Work Text:
Dick slowly moved back and forth on the desk chair he was sitting on. His round baby bump in his lap as Dick softly stroked it. He had been, understandably, benched from any and all hero work while pregnant, (and at this point was on pretty strict bedrest,) but he still liked being in the Batcave when Bruce would let him. He doubted being Robin would ever be the same if Bruce had anything to say about it, but Dick liked to feel connected to that part of his life still. Even if that was sitting in a chair that wasn’t exactly comfortable while Bruce did whatever he was doing.
Bruce had been hesitant about Robin as soon as Dick presented as an omega. The presentation hadn’t been a surprise in the way that Dick was certain Bruce had expected him to be an omega, but it had been surprising with how early it had been. 12 wasn’t exactly a standard presentation age for healthy pups.
Dick assumed that despite his physical health, which was stellar considering his nightly activities, the stress he was constantly under had been enough to trigger said early presentation. Not that he would say that out loud. If Bruce hadn’t put two and two together then Dick would not be the one to do it.
Robin was worth the stress.
And a lot of things had been worth dealing with as Robin.
Even the event that got him pregnant. Even keeping said event under wraps.
Sure, sometimes when he sat and thought about it long enough it made him feel sick to his stomach in a way that he couldn’t describe as simply nausea, but it was fine. Everything was still under control and, relatively, normal.
Plus, Dick loved pups! His own was no different. Dick had always been one to coo over any pup he saw, was always the most confident picking up a baby of anyone his age, had always so clearly been destined to have at least one pup of his own one day. 12 was young, but he had also been a hero for multiple years at this point! It felt a little hypocritical to say he was too young to be a mother but old enough to fight mass murders.
“It’s getting late,” Bruce suddenly said, his voice echoing in the cave as per usual. Dick looked at the time listed on the Batcomputer before pouting. 10pm was hardly late. Patrols never would’ve been over at 10 that was for damn sure.
…But a patrol might start that late if there was a reason for it.
“I’m not a baby. You don’t have to send me off to bed before going out as Batman.” Dick crossed his arms over his chest before wincing slightly. He forgot that his chest had become more tender since getting pregnant. Bruce looked at Dick with such clear concern that it made Dick want to squirm in his seats.
Dick had worked on getting Bruce to be more open with his emotions, but it seemed that having a grandbaby on the way was what fully kicked Bruce into gear.
“...I don’t want you alone in the Batcave this pregnant.” Bruce put his hand on Dick’s shoulder and crouched down to look him in the eye. “I trust you to stay away from anything dangerous, chum. However, you could still get hurt. You’re not exactly mobile right now.” Bruce was trying to be understanding, trying to be reasonable, but Dick didn’t fully expect it. He looked down at his baby bump and rubbed the top of it affectionately.
Truly, Dick’s frustration did not come from Bruce’s caution. Dick was also very aware of how likely complications were and he wanted his pup to be okay more than anything.
The real problem was: Dick was happy and everyone else was not.
Dick, despite it all, was happy to have a pup of his own and he was sick and tired of adults looking at him with pity as if he was too stupid to understand his situation. He knew better than anyone what had happened! No one else knew what getting cornered at a friend’s house months after presenting by their friend’s dad felt like. No one else felt the phantom hands that taunted Dick when he was trying to go to bed. No one else was afraid of what their pup would look like in case it exposed the biological father and Dick wouldn’t be able to see his best friend anymore.
No one.
That was Dick’s burden to bear and if he could still be happy then why couldn’t everyone else?
Dick rubbed at the tears building up in his eyes. He wanted to yell at Bruce and tell him to stop worrying about where the pup came from and just accept them. He wanted to call his teammates and ask them to run away with him; to live together in the tower and forget everyone else. He wanted to hug Bruce and spill exactly what happened.
He wanted…
He wanted to go to bed.
Dick raised his hand so that Bruce could grab it and help him off the chair he was on. Going to bed was probably a good idea anyway. Any amount of sleep Dick could get was precious. The pup wasn’t the most active pup in the world, but they certainly weren’t sedentary. Bruce took the hint, helping Dick into a standing position. Dick was uneasy on his feet, his balance completely thrown off by his massive middle.
Baby bumps were cute, and Dick loved his own very dearly, but his body had not been ready at his young age. Maybe if Ollie had done something when Dick was a little older, a little more of a mature omega, people wouldn’t look at Dick with the amount of pity they did. Because even Dick could realize how his body looked as it stretched and strained to sustain the baby inside of him.
Bruce’s hand rested on Dick’s back, helping him stay stable. Dick looked up at Bruce and felt some sort of regret swirl in his gut. He knew pregnancy hormones affected emotions, but Bruce was worried and trying to make sure Dick made it out the other side of the pregnancy. Dick was protective of his pup, Bruce was just protective of his own.
“I’m sorry,” Dick burst into shameful tears. He wrapped his arms around Bruce the best he could and sobbed into his shirt. “I didn’t mean to be such a bitch.”
“You are not a bitch.” Bruce growled and hoisted Dick into his arms. Dick squealed, not expecting it. Bruce’s grip was protective and warm. His arms around Dick had at first reminded him of Ollie, but Bruce had quickly proven that he wasn’t like that. Dick would at least no have to deal with two old white alpha men deciding that he was the perfect omegan mate. “Do not call yourself that. You are my son who is dealing with something you never should have to deal with at your age.”
“I’m not-”
“I know you’re happy with your pup, I know that’s the reason you won’t give me enough information to figure out what happened, but your joy does not take away from the fact that pregnancy is a lot on your body and your mind.” Bruce rubbed his nose against Dick’s scent gland in a way that was so often done by parents that it made Dick’s heart ache. “You’re… You’re being really strong, Dick. I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t say stuff like that. You’re gonna make me cry.” Fat tears were already welling up in Dick’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around Bruce’s neck and allowed himself to be carried out of the cave and into the manor. “Wanna sleep in your room tonight,” Dick mumbled quietly. Dick’s room was set up for his pregnancy, but Dick just didn’t want to be alone right now. He knew that Bruce was planning on going out as Batman, but even his scent on the sheets would make Dick feel more content.
“Of course, chum.” Bruce pushed open the door to the master suite, setting Dick down on the large bed inside. Dick adjusted his position so that he was comfortable before pulling up a blanket to his nose. Bruce normally wore scent blockers, so being able to fully smell him, even on a piece of cloth, was much appreciated.
Bruce hesitantly set his hand on top of Dick’s bump. The pup instantly kicked within Dick’s belly underneath Bruce’s hand. Bruce winced, but didn’t remove his hand. Every little thing seemed to concern him at this stage in Dick’s pregnancy.
“We’ll schedule a C-section soon,” Bruce’s voice was hushed as he spoke. Dick had already been well-informed that a vaginal birth was off the table for him, but it was weird to think of how close they were to needing to actually take the pup out of him. Dick had gotten so used to being pregnant it was hard to comprehend that it would end.
He was ready for it be over though.
Dick didn’t give a verbal response, just nodded. He curled up on the bed, his eyes already drooping. Bruce went from awkwardly crouching over the bed to sitting on it. Bruce tucked Dick in before kissing his forehead. Dick happily purred as his consciousness drifted off.
