Chapter Text
Dick Grayson turned away from the weak morning sunlight peaking through his bedroom window, colliding directly into a small person-shaped lump taking up the other half of his bed. Before he could scream, the lump stuck its head out, blinking icy blue eyes at him. His brother, Tim. He sighed in relief.
“Geez baby bird, you scared me. You alright?” He ran his fingers through Tim’s hair absently, chuckling when Tim leaned heavily into the contact. Suddenly, Dick became aware of the sweet, unmistakable scent of an omega in heat.
This would be Tim’s first heat since his presentation. Bruce had done some research and found out it was normal for late presenters to have an irregular cycle at first, many puppies who present on time do as well, so they hadn’t been too concerned by it. Still, Dick was slightly relieved by this sign that things were progressing normally for Tim now.
“Oh, you’re in heat, aren’t you? Right when Bruce left, rotten luck, poor baby,” Dick clucked at Tim. Bruce had gone offworld on a Justice League mission the night before, leaving Dick to stay at the manor to help out with Damian and cover his patrols.
“Bruce,” Tim whined mournfully.
Dick winced sympathetically, shifting the hand he had in Tim’s hair to rub his wrist over the sides of Tim’s face, scenting him. “Yeah, he’s not here, baby. I’ll call and update him later. I’m here, though.”
“….jas’n?” Tim asked, blearily.
Dick laughed. “You want Jason? What am I, chopped liver?” He teased, rolling over to grab his phone.
Tim whined when he left, crawling over and plastering himself to Dick’s front.
He chuckled, putting his hand back in Tim’s hair. “I can call Jason.”
Tim nodded into his chest and Dick brought the phone up to his ear, waiting for his brother to answer.
“The fuck you want? Someone better be dyin’, for you to call me before noon,” Jason rumbled into his ear, sounding half asleep.
“Good morning to you too,” Dick teased, before Tim whined, pressing himself closer to the phone so he could hear Jason too, reminding Dick of his mission. “Timmy’s in heat.” He sighed.
“Oh shit, right when Bruce left.” There were rustling noises from the other side of the phone, like Jason was already getting up and ready. “Poor kid. He alright? Not too hot?” Worry was clear in his tone. They weren’t quite sure how future heats would affect him with such a rough presentation, and Jason in particular had fretted about it often.
“Yeah, he’s okay, I think. He wants you,” Dick told Jason, and Tim keened into the phone, Jason clucking sympathetically back at him.
“Alright, tell him I’m on my way. 30 minutes.”
“Drive safe, Jay. There’s no rush. He’s okay,” Dick reassured, stroking fingers through Tim’s hair as he buried his face into Dick’s scent gland.
Jason grunted his acknowledgment before hanging up, and Dick set his phone on the nightstand before wrapping his arm around his brother as his other hand continued to run through Tim’s hair. “Jason is on his way, he’ll be here in about 30 minutes.”
Tim let out a happy chirp in response, pressing more insistently into Dick’s scent gland. Suddenly, Dick felt a sharp pain as Tim sank his teeth there.
“Ow!” Dick cried, before pulling Tim back by the hand he had in his hair. Tim pouted up at him. “Hey, you can bite, that’s fine. But be gentle.”
“Sorry,” Tim whined, his voice rough with disuse.
Dick smiled at him. So he could say more than just various packmates’ names, good to know. It wasn’t too uncommon for people to be mostly non-verbal during their heats or ruts. Dick patted his head reassuringly before tucking him back into his chest. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m not mad. I know it’s just your instincts.”
Two seconds later, Tim bit his shoulder, but it was noticeably softer.
Dick grinned to himself. All of Jason’s early heats had been particularly animalistic and driven by instinct too. It was assuaging the last latent worries Dick had regarding Tim’s presentation to see such familiar behavior, even if it meant he’d be covered in bite marks by the end of this.
When Tim had a mate, his heats would be more about procreation, expanding the pack, but for now, they were about building bonds and reinforcing his claim on the pack he already had, and theirs on him. For unmated omegas, heats were all about spending time with your pack, and Dick loved to have an excuse to do that.
Dick shifted to sit up and rest against the headboard, pulling Tim with him and wrapping his arms tightly around his smaller body, running his wrists over him to cover him in his scent. Tim whimpered a bit, sitting up to look at Dick.
“Shhhh,” Dick soothed, rocking him slightly.
Tim whimpered again, getting right up in Dick’s face.
“What is it, baby? You don’t want me to scent you?” Dick asked, pulling his hands away from Tim’s back.
Tim made an affronted noise, grabbing his wrists and yanking them back where they were.
“Okay, what then?”
Tim sighed, grabbing Dick’s head and pressing his brother’s face into his neck. “Bite,” He said simply.
Dick pulled back, and Tim wailed indignantly.
“Tim, honey, I’m an alpha. If I bit your neck it’d be a submission bite,” He explained, pushing the hair off Tim’s forehead to press a soft kiss there.
Tim nodded, tilting his head to bear his neck and leaning towards Dick again.
“You sure?”
Tim nodded again, eagerly grabbing at Dick’s head again.
“Okay, okay! Relax!” Dick laughed, reaching up to hold Tim’s head to the side as he leaned in and latched his teeth into the side of Tim’s neck, being sure to stay far away from the mating gland. He bit gently and let go quickly, as he was pretty sure Tim hadn’t ever had a submission bite before and if he hated it Dick didn’t want it to last too long. He had had omega partners in the past who loved to be scruffed or receive a submission bite, but Jason had never liked it.
Tim, on the other hand, went completely limp almost instantly, purring happily as Dick helped him lie back down against Dick’s chest, the perfect picture of relaxation.
“You comfortable, Honey?” Dick asked, still slightly nervous to have taken any amount of Tim’s agency away.
In response, Tim just purred louder, curling in on himself a bit tighter.
The last bit of tension left Dick’s shoulders as he relaxed against the headboard, content to just hold his brother, at least until they needed to go down to eat. It was so deeply comforting to Dick’s alpha to see Tim happy and comfortable, not suppressing any instincts or needs, especially after the horror of his presentation heat and how he spent his early childhood. Their pack’s primary alpha might not be there, but that was alright. Dick could make sure Tim was safe and happy through his heat. He lost track of time, curled there in his bed with Tim as the sun rose steadily higher in the sky.
A small noise at his open door broke Dick’s reverie and he looked up to see his youngest brother, Damian, in his open doorway.
“Richard, are you awake? I need-“ Damian started, but he was quickly cut off by Tim sitting up and reaching for Damian while making a desperate noise, an omega calling for the pack’s pup.
Damian was by the side of the bed in an instant. “Timothy? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” He asked, grabbing Tim’s wrists and holding them out in order to quickly scan his body for injuries.
Tim whined, trying to tug Damian into the bed.
“He’s in heat,” Dick explained.
“Oh.” Damian sighed in obvious relief, before remembering himself and bristling. “Timothy, let go. I have things to do.”
“Damian. Be nice. He can’t help it. It’s not a crime for him to want to spend time with you right now,” Dick reprimanded softly. “Remember, you’re trying to fix things with him.”
Damian seemed to wilt under the scrutiny. “Well, I suppose I don’t have to be up just yet. Perhaps I could-“ he cut himself off before he could say cuddle, “Lay with you two for a bit?”
Tim pulled at his arms as he lay back, and Damian hesitantly climbed onto the bed with them.
Dick shot him a grateful smile and a nod as Tim dragged Damian’s wrists to his face.
“What is It, Timothy?” Damian asked, slight disdain at the behavior peaking through.
“He wants you to scent him, Dami,” Dick said softly, holding back on lecturing his youngest brother to see what he would do.
Damian seemed to melt a bit, a reverent “oh” leaving his lips as he rubbed his wrist over Tim’s face and neck, gently. “You know, you already smelled like Richard, and that’s probably better,” he said, pulling his hands back self-consciously. “Pup-….teenagers don’t have very strong scents. But when I’m an alpha, I’ll cover you in my scent whenever you want, and it will make you feel very safe,” Damian asserted, chest puffing out.
Dick chuckled a little at the little display. “He just wants to smell like pack. You’re in his pack, so you too.”
Damian scrunched his face in thought. Adorable, Dick thought. “Oh. Do you think he would like something of Todd’s? I could go and-“
“Jason is on his way,” Dick interrupted. “But thank you.”
Damian huffed, displeased with the announcement.
“Be nice to Jason. For Tim’s sake. It’s just a few days.”
Damian clicked his teeth in dismissal, running his wrist along Tim’s neck over and over again in an absent gesture as Tim purred.
Dick felt his chest warm and tried to tamp down on his feelings of pure pride and adoration before Damian sensed them through their bond and grew self-conscious. “You’re a good brother, Dami,” he said quietly.
“Tch,” Damian scoffed, “I’m a good alpha.”
Dick wrinkled his brow in concern. This was the second time in one conversation that his little brother had brought up his potential future presentation. “You know, you might not be an alpha. And that would be okay,” He said, gently.
Damian looked at Dick as though he found the idea entirely preposterous. “Nonsense. Father is an alpha, my grandfather is an alpha, *you’re* an alpha.” He said this as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, it came out with a practiced ease that made Dick’s stomach twist.
“Jason and Tim are omegas, and Alfred is a beta,” Dick pointed out, gently.
“And that’s fine, for them.”
“Your mother is a beta, too.”
Damian raised an eyebrow. “That’s different.”
Dick bristled, he didn’t quite like the implications behind the boy’s words, but conversations like this with Damian were a minefield and had to be carefully navigated. “How is it different, Damian?”
“Well…” Damian trailed off, scrunching his nose in thought.
Dick knew from experience that it was because his question had triggered the process of Damian sorting through what he had been taught, and what he truly believed, and that this process was best completed in silence.
Finally, “I suppose it isn’t really all that different.” Damian sighed, a small, insecure sound, and Dick’s heart broke all over again. “I was told that being an alpha was the only option. Anything else would be a disgrace for an Al-Ghoul male. I suppose I’m still uncomfortable with the thought of failing that prophecy.”
“You’re not a failure, Dami,” Dick soothed. “Never. No matter what. There isn’t anything wrong with any designation, kid. You’re perfect just the way you are.” Dick was quiet for a moment, letting that sink in. “You’re a Wayne, and Waynes don’t let something as small as their designation rule their life, or determine their future.”
Damian hummed before looking away, lost in thought. Dick took it as a win, at the very least, he was thinking it over. Over their conversation, Damian had stopped scenting Tim, and instead, was running fingers through his hair as Tim lay on the younger boy's thigh, placated by their proximity. As Dick watched, Tim reached up and quickly wrapped his fingers around Damian’s wrist, yanking it down and sinking his teeth into it suddenly.
“What the fuck?” Damian yelped, pulling his hand back and looking at Tim as though betrayed.
It took everything in Dick not to laugh until he heard Tim’s small whimper.
“He’s just reestablishing your claim, it didn’t even break the skin,” Dick told his brother, keeping the amusement out of his voice. “Also, language. Don’t talk like that.”
“In case he forgot, we are both already claimed! By the same man! That was wholly unnecessary!” Damian hissed, rubbing his wrist. “Also, you talk like that!!”
“One, I’m an adult. Two, he knows that. It’s still instinctual, and it makes your bond deeper, so relax.”
Damian huffed, pushing Tim’s head off his lap roughly. “If you are going to behave like this, I’m not staying.”
Tim whimpered pitifully, and Dick’s alpha stirred in anger that he was thankfully quickly able to temper. If it had been anyone else but the pack’s pup treating Tim this way, the results would’ve been very different.
Dick sighed. “Dami, you don’t need to leave. Look, he bit me too.” Dick pulled his shirt collar down, showing the two bites, one significantly more angry-looking. “Jason was bitey in his early heats too, this is normal.”
Damian sniffed judgmentally “It isn’t normal, it’s disgraceful!” He should have better control of himself.” He crossed his arms over his chest, hunching in on himself.
Dick took a deep breath. “Damian, buddy, that’s not how this works and you know it. This is only Tim’s second heat. He may be an adult, but it’s just the same as someone your age presenting, he’s just as new to this. You’ll understand when you present. If you don’t want him to bite you, you can tell him nicely. I asked him to be more gentle. But you’re upsetting him, so if you’re not gonna be nice, you can just go.”
Tim cut off his displeased whining to gasp, wrapping his hand around Damian’s wrist. “Don’t go, please, I’m sorry. Won’t bite. I promise. Don’t leave me. I’ll be good.”
Damian looked down at Tim with concern before locking eyes with Dick, and raising an eyebrow.
“His parents,” Dick mouthed.
Damian nodded before turning back to Tim. “Calm yourself, I’m not leaving.” He rearranged himself to lie by Tim, leaving a bit of distance between them but still staying close by. “But if you’re going to bite, at least tell me first,” He mumbled.
“I won’t bite, I’m sorry,” Tim said, sighing in relief and curling in on himself a bit.
Dick came closer to his little brother, rubbing his back gently. “It’s okay Tim, relax. We’re here, Jason’s on his way, no one is going anywhere right now, kiddo.” Dick glanced up at Damian. “Thank you, Dami.”
Damian clicked his teeth in response, but Dick could feel a little bit of Damian’s true affection for both of them through their bond.
Damian hesitantly reached a hand out, setting it gently on Tim’s arm before speaking to him. “I am…..sorry, that I scared you, Timothy. I am unused to such displays, but I will try and be more understanding. Is there anything you need from me?”
Tim hesitated, for just a moment, but long enough for both Dick and Damian to clock that he wanted something.
“It's alright, you can ask him,” Dick gently encouraged.
“I…can you…closer?” Tim stumbled through his reply, before keening softly.
“You want me to come closer?” Damian asked, making sure he properly understood the jumbled answer.
Tim hummed and nodded quickly in confirmation.
Dick tensed, ready to intervene if either of them needed it. Damian…didn’t love physical touch. When he was small, it was really only administered to hurt or to correct, not for love or softness. Now, he needed touch to be on his terms, outside of a few very specific people. Tim, though they were getting along much better these days, was not one of those people. Meanwhile, Tim’s own adolescent touch starvation made him hungry for physical affection, soaking it up greedily like a cat soaking up sun rays in the window.
Damian tensed. “I…okay. Just..don’t move.” He started to inch closer slowly, tense.
“Hey, you can say no if you don’t want to, I’ll hold him,” Dick stressed.
Damian’s response was so quiet, Dick barely heard him. “I want to.” Determinedly, Damian moved forward until he was a few inches from Tim, then curled slightly into his chest, forehead resting on Tim’s sternum. “You can move now,” He said softly, insecure.
Tim brought his hand up to Damian’s neck slowly, bending his wrist to expose his scent gland before pausing. “Okay?”
Damian nodded, and Tim brought his hand down, scenting him eagerly. The tension left Damian’s body, and he pushed himself into Tim’s chest more firmly. When Tim was done covering Damian in his scent, he wrapped his arms around him, loose enough for him to escape if he needed, and started to purr.
Dick smiled to himself, backing away from the two boys so they could have their moment. He didn’t go far enough to panic Tim, just scooted back to his side of the bed, leaning against his headboard in a position that allowed him to watch both his brothers and the door protectively. So, Tim wasn’t the only one with currently overactive instincts, sue him. His pack wasn’t exactly known for their super healthy, flourishing bonds, so watching Damian indulge Tim made him happy and proud.
The two boys remained curled loosely around each other, Tim purring up a storm. Damian was quiet, his eyes pressed closed, but he didn’t look tense anymore. Both boys seemed rather relaxed.
Dick took a second to check his phone and saw he had a text from Bruce letting him know he would be available for a check-in in about an hour. Dick sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to telling Bruce about Tim’s heat, knew he would worry, even though Dick felt like he had it under control. If the JL could spare him, Dick wouldn’t be too opposed to Bruce trying to come home early, though. Purely for Timmy’s sake, of course. Dick was perfectly fine.
A sharp cry startled him from his thoughts. Tim was thrashing a bit in obvious discomfort, letting out small, distressed whines.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Damian asked with a yawn, blinking wide, sleepy eyes.
“Don’t know. Timmy, are you okay, baby?” Dick asked, coming back to Tim’s side and rubbing his back.
Tim whimpered. “Puppy.” He reached for Damian. “Drink.”
“You want a drink?” Damian asked, wrinkling his nose.
Tim tossed his head violently, and it became clear to Dick that he was back to being barely coherent, purely operating on instinct. “Nurse,” he insisted, again reaching for Damian’s head.
Dick chuckled. “Tim, sweetheart. You can’t nurse Dami. Your milk hasn’t come in yet.”
“You know, he does kind of smell like- oh,” Damian suddenly trailed off, staring at Tim.
Dick followed Damian’s eyes to where they had locked in on two small wet patches on Tim’s shirt.
“Hmm. That’s…early,” Dick commented, slightly concerned. Given the nature of Tim’s presentation, anything out of the ordinary pricked up his detective senses in a way he didn’t like. “Maybe Jason was right about being around puppies after all.” Dick pressed a hand to Tim’s forehead, ensuring that his fever wasn’t getting too high again. He felt fine.
Still, Tim whimpered uncomfortably.
“I know baby, I’m sorry,” Dick cooed to him, stroking his hair.
Damian sat up, crossing his arms over his chest. “I wish you and Todd would stop calling me a puppy,” he huffed. “I’m not a puppy.” Then, quieter, “I’ve never been a puppy.”
Dick smiled sadly at his little brother. “That’s the issue, honey. You should be.”
“Whatever. Do you want me to leave?” Damian was closed off again, reeking of insecurity.
Tim cried out in alarm, grappling for Damian’s wrist, but Dick shook his head.
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Even if you kick-started the lactation process, it doesn’t seem to be having any ill effect on him, other than it being uncomfortable, which it always is during heats, so,” Dick shrugged, “if anything, being with his pack is a positive thing. Stay.”
“Please…” Tim whimpered, squirming around uncomfortably.
“Should I….I mean, wouldn’t it make it less uncomfortable?” Damian asked hesitantly.
“You want to nurse?” Dick asked with surprise.
“I mean, if it would help..” Damian looked away from Dick, but he would be able to identify the longing that was clear there even if he couldn’t feel it thrumming in their bond.
If Dick thought about it, it really wasn’t all that surprising. Nursing was a preferred form of bonding for many people, the most base form of connection possible, producing or consuming nourishment for someone you loved. But, it was especially special for pups, and very good for them and their development. They were practically hardwired to deeply crave omega milk.
In the league, Damian had an army of wet nurses at his beck and call, none of them were allowed to stay very long to keep Damian from forming an attachment or bond to them, but still. Since moving to Wayne Manor, he hadn’t nursed once, at least as far as Dick knew. The only omega in their pack before Tim had been Jason, and he hated to nurse. Dick didn’t really think Damian was close enough to any of the other omegas they knew to ask for such a thing.
“I don’t know…I mean, is it right to do it when he’s out of it? We’ve never talked about if that’s something he would want to do before…just because he wants to now doesn’t mean he’d usually be alright with it,” Dick fretted.
“I believe you’re overthinking it,” Damian said, wrinkling his nose. “If we’re caving to his instincts in every other instance right now, why not this?”
And, honestly, he had a point, Dick thought. Even if he was using his bat-patented manipulation skills to get something he very obviously wanted, but was pretending not to care about.
Tim started to whine in distress again, very clearly uncomfortable. His face was twisted up and he was gritting his teeth.
“Tim, do you want to try?” Dick asked gently, still hesitant.
“Yes,” Tim gasped, “I want….” He grabbed Damian’s head, trying to pull it down towards him.
Usually, this would earn him a punch to the throat, but Damian seemed extremely pliant and willing, eyes going a little cloudy and far away.
“Whoa, relax, hang on,” Dick intervened. “Your shirt is in the way.” He started to pull it up for him. “You want it off?”
“No. On. Just…up.” Tim sat up to help Dick ruck his shirt up.
The fact that he was showing any sort of preference in the matter was greatly soothing to Dick. Dick grabbed some of his pillows from around the bed, scenting them before leaning them against the headboard for Tim to lie back on. “Got it?”
“Yeah,” Tim sighed in obvious relief as he lay against them, dragging Damian down with him.
“You’re sure?” Damian asked softly.
Tim nodded.
“I…Akhi, thank you,” Damian expressed with reverence.
The response was immediate. The room filled with the scent of an absolutely thrilled omega, as Tim chirped his obvious pleasure.
Damian leaned down, embarrassment clear in his scent, and latched, starting to nurse.
The last bit of tension left Tim’s shoulders, and he started to purr contentedly, as he scented the back of Damian’s neck and down his spine.
Dick was frankly shocked. Up until this point, he had been the only one of Damian’s siblings that he referred to as akhi, or brother. It was quite obviously considered a respectful term of endearment to him, and now he was using it on Tim, the kid who up until a few months ago he refused to call anything but his last name, unless it was offensive. Dick wasn’t jealous, no, he was exuberant. All he wanted was for his pack to be happy and healthy, and to love each other, not to mention the joy of watching Damian start to behave like a pup instead of a prince, or a violent weapon. He thought he couldn’t possibly get any happier than he was in that moment.
And then, Damian started puppy rumbling.
Holy Fucking Shit. Dick had never once heard him make that sound.
A puppy rumble was actually more similar in sound to an omega’s purr than an alpha’s rumble, but it came from the same part of the chest and had a similar effect on packmates as a rumble, so the name stuck. It was a very happy noise, made by pups at their most content and comfortable, purely instinctual.
Damian put a lot of effort into fighting against his instincts, being taught to view them as weaknesses. He never bit, rarely scented his packmates, or sought out being scented by them himself. He often kept his side of the family bonds shut off, especially when processing negative emotions. His puppy sounds were few and far between, and always resulted in embarrassment. Until now, he hadn’t ever let down his guard enough to be able to be content enough to rumble, at least not in Dick’s presence.
Dick felt tears prick his eyes and he wiped them quickly, not wanting either of his brothers to be distracted by his emotions. He backed off again, retreating to the other side of his bed to give them space to themselves. He was likely still covering the room in all manner of pleased, protective, alpha pheromones, but at least that would be soothing to Tim.
He watched the two younger boys carefully, protectively. He was monitoring Tim for any sign of discomfort, but he seemed perfectly happy, quite obviously more comfortable than he had been before having someone to nurse. Dick wondered, not for the first time, how Jason tolerated the discomfort of constantly producing milk during his heats without someone to feed. He supposed his discomfort and misgivings about the action outweighed the discomfort of having a full chest.
Damian had stopped rumbling within a few minutes, but every once in a while he let out these small chirps that were absolutely precious. And, listen, Damian was Dick’s little brother, the only puppy currently in their pack, and he found him a lot cuter than most people who encountered him did. He could see straight through the prickliness to the kid underneath. But, precious? That was a new thing for even him to consider. He was pretty sure most people would agree if they could see Damian right now though.
Dick watched as Tim stopped stroking Damian’s back, bringing his hand to rest softly on the back of his neck, which was all well and fine, until Damian shifted like he was gonna pull away and Tim grabbed the skin there tight, bunched it up in his hand, and squeezed. Damian went limp and pliant immediately.
“Tim! We do *not* scruff people without permission. Especially Damian, shit,” Dick admonished, shocked.
An omega’s scruffing had very little effect on most grown people, other than their packmates. It was extremely effective on puppies though, often more than it would be coming from an alpha, depending on the pup. Damian was unfortunately the only puppy in Tim’s pack, and Tim was the omega Damian spent the most amount of time with, meaning the scruff would probably be pretty damn effective. Dick just took a moment to thank the universe that Tim hadn’t decided to do it with his teeth instead of his hand.
Tim blinked up at him, face blank and remorseless. When Dick came closer to try and check on Damian, Tim hissed at him.
Dick put his hands up in retreat “Sorry, omega. Not gonna hurt your pup. Just wanted to check on him,” he placated, projecting calm through his scent and their bond. After all, Damian didn’t *look* very upset, still sleepily suckling with a peaceful look on his face, and Dick could explain why it was wrong to do that to Tim the next time he was more lucid. The situation couldn’t be helped by provoking Tim into feral protection over the puppy.
Damian whimpered unpleasantly and Dick tensed, trying to figure out the quickest and easiest way to get him away from Tim without getting his eyeballs scratched out.
Tim just clucked, breaking Damian’s latch with his thumb and switching him to the other side. Damian settled again, and Tim nuzzled his head softly, purring.
So he wasn’t upset about the scruffing, just running out of milk. Dick was honestly flabbergasted watching them interact like this. Sure, since Bruce brought Tim into their pack, they had been getting along better. The constant slinging of insults back and forth had stopped for the most part, getting much more playful. Sometimes, Dick even found them quietly sitting in the same room, engaging silently in their own activities but unconsciously seeking the others' presence. Still, this was by far the most affectionate Dick had ever seen them act. Tim in general wasn’t a very, for lack of a better word, “motherly” person. He was bossy. Particular. Some might even say controlling. Not Dick of course, he would never. It definitely spoke to how heavily Tim would be affected by his heats, at least for the time being, if nothing else.
“Well shit, that’s something you don’t see every day,” a familiar voice said, and Dick’s eyes flicked to the doorway for the second time that morning, finding Jason standing there with a look of obvious amusement on his face.
Tim chirped happily, calling out for Jason.
Damian quickly broke his latch, trying to hide his face in Tim’s chest.
Jason snorted. “Nice try demon brat, I already saw.” He strode into the room coming up to Tim’s side of the bed to run fingers through his hair. “Hey, baby bird,” he said fondly, “you takin’ good care of your pup?”
Tim nodded fervently as Damian huffed.
“I’m not his pup.” He turned his head to glare at Jason.
“Well, technically…” Dick butted in, “You’re the only pup in our pack, so really, you’re the whole pack’s pup.” Dick brought a hand to Damian’s hair, patting him softly.
Damian clicked his teeth in obvious disapproval.
Jason snorted. “Wow, he really must be milk drunk if he’s letting you pat his head without breaking your wrist.”
“He can’t, Tim scruffed him,” Dick said exasperatedly.
“Good for you,” Jason whispered to Tim, smirking.
“Jason! Oh my god, do not encourage that! How would you like it if someone scruffed you without permission? Jesus.” Dick pinched his nose and scrunched his eyes up. He was starting to get a headache.
Jason hummed his acquiescence, turning his attention to Damian. “Do you wanna move? I can help you,” he asked Damian, uncharacteristically soft.
Damian huffed, turning his head weakly away from Jason. “I’m fine here.”
Jason smirked softly to himself, but left it alone. Milk drunk indeed.
Tim nudged Jason’s hand, encouraging him to rub his wrist over his face and neck. When he did ,Tim went placid, fully relaxed, and started purring deep in his chest. Damian blinked big, sleepy eyes.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Dick told Jason. “I’m not really sure what I’m doing,” He finally admitted, softly.
“Eh. You’re doing fine. He seems fine, Damian’s calm and half asleep, everything’s good. Guess his milk came in?” Jason asks, not willing to play into Dick’s guilt spiral.
“Yeah,” Dick sighed, “he doesn’t seem overly hot or sick or anything, so I think it’s alright.”
“It’s fine.” Jason brushed his worry off. “Omegas with puppies younger than them in their packs tend to milk up quicker.”
Dick let out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding. “Good.”
Jason quirked his head to the side, eyes focusing in on the side of Tim’s neck. “You bite him?”
“Yeah,” Dick answered guiltily. “He begged for it, I didn’t really know what to do, but he seemed to like it. He’s kind of going in and out of being cognizant, but he keeps asking for things that I know you don’t like, like the bite, and nursing Damian, and I’m stuck. I don’t want to do anything that hurts him.”
Jason snorted. “Dickface, I’m hardly the perfect example of a healthy, happy omega. You shouldn’t be basing how you treat him off of me. Even if I were, we aren’t a monolith. His instincts know what he wants, just give it to him and keep him happy. His head will probably clear up at least a little more by tonight.”
Dick felt relief blossom in his chest at Jason’s reassurances. “You’re right, thank you.”
Jason grunted in acknowledgment.
Dick glanced over at his youngest brothers, Tim and Damian were both asleep now, wrapped peacefully around each other. “It’s weird, huh? Seeing them like that?” He asked Jason.
“It’s kind of scary. I didn’t know Damian was human enough to want to be nursed.”
Dick snorted. “That isn’t kind. He’s a good kid, Jason. He’s trying. You just don’t know him like I do.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jason said softly. He leaned over the sleeping boys, gently pushing Damian’s hair off his forehead. “By the way, you failed to alert Alfred to what was going on.”
“Shit!” Dick exclaimed, sitting up quickly.
“Don’t worry, I took care of it, brother dearest. He’s coming up with a bunch of needles and shit to take his blood and bring your breakfast when it’s done.”
“He’s going to take his blood?” Dick asked, slightly confused.
“Mhm. Just to be sure,” Jason answered. “Also, you’re welcome.”
“Yes, thank you. Sorry.”
Jason rolled his eyes in response, continuing to stroke Damian’s hair while he slept, the most peaceful Jason had ever seen him. “You tell Bruce?” He asked.
“He’s calling to check in in a little while, I’ll tell him then.” Dick sighed.
“He’s going to want to come home.”
“Yes, probably,” Dick agreed, slightly weary.
“That will be good for him,” Jason acquiesced, nodding towards Tim. “It’s always…easier. With your alpha.”
“Why don’t you spend your heats with us anymore, little wing?” Dick asked, before holding his breath.
Jason snorted. “That sounds like a unique kind of torture.”
“Jason…” Dick started.
“Dick, stop. Now, while you’re ahead.” Jason said, flexing his fist.
“Okay,” Dick agreed easily, putting his hands up. “Just know that you could.”
Jason ignored him, electing instead to ask him about his night plans. “How are you going to patrol tonight?”
“I don’t know, I’m here to be the Bat. I figure I’ll have to go out,” He answered.
“What if he freaks out without an alpha?” Jason asked, knowing it was a real possibility.
Dick shrugged. “We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it.”
Jason’s lip quirked up. “Cross.”
“What?”
“It’s cross. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Burn is a malaphor.”
“A what-a-for?” Dick asked, face scrunched in confusion.
Jason pinched his nose, a trait it seemed they all picked up from Bruce. “How did you graduate high school?” He mused. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” He walked away from the bed, starting to gather some of the bedding Damian and Tim weren’t using, and Dick’s discarded shirt from the day before.
“What are you doing?” Dick wondered, stretching.
“Gonna make a nest in Bruce’s bed. It will be comfier for him.” He nodded towards Tim, “At least if the pack alpha isn’t home, he can be surrounded by his scent.”
“My scent seems to be just fine,” Dick said, defensive.
“Oh my god, chill out, I’m not questioning your alpha’s usefulness.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Hence, your clothes.” He held up the shirt.
Dick’s phone rang before he could answer, and glancing down at it confirmed it was Bruce checking in. Dick winced, glancing up at Jason as he left the room.
“Have fun with that.” Jason saluted, walking out of the room and leaving Dick to fend for himself.