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Red Robin slipped into his safe house. It was late. Maybe four or five in the morning. He honestly hadn't bothered looking. The room was dark as he undid the locks and safety measures then redid them once he was inside. Sighing, he blindly went to his room and removed his mask, scent blockers, and began haphazardly stripping down. Once he was down to the basics he debated a shower. It was late… he was tired…
Tim decided against the shower. He flipped a bedside table lamp on for some basic lighting so that he didn't stub his toes and then headed for the fridge. The fridge in this particular safe house was always poorly stocked. So poorly that Tim was about ninety percent certain he wasn't going to find anything edible. However when he opened the door he froze and stared at the tupperware sitting innocently on the shelf.
“What the fuck.” He said mostly to himself.
He had not made anything to eat recently. No one was supposed to be able to get into his apartment. His skin itched at the idea of someone breaking into his den. The container of food sat suspiciously on its shelf. Tim stared at it like it was a bomb. Then he turned away and went to all entry points, checking the locking mechanisms. Everything was in place. His omega was still restless.
Tim went back to the refrigerator, “Okay, this is weird…”
Tentatively, he reached for the plastic container of food. It… looked like lasagna? A note was tapped to the top.
‘Eat more food not that instant coffee shit’
Tim purred happily as he set the lasagna down and went to find a fork. Jason had brought him food again. Tim loved Jason's cooking. It was always homemade and tasted delicious! The first time Jason had broken into his safe house to feed him it had confused him but it had been going on for months now and Tim was much more comfortable with it. His omega liked it too, though he chalked that up to his omega being happy that he was actually eating something filling for once. He reluctantly relinquished the lasagna to the microwave. It was always better warm. The second it was done heating up he was on it. Five in the morning lasagna was the best if you asked him.
His omega preened at the idea of Jason making him dinner again.
Jason had been doing that as of late and while he wasn't complaining it did confuse him. See, ever since Jason had come back and started working with them he'd been… different. Still his usual self of course, but less- rough with Tim. He assumed it was regret for their rocky relationship.
The lasagna was good.
So good in fact that he crashed and burned on the couch and woke up at noon. Tim yawned, stretched, and got ready for the day. By nine o'clock at night he was back out on the streets of Gotham.
Red Robin hopped from rooftop to rooftop, finally dropping down into a one-way alley. He'd picked up a tip about a smaller drug deal going down in this alley and he wanted to catch it so he could go after the bigger fish in charge of the operation. However as he landed smoothly in the alley he noted there was no drug deal happening. Instead, there were two random people tied to each other. A scrap of trash was hastily written on.
‘Got these two idiots for you. I got the intel you wanted too, meet at my place later?’
Red Robin huffed, “Hood?”
One of the dealers nodded hastily, “Yeah-”
He sighed, “Does he think I can't handle my own cases on my own?”
The dealer shook his head, “No, you're plenty competent!”
Red Robin shook his head in disappointment. He didn't mind that Hood was bringing him food, however taking his cases from him was a little much. Still, he needed that intel so he headed for Red Hood's last known active safe house. Red Robin slipped in easily once he found it.
Jason wasn't in his gear, instead wearing plain clothes and a navy apron. Something smelled amazing…
“Are you going to just stand there or?” Jason raised an eyebrow at Tim.
Tim frowned, “The intel?”
Jason nodded, “After dinner.”
Tim stood there humbly until Jason sighed and gestured towards the bathroom, “You ain't gonna eat in uniform, go change.”
That… made sense. Tim went and found a set of clothes Jason had laid out. He changed and was pleasantly surprised at how soft the baggy clothes were on him. They smelled nice too. Smokey and rich, almost like dark chocolate. His omega purred happily at the scent. Tim felt his instincts urge him to scent the fabric, to mix his own scent with it but he resisted. He left his scent blockers on. These weren't his clothes to scent.
He went back out and sat down on the raggedy couch Jason had right outside the kitchen, “Thanks for all the meals by the way.”
Jason hummed and stirred a pot that smelled delicious, “You're too thin, you need proper nutrition, how do you even manage to function?”
Tim snorted, “Copious quantities of caffeine and spite.”
Jason made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat, “You're insane.”
“Maybe,” Tim offered, “But I must not be too bad if you're willing to hang around me.”
A blush crept up Jason's cheeks and he looked away from Tim, “Yeah you're not so bad, replacement.”
It was Tim's turn to flush, he'd been expecting a smartass response not- that.
“Hey Jay?” Tim decided to ask.
Jason didn't look up from the stove as he swirled what looked to be some type of soup, “Hmm?”
“Why do you.. keep feeding me?” He asked hesitantly.
Jason paused his stirring but didn't say anything.
Tim backpeddled, “It's not I don't like it! I really really do- your cooking is amazing- I just… is it a pity thing? Cause not gonna lie I thought we had moved past the whole ‘sorry I tried to kill you’ thing?”
“No!” Jason verbally stumbled, “No, I mean, it's not out of pity. I just- I like- I- oh for fuck's sake…”
Tim raised an eyebrow in confusion but allowed Jason to finish.
Jason scrunched his nose in a way that Tim found suspiciously cute, “I like… feeding you.”
He hummed, “Feeding me?”
Jason nodded but his face looked reluctant. Tim decided not to push it. Clearly Jason was embarrassed and Tim digging into it was only serving to make Jason feel bad for having a hobby like cooking. Obviously.
Soon enough the timer that Jason had set on his phone went off and he killed the heat on the stove. Then he moved the pot of soup off the burner and went to grab two bowls. Tim eagerly awaited the heavenly smelling meal. His omega was restless in the way that it got when it was anticipating Jason's cooking. Tim could relate. Jason huffed a laugh as he sat the bowl of soup down and Tim immediately went for a bite, hissing as it burned his tongue.
“Blow on it first, idiot.” Jason hissed.
Tim ignored him in favor of another bite, this time blown on sufficiently. The second he took a bite he purred in pleasure. Tim wasn't big with purring, not like Dick was. Dick purred loud, proud, and at almost anything. Tim found that he only really purred for certain things. He had to be just right and even when he did purr it was softer, not necessarily quiet so much as just lower in pitch. He wasn't embarrassed however he found himself pausing mid-bite and looking up from his bowl at Jason.
Jason, who was staring at him with wide eyes and a flushed face.
Tim blushed in embarrassment, “Sorry, it's just really good…”
Jason shook his head quickly, “No, no you're fine I just- thank you. I didn't realize you like it that much.”
Tim nodded, “You're a great cook.”
Jason blushed at the compliment and took a bite of his own food. They ate in moderate silence, Tim softly purring as he ate. Eventually, Tim finished off his broth and looked back to Jason.
“So,” Tim started, “Those case details?”
Jason swallowed before speaking, “Yeah I got it.”
Tim huffed, “You know, I can handle my own cases.”
“I know.” Jason nodded along.
His brow furrowed, “Why did you get the intel for me then if not because you think I can't handle it? Just because I’m an Omega doesn’t mean I’m weak, I could handle myself.”
Jason looked at him incredulously, “Seriously? You're one of the most competent vigilantes I know! And we both know Bruce… If anyone can handle it it's you.”
“Then…” Tim trailed off.
“And it's not because you're an omega. Secondaries don't mean shit.” Jason spat out.
Tim huffed, “Then why?”
Jason opened his mouth before closing it softly. He flushed, “Just thought it'd be nice is all.”
It sounded like an excuse.
Tim sighed, “If you say so…”
Before Tim could decide if he wanted to press it more, Jason left and came back with a flash drive and leftovers neatly packed up to go. Tim purred at the sight of it. Man, Jason took such good care of him.
Wait. What? Where had that thought come from? Tim eyed the tupperware suspiciously.
Jason passed him the two items, “The intel as promised, and lunch tomorrow.”
“Breakfast,” Tim assured.
Jason snorted, “If that's what you want, just promise me to lay off the coffee.”
Tim wrinkled his nose in distaste, “To go without coffee is to go without my lifeblood.”
“Easy there, edgelord.” Jason teased.
By next week Tim had combed through the intel Jason had provided via flash drive. He'd been visited a handful of times by Jason while Jason was dropping off food. Each time Jason warned him to rest and eat. Jason had even brought some bottled water to store in Tim's little hideout. Now that he had all the information he needed Red Robin could go out and shut down the whole operation.
Of course, cramming a sting operation into his schedule after being up for who knows how long usually resulted in a major crash-and-burn situation. So the second Red Robin slipped back in through the window and he was ready to call it a night. Any second the city would be waking up and he just wanted to slip back to his nest and collapse. He couldn't though. Not yet. With practiced ease Tim got out of uniform and threw on an oversized t-shirt he'd stolen from somewhere. It smelled familiar and that comforted him. Warm, smokey, bitter in the way that dark chocolate was. It melted well with his own lavender and coffee.
Tim trudged to the bathroom, and pulled out the medical supplies that he kept stocked. Thankfully no major injuries but he had been grazed. It stung like a bitch but he was too tired to really complain. He fumbled with the gauze before finally getting it to sit right. The bandage he wrapped around the gauze was sloppy and Tim could practically hear Alfred’s scolding from the manor but he wasn't bleeding out so it was good enough for who it was for so Tim left it be. He could fix it in the morning, or tomorrow, whenever he woke up really…
His nest was so close now, he could feel it. Still, he paused before fleeing to his nest and looked towards the kitchen. He was tempted but… his eyes wandered to the countertop and he caught sight of a bag left behind by Jason. Tim wandered over to it and looked inside.
The bag didn't have any treats in it much to his disappointment. However his disappointment didn't last as he caught sight of something else. Inside was a large hoodie and a soft blanket. Tim forgot all about whatever Jason had left in his fridge in favor of the bag.
The contents of the bag were extracted carefully and taken with Tim to his nest. Then with haphazard movements Tim crammed it into the pile of fabrics that was his nest. Normally he was meticulous about it but he really was exhausted and now that his nest smelled lovely he was content to just climb in and pass out.
Now anyone who knew Tim could testify that he was a completely different creature when sleep deprived. Still smart in the way that had you feeling a little nervous and out of your depth but he was also a bit forgetful. When Tim woke up, it was still dark. Or, more accurately, it was dark again. A quick glance at his phone told him it was close to a full day later.
He groaned, running a hand over his face. His stomach rumbled and it dawned on him that he was starving. Standing, he stretched and made his way to his kitchen.
Only to see Jason standing there, Red Hood gear on sans the helmet and domino mask.
Tim blinked, “Uh… hi?”
Jason sighed, “Hey, good to see you didn't die.”
“Why would I be dead?” Tim asked curiously as his brain desperately tried to reboot.
Jason rolled his eyes, “Well, you didn't eat your food.”
Tim nodded, “Yeah it was a long night, I kinda just crashed. Sorry, didn't mean to not eat it. I actually was gonna eat it now.”
“Nu'uh you're eating something fresh, I just brought it over. Also what is up with your leg?” Jason chided.
He looked down at his leg, “Huh. Don't remember that. Kinda.”
Jason growled and Tim's head jerked to look at him, “You- what am I gonna do with you?”
Tim opened his mouth but Jason shushed him.
“Sit.” Jason gestured. Tim sat.
Jason sat a container of leftovers in front of Tim, “Lemon-garlic lamb chops. Eat.”
Tim nodded dumbly and watched as Jason disappeared and then reappeared with the medkit. Then, carefully, Jason propped Tim's leg on a chair and undid Tim's shoddy work. He ate slowly and watched as Jason deftly redid the bandage, even going so far as to apply some of the burn cream to the outer edge of the graze where the bullet's heat had burnt him. By the time Tim was almost done eating Jason was done rewrapping. It was snug but not tight enough to cut off circulation. Alfred would be proud.
Jason sighed, “You should've slept before going to bust the dealers ring.”
Tim huffed, “Yeah but-”
“No buts,” Jason warned, “Sleep deprivation is just as dangerous as going out inebriated. You're lucky it's not worse.”
“Why do you care?” Tim bit out in annoyance.
Jason froze and once more his face flushed pink. It perplexed Tim.
“You make me delicious food, you share your clothes with me, you bandaged my wound, you keep my safe house stocked, you constantly nag me about safety and taking care of myself, and you left me nesting material with your scent- oh.” Tim finished lamely as the answer to his question hit him full force.
Jason said nothing, instead keeping his head down in embarrassment though Tim could still see that the tips of Jason's ears were pink. Tim stared, his mouth half open with shock, as Jason fidgeted under his gaze. The food, the coddling, the care, the nesting material. Suddenly the weeks of confusing behavior made sense when he said it all out loud. Jason's guilty behavior all but proved it.
Tim was being courted. Had been for weeks and he never even noticed.
“I- why?” Tim mentally stumbled.
Jason looked up at him and gave him a confused look, “Why what?”
Tim frowned, “Why court me? I'm a mess of an omega, and surely you'd like someone more suited to you?”
Jason scoffed as if the notion was too ridiculous to even consider, “The fuck is that supposed to mean? You're an amazing omega and an even more amazing person. I can't think of anyone I'd rather court, you're beautiful for starters. You always eat my cooking, you're one hell of a vigilante and I love watching you fight because it's hot, plus you smell amazing. So- there.”
By the end of Jason's passionate speech both of them were red in the face and flustered. Tim's omega was absolutely thrilled and he had a sneaking suspicion that it had known all along. Jason kept fidgeting as Tim tried to find words. So, instead of leaving Jason's words hanging in the air, Tim moved closer to Jason and swiped his wrists over Jason's arms. The scenting wasn't anything in depth, the scenting probably wouldn't even last the night but Tim choked a little as Jason's scent spiked in happiness. Chocolate tones grew sweeter and Tim could tell his own scent was spiked.
“I accept your courting.” Tim said softly.
Jason looked at him so seriously that Tim almost felt guilty, “Are you sure?”
Tim nodded, “Of course, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach.”
“And it's not just for my cooking right?” Jason added sarcastically.
He laughed and scented Jason again, this time being a little more thorough.
Jason frowned, “It's not just for the cooking right? Tim?”
Tim hummed as he took another bite of Jason's cooking, a purr starting up.