Tim has seen a lot of things in his life, but you were certainly a first.

Yes, he’s met a thanagarian or two, and yes, he’s seen a Talon from the Court of Owls. But you’re neither of those. Trust him, he checked.

When he first met you as Robin, he wasn’t sure how to feel about you. Person with big wings is not the most comforting thing. However, you got attached, and he melted into the friendship. Even years later, now both adults, you remained close.

You have a magnificent set of wings. Large and strong, both at a level high enough to allow your otherwise human body to fly. Hell, you’ve gotten strong enough to carry him while you fly, And while he’s been unable to confirm the amount of bird biology in you, he can certainly confirm you have the behaviors of one.

Like currently. He’s been cooped up in his apartment working a case, the only times he’s left have been for patrol, and to instead work in the cave for a change of scenery.

So, he had been only partially reluctant when you’d followed him home after a patrol to visit. Yes, he enjoys the company, it’s a lovely change of pace, but he is not enjoying the distractions.

For birds, preening another is an intimate act, done between flock members to strengthen their bonds.

And currently, you’ve taken to preening the fake wings on his Red Robin costume. Of course, he doesn’t have feathers, so it has been more of you petting the wings, but Tim can appreciate the sentiment. It’s cute, it’s funny, it is so damn distracting. The ‘preening’ is tugging on his costume just enough to be noticeable, and the repetitive, continuous nature of it is grating on him slightly.

He’s sat on his bed, (you’d practically dragged him out of his desk chair), with his laptop in his lap, and you sitting behind him. He hadn’t bothered to change after patrol, and he’s paying the, very cute, price for it.

“Have you finished with that one?” He asks, glancing over his shoulder at you before looking back to his laptop. He knows he could stop you, but again, he understands the sentiment. This means something to you, so it means something to him. “Do I have to get yours after? I’m not the most versed on preening.”