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Tim Drake curled into a ball on the floor, trying to calm his breath. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he knew that he was dying. Knew it with a sudden certainty. He didn’t want to die alone, but he couldn’t bring himself to go home. He knew that his death would hurt the other bats, and he couldn’t bring himself to inconvenience them like that. The second he had felt the all-consuming pain and heat, he fled. Now, he was curled on the floor in some abandoned warehouse building, miles from home, trying desperately to stay calm, to breathe through the pain. So he wasn’t thinking clearly. Sue him, he was dying.
The window slid open. Tim barely even had time to panic before his older brother slipped into the room. No, not his brother, he mentally corrected himself, Dick.
Tim whined in distress.
Dick put his hands up and approached Tim slowly. “There you are babybird. Why’d you turn all your trackers off?” He asked, clicking the com in his ear. “Hey, I found him. You can call off the dogs,” Dick paused, listening to the reply.
Knowing his guardian, Tim wasn’t sure if that was a joke or not. Dick genuinely could be referring to actual search dogs.
“Yup. Right where Superman said he’d be.”
Of course, Tim thought. Superman. Traitor.
Dick was watching him carefully, almost to his position now. “No, he’s not talking. Just a whole lot of whining.”
Tim hadn’t realized he was making any noise at all. He curled up tighter against the wall.
Dick knelt in front of him, finally having crossed the room. “Hey bub, can I take this off?” He asked, bringing his hand to the scent blocker on Tim’s neck. Before Tim had a chance to reply one way or the other, he was peeling it off. Dick reeled back, as if struck. “Shit.”
Tim was so out of it, he wasn’t even sure what Dick smelled on him. His imminent death, probably.
Dick tapped at the com in his ear again. “Hey B, you’re gonna wanna send the car ASAP, I think Tim is presenting, his instincts must be going a little haywire.”
What? Presenting? That’s not right, Tim thought to himself. He was too old to present. He’s a beta. He has to be.
Dick tried to speak a little quieter, but Tim could still hear him. “Yeah, I don’t know what to tell you. Omega, I think.”
Tim cried out in alarm. He couldn’t be an omega. His parents would be so upset. Oh, right. It wouldn’t matter. His parents were dead, Tim remembered.
“I know pup, I’m sorry. Car’s on its way,” Dick told him, rubbing his wrist along Tim’s jaw.
Tim leaned into it without thinking. “Not a pup,” he muttered.
Dick hummed. “No, I guess you’re not anymore, are you? But you’re Bruce’s pup, so you’ll always be my kid brother.” Tim was too tired to argue. Dick continued to rub his wrist over him. It felt so nice.
Tim bared his neck and keened. Huh, he wasn’t even aware that was a sound he could make.
“Oh, honey,” Dick murmured. “This is gonna suck so bad.” He clicked the com in his ear once more. “ETA? I really don’t want his heat to set in fully before we’re home. And B…I know you were waiting to claim him as pack until he asked, but this might have to move up that timeline. My teeth ache so bad they’re gonna fall out of my head, and he needs it.” Dick watched Tim warily as he listened to the reply.
Tim didn’t comprehend any of the words coming out of his mouth.
“I won’t, I’m just saying, someone should. and soon.” This time, Dick addressed Tim. “Can you walk? Car’s almost here. I’m gonna get you home, Tim.”
Home. That sounded nice, Tim thought. He tried to stand, but wobbled and pitched forward.
Dick caught him, then hauled him into his arms. “Okay, no walking. That’s alright. I’ve got you.”
Dick wasn’t even all that big himself, so Tim looked downright tiny in his arms. He shifted himself until he could press his face into the junction of Dick’s shoulder and neck, wrapping his arms around him and scenting him. Dick hummed.
“Good Timmy, it’s alright. That’s better. Does it help?” He inquired while carefully making his way around the room to the stairs, stepping effortlessly around broken glass, evidently not willing to risk climbing out the window carrying Tim.
Tim nodded.
“Good, I’m glad,” Dick soothed, running a hand through Tim’s hair. “Stairs,” He warned before he entered the stairwell and began to climb down.
The movement jarred Tim’s tired and sore body uncomfortably, and he let out a small whimper. The pain was the last thing Tim was fully aware of.
“I’m sorry honey, I know, almost down.” Dick felt Tim fading more with every step, getting farther and farther away from him. This was worse than he had thought. This wasn’t an ordinary presentation. He finished descending the stairs and walked quickly across the deserted lobby to the doors, reaching them just as the Batmobile pulled up. Unmanned.
Dick sighed, and climbed into the backseat with Tim, arranging him on his lap. He shut the door. “B, you there?” He asked.
“I’m here, status?” Bruce’s voice filtered down from the speakers.
“We’re in, ready to go.” The doors locked and the car started to drive itself back to the cave. Dick glanced down at Tim and saw his eyes had gone glassy and far away, though he still let out the occasional pained whimper. Dick pressed a hand to his forehead. Still getting hotter. “Tim?”
There was no response.
“Tim, sweetheart. Babybird. Can you look at me?”
Still nothing.
“B? Robin is awake, but unresponsive. His condition is rapidly declining. High fever.”
Dick heard his father sigh over the line. “Noted. Hood was out searching, but he’s heading back to the cave now to see if he can help, if another omega will bring any peace. Just try and keep him comfortable, son.”
“Okay,” Dick murmured. He glanced down at his little brother, pulling his limp body closer. He looked so much like the hallucinations of Jason’s body that plagued him. But no, Tim was breathing, Dick reminded himself. This wasn’t like that.
Dick rubbed his wrist over every inch of Tim’s skin he could reach, until the whimpers stopped and Tim somewhat settled into a poor, pained imitation of a purr. “That’s right kid, doing so well. Five more minutes.” He continued to scent him. He could feel the kid's temperature continue to climb. Questions plagued Dick’s mind. Why was this affecting Tim so negatively? Why now, when he was nearly grown did his body decide to present? Why were things deteriorating so quickly? Dick felt the impression of sand slipping through his fingers and clinched his brother tighter.
As the Batmobile started to make the familiar turns signaling the end of their journey and pulling into the Batcave, he adjusted Tim in his arms carefully, preparing to carry him and praying it wouldn’t hurt him again. He opened the door to the car, standing and pulling Tim with him. Tim stopped purring, but he didn’t whimper. Dick only made it a few steps before he saw Jason and Bruce rushing towards them.
“Hey,” Jason said, reaching for Tim and curling his arms under Dick’s beneath Tim’s neck and knees, pulling as though to take him.
Dick stiffened and pulled Tim back towards his chest.
“Dick, I might be able to help, but you have to let me.”
Dick blinked at his younger brother unseeingly.
Quieter, Jason tried again. “Let me help, Dick.”
Dick tossed his head as if to clear it, and nodded, passing Tim to Jason.
Jason took him gratefully, wincing at how hot he felt pressed close.
“He’s nonverbal, or at least mostly nonresponsive, but he has been-“ Dick’s explanation was cut off.
“Momma,” Tim muttered, burying his face into Jason’s chest.
Dick winced. “Um..” he trailed off.
Jason snorted. “Hey babybird, your big brother is here, I’ve got you,” he said.
“Momma,” Tim insisted, sitting up so he could press his nose into the scent gland at Jason’s neck.
Jason blushed. “Sure, Momma. Whatever you say, babybird. Let’s get you in a nest,” Jason muttered, turning around and walking further into the cave without making eye contact with Bruce or his older brother.
Bruce made a confused sound. “Janet Drake was a beta,” He murmured to Dick, who snorted.
“Janet Drake was never actually his momma. He’s just confused,” He stated firmly before following Jason.
Bruce grunted in response.
Jason carried Tim towards the stairs that led up to the house, Bruce and Dick in tow.
“Jay, you can’t take him upstairs yet,” Bruce told him.
“Like hell I can’t,” Jason snapped. “I’m gonna make him a nest and then we’re gonna get our cuddle on. I have to do something about this fever. He’s going to go into heat shock.”
“Jason, you need to bring him to the medbay, Alfred is waiting,” Bruce insisted.
Jason bristled. “No. Cold and clinical isn’t going to help. Bruce, he’s dying. I have to try,” Jason demanded.
Both Dick and Bruce flinched at the certainty in Jason’s voice.
“I know Jaylad, but we have no clue why this is affecting him so badly. We need to at least get a sample of his blood, test his hormone levels, and see if there’s anything we can fix,” Bruce reasoned.
“We do know. Presentation kills unbonded pups often, Bruce. I see it on the streets. You could bite him, give him a pack,” Jason pleaded.
Bruce stiffened.
Was this true? Was Tim in that much danger? Dick wondered to himself, as he had been putting the possibility that Tim was that sick out of his mind.
“Not without his consent, not unless it’s the only option. We’re not there yet. Let Alfred take some samples?” Bruce asked.
“Fine,” Jason huffed, turning away from the stars and walking towards the closed-off medbay. “But I’m lying on the table with him.”
“Okay?” Bruce agreed, turning to Dick with a look of pure confusion. “Did he think I would object to that?”
“I can hear you!” Jason called, still stomping towards the med bay. He slid the door open, depositing Tim onto the table before sliding in beside him and wrapping his arms around him.
Dick and Bruce stepped in as well, sliding the door shut behind them.
Alfred was typing something on the medbay computer, but turned to acknowledge their arrival. “So it’s true, Master Timothy is presenting…” Alfred commented, sounding concerned, coming towards Tim with the supplies to take his blood and set up an IV. “May I?” He asked Jason, gesturing towards the younger boy.
Jason nodded, grabbing Tim’s wrist and extending his arm for Alfred, who nodded gratefully, leaning down and prodding at Tim’s inner elbow.
When the needle pierced his skin, Tim cried out.
“Shhh,” Jason soothed, whispering in his ear and stroking his hair comfortingly.
Alfred drew the blood he needed before hooking Tim to an IV and stepping back.
“We aren’t staying,” Jason warned, glaring at the fluids hanging from the pole.
“That’s quite alright, Master Jason. These fluids are chilled, I thought they might help bring down his fever while we wait for these results,” Alfred explained, loading the blood samples into the computer before turning towards Bruce. “Late presentation is…difficult, sir. It’s dangerous. Add being an unbonded omega into the mix and..well, I’m concerned.”
Bruce grunted. “I just don’t understand,” he started. “I know many presentations are delayed until a pup finds a pack due to the danger of presenting unbonded, but Tim’s parents were alive when he should’ve presented. Why didn’t he…I mean, sure, they were gone a lot, but he still had a pack, protection-“
“No,” Dick interrupted.
Three sets of eyes flicked to him.
“Tim has never been bonded. Never had a pack,” he coldly stated.
“What do you mean-“ Bruce started.
“Jack and Janet never claimed him. They didn’t believe in ‘pack stuff’. The first time I scented him, he got so scent drunk he was completely useless. After, he told me. No pack, no scenting, no nests. Just cold and clinical. We saw it was a potential weakness that could be exploited and I practiced ‘pack stuff’ with him until he could tolerate it without rolling over and showing his belly. He didn’t want me to tell you,” Dick explained.
Bruce felt his blood run cold, and Jason had started growling low in his throat.
“He never smelled like any pack- I thought…because they were gone..” Bruce ran his hands through his hair.
“No. He was alone,” Dick confirmed.
Jason’s growling grew more aggressive.
Tim mewled uncomfortably.
“Sorry, pup,” Jason murmured, stroking Tim’s hair again. “Not mad at you,” he assured, unsure of how much of his environment Tim was even taking in right now.
Tim continued to make small distressed chirps, digging his face into Jason’s neck.
Jason was steadily ignoring the fact that this was making him leak through his shirt, but of course, Alfred noticed.
“You know, Master Jason, some omegas nurse from their other omega packmates through their heat for comfort,” he stated, without looking away from what he was doing on the computer.
Jason huffed. “Yeah? That’s nice. Too bad no omega in this pack likes to pack bond with adults in that way, huh?” He groused.
Jason would nurse hungry, alone children in crime alley when he didn’t have another option, and sometimes Lian when she visited Roy at the apartment he shared with Jason and she wouldn’t sleep, but those were children. When it came to his pack, he never did it. It was too vulnerable, too connected. Even thinking about allowing Bruce or Dick, even Damian to nurse from him made his skin crawl.
“Quite alright, Master Jason, it’s your choice.” Alfred continued to work on processing Tim’s blood samples.
Tim nuzzled Jason.
“You’re really not more than a pup yourself, are you? Especially not right now,” Jason murmured, scenting the boy with a thoughtful look on his face. “Let’s hope you don’t bite like one,” He said, quietly, before sitting up and pulling his shirt off, tossing it at Dick. “Fine,” stated loudly, as if someone actually had asked him to nurse Tim and he wasn’t making this choice of his own violation. He lay back down by the other boy, on his side, and wrapped fingers in his hair, bringing his head towards his chest.
Tim scrunched his nose and eyes adorably, confused.
“C’mon. Latch,” Jason encouraged, pulling his mouth open with a thumb against his chin.
“Um, Jace, he’s probably never done this before…” Dick said.
Jason snorted. “Last I heard, he was pretty smart. He’ll figure it out.”
Finally, when a drop of milk landed on Tim’s cheek, his instincts seemed to take over and he latched onto Jason’s chest and began suckling earnestly.
Jason…didn’t hate it as much as he thought he would. It wasn’t the desperate, aggressive suckling of the crime alley kids, it was more similar to Lian’s sleepy suckling right before she fell asleep, but even that had a layer of possession, entitlement to it. Tim wasn’t demanding or desperate, he didn’t crowd him or overwhelm him, he didn’t try and take more than Jason was offering. He wasn’t too close. He was pressed to him with his head and upper chest, and there was a small hand curled on his bicep, but that was all. In fact, Jason wouldn’t mind if he were closer. He brought his hand to Tim’s head and gently stroked his hair.
Tim sighed, then started to purr, deep and rumbling.
The vibration against Jason’s chest was slightly uncomfortable, but mostly because it made him want to purr too. He wouldn’t purr in front of Bruce and Dick, he wouldn’t.
“Awww, he figured out how to purr!” Dick exclaimed excitedly, clasping his hands together under his chin.
Jason and Bruce both shot him weird looks.
“What? I’ve obviously never heard him do it before today, but he was trying in the car and it….did not sound like that,” Dick justified.
Bruce grunted.
“Guess I’m just better at this, dickface,” Jason teased. He thought about how if Tim was pack, officially truly bonded pack that is, he’d be feeling their bond deepen and grow right now, this being one of the most base forms of connection. As it were, he felt nothing in his chest, aside from a steady pulse of happy, happy, brothers, cute coming from his bond with Dick if he really focused on it, which he elected to ignore. “This is working, he’s cooling down,” Jason shared, hand pressed to Tim’s forehead.
“Thank god for small mercies,” Dick said, relief evident in his voice.
Bruce grunted. “I sent Damian upstairs to his room, but I wonder if having a pup around might be good for-“
“No,” Jason interrupted, ignoring the sharp look Bruce sent his way. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Tim is regressing to a lot of pup behaviors in his presentation, having an actual pup here might confuse his body and send him more into overdrive than he already is.”
“I suppose that…makes sense,” Bruce conceded.
“But his scent might help,” Jason mused.
“I’ve got it!” Dick volunteered. “Be right back!” He turned and slipped out of the medbay and up the stairs, into the house, finding his way to Damian’s room and knocking on the door.
Damian pulled it open. He was wearing a hoodie.
“Hey, can I have the hoodie you’re wearing for Tim?” Dick asked in a rush.
Damian opened the door, stepping backwards and ushering Dick into his room as he pulled the hoodie off. “Is Drake alright? Can I come back to the cave?” Damian asked gruffly, refusing to call his brother by his first name.
“We don’t think it’s a good idea for him to be around a pup right now..” Dick explained, ignoring his little brother's scowl at being referred to as a pup. “But you don’t need to worry. Alfred is running some tests and Jason is getting his fever to come down a bit.”
Damian tutted, clicking his teeth. “I wasn’t worried.” He held out his sweatshirt out to Dick, who took it.
“Of course you weren’t.”
“If he’s going to die, and that’s not why I’m not allowed downstairs, I can handle it and I shall like to-“
“He’s not going to die, Dami,” Dick said soothingly, picking up on his little brother's concealed worry and running a hand through his hair briefly before Damian swatted it away. “We’re doing everything we can. But, you might want to be prepared for a new bond.”
Damian tutted again. “Finally, father has come to his senses,” He said grumpily, disguising his pleasure.
Dick smiled at him. “Thanks for the hoodie, I’m gonna bring this down, but I’ll try and keep you updated.” He left the way he came, making quick work of the several sets of stairs separating him from his other brothers.
When he stepped into the med-bay, he was greeted by a half-asleep Jason wrapped loosely around a still nursing Tim.
Tim was purring, loud and satisfied, but Jason was purring the tiniest bit too. Stilted, and quiet, but still purring.
Bruce gestured frantically at him to shush, pointing at the two boys and shaking his head.
The message was clear. Don’t say anything. Dick’s heart was full to bursting, but he nodded silently.
Still, sliding the door to the medbay shut again proved to be too much for Jason and he stirred, then coughed and cleared his throat, as if that’s all he had been doing.
Dick walked towards him without bringing it up, dropping the hoodie on Jason’s head. “Here, for baby bird.”
Tim snatched the hoodie away from Jason, wrapping it under his head and bunching it up just so. It wasn’t enough. He started to whine in distress, grabbing Jason’s wrist and tugging his arm.
Jason sighed. “I know you wanna nest,babybird. Tell you what, when Alfred is done running his tests, I’ll help you make the very best nest. And your big bad alpha brother over there is gonna keep watch and protect us, aren’t ya dickhead?” Jason shot Dick a smirk as he rubbed his wrist over Tim, still trying to soothe him.
Dick knew he was saying so for Tim’s benefit, but his inner alpha still preened that Jason thought he could protect them.”’Course I will.” He smiled at his brothers, chest feeling warm at being included.
Dick glanced over at Bruce, who wore an expression of both joy, and carefully concealed hurt, hurt that the other boys probably wouldn’t be able to detect, but Dick knew Bruce. He laid a hand on his dad’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. Give it time, the hand seemed to say.
Bruce smiled back at him, laying a hand over Dick’s and squeezing back. I’m okay, it answered.
Alfred suddenly gasped, leaning back from the computer and drawing all attention to himself. “I’m afraid the nesting will have to wait,” He said, solemnly. “Master Timothy’s hormone levels are entirely out of balance. It’s worse than I feared. His systems are crashing while trying to adapt to the new heightened omega hormones…. If we do nothing, the nesting and proximity, the nursing, it might fight off the fever for a while, but eventually it would get too high, he’d be unable to sustain….” He trailed off, not voicing the worst possible outcome, what they had all been afraid of..going through a late presentation without a pack would kill him. “He needs a pack bond.” Alfred turned and met Bruce’s eyes.
“But without his consent it would be-“ Bruce started, but Jason cut him off.
“What if I could guarantee he wanted it?” All eyes in the room locked in on him and Tim.
“Jason, what do you know?” Dick asked, desperately hopeful.
Jason met Bruce’s eyes. Jason knew this would hurt. He ripped the bandage off. “He asked me months ago why I thought you hadn’t asked him to be part of our pack,” He said, and watched confusion, then horror flicker across his father's eyes. “I told him that I thought you were waiting for him to ask, that you didn’t want to pressure him, and he got extremely embarrassed, pretended it didn’t bother him, and begged me to never tell you or Dick he had asked. I think that he thought if he had to ask, you didn’t really want it and it would put pressure on you to accept.”
“Oh, Timmy,” Dick wailed, rushing forward to stroke his hands through his little brother's hair. “You were always meant to be ours. You are my brother, in every way that matters,” Dick whispered to him, still not knowing how much he could comprehend, but just in case.
Bruce was stiff, shut off. “Jason, are you making this up? Why wouldn’t you tell me?” He asked, gruffly.
“I wouldn’t lie about this Bruce. I didn’t tell you because I couldn’t break his trust, not after….not after what I did to him. Please, save him. I haven’t asked you for anything in years,” Jason pleaded.
Bruce shook off his hurt, his confusion, and stepped forward. He couldn’t let his son die. Couldn’t do that to his brothers. Not again. He would handle his feelings on the matter later.
“Okay,” Bruce said, and he reached for Tim, who suddenly pulled back from Jason.
“No,” Tim whispered, the first thing he had said since calling Jason momma upon his arrival to the cave.
“No?” Jason asked, heart in his throat.
“Wan’ Dick t’ do it,” He said, and collapsed back into Jason’s chest like voicing his desires had exhausted what little energy he had.
Bruce felt his heart shatter, felt like he was losing his connection to Tim out of a desire to respect his autonomy. He should’ve known Tim would never ask no matter how much he wanted it, this was the child who invented an uncle so Bruce wouldn’t feel obligated to adopt him. He could give him this. He pasted a smile on his face.
“Okay, Chum. That’s fine. Dickie will do it, buddy. Won’t you, Dick?” He shot a slightly desperate look at his eldest son.
Dick was examining Bruce carefully, surely cataloguing the hurt he was stuffing down.
Bruce should be happy his children loved Dick so much, and he was, Dick was the ideal older brother, he couldn’t have asked for a better first child. This shouldn’t hurt him. Bruce directed a hopefully more reassuring nod towards Dick, who smiled, slightly pained.
“Sure thing, babybird. I’ve got ya.” He grabbed Tim’s right arm and pulled it towards himself.
“No, do the left so we all match. Ours are on the left wrist,” Jason corrected Dick, who just smiled, and switched arms.
Dick had never realized all their pack bites were in the same place before, and wondered if Bruce did that intentionally.
“Can you get the first aid stuff for a bite?” Dick asked his dad, as he ran fingers over Tim’s wrist.
Bruce nodded and went to grab the bandages and ointment they kept for such things, placing them beside Tim on the bed.
“This might hurt a bit,” Dick warned Tim.
Tim shook his head. “Y’u won’t hurt me,” He whispered, weakly.
“No, Dick is right. You should be prepared, it’s gonna feel weird. I know what it’s like to go from having no bonds for a while, to suddenly having some again, and it was very uncomfortable. You’ve never had them. It might not hurt, but it’ll be intense. You’ll be okay though, you’re tough,” Jason reassured.
Tim nodded at Dick. “Do it,” he instructed quietly.
“Okay, babybird. I’ve got you.” Dick clamped his jaw over Tim’s wrist and bit down. Blood flooded his mouth. Dick felt a bright heat in his chest grow and suddenly, there was a bond where before there hadn’t been. Tim. He could feel his brother. Dick bit harder, desperate for it to stick. The bond grew and took shape, he could feel it pulsing in his teeth and shooting through Tim. Heard Tim gasp. Dick growled, determined for the bond to spread, to root itself in permanently, to save Tim, and bit harder still. Tim would never know the pain of being alone again if he had anything to do with it. A hand at his shoulder pulling him back. Bruce.
“It’s okay Alpha. You did it. We all feel him,” Bruce told him, gently.
Dick released his bite, and let go, Tim’s arm falling limply to the bed.
Tim was breathing hard, and fast.
Dick chuffed questioningly at Tim, and the monitors tracking his vitals went haywire.
Jason hit Tim once in the center of the chest, hard.
Tim gasped, and the monitors settled.
Dick growled at Jason, flashing angry eyes towards his brother.
Jason held his hands up placatingly. “Woah Alpha, chill out. He stopped breathing and his heart stuttered for a second, I fixed it. No need to growl, I won’t hurt him,” he placated. “The bonds are a shock to his system. For now, just try and send comfort through them. He’s slightly catatonic with shock. He needs to feel reassured,” Jason said, deliberately taking slow and deep breaths.
Dick copied his example, while sending as much love and reassurance through his bond with Tim as he could manage, and trying to shake the alpha brain fog that had descended upon giving a pack bite off.
Eventually, Bruce stepped towards Tim with an alcohol wipe and the bandages.
Dick grumbled, but didn’t outright growl. “Let me.” Dick took them from Bruce, slowly and methodically cleaning the bite. He held gauze to it until it stopped bleeding, then pulled it away, setting it aside to be incinerated later. He applied antibiotic ointment before pressing fresh gauze to the wound, wrapping it in a bandage to hold it in place. Through the entire process, he was taking deep breaths, centering himself, and reestablishing control over the alpha inside him. As he worked, he sent brother, loved, safe, protect through his new bond with Tim. When Dick was done dressing the wound, he felt a curious tug to that very bond, and his eyes shot up, meeting Tim’s watching him lazily.
“Toldja you wouldn’t hurt me.” Tim sighed, dreamily.
Dick snorted “Tim, you stopped breathing, and your heart almost stopped,” he scolded.
Tim shrugged. “Yeah, but it didn’t hurt. I was just surprised. I didn’t expect to feel…” he gestured over his chest, “so…much.”
“That’s normal,” Jason reassured. “It will get less intense as you get used to it. How do you feel?”
“Fuzzy. Hot. Still sick….” He trailed off, nudging his head into Jason’s shoulder. “So tired.”
Jason laughed. “Well, I think I promised you a nest, Timbers. Whose bed?” Jason thought for a minute. “On second thought, your room is so messy I’d get lost trying to find the bed, mine is probably covered in dust..”
Alfred squawked in indignation at the suggestion.
“Or very not dusty, but limited scents, Sorry, Alfie…Dick’s would be best. Clean, used semi-often, and smells like alpha,” Jason declared.
Bruce cleared his throat. “You’re welcome to my bed.” At Jason’s confused look, he clarified. “It’s the biggest bed in the house, Plenty of room for a nest. I use it more than Dick uses his bed here, so plenty of alpha scent…and I am still the pack alpha, after all, so even better, I imagine.” Bruce grinned.
Dick snorted.
Jason looked down at Tim, slightly tense. “Up to you Timbit. Which bed, Bruce’s or Dick’s?” He asked.
“Bruce,” Tim answered tiredly, bonking his head on Jason’s shoulder.
“Very well, boys. I’ll stay down here for the day, so you can have my bed to nest. Actually, I’ll set myself up in another room for the duration of Tim’s heat so I don’t disturb you,” Bruce said.
Jason nodded, but Tim whined, full of distress.
“No! Don’t leave me!” Tim demanded, thrashing in Jason’s arms.
Bruce stood and crossed the room to his bed quickly, running fingers through his hair. “I'm not leaving you, Bud. I’m giving you boys space to nest,” He clarified.
Tim whined. “But..I want you IN the nest.” He sniffled and then reached his arms for Bruce.
Bruce sat on the edge of his cot, pulling him into his arms.
A disgruntled Jason almost hissed, but stopped when Dick shot him a look and shook his head.
“I don’t want to intrude, or make your brothers uncomfortable, chum,” Bruce explained.
“I want my pack alpha in my nest. Please?” Tim pouted, shooting him the patented puppy dog eyes he had learned and perfected from Dick.
Bruce turned to his other sons helplessly.
“Fine by me.” Dick shrugged, before shooting a pointed look at Jason.
“Yeah, whatever, it’s his nest, his heat,” Jason said uncomfortably, avoiding Bruce’s gaze.
“I don’t know…do you really want me to?” Bruce asked.
Tim grabbed Bruce’s wrist, pressing it to his cheek. “I’m yours, right?” He asked, shakily.
Bruce sighed, rubbing his wrists over Tim’s face and neck. “Tim, from the moment you came into my life you have been mine. My friend, my Robin, my son, and now my pack. But it was official long before today.”
Dick and Jason stared at each other in surprise, shocked by Bruce’s show of emotion. Perhaps the fear of losing Tim and all he had learned about his son today had shaken him more than they thought.
Bruce’s face scrunched up. “But…you asked for Dick to bite you, to bring you into our pack, why? Are you upset with me?”
Tim snorted. “You were gonna think it to death. Dick was faster.”
Bruce felt relief in his chest, it hadn’t been a rejection of him then, just his indecision.
Tim shifted uncomfortably. “And…I was scared. I knew Dick actually wanted it,” he said, avoiding Bruce’s eyes.
“Oh, Tim. I did want you, I just didn’t know if you wanted us.”
Jason snorted at Bruce’s reply. “You are both insufferable. No self-worth, I tell you,” he said, sitting up and stretching. “I’m gonna find another shirt, since that one’s been on the floor…” he said, examining his discarded shirt before standing up. Jason looked at Bruce. “Don’t…don’t break my babybird while I’m gone,” he said uncertainly, before crossing to the door. He pulled it open, and paused, hesitant. “You’re welcome in the nest, old man. Carry him up for me? I’ll meet you there.” Jason left quickly, shutting the door behind him.
Bruce was too shocked to have much of a reaction beyond staring at Dick incredulously.
Dick just smiled at him encouragingly.
“How are you feeling, master Timothy?” Alfred asked, finally stepping away from where he was logging information on the computer to step towards Tim, pressing a hand to his forehead.
“Tired of that question.” Tim sighed.
Alfred raised a stern eyebrow in response.
“I don’t know. Overwhelmed, I guess. Needy. I just want to be held,” Tim elaborated.
“That’s normal,” Bruce assured.
“‘Kay.” Tim sighed, before holding his arm out to Alfred. “Can you take this out? I want to go build a nest with Jason and get some rest.”
Alfred nodded, and efficiently removed the IV from his arm.
Tim winced as he pulled the tape off and again when he pulled the tube out.
Bruce stroked his hair, cooing at him.
He settled in Bruce’s arms. “Can we go?” He asked, turning towards him.
Bruce sighed. “I think I’m getting too old to carry you up the stairs. Dick?”
Dick walked towards them, a huge grin on his face.
Tim tried to place his feet on the ground. “I can walk.” He was quick to say, not wanting to cause trouble.
“Oh no you don’t, babybird. I’m getting my cuddles now. Jason’s been hogging you.” Dick didn’t give Tim time to argue, hauling him into his arms easily and pressing him close.
Tim squeaked in surprise but wrapped his arms around his brother's neck anyway.
Dick poked at Bruce with a foot. “Come on, old man, open the door for me.”
Bruce chuckled and stood, sliding the door open for his sons.
“I’m going to finish logging this analysis so we have the results to compare tomorrow, and after his heat, but when I’m done, I’ll make you boys lunch, and bring it to you in bed,” Alfred said, and all three of them thanked him before heading into the main cave, and up the stairs leading into the house.
Bruce told them he was going to the kitchen to get some things, but would be there momentarily.
Dick carried Tim all the way to Bruce’s room, before plopping him in the center of Bruce’s bed.
Tim bounced and squeaked.
Jason snorted from the side of the bed. “‘Bout time. Okay, baby bird. You listening? Nest making 101.” Jason gestured to the pile of pillows and blankets he had dragged into the room. “I’m going to teach you. First, do you want our scents in the nest?”
Tim nodded.
Jason turned towards Dick. “Well, that’s your job. Go and get some clothes and things and bring them back here, yeah? We’ll make the base while you’re gone.”
Dick saluted them and went to obey, but was cut off by Tim.
“Wait, can you…I want Damian,” Tim said.
Jason and Dick glanced at each other, and then at Tim.
Jason spoke first. “Well, we weren’t exactly sure how being with a pup could affect you right now…how exactly are you feeling towards Damian currently, Timmers? Feeling particularly parental?” He asked.
Tim scrunched up his face in distaste. “What? I…no? I just…I want everyone together. In my nest. We can’t leave him out.” He looked at Jason, knowing he’d be sympathetic to the feeling of being left out of the family, just as Tim had often felt.
Jason nodded, placatingly. “Alright, Tim. Dick will get baby brat. But…just in case, tell him to try and keep the pup behavior on lock, okay? And I reserve the right to say he’s making the heat worse,” he told Dick, who snorted.
“Right on, momma bird,” Dick shot.
Jason flipped him off.
Tim made an uncomfortable noise. “There’s something else. Something feels…wrong. I can’t…I can’t feel him. Like I feel you.” Tim gestured to his chest. “He’s there but there’s this..wall.” He looked at Dick, eyes wide and worried.
Dick felt out his own bond with Damian, checking to confirm his suspicions. “Ah. Yeah, he does this. He has his side of the bond shut off to us. Whatever he’s feeling right now, he wants to keep private. I don’t think this is about you, Damian likes his privacy. He never likes others to know how he feels. I’ll teach you how to do this, too, in case you ever need privacy or some space,” Dick said.
Tim shook his head. “I don’t know how much I’ll need it. Just…just bring him here, please.”
Dick smiled at his worry. “You got it, babybird. Nesting materials and one baby bat, coming right up.” He smiled at Tim before stepping out into the hallway and starting his pursuit of personal objects belonging to his packmates. He made quick work of it, going from room to room collecting clothing and blankets and stuffing them in the hamper he drug along, and even had Alfred scent a couple of pillows as he worked on their lunch. Eventually, he went to retrieve Damian. There was no answer when he knocked on his door, so he pushed it open slowly, expecting Damian to scream at him for coming in without permission. Instead, he saw his brother on his bed, curled into a small ball as he cried near silently.
“Damian?? What’s wrong??” Dick shouted, pushing into the room and kneeling on the floor by his bed, running his hands into his baby brother's hair. Damian tried to hide his face, but Dick kept hold of his hair, forcing him to look at him. “Why are you crying, baby bat?” Dick whispered reverently, tracing a finger on his cheek.
Damian sniffled. “It’s Tim,” He said, softly.
Dick’s chest filled with relief. “Oh no, Tim is going to be fine, kiddo. I brought him into the pack and he’s recovering well. He just has to get through this heat, but it’s looking alright. Can’t you feel him?” Dick asked, curiously.
Damian just cried harder. “That’s the problem,” He whispered.
Dick was confused, and angry. Tim couldn’t handle a rejection from a packmate, not right now, and besides, Damian had acted like he was fine with it, like Tim being in their pack was a foregone conclusion, which it should’ve been.
“You told me you wouldn’t mind him being in our pack.” Dick tried to keep his attitude in check, willing to hear his youngest brother out.
Damian wiped his eyes and sat up, looking at Dick. “It’s not that. It’s…the bond. I know…I feel…he loves me.” His breath hitched. “He loves me, he really does, and I-“ sobs began to wrack his small frame. “I hurt him. I hurt him so bad, Richard.”
Dick stood and sat on the bed before pulling the child to his chest, wrapping arms around him tightly, and clutching the back of his head. Damian hid his face in his brother’s neck. “Oh, Dami,” Dick muttered, squeezing him tighter. “We’ve all hurt Tim, honey. Every one of us.” He placed his hands on either side of Damian’s head and pulled him back to look at him. “But still, he loves. That’s the best part about Tim. He is loving, loyal, and he forgives. All we have to do is show him that we earned that forgiveness, and do our best not to hurt him like that again. Since you are also my brother, and loyal, loving, and forgiving, I know you won’t,” He told Damian, pressing a kiss to his forehead before letting go of his head.
Damian made a face, but he didn’t wipe the kiss off, and that was a win in Dick’s book.
Dick rubbed his youngest brother's back as the child slowly stopped crying, breaths becoming even and calm again. “Better?” He asked.
Damian nodded.
“Good. Tim and Jason are building a nest, and we’re all gonna rest in it for a bit. Why don’t you go wash your face real quick, then we’ll go,” Dick told Damian.
“Me too?” Damian asked, face twisting up in confusion.
“Tim asked for you specifically. However, I am supposed to tell you to keep pup behavior ‘in check’, whatever that means. Just do it so we don’t make Jason angry.”
Damian snorted. “I am not a pup, Richard.”
“Of course not.” Dick smirked at him.
Damian got up and crossed the room to his en-suite, while Dick stepped out to give him some privacy. When Damian was done rinsing the tear tracks off his face, he changed into something more comfortable, and he and Dick went back to Bruce’s room to join their brothers.
In the time since Dick had left, Bruce had returned, seemingly with a plethora of snacks and water bottles if the state of the nightstand was any indication. He stood at the foot of the bed, watching as Jason walked Tim through constructing the base of their nest.
When Dick and Damian came in, Tim froze, looking up at them as he blushed. His eyes flicked to Damian. “…..Hi,” Tim said, and then braced himself, as though preparing for rejection.
Dick felt Damian stiffen beside him, but then he smiled and waved.
“Hello….Timothy.” Damian settled on.
Tim’s eyes went wide at hearing his first name in Damian’s mouth. It wasn’t what he went by, not really, only for Alfred, but still, it was miles better than just Drake. He beamed.
“I am..pleased, to have you in the pack.”
Tim looked at Jason, wondering if he was imagining this conversation, but Jason looked just as shocked.
“It was about time Father came to his senses.” Damian shot this at Bruce.
Bruce ducked his head and rubbed his neck sheepishly.
Jason’s eyes flicked to the hamper behind Dick. “Look, Tim. Big Bird brought you some of our things to finish off the nest. Why don’t you go grab them, and just put them where it feels right?” He instructed, breaking the tension.
Tim crossed the room and took the hamper from Dick, glancing at Jason hesitantly.
“Go ahead,” Jason said, encouragingly.
Tim grabbed a blanket Dick had gotten from the room Jason slept in when he stayed from the hamper, and rubbed it against his face, instantly seeming to melt at the softness. He tucked that around the top of the nest, and then glanced at Jason for his approval.
“Perfect,” Jason stated, smiling indulgently at his little brother. “There’s no wrong way to do this. Just do what feels right.”
After that, the nesting went a lot faster. Tim seemed to flit about, darting this way and that, tucking blankets and clothes where his instinct told them they should be, until finally, he held the last pillows, the ones Alfred had scented. He laid them across the top of the nest with Jason’s blanket, then looked up at his family expectantly.
“Well done, Tim,” Bruce told him, and Tim preened under the rare explicit approval. “Why don’t you get in, and see how you like it?”
Tim climbed into the nest, and lay down, before immediately sitting back up, switching a few things around, and lying back down. He melted into the blankets.
“Yeah, this is good,” Tim said quietly. “Jason?” He looked at his big brother and held a hand out.
Jason smiled before climbing in with him and stretching out. “Very nice Tim, this is comfy.” He said, smiling at his brother and wrapping his arms around him.
Tim went limp, finally soothing the instinct inside of him that begged for him to get back into his family's arms.
Jason turned to the rest of them. “Well, you gonna get in, or what?” He asked, tone light but slightly uncomfortable.
“Are you sure it’s alright?” Bruce asked.
Tim agreed quickly.
Dick didn’t need any more encouragement, coming over and plastering himself to the other side of Tim immediately. Wrapping arms around Tim’s back put something inside of Dick, his alpha probably, at ease immediately.
Damian came and stood by the edge of the bed with his father, crossing his arms. “I’ll take the edge,” Damian told Bruce.
Bruce grunted, then grabbed Damian under the arms, lifting him and tossing him into the other side of Jason like he weighed nothing.
Damian squawked indignantly.
“Sorry, son. No can do. Omegas and pups in the middle,” Bruce said, before getting in himself on the other side of Damian.
Damian scowled, moving as far away from Jason as he could without pressing himself into his Father either.
“That reminds me. No pup shit, got it?” Jason told Damian.
Damian glared. “I’ll have you know I have never once engaged in ‘pup shit’, Todd,” He spat.
Jason grinned evilly. “Oh, so he’s Timothy, but I’m still Todd?”
“You haven’t earned my affection,” Damian retorted.
Tim let out a happy omega sound.
Damian hadn’t even meant to imply that Tim in turn had earned his affection but, well, that was fine. Damian blushed a bit and looked away, pretending to ignore Jason’s cackle.
“Settle down, boys,” Bruce said, tiredly, wrapping an arm around Damian and refusing to move it when he tried to wriggle out of it. “Be still,” He whispered, and Damian complied, grumpily.
After a few minutes of silence, Damian was blinking big, sleepy eyes. He hadn’t cooed, purred, chirped, or made any other pup noises, but still. There was only so much he could fight against instinct, and he drifted off, wrapped in his father's arms.
“Aww, he’s so cute when he’s not plotting my imminent second demise,” Jason whispered gleefully.
“Jason.” Bruce chided, but hid a smirk behind his son's head.
When Tim started to purr, Dick was next to fall asleep, nuzzling into Tim’s neck happily.
Before too long, Bruce moved one of the arms he had wrapped around Damian, and laid it, slowly and hesitantly, on Jason’s arm.
Jason tensed, but he didn’t shake it off or say anything. Just continued to stroke his own hand up and down Tim’s side, slowly, deliberately.
Eventually, Bruce began to move his hand, rubbing Jason’s arm until all the tension left his body, and slowly, he fell asleep too.
“You with me, Tim?” Bruce asked quietly.
Tim hummed in response.
“You feel okay?” Bruce asked.
“Yeah,” Tim whispered. “This is nice.”
“It is,” Bruce agreed easily. “Get some sleep, I’ll keep watch, son.”
“Okay, Dad,” Tim said, before nearly immediately drifting off to sleep himself.
Bruce froze in shock, but pretty immediately, warmth filled his chest. He sat up slightly, to examine all his sons, wrapped around each other in various ways, and smiled to himself. He had built this family, and it was complicated, and hard, and sometimes it hurt like hell, but it was still so good, and he’d do anything to protect it. In a way, Tim was responsible for bringing him to a place where he could accept love and connections again, and he was definitely responsible for bringing him back to his family after his “death.” He took a deep, happy breath, rumbling his chest.
“Thank you, Tim,” He whispered.