that, they became best friends.)

So she knew that she was responsible for Dicks mood being back to normal again. “Hey Jess.” Mary said walking up next to her. “Oh, hey Mary, I thought you two were heading home?” Jess asked turning to face her while tucking the wash cloth in her hands on the strap of her apron. “We are.” Mary replied leaning against a near empty table. “Dicks just helping Gary pack our food. And I wanted to thank you for whatever you said to Dick. He’s been having a hard time and….” She paused talking a breath. “I don’t know what you said to him, but thank you.”

Jess smiled “you don’t have to thank me Mar,” she said putting a hand on Mary’s shoulder “he looked liked he needed a friend and I was more than happy to help. It’s not easy growing up, and if a talk and a milkshake make it a little easier for him than I’m happy I could help.” Mary laughed a little at the mention of a milkshake. “You and Gary are the reason he has a worse sweet tooth than his father.” Jessie laughed. “Possibly, but who could say no to that sweet little boy?”

The two continued to talk till the sound of a happy shout made them turn around. Dick, helped by Gary (a man with tan skin and big nose, with gray hair slick back and a rough beard) where crying two bags one with the food her and son where supposed to eat tonight and the other she wasn’t sure. “MAMA!” Dick yelled happily. His tail was flicking back and forth so quickly Mary was conserned he would hit it against the tables and hurt himself.

“Yes love.” She said kneeling down to meet her son. “Mr. Doss gave us the last piece of chocolate cake! He said cuz I’ll need alllllllllll the energy possible for the first day of first grade tommorw!!” Mary looked up at Gary with a raised brow, while Jesse laughed behind her hand. “Did he now.” She asked the man more so than her son, the man in question however didn’t look an ounce bit gilty. “Uh huh!” Dick smiled with a big grin.

Mary for a second just looked at her little boy who was giving the biggest smile she had seen him give in weeks. On the top and bottom of his jaw where is human canines used to be sat sharp fangs. The fangs that he cried about at first because they hurt and then poured about because they made him talk a little differently. This was one of the few times since he’s got them that he’s smiling so wide.

“Well then.” Mary said “you better thank Mr. Doss for letting you have it. And we should head home before our food gets cold and so we don’t miss the bus.” Dicks eyes went wide at the possibility of missing the bus and then nodded his head quickly saying thank you to Gary and then hugging both him and Jess good bye.

That night at home Mary made Dick take a shower while she got their food ready. Once he was done and ready for bed Mary helped him make sure his bag was packed for tomorrow and his clothes were ready. Then they ate together sitting on their bed, Mary listened to Dick commentate over the movie. Soon bed time came and after cleaning up they went to bed, with the soft sound of the fan on the ceiling singing them asleep.

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Dick stood inside his class room not knowing what to do. His mama just left for her morning job at the motel which was lucky not too far away so she didn’t have to walk too far. He had been so excited this morning for school talking non stop about all the friends he’ll make. And on the bus ride here he didn’t stop talking about how cool he was sure his teacher would be. Then once at school he walked in with such confidence as his mama walked next to him.

At the door to his class she hugged him goodbye. She was worried he could tell, but he was six years old! And was going to have the best day ever!

But he didn’t know where to start.

Kids were running around and having fun. There was a mix of many different hybrids and humans and some hybrids Dick had never seen before.

He stayed standing near the door not knowing what to do till the teacher told everyone to take a seat. Slowly Dick moved past table, after table as children took their places with friends they knew. The only table that wasn’t taken was in the back of the room. It was a wooden round table with four chairs around it like all the other tables. It was by the door that lead outside and the cubbies that held art supplies.

Dick sat down by himself in the blue chair. He nervously picked at the skin on the sides of his nails looking at the wooden table. This was his life now Dick thought, doomed to be banished to the back of the class all by himself. He sighed blowing some of his curls out of his face.

“Umm.” A hesitant voice asked “is anyone sitting here? Cuz there’s no room anywhere else?”

Dick looked up to see a young red head with black glasses. She wore a purple hoodie over a pink dress and yellow tennis shoes. Dick nodded his head and shoved his chair over slightly.

“Thanks!” The girl said sitting in the orange chair next to him. The girl pulled her hood down as she sat and two German shepherd ears popped out. Behind her a fluffy tail was beating back and forth as she turned to Dick and stuck out her hand.

“My name is Barbra! But you can call me Babs! You want to be friends?” The girls blue eyes shined as she looked at Dick, her smile was hesitant as if she was worried Dick wouldn’t decline such an invitation. Dick smiled wide “Hi Babs! My names Richard but everyone calls me Dick! I’d love to be friends!”

Dick a Babs stuck with each other the whole day. Babs told Dick how she lived over a bakery her mom ran and that her dad was a detective in the hybrid protection department. He’s was a German Shepherd hybrid like Babs while her mom and little brother were both human. Together they worked on their first day project, they had to draw what they wanted to be when they grew up and write a sentence with the teachers help about what it was.

Babs drew a picture of her as a cop with her sentence saying “I want to grow up and help people like my dad.”. Dick took awhile trying to think of what to draw. He didn’t really give much thought of what and who he wanted to be when he grew up. He liked helping but he didn’t want to be a cop, as much as he loved helping at the restaurant he didn’t want to do that either. Finally an Idea popped in his head, he quickly drew a stick figure of him with black hair, ears and a tail. Next to him he drew three smaller stick figures, proud of his work he raised his hand for the teacher.

“You done Richard?” Ms. Sam asked. “Yup!” Dick said. Ms. Sam walked over and crouched down next to him “so what are we writing?” She asked taking the blue marker from the table.

The rest of the day Dick and Babs spent together. They shared their lunch and happily talked about everything and anything. At recess Dick tried to teach Babs how to do three cartwheels in a row and land in a handstand. Babs got the cartwheels down easy but fell on her butt for the handstand landing which had both kids laughing till their faces turned red.

When it was time to go home parents came in the class to see what their kids had done. Mrs. Sam hung all their pictures on the Wall saying they would be reminders of why they should work hard in school, so one day they can accomplish their dreams. Dick got to meet Babs dad, he was very tall with an impressive mustache in Dicks opinion, with red hair lighter than Babs. Both kids introduced themselves to each other’s parents and happily told them that they were now best friends.

Babs father, Jim and Dicks mother exchanged numbers as the two kids talked over each other about their day.

Finally Babs had to leave because they needed to pick up her mom and brother from the doctor’s office because her brother had his birthday check up that day. Before Dick left with his mother to head to the restaurant he pulled her to the wall where their pictures were hung. Next to Babs hung Dicks as he happily showed it to his mom.

Under the drawing was the sense “I want to be a big brother when I grow up! so I take teach them all kinds of stuff so we can help our mom.”

Mary did her best not to cry at the drawing and the words her little robin came up with. She told him that she loved it and it and how it was a wonderful idea, then took his hand as they headed out the door.

Chapter Text

A knock came from the other side of the door to Oswald’s office. “Come in.” Cobblepot said from his desk. The spruce door opened without a sound as Wills Todd stepped through.

“You wanted to see me sir?” He asked closing the door behind him and walking towards the desk. He stood there patiently with his hands behind his back as Oz closed some files he was reading. “Yes, have a seat.” Oz said gesturing to the leather chair across from him.

Wills slid into the stiff seat as Oz put the files away. Oz leaned back into his chair looking at Wills, folding his hands in his lap and turning the chair slightly to the left.

“Todd, i’m you know the next Ra’s Challenge is coming up, and that we’ll be hosting for the American potion of it.” Oz started. “Which is about time to be honest. Everyone knows my Pit is one of the best.” Oz said while smiling. Those of his teeth that weren’t gold plated were yellow, and in some spots they almost looked brown. His smile always managed to unnerved Todd. Yet Wills would never mention anything about it to the man, in fact he was quite sure the reason his boss kept his teeth that way, was to make people uncomfortable.

“You know how trainers are chosen for this event?” His boss asked leaning forward. “Yes sir.” Wills answered, looking at the man and then continued as Oz waved for him to do so.

“Pit Masters have to select two of their Trainers that they feel would be the best fit for the Challenge. Then they send both their files to the Ra’s, and they choose one of the Trainers to represent their Pit Master. The one that gets picked depends on a few things, how many fights their team has won, successful kills, how many times they lost, and the breeding of the fighters.” He put up a finger on his right hand for each category he named.

Oz smiled at Wills “That’s correct. And this year I’ve decided to submit yours and Mr. Phillips files. And I’m happy to say that yours was selected.” Todd stared wide eyed at his boss all words in his vocabulary forgotten at the news.

“S..sir I..I…I don’t know what to say.” Wills said looking at his boss who looked back with a smile. “It’s such a honor to represent you and the Pit.”

And it was.

The Ra’s Challenge only happens once’s every 25 years. The last time it happened Wills wasn’t even a Trainer yet, he was a cleaner till Oz gave him a chance. Now it was his time to pay the man back for everything he gave him.

“It is.” Oz said standing up “an honor that only comes around every so often.” Wills turned in his chair as Oz made his way behind him. “And each time this event comes around the winner is given a prize unlike any-other.” Oz stopped in front of a golden framed photo of Ra’s al Ghul himself, the man in charge of the Pits and the man who built them.

“This year the prize is something worth far more than anything they’ve ever done. It’s the reason every Pit Master across the world is participating. Ra has promised the gift of a fighter, but not just any fighter.” Oz said, then turned to look at Wills, a look on his face that screams greed. “A fighter of al Ghul own blood line.” Will stood up as soon as the words his boss said registered.

“Of Ra’s blood line! All their fighters are trained from the moment they’re born! I mean, they hand pick the sire and dam out of the very best breeds of hybrids! If we had one of his fighters we would draw in crowds from all over! We’d be richer than ever!” Wills said pacing back forth in the room talking wildly with his hands. Getting more excited about the prospect of winning the more he talks. “Sir! Think about it! One Ra’s.” Wills said his own eyes matching Oz’s.

If he were a cartoon character his eyes would be ten times their size and in the shape of dollar signs.

Oz placed his hands on Wills shoulders shaking him slightly in is own excitement. “This is why I chose you. You share my own vision.”

A second passed and Oz let go of Wills shoulders. He walked towards his desk and took out an envelope. “Here’s your letter. It has all the information you’ll need on it get your beasts ready.” He handed Wills the letter, then walked back around the desk. “As nice as it’ll be to win the prize this year, there’s a lot of good fighters this year.” He said while taking a seat again and looked at Todd where the man stood reading over the letter.

“This says the losing prince goes up the longer your fighter lasts.” Wills said turning to look at his boss. “So, even if Cath and Michael don’t win, we’ll still get payed a good amount when they die?” He looked at his boss with a raised brow, and a slight smirk.

“They win by making to the al Ghul ring, Ra’s own personal fighting ring. If they last ten minutes or longer while fighting two of Ra’s fighters then the prize money and prize is ours. But yes, just make sure they at least last till Italy alright, if they don’t make it to Ra’s the money from their death that far will go a long way.” Oz smiled at the end as did Todd.

“It’ll be pain to deal with Jason after they’re gone, not to mention the pain of breaking in a new fighter. But I think the money will help ease the pain, for me anyway” Wills said looking at Oz with a smile.

He said while exiting the office, he had great news to tell his fighters.

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Cathy watched as her husband and son practice some of the fighting moves Michael’s adopted sister had taught him, she was taking a break sitting on the floor by the door of the training room. At the same time she kept an ear out for when Wills returned from his meeting with the Pit Master.

Michael kept at an easy pace making sure to help Jason wherever he messed something up. Now that Jason was nine years old they’ve both decided to teach him on more advanced skills that they’ve learned.

Most of their skills come from trial and error, their parents had taught them each different skill sets that they learned but a lot they had to learn on their own.

Different hybrids needed different skills to beat. You can’t attack a bull hybrid the same way you would a bird.

So a lot of the teaching they did with Jason was showing him how to go about taking down different hybrids. Quizzing him on different hybrid weaknesses they’ve learned and how he can best use them to his advantage.

Best way to beat a cheetah hybrid? Let it run itself out, you save all your strength when it starts to slow down.

Best way to beat a bee hybrid? Get at its eyes and avoid its stingers, not all bee hybrids have stingers, but those that do need to be avoided. Their eyes like most insect hybrids are their best asset and their biggest weakness. If you can manage to get their eyes then the win is yours.

Bird hybrids? Get at their wings, if you can manage to damage at least one of their wings enough the rest will be easier.

There was a lot of information to teach the young fox kit and they plan on using every second of time they have possible to teach him. Not all parents in the Pit teach their children earlier than eleven, a type of tradition to let them stay young for a possible as they can. Yet Cathy and Michael both decided when she was pregnant with Jason they’d teach him as soon as he could.

And they did.

Jason was already stronger than most of the other kids in the Pit, as few as there was.

When The Pit Master had brought in a new trainer on his staff not too long ago with him brought a new team. The team was made of a family of tiger hybrids, a mother, a father and two kids. The mother and father’s hair was a mix of black, white and orange. Their children were different, their daughter who had to be no younger than six because she was aloud out of her family’s cell had white hair with black striped markings on her face. Their son who was Jason’s age had orange hair and markings similar to his sister. The last member of their team was a normal cat hybrid with a plush white tail and two different colored eyes. He apparently was the husbands brother, the two of them where bought as a package deal.

The son had decided that he had a thing against Jason.

Whenever they two families where is the same room together the boy would glare at Jason, ignoring his parents scolding. Jason however didn’t pay the any attention even though he deeply wanted too.

One day Jason and his family were in line for lunch and had to walk past the family. As they passed the boy stuck his foot out and tripped Jason making him fall into his food.

The sound of the tray hitting the floor was deafening in the quiet room.

Jason lifted himself off the floor and looked at the other boy. His blue eyes glared through his hair which was growing over his eyes, his ears pulled back and he had let a out angry growl. His parents stood back letting their son handle it but stood by incase the child’s parents tried to defend their son.

If they did, Cath In Michael wouldn’t have hesitated to protect their son.

“Apologize.” Jason said in between his growling. His teeth were on full display, four sharp canines slurring his speech ever so slightly.

“Why should I?” The other boy said hoping off the bench, he came in front of Jason his own growl starting to build.

Jason’s own growl got louder. His whole body tenses and ready for the fight the other boy craved. “Because.” Jason said leaning more into the boy’s face making the tiger hybrids parents stand and Jason’s tense. “You’re still new here. And you’r parents haven’t earned any respect. But mine have.” Each word was said full of anger “so, apologize. Or I’ll teach you the respect that you’re so clearly lacking.”

The other boy hissed in Jason’s face showing an impressive pare of canines that were bigger than Jason’s. He flicked his hands and his claws came out from where they hid under his nails. They too were bigger than Jason’s, his own claws darker in color and couldn’t hide away like the other boys could.

For a second the only sound in the room was the two boys growing at each other. None of the other fighters dared get involved and risk their own safety. The boys parents looked at each other both knowing if the other went for the others child that they would fight. Neither of course had any plans on doing so though, they both knew the boys needed to do this on their own. The brother of the husband stayed sitting at the table holding the six year old girl in his arms.

The clink of silverware from behind the line set the boys off. The two women behind the line where rushed out of the cafeteria by the guard who was there to protect them. As he escorted them out, as he called for backup on his radio as well for Wills Todd and Madison Harper to be sent.

At the sound Jason and the boy lunged at each other-both of them falling to the ground.
They rolled over one another and on top of Jason’s spilt food. Other fighters got up from their seats to get a better view, while those with children pushed them behind them to keep them safe.

Jason was under the boy, he took the first chance he got and scratched the boys left cheek down by his jaw, then kicked the boy off him. He rolled out the second the boy was off him and quickly got back on his feet just in time as the boy charged into his abdomen.

They once again fell in a pile of growling and hissing. The tiger hybrids cheek was bleeding and drops of his blood fell on to Jason’s face from where the boy had Jason pinned down. Just as Jason prepared to push the boy off him once again-the other boy saw a chance and took it.

The tiger hybrid managed to get his left claws into Jason’s face. Going from his right temple cutting through his skin, down across his face. The claws went through his eye brow just barely missing his right eye. They went across the bridge of his nose and sliced his left eye, then continued down to his jaw near where a human ear would be.

Jason didn’t register the full extent of the injury, ignoring the pain he did feel he once again kicked the boy off him and grabbed the helm of the other boys shirt and decked him three times in the face-his knuckles becoming covered in both his and the others blood.

Jason then pinned the boy down on the floor and placed his hand in the boys hair forcing the boys throat to be exposed. He used his legs and body weight to keep the boy still as he leaned in the boys face meeting each other’s eyes.

They both breathed heavily, blood from both of them soaked their hair and clothes. “Apologize.” Jason said once again. Blood dripping down his face, his once white teeth now red as his blood dipped into his mouth from the gash in his face. One of his eyes were opened-his left one closed from the injury and the other staring intensely at the boy under him.

“Now!” Jason hissed shaking the boys head a little.

“I’m.” The boy started, then coughed before continuing “sorry.” He said through gritted teeth.

“For?” Jason questioned, wanting the boy to emphasize on what he did wrong.

Foots steps of the oncoming guards and trainers was heard from down the hall outside the cafeteria but Jason and the boy ignored it.

“I’m sorry for tripping you, and making you eat the floor.” At the end the boy smiled a little at himself and Jason huffed. “Now was that so hard?” Jason asked before getting off the boy.

The other boy stood just as the guards came in.

That was some time ago now. And both Jason and the boy now sported scars from the other. Wills and Madison both decided not to punish the families for the fight between the two boys. Which was what Cathy was most scared about.

Madison Harper, was the other team’s trainer, and since then she and Wills got along very well together. Which lead to Cathy and Michael doing some team fights with Roy and Jewel the two tigger hybrids and the boy’s parents.

Their son Roy, named after his father and Jason developed some sort of relationship between each other. The Pits didn’t have a name for the bond the two boys somehow developed but the closest thing they had was allies.

When the parents would be teamed up with each other the few times they did, Jason and Roy would be kept in the same cell. The reason Wills gave Cathy and her husband was so that Jason and Roy would learn to get along with each other. Because of Wills relationship with Roys teams trainer, there was a high chance Jason would someday fight alongside Roy like their parents did.

Jason was still a much more skilled fighter then Roy, which Jason brought up almost every time the two boys where together. Cathy was happy that Jason had found himself a strong ally in the Pit, it did hurt her that the boys hardly got to spend time with each other.

Jason made a thud sound as he hit the floor from sparring with his father. “No fare dad! I can’t see that well in my left eye! You know that.” Jason continued to complain to his father who walked over and helped their son back to his feet.

“You can’t let people know your weaknesses son. You cant pretend that you can see. You need to use it to your advantage. Make other fighters think your weaker then you are then take them down when they least expect it. Now let’s go again.” Both boys got into a stance and started again.

Wills wasn’t to happy that Jason’s sight had been slightly damaged in his a Roys scuffle. Dr Val had said that Jason still had some vision in his left eye, a hard enough blow could lead to him becoming fully blind in the eye. Oz was not happy with that, mostly because there was no chance of ever selling Jason. The man considered putting Jason down then and there but Wills convinced the man not to, and to at least allow Jason to prove himself in the Pit first.

It was one of the few times Cathy was thankful to Wills. As much as she hated to admit it sometimes Wills did things that made her grateful for the man, even though none of the goodness he did was free. Cathy and Michael fought so much after Oz agreed to let their son live, that they could barely get up the next day.

But it was worth it. Oh so worth it to see their son breathing and for him to be there alive every time they came back to their cell after a fight.

Another thud sounded in the room as Michael was now the one on the ground. Jason jumped in the air in celebration of knocking his father down. “Yessss! You see that mom?!” Jason yelled over to Cathy, his blue eyes shining at her.

Every time she looked at his young yet scarred face an invisible pain shot through her chest. “Sure did my little Prince! You’re getting much better.” She replied to her son making the boys tail to wag rapidly behind him.

Michael stood and ruffled Jason’s black curls “Good job son.” He said then made his way over to his wife, he sat down beside her and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I guess I’m getting old, my own kit beat me.” Michael said then took a drink of water from the bottle Cathy gave him.

“Dad.” Jason said sitting next his mother “I hate to tell you this but, you’ve always been old. You’re just showing it more.” Jason gave his father a grin.

A grin that matched Wills Todd’s. It was easy sometimes to not see similarities between the two of them, but sometimes the similarities between Jason and his biological father were impossible to miss. His hair was always a mess of curls that fell in the boys face. The white tuff in front was now bigger than it had been when he was a little. While Wills hair as black as Jason’s own, was shorter and pulled back with a curl that hung off on the left side.

Their eyes and Jason’s hybrid traits were the biggest differences between the two. Red ears with white at the ends that sat on the top of Jason’s head. The red plush tail with its white tip that swayed behind him. His black lips, the black of his eye lids and on the tip of his nose. The black coloration that goes from his claws to the second joint of his fingers. The same thing with his toes. He’s growing well into his hybrid traits and growing into a fine fighter.

But his face. The shape of his nose, the way his mouth curves on his face. That laugh he gives when it’s only them or when he’s with Roy. Is all from Wills Todd.

There’s was no way for Jason to properly see his own face in the Pit so to the boy he’s never seen the similarities. But it was no secret to anyone about who his biological father was.

“Why you little.” Michael leapt after the boy who took off running the second his father looked at him. Cathy watched happily as the to most important people in her life laughed as they chased each other.

Her ears swiveled at the sound of footsteps coming from the other side of the locked doors. She chirped a sound that made Jason stop immediately, she chirped once more while standing and Jason came to her side instantly.
His eyes were big and almost fully black and she knew his instincts were there more than her son. She placed the kit behind her keeping an arm on him at all times.

Jason’s head for the moment was stuffy and clouded. He held on tightly to the back of his mother’s shirt burying his head into her back. His heart raced in his chest danger! Danger! Danger! His mind sung in his head stay by mom, stay by mom. Don’t move. Don’t move.

Michael came and stood next to his wife and son. He placed a hand on his child’s head as a low rumble came from his throat. Jason almost went limp at the sound, the boys rapid heartbeat slowed down safety, protected. Rang through him but he didn’t move.

Won’t move till he’s told to.

The cloud of his instincts stayed over his mind as Wills Todd, Josh and Luke entered the room. He missed the conversation happening around of him, he didn’t come back till the end where Wills had Josh and Luke take him back to his and his parents cell. Where was told to stay till parents came later.

It wasn’t as though he could go anywhere anyway.

————————————————————————

Cathy knew who was coming by the sound of the foot steps. She called Jason over with a chirp without even thinking about it. Her son had stated over numerous times of how much he hated when she and Michael used sounds on him. He hated the feeling that overcame his mind but she knew that easiest way for her son to listen was when his instincts of a kit were more in control than him.

There was something so special about a hybrid child responding to an adult hybrids call. Young hybrids are impressionable like all children. And like all children they need to trust the adults around them.

For young hybrids controlling their instincts was hard, and they needed an adult hybrid to help them navigate their instincts.

When Jason was younger his first interactions with his parents where so important for him to imprint on them. It was easier to get him to listen when he was younger, at that age his instincts were to listen to his parents. Now that he’s older he’s more likely to speak out against Todd, more likely to do something rash. Fighting Roy in the cafeteria was something completely different than him trying to fight Wills Todd. Which almost happened once.

And since then whenever Wills came unexpectedly Cathy called. She didn’t like doing it, she didn’t and neither did Michael.

When a hybrid child listened to those calls it meant trust, complete trust. It meant that they felt safe around that adult, it meant that they could let the cloud of their instincts come over them and know their parents will keep them.

It’s a bond that’s forms over time. And once formed it’s near impossible to break.

But at the same time there was a draw back to it. Like all things it can be abused, she and Michael has seen it happen. A young hybrid trusting their parents and then their trainer making the parents let that could have safety come over their child. Only for that trainer to take the child away, it’s a horrible thing to do.

The child not knowing what’s happening and calling for their parents to come to them, to help them, to save them. Hearing a child’s distress chirps and watching as their parents can do nothing less something worse happen.

When a child is like that the only people they trust are those they consider family. And a trainer is never considered family. So a child deep in their instincts only knows that a predator has them and their parents aren’t there. They don’t understand what’s happening or what’s going on.

It’s a horrible thing to do, for all hybrids. To be trapped in your instincts and not know what’s happening around you. It’s easier for adult hybrids to push their instincts down, to lock them up so they know what’s happening around them. But children need to learn how to do that, need to be taught, and that takes time, so much time.

Cathy and Michael both know what it’s like to be trapped in their instincts that way. It’s common in the Pit that when selling hybrids they should be stuck in those instincts. It’s easier to put kids into their instincts like that, yet harder for adults.

A needle in the neck filled with something. Then recorded calls of a parent hybrid making that sound to call their child into that safety.

It’s horrible. And as long as Cathy and Michael are alive Jason we’ll never know what that’s like.

She felt how tense Jason was behind her and how tight he was holding on to her clothes. He’s scared she thought. Michael came over next to her and they shared a looked before he placed a hand on their boys head and let out a low rumble from his chest. Jason immediately relaxed but didn’t move from where Cathy put him.

“I’ve got amazing news!” Wills said as he entered the room with Josh and Luke at his tail. The man wore a massive grin on his face, and his sunglasses he almost always wore were nowhere to be seen. His hands were folded behind his back as he came to stand in front of the couple.

Wills took a small glance behind her noticing Jason immediately, yet said nothing. The man took a thing out from behind his back and waved it in the air a little. Certainly whatever this small, thin thing was, was important. Well important to Wills, whether that meant good news or bad news for them remained to be unseen.

“This.” He said gesturing to the thing in his hand “is a letter, but not just any letter. This is an invitation from the Ghul’s themselves. A letter stating that you two are the chosen team to fight in the Ra’s Challenge this year for odd Ozzy! I hope you both know what an honor this is.”

All the air in the couple’s lungs left. Honor? An honor? To the trainers yes. To the Pit Masters yes. But no, never an honor, not to the fighters.

No one, not a single fighter in the Pit thought of this as an honor.

The Challenge was a definite death sentence to all fighters involved. There was no winners, the longer you live is just prolonging your death. A death that has been signed the second Ra choose your trainer to represent the Pit Master in charge of them.

All the fights end in a death.

No one comes back.

It’s no honor, it’s ever fighters worst fear coming to life.

“What?” Michael asks after finding his voice. His face showed very little emotion, as if the their whole world hadn’t just been destroyed. Cathy was so grateful for her husband in times like these-she’s never been very good at hiding her emotions.

“Oz volunteered me to represent him, therefore you two are going to be fighting in the challenge this year.” The man said once again. “Now I know you might be worried about winning but I now what will put you at ease.”

They both doubted he did.

“Now as I’m sure you both know that the all the fights of the challenge are death matches.” He looked at both of them for conformation which he got by Michael nodding his head. “Unlike normal death matches the loser still gets a good amount of money for their lost property.” Neither Michael nor Cathy reacted to being called property, they grew up with the notion that they were. Nothing has ever said otherwise.

And why would it?

“The longer you two last the more money we get if you die. Which means I won’t have a reason to put Jason in the fights too soon after your guys death.” Cathy felt her breathing begin to shudder, her muscles started feeling tight, her throat felt like closing up, the room felt like it was spinning, and black began to creep over her vision. She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t.

“Now I know I shouldn’t do this, but I’ll make you both a promise. If you guys make it to Ra’s arena and last for the 10 minutes required to win. I will do everything I can to make sure your guys replacements will be kind to Jason, also I’ll make sure he gets a week to morn you two before he has to fight.”

Michael kept his head high, his back straight as a beam. Arms stayed steady at his side, his breathing even.

He himself had gone through three trainers his whole life. First sold right from the age of six, the moment he got his mark. Second was to a man who didn’t know anything about being a trainer, the Pit Master fired him not long after he was bought. (By fired he means the man was killed) the last was to Wills himself.

He’s had years of experience hiding his emotions, as well as holding his tongue. So he did the talking, he answered Wills questions and agreed to the deal. He watched has Josh and Luke take Jason, who’s eyes where back to normal, back to their cell. He gave his son a subtle nod of encouragement as he left the room.

“I’ll leave you to figure out how to explain this all to Jason. I also expect you to make sure he knows what I’ll expect of him when this thing blows over. I’ll talk to himself of course but it be easier for him if he already knows what’s to come.” Michael gave Wills a steady yes sir after the man finished.

Michael watched as Wills left the room, the door locking behind him. Quickly Michael stood in front of his wife “Cath. You need to breathe. Everything’s going to be okay.” He gently guided her to the floor as her breathing slowly evened. “That’s it honey, you need to breathe. We’re going to be okay, Jason we be fine.” He continued to say the same things over and over again.

Her hands shook as Michael took them in his own. “He’s going to be alone Mike. We won’t be here, he’s only nine.” Water fell from her eyes as they met his own. “There’s still so much to teach him. We don’t have time.”

He held on to his wife “we’ll teach him and prepare him as much as we can. And we’ll win this thing, win it for him.” Michael said rubbing her back as she shook in his hold.

“How? Ra’s fighters are said to be the best. We don’t even know how long ten minutes is. Not to mention all the other fighters we have to go through to get to them.” Michael moved so he was facing her, gently he took her face in between his hands.

His face showed nothing but determination and voice was stern yet soft as he spoke. “We will win. All those other fighters have nothing on us you know that. We fight them like we always do, together. I’ll watch your back you watch mine, we watch each other and listen to each other. And those al Ghul fighters,” he paused leaning closer to his wife so their foreheads touched. “They have nothing to fight for but for themselves. No family, no team, nothing.” They both looked into each other’s eyes.

“When we die, when we win, it’ll be because we had someone to fight for.”

————————————————————————

Jason had cried at the news, so had his parents. Michael struggled to get the words out as he choked up over and over again as he looked at his son. His son who despite his body shuddering and tears flowing down his scarred cheeks kept his head held high.

That night they slept together holding on to each other.

Cathy laid in Michael’s lap after she finally managed to fall asleep from the exhaustion earlier had brought. Jason was awake and was wrapped protectively with his father’s arm around him, while Prince was held tight to the boys chest.

“I’m gonna miss you.” Jason whispered leaning into his father’s hold. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Michael’s hold tightened on his son. “I’ll miss you son. But you won’t be alone forever, soon you’ll have a new team and they’ll be part of your family. Like how we are.” Jason shook his head against his father.

“No. Nobody can replace you both. I don’t want another team.” Michael signed and turned so he was looking at Jason.

“Family can come from anywhere. And most times when you don’t expect it to. I’m saying not they’ll replace me or your mother, but I am saying to let them have a chance to get to know you and you them. When I was sold away from my parents I met a wonderful woman who I consider to be my second mother. Her two daughters are my big sisters, I’ll never see them again, but they didn’t replace the family I had before. They added to it, just like you and your mother did.” He squeezed his son close to him an again. “Do you understand?”

Jason was quiet for a second. “I do. And I’ll try.”

Not long after Jason fell asleep against his father. Michael looked up at the small light of the room. It’s comforting hum was the only other sound aside from his families breathing. He didn’t know what praying was, knew nothing about higher powers or God. But that night as a father held his world in his arms he looked up at the only thing that was as close to the sun as he’s ever seen. “Please, don’t let my son be alone.” He said, “I can’t be here for him anymore, let someone take him in as their own like what was done for me.”

Nearly a week later in a city not far from the Pit a mother prayed the same for her only son as she took her last breath.

Chapter Text

Jim Gordon wasn’t having a good day, in fact the captain wasn’t having a very good week. Being head of the hybrids crimes unit was exhausting and tedious as it was fulfilling.

And this past week has been nothing but frustrating.

A new hybrid gang had shown up about two weeks ago and this week they’ve been a pain in Jim’s back.

From the information they had there are five members, all male and all canine type hybrids.

There’s a high chance of them all being related as most crimes committed by hybrid groups are done with family members.

Luckily so far the group hasn’t done anything worse than robbing a couple of local businesses. From experience Gordon knows it won’t be long till they start upping the ante on their crimes.

The last thing anyone wants is for someone to lose their life because of these idiots.

Jim signed, he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was getting a headache reading the file on them. The main thing they knew is that the group targets human run businesses.

It didn’t take long for the press to figure that out, and now people are really starting to get worried. His boss has been breathing down his neck and the press keeps asking for new information that he doesn’t have.

So ya, it’s been a very stressful week.

Jim looked at the file in front of him and closed it. He really needed a break before he threw the case file or his computer out the window. He placed it to the side and grabbed his empty mug as he left his office.

Walking through the precinct he passed a few of his officers and detectives each greeting him with a “Captain” or a “Sir” which he acknowledged with a nod. Finally making it to the break room he started filling the pot with coffee and snatched himself a stale doughnut from that morning. He leaned back against the counter scrolling on his phone while he waited for the coffee to finish.

After a minute of mindless scrolling a call came in and the caller ID made him perk up and the tension in his shoulders eased as he answered the call and heard the voice on the other side.

“Hi!! Dad!” Barbara said as soon as the phone went to his ear. “Hey honey, how was school? You on your way home?” Jim’s posture became more relaxed as he listened to his daughter go over the events of her day.

“And then Dick decided to do a back flip over the guys head! I told him he was gonna get sent to the office….. but like the dummy he is he did it anyway. So I had to wait for him to finish detention so we could walk home.”

Jim laughed. “You guys on your way now?” He asked moving to fill his mug with the finished coffee. “Ya we are.” Babs said, “Hi! Mr. Gordon!” A voice yelled making Jim flinch “Hey! Why’d you hit me!?” Dick asked after a sound of someone hitting him. “Cuz you idiot! Are you trying to make me and my dad go deaf?!”

Once the squabbling had died down Jim finally managed to get a word in. “Hello Dick, Babs said you got detention.” The boy let out a long groan while Babs laughed.

“It was completely uncalled for!” Jim listened to Dicks reasoning as to why the teacher was wrong for sending him to the office. According to Dick the other kid had been asking for it. Apparently the boy had dared Dick that he couldn’t flip over the lunch table, which Dick then said that not only could he jump over the table, but he could also jump over the boy at the same time.

So he did.

As he was performing a teacher came in right as Dick was souring over the boys head. Dick happily exclaimed how he perfectly stuck the landing only to fall over after the teacher yelled at him from across the room. Babs mentioned that not only did he fall from being startled so badly from the teacher but he jumped three feet in the air then tripped over the leg of the table after landing back on the ground.

Babs was clearly frustrated at the memory of the incident telling Jim how after Dick fell the whole room laughed and the teacher did nothing. Jim could hear the slight growl in his daughter’s voice, one thing Barbara never stood for was bullying. Especially if that bullying was pointed at Dick.

Jim walked into his office closing the down behind him with his foot, then made his way around the desk. He put his mug down and sat back into his chair all while listening to his daughter talk about how she planned on making the teacher pay.

Jim really shouldn’t be tolerating this kind of talk from Babs, in all honesty. His nine year old daughter really shouldn’t be taking about threatening to do a background check on her teacher and using what she finds to either end their career or black mail them. As a father he should be reprimanding her, as a cop he should tell her that his would be against the law.

But he doesn’t. No, instead he laughs. He can’t help but laugh listening to the kids on the other side of the phone talk about ending this teachers “terrible rain of tarrier”. He knew they were joking (he hoped) but in all honesty he knew if they truly wanted to they 100% could.

There was no doubt, no absolute doubt in Jim’s mind that Dick would break into their teachers house to get “fiscal data” and “evidence” while Babs hacked their computer. Then the two of them handing in their findings to those in charge only to find out the teacher has been fired the next day. Then all the kids who laughed at Dick would find themselves locked out of all their devices with messages telling them how they should know better.

He could see it happening. And even though he knew their plan, and heard them describe how they would do it. he’s not so sure he would have any other proof they had done it.

“Okay you two.” Jim finally cut in. “I have to get back to work. You guys almost there?”

Jim pulled the file out once again ready to look at it with newer eyes and coffee to fuel him.

“Ya we made it home. Umm dad?” Babs asked hesitantly. “Can Dick spend the night?”

Jim signed. Normally he’d say yes. In fact Dick slept at their house so often that some of his clothes had a spot in his son’s closet. But it was Friday, and Jim did his best to carve out time on Fridays to take his wife out for dinner. They missed last week so Jim really wanted to make it up to her.

Babs of course knew this as did Dick. They both knew what day it was and that the babysitter would be there. It wasn’t fair that the sitter had to watch Dick as well.

“Honey. You already know that answer.” He could practically hear the kids shoulders dropping.

“Then can I sleep over at Dick?” She asked and Jim was really not ready for this conversation again.

Dick and Mary didn’t live in a safe neighborhood. And though both Jim and his wife trusted Mary she often worked very late, and Jim didn’t like the idea of Babs being there without an adult present. It did make him feel bad that Babs couldn’t sleep over at Dicks like the boy did at their house. But Jim, Mary and his wife had discussed this before and both children knew the rule.

“You know the answer to that one too. Look sweetheart, you guys can hang out till I get home okay? I’ll drive Dick home when I get there so he doesn’t have to walk in the dark. But you both know the rules.”

The line was silent for a second, then Barbara’s voice spoke. “K, dad. Love you see you later.”

“Bye honey love you too, see you later. You too Dick.”

“Bye Mr. Gordon.” After that the she hung up.

Jim sighed and looked the folder in front of him. He took a big drink of his coffee and opened the folder.

“Okay.” He said. “Let’s see.”

—————————————————————————-

Hours later Dick sat next to Mr. Gordon as the man drove him home. They didn’t talk a whole lot, not that Gordon didn’t try and get Dick to talk. He just wasn’t in the mood.

He had been really hoping not to be home alone tonight. In fact he wasn’t meant to be alone tonight. But life must have decided against it today.

His mother was meant to have tonight off, he’d had planned the whole night in hopes of spending it with his mother. She had been so busy as of late that the only time Dick has seen her was at breakfast. Yet that was only a few minutes because she needed to be out the door before Dick did.

Today was the first day in months she had a night off. Dick was going to finish his homework early with Babs after school in the library, then he would pick up his ma from work at the motel. They would walk to the ice cream place on the way to the bus station, he would get double chocolate chip with cookie dough and ma would get vanilla. Then they hop on the bus and head home, at the house Dick would look up places to order while his ma took a shower and changed.

While they waited for the food to arrive they would play UNO and other games. Then when the food arrived they would watch a movie eating their dinner on their bed. After they would play music and dance together, they laugh, they would sing. It would have been amazing.

it would have been the best night in the whole month. The whole year.

It’s been hard, to say at least. These past few months. Rent had risen and his ma has had to take more shifts. Meaning he’s been home alone a lot more.

Now don’t get him wrong, he’s perfectly fine with staying home by himself. It’s just that he can only handle it for so long. Not that he’d say it out loud.

He’s not sure if it’s a hybrid thing or just a him thing to be honest. Either way he didn’t want to be home alone again. And he was beginning to feel a little hollow inside every time he walked into to their empty, quiet home.

Sure he felt a little better after hanging out with Babs. They did their homework, took care of the chickens in her backyard and they ate some cookies from the bakery downstairs. It was fun, but as much fun as it was and no matter how much he wanted it to last it couldn’t.

Soon the small one story home came into view and Gordon pulled up and let Dick out of the car. With a quick thank you and goodbye Dick headed inside and was met with the silence he knew was waiting him. He waved to Gordon from the window giving the man a fake smile as he pulled away.

When the car left his vision Dicks ears flattened against his head and fell face first on the bed. His thin tail swayed as he laid there hoping the bed could just swallow him whole. And It didn’t take long for Dick to fall fast asleep.

Hours later Dick laid on the soft carpet floor with the sound of some random cooking show playing on the tv. He had nothing else to do. Except anxiously wait for his ma to get home.

Once he woken from his nap he took a shower and changed into a navy blue sweater that his ma had made him, and gray sweatpants with black and white striped socks. When he finished he decided to clean up while his hair dried. He vacuumed the floor, made the bed, swept the kitchen floor, took the clothes out of the dryer then folded them. Once he put his and his mothers clothes away he went to the bathroom to brush his now damp hair.

Soon his stomach made itself known and Dick went into the kitchen to get something to eat. He opened the fridge and took out a box of three day old pizza with only two slices left he heated them both, then tossed the empty box into the trash. As the pizza heated in the microwave Dick took the full trash out.

He pulled the sides of the black bag up and pulled on the blue straps to close and tie the bag. Once it was closed he pulled the bag out of the bin and took it outside to the blue can with a black lid. As he came back inside the microwave went off and he took his food out and placed the plate of the counter to cool off.

As the food cooled he took a new trash bag from under the sink and put it in the bin. Then took his food with a cup of water that he filled after changing the trash bag to the living room/bedroom and sat on the bed. He watched a random show as he slowly ate, every other minute he checked the clock on the wall then the time on his phone. He knew his mother got home at 10:30 and it was only 8:45, even though he knew she wouldn’t be home yet Dick still checked the time, counting down till when she come home.

He wouldn’t go to bed till she came home.

It was now 11:00 and she still wasn’t home. He checked his phone for the hundredth time opening his messages to see if he had missed her texting him back. Once it was past 10:30 he started texting her every 10 minutes to see if she was alright.

It wasn’t normal for her not to text or call him when she got off of work or to let him know if she was staying late. She should have called him at 10:30. Should have checked in to let him know she was on her way home or staying late.

Dick sat up on the floor and texted her once again.

Me:

Ma, please text me back! Or call me.

He sent the message and tapped his phone anxiously on his other palm. His tail was flicking back and forth another sign of his growing anxiety. He stood up and began to pace the room, biting his lip he called his mother again for the sixth time. The phone rang as he continued to pace the floor, his tail knocking against his legs with its fast motion.

Once again he was met with his mother’s voice mail.

“Helloo! This is Mary sorry I can’t come to the phone right now. I’ll call you back as soon as possible!”

He threw the phone on the bed and brought his hands to his face. He rubbed his face quickly than ran his hands through his hair trying to think and calm himself down. “Ok.” He said keeping his left hand in his hair while the other rested on his hip. “Ok.” He brushed the curls out of his face and grabbed his phone off the bed and placed it in his pocket.

He ran to the front door and hurried putting his shoes on without knotting the laces, instead he stuffed them into his shoes. He opened the door and quickly locked it behind him with his keys and grabbed his bike from behind the trash cans where he hid it from people who would steal it if given the chance.

His legs pushed fast and hard making him just a blur in the dark. The wind kept his hair out of his face as he road down the familiar path to the restaurant where his mother worked. There wasn’t many lights in Dicks neighborhood but he could see as if there was.

A gift of his less than human eyes.

Soon the small restaurant came into view and Dick slowed down slightly when he noticed the door open and a window smashed. He parked his bike right by the stairs of the restaurant and slowly walked up them and threw the door.

His head went in first, his ears swiveled listening for any sounds from inside. It was dead quiet and there were no customers inside, yet the lights were still on. He stepped further in and he sniffed the air, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on edge as the smell of blood filled his nose.

His feet didn’t make a sound as he entered the restaurant, he kept his breathing even and his tail steady even though his hands shook. The dinning room was a mess. There was broken glass and up turned tables and chairs across the room. He is eyes looked at the wall behind the bar and saw a hole above the cash register and his heart began to beat faster.

He slowly moved around the bar by its entrance and looked behind it. The sight made him stuttered back into a table behind him knocking glasses ware off making them crash onto the floor. His breathing no longer was even as he struggled not to throw up.

Gary laid on the floor face down with his face turned towards him. His eyes were blood shot, empty of any life that used to be there. The human had dried blood coming from his mouth, nose and ears. the smell was horrible, the smell of iron in the air was overwhelming and the sight of the man that Dick had known his whole life laying there dead brought tears to his eyes.

Dick was frozen looking at the man, hundreds of thoughts running through his head. Then he remembered the reason he was here. And as soon as that thought came to his mind Dick snapped out of it.

“MA!!!!” He yelled running to the back of the restaurant no longer caring about making any noise.

“MA!! MA!! WERE ARE YOU?!?!” His head whipped back and forth, eyes wide with fear and his breaths coming in and out rapidly.

He stumbled throughout the restaurant knocking into things and tripping over items almost falling over in his panic.

Finally he came to the office and pushed the already haft opened door open all the way. He stumbled at the force of himself pushing the door open. He frantically looked around the small room with slit eyes and claws out, his tail steady behind him.

He almost walked out when his nose caught the scent of blood from behind the desk. Slowly with his heart hammering inside his chest he approached it. As he came closer his eyes spotted small black shoes and his breath caught inside his throat.

As he came around the corner he saw the lifeless body of his mother, her blood shot eyes staring at the ceiling above. Blood soaked her clothes and hair from the pool of blood underneath her. Two holes in her chest and one in her stomach was the source, and the sight killed him.

Dick staggered back into the shelf behind him his hands shaking as they covered his mouth. Heavy sobs escaped him as more tears fell from his eyes. “No…..” his voice broke as he slid to the floor.

“No. No. No nononono.” He shook his head closing his eyes. “This….. th….. this isn’t happening. This isn’t real.” He continued keeping his eyes tightly shut.

His whole body shook with sobs. “Please….please…no.” Dick stayed like that for a few seconds then moved closer to his mother.

He moved her face with his shaking hand and choked back more oncoming sobs. He looked at her face and closed her eyes then rested his head against hers. “Please…..comeback……d…don’t…do this to me.” He said closing his eyes and hugging her lifeless body moving his head to her shoulder as his whole body shook.

“Ma…please.”

“I don’t want to be alone.”

Chapter Text

Janet Drake couldn’t take her eyes off the babe in her arms. It wasn’t because she was overcome with awe and love for her son. It wasn’t a look of discuss either, more so a look of disappointment.

The babe was only a few hours old and his hybrid markings were plain as day. His head was a forest of soft black curls with gray little fuzzy ears poking from the top. A dark gray mask of soft fur similar to a raccoons surrounded his sleeping eyes. The skin on his small nose and lips were a dark black. The boys hands and feet up to the wrist and ankles were covered with the same soft dark fur as the mask on his face.

His newly formed claws were still soft and his hands had soft pads on the palm side of his hand. His feet were similar as his hands and he had a fuzzy gray striped tail wrapped within his blanket. The babe screamed hybrid from his head to his toes, yet his parents didn’t resemble his hybrid qualities.

Both Janet and her husband Jack, shared the babes jet black hair and blue eyes. Yet neither shared his hybrid qualities. Or his pale white skin, their own being tan, as though they spent every day in the sun.

Jack moved over to his wife’s shoulder and looked at the babe in her arms. “He’s very pale.” Janet said still examining the boy more than anything else.

“He’s a newborn.” Jack said, he too examining the babe. “He’ll grow out of it soon enough. And soon enough we’ll get rid of those……other features as well.” He kissed her on the top of her head, rubbing her arms in comfort.

“I can’t stand to look at him like…..this. It reminds me of the way we used to look like before.” She said, a look of discuss crossed her face at the mention of their past.

“We’ll talk about removing his monstrous features when the doctor comes in.”  He said moving to sit by his wife’s bed.

“Good. The sooner he’s rid of them the better. The last thing we need is for people to think we have a beast for a child.” Janet said hissing at the word beast as though the thought of it pained her, and turned to look at her husband.

The two of them shared a kiss as the doctor entered the room.

“Oh! My apologies. I hope I’m not interrupting you guys.” Doctor Kelly said as she entered the room holding a clip board smiling kindly at them. “Nurse June said you two had some questions?” She asked with a small tilt of her head standing at the foot of the bed.

“Yes.” Jack said turning to look at her and crossing his leg over his other. “We wanted to know what the best age is for hybrid removal surgery. Is he too young for it now? we’d like it to be done as soon as possible.” Janet hummed in agreement.

“The sooner he has the surgery the better.” Janet added on “we want him to have a normal life. He won’t have that looking like this.” She finished laughing a little at the end.

“And when do you think we can get him on instinct suppressant? I’ve Read it’s best to start him on it early so he doesn’t develop any….. not normal habits.” Jake tagged on. His wife nodding along with his words.

Doctor Kelly stood there in complete shock for the first few moments trying to take in the words she was hearing. “He’s…..only five hours old Mr and Mrs. Drake.” She said hesitantly. “It wouldn’t be safe for him to take those types of medications at such a young age.” She wanted to take the clip board in her hands and beat some sense into their heads!!

If she hadn’t spent years as a doctor dealing with some of the most difficult people she might have.

Hybrid removal surgery is meant to remove hybrids qualities that impact the quality of life. While it’s true some hybrids choose to get the surgery to remove all their hybrid parts, it’s extremely advised against doing so. It can lead to many health problems down the line and many hybrids who do the surgery often come to regret it.

It can also lead to many mental heath problems.

And instinct suppressants are meant to help ease hybrid instincts for hybrids who can’t control their them. Or for hybrids who’s instincts are too strong that in effects their ability to live a normal life.

They don’t get rid of hybrid instincts. They just calm them down. If taking in high enough doses it can have that effect, but that’s dangerous. Depending on the hybrids age it could stunt their growth, weaken their immune system, make their instincts harder to control as they get older making them more reliant on the drug.

As a mother and a doctor Kelly couldn’t even fathom the idea of putting any child at any age through the things the Drakes were suggesting. But as a doctor her personal feelings took a back seat. Her job was to answer their questions and give them the best possible answer.

“Then what age would be?” Mr. Drake asked her getting a bit irritated at her lack of response.

Pushing her feelings aside she looked at the couple in front of her. “I’m not the one does those types of surgeries, nor the one who fills subscriptions for hybrid suppressants. You would need to see a Hybrid specialist for better information, but In my professional opinion I would suggest waiting until he’s at least six years old before even thinking about doing any of that.”

Jack nodded throughout her talk and after asked a few more questions which she answered with the best of her abilities. Janet on the other hand just looked at her son in her arms.

Idea that she might have deal with a hybrid son for six years discussed her beyond belief. The Drakes were a well known family with a high place in society. Having a raccoon hybrid for a child, a rodent for a son, would put their name and status down the drain.

She and her husband had worked so hard for their place in this world. They had gotten rid of their discussing hybrids traits and instincts, to make it to where they are. A child would increase their status, especially when their child will achieve academic success after success.

What other reason would one have a child except for them to serve a purpose for their parents. Of course they will also be setting the child up for success in its future. They had planned it down to every single detail, including the fact that the child would most likely be born like this.

But they didn’t expect to have to wait so long for the surgery or for the child to be born with so many markings. Granted it’s very common and normal for raccoon hybrids and o be born with all their markings and claws. The only thing they’re not born with is their fangs, which Janet knows will come later.

“Thank doctor Kelly we”ll go over things later once we take Tim home.” Jack said. At some point he had gotten up and stood next to doctor Kelly. He shook her hand and bid her farewell.

“Of course. Take care Mr. Drake and you too Mrs. Drake and Tim.” With that she left the small family in the room.

After she closed the door to the room her shoulders slumped. She felt bad for the poor boy and his future. She hoped beyond hope that the young boys life wouldn’t be what she was thinking.

No child should have to go through that.

—————————————————————————-

Tim sat in his room playing with blocks. He stacked them up in a tower then knocked the tower down with a toy dinosaur. Each time the dinosaur would mash into the tower causing the bocks to fall down, causing Tim to giggle uncontrollably.

Tim was very good at finding his own entertainment for only being two years old. The round light blue carpet in his bedroom was his playground to play however he wished. The young kit didn’t have many toys but the few he did have he made the most out of.

A bag full of colorful blocks, his green Dino a T-Rex to be exact, his three stuffed toys a bear, a dog and a cat and a soccer ball. His room was bland in all other ways besides his soft carpet. His walls were light gray with no pictures or decor on them. His floor was the same spruce wood flooring that went throughout the house. His curtains were the same blue as his carpet and his bed sheets. His bed was a simple dark wooden frame with a plain dark blue pillow and light blue sheet and blankets.

His dresser was a tan color that held his clothes and a simple lamp. It wasn’t a room that one would think belonged to two year old boy. With its plain design and clean floors. The only evidence was the stuffed toys on the bed, the dinosaur on the dresser and the ball and bag of blocks in the corner.

To Tim however it was perfect. He could be as loud as he wanted in his room (within reason his mother would say). In his room he could play with his toys and didn’t have to worry about being a bad boy.

It was hard being good, but Tim did the best any two year old could!

He had to stay quiet when mom or dad were around, he wasn’t allowed to be a bother. He wasn’t allowed to cry or get upset, he was a big boy not a baby. He wasn’t allowed to ask for things, if it was important he would get it. But most importantly he couldn’t act like an animal, he was a person.

Though he was only two the doctor had said he was very smart for his age. So one would think he would be able to follow the rules. However he somehow always manages to break them.

But in his room, he could follow the rules. He could stay out of the way. Not make any strange animal noises. He could be a good son.

He once again stacked his blocks in a triangle shape tower and made his Dino knock the tower over. They landed on the carpet with a soft thumb and Tim giggled happily, his tail wagging excitedly behind him. He picked them up again and smashed it down, this time his giggles where mixed with shrills and chirps. He bounced up and down on his knees too happy to notice the noises coming from him.

The door to his room opened slightly and Tim’s ears swiveled at the noise causing the kit to freeze. The fur on his tail puffed up as he watched the door open the rest of the way. When the figure became visible Tim shrilled and ran at the person and tackled them into a hug.

“Hello Timmy.” The woman said laughing at the  sweet boys happiness. She picked him up and placed him on her waist and walked into his room closing the door behind her.

“You got a big day today. You’re going to a special party with your mommy and daddy!” She said the last in a whisper as though she was telling the boy a secret.

Tim’s eyes got big and he started bouncing on her hip in excitement. “Wif mama and dada!?” He asked, he didn’t see his parents often so whenever he got to spend time with them was always special.

The woman’s eyes got a little sad. She was an older lady almost in her mid sixties, her black hair mixed with strands of gray was tied up in a bun. Her green eyes were kind and always looked at Tim with nothing but love and affection. She has been working for the Drakes for years, well before Tim was around.

When she found out Mrs. Drake was pregnant she was both thrilled and nervous. On one hand the idea of having a child to care for and fill the halls of the old mansion with laughter was exciting. And on the other, she knew the Drakes, and had a sickening feeling that the two of them weren’t meant to be parents.

But sometimes having a child changed people for the better. She’s seen it happen. So she had hoped that this child would change the Drakes.

But sadly her hopes were dashed.

Tim was only two years old and the boy was so quiet. It wasn’t normal, she didn’t think it was at least. He barely talked, and when he did it was very few words.

The doctor had said he was just a bit slow when it came to talking and that he would catch up soon. But she knew the reason. She only worked three days a week, and she was the only person who actually talked to Tim regularly.

All the other staff acted as though the boy was diseased and kept has much distance as possible from him. His parents hardly even saw him let alone talked to him. So she knew why the boy had so little words.

No one talked to him enough for him to learn anything.

That’s why she’s knows that’s why Tim uses hybrid noise more than other hybrid children his age. It’s the only other form of communication he has. Around her he’s so alive, chittering and chirping about everything and laughing nonstop. But around everyone else he’s quiet, like a shell of the lively boy she knows and has grown to love.

She got Tim dressed in a small blue suit with a black bowtie and a white dress shirt. On his feet was a pair of shiny black dress shoes, all and all he was a very handsome young man. She fixed his hair, brushing the stands back and using gel to keep it in place.

His tail swayed gently as she fixed his hair and the boy let out a soft content purr as she worked. She was sitting on his bed while Tim stood In front of her relishing in the attention.

Soon she finished and took the boys hand and walked out of his room. If it were any other child she would have asked if Tim if he wanted to bing one of his stuffed toys with him, but his parents never would allow that. So she and Tim walked through the long hallways and down the stairs to meet Tim’s parents at the car.

Seeing the limo parked in front of the entrance she walked over saying a quick hello to the driver.

“Why hello Samuel. I didn’t know you were driving today.” She said helping Tim into the car.

“Hey Ms. Sara, yeah Dave called in sick so it’s just me.” The young man said “you know where the bosses are? They’re running a bit late.”

Sara shook her head “I wish, I haven’t seen them all day.” Sam nodded then looked at Tim who was buckled up in the back.

“Looking sharp Mr. Tim.” Tim giggled and smiled wide with all his teeth, showering at the little praise.

“His fangs are coming in nicely.” Sam said “pretty soon he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.” He laughed a little at the end and so did Sara.

“If Mr and Mrs. Drake let it get that far.” Her tone turned sad remembering the fate they’re employers had planned for their son. Sam’s face went dark “I hate we can’t do anything about that. His parents or not, rich or not they shouldn’t be aloud to put him through that when he turns six.”

Sara opened her mouth but quickly shut it when she heard the door open behind them. She and Sam quickly stood at the ready as Janet and her husband Jack came rushing down the stairs.

“Is Tim ready?” Janet asked as she fixed an expensive bracelet on her wrist.

“Yes ma’am he’s all set to go.” She ducked her head as Janet passed her and got into the Limo.

“Thank you Sara. Sam start the car we’re already late.” Jack said as he got in on the other side.

“Of course sir. Safe driving.” She answered as Sam said “on it boss.”

She stepped back as the car drove off. A frown tugged on her face as she watched them go. “Please.” She prayed softly “let him be okay.”

—————————————————————————-

Two hours into the party and Tim was ready to go home. But Tim didn’t complain, he didn’t whine and beg his parents to take him home. He didn’t cry or asked his mother to pick him up because his feet hurt from standing for so long.

His suit was itchy, his new shoes were hurting his feet and there were too many things happening at once. There were so many adults  talking and laughing, when they noticed him they either pinched his cheeks, patted his head or looked at him weird. The noises of utensils clattering against plates and glasses against each other and the loud music from the band was all hurting his ears.

Tim wanted to go home. He didn’t want to be at the fancy party anymore. And there wasn’t any other kids around.

Not that Tim would have been allowed to play with other kids his age. His parents never let him play around with any other children his age especially if they were hybrids. Other kids don’t behave properly, if Tim hung around them he might pick up on their bad behavior.

But it made Tim feel better when he saw other kids, no matter the age. It was calming to him for some reason, seeing that he wasn’t alone.

At some point his mother had let go of his hand and Tim found himself lost in a sea of people dressed in long shiny dresses and sharp suits. He tried looking for his parents at first, anyone who looked slightly like them he would go put to. At some point Tim found himself in a completely different room, by now tears were streaming down his cheeks.

His natural instinct was to call out in distress for his parents. But each time a small distress chirp rose up from his throat he would cover his mouth with his hands. Even though he wanted his parents, he was scared of getting in trouble for making noises.

It was a snake eating its own tail. It was natural for any child to call out for their parents when scared. Crying out for them to let them know where they were, but Tim was too afraid to make any noise but also desperately wanted his parents to find him.

He walked with tears blurring his vision and small scarred chirps and chitters leaving his mouth. Till he walked into a massive soft figure causing him to fall onto his rear. Tim rubbed his eyes and looked up at the figure he bumped into and froze.

The massive thing he walked into moved and turned to look at him. It was a man, a huge hybrid with big black feathery wings that Tim had bumped into. The man’s face was pale but not sickly, his jaw was sharp and he had light blue sky eyes. His hair was black as his wings and curly but cut short with a few curls out of place. His shoulders were wide, and he was very tall, much taller than Tim’s dad. The man also had black small feathers coming from his cheeks and even smaller ones coming from his brows down each side of his nose but didn’t go to his nostrils, and longer feathers that pointed out from where human ears would be.

Tim was frozen in place on the floor watching as the man waved off the person he was talking too and bent down to Tim’s level. Even down on one knee the man was still much bigger than him. The man gave Tim a small smile before he spoke.

“Hello there. What are you doing over here?” The man asked in a soft voice, much softer than Tim was used to.

Tim shook, a small scarred chitter left his mouth. His tail puffed up and his ears pinned back against his skull.

A worried look came across the man’s face and his long side feathers dropped a bit. He looked around the room then looked back to Tim. He slowly moved to sit all the way on the floor pressing his wings tightly against his back, somehow making himself even smaller.

“Hey, I’m not gonna hurt you. My names Bruce. What’s yours kit?” The man’s voice just as soft as before if not more.

“Tim.” Was all he was able to say before he hiccuped with a sob and a chitter flowed from his mouth. The ma- Bruce smiled softly at the mention of his name and the feathers on his head lifted.

“Hi Tim. Are you lost?” Bruce didn’t move as he talked, which helped Tim calm down ever so slightly. But the boy couldn’t bring himself to speak anymore, tears still fell down his cheeks in volumes and his body continued to shake with small sobs. He shook his head yes at Bruce’s question.

“You come with your mom and dad?”

Nod

“You know what they look like?”

Nod

“Would you like me to help you find them?”

A much slower nod.

“May I pick you up? It’ll be easier to help you find your parents if you could see them better. If not that’s okay, we can think of something else.”

If he wasn’t so upset he would have said no the second Bruce asked to pick him up. He didn’t like strangers, people he didn’t know scared him and put him on edge. But he wanted to find his parents and Bruce didn’t make him feel scared anymore.

Tim nodded, he sniffed and rubbed his nose, the last of his sobs fading.

Tim raised his hands as Bruce moved closer to lift him up. Slowly, the man rose to his full hight and moved Tim to sit on his waist, adjusting his grip on the boy and moving his wings to sit at a more comfortable position.

“Alright chum, let’s go find your parents.”

Together they walked through the sea of people. Bruce walked without making a sound but people seemed to know he was coming even if they were turned the other way.

At some point Tim noticed all the people staring at them, mostly him. He hid his face in Bruce’s neck trying to escape the looks of the crowd around them. Bruce placed one of his hands on his head and started running his fingers through Tim’s hair. It made him melt, Bruce’s hand was nearly has big as his head but he was so gentle.

Far more gentle than he was used too. He didn’t know someone who was bigger than his dad have such gentle hands. His father’s hands were never his gentle.

Soon the crowds grew less and less and the sound of the grown ups disappeared. The only sound was the purring coming from Tim, which was now noticeable without the sound of talking adults and music from the band. Bruce turned down a hall and a new noise made Tim pick his head up.

His ears twisted and turned picking up the sounds of childish laughter and giggling. The sound of soft music and feet running around. Soon the noise became louder.

Bruce walked into a room full of colors with a big fake tree in the middle of the room. Kids ran around chasing each other laughing, some played with toys that littered the floor and others colored at tables with grown ups watching over all of them. There was even some older kids sitting at a booth playing something and eating yellow sticks.

Bruce walked up to a light blue desk near the entrance. Behind the desk was a young boy with short red hair. Tim could also tell that the boy was a hybrid, he had small tan ears with bits of black on them and black lines that went under his eyes and down by his nose.

He had never seen a hybrid like him before. Though Tim hasn’t seen many hybrids.

“Wally, can you get your uncle for me?” Bruce asked. The boy jumped and looked up at them with wide eyes. “Oh hey Bruce! Ya I’ll go get him.” With that the boy ran off.

Bruce turned towards Tim and smiled. “Don’t worry chum once your parents realize you’re gone they’ll come here to find you.”

“Hey Bruce! Can I help you?” Another hybrid came up to them wearing similar clothes as the other hybrid. A yellow shirt with a red vest and black pants. He also seemed to be the same kind of hybrid but he had blonde hair instead of red.

“Yes, found this little guy wondering around the hall all alone. Did anyone report their kid missing? Did any of your kids manage to escape?” Bruce asked gesturing to Tim.

Barry walked closer a long spotted tail flicked behind him. “All kids accounted for, I just did a count a few seconds ago. And no one’s came by looking for him. You gonna leave him here while you try and find his parents?” Barry asked now standing next to the desk. He reached over and grabbed a clipboard.

“What’s your name buddy?” Barry asked holding the clipboard and a pen.

Tim hid his face once again in Bruce’s neck not wanting the man he didn’t know to look at him. “Tim.” Bruce answered for the boy. “No last name though.”

Barry smiled at the kid and wrote his name down. “Okay Tim no last name! Why don’t we go find something for you to do?”

It took Bruce 10 minutes to convince Tim to let Bruce put him down. But every time he tried to leave the boy he would become frantic and hung on to Bruce in a death grip. The boy put a few holes in his suit but that didn’t bother him.

Finally Barry managed to distract Tim with a game that let Bruce get as far as the front desk before he heard it. A petrified screech came from the back of the room where Tim and Barry were. Bruce ran over as fast as he could, his wings flapped behind him lifting him into the air for a split second.

“Tim, Tim calm down buddy Bruce will be right back I promise!” Barry was desperately trying to calm the poor kid down with no avail.

“What happened?!” Bruce asked as soon as he came close. At his voice Tim jumped at him tears falling fast from his eyes.

“Once he noticed you left he freaked out!” Barry said looking at the boy worried.

Tim was hardly breathing and Bruce was getting worried. “Sshh, Tim it’s okay.” Bruce tried talking to the kit but nothing worked. Then Bruce acted on instinct.

He let out a small warbler from his throat and Tim stopped almost immediately. The boys whole body relaxed, Bruce didn’t even notice he made the noise till Barry said something.

“Bruce… did you just parent calm him?” Barry looked absolutely stunned. “You shouldn’t have been able to do that.”

Barry was right, he shouldn’t have been able to calm Tim down this quickly. The noise he made should have only helped Tim realize that Bruce was here that he was safe. Only his parents should have been able to calm him down to this degree. Not even to this degree.

Unless his parents were human. Which means he’s never had another hybrid call to him this way before. And even then he shouldn’t be this deep this quickly, in normally takes a few seconds even at this young.

Tim on the other hand was deeper than he ever had been in his instincts. Everything was fuzzy and nice. The smell of the person holding him was the best thing ever, and the hand in his hair was so nice.

Why couldn’t he feel like this all the time? Bruce was the best, his young fuzzy mind decided.

Soon Tim was fast asleep on one of the booths and the party in the dining room was almost over. Barry came back with two people following behind him. The people who Bruce immediately recognized, the Drakes.

Bruce had to reluctantly let the Drakes take a still asleep Tim home. They thanked him over and over again yet Bruce didn’t really care for their thanks. He cared for the young child in Janet Drakes arms.

He and Barry shared a look as the ‘family’ left.

——————————————————————————

A year later Tim found himself alone in the woods soaked to the bone. Under the cover of a large tree not doing much to stop the pouring rain. His small body shivering from both the cold and the sobs that racked his small form.

Tim had long since stopped calling for his parents. Instead he called for someone that he only ever seen a few times in his young life.

“Bruce…” He begged to the quiet woods, hoping that the man would come from the darkness and help him. Just like he did once before.

At some point those cry’s too stopped. Not expecting anyone to come, he cried to himself.

Chapter Text

She held him tightly, her fingers carded through his hair as he pressed his face into her shoulder. He held on just as tight, his claws putting holes in her shirt with the strength of his grip, but she didn’t care. They were both in tears, hardly able to say a word.

“Sshhhh….my Prince…sshhh.” She managed to whisper. Her voice stuttering while trying to comfort him.

Jason cried without a sound but his tears fell heavily. His body shook with silent sobs, quiet from years of practice. “It’s safe to cry in the cell, but not to make sounds” a lesson his parents engraved into him since he was younger.

“Cath. You need to get ready.” His father’s voice was soft. He stood by the door watching for Wills to come.

His mother nodded and pulled away carefully from Jason removing his hands from her clothes. She held his hands in hers and looked at her son. His blue eyes (just like hers) were filled with tears and poured down his cheeks.

“Always remember me and your father love you okay? Never doubt that for a moment.” She kissed his knuckles then kissed his forehead.

“Remember okay?” He nodded. Not able to speak.

She stood up and walked towards the door trying to regain her composure before Wills came to take them away. Michael kneeled down in front of Jason taking Cathrine’s place. Jason looked at the floor, his arms straight at his sides, his hands balled in fists as his form continued to shake.

Like his wife Michael took his sons hands in his own, he slowly opened the boy’s fists. His claws had cut into his palms and blood slowly flowed from the wounds.

“You can’t do that Jay.” He said softly. He ripped off two strands of his shirt and wrapped the cuts. “You need to find better ways to calm down okay? If you hurt yourself you won’t be able to fight properly.” Once done he let the boys hands fall back to his side.

Jason kept his face down not meeting his father’s eyes. Michael placed his hand on his son’s forearm and lifted the boys face to meet his. Michael wiped the tears off his son’s scared face and gave him a small smile.

“Jay.” His father said. “You need to be strong now understand. Your mother and I…we wo- we won’t be here anymore. So you’ll have to take care of yourself, follow the rules, do as Wills says. And when we’re gone you’ll be a fighter.” Jason’s eyes began to water again.

“Now this is important okay. You need to remember this and don’t ever forget it.” Jason nodded his head.

“Michael! They’re coming.” Cathy whispered. Michael sucked in a breath and turned back to his son and pulled him into a tight hug.

“When you fight don’t forget they’re just trying to survive just like you. If you win you let them choose understand? Don’t end them till they have said goodbye to you, and make sure you thank them for allowing you to live. Their life ending means yours continues, they deserve your thanks.”

“Michael!!”

“When they close their eyes and their breath evens you’ll know it’s time to take their life. Do it quickly, don’t make it painful. And never ever celebrate their death. The humans will cheer and shout about the death, you keep your head down the whole time. Don’t look at them never look at them, when you’re back in the cell then you greave them, you thank them, even if they’re not here anymore. You’llalways be the last one who has seen their eyes so need to keep them alive understand.” Michael’s words spilled out fast hoping his son took in every single word.

“I love you, I love you so much.”

The door to the room opened and Michael kissed his son’s forehead one last time before getting dragged away. Leaving Jason alone with only the humming sound of the light and Prince for company.

————————————————————————

The Pit seemed so quiet without them, without the constant motion of fighters getting ready for fights. Without Trainers and their never ending demands. Without his parents.

Time passed both too quickly and slowly. The once comforting sound of the light was growing more intense and infuriating as time passed. The sound seemed to make it more obvious than ever that he was truly alone.

No one in the Pit paid him any mind. They all let him be. It wasn’t because he was a child, some fighters would still beat the crap out of him despite his age. No they let him be because they all knew. All of them knew they weren’t coming back, they all knew when Wills came back he would have to fight.

Him, a nine year old boy will have to fight hybrids from the ages 12 to 18.

He was meant to spend his 11 year spending every day training for it. His parents were meant to take more time off to teach him. He and Roy were meant to help each other, train with each other.

But now, now he was basically being sentenced to death. And with half of his sight gone, he had little to no chance.

He was already so much smaller than any of the others hybrids his own age. Yes he could probably take them in a fight, but how would he fair against hybrids half his size and age.

They all knew he was a dead man walking.

Even the staff knew. The cafeteria workers gave him extra bread, maybe they thought it would help beef him up. Fox hybrids were naturally thin.

Most if not all days passed with a haze. Waking up, going to the bathroom then the cafeteria. Head to one of the training rooms when it was his turn or wait in his cell till his turn. Eat lunch, back to training or waiting, bathroom again then more training and waiting. After dinner it’s time for showers then back to the cells waiting to start the day all over again.

Normally there’s schedule fights throughout the day. But due to the challenge there’s no other fights going on till the challenge is complete.

So till then every day is the same. Every night is spent holding on to Prince crying his eyes out hoping that in some possible way his parents will come back. But one day the routine changes and his cell door doesn’t open like the others do. He stands in the middle of the room as Wills walks in with his fancy suit, shiny watch and sunglasses. Jason stands exactly like his father taught him, back straight, tail down, ears up and listening, hands clasped behind him while he looks at the man’s black shiny shoes.

“Now, now Jason head up. You’re a fighter now.” Wills knelt down to Jason’s level.

Slowly Jason raised his gaze to meet Wills. He could see his warped reflection in the man’s glasses.

“There we go.” Wills said. A big grin took over his face. “Got some great news for ya kid. Your parents lasted 2 minutes over the required time to win! Can you believe that?! That’s better than any fighter has ever done! That of course meaning we won.” He clapped Jason on the shoulder and it took everything in him not to flinch. He froze not able to breathe.

His whole life Wills never touched him. Trainers never really hurt their fighters kids, don’t want to damage a future fighter or profit. But they will hurt their fighters. If they lose or don’t do as they’re told, he’s seen it happen. Not to his parents but to other fighters.

He’s never seen Wills hurt his parents other than a slap to the face, but he knows he’s hurt them worse before. But now he was his only fighter, completely at the man’s mercy, and the realization made him want to pass out and throw up at the same time.

“Winning of course means that I already got a fighter coming. One of Ra’s bloodline! But it also means Ozzy got a lot of money, and I get to go shopping once trading opens back up. So.. you’re all I got for a while kid.” Wills took his glasses off and stuck them in his side pocket.

“Now, here’s the thing.” He said. His voice taking a different tone that made Jason’s hair on the back of his neck stand on edge as the man brown eyes looked directly at Jason’s blue.

“You need to learn that I’m the boss. Now there’s a few ways that people go about teaching their young fighters this. One way is by demonstrating on the parents what will happen if you don’t listen or lose but for obvious reasons that won’t work here. Other ways is showing them right off the bat, Harvey likes to toss a coin for this kind of stuff but I got my own way.”

Wills looked Jason up and down smirking at whatever he was thinking. “I’m going to tell you the rules. One, when I ask you a question you answer with words, none of that nodding crap unless you can’t speak. Got it?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.” He said ruffling Jasons hair far too hard.

“Second, no talking back. What I say is going to happen is going to happen. Even if you don’t like it. Third, you do what I tell you. No matter what. And last if you’re given a punishment you take it. No complaining. Understand all that?”

“Yes sir.”

“Your parents taught you well.” Wills said. He then stood up and waved for Jason to follow him. “Come on I need to show you something.”

Jason followed at Wills heels as Luke and Josh followed behind them. He kept his head up, not high, he didn’t earn that, but he was a fighter now so he didn’t look at the floor either. They came to the end of a hall next to a door that lead to a restricted area and a supply closet, also restricted.

Wills used a thing to open the supply closet door and Jason followed him inside while Luke and Josh waited outside. The room was filled with many different things, most Jason had never seen before, of course it didn’t help that he couldn’t read. Only humans were allowed to read.

Wills lead him to a smaller door and opened it. He grabbed Jason by the shoulders and moved him in front of the door keeping him still with his hands still on his shoulders. “This is were you’ll have a time out. You see if you don’t listen or if you lose a fight I’ll have to beat you just a little bit for you to understand I’m not happy with you. But then you’ll need to reflect on what you did, so you’ll spend a few hours or maybe even a night in here. After I feel you’ve learned your lesson I’ll let you out. Do you understand?” He asked looking at the boy trapped in his grasp.

Jason looked at the small room in front of him, unable to take his eyes away. If he stood in the middle he could probably touch both sides easily. With a deep breath he answered. “Yes sir.”

“Good.” He patted Jason’s shoulder. “Now let’s get you ready you have your first fight tonight. You either win or you die tonight. Ozzy wanted the first fight back to be a kill fight so you better rest up!”

Jason doubted he would be getting any sleep at all. And he was right.

———————————————————————————-

Jason looked at the massive door in front of him. Wills had left him alone a few moments ago to “watch the show!” As he put it. Hundreds of fighters have stood where he did, waiting for the doors to open and to take down the person on the other side. He knew that not only was there another fighter from a different Pit on the other side of the door but there will also be hundreds of humans watching them.

His mother once told him that the humans sounded like a mighty roar coming from all around you. She told him the sound was hurtful to her ears and made paying attention difficult. She also said the lights go strange at some point. From very bright to different colors that she had never seen before blinking on and off like mad, and that a strange thumping sound goes off that comes from all around the room.

He never could picture what his mother had described, but he guessed he was about to find out.

Soon the floor under him began to move upward and he heard the roaring sound of the humans from the other side of the door.

“Who’s ready for a fight!!”

A very loud voice said somehow speaking over all the others.

“That’s what I thought!! Get ready, make your final bets! Because the fight is about to begin!”

After the voice spoke the humans got somehow even louder and a light thing above him started moving. He didn’t know what it said or meant but he knew that when the symbols made a round shape the doors will open.

Not long after the doors opened Jason was sprinting outwards. His bare feet ran across the straight floor till he stopped seeing his opponent for the first time. They looked at each other for a second taking each other in. Then slowly they started circling each other and slowly getting closer, watching every move the other made.

The other boy was a cat hybrid, orange tail, ears and hair. Light skin with freckles all over his face with green eyes.

The boy had no scars or any other hybrid marks, he would look human if it weren’t for his ears and tail. Jason could tell the boy was confused by his size and he could see the boy building confidence as they got closer. But the closer they got Jason could see that the boy didn’t have much muscle.

It was also getting more obvious that he didn’t know how to stand properly, he could take him.

The humans were loud and made his ears ring but Jason only focused on the boy in front of him. One of the humans must have made some kind of sound because he watched as the boys ears swiveled to listen to it. Also taking a little less attention off of Jason.

That’s when Jason went for it.

He moved quicker than the other had a chance to notice and soon found himself on top of the cat hybrid. The humans went mad.

Just like his mother told him the lights then went wild and a strange thumping sound came from all around the Pit. But he ignored it all.

He bit and scratched the other boy and the boy did the same back. It was like the time he fought Roy, but instead of trying to teach him a lesson they were fighting for their lives.

The boy managed to get Jason off of him and sent Jason rolling away to escape a punch. Jason was much quicker then the older boy and managed to land several hits. Soon he once again saw an opening and took it. He kicked the older boys leg and managed to once again get on top of him.

He used his weight to hold the boy down and dug his claws into his shoulders to get better control of the struggling boy under him. The humans from above then yelled and cheered, they soon began saying the same word over and over again.

“Death!” “Death!” “Death!”

Both boys were covered in sweat and blood, adrenaline still was flooding through them. There breathes were coming in and out fast. The boy cried out as he tried to escape as Jason pressed his knee into his side to keep him still.

“Okay.” The boy rasped out. Finally slowing down.

Jason’s eyes went wide as he watched the older boys breathing began to even out. “Guess I shouldn’t have underestimated you.” The boy winced and Jason watched tears began to fall from his eyes.

“I-I’m not-I don’t thi-“ the boy struggled to speak. “Just make it quick okay?”

Jason nodded his eyes not leaving the boy. “Jason.” He said simply. The boy gave him wide smile, his teeth red with blood. “Cam.”

Jason nodded as well then raised his hand up into the air. The boy moved his head back giving Jason a better view of his neck. He used his other hand to keep Cams head in place by grabbing some of his hair.

With a breath Jason whispered one last thing. “Thank you.” Then with a quick swipe of his hand he cut Cams throat. His claws went in deep, blood came out fast and covered Jason’s face and chest.

Jason listened as Cams heart stopped.

Then time froze. The sound of the humans faded away, his breathing sounded much louder than the humans had. He stayed on top of Cams dead body, unable to look away from his slashed neck. He could feel the warm blood on his skin. He could feel it dripping slowly down his face, he could feel it sticking to his hand and sticking his shirt to his chest. It felt so wrong.

Soon hands grabbed his forearm and dragged him away from Cam. He didn’t fight, he just aloud them to drag him away. But his eyes never left Cam.

Wills came up to him at some point. He also ended up in Medical somehow, they checked him over for anything serious, when they found nothing he was lead to the showers.

All he could do was stand there was the water fell over him. It was cold like always but he barely registered it. He just watched as blood mixed with water and went down the drain.

A hand gently touched his shoulder and he slowly looked at the person. Roy stood there with an odd look on his face. A part of him knew that Roy was supposed to be over by his father, he’s not supposed to be by Jason. But he couldn’t find it in himself to speak.

“You’re still in your clothes.” Roy spoke. But his voice was muffled Jason just looked down at himself, and Roy was right, he never took his clothes off.

“Let me help.” Gently Roy helped him out of the soaked clothes then helped clean out his hair.

Time went by again and he found himself in his cell. After some time of just standing next to the closed door tears began to fall. Then they wouldn’t stop. His whole body started to shake and his breathing began hitching. Uncontrollable sobs broke out and his legs gave way. That night he fell passed out from pure exhaustion, luckily he didn’t have to fight again the next day.

———————————————————————————

At some point Jason felt himself change, if he thought about it he would say it truly started when he was 10 and refused to kill. He wasn’t the first fighter to refuse to kill in the Pit and he’s sure he won’t be the last. When I fighter refuses to do something their Trainer says they normally get punished or they get to watch a member of their team get punished.

Most Trainers use the second method. It’s easier to control your fighters if they think they’ll get their loved ones hurt if they don’t listen. But Jason doesn’t have any loved ones anymore.

Sure he has Roy, but Wills can’t hurt him. Wills doesn’t own Roy, so there’s nothing he can do to him. He can’t touch him.

He’s not sure why or how his “rebellious spirit” as Wills calls it came from but he doesn’t plan on changing it.  He’s “disrespectful” when Wills talks him. Rolling his eyes, not looking at him, it’s the small things that makes Wills eyes twitch that gives Jason a little bit of happiness.

Asking him “why” when Wills tells him to do something. Refusing to kill at times. He knows better than to do it too much. Him not killing doesn’t happen often, he might like the feeling of not doing what Will says but he doesn’t want to die.

He’s been slapped, beaten, put in “time out” for days. But nothing will stop him. He likes the little bit of freedom he gets way more than he cares about Wills braking his hand again.

Fighting with a broken hand was hard. But he did it.

Then one day everything changed. He was 11 now, and that day wasn’t a normal day. He wasn’t let out for breakfast, instead breakfast came to him. Normally the only time that happens is if he’s sick, however he’s not sick.

Then a sound came from the hall outside. It’s sounded like a struggle, he moved to stand in front Prince. The stuffed wolf was worn from the years that Jason had him. A few rips here and there and a missing eye, but Jason would kill anyone that dared to touch him. Even Wills, especially Wills.

The next thing he knew the door opened and a boy was tossed into the cell with him.

The boy, a cat hybrid by the looks of it. Landed on the floor with a thud that made Jason wince. The door then closed be behind him leaving just the two of them.

The cat hybrid got up and faced the door, he didn’t seem to realize that he wasn’t alone. Jason stayed tense not sure what to do, he looked the hybrid up and down. He seemed to have darker skin than him and black hair that went all over the place, not that Jason could comment on that. His own hair annoyed him to no end with its length and always falling over his eyes.

The boy had weird clothing he’s never seen before. And he spotted something shiny around his neck when the light reflected off it.

Finally the boy turned around and his eyes met wide blue eyes.

“Umm.” The boy said looking very surprised to see Jason standing there. “Hi, I’m Dick.”

Chapter Text

His feet pounded hard on the ground. Rain began to fall from the dark night sky forming puddles on the ground. Every other step was wetter than the last, causing his shoes and socks to become soaked.

He could have took his bike, he should have took his bike, but getting out of that building was the only thing on his mind. He needed to get as far away from there as he could. He couldn’t be there one second longer, not with her dead eyes.

His breathing was ragged and uneven. He was hyperventilating, and running wasn’t helping.

Soon his house came into view and another sob was threatening to burst out. He thrusted open the door the second he unlocked it and crashed onto his knees finally letting everything out.

His tail wrapped itself around his middle and his hands gripped fists fulls of hair as he doubled over pressing his forehead against the carpet. His chest rose and fell quickly as he struggled to calm himself down.

“I-I -” each breath he took was ragged and it felt as though no air was entering his lungs. He began to feel light headed.

At some point he passed out.

He woke up 20 minutes later cold and on the floor. The front door was still open letting cold rain and wind inside. Shaking slightly on his legs Dick stood using the bed to brace himself and walked over to the door closing it and locking it with numb fingers.

(He was lucky no one broke in, his neighborhood wasn’t exactly the safest.)

He leaned heavily on the door, his wet clothes adding more weight to his exhausted body. He slid down the door onto the floor, legs out straight in front of him and his head resting on the door behind him.

He looked up at the ceiling nothing but fuzz in his mind. The old fan on the ceiling, the fridge and the light above the kitchen made noises that filled the room. The rain falling outside added to the unique music they all made. The familiar sounds helped him ease back into reality.

As his mind came back to the present the realization of everything hit him. He was completely alone now.

He didn’t have any other family that he knew of. None that could take him in. His thoughts wondered to Babs and her family as part of his family but they couldn’t take him in. He would end up in foster care.

That thought alone made a shiver of ice cold fear run through him.

Foster care. He was going to end up in foster care. Hybrids didn’t do well in foster care.

Dick stood up and began to pace the room, his tail flickering with nervous energy. His hands moved from rubbing his arms, ruffling his hair to flapping to get rid off the anxiety flowing through his body.

The exhaustion and grief he was once feeling was replaced with fear.

He’s heard horror stories of hybrids ending up in foster care from Babs. She told him about some of the cases her father worked, and every time they made him sick. Bird hybrids pulling out their feathers because of stress or people pulling them out because they thought they were ugly or because they thought they were beautiful. Predator hybrids being muzzled or locked away preventing them from getting exercise and causing them to act out more. Which then lead to them being labeled as problematic.

Getting placed with other hybrids isn’t always the best either, Babs once said that it might be worse than being placed with a human who has no clue about hybrid needs.

He can’t end up there. He won’t last long, he knows that.

But, he can’t stay here either. He left his bike at the scene, they’ll know he was there. Once they see that his mother is-. He can’t stay here.

He has to go, he has to run.

He stopped pacing and let the idea flood his mind. He could run, could live out on the streets. It wouldn’t be easy but it would be safer. Mr. Gordon would definitely be looking for him, but Babs wouldn’t tell if he explained his reason for running.

She’d be worried about him, really worried. But, he could drop by when her parents aren’t home for a check in. And she could probably help him with some supplies.

Okay, Okay. That’s the plan.

Dick got moving. He grabbed his backpack and emptied out his school supplies and put in a few articles of clothing. He then raided the cabinets for anything that he could eat on the run. He wrote a note for Mr. Gordon. He knew once the man found out about his mom he would come to find him, so he needed to explain what happened, what he saw, and why he’s running away.

The note ended up being two pages long from his school notebook book. It was much longer than he wanted it to be but he needed Gordon to know about everything so they could find the people who did this.

He felt a bubble of re hot anger began to form in his chest at the people who killed his mother but he pushed those feelings away. He couldn’t think about that right now.

He almost walked out of the door with his bag secured when something on the nightstand caught his attention. His mother’s necklace. She was in such a rush this morning that she must have forgotten to wear it. He walked over and picked it up. His father never had enough money to buy her a ring so he bought her a simple silver necklace. It wasn’t real sliver obviously but his mother cherished it.

He clipped the necklace on feeling another sob  wanting to come up. He could at least carry both of his parents with him.

————————————————————————

Dick walked through the alleyway with practice ease. Two years of living on the streets and hiding from the police helped him become very familiar with the ins and outs of the city. Well the parts he traveled in, there were parts he knew to never go.

He walked around a pile of trash and through a hole in a chain link fence. He knew how to get to his destination from almost anywhere in the city. It being the most important place in the whole city, probably even the world.

Babs house.

It was Friday, the second Friday of the month. When he told Babs of his plan she made him promise to meet every second Friday of the month.

That agreement was the only reason that Babs  let him leave that night. She had fought against him leaving, oh how she had fought with him. Most of that night was spent in tears and arguing in the kitchen of the bakery.

At some point they ended up in each other’s arms holding on for dear life. Then Babs was packing his bag with more food and giving him one of her fathers very old jackets that went to his knees. She even gave him a map of the city and circled all the areas he should avoid in red. Then they fought over the amount of money she tried to give him.

He told her that one hundred dollars was way too much, but she argued that it wasn’t enough.

Babs, of course won.

He turned another corner and came to a wooden fence. He walked to a part of it where the wood was a slightly different color. He moved the wood to the right and stepped through. He was greeted with the clucking of chickens as the wood fell back into place behind him.

Babs house was next to two other houses, each very close, but luckily the wooden fence provided plenty of privacy from any neighbors who might be out in their own backyard. Babs yard wasn’t big at all in any sense of the word. There was little to no grass, most of the ground was cement from the fence to the steps and to the gate leading to the street on the side of the house. The only part with grass was on the right side of the yard, where a medium sized tree grew and a small shed turned chicken coop stood.

He walked over to the coop in the corner. A massive bush was growing over the run giving the chickens plenty of shade. He knelt down and looked inside watching the birds scratch at the ground. Some of the leaves from the bush came through the other side of the chicken wire and a few of the chickens pecked at the leaves.

Dick smiled as one of the birds walked over to him. “Hey big mama. They feeding you guys okay?” He asked tilting his head.

Big mama was a Sliver Laced Wyandotte hen, with a bright red comb on her head that flopped over to one side. She wasn’t the biggest hen in the coop but she was clearly the boss.

She clocked her head from side to side and let out a long brrrrr obviously wanting him to give her some food.

Dick laughed. “Sorry girl, I need all the food I have.” He poked his finger through the wire and petted some of her feathers.

Not happy with that answer or the petting she pecked his finger and let out a few clucks before strutting off to join her feathery sisters.

“Ouch!” He pulled his finger back and cradled his hand to his chest. “Now that was uncalled for!” His ears pressed against his head and his tail flicked behind him. “I will be informing Babs about your rude behavior ma’m.”

“Hey! You better not be messing with my chickens you mangy cat!”

Dicks head whipped over to the sound of the voice his ears standing on end. “I’m not mangy!” He yelled back at Babs who made her way down the steps towards him.

“Umm, you sure? Cause I hate to tell you this Dick, but your hair looks like a rats nest.” She giggled at the offended look on Dicks face as he stood up.

She gave him a quick once over. His hair was longer and a mess. His black curls went down to his shoulders, some of it was pulled back in a small ponytail (that she did for him the last time they met). But she could make out a few mats that definitely needed to either be cut out or taken to a barber to be fixed.

His jacket was still too big but he had a belt around his waist to help keep it on. The sleeves were rolled up and she could see his navy blue sweater peaking out. His pants had a few more holes than she remembered them having and his shoes were being held together with more duct tape than last time. She’ll need to figure out how to convince to him into letting her help him get a new pair before winter. His backpack was the best looking, secured to his back with a rope tied between the two straps across his chest. So no one would be able to easily pull it off him.

Dick pulled some of his hair in front of his face to look at then shrugged and letted it go. “Not the worst I’ve seen.”

She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you something to eat before you have to head out again.”

——————————————————————————

“Babs I can’t take all this.” He said holding the bag of different types of food.

“Yes you can and you will.” Barbra folded her arms and gave Dick a look. “I would give you more but my parents will suspect something so this is all I can do.” She gestured to the bag.

“You already made me dinner and gave me a few extra dollars! I can’t take this too!” He tried to give it back to her but she took a step back and shook her head.

“No.” She said. “We have plenty. We literally own a bakery downstairs! We can afford to give you some granola bars and cookies!! Plus a few things to drink. I’m not taking no for an answer here. And if you end up giving that stuff away I’ll figure out how to give you more next time.”

Her face and demeanor told him she wasn’t going to back down.

Dick sighed. “Didn’t know German Shepherd hybrids were so stubborn.” He murmured not all that quietly.

Babs scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully. “Ya well, we’re really protective of the people we care about too so.” She shrugged.

They didn’t say much after that. She could feel her emotions start to build up just as they always do when he’s about to leave again.

Then she’s pulling him into a tight hug trying to ignore how thin he’s gotten. Tears are coming down heavy as she clings on to him. She hates this so much, if it was up her she would have never let him do this, would have told her father about him. Her father would have made sure he would be safe, she would have made sure.

But she can’t make sure out there. Anything could happen to him. Anyone at any moment could hurt him or kidnap him and she’d never see him again. He could get attacked by a gang or get sick and not be able to make it to a hospital. Would he even go to a hospital? Would he just die in some awful alley alone?

The hug broke too soon and too soon she watched him leave through the hole in the fence. She continued to stare at where he left as rain started to fall.

——————————————————————————

Dick walked at a brisk pace, the rain wasn’t too heavy and he wanted to get back to his “home” before the clouds really opens up. The streets were filled with people running back and forth trying to get to who knows where.

Dick weaved in between the mass amounts of humans and hybrids. He didn’t bring any attention to himself, and not a single person stopped and questioned him. Cops were far more likely to stop him so he avoided them at all costs.

He knew better than to be doing stuff like this on a regular basis. People start to ask questions when they’ve seen the same scraggly kid walking alone on the streets for weeks. Especially if they’re wearing the same clothes, and looks like they don’t shower often.

Because as much as he hates to admit it, he hasn’t showered in a while.

An important thing that Dick has learned is to never be walking around during typical school hours. One, because someone always asks why he isn’t in school and he doesn’t need that kind of attention on him. Two, because it’s easier to hide amongst all the other kids getting out of school.

When kids are out of school he can hang out in the library for hours without anyone questioning him. He can spend all day at the park people watching and counting how many cute dogs he sees. Plus it’s way better to go shopping for supplies during those times.

When school lets out students like to head to shops near their school or on the way home with their friends. Dick can easily blend in with them and use them as a distraction to “borrow” some supplies when he’s low on money. So far his strategy hasn’t failed, yet.

Dick turned a corner and headed down an alley leaving the crowd of people behind him. The rain began to get heavier and Dick put up the hood of his jacket. He turned another corner and came to a dead end that was blocked by a chain link fence.

Well a dead end to anyone else.

He easily pushed open the bottom left corner of the fence without managing to cut himself. He had gotten quite good at avoiding getting cut by the fence, the first few times left him with a couple tiny new scars.

On the other side of the fence were three tall brick walls. The left side had an old green metal door that used to be a restaurant, but closed down well before his time. He’s pretty sure that the old door couldn’t even open anymore. The right wall had a broken fire escape, half of it was still on the wall and the other half was on the ground. And the middle wall had an old green dumpster rusted from years of being left out exposed to the elements.

A shiver ran through Dicks body. The rain was beginning to soak through his clothes, slowly sucking away his body heat. He shook his body trying to get rid of some of the water and pulled his jacket closer.

He walked towards the dumpster and climbed on top of it. Steadying himself, he knelt down and eyed the fire escape across from him. His tail steadied itself as his shoulders rotated, bracing himself on the tips of fingers and toes he jumped.

The rain on the rail caused his left hand to slip leaving him dangling by his right on the railing for a moment before he was able bring his hand back. Once his hold was better he managed to pull himself up and over the railing onto the floor. The jump had caused his hood to fall off, leaving his head exposed to the now heavy rain. Giving his head a quick shake he pulled his hood back up and continued to climb the rest of the way up the fire escape.

At the top Dick walked to the edge of the roof then jumped over to the adjacent building. In a few short minutes Dick found himself across from an old hotel long abandoned. He grabbed a piece of wood that was on the roof and placed it across the gap between the two buildings right underneath a window.

Carefully he walked to the window and opened it. He pushed a curtain out of the way and stepped fully inside. He turned around and pulled in the plank of wood with him and placed it against the wall then shut the window.

Dick flicked a switch near the window and the room was filled with light from old hanging white Christmas lights.

“Home sweet home.” He whispered to himself as he took his backpack off as well with his jacket and shoes.

The room was an old storage closet that is unable to gain access from the front door. The only way in is through the window that Dick had broken into not that long ago. One corner of the room looked like a blanket fort with soft pillows and blankets and the other was a storage area.

Dick grabbed his bag and walked over the storage area on the left side of the room. He placed his back down and began to take out the gifts Babs gave him earlier. He placed the bag of food next to the two cans of peaches he had, three snack bars and a half jar of peanut butter. Then placed the money she gave him in a metal tin with the other cash he managed to get. And the drinks with the other drinks he had, two bottles of water and half a bottle of juice.

He’s really living the life.

“Okay,” Dick said backing up to get a full view of his supplies. “Maybe I did need some more stuff” He sighed. He would definitely have to find a way to thank Babs.

He grabbed his water bottle from his backpack and took a quick swig from it then grabbed a snack bar and switched off the lights before heading into the fort. Inside he flipped another switch and rainbow Christmas lights lit up his little area. A few of the lights had gone out but most of them worked so Dick felt no need to try and replace them.

Dick broke a piece off of his bar and ate it as he got comfortable pulling blankets closer around him. Instinct took over for a moment the young hybrid arranged his bedding how he deemed fit. After a while Dick nodded to himself proud of his work, he chose to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him his few ragged pillows and blankets weren’t nearly enough. His brain was dumb like that sometimes though, it needed to understand that things were different now.

Dick pulled out his mother’s necklace from under his sweater and laid down looking at it.

“Hey ma,” he began. “Went to see Babs today so didn’t really get a whole lot done. But that’s okay, I needed a break from surviving. Anyways, tomorrow I plan on doing some odd jobs, I need to save up some money to stock pile food before winter. I also need to get bigger blanket, the weather person said this will be a cold one, and no offense to your sweater. But it can’t exactly protect me from the wind all that much.” He laughed a little.

“Well, I’d just figured I should fill you in. Tell da I love him okay? Love you, good night.” Tucking the necklace back under his sweater for safety Dick finished the rest of his snack bar and switched the light off.

——————————————————————————

The next day started just like any other, he got up and ate half a cookie before he packed his bag and got ready for the day. He closed the window behind him and pulled the wooden plank off the gap and placed it in the same place he had it the night before.

By 8:30 am Dick was on the search for any type of job someone would pay him to do. And by 1:30 he had made $32.28.

A great work day  according to him.

The rest of the day was spent coming up with his plan for winter. He sat in the park as the world went by writing in a small notebook. Dick listed the kinds of food he would need and the amount of water, the blanket, he even added new shoes to the list with at least five question marks around the word.

If he could get enough money to take care of the other important items maybe, just maybe he could get a good cheap pair of shoes that weren’t held together by duck tape and pure spite.

Around 3:30 Dick decided to head back home. He was starving and one of Babs mother’s cookies sounded absolutely delicious. Well anything and everything sounded delicious when you only ate a snack bar for a whole day.

That’s probably why Dick didn’t react as quickly as he should have. Not eating regularly does have an effect on people. So maybe that’s why he didn’t see the red flags ahead of him. Literally ahead of him.

A few feet in front of him was a white van. Two guys were talking in front of it, they were laughing, smacking each other on the arm as if they were having best time in the world. Dick walked farther to the left to keep distance from them as he passed. What he should have done was gone across the road to the other side walk.

The next he knew was that as he walked by another man came from an alley he didn’t notice and with the help of the two other men pulled him into the van. It all happened so fast, and not a single person even seemed to notice as a young child was taken in the day time.

One moment Dick Grayson was there and then the next he was gone.

What happened after was really a blur and different things all mushed up together. Because Dicks mother wasn’t a hybrid Dick never experienced falling deep into your instincts by an older hybrid. Dick was told it should only and only ever be done by a hybrid that you trust, it should happen naturally and it should feel normal and safe.

Not this.

This was painful, tariffing and the definition of horrible. He had no clue what was going on around him, the world felt fuzzy and dangerous! Very, very dangerous. There were loud noises, other hybrids, humans and so much yelling.

People he didn’t know were grabbing him. They poked and prodded him, he hissed at them warning them to leave him be. But the hands didn’t listen, they didn’t go away. He couldn’t move his feet or his claws. When a hand got too close to his mouth he bit down hard.

But then something grabbed him by the back of his head and something else hit him. Then they put the horrible thing on his face. It was cold and uncomfortable and if he touched it with his paws he got hit. It stopped him from closing his mouth at all, keeping his sharp fangs in view. They pulled at his ears and tail, they put their fingers in his mouth touching his fangs. And they would tilt his head from side to side checking him over, never leaving him alone.

And all the while he didn’t really know what was going on. It was like he was stuck in his mind and couldn’t get out.

Finally things changed. Different people had him and different people poked and prodded him. Then they burnt his arm.

Finally he started to come back. He was in a cage, almost like one for a large dog. His arm was throbbing and his head was pounding. At some point he managed to sit up and checked his arm only to find it wrapped up in bandages.  Just as he was about to remove the bandages two men came into the small room he was being kept in and walked up to the cage he was in.

Dick backed up into the wall behind him as one of the men bent down and opened the door.

“Wait!” He called out as the man reached in and pulled him out.

“No! Let me Go!” His fighting was completely pointless against the two massive men who dragged him along through doorway after doorway and hallway after hallway. All while he fought desperately.

The men stoped at one door that resembled the prison doors he’s seen of tv. One guy pulled out a key card and swiped it on a scanner on the side of the door. The metal door opened with a loud noise making Dick flinch, then they threw him inside and closed the door behind him.

He landed with a thud on the hard ground and bit the inside on his lip. Though the first thing that came to his mind was how extremely rude that was. It was definitely not the reaction that should have came to his mind.

Dick sat up and glared at the now closed door. His arm was still hurting, even more so now because one of the men was holding right were the bandages were. Not only that but his head still felt a little frazzled and that probably was leading to him not fully understanding what exactly was going on.

He turned around and almost fell over. He wasn’t alone.

Across from him was a very tense fox hybrid that looked he was wearing clothes made from potato sacks (was that mean? Probably not.). He had really big scar across his face and looked read to punch Dick right in his face if he even breathes wrong.

“ Did they put me in here for him to eat? I’m not his food right?”

Shutting down the train of thought real fast Dick did the only thing one could possibly do in this kind of situation. What ever exactly this type of situation was.

Introduce himself.

“Umm, Hi! I’m Dick.” The other boy had an odd look wash over his face.

“Jason.” The fox hybrid replied very confused. His voice not as deep or as menacing as Dick thought it was going to be.

“Good, maybe this means he won’t try to kill me!”

Chapter Text

So first off I just wanna say that I’m so sorry for how long it’s been taking me to update this story! I promise I’m not abandoning it!

I am working on chapter 10 and the goal (lord willing) is to get it done before December this year. I know that’s long but with college, life and working on chapters for my other stories (you should check em out 👀) and rewriting chapter 10 a few times 😅 it’s been taking awhile.

So anyways, Sorry this isn’t a a new chapter but I wanted to let those of you who have been enjoying this story to know it’s not abandoned! Also I plan on rewriting some of the previous chapters before I post chapter 10. I was rereading this story the other day and cringed at myself 😅

I plan on putting some time aside this week or next and rewrite some of the past chapters! So if you see this updated again soon that’s what it will be. Feel free to reread them if you like or don’t!

I really appreciate those of you who have been enjoying this story as much as I’ve loved writing it!

Thank you all and God bless ❤️❤️

(Again!! I’m not done with this story!! I have to many plans! For these guys!!)