Chapter Text
The cold wind howled through the streets of Gotham as Billy stumbled forward, his paws—wait, paws? He looked down and immediately reeled back. Instead of his usual hands, he saw large, powerful feline limbs covered in orange fur, dark stripes cutting across them like prison bars.
"What the hell?" he thought, his tail—yes, TAIL—flicking behind him.
His heart pounded as he read the ominous sign in front of him:
GOTHAM CITY Enter at your demise
Panic set in. How did he get here? One moment he had been fighting Sivana in Fawcett, and now he was in Batman’s city—the very place Batman had explicitly warned them not to enter without permission. And now, he was here, stranded, alone, and a tiger.
A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the night sky, lightning flashing in the distance. Billy’s ears flattened as he remembered Gotham’s infamous acid rain. Despite knowing it was a terrible idea, he ventured deeper into the city, seeking shelter from the looming downpour.
The dark skies grew even more oppressive, thick smog rolling in like a blanket of shadows. Billy prowled the trashed streets, littered with broken glass, rusted metal, and discarded needles—danger lurking in every shadow. Moving cautiously, like a predator stalking prey, he found a narrow alley. His gaze landed on a crumbling wall with a jagged hole just big enough to crawl into. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was shelter.
Moments later, the acid rain began to pour, sizzling as it hit the pavement. The rhythmic splattering might have been calming under different circumstances, but the occasional splash of the corrosive liquid found its way into his hiding spot, burning his fur and skin. Billy winced but endured, exhaustion eventually dragging him into an uneasy sleep.
He awoke with a start—a whole day later. Twenty-four hours lost! Panic gripped him as the terrifying thought surfaced: What if I’m stuck like this? His breathing quickened until—
Thump.
Barely audible, but unmistakable—the sound of someone landing on the roof above him. Billy’s instincts screamed run , and he sprang to his feet, preparing to bolt.
Too late. A shadow dropped in front of him, blocking his escape.
“Stop right there,” came the sharp command.
Billy barely had time to react before he was faced with the one and only Robin , Damian Wayne, decked out in his usual red, green, and yellow ensemble, a scowl firmly in place.
Robin’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing, his stance shifting.
“Why is there a tiger in Gotham?” he muttered to himself.
Billy wanted to explain. He really did. But all that came out was a deep, guttural chuff .
Damian’s initial wariness shifted to intrigue. He crouched, sharp eyes studying Billy. The tension hung thick in the air, but slowly, Robin’s posture relaxed. Then, with childlike wonder breaking through his stern facade, he reached out—
And scratched behind Billy’s ears.
A deep purr erupted from Billy’s chest before he could stop it. No! Betrayed by my own animal instincts!
“You’re magnificent,” Damian whispered, visibly enchanted.
Damian’s face broke into an uncharacteristically soft expression. “How did you get here?” His voice was still gruff but carried an unmistakable gentleness.
Billy wanted to cry.
Before he could figure out how to communicate, another voice cut through the moment.
“Robin, why are you here? Your patrol is with Red Robin.”
Billy’s head snapped toward the new voice. Emerging from the darkness stood Batman , his towering figure illuminated by Gotham’s dim streetlights. How did he get that close without me noticing? Billy panicked internally. He had been so focused on Damian, he hadn’t sensed the Bat’s approach
That was not— I REPEAT NOT —on his list of things to do today.
Batman’s gaze lingered on Billy for an uncomfortably long moment before shifting to Damian. As if reading his son’s mind, he spoke with a sigh,
“You are not keeping this tiger.”
Damian’s expression morphed from awe to mild outrage as he crossed his arms. “But Father—”
“No.”
“He’s well-behaved.”
“No.”
“I can train him.”
“You already have a dog.”
“That’s entirely different, their not even the same species.”
As the back-and-forth continued, Billy contemplated slipping away. Maybe if I bolt now— But before he could make a move, Damian lifted him off the ground.
“I’ll just say bye to my freedom,” Billy thought grimly. Kidnapped. By a teenager. Who could, admittedly, beat him up even without the tiger form.
“He is mine now, Father, whether you like it or not,” Damian declared with unwavering confidence.
Batman, suddenly looking like a very tired father—a sight Billy never thought he’d see—just let out a deep hum and called over the Batmobile.
“This will be the last animal you bring if I am going to let you adopt him.”
As soon as the Batmobile arrived, Robin had swiftly lifted the 200+ pound tiger and immediately put him in the Batmobile- which was quite frankly uncomfortable as it was cramped- before hopping in himself. looking very delighted while still imposing his usual stern behavior.
Billy, resigned to his fate, let out a sigh and curled up on the seat. This was not how today was supposed to go.