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Jason knew the bonds were flimsy, he’d been able to feel them since his mind had returned, since he’d woken up surrounded by green, so much green.
But the bonds, they were there, present but oh so weak, unnoticeable unless sought out. Jason doubted Bruce had even noticed, Dick probably wouldn’t have either. Alfred... Well maybe but Beta’s weren’t as in-tune with pack bonds and Jason hurt to think about the older man so… he didn’t ponder that. The bonds were to the pup he no longer was, apparently having presented while catatonic. He didn’t like the implications but Talia had assured him she’d kept him safe through-out and she hadn’t looked to be lying… Jason didn’t know either way though, who was he to trust the Daughter of the Demon.
But the fact of the matter was there was also a new bond, one he hadn’t formed, one that had slotted into place without his consent… which happens when apparently Bruce moves on and adopts your replacement into the pack. So now Jason had a bond, not fully cemented but present enough to get waves of emotions every so often that drove him up the wall.
Gotham had been the first place on his list as soon as the green faded, with a name and a face to put to the bond he didn’t want, courtesy of Talia’s digging.
Timothy Drake.
And well, the kid was way too easy to track down, Jason didn’t need to even tap into the unwanted bond to track him. The scrawny thing lived next door to Bruce, and recon showed the kid sneaking out of a window every night to scuttle over to the cave and don his clothes, his name, his title. Jason kept the green at bay but only with promises of future suffering and pain, all of which they’d inflict on Timothy.
With only a couple of weeks recon done, Jason could already recite most of the kids schedule, knew when exactly he left for school, when he got home and when he snuck off next door. In his haze, he’d neglected to take note of the lack of parents, assuming he’d missed them somehow or frankly just not caring… His entire focus was Tim and Tim only.
And so, Jason had timed it, waited until it was a Sunday, which apparently was one of the days the brat came home early from patrol. He’d snuck in, quiet and silent, stalking towards the only light in the house.
The sniffles were unexpected, the little keens of an unpresented pup were even more so. The kid was what? Fourteen? Fifteen? That was way too old to be able to make the noises he was, but the scent didn’t lie, he was a pup. Jason froze, the green haze vanishing in an instant because what the fuck. Eyes turned to his hands, staring at the gun and the knife he’d made a point of wielding… he’d been about to attack a fucking pup?
Another sniffle and then a muffled sob was enough for Jason’s patience to snap, he barged through the door in an instant. The kid in question jumped in shock and fear, wide eyes turning to him, taking in the helmet, Jason's bulky frame (the Pit apparently curing malnourishment) and then shrinking further into the corner he’d been curled into.
“Pl-Please no-” He squeaked out, voice hoarse and eyes still streaming tears, but despite his verbal protests his arms reached out to Jason, pleading, grabbing at the air. “L-Leave me alone.” Tim added, another whine that turned into a soul crushing keen. Jason dropped the gun with a clatter that had the kid flinch. He looked even smaller than the pictures in the corner like he was. The house had been scentless, only that of a miserable pup, apparently neglected as fuck because why else would he be alone and unpresented still? That shit only happened in extreme cases. Jason hissed to himself. He’d been ready to attack a kid whose life had been as shit as his own apparently.
“L-Leave me alone, Alpha.” Tim whined again, a pack call ripping from his throat, reminding Jason that, where was Bruce? Or Dick? Or Alfred? How could any of them be letting this kid come back to be alone if he was pack? What was wrong with them? Could they not feel the utter loneliness and fear panging through the pack bonds?
“What's wrong with you?” Jason asked, slowly squatting down where he stood in the doorway but not moving any closer as to not spook the kid who apparently didn’t have such a solid place in the pack that Jason had assumed. Tim flinched at the voice, curling further away, into the solid wall, wracked with fear apparently but arms twitching to reach for him again.
“I-Ivy.” Tim hissed out and shuddered.
“Okay. Shit. What... which?” Jason asked, still crouched, shuffling ever so slowly closer, pausing every time Tim let out a protesting keen.
“Stay- back.” Tim’s teeth chattered, his lips were tinged blue and he shuddered when he spoke as thought the temperature was below 0. Jason knew instantly what he was dealing with and was quick to whip off his hood.
“Can I come closer, pup, I promise I won’t hurt you.” Jason asked and Tim wildly shook his head.
“No- No Alpha’s-” And Jason had another thing added to his list of things to follow up on, besides the apparent shitty parents and Bruce’s pack neglect because the kid had to have a reason for his apparent terror for Alpha’s. It didn’t paint a pretty picture.
“‘M not an Alpha, pup.” Jason let out a chuff, Tim’s eyes widened and Jason wasn’t sure if it was because the kid (despite being delirious) recognized him, or if it was the chuff he’d made, a noise only Omega’s could make.
“‘Mega?” Tim croaked, brow furrowed. Jason nodded, slipping off the scent patches on his neck and another soothing chuff, sending a ripple of assurance through the flimsy bond that had Tim gasp. “Jason.” So the kid did know him.
“Can I come over, Pup?” Jason asked again, needing the kids' consent explicitly because there was clearly some trust issues mixed in with the entire shit show he was facing and Tim nodded this time, hands grasping forward desperately.
“Please, Omega.” He whined, his keens turning delirious and his eyes filled with another wave of tears, relief pooling back from his side of the bond. Jason surged forward in an instant, jacket shucked off to reveal bare arms, thank god he’d gone with a shorter sleeved t-shirt today, Tim instantly tucked under his chin. The kid hitched a breath as soon as skin contact was initiated and suddenly surged into the hug, arms wrapped around Jason’s wide soldiers, fingers digging into the shirt, clenching to keep hold, trembling but relaxed finally.
“D-Don’t let go.” He begged, digging as much as he could into Jason’s chest, burrowing his head into the crook of Jason’s neck, inhaling the calming, reassuring Omega scent. Jason hummed, let out a soft chuff again and rubbed gentle circles onto Tim’s back, the green was completely gone, not a sign to be seen. He hadn’t felt this in control since before… well before he’d died.
“Never, Pup.” Jason hummed, his other hand, the one not rubbing Tim’s back as the kid clung to him under a mixture of Ivy’s Cuddle Pollen and years of pack neglect, reached up to card through soaked curls on top of his head. The kid was feverish, sweating despite the ice cold touch of his skin. Any ideas or thoughts of attacking this kid for anything was squashed forever because he could never be angry at his pup, this was Bruce’s fault, the Alpha should have been the victim of his anger all this time, never the trembling pup clinging to him so desperately, still sobbing into his shoulder.
“You’re mine.” Jason soothed, fingers still carding through the kiddos hair as his breathing slowly, painstakingly slowly began to even out, hiccup sobs turning into muted sniffles and the violent hitches to his shoulders transformed to only small shudders occasionally. “That’s it Pup, I’m here, I’ve got you, you’re safe.” Jason soothed. He’d freak out later about how naturally this was all coming to him, how his Omega instincts felt so natural despite having presented while catatonic and having no real experience with his designation since waking from the Pit. He’d hightailed here, plastered himself in blockers as he’d slowly begun to work up a reputation as Red Hood and avoided contact with anyone other than his cronies. So to be able to sooth the Pup in his arms with ease and for it to feel like second nature, as normal as breathing was new and scary. But Jason would wait. He couldn’t panic when his Pup needed him.
“Rest, Pup.” Jason soothed as Tim’s arms went lax, no longer grasping at him so strongly, instead relaxing in his hold, snuggling even closer against the scent glands on Jason’s neck, breathing evening out until Jason was sure the kid had fallen asleep in his arms, be it from the overwhelming feeling of safety Jason apparently now had or the pure exhaustion of Ivy’s Pollen…
Jason didn’t want to think of the implications of Tim returning home to ride off the effects instead of to the manor, almost like it was second nature to come to an empty house with stale scents than to the Wayne Residence where surely even if Bruce wouldn’t, Dick would cuddle the pup to death?
Still, here he was, squatting in the corner of a dimly lit room with his replacement who’d sparked so much anger now peacefully asleep and defenceless in his arms and all Jason had the urge to do was put the kid somewhere more comfortable. A nest perhaps? Jason needed a nest, yes. Good idea Jason. The bigger man shifted the weight in his arms, way too light for the size of his pup, he’d need to feed him more, standing up to carry the kid with him. He couldn’t let go of him with Ivy still lingering in his blood, the shock would wake the sleepy pup and Jason didn't want that. But manoeuvring him onto one side was easy with his light weight and Jason was able to grab the closest blankets possible to begin forming a shape with his other arm. Once it was… acceptable (because it still smelt of sad-lonely-pup mostly,) Jason snuggled them both down into it, one wrist reaching up to rub gently against his Pup’s neck, scenting the sleeping child as his own. He’d keep him safe if B, if Alpha, was too stupid to care for his own pack.
The click of bonds in his chest as they securely fell into place with Tim's, no longer weak or flimsy but solid and real were a welcomed feeling. Jason let out a rumble of a purr from the back of his throat, surprised at the sound but perfectly converting the pleased feeling in his bones, ignoring the flurry of confusion he felt in his chest at the other bonds that... Oh .
His old pack bonds had mended too and the emotions coming from them were shock and awe and pure bewilderment. Jason ignored them all, he’d deal with everyone else later, for now he needed to make sure Tim got all the cuddles he needed not only to starve off Ivy's concoction but to make up for all the years of obvious neglect. He was Jason’s pup now and anyone that wanted to get close would have to get through him, Red Hood and all.