Work Text:
What Jason should be doing, is further establishing his position, gaining more ground and working on his plan. What he is doing is scouting out locations that would let him feel safe enough to sleep in them, that no one would ever believe are his. He is lying low. So low in fact that he already heard rumors that someone offed him. It angers him. That people still think that he is one of the usual bad guys that pop up from time to time, just to be killed by competition or shipped off by Batman.
This whole thing throws everything back by weeks, if he is lucky. And no one looking at his life so far, would ever suggest that crazy idea. And the worst part? It isn’t even his own fault! He wasn’t the one sneaking into other peoples dens in the middle of the goddamn night. No, that needs the sort of special crazy that absolutely is flowing in the veins of one Dick fucking Grayson.
Fuck.
Jason can still see him, as soon as he closes his eyes and allows himself a few minutes to relax. The grace in which the Alpha knelt over him. Pushing his wrist into Jasons nose, as if that had been needed. He could smell it as soon as Dick removed the blockers. By now it might as well be a mental condition. There just is that association in his head, about the Alpha and his god damn ocean and steel scent.
The scent he slept in for years.
He can still feel the Alphas nose against his neck. Can still hear the soft inhale, as Dick got the full dose of Jasons scent. He can still feel the soft flesh under his teeth and the sudden taste explosion as he drew blood. How his legs gave out and his other limbs got heavy with the scruffing. How rage inducingly unconcerned Dick had been, after the first surprise, seemingly set about bringing Jason back into to pack. No matter that he should still be dead in the Alphas mind. No matter that he was a killer now. No matter that they never had been that close, besides a few personal interactions.
He remembers feeling Dicks weight above him, as he was manhandled onto the bed. The silent but unbroken confidence in which the Alpha decided how this situation would play out. How unbothered he had been about getting halfway out of his suit, drawing Jasons gaze away from these striking blue eyes with the wide blown pupils. Showing off his physique as strong Alpha. One that could not only protect the pack but was arrogantly sure about his ability to handle Jason too.
Jason has never seen an Alpha like this. In this state that clearly screamed about reduced brain function through an incoming rut, but at the same time had been controlled as fuck. There had been no aggressive posturing or something like that. No. It had been the picture about an Alpha that had decided on something and got everything exactly where he wanted it.
Like he wanted Jason.
And while Jason likes to think that there would have been no way, that Dick really would go through with what had been alluded too, he had been startled enough to start countering the Alpha. To calm his scent into something carefully inviting. To praise and confirm. To lure Dick, that had been dangerously close to falling completely into his senses and instincts, into another direction. Into one of protection and relaxing with pack.
He is still surprised it worked. And how good it felt, to have the Alpha there. Above him, with his nose in Jasons neck and rumbling in simple content. Pressing his scent into Jasons skin. Hell. At the end of the day, he is an Omega with needs and Dick is one hell of an Alpha. No matter that he wants to smash the guys head in in principle.
Or did want that.
Before Dick looked at him with earnest eyes, as if it weren’t a big deal that he killed the Joker for a moment. As if it wouldn’t shake Jasons world, to hear that Dick would never replace him. Couldn’t ever replace him. That he hadn’t been on the planet as it all did go down.
How? How could he still want to hurt Dick after that? There is no possible way. Not even in the crazy town that his head is.
And then! Hearing that Dick had actually planned to bite him. For fucks sake. He still can’t wrap his mind around it. Half the world would give an arm and leg for a chance like that and Jason just fucked off? His Omega is still enraged like nothing else and that is another reason for his sleep problems.
With the knowledge that Dick had agreed to a real hunt, a god damn mating hunt, every little cell in his body is lit up. Every Alpha he smells is inferior and has him snarling, every Beta annoying and in the way and every Omega a threat that he wants to end. It drives Jason insane. Especially since he is planning on winning. He won’t get caught, just because Dick has lost his mind.
Doesn’t matter that he looks like a chiseled Greek statue. Or that he is kind and that his Omega knows that he would never be mistreated. Nothing matters!
He has plans!
.. but for now he might just as well secure his new den for the upcoming four days. He decided on an upper class apartment from a hotel, at the top floor. Renting all three that are available for the whole month under different names. No one that ever had to do with him for more then five minutes would ever guess him being here. Dick would most likely sniff around in the Alley and that might be the most dangerous spot for a few hours every day.
Jason has no intention to hide these four days away. He isn’t a coward. But keeping his old routes would be crazy. And not his kind of crazy. So, he took the two weeks he had given himself and scouted out the routes the Bats patrolled. And squished himself right in between. Another move Dick shouldn’t be able to anticipate.
This whole thing will be over before he even knows it.
He didn’t think that his paranoia could be a problem, but it is. He sees shadows in every corner, gets that god damn salty ocean scent into his nose at the most random times and why are there so many people wearing black? Or blue? Or both?
And that is another thing. Will the Alpha even go after him as Nightwing? Jason can’t be sure about it and that means he doesn’t only have to look over roofs and his shoulder, but downwards too. Honestly, he has to look everywhere and with everything else going on, it drives him into a state .
There is also the part that wonders. If Dick is even out there, after (probably) having gained the full usage of his brain back, after his little halfway feral episode? Usually that would mean that the Alpha noticed whom he tried to entice into a mating bite. And that should have other consequences then still wanting to hunt him down! Shouldn’t it?
And why is he getting agitated, simply thinking like that? This whole thing is bullshit! Neither of them should care! God, he can’t wait for this farce to be over, and he is perfectly fine to ignore his growling Omega at the end of the first day. This is fine. How it should be.
Fuck that emotion that feels a lot like a stabbing into his heart. He isn’t that easy! And he is busy! And fuck all this!
Day two is somehow worse. He didn’t get enough sleep. Hearing things that hadn’t been there, no matter how often he checked. It has him almost falling asleep while cooking eggs. This is torture already. Why did he give Dick four days?
This is insane.
No wonder that it fell out of favor with the general population. This was psychological warfare as far as he was concerned. The Alphas could just as well lie on some beach and drink cocktails with little umbrellas in it, while the Omega was driven into madness by knowing that there was a predator out there, hunting them.
Jason is so out of it, with all the looking around he does, he almost did run into Batman. Urgh. Not to mention that with his new route, he is quite able to watch his Replacement from afar. God, he wants to put his hands around the kids throat and..
But that is not the plan, so he breathes through the green haze that builds in the corner of his eyes until it is gone again. And besides, he thinks while carefully looking down a dark alley, listening for steps or something behind him, he isn’t that wild to hurt a child. Right? He would like to think so at least. As long as it stays away from him. From him and his plans.
Two hours later, just as he is done with the night and life in general, Jason finally sees him. In all his black and blue glory. Standing on a higher roof, a few buildings over. And going by the posture, the Alpha had him for longer in his sights then Jason cares to think about. He also likes to imagine that he didn’t freeze like a deer in headlight as first reaction. Returning the stare like an idiot before turning around and bolting.
Down the building, into an already broken window, up the stairs again, following a long corridor to jump between this building and the next before making a sharp turn and standing still. His heart beating like a freshly caged bird in his chest and with adrenaline rushing through his ears, he listens. For almost silent footsteps. For the sound of a grappling hook. For anything really, not that it is easy over his harsh breathing, that tells more about his mental state then his condition.
Silence.
There is nothing at all.
Did Jason really lose him that easily?
He stays there for half an hour before carefully moving again. The Alpha nowhere to be seen.
Sleep that night is mostly a thing of the past. Now that he got the confirmation that Dick isn’t working on his tan but actually on the hunt. For him. It doesn’t compute.
Hell, he has a hard time accepting the whole thing as reality anyway. He came back to hurt them, as much as they hurt him. To show them how easy little Robins can be hurt. Especially with how fast they replaced him.
Only to have the original Robin there. Giving him a very different picture. At least about Dick. Just to participate in a mating hunt? That Jason himself offered like the braindead maniac that he obviously still is!
The unruly agitation is deep under his skin and it doesn’t leave again. Every minute feels like there are eyes on him. Following him, even when it is impossible! When he is standing alone in the shower in a bathroom without windows. A bathroom that is locked and in the luxurious hotel apartment.
He can still feel them on him, as he washes himself. As he dries himself. As he wanders into the bedroom and can’t help himself anymore. He needs at least to build the most rudimentary nest. His Omega needs it. His instincts need it.
So he builds a fucking nest on a bed that isn’t his, in an apartment that only slightly smells like him after the short time he has been here. Everything about this feels wrong and continues in the same manner.
He doesn’t get more then four hours of sleep. If that.
Day three has him irritated and dipping into real anger about the situation. He stayed as long inside as he could explain to himself, before venturing out. No matter how much he might hate it, he still isn’t a coward. If he were, he would have just left the city for this farce. But he is still here. Maybe he should be a bit more of an coward. At least he wouldn’t feel like shit.
He is just finishing up with showing a dealer that it isn’t in his best interest to deal his dirt to kids, as he sees the Alpha sliding closer. This time he doesn’t freeze and jumps instantly into action. With the many crooked little streets being in his favor. Just as the buildings he duck in and out from as if he owns them.
It takes longer this time until he can be sure that he lost the Alpha. His chest heaves and he is sweating. Its honestly a bit surprising that his scent patches are still holding up. Fuck. This might be worse then any trainings exercise he had to undergo under Talias ‘loving’ tutelage.
He takes the most convoluted route he could imagine to the corner of the Alley and continues his patrol from there. Hopefully in some peace and quiet.
It isn’t that easy.
By the end of the night he has lost count how many times Nightwing found him again. How many times he fled and used his whole skillset to stay ahead. Or at least he did, until he noticed it. Until he finally didn’t only flee, but looked back to gauge the distance between them. And what he saw was enough to have him rip his own helmet off and throw it in the Alphas direction. Exploding it with a detonator and a loud, enraged Omegan roar that echoes through the night.
That asshole! That god damn dick !
Did he find Jason again and again? Yes.
Did he hunt Jason? No!
No, the Alpha stood back and let Jason tire himself out with every other run. Watching him go and probably already thinking about where the Omega would surface next. The answering laugh to his roar is haunting in its own way. It’s bright and full of glee but with an underlying resonance that is pure Alpha. It rushes under Jasons skin and ignites every cell with indignation and humiliation.
He has been played. Masterfully. It drives him insane. His whole body is shaking under all the feelings that rush through him.
“That took you longer then I thought it would. Something must have you very distracted.”
The voice comes from above him, from another building and another growl escapes Jason. If anyone ever wanted to know Nightwings and Red Hoods dynamics, they sure do now. “Fuck you”, he growls, grappling over to the roof on his side before actually turning and facing the Alpha. And he might not be able to hear it from that distance, but going by the shaking shoulders.. that miserable bastard is laughing again.
At him.
Jason wishes he had another helmet to throw.
And isn’t that a thought?
By the time he brings up his gun the Alpha is gone again. Next time Jason sees him, he will shoot. Right into the empty spot where the heart should be.
He takes the craziest route ‘home’ that he can think about and it isn’t enough to calm himself down again. God, he is pissed! At the idiot Alpha and himself. All that training and he gets shown up in the most mortifying way possible. All that has been missing was a pat on the head and a lollipop.
And fuck the part in him that is impressed. He had always known that Dick was good in what he does. Kinda in everything really. But this? Even counting in Jasons drop in attention due to tiredness and overplayed hypervigilance.. The Alpha had shown amazing abilities. Taking no longer then 30 minutes to find him again and again. Being able to get close enough to instantly hit on Jasons instinct to flee. The understanding that he needs to wear Jason down if he wants to be successful, instead of meeting him head on as Alphas tend to do.
Jason doesn’t want to admit that he isn’t so sure about that last one anymore. That Dick wouldn’t be able to take him in a direct confrontation. He guesses it shows the ability to plan for better odds, even when the first ones could work.
But where does that leave Jason? And his own odds?
He wouldn’t say that his sleep had been restful, as he stands in the kitchen the next afternoon. Just fixing himself some fast pasta dish. Tired and exhausted or not, sleep hadn’t come easy, and when it did, it granted him confusing dreams that he barely remembers. At least it hadn’t been about the Joker. Or at least he doesn’t think so.
Whatever. It has him still feeling tired, too warm and as if his bones are heavier than usual. Only one night left. What at the beginning of the four days looked like nothing, suddenly feels endless. Sighing he rubs over his head, trying to massage the building headache away. He is such a bad prey. Honestly. He just isn’t built for this shit. Running away like some scared pup. Like the weak Omega that is portrait so often in society.
Jason never had been hunted down like this. After all he usually was on the other side..
Everything takes longer now. Even getting into his gear. He can’t remember the last time his mind felt this tired and sluggish without the involvement of drugs. Three and a half day of pure paranoia with unregular intervals of adrenaline and suddenly his body recalls that he isn’t just running on rage and spite.
The food he ate is lying heavily in his stomach, but he needed the energy. And listen, maybe he shouldn’t have chugged down two energy drinks as if it were water but he did it anyway.
After controlling his weapons a last time, he glances his own reflection in the mirror and grimaces. He feels naked without his helmet and only the mask. And throwing that in the vague direction he thought the Alpha to be in? Idiotic on a higher level. He is still embarrassed about it and decides to put that down as consequence from his missing deep sleep and all the other stuff.
Honestly, Jason couldn’t care less about patrol that night. While he had been half sitting, half sleeping in the halfhearted nest, he did go over everything that happened and the conclusion was harrowing: Dick had known where he slept. At latest in the second night.
And fuck it all, but he should have known better. Nightwing wasn’t firstly an icon for his good looks and quips. He was one, because he has earned it. And unlike Jason, he hadn’t take a long break in between. Dick had been going at it for the whole time. Probably learning new stuff all the time.
He should have never fallen into his own instincts, about the earnest looking Alpha, that begged him to come back without any shame. Hell, he shouldn’t have felt half the stuff he did. Only.. It had been Dick and not any other Alpha. Jason thinks he can be excused for only being a flustered Omega there for a moment. Who wouldn’t be in that situation? He would like to see and call them liar to their face.
This time he doesn’t run as he hears the soft landing behind him. Doesn’t move a single muscle, while his whole attention is on the movement behind him. Counts the almost soundless steps before his inner eye. Waiting. Waiting. Another step, a soft inhale. Waiting.
He flings himself around, slapping the outstretched hand away, before following up and getting directly into the Alphas face. Who takes exactly the one heartbeat Jason needs, before he starts fighting back. Too late.
All of Jasons frustrations, agitation and humiliation is put into enough energy to subdue the Alpha in a caricature of a hug. Securing both of Dicks wrists behind the Alphas back with a Zip tie, before kicking his legs out. Watching him go down and again following up, kneeling over the Alpha that stares up at him through his mask.
Jasons pulse is beyond anything healthy, but he gives a triumphant smile. “Can’t catch me, if I catch you first.”
Dick is silent for a second before he starts laughing. Jason can feel the vibrations through the Alphas body into his own. The heck?! There he has Nightwing on the ground, secured between his knees and that maniac throws his head back and laughs. Showing off the long and unblemished neckline.
“Fuck”, he gasps and Jason is thrown again. Since when does the golden boy curse? “You really are perfect.” The Omega has no idea what to do with the obvious adoration in the Alphas voice. Or with the laugh. That was not the reaction he had expected as he decided to stop being prey.
“Did you hit your head or do you really not understand the situation?” He has the upper hand for once! There isn’t that much time left to the deadline and he did the most dangerous part already. So why the hell is Dick still chuckling softly?
“I should have seen it coming”, The Alpha finally admits. “You always tended to lash out when you thought yourself cornered.” There is a second of silence, before something changes in the Vigilantes voice. Somehow getting darker and smoother. Dripping in all confident Alpha, while being the one bound. “And I was a bit mean to you, wasn’t I? You did so well, and I couldn’t stop myself. After all you did give me two weeks to prepare.”
Jason certainly isn’t lulled into anything by that voice. That would be ridiculous. He frowns down, now annoyed that he can’t see Dicks eyes. “I didn’t give you these two weeks.”
“Jason”, the Alpha sighs fondly. “Do you really have no idea what I can do with two weeks to prepare for something like this in Gotham?”
“You weren’t allowed back here!”
Dick grins unrepentant. “And I wasn’t. But you never said I couldn't get help. The part when it had only been me and you? Thats the four day part.”
God damn it. He also never thought Dick the type to go for loopholes. Or to ask for help for trying to hunt down Jason of all people. “Doesn’t matter”, he growls out stubbornly. “As far as I am concerned you won't be able to finish this farce and can fuck right off afterwards.”
“Right”, the Alpha nods. “Because I am unable to catch you anymore.”
And then Dicks body.. moves? It’s like he copies the movement of a wave, getting enough momentum to throw Jasons balance and get a leg out, that hits against the Omegas temple. Following that up, with another strange body shudder? Move? Shake? And Jason is on the ground with legs around his throat. What the..?
“See”, the Alpha talks as if they are both in the manor for Sunday tea. “You got yourself out of three zips but only gave me one? Thats just bad planning.” Suddenly Dicks hands are free and the legs around his throat weaken until it is the Alpha that is kneeling above him. And Jason honestly has no idea what just happened. Other then his hurting headache that got worse with the hit.
He is being hauled up, until Dick is pretty much sitting in Jasons lap and they are face to face. A thumb rubbing carefully over his cheek. It feels strange with the gloves. “Caught you.”
Jason.. Has no idea what to do. This.. That.. How?
Dick humms, his free hand that isn’t holding Jason up, gliding into his hair, to scratch gently against his skin. “You really are tired, hm? My poor Little Wing. It’s no wonder after the stressful days you had.” There is a little Alpha croon hidden in the words. Just enough to remind him that this Alpha doesn’t want him anything bad.
“Thats not..”, he begins, trying to ignore the hand in his hair, or how warm Dicks body feels, even through both of their suits. “That can’t be..” Somehow it is hard to catch a clear thought. And why does he have Dicks scent in his nose? He inhales to another little laugh. Its fondness this time. Jason wants to break the Alphas teeth.
“Do you have any idea how long two weeks can be, Jason?” Dick murmurs. “It gave me so much time for research. Did you know that there is a study that explained the probability of Omegas going into a sudden heat, after being caught in a long and stressful hunt? All that build up adrenaline gets released the second they feel safe again and that often kicks the already overworked body into it.”
“You..”, Jason frowns. Deeply offended, but maybe only humiliation can’t explain the redness he can feel on his cheeks anymore. “You did this with purpose?” The hand in his hair moves downwards, under the upper part of his suit and into his neck. He shudders, remembering his last scruffing uncomfortably.
The Alpha instantly rumbles reassurance and security at him. It shouldn’t relax him. There is a crazy person sitting on him. “Mhh”, Dick simply nods, putting pleasing pressure into his neck and massaging it with confident but soft fingers. “Wouldn’t have worked if you wouldn’t react to me on some level or another. You don't have to worry about a single thing, Jay. I will take such good care of you.”
Jason frowns through the fuzzy feelings that let him relax against the Alpha. Something in that sentence bothers him. “Dick. Who the fuck wouldn’t react to you ‘on some level or another’?” This whole thing is making him insane. The last seventeen days have driven him back into a brainless state. He can’t explain it otherwise, why he leans pliantly forward and presses his nose into the scent patch in Dicks neck that seems a bit loose.
The whole gigantic scale of the ocean hits him in emotions. It swirls in his head, building a tsunami. The Alpha is proud. So god damn proud about his own success. Giddy. Anxious. Aroused. Excited. Fond. Possessive. Shit, that one stings in his tastebuds. Hooking into his mind. There is mischief. Some underlying insecurity that is swept away by steely decision. It overwhelms him.
“Shh”, by now Dick has let go of his jacket and is holding him close. Rubbing in gentle movement over his back. The whining noise stops and he only notices now that it had been him that made that sound. “Just a little thing, before I bring you back and you can sleep as much as you need, Sweetheart.” There is a hand pulling down the fabric around his neck. “Do you acknowledge that I caught you successfully, Jason?”
There is not much he can say against it, is there? He is in the Alphas arms, calm through his scent and gentle rumblings. He thinks this might have been how Dick felt, as Jason tried to get out of their last meeting. One that seems so endlessly far away now. “You caught me.” He still isn’t a coward. He wouldn’t go back on his own word. Even if something insists that he should. Maybe? It gets snuffed out by the greater need to let go. To finally be somewhere safe enough to close his eyes and sleep. In the knowledge that he will be watched over.
The Alpha gives a happy sigh and nuzzles against his temple for a moment, before whispering into his ear: “Remember that I told you before, how this would end?”
Jason manages a questioning sound, getting confused by the sheer anticipation that suddenly emits from Dick.
“First the bite, then you under me and then us talking?” the Alpha continues, and Jason can hear that he has a harder time pronouncing, which would indicate that his fangs are out. Some part in him is noting something about getting up and away, while another matches Dicks anticipation wave for wave. A bite sounds a lot like the Alpha intends to keep him. Caring for him, if he is to be believed. For Jasons addled mind that sounds like a fantastic idea. He wouldn’t find a better Alpha anytime soon.
The Alpha has proven himself as strong, capable and intelligent enough to outplay the Omega. And still, he isn’t mean about it. Doesn’t belittle the Omega. Instead telling him that he did good. And his body is so warm and solid. Keeping Jason in his arms and giving comfort.
“And I know, it won't work without a knot. But then, I will just have to bite you again later, wont I?”
Without a knot? The haze in his mind clears for a second and he has two heartbeats to remember, before sharp fangs sink into his neck. Right through his mating gland. It hurts. It hurts so fucking much in the best way imaginable. The moan that breaks out of him is low and deep as he presses his neck instinctively against the fangs and it only gets prolonged as the Alpha adjusts his teeth.
Fuck. How can it feel so good and bad at the same time? He shudders helplessly in the secure hold of the Alphas arms. Jason can sense the fangs working deeper into his flesh, as if Dick is trying to get enough hold to rip flesh out of him. It still sends all the hot goodness through his veins that a mating bite is supposed to do. Even without the other biological stuff needed from a knot and a heat for a real binding.
His purr is just as much surprise to him as the moan had been, as Dick pulls his teeth back and licks over the puncture wound in long stripes. Lapping up the blood. “Next time I do this you will be mine, Little Wing.” the Alphas voice is rough and heavy with promise.
And that sentence might just be the most scary and exciting one he has ever heard.