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The night air feels cool on his heated skin and Jason, who can’t remember the last time he wasn’t clothed from literal head to toe for any kind of exercise patrol, finds himself liking it. His heartbeat is still steady enough for the time he already spent running, but he can feel his muscles starting to burn.
Stopping for a moment, he takes deep breaths and glances back to the mansion. It looks peaceful. It’s his home again. But there is also some bitterness in him, as his gaze glides over the opulent building.
Said bitterness might also be the reason he does his endurance build up at night, when he knows the others are out. Just the same with the training he picked up again, down in the cave. At least the parts that he can do alone.
For all that he fears that he is turning into a domesticated Pack-Omega with nothing to do but look after its members, there has been so much happening lately. Or maybe Jason himself just has a lot to work out.
The part that should have been hard or at least awkward, had been strangely.. easy? Jason can still remember coming out of his heat, with Dick plastered to his side. Which wouldn’t have been unusual by any standards. Not even Bruce could fault Jason that he has sought out another member of the pack for his heat. It’s his right.
But sitting there, in the nest he build, without permission, on the Alphas bed and vaguely remembering kissing and exploring touches? Jason fled into the bathroom and under the shower. Was that what other Alphas had meant, when they said they couldn’t help themselves? The Omega knows that Dick asked him and that he said yes. And hell, how could he have not? Dick Grayson is an apparition. Gorgeous smile, beautiful and honestly unreal blue eyes and the body and movement of some big jungle cat. All that magnificent muscle that can be steel the one second and easy, powerful movement the next.
He had known at 14 years that there wouldn’t ever something come close to this Alpha ever again. And look at that, Jason had been right. Maturity and experience only enhanced Dick.
Which might be the reason the Alpha had such an easy time, intimidating Jason as he was brought back to the pack, without even muttering a single threat.
And now Jason, probably still unstable rage monster and totally over his head Omega, had been allowed to touch that. How the fuck was he supposed to move on from there?
Apparently, he wasn’t.
After taking his own shower, while Jason nursed his first coffee in days, Dick joined him and smiled that awful ‘I can power the sun with it’ smile at him and asked if Jasons heat was completely done now. After his nod, because he didn’t trust his voice in that moment, the Alpha declared that as “Good”, came over, dug his hands into Jasons hair and proceeded to kiss him with so much natural dominance and assuredness of himself that the Omega couldn’t help himself.
He just rolled with the punches.
And that was that.
Since then Jason simply got swept away by the waves of Dick Graysons being. And not in a bad way, because while there is a lot to say about the Alpha, but inconsiderate he is not. Nono.
After a somewhat intense scenting that left Jason blushing, the Alpha drove him home and played buffer with the pack that ascended on them like hungry hyaenas. Ran interference with Bruce, not that Jason escaped from another scenting and at least mild scolding there and herded the rest into a movie night with practiced ease.
Jason would have been impressed with it if he weren’t still a bundle of insecure nerves and half done fears. Honestly, by that point he is so done with all the fears that emerged after the Pit gave way. Scared of hurting the pack again, scared of being rejected again, scared for the fabled other shoe that still might drop, scared of being shipped to Arkham when his pack finally gets a clue and now he can add a new one. Being scared that whatever it is, that is going on between Dick and him, being just one of the Alphas flings.
Which get a little bit less intense for every time the Alpha is over after that and plasters himself confidently against Jason. Stealing kisses and laughing softly when Jason just melts into the embrace whenever Dick noses along his neck.
And they do talk. About a lot of things really. Just not about this.
Rodney nags him about it since day one. After he stopped being smug, as the older Omega apparently had seen this coming from miles away. And yes, Jason can see that he should, but that would make it real. Realer. And maybe he has that other new fear, that tells him that Dick would wise up and realize that Jason is.. well.. Jason, if they talked about it.
He is trying and fighting on so many fronts, he is allowed to have one bad coping mechanism! Rodney calls him an idiot but is soon enough busy with other big happenings in Jasons life. Isn’t that nice?
Jason is still surprised that he was the only one that had seen it coming. The next fight between Bruce and him, as Jason declares that he wants to go out again. At least this time it was only verbal.
But that might have been because Alfred was there.
The biggest problem between Bruce and him is that they are both completely incapable of letting things go and rest. What starts as discussion with real arguments (Jason should give himself more time to heal mentally, he couldn’t just go out as Red Hood again, he hasn’t even trained in forever. He will not be a house Omega! He feels like he is jailed in a big golden cage), merges into ugly shouting real fast. (If Bruce cared the Joker would be dead! Jason probably doesn’t even know how to fight without killing anymore! Oh yes, the killings. He isn’t sorry he did it!)
At least now Jason knows he only needs to go at a punching bag like a mad man before calming down and not for the throats of his pack. He is happier with that outcome than he should be.
It takes another session with Rodney, Bruce and him, before there is something resembling peace again. And the knowledge that nothing got repaired with Jason coming back and being pack again. Sure, they can work like the last few months, but that would be a very surface relationship and the explosions just waiting around the corner.
At some point or another they have to tackle their issues. Simply looking away wouldn’t do shit.
Jason feels exhausted just thinking about it.
After his run and a shower, he settles cross-legged into his nest with a sketch book and stares at the drawings he already did. ‘Drawings’. Jason has about as much talent for it, as he has for ballet. But.. The outline is there.
Looking up as the door opens after a soft knock, he looks at a civilly clothed Dick who enters his room, closes the door and comes up to him. Over the last weeks the Alpha was a more frequent visitor to Gotham.
Jason can’t say he minds, as Dick stops besides him and looks expectantly. He rolls his eyes playfully but nods and makes to move, but the Alpha is faster and slots behind him into the nest. Hugging him close and resting his chin on Jasons shoulder.
“What are you doing there?”, the Alphas voice is a bit rumbly, showcasing that Dick is tired.
The Omega sighs and holds the drafts up, so that Dick can see them better. “Hm..”, the Alphas eyes roam over the paper. “A new costume?” There is no derision in the voice and Jason finds himself thankful for it. Dick hadn’t been here at the last big clash and he had wondered..
“I am not sure”, he admits. “You heard, I guess?” He sinks a bit deeper into the Alphas arms and get an approving rumble for it. Dick reaches out with one hand and turns the page in the book, seeing others of Jasons drawings.
“I think Tim wrote me while you were still screaming. I got a pretty detailed transcript.” An unhappy growl escapes Jason that gets shushed by Dick with another rumble. “I like that one.”
Jason snorts. “I wonder why, seeing how it is almost your suit.” He can feel Dick grinning. “That would explain it. You put different signs on it.”
Looking down at the draft, he feels his ears go red. “It’s just some random drawings.” Instead of the iconic bird and long stripes he had scribbled different versions. One with a single bat on the back. One with something like a star in the front, lining the ends further out. And a few other random patterns. They are all in black and white.
The Alpha is silent for a moment, before turning his head and kissing the shell of Jasons ear. “I am not opposed of you going out again.”
And that shouldn’t mean anything to Jason. It should be his decision, and he shouldn’t need approval for it. But right now? In this moment? It fucking does mean a lot to him. To have his the Alphas approval instead of another shouting match that not only drains his energy but his self-worth in the pack.
The little sad keen that escapes him is mortifying until Dicks arms lock closer around him and the Alpha soothingly noses along his scent glands. “Don’t let Bruce get to you, Little Wing. He is the very last person on Earth to be allowed to judge your need to go out again.”
“The others didn’t say anything either”, he confesses, staring down at the not-Nightwing drawing. “I get that they can’t trust me to have their backs but..”
The Alphas deep growl interrupts him, and he goes stiff as teeth graze his throat warningly. “There is no need to paint yourself as the bad guy here, Jason. They took you in with supposedly open arms, without thinking further about it. It’s not your problem that you don’t want to stay at home like some high bred high society Omega. It’s theirs.”
Jason swallows harshly. He hadn’t known that he needed to hear something like this, but now that he had.. “Alpha..”
Dick growls again and Jason can feel the mans body brimming with unreleased tension. “No. I told you that I was sorry that I took so long to welcome you back into the pack and that is the truth. I could have done it earlier. The time between listening in on Rodney and you and our talk down in the cave wasn’t me being petty.”
Warm lips are pressed on the spot that the teeth were a moment ago in a silent apology. “Problems and traumas do not simply vanish with the integration into a pack. Of course I wanted you back. Badly even. But I had to think about my role in the pack with you back and with B’s inability to compromise. Also about my growing attraction to you. In the end I only walked in with more open eyes then the rest. You are my Little Wing after all is said and done.”
If there are tears in his eyes, Jason doesn’t want to acknowledge it. Only, that he isn’t sorry for them. To hear that Dick didn’t just go with everything but decided himself, for Jason on his own terms, is overwhelming. To know that Dick is at least prepared for harder times and willing to face them either way..
He jerks around, brings his legs around Dicks hips and hugs the Alpha close. Burrowing his face into the Alphas shoulder and simply cries. Not hard body wrecking sobs, but steady silent and relieved tears, while being perfectly secure in the deep water that is Dicks scent. Knowing that the danger that lurks there is protective of him.
One of Dicks hands find their way into Jasons hair and start massaging him. “It’s fine. You can let it all out. You are safe with me. You are doing so good and work so hard. You can be proud of yourself. I am proud of you.”
Usually it would annoy Jayson to be talked to in that special soothing way but right now it feels so good. To know that someone sees the struggles he has with the whole situation. To go from wanting nothing more then to hurt his pack, to being protective of them. To be scared of his own mind.
“I am really trying, Dick.”
The hand from his hair glides to his neck, this time in a comforting gesture. Bringing the Alphas steadiness and scent close. “I know, Jay. I see it. Most of the pack didn’t know you before. They don’t recognize all the small signs that show part of your younger character emerging. But they do want you. You should hear them sometimes.”
Jason gives a deep shuddering breath, before leaning back a bit and searching for Dicks strikingly blue eyes. Despite their natural coldness, they are so warm right now. “Steph thinks you are the biggest troll in the making and she can’t wait for it. And while Tim still sometimes struggles,” Jason flinches at that and Dick rumbles comfortingly, “he has a bit of hero worship going on. Can’t stop talking about his Robin and how much he enjoyed going against you down in the cave.”
Dick stops for a moment before huffing out a laugh. “Well, he also said you are an asshole, but it sounded somewhat adoringly.”
Jason can’t help the snort and they both look at each other for a moment before they are laughing. “Shit. Can’t even complain there. He is not wrong.”
The Alpha hums, the smile still on his lips. “But he isn’t right either, is he?”
That brings Jason down again, but he smothers his first instinctive answer down and allows himself to think about it for a moment. And the truth is: “It’s so much easier to be an ass instead of..” He trials off.
“Instead of showing that you care so much it scares you?”
Jason closes his eyes, surrendering the point in silence and receiving the soft pressure of warm lips against his for it. He purrs softly and gets a delighted rumble for it. And honestly, he is done talking for now. Jason feels mentally stretched enough.
He pulls Dick closer and let himself fall backwards into the nest. He knows that the Alpha is flexible enough to make it work and is proven right as Dick laughs but has not problems following him down. Resting his weight securely above Jason. It results in another purr, this one longer, happy with having this strong Alpha and packmate with him, above him, in the nest.
The Alpha answer with an equally long sound, that satisfies Jasons inner Omega on a deep level before they are kissing again. And Jason couldn’t describe the feelings that invokes in him. Not really. They might not talk about it, but it still feels safe. There is no way Dick would fuck around with him. Play with him.
Dick might or might not be a bit of a playboy, Jason has heard both versions of that story, but he loves his pack. Dick wouldn’t hurt him like that intentionally.
And that thought makes it easier, to lean into the kisses and the soft caresses. To allow himself to have this. This freely given affection and warmth. The soft playfulness that comes with it. The silent respect of Jasons boundaries.
Fuck. He really, really wants this, huh? Wants Dick. Wants this Alpha.
*****
Dick is 100 percent sure that Jason has no idea what these quiet purrs do to him. These purrs that sound so cute on other Omegas but are so deep and powerful with Jason. Perfectly made for the strong body. Lying atop of all that hard muscle, even if some of it is missing by now, he can feel them down to his bones.
To know that they are for him is just as insane of a power trip as having Jason yielding to him so easily. So far there hadn’t been any resistance to his advances. The only time the Omega had shown any form of uneasiness, had been in his heat as Dick got a bit too enthusiastic. Which had stopped him instantly of course.
He can’t say that he doesn’t want Jason with the need of a burning Sun, because he does, but Dick has no problems following the Omegas lead. There had been taken so much from him, it’s the very least Dick can do and give him everything he wants in abundance.
And if that means a lot of kissing and above the beltline touching and caressing, then Dick has no complaints. At all. Especially since Jason allows Dick to suck marks into his skin, where they are hidden from others. It feeds into his possessiveness to know they are there, while no one else has any idea.
Dick had taken one look at Jason, as he came back and knew that he was in hot water. Still, he tried to keep his head and in doing so had indivertibly gained a lot of trust from the Omega. Dick still remembers his heart breaking into tiny pieces, as he confronted Jason finally and the Omega outright told him that it was good that he was mistrustful. That someone had to be.
He only understood then, that between all of them it was Jason that was the most scared of himself. And Dick hadn’t been able to hold back anymore. The need to scent the Omega and welcome him back, to lay down his protection.. It was overwhelming. He got so deep into his instincts that he couldn’t even let the pack close.
This had been their bonding time and Dick hadn’t been willing to have anyone intrude on that. He still is happy that Bruce kept his distance. Even now, he can’t be sure how he would have reacted to it.
What Dick can be sure of, was the sheer possessiveness he felt as Jason fell asleep after he was thoroughly scented by him. And how right it felt, to have the Omega there, in his arms, in range to protect him from everything.
Dick had been ready to let the Titans go off without him, but there had been dry humor and trust in Jasons teal colored eyes as he told Dick to go and save the universe. Everything he could have said to explain why he would stay wasn’t something he was ready to voice and he didn’t think that Jason was ready to hear it.
But god damn it, if it hadn’t been the two longest weeks in his life.
He thought he was hallucinating as he came back to his apartment and the air was drenched with the smell of.. It was hard to say actually. Jasons scent wasn’t one or the other. It is layered and complicated like the Omega himself. There is something that reminds him of the library in the manor, in front of the open fire.
Dick remembers that he couldn’t stop himself from climbing above Jason and pressing his nose into the Omegas neck. Close to the scent glands. And this close to the source, the old paper morphed into a cabin in the woods on a freshly rained morning. The Alpha never had smelled something so tranquil before. Something that called out to him this much. He could have died happily, pressing his nose into the warm skin.
And Jason, besides being grumpy as hell, must be – must be – the cutest Omega in heat ever. Dick had wanted to coo so much. Almost as much as he simply wanted to devour him.
But over the years Dick hadn’t only learned to handle his temper and so it wasn’t that hard to shove these Alpha instincts aside and let himself enjoy this side of Jason. The openly affectionate side that didn’t see anything wrong with using Dick as human sized teddy bear.
The openly Omega side that did see a lot of wrongness with feeding himself. Really, at this point Dicks heart hadn’t any chances left. He simply melted.
The very Jason side, that had no problems in leaving the pack in shambles and traveling this close to his heat in a bus to another city, invade the territory of an Alpha to brazenly build his nest and claim it as his own.
Dick was ultimately so charmed that he had a hard time to appear scolding. In the end he lost the fight against himself and simply had to ask if he could kiss Jason.
Which might have been the best idea he ever had, with how it led to him being allowed here, into Jasons nest. And it might have helped with lowering the Omegas resistances too. Having strong willed and independent Jason open up to him like that and allow himself a good cry against Dicks shoulder.. In his eyes the amount of trust he has been given is priceless.
The need to protect and shelter Jason from anything evil in this world is almost too much for Dick to handle. But at the same time he knows that he would shoot himself in the foot if he would act on it. The Omega doesn’t need a shiny cage, he needs a safety net so he can fly again.
“You should come to Bludhaven with me.” The words are out of his mouth before he has the time to think it over.
Jason opens his eyes and blinks up at him. “Tonight?”
Dick shakes his head, pulling himself up and putting his hands beside Jasons head, looking down at him. “For longer.”
“What would I do in..”, the Omega stops himself and something like wonder enters his eyes. “You would let me patrol with you?”
“Mhm”, Dick nods and presses soft little kisses along Jasons cheekbones. “I would think a bit more training first to get you back in shape but then..”
Warm, large hands come up and encompass his face, forcing him gently back so they can look at each other. “Don’t fuck with me, Dick. You mean that?”
Nuzzling into the hands he smiles wryly. “Well, I have a lot less room to offer and am missing a butler and the crazies there are of a different kind and I sadly have to sound like Bruce in telling you no killing but if you can live with that?”
Dick hasn’t seen the smile that is presented to him now in years and he wants to catch and keep it right there. In Jasons face. Who looks so much younger and unburdened like this.
But then it vanishes in an instant. “Bruce.”
Yes, Dick can see the fight that is coming, but for once he thinks that it might actually be worth it. “Leave Bruce to me.” And he can see the inner fight in Jasons eyes, before it smoothes out and he nods.
Dick smiles. “Thank you for trusting me on this. Give me a few days to get everything ready. Maybe use it to fabricate one of these suits.” He nods to the sketch book. “You can change your mind about it later anyway. I just think it would be better to let Red Hood behind in Gotham.”
There is a playful spark igniting in the teal eyes and Dick can’t help but pluck carefully on a lock of white hair in reprimand, before the Omega even opens his mouth. Not that Jason cares. “Usually you are awfully territorial about Bludhaven. Should I feed into that with the new name? Starwing? Daywing? Rewindwing?”
Dick groans playfully. “You are awful. I am helping you, out of the goodness of my heart and you disrespect me?”
“Goodness of you heart, hm?”, Jason echos and leans up to bite into Dicks bottom lip. “It has nothing to do with.. this?” The Omega makes a hand gesture to point between them and Dick has to actively hold back every single happy sound.
He very much likes that Jason acknowledges that there is something to acknowledge between them. But he answers honestly. “No, it hasn’t. This is hopefully growing as something outside of our Vigilante Nightlives. And while I can’t say that I won't be happy in having you with me, to see you more and get more of you, it isn’t the reason for my offer. Can you believe me in this?”
Thankfully Jason instantly nods. “I am just teasing you. But its..”, Dick might never be able to tell Jason how freaking adorable he is while blushing, “It’s good to hear. That you want it to grow too. I guess.”
Fuck. “God, Jay. If it were for me..”, he shakes his head, to clear his thoughts. “You pack your things over the next days and I will talk with Bruce. And if I have to kidnap you, I might do that as well.” Something colder sneaks it’s way through Dicks veins. “Bruce better not push his nose into Bludhaven. It’s mine.”
Jason nods earnestly at him. “You are lucky that you are good looking, because you are honestly the posterchild for clueless, territorial Alpha. They should have your picture in the Wiki.”
Dick punishes him with a few more kisses.
He isn’t clueless about Bruce. He is optimistic.
**********
Leaning back against the wall, his legs dangle over the ledge of the little platform of the fire escape ladder and he inhales the smoke from his cigarette deeply.
“Today was the day, right? How did it go?”, Rodney asks, sounding a bit distracted through the phone. In the background he hears wild laughter.
Jason takes a moment, before snorting. “It.. went.”
“Oh, that good?”
“I mean, I am sitting outside of Dicks Apartment right now, so it went how we wanted it. More or less. A little bit less then more.”
The laughter is coming closer. “Please, try to be cryptic for once in your life Jason. I do so love your sarcastic wit.”
Rolling his eyes, he can’t help the little smile. In truth he is happy to have a therapist that doesn’t mince words. Might even need it. With Rodney what you see is what you get. “Bruce got a few conditions in. Like dinner at the manor at least once a week. The continuation of my therapy, which I would have done anyway. You did grow on me.”
“Like fungus, I am sure”, the dry voice comes through. “That doesn’t sound so unreasonable so far.”
“He wanted that I spent my heats at the manor. Dick said he told him to shove it. That neither of them can command me like that.”
Rodney hums, the laughter is really close now. The same as another male voice. “Do you know what I should have done, 15 years ago, Rodney?” Jason can hear him say. “Worn a condom.”
“I am not sure one would have been enough, I remember you being enthusiastic”, Rodney returns without missing a beat. “Catch the problemchild, I am still working here.”
Jason chuckles as Rodney returns to him. “Sorry, the kid has too much energy. Don’t know where he gets it from. But back to your conditions. Your Alpha did good there. It’s never a good idea to give up this much of your own agency. But talking about heats and condoms, you did get your shot?”
“Yes Rodney, I did get my shot.”, he would like to call his answer endlessly suffering but at the end of the day he was kinda happy to have someone to remind him of stuff like that. Strange as it might sound, to be able to forget something important like that. Who would have thought that Sex hadn’t been of any kind of priority in his life before?
But now with the way things were going? He would be lying to himself if he stated that he hadn’t had the one or the other fantasy about Dick since his last heat.
God, the one in the shower..
Shaking his head he returns his attention back to the phone. “There are a few more, but mostly around pack and visiting and where and when I have to wear the trackers.”
“The trackers..”, the other Omega sounds distasteful. “Because you feel the need to wear some skintight costume and run through the night to save people. You know, others go to the police or the military for that. With how everything is at the moment you could probably kill more people as cop without even losing a paycheck.”
Jason growls darkly. “Just have to shoot at people with the correct skincolor I guess.”
“Ding. Ding. Ding.”
“I think Dick never shot someone dead in his career. But anyway, listen Rodney, I have to do it. For myself. I don’t know. Maybe to see if I still can do it. Maybe to prove something to myself. Maybe I find out after a week that this isn’t the life I want for myself anymore.”
Rodney is on that like a bloodhound. “Isn’t Wayne on the ball to resurrect you officially? College is still an option. Would be a shame to die, yes again haha what did we laugh, in some kind of dark valley when you could just as easily get drunk at a party with people your age.”
Jason sighs and rubs over his hair. It’s probably a self soothing gesture. “That option is still on the table. Maybe..”, he is losing his words and Rodney might be a perfectly fine asshole but he is also an amazing therapist.
“We will see how it goes. You don’t need more pressure at the moment. For now, I still would like to talk to you daily. Even if it is just a short life sign. Remember you can call me at any time. And at minimum I want to see you in person every two weeks. You are changing a big part of your life again and I don’t want you floundering without need.”
He nods, even if Rodney can’t see it. “Sounds good to me, Doc. Thank you. Until tomorrow.”
“Take care Jason.”
He really, really wonders what Bruce pays for the 24/7 service.
Snipping the end of his cigarette away he crawls back into the apartment. It does look a bit more clustered then before with his stuff thrown in, like his most loved books and a few he wants to read soon, but mostly it just looks more lived in.
Dick is standing in the kitchen and looking at some takeout forms. “You feel Indian tonight?” Jason shrugs and opens the fridge. “Hell Dickie, didn’t you say you have to get everything ready? This thing is as empty as my grave.”
The Alpha hits him over the head with the paper and frowns. “Stop that before you bring me into an early one. And I did prepare. Although mostly for your training as my sidekick.”
“Your..”, it takes exactly one second to go from placid to enraged. “I am not your god damn sidekick!” The rage leaves him just as suddenly as it came up as he watches Dick doubling over and holding his belly while laughing. “God. You are an ass. Thats not funny.”
There is pure mirth in the blue eyes as the Alpha looks back to him. “It absolutely is. You should have seen your face! I was totally tempted to get you an adult Robin costume by the way.”
Jason huffs and turns around in direction of the bedroom. “Very funny, big bird. So funny that I will make my nest now. And you will not be invited.”
Strong arms wind around him and he can feel that Dick is still chuckling. “Because once you made it, it’s yours, right? No matter that it is on my bed.”
“See? Old dogs still can learn new tricks.” He tries to sound mad, but he probably gives himself away with leaning against the Alpha.
“Sure. Maybe this old dog will help you with your nest and is willing to show you one or two other tricks in it later.” The Alphas voice is suddenly deeper and Jason gets goosebumps all over. Shit.
And.. How can he say no to that? Damn it, he really is like butter in the Sun that is Dick Grayson.