Yeah I know whumptober is over but I suddenly got enough inspiration to finish a few wips. And y'know what I'll take it.
This one shot sticks a Talon from the Court of Owls into a Selkie AU because I have never seen this combination of AUs before and the idea wont let me go. Might write another Selkie AU but not with this guy though.
Whumptober 2023 prompts used: Day 30 - "It's okay, just to say, 'I'm not okay'." | Borrowed Clothing, Alternate prompt #5 - Body Modification
Trigger warning: dehumanization and brainwashing to the point that knowledge/the concept of pronouns got deleted, offscreen murder
Disclaimer: I do not own any iteration of Batman. That goes to DC Comics.
Rewards
By Bilbo-sama
Talon kneeled as Master entered the office. Talon's Master wore a silver owl mask, a sign of status as a high member of the Court. The mask seemed to shine brilliantly.
"The target has been neutralized," announced Talon.
"Good," said Master in a mechanized voice. Talon had learned long ago that Master wanted no further details than that. That Master didn't need to know how long it took for tonight's target to bleed out. How the target's weight gave Talon a great disadvantage until Talon at last managed to re-engineer the situation to get the target to trip and tumble down the staircase only to find the target had been left stunned (which of course Talon took advantage of). How, before Talon made the first move, the target scoffed, placed a stack of papers on the desk with the first page consisting of Talon's Master's surname (of which Talon was not allowed to speak of aloud) in large letters.
No, Master only wanted to hear the end results. Everything else was frivolous data.
Talon did not wonder if this could someday backfire on Master. Talon was not allowed to.
"You have completed your tasks in a most timely manner lately," Master unlocked a desk drawer and pressed the button inside. A wall panel next to a shelf moved upwards, revealing a hidden safe. Master opened the safe and pulled out a sack. "I believe you should be rewarded for your efforts."
Something...thrummed within Talon when the sack was opened. Thanks to training, Talon was able to repress visible reactions and appear unmoved as Master revealed the sack's contents.
It was a seal skin. Talon wasn't sure how Talon knew but that's what was being held by Master.
"You may spend a few minutes wearing this," said Master, draping the skin around Talon's shoulders, "your trainers have found that occasional contact with it is required for you to perform at top condition."
Talon adjusted the skin and -
Warmth. Of the sun.
Crashing. Of the waves.
Grit. Of the sand between toes. On the belly.
Fish. Lingering on the tongue.
Laughter. Of others.
A voice calls. Female. Her words indecipherable.
But he knows she's calling to him.
He rushes over to -
Talon is lying on the floor dazed as his Master stuffs the skin into the sack. Part of Talon mourns the loss.
He...he feels that if he wore the skin a little longer he would...learn. Of what he wasn't sure.
"You better have enjoyed those extra minutes," said Master as they return the sack into the safe, "it will be a long time before I regrant you the privilege of indulging in your uncivilized instincts."
"I abide to your wisdom in this matter, Master," Talon managed while regaining his bearings.
"Excellent," Master returned to their desk, "you may go."
Talon nodded and left the office with a newfound longing for something that may once had been his.
Yeah this particular jerk has never heard of 'malicious compliance' before and surely this wont bite him in the butt someday when one of the Bats manage to get a tracker on the Talon who never tells him because it happened outside of the mission and thus irrelevant.
I like to think there is a few other Selkie Talons in the ranks but they are also smart enough to not tell anyone that being in Seal Mode does weird things to a Talon. They can regain a bit of their former self the longer they have their coats on for reasons that wont come to me. orz