Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bruce has only been Batman for a few years now, he’s molded his Dark Knight persona into exactly what every criminal scum in Gotham should fear. Batman was a myth, he only existed to those who dared trample on the good and innocent. Batman was the silent watchful protector. He covered every shadowed corner, every flutter of wind, every dawn and dusk where the shadows were the sharpest and deepest. 

But Batman was just a man. Batman was not a myth. Batman could not be everywhere. There are places Batman cannot go. Places too dark, too corrupt and wriggling with Gotham’s infectious filth. 

Batman had to be more, had to be someone else. Batman had to become one of them to find them. To gain entry to the den of horrors one must first be horrible. Batman was hope in the dark, a quick fist of justice. He now had to strip all of that away and gain an even newer persona. 

Big, built like a tank, hair cut short on the sides while it flopped on top. A dark tailored suit, blood red tie neatly tucked away and brawling brass knuckles in the pockets. The nicest shoes one could buy in the South Bay, pinstripe dress pants all the way down. A box of matches in a pocket, a glock in the waistband. A hidden belt full of tricks, drugs, and the like. A snake-like smile, cold hard blue eyes like an unfeeling desert of ice where any ounce of sympathy or care starved. An Alpha with specially made scent patches, changing his scent to smoke and cloth, nothing too unbearable but certainly different from Bruce Wayne’s warm wood and Batman’s cold shadows. 

Batman became Matches Malone. An opportunistic predator rising in the ranks of the underground. He melded right into the sidewalk scum lining the streets. Matches had men, Matches had money, Matches was dependable in a way no other snake ever could be. 

Matches was still young, still foolish, still learning how the world of the scum worked. But every day he grew one step closer to getting to the top, of upturning the whole infestation and exposing the oozing infection to be washed away. 

What Matches did not expect, was to gain a friend. Now, this wasn’t a real friend, they never are when everyone was an opponent in this den of thieves and murderers. No, this was a temporary ally. Allies are built on favors under the surface, someone saw a stepping stone in Matches, not a friend. 

Matches hailed the call of this ally anyway, as he saw this new ‘ally’ the same way. An opponent. Someone in the way. 

So it came as a surprise, and not a bit more suspicious, when Matches was presented with a gift. 

“Matchy my boy! Just the man I wanted to see.” The snake smiled, all teeth and beady eyed. He clapped his hands together, watching as the other alpha stepped closer. 

“Zucco.” Matches replied with a tip of his head, respecting the other alpha’s territory. He tried not to upturn his nose, the man’s scent was as slimy as his looks. The man wore a suit as well but he reeked of unpleasantries.

“I knew I saw promise in you.” The slimy alpha chortled as he stepped closer, his scent of booze and acid wafting with him. He didn’t look drunk, but he carried the smell with him anyway. Matches held his ground, eyes narrowed as to what the alpha wanted. 

Tony Zucco pouted, exaggerating his frown and taking fake offense. “Aw, not to worry my good friend, I’ve been keeping an eye on you, and I come bearing gifts!” His head lifted, not baring his neck but to appear bigger, smiling wolfishly. 

Matches grew more wary. He really wasn’t a fan of how most Alpha’s tried to push each other around like this, but he had to play the part, so play he did. 

“The Greeks also came bearing gifts, that didn’t turn out well for them.” He mentioned, narrowing his gaze to push back. 

The other alpha’s smile only grew. “You’re a smart man Matches, but you’d be truely stupid to turn me down. I can open doors for you my boy, you’re new to this scene but with me by your side you’ll have chances you never would have dreamed of getting on your own.” His voice growled a little lower, “You need me.”

Matches rose an eyebrow, “I think we both know I’m excellent at opening my own doors.” 

Tony Zucco laughed. “Oh yes, you’re excellent at getting into places you’re not supposed to be.” Bingo. Zucco wanted his skills. “But that’s not how down here works my friend. There’s a certain… upfrontness required to truly climb. You can’t protect territory you don’t claim. You need to write your name into the city, make them fear it, respect it. I can help you, and in turn you can help me.” The alpha shrugged. “Simple really. So what do ya say ol’ pal?”

Matches made a show of thinking about the man’s offer. Besides knowing this was some sort of test or maybe initiation, Zucco was right about one thing, he did need him to get higher. “I am ready to accept an alliance, but I'm afraid I’m still at a loss, friend. You’re giving a gift to me but I am unprepared to reciprocate.”

Zucco waved his hand as if that didn’t matter. It was surely planned. “Call it an IOU, as this is our first formal meeting and union, this gift is for our continued prosperity. The only thing you have to do is return the favor when called upon.”

It was terribly vague, Matches had to accept. 

Zucco must have seen it in his eye, he thrust out a hand, greedy smile stretched wide. 

Matches Malone inwardly sighed as he reached out and shook the alphas hand. 

“Wonderful,” the alpha then grew serious, for once not smiling as he kept an intense eye contact with Matches. “Now this gift here is very dear to my heart. I want you to know how special this gift is to me, it is a great show of trust and comradery.” 

Matches nodded along, still confused as to what it was. It was rather agonizing having to wait to know what it was. Matches was thinking something along the lines of a weapon, maybe a car or something. But he knew it could be a whole lot more dangerous. Many mob bosses liked exotic pets, Matches was in no position to be taking home an alligator today. However, Matches kept his scent neutral, if not interested because that’s what he needed to be. 

“Fetch my gift,” Zucco ordered to one of his alpha men standing guard. That man then left through the side door and Zucco turned back to continue talking to the other alpha. “I do hope you’re alright with taking home a companion tonight.” Matches’ gut sank but he remained aloof, “though I don’t think anyone could complain about taking home an Omega.”

Matches’ heart stuttered. His eyes widened without his permission, it was all he allowed. Luckily Zucco interpreted it as interest. 

Zucco chuckled again, his snake-like smile returning as they both watched the door the alpha guard had gone through. “Yes, he’s a pretty little thing too, a great trophy of mine. In a way he really helped me up in this world,” he spoke almost wistfully, but his scent grew heavy and Matches knew exactly what happened to Omegas in the underground. He knew about the trafficking, the horrible slavery, it was part of why he was here to uproot it. He of course never wanted to dabble himself in that, but he should have known he wouldn’t get a choice. Matches was being given a living sex toy. 

Zucco turned and clapped Matches’ shoulder, “I hope he brings you the same luck.”

Matches nearly flinched from the touch, he didn’t want to be anywhere near this man. Matches was a cover for stealing and murdering (rubber bullets and tranq guns), it was all an illusion and Bruce took great care in presenting himself as one of them without actually doing any of those things. Matches may look like an arms dealer, he may talk big and appear to deliver on those promises, but he never went so far as rape or human trafficking. And that’s another thing, if he wasn’t prepared to take a pet he really wasn’t prepared to take a whole human, much less an Omega. 

Matches realized he should have thanked the man or said something in response but he was saved by the door opening. Both went quiet and Matches looked on in a panic while Zucco only smiled like the scum he was. Matches swallowed painfully, he was wildly unprepared for this. He was supposed to be acting right now but a trafficked Omega had been thrown into the mix of all his careful acting and planning and it was throwing him off his game. 

Then Matches actually saw the Omega and knew he was immediately screwed. 

The Alpha guard walked back in, holding a red leash in hand that was connected to a meek black haired Omega trailing respectfully behind him. Matches was frozen there as he stared, trying to reign in his fury because that was not an Omega, that was a pup. The pup only got smaller the closer they came, he couldn’t have been more than 10 years old. Too young to have presented already. 

Zucco turned and smiled at him, hunting for something. 

That’s when his brain finally chugged through his rage and looked at his situation with unclouded eyes.

It must be some rite of passage. Zucco was making sure Matches was really one of them, an undercover cop would have blown the joint right then and there with this underage pup here. Not only was Zucco making sure he could traffic, he was forcing him to conform to their norm (being a pedophile) or be cast out. It was a test.

It was a test Matches had to pass. A test he had to curb as much as possible. 

The Alpha guard finally reached them and handed the leash over to Zucco who held his hand out for it. The guard backed away and now the pup was right next to Matches. 

Matches couldn’t tear his eyes away. He hoped Zucco mistook it for interest when that was the furthest thing from his mind. 

The boy barely had any clothes on, shorts that were too obviously small and tight and a crop top that only pretended to be actual clothes. Matches could see bruises upon bruises in places Matches never wanted to see on a child. His ribs seemed to want to poke through his skin, his bowed face gaunt and starved. His limbs were all thin and gangly, something that shouldn’t happen until his growth spurt. He was so heavily malnourished and abused, and he reeked of terror. He couldn’t even find the pup’s original scent, pup or omegan. 

Matches had to keep a tight lid on his facial expression and his scent, because he was ready to go off at any moment. He carefully kept his face blank, though he was still staring wide-eyed. He managed to keep his rage from his scent, disguising it as possessiveness which he knew would be horrible for the pup who may or may not be aware he was supposed to be his new owner. For now he had to please Zucco and that meant treating the pup like an object. 

It didn’t help that the pup was covered in bruises, stank of semen and Tony Zucco. Zucco had written himself all over this child, there were bite marks and handprints and all manner of horrible evidence of abuse. Even his scent glands seemed abused, red and irritated along his neck and what Matches could see of the boy’s wrists. Hopefully it wasn’t an infection and could be easily remedied. 

Matches had to push all of his emotions away, locking down on his persona because if he didn’t right in that moment he was going to fail Zucco’s test and he couldn’t afford to. Not when the pup was going to come with him anyway and out of any horrid alpha’s hands.

Luckily Zucco talked first, because Matches didn’t know if he’d actually snap if he tried speaking. 

“I told you he has sentimental value yes?” Zucco prompted, but didn’t give Matches time to answer. Matches didn’t know if that was a blessing or a curse. He laid a grimy hand on the pup’s shoulder, the boy minutely flinching at the contact and giving off a submissive scared whine. “I’ve had this pup for a few years now, so he’s fully trained to service you in whatever fantasies you desire.”

Curse. Definitely curse. How dare-

No. Don’t get angry. This pup will be going home with you anyway. Stay calm. Act interested. 

...

Okay, he couldn’t act interested in having his sexual desires fulfilled by a pup. He had to pass Zucco’s test though. If only for the sake of getting the pup out of here. 

“I can’t say I’m interested in such a young Omega, they break too easily and I like a challenge.” Is what came out of his mouth. 

Yes. There. That would lead Zucco to think his disinterest of a youthful partner was preference rather than moral high ground. A terrible thing to allude to, but better than actually trying to convince him he’s sexually attracted to a pup when he was very NOT. 

“Aww, if you’re real careful he won’t break, I find that’s the fun part.” Zucco tried to convince, apparently not too bothered but taking his bait about preference. Matches didn’t want to hear what he was about to say next. “Pushing him to the very edge of his durability, so helpless and small, it’s a good power trip. He’s also quite fun at parties, a good pass along.”

Matches didn’t want to hear anymore of that. “Sounds like I’ll have to give it a try.” That sounded horrible to his own ears, he couldn’t imagine how it sounded to the ears of the pup standing not three feet away from him. 

Zucco gave him a look, “Would you like a demonstration?”

Matches blinked to hide his sudden terror and anger. “No.”

“I think we should do a demonstration.” Zucco continued as if he didn’t hear Matches. Yanking on the leash connected to the pup that resulted in the pup falling to his knees with a weak whimper. “I can show you he’s not as delicate as he looks. You’ll enjoy him.”

Zucco had his hands all over the pup, pulling the child’s head back by his greasy hair and gripping his shoulder much too tightly. 

That’s when Matches boomed an Alpha, “NO.”

He stepped towards the evil man, hackles raised protectively. The pup below him whimpered more, silently crying now and wave after wave of distress coming through his scent. He was screaming for pack-help-scared but he had to pack to call and no one would help him here. 

Except for Matches, but the pup didn’t know that. 

Zucco was surprised by his harsh alpha order, but he backed off the pup. However he kept the leash in his hand. 

“He’s mine now.” Matches thundered, “I don’t want your scent all over him.” 

Instead of finally giving him the leash Zucco smiled. “Alright, a different demonstration then.” The bad pit in Matches’ stomach dropped even lower as Zucco yanked the leash up, forcing the pup to look up, and held him there. 

However he was stepping on the pup’s leg, keeping him down while stretching his neck up in a mock appropriation of submission. “Mark him as your own then. You’ll find he’ll respond quickly to a firm Alpha.”

Matches realized too late, he got himself into a corner. The pup was shaking, his Alpha command did the opposite of making the pup feel safe. Instead the pup was emitting a long terrified whine and his head was pulled even farther up by Zucco, cutting him off with a choked cry. 

Matches hated it, but he’d have to. He’d make it quick. 

Matches worked for his belt, yanking the folds of his pants to the side and stepping up to the pup. It was surprisingly easy to release his Alpha pheromones, as he did want to cover the pup with his own scent… just not in this way. It burned the whole time as it was fulfilling a scratch while infuriating another. The pup was only growing more terrified as he was doused with Matches’ scent. 

“Submit Omega.” Zucco growled sickly sweet into the pup’s ear, still yanking too hard on the child’s abused neck. The pup could barely breathe and his neck was already wrot with deep bruises from hands and from the collar. His red scent glands turned an even darker shade as he was marked. It must hurt unbearably. 

The pup followed the Alpha’s command and relieved himself, reciprocating Matches’ scent marking by releasing his own in submission. The pup was now sitting in a puddle of his own filth mingled with Matches’. 

Matches made a split second decision and marked the pup’s angry scent glands, wetting his neck and hands in one fell swoop. The pup closed his eyes, another whine cut off by himself this time.

It would get rid of Zucco’s smell on him, and get Zucco to back off the child’s back literally. Zucco did not want to get sprayed by another Alpha’s potent pheromones, so he stood up and to the side, still holding the leash high above the pitiful boy with his sick smile. 

Matches was soon finished, the red leaving the edges of his vision as his inner Alpha was pleased the pup was now covered in him instead of the awful slimy alpha next to him. Matches put himself away and Zucco grinned. 

Whatever sick and twisted test this was, Matches passed. All things considering, it was a miracle. 

He was handed the omega’s leash, the pup not yet getting off the floor and the mess he was in. Matches inner alpha was displeased the pup still stank of fear and it was permeating now that they were closer together and shared scent. But it was to be expected, the pup was just humiliated somewhat publicly, who was he to not let the pup be upset about that?

Matches let the leash have slack, giving the pup his head back. The pup immediately lowered his head, not daring to look at any of the Alpha’s before him.

Zucco ran his fingers through the pup’s hair, a breathy shudder running through the child. “I knew you’d like him.”

Matches wanted to bite the alpha who dared lay a finger on his pup, but he refrained. “Does the Omega have a name?”

“Ah, yes,” Zucco grinned even more, “were you here a couple years back when the circus still came to town? My debut was the great fall of the Graysons, this here is their pup. Richard Grayson, the last of The Flying Graysons.”

Matches felt his eyes widen and his heart stop. That had been three years ago. Bruce Wayne had been there, and Batman had been too late. Richard Grayson was presumed dead. Batman knew better, but hadn’t been able to find him. 

Here he was. And Matches Malone had just marked him as his territory. 

—————————

Matches had a new problem now. The shaking wet Omega trailing behind him was one of them but that wasn’t his main issue. His main issue was that Matches Malone gained Richard Grayson, the entire underground now knew (or will know) Richard Grayson belonged to Matches Malone. Bruce Wayne couldn’t suddenly get a child who was presumed to be dead who also looked exactly like the ‘Omega’ Tony Zucco had just given to Matches Malone. It would be too easy to figure out. 

So Matches Malone was stuck with a pup he marked. The problem wasn’t housing, as he had many safe houses, many that were actually used for Batman or Bruce Wayne. But now he had to actually choose one that wouldn’t be suspicious of Matches suddenly coming home with a very young omega who clearly didn’t want to be here. 

Then another thought occurred to him.

Oh, Alfred was going to kill him. And honestly? Bruce wouldn’t even be mad about it. 

He tried not to think about that as he made his way to the car. The pup was still soaked in urine. He needed a towel and it seemed he wasn’t going to be provided one.

Getting to the car was easy, getting in discreetly was hard. It was the rough part of town but Matches didn’t want anyone witnessing this anyway. He knew it was fruitless to try to hide Richard successfully, but still, the less people who knew the better. 

He opened the back door for the pup, one hand loosely holding the leash still attached to the boy. He didn’t use the leash like how Zucco did, but he couldn’t get rid of it all together yet because it was probably the only thing keeping the pup here. The boy moved to enter the vehicle but Matches placed a hand on his shoulder to make him wait. 

The pup flinched then stood still, waiting. Matches felt like a horrible person for doing so, but pushed onwards. They weren’t out of the woods yet so touching his new ‘property’ was expected, even if Matches knew he should not be touching the raped and abused pup. While the pup waited Matches started unbuttoning his suit jacket. 

A new wave of sour fear and deep disdain wafted from the pup.

“It’s alright Richard, I’m giving you my coat so you don’t leave a trail of urine everywhere.” The idea was if anyone saw this it could be explained by Matches caring more about his car than his suit. Which Matches would, it was just also a happy accident he was giving the pup something more to wear than the scanty clothing he had. Bruce however, really wanted to get the boy out of here so he didn’t have to act anymore. He needed to tell Richard he was safe, that he wasn’t going to rape or abuse him like he thought he would, how Matches implied he would. 

The pup shuddered, still pumping out his scared-submissive scent. Matches dropped the coat around the child, heart aching as the pup was absolutely dwarfed by the garment. The boy squeaked and his small frail and shaking fingers curled around the fabric to keep it firmly on his person. Matches then gestured into the car, the boy stumbled in, purposefully weak because of course Zucco starved the boy to keep him meek and dependent. 

He was able to get in, though still a puddle of their combined urine dripped between his feet. It was better than the whole seat getting wet though, the floors could be cleaned easier than the seats. 

Matches tossed the leash in next to the pup and closed the door almost dismissively. The pup was probably scared Matches wanted to get busy right away, Matches did not want that. Instead he walked around until he approached the driver’s door, pulling himself inside. 

Matches usually had a driver, however this call from Zucco was a surprise and Matches’ usual chauffeur had called in sick. An excellent combination of unfortunate events. Now Matches had an excuse not to sit next to his still (silently) weeping ‘prize’. 

Matches drove off silently, not trusting himself to have this conversation and drive at the same time. As he drove he noticed the pup kept far away from his leash, as if afraid it would rise up on its own and attack him. The pup was probably scared of a lot of things right now. 

His grip on the steering wheel was getting tighter, and he didn’t notice until now that his scent was growing in rage. The pup was quiet though, not speaking and not moving. Somehow that didn’t help Matches’ rising anger. 

Matches mentally shook his head and tried to calm his scent as he pulled up into the garage of one of his more finer safe houses. This one was for Matches Malone, usually reserved for guests and more informal meetings. It was also the only safe house with a second separate room. Richard definitely needed his own space. 

He parked next to the elevator in his designated parking space, cutting the engine and swiftly exiting the vehicle. He rounded the car, but paused in front of the back passenger door. 

He did not want to use the leash. He did not want to use the leash. 

Matches took a deep breath of musky Gotham air, currently free from oppressive fearful scent of the omega. Then he opened the door. 

The pup was offering up his leash, hand trembling and head bowed, but the red leash was right there. Three years, Matches was reminded, Richard had been Tony Zucco’s omega slave for three years. 

Matches didn’t take the leash. He did not want to.

“I’d rather not use the leash.” He started, trying to exude more calming scents but he probably failed. “Are you going to run?”

It was hardly a choice, a mockery of freedom dangled in front of the pup.

Sour fear thrummed down to a damp disdain.

 “No Alpha.” 

Matches’ hold on the car door tightened. This pup was so young. Too young. 

“Good. Then let’s get going.” Matches said, backing up from the pup to give him space, but also shielding the pup from the rest of the (admittedly empty) garage. 

The omega pup climbed out delicately, holding both his own leash and clutching the borrowed coat like a vise. Luckily there wasn’t much damage to the car, but that wasn’t what he was most worried about. 

The pup stepped away and Matches closed the car door, but contemplated carefully before moving. 

“Walk with me. Not behind.” He said, because while he may not know much about abused omegas, he knew many alphas liked their omegas to walk behind them as some odd form of dominance. Matches was not going to let this pup out of his sight. 

The pup nodded, and Matches walked on. 

It was only then that he noticed Richard didn’t have any shoes. 

It was a short journey, with the elevator right there and Matches’ floor being the third to the top, it was an easy route. 

Matches’ hand hovered behind the pup’s back the entire time, not in case the pup ran but to protect him. He tried not to touch, but couldn’t help a few brushes of his wrist against the back of the coat. It wasn’t any sort of formal scenting, but it soothed him and hopefully helped the omega at least feel protected. Although the Omega might think his intentions ill and despite the pheromone dousing, the pup’s fear was evermore potent. 

The elevator ride was quiet, though Matches grimaced at the few drops on the ground coming from the omega. Richard would need a shower, which means he would need clothes. Matches does not have child sized clothes in his safe house. Hmm. 

The elevator chimed, barely taking him from his thoughts as he now had to figure out how to clothe his new charge. He really wasn’t prepared for this one. 

The pup stayed quiet and still as Matches unlocked the door and waved the omega in. Richard didn’t move too far in though before standing off to the side to make room for Matches. 

After entering he turned and locked the door, feeling another tiny stab of guilt on top of everything else to have locked the omega in so blatantly. It’s fine, he would tell himself, he just needs to keep the omega safe and it was safe in here with no other Alphas. Yes. 

He turned to face the pup and noticed the slight shaking of his legs. Cold probably, if it wasn’t the fear. 

“I would like for you to take a shower.” Matches started, he didn’t like how he worded it, but he couldn’t turn a complete 180, he still had to be Matches Malone. Though it didn’t mean he couldn’t tone it down later. 

The pup ducked his head. 

“Follow me.”

The pup also had various wounds he’d like to check, but first things first. Shower. He’d have to be clear Matches was not expecting anything sexual with this, but that should be easy. 

He made his way through the apartment, heading for the master bedroom bathroom purely because it was bigger and had the necessary soap. He’ll have to buy the kid his own soap, another thing on the list. He should actually write this list. 

The pup followed, quiet as a ghost. 

Matches flipped up the light switch and stepped back to give the pup some space to come inside. The pup had some new tremors. He should do something about that, and like, maybe address some things.

“We will not be having sex.” Matches told the boy.

Excellent, couldn’t get more clear. 

“You may use whatever soap you please, I’ll admit I was not prepared to receive an Omega so I’ll have to find you some other clothes to change into. Take as long as you need in the shower, I would like to check you for wounds afterwards. And if you’re hungry we can eat after that.”

There, instructions and expectations moving forwards, brilliant. 

Richard’s scent wavered, a bit of shock and confusion seeping in but his control reigned it back in. Richard nodded, then lifted his leash. 

Matches shook his head. “We will not be needing this.” He telegraphed his movements, reaching for the leash but then also going for the pup’s neck. The pup’s breath caught, but his head tilted for access, pumping out some extra submission just in case. 

Matches rumbled pleasantly at the compliance, and to soothe the nervous omega. He doubt it made much of a difference.

He made quick work of the red collar and frowned at the deep bruises there. He resisted rubbing sadly on the boy’s neck, not wanting to grab where he shouldn’t. The pup did not feel safe with him yet, he would not bend these rules any more than necessary. 

Matches tucked the leash into his pocket and out of sight. He left the pup and turned on the shower, making sure it was warm at the very least. The pup hadn’t moved and Matches was glad, he nodded to the pup and left the bathroom, closing the door with a reminder he would get him some clothes. 

Now outside all alone with no one to pretend around, Bruce covered his face with his hands. He left the bedroom and went out into the kitchen before releasing any anguished groans. 

He had a whole entire living being in his bathroom, that just… belonged to him now. He was massively under prepared. 

List, he needs a list. Lists make sense, he can make and deal with a list right now. 

His pup depends on it. 

Chapter Text

Alpha Matches let him shower alone. 

Taking off the leash made sense but the entire collar was gone now. Dick had gotten snippets of rage from the alpha, but at least he knew it was because he was possessive. And man was this Alpha possessive. Dick was glad to get rid of Alpha Zucco, he would not complain about it. 

However he was just given to a whole new hell to learn. 

But that’s for later, he was given a task and a time table. Sort of. He could work with this. He would take advantage of every shower he was able to. 

So Dick got rid of the barely clothes that Zucco had him wear most of the time, but he cared for the pinstripe coat and folded it on the counter. He really didn’t want to make his new Alpha mad, especially if he was this possessive. Sure he was more worried about the car than his suit, but now that the car wasn’t in the equation, Dick should be careful. 

He got into the shower, glad to get rid of the unbearable stink of urine. He simply stood there for a few minutes, letting the warm water rain down on him. 

New Alpha. New horrors. It could be better though! It could also be so much worse. 

Matches said he wanted to try out Dick at a party. 

Matches also said they would not be having sex. 

Confusing. But for the moment, things were good. He was getting a shower, and later food possibly! Matches also wanted to ‘check for wounds’ but as much as he wasn’t surprised he also wasn’t looking forward to that. Being manhandled like an object was never fun, he didn’t know whether to hope for a paid off doctor to visit or if Matches would do it himself. Both options felt equally terrible and terrifying. On the brighter side, hopefully his new clothes were better. Hopefully he will still be able to eat later. Matches didn’t promise, but he hoped anyway.

Hope is so strange. 

Dick only hoped for obtainable things, because hope of rescue, of freedom, was far too painful. Hope of ever feeling the love of a family, of people who actually loved him, died that awful night three years ago. He could only hope for the best in his given circumstance, and oh boy, those hopes were low. But they were obtainable. 

He could find joy, every now and then, in sparse moments of respite and relief between the sexual slavery. 

Matches, despite his earlier statement, didn’t own a party house. At least, this house wasn’t the party house, meaning he didn’t have to associate this place with the parties. Of course assuming Matches didn’t use him at home. 

Matches was odd, he seemed to not want Dick that way, even said it explicitly, at least for right now. That was the trick, the string attached, the other shoe to drop. Dick wasn’t his style, but only for now. Dick would only grow, and then Dick was fair game. 

It’s fine, even if he got handsy early, Dick was not as presumptuous to assume Matches would truly leave him alone until he was more appealing. But at the very least, he could hope it wasn’t as often as Zucco. Given the evidence, it was an obtainable hope. Dick would never say no to less time spent on laps and more time on his own. Even if Matches said he wasn’t prepared for an Omega, he should be accommodating if he wanted Dick to grow up. Hopefully.

Unless not wanting to have sex with him yet also means pretending he didn’t exist until he appealed to him. That might be an issue. But Matches had already mentioned food, so he could hope he would at least get fed. Dick couldn’t get older and have more ‘appeal’ if he didn’t eat after all. 

Or. Worst case scenario. Matches sells Dick out to whoever he wants when he himself doesn't want him. That would be terrible. Zucco did that for a while when he was busy with other things, claiming his omega needed to be busy lest he forget what he was good for. 

Dick never forgot, but he could hope. 

Zoning back into his shower, Dick made quick work of the soaps, scrubbing his hair and body as hard as he dared. If Matches wanted to view him afterwards, he’d have to be extra clean. 

And Dick just wanted to be free of big awful hands for even just a moment. 

Even if scratching at his scent glands made him hiss in pain, luckily the inflammation was going down. Nasty Alpha Zucco gave him the worst sicknesses. But at least he got treatment for it, there wasn’t much he could do now except be kind to his glands. Not that Zucco much cared for that. Hopefully Matches would rather him heal. That was obtainable. 

Considering how possessive he was, he’d probably let him heal just to spite Zucco. That would be interesting.

Dick didn’t like the possessive types. It’s one thing to submit to something you don’t want to do, but to do it consistently? Sure, Dick was Zucco’s sex slave for three years, but it was impossible for Zucco to mess with him for more than a few hours a day. Sure that’s when his goons came in, but they had other jobs, a life to get back to. 

But here? With an Alpha this possessive? Dick was in the city, in a house almost. He was wary of such a place, if Alpha Matches wanted to be… domestic with him. Dick would probably be forced to spend every waking moment Matches was home with Matches, plastered to his side at all times. Yeesh. 

As much as Dick used to love hugs and cuddles, he’d rather not with Alphas. Just. No. 

He was not looking forward to stinking of Matches. He picked up on the subtle scenting he was doing on the way in. This hope was a stretch, the evidence proved opposite in fact- but hopefully the urine was a one time thing. 

Zucco had peed on him before, it was nothing new, but with an Alpha this obsessed with his scent being on Dick? Yeah there wasn’t much hope for this one. 

Hopefully, as long as Dick let him scent him regularly, in a normal way, he wouldn’t resort to that. That’s the hope. 

Lots of new hope, lots of new danger. New Alpha. Same dance, different partner. 

Dick got out of the shower, yanking on the towel on the rung provided. He dried off, but didn’t comb his hair, if he didn’t have clothes he certainly did not have one of those. 

He was done though, and now he had to question weather or not to leave the bathroom with the towel on or off. Zucco would be outraged at the idea of him trying to cover up, but if Matches didn’t want him that way… but he still required an inspection… 

Truly the most dangerous part of being a sex slave was the decisions. 

Dick ended up wearing the towel like a cape, it hid his body superficially and was laughably easy to get rid of. Whether Matches wanted him clothed or not, he’d be naked by the end of the night. Even if Matches didn’t want him sexually just yet, he’d still need to claim him as his omega. 

Steeling his nerves, he left the bathroom holding his towel cape near his neck. 

The bedroom was empty, and that’s when Dick noticed Matches’ scent was not the same as the soap bottles he used. Whoops? Well, Matches would fix that with a scenting anyway. He mentally prepared to check out once Matches got started. Hopefully no lap dancing would be involved.

Dick didn’t have to wait long though, Matches brushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside. The alpha paused, his nostrils flaring. Oh, he was probably getting Dick’s scent for the first time. 

With both Zucco’s and Matches’ scent washed away, Dick was able to smell himself for the first time in a while. 

It smelled a lot more sour than it was supposed to be, hot with rage and fear and everything in between. He knew his scent was supposed to be more dry, dusty like the chalk him and his family used in the circus. But light like a summer breeze tickling at the senses. His scent now was just a shadow of that, tainted, deep and dark. 

Alpha Matches regained himself, but didn’t show any other outward reaction. Dick didn’t know what to make of that, so he ignored it. 

“Good.” Alpha Matches nodded, walking over with a rather small bundle of clothing in his hand. Dick only felt a tad disappointed in his dashed hope about clothes. 

Matches sat on the bench at the end of the bed, motioning with his hand for Dick to come closer. 

Dick took a deep breath, here we go. 

“I’m just going to check for any serious wounds. I’ll also ask a few questions.” Matches said, which sounded nice. He was sure the actual exam would not be. It never was. 

Dick was prepared to drop the towel, but Matches reached for his free hand instead. He examined his hand, fingers, then up his arm. He didn’t touch beyond the initial grab of his hand though, all the raking done by his focused eyes. 

Turning over his hand revealed the angry red scent gland, and the heavy bruising on his wrist. 

“Your neck scent glands have a similar irritation, can you explain that?” Matches gruffed, hooded eyes narrow and scent leaking his upset nature. 

Dick breathed quietly. “Alpha Zucco got me sick. My glands are still a bit irritated but I’ve had medicine and should be fine with some rest.”

Hopefully Matches didn’t interpret that as his omega demanding something, but if he wanted to know what happened that’s the truth. And maybe Dick just wanted to see if Matches would let him rest. 

Matches was frowning, but he seemed to do that a lot. His scent spiked with anger, but Dick could tell it wasn’t aimed at him. 

The only upside to possessive Alphas, he supposed, depending on the type of possessive of course. Maybe Dick could get a few freedoms if he played his cards right. 

Maybe he could even be let outside!

That… that was too big of a hope right now. 

He let his scent sting with submission just in case, he did not want an angry Alpha on his hands.

Matches rumbled, acknowledging and accepting his submission. 

That was twice now he accepted his submission without any extra submission signs. Odd. Zucco would have had him on his knees at the very least.

“Alright. Easy enough.” The alpha said lowly, as if to himself. Still unhappy, but still not at Dick. “Does it hurt to scent things?”

Matches was looking at his neck now, a hand coming up to his shoulder. His hand laid surprisingly lighty, his thumb easily able to caress somewhere near his collarbone. 

Dick swallowed the whine at the gentle touch that caused such stupid fear in him. After three years, he really shouldn’t be this scared at a simple caress. 

“Yes.” He answered truthfully, skin burning where the thumb was and wishing with every molecule in his body that he would stop. “But it’s getting better.”

His breathing stuttered as another pass of the thumb brushed against his throat. The flinch was not so easily concealed. 

By some miracle, Matches stopped. Both of the Alpha’s massive hands retreated. 

“S-sorry.” Dick stumbled the word out, bowing his head and whining.

“You’re okay.” Matches said in an impossibly soft tone. His scent filled with mourning. “I shouldn’t have rubbed. I apologize.”

Dick could hear his heart thumping, but he stared off to the side in confusion. That didn’t make any sense. 

No matter. Dick took in another shuddering breath and shoved the towel off his shoulders. He just wanted to get it over with. 

You’d also think after three years of being a sex slave he would be less scared around Alphas, turns out fear doesn't work that way. Not when 3 of your 12 years of living was spent away from any semblance of safety.  You don’t just ‘get used’ to being a sex slave, it’s scary every single time. What he was ‘used to’ was the expectations. 

He was used to being on his knees, that didn’t make his knees not hurt when he spent hours in the same position.  He was used to waking up smelling rancid and feeling incredibly sore if not downright painful. 

He was used to being used. That didn’t mean he got numb to it. They would have gotten rid of him long ago if he ever got numb to it all. Doesn't matter if it happened one time or fifty or a thousand. It still hurt, it was still scary. 

He was used to being naked in front of his Alpha, that didn’t mean it wasn’t scary. 

He didn’t see Matches’ initial reaction to his sudden strip, he grit his teeth to not whine when he realized Matches might have wanted to do it himself, or something more entertaining. But the only change in the Alpha was a sliver of shock weaving through his mournful and angry scent. 

“I won’t touch, Richard.” He said again in that soft voice. “Can you turn slowly for me? Arms out?”

Dick swallowed around the whine in his throat, baring it as he did as he was told, letting his eyes focus on nothing as he did so. 

Matches didn’t touch. 

Though his scent did sour significantly when Dick had his back facing him. The years of abuse certainly shows there, and Dick could only imagine it was because of possessiveness that he got that upset about it. There couldn’t be any other reason.

Luckily Dick hadn’t done anything worth being whipped in awhile, Zucco wasn’t a fan of blood in the bedroom either. So the only thing Matches was seeing were scars and bruises. Signs of use.

Zucco may not have liked blood, but he liked bruises. ‘A good omega always has a few bruises’ he’d say. 

So yes. Being around Alphas was still terrifying. 

“Are you hurt anywhere? Joints? Arms? Legs?” Matches then asked when Dick was back to facing him. Dick didn’t know what to make of his new alpha wondering about wounds that were not so easily seen. 

Dick considered himself and answered honestly. “My wrists and ankles hurt the most, Alpha. And my hips.”

“You clean yourself up?” 

Dick swallowed. Was he not supposed to? “Ye- yes Alpha.”

“Alright.”

And… that was it. 

That was it?

He didn’t even check his teeth, or between his legs, he just… took his word for it? Maybe it was a pre-exam exam. Then he remembered; Matches wasn’t expecting him so of course he wouldn’t have a doctor on hand to properly examine him. And if he truly was Matches’ first omega, he wouldn’t know how to do it correctly anyway. 

Well. That made this part easy, he supposed, but that just means the real exam with an actual doctor would be later. Woohoo.

And then Matches was reaching behind him where he had set down the pitiful clothing. He handed it out to Dick, that’s when he realized it was only a shirt. 

“I’ll get you some more fitting clothes, but for now you can wear one of my shirts. It should cover everything just fine.” Matches himself seemed a little nervous at this. Maybe it was pride. The man was known for his suits, maybe he wanted his omega to be the same but was loath to not be able to do so right away. Dick would wear a suit matching Matches if it meant he wasn’t in use all that often. Any clothes that covered him properly were a win in his book. 

Dick took the shirt, and it was long, and luckily the head hole, while large, was not big enough for it to fall off his shoulders. Smoothing the fabric down, he found it was like a nightgown on him and did indeed cover him quite well. 

It was a little awkward with no underwear, but Dick had gotten used to such things, and this was certainly a step up from the clothes Zucco had him wearing. Dick had some solid clothes for once! Score!

He didn’t realize his joy leaked into his scent until Matches’ soured. 

Dick gave a short apologetic whine, ducking his head properly as he clenched the bottom of his new shirt.

Despite the good coverage, it was laughably easy to access whatever the Alpha wanted. 

Matches rumbled soothingly, though that did nothing for Dick, “You’re alright Richard. I’m glad you like the shirt.”

That’s right. He was a possessive Alpha, even if he wasn’t pleased with the clothes himself, he still must be happy at the idea his omega was wearing his clothes right? Maybe…

“A-Alpha…” Dick started hesitantly. Zucco let him talk on good days, he’d have to learn what Alpha Matches wants. 

“I’m listening.” 

Relief trickled down his spine, but the anxiety in his throat only tightened. He kept his eyes averted, and lifted his chin in offer. An offer he was scared of, but was used to making. 

“Di-did you want to scent me Alpha?”

Matches was quiet for a moment, his scent unchanging while Dick waited in fear. 

Then Matches leaned slightly forward, offering up his wrists. “Where do you want me to scent?”

Dick blinked, confused and warily staring at the offered hands. No Alpha asks where the Omega wanted to be scented. At least Dick made the right call, Matches did want to scent him, but this was… weird.

He also had to answer. Dick had to think fast, lest Matches moved on and did everything himself despite giving Dick some form of control here.

“I- um…” Dick knew where Alphas scented, he knew which ones would satisfy his Alpha, then he quietly debated where he could keep the Alpha from scenting. Well, he was given a choice, if this was the wrong one Dick would soon know. He was used to this, dangerous choices. It was still terrifying. 

“Can you- you can scent my head.” Dick stuttered out in his haste to answer. He was so lucky Matches waited that long. But one place would certainly not be enough. “And um- my- my wrists.” Even though that would hurt. It still didn’t feel like enough. “My- my neck?”

Dread pooled in his stomach, his scent souring more without his permission. He did not want to be scruffed. Oh please don’t take that as an invitation to scruff him. 

“Are you sure?” Matches asked. 

For all intents and purposes it should have been a mocking question, demeaning and cruel. Instead he sounded worried, scent filled with concern. 

Despite the fear seeping out of his every pore, Dick nodded his head. If Matches liked Dick being scented so much, then Dick would have to get used to being scented more often. Scents don’t often stick to him when he’s scared, an unfortunate byproduct of being raped for three years. 

“Thank you for letting me scent you.” Matches said, hands finally coming towards the anxious omega. “I’ll be gentle.”

Dick didn’t mean to, but he closed his eyes, bracing for the hands. He flinched at the first contact, but immediately pressed his head in the Alpha’s big hands. This needed to happen. 

Matches rumbled some more, and true to his word, gently swiped his hands through Dick’s hair, leaving his scent on every pass. 

He thinks, at some point a long time ago, Dick enjoyed being scented, enjoyed being covered in an Alpha’s smell. It made him feel protected, loved, and wanted. 

Now it just feels like Alpha’s plastering their names along his skin, to be worn like a participation prize. It wasn’t special, it certainly wasn’t safe, and there was too much ‘want’ than he was comfortable with. 

This felt different from both of those. Maybe it was because Matches was being gentle, maybe it was because Matches wasn’t interested in sex right now. Scenting was still scary, but… he could get used to this. 

Being covered in an Alpha who wasn’t full of lust was… different. He liked how it wasn’t as heavy, or that usually when an Alpha had their hand in his hair it was for very different reasons, but this felt… nice. Even if his skin prickled in unease, the Alpha’s hands didn’t wander, and they were incredibly gentle. 

He hadn’t combed his hair after the shower, but Matches seemed to repurpose his hands just to get the knots out of his hair. Dick’s breathing evened out, swaying with the movements of Matches’ hands in his hair. 

His head was thoroughly scented that’s for sure, but Matches might not be thinking about that considering he seemed pretty dedicated to impersonating a comb. 

It came crashing down when Dick himself almost crashed, tipping over with his eyes feeling heavy. 

Matches caught him by his arm and straightened him, causing Dick’s eyes to burst open and take in a shuddering breath. 

“Sorry.” They both said at the same time. 

Dick looked down, clenching at the bottom of his shirt again. That was unexpected. Mega scary. But it didn’t… hurt. 

“Sorry.” He squeaked again, offering his wrists up for the Alpha to scent.

Matches eyes crinkled at the edges. “I think I’ve scented your head enough for the next few days. Unless you want me to?”

Dick’s breathing hiccuped and he pulled his arms back. He couldn’t forget himself though. “If- if you think just the head is fine…” 

He cringed at his own wording, but Matches didn’t seem to care. 

“Alright. I won’t scent you anywhere you don’t ask.” Matches was quiet for a moment, then continued. “I won’t ask you to scent me, but if you feel like it you’re more than welcome to.”

Dick held his arms close, suddenly wishing for the warmth of the shower back. Alpha Zucco had never wanted Dick to scent him back, if he did it was always a byproduct of being ‘in use’. He couldn’t fathom why Matches would want his omega to smear him in his fear scent. If it was something Alpha Matches’ wanted though, he would have to get used to that, he supposed. At least he was sticking true to his earlier statement. Dick wasn’t required to scent until his glands healed fully. That was good.

Maybe Dick could actually get his original scent to come back. If Matches left him alone long enough… hopefully. 

It might be a stretch, but there was a viable chance and Dick was going to take it. 

“Alright.” Matches spoke again and stood up, making the anxious Omega step back. “I’m not known to be the best cook, but I can make some Mac’n’cheese. Or, actually I should probably ask first. Do you have any food allergies?”

Dick shook his head, though he carefully eyed the Alpha. He was acting differently. More relaxed maybe? Was it because of the scenting? 

He was not… cheerful exactly, but he sounded lighter than he had before, losing a certain edge and gruffness to his voice. Did scenting really make him that much more… nice? This certainly wasn’t the Alpha Matches Dick had met an hour ago. That was… new. Odd. 

This could be a good thing, but he could also see it be a terribly bad thing. Being more ‘domestic’ was always a scary slippery slope, harder to play along and harder to anticipate the bad stuff. 

But… but if Matches really didn’t want to have sex with him yet, maybe he would be nice, actually domestic instead of weird and scary sexual domestic. 

Either way, it seems like Dick would be spending some time with his new Alpha in the kitchen. For better or for worse. 

“Good.” Matches said, nodding. “Would you like Mac’n’cheese or do you have a preference for something else?”

Again, the question seemed light, like he was talking about the weather or something equally stupid. It still felt like a test though. 

“I’ll eat whatever you make Alpha.” Dick said, because that was the correct answer. Dick actually did like Mac’n’cheese, so this would be fine. 

Matches looked uncomfortable with that answer. “If you like anything specific you can tell me. Again, I’m not the best cook, but we can figure something out so you can eat.”

It was weird. His Alpha was being… vulnerable with him. Admitting he was bad at something but not demanding his Omega to make up for it, not blaming others or getting angry. He was just… stating it. 

It made Dick anxious, because he wasn’t used to Alphas like this. He didn’t like his previous answer, so Dick will have to amend that. 

“I… I like Mac’n’cheese.” He said quietly, holding onto his arm. 

“Alright. It’s a start.” Matches still seemed unpleased with that answer, but he wasn’t mad. 

The Alpha headed to the kitchen. Without any instructions, Dick was frozen for a moment before carefully following his Alpha. 

Dick waited anxiously next to the counter for whatever would happen next. The kitchen wasn’t small, but it wasn’t big either. There was the fridge and the counters and stove that had cabinets above it. Then there’s the counter/bar Dick was standing next to, the island counter had the sink and the dishwasher, then there was a raised bar that had stools. The bar counter was just above his head. 

He watched Matches get a pot out, then diverted to a closet that turned out to be the pantry and took out a box of Mac’n’cheese. 

Then Matches spied him and abandoned that all together and looked through a different drawer. Dick swallowed an anxious whine, wondering what Matches was expecting him to do. 

Matches then handed him a note pad and a pencil. 

“Here. You can sit at the table and write down your favorite foods and meals while you wait.” His new Alpha said with a nod to the aforementioned dining table right of the kitchen.

Dick took the notepad and pencil, luckily he wasn’t shaking. He might be in shock though. 

Matches left him to return to his pasta making and Dick scuttled around to the dining table. He picked a seat that faced the kitchen, mentally saying it was because it would be easier for Matches to talk to him instead of Dick needing to keep Matches in his sight. 

He stared down at the blank orange notepad, gripping the pencil a little too hard.

List of food, well, he can do that. It wasn’t a question of ‘should’ either, since he was literally asked and should try to not get his Alpha angry. 

Just because Matches didn’t want to have sex with him right now doesn't mean he wouldn’t as punishment. Or worse… a reward. 

Dick cringed at the thought, then quickly wiped the expression off his face. He didn’t know what he would do if Matches asked about his facial expression right then. Luckily the Alpha had his head in the fridge, for… whatever he was looking for.

He wrote down a few foods, Mac’n’cheese right at the top because that was easy. He put down a few fast food restaurants because that’s what Zucco mostly fed him with. Fast food wasn’t great, but it was food. Zucco… really didn’t feed him a whole lot. Zucco liked him small and weak. 

Even at just the thought of his past alpha made his skin prickle in unease. Hopefully the opposite would be the problem here. 

Dick put down a few meals too, ones his family had made him, ones from the circus too. Even put down a few of his favorite fruits. 

But he kept his list small, he didn’t want to demand too much and the list was already halfway down the page. Alphas were always angry when their Omega was needy.  

So Dick put down the pencil and put his hands in his lap, fiddling with the shirt end and warily glancing around. 

There were windows, there was also a living room kind of, it had a couch and TV. There was even a bookshelf but it was mostly empty. 

Glancing over at Matches a few times, Dick was pretty sure that was the second time Matches grabbed the box out of the trash to read the instructions again. Maybe Dick should be more worried about the Alpha’s kitchen skills than he thought.

Dick just wondered where he’d be sleeping. If Matches preferred domesticity would he be required to sleep in bed with the Alpha? Regardless of if they had sex or not, Dick hated sleeping with Alphas. Dick will never understand an Alpha’s need to just… grab. 

“Richard.” 

Dick flinched hard, squeaking in fright as his attention snapped to the Alpha. Luckily he was still in the kitchen, stirring the pot of pasta.

“Sorry to startle you.” He said, giving him an apologetic smile. Dick took a deep breath through his nose and shrugged. “I just wanted to let you know you should also write down anything that you need or want. I don’t currently have a lot of nesting materials so I’ll pick some up. Anything else you need you can write down and I’ll get it for you.”

Matches went back to the pasta and Dick was left staring into nothing. 

Okay this had  to be some sort of trick. 

‘Anything that you need or want’? That’s so… vague. But he couldn’t just… refuse his Alpha. Maybe this is like… the pride thing, the car. Matches liked having the best, and wanted Dick to have it too. Possessive. If Dick had the nice things that meant he belonged to Matches, instead of a stupid omegan collar Matches wanted him just like him. 

Well. He could… he could work with that. 

Dick picked the pencil back up, on a new mission now. 

Pillows, Matches already said he didn’t have nesting materials and dumb Alphas think nesting materials are just blankets, a proper nest had plenty of pillows too. So he put down pillows.

That train of thought led him to happier times that simply made him sad now. His parents' nest was the best. It had so many blankets and pillows, and… and stuffed animals.

He wouldn’t write that down, even if Matches said ‘wants’ too. That memory can stay in the past, stay in the happier times. 

It was just like how he didn’t give Zucco or Matches his preferred name. He didn’t want to ruin it. Alphas always ruin things Dick loved. So he would keep quiet about it. 

Alright, so pillows, he wrote down books as well, though he couldn’t specify any book in particular, he put down the genre ‘fantasy’. He put down movies too, something he could do here while Matches was away, that wasn’t out of the question to ask for.  

Then- then Dick wrote down ‘birth control’. Because Zucco had him on a pill, obviously that wasn’t exchanged along with him. Even if Matches didn’t have sex with him, he’d rather be on something than not. Dick didn’t know how often he’d be with Matches’ goons like he did Zucco’s. Or the parties he mentioned. 

Another small list, but these things felt important. He hesitated before writing down ‘soft clothes’, banking on the fact Matches wanted him to have nice things. It wasn’t weird to make a request like this, but it was weird to have it come from the Alpha first. 

Weird. But hopefully it’ll work out. It should be fine. It was fine. 

“Here you go.” Matches was standing on the other side of the table but reached over to slide him a bowl filled with steaming Mac’n’cheese. 

Dick ducked his head before craning his neck in submission. “Thank you Alpha.” He spoke quietly. Manners were so important, Zucco taught him that.

“Always.” Matches rumbled happily before sitting down himself right across from Dick with his own bowl. “Are you done with your list? You can keep working on it if you need to.”

Dick just shook his head and slid the notepad over. Matches reached out and took it the rest of the way and read it as he ate some pasta. 

Dick took that as his que to eat and noted his utensil was a spoon. Dick liked eating Mac’n’cheese with a fork, but it was fine. He also liked his Mac’n’cheese with a lot of pepper. It was given light salt and pepper so it was fine. 

It was great because this was the first time he ate in awhile. So it was good. 

Matches then grunted, brows furrowed at something on the list. 

Dick froze, stomach plummeting. What did he write down that was wrong?

“Zucco had you on birth control?” Matches asked.

Dick’s gut twisted, wondering what part of that was upsetting to him. He nodded. 

“Do you know which one?” Matches continued. 

Dick shook his head. Zucco just gave him a pill. That’s all. “It- a- it was a pill.” He offered, shoulders scrunching up to his ears before he forced them down. He needed to submit, not go on defense. 

Matches simply nodded. “Alright. We’ll have to wait on that before we get you a new one. It could be dangerous if you start a new pill too early.”

Dick’s heart hammered. He did not… He did not like the sound of that. 

“You’ll…” Dick swallowed, wondering if he was making a horrible decision by speaking up. “You’ll be careful… right?”

Matches put the notepad down. Blood drained from Dick’s face at the Alpha’s now free hands.

Oh he so messed up. That was the absolutely wrong thing to say. How did he think that was a good thing to say?’ He couldn’t just… tell an Alpha how to handle him! Zucco would- he would-

“Richard.” Matches kept his hands on the table. He didn’t move to slap Dick, or yank up the shirt and- “You’re alright. Nobody is going to have sex with you. Nobody.”

Dick was shaking, his knuckles white around the spoon. He could feel his rapidly beating heart in his throat and hear it in his ears. The air felt harsh in his lungs. 

“It’s okay Richard, you’re not in danger. Here.” 

There was a hand coming towards him. Big and Alpha and- 

Dick let loose a scared whine, teeth clenched and eyes screwed closed. “Please- I’m sorry, please don’t- don’t- ill-I’ll be a good omega. I’ll be good! I'm sorry-“

There was an Alpha rumbling above him, entirely too close but not touching. He was saying something but it flew high over his head and out the window. 

Dick’s breathing hitched as the Alpha’s big arms came around him, like iron bars locking him with the Alpha. Dick kept his eyes closed, whining stupidly in scared-help-scared. 

But then the iron bars were gone, he was on something soft. He instantly curled up, clutching his knees to his chest. He didn’t want- he didn’t want them to- no don’t-

Then something was wrapped around him, more soft and… and… it was a blanket. He clutched onto the blanket, hiding his face in its folds. It was dark and it was warm but it was just him. Just him.

Another heavy thing was draped over him, he squeaked, but it was another blanket. It wasn’t… it wasn’t a person. It wasn’t an Alpha. It was just him.

Dick felt his heart jackrabbiting in his chest, gasping in breaths that were both too shallow and fast. Dick he felt this before, his hand clutched to his clothed chest. “Al-Alpha.” 

He needed help, Zucco didn’t like it when he panicked. Being- being held, or or used, it brought him back. Zucco said he needed it. Needed to be touched to be calmed down. He needed his Alpha. 

“Alpha!” He whined, eyes tunneling but he searched for his Alpha anyway. 

Matches… Matches wouldn’t leave him alone right? He was possessive! And- and liked domesticity! He would- he would be around! 

His scent wafted over, smoke, and something like leather but not. Dick didn’t care much, it meant his Alpha was near and he needed him. 

“Al-Alpha.” He shakily scrambled one hand out from his curled form, blindly reaching for the man. 

A big warm hand collided with his own, making his heart stutter and hiccup. He hold onto the Alpha’s hand like it was the only thing keeping him there.

“Richard, I'm here. What do you need?” Matches rumbling was softer than he remembered, a tone Zucco would only ever use to mock. Matches weren't mocking though. 

Matches… Matches never had an omega before. The detail made it through his panicked mind to tell him that no, Matches had no idea what he was supposed to do here. 

“Al-Alpha, need you.” Dick whimpered out, stretching his head to the side to allow the Alpha his neck. “Please.”

“Richard.” Matches didn’t smell in distress, but the word smelled of it anyway. “I'm not going to mark you, you’re having a panic attack. You need to breathe. I'm not going to hurt you, or have sex with you.” 

That… that didn’t matter, Dick needed his Alpha!

Dick yanked Matches' hand closer, bringing it into his blanket burrow, luckily Matches allowed the movement. He put his face in the Alpha’s hand, though he was shaking like a leaf, the Alpha’s hand was steady and firm. 

He held his hand to his face, but it wasn’t quite… no it wasn’t right. He whined and tugged the hand more, the hand moved up and to the side, cradling the side of his face and Dick found it. He shoved his nose into the Alpha’s wrist, though his scent was nervous it was strong and present and his Alpha’s. 

Dick stayed there, holding the Alpha’s scent close to his nose even as the hand connected to it rubbed gently where it could. 

Dick sniffed a few more times before raising his head, heart thumping at a more acceptable rate. Matches was crouched next to him on the floor, arm stretched into Dick’s little burrow of blankets. 

Dick blinked at the Alpha hand in his possession, it had stopped moving and Dick didn’t know if he should push it away or keep holding on. 

“Hey chum,” Matches smiled kindly, scent clam but still with a zing of nervousness. “You back with me?”

Dick nodded, “I'm sorry Alpha.” 

Matches shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. In fact, I'm sorry instead. I should have been more clear earlier.” 

Dick’s eyebrows scrunched, not noticing his hands had grabbed the Alpha’s harshly again. 

“We’ll get you on birth control as soon as we can, but it’s dangerous to switch medications so soon after each other.” Matches was explaining, “that being said, nobody is going to have sex with you. I know you’re scared about getting pregnant, but it won’t happen. It won't.”

Dick squeezed the hand in his possession, trying to digest what Matches was saying. 

“I am your Alpha. I'm going to take care of you. No sex required or involved. I don’t want that.”

Dick took a shaky breath through his nose, eyes flicking down to the hand, and the scent gland. Matches… Matches didn’t smell interested. His scent never got heavy with lust, even back at Zucco’s. 

How…? Why? Matches was an Alpha, he’s… he’s supposed to be interested. 

“You’re…” Dick sounded wrecked, but this time not by anything an Alpha did to him like in the past. “Y-You’re not gonna let anyone else use me either?” 

The Alpha’s scent tinged with anger. “No. Never.” Then he did a half shrug, “not until you find your own mate, someone you picked and are happy with. Nobody else.”

Dick blinked at him. Matches… Matches wanted him to find a mate?? That Dick chose? That- that was- that was so much. Too big of a hope. That was impossible. Not obtainable. It hurt.

He narrowed his eyes at his Alpha, somehow able to wield some anger and bravery to talk back. “I don’t believe you.” He whispered. 

Matches sighed, but he seemed… relieved. “You don’t have to believe me right away. I want you to be happy, and with everything you’ve gone through that won’t happen overnight. I’ll work with you until you are.”

That made… even less sense. He stared blankly at his Alpha. This Alpha must be broken or something. No Alpha would say that, or any of these things. No Alpha would ever promise anything like it either. 

Dick let go of the Alpha’s hand, pushing it out of his blanket burrow and eyeing the man warily.  

Matches just nodded and stood up. The man’s knees creaked, a sound and feeling Dick knew all too well. Dick just stared at him blankly. This… this was just so weird. 

“I’ll go reheat your pasta. You need to eat.” And with that Matches walked away. 

Dick took the moment to rearrange himself and the blankets. He was on the couch, on the side closest to the window. He couldn’t see out exactly, just up. It was dark, night had fallen between swapping Alphas and showers and Mac’n’cheese. But Gotham was always cloudy, so he only had a void to stare into. 

“Here.”

Dick didn’t flinch this time, either too tired or too detached to the situation to flinch. 

Alpha Matches slid the bowl into the space provided, Dick let his hands curl around the ceramic. It was warm and steaming again. Matches also deposited a cup of water onto the adjacent corner table.  

“You’re going to have your own room. I won’t enter unless I have permission and you can build your nest and have whatever you want in there too.” Matches informed him. 

Dick just ate his Mac’n’cheese quietly, taking small bites to reintroduce food to the previously very anxious stomach. He was glad he hadn’t thrown up, though Zucco had trained that out of him too. 

“Okay.” He responded. 

“Okay.” Matches repeated. 

And it was. 

Chapter Text

Over the next few weeks Dick gets used to his new normal. He learns quite a few things.

First of all, Matches really was bad in the kitchen. Dick had never had an Alpha that triggered the smoke alarm over simple pancakes before. Not that his past Alphas would cook for him… they simply made sure he didn’t die which is not the same thing. Dick’s meals consisted of cans of soup, sandwiches, fruits, other various snacking items and anytime Matches would come back with fast food. 

Which led to the next thing he learned. Matches had the weirdest schedule. He did leave during the day, but also apparently randomly in the middle of the night? Matches, like Zucco, had a life outside of his Omega and this house, so sometimes he left before breakfast. Then there were the weird times Matches would leave late at night or early early in the morning. 

None of it was very consistent either. Throughout the week Matches would leave at a certain time, but then the next day leave at a completely different time. But when Dick checked the clock at the same time the same day in the next week, Matches would leave late that time. It was weird.  

So it was only sometimes that Dick had breakfast with Matches. Usually he just had cereal unless Matches decided to get creative and trigger the smoke detector again. 

Despite being gone a lot at random intervals, Matches made an effort to try to be there every night for dinner. He only missed dinner a small handful of times, Dick didn’t eat dinner the first time  Matches missed it, thinking his Alpha wouldn’t want him to eat without him. However when Matches found out he insisted Dick eat even if he wasn’t there. So Dick ate when Matches missed dinner. 

Dinner was usually some frozen thing they threw in the oven for half an hour or the microwave for five minutes. It was rarely fancy, but Dick wasn’t used to having dinner most of the time anyway so it was certainly a step up for him. 

Sometimes they accidentally got gross food, and Matches wouldn’t force him to eat it. He’d just throw it away and help Dick get something different. That was a scary night, but it worked out in his favor by the end. 

A lot of things always ended up in his favor somehow.

It was awkward most times, Dick really wasn’t used to an audience when eating. When in use? Sure, when Zucco wasn’t using him himself there was always a crowd. Sure he hated that, not purely because of the nature of the fact, but because it twisted something Dick once held dear. 

Dick used to love crowds, performing, even just people in general. The circus made meeting people fun, it was a way to find light and joy, everyone always had a refreshing take on this or that and the other and Dick loved listening and sharing his own. 

Dick used to love that. Now the idea of being watched even by one person was enough to make his skin crawl. 

Despite Matches’ many comforting words, meal times with his Alpha was stressful. Every time Matches unlocked the door and came in Dick wondered if that would be the moment everything would be ruined. Zucco never called for Dick or came to his room without purpose. There was always a reason, a purpose the Omega had to fulfil. 

He was scared his new Alpha would change every time he came home, that something had happened while he was out and decided Dick was old enough. 

Dick felt like he was holding onto a bar of soap, clinging tightly to the nice Alpha and too afraid to do anything else in fear that moving even one finger would make everything good he gained in the past few weeks slip from his life. 

So having meals with his Alpha was scary. It was always fine, but it was new and scary. But even then, he did get used to the routine. That fear spiked every time the door opened, but it always simmered down to a low anxiety as the night wore on. 

Matches never suddenly turned on him, never demanded anything in return, not even to sit on his lap. Matches… was gentle, it wasn’t hard to see. That didn’t make it any less scary, he wouldn’t know what to expect when the other shoe finally drops. 

But for now the other shoe wasn’t dropped, and Dick was going to enjoy it as much as his anxiety allowed him to. 

Next up, Matches certainly did go to the store and get him things. Dick got a bunch of pillows for his nest and it was a very good nest. He had so many blankets and pillows and Matches didn’t enter his room, much less his nest so it was very Alpha-free. Matches even let him have some food in there, stuff like chips and other non-perishables. 

His scent was even becoming lighter, though it still seemed stained with fear, it was less overpowering. His glands even healed and while still tender, Dick had the satisfaction of scenting all his new nesting materials and reveled in the fact there wasn’t one inch of Alpha in his nest. 

All of that, Matches assured him didn’t require any payback. Though Dick still worried about Matches coming in during the night, his door always stayed firmly closed. 

Even when he woke up whimpering, he would curl up as much as possible and simply watch the door, waiting for the Alpha to come in and take what he was owed. Even at the odd hours that Matches would be up for, Dick always woke up at the sound of movement outside his room and laid in wait. He never fell back asleep until the moving was done. 

It… it was still better than the sleep he would get at Zucco’s. He wasn’t being used here, so there was no chance of Dick falling asleep after hours and hours of servicing his Alpha and his goons. Those nights were… rough to say the least. Though he does freak out sometimes when he wakes up, frantically checking to see if any Alpha had snuck in. If Dick hated falling asleep while they used him, he hated waking up to being used. At least when he was asleep he didn’t have to worry about it, but waking up was always a harsh beginning promising a long and dreadful rest of the day.

He always had to re-scent his nest because he’d wake up pumping out fear stink, he didn’t want his nest to smell like bad memories. Even with no Alpha scent in his nest, it was distressing to have a nest that permeated fear just as much as he did.

…Anyway.

He got his own soaps and was allowed to shower as much as he desired. It was excellent. Though despite feeling the need more often than not, Dick refrained from showering too much. Being wet and naked multiple times a day was worse for his mental state than not showering was. Especially with how unpredictable Matches coming in and out was, luckily lunch was a pretty safe time.

He got his books and it turns out the TV had a ton of subscriptions on it so Dick basically had access to every movie in existence ever. Dick spent a lot of time on the couch, even made some weird mini-nest that was enjoyable. It still stank of fear but it was fine. It was his. Alpha Matches never touched it even if he did get near a few times.  

He even got the clothes he was promised. They actually fit him and they weren’t anything like what Zucco had him wearing. They were soft, they were full length and he even had a few jackets! Dick hoped that meant he’d be using them for what they were meant for, the outside!  

It did make Dick wonder though, did Matches himself get these things? Did he get his goons to do it? Did he just order the stuff online? 

It made him think, with a bit of a smile, Matches in a Walmart quietly debating over the quality of two different bags of apples. Heh. Big mob boss squinting at grapes trying to figure out if they’re good or not. Alphas may be scary, but sometimes they were just… idiots. Matches was more amusing than most. 

That was the next thing he figured out. Matches was… easy. Not easy like easy to service or easy to avoid or even easy to please. Matches was just… pleasant in a way Dick hadn’t met in a long time. 

Matches didn’t get mad over questions Dick had, and actually seemed to want responses to his own comments. It was weird, Zucco rarely got… conversational, but Matches was a lot easier to converse with comparatively. Most Alphas ignored him, or forcefully shut him up if he made some sort of noise they didn’t like. Matches was kind. 

It made the Alpha a bit scarier. Dick didn’t know what would set the Alpha off, or again, when the other shoe would drop. When would he turn, when would Dick suddenly be forced to pay back everything nice was given for so long. 

Dick didn’t like his future, but he was still grateful for the Alpha’s present kindness. Even if it would run out eventually, he should enjoy it while he had it. He was being kind right now, Dick should be using it to his advantage. 

He repeated that in his mind like a mantra, because what Dick was trying to do might be very stupid. 

“Alpha?” Dick cautiously spoke up from the couch, Gravity Falls playing quietly on the TV.

“Yes?” Matches replied from the kitchen. He was stationed at the kitchen table most times he was home with Dick and they weren’t actively eating, and that’s where he was now. 

Dick tried not to wring his blanket too much, but the nerves had to leave him somehow. His scent didn’t count. “Can- can I open the window?”

Matches set down his paper, if his Aloha was anyone else Dick would have flinched, the motion instead told him Matches was paying more attention now. His Alpha was quiet for a moment, looked outside, and was confused. “It’s raining, Chum.” He said with a hint of amusement. 

A few weeks ago Dick would have dropped his line of question, but now Dick knew he could probe more. Very carefully. Pressing the question tread a fine line between arguing (which Alphas deemed intolerable) and ignoring his Alpha (Alphas hated being ignored. They were right after all, Omegas are just dumb sex beasts meant for nothing more than a hole to-) 

The nickname was also weird. Though it hadn’t been the first time Matches called him ‘Chum’, it was a million times better than any other name an Alpha called him.

Matches never called him ‘Omega’. 

“Yes. B-but it’s not raining hard.” Dick pointed out carefully. Maybe if he could convince his Alpha that it wouldn’t help just his Omega he’d be more inclined? “The- the fresh air would be nice. …Right?”

Matches sighed quietly, but he got up from his seat and walked over. Dick huddled in his little couch nest, just in case, the anxious pool in his gut stirring wildly as the Alpha approached. But as Matches got closer he didn’t get anything alarming from the Alpha’s scent, nor did the Alpha grab him— he passed by Dick and his mini-nest as easily as a breeze. 

“Alright.” Matches said as he undid a few latches on the window and slid it to the side. “It closes when it gets dark okay?”

Dick felt himself smile at the fresh wet draft wafting through the window. “Yes Alpha, thank you.”

He then stretched out his head, not for baring his neck though, but for his Alpha to run a hand through his hair. 

That’s how it worked, it was the only thing that made sense. 

When Dick asked for things he needed to give something back. Dick knew Matches was possessive and loved scenting him, it was a clear choice since sex wasn’t on the table yet. Dick could never truly stop Matches from scenting him if the Alpha suddenly came onto him, but the Alpha was equally as stubborn and wouldn’t scent him unless Dick asked for it. So Dick made sure to ask for it when he asked for other things too.

Sometimes he thinks Matches gives him certain things just so he can scent Dick. It was both terrifying and relieving. At least if Dick was scented, he’d probably get something in return? Matches seemed to like giving him things too, hopefully his ‘payment’ of scenting wouldn’t change. Not until sex was viable at least. Please don’t change, not anytime soon, not when Dick was just getting used to an Alphas scent void of any lust. 

Either way though, scenting kept his Alpha happy, so it wasn’t like Dick could stop letting him scent him. Dick didn’t want to know what a restless upset and angry Alpha Matches looked like. Dick would do anything in his power to keep Matches from being anything like Zucco. Even if it meant being scented when he didn’t want to be. 

It was also just… nice to be scented by his Alpha who didn’t use him. Sometimes he found himself at Matches side after a rough night of sleep. He wouldn’t cuddle, wouldn’t lean or latch on like he might have with his parents, but it was soothing to be closer than usual to the one Alpha that promised he wouldn’t touch. His scent, as possessive as it was, it was also protective. 

So Dick offered his head out and Matches indeed swiped through his hair a few times with a happy Alpha rumble. 

Matches then moved away and Dick could enjoy his open window in peace.

Sure he smelled like Matches now, but long enough next to the window and Dick would be smelling like fresh rain instead of the heavy musk of an Alpha OR his own sour scared Omega. It made him giddy with happiness. 

That’s what this was all about. Dick wanted to go outside. Zucco never let him outside. Dick had gotten pale in his years spent underground, he missed the sun. He missed the rain. He missed the earthy smells that the weather kicked up and all the stars in the night sky. He missed the breeze, the ones that tickle his nose and the others that whip his hair around like a tornado. 

He missed… flying. 

Sitting next to an open window on a lightly raining day in Gotham was as close to that he could get in three years. He needed it. And he was so close. With an Alpha who didn’t have sex as an option right now, it was the one and only chance he had.

He was going to get Matches to let him outside. 

It was still hard to muster up the courage, but he eventually just… asked. Straight up.  

Because the most important thing Dick realized about Matches in the few weeks he’d been with the Alpha was that he really didn’t want sex. At least… not yet. 

The whole speech about him finding his own Alpha, yeah Dick was pretty sure Matches wanted Dick to choose Matches. Matches wasn’t having sex with him right now because either his age preference he mentioned to Zucco was true (meaning that line about parties would be true too, just not for Dick at this age) and or because Matches wanted Dick to want him. Matches wanted a willing, older Omega. Dick was only one of those, and Matches had until he was ‘older’ to work on the ‘willing’ aspect. 

Dick wouldn’t. He never would. But Matches didn’t know that. But still, it made it easy right now.

Despite his bleak future, it was absolutely wild to him that at least right now… Matches didn’t want it. He didn’t want Dick to be scantily clad for easy access and viewing. He didn’t want Dick small and weak so he could be easily overpowered. He didn’t want Dick to submit to him every other second just because he was an Alpha that existed near him. 

He wasn’t even… training him to be ready when he was old enough. Zucco couldn’t stand his ‘skills’ being dormant for even just a few days! Either Matches thought he was skilled enough already or still wanted to hold off on that until he was older. 

Regardless of whatever Matches was planning for his future, right now Matches just… let him exist as an Omega pup in his house. There were no parties, no goons to worry about. As long as Matches was around to be his Alpha, nobody was going to have sex with him until Dick ‘wanted’ it. 

And that was great . Not so great for future Dick, but it was fantastic right now. 

However, it created a new problem. And by all means, Dick isn’t trying to complain, he loved not being a sex slave for however long this would last. But that had been his life for a really long time, and now all that time he would have spent in someone’s lap is now spent on the couch, just sitting, doing nothing . 

Dick loved not needing to worry about the painful and sexual repercussions of his choices, but he was sure he watched about every kids show known to man. He spent a lot of time on the TV, or even reading, he didn’t even like reading all that much, but it was something to do. 

And Dick was absolutely not asking for his old life back, it could stay in the past and in the far future. He just- it was hard to move on when a big chunk of his routine (as nasty as it was) got taken out and then there was nothing to replace it with. 

Dick began to be excited when Matches got home, which had scared him a lot. He purposely avoided Matches for a few days but found he couldn’t. Which made him even more scared. But he had to be around the Alpha because there was literally nobody else.  

He was lonely. You can only watch My Little Pony so many times before you realize you have no friends. 

Dick was bored. He was lonely. He wanted to go outside where there were people he could meet and other kids to play with and make friends. Find someone who wasn’t planning on him being their mate when he was older. 

He only asked Matches once. 

Only once because Matches didn’t like it. Matches was still kind, but ultimately he said no. 

Dick was really scared for a few days after that. Had another one of those panic attacks at dinner when his mind spiraled at the idea of only ever eating dinner with Matches for the rest of his life. As usual though, Matches didn’t do anything and Dick found himself in his nest free of any Alpha and a paper slid under the door with an apology and his plate right outside the door for him. 

Dick didn’t eat it, he also ripped up the paper.

It’s fine. Because Dick wasn’t going to let this happen. Matches was giving him the barest hint of freedom and Dick would take that and hunt it down. Matches would regret giving him any kind of freedom. He would show Matches exactly why Zucco needed him weak. Dick was many things, he’s gone through many things, he was not about to let this be the thing that destroyed him. He would much rather destroy it instead. So he will. 

So now he had Operation: Get Outside. 

The window was step one. Then normalize the window being open. He asked every other day, then every day for a week. Luckily Matches was never annoyed and let him each time. See Matches? The outside wasn’t scary! 

The next step was to ask to go outside, but without asking to go outside. 

“Alpha?” He asked about a week later after the week of window opening. Matches only grunted in response this time, as kind as Matches was, he grunted a lot. “Can… Can I get a haircut?”

Matches seemed to reboot, he blinked a few times then looked at Dick. 

Dick twisted the hair at the nape of his neck. It was getting long, and Dick really didn’t like giving Alphas more to grab onto. Even if he didn’t have to worry about that right now. “It’s been awhile… an-and I don’t like it long.”

Matches had been trying to get him to talk about his likes and dislikes, even about mundane things. Dick was sure he was also trying to figure out his favorite color, but Dick kept most of those things on a tight leash. Not when he knew Matches was trying to get him comfortable and willing. This was both giving Matches a bone and leading him right where Dick wanted. 

Was it rather underhanded? Yes. Dick just wants to go outside and his Alpha is being unreasonable. Luckily, Dick has lots of history with the language of Unreasonable Alpha. 

Dick’s hopes soared when Matches nodded. 

“I can figure something out.”

Dick’s hopes then plummeted and crashed when instead of taking him out to a barbers, he brought the barber here. 

There was an old, tall, fancily dressed Beta in his home. Now Dick had to figure out if he just screwed himself over. Possibly literally. 

————————

Bruce knew he had to introduce Alfred to Richard. 

Not only was Alfred on him about the pup, but Bruce felt bad for being gone a lot. He was just a pup, but Bruce was now juggling three separate identities. It was a miracle he was there as often as he was honestly. 

If Bruce introduced the two, Alfred could visit when he couldn’t. It also wouldn’t hurt to let the pup meet more people, he was well aware the pup was lonely. He stank of it as often as he stank of fear. Not to mention he thinks it had something to do with one particular panic attack during dinner. 

Sure the pup was tense most times during dinner, but this time just seemed way worse. Oddly enough, Matches had been there for awhile that day, a few hours more than normal. Yet in the middle of dinner Richard starts to panic over seemingly nothing. His scent was the first thing that tipped him off, the casual anxiety that usually wafted off the pup took a turn into hysteric panic. Matches just barely opened his mouth to comfort the kid when the pup dropped his silverware and ran to his room. 

Then there was the wailing. 

The pup was calling for help, but he wasn’t calling for Matches. He was calling for anyone else, because even through the closed door Bruce could smell the loneliness and despair. 

Bruce already knew he shouldn’t approach the pup when he was scared or in a panic, an Alpha’s presence always made it worse. So he made a promise to himself, and to Richard, that he would never ever try to get in his space when he was panicking. Unless the pup was actively dying or hurting himself, Bruce had to refuse to help. Because that was the only way he could help. 

Bruce was not used to helping by doing nothing. All Bruce could do was sit and listen to the anguished cries of an abused Omega he could not help. 

He reminded himself that Richard does come to him sometimes, the tiny wary Omega would hover around him, just shy of being in his personal space. That was Richard’s way of seeking help, comfort, from the only place he had available. But Matches wasn’t safe to Richard, it was hurting him. 

Richard needed Alfred, if not for his company, than for his Beta presence. Betas were, traditionally, mediators. Bruce thinks they could use one of those right now. 

Until of course, Alfred showed up and suddenly Richard is having an opposite reaction to what he had hoped. 

The pup loved his personal space, very reasonable all things considered. Bruce barely dared to breathe when Alfred stepped into the apartment and Richard immediately latched onto his Alpha’s side. 

Richard was holding onto his suit jacket, face buried in his clothes, quietly trembling as wave after wave of fresh fear flowed from the child. 

It took every muscle in his body not to instinctively scent the boy to help with his fear. A big Alpha hand coming for him would not help current matters at all.

Alfred had the ability to not look mad while being terribly outraged. At the sight of the pup hiding from him, Alfred grew angry. Not at the pup of course, never at a pup, maybe a little at Bruce, but most of it was angry at the situation and all the Alphas that had caused this pup terrible strife. 

A similar look passed the old Beta when Bruce first had to divulge how exactly he got Richard. Alfred gave him as much advice as he could while learning about the pup second hand, but Alfred also him quite a few passive aggressive comments about meeting the pup. 

Richard wanted a haircut, Alfred wanted to meet Richard. Easy enough, though now it’s happening and Richard is scared. Bruce might have missed a few things. 

Like telling Richard this was the plan. That, honestly, was completely on Bruce. He should have asked the pup if he was okay with the old Beta coming over. He should have given him options, a choice, instead Bruce made a decision too hastily and this was his consequence. 

Now he was in completely uncharted territory, with a skittish Omega pup clutching the side of the Alpha he’d refuse to touch for the past month. Yeah this was going so well. 

“It’s alright Richard.” He said as gently as he could. “This is Alfred. He’s a close friend of mine and he’s going to cut your hair today.”

The Beta in question dipped his head to the pup. “Hello young Master Richard.” Alfred was giving off his calming scent, tea and rosemary. 

It did little for the pup. Richard whimpered and hid his face in Matches’ suit coat. The sudden contact was sending even more alarm bells than the distressed whining. 

Bruce knelt down to be level with his pup, one hand hovering behind the little Omegas back. He tried for some eye contact, but the pup was adamant his wide eyes remained on the ground or cinched shut. “Richard, I promise you, he’s not going to do anything to you except cut your hair. I trust Alfred with my life. He’s been my friend for a very long time, he would never do anything to hurt you, physically or sexually.”

Bruce really couldn’t blame the pup for being scared. How many times did Zucco bring in someone new just for Richard to be taken advantage of again? Of course the pup would get stressed over new people in his safe space, or at least, safER space. 

“Perhaps if Master Richard would like a demonstration?” The Beta raised an eyebrow at Matches, a proper stink eye would happen later. 

Matches looked up and nodded. “That’s a great idea Alfred.” He kept his voice as soft as possible, refraining from an Alpha rumble to instead just present calming scents. “I’ll go first, then it’s your turn. Is that alright, Chum?”

The poor pup nodded, but then he was pressing his face into Bruce’s shoulder. Bruce nearly startled.

This was the closest Richard ever got to any sort of cuddling with him. The pup was very close to his neck glands but Bruce refrained from tucking the pup under his chin. That would probably freak out the kid even more. Even if it was what Alphas did to comfort their pups, they weren’t at that level yet. Though if Richard initiated it himself, Bruce would be more than happy to comply and reciprocate. 

He couldn’t hold back the happy rumble now, the rumble itself being comforting in nature to an Alpha’s pack mates. He also raised a single hand to card through the boy’s messy hair. It was long, and he could understand why the boy would want it shorter. 

It was also the one and only place Richard let him scent. 

…Maybe Bruce was messing things up worse than he thought. But, he’d rather Richard panic here at home where he felt at least somewhat safe rather than out in public where there were tons of people he didn’t know instead of just one. And Bruce knew at least that Alfred was safe, he could not say the same thing for the people they may or may not meet outside in a regular barbers shop. 

There was also, you know, the whole fact that Bruce Wayne was very recognizable, and that Matches Malone was at least just as recognizable to the wrong people. 

The pup then stepped back, Bruce let him go, though it wasn’t like he was actually holding onto the poor kid. The pup swiped at his nose and tilted his head in submission. “-m sorry Alpha.”

Bruce stayed kneeling, putting one arm on his propped knee. He shook his head to the boy, “you don’t need to be sorry, I should have told you he was coming.”

The pup hiccuped a breath, and Bruce was proud to see he was trying to calm his breathing by taking big slow deliberate breaths. Bruce didn’t realize he was doing it too until after the fact. 

Fear stink still permeated the air, the pup fiddling with the bottom of his shirt as he kept his eyes down. “I-I’m fine with wh-whatever you want Alpha.”

Bruce’s heart hurt. “No, you have every right to be upset. You’ve been through a lot and it’s my fault this was a surprise to you. If you want, Alfred can come back another day?”

The fear in the air spiked, the boy shaking his head violently. “No! I can- he can, it’s- I’ll be good.”

Bruce really wanted to tuck the kid into a hug at that moment. But he could not. 

“You are a good kid Richard,” he said, “if you really want to we can do it today, but it’s totally okay if Alfred has to go okay? I don’t like seeing you hurting. It’s okay if you panic, Alfred can come back later when you’re feeling better.”

Richard’s face soured, but his scent still soared high in anxiety. “I can do this.”

It was a whisper, but Bruce could see the determination and resolution. 

It was moments like this that Bruce felt he was actually seeing the boy underneath all the trauma. Bruce relished every time the kid ‘argued’ his point. There was still a fire inside the little Omega, Bruce loved to see it. 

Matches nodded. “Alright, let’s do it then. I can go first so that you know what to expect.”  

Richard nodded, then side eyed Alfred. A spike of nervousness came from the boy, a similar but different enough scent from anxiety. He leaned towards Matches again and Bruce smiled. The kid wanted to say something, so Bruce nodded to him. 

“Can I ask Beta Alfred something?” Richard whispered, still eyeing the direction of said Beta. 

Bruce felt his smile go a little sad. “Ask him anything you want pup, you don’t need permission to talk to anyone.”

Richard nodded, then turned towards the older man. 

“Beta Alfred?” He prompted, still wracked with nerves apparently as he waited for Alfred to acknowledge him. 

The old butler did with a slow blink of his eyes. “Yes Master Richard?”

The pup seemed blindsided by the honorific, but moved past it for his question. “What- what are you expecting… during your time here?”

Again, Bruce’s heart hurt. 

Alfred, ever clever and ever patient, had a reply on hand. “I’m expecting to cut some young men’s hair, and if the masters are up for it, a prepared meal. If you would like anything more or anything less concerning my visit; you have but to tell me and your request will be honored.”

Richard was stunned, either by the verbiage or the declaration itself, Bruce didn’t know. Richard then looked to Matches, another awkward sign of wanting to speak but being afraid to. 

“We’re listening, Richard.” Bruce said, he wanted to make it so clear that they were, and that they would in the future too. 

This seemed to give the boy enough courage, though he took a few steps away from the both of them before he did so. Though those few steps had the courage to act to keep himself safe, so Bruce supposed the courage was always there. 

With a sufficient distance between them, the boy took a deep breath before speaking. 

“Don’t- don’t scruff me.” The pup asked, eyes darting between the two older men. “Please.”

Bruce’s gut twisted, but he nodded automatically. “Of course Richard.” 

Alfred similarly responded. “I wouldn’t dream of it Master Richard. Do I have permission to your hair?”

Again, Richard seemed surprised by the butler, but that just said more about how sad the boy’s life had been. The kid nodded. 

“Thank you.” He said with a bow of his head, then addressed the Alpha in the room. “Shall I set up?” 

Bruce nodded and stood up. “Yes, I’ll go grab a chair and we can do it in the master bathroom.”

Alfred set off and so did Bruce, and Bruce was surprised to find he caught a shadow. The pup was close again, arms curled to his chest and glancing warily at the direction Alfred went. The fear had dissipated, though it seemed just anxiety took its place. 

That’s fine. They could work with anxiety, fear was a lot more unpredictable. 

Bruce took the farthest chair outside the kitchen and brought it to the bathroom, his little shadow following steadily behind. 

“Here we go.” Bruce set the chair in front of the mirror, then found his shadow had stopped at the bathroom door. 

The pup held onto the door frame, eyes wide and body tense. Fear pooled into his scent again, but his glassy eyes helped Bruce know it probably wasn’t anything specific they were doing that was causing the fear this time. 

Was it being with an Alpha in the bathroom? Was it the idea of a haircut? Bruce didn’t know. 

“Sit.” Alfred gestured to the chair, barbers cape already in hand. “You may stay there Master Richard, or come inside to wait. It won’t be too long.”

Bruce sat back in the seat, having to tear his eyes away from the anxious pup so he could be a good example. That’s what kids do, they watch and mimic. At least he had a good example this time. 

Despite the pup’s glassy stare, Alfred narrated what he was doing. He explained the handheld buzzing machine that cut in specific ways, he talked through the snipping with the regular hair scissors and everything in between. 

Alfred even tried some banter with Bruce, telling a story about a bakery he frequented that accidentally swapped bread with another customer. It was a lighthearted story, of simple mistakes and funny outcomes. That life was unpredictable even when planned, but joy could still be found in the unexpected roadblocks. 

The pup was quiet where he stood, still seemingly staring. Richard was quiet at least, that was the only way Bruce knew the kid wasn’t spiraling. The pup was quite vocal when he was truly panicked, a whimper here and there wasn’t too bad but he wasn’t constantly whining. 

He seemed to have checked out, still standing and functioning and probably would still respond to requests, but the boy was far away. Alfred’s story didn’t get him to return, nor any banter or barber explanations. 

Unfortunately Bruce had seen this before. Sometimes right when he got home, Richard would go stiff and far away until he returned on his own. Bruce certainly never did anything drastic to get him back as much as he wanted to, the kid’s privacy was more important. 

But soon enough Bruce’s haircut was done and Alfred was sweeping up the fuzzy floor. Bruce rubbed his head, planning a shower later to get rid of the really tiny itchy hairs. 

Bruce didn’t approach the child though, as Alfred finished up sweeping Bruce leaned on the counter, trying to look even a little bit smaller. 

“Richard, it’s your turn now.” He said, “though if you want to wait we can do it another time.”

The pup jerked forward, not quite ‘back’ but aware enough to recognize the situation. His anxiety was quickly turned to fear. 

“You okay to get your haircut, Chum?” Bruce wanted to make sure, give Richard every possible out he needed or wanted. “Alfred is only touching your hair.”

The boy nodded slowly, then climbed up onto the chair. He was trembling ever so slightly. Bruce had the thought to go get one of the boy’s blankets, but he couldn’t touch the nests he made… he could just donate another he supposed. 

Alfred was talking again, explaining himself once more and shook out the barbers cape. 

“This is just like a blanket Master Richard, though less soft, it will stop you and your clothes from getting hairy or itchy.” Alfred laid the cape on the boy’s lap first, letting the pup mess with the fabric and texture.  

Alfred waited patiently, and the boy lifted the cape himself. Alfred thanked the boy for being ready and went to secure it, however this was apparently too close to the boy’s neck. The second the fabric touched his neck, the pup cried out with a violent jerk of his body.  

Alfred swiftly let the cape go loose, it slid down and the pup curled up. 

“It’s alright Richard.” Bruce was saying, taking a few steps closer and crouching down again. He now sat on the floor in front of the kid in the chair, back leaning against the cabinet. He then looked to Alfred. “He can go without the cape right?”

Alfred nodded briskly. “I doubt he will decline another reason to shower.” 

It hurt, but it was true. 

Richard was trembling even more, curled up with his hands over his neck. A consistent stream of whimpers emanated from his throat. 

“Richard, are you okay? We can still do it another time if we need to.” Bruce was saying, pushing down the urge to reach his hand out to calm the pup.

The whining broke when the boy swallowed, a few gasping breaths and he shook his head. “I-I want it. I want it please. Please Alpha.”

The pup’s eyes screwed shut and he grit his teeth, forcing himself to breathe deeper. 

Bruce frowned, but looked to Alfred. Alfred was also frowning, his lips a firm line. 

“I will not touch your neck more than necessary Master Richard, but I’m afraid your hands must come away.” Alfred spoke gently, laying it out for the pup exactly what was needed for this to work. 

The pup whimpered, but his hands slowly unlatched from his neck. “I-I’ll be good.” He promised quietly with a squeaky whine. “I’ll be good.”

The pup’s hands were twitching, latching and unlatching onto his own arms, switching to his curled legs but quickly let go soon after like his own touch burned him. 

“You are doing so good, pup.” Bruce said, spilling more calm into his scent. 

He had planned to say something more, but the pup’s eyes welled with tears and the boy cracked out a broken; “Alpha-“ and burst into tears.

Bruce moved slowly forward at the fresh wave of panic, cautious and tense because he wasn’t sure what to do. He looked to Alfred again, the Beta was similarly distressed, but stepped around the boy so as to not be behind him where he couldn’t see the Beta. 

The boy’s whining changed from fear to want, a long keen calling for help, calling for his Alpha. Bruce couldn’t stop his movement forward, his Omega was calling for help and he had to answer. 

He replied to the keen with an Alpha rumble, but retained enough of himself to not touch, even if his inner Alpha was roaring to scent the pup. To properly scent him, to tuck the pup under his chin and hold him close. He couldn’t do that though. Not unless the pup asked. 

One of Richard's hands stuck out with a whine, shaking and hesitant. 

Bruce nearly reeled back as his inner Alpha demanded valiantly that this was the invitation he needed. Bruce was not so sure. The pup was mumbling between his sobs, wet and choking for Alpha. Between his desperate Omegan pleas for Alpha were the quiet requests to not be scruffed. 

Very carefully, Bruce placed his hand in the child’s. Not grabbing, but putting himself in a position to let the boy do what was comfortable for him. 

The pup latched onto his hand and pulled it into his huddled shape. Bruce threw a panicked look to Alphed as he was yanked into the child’s personal space but his attention was quickly taken by the pup in question. 

It was like he was caught in a bear trap, except instead of metal teeth it was all scared Omega huddled around his arm. A cold nose pressed into his wrist, not unlike that first time Richard panicked and requested his Alpha. This time, Bruce refrained from touching the boy’s head, Richard’s quiet desperate requests not to be scruffed replaying in his mind. 

Bruce rumbled comfortingly, pressing even more calm into his scent as he did so. “You’re okay Richard. You’re okay pup. Nobody is going to scruff you.”

Richard whined, but his sobbing tapered off, leaving just a shivering Omega pup in its place. Richard slowly moved off his wrist scent gland and simply hugged his arm, absently wiping his tears on Bruce’s long sleeve. 

Bruce caught his eyes and he smiled gently, “hey pup. Do you want to go to your nest?”

Richard was frowning, a touch of shock spearing through the ambient fear in the room. He was spooked by how close Matches was, but looking down at the arm the pup captured, it seemed to be okay. 

Alfred cleared his throat, holding a cup of water. “Would the young Master like a drink?”

Richard looked at Matches, eyes wide. Bruce couldn’t discern the emotion there, it was something between want and fear, resignation and desperation. He didn’t know what it was for, but it continued to bother Bruce that the pup kept asking Matches to interact with the Beta. 

“Only if you want.” He said quietly, “Alfred can make some calming tea for you later too if you’d like.”

Richard twisted his head to Alfred and nodded, wiggling out one arm with the other still very attached to Bruce. Alfred only stepped close enough to deliver the cup, his less intense Beta scent like a balm over a festering wound. 

Richard sipped his water and still held Bruce’s arm like a vise, or a teddy bear. Bruce is definitely going to get him some of those, the pup liked the pillows enough to smile at him and Richard clearly needed something more malleable to latch onto when stressed. 

So the three of them simply waited, the fear stink slowly fading from the bathroom as Richard calmed down and both the Alpha and Beta worked overtime with their calming scents. Richard eventually put down his empty cup into his lap and re-latched his now free arm onto Bruce’s. 

Bruce tried not to physically react when the boy absentmindedly rubbed his wrists on Bruce’s sleeve. It was an anxious moment, but it made Bruce’s heart soar at the trust, as subconscious as it was.

“A-Alpha.” Richard spoke up, quiet as a mouse, practically bleeding with nerves. “I’m… I’m ready.”

Bruce’s gut sank. He didn’t ask ‘what for’, too afraid of whatever answer must have been conditioned into the child. 

“Would you like to go back to your nest?” He asked instead, hoping to keep the pup calm and assure him he wouldn’t be taken advantage of. 

The pup’s face soured and he shook his head. “No. No, I can do this. I want a haircut, Alpha.”

Bruce’s eyebrows shot up, confused but somewhat delighted. “You panicked pretty hard there, we can wait a bit more if you need.”

The pup’s scent suddenly grew angry, which was new, Bruce hadn’t smelled such an emotion from the pup before. It was hot like a desert, sharp and leeching. 

The ‘you aren’t listening to me’ went unsaid.

“I can do this. I want it.” The pup said again, stronger.

“Okay.” Bruce said, glad to encourage the fight and fire hiding away in the pup. But still, that wasn’t healthy if the pup was going to keep throwing himself headlong into situations that would cause more panic attacks. “How do you want to do it?”

Richard wasn’t expecting that apparently, his shock once again apparent in his scent. He kept his grip firm around Bruce’s arm, but slightly lifted it. “I-I want to keep this, please. …it, it helps.”

The pup was clearly uncomfortable admitting this, and Bruce couldn’t help the smile at the tinge of anger in his scent at the statement. He could let the boy be angry about it, he just needed to feel safe and that’s what Bruce intended to provide. 

So Bruce nodded. “Whatever you need, pup. Anything else?”

Richard shrugged and his nervous air came back. “Can- can I stay like this?” 

Bruce looked to Alfred for that one, it was clear to Bruce that the old Beta wasn’t too pleased with Richard wanting to soldier his way through, to be honest neither was Bruce, but the kid was calmer now. If the Omega was actually going to let himself do the things necessary to be calm, then Bruce was all too willing to comply. Richard deserves to have nice things, and that includes help when he’s scared. Heaven knows the boy hasn’t gotten much -if any- in the past three years. 

Alfred dipped his head with a little sigh, probably having gotten to the same conclusion. There was also, you know, the fire in the kid’s eyes that they’d much rather encourage than stomp down on. The kid needed some positive reinforcement for standing up for himself as much as possible. 

“I will only need your head, Master Richard.” Alfred said, “would you like to try for the barber's cape or would you prefer it off? Either way is acceptable.” 

Richard nervously shifted in his seat, but this time he didn’t look to Matches for an answer. “It can- can it stay off?” 

It came out more as a question, but Alfred simply nodded again and gathered certain tools and stepped behind the boy. “Alright, if you are ready I will begin. If you are uncomfortable at any time you may simply state so and we can pause for however long you need.”

Richard nodded, holding tightly to Bruce’s arm. 

And that’s how Richard stayed for the whole event. He would lift Bruce’s wrist to his nose sometimes, Bruce would make sure to keep his scent calming. Richard did as Alfred asked when he needed to move his head, he did get hair all over himself but he didn’t seem to mind unless it did get on his nose, which he then would sneeze and Alfred paused to give the pup a small face towel to protect his aforementioned face. 

The towel ended up being used more like a teddy, like Bruce’s arm. Definitely time to get the boy some stuffed animals. 

By the time Alfred was done the boy was practically squirming, small hair really was the most irritating thing. So when Alfred was done he suggested the pup take a shower. 

Richard seemed hesitant on that matter, but Alfred assured him he and Matches would be busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. Bruce felt his gut twist once more at the implication, but internally praised Alfred for finding and solving such an issue. 

The Omega pup finally let go of his arm, climbing down from the seat and after another look at Matches, fled the bathroom and into his own. 

Bruce sighed as he stood up, his arm was itchy, as was some of his back but he almost cradled the arm because of the scent left on it. 

“He scented me.” He told Alfred, finally allowed to let his own scent fill with joy. “I don’t think he really meant to, but he did it anyway.”

Alfred gave him a tired smile. “Well met sir, this is still very new for him. It will take time before he does a great many things willingly. I’m impressed he got openly mad at you.”

Bruce nodded in appreciation, “I know, he’s more of a fighter than I thought.”

Alfred scoffed. “Now don’t say that sir, as good as it is, we shouldn’t let that fester, lest he turn into some flying vigilante.” 

Bruce chuckled in good spirit, though with some embarrassment. “Wouldn’t that be a sight.” 

Yeah no, Gotham would eat up a little Omegan vigilante alive, it would make what Richard’s past three years look like a cake walk. He internally shivered. No, Richard would not be dawning any masks of any sort. Not while Bruce, Batman, or Matches Malone still had breath. 

“What were you thinking for dinner Alf?” Bruce asked, changing the subject as Alfred swept. 

“He’s been eating simple foods yes?” The beta prompted, at Bruce’s nod he continued. “Then I doubt he would mind some homemade grilled sandwiches.”

“With the tomato sauce?” Bruce asked with some excitement. 

“Yes, with the tomato sauce.”

Bruce grinned, “well here, let me clean up, you can go start cooking.”

The Beta huffed at him, though his amusement was clear in his scent and twinkling eye. “It has been awhile since you’ve last cleaned your own bathroom.” The man snarked. 

Bruce’s scent flooded with joy as he took the broom from the old butler. “I can do it.”

Despite the whole purpose of taking the cleaning job so Alfred could cook, Alfred stayed. Probably to keep the two of them together, which was somewhat what he promised Richard.

Alfred tsked, “if I told you to pretend it was a crime scene and to leave no evidence would it actually get you to clean it properly?”

Bruce got to work sweeping anyway, “come on Alf, crime scenes need to be preserved not cleaned.”

“Ah, my apologies sir,” the butler snarked. “By the evidence on the ground I assumed there might have been a small hairless dog running around, poor thing must have been jumped by someone with a razor.”

Bruce snorted as he got all the hair into a pile. It did somewhat look like one could make a small dog out of it. Richard’s hair really had been long. “Oh dear, don’t joke about that, Richard might think we skin dogs or something.”

“Or something.” Alfred said, then raised an eyebrow. “He certainly could use a companion.”

“Well,” Bruce sighed, “we might need to people train him, even without the haircut I don’t think he was too fond of someone new.”

“With time,” Alfred said kindly. 

Bruce got all the hair into the trash can, and under Alfred’s scrutiny he passed. Bruce carried the chair back to the kitchen and Alfred got to work getting his ingredients and tools. 

Bruce sat at the bar counter, the only place he was allowed in the kitchen when Alfred was involved. If Alfred had his way Bruce would never enter any kitchen ever, but ever since needing to ‘cook’ for Richard Bruce thinks he’s not quite as bad anymore. He was much less prone to leaving things in the oven and catching everything on fire now, though the pancakes were a few close calls. 

“So Master Malone,” Alfred spoke while slicing the cheese. Bruce felt at attention at the address, realizing what kind of direction their conversation was headed. “Are you prepared for an Omega pup in heat?”

Bruce bluescreened. 

What did Omegas need in heat? What was good for an Omega pup in heat? What would be acceptable? Did he have to do anything? Would Richard still think he would come onto him?

Well that wasn’t the question, but uh, good questions none the less. 

“Uh…” he said intelligently. “He’s got… blankets? And pillows, for his nest.”

He might be a little hopeless…

The Beta gave him a sharp look. “Sir, I believe I’ve taught you better than that.”

Bruce shriveled in his seat. He had been, it’s just… been awhile okay? “He’ll have food and water accessible. I’m not sure when it’ll happen, I’ll have to ask. Though I don’t think he’ll want me in his nest anytime soon.”

“Probably not,” Alfred said, tone just as condescending. “He will need a heating pad, I’ve heard rice bags are less hassle in nests.-“ Rice bags? What would an Omega need a bag(s) of rice for? “-Pain medication if he can handle it. And even if he doesn't accept your physical presence in his nest, he does associate your scent with safety, you’re going to have to donate a lot of your things to his heat nest.”

Bruce hummed, only that last part really made any sense. He was already planning to scent those stuffed animals he’d been thinking about earlier, that way the boy didn’t have to awkwardly hold his wrist for his scent in the middle of his heat. That would be tense. Bruce did not want to break the sanctity of the boy’s room with even his physical presence if he could help it. 

“We will have to be careful,” Alfred spoke up again. “As long as it’s no detriment to himself or others, you will listen to everything the Omega says. He most likely does not have a good relationship with his heat, and will be expecting you to do terrible things to him.” 

Bruce winced, letting out his own short whine of despair. Bruce was not looking forward to that. He didn’t like how sacred Richard was of him on a good day, he couldn’t imagine how terrified he’d be in the middle of heat. 

Alfred then paused his sandwich making, leveling a hard stare into Bruce. “If I smell even a hint of rut from you, you will be gone until the boy’s heat is over. Am I clear?”

Bruce really whined now, going so far as baring his neck to the Beta. Bruce was all for that plan. 

“Heaven knows how the boy would react to an Alpha in rut during his heat.” Alfred returned to the food, satisfied with the Alpha’s submission to the plan. 

Bruce grimaced at the mere idea of the panicked pup smelling a rutting Alpha. Heats and ruts didn’t have to be sexual, in fact Bruce was very confident if he were to go in a rut around his Omega pup he’d simply want to cuddle for a few hours. Sure Omegas were more fertile during their heats but the heat was more meant for the bonding between the Omega and the pack, whether sexual or not. Omegas did not need sex during their heats. In tandem with Alphas ruts, Omegas usually just wanted to be held and loved. 

Bruce was sure Richard had only ever experienced the former and none of the latter. They really were going to have to be so careful while trying to help the pup, this was not going to be an easy or small task. Like most things when it came to the Omega inexplicably put into his life, Bruce felt wildly underprepared. 

It went quiet as Bruce planned and thought it out as much as he could. He really needed to ask the pup for his heat schedule, he had already been with Matches for about a month now, it could be a lot sooner than Matches was prepared for. It was already October and Omegas usually had their heats twice, sometimes three times, a year.

Bruce was taken from his thoughts as the pup exited his room, fresh from the shower and looking nervous. Fresh fear and anxiety rolled over the room, combated by the equally fresh grilled cheese.

“Hey Chum,” Bruce said, inviting the Omega over. His hair certainly was shorter now, buzzed near his neck though the top kept some floof to it. “You look good. Does it feel better?”

The pup scurried over and nodded, hands messing with the bottom of his shirt. “Th-thank you Alpha.” He said quietly, then peeked over at Alfred who was stirring at the tomato soup. “Thank you Beta Alfred.”

“My pleasure, Master Richard.” Alfred said, “would you like to help me set the table?”

The pup looked to Matches, but before Bruce could do anything about that he was already nodding. Alfred gave him some plates and Bruce stood up too. 

“Can I help with anything?” Bruce asked hopefully. 

Alfred gave the pup the cups, already done with the plates, and Alfred eyed the Alpha. “You may handle the hot food, much too heavy for my little assistant.” The Beta gave a happy trill towards the pup. 

Richard flinched in surprise, eyes wide on the Beta. He didn’t seem to know what to do with such an event, apparently not many Betas in his life, or just the bad ones if the tinge of fear in his scent said anything. 

But the pup gave Alfred a tense, closed lip smile. Score for Alfred. There’s hope for Richard yet. 

Bruce got the hot plate of grilled sandwiches and set it in the middle of the table. Bruce nodded Richard towards his seat and as the pup got situated he helped Alfred bring in the soup. 

Dinner went… surprisingly well. Richard didn’t panic and leave nor did he stink too badly of fear. There was some gentle conversation, mostly between Bruce and Alfred, but Richard nodded or shook his head when he wanted to. Even if the boy nibbled more than actually ate, it was a good meal. 

Then Alfred had to leave, Bruce said goodbye at the door with Richard slightly behind him. The pup waved to the Beta and Alfred gave him a smile. Then Alfred was gone and it was just Matches and Richard. 

Bruce sighed contentedly, glad that even with the hiccups during the haircut, a lot got done today. He found Richard stepping up to his side, similarly staring at the closed door. 

Bruce hummed, then hesitantly spoke. “Richard…”

The pup looked up at him, fearful but curious. 

Bruce stayed facing the door, just so the boy felt less targeted. “I know it can get lonely around here by yourself. How do you feel about Alfred coming over more often?”

Richard grew tense and his scent soured. “He’s… he’s a butler, you said?”

Bruce nodded, glad the pup wasn’t immediately shooting down the idea. He wasn’t going to overload the pup with Alfred visits right off the bat anyway, the Beta was still new to him. “Yeah, he’s been taking care of me for a long time now.”

Richard looked to the door nervously again, “did… Did he teach you how to be a mob boss?”

Bruce couldn’t help but laugh, a light chuckle at the thought. “No, no, Alfred is much better than that.”

The pup was quiet for a long moment, fingers messing with the bottom of his shirt. “Well… I- he won’t, he won’t touch me …right?”

Bruce shook his head so fast, heart leaping in his throat that possibly this whole time Richard thought the Beta would do something to him. “No, not at all pup. He’s a caretaker first and foremost, he wants you to feel safe and happy just as much as I do. And just like how I don’t touch you without your permission, he won’t either.”

Richard took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.”

Bruce raised his eyebrows hopefully. 

“He can visit.” As long as he doesn't touch me . 

Chapter Text

So, Operation: Get Outside wasn’t working as well as he hoped. Luckily, Dick could adapt, and it was honestly a dumb thought to think his first plan would be the one to work. It was like in the circus, if you only have one shot, well you better get in all the practice. If Matches wanted to play the long game, Dick could too. 

Alfred was… somewhat of a setback, but also a miracle. 

Dick wasn’t as alone, but then there were the moments he wished he was. But Alfred himself was pretty great. 

Matches retained his weird schedule, but he also didn’t bring Alfred every other day like Dick feared he would. It was more like once a week, Matches would bring Alfred over for a special dinner. Dick was never alone with Alfred but it was also quite nice to not be alone with Matches. 

Alfred was a bit easier to talk to, since he wasn’t his Alpha. Though he was still a bit intimidating. 

And the most important part, Matches always asked or warned him when Alfred was coming which Dick appreciated. So Dick didn’t panic every time Alfred walked through the door too. 

It was… nice. But Dick still had his mission to figure out, and he found his solution with his window. 

Anytime Dick was alone for a few hours he made a point to mess with his window. And it was his window now, Dick may have gotten a little territorial over it just like his nest. After a few times of either Matches or Alfred coming over to move the window Dick would whine in despair, or sometimes even hiss at them. That really got them to back off. It was excellent- even if a bit scary.

Dick got blanket permission to open and close it whenever he wanted so long it wasn’t snowing, raining hard, or super windy. Or night time. But it was his window and nobody else was allowed to touch it. It made messing with it a whole lot easier because it was much less likely his Alpha would notice. Dick felt very happy about that. 

The window had a screen protector thing, a wire mesh to keep bugs out. It could be taken out, but uh… Dick tried that and found it was actually pretty hard, the screen was one that snapped into place and needed two hands pressing in certain spots to release the screen. Dick was not that tall, nor did he have the strength. 

He didn’t even know if he could put it back either, so yeah, that option was out, but the window wasn’t completely hopeless. 

The wire mesh had some give to it, and Dick found some scissors in the kitchen. Now, it would be a terrible idea to cut the mesh, there would be no way to return it to normal and a giant hole in the mesh would be very obvious. 

Except Dick wasn’t dumb, he wouldn’t be cutting the middle, just the edges . So this is what Dick did. He alternated which wires he cut so the tension stayed in the rest of the mesh. All along the bottom edge of the frame, tiny tiny holes that wouldn’t rip unless forcibly forced. He did it for the entire bottom, and after some judgment, along the sides a little bit too, but just a little bit. 

It was a start, because Dick had also secretly been collecting the twisty ties from the bread sacks. They would work perfectly to put the wire mesh back together like a twisty latch. He’d replace each key anchor spot he hadn’t cut yet with the twisty tie. He tried it first with a very small portion, only barely big enough for his hand to fit through, and the wire simply just had to be twisted tight and it was like nothing happened. 

Dick finally got a taste of the outside, leaving his hand out just for a few minutes because he could. 

It was getting late though, the sun was setting, casting its orange rays into his eyes and hand. As exhilarating as it was to feel the sun on his skin with no obstruction, Matches must be coming home soon and Dick did not need him to find out what Dick was doing. 

So Dick slipped his hand back in and twisted the tie. He’d need a lot more ties, guess he’ll be having a lot of sandwiches from then on until he had enough. 

After tying the tie he laid his arms across the windowsill and set his chin on his arms. It was an awkward angle, he was just ever so slightly taller than the window, but it was fine. He closed his eyes to the breeze and the setting sun on his face. 

Dick jerked when there was a snap and turned around to find all the lights in the apartment had gone out. 

He stared wide eyed up at the lights that were now dim. The apartment only lit by the dying orange light from the window. It was so quiet too. The dishwasher, the fridge, all the things he didn’t realize made ambient noise had gone still and silent. 

The only sound was Dick’s shaking breath. 

He frantically slid the window closed, feeling a fresh wave of fear. He didn’t know what caused the blackout, he didn’t like the quiet, it felt like waiting for a bomb to go off. The quiet before the storm and all that. 

He knew he had felt this before, back at the circus in a much better way. The quiet of the crowd right before a death-defying stunt. Always followed by a resounding roar of excitement and celebration.

Similarly, an Alpha’s quiet rage before finally snapping. The only quiet moment after that would be the deafness caused by the screeching Alpha. Dick never knew what he did wrong, only that he was wrong and he was going to pay for it. 

So in the quiet stillness of the apartment, Dick only heard the blood roaring in his ears.

He frantically looked around, trying to find the threat, the roar that always came after. He inched towards his couch nest, but hated the open darkness that was spreading from the rest of the apartment. He needed his actual nest, but that would mean going deeper into the darkness and that was just-

The whole building then shook violently, sending Dick to his knees as a bright flash of orange that was certainly not the sun came from the window. 

Dick whimpered on the ground, covering his ears and waited a moment more in case it would happen again. Something… The roaring was happening outside. He scrambled to his feet and lurched towards the window.

A few buildings over, a level of the building had exploded. It was now on fire, the flames licking both up and down the building. He weakly whimpered again and his scent poured out fear and terror. 

He was entirely too alone, his Alpha wasn’t here to protect him and things were exploding! What was he supposed to do!?

Dick screamed as another explosion rocked the ground. He fell to the ground once more and frantically crawled to the only solid thing around, which ended up being the wall. More terrifying breaking sounds came from outside the window, Dick held his hands over his ears as he curled up against the wall. Tears spilled out of his tightly closed eyes while frantic whines spilled equally out of his throat. 

Where was his Alpha?!

Dick didn’t know how long he was curled there whimpering, crying harder at every explosion or other loud noise that happened after. All of it was far away, but Dick couldn’t help but feel like it was right on top of him. 

Suddenly the door was being unlocked, entirely too loud in the quiet stillness of the apartment and different from the burning chaos outside the window. Dick cried out for his Alpha to come protect him. He didn’t know what was going on, but Alpha would want him alive, Alpha would protect him! 

Instead of Alpha, it was the old Beta. Alfred looked just as frantic as he felt, eyes wild and clothes ruffled like he’d been moving very fast. 

Dick cried out, catching the attention of the Beta. 

Alfred approached quickly, sunk down to his level but didn’t touch. He was saying something but Dick couldn’t hear it over the blood roaring in his ears. He surged off the floor and crashed into Alfred’s chest, clinging tightly as everything around him felt like it was breaking. 

Alfred hugged him back tightly, swiping his wrists down Dick’s back. 

Alfred continued to talk, though it didn’t seem to be at him. The Beta just let Dick cry and cling to his fancy butler clothes, hiding away from all the scary stuff outside. 

“Yes sir he’s alright, a bit spooked I believe.”

Dick whined and held on tighter, too scared to figure out what was going on. 

The Beta held him in return, softly swaying and rubbing his back to both soothe and scent. 

“I’m afraid I’ll be occupied, though I would suggest a speedy return. The pup needs his Alpha.”

It felt like he was there a long long time, but also no time at all, but eventually Dick stopped crying. He felt so tired, but refused to sleep, too numb to be either present or asleep. 

He should be more scared, vulnerable in the Beta’s grip, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t an Omega right now, he was just a scared pup. Alfred wasn’t a predator, he was a protector. Maybe he’d feel properly scared later, but right now Dick was just a kid and Alfred was an adult who was helping him feel safe.

The lights flicked back on, except for the broken one that sparked again as it tried to do its job. Dick felt oddly similar. 

Alfred didn’t want the light sparking and lighting another fire though, so he stood up with Dick in his arms and flicked the light switch. The kitchen lights were still on though, so it wasn’t complete darkness. 

“Are you alright pup?” Alfred asked.

Dick hummed tiredly, laying his head on Alfred’s shoulder. “Wh-what happened?” He asked, because really, what happened. 

“I’m afraid there was a problem at the power grid station, someone turned it off on purpose.” Alfred explained, “some places, like our neighboring building, had some dangerous situations that caused fires when the power went out.”

“L-like the sparking light?” Dick asked, that’s why Alfred turned it off in the first place. 

The beta smiled. “Yes pup, like the light. But luckily there wasn’t anything that could easily catch on fire here. You’re safe pup.”

Dick hummed and buried his face in Alfred’s shirt again. He didn’t feel too terrible being held by the Beta, as much as it made his skin crawl he knew he would be loads worse if he was left on the ground by himself. 

Alfred… Alfred wasn’t that bad.

Matches didn’t come home that night.

————————

After that, Alfred came by a lot more, and on his own. 

Dick would still be warned, but it was a much more reliable schedule than whatever Matches did. And Matches did come by at some point after the whole blackout thing, apparently it was really stressful for Matches too. 

Made sense, Zucco sometimes had to leave for long periods of time for big gang stuff, always came back stressed and wanted to—

Dick was sure Alpha Matches was hurt in some way, there was extra grunting when he stood up or sat down, and Alfred was determined to make him sit down more often than not. It was strange to see the Alpha be doted on, and bossed around like a misbehaving pup. Weird.

The bigger story was that some crazy bad guy took control over the power grid and Batman had to stop him. Dick was reminded that Gotham was downright crazy. Spending so long in its underbelly he forgot how weird even the topside is. 

Dick wasn’t sure what to make of this ‘Batman’ guy but Alfred and Matches described him as a ‘vigilante’, whatever that was. It was weird. But he apparently stopped the bad thing and fixed stuff so that’s good, he supposed. Batman is a weird name. Well… so is Matches. He doubts very much that either of those are on their birth certificates, and that’s coming from someone who’s name is Dick. Maybe he’s another mob boss or something.  

Soon after the whole power grid fight thing, Matches gave him a weird button thing, it looked just like a small disk with a button in the middle. Matches told him if he was ever in trouble, or something scary happened, and neither Alfred or Matches wasn’t there then he could press this button and help would come. 

Dick had no idea what it was supposed to do, or how it would even work. Who would come? Alfred? Matches? The police? Was this better than calling 9-1-1? Not that Dick even had a phone to do that with, so it might as well be the equivalent. 

Either way, Dick had this disk now. He kept it in his nest because that’s probably where he’d need it. 

With these new changes, Dick almost forgot about his window. He wasn’t opening it very often either because it was getting cold. 

Though that in and of itself was annoying. Even if he could leave he couldn’t just… go out there in the middle of winter! He didn’t have any shoes . 

He was sure it was intentional, he had socks, plenty of socks, but no shoes. Dick couldn’t leave even if he wanted to. It made him angry and scared. 

He would have to wait until after winter. That would be fine. Nothing should change after winter passes. 

(Dick was also highly aware his birthday was sometime in the winter. Hopefully Matches didn’t know that. He couldn’t. Dick would refuse to tell him.)

Besides it being too gosh darn cold, Alfred was around a lot more often so his alone time was spent elsewhere. 

Despite his relationship with Alfred leaping upwards, Dick was not comfortable showering with him in the house. It was just… too risky. So he dedicated the time he did have alone to showering and the other various things he’d rather do with nobody watching. Like practicing his cartwheeling. 

Dick was determined to get some physical strength back, and, you know, do some of the things he’d been taught when he was younger. For the first time Dick felt like he could think about his parents and what they taught him without being unbearably sad he couldn’t do any of it. 

He thinks they’d be happy about his current situation, at least in comparison to his last situation. They weren’t around to fix it, but if they were watching, he thinks they’d be happy about how Dick was being treated currently. 

But when he remembered, he’d go to the window and check on it, the parts that had the twine were still firm, the frost was great at keeping it quite solid. He made a mental note to get more twine.

Dick ended up eating a lot of sandwiches the next few weeks. Alfred seemed happy about that, Dick was ‘eating more’. Dick did not want to tell him he’d been sneaking single slices out and tossing them, rummaging through the trash until it was at the very bottom and completely hidden. Thus the bread ran out quite fast. 

Did he feel bad? A little. There were worse things to be doing to get a tiny bit of freedom.

Besides, he wasn’t even breaking out to leave- leave, he just wanted to go outside! He’d come back! Because even he knew being with his Alpha mob boss was better than being on the street, and Alpha Matches was a very very rare case of actually caring about him to a much higher degree than most mob bosses. If Dick left, there would be no nest, no food, no safe space away from any Alphas. So of course Dick wouldn’t run away, at least not longer than a few hours. 

But right now there wasn’t any time for that, it was cold outside and inside was warm. 

And Alfred was making cookies.

Dick kicked his feet idly as he sat on the kitchen bar stool, watching over the Beta as he rolled the dough into the right sized clumps. 

The Beta liked to cook, that was one of the first things he learned about the man. He was very good at it and Dick genuinely liked the meals he made- when his nerves let him eat more than a few bites. 

Dick had watched the whole process, feeling oddly calm at such a domestic thing. No Alpha, the outside was cold and inside smelled like cookies. It was almost too sweet, but it had been so long since Dick had had any type of treat like this. It was a nice break from the sour scent of fear he had hanging around him all the time. So he decided to screw any fear right now, it was cookies. 

He let his mind wander instead of being hypervigilant, it was surprisingly easy with the tranquility of baking cookies. Alfred was busy doing his thing, Matches wasn’t even home, Dick could relax. 

In his determined desire to be relaxed, he hadn’t realized he asked a probably not so safe question before he could even register it. 

“Why won’t Alpha let me go outside?”

The Beta hummed as he kept cooking, but Dick froze. He refused to be afraid, but he did hunch in his seat. “S-sorry, you don’t have to answer that.”

“Not at all,” Alfred said kindly, sending his comforting scent his way even though Dick was not smelling like fear right now. No fear. Too many cookies for there to be fear. “You are welcome to ask about anything, I’d more warn you that the answers might not be what you desire.”

Dick hummed, forcing himself to kick his legs again, because this was just a normal conversation between a cooking Beta and a Omega pup. He was generally more worried about the answers anyway, that’s why he generally didn’t ask. 

Dick hoped they could move right along like nothing happened, but Alfred surprised him. Even with that warning about answers, the Beta drew in a sigh and answered his question. Or at least, began to.  

“Master Malone is more concerned-“

If the Beta finished his sentence, Dick had no idea, his brain was stuck on the first two words. His face twisted and he held his breath, but suddenly couldn’t hold back his giggles. 

“Wait wait wait- is his last name really Melon?” Dick felt marginally bad for interrupting the older man, but he couldn’t stop smiling. 

Dick burst into laughter as Alfred grew a smile. 

Matches Melon , that’s ridiculous and hilarious , how did anyone take him seriously?!  

“Mel-own is how it’s pronounced Master Richard,” Alfred corrected gently, though with a spark of mischief in his eye. “Though I can see your confusion, if he stained his suit green it would be hard to not make that mistake.”

Dick laughed even harder, leaning back and letting out a positively evil cackle. Joy overflowed his scent, so sudden and rare it felt like its own burst of warm summer air in the dead of winter. Oh this was too good. 

He slipped off the chair with a giggle, then ran over to the ‘office’ type room in the house. It really wasn’t used much, though Matches did seem to use it when Dick needed more space rather than the kitchen being between them. 

Matches did get him some stuff for drawing though, just to give him some options. And Dick knew where those were stashed at. 

He scrambled to find some paper, grinning madly as he grabbed the crayon box. He giggled as he pranced back into the kitchen, slapping the paper onto the counter and hoisting himself up. 

Then he got to work. 

Alfred watched him fondly, having been surprised by such a joyous reaction from a simple misunderstanding. He would never complain, the pup deserved some laughter. It was a lovely sound. He tried to commit the pup’s happy scent to memory, hoping it would appear more often in the future. 

But Alfred let him be, giggling as he drew. 

Dick found himself pausing more and more as he drew, drawn by the scent of fresh cookies. As Alfred quietly transferred them from stone to rack (and yeah, his cookie sheet was literally made of stone that must definitely be a rich person thing.) Dick tried reaching out and snagging one. Unfortunately Alfred saw.

“Let them cool Master Richard, you’ll get burned if you have one right now.” Alfred warned, though he was smiling. 

Dick scowled playfully but sat back, tapping his pencil to his chin as he watched Alfred continue the transfer and put a new stone tray of dough into the oven. He bit the eraser, lightly gnawing on the rubber as he tried to taste the cookies instead. 

Taste was connected to smell right? So could he eat the eraser while smelling cookies and make the eraser taste like cookies? Results thus far said no.  

Alfred also said no. 

“Do not eat that Master Richard. Be patient, pup.” The Beta shook his head fondly.

Apparently erasers should not be consumed. Dick pouted, soon Alfred would tell him metal shouldn’t be chewed on either!

Alfred seemed to read his mind, scoffing with a smile at Dick’s obvious grumpiness of the subject. 

“I would,” Alfred spoke suddenly, and Dick quickly pulled the eraser from his lip- he was not chewing it just poking his face, you can’t prove anything-! “However, like to answer your question, Master Richard, concerning Master Malone’s issues with going out.”

Dick set his pencil down, feeling nervous but not overly so. If Alfred wanted to tell him, he wouldn’t stop him. Alfred was volunteering this infermoration. Dick wouldn’t have asked again. 

Alfred then set two warm cookies on a napkin in front of him. Dick gasped in delight and pulled the cookies closer, finding a cup of milk to be taken as well. He pushed his drawing stuff to the side, so ready for the sweet sweet taste of the super fresh and finally cool enough chocolate chip cookies. 

“Master Malone has no desire to keep you shut in, his main concern is your safety, should you be recognized out there. He has a lot of enemies, and he hates to see pups being hurt. So if he can prevent it, he will.”

Dick frowned into his cookie, it made sense, really it did. Zucco would have made a public spectacle of him, or-or leave him out there like he did with that one Omega who fought back too much. The goons had talked about how she’d been- she’d been- too many Alphas had— So Dick understood the danger of being outside. 

But Matches wasn’t like Zucco, the whole point of having an Alpha own you was so that other people wouldn’t try anything the owning Alpha wanted, and if Matches didn’t want sex he wouldn’t allow others to have it with him either. It should be fine if Alpha Matches went out with him, Dick didn’t care anymore. He just-

“…I miss the sun.” He said quietly. Distress leaked into his scent as tears edged his vision. 

He missed Alfred’s reaction, but his scent suggested he wasn’t prepared for a response like that. The Beta’s leafy tea scent turned into burnt sourness, though it felt more like despair than any other sour-making emotion. 

Dick hunched over his cookies, sad he had gotten distracted from his treat and took a bite. 

Oh shoot, the cookie was so good. 

Oh no now the tears were falling. Oh nooooo. 

“Master Richard I-“ Alfred started, scent filled with mourning, but Dick shook his head.

He lifted up the cookie, tears actively crawling down his cheeks. “I’s so gu’d.” 

It was. It was the cookie’s fault he was crying. It wasn’t about going outside. It was the cookie. It was such a tasty cookie. It reminded him of home, of warm summers and dusty tent flaps and how much he was just… outside . Dick had hardly been indoors until Zucco got him, the best he could do was the train cart, sometimes a store or two. The rest had been unitards, sandy floors and quadruple summersaults. 

Stupid cookie. Making him think of home. 

But… even here. The cold winter snap outside, warm cookies and blankets inside. His mom’s scent was cookies, snickerdoodle cookies, but also spicy like her red hair. His dad’s scent was something Dick could never name, but it was distinct and comforting, loving and protecting. Something Dick was thinking Matches was trying to be, but it just… it didn’t work. Matches smelled like smoke, metallic and strange. It wasn’t… it could never be as comforting as his dad’s scent. 

Besides, Matches was his Alpha, not his dad. 

Alfred’s face softened, scent bleeding his own heartache. “Would you like a hug, Master Richard?”

Dick sniffed and took another bite of the too good cookie. He shook his head. He didn’t want a hug. He just wanted to enjoy the cookie. 

“You deserve as many cookies as you can handle,” Alfred said, “and I dare say Master Melon would give you double.”

Dick smiled at the reminder, swiping the drying tears away because it really wasn’t that big of a deal. The cookie was good. That wasn’t anything to cry over.

He could… digest whatever the rest of what Alfred said later. Right now was cookie time. 

“I’ll talk to Master Malone about going outside. I dare say this winter weather might be more in your favor. It’s much easier to hide an identity under many layers of clothing.” Alfred said rather happily. 

Dick gave an Omegan trill, respecting and thanking the Beta for his consideration. Because that sounded… really good. As good as this cookie even if it was the opposite end of the temperature spectrum. He was also just very glad Alfred was there. Alfred could ask Matches for him. And- and Matches listened to Alfred. He could- it might even happen! No secret window exits necessary. 

Well. Dick would still keep and use his window exit but still even monitored time outside was still time spent outside. Maybe even-

“L-like a park?” Dick offered, feeling both excited and nervous. Now that he knew Alfred was on board with such a plan, it was much easier to argue his point. “It-it’s easier to not be suspicious in a crowd. Wouldn’t stand out as much.”

All Dick wanted was to feel the outdoors and meet someone for once in his life that wasn’t out to get him. He wanted to feel the sun, feed some ducks, play tag. 

“Good point, Master Richard.” Alfred praised, still smiling. “I’ll be sure to bring up the idea of a park.”

Dick let out a breath, all the fight and pent up energy about the outdoors left him in that breath. He was tired, warm, and a little bit sticky in that way sugar was. He took a sip of the milk, eyelids heavy. 

That was… a lot that just happened right then, but for once he didn’t feel the need to hide at having an emotional breakdown. In fact it was pretty nice to have one and someone was just… there. Alfred was helping.

Sometimes it was just too much work to keep the walls up, no shield could be held forever. The times his shield would slip when he just couldn't anymore with Zucco were probably the most damaging. The times after were when his shield got thicker, his muscles more attuned to holding it longer. 

He knew those moments because they felt like this, drained and raw. But this time… this time he didn’t fear that Alfred, or even Alpha Matches, would take advantage of that. It felt, for the first time… safe to lower his shields. 

Not that he was doing it voluntarily, just instead of his shield slipping out of shaking hands in the middle of the battlefield it felt like he was in the barracks. He was somewhere he wasn’t going to be attacked if his shield was down, but that wasn’t to say he liked it being down or wanted to do it more. 

He was just too tired to put up any front, and for once it felt like that was okay. Nothing terribly bad was going to happen, he wouldn’t be scarred more or be forced to learn how to keep his shield up higher or longer. It was just a break, as unintentional as it was. 

He was just taking a break, and that was okay.

He took a sip of the milk, eyelids heavy. 

“It is not too early to retire to bed young master,” Alfred said with a pointed look at the sagging pup. “You can even rest on the couch if you desire to wait up for Master Malone.”

Dick shrugged, he liked the idea, but at the same time that was rude to his Alpha. Also that would require moving and he liked where he was. Besides, his eyes landed on his drawing that was pushed away, he wanted to show Matches his drawing. 

Alfred followed his gaze and his eyes did that crinkle thing. 

Dick snapped to attention at the sound of the door lock, though he surprised even himself when it wasn’t fear that caused this reaction, but excitement. 

Dick found himself moving anyway, a smile on his face as he snatched the drawing and slipped off the stool, b-lining towards the Alpha.

Matches had some bulging plastic bags in one hand, they were large but didn’t look heavy, in fact they looked like more soft things. The Alpha almost reeled back at Dick’s approach, surprise flooding his scent as the pup ran to him.

“Alpha!” He called happily as he paused right before the surprised man. He grinned and lifted up his drawing. “Look! It’s you! Alfred said ‘Malone’ funny and I thought he said ‘MELON’-“ his explanation broke with a quick giggle, “and if you were green, the stripes of the suit would really make you look like a melon! Matches Melon!”

He honestly really shouldn’t be talking to his Alpha like this, but his shields were down right now he was too tired to care. He could deal with the consequences later, or now if Matches decided this was too domestic. He was too stressed to care

His Alpha smiled, but not with too many teeth, and gave a light chuckle. His scent bled joy, a specific one that was far more… cherishing. “Watermalone huh? I haven’t heard that one before. That’s a good one.”

Dick giggled again and looked down at his drawing, imagining real Matches wearing a green watermelon suit. Matches Watermalone. 

“Watermalone.” Dick repeated out loud, mostly to himself as he laughed quietly. Feeling strangely soothed by his Alpha’s positive response.

“I got a gift for you too.” Matches said, shifting his bags in between them. 

Dick looked up, curious. 

“I know you like to hold things sometimes, so I got you some stuffed animals.” Matches explained, opening one of the bags so Dick could look inside. “They can help you when you’re stressed, play with them, they can even just be extra things in your nest. They’re entirely yours.”

Dick was wide eyed, reaching one hand into the bag to take out a long limbed stuffed sloth. It’s arms had magnets in them, meaning they could loop around anything Dick attached it to. 

He held the sloth close, staring at its beaded eyes. His hand squeezed the animal, testing its fluff and sturdiness. 

“How about we trade?” Matches offered, still smiling nicely. He extended the bag out, but also laid his free hand in front of him. 

Dick felt like he was in a dream. 

He watched himself give the paper to the waiting hand and then just as easily scoop out the rest of the stuffed animals. Most of them were zoo animals. 

The sloth, a tiger, a polar bear (which was the biggest of the bunch, about the size of a pillow!), a wolf, a zebra, and an elephant. 

Dick held the elephant carefully, he held it close, pressed gently but tightly to his chest. He leaned his face down into it, first just to feel how soft it was, but then he swiped it under his chin, immediately scenting the stuffed animal with gentle fervor.

He loved all of them, he did, but he left the others in the bags as he held the elephant. Peanut. Or Peanut 2.0, he wasn’t sure yet. 

“Thank you Alpha.” He breathed, eyes refusing this time to leave the elephant and look up at his Alpha. 

“Of course Richard. Anything for you.” The Alpha sounded pleased, though he seemed to fidget. “If you would like Richard, I can scent one of them for you, and you can have my scent when you’re scared and I’m not here. I’ll scent it and you can do whatever you want with it.”

Dick nodded slowly. That was… fine. 

“Only if you want to Richard, you don’t even have to bring it into your nest room if you don’t want.” Matches said quickly. 

The pup tucked the elephant under his arm, fishing out the tiger from the bag and held it out to the Alpha. 

Matches took it and rubbed his wrists all over it, scenting it thoroughly but not strongly. It wouldn’t leak all over his room, or be contagious to the other stuffed animals. When it was handed back to him, Dick held it carefully. 

“Very good masters,” Alfred pipped in, just as pleased as his Alpha. “Master Richard has had an emotional evening, and should probably head to his nest. Pup’s need their sleep.”

Dick nodded again, not feeling like he could talk even if he wanted to. 

“Yes, get some rest Richard,” his Alpha agreed, his scent still happy and fond. “Thank you for letting me scent one of your animals, and for your drawing.”

Dick held his elephant close, putting his nose along its neck. He should at least say thank you again, but all that came out was Omegan whines. 

Before Matches could do anything about that though, Dick turned and ran to his room. He missed Matches startling at his swift movement and looking to Alfred for help. 

Dick climbed into his nest, bringing in all his stuffed animals, but never put down Peanut. 

He settled rather quickly, knowing how he usually likes stuffed animals incorporated into his nest. He kept the tiger outside though, not far, but right outside the edge next to the bedside table. Within reach, but not too close. He refused to let go of Peanut. He held the elephant in a death grip.

He knew he was vulnerable right then, he knew bad stuff could happen. But this? He didn’t know what it meant. Stuffed animals were one of the things he didn’t want Alphas to ruin, but now that he was presented with them from his Alpha… Dick couldn’t just… not use them. 

Alpha Matches wasn’t going to do anything weird with them. He just scented one, just one, for Dick to use how he pleased. 

Sure, all of it could be gone tomorrow, things could always change for the worst in a snap. But this… 

Dick had been vulnerable. Dick didn’t understand. Dick didn’t know what this would mean for his shield, or his future. 

It was all just… so much. 

He curled around the elephant, nose buried deep in the new stuffed animal, hoping if he searched deep enough he’d find his parents' scent. 

Dick fell asleep

——————————

Oh man he called it. He knew it. The stuffed animals did mean something. And it wasn’t something good. 

He wasn’t blaming the stuffed animals, he loved them and would fight tooth and nail to keep them. That was a lie. However he knew it was too good to be true. 

Matches had asked about his heat the next day. 

That… that had been very scary. Matches said he wanted to know so he could be ‘prepared’, so that Dick could ‘have everything he needed’. Dick realized that, along with his birthday, his heat should be due soon. All of it was entirely too soon. 

Dick had spiraled into a really bad panic attack, one his Alpha couldn’t help him with, nor the nice Beta. He spent the day in a horrid haze, trapping himself in his room because it was the one place Matches never went. But it wouldn’t be like that for long. 

Matches had yet to truly claim Dick as his Omega, but he also had yet to give Dick any sort of birth control. 

Matches must have been waiting for his heat. Matches wanted little matches running around. Matches wanted him pupped. Dick was terrified of being pupped, it was one of those threats from Zucco that worked 100% of the time. He’d seen other Omegas get pupped, old and young, and the few times he was able to have conversations with other Omegas they always warned him to avoid getting pupped at all costs. Zucco didn’t want him dead, so of course he would take measures to make sure Dick didn’t get pupped. Matches seemed to be doing the opposite of that.

All this… food, respected boundaries, the haircut, no sex, the house itself and all the domestic stuff happening inside… it was all just buttering him up for when his heat would hit, and Matches could finally have his way. Matches wanted pups. Matches wanted Dick to live well enough to have pups.

He had also seen the fates of breeder Omegas, the ones who were pupped and pupped until they couldn’t pup anymore. They lived short lives. As much as Alphas told them they were meant for it, they really weren’t. Just because an Omega could get pregnant six weeks after giving birth doesn't mean they should. If the Omega didn’t die in the process of making a new pup, then they certainly would when trying to give birth . Being a Breeder Omega was a death sentence. 

Dick stood to defy all of that, standing specifically in front of his open window. Maybe he couldn’t change his fate, his life was still so short, but he had this moment in time and he was going to make the most of it. 

He was going to go outside. He was going to feel and see the sun before he got pupped. Before his life ended he was going to go outside and screw everything in his way. 

He didn’t have any shoes, but he had socks, seven pairs of them. Wearing all of them at once was kind of like wearing shoes. Nobody was home with him, he certainly wouldn’t be trying this if they were, they had decided to give him some space after his meltdown. Good. Dick would take full advantage of their buttering nature. 

If they could just take whatever they wanted from him, then he was very willing to take what he wanted in spite of them.

Dick didn’t know exactly when his heats were, he typically didn’t know what month it was, much less which season. Dick only knew it was three years because Zucco would… do some sick anniversary thing with him. And if Dick was paying enough attention to the goon’s chatter sometimes he could pick up the season or a date, but no he didn’t have a calendar. Matches didn’t have a calendar either. But he did have a window and the window said it was about early to mid winter. Dick’s birthday was in December, he’d be turning 13. 

Zucco would always tell him how lucky he was that he was never pupped. Dick didn’t agree with Zucco on most anything, but this, this was true. Zucco would remind him every heat.

If Dick were to guess, he’d say Matches got him around early early winter, late fall. Dick’s last heat was quite a bit before that. Dick was totally due, and every day he wasn’t in heat was one day closer to being in heat. 

So it was now or never. Graysons didn’t deal with ‘never’, and Dick was the only Grayson around to prove it.

The window was open, the screen cut and twine untwisted. Dick had his improv shoes and his thick winter jacket Matches got him. He was even wearing two pairs of pants, one long and stuffed under his socks and the other more tight to keep the warmth in. He even had gloves. Soft ones, meant to keep the chill away rather than to mess around in snow but Dick would take it.

Dick’s life would end soon but soon was not yet so his fire was plenty alive. 

It was snowing, but gently, cold but not freezing. Dick adjusted his wooly hat and took a few deep breaths. 

“Okay, okay okay okay.” He breathed out slowly, psyching himself up for this because oh man was it risky. Alfred was a bit more unpredictable, and Matches ever the wild card could come home any moment. But no, Dick was doing this. He was going to go outside!!

Dick rushed the window, pushing away the screen that acted more like a flap now. He hoisted himself up onto the window ledge and shoved his feet outside. He twisted backward with his stomach to the ledge as he carefully lowered himself down onto the rather small foothold under the window outside. 

It was barely a ledge, but even with the snow it was plenty wide for the young acrobat. He crouched, slipping his top half through the hole and suddenly he was outside. 

Sure he was crouched on a ledge 3 stories high, but only his hands holding the inner part of the window were inside. 

He giggled, his breath a brief cloud as the cold stung his nose and cheeks. He couldn’t stop smiling. 

He shimmied to the side where he had seen the fire escape. It was one of those that were metal, stairs and ladders and brief platforms next to each emergency window exit. 

Would it have been easier to make his secret exit that specific window? Oh for sure, but that would be the first place Matches would look for a secret exit. Matches probably wouldn’t even fit on the ledge Dick was using right now, it was perfect. 

Dick carefully shifted, holding onto barely exposed bricks as handholds as he shuffled closer to the emergency escape. His breath clouded his vision, but he stayed steady. 

He lunged the last little bit, heart thumping in his ears at his excitement and oncoming doom. He kept a firm grip on the bar meant to keep people from falling down the building and hoisted himself up and over. The metal barely made any sound thanks to both the snow and his socked feet absorbing the sound. 

Dick leaned on the bar as he looked down the fire escape, then twisted his head up. He blinked at the harshness of the white sky, but grinned at the gentle snowflakes falling down. 

Yeah going down was a no, he wanted more contact with the sky. So Dick carefully made his way up the fire escape, making sure not to slip. He left quite obvious tracks, but honestly if he was caught by his tracks that would be fine, because at least he was able to go outside even just once. 

He'd be stuck indoors for a long time anyway if he was pupped. 

But he wasn’t going to think about that right now, Dick was at the roof ladder. 

He climbed up the rungs, the cold winter air scratching at his throat. He lifted himself up onto the roof, greeted by a pleasant flat roof with a layer of clean snow. There was the roof access room/door thing, and the AC units, but they were more off to the side than in the middle. 

Dick grinned and leaped onto the snowy roof. 

He giggled as his feet somewhat slid, the snow only a few inches deep and had a satisfying crunch as he stepped. Dick made his way further onto the roof before sinking to his knees. He scooped up the snow around him, crushing the powder into a firm ball. He grinned at the snowball and turned and flung it at the roof access door.

It hit with a satisfying thunk, the snow exploded but left a small chunk on the door. Dick grinned even wider, giggling and quickly making more snowballs. 

He threw snowballs at the door for a bit, making a smiley face with the residue before focusing on making a small snowman. It couldn’t be too big, there wasn’t enough snow for a big one, nor did he want to leave too much evidence he was here. Anyone could make small snowmen on rooftops. 

He didn’t have anything for eyes or arms or nose, and there wasn’t any sticks or stones on the roof either, at least none he could find under all the snow. So he just sculpted a face for the snowman, adding a snow-scarf at the very least. Well it made the snowman look like he had a double chin but it’s fine, he was a fine little snowman. 

Dick made a chair out of the snow that had piled up against one of the AC units. The big pile was so pretty looking but Dick couldn’t resist. He sat on his cold throne for a bit, relaxing and warming his fingers that had begun to freeze over. Even with the gloves, they were beginning to get wet and that made his fingers cold on the inside. 

Even his feet were getting a bit wet, which wasn’t great. But it was fine, Dick knew he couldn’t stay out here for too long, snow or no snow. But he was glad. From his snow chair he spotted another area of untouched snow and grinned. 

He carefully stood up from his throne and walked over to the clean area. Then he turned around and flopped backwards, swishing his arms and legs around to create his first snow angel.

He felt sweat bead down his face and he sniffed as the cold made his nose runny. He paused his arms and legs, staring up at the sky in his starfish position. 

It was so quiet, he realized. The snow dampened all the sound the city made, and the fluttering breeze carried down each snowflake like a little kid toddling along with a balloon. 

His breath fogged the air, he exhaled sharply on purpose, seeing how far the fog would go before it disappeared. 

His limbs ached in the cold, but a good ache. It was like the cold was leeching his energy, but he didn’t mind at all. The snow was comfortable, even if wet and cold. The air stung at his exposed skin but it just felt good against his rosy cheeks and hot skin. 

He stared up at the white winter sky, his heart and soul happy for the first time in a long while. His eyes fluttered closed, a snowflake landing too close to his eyes. He smiled and hummed his contentment. 

His gut flared with heat and Dick’s eyes snapped open. Horror dawning and chasing out the happy feelings instantly. Heat roiled in his gut, spreading its ache into his frozen limbs. 

Dick hastily sat up, hunching over his gut. 

No. No no no! Not right now! 

He was starting his heat. 

Chapter Text

Oh frick. Not good. Not good!

Okay. Don’t panic. The roof is not the place to panic. 

Dick takes a breath, then another. He stares blankly at the white snow in front of him. 

Okay. Okay okay. Dicks has been in heat before, he knows how this works. He knows what to do. He’s just going to ignore the later stuff because right now he needs to get off the roof. 

Okay. Yes. Off the roof. Good plan. 

Dick carefully climbs to his feet, wincing at the cold biting his toes and the sharp difference between the frigid air and his overheating body. Okay he’s standing. Fantastic. 

He shuffles over to the roof ladder, glancing once more behind him, mournfully soaking in the last dregs of freedom he enjoyed. But no more, he can be sad later, panic later, he needs to get to his nest. 

The heat in his gut wasn’t so bad, it never really started all that bad, though he knew it would steadily get worse over time. So he needed to move while he still could. So down the ladder he went, carefully slow despite his blood racing under his skin. 

Getting down to the right level was fine, the fire escape stairs made the trip short and easy. He contemplated stealing some snow, to put in a container or even just a baggy and put it in the fridge or freezer, just to bring a little bit of the outside inside. That would be dumb though, the snow would melt or freeze and worst of all Matches would find it and probably demand to know where it came from and then Dick would have to explain how he went outside and Matches would really give it to him then. 

Dick’s breathing stuttered, eyes just shy of burning with unshed tears. He held his breath, willing away the tears and focusing on right now. Cry later, not on the ledge outside his window. Dick couldn’t afford any time wasted while he could still move. 

Dick shimmied his way across the ledge and slipped his torso through the screen hole. He carefully lifted his legs inside one after the other. 

He winced at his soaked socks sinking into the living room carpet. He did not think about what he would do with his clothes afterwards. 

No matter, it was fine. He could deal with this. This was a solvable problem and one that wouldn’t make him cry. It was fine. 

He took off his gloves first, biting at the gloves that were rather soaked and just a touch frozen. With his hands free he turned and twined the hole in the screen closed, then yanked the window shut. More sweat dribbled down his face, the sudden warmth of the apartment feeling suffocating to his heated body. Dick grabbed his gloves and swiped his hat off from his head as he walked briskly to his room. 

He shoved the hat back into the closet, shrugging off his jacket and hanging it up exactly where he had gotten it to maintain the illusion it never left. Hopefully it would dry before Matches got home and inevitably came into his room to—

It’s fine. 

His gut sent another flare of flames up and down his body, encouraging Dick to get a move on in removing his many layers of clothing. 

He dropped to the ground to yank off his socks, finding that the water had gone through almost all seven layers. His toes were cold, but that would probably change soon. He threw the mostly not wet pairs of socks into the hamper, but took the very soaked socks into the bathroom to wring them out in the sink. 

He paused only for a moment, thinking about his soaked socks. He didn’t want to leave them out for Matches to find, but if he left them wet and wadded up in his hamper it would get moldy, and Matches would definitely smell that, even if Dick was in heat. 

Matches would probably even go into a rut—

No. No time for that. Dick eyed the towel rung behind him through the mirror, then twirled around to shove his socks under it. There, hidden and becoming dry. 

Okay. Okay okay. What next. He still has two pairs of pants on, not optimal. 

He shucked off one pair, wincing at the frozen wetness on its backside. Okay maybe his socks weren’t the only wet things he needed to hide. He raced back to his closet, shoving away all the shirts hanging so he could drape the pants over the hanger bar like it was a towel. Once that was done he shoved all the shirts back into place, hopefully it was hidden enough but still airy enough so it dried. 

Okay, good. Good. That’s all the wet clothes. Now to prepare his nest. 

His scent was already starting to get heavy with heat, a smell that promised a week long torment. 

He climbed onto his bed, his inner Omega whining at the position of all the blankets and pillows. It was good, but not quite right. Almost frantically, he shoved the blankets and pillows into various places, making it bigger for the Alpha he would have to let enter. Not that Zucco really let him nest all that much, but during his heats he was always given something to nest with when Zucco wasn’t actively using him, even if it stunk of—

He tucked Peanut 2.0 under an armpit, then tried rearranging the other stuffed animals. But he couldn’t- he can’t just let his Alpha defile his stuffed animals! But they were a gift, he had to keep them, Alpha probably gave them to him on purpose to use during his heat. 

Dick cried out in frustration and hate and loathing. He threw out all the stuffed animals, the sloth the wolf the zebra- he paused with the tiger that had been pushed around earlier by his next expansion. It smelled of Matches, Dick couldn’t bring himself to touch it. He would already be getting so much of the Alpha’s scent he didn’t need any more. He used the polar bear to brush the tiger away, letting both drop to the floor. 

But Peanut he kept close, his hands kneading it anxiously as he sat at the edge of the nest. 

Okay okay okay. His nest was as good as it was going to get. He panted heavily and swiped at his forehead, grimacing at the sweat there. Still too hot, the Omega whined in distress. 

Dick looked down at his shirt and his scent soured in dismay. He whined pitifully as he peeled off his shirt, throwing it to the hamper across the room. Then after some thought, did the same to his pants. His clothes would have been taken off anyway, and at least this way it wouldn’t get ripped if Alpha was impatient. 

He still had his boxers on, so he wasn’t completely naked. His inner Omega roared, pleased he was finally cooling down without the layers but also terrified he was once again naked and waiting for his Alpha. 

No matter how many times, it was engraved into his skin and muscles to fear the Alpha that would soon encroach. 

It was fine. Dick had dealt with this before. The only new part of this situation was the Alpha and the room, Dick knew what was going to happen.

His inner Omega still wailed in distress, fear riling up just as much as the heat in his body. 

He knew what he had to do though. A practiced and trained motion that made him sick every time. 

Dick sunk down into the nest, knees tucked under which left his butt higher in the air. He clutched Peanut close, gritting his teeth to keep from physically wailing in fear and anger and pain. He shoved his face into the pillows, hiding his falling tears as the burning from his gut climbed all over him, pulsing and needy. 

He was thirsty, sweating like the bi— he was in heat. He was in pain, distress, yet he knew this would only be the beginning. He wouldn’t get any respite until his Alpha said so, until his Alpha said they were done. Until his Alpha was satisfied. 

So Dick laid in the presentation position, crying and waiting for his Alpha to claim him.

—————————

Bruce knew having three identities would be hard, he thought he knew what he was getting into with Matches Malone on top of Bruce Wayne and Batman. 

Let it be known Bruce is capable of miscalculations, he’s actually wrong a lot more than he would lead people to think. He’s been in way over his head many times, it was par the course for one of the few powerless members of the Justice League. He wasn’t perfect, but he sure did try his best. Especially at the most important things. 

He didn’t anticipate getting an Omega slave as Matches Malone, and as much as he didn’t perpetuate that idea he still stumbled quite often. Of course he knew how to not treat someone like a slave, and that included someone who was an Omega, or an actual child. He knew it would take a long time for the kid to feel safe with him, or anyone for that matter. 

What he didn’t anticipate in that venture was the amount of time he personally had to spend as Matches. When creating the persona he gauged about 20% of his time each week for things pertaining to Matches Malone. Well, that was before he had an Omega pup to take care of. 

It was much more like 40-50% which was a wild jump, and Bruce Wayne took the farthest back seat Bruce Wayne had ever taken. Not that he really felt like Matches Malone while with the pup.

Matches Malone was a crime lord, a mob boss, ruthless and conniving. Matches Malone only cared about money and intel. Matches Malone was not a good Alpha, much less a good caretaker or any semblance of a father. Bruce wanted the pup safe and happy, something Matches Malone was not known for. 

So even with the jump in time spent as Matches Malone, it didn’t always feel like it. His responsibilities as Bruce Wayne simply changed rooms, instead of his office in the manor he used the kitchen table in the apartment with the pup. The pup needed someone like Bruce Wayne, not Matches Malone, but it wasn’t like he could just tell the pup he was actually Bruce Wayne, or say that Matches Malone was an undercover persona. He highly doubted that would help the pup’s trust issues. But whether the pup knew he was Bruce Wayne or not, he would be treated well and that was the point. 

Bruce wasn’t going to abuse his pup. 

Still, it was hard to juggle the three locations, the cave, Wayne Enterprises, and Matches Malone. His ‘workaholic’ (Alfred’s words not his) habits were not very conductive to the crazy schedule he now had. Not that he wasn’t working anymore, just that it felt less like sitting down and grinding out issues at his desk (be it in a cave or in a building) he was actually running around being yanked in every direction. 

Even with all of that, Bruce would never say he wished he hadn’t gotten Richard. It was hard, yes, it was even scary sometimes, but Bruce was determined to see this through. Even if it meant forfeiting his Matches Malone persona for the pup, as much paper work as that would be, Matches Malone was meant to be temporary anyway. 

Bruce just wanted Richard happy and safe, so that’s just what he’ll do. 

That was his frame of mind when he opened the apartment door, just a touch late for dinner time. Bruce was planning leftovers, he knew Alfred made extra of that chicken rice and bacon soup specifically for it. But of course if Richard requested anything different Bruce would be happy to get it for him. 

Looking around the apartment he found it rather baren, no pup on the couch and his window closed. Not that he expected the window to be open, it was a bit too cold for that. It had been gently snowing for some time now but the next few days were  going to be near-blizzard conditions. Having looked it up beforehand, Bruce knew the worst of it would be hitting in the coming days, and that most of his time should be spent here with the pup to make sure he was okay in case the power went out or if anything got snowed in. 

Bruce did not want to leave the pup unattended for uncertain long periods of time. Alfred made sure he knew that one after the Riddler decided the power grid was his playground. Luckily Alfred was able to get to the boy and nothing was amiss, but yes, it was Gotham and Bruce refused to let anything surprise him, especially to the detriment of his pup. 

So they’d have to somewhat hunker down these next few days, shouldn’t be a problem. He was hoping to get a little more information from Richard about his heats, though it didn’t exactly go great the first time he asked… He wanted the pup to have everything he needed for his next heat, and that included whatever he wanted Bruce to be doing during it, weather that meant staying away or staying close or anything in between, it required them to talk about it and Bruce would rather get that information sooner rather than later. 

But still, he didn’t blame the pup for his traumatic response, he had every right to be scared of such a line of questioning. So he didn’t really question it when he concluded the pup was in his room, somewhere Bruce would never go without permission. 

Bruce laid his briefcase on the table and headed for the fridge. And- oh. He paused with his hand on the fridge handle, twisting to put an ear in Richard’s room’s direction. He could hear faint sobbing. 

He felt a surge of guilt well up inside of him, tainting his scent. 

Was his question about Richard’s heat really so intense? Bruce didn’t want to think ill of the boy but surely just the question wasn’t that bad? Zucco must have taken care of him during his heats too, definitely not as Bruce intended to ‘take care’ of him but still, wouldn’t the pup be expecting that line of questioning at some point?

No matter, even if the clear upset of the Omega pup made him frown. It could have been a nightmare, or some other cause that triggered him in some way. 

Bruce could give him some space, prepare him some dinner in case the pup felt well enough for it. He didn’t know if Richard ate before he got home but he would still offer some leftovers at his door. Bruce couldn’t enter without permission, but he refused to let the boy starve if he never came out, so leaving some food for him just inside his door wasn’t a big deal as long as he knocked first. 

As he got the leftovers from the fridge he noticed the apparent did smell rather odd. There was a crispness to the air, though faint it was similar to the snowy scent outside. Bruce internally shrugged it off, perhaps Richard did use the window today. As much as he loved giving the pup what he wanted, he should probably limit how many hours a day the pup kept the window open during the winter. Not that he was worried about any bill, he just didn’t want the pup to get a cold, or get regular cold from the apartment not being heated up properly. 

Later, he shook his head, a discussion for later. 

He portioned a bit of the soup into two bowls, the smaller one for the pup and the bigger one for himself. He put the bigger bowl in first, covering it with a paper towel like Alfred taught him so the food wouldn’t splatter and dirty up the microwave. 

As he waited he wondered briefly what exactly made the food splatter when heated, it’s not like popcorn, yet it just decides to explode anyway? Weird. Was it the chicken? The rice? The bacon? Some sort of seasoning that explodes upon reheat? Strange. 

He took out his bowl and put in the one for Richard, stirring his own as he waited once more. The pup’s bowl was done faster, seeing as it had less food inside to heat up. He stirred it and put it back in for another 30 seconds just to be sure it was thoroughly heated for the pup. 

He placed his own bowl at his seat but abandoned his meal for a time so he could give Richard his food. Bruce grabbed the pup’s bowl and a water bottle from the fridge to bring to the Omega. Richard usually had a water bottle in his room but Bruce didn’t want to assume. 

He made his way over to the pup’s door, frowning more at the crying he heard coming from inside. Bruce didn’t want to intrude, but he’d rather give the pup the option to eat if he was hungry, or even some company if needed. 

Then the smell hit him. 

It was sweet, heavy and honey-ed. It was the scent of an Omega in heat. 

Oh sh—

Bruce nearly dropped the food, feeling like he just got dropped into the deep end. 

Okay. Okay. Richard was in heat, he was sobbing, Alfred warned him about this. Richard would be very… tender in this state, volatile in terms of emotional and physical needs and wants. 

Bruce had hoped he could have that conversation about what Richard wanted during his heat before the heat hit, but sure nothing like learning on the job. Okay. Yes. This is fine. He’s Batman. He can do this. 

He was going to knock, then if he wasn’t immediately turned away, he was going to open the door to see if Richard would request anything specific. He would need food eventually, but the water was a great idea, Alfred said the most important part about heats was being properly hydrated. 

So Bruce did just that. He went back to the kitchen and put Richard’s food down, getting two more water bottles from the fridge. He couldn’t quite get the nervous stink out of his scent, but he tried to make it as calming and non-oppressive as possible. 

He stood in front of Richard’s door for a few minutes, a quiet kind of terror taking hold of his soul he had rarely felt before. 

He’s Batman. He could handle this. It wasn’t like this was his one shot to gain the kid’s trust. Besides, even if Richard feared the worst from him, the worst case scenario would literally never happen. Even if Bruce started to rut, (which he wasn’t, he was internally checking every two minutes) Bruce didn’t see a potential mate, just a pup to dote on. 

Nothing bad was going to happen to Richard, now he just needed to convince Richard of that. 

The Alpha knocked on the door. 

The crying on the other side stifled itself, not completely gone, but not openly sobbing anymore. Bruce’s heart tore at the show of control. 

“Richard?” Bruce called as gently as he could, awkwardly holding three water bottles in one hand. “Is it alright if I open the door to talk to you?”

There was no sounds beyond the door for a few seconds, Bruce briefly wondered if he could get away with opening the door just a crack to deposit the water bottles, but a broken voice called from within. 

“…Y-yes Alpha.” The boy already sounded defeated. Resigned to a fate only Bruce knew wouldn’t come true. 

He breathed in one last breath to steel his nerves and gently opened the door. 

The first thing he noticed of course, was the scent. Heat scent always made the Omega a bit sweeter, to entice not only mates but pack members too. However this Omega was also in great distress, the prevalent sour did not mix well with the sweet of the heat. Both scents were overly strong, giving off conflicting signs of ‘I need my pack’ and ‘don’t come near me’.

He next noticed the things on the ground. As far as Bruce could see, all the stuffed animals had been thrown from the nest. Even the tiger that had Matches’ scent on it, laid unused on the floor next to the bed. Now Bruce wasn’t offended, but he was a little sad not even the tiger was used for comfort. 

The pup was in his nest, and by the looks of it, expanded it too. A natural instinct of the Omega to welcome in a pack or a mate. Bruce highly doubted he’d be truly welcomed in though. The most distressing part was the pup himself. 

The pup was very nearly naked, not entirely surprising considering heats were generally, well, hot. Bruce can imagine it wouldn’t be comfortable wearing too many layers, but what distressed Bruce the most was the position the pup was in. 

The pup was in presentation position. Head lowered and hips raised, as if he was expecting Matches to just waltz in and take him right then and there. 

Bruce nearly choked at the sight, making a mental note he never wanted a pup to present to him ever again. His heart ached, a physical pain squeezing his soul. 

“Hey Chum,” Bruce said quietly, as if to not spook the pup. “You’ve started your heat huh?” The pup gave an Omegan whine, not one of want that most Omegas might have, but of despair. 

“I have some water for you pup,” Bruce continued, “if you’d like I can just set them down here.” He would not move unless the pup wanted him to, he was resolute on that point. 

A few whines slipped from the pup, crackly and broken, with a fair amount of confusion. Bruce didn’t move though, he could be patient.

Finally the pup moved, lifting his torso and weakly stretching out one arm in clear want. “W-water please A-Alpha.” The pup kept his head low, not quite facing Bruce, accompanying his plea with a needy and submissive whine meant for placating hesitant or even angry Alphas. 

Bruce was not an angry Alpha, but he was hesitant. And the Omega had asked for water, so that’s exactly what he’ll get. 

Bruce abandoned the doorway and entered the room, stepping around fallen stuffed animals and feeling a bit more dread at being fully surrounded by both heat and distress. The pup was still in presentation position. 

He set two of the water bottles on the bedside table, he noted that’s where the pup kept his emergency beacon and uncapped the third bottle. He handed the bottle to the boy, feeling a lot more disgusted and uncomfortable so close to the Omega that was clearly presenting for him. 

“You don’t need to present, pup.” Bruce said as the boy grabbed the water from him. 

Richard gave him another submissive whine in thanks, bowing his head even more as he tipped his balance so that his torso was now higher while his rump sat firmly on his heels.

“Th-thank you Alpha.” He even said, before sipping at the water. 

“No worries, Richard.” Bruce replied, already feeling better now that he wasn’t being presented to. “I kind of wanted this conversation before your heat hit, but it’s okay. I want you to be as comfortable as possible, so what would you like to see happen?”

The pup didn’t seem to like what he said, or maybe it was the wording, but he flinched and huddled a bit over his water. 

Okay, okay, damage control. 

“What would you like me to do? I’m not going to do anything without your permission. I’ll always supply you with food and water or whatever else you may need so long as you ask for it. And Richard? This is the most important part,” Bruce tried for some eye contact, only to get a fearful squeak from the Omega. “I don’t want sex.

“I know your previous experiences with Alphas during your heat were not great, they weren’t safe or nice. This isn’t going to be like any of those. You are a pup first and foremost, and you’re currently under my care so I will do whatever is necessary to help you feel safe. Even if it means leaving. It is your heat, you get to tell me what I can and cannot do, alright?”

Perhaps it was a bit long winded, but it was important for the pup to know. He also desperately needed Richard to understand that this wasn’t going to be like his other heats spent with awful Alphas who used and abused him. 

Richard seemed more confused than anything, but Bruce would take it over denial or fear. 

“Y-you…” the pup started, though hesitant and shaky. “You don’t- want?” 

“I don’t want sex.” Bruce repeated firmly. “It’s not necessary during an Omegas heat, and really should only be done between mates. You are also a pup, even if the law says you’re of age because you’re capable of heat, pups should not be having sex.”

Suddenly the pup was facing him, looking up at him dead in the eyes. That’s where Bruce was surprised to spot the elephant stuffed animal, tucked under the pup’s torso. The pup’s face though, was horrid, splotchy and red with heat. Tear tracks were clear on his face, though his blue eyes welled with fresh emotion. 

The pup’s scent exploded, wild with fear and hope and want and desperation. 

“Please- please Alpha, Alpha don’t pup me. Please- I’ll- I’ll do anything you want me to, please just don’t pup me.” Richard begged, quite literally on his knees, neck bowed awkwardly in submission as waves of both terror and hope fell from his scent glands. 

Bruce unlocked a new hatred, as much as he hated a pup presenting to him, this was much worse. A pup —an actual child— should never have to beg to not be made pregnant.  

“Please, please Alpha- I’ll be a good Omega-“ the boy continued, as if Bruce didn’t just spell out how much Bruce didn’t want to do the very thing the pup was begging him not to do. 

“Hush, shh pup,” Bruce tried gently, lifting his hands but keeping them from moving towards the pup. He almost felt bad because the pup instantly went quiet, though his body seemed to shake with anticipation, eyes alight with the same emotion.  “You’re alright. I’m not going to pup you. I’m not.” 

The pup was well and truly crying now, trembling with his sobs. Bruce had no idea if this was good or not, even the pup’s scent was wildly confusing on the matter. 

Bruce did carefully grab the open water bottle, because the pup was shaking so bad it would have spilled. With his new free hand the pup latched onto his elephant stuffed animal, clinging to it like it was his only tether. He bent over it, gut wrenching cries wrung out of the kid between every breath. The pup fell over onto his side, curling up around his elephant and his face slightly shoved into the bed, both to muffle his cries and to constantly bare his neck to his Alpha.

Bruce couldn’t just sit there with a distressed pup sobbing in front of him. So he offered himself. “What do you need pup, what can I do for you?”

Richard keened loudly into the bed, good or bad, Bruce didn’t know. Then Bruce realized something, and he might have to wack himself upside the head for this. 

The pup probably didn’t even know what he needed. 

Sure there was the innate need for pack and safety, but the nuances, this pup had only ever spent heats with Alphas that used him. Richard had never had a safe and comforting heat, he had never been cared for during his heats, only abused. Of course his first and immediate request would to not be pupped, and how willing he would do literally anything else to escape that fate. 

On the bright side, Richard knew what to ask him to not do, and Bruce would gladly abide by any requests of that nature. Still, it tore his heart in two. 

But now Bruce needed to change his questions, if Richard didn’t know then Bruce had to step up. Bruce might not have spent a heat with an Omega before, but Alfred taught him (and refreshed his memory of these teachings) plenty. 

“Alright Richard, new plan.” Bruce said, then he crouched next to the bed. As much as he would love to loom over the boy protectively, that was not conducive to helping the pup feel safe right now. They needed to work together on this. 

“So everything I said before still applies. I’m here to help you, not have sex, and I won’t be making you pregnant. That’s a promise.” While crouched he was more level with the pup, even over the nest wall (which was particularly flimsy in this spot).  

There was no true sign Richard was listening. Though it was softer, the poor pup was still crying. Bruce was going to go for it anyway.

“If you need anything, even if you don’t know if you actually need it or not, you tell me and I’ll get it for you. That’s the first part, and just like everything else I said it’s going to apply all the time no matter what. Secondly, I understand you might not know what you need, so I’m going to give you some options and you can tell me what you want from those. You can pick as many as you want, they’re meant to help, and some might work better for you than others. Okay? Does this sound good?”

The pup nodded, his crying had dissipated though tears still crawled down his face. He sniffed wetly and Bruce reached back to the bedside table to grab a tissue for him. “Here, first option, tissue?”

Richard tentatively grabbed the tissue, wiping his eyes first before swiping at his nose. Bruce then handed the pup the whole box, holding it along the ledge of the nest. The pup was still in his nest, and Bruce was still outside it, he wasn’t invited in and he was going to keep that peace. 

His scent at least had mellowed out, just heat and the buzzing tinge of terror. Bruce had to remind himself the terror was probably because this was very new for Richard and didn’t know what to expect. Bruce made sure his own scent stayed calm and not overpowering. 

The pup then craned his neck, baring his throat once more to the Alpha. “Th-thank you Alpha.”

Bruce kept his scent from souring, though he felt the anger rise within him. An Alpha conditioned this child to say thank you for the bare minimum, it was just a tissue, but someone told him titles were more important. Bruce sometimes hated Alphas, and their dumb power trips they insisted on ruining other people with. 

Instead of saying any of that though, Bruce smiled gently. “No need to thank me pup, I want to help. Now we have a few options, and you can always keep these in mind for later too if you don’t need it right now. None of these are a ‘one chance only’ option, if it helps I can make a written list.”

Richard nodded again, but kept his throat bared towards the Alpha. “O-okay.”

Bruce nodded back to him. “I can make that list for you soon, but right now; are you hungry?”

Richard shook his head after a few seconds. Bruce suspected he wouldn’t, considering his nerves at the moment, but it was an important question anyway. 

“Alright, when you do get hungry I’ll be more than happy to get you something to eat.” Bruce said. “Are you still hot? I can get you a cold rag for your forehead or neck.”

Richard took longer for this question, but ended up nodding his head. 

“Alright, do you want me to get that for you now or later?” Bruce asked. 

The pup looked a bit spooked again, it seemed the yes or no type of questions were easier for him to answer. Verbally asking for things seemed to stress him out. 

“…could- could I- could I have- have it now?” Richard stuttered terribly, but Bruce didn’t blame him. The pup even squeaked in fright and bared his neck even more like he was apologizing. 

“Of course Richard, I’ll be right back.” Bruce stood up carefully and exited the room, making a mental note to have one of his ‘options’ for the pup to be about the rest of the stuffed animals. 

Bruce didn’t close the door behind him but left it just a crack open so Richard could at least hear what he was doing. A small break from his Alpha’s presence was probably good for him anyway, and maybe for Bruce too. 

Being so close to the boy while he was bearing his neck just made all the scars there stand out like a sore thumb. This pup had so many claiming bites on his neck, even his shoulders, Bruce couldn’t believe it was all just one Alpha. But that just meant even worse things. 

Richard had thought Bruce wanted to add to that collection. Bruce shivered at the thought, he didn’t want to think about how the pup probably tried to fight them all, squirming uselessly in their Alpha grips as they just took and took. 

No. No more. He was safe now, and Bruce was working on convincing him of that. Only up from here. Only up.

Bruce grabbed a rag from under the kitchen sink and turned on the tap water, then, in what could possibly be a stroke of genius, got another rag to soak and placed one (after wringing it so it wasn’t dripping) in the fridge. 

He also made the time to inform Alfred of the situation. He would have to ask the pup if he was okay with the Beta being here, but hopefully Alfred could at least drop off some extra food. That winter storm might be later but Bruce would not be leaving the pup unless explicitly told to for the next week.

Alfred encouraged him and promised cookies along with whatever meal the pup desired. Bruce gave him his thanks. 

He made his way back to his pup, knocking on the door to announce his return and handed the pup the rag. 

“You can place it wherever you want, though I suggest either your forehead or the back of your neck.” Bruce said, crouching down again at the side of the bed. 

Richard tentatively placed the rag over his forehead, and Bruce almost smiled at the relief that made a physical appearance in the boy’s body language. Which, speaking of body. 

“Did you want some clothes on? Or are you too hot right now?” Bruce could open a window, Richard did have one in his room. 

“…hot.” Richard said simply, which worked well enough. 

He nodded, “feel free to grab clothes anytime you want to. I can open the window if you’d like to help cool you down.” He also mentally noted he probably wouldn't want the heating pad if he was already very hot. 

Richard thought almost absently on that one, but nodded again. 

“Alright, how much do you want it open? Low, medium, or high?” Bruce asked as he unlatched the window locks. 

“…medium… please.” Came the quiet request from the Omega. 

Bruce shoved the window around until it was about halfway open, nodding to himself at the frigid breeze making its way inside. That really shouldn’t be open for too long, but that’s okay. 

“Alright, so we covered food for now and your temperature. How’s your nest, did you want your stuffed animals back?” Bruce asked. He honestly had no idea why they were all thrown out in the first place, but he was sure there was a viable reason. 

Richard must be aware of the reason, because he tensed. But Bruce was surprised with an honest answer. “I- I like them Alpha- I just- I didn’t want them to- to be ruined when- when you- when you wanted s-sex.” Bruce’s heart swelled in pain, but the pup was quick to talk again. “N-not that you want it anymore! I- I’m glad… I really like them. Thank you Alpha.”

The pup’s face ended in a grimace, and Bruce could understand. Sounds like he didn’t quite know what he wanted to say near the end, but Bruce could work with this. 

“That’s a good thought Richard, do you want the stuffed animals in your nest though? They don’t have to be.” Bruce said, having a feeling that even though Bruce wasn’t going to do what the pup feared, he still didn’t want to risk the stuffed animals in the nest. 

Bruce was proven correct when the pup shook his head. But was also delighted when the pup spoke again. 

“Th-they can sit at the e-edge of the bed though.” Richard offered, an ultimatum of sorts even though it was simply the placement of stuffed animals. 

Bruce obeyed anyway, gathering the scattered animals and placing them outside the nest on the end of the bed. Even expanded, the nest was… small. Despite the work put into it, if Richard assumed Matches was going to take him in it, the nest would have been completely ruined. That told Bruce that the poor pup wasn’t even granted a nest during heat. Even if highly traumatizing, having a proper heat with his abusers would have taught his hindbrain how big to make the nest. This was a puppy nest, not a mating nest. 

But that thought also made him proud in some odd way, he was glad the boy’s hindbrain still considered itself a puppy despite being used like an adult for years. Bruce might be alone in thinking this, because only he would think so hard about a simple nest, but it felt like a big middle finger to all the trauma he went through. Richard was still a pup, even through all those horrible years. 

Bruce also had saved the ‘Watermalone’ drawing in his home office, a surprise showing of the boy’s personality made Bruce feel almost giddy with joy. 

With the pile of stuffed animals arranged, Bruce returned to his spot next to Richard. He was delighted to find the pup was sleepy, though he wasn’t sure which that spoke volumes for. Either Bruce, for being the first Alpha to actually take care of his in-heat-Omega’s actual needs, or the boy’s previous Alphas, who clearly did nothing. 

Though he wasn’t sure if the sub drop was something an Omega pup could do, Bruce was under the impression that it was an adult Omega function, meant for mates and pack Alphas. Bruce hesitated to call this a sub drop anyway, considering the amount of crying the pup had done he’s surprised Richard wasn’t falling asleep sooner. But either way, the pup being any sort of sleepy around him was a win in his book. 

However he still had a few last questions, he’ll make sure they’re the important ones. 

“I’ll only ask two more questions Richard,” Bruce spoke up, causing the pup’s eyelids to flare open. “Would you be comfortable with Alfred in the apartment? He doesn't have to come in here unless you want him to, and nobody is going into your nest unless you say it’s okay.”

The pup stared blankly for a few seconds, but nodded, then turned to rub his face into the bed and yawned.

“Alright, I’ll let him know.” Bruce quickly slipped out his phone and shot the Beta a text, and just as quickly put his phone away. “Last question.” Well probably not THE last question, but an important one before the pup goes to sleep. 

“Richard, would you like my scent?” Bruce asked. 

This wouldn’t tell exactly if the pup could sub drop but there was a chance. If the pup said he needed his scent, took it, and was reduced to Omegan noises with no real cognitive ability, then that was a sub drop. If he said no, well then; no. Easy. 

The pup’s face twisted, nose wrinkling and frowning. But the pup stayed quiet for longer than he had for any other question. His scent wavered with wants, wanting his Alpha close and wanting his Alpha to go away. 

Maybe Bruce needed to break down the question for him. 

“Would you grant me permission into your nest?” Bruce asked, a clear cut question that the pup could set his own boundaries for. 

The Omega hissed at him, startling both of them. Richard hid his face in his elephant, an Omegan apology quietly rising from his throat. Bruce just smiled.

“No worries Richard, I won’t go into your nest.” So no Alpha scents in the nest, that’s okay. That would be easy enough to follow.  “Would you like me in your room or to stay out?” Bruce asked next.

The pup then whined in frustration. Bruce’s brows furrowed as he tried to understand. 

“Are you not sure?” Bruce asked, unsure how to clarify any of this, he was already being pretty simple. 

Richard shook his head, which rubbed his face into the stuffed elephant. Okay well now what. 

“What would you like me to do Richard?” Bruce asked, feeling lost. Vague questions like this stressed the Omega out earlier, but it was the only thing Bruce could think of. 

The pup whined again, sighed with his whole body, and then extended a hand towards Bruce. “Can- Can I- wrist? Please?” 

Richard wasn’t looking at him, but his scent told him how tired he was, how scared, and how much he just needed. It wasn’t specific, just that the boy needed.  

Bruce was happy to supply for that need, whatever it may be. So Bruce gave the pup his wrist with a soft “of course.” 

Richard latched onto his arm, not unlike during the haircut, and stuck his surprisingly cold nose to Bruce’s wrist. Then the pup shifted, keeping one hand locked around Bruce’s forearm he shoved the blankets and pillows next to him, creating a higher and thicker wall against the headboard of the bed. The pup tugged the sheets over and curled up on a sizable pillow. 

Richard adjusted himself, with his curled back to the new wall and put his elephant in the empty space between his gut and his arms, then tugged Bruce’s arm closer, wrapping both arms around his larger one like it was the stuffed animal. The boy bowed his head, curled up right in his nest, head resting on the Alpha’s arm with his nose on top of the wrist’s scent gland. 

The pup shifted the cool rag to his neck, and Bruce could both feel and see the pup relax. Like the strings of a marionette been cut, with the rag over his sensitive neck and his Alpha’s scent in his nose, the pup finally felt safe. The Omega gave a pleased purr, short enough to be more like a trill than a purr. 

Either way, Bruce smiled, happy Alpha seeping into his scent which just made the pup melt even more. 

Seems he's going to be here for a while. Bruce carefully lowered himself to the ground, arm stuck over into the nest while he himself sat with his back against the bedside table. 

And that was that. Richard fell asleep on his arm almost immediately, and Bruce found himself drifting off as well. 

—————————

The apartment certainly smelled of in-heat Omega when Alfred arrived. He and Bruce had concluded the pup’s real scent was something like chalk or sand, something dusty, but heat twisted it into something more like powdered sugar. It was heavy with dread, the fear of an abused Omega, but still just as sweet as any other Omega in heat. The combo made the air smell more sickly than anything, the sweet almost becoming sharp and sticky instead of soothing. 

The Beta got to work stocking the fridge with the food he had brought along before investigating. He heard no distress coming from the bedroom, so they could wait. 

He frowned at the twin abandoned bowls of leftover soup, making a mental note to have something prepared when the two were ready and hungry. But in the meantime, Alfred grabbed a pack of crackers as he finally made his way to the Omega pup’s bedroom. 

The door was slightly ajar, he knocked gently anyway. He only pushed the door open when he heard a confirming trill from the Omega inside. 

The pup was curled up in his nest, though even within the nest he seemed to make a smaller nest as close as possible to the left bedside table. That’s where he found Bruce, sitting slumped over with his arm stretched into the small nest. Completely unconscious. The pup was cradling the limb, as strange as it was, Alfred was pleased at least some part of the Alpha was allowed in the nest. The pup needed his good Alpha. 

However as the pup blinked at him, clearly awake, Bruce was not, the Alpha completely oblivious to his entry. His poor boy was probably running himself ragged with everything going on at once, Alfred would not disturb his sleep. 

“Good evening Master Richard,” Alfred whispered his greeting with a dip of his head. “I have some crackers for you if you would like to eat.”

The pup nodded after thinking for a few seconds, then untangled one of his arms to tap the bedside table. There were three water bottles there, two still full and the third only about half way. Alfred frowned at that, the boy should be drinking a lot more than that. 

He approached quietly, setting the crackers down where he was told while not disturbing the sleeping Alpha beneath him. 

“I suggest you drink more water Master Richard, is there anything else you require?” He saw the cold rag in the fridge, he also saw a probably not cold rag on the boy’s neck. He also didn’t see the rice bag or any medicine. 

The pup shrugged at him, apparently not quite in the mood for words. That was fine. The Omega was also staring at him, wide eyes following his movements.

“Would you like me to get you a fresh rag?” Alfred asked. The pup nodded slowly, peeling away the hot rag to give to the Beta. The rag was certainly not cold, but Alfred was swift. 

He exchanged the rags in the kitchen, refolding and wetting the older rag and put that one in the fridge. He returned and gave the pup the new rag, the pup had adjusted his blankets while he was gone, the thin sheets now covered most of the pup’s (almost) naked body. 

Richard returned the rag to his neck, looking more at ease with the cold presence on his neck. Alfred concluded it was probably doing more than just cooling the pup down. As much as the boy protested getting scruffed, during a heat it was calming to have the pack Alpha’s presence on the Omega’s neck. It was a protective gesture, though Richard might not feel the same about Bruce right now, he was still getting a slice of it in other ways.

Richard also had the water bottle laid against his chest, somewhere very close and probably safe from spilling. Alfred nodded his satisfaction. 

He eyed the open window, not that it was bad to air out the room, but exposing the pup’s heat scent to the streets was probably not a good idea in long term. Besides, as hot as an Omega’s heat was, it would not be good to have prolonged exposure to extreme cold in such an amount. A cold rag was one thing, but a blizzard was another. 

“Shall I close the window, Master Richard?” He asked quietly, the pup nodded. Alfred closed the window.

“Anything else Master Richard?” Alfred asked just in case. “I’ll be here as long as you want me to, as will Master Malone. If you need anything, absolutely anything, all you must do is ask.”

The pup nodded again, though he looked more apprehensive. Alfred had a guess as to why. 

“Would you like me to leave the room?” He asked, his scent devoid of any upset or change to upset the boy’s decision. 

The pup nodded with a squeak, hugging the Alpha’s limb anxiously. 

Alfred nodded, he thought so. The pup would be more anxious with multiple people around during his heat, it was easier to keep track of just the Alpha while he was this vulnerable. Though, Alfred decided to ask just in case. 

“And you are comfortable with Master Malone staying here with you?” Alfred asked, then added, “there’s no wrong or right answer dear boy.”

Richard’s grip tightened on the Alpha’s arm, nodding and scenting the arm with his jaw at the same time. 

Alfred smiled softly, “very good Master Richard. If you need anything just call.” 

And with that Alfred left, keeping the door behind him slightly ajar. 

Hopefully they both would sleep some more. The Omega pup would find Alpha Bruce was safe, even in sleep, and Bruce would find some solid sleep in the presence of his satisfied Omega. 

The Alpha and Omega were compliments to each other after all, despite the (very wrong) culture around Omegas being weaker, Alfred had every reason to believe Richard would grow to be a powerful Omega. If only because of the fiery will inside the pup that kept him going all these years. Truely, an Alpha would have cracked long ago under such torment. This Omega pup was stronger than them all. 

Chapter Text

Dick woke up feeling… pretty good actually. He was still in heat, he didn’t even need to smell the air to figure that one out. He could just tell by the aches in his limbs and the heat coursing under his skin. But despite all of that, Dick felt pretty good. 

Probably because he wasn’t mated. That was just as obvious while waking up, he had a lot of experience waking up after (or during) being used and this was not it. Apparently Matches still hadn’t mated him yet. Dick would not complain. 

But Dick also didn’t exactly remember… call it a trauma response or maybe it was just normal for heats (he wouldn’t know) but the first few days of his heat were always a big blur in his memory. When he woke up from this blur he tried to recall as much as he could, even if all of it was bad (which might have been the point of the blackout), just so that he didn’t have to deal with any surprises. 

But as he laid in his nest, untouched and clothed, Dick couldn’t find anything inherently bad in his memory. He didn’t exactly remember words or proper actions, he couldn’t see it in his mind, but he could feel it. It was only ever the feelings that stuck, and usually that was a bad thing. Usually it meant he remembered how sticky and gross he felt during the blackout days, the pain and pleasure of his Alpha’s use of him. Though it was never details, just feelings, like nightmares. Except it was reality

But as he ‘looked’ back, trying to find the feelings from the blackout days with Matches, he couldn’t find anything bad. 

Not to say all of it was good, he was still terrified half the time, but nothing bad happened to him. That was new. 

He remembered with clarity how his heat started, he had been outside on the roof in the snow. He remembered climbing back inside and rushing to hide the evidence of his escapade, he remembered stripping and lying in wait for Matches. He remembered how scared he was, how he mourned his un-pupped life. 

After that is when it got all muddy, where it was mostly feelings that could break through the blackout. 

He almost hated the blacking out, because it took away his eyes but left the most important and traumatizing part; the feelings. He was used to looking back and feeling horrid, the vague feeling of hands where they weren’t supposed to be, feeling touch lingering in places that made his heart jump in fear. When he said feelings, he meant both emotional and physical, and that’s why he hated the blackouts. It was nightmare fodder, to keep all the feelings yet none of the proof. (Not that he was ever …clean… when he woke up, he was just used too often to know who did what, and that was scary.)

But now, as he looked back to his blackout time spent with Matches… Dick felt like the proof finally matched the feelings. 

Dick couldn’t find any bodily feelings that scared him. He remembered holding onto Matches’ wrist, his arm, like a koala. He remembered hugging the Alpha’s arm, but hissing at the Alpha before he could properly enter his nest. And Matches had… stayed out. 

He remembered Alfred, but just barely, the Beta wasn’t welcomed often, Dick was sure of that. He hated when Zucco shared him during his heat, he must have hissed at the Beta to make him leave often. Oof, he should probably apologize to Alfred for that… 

But there still wasn’t anything bad, he remembered no touch besides his own initiated touch to the Alpha’s arm. He remained untouched for the whole blackout, it was… really new. 

He remembered feeling scared, really scared, but he also remembered being desperate for something. Maybe he struck a deal with Matches or something, a promise not to pup him for… something else. But then there was the fact his nest, in the present and from what he could remember from the blackout, smelt like happy and calm Alpha.

Matches didn’t go into a rut. Matches wasn’t angry he wasn’t allowed in his nest. Matches didn’t touch him. 

…How?! Dick was an Omega in heat. Alphas were supposed to breed him, they were basically animals around an Omega in heat. Like a moth to a flame or a bee to honey, Alphas couldn’t not touch or take advantage of an Omega in heat. Especially if that Omega was their own!! 

But the proof was all there. 

Dick sat up, finding himself alone in his room, but the Alpha scent was still fresh and lingered in the way that meant the Alpha had been there for awhile. 

He jolted at a heavy weight on his gut, fear struck through him like a snake. But when he investigated he found just a bag resting across his gut. He lifted it, bewildered when it seemed to be… just a bag full of… beads? Something small and heavy. What was this for? It didn’t smell like anything but him, so it wasn’t… bad he supposed.

He set the bag of… whatever, to the side and raked his eyes over the rest of the room, worried something else might have changed.

Instead he trilled quietly in surprise as he found his nest unbothered, the extensions he made useless and his own mini nest inside the nest holding just him completely intact. There was somewhat of a nest on the floor next to the bed, where the Alpha scent was most prominent. The mini nest had a dip in its wall leading to that direction, and Dick’s hands absently clenched and unclenched anxiously. 

That must have been Matches’ arm. He looked at his clenching hands, finding himself trying to recreate the feeling of holding the Alpha’s arm. He had Peanut though, and with careful searching, found the stuffed animal was only scented by himself. 

Dick then got distracted by the clothes he was wearing, he didn’t remember putting on this shirt, and the pants he was wearing were comfortable even with the heat bloating his gut. Most importantly, he didn’t feel any sticky grossness from between his legs or anywhere else, the only sticky part about himself was the sweat from the heat. 

And the sweat from his heat was entirely different, since it came from himself and nobody else. Dick wasn’t sure if this was sad or cool, but he could literally tell the type of sweat he had right now was different from the type of sweat he made during sex. 

(Usually because that sweat came along with a lot of other smells and liquids. Including his own terror.)

So Dick really hadn’t been touched. He hadn’t been used. Even if he was used and was cleaned up to act like it never happened, Dick didn’t smell of any soaps, and he would have remembered the feeling of a bath (not to mention the actual, ya know, sex). 

Matches really just… didn’t. There was a lot of things Dick was expecting from this heat, from Matches, but it just… didn’t happen. Everything he anticipated, Matches just didn’t do.

But it wasn’t like Matches just locked the door and forgot about him during his heat. Matches was here but didn’t do anything besides let Dick cuddle his arm. And sure he still felt tired and sickly, but he found water on his bedside table along with packages of dry snacking food. 

Dick’s face twisted as he made his conclusion, the only conclusion. He had been taken care of. Matches had catered to him instead of just… taking. 

That’s what he remembered most from his blackout, and he never thought he’d say this, but the single overall feeling from his blackout was safety. Matches somehow made himself safe to Dick’s hindbrain. 

He whined quietly, in distress not because of a scary Alpha, but because this one wasn’t. And, to his horror, his inner Omega was longing for Matches. He needed his Alpha, his safe Alpha. 

He whined again, longer and in more distress. His scent, though still heated, grew sour. 

Matches couldn’t be safe; he was an Alpha!!

The bedroom door creaked open, scaring the pup silent. The Alpha of question peaked his head in, and Dick could smell his worry from across the room. 

“You alright, Chum?” The Alpha asked gently, not letting himself inside the room despite his clear desire. 

And he was waiting for Dick’s answer. But Dick was at war with himself. His inner Omega was delighted by his Alpha’s presence, but the more aware Dick didn’t want the Alpha any closer. 

What ended up happening was he didn’t answer with words, instead a frustrated growl that twisted into a high pitched whimper spoke in his stead. 

“I’m sorry, did you have a nightmare?” Matches asked, like his weird growl thing was something he could respond to like a normal conversation. 

Dick held Peanut anxiously, but ultimately shook his head. Another whine was building up in his throat, but he tramped it down, because it was a whine of want and Dick did not want his Alpha. He didn’t. 

“You seem more awake now,” Matches noted out loud. Dick stiffened, that was a dangerous line to start with. The Alpha tilted his head, ever so slightly baring his neck. “Would you like to have dinner out here today? Get some variety to your day? You can always stay in your nest though, only if you want to Richard.”

Dick didn’t relax, but his inner Omega was pleased his Alpha wanted to spend time with him. He shoved that far far down, maybe he should strangle it for good measure. 

However… it would be nice to get out of the nest, as much as his limbs ached and wanted to not move, he felt somewhat antsy. Spending too long in the nest was a surefire way to a lot of problems. Dick already knew what it was like to be forced to stay nestbound and he refused to willingly walk into it again. As scary as leaving the nest would be, as scary as this weird new not normal Alpha was, Dick reminded himself he has had dinner with this Alpha before. This wasn’t new. He was just… in heat at the same time. No big deal. 

His stomach gurgled. He clutched Peanut tighter. Alpha was still waiting for his response. 

His muffled inner Omega cheered as he nodded. “I-I’ll come out.” He said, surprised that his own voice wasn’t… wrecked like it usually was. 

Matches smiled, “I’m glad, are you alright with chicken noodle soup?”

Dick nodded again, feeling frustrated that he kept accidentally-on-purpose indulging his insane inner Omega. But at the same time… Dick knew he would be soothed the moment he could scent the Alpha. 

That’s what he was scared of. 

That, and if Alfred was going to be at dinner too. He wasn’t scared of the beta himself, just… if it was all going to go to crap, he didn’t want to have Alfred involved too. And even if it didn’t all go to crap… he felt self conscious. He didn’t want Alfred to see him cozy up to Matches. He still wasn’t sure on why , but it was a strong argument. 

Dick let out a questioning trill, nervous and hopeful. He made a mental note not to openly share his hope with Matches, starting from this point. Matches didn’t need to know how much he hoped. How much he hoped Matches was a good Alpha.

Matches could apparently read his Omegan sound for what it was. “Alfred went out, he won’t bother us if you don’t want him to.”

If Matches was a bad Alpha, that sentence would have been terrifying. He hated the promise of uninterrupted time with an Alpha- it was a lot of time to do a lot of damage, even a Beta would have been preferable. Instead, Dick felt comforted. He again cursed his inner Omega. 

Dick nodded, but couldn’t catch the happy chirp that broke out. He felt his cheeks flush and he busied himself with climbing out of his nest, trying to ignore the happy Alpha rumble at the doorway. After a few moments of hesitation, he brought Peanut with him. If dinner went bad, if Matches turned on a dime, then Peanut would be screwed (well, Dick would actually be the one-). He really didn’t want his stuffed animal caught in any crossfire, but try as he might, he also couldn’t make himself let go of it. So he kept it, and folded both arms over the elephant's body and lowered his face onto the stuffed animal’s rather large head. 

He was tired, his limbs all felt jello-y, but not in a bad way. Now that he was standing on solid ground he felt a bit more… vulnerable. Even if it was his nest room, full of his own scent and his Alpha’s, he was just standing there, out in the open. 

Dick couldn’t hold back the frightened squeak and nearly bolted towards his Alpha. 

Matches opened the door the rest of the way, but didn’t grab at him as Dick basically plastered himself to the Alpha’s leg.

Matches chuffed with some humor, “you’re alright pup.” 

A hand grazed the top of his head, making the boy flinch with another squeak. Matches quickly pulled his hand away, but Dick found himself whining for it back and stretched to his toes to make himself taller to reach the hand. 

Matches’ hand descended again, softly but solidly carding through his hair. The Alpha rumbled pleasantly, and Dick found himself trilling in response, slowly relaxing.

Dick could be mortified later. He was just… getting out all his inner Omega feelings right now so that he could focus later and not be… weird. Yes. Yeah that was his plan. This was totally on purpose. 

Dick hummed happily as his Alpha ruffled his hair, carefully scenting him and soothing his fears. 

“You’re alright Richard, how about we get you some soup.” The Alpha said, dropping his hand from the Omega’s hair to his back, guiding the pup to walk with him to the kitchen table. 

The table was already set, their normal spots adorned with bowls and plates and utensils. The pot was in the middle, covered with the ladle resting on top. 

Dick sat in his seat carefully, feeling more jello-y than before, but excited by the food because it smelled wonderful. He kept Peanut in his lap, holding the elephant there with one arm as he reached to drink from the cup of water meant for him. 

Matches didn’t sit yet, he stood as he uncovered the soup and Dick nearly ‘oooh’d out loud at the steam that billowed and the very fresh tasty smell that exploded into the room. Matches stirred the soup for a moment before holding a hand out to Dick. Dick handed him his bowl and Matches put in three large scoops. 

Dick hummed both in appreciation to his Alpha and excitement as the bowl was set before him. Then some saltine crackers were put on his plate, and then a small bunch of grapes were deposited on his plate too. 

Though he quenched the urge, his inner Omega purred in delight of his Alpha feeding him. Some weird biological thing about Alphas taking care of their pack first before themselves or something like that. He didn’t like that kind of stuff, it made Omegas seem weak, and that got really dangerous really quickly when bad Alphas decided to use biology against Omegas. 

The amount of times Dick’s heard that he, by existing near an Alpha, was just ‘asking’ to be— 

Anyway. 

The soup was so good. Dick didn’t have to worry about his Alpha or anything else while he ate, Matches never even tried to start a conversation and Dick liked to think that it was because the food was too good to be talked over. 

The crackers were salty and the soup was just the right amount of sweet, he didn’t even mind the vegetables! Even the grapes were good! Though soon enough Dick was full and he cursed his tiny stomach. 

Dick set his spoon down with a whine, visibly upset he couldn’t eat anymore. 

Matches chuckled lightly, “you all done Richard?”

He nodded, once again anxiously holding onto his elephant. 

“Alright. Do you feel up to taking a shower?” Matches asked next. Dick’s full stomach sank, all the good soup felt like a rock in his gut. “I don’t think you’ve washed since before your heat, and this is the most energy I think you’ve had. It might feel good since it’s been a few days.”

Dick had to remind himself that Matches didn’t shower with him, Matches didn’t do anything yet that he expected an Alpha to do. Matches probably wasn’t implying he would be showering with Dick, but if there was ever a time to do it, it would be now. 

He might toss his soup if he did but it would probably be fine because, ya know, shower. Zucco wasn’t against it on occasion. Zucco also never fed him this much, or waited so long before-

But yes, despite not knowing how long it’s been since his heat started or last shower, it would be nice. Sure he was hot but a nice warm shower did sound heavenly, as long as he was the only occupant. 

So he nodded, rubbing one of his eyes sleepily.

Matches rumbled and Dick fought the urge to purr in reply. He was happy his Alpha was happy, but he wasn’t that happy. Dumb inner Omega. 

“Do you need any help?” His Alpha asked.

There was a suspicious lack of (sexual) interest in his scent, but Dick gained a bit more faith in his inner Omega when he chirped sharply. 

Then he immediately wished he could take it back.

Dick froze after the sound left him, cold dread dropped down his spine. However, as much as he wanted to beg for mercy, to apologize to his Alpha, his inner Omega refused to back down. Now was not the time for his inner Omega to grow a spine!

He had just chirped an Omegan ‘no’ or ‘back off’, a bit too sharply for a simple situation at the dinner table. Dick had chirped in anger and distress with Zucco before. It usually got him in a lot of trouble, though most times Zucco would just mock him, then make him regret ‘fighting back’ against his ‘nature’. 

However all Matches did was bow his head, tilting it to show his compliance to the demand. He even rumbled more gently, almost encouragingly. “It’s alright, I will stay right here, I won’t go anywhere until you tell me.” The Alpha promised.

Dick eyed him carefully, that was strangely worded. Alphas don’t talk like that. Alpha’s don’t promise that. Maybe Matches preferred an in-charge Omega, he had heard of those before. Alphas who preferred a stronger Omega who could rough them up instead of the other way around. However this didn’t feel like that, first off those Omegas had to want to be in charge- or at least pretend to- and this felt less like making him in-charge and more like just… listening to him. 

He still felt like he was missing something, maybe Matches had explained his weird verbiage while Dick was in blackout? He didn’t know. 

But it was clear Dick was going to be doing his shower on his own and he was certainly more than okay with that. He chirped (a lighter one) his thanks and hopped off his chair. 

He held Peanut close and though he felt very put off by turning his back to his Alpha, the Alpha hadn’t moved an inch when Dick looked back as he closed his door. Matches even waved goodbye. 

Dick had no idea what to do with that information. Well he could ignore it for now, he had a shower to take. 

He never liked showering when anyone was home with him, but as much as he hated the idea of his Alpha being home, his inner Omega might just die if he was left alone during his heat. So this was a step up, maybe, considering the Alpha was home and not necessarily ‘near’. The point was it was the right way to go to balance his nerves. 

He got a new change of clothes, happy to know exactly when and how he got into these ones, and put Peanut on the counter next to it. Then he switched Peanut to the counter right in front of the door. 

When he was granted an alone shower when he was with Zucco, sometimes goons would peek in. They wouldn’t break in to touch, only Zucco did that, no the goons couldn’t touch if Zucco wanted him cleaned, but they would set up a phone or camera, that was not… not great. 

So! Peanut guards the door, settled just a bit off the counter so that if the door opened (even a little bit!) it would cause the stuffed animal to fall. Dick would hear it, and then- well he didn’t know what he’d do, but he’d have a warning. Matches said he’d stay in one place, but he’d heard promises like that before. 

But he was more comfortable with Peanut being his alarm system, so he took his shower. 

And… and it was really nice. It was long (he thinks, there’s no clock in the bathroom) and he never heard his stuffed animal fall. He got to wash his hair and his inner Omega was a bit sad it didn't smell like Matches anymore, but that could be fixed after the shower. (And that- wanting Matches- was a… good thing? Yes, pretty sure it was good to want to be scented by his Alpha.) 

He was certainly clean everywhere, it was nice to feel for once that he didn’t wake up from a blackout full of days and days of use. He didn’t get emotional about it, he just… lost a staring contest with Peanut that’s all. His tears were lost in his towel, drying things were kinda the point of towels anyway. 

So he was clean, in new clothes, freshly washed from a few days of heat stink, and now… well now he wanted his Alpha. Matches was just so… so not like an Alpha. Wasn’t Matches Malone a mob boss? Didn’t he have his own criminal empire thing? Why would he draw the line at abusing Omegas when he was doing so many other awful things?

Half of Dick didn’t believe all this, even though it must have been a month or something, of zero sex or even interest from his Alpha. Matches actively avoided scaring Dick and he said sorry when he did end up scaring him. That’s just… not how it’s supposed to work. 

Matches must take advantage of him at some point. Someway. Somehow. Matches would use him, because he was a big Alpha and Dick was a small pitiful Omega. 

The other half of him rejoiced in the idea that Matches was never going to touch him like that, and that he would continue to be nice and listen to him when he was scared. 

Dick was so on the fence about Matches, he felt like a teeter totter, a balancing act with a bit too much yet nothing at all at stake. Dick couldn’t fix his situation, there was no way out of this, but at this point he wasn’t sure what ‘this’ was. 

Was he a slave? Was he just a kid? Was Matches ever going to use him or was he literally waiting until Dick was older? Like actual adult old. And if so, was Dick okay with that? 

Ugh. He didn’t know. Even his inner Omega was warring about it, screaming at him that he has a nice Alpha, that Matches was as close as he was going to get to having his parents back. His inner Omega was also adamant that Alpha Matches remained OUT of the nest, that he better not touch him or he’d fight tooth and nail. 

It was ridiculous. He wasn’t sure he had this same war with Zucco, though his inner Omega had  recognized him as his Apha, it wasn’t the same because this Alpha actually… cared!(?) 

But he still could be bad! His ‘care’ could turn into something bad so easily! And Dick was in heat! Maybe he was just waiting for Dick to come out, to come out and accept all his nice Alpha-ness and get into his Alpha’s space like his inner Omega wanted him to do. Maybe Matches was waiting for that moment to spring his trap! To catch him and then never let go! To start using him! And Dick wouldn’t even want to leave if Matches treated him nicely sometimes. Matches would have his Omega, his small weak and easily manipulated Omega. Another win for Alphas against the biology of Omegas!

But… he’d already been in heat for a few days now, Matches just as easily could have sprung his trap earlier. Matches obeyed the Omega he claimed as his. Or, well, could an Alpha claim an Omega without mating them? Was that possible? Was he even Matches’ Omega? Dick certainly felt he belonged to Matches, Matches was his Alpha, but did he still count as Matches’ Omega without the claiming bite (and, you know, the mating that comes along with that bite)?

Ugh!! This was entirely too complicated and too stupid!

He was going to go out there and figure it out! Alpha Matches would either become exactly what every other Alpha was or Dick would finally find someone safe.  

How was he going to do that? Well… he might have to ignore his inner Omega, aaaand common sense. But it was fine because it would get rid of the war. That was the point. No more war. No more fear. 

Or… no more hope. 

Dick was too scared to hope. 

So Dick plucked Peanut up after rehanging his towel (finding his socks under it had been somewhat of a surprise reminder) and stalked out of the bathroom, intent on fixing this. No more war.

He hesitated at his door, standing in front of it squeezing his stuffed animal. 

He smelled of too many things, fear, hope, anger, and of course heat. It was just… a lot. Matches would get all this stink and honestly Dick didn’t know what he would do. His inner Omega said Matches would help, that it was natural for an Alpha to soothe a heat addled hindbrain. Dick didn’t know if that was dangerous or not. 

And then it all circled back again. Fear, hope, then anger. 

Dick has had enough of this. He was tired and needed his Alpha!

He opened the door, stepping out of the small hallway and into the living room. Matches sat exactly where he left him, busy with his phone. As Dick slowly approached, the Alpha set down his phone and smiled at him. 

“Feeling better?” He asked, though his smile twitched and Dick knew it was because of the cacophony of emotions leaking off of him. To his credit, Matches’ scent was on the mellow side, soft and calm. 

Dick shrugged, not taking his eyes off the Alpha but lowering his head submissively anyway. 

“Do you want to go back to your nest?” Matches asked.

Dick shook his head, and was glad Matches kept the questions to the yes or no variety. If he opened his mouth he wasn’t sure if he would cry or scream. 

Matches seemed a little surprised, but his smile stayed kind. “Would you like to stay out here?”

Dick nodded. He absently played with Peanut’s tail, weaving it between his fingers nervously. 

“Would you like me to stay with you?” Matches asked next, not looking anymore hopeful than he had before. He kept being strangely neutral, but he kinda always had that mentality when dealing with Dick. Weird Alpha.

Dick nodded again, biting his cheek to keep down his Omegan whine that begged to be closer to the Alpha. He would get to that, just… not yet. If it was gonna happen he’d rather it happen somewhere softer. It was his feeble attempt of control. 

“Alright,” Matches said amicably, of course. “Did you want to watch something?”

Dick nodded. Sure. Yes. That would be fine. He’ll just have to ignore it entirely so he doesn't associate whatever happens in the next hour with whatever show it is for the rest of his life. 

Matches nodded back to him, but sunk back in his seat. It made sense considering their past routines, Dick was typically alone in the living room and Matches stayed in the kitchen. He wasn’t sure how to ask Matches to follow him. He didn’t really want to ask on principle. 

Dick stayed where he was, waiting anxiously.

Matches seemed surprised when Dick didn’t immediately leave, eyebrows scrunching. “Did… did you want me to watch with you?”

Dick nodded, holding Peanut very tightly so Matches couldn’t see his hands shake. 

“Oh,” Matches’ scent sparked with surprise and a touch of joy. Dick’s scent swung in the opposite direction, a feeling of dread crawled up his throat. 

“Well that’s an easy fix.” Matches said as he stood up slowly. But he didn’t move towards him. 

Dick took a quick breath, realizing he really was the one who was going to have to start all of this. He turned and walked to his couch nest at a reasonable and calm speed, with no scared noises squeaking out of him. None at all.

Matches followed him, also at an acceptable pace, still smelling calm and comfortable. But he paused when he realized the only open seat was the same couch Dick’s couch nest was on. 

“May I sit here?” Matches asked, gesturing to the end of the couch Dick’s nest wasn’t. 

Dick, who had already dove into the safety of his nest, took a few moments before nodding. He was internally screaming at his inner Omega to shut up and let him do his thing. He didn’t want Matches near his couch nest, but he must to finally put the war to rest. 

Matches sat, sitting flush with the far arm cushion. He faced the TV, leaning a bit heavily onto the arm cushion. But the longer the man stared ahead, Dick realized he was the one with the remotes. 

He chirped and took the remotes from the stand next to him, eyes lingering on the curtains drawn over his window- hiding his secret exit. He forcefully shoved thoughts of escape away, turning back to turn on the tv. 

As he opened up Netflix he gave Matches a questioning trill. Wondering if the Alpha wanted any influence over what they watched. 

The Alpha bowed his head. “No no, anything you want to watch pup. I’ll be fine.”

Dick held back a whine, his inner Omega wanted to please the Alpha. Dick swallowed back his fear at the thought that he might just do that tonight. 

He went to Disney+ instead, scrolling through the different cartoons before settling on the newer Mickey Mouse shorts. It was funny, and random enough he could probably block it from this memory. 

He refused to hope this night would turn out okay. He already jinxed himself with the stuffed animals, he wasn’t about to jinx something this big. Even though the thing with the stuffed animals turned out generally okay…

Dick didn’t put the volume too high, he didn’t want to remember the TV was on, but still high enough to be heard. Matches didn’t make any complaints, so Dick set the remote down. 

It took Dick two episodes to psyche himself up to move out of his nest. The house wasn’t completely dark, though the sun had gone down and the kitchen light on, the living room was only bathed in the lights of the cartoon, jumping from darks to lights and from pastels to sharp. 

Matches stayed mostly still through it all, not that it had really been that long… Dick on the other hand sat curled in his nest, holding his stuffed elephant close and used the balls of his feet to slightly rock back and forth. 

He needed to do this, at the very least to quiet his screaming mind. Hindbrain and all. 

He turned his blank gaze away from the screen and instead kept his eyes on the Alpha. The Alpha certainly wasn’t staring back at him, but he also wasn’t exactly ‘out of view’. So Dick moved slowly. 

He placed Peanut behind him, pressing him carefully deeper into his nest and the couch. Peanut would be safe. 

Matches didn’t even twitch. 

With Peanut tucked away Dick carefully scooted to the edge of his nest, making small minimal movements. He kept a tight lid over his scent as to not give himself away, keeping his breathing calm and still. His shaking hands took the brunt of his stress. 

Matches still didn’t move. 

Dick carefully pressed down the (rather pathetic) nest wall, scooting himself over it. He instantly felt a million times more vulnerable outside of his nest. He had to quickly bite on his knuckle to keep from squeaking out in fear. 

Matches didn’t notice. 

Dick was in the middle of the couch now, his nest behind him and his Alpha in front. Now… now Dick had to do something, and he really wasn’t sure if he was actually capable. But he just needed to start, get the ball rolling, that’s how you learn in the circus, every step counts but none of them matter if you never take the one right in front of you. 

Dick inched closer and closer, though he swore Matches knew. The Alpha’s scent spiked for a moment, but it was so quickly calmed Dick might have mistaken it for the show surprising the Alpha. But no, the man was now very still, even more still from before. He was still breathing of course but it barely looked like it. 

Dick held his breath and reached out to tap the Alpha’s arm. He couldn’t hold back his flinch when the Alpha turned to him. 

“Hello pup,” the Alpha greeted quietly, like he didn’t want to interrupt the tranquility of sitting next to what he (Dick) felt to be a live bomb (also Dick). “Did you want my scent?”

The man was already moving to offer his arm, a movement that pleased his inner Omega. Dick knew what it felt like to cradle that arm, which means he was also highly aware the man’s hand could cross the span of his torso no problem. He was a lot bigger Alpha than Zucco, he would only need one hand to pin him against the couch and—

Dick’s scent swelled with fear before he tramped it back down. No time for fear, only go. 

He found his hands grabbing the arm, but not to manhandle it so he could get to the man’s wrist for scenting, despite how his inner Omega howled for it. It was slightly awkward, as Dick was a little too close for the angle to scent anyway, so he forced the pliant arm down. 

Matches practically flinched as Dick yanked himself closer, surprise colored his scent and his face. “Wh- pup-“ 

Dick paid him no mind except to monitor in case the Alpha’s scent dipped into lust or anger.

With his new leverage he hoisted himself up into the Alpha’s lap, sitting on one leg and laying his own legs across to the other. How many laps had he sat on before. How many Alphas had taken pleasure in him in a similar position. How many—

The Alpha naturally wanted to hold him, so his arms came around to help cradle him in his lap. How many arms had held him down before. How many grips dug into old bruises that never had the tie to heal. How many— 

But instead of latching on or looping around, the arms hovered. One behind the Omega’s back, which was slightly touching but the Alpha’s hand avoided him. The other arm hovered over his legs, as if he wanted to adjust them.

How many times had an Alpha spread his legs. How many times had he been forced to just sit there and take it. How many times was enough for them? How many times until he gets ripped apart? How many times will someone who could have been nice, who could have protected him, instead choose to repeatedly take and take and take and take—

Dick had never felt so small. 

“Richard- are you— is this okay?” The Alpha rumbled, and Dick could feel it. He always felt too much.

This was terrifying. 

“What’s going on, Chum?” The man almost sounded panicked. “You’re shaking.”

Dick was shaking, his hands were trembling like leaves in a particularly blustery fall. He held the edge of his shirt to hide his shaking, though it wouldn’t matter. He was biting his bottom lip, almost chewing on it. His eyes were downcast, but he saw nothing. There was an awful keening sound in the air, and he didn’t realize it was coming from himself until he recognized the vibrations in his throat. 

The heat, it was everywhere, suffocating and leeching. It engulfed him just as much as his terror did, causing his scent to sour into the distinctive smell of rot. 

A familiar stench. Alphas always complained about it. If they didn’t rape him they wouldn’t have to smell it

“Richard, Richard- pup you’re alright. Can you hear me Chum?” 

Dick leaned into his Alpha, his head thumping against the adult’s chest. Like hot water being so hot it felt cold, he was in so much distress that he felt safe. The terror was familiar and therefore comforting. Dick was in heat, though his inner Omega was yowling about being this close to his Alpha, this was it. It was what he was meant for. It was how his life was to be used.

It was now or never. Well he couldn’t actually say never—

Dick let out a strangled whine, then leaned his neck up, baring it for his Alpha. Hopefully it would be clean, hopefully he wouldn’t keep his teeth in for too long. Hopefully just one bite would suffice. 

“Richard, pup, I’m not going to mate with you.” Alpha sounded upset, but not angry.

“I’m yours.” Dick’s voice was thick with unshed tears, with a tinge of frustration. “I’m in heat. Why- why wouldn't you?” 

His Alpha made a noise, a whine like he’d been wounded. 

Dick’s inner Omega, even with the outrage of being in this position, of being so close to being used again, felt cowed by whatever thing could make this- his- Alpha whine in pain. 

“Richard-“ Matches’ voice sounded similarly broken. His Alphas had never been concerned before. “Look at me pup.”

Dick’s eyes remained on the ceiling, breathing heavily through his mouth. He tapped into a familiar stasis, shutting away his inner Omega so he wouldn’t fight back. It always hurt, but it was always worse when he fought.

“Omega.”  

His Alpha sounded desperate. 

Dick’s dull eyes slid around, his Alpha’s face wore clear distraught. The pup’s eyes slipped closed and he leaned in closer, resting his head once again on the Alpha’s chest. He fit so well here, just under his Alpha’s chin. Small. Always too small for what his Alphas did to him

“I’m yours.” Dick repeated in anguish. He tried rolling his hips. “So take me.”

“No.” 

The Alpha command pulsed through him like a shockwave. 

How many times had Alphas used their Voice on him. How many times was he forced to do what they pleased. How many times had he been denied basic human decency with the sharp command of an Alpha. How many times was he told that he liked it, needed it, asked for it—

…no?

That didn’t… that’s not- 

Dick, a small 12 year old Omega sex slave, opened his mouth and screamed. 

The Omegan call tore out of his throat, bursting through the ragged chains that kept his inner Omegan back. With one incomprehensible word, one incomprehensible Alpha, his control broke. This wasn’t a slip, this wasn’t he could hastily put the lid back on to, no, his control over his inner Omega was wrecked. 

He screamed in terror, anguish, hatred and rage. All the terrible things accumulated through the past three years, poured into a single strangled yell.

‘Get away!’ it said, ‘back off!’ it warned. ‘I will fight!’ his inner Omega said to the world, to the ones who would use him.

He just screamed, jaw wide and eyes screwed shut. Tears still managed to spill out. With every fiber of his being he screamed. 

He barely felt himself being moved, everything was numb and he could barely suck in enough air to continue yelling. He was moved away from the Alpha, set back down in softer, not-an-Alpha’s-lap, space. A familiar soft plush was gently pressed to his side. 

He had flinched anyway, the foreign touch to his vulnerable side made him snap his teeth in that direction. He distantly recognized the stuffed animal and his scream switched to an offensive growl, daring the hand to come back and just try to touch him or his nest again. 

His hands took considerable effort to unlatch from his knees -which he realized were tucked up against his chest- but once they were he blindly grabbed for the stuffed animal and clutched it close. He kept one arm free, ready to slash at whatever came close next. 

But there wasn’t anything there, nothing moved, nothing lunged for him, no greedy lustful Alpha grabbing at him. There was… nobody at all. 

No… no Alpha? 

His growling slowly died down, his defensive stance deflating as he started to sniffle. Where was his Alpha? The safe one? The one that never smelled of lust?

He pressed his back into the couch, laying low in his nest and curled protectively around his stuffed animal. No Alpha meant he was vulnerable, he needed his Alpha. 

He swiped at his face, grimacing at the wetness transferred to his arm. He also blinked, the oppressive rage finally receding and he felt like he could breathe again. He panted, feeling hot, and remembered he was in heat. 

He whined in longing, calling for his Alpha. 

He felt raw and exposed. He was tired but still too keyed up to sleep, it wasn’t safe to sleep anyway, his Alpha wasn’t here to watch over him and the nest. 

He let out another sharp pleading cry for his Alpha, wincing as it hurt his raw throat. 

His heart jumped as an answering Alpha rumble sounded. He chirped, demanding his Alpha come protect him. It wasn’t safe. 

His Alpha finally came into view, holding some things in his hands. Oh his Alpha was getting things for his nest, a good Alpha, but also a dumb one for leaving. 

He trilled brokenly, his throat and vocal chords not quite up to making such noises yet. He welcomed his Alpha anyway. 

His Alpha bared his neck, a clear apology for leaving, and knelt next to the nest, presenting his Omega with the things he brought. 

There was the blanket he approved of, he quickly pulled it into the nest, adding to the lining facing the outside so if anyone saw they knew it was a strong nest and shouldn’t be messed with. 

His Alpha still had things to offer, a bottle of water and a box of tissues. He carefully grabbed them and set them inside the nest, giving his Alpha a thankful purr. With his Alpha here Dick drank from the bottle, humming as the cool water soothed not only his burning throat but the heat in his stomach. He then used the tissues to clear his vision and his nose, which turned out to be grosser than he thought. Eugh, yuck. 

Alpha Matches still kneeled before him, head bowed but eyes flitting over him for a second before looking away. 

Dick… wasn’t sure how to feel right now. That, that was a lot of feelings five minutes ago. But… but Matches was his Alpha, and his Alpha was good. 

Alpha Matches had an in-heat Omega in his lap and literally said no. He said no to sex. Alpha Matches only ever tried to take care of him instead of take him. 

For better or for worse, he accepted Matches as his Alpha. Dick couldn’t say if Matches would turn on him later, and he was tired of trying to expect it. 

All the things his Alpha brought to the nest were good, helpful things, but he was still missing the most important part. 

Dick held his hand out, a warbling chirp asking for his Alpha. 

Alpha Matches moved slowly, taking great care in not scaring him, which made him swell with gratitude. The Alpha gave him his wrist, setting his much larger hand in the open grip of his Omega pup. 

Dick leaned over, his anxiety slowly melting away as he inhaled his protective Alpha’s scent. He was Matches’ Omega, which means nobody was going to touch him. 

“I’m so sorry Richard.” His Alpha spoke so gently, with so much sorrow in not only his voice but his scent too. 

Dick shook his head at his silly Alpha. He directed the Alpha’s hand to rub against the nest wall, then turning to grab with one hand the pillow this nest had. He made sure to be gentle with the sensitive gland, but made sure his nest was properly scented by his Alpha. 

The more he scented the more the scent was happy, a corresponding rumble made his Omega scent pick up with joy too.

He then lifted the pliant Alphas hand on top of his head and let go, giving him an encouraging trill. 

His Alpha went slowly, not just ruffling his hair but marking him with his scent. His Alpha’s other hand came up, but hesitated before touching. Dick eyed the hand, then his Alpha’s face. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he nodded, a short purr bursting from him as his Alpha marked him. 

His Alpha continued to be slow but thorough, almost as if he was wiping every strand of hair on his head with his scent. Dick’s eyes slid closed as the Alpha moved behind his ears, gently scratching at his scalp as he went. His hands dipped lower, but just one squeak made the Alpha back off of his neck. 

He… trusted Matches. Not with his body, not with his neck, not with his nest, but he trusted Matches to listen when Dick said no. And that… that was big. That was important. Because Dick had never willingly let an Alpha scent his nest, or himself since his parents. 

It was so different from being beaten down and forced to scent, getting marked with urine and other fluids, getting all his nesting materials that would soon be soiled with overpowering Alpha stink and Omega distress. Distress he would have to wallow in because ‘toys don’t leave their box when they’re not being played with’. Forced to sit in his own and other’s filth and pretend that it was all okay because it was his nest where he was supposed to be safe. It never was. 

Matches was none of that. Not yet at least. 

“You truly are so strong, pup.” Matches murmured, affection dripping from his voice. Affection Dick felt… okay with. He wasn’t sure he liked it, but it was okay. Matches was okay. 

He wasn’t sure if he would ever let Matches into his nest, or allow him his neck, or to bite and claim him, but for all intents and purposes, he was Matches’ and Matches was his. 

Dick’s eyes flicked open as the Alphas hands slid from the top of his head down to cradle his cheeks, wrists lifted away. Matches asked with his eyes, and Dick knew if he said no that he wouldn’t. 

Dick brought up his own hands, resting his on top of the Alphas. Dick knew what Matches was asking for, not in the general sense of ‘may I’ but in the dynamic sense of ‘be mine’. It was instinct after all.

This position was familiar, reminiscent of something lovers might have done, something Alphas had done to him before. However those Alphas only did it to hold him still, to mash their faces together in a mock of actual love. 

This… was not that. Matches’ affection in his scent and in his face wasn’t that of lust, but it still was love… and that scared him. He’d been… owned before, scent mixed with his Alpha’s as all Omegas should. Omegas needed to smell like their Alphas, so that others knew who owned them. 

He didn’t want to walk willingly into that gilded cage. He would, and has, thrash and scream and fight the whole way.

Dick found himself pressing the Alpha’s wrists onto his face, under his jaw, marking his glands with the man’s scent. 

He… trusted Matches. That was the difference. He simply said no to the Alpha and Matches wouldn’t even try to force him in. He was a person to Matches, instead of an object, a toy, or even an Omega. Hopefully

His eyes watered once more as their scents combined, feeling unbelievably safe now that he was properly scented, marked, and protected by an Alpha who would keep him safe -even from himself . He shuddered, sinking into his nest with his hands still pressed against his Alphas on his face. 

“Oh Richard,” Matches hummed with a similar emotion. “You’re alright pup, Im here.” He gently tugged one of his hands away and Dick allowed it, but firmly kept the other hand to his face. 

Matches’ scent usually included smoke, and whatever smell fabric has, but when combined with Dick’s sandy exotic scent it molded into something… fancy, yet still homely, like… like Mr. Haley. The ringmaster had always smelled like both dust and fancy clothes. Something durable despite being worn, prestigious but down to earth (literally, no one escapes the dust in the circus). 

Mr. Haley had been a good Alpha, though he was never Dick’s immediate Alpha, he was the circus’ Alpha. He was good and kind. Mr. Haley always made sure everyone was okay, that they had what they needed and that everything was going well. Dick found that he didn’t mind Matches taking on that role, even if Matches himself wanted more. 

Matches could be his ringmaster, his leader, his protector. His Alpha. 

Matches plucked a tissue from the box and held it in front of Dick. The pup simply closed his eyes, jutting his face out for the Alpha. 

His Alpha rumbled deep and long as he gently swiped away his pup’s tears. 

“I’ve got you Richard, I’ve got you my pup.”

Matches had him. Matches had him. He belonged to such a good Alpha.

He squealed to express his joy, something small but just as fervent. 

His Alpha didn’t want sex. His ringmaster wasn’t asking for him to play that show. He was safe. 

“Yo-you-“ Dick broke off, the sting in his throat making him choke. He held onto the one hand still on his face as he coughed pitifully. 

“Shh,” Matches hushed him gently, exchanging his tissue for the water bottle and offered it once again to the pup. “Here, drink.”

Dick took the bottle shakily, taking the time to drink and swallow carefully. When he felt well enough he tried humming first, wincing at the pain but felt it was plenty fine for talking, if only a little bit. 

“Careful,” Matches warned, Dick gave him a scowl and opened his mouth anyway. 

“You- you don’t want sex.” He said clearly, despite almost whispering. It wasn’t a question, but it wasn’t not a question. It was a celebration. Dick kept his eye contact with the Alpha, watching as his eyebrows twitched and seemed at a loss for how to respond. 

Matches let his thumb gently rub against his cheek. “I don’t.” He agreed, just as serious as Dick was. 

Dick let loose a shuddering breath, joy sharpening in his scent. “You don’t.”

Matches gave him a concerned smile, the same emotion rolling through his scent. 

“Richard,” his Alpha started, “I promised you I didn’t want that. Did you forget?”

His heart felt like it was being squeezed. “Wh-when?” He asked, staring intently at his Alpha. Matches continued caressing his cheek. 

“Just a few days ago, at the start of your heat.” He paused there, but when it was clear Dick didn’t recognize the scenario he explained in deeper detail with an equally deeper frown. “You asked me not to pup you, and I promised I wouldn’t. You believed me then, what happened pup?”

“Oh.” That’s why his inner Omega was so convinced Matches was safe. He and Matches did make some kind of deal during the blackout. Though it was less a deal and more of just a… agreement. “I-I’m sorry Alpha.”

“I’m not upset,” Matches said, and Dick believed him. “But I would like to know what happened that changed that.”

Dick nodded, taking a deeper shuddering breath. He never really had to explain it to anyone before. This was new. He pulled away from Alpha’s hand and he was easily let go. He dragged Peanut from his spot somewhat under him and placed him more solidly in his lap. 

Dick played with the elephants velvety ears, frowning and looking off to the side. The silence stretched awkwardly but honestly he was wondering how to explain it. His Alpha was patient, even reminding him to drink by nudging the bottle closer. He drank slowly, greatful for the refresher on his throat.

“I didn’t mean t-to forget Alpha-“ he started, glancing carefully at his Alpha. “I just— wh-when my heat comes around I kinda… blackout the first few days?” He winced at the end, “I- I don’t really remember anything ex-except feelings. I’m sorry!” 

He whined, baring his neck even though he knew his Alpha wouldn’t lunge for it. Matches wouldn’t, but the motion was too practiced for him not to. Besides, he didn’t want to be a bother to his very good nice Alpha that wouldn’t have sex with him. 

“You black out?” Matches said, eyes filled with worry. “How long?”

Dick shrugged, Matches would know better than he would. He squeezed Peanut’s plush head, letting the anxiety run right out of his fingertips. “I uh, ‘woke up’ I guess r-right before dinner today? Um, when- how long ago did my heat start?” 

He might have been pushing it with his question but he’d never really had a good Alpha (that wasn’t his parents) before so it was probably fine. He’d learn if it wasn’t. 

(Just because he was a good Alpha that said no to sex didn’t mean he couldn’t demand anything else from him. There was a reason his inner Omega didn’t trust Matches with his neck or nest, and Dick was firmly aboard that train. He wasn’t about to roll over for the first Alpha that patted his head and gave him treats.)

“Your heat started three days ago, Chum. That’s quite some time to miss.” Matches said, frowning even more. 

Dick shrugged again in answer. He couldn’t exactly control it, but it was good to know exactly how long it’s been, Zucco didn’t really know about it nor did Dick really offer up that issue for him. Three isn’t exactly long, right? Three days is nothing compared to three years of childhood he was robbed

Dick could see and feel the concern rolling off of his Alpha, and Dick didn’t exactly like agitated Alphas, agitated for him or not. He needed to say something…

“I-I do… trust you, though.” Dick started, but even that felt too large, incorrect. But it also wasn’t false. “I m-mean, I think w-when you promised that, during the blackout, I think I understood. I accepted you as my Alpha, you do- you do comfort me. And I knew that when I wok-“ he broke into a coughing fit, throat suddenly closed and stinging. 

Alpha Matches thrusted forward the water again, another hand coming up to him but Dick shook his head and Matches didn’t touch. He drank once he was able, also taking the time to get his breath back. He remembered screaming, but jeez he didn’t enjoy the after effects… 

Matches looked like he still wanted to reach for him, to do what, Dick didn’t know. What was an Alpha to do when they reach for an Omega but don’t want sex? That was a mess of an explanation, he opened his mouth again despite Matches’ clear worry for him speaking again. 

“Sor-sorry- I just didn’t know why I trusted you.” He whispered more, considering his vocal chords were kinda shot. “I was still… scared.”

Matches hummed, seemingly cowed by the admittance. He even sat back on his heels, like he remembered Dick usually was scared of him. The space was appreciated, even if it was a little funny. 

Then they both startled at the sound of the Tv, which was still on, and still playing the Mickey Mouse shorts. 

As Dick settled his heart rate, Matches huffed in amusement. “Did you want to turn it off?”

Dick frowned, absently playing with the ears of his elephant again. Matches sounded like he wanted to continue talking, to turn off the Tv to limit any distractions. He didn’t really like that plan. 

Dick was just… tired. Matches might want to talk but Dick’s throat still hurt and a lot just happened. He’d rather be done with talking. He didn’t think he could sleep though, he just… wanted to not think too much anymore. The TV would help with that. 

Dick had said his piece, Matches knew about his blackout(s), and everything was fine now. What else was there to talk about?

Well, he could think about one thing, the reason his throat hurts, the whole… scream he did. But the point still stands, Dick couldn't talk right now. 

So he shook his head to his Alpha’s question, but then realized that might look like agreeing. He slightly panicked, and remembered the remote was on his side of the couch and he leaned over to snatch it. 

Matches’ eyebrows went up, not angry. “You want to keep watching?”

Dick nodded nervously, it was always scary to deny an Alpha what they want, even if he knew sex wasn’t the question. Sex wasn’t the only bad thing that could be done to Dick, and sure he didn’t think Matches was that bad, but he couldn’t be all good. He was still a mob boss. Dick still had to be careful. 

“Alright,” Matches conceded with a nod and a sigh, “that was a lot, wasn’t it? No more worries, you can rest pup.”

Dick nodded, even though it wasn’t really a question. He leaned back into the couch, content with his nest that had his Alphas scent, and the claiming scent on himself. He was safe and tired, and the TV was his. 

Matches got up, and Dick felt dread pile in his gut, not because Matches was dangerous, but because he was leaving. 

Dick whined for his Alpha, stopping the man in his tracks. Matches still seemed surprised when his Omega pup wanted him, even after explain he was trusted now. Matches could be quite dumb sometimes. Alpha can’t just leave the Omega when they’re in heat! 

Matches stepped closer, though he still seemed self conscious about his looming size. “Did you want me to stay?”

Dick nodded quickly, whining again for the Alpha to come back onto the couch. 

Matches grew a fond smile, but pointed towards the kitchen. “I’ll come back, let me get you another water bottle.”

Dick narrowed his eyes at the man, but huffed. Fine. Alpha can get him things, but he can’t be gone for too long!

Alpha Matches did just that, quickly walking to the kitchen to fetch his Omega another water bottle. Dick heard the fridge open and close and he was happy to announce his Alpha was back. 

He shifted in his nest, getting to his knees and reaching for his Alpha. His Alpha dumbly assumed he was reaching for the water, of which Dick whined in complaint about. He took the water though, he would never say no to his Alpha taking care of him, but that wasn’t what he was reaching for. He set the water aside and reached again for his Alpha. 

Matches was shocked once again, not only his scent speaking of his surprise but his face as well. “You want me in your nest?”

Dick growled. No! Man Alphas are dumb sometimes! He made grabby fingers for his dumb Alpha. 

“What would you like?” He asked, but gave the pup his hand. 

He yanked the man down, though it was much less like yanking and more like directing, leading him to sit down right next to the pup’s nest. He chirped happily, with his Alpha sitting right next to him, the nest wall flush with Matches’ side and leg. 

Matches smelled uneasy, but as Dick situated the nest wall against him he relaxed, letting the pup do his work. Dick made a nice wall and put his pillow against the back of the couch right next to Matches. He placed the two water bottles next to it, letting them lean against the couch in ample reach. 

He then shimmied himself right up to Matches, still in his nest but able to lean over onto his Alpha. Matches stayed perfectly still as the pup rested his head against the Alpha’s arm (he wasn’t quite tall enough to reach his shoulder).

A brief purr sounded from the content Omega, and Matches let himself rumble happily in reply. 

They watched the TV, though Matches seemed less distracted by the show than something else. He leaned over ever so slightly. 

“I’m sorry for scaring you.” He said fervently, almost in a whisper. “And for using my Voice, that probably didn’t help, did it?”

Looking past the fact Matches, his Alpha- an Alpha- was apologizing, Dick could barely comprehend the addition of apologizing for using his Voice.

When Dick didn’t respond, not even with a sound, Matches seemed to want to continue. 

“You probably had lots of Alphas use their Voice to tell you what to do, and how to feel. I promise I’ll try not to do that.” 

No Alpha had promised that to him before, Dick didn’t even know that was possible. An Alpha that would choose not to use their Voice on their Omega? What backwards world did Dick step into? But nonetheless, as shocked as he was, he knew his Alpha would try, and that was incredible. 

His response was to nuzzle into the Alpha’s arm, squeaking in thanks and lightly rubbing his wrist onto the same arm. 

“I also heard from Alfred you’d like to go out to a park sometime.” 

Dick perked up, eyes wide and hope blossoming in his chest. 

His Alpha smiled, “I think I can make that happen.” Dick purred with fervor, even if it stung his throat he needed his Alpha to know that this was the best news. 

His Alpha’s other hand reached over, higher towards his head. Dick leaned his head out and trilled as the Alpha gently raked his fingers through his hair. 

“You’ve been cooped up for far too long.” He Alpha murmured, “though I will say we will have to wait until after your heat.”

Dick snorted. Dumb Alpha thinking Dick would let his Alpha leave even if it was with him. 

All his stress and worries drifted away as he watched the Mickey Mouse fight with three other husbands to get the last ingredient to their special dinner. 

The silence between them was peaceful and happy, despite the chaos that had reigned not thirty minutes prior. Dick was safe with his Alpha who didn’t want sex, and Matches was let closer than ever to his flighty Omega pup. It wasn’t perfect, but it was hope. Hope that felt more attainable than ever. 

Chapter Text

Dick’s heat faded over the next few days, but luckily there weren’t any more… incidents like that night on the couch. Dick was still needy, it still churned his stomach to have his Alpha near his nest, but their mixed scents did a lot to abate that. (Though it was important to note it was only his couch nest that ever got scented by his Alpha, his bedroom nest remained untouched, though the Alpha-scented tiger was in full use there.)

Dick held Matches’ promise to go to a park very tightly, but was not surprised or upset when they didn’t leave the second his heat was over. Despite lazing around for a week, he was exhausted and he wanted to be active to appreciate his “first” time outside since the circus. 

So it really wasn’t until a week after his heat that they went to the park. Matches noted to him that the weather had snowed in most of Gotham in his heat week and it was only then becoming more safe to actually travel. Dick also appreciated that, considering he actually did want to use the park and not just stare at a field of white. 

Well he actually wouldn’t complain about that, he’d never complain about going outside, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to make the most of it. 

It also gave Matches time to get him shoes, both snow boots and tennis shoes that he probably wouldn’t need for a while. He felt the need to hide them, to protect the promise of future outings he was being handed. 

It was also something to note, despite his heat having solidified their relationship as Pack Alpha and Omega Pup, and despite him being rather clingy in heat, Dick kept Matches more at an arm's length as his heat wore off.

He worried for a few days that Matches would expect his heat clinginess to carry into their normal not-heat days (which was, you know, most of them). He expected Matches to demand they sit right next to each other on the couch, or to have Matches scent his head and hair every moment it was available. He almost expected Matches to start using his Voice on him, as Dick had experienced with other Alphas of which he didn’t please properly. 

However as Dick returned some distance between them, Matches never sought to push back beyond the first few times Dick denied an offering he otherwise would have agreed to while in heat. His Alpha also never used his Voice, just like he never had in the first place. He held Matches’ promise to not use his Voice on Dick just as tightly as the park promise. Though it was hard to remember sometimes. 

Being Alpha Matches’ Omega pup was… easy. Dick was getting comfortable with Matches, knowing the man would back off if he said no, and did so regularly. It was utterly bizarre, but it was the truth. Dick of course didn’t trust him completely, but Matches was safe. 

It sounded contradictory, to know someone was safe but still refuse to trust them all the way, but Dick allowed himself some grace. It was a lot to trust an Alpha with his neck and nest, especially such a weird Alpha as Matches who he still couldn’t quite figure out. A mob boss, a criminal (Matches probably came home to Dick after killing people), yet he respects his pup’s, an Omega pup’s wishes and refusals concerning not only sex but the mere personal space around his pup. 

Dick didn’t know how to trust an Alpha like that, because at least Zucco was easy to hate, to be reminded he was a terrible person. Matches just… turned off the mob boss when he got home to Dick, and that made him uneasy. 

Besides, as Matches mentioned a few times, Dick had been through a lot. He had a lot of fears, a lot of nightmares, a lot of… a lot. Fear like that doesn't just… disappear overnight. 

Not to mention, letting himself trust someone like that, well, even if Matches was the absolute best person in the world, never did a bad thing ever, Dick still wouldn’t trust them all the way, at least not yet. He could trust Matches with his head, with his hair and with his scent, he even allowed the Alpha his hands sometimes (though that was mostly Dick holding onto Matches instead of the other way around, he thought it worked anyway). 

Dick was comfortable sharing himself at this level, and Matches said that that was okay. One time, the first time Dick refused something he would have said yes to while in heat, Matches even told him “Even if you never trust me beyond this, that’s okay.” It sounded like a lie, and Dick wanted to treat it as such, but couldn’t find the energy for it. 

It was strange, to be so comfortable yet so untrusting of someone you live with. Because as much as he was afraid, he also just… wasn’t. But that was his reality and he was fine with that, and Matches seemed to be too. 

So it was with great excitement and anticipation that Dick let Matches help him into his winter gear. 

Matches taught him a neat trick to put on the gloves first then the jacket, that way no snow got in between and onto his wrists. Also he was given this… jumpsuit thing, which honestly reminded him of the circus, the overalls the clowns would wear. It was thick and had huge baggy spots for his feet, which made sense when the same deal with the gloves would happen with the boots. But his legs would remain dry, apparently it was some sort of snowboarding gear and Matches really wanted him to be warm. Dick would not complain. 

The snowveralls were black, but his boots were a dark green which matched his gloves. His puffy jacket was black too, but his hat was a bright yellow and his scarf a deep red. Matches told him that that would make it easier for him to be identified in the sea of snow and kids that would be at the park, all probably similarly dressed. Dick treated the whole ensemble with awed reverence, almost asking if Matches had a poster or something about the flying Graysons, because this was uncanny. 

He did lean into his Alpha and trilled happily, in thanks and appreciation. Even just the taste of Robin made him want to cry, but in a good way. Dick never thought he'd ever have any semblance of his family again, but even just this small token felt like a landslide. 

‘Evidence’ of his previous outing were completely unknown, much to his nervous delight. Matches wasn’t suspicious of his jacket or gloves being previously worn and Dick preened in his new gear like it was the first time- which was partially true. 

Matches said this day was the perfect time to go. His Alpha had the day cleared in his schedule (whatever schedule that was), it was the least cold it would be all week and the sun would be out. And! He got a text from Alfred saying there was already people at the park! And that the park itself wasn’t completely hidden in the snow! 

“Will there be monkey bars?” Dick asked with wide eyes, hope dancing in his chest. 

Matches smiled down at him, his own gear consisting of gloves and a trench coat. “I believe there are in this park.”

Dick couldn’t help the bounce on his feet and the wide grin on his face. He wasn’t too bothered by showing Matches his emotions like this, but it was still new to be able to do so without an Alpha snapping at him. 

Matches was happy he was happy, and Dick again marveled at the idea he was currently a mob boss’s Omega pup and he was going to go outside and play in a park like any other normal child! He never, ever would have predicted this, and with all his excitement he wasn’t even outside yet!

Matches grabbed the keys off the counter and his bag, some black shoulder bag that had… whatever Matches needed to bring inside. Maybe he would work while Dick played, being a mob boss seemed to involve a startling amount of paperwork. Dick trailed after his Alpha excitedly, practically humming with energy. 

Matches made eye contact with him before opening the front door, an odd feeling briefly soured his mood. With just a look Matches was asking for his pup to stay by his side, and Dick re-realized he was leaving the apartment for the first time. 

The last time he passed through this door he had been soaking wet in his Alphas urine. It had been months (maybe) since he had interacted with this door, so much had changed despite nothing at all. 

And here he was using it again, to change once more, bringing a new shining light into his short and darkened childhood. 

Dick felt an unknown emotion swell in his chest, but he wasn’t too scared, and took a small step closer to his Alpha to let him know he understood. 

Matches opened the door and the two made their way down the hall. Dick stared with new eyes at the hall, though he knew he had seen it before, it had been so long and it was… strange to compare the two experiences. Coming to the apartment for the first time was… intense, hopeless, suffocating and helpless. Walking the same hall with such hope and optimism with the same Alpha he’d entered with felt surreal. 

Matches let him push the button for the elevator, feeling like he was seeing it all for the first time. He liked pressing the button, it had a nice click. Stepping inside, Dick went to hold onto the handrail, staring up at the decorated ceiling that made some pretty flowers with the lights. The elevator had music, he noted. Matches was watching him with a small smile. 

The elevator opened to the garage, and Dick wrinkled his nose at the affronting smell of gasoline and city stink. His joy only increased, as this time the smell was a speck of the spectrum of life he promised to experience today. 

Matches walked to the car, Dick walking at his side just like the first time he had walked through the garage. Instead of physically dripping in submission he was metaphorically dripping in excitement. 

It was a different car, Dick wasn’t sure if that was good or not. Good for him, he thinks, he didn’t want to sit in the same place he’d soiled with his presence before. But that probably meant Matches hadn’t liked it either, enough to completely get rid of the other car. Zucco was never too happy about losing cars… 

Matches wasn’t upset though, so Dick felt comfortable being happy with this arrangement. Dick was still sat in the back though, Dick tapped his feet on the car floor noting it was a stiff plastic instead of carpet. It was easier to clean urine off of compared to carpet

Probably

Dick kept his eyes out the window as Matches drove them out of the garage, smiling giddily as the morning sun shone brilliantly on the snow. The roads were plowed, but the side streets seemed almost overrun with the stuff, it was a lot of snow!!

“Now Richard,” Matches said from the front, Dick stiffened and turned to his Alpha, part of him calm and intrigued and the other half worried and slightly terrified. That tone was not very casual or gentle like Matches usually was. Though it wasn’t bad, just different, and rather serious. “It might be rather dangerous for you to call me Matches while we’re out, so we’ll be using some different names.”

Oh, Dick relaxed into his seat, but remained attentive. Dick hadn’t thought of that, but it made sense.

“You may call me Robert,” Matches continued, “and if anyone asks, the last name will be Pattison.” 

Dick wiggled in his seat, joy soaring in his chest as he spoke without really thinking about it. “Can I be called Robin?!” 

Matches startled with an “uh-“ and Dick hitched his shoulders up. 

“Sorry, you probably already had a name picked out for me.” He tramped down his hope and joy, he was being let outside he couldn’t just walk all over his Alpha’s efforts for them to be safe so they could actually do so. “I can use your name Alpha.” 

Matches shrugged, an odd sight from behind and Dick wasn’t sure he’d seen the man shrug so casually before. “That’s alright, if you like Robin you can use it. As long as you remember that’s who you are, the name you’ll respond to and greet people with. I’m fine with you using it.”

Dick could literally feel his excitement flood back into him, his breathing stuttered and he blinked away the burning in his eyes. “Yes Alpha, thank you. I won’t mess up, I promise.”

He wouldn’t. 

“Good,” Matches said with a smile, catching onto his joy despite the reverent way he spoke. “That’s good because I think we’re almost there.”

Dick latched his hands to the window, staring out to see buildings and cars go by, and a field of white, dotted with people. A trill burst from his throat, excitement filling his heart and soul.

It felt surreal to get out of the car once they parked, boots squishing the sludge previous cars had made in the snow. The crisp air bit at his cheeks pleasantly, his breathing coming out in small puffs into the sky. 

Matches led him through some well-trodden snowy paths towards the park, eyes wide and glued to the people and playground. His Alpha stopped at a snow-free bench, sitting down and told Dick he was free to go play. Matches would be staying right there at that bench so Dick always knew where he was. 

Dick took three steps away before falling face-first into a snow pile. 

He could hear Matches laughing good naturedly  behind him, a smile evident in his voice as he asked, “you alright pup?” 

Dick nodded into the snow, and then hummed noncommittally. He was fine. This was fine. He was just outside at the park and just a bit overwhelmed. 

He was sinking into the snow, just a little bit, and Dick let the cold cool him down. 

He was just too excited, his stomach all up in knots and his throat felt tight. However the snow was a good shock, he simply laid there and breathed. 

There were more footsteps, other people passing by on their way to the park, or on their way out. One family was mid-conversation and Dick absently followed along. 

“-you ate mUd yesterday Tommy.” Said one male pup with an accent Dick hadn’t heard in a long time. 

“Yeah?! You eat sand Wilbur, that’s bad for you ya’know.” Said a younger voice with a similar accent. 

“If you’re gonna eat off the ground, could you at least eat the edible parts? Carrots an’ potatoes are right there.” Said a monotone voice, American accent unlike the others.

“Boys, boys,” said the adult tiredly but not without fondness, probably an Alpha, “all I’m asking is that you don’t eat yellow snow, alright?”

The family passed by, more lighthearted arguing between the children and some cackling laughter from their parent. 

Dick was so excited, but so scared. He would be having conversations with other people, other pups, he hadn’t done that in literal years. It had been so long since he even had the hope for such an opportunity, and now he was terrified. 

No. He was fine. He was outside, he was Robin, he would not let this chance go to waste. 

It still took him about five minutes to get up from the snow pile, smiling down at the him-shaped impression in the snow. He looked over to Matches, who had his briefcase/bag/satchel thing out and was looking at a few papers like he normally did at the kitchen table. His Alpha looked up when he moved, eyebrows drawn in worry but made no sound or movement. 

Dick gave him a smile, assuring his Alpha he was all good. Then turned and made his way over to the playground. 

There were a lot more kids than Dick was expecting there to be for middle of winter Gotham, but he supposed if one had the opportunity to go they would. Dick certainly would, and Dick was here! 

They were in groups, clearly friends who knew each other. One trio was burying their friend in snow, another kid seemed to be building a full-on igloo, and he could hear the British kids running around and yelling. 

The play set itself wasn’t too crowded, most of the kids were playing with the snow, though there was a young duo pushing each other down the slide. One of the adults yelled out to be careful, the snow made the play set slippery. 

Dick felt like he was in another world. So many carefree kids, presented or not (he couldn’t even tell), just living and having fun. Dick couldn’t stop smiling just as much as he couldn’t stop staring. 

He made sure to be careful as he climbed the stairs of the play set, keeping in mind the random parent’s warning. He even shot a look over to where Matches was, finding him exactly where he should be and didn’t seem alarmed Dick was climbing the play set. The few kids that were on it were still running around, climbing up to slide down again. Dick didn’t try to talk to them, but gave them a smile as they rushed past. 

Dick’s destination wasn’t the slide anyway, he headed over to the monkey bars, excitement bubbling up in his chest once again. He pushed down his nerves and leaned over, testing his gloved grip on the slippery metal. It didn’t seem too bad, then he dropped his feet and let himself hang for a moment. 

Dick stared down at the ground below, trying to rationalize how he got to this moment. He was a mob boss’s Omega for crying out loud, how was it remotely possible he was allowed to play on a public playground and taste the sky once again? His arms burned with the stretch, but it only made him smile wider. 

Abandoning the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ he swung himself across the monkey bars, arms moving with the ingrained memory of swinging. He got to the other side but didn’t jump down, instead he used the anchor bar to shove himself even higher. Pushing off with his feet to hoist himself up onto the top of the monkey bars. 

He grinned, chest heaving and emotions alight with incredible joy and satisfaction. He sat on the top of the monkey bars, looking out to watch all the other kids still playing and having fun. 

The trio burying their friend seemed to be getting told off by their adult, a woman with bushy hair under her brown wool cap. After extracting the third boy from the snow pile the three took off, seemingly chasing the boy in the green coat, taunting with his name as they ran.  

Dick shifted and laid down, luckily able to rest his head on a rung while the rest of his body similarly supported. His legs hung, but he wrapped one around the anchor bar just in case. He stared up at the sky, absently wondering how he could get friends, if he even could get friends. 

Matches would have said something wouldn’t he? If he didn’t want Dick to make friends… or if it was so obvious he couldn’t make friends that he didn’t say anything. Either way Matches didn’t say anything about it, so it should be fine right? Yeah. 

Was it a bad idea to take a mile when he was given an inch? Probably, but he was totally gonna do it. Dick was going to make a friend today. 

Um… now the next question was how. Dicks interactions in the past three years were vastly different from any other normal kids, he was probably wildly out of practice. Even if his last month or so was more normal, it still wasn’t that normal, the closest he got to ‘normal’ interaction would have been with Beta Alfred. Which, no offense to the Beta, was not exactly around his age. 

Besides, who would he befriend? The trio he’d seen were all already friends, already busy with their own games, he couldn’t just insert himself into their games. He could hear the British kid’s laughter, loud and boisterous, having plenty of fun without Dick’s presence. What was he to do?

The rungs supporting him shook slightly, making Dick pop up quickly. He almost slid off between the bars but quickly regained his balance with a solid grip on the bar and his hooked leg. 

He twisted to look behind him, seeing a girl also climb up on top of the monkey bars. 

“Oh, sorry,” he said, feeling nervous even though he wanted to have interactions with other kids. “You were trying to use this weren’t you?”

The girl huffed out a breath with her effort of climbing on top, but eventually did get herself up. She grinned at her success and shook her head at him. Her puffy jacket was purple, and long red hair spilled from her matching hat. “No, this is fun.”

Dick hummed, “it’s harder when it’s slippery.”

The girl bobbed her head, “that just means we’re extra cool.”

Dick felt himself grin. 

“I’m Barbara, but you can call me Babs!” She introduced after the quiet moment. 

“I’m- I’m Robin.” Dick said, trying to keep his own awe at the name hidden from his voice. He just introduced himself as Robin!  

“You got up here really fast! I saw you.” Babs said, “one of the grown ups said it would be too hard but clearly they don’t know what they’re talking about.” 

Dick felt his smile waver, “well… just because I did it doesn't mean it’s not dangerous. There’s plenty of dangerous things people do. Like skydiving.”

Babs shrugged, “huh, I guess so.”

There was a moment of silence and Dick feared he did something wrong. But they just sat in silence together, both being distracted by a shout from one of the British boys. Dick’s heart tugged at him when he realized they were starting a snowball fight.

One of the older kids, who apparently had long pink hair, was pummeling a younger kid with a dark green coat in the face with snowballs, causing another kid in a puffy red jacket to slide in and try to save his friend from his snowy fate. A few more kids came to the aid of the duo, but suddenly the older kid was backed by more kids too.

After that everyone was throwing snowballs, even the trio that had been running around joined in. 

Babs swung her feet around, looking like she was about to drop down. Dick mourned his brief interaction with another kid, but she turned and gave him a brilliant smile. 

“Come on! Let’s join in!” She dropped down feet first, taking a moment down there to scoop up some snow to fling it at the nearest kid. Which happened to be the kid making the igloo, Dick also noted igloo kid’s hat looked like a shark, but didn’t realize it until Babs yelled out “Hey shark kid!” And as the kid turned she let her snowball fly and it smacked the kid right in the face. 

Igloo-shark-hat kid fell flat on his butt, but laughed before retaliating with; “it’s so on!”  

Babs yelped and ducked as snow flew over her head and Dick grinned. Dick similarly slid off the monkey bars, tucking into a roll at the bottom. He was a little dazed by it, but Babs cheered for his roll and dove next to him to dodge another volley. Joy bubbled up through him and escaped in a laugh, and he quickly shoved his hands into the snow to gather his own ammunition. 

And just like that they were in the thick of it, snowballs were flying in every direction. It was chaos of the best kind, pup squeals of joy and (mild) terror ebbing and flowing with the near-pandemonium. 

There seemed to be teams, the younger kids vs the older kids. Dick and Babs, being older, were on the older kids side, however each side clamored for anyone who wasn’t in their immediate friend group to join them, a fun back and forth of pointless betrayal and comradery.

At one point Dick and Babs dove behind a snow bank, only realizing they’d stumbled into  the younger kids' base when the main three boys turned to look at them. They briefly allianced, and together launched a frontal assault, ambushing a ‘traitor’ who was one of the kid’s brothers. 

Dick and Barbara stuck together through it all, though Dick did have a scary moment when the pink haired older kid pinned him. A fearful whine escaped him as he struggled to get the heavy boot off of him. 

Pink Haired Kid seemed surprised at his noise, already taking his foot off with an “oh sor-“ but before he could apologize Babs straight up tackled him. Dick scrambled back, breathing on the side of too harsh and attempting to come down from the fearful high. 

He stayed on the ground, but refused to let his brief moment of fear get him down. When he saw Babs approaching he laid down in the snow approximating a dead soldier. Babs knelt down next to him promising revenge. 

The older green coat kid who saw them paused and shouted to all the kids. “Hey guys! Everyone gets three lives! Then you’re out!”

There were agreeing shouts from everyone and the fighting renewed. Babs pulled him up and Dick let her, scrambling for cover before they got their first ‘life’ taken by being too close to the older kids who were a little too good at the game.

Now that the kids had something to lose, it was a real battle. Kids were diving left and right to either save their friends or be saved. At one point the green kid was chasing one of the younger kids, even if he was on the tall side, the black and white kid dove for the play structure, calling for sanctuary. It was fun, darting in and out of the iron jungle because they made a rule to not linger too long or else there’s no point. 

The game stuttered when the black and white kid hit his head on the play structure, a nice good thwack that made everyone pause. Green kid was there first, making sure he was okay. The younger kid didn’t cry, which Dick thought was impressive, but he did sit out for the rest of the game when his parent came over. They decided no more running around the slippery play structure after that, and just stuck to open field snowball warfare.

The game easily started up again, the kid who had to sit out had friends who rekindled their need for revenge and fought mercilessly. The two even managed to pin down one of the green kids' friends and shove snow down his coat. It was pretty funny, but they had to ban that kind of move too.

Now that it was open field warfare once more, Dick and Babs were on the run more often than fighting back. Eventually they got out, but it was all in good fun. They sat where they ‘died’ laughing and watching the rest of them play. 

Soon it was everyone watching the last survivors duel. Pink Haired Kid vs Green Kid.

Everyone was cheering for their respective friend, Babs chose the side of the Pink Haired Kid, deciding pink was close enough to red and that red heads had to cheer on other redheads. Dick chose the Green Kid, as he seemed more calculated than the Pink Haired Kid who just seemed to use brute force. 

Even some of the parents chimed in, the dad of the Pink Haired Kid with a funny striped hat (it wasn’t even a winter hat) was cackling as he cheered on his son. The woman with the puffy hair cheered on Green Kid, but also used embarrassing cute nicknames like ‘my little duckling’ that made everyone else laugh even harder. 

The duel to the death was intense, by snowball fight standards, each kid dodging and throwing with incredible speed and ease. Dick thought he might have been able to do that, if he was at the top of his form and not wearing bulky snow clothes, but these kids had the advantage of being normal. 

The kids and even adults cried out in both joy and disappointment as Green Kid fell, having slipped on the snow and getting hit right in the face. 

Dick threw his hands up in outrage while Babs threw hers up in celebration. But everyone was laughing and smiling, no one was truly angry. 

Dick stayed seated in the snow next to Babs as the group of kids congregated to make a massive snowman and a snow throne for the Pink Haired Kid. Dick bathed in the delightful atmosphere of a completed snowball fight, though he felt exhaustion pull at him. It was a lot more running around than he was used to, and he’d been sitting around for most of the time he wasn’t running! 

Still, it was an incredible feeling, exhausted in the best way and Babs had stayed with him the whole time. 

It was at this moment that Dick realized he didn’t even know any of the kid’s designations, and they probably didn’t even know his . Their snow gear all covered them, even when the heat of battle made hats fly off, the only skin exposed was their snow-bitten faces red with fun. 

Half of them weren’t even old enough to have designations, but still, it gave him an astonishing sense of safety. He was completely anonymous. He wasn’t Dick Grayson, he wasn’t even a mob bosses’ Omega, he was just Robin. Just a pup like everyone else here. 

He loved it. 

Dick and Babs ended up just talking for awhile, watching the snowman be built as Babs regaled him with tales from school. Dick chimed in with his own stories sometimes, about circus animals, though he made it sound like he went to the circus instead of growing up in the circus. It was better that way, for their cover and for Dick’s heart. It was hard to talk about, but he found himself able to enjoy sharing the memories. His parents were awesome, they deserved to be remembered by more people than just him. 

Pink Haired Kid did come over once, to formally apologize, though it was a touch awkward. Dick told him he was fine, Dick had been more surprised than hurt. It was no big deal, but Dick appreciated the apology. The older kid simply nodded and left. 

Dick learned that Babs lived with her dad, her mom having died a while back. Dick could sympathize, even in his cover story, it was nice to have a moment to mourn. It was still strange to be able to talk to someone, it got easier with time of course but the novelty took awhile to wear off.

As Babs offered her family, Dick felt compelled to share his, it was only fair after all. 

“I live with my Alpha M-“ Dick’s throat closed and dread piled in his gut. He almost said Matches. That would have been bad. “M-my Alpha Robert.”

Yes. There. Saved it. Robert Pattinson was the cover name, yes. And he was Robin Pattinson. Robert and Robin sounded dumb though. Man, Dick really should have just let Matches name his cover. 

Babs was staring at him, eyebrows drawn up in concern and confusion. 

“Is he not your dad?” Babs asked, and Dick realized his further mistake. 

Oh. He- yeah he was supposed to refer to ‘Robert’ as his ‘dad’. Um. Shoot he messed it up. Ohhh he messed it up!! Matches wouldn’t let him out again if he knew he messed up!

“He is my dad!” Dick said quickly, though the words tasted like ash. “I just… don’t really call him …dad?”

That was a terrible explanation. Oh man Matches was going to give it to him when he found out Dick was messing up this badly. 

Babs picked up on his hesitation and clear unease. She smiled though, “Oh, did he adopt you? That’s pretty cool.”

Dick could do nothing but nod. How was he going to fix this? 

“Is he a good Alpha?” Babs suddenly asked, “my dad has to deal with bad Alphas, sometimes they adopt even though they really shouldn’t. It makes him sad.”

Dick was now reeling, though his instinct was to say no, not a good Alpha, even though Matches was easily the kindest Alpha he’d met since his parents died. He breezed past that, and zeroed in on Babs’ dad. Because… What did that even mean? Her dad deals with bad Alphas? Bad Alphas who adopt? 

“Wh-what does your dad do?” Dick found himself asking. 

Babs looked concerned again. “He’s the commissioner, the guy in charge of the police.”

Dick’s stomach did a front flip. Then a backflip. And maybe a quadruple somersault. Dick was talking to the daughter of the head of the police? The police whose entire job was to put people like Matches in jail. H-how— what- what was Dick supposed to do?!

He could tell her. Her dad, the commissioner, was probably here with her, since it was just her and her dad. He could tell both of them. Matches was a mob boss. He should be in jail. Dick could be free. 

Free from what? Matches wasn’t doing anything to him. Matches was safe. Matches was-

“Robin? Are you alright?” Babs said, though she sounded far away. 

Dick sucked in a cold breath, and suddenly felt like he was suffocating. He reached up and ripped away his scarf, unknowingly wringing it in his hands. Without the covering, his distressed Omegan scent instantly made itself known. 

“Robin-“ Babs was saying again, sounding alarmed. “Robin, is your Alpha good to you?” 

Robin isn’t my real name. My real name is Dick Grayson and my parents were murdered three years ago and I was stuck being the Omegan sex slave to a mob boss and just recently changed hands. Please… Help me.

Dick nodded quickly, too quickly. He was. Matches was a good Alpha. He was good . He didn’t want sex. Matches took care of him even in heat. Matches was a good Alpha. 

“Should I get him for you?” Babs asked, already looking around to all the parents scattered about. 

Dick shook his head, shoving himself to his feet. “N-no I’ll go find him.” He wobbled there for a moment, Babs stood up with him. “Sorry.”

“I’m sorry, Robin.” She insisted, looking nervous, “I made you remember something bad didn’t I?”

Dick shook his head again. “I- just need my Alpha. Sorry- it-it was really nice to meet you Babs.”

“Do you want me to help you find him?” Babs said, reaching an arm out to steady him. 

“No.” He said, probably too quickly again. “I know where he is.” Then as an afterthought, “Th-thank you.”

Babs frowned, “alright. It was fun playing with you. I hope you feel better.”

Dick simply nodded and stumbled away. 

He tried to level his breathing as he walked, winding and unwinding his scarf from around his hands as he headed for his Alpha (being sure to avoid everyone else). He stepped out of the playground itself and detoured around adults walking along the sidewalk. Honestly it was a ridiculous amount of people out for a winter day. Shouldn’t it make sense not to go outside when it’s super cold and full of snow? He ignored the fact that, yes, he was out here too. 

He made it to his Alpha, Matches having picked up a book at some point. The man placed his bookmark and set it aside as Dick approached. 

“Hey chum,” he greeted warmly, then his eyebrows drew up in concern when his distressed scent wafted over. “Are you okay?”

Dick nodded, though he was not okay. 

Matches saw right through it, not that he really tried to mask his not-okayness. But he smiled gently, “a bit overwhelmed?”

Dick decided to nod, as that could be an accurate description of his feelings right now. 

“I-I almost messed up Alpha.” He said lowly, head bowing as he kept his arms stiff at his side, hands fisting his scarf.

“That’s okay,” Matches said, like if Dick had said anything else to the commissioner's daughter it would have put him behind bars. “It’s new isn’t it?”

“I can’t-“ Dick started before biting his lip and a whine crawled up his throat. 

Matches offered out one of his hands, it took Dick a moment to realize what for. He didn’t approach though, the idea of letting his Alpha curl his massive hand around him felt too much like chains. 

But he needed to say this. Matches should know. If Dick ever hopped to come back, or to be treated nicely, he had to be honest. Alphas hate it when their Omegas lie. 

“I can’t call you dad.” Dick let it loose and stared at the snowy ground. 

“Oh,” Matches’s hand retracted, and Dick felt his throat close with fear. 

Even if he hated the idea of his Alpha touching him moments ago, at least he offered, and now he was taking it back. There goes his kindness. 

Dick couldn’t do what his Alpha said, so of course something bad had to happen. 

But- but it wasn’t like Dick really messed up! It was fine! Right? 

“Sh-she thinks you adopted me.” He said once his throat decided he could talk. 

“Oh,” Matches said again, this time lighter, and Dick could feel air returning to his lungs. “Well that’s not a problem. Did you make a friend then?” 

Dick bit the inside of his cheek, once again worried about how he was supposed to go about this. He nodded. Omegas shouldn’t lie to their Alphas. 

Matches nodded with him. “That’s good. Did you have fun?”

Dick let loose his breath, only then realizing Matches was exaggerating his breathing, even gesturing with his hand over his chest when he inhaled and exhaled. Dick focused for a moment to match their breathing, relief trickling through his messy thoughts because hey, the world wasn’t on fire. Dick made a friend and it was okay. Dick only made a slight mistake and it was okay. Matches wanted him to be okay. 

“It… it was a lotta fun.” Dick said, letting himself smile. 

Matches smiled too, happy Alpha scent floating over to him. Dick sniffed and swiped at his nose, either the cold or the stress of the last few minutes making his nose run. 

“You ready to head out?” Matches asked, though it didn’t seem to be an actual question. “Did you want to say goodbye to your friend?”

Dick shook his head. “I already said bye.”

He probably also shouldn’t let Matches know his friend was the commissioner's daughter. Everything else might have been okay but he was sure Matches would never let him see her again if he knew.

Luckily, Matches didn’t press.

“Alright.” Matches stood up, gathering his things. “How about we go warm you up?”

Dick nodded, carefully hovering around his Alpha without touching. Matches led him back to the car, and Dick wondered if this really was his last time outside or if his Alpha would let him come back. Would he be shut inside for another three years? Would he return to this specific park? Would he see Babs again? 

Would he get that chance to escape again?

Why hadn’t he taken it?!

Matches opened the back door of the car for him and he climbed inside. His boots slid on the plastic flooring, but it wasn’t bad, as he situated himself in his seat he rubbed his boots intentionally to make all the squeaky sounds. It reminded him of squeaky clown noses.

Matches climbed into the front seat and Dick paused his feet, not wanting to annoy his Alpha. Zucco hated it when he made noise he didn’t want him to make. He leaned heavily against the door and window, watching all the other kids either continue to play, arrive, or leave. He could even see Babs purple hat bouncing around. 

He really hoped he would see her again. 

But they left the park, and Dick mentally prepared himself to return to the house, to be locked up once more. He watched buildings and people and cars pass, turns taken and red lights waited at. 

But when the car slowed to a stop outside of a small building next to a gated field, Dick picked up his head in confusion. Matches parked, and turned and gave him a smile. 

“You up for some hot cocoa?” 

Dick blinked, and nodded. He didn’t know the last time he had hot cocoa, even in the circus he didn’t think he’d had it too many times. They didn’t usually travel to places that were too cold, it wasn’t good for the performers or animals. He wouldn’t mind it now though, even if he was a little hot in the heated car with all his layers. Stepping out of the car reminded him that yes it was indeed cold and hot cocoa sounded perfect. Had it gotten even colder since going to the park? Surely not that much time had passed…

He stayed at his Alpha’s side, hiding from the brisk wind that had apparently picked up. Matches talked with the woman at the window, a window that reminded Dick of circus ticket booths. Matches handed him his styrofoam cup and Dick savored the warmth through his gloves. He held to cup up to his face, not to drink just yet but to let the steam heat his face and smell the almost sharp scent of the cocoa.

Matches walked on, apparently they were going to stay outside to drink their hot cocoa, which Dick was glad for if only for the extra time spent out of the house. He was tired, sure, but they were just walking, not even talking. 

Dick kept his eyes on his hot cocoa and the ground they were walking on, not really paying attention to where they were going. It seemed like one of those nature parks anyway, patches of trees and plenty of pathways to walk on (even if most of them were hidden by the snow— which was half of the reason why he kept his eyes low, he didn’t want to trip and spill his drink his Alpha had so graciously given him).

Matches paused at another spot, this time it was just a person and a cart. It was like one of those traveling carts you buy hotdogs or popsicles at, very reminiscent of the circus. Dick wondered if they were getting more food, and if street vendors like this got more traffic on writerly days because of the warm food or less because nobody was out in the snow in the first place. But when he looked up all that he saw was flowers. Matches paid for a bundle, a variety of flowers with sharp colors, and they were back on their way. 

Dick was confused, but he didn’t really care. His Alpha could do what he wanted. Dick was outside and he was going to enjoy it while it lasted. Of course his brain wouldn’t let it go.

Why would Matches buy flowers? 

Oh. Did Matches think this was some kind of date?

Dick averted his eyes and sipped on his hot cocoa, trying to shove down the ugly feelings trying to rise in his chest. Matches said he didn’t want that, he reminded himself. Matches wouldn’t start now to be all weird and lovey. He was pretty sure his birthday hadn’t passed yet, so it’s not like he was old enough for it yet. But what else could the flowers be for?

So Dick tried to ignore all of that as they continued to walk, wincing at the wind that blew into his face occasionally. 

Matches seemed to have a destination though, and it wasn’t the car. They walked on paths until suddenly they weren’t, Matches somewhat plowed through the snow and Dick stayed behind him, concentrating on stepping exactly where the elder had stepped. It was even a little fun, like hopscotch, but Dick didn’t realize they stopped until he rammed into Matches’ backside. 

Matches put a hand behind him to steady him, an amused smile on the Alphas face. Luckily Dick had been holding his drink with both hands so it didn’t spill. Matches probably wouldn’t have been pleased if he wasted his drink, or if he got the hot liquid ON his Alpha. Yikes. That would have been bad. Matches shuffled to the side, drawing Dick’s attention from his nervous staring at his cup which let Dick see their destination. 

Two headstones sat in front of them, names and dates carved into the gray surface. 

The pup’s eyes went wide. 

There was a crunch of snow as Matches crouched down onto the balls of his feet, extending the flowers to Dick. 

“Here,” Matches started, “I figured you-“

Dick’s cup of cocoa dropped into the snow as he lunged for his Alpha and wrapped his arms around him, shoving his face into his chest. Matches almost tipped over, surprise coloring his scent as Dick’s own scent writhed with too many emotions. His eyes stung and he couldn’t find a reason not to let himself cry. 

Matches patted his back, an Alpha rumble shaking the pup who only started to cry harder.

“Th-thank you Alpha.” Dick said brokenly. He couldn’t stop the grateful trill rising from his throat even through his oncoming hiccups. 

Matches rumbled even more, gently petting his head even though there was a hat in the way. “You deserve more than this, but it’s what I can give you.”

Dick squeezed his Alpha, tears leaking out of his similarly squeezed shut eyes. But then he pulled back and Matches easily let him go. Dick swiped at his nose and eyes as he tried to tramp down the open crying and Matches again handed out the bundle of flowers. 

“Would you like me to stay? I can leave you alone with your parents for a bit if you’d like.” Matches gave him options, and Dick held the flowers like they were precious. 

“Can- can I be alone?” He asked, feeling slightly bad to exclude his very nice Alpha but if it was a viable option… he’d take it. 

Matches nodded deeply. “Of course, I’ll be just back there and you can come to me when you’re done. Take as long as you need.” 

Dick thanked his Alpha again, sniffing back the tears so he could face his parents graves with some… dignity? Strength? He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t want to spend the whole time crying. 

He waited until Matches’ crunching boots faded from his ears, then a little bit more as he couldn’t really figure out what to say. 

Dick hadn’t known they’d been buried, he didn’t know how it happened, probably Haley, but Dick hadn’t even been able to meet their bodies on the ground, having been nabbed backstage the second the chaos began. He wasn’t nabbed before he saw his parents hit the ground though. 

But here they were, three years later, two headstones next to each other. 

Dick’s knees hit the snow, the flowers in his hands felt like the only thing tethering him there. Not even the cold could have snapped him back. 

“Mom, dad-“ the Romani slipped from him like water, even after all this time just as second nature. His sight was getting blurry again, his throat closing uncomfortably. The pup let himself sob for a few minutes, if only to get the emotions out so he could talk . 

He shuffled forward, still on his knees, and sorted the flowers to each parent. Dad liked the red ones that matched mom’s hair, and mom liked the blue ones that matched dad’s eyes. The other colored flowers he dispersed around them, like a flowery halo on the ground around the two headstones. 

He didn’t… he didn’t know all the things one was supposed to do for the dead. Dick had been too young to know, one normally wouldn’t at 9 years old with two healthy parents. 

But after sorting the flowers, his tears has slowed (but not stopped) and he was able to speak. 

“Mom, dad.” He sniffed, trying not to burst into tears again. “I’m alive. …I wasn’t sure if you knew that, a-after you fell.”

“I was taken.” His throat threatened to close again, but he paused to breathe slowly and carefully. “The man who killed you took me. It was… it was bad mom.” The tears spilled over anyway, but he couldn’t stop now.

“He hurt me… a lot, for a really long time. It hurt so bad. A-and you were gone.” Dick sat and curled his knees up to his chest, folding them close with his arms and wiping his face clear of every new tear. 

“B-but-“ he had to regain his breathing once more, “I think… I think I’m safe now. A- a different Alpha has me now. He’s— “ how to describe Matches to his parents? 

“He’s a mob boss too,” he started gently, as if the reveal would make his parents rise up and scold him like he took a cookie from the cookie jar. They wouldn’t scold him for this , but still, it was a nice thought. They wouldn’t be happy he was still with the mob, but, this technically was better.

“He doesn't want to hurt me, I don’t think. He takes care of me, I’m fed, I have clothes.” It was easier to talk about the good things, and realize that yes, they were good. “We went outside today! For the first time in three years!”

His gut sank and he winced at his own wording. “Yeah- I- I lost my tan, um, a-and a few other things. I’m sorry.”

Apologizing to graves for sins he didn’t commit. 

“I miss you. A lot.”

He hugged his knees tighter. 

“I miss Zitka, and the circus. Mr. Haley and the clowns and even the scary looking fortune teller. Her fake nose is still scary.” He almost laughed, a faint smile on his lips. “It’s… it’s scary here. I’m alone. Matches is good, he’s good I think, but he’s not… he’s not you. He’s safe for now, but, but I miss the safety of you. You would never hurt me. Matches… might, later.”

His stomach rolled with unease. It was still a definite possibility. Even with all of Matches promises. 

“B-but it’s better.” He sighed. “He takes care of me, which is good. He let me go outside, and- and I think he might let me go out again. I don’t know when.”

Dick let the silence stretch, the wind tickled at his raw cheeks and eyes, he felt frozen to the ground and he didn’t mind that idea. He was with his parents. 

“…I’m scared.” He said quietly. 

He leaned forward, then crawled through the snow to his mothers headstone. He leaned on it, curling up with his head bowed but shouldered with the stone. 

There he cried.

He was in pain, pain he hadn’t felt before. The pain of grief he had pushed off for so long because he couldn’t have handled it while with Zucco. But now he felt it, and it hurt. So he cried. 

He didn’t realize he fell asleep until he opened sticky eyes to a blurry form in front of him. He whined, and the figure shuffled in place.

“Pup- Richard-“ it was the gentle call of his Alpha. “You fell asleep pup.”

Dick felt like it, he felt drained, cold, and heavy. He leaned further onto his mothers headstone. If only to approximate a hug. He whined for her, for his dad. 

“I know I said you could take as much time as you needed, but you’ll get sick if you stay out here too long, pup.” His Alpha warned, still just as reverent. 

Dick warbled sadly, but nodded to his Alpha. He didn’t want to get sick. He didn’t want to leave his parents either. 

“I love you mom.” He murmured to the grave, fixing a flower or two that had fallen over because of the wind. 

He repeated with his fathers grave, then sat numbly between them both. He just stared, feeling both completely empty and completely full. It was so quiet, even the wind felt more invisible than usual and even Matches behind him didn’t move. 

If he could, Dick would have liked to stay there forever. But he forced himself to turn away from the graves and looked up at his Alpha. 

“I’m- Im ready to go Alpha.” He said. 

Matches nodded, a grim sort of look on his face. “Do you think you can stand up?”

Dick looked down at himself, staring at his limbs and imagining them to move. They didn’t. He shook his head. 

Matches took a step closer. “Is it alright if I pick you up?” 

No one had asked that before. Not even his parents. His parents didn’t need to ask. He (had) trusted them. He shouldn’t have ever needed the question. He shouldn’t have had the trauma that would make the question necessary. He should still be in the circus. He should have been happy. He should still have his parents. 

What he did have, was an Alpha who fed him, clothed him, who didn’t have sex with him. It seemed like such a low bar, but when you spend three years stuck below watching from the ground as everyone else does flips between the bars… it really seems like flying again when you get back up there.

Matches wasn’t his parents, but he cared enough.

He nodded.

Snow crunched as Matches grew close and crouched down next to him. He scooped up Dick into his arms easily, unwieldy snow gear and all. He stooped to pick up Dick’s fallen hot cocoa as well, but paused before turning away from the two headstones. 

“You created a wonderful pup.” Dick’s eyes snapped open wide, but Matches was focused on the two graves. His heart swelled. “Much stronger than he knows. Stronger than any pup has to be. I promise I will take care of him to the best of my ability.”

Dick laid his head on his Alpha’s shoulder, feeling even more empty and full. 

“Thank you.” 

And with that, Matches turned and left, holding his grief-stricken Omega pup with all the care in the world. Dick was too empty and too full to feel anything, but maybe, he could find his hope later and let it flourish. 

They went home. 

Chapter Text

Dick wondered if the universe hated him sometimes. Things had been going so well. His heat had come and gone with no trauma (at least compared to every heat he’d had before). Dick didn’t know it was possible to have a heat at that level of non-traumatic as a mob boss’s Omega. It was incredible!

And then! Then they went outside and to a park! He met people! He played with other kids! He had been let outside and had fun! He met Babs and he really hoped he’d see her again, she was cool!

He got to see his parents! He was able to talk to them and grieve properly, at least that’s how Matches said it, but as draining as it was, it was really really good.

Naturally the universe had to balance all these good things happening to him. 

He got sick. 

It was only a day or two after going to the park and Dick felt miserable. He was so tired and he didn’t want to move and everything tasted yucky and his nose was running and his throat hurt especially when he coughed and UGH. He even got more clingy to Matches again, he almost felt like he was back in heat! Matches of course noticed this and got really worried something was wrong with him if he was going back into heat only a week or two after his heat finished. Luckily Alfred talked some sense into him and told him Dick was just sick. 

Sick, and probably not going to leave the apartment ever again. Dick got his one chance at being outside then he had to go get sick and make his Alpha not want to bring him outside ever again. Sick Omegas were more work, more worry too apparently, and more laying around. Dick was so tired of laying around, but while sick he really couldn’t make himself. 

He did conclude it was worth it though. If Matches never let him out ever again, his run had been good, he’d made a friend and had so much fun. He got to see his parents and told them what he needed to tell them. He’d treasure that day forever. He’d do it again if he was able. Which… he probably couldn’t. Matches wouldn’t let him back out again after this. 

His poor weak little Omega, outside for the first time in years and gets sick. Should keep him inside like a precious doll, too easily tarnished by the elements of living.  

Screw all of that, stupid Alphas. Dick was stronger than this! He swore! He just… didn’t want to move cuz if he did his bones would explode. The tissue up his nose was a fashion statement not a sign of an issue!

Hey issue sounds like tissue, the only difference is the t’. Maybe that’s why the phrase is ‘spill the tea’ because it dosent become an issue until the tea is spilled. Then you usually need tissues to clean it up. Issues upon tissues and tissues upon issues. Silly.

The only real issue Dick had with all of this was that Matches was determined to get him to a doctor.

Now Dick wasn’t actually fighting him on this, he wouldn’t! He was a better Omega than that! He just really really wasn’t looking forward to it. Sure there was those check up visits from the paid off mob doctor to be sure he wasn’t carrying anything from his extensive use, but actually being sick was both a blessing and a curse. 

Being sick meant he was used way less for a few days, but it also meant they gave him lots of medications. Kinda like his heats, it was way too easy to lose time when he was sick, he barely remembered the pills before being taken out. It was the only time any of the Alphas were ‘nice’ to him, just only so he could get better faster and they could use him again. Most of the time they got impatient. Dick hated being used while sick. 

He knew none of that would happen here, those wouldn’t be his concerns with Matches as his Alpha. But the doctors themselves… ugh he did not like being poked and prodded. He could handle manhandling from his Alpha (who was predicable), it was always worse when someone random does it just to be sure he was good and well enough to continue to be manhandled. Someone who was supposed to care. Doctors take that oath thing, they’re supposed to help people in bad situations like Dick’s. 

Dick made the mistake of thinking he’d find help from the doctor the first time it happened. 

Zucco took great care in telling Dick how much he wouldn’t be helped by the doctors that would see him. While they both used him. 

Doctors were not help. Doctors get free reign to poke and prod and do all the extra nasty stuff as payment for looking over the Omega. Doctors gave him medication that would make it easier for them to use him without his knowledge. Doctors made sure he could continue to be an Alphas plaything. 

They made sure he would live. That he would stay firmly here in the arms of Alphas who would abuse him. 

Not that Dick ever wanted to die, he hadn’t thought about it much besides the fact it would have been easier if he fell with his parents. He thinks… he thinks he tried not to have too many emotions while with Zucco, it made it easier to ignore thoughts of death. 

But here… Dick found he did have emotions, he had feelings and thoughts with a lot more variety than just ‘tired and scared and pain’. It was scary, because it was new, because sure the interest of his Alpha had changed, but he was still stuck. This doctor would have to be paid off by the mob, this doctor would have to be like the other ones. It might even be the same one! 

So no Dick was not excited for the doctor. Dick felt too raw for touchy doctors and having his home invaded. 

And because the universe liked to mess with him, it was all different. 

Matches was taking him to the doctor, instead of having the doctor come here. Apparently Matches wanted the doctor to do some other things besides take his temperature and stick out his tongue, which required they go to the office itself. 

That was new. And terrifying. 

This was not going to be good at all. 

Unfortunately all his anxiety and fear of the situation simply presented as ‘sick’ in his scent, similar to his heat it doused everything in his scent with something spicy, sharp and strong. Too strong for his other emotions to really get across. His audible and physical whining and body language were taken as being uncomfortable with being sick as well. And Dick for sure wasn’t going to tell his Alpha out loud that he didn’t want to go to the doctor. Matches might allow him to say no to sex, but that certainly did not extend to the doctor. 

Matches was too adamant he get to the doctor to back off of this one. 

Matches even said he’d be alone with the doctor, so that Matches’ presence wouldn’t ‘make him uncomfortable’. Dick, for all his wariness with Alphas, would much rather stick with the Alpha who would back off when Dick said so, thanks. 

This was going to be a disaster. 

Alfred of all people recognized his nervousness, but instead of telling Matches to call the whole thing off and just let Dick be sick forever, he suggested Dick be able to take one of his stuffed animals. Matches thought that was a great idea. And maybe it was, because Dick chose the tiger, the tiger that was designated for his Alpha to scent. 

If Dick was going to go through with this, then he was going to have something that would actually comfort him. Peanut might get hurt anyway, the doctor might think the stuffed animal is a prop or something. But the scent of his Alpha would probably make him feel better, Matches was safe. Doctors were certainly not. 

They were using the back alleyway to get in (of course, a mob boss and their Omega can’t just walk in the front door) and it was exactly where the panic truly hit him. 

His chest was tight, his hands clutching his tiger (and tissue box) like a vise and he could only stare mutely at the ground. Somehow his legs followed behind Matches, hovering near his Alpha like a moon orbiting its planet. 

Dick wondered what would happen if he ran.

He wondered if Alpha Matches would continue to be nice, to call him back with kind words and promises, or would he switch to harsh Alpha commands and large hands dragging him back. If he ran, what would be the consequence? Dick had never tried to run before (with this Alpha), could he make it this time? 

If he ran, would someone worse pick him up? 

If he ran… could he find Babs and her dad?

A cough disrupted his thoughts, making his throat tighten uncomfortably and he grabbed a new tissue to swipe at his running nose. 

No. He was sick, he’d get as far as a block at most and that’s IF Matches didn’t immediately notice he ran. And Matches was keenly aware of his coughing, always glancing at him like Dick would disappear the next time he coughed. It was a nice thought, but it was also very unnerving to be stared at by his Alpha. The stare was always… weird. (Not weird as in sexual, weird as in… weird.)

So even if Dick did move even slightly too far from his Alpha it would be all too easy for Matches to yoink him back. Not to mention he could just get scruffed, or Matches could use his Voice. There were so, so, so, sooooo many ways Dick could get caught. He couldn’t run.

He was so screwed. 

A woman had opened the back door, gesturing for them to come in. She didn’t look happy, and Dick winced at the idea that he would probably have to ‘fix’ that by the end of his appointment. (He didn’t question why the doctor herself would have opened the back door for them, or the fact that he didn’t actually know if that was the doctor at all. He was, in every way imaginable, very tired and stressed.)

They shuffled inside but didn’t go too far, Dick trailed closely behind as they wove through tight hallways and corridors. There was a weird desk, more like a cubicle, but with counters for people to use. Matches stopped here to talk to the nurse sitting there, and Dick felt all his panic compound on him. 

Dick practically fell against his Alpha’s leg, if only to stay with the one person he felt would protect him. Even though that one person was the one who brought him here. He whined in fear, too tired to do much else except huddle close to his Alpha and wait for it to be over. 

“Richard? Richard-“ a warm hand covered his back, but made no move to remove him or hurt him. “It’s alright pup.” 

He whined again, shoving his face onto his Alphas pants as if that would make everything else go away. 

Matches was all about asking permission and listening when Dick said no. He should- he should listen now! He didn’t want to do this! He didn’t want to go to the doctor and be poked and be forced to take medicine and possibly have sex. He didn’t want to do any of that!

“No, nooo,” Dick cried into his Alphas pants, “please Alpha- please I don’t- I don’t want to-“

“Shh, shh Richard, you’re alright.” Matches was gentle, rubbing his back gently and marking him with his scent. That was good. But Matches wasn’t listening. 

“Al-Alpha please —“ he hiccuped, “I don-n’t want to—“

“It’s alright pup,” but it wasn’t, “the doctor is going to help. She’s going to help you feel better.” 

Dick didn’t want to feel better if it meant a demonstration of his usefulness. All he could say in reply was a high pitched whine and sniffled.

“You’re going to be okay. We’re going to go in and see the doctor now and she’ll help you feel better.”

Moving felt like ripping apart taffy, a long stretch before a snap. Matches had to keep his hand on his back just to keep him upright, but Dick would have run if it wasn’t there. (Or he might have just fallen over and refused to move, not that that would do much considering he was sure Matches could pick him up with one hand easily.) He wasn’t sure if he loved that it was there, or hated it.  

Dick was guided into a smaller room and decided he very much disliked this room. Matches directed him to sit on the bed, the very uncomfy table bed with the weird paper on it. 

Dick made no move to obey. 

Matches had to lift him up onto it, and he whined in distress. His tissue box was set next to him and he wallowed, Matches reminded him of the existence of the tiger and moved away. He sat in a chair a few feet away, but he might as well be on the opposite side of the world. 

Dick clutched his tiger close and fell down onto his side. He curled up right there, trembling and whining. 

Fingertips ghosted over his hair and Dick whined even louder, causing his Alphas full hand to sink into his hair and scratch his scalp gently. Surely his Alpha would rescue him? His Alpha liked him safe. 

He had begun to mellow out the longer he laid there, comforted by his Alphas petting and his stuffed animal that was beginning to smell more like sick panicked Omega rather than comforting Alpha. Of course then the door had to open, jarring him out of his haze. 

It was the doctor. 

“Let’s try to sit up bud,” Matches’ hand that had been going through his hair suddenly dipped under him, essentially scooping him upright. 

Dick whined quietly, head down with fresh tears brimming. His hands ached where they were clenched over his tiger in his lap. Everything else ached too, but this ache he could feel in his fingernails. 

“Hello pup,” said the doctor, “I’m Dr Leslie Thompkins. I know you’re very uncomfortable and stressed so I’m going to try to make this quick.”

Dick just ducked his head further, tilting to the side to bare his neck. He’d do anything to make this go away faster. 

Zucco loved to do that, to make him eager. 

“No, none of that pup,” Matches was tilting his head back, making him not bare his neck anymore. “You’re safe here.” 

Matches didn’t want him to submit to anyone but him, got it. 

“Richard,” the doctor started softly, which was weird. “I do want to make one thing very clear. I’m here to help you feel better, nothing else. I understand you’ve had some very bad experiences in the past with being alone with strangers touching you. This isn’t going to be like that.”

Yeah. Duh. Because she’s a doctor it’s always different with the doctor. 

“Richard, I want to make you comfortable, so I’m going to ask some questions and you can answer however you want, and we’ll do it.” The doctor said.

The doctor wanted him to decide what they did? What was this? A choose your own rape adventure? 

“Pup.” Matches deep voice brought him back, his hand having been on Dick’s shoulder this whole time. “She’s just going to help.”

It felt like a warning. One shift and his big Alpha hand would be over his neck and he could just squeeze. 

Dick whined. He’d… he’d do what she says. He’d do it. The sooner it’s over the sooner he can go home. Where it was safe. 

“First question Richard,” the doctor warned him, which he was grateful for because he might not have caught it otherwise. “Do you want your Alpha to stay?”

Dick was already nodding, whining and a squeaky “please-“ left his mouth. He shut his mouth after that, even though he couldn’t really breathe through his nose, he shouldn’t talk. Doctors never liked it when he talked. They wanted answers to their medical questions, sure, but no he was supposed to talk as little as possible. 

Begging wasn’t in doctor scenes, he couldn’t break the scene… Zucco would—

“Alright. He will stay.” Then the doctor had her next question. “I am a Beta, if you would prefer an Omega doctor to take a look at you I can go get him. Is it alright if I’m the doctor to look you over today?”

Dick nodded miserably, having to open his mouth because wow yeah he really could not breathe through his nose. 

It wasn’t a real option anyway, Dick didn’t want to get the Omega doctor mixed up in all of this, the Omega doctor was probably like him and didn’t want any of this at all! Then both of them would be sad and miserable. He- he can deal with a Beta. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t done before. 

“…Richard, can you look at me please?” She sounded different this time, she was both softer and harder in her voice. 

Dick looked up, because he was a good Omega. 

She was shorter than Dick was expecting, but it still felt like she was towering over him. She was also quite a few feet away from him. Her eyes— she looked… she looked sad. Worried. 

“Richard.” She started, gentler. “I am a doctor, I went to school for many years so I could learn how to help people. I took an oath to do no harm.” 

Dick didn’t understand the hope that was swelling in his heart, because he had heard all of this before. 

“You’ve had some very bad experiences with Alphas, Betas, and I’m going to assume some doctors too?” She asked with a little nod. 

Dick found himself nodding in return.

“I’m not paid off.” She said bluntly, making Dick blink. “I don’t have any debts to Matches Malone or any other mob boss. I took an oath so that when I find situations like these, I can fix it. If you would like, I can call the police right now and have Matches arrested.”

Dick felt his heart stop. 

She- but- Matches was right there! In the room! And she just threatened him!  

She was real. She was a real doctor. 

Dick turned to face his Alpha, fear and hope warring in his mind at what he expected to see. He hoped to see he’d fight for him, because he was safe, because he was his Alpha. He feared to see him fight, to see him realize his mistake and kill the beta and find a different doctor that wasn’t as nice, because he was his Omega. 

Matches did neither. Matches just sat there. He gave Dick a reassuring smile. The Alpha stayed completely silent. 

What. 

“Normally I would have to call the police anyway.” The doctor said, snapping his attention back to her. “However, you are in a very unique situation Richard.”

What was even happening right now. That’s… twice she’s just said that she could ruin Matches Malone. Right in front of him. 

“The state has filed you as dead,” she revealed, though Dick wasn’t sure what that meant for this specific situation. “If I call the police they would arrest Matches Malone and you would never see him again. However, you would become a child of the state, you would be placed into an orphanage, and many, many people would like to get their hands on you.”

Dick’s breathing hitched and the doctor raised her hands palm out. 

“That’s not to dissuade you from telling me to call the police, I just want to make you aware of what this choice entails. I can get you away from Matches Malone, but I can’t guarantee you will be safe. You will be among strangers and I can’t guarantee all of them will be trustworthy. Again, I don’t want to scare you, but that is the truth of the matter.

“The only reason I’m not calling the police is because the state has declared you dead. These policies only apply to living people, but that doesn't mean I turn away anyone who doesn't have proof of identity. Anyone could walk through the door and ask to be helped, and I’d help them. The state likes a few more steps but I like helping people and it’s just that simple.” She finished, never once glancing over to Matches and keeping her focus entirely on Dick. 

“So,” she said, “do you feel safe with Matches Malone, or should I call the police and get you away from him?”

He did not understand how she was doing this with Matches right there. But he suddenly felt overwhelmed with the possibilities. Like with Babs at the park, he could end it all right here and now. 

But what exactly was he ending? Matches was safe. Matches never had sex with him, not even once! Matches always made sure he had food, that he was comfortable. Was Dick really willing to throw all that away just for the chance to be with someone who wasn’t a mob boss? It wasn’t even a guarantee! 

“Matches...” Dick started slowly. “Matches doesn't hurt me.” 

Both Matches and Dr Thompkins remained quiet as he thought of what to say. Because they were waiting. Because Dick didn’t say yes or no. 

“I want… I want to stay with him. Please.”

Dr Thompkins nodded, but it was Alpha Matches himself who spoke out. 

“Richard, if you’re truly uncomfortable, I can leave and you can talk to Dr Thompkins on your own. You can trust her with anything.” Matches’s eyes were boring into him, but Dick couldn’t understand where this was coming from. 

Did Matches want to get arrested?!

Sure, Dick was uncomfortable with his Alpha being a mob boss , but he was… he was safe. Dr Thompkins literally said it wasn’t guaranteed for whoever gets him after would be safe. 

It makes sense for Dick to choose this, but why would Matches be so… forward with getting arrested? Surely he wouldn’t want to get arrested. 

Zucco got arrested once. He wasn’t even gone the whole day, complaining how annoying it was to pay off officers. Being arrested wasn’t… it wasn’t the end for mob bosses, just another show of power. Which means… 

Matches probably… Matches wanted to get rid of him. 

Matches hadn’t… hadn’t planned to get an Omega. Dick was literally a burden to him. He was just too kind to kill him like most mob bosses would to an unwanted parasite. 

Dick felt new tears spill unbidden, his heart hurt with something entirely brand new, and he lunged awkwardly forward to his Alpha. Matches had to catch him, and Dick got his arms wrapped around his neck and he wasn’t going to let go. 

“Please- please don’t get rid of me— I can- I can be useful- I can- I can—“ he blubbered uselessly, whining and baring his neck for his Alpha. He was being abandoned!

Matches warm hands came around him, he held on tighter, but Matches didn’t yank to pull him off. “Shh, shh, it’s alright pup. I’m not trying to get rid of you, not at all. I want you to be safe and happy, and I know that that means it might not be with me.”

Dick’s Alpha was so stupid. Did he really not know that he was literally the most safe he’d ever been in the past 3 years? 

“If you want out at any time, you can.” Matches said, as if that made any sense at all. 

“No.” Dick said into his Alphas neck, a tiny growl mixed in because it was just dumb. “You- you’re safe. You don’t get to say that.”

He wasn’t sure where he was getting the nerve to say something so rude to his Alpha, maybe it’s because he was sick. Yeah. He’s sick, he can say whatever he wants. 

The beta lightly chuckled, reminding Dick she was still here. “I might not agree with many things you do Matches Malone, but insinuating you want to get rid of the only safety and stability this pup has gotten in the past few years of what was probably hell. Yeah, not sure I like that one.”

Embarrassment flooded Matches scent and Dick smiled even though it probably wasn’t that funny of a joke. Matches held him close. 

Of course between lunging for his Alpha and being held, Dick was now solidly in his Alphas lap. He had never felt safer. 

“Alright.” Matches still seemed… nervous of all things, but he held Dick just as softly and firmly as any good protective Alpha would. “Okay.”

“With that out of the way,” Dr Thompkins said, voice lighter. “Richard, can you tell me how you’re feeling physically?”

Then they were onto the doctor stuff. Dick answered her questions best he could, and he didn’t have to leave Matches’ lap even once! She did have to touch him a few times but it was for actual doctor stuff, like checking his lungs with the stealth-es-cope thingie and his blood pressure with the arm wrap thing. She looked in his eyes, ears, and throat, but never manhandled him and always asked if she needed him to move. She even got the little hammer out to test his reflexes, which always felt weird.

All in all, it wasn’t… nice, but it wasn’t bad. 

Though he did question why they had to go to the doctor for any of this, Dr Thompkins could have done this in the apartment. Matches had said the doctor would need the equipment at the office, but she didn’t use anything that couldn’t be carried in a bag… weird. 

That’s not to say he wanted extra stuff to happen, mostly complaining about leaving the house. He was tired and moving hurt and he was still stuck here in the very uncomfy room with only just his tiger and his Alpha for comfort. It was annoying. 

Dr Thompkins diagnosed him with a cold and an ear infection. Matches asked about medicine and they started talking over his head while Dick festered in worry a bit more. 

He did not want to take any medicine. 

Dick carefully got his Alphas attention, gently yanking on his shirt. Matches looked down with a gentle smile. 

“Alpha?” Dick whispered, even though he knew he probably didn’t have to. He felt wary doing this. It was probably a bad idea. 

“Yes pup?” Matches replied, holding the boy just a touch closer. 

“Can- can I not take any medicine?” 

Matches frowned, and Dick winced, huddling down in submission because it was a dumb question wasn’t it? Why would Dick think Matches would listen to him?

“Pup, it’s alright.” Matches started, rubbing his arm. Of course Matches would be gentle about it, but it was still clearly a no. “You need the medicine to get better, your cold will go away on its own but your infection needs a specific medicine to go away.”

Dick didn’t really care. He just… 

“I don’t- I don’t want to black out. Not this time- please?” He whined wetly. 

“Oh, pup-“ Matches was suddenly lifting him up and holding him very close. Dick squeaked at the sudden pressure but it was gone as soon as it came, however the heavy hand in his hair kept him pinned to the Alpha’s chest. “No, pup, these aren’t going to cause any black outs. They might make you tired, you will sleep a lot, but that’s just your body fighting off the bad stuff. I’m not trying to make you black out.”

Dick just huddled as Matches and Dr Thompkins started talking again, but Dick wasn’t paying attention to what was being said. Probably about his blackouts, he thinks Matches tried to ask him a question once or twice but he didn’t try very hard to ‘wake him up’. 

Honestly? He was just too tired. He had said his piece, he was going to take medicine anyway but apparently he wouldn’t black out. It didn’t matter, he’s just going to let his Alpha handle it. It’s fine. 

Sleep pulled at him, exhausted from the stress and being sick, he let it take him. He was in his Alpha’s lap, nothing bad would happen. 

And nothing did. 

————————————

The sickness passed much like his heat, not traumatizing and full of doting Alpha. When Dick was more conscious Matches sat down with him and explained the uses and side effects of the medicine he would be taking (they hadn’t made him take any while he’d been sleeping- much to his surprise). Dick didn’t ‘black out’ at all except for times he was actually asleep, which did happen often while he recovered. 

But with the combination of the medicine, good food, and lots of rest Dick was back to full health within the week. Apparently Dick had a pretty good immune system. Whatever that was. 

(When Dick asked, Matches did this weird freeze-and-restart thing, then asked how much Dick had gone to school. Dick had replied with his own question ‘what’s school?’) 

(Dick, of course, knew what school was, it was funny to see the look on his Alphas face. But it still kinda stood… circus homeschooling was definitely not like whatever schooling Matches was talking about with desks and math and essays. Gross. Though he did think he would take that over doing nothing.)

Also similar to his heat, Dick returned the space between him and his Alpha and his Alpha didn’t press. At this point he really shouldn’t have been surprised, but it did, every single time. 

Thanksgiving happened, which came to a surprise to Dick when he woke up one morning to cinnamon rolls and fruit and promises of ham and turkey later. 

Matches seemed upset he didn’t know what day it was, even got him a calendar even though Dick tried to point out the year would change soon anyway. Dick didn’t need a calendar for the last two months of the year. 

The calandar only served as a reminder his birthday was approaching sooner rather than later and he tried ignoring that fact as much as possible. 

It was hard though, because after Thanksgiving was Christmas, and everyone talked about Christmas. Alfred talked about having a big dinner, Matches asked about gifts and even Babs, when they went to the park again (which— yes they went to the park AGAIN! TWICE! Matches made sure he wasn’t out too long though, so he didn’t get sick again. But still!! He went out!! Again!!),  was talking about Christmas. 

Dick didn’t dislike Christmas, it was fine, in the circus they’d do loads of things for everyone who celebrated their own way. But these past three years… Zucco always liked to do something ‘special’ on Christmas. And Dick certainly did not celebrate his birthday. 

And then Matches had to make it even more confusing! He wanted Babs to come over! But- but he also knew about Babs, about who exactly Babs is. 

It was terrifying!

It was one of those nights Alfred was away, they were having left over pasta and it’s usually pleasantly silent. Matches broke that silence with;

“So, do you like that red headed Alpha girl?”

Dick nearly choked on his pasta! His constant low levels of anxiety spiked way high and stayed there. He eyed his Alpha, wondering how he should go about this, what was Matches looking for, what should he say?!

(Dick also… didn’t know Babs was an Alpha. He… he knew it was a possibility with all the snow coverings making everyone more anonymous, but… He had really hoped she’d be a Beta at least, someone marginally more… safe. 

He didn’t like the instant fear attached to the designation that was now attached to his friend, his internal image of her skewed and he hadn’t wanted that.)

“Babs is cool.” Is what he said, busying himself with twirling more spaghetti on his fork. 

Hopefully Matches didn’t feel threatened, she was a kid after all. But, ya know, if she’s already presented as an Alpha that means she’s ready for mating. Just like how Dick is, even though neither of them are of adult age. Of course it wasn’t actual age people looked at in a mate, it was presentation age. Anyone who was presented was ‘mate-worthy’ according to biology. 

Dick thinks that whole thing is made up by Alphas who just want an excuse to abuse and rape with no consequences. 

Oh sure child brides (who were always Omegas) nearly always died in childbirth because their physical age was too small. There must be some other reason for presenting to happen so young, because the body certainly was not meant to handle childbirth at age 10. 

But Dick didn’t know, Dick was only 12, very almost 13, and he was the Omega of a mob boss. He had presented at age 10, but it’s not like that stopped Zucco from using him before he presented, his birthday just made it legal. It’s funny what reality will teach ya. 

While Dick glared off to the side, Matches hummed. 

“Barbara Gordon right? She’s the commissioner's daughter.” 

Dick froze, his twirling spaghetti fork stopped, not even blinking. 

Matches knew?!

Matches knew Dick had a basically direct line to the police. And sure yeah police wouldn’t do much to a mob boss like Matches, he’d probably be back out within the hour, but still!

“Is…” Dick swallowed nervously, shoving down the urge to bare his neck to his Alpha. “Is that a- a problem?”

He cringed. Why did he say that? Why did he say it like that? He should definitely bare his neck now!

“No, no,”. Matches was entirely too lighthearted. “I was just thinking we could arrange a visit, for the holidays.”

Dick blinked. That made… no sense. 

“As… as Robert and Robin?” Dick squeaked out, confused more than anything. Did… did Matches already know the commissioner or something? That was a long time to spend in a not-sneaky way of socializing with someone dangerous.

Matches nodded, “it would be more like a playdate. I don’t have to be there if you don’t want me to.”

Dick felt frustration bubble up inside him, he swears sometimes his Alpha is trying to get rid of him. He honestly rather would like his Alpha to be with him when he meets his park friend's dad for the first time. As much as he liked Babs, she… well she was an Alpha, and her dad too probably. That wasn’t… that wasn’t safe. Not for him. 

“That’s fine.” Dick said, finally shoving his forkful of spaghetti into his mouth. 

This was all just fine. 

———————————

This was probably one of Dick’s dumber ideas, but it was the only thing keeping him sane. 

He was on the roof, in his snow gear of course, Matches wasn’t home and hopefully he wouldn’t anytime soon. Because it was also midnight. 

He couldn’t sleep, he kept waking up to nightmares and general anxiety kept him from falling asleep. He needed some fresh air so the Omega slipped on his jacket and gloves and hat and climbed up to the roof through his secret window door. 

He sat right next to the edge, the lip of the roof the perfect height to lay his arms and head against as he stared blankly at the other buildings and roads. The cold bit at his cheeks and nose but it kept him present. It reminded him he wasn’t being touched. 

He was safe here, he was outside, even if it was probably too cold and probably not a good idea considering he had gotten sick weeks before because of such cold. He sighed, creating his own cloud of fog in front of him. 

At night, everything was orange, the street lights combined with the snow and the heavy clouds made everything have this hazey glow, shadows were sharper, deeper, and Dick almost wanted to let them swallow him. 

It was the night of his birthday. 

He was tired. He knew Matches wasn’t going to suddenly turn evil, or, more evil, he supposes. He knew Matches didn’t want him romantically, or sexually, or anything weird like that. He knew Matches just saw him as his pup, his property at the very least. He knew he would be taken care of, kept safe. 

That didn’t stop his anxiety, no amount of knowing did anything to the anxious fluttering in his chest and the heavy feeling in his gut. He’d been flinching from Matches more often, and his Alpha had been accommodating, keeping his distance and trying not to spook him. It felt like they were back at square one, except it was dumb because Dick knew Matches was fine. It was all just so fine. 

It was just so dumb. He was fine. 

He sighed again, a brief wind tickled the hair not covered by his hat. His limbs had that ache again from the cold, not the sick ache, just cold, he almost wished he was inside. But going back inside felt like he would suffocate. 

A flicker of movement caught his eye, making his eyebrows twitch. Nothing really moved at night, he’d been out here for awhile now and even with the wind there wasn’t really anything out here to move. So what moved? 

He shifted his head to rest on his cheek, staring at the other roof with a frown. It was a little harder to see sideways, but he saw something flapping in the wind, it looked like some fabric. 

Hmph. It was fine. Maybe if Dick was lucky he’d see a dog. 

Dick turned his head the other way to lay on his other cheek, if only to warm it with his hands. He resisted another sigh. He’d been sighing too much for his liking but he couldn’t find any other outlet besides yelling. And he couldn’t just yell. This was frustrating…

Within minutes, his neck prickled. 

Dick had an intimate relationship with the feeling of being watched. He recognized it instantly. 

The Omega pup froze, barely breathing as his heart thudded in his ears. 

He twisted around to look behind him, just to be sure nobody was sneaking up behind him. The empty roof greeted him, revealing nothing the longer he stared at it. 

He looked around, trying to find the source of the stare, a whine building up in the back of his throat. He should not have come up here at night! 

Suddenly, he found them. Across the street on a roof higher than his was a dark silhouette. The orange light reflected off of them oddly, they were mostly in shadow, but there was a defined outline. They had two weird sticks pointing up from their head, making Dicks face twist in confusion. 

Who was that? What were they doing? 

The silhouette moved, an arm came out and… waved…? 

Dick blinked. 

He waved back. 

The Silhouette went back to being a blob with a weird head, but then they were moving. 

Dick yelped and shuffled back as the dark figure leaped off the roof building, a large fabric stretching out with a snap. Miraculously the figure glided across the street with little issue, heading straight for Dick’s roof. 

Dick contemplated running, then discarded that idea considering that would just lead the weird shadow man to his empty house. If… if they were going to do something bad to him, he’d rather they do it here on the roof where he could get away later when they were done. (If they didn’t take him with them… man he really should not have gone up to the roof tonight.)

The man, because it was indeed a man, landed on the roof with a thump of heavy boots. The fabric he had used to glide now cascaded loosely down from his shoulders, hiding his bulky figure. He wore a weird hat, the best Dick could describe it as, with yes, two weird points on either side where Dick couldn’t find his ears. White lenses stared at him where there should be normal eyes. 

Dick took another step backwards. 

“It’s alright.” The man spoke, making Dick flinch again because of the deep rasp of it. He held out his empty hands, letting Dick see how huge he was in comparison. “I won’t come any closer.”

Dick sucked in a breath of stinging air, feeling more vulnerable than he liked. 

“W-who are you?” Dick asked, sounding much younger and scared than he intended. 

“I’m Batman.”

Dick’s eyes widened even more. 

Batman. The guy who fixed the power grid issues a while ago. Matches called him a vigilante, but Dick didn’t really know what that meant. The weird stick ears made sense now though. 

“Wh-what do you want?” Dick asked, trying to harden his voice. At least the guy didn’t move from his side of the roof. It wasn’t a huge roof, but he was very glad of the distance. 

Batman took a moment before responding. 

“I saw you on this roof, pups shouldn’t be out so late, so I thought something might be wrong.” Batman explained, but it still didn’t make much sense. “Are you okay?”

Dick inhaled through his nose, just to remind himself to breathe. A weird man wearing a bat costume outside in the middle of the night is asking if he’s okay. 

“Are… are you okay?” Dick squeaked out in return. Then he flushed and shuffled awkwardly as the man’s lips quirked upwards. 

“I’m doing just fine, thank you.” Batman said. 

Dick didn’t want to take his eyes off of the man, but he ducked his head. Batman didn’t do anything for his Omegan apology though, which… oh. Dick was all covered right now, and… and so was Batman. Kinda like the park, their designations were anonymous. 

Though Dick highly doubted a Beta would have that hulking of a body, and Omega was out of the question, but still. 

“I’m… I’m okay.” Dick said shyly to answer the man’s question he hadn’t answered. 

Batman hummed. “There’s lots of reasons people seek out fresh air in the middle of the night.” He stated. “Is there anything on your mind?”

Dick huffed, and rubbed his arm. Like Dick would talk to some random bat guy about his issues. 

“It would be a good opportunity to get some advice, if you’d like.” Batman said, as if that enticed the idea at all. 

“I don’t know you.” Dick said, though it came out as a sharp whimper rather than a sharp warning. 

He internally cringed, and twisted his body away from the Batman, as if he could actually run away from the man who clearly knew his way around roofs. Could Batman fly? 

Batman shrugged. “Sometimes all we need is for someone to listen. If you want to be heard, I can listen.” 

Dick tucked his bottom lip inside his mouth, frowning as he started to genuinely think about it. Because… it would be nice to talk about it with someone who wasn’t Matches or Alfred or Babs. And… and this was some random vigilante, it’s not like Dick would be seeing this guy again right? 

“You… you’re not a…” Dick trailed off, anxiously growling at the snowy roof. “You won’t… take anything in return?”

He grimaced, since Batman hadn’t even offered something like that, (Dick already knew those traps) but if he hadn’t, well, Dick just put the idea in his head. Idiot…

“No.” Batman said, firmly but gently despite the weird gritty voice. “…do you know what Batman does?”

Dick felt his shoulders tense and he shook his head. This is usually when things went spiraling downhill. Always the reveal, then comes the suffering. 

“Batman helps people.” He said, “I try to save those in need, to help those who can’t help themselves. I protect the people of Gotham. I'm not perfect, but I try my best.”

Dick had never heard of anyone doing such a thing, at least not in real life, he sounded like a superhero! Straight from a movie! 

Batman wasn’t done, though he didn’t continue his self definition. “If you’re in danger, if someone is hurting you or …taking from you, I can help. Are you safe at home, pup?”

Dick blinked as his breathing stuttered. This was just like Babs, like Dr Thompkins, someone who barely knew him at all was now promising him they could help. 

Was… was he really in a bad situation? Was it that obvious? Where were all these people in the past three years before Matches? (Well, they were all up here where he hadn’t been allowed, and apparently for good reason considering everyone he met has been offering to ‘save’ him.)

But Matches was safe. How many times did he have to repeat that? 

How many times did Alphas bend him over—

“I’m safe.” Dick said with as much confidence he had at the moment, “I have an Alpha who takes care of me.”

Batman’s shoulders slumped, though the movement was small Dick still caught it. “That’s good. …But I bet you still feel unsafe from time to time?”

Was Dick really that obvious? Well, someone who flinched at everything would be pretty obvious… 

“…yeah.” Dick admitted, and suddenly he felt like he could talk about it all. Batman said he would listen right? Batman wasn’t… bad, and Dick was just… so frustrated!!

“It’s just… it’s all in my head.” Dick started, his feet moved underneath him until he started pacing on his side of the roof. “Because I know my Alpha is safe, he won’t hurt me or touch me when I don’t want it. I know these things but I’m still… still scared.” 

He huffed, fists clenched at his sides as he paused his feet. “It’s… it’s my birthday. And… I did— there was— in my past- a lotta bad stuff happened.” Understatement of the century, but he got it out. “It was really scary, and, and my birthday made it worse. I’m scared it’s gonna happen again, but I also know it won’t.”

He folded his arms and willed his tears to go away. It didn’t work. 

“It won’t.” He said through his silently falling tears. This time sounding more like he was trying to convince himself. 

Batman hummed. “Sometimes, after we’re in danger for a long time, it’s hard to not expect it.” Batman paused here and Dick offered a nod, because it was true. He remembered Matches having said something similar once. “Even though we are safe, our minds don’t really let us forget.”

Dick huffed angrily. “How do you make it go away?”

“Unfortunately it’s not that simple.” Batman said, and Dick inwardly cried out because he knew that was gonna be the case. “For some, it takes closure. To face the trauma head on and decide it won’t be an issue anymore. That one usually comes from a specific action. A very simplified example would be being told sorry and forgiving them.”

Dick scowled. He couldn’t have that one, it would never happen. Zucco was never sorry about anything he did to Dick. 

“Most of all, it takes time.” Batman said. “You spent time in a bad place, it will take time in a good place to undo it. Give yourself some grace, you will have good days and bad days. But it won’t go away overnight.”

Dick… knew that. To a degree. He knew it would take time, but he had wanted that time to be short. Also this was great and all… but—

“How… how do I fix the anxiety right now?” Dick whined, placing his hands on his head like he could just squeeze the anxiety out. “It’s hard to feel safe, even when I know I am, when all I can think about is all the bad stuff!”

Batman hummed in thought. “Are there any things you know give you comfort?”

Dick stared at the snowy roof, wanting to physically punch his anxiety in the face because it’s making it so hard to think right now! The first thing that came to mind was always his parents. But there was a second. “My stuffed animal Peanut.”

Batman nodded. “Anything else?”

Matches did come to mind. 

“My… my Alpha.” Dick said quietly. Then louder he went off. “But, but he’s also the problem! He scares me sometimes, I can’t just walk up to the scary person and, and- I dunno- hug them! I don’t want- I’m trying to get rid of the anxiety not… make it worse!”

Dick was huffing at the end, and he grabbed his hat and shoved it over his head as he growled angrily at the sky. 

Batman stayed silent until his growling petered off into helpless whines. 

“Have you tried talking to your Alpha?” Batman offered.

Dick stayed silent, mostly because if he spoke he knew he’d start crying again, or scream. He was tired of all of this. 

“Perhaps, if you talked to your Alpha, you could find ways of helping yourself. You could tell him when he’s being scary and he could back off, and when you need him, you can tell him and he will help.” 

Dick whined again, because he was already doing that! Matches always backed off, Dick knew he could make him back off. He knew he could approach and get a hug if he needed one. This isn’t what he needed!

“That’s not- we already- that doesn't work!” Dick hung his head and covered his face with his hands, muffling his anguished yell. 

“I see.” Batman said, then he tilted his head. “How about this? Let’s work backwards; what can you not talk to him about?”

Dick winced, because that uh, that list was long. 

“You don’t have to tell me those things if you don’t want to, but-“

“…You said you’d listen right?” Dick interrupted warily, because now that there was an opportunity… maybe it would make it easier. “It’s, it’s gonna make it easier right?”

Batman hesitated, but nodded. “Only if you want to.”

Dick sighed. He didn’t necessarily want to, but, he needed to. He sat down, criss cross applesauce.

“I can’t… I can’t talk to him about all the past bad stuff. I don’t… I don’t want to give him ideas even though I know he probably would never act on them. I can’t trust… I can’t trust that he’ll never touch me. That’s why I’m freaking out over my birthday. He… he mentioned he’s not into kids, but, but that just means he might be into me when I’m older and that’s why he has me. And I don’t- I don’t know when old enough is, because the bad guys- they already thought I was old enough. The law thinks I’m old enough. He… he could be safe, but how am I supposed to know? I’m-“ he buried his face in his hands again. “I’m scared!”

“It’s alright pup,” came Batman’s somehow soothing tone. “It’s alright to be scared. Unfortunately that’s one of those things that will go away with time. If you want you can tell your Alpha all of what you just told me. Now I don’t know your Alpha or if he truly is good or not, but it sounds to me like if you talked to him he would at least try. He needs a chance to either prove you right or wrong. And I know that can be scary, but here-“ 

Dick looked up as Batman dug into one of his belt pouches. He brought out something small and bat-shaped. He showed it off before crouching down and sliding it across the roof. Dick followed the trail and reached for it, he dug around in the snow a little before fishing out the thing. It was small, but still about the size of one of his fingers. It was shaped like a bat, and in the middle was a button. 

“If he ends up being bad, press that button and I’ll come to help.” Batman said. “It all seems very scary, but I want you to know that you have options. You’re not destined to suffer.”

Dick sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide and locked onto the shadowy figure. 

You’re not destined to suffer. 

For some reason, that line made it click. 

It didn’t get rid of his anxiety, it didn’t make the idea of talking to Matches less scary, it didn’t magically make everything bad go away. But it did do something very important.

His shoulders relaxed, he breathed in calmly. He asked the universe if he was cursed, if he had been born only to suffer. It felt like he’d been answered.

For as many times as it was beaten into his head that he was an Omega, that he was lesser, that he was a toy, it only took one line to make him feel hope. Real hope. 

‘You’re not destined to suffer’ told him ‘every time you hope, it’s not in vain’. Coming from a real life superhero no less. 

And that’s all Dick ever wanted. 

———————————

Look, Bruce would like to start his defense by saying he had not been trying to get information out of his pup via Batman. Most of what he said as Batman was true. He really did see his pup out there on a roof and got worried. He had talked down jumpers before and was glad his pup wasn’t, but still, he had to check. If he hadn’t let Batman do it his inner Alpha sure would have. His hands were tied!

The resulting conversation was… good, he thinks. It was more than what Matches got in conversations with the pup but still. He was glad to see his pup …emoting, even if it was negative emotions. His frustration made sense, and Bruce was glad Richard trusted Batman enough to keep his panic button. As much as Matches had already broadened Richard’s social pool, the poor pup needed a bit more. More different people he could see regularly, to actually come back to a real life, not the life of a mob boss’s Omega. Richard couldn’t get that with Matches, and Bruce had already provided two of four ways for the pup to leave. 

Leslie also warned him about getting rid of such a stable Alpha in his life so soon after his trauma. Bruce really hadn’t meant to trap the pup with him, but he was going to try his best and hopefully, eventually, the pup could go to a good home, safe from any mobs or abuse. 

That being said… Bruce did his absolute best to not act on the new information he had. He tried not to hope that Richard would come and talk to him about something new. Matches didn’t know it was the boy’s birthday, so Bruce couldn’t do anything for that, nor did he know if the boy wanted anything done for him on his birthday. 

(He also tried really hard not to freak out at the idea his pup was somehow getting up to the roof all by himself. It could be dangerous up there! If Batman swung by to check the roof once a night then it was nobody’s business but his own. Richard wasn’t even up there all those times so perhaps it was a one time thing.) (Hopefully) 

Still, it was days after the supposed birthday that anything happened. 

Bruce was at the table doing some paperwork, Richard, he was pretty sure was finishing up a shower. Within ten minutes the pup exited his room in fresh new clothes. Bruce was a little surprised he was approached instead of the pup going straight to the TV. 

Bruce set down his paper to give his pup his full attention. 

Richard was rocking on his heels, fingers nervously messing with the hem of his shirt as he looked off to the side.

“Yes pup?” Bruce prompted, because sometimes Richard wouldn’t speak unless prompted. 

“Um, can you scent me, Alpha?” He asked meekly with a twitch of his head to the side in a brief bare. 

Which confused Bruce even more. Richard had already gotten over his fear of asking to be scented. What’s up with this?

“Of course,” Bruce replied, stretching out one arm but keeping it loose and not grabbing so the boy could manipulate his hand how he wanted. 

The Omega pup took his hand and placed it on his head, but he also rushed forwards, plastering himself to Bruce’s side. Bruce grunted in surprise, but relaxed and pet his pup’s hair to scent it. 

With a trill the pup reached over and dragged his other arm up, making Bruce use both hands to scent him. Bruce rumbled happily. 

“It… it was my birthday.” His pup revealed quietly.

Bruce tried not to react, though his rumble stuttered and his hands froze just for a moment. He resumed both things, keeping quiet so his pup would continue. 

“It was a few days ago.” He said, just as shyly. 

“How old are you now?” Bruce asked, trying with all his might not to be weird or creepy or whatever it was that his pup was scared of. 

“I’m 13.” His pup squeaked, a dash of fear rising in his scent that Bruce covered with his own. 

He measured his options, all the hypotheticals he had thought of since that conversation between Batman and his pup. 

“Happy birthday pup.” He wanted to celebrate so badly because his pup deserved it. “Did you want to do something special for it?” 

His pup shook his head, effectively burying it in Bruce’s side at the same time. “No. Not… not right now. I want… I want things to be normal.”

“Normal it is.” Bruce rumbled and rubbed the back of his pup. “Though I’m not sure I can stop Alfred from making your favorite cookies.”

His pup giggled under him, something small and short lived. Bruce treasured every laugh, every smile this warrior pup gave him. He deserved the world and nothing less. 

“Thank you.”

Chapter Text

The time Bruce spent as Matches Malone was actually… quite small compared to his other personas. It was only recently that he realized he never really felt the time spent at the apartment with Richard was ‘Matches Malone’ time. He was just Bruce, with his pup, in Not The Manor. If anything, he felt bad for his childhood home.

It was already empty before Bruce became Batman, the memories in its halls became mere ghosts as he passed them to his bedroom. The Manor was just a place to sleep, if he actually put himself to sleep there. The cave wasn’t exactly home either, but now there was a third contester for home and it was winning by a long shot. 

It had been months since Bruce got Richard, they were in mid spring and ‘April showers’ were in full effect in Gotham. Bruce would rather be at home, sitting on the couch reading a good book while  Richard slept next to him to the sound of rain on the windows.  

(He held those precious moments close to his heart. His pup trusted him, but it was still rare to encounter the pup in a mood to show it.)

Crime doesn't sleep on rainy days apparently, which is highly unfortunate for one Matches Malone. 

The crime lord had just gotten done doing business with Black Mask. It was a big name, much bigger than Zucco’s gang. Black Mask had territory, men, arms, and the like. There wasn’t a part of the underground that Black Mask wasn’t involved in. It was the perfect entry point for anything Matches would need. 

(Or anywhere someone would need saving. This was indeed a very big step for Batman.)

The meeting had gone well, even if it was stuffy and full of smoking and Alpha posturing. It wasn’t anything Bruce Wayne meetings didn’t already do, so it was fine. 

What was NOT fine, was walking out just to find the wheels of his vehicle missing. 

Sure it was Crime Alley, but Black Mask had instructed him where to park. As Bruce he was utterly floored, and a little impressed. As Matches Malone, he was upset and unimpressed with Black Masks control in his territory. In the heart of his territory no less. 

Bruce had stalled in front of his tireless car, causing his entourage to pause as well. 

Matches Malone was being escorted out by Black Masks’ son, Roman. With them were two Alpha guards. Roman was an Alpha, nearly an adult (as far as Bruce could tell) and seemed just as surprised as him. 

“Roman.” Bruce growled, narrowing his eyes at his vandalized vehicle and letting rage seep into his scent. 

The younger Alpha spluttered. “Alpha Malone- we- this isn’t-“

Bruce heard a clatter, and struck a hand out to pause the panicked man. He nodded forward. The thief was still there. 

Roman grunted, focused on his new task and snapped at the two guarding Alphas to follow him. Bruce watched as Roman and the guards went at at the vehicle from either side, boxing in whoever was there. 

Bruce was unsurprised at how quickly the thief was caught, however he was entirely stunned when the thief cried out in the voice of a small pup. 

Roman himself had lunged for them (notably down and hidden behind the car), spitting insults as he wrangled the pup. “Todd! How dare you- you useless pup! I’ll have your hide!”

The pup yelped and cried out, Bruce did his best not to react. Roman dragged the pup around the car for Bruce, snarling at the pup who couldn’t be more than eight or nine years old. 

The little thing was in a worn red hoodie, which they were currently being dragged around by, small fingers holding onto the larger man’s grip and his ratty shoes dug into the slippery asphalt. 

“I didn’ know!” The child protested, eyes wide and grip white. “I swear I didn’!”

Roman snarled in the pup’s face, making them flinch back. “What, did you really think you could boost this kinda car when you knew there were meetin’s today?!”

The pup’s face scrunched to retaliate but there was no audible growl. “I was told to boost cars today! So I did! I didn’ know ‘bout any meetin’s! Honest!”

“Useless Omega!” Roman threw the pup onto the ground. 

The sound of the pup yelping as he hit the wet road restarted Bruce’s brain. 

Roman knew this pup, this pup was part of the Black Mask gang. This pup was also an Omega. The pup’s anxious scent was covered by car oil, but it still had that sweet tinge Bruce just now recognized. This… this was not good. 

“Hold him.” Roman ordered the two Alpha goons that had been guarding and escorting them. 

The pup squeaked in alarm as he was roughly yanked up and restrained. They each held one of the boy’s shoulders and arms, their massive Alpha hands completely dwarfing the Omega pup in their grasp. 

Roman stalked forward and pulled the pup's head up by his black hair, forcing the pup to bare his neck uncomfortably. The pup grimaced but didn’t fight it, his puppy scent souring with new fear. That’s when Bruce spied the black collar synched around the kid’s throat. Another ‘owned’ Omega. 

“My deepest apologies, Alpha Malone.” Bruce was suddenly being addressed but his eyes were locked onto the pup who was wincing. “Black Mask likes to keep things running, Omegas such as these we usually let gather some extra money out in the streets, when they’re not on their knees that is.”

Bruce didn’t like any of that. At all.  

“Clearly we’ve let this one’s leash too loose.” The young Alpha sneered. The pup yelped as Roman delivered a kick to the child’s chest. “On your knees Omega, you will properly apologize to our guest for disrespecting an Alphas property.”

The pup was already dangling, but a look from Roman makes the two goons let go of the pup, leaving him to collapse to the ground in a heap of scared and hurt Omega pup. 

Bruce was thinking overtime to figure out how to get the pup out of the situation without completely ruining the very good connection he now had to Black Mask. If he wanted to save other Omegas like this one, he needed this underground partnership, but he couldn’t just stand by while this pup suffered. 

The pup did scramble to his knees, clothes worse for wear with now two dumpings onto wet road ground. The pup was going to catch a cold at this rate. 

“Im-I’m sorry Apha.” The pup stuttered with a whine, shifting his neck to the side to bare it. Bruce could see the terror in his eyes, frantic and scared. “I swear I didn’ know. I wouldn’ ‘ave touched yer car- I’m sorry-“ 

Bruce was trying to formulate an answer to that, to any of this, when Roman snarled again. 

The young Alpha growled and lunged for the pup again. This time Roman dug his hand down the back of the pup’s sweatshirt and clamped around the pup’s neck in a forceful scruffing. The pup whined and went limp, Bruce’s heart leapt in his chest for the pup. 

Roman lifted the pup up by his scruff, a new submissive whine escaping the child as he was manhandled. “Don’t lie Omega, this isn’t your first offense.  You’re going to be in a world of hurt when I’m through with you. I’ll tie you to the bed myself —“

Bruce has had enough of this. He set his hand on the young Alpha’s shoulder, head lifted high in dominance. “I have a different idea.”

Roman grinned sadistically, depositing the pup on the ground but keeping a firm grip on his arm. The scruffed pup could barely stand as is, and Bruce could see shiny tear tracks across his cheeks. 

“Ah, you want to punish the Omega yourself. I’m sure that could be arranged.” Roman dragged the pup along with him as he approached the car. The pup whined in terror as the young Alpha hoisted the pup onto the hood, putting one of his legs between the pups to spread them apart. 

Bruce’s heart lurched once more. 

“I’ll demonstrate.” Roman’s smile stretched as the scruffed pup couldn’t even fight back and his pup scent souring with terror. “This’ll teach you to do as you're told, filthy Omega.”

This is not what Bruce had in mind. 

“Enough!” Bruce’s Alpha voice boomed, making the younger Alpha pause and the pup under him went deathly silent. He carefully approached the duo, letting his rage be known but not for the reasons they would think. 

He slid his gaze to Roman, letting him know the danger lurking if he wasn’t listened to. “My car will not be damaged more than it already has been. We’ve made our deal, I have more pressing matters than your internal struggles with your wild Omegas.” 

Yes, that was the angle. Matches Malone would prioritize his vehicle, it was just a side effect that the pup wouldn’t be raped right in front of him. 

“My car's tires are missing. Regardless of intention, I’m going to need them back. I suggest you fix that before I have another meeting with your father that neither of you will like.” Bruce threatened, looking down his nose at the younger Alpha. 

Roman grumbled but looked away, baring his neck for barely a moment to acquiesce to the larger Alpha. 

“Fine.” Roman didn’t move though, he sneered down at the Omega pup under him. “Where’d you hide the tires brat!” 

The pup whined placatingly, shakily lifting an arm to point down an alleyway. “Th-there all there, promise.”

Roman nodded his head sharply and the two Alpha guards delved into the alley. The young Alpha finally stepped away from the pup, leaving him on the car hood. 

“We deeply apologize, Alpha Malone. Our Omegas know better than this. It will not be happening again. I’ll see to it personally.” Roman bowed his head at Bruce, and Bruce had no choice but to accept it. 

Roman then pulled the boy off the car hood, the pup stumbling as he went. Roman had a heavy controlling hand on the pup’s neck, the poor kid could barely stand with the weight and the effects of the scruffing. The pup whined a promise to be good, but the younger Alpha hissed at him to be quiet. 

The duo started walking (or dragging more like) back towards the building, and none too soon because Bruce finally had a plan. 

Bruce stuck his arm out to stop the younger Alpha before they passed him. 

“Seems like this Omega is more trouble than he’s worth in your operation.” Bruce murmured with a raised eyebrow. 

“He won’t be for much longer.” Roman hissed. Under him the pup winced soundlessly.

“I’ll tell you what,” Bruce said then nodded over to his car. “I’ll look over this little incident, but I keep the pup.”

It was Roman’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You lookin’ to start a harem Alpha Malone?” 

Internally, Bruce grimaced at the idea, the mere mention of harems. Harems were dangerous, and not many existed successfully. It wasn’t what Matches was trying to do, though it certainly didn’t look that way. 

“What I do with my Omegas is my business. One you’re not a part of.” Bruce said plainly. “You have an Omega you’re going to get rid of, correct?”

Roman laughed with a sneer. “Not without a few more sessions. I shoulda known that’s all this Omega would be good for.” He shook the pup that was still fairly limp in his grasp, the pup stayed silent with his head bowed. 

“Regardless.” Bruce waved his hand, “I could find more use for him, wouldn’t want any Omega to go to waste.”

Another terrible thing to say about a pup. He was having flashbacks of how he got Richard. It was similar, yet oh so different. He needed them to give him the pup. It was the only way the pup would survive. 

Roman shrugged. “If you’re sure you want ‘em. This Omega presented recently, he’s probably not as trained as you’re used to.”

Bruce nearly growled. Just give him the pup already. 

“That won’t be a problem.” 

“And we won’t owe you anything for this?” Roman asked, jerking a thumb towards the jacked car just to be sure. 

“Contingent on the pup being in my possession. Yes.” Just give him the pup. 

Roman was silent as he pondered, and as much as Bruce wanted to just yank the pup into his safer hands the transfer of an Omega was a bit more complicated than that. As Richard was, the boy was probably claimed, he’d have to be given up willingly or else Matches might get hunted down for stealing an Omega. And it wouldn’t even be illegal. 

The wording to those laws always made it seem nicer than it was. When it comes down to it the laws only help Alphas objectify and control Omegas, even though the laws were meant to protect them. Bruce had a lot of issues with current laws regarding Omegas. 

“Alright.” Roman said, and shoved the pup closer to him, but didn’t let go until Bruce had a firm hold of the pup’s other arm. “He’s yours.” 

“Good.” Bruce gently tugged the boy closer to himself. He let the child lean on his leg, the scruffing still making him weak. He also made sure his own grip was tight enough to hold the pup but not tight enough to hurt. 

Roman then walked away. 

Bruce secretly took a deep breath. Not quite out of the woods yet, but the pup was his. 

He looked down at the pup, reeking of terror still but quiet and calm. Roman called him ‘Todd’ but Bruce was unsure if that was a first name or last name. 

He turned to check on the car, the two men were busy reattaching his wheels. Then it occurred to him that it was literally a pup who took them off. 

“How'd you take them off?” He asked, low enough not to be heard by the Alphas fixing his car. 

The pup flinched, but answered in a similar tone. “I do- I did it a lot. I’ma hard worker.” 

Bruce hummed. “Todd was it?”

“J-Jason Todd.” The pup squeaked, baring his neck once again at his new Alpha.

Bruce used his other hand to tilt the pups head back towards him, he didn’t like looking at the collar. No need for submission anyway. 

Jason flinched at his large hand, but Bruce was gentle. Similar to his first few moments with Richard, he would have to breach some boundaries he would rather not to keep up appearances. They weren’t alone yet. 

“I’m…” the pup spoke up, thin and wary. “I’m real sorry ‘bout yer car… I really didn’ know. Th-they tell me when ta go fer some cars, an-and yers was just sittin’ there…”

Bruce gently carded his hand through the boy’s hair, if only to scent him and hopefully soothe his fears. The pup still flinched, but pressed more into his leg. 

“I understand. You were just doing what you were told.” Bruce said, that was as comforting as he could be at the moment with two of Black Masks men still near. 

He was honestly surprised Jason risked talking, and he noted how so far the pup used no honorifics. ‘Not trained’ indeed. Little pup still had quite a bit of pup left in him, more than Richard at least. 

Richard would be glad for a roommate right? Roman said he was recently presented, his scent was still heavily on the puppy side rather than Omega. Richard would welcome a pup. 

As for the harem thing… well, Black Mask can think what he wants, but Bruce knew he and his pups were not in danger of anything like that. Harems we’re definitely illegal, and very difficult to create and maintain. 

And it’s not just because it’s evil, it’s because Omegas will quite literally kill each other. 

Omegas don’t quite …share like Alphas do. Alphas and Omegas are meant to bond, just as Alphas get possessive over their Omegas, Omegas get possessive of their Alphas. It’s instinct, when a stranger Alpha or Omega comes into play in a deeply bonding way like mating, it can get very messy. 

It’s easy to share one Omega between many Alphas, that possessive bond doesn’t get triggered around other Alphas. But to share one singular Alpha between many Omegas… Omegas are known for their more… wild and animalistic side compared to Alphas. 

Trying to mate with multiple unrelated ‘wild’ Omegas create very violent situations. Harems just don’t work. That’s why there’s usually only one Omega, or at least, one at a time. The only way to have a harem was to separate the Omegas, meaning lots of room, lots of food, lots of… staff. A lot of time and effort. 

Black Mask definitely had that time and space and man power, and plenty of Alphas to… accommodate… he certainly would have a lot of Omegas. However this was the first Bruce had heard or seen of Omegas being used as… car jackers? They must have some sort of rotation for who’s in bed and who’s not. Bruce will have to look more into that, figure out how these underground people are holding more Omegas than they should. 

As for Richard and Jason… well it shouldn’t be a problem to keep them together. Bruce wasn’t mating either of them, they were pups. They shouldn’t have that possessive instinct. So it really wouldn’t be a problem, unless Richard and Jason just didn’t get along like normal kids. 

He was sure Richard would like the company though, Bruce could tell his pup liked having people around rather than not. 

Jason was standing on his own by the time the tires got fixed, the Alphas grunt to him as they leave and Bruce nods to them. Jason flinches when they pass.

Bruce still had a hold on him though, this wasn’t like Richard where he was trained to obey and follow commands, and Bruce certainly wasn’t about to let the pup disappear into the streets. 

Bruce led Jason to the car, opening the back door and lifting the pup in when it was clear he still wasn’t quite recovered from the scruffing. A tiny scowl was on his face, it was rather cute if he ignored the dirt stains and tear tracks. His terrified scent had mellowed out while they had been standing around waiting for the car to be fixed, but now it returned. 

Bruce contemplated taking off the collar here and now, but decided against it, if only to get the pup out of here as soon as possible. Crime Alley wasn’t safe, even though the Matches hideout wasn’t terribly far from it. 

He closed the door with the pup inside, pausing to check the tires anyway because it would be stupid not to. He went through each one, luckily they all seemed to be fine. Then he climbed into the driver's seat, checking the pup in the back with a glance. 

Jason was looking down, hands in his hoodie pocket. The car smelt of scared Omega. Bruce internally sighed and set off. They just needed to get home. 

It was only a few minutes into the drive when the pup spoke up again. 

“…A-Alpha?”

“Yes, pup?” Bruce kept his voice steady and calm, just like he did whenever Richard asked for his attention. Gaining the attention of an Alpha could be quite scary, especially for Omegas with a history like Richard’s, and probably Jason’s too. 

“Um…” the pup was certainly nervous, but Bruce couldn’t help but feel charmed. “Alpha Roman mentioned… are- are you tryin’ ta start a ‘arem…?”

Bruce’s lips quirked upwards, even though it was a heavy topic, a question like this was something Richard never would have done in the first five minutes of meeting him. Jason certainly was a little spitfire. 

“No.” Bruce answered. “I do have another Omega at home, he’s been presented for almost four years now. I am not mated to him.” 

Jason’s head shot up, surprise both on his face and in his scent. Then something crossed his face and he deflated. “…oh.”

“I’m not going to mate with you either pup.” Bruce said gently. 

He probably should have waited for the house for that kind of reveal, where he could give his undivided attention to the pup to let him know the truth of it. It was probably fine. It wasn’t like Richard believed him the first time he said it anyway.

Jason’s face scrunched. Yeah there was doubt there, he even seemed to want to say something, but thought better of it. Bruce honestly would have rather heard what he had to say, he was sure it would have been funny at least. 

Richard was never so… bantery. Not that he would call this conversation bantery, but the pup’s ability to talk back seemed higher than Richard’s. 

He should probably stop comparing the two, and clearly Jason had a different style of ‘Omega to a mob boss’ than Richard did. Richard also had three years of it… while Jason was considered ‘untrained’ to his own mob boss’s standards. 

(The whole idea of an Omega needing to be ‘trained’ made his blood boil. Omegas weren’t wild animals, they are people. )

(He internally grimaced at the fact he had just ten minutes ago called Jason a ‘wild Omega’.) 

The rest of the car trip was silent, though the fear  from the pup dissipated it never truly left. Bruce pulled into the underground parking lot, parked, and got out. 

He opened Jason’s side car door, but didn’t move to help him out just yet. 

“Can you move on your own? Or do you need some help?” Bruce asked, a different but similar question he had given Richard. He didn’t want the boy to run. 

Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fidgeting as he was in grabbing distance of his new large Alpha. “I’m fine. …Ya don’ gotta scruff me or nothin’… I won’t run.”

Ah. Well that answers that question.

The pup then ducks his head, a submissive whine rising from his throat. “Please… Alpha.”

Bruce rumbled easily, offering up his hand but certainly not grabbing. The pup still flinched, but it was small, and the pup placed his tiny hand in Bruce’s large one. 

“At whatever pace you’re comfortable with.” Bruce said.

Bruce let the boy to the elevator, feeling both happy and sad at the pup clinging to his hand. Jason was still a little wobbly but the hand holding seemed to be mostly a formality. 

The elevator was quiet, walking down the hall was fine. Bruce put the keys in the door and opened it, leading Jason inside. 

“Richard?” Bruce called into the house, noting Jason’s slight flinch. Shouting was bad then, that should be fine, Bruce didn’t exactly raise his voice at home anyway. 

He turned to lock the door, catching Jason’s wide eyes staring at him and everything else. He gave the pup a small smile, the pup flinched.

“One second!” The return call came from Richard’s bedroom. Bruce breathed out a sigh, both happy and tired. He was home, but he certainly wasn’t done doing hard things. 

“Here, follow me.” Bruce led Jason to the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. He handed it to the boy who jolted when he came close. 

The pup mumbled a “sorry” as he took it, Bruce simply rumbled. He resisted the urge to swipe his hand through the pups hair, as he usually did with Richard. Jason was clearly not as comfortable with head touching. He’d have to remember that. 

(It was strange to think he had muscle memory for the motion now, ask him that last year and he wouldn’t have said absolutely not)

Instead he walked over to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. He sat down in it and motioned for the pup to come forward. “I’d like to take that collar off now if you’d allow me.”

Jason nodded, eyes still wide. The small pup pattered a few steps forward, looking exhausted and tense all at the same time. He really needed that bath. 

Bruce was careful as he reached forward, but the pup still flinched. Jason wined apologetically and stepped even closer despite his clear fear. Bruce rumbled comfortingly. Finding the latch was easy, but the pup flinched even harder as his fingers ghosted over the nape of the pups neck. 

“No- please Alpha-“ Jason whined and jerked violently back, shoulders hitched up around his neck. “I’ll be good, ya don’ gotta-“

Bruce’s hands were forced away by the motion, and he let it happen. He rumbled once more, letting the kid get his breath back. “It’s alright, I tried to be careful but I guess I wasn’t careful enough. I apologize. I wasn’t trying to scruff you.”

Jason whined, forcing his shoulders down and stepping forward even closer. The pup's hands clenched around the water bottle even harder, making the plastic crackle. “It’s- it’s fine, I’m fine— you can- you can …jus’ take it off now.”

Bruce reached again, the pups eyes were screwed shut tightly, and he unlatched the collar as quick as possible. He laid it on the table and the pup took a breath. 

Under this collar were some scars he’d seen before on Richard. Bite marks, certainly less than Richard had, but scars of trauma nonetheless. The pup still hadn’t moved from in front of him yet, even his eyes were still locked shut tight. 

Bruce’s eyebrows furrowed, wondering what the pup was waiting for. Then Richard came out of his room. 

Richard rounded the corner to the kitchen, frowning. “Alpha what’s-“

Richard froze at the sight of the new Omega pup, eyes wide and mouth open. Jason, similarly, twisted to face the other Omega with wide eyes. 

“Richard,” Bruce greeted. He then realized he probably should have given Richard a bit more warning. “This is Jason, he’s going to be staying with us. I know I probably should have asked you sooner, but would you be willing to share your room?”

Richard was still silent, his face going through a few motions. The two pups were just staring at each other. 

Bruce… did not know what to do here. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to. We can make arrangements if you want separate rooms.” Bruce said in the awkward silence.

Bruce would give Jason his room, Bruce could sleep on the couch. It wasn’t like Bruce was sleeping in the house every night anyways.  The awkward silence returned. 

Richard broke it, a determined look overcoming his face, something Bruce had only seen on rare occasions. “I get to show him around, right?”

Bruce blinked. 

“Uh.” There wasn’t much to show, it was a very simple apartment. “Sure?”

Richard then leaped forward, Jason scuttling back and dropping the water bottle as Richard took Bruce’s hand and pulled him. Bruce stood up, pliant but confused at his pup. 

“Alright then I’ll take it from here.” Richard then yanked him along to the front door. Bruce only started resisting when Richard flipped the lock and opened the front door. His pup started pushing him from behind to get him across the threshold. 

Bruce planted his feet enough to slow down, utterly baffled by the small pup he knew to be quite flighty with touch suddenly and literally shoving him around. “Chum?”

“Go talk to Alfred and tell him you got another Omega.” Richard said as he pushed his Alpha around. Which… hm. Great point. However-?

“Chum, I don’t think-“

“You’re ruining the lesson!” Richard cut him off, still pushing at his backside until Bruce was all the way out the door. 

The lesson? What?

Bruce let himself be pushed outside, making brief eye contact with Jason who was just as confused and wide eyed as Bruce. 

“I got this.” Richard said, his determined look now on Bruce. Richard was daring him to challenge him, to push back against his Omega and take control of the situation. Bruce barely caught the hint of sour fear from his suddenly brazen pup. 

Bruce stayed still, eyebrow raised, but scent clear of any anger. 

Richard then smiled and shut the door in his face. 

Bruce just stared at the shut door, utterly confused. The lock turned with a ‘shink’ and Bruce sighed audibly. 

He then pulled out his phone and dialed Alfred. Alfred picked up on the second ring. 

“Sir?”

“Hey Alf… uh… I got another one.”

————————

Dick walked out of his room, wondering what Matches was gonna talk to him about considering he never really asks for Dick upon entering the house. And when he did it was usually something dumb like telling him about something, or it was just a greeting. This didn’t sound like a greeting, so Dick came out curious. 

Alarms didn’t start going off until he smelt the new scent. Someone else was here, and they smelled like they came straight from a street gutter. Most of all they smelled scared. 

Dick cautiously approached the kitchen where he saw Matches sitting down, his focus was on something Dick couldn’t see around the counter.

Dick moved around the corner. “Alpha, what’s-“

Dick stood frozen, staring at the tiny pup bearing his neck to Matches. They looked exactly how they smelled, straight from the streets and covered in grime. And of course, absolutely terrified.

Pup, his mind registered.

Omega, his inner Omega growled. 

Wait. Growled?

His mind reeled back, confused, but suddenly oh so jealous, which made him even more confused. Jealous? What for? It was an Omega pup, he looked scared, there was a collar discarded on the table. Matches was probably taking him in just like how he did with Dick. 

That’s the problem. 

No it wasn’t! It was just a pup! Dick knows how awful it is out there, the pup deserves a safe Alpha like Matches. 

My Alpha. 

Dicks eyes got even wider when he realized what this meant. 

Was Matches starting a harem?!

No no, that’s dumb. Harems were dumb. 

Herems were dangerous , nobody had harems unless all the Omegas were drugged so they didn't tear each other's throat out. 

It’s one thing to be raped, a one-off event, it’s another to be taken and put in a room and raped repeatedly by different Alphas. It’s a whole different ball game when you put multiple Omegas in the room with one Alpha. 

Dick had never been part of a harem, but Zucco had talked about it, about trying it. The whole thing about having an Omega long term was that you could only have one. At least if you did have multiple you’d have to keep them separated. Dick hadn’t had too many interactions with other Omegas while with Zucco, and it was always so awkward. 

Omegas don’t like being raped, they don’t enjoy it. However after a while they will still get attached to the Alpha because what else were they to do? All the other Omegas Dick had met were adults. Some could resist it more than others, they were kind and tried to help him best they could with their very limited freedoms. Others would growl at him, fiercely protecting ‘their’ Alpha from him like he was the threat and not the Alpha that hurt them and put them in this situation in the first place. 

It was never a fear he really had… sure it was scary at the time but Dick never really saw other Omegas as a danger. 

Dick… Dick never felt that tug, that jealousy, that urge to fight the other Omega. He didn’t know why, it could have been because of his age, it could have been because he wasn’t as attached to Zucco as the others. Either way, he’d never felt that. 

Until now?

“Richard,” Matches greeted. He sounded tired. “This is Jason, he’s going to be staying with us. I know I probably should have asked you sooner, but would you be willing to share your room?”

Share his room?! He had to share his Alpha and his room with this random Omega?!

He swallowed back his growl and rage. Pup. He reminded himself. Jason was just a pup. Dick was suddenly afraid, afraid of being exactly like those older Omegas who would snap at him. He didn’t want to be like that. Instead, his eyes zeroed in on the pup.

The pup was staring at him, and Dick could see it. 

The pup knew exactly what was going through his head, about what this situation was. The pup was shaking, neck still barred, he didn’t want to fight. He would submit to Dick, because he knew this looked like an attempt at a harem. 

Even though Dick knew it wasn’t. Matches was just utterly stupid. But the pup didn’t know that. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to. We can make arrangements if you want separate rooms.” Matches said in the awkward silence.

That probably would be nice, however that wouldn’t tell the pup jack squat about how this wasn’t a harem. 

The pup was submitting to him, even from a distance, to let him know he wasn’t trying to steal Dick’s Alpha. Dick knew this, he’d done the same thing before. He would not snap at the pup, he would not growl at him or push him away. He refused to be like them. 

Dick would accept the pup’s submission, but not as a jealous Omega obsessive with his Alpha, but to claim the pup as his. Dick had never been the… older Omega. But his wave of jealousy he channeled into protectiveness. He could figure out the jealousy stuff and those implications later, right now he needed the pup to know he was safe here. 

Dick snapped his gaze to Matches, not caring that his face was probably freaking both of them out. “I get to show him around, right?”

“Uh.” Matches blinked. “Sure?”

First order of business. Get rid of the idiot. 

Dick sped forward, taking his Alphas hand and pulled him out of his seat. Matches, because he was an idiot, let him pull him up. The pup had flinched back a few steps, eyes wide at the scene before him. 

“Alright then I’ll take it from here.” Dick turned and pulled Matches along to the front door. His Alpha went along willingly until Dick stopped to unlock the front door. 

“Chum?” Matches started resisting, but Dick then rounded his Alpha and started pushing from behind, leaning his whole weight onto him to get him out the door. 

Matches wasn’t moving very much though. Dick huffed angrily. “Go talk to Alfred and tell him you got another Omega.” Dick said, if only to distract his Alpha, to get him to move! 

“Chum, I don’t think-“

“You’re ruining the lesson!” Dick cried out, heaving once more so his Alpha would leave . 

Matches suddenly moved and Dick stumbled but didn’t fall, catching himself on the doorframe. He put himself in the threshold like a guard, Matches would not be getting back in until Dick said so. 

Matches turned to look at him, eyebrows raised and scent varying with concern and confusion. But there was no anger. 

“I got this.” Dick said, narrowing his eyes at his Alpha. Dick would handle this, Matches was a good Alpha so he should respect that. 

Or Matches could just push him away like an annoying fly and go back to whatever he was doing. Dick may have just been pushing Matches around but it was only because Matches let him. Omega or not, Dick was still the size of a kid and Matches was not. 

His scent soured with that fear, but he didn’t back down. 

Matches did nothing to retaliate. In fact, he looked almost… proud.

Dick smiled at the trust he was being given and slammed the door in his Alphas face. He then flipped the lock (honestly muscle memory, he felt safer being on this side of the lock) and turned around. 

Jason had distantly followed, the small pup hovered just outside of the kitchen, mouth agape and eyes nearly bulging out of his face. 

Dick waited there for a moment, scent souring even more at the idea of Matches breaking through the front door, angry and threatening. But that didn’t happen, the apartment stayed still and calm as much as two Omega pups staring at each other from across the house could be. 

“How the **** did you jus’ do that!?” Jason whisper-yelled, hands shaking at his sides. 

Dick blinked at the word usage, not prepared for such a young voice to be using that kind of language. It also kinda blindsided him since now that he thought about it, it’s been a while since he’s heard that kind of language. 

Then the actual sentence sunk in. 

Dick let loose a breathless laugh, shoving himself up from against the door he didn’t realize he was leaning against. “Um, okay so maybe don’t do what I just did.”

“No ****!” Jason said, his hands flew up to his hair, little fingers digging in and yanking in stress. “D-do you have somewhere ta hide? Or- or someway ta calm him down when he gets back?”

This… this is why Dick needed Matches gone. Just for the moment.

Dick shook his head. “No, no we won’t need any of that.” He took a few shaky steps forward, but paused when the pup flinched back. 

“****.” Jason ducked his head, arms suddenly down at his side. “S-sorry- ‘Mega, you can— ‘es yer Alpha you can do wha’ever ya need ta do.” 

Dick sighed and rubbed his face. Okay. Here we go. “It’s fine. Jason, right?”

Jason nodded, nervous hands playing with the hem of his dirty sweatshirt and looking all of seven years old.

“Alpha Matches calls me Richard, but you can call me Dick.” He wasn’t sure why, but this felt right. It was about time someone used his real name, he’d been thinking about letting Matches know lately but this works too. If he and Jason were going to be mob boss Omega buddies. 

Jason’s face scrunched. “Willingly?”

Dick snorted with a smile. “Yeah. My parents weren’t exactly from America.”

“Where are they from?” Jason then asked, eyebrows all furrowed. Dick forgot how… inquisitive kids could be, always asking questions without thinking. 

It’s fine. Dick was glad Jason had that innocence. 

“Well dad was from Romania, mom was from a bunch of different places.” Dick shrugged, trying to make things casual. It was a casual question after all and he didn’t want the kid to think this was some life or death situation. It still wasn’t exactly the conversation they needed to be having however. 

“Look, Jason-“

The kid whined apologetically, taking another step back. “Sorry, sorry ‘Mega, that was in-insensitive wasn’t it?”

Dick blinked again. What seven year old knows what the word ‘insensitive’ means? Much less use it, or even how to say it. 

Dick shook his head, hands raising placatingly like Matches had done for him plenty of times. “Hey, it’s okay. I don’t… typically talk about my parents but it’s fine. I just…” Dick winced and bit the inside of his cheek. This wasn’t exactly going well, and sure he knew where to start but where did he start?

Jason waited, his anxious pup scent mixing horribly with the wet street smells. Pup needed a shower and new clothes, stat. 

Dick took a deep breath. First things first. “Alpha Matches isn’t trying to start a harem.” 

The pup whined anxiously. “I- I don’ wanna fight you ‘Mega, b-but how can you be so sure? We… we look a lotta like, and like him. He’s collectin.”

Dick hummed, they did… Jason had black hair and blue eyes, Dick had black hair and blue eyes. Matches also had black hair and blue eyes. It was certainly a pattern. 

“Maybe he is… collecting.” Dick said carefully, because to be completely fair and honest, yeah Matches could be. Dick didn’t really know or understand half the weird things this Alpha does. “But I do know for sure it’s not for the purpose of a harem. Matches doesnt want sex.” 

It was Jason’s turn to blink. “He… doesn't want to **** us?” 

Dick shook his head. “He doesn't. He’s had me for almost half a year now, he hasn’t touched me  sexually at all. He’s promised he won’t.”

“******- You believed him?!” Jason exclaimed, hands up fisting his hair again. 

Dick found himself wanting to hug the pup. Even though he’s stinky, and would probably scream at him. 

“Jason.” Dick leveled the boy with a stare that hopefully conveyed his seriousness with what he was about to say, and hopefully it didn’t feel threatening. “Matches has had me for one of my heats. He stayed around, but he didn’t touch me, even when I climbed into his lap. When I tell him to leave or not touch, he listens.”

Jason was frowning hard, another anxious whine spilling out. “But- but that’s you, may-maybe… he was talkin’ with my Alpha, an’- an’ he said you was trained, Alpha Matches said ‘it wouldn’t be a problem’. Maybe he doesn't touch you cuz youz already know how ta do all that stuff. Why would ‘e say ‘it won’t be a problem’ if he didn’ plan on trainin’ me?!”

Dick chances another step closer with a sigh. “I guess I can’t promise he won’t touch you, but I think… Well I think Alpha Matches is a very dumb Alpha. He probably just said that so he could get you, he did something similar to me. He told my previous Alpha he would try me out at parties, I’ve never been to any parties nor been ‘tried out’. I don’t think he’s ever gone to a party before. I’m- I was his first Omega.”

Jason hummed uncertainly. Eyes narrowed but scent still heavy with worry. 

Dick held his hand out, even though they were still half the apartment away from each other. “I’m not going to ask you to trust Alpha Matches, I don’t even trust him all the way. But could you trust me? I won’t let him get you, and you can definitely use my room, it’s completely Alpha free.”

“Alpha-free?” Jason asked, still shaking. 

“C’mon, you can take a shower while Alpha is gone, I’ll guard you.” Dick shrugged and smiled. He didn’t blame the kid for being wary, if someone had been here (besides Matches and Alfred) and told Dick he’d be just fine he would have called them a liar. Though he almost did wish for it, he would have loved an older Omega to dote on him. He could… he could be that for Jason at least.

“Yer… yer not …pullin’ my leg are ya?” Jason eyed him with suspicion, but his scent was full of longing.

He shook his head, smiling all the same though. “You’re just a pup, you shouldn’t be in any situation like this but I’ll help. I’ll always help.”

Jason took a few stumbling steps forward, still wary, but the pup was stressed and Dick was trying to give him that reprieve he was looking for. “Yer gonna tell me how ta stay on his good side an’ ****?”

“Absolutely.” Dick said, “You’re his Omega now, and he takes care of his things. I’ll answer any questions you have.”

Jason nodded, still frowning, but approached him and hesitantly took his offered hand. Dick could feel the grime on it, but couldn’t help the internal coo at the small hand. 

“Alright. You better.” Jason scowled in warning at him. It was cute. Little puppy scowl. 

Dick really wasn’t used to being the older Omega, but he thinks he might enjoy it. 

——————

The shower was ****** heavenly . 

It’s been so long since Jason had been able to get hot water for longer than two minuets, and the older Omega said they always had hot water! And it was just… theirs, to use, to shower whenever they wanted! 

Roman only let him shower when he got real dirty, and workin’ the streets wasn’t exactly clensly. Roman only really let him shower when he got bed shifts, Alphas don’t appreciate the rank or the grime apparently. 

But none of that even mattered now ‘cuz Jason was with this new Alpha who apparently didn’t even touch his Omegas. Which was ****** stupid. Dick, the other Omega, must be utterly stupid if he thinks Jason would believe him when he says Alpha Matches doesn’t touch him. 

Must be some weird code, like maybe it was favors, maybe Dick didn’t even see it as touching. Jason would have to be on his guard, observe everything. And by golly he did not want to be on the receiving end of those fists. Alpha Matches was HUGE. 

As far as Jason could tell, Dick had no wounds, fresh or otherwise. His clothes actually covered him though, so there could still be bruises hiding. His neck, however, was telling. It had tons of scars, bite marks, and thin lines that meant a collar had been there for a long time. 

However Dick wasn’t wearing a collar. Jason couldn’t spot any on their brief trip through the ‘Alpha free’ bedroom they were gonna share to get to the bathroom. 

Maybe Alpha Matches had more sense to only bring out the collar when the kinky stuff happened. Jason appreciated not being collared and tagged like a dog to an owner 24/7. Point one for Alpha Matches, he supposes. (He’d been waiting for the weight and confinement of a new collar immediately after his old one was taken off, but luckily it didn’t happen. He’d probably get it later. Alpha Matches would probably expect him to be grateful too.) 

Point for Dick though, he was guarding Jason while he showered. Jason could hear him humming on the other side of the door. He wasn’t sure what exactly the older Omega was doing but the constant humming told him he was there, which was nice. Jason hated it when Alphas decided him showering was him telling them he wanted to get ******. 

So all things considered this shower was amazing on principle. And it gave him time away from his new Alpha and the other Omega to actually sit still and think. 

He was with a new Alpha, not exactly great but not exactly bad either. There didn’t seem to be any guards around, so Matches must really trust them to stay put, or it was good enough to willingly stay put. Jason wouldn’t lie and say being able to shower like this regularly wouldn’t sway him on staying or going. 

Not that he really entertained the idea of leaving, he’d get picked up by someone else too fast now that he’s presented as a hot commodity. Still, if it got bad enough it was always worth having an exit strategy. 

Mostly though, Jason was just… tired. He’d been scruffed today, which was never a good thing. He hated feeling helpless, but he hated even more being forced to be helpless. Roman knew he hated being scruffed and— and Roman really had been planning to kill him wasn’t he? Matches really… saved his life. 

Even with the warm water, a shiver traveled down his spine. He owed a life debt to Matches Malone. 

He wondered what Matches would do with him, whether Matches would care or not if Jason was already roughed up for their first night. He wondered if Matches would care enough to be gentle because he couldn’t imagine the already huge Alpha being anything less than massive. 

It was going to hurt so much… 

Maybe Dick could help though, maybe Dick would hog him the whole night. Matches wouldn’t like that probably, maybe even make Dick sit out just so that Matches could claim him properly. Ugh, Jason needed to get as much information from the other Omega as possible. 

Jason showered quickly. Whatever weird magic Dick did to keep Alpha Matches away wouldn't last forever and Jason wanted to be prepared. 

So Jason finished up and pulled on his borrowed clothes, Dick having fished up some underwear, pants, and shirt for him. It was all a little loose, but that’s to be expected. He was just glad the bigger clothes covered more of him. Still he wished he could burrow into his red sweatshirt, though even he wrinkled his nose at the smell of it. 

Jason held his sweatshirt as he carefully opened the bathroom door, hoping he wasn’t bothering the older Omega. 

He wasn’t sure what to believe about the whole harem thing, but Dick hadn’t torn his throat out yet. Dick was also his only way of not getting absolutely beaten to a pulp or torn apart by his new Alpha. Jason needed Dick, and Dick was willing to play nice for now so Jason was gonna have to get as much as he could while it lasted. 

The humming stopped and Jason froze, just in case, but there was no hissing. Jason edged out a little more, peaking into the bedroom. 

Dick apparently had been sitting against the wall next to the door, holding a stuffed elephant in his lap. Dick smiled at him when their eyes met, so Jason felt safe to come out fully. 

“Enjoy your shower?” Dick asked, like that friggin mattered. 

Jason shrugged. It was longer than two minuets and no Alphas came in, it was a good shower. (It was an excellent shower, it was warm and he got to use soap that didn’t smell weird. Jason actually felt a bit clean despite the phantom hands and the very visible bruises.)

“How do the clothes fit?” Was Dick’s next question, and his eyes raked down Jason’s body. Despite knowing Dick wasn’t looking at him like that, it still made him want to curl into a ball and cry. He held his jacket even closer, and Dick’s eyes lingered on it. Jason’s heart leapt as the older Omega gestured to it. “Oh, we can throw those away if-“

“No!” Jason’s heart was in his throat and he stumbled back into the bathroom as if the older boy had lunged. He then cursed for cornering himself. 

Dick didn’t lunge though, he was still on the floor, now twisted around to peer into the bathroom where he had retreated, but his seat was still firmly on the ground. Dick’s scent was sandy, Jason registered, warm like a summer wind. It was still sweet like all Omegas are, but not overly.  

“Hey it’s okay, sorry if I spooked you.” Dicks face was apologetic, as was his scent, but Jason remained cautious. “You can keep your old clothes if you want, I can show you how the laundry machine works.” 

Jason shuffled his feet awkwardly, kneading the balled up jacket in his hands. “It’s-its jus’ the jacket. S-sorry for freakin’ out…”

Dick shrugged. “No worries, I freak out about stuff too.” He then lifted up the stuffed elephant with a smile. “This is Peanut, I used to have another one of him but it was a bit older and kinda ratty. I love Peanut though, I would definitely freak out if anything happened to him.”

Jason’s stomach swooped, going from high in his throat to heavy as a rock. Dick used to have another one, it got replaced. Okay. Okay that’s fine. Objects then. Did Dick have to trade his body to keep his things? Did he get a replacement for good behavior? Was Jason’s jacket doomed?!

Jason just nodded numbly to the older Omega, squeezing his jacket even more. 

“C’mon, I’ll show ya.” Dick waved his arm and stood up, putting Peanut into the crook of his elbow. “I’m sure Alpha will get you some stuffed animals too, if you want some.”

Jason just followed Dick out of the bedroom and into the hall, opening up some shuttered scrunchy doors to reveal the washer and dryer. They had both, that’s neat. 

Dick then went through the soaps and how to deposit them and which load settings to use. He even went and got his own laundry to put in so Jason could run a load right then and there for his jacket. 

Jason was too small to reach the soaps and stuff, so Dick had to do all the button pushing and everything, but Jason cataloged what did what anyway. Unless Alpha Matches had his Omegas do his laundry this wasn’t exactly what Jason wanted to learn. 

“Do… do we do Alpha’s laundry?” Jason asked tentatively as the washer rumbled to life. 

Dick shook his head. “Nah, Alfred usually does the laundry actually.”

Jason blanched. “Who’s Alfred?”

“Here let’s go to the kitchen.” Dick held out his hand, but before Jason could figure out the risk and reward for grabbing it he seemed to think better of it and put it down. Dick simply started walking, making Jason follow as he answered. “Alfred is a butler, it’s kinda his job to do all the little things. He’s a Beta, he’s really nice and makes the best cookies.”

Unless the cookies were good enough to coerce him to be ******, Jason didn’t particularly care. Still, it was interesting their Alpha had a butler, like in books and stuff. 

“…do we have ta work for Alfred too?” Jason had to ask. 

Dick’s face scrunched in confusion. “Work for Alfred? I mean there’s general rules like pick up after yourself and some simple chores but we don’t have to do any of the stuff he does.”

While all that was well and good, that wasn’t what Jason was asking. “No, I mean, do we have ta let him **** us too?”

Dick flinched, scent souring with horror. “No! No, no, Alfred would never touch us, not like that. I may have my doubts about Alpha Matches, but you really don’t have to worry about Alfred. He’s too… British.”

“British?” Jason repeated in utter confusion. He was pretty sure British people ****** too. 

“I mean-“ Dick winced, “he’s old-“ like that’s ever stopped anyone before- “he’s not here for that, at all, ever. He’s literally just a butler.”

Alright, alright, Jason won’t pursue that line of questioning. Not until he met the guy at least. Betas aren’t usually too bad anyway. 

“Are you hungry?” Dick asked as they entered the kitchen, heading right for the fridge. 

Jason nodded. He was always hungry. You only get fed if you do your job though, and so far Jason hadn’t been told of any jobs. 

He bit his lip anxiously. “You sure Alpha would be okay with this?” 

Dick gave him a firm nod, eyes filled with something like pity (which he hated) but more… solid (which confused him). “Alpha would rather you eat, and if he didn’t, Alfred would give you something to eat anyway. And if neither of them did, then you’d get my meal.”

Jason’s eyes snapped wide open, that was… some promise. 

Dick then started rummaging through the fridge, pulling out different containers and then getting some plates from a bottom cupboard. “Take your pick, pup.”

Jason felt his stomach clench at just the sight of the food, he was sure he’d be able to eat any and all of it if given the chance. One container had some chicken and rice stuff in it, another looked to be soup based, another looked like… oh were those enchiladas!?

He pointed at the enchiladas giving Dick his best puppy-eyed face. Dick just grinned and scooped the whole container onto a plate and put it in the microwave. 

Jason tramped down the happy trill threatening to escape, it’s been a while since someone (an Omega no less) had made sure he’d gotten food. Dick really was leaning into this pup stuff, but that was good, that meant he didn’t see Jason as an enemy. It would certainly be… different though. The joy rising in his chest at the idea of an Omega caring for him was so foreign it scared him.  

But also, it’s enchiladas! 

“What’s in it?” Jason found himself asking, catching himself before he started rocking on his heels. 

Dick then slapped his own forehead, dread filling his scent. “Oh shoot, you’re not allergic to anything are you? I didn’t think to ask!”

Jason shook his head, suddenly having to calm the older boy down. “Nah, I’ve just had enchiladas before, everyone makes ‘em different so I just thought I’d ask… if- if that’s okay.”

Dick let out a relieved breath. “No that’s totally okay. Alfred made those enchiladas, he makes mostly everything we eat, it’s got uh… cheese, chicken, sour cream, onions I think?”

“Chilis?” Jason asked, he’d been hoping for a little more on the spice. 

Dick shrugged, “probably? I watch sometimes but I’m not really any good in the kitchen.”

“Really?” Jason asked, wondering where Dick grew up because he grew up being drilled about where the Omega was supposed to stay in the house and it was either in the kitchen or on the bed. 

He supposed it makes sense, if Alfred did all the cooking, but that just means Alpha Matches prefers his Omegas in bed than anything else. (How could Dick be so convinced Matches wasn’t having sex with him if he was in bed all the time?! Things are just not adding up here and it’s both driving him mad and making him want to cry)

Soon enough Dick pulled his food from the microwave and put it on the table (on the opposite end where the black collar still laid). Dick set him up with a fork and knife and got him a cup of water too. He told Jason he could dig in whenever so Jason did just that. 

He ate while Dick waited for his own food, apparently choosing the chicken and rice. The enchiladas were… not spicy, but it was still surprisingly good. He noticed there were some green onions on top with the cheese, giving the cheese some extra zing. If Jason ever got the chance to make enchiladas (the proper way) then he’d be adding that to it. 

His small stomach filled fast, much to his dismay. Dick only giggled at his whine of despair at his half full plate. “You can save it for later.” Dick promised, he also promised there was always food available, which Jason didn’t quite trust but sure, yeah, okay. Jason wasn’t gonna let Dick starve because he kept giving him his meals.

But as Dick finished putting everything away Jason felt antsy again, but he was also just so tired. He didn’t know when Alpha Matches would be back and he hated not knowing what he should be doing. It shouldn’t bother him anymore, but he hated getting blamed or punished for things he just didn’t know about. For example, how he ****** got here. Stupid Roman asked him to be out today, literally told him to jump tires, he said nothin’ about no meetin’s. Screw him. 

But, what’s done is done, he’s very appreciative to be just one of two Omegas to a singular Alpha instead of one of many Omegas to many Alphas. He had a hot shower and a whole meal and nobody had even whacked him upside the head yet! Not to mention Jason very much noticed the lack of guards around, it was literally just him and Dick here in the apartment until Alpha Matches came back. Sure there’s Alfred, but even then, going from so many Alphas a night to just two people was a good thing in his book. Dick seemed to be doing okay so Matches shouldn’t be too freaky in bed. But Jason just needed to know how to keep Alpha Matches happy. 

“So…” he started awkwardly as Dick placed dirty dishes into the sink. Jason was too small to properly put them in. “Can- can ya tell me how this place works?”

Dick nodded with a smile, always with a stupid smile. Like he had something to be happy about. Well, he couldn’t entirely blame him, Jason is pretty happy about not being an Omega to a plethora of Alphas. There has to be a catch though. Jason is tired.

“Sure! Let’s head to the couch nest.”

Couch nest…? 

Dick walked past him and Jason followed behind. The living room only had one couch, a long one sure, but just the one. On one side, nearest to the wall and window, was a makeshift nest. 

Jason’s brows furrowed. He swore he saw a nest in the bedroom, does Matches only allow certain nests in certain places? 

Dick climbed in easily, rearranging some of the pillows and blankets to make room, then motioning Jason forward. Into the nest. 

Jason’s shoulders scrunched up. 

Dick frowned, but it was like that look at the fridge, pity, but not quite. “It’s alright, I’m inviting you in.”

How?! Jason wanted to ask. He just got here, how did Dick trust him that much?!

“If it helps you feel any better,” Dick started, apparently reading his train of thought. “This is more like the communal nest. Alpha has been in here before, not a ton, but he has. Nobody has been inside my nest in the bedroom. You’re welcome here, I promise. I want you to feel safe.”

Yeah sure, alright. He supposes Dick could just do that. Dick can say it as much as he wants, dosent make it true. Jason just needed to know how to keep Matches off of him. 

It still felt… nice… to be invited into a nest. That fuzzy happy feeling he was scared of was coming back. It’s been a while since he’s been able to nest properly, much longer since he’s been invited into someone else’s. 

So Jason climbed in, getting folded into the warm and welcoming scent of Dick, but faintly others too. It’s… it’s safe. It feels safe. 

His eyes water, his throat closes. His limbs threaten to give out. No no no! He can’t cry now! He had questions! 

Dick, either by visual observation or by scent, whines at his tears. Dick reaches out, and on principle Jason flinches, but then he leans forward to get caught by the older Omega. Dick snags him and pulls him close to his chest, somehow bundling him up onto his lap. 

Jason cries, overwhelmed by the amount of satfey-warm-comfort the mere nest has alone, not to mention Dick holding him, purring at him, hugging him like he was a pup. Because he was. 

“You’re alright pup, you’re alright.” Dick murmured, then started a rocking motion from side to side. “It’s been a rough day for you hasn’t it? It’s always a rough day to transfer Alphas, but hey you’re here now and you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Right now, just rest.”

Jason curled his arms around Dick, stuffing his face more into the older Omegas chest because he was right. 

Jason almost got raped on the hood of a car today. Roman was planning on killing him today. His books he had amassed were gone, but he could live without them he was sure. They had hot water here, a whole bedroom to themselves, a packed fridge. An older Omega who promised to take care of him. 

“You’re gonna be alright pup, you’re safe here. My little pup. My little brother.” Dick nuzzled into his hair, scenting him and making Jason feel all gooey.  He would feel more alarmed if he didn’t know this is what Omegas were supposed to do for pups. If he wasn’t so tired he’d be looking for traps, for the price, but it was all just too much and Dick was holding him, warm and safe.  

Jason, full of emotions as he is, chirps in protest through his tears. “I ain’t- ain’t little-“

Dick just squeezes him, full of love-love-love . “No no, so little, little tiny baby puppy-“

Jason huffed, trying to growl when he realized he couldn’t because he was purring. “I’m friggin nine.” He said into the older Omegas shirt, going absolutely boneless in his lap. Omega was here, Omega was safe. 

Dick trills in surprise. “Nine?! I thought you were seven!”

“Seven?!” Jason cried in even more outrage, but he was smiling and slurring, so it sounded more like a mildly disgruntled “svin-!!”

“So small. It’s okay, I’ll take care of you.” Dick’s hands carded through his hair, swiping across his back, scenting him properly and thoroughly like a good Omega. 

Dick was a good Omega. 

With a full belly, warm shower, and lots and lots of love, Jason drifted off. 

“Little pup.”

Chapter Text

Somehow, Alfred wasn’t upset.

He did, however, sigh and tell him all the things Bruce would need to pick up at the store. Bruce didn’t want to leave his pup(s) alone for too long, not when he was introducing something so new to Richard's more stable life.

Alfred just assured him the pups would figure it out and that Bruce needed to be a good Alpha and go provide for his newest pup. Which, Alfred had a point. Richard had to use his shirts for the first day or so before more clothes were bought, he should learn from that and get more clothes as soon as possible. 

Though, it wasn’t like he’d been planning on bringing in a new kid. The pup was going to be killed if he didn’t take him, worse then killed, raped to death. 

Still, he knew how Richard reacted to him, he should be more prepared the second time around. 

So he went to the store. He picked up shirts, pants, socks and underwear. Alfred reminded him to get toiletries, because that was something the boys shouldn’t share. He decides to wait on the winter gear because he was guesstimating on all the other stuff and winter was mostly over anyway. He got a rain hat anyway and some boots. He also grabbed some more pillows and blankets. He wasn’t sure if the two Omegas would nest together or make separate nests, but decided to get some extra nesting materials anyway. Bruce had never really been around multiple Omegas in a nest setting, much less Omegas who lived together. 

All in all, a pretty big haul. Now the next obstacle was wondering if Richard would let him inside. It’s been a few hours, four at most, but he wasn’t really sure what exactly Richard was planning when he booted Bruce out of the house. 

He was proud though, that Richard felt comfortable enough to literally push him around like that. Even if Bruce would have preferred they communicate, it spoke leaps and bounds about the boy’s trust in him. It warmed his heart and made him rumble happily. 

Still, he was hesitant in front of the door, pile of large shopping bags deposited next to it, wondering if his return was too soon but worrying he might be too late. Not that there was anything to be late for, Bruce trusted Richard but he didn’t trust the rest of the city to treat his pup(s) with any kindness. What if someone followed Matches Malone back to his home? What if they broke in? What if Richard and Jason were stolen? What if they were being raped right now?! 

It made no sense, but too much sense all the same. His mind whirled with doomsday scenarios, but as he stood in front of the door to the very quiet apartment, he couldn’t find anything wrong besides his own overthinking. 

He was fine. His pup(s) were probably fine. He did have the key to the door so he could open it, but he knocked just in case. 

“Richard, it’s me.” Bruce called as gently as he could through the door. “Am I alright to come in?”

He waited with baited breath for any sign of movement or sound from the other side of the door. If only to hope his pup(s) were still there and not stolen. 

“…Come in, Alpha.” Came the slightly muffled voice of his oldest pup.

Bruce unlocked the door and swung it open, still waiting on the threshold but eyes scanning the moment he was able just to make sure everything was okay. Nothing was out of place, Richard was in his couch nest and had what looked to be a sleeping Jason on his lap. 

Bruce’s metaphorical hackles smoothed down, anxiety slipping from him as he registered the scent of happy Omega pups. This was much more pleasant to come home to. There was still a tinge of sadness and fear in the air, but it was more stale than not, which made Bruce even more happy. 

Richard was looking at him expectantly, absently petting the fluffy black hair of the pup on top of him. The older Omega put a finger to his lips, Bruce gave his pup a complying nod and smile before awkwardly backtracking to bring in the shopping bags. 

He set them on the table, trying to be as quiet as possible so he didn’t wake his youngest. He carefully shut and locked the front door, returning to the living room to wonder what should happen next. 

Bruce loitered behind the couch on the far side, gazing fondly down at his pups. 

Jason’s face was blotchy, some tissues scattered about, but in his sleep his features were peaceful and soft. His mouth was slightly agape, possibly drooling on Richard. A tiny pup being taken care of by his Omega. Bruce rumbled warmly with a smile. 

He wondered if he should wake him up, get him to bed properly. Or wait, did he get anything to eat? The pup looked much cleaner, he recognized Richard’s clothes and preferred soap scent, though it seemed some of the scent of rain stayed behind. 

Or that was the pup's real scent. It was possible that’s why the terrified pup had smelled more like a rain gutter than anything else. 

Still, the pup should get something to eat before bed. He was too small. 

He looked at Richard. “Did you have dinner?” He asked quietly.

The older Omega nodded, still gently petting the top of the boy’s head. “He likes enchiladas.” He replied just as quiet.

Bruce smiled, he was looking forward to getting to know this new pup and his likes and dislikes. He had a feeling he’s going to be more vocal than Richard ever was about it. 

“He still thinks you want sex.” Richard whispered.

Bruce frowned softly. But it was to be expected. “You didn’t believe me at first either. It will take time.” 

“He’s hurt.” Richard said, adding a slight whine as he ducked to nuzzle the sleeping boy. 

“Yes.” Bruce grimaced. “His previous Alphas were not kind to him. They wanted to kill him before I stepped in.”

He probably shouldn’t have added that last part in, as Richard whined even more in horror and fully snuggled the boy in question. 

Which caused the pup to wake up. 

The little pup came to life slowly, arms gripping tight and subconsciously responding to the distressed Omega with his own quiet chirps. 

“‘Mega-?” Jason muttered drowsily. 

“I’m here.” Richard said quickly in response, now rumbling with a purr so loud Bruce would have bet Alfred’s cookies he could have felt it if he touched the couch. “You’re safe, pup.” 

“What’s-“ Jason suddenly gasped, scent wavering with fear as he wriggled himself out from his Omegas hold. It didn’t quite work, somehow Richard kept a grip on him, but the boy was able to turn around to see Bruce. 

Jason’s eyes were wide. “A-Alpha.”

The pup was pushing himself backwards, further into Richard’s hold as he whined and craned his neck to the side to bare it. 

Bruce’s heart wrenched at the sight, but Richard was there smothering him with calm Omega scents. Richard murmured reassurances as he tilted the pups head back to stop him from baring his neck, and practically draped himself over the pup’s back to act like some sort of neck shield. 

Jason whimpered and held onto Richard, harshly whispering. “‘Mega, what do I do- you said you’d help- I don’t-“

“Shh,” Richard carefully squeezed the panicking child. “It’s okay, I’m here, I won’t let him do anything bad. You’re safe.”

Jason continued to whimper desperately, and Richard looked up and gave Bruce a small nod. It was his turn. Because Richard could spout as many reassurances as he wanted, Jason wasn’t going to believe him without action from Bruce to back it up. 

Bruce lowered his head, if only to try not to loom even though he was clear on the other side of the couch. “Hello pup. Richard said you enjoyed the enchiladas.” The pup sucked in a tense breath as his scent took a nosedive. Bruce quickly continued realizing he might have to be a bit more careful with what he says. “I’m glad, I was afraid we’d have to throw those leftovers out.”

He should keep in mind that Jason was not Richard, and despite having similar situations, they would have different things to get upset over. 

Jason just squeaked, shoulders suddenly up against his neck. Richard tried soothing him, rubbing his wrists along the smaller pups arms and keeping his chin on top of his fluffy head. 

“I got some clothes for you.” Bruce started awkwardly, gesturing behind him to the bags on the kitchen table. He then caught sight of the black collar he’d forgotten he left there. Whoops. He should get rid of that. 

Bruce could see the anxiety and confusion on his little pup’s face. “Did- Didja want me ta… try ‘em on?”

Bruce shook his head, keeping his scent calm for the pup who was keeping an eye on his reactions via smell than anything else. “Not unless you want to. I did get some pajamas if you’d like before you go to bed.”

Despite his attempts to be calming, Jason tensed right back up. “O-okay Alpha.”

“They’re real pajamas Jay.” Richard said, still hugging the pup like how Bruce so desperately wanted to. “When he says ‘we go to bed’ he means just me and you. He’s not coming in. Ever.”

The small pup whined, still not believing the two of them. But he nodded to his Omega, and for that Bruce was glad. Richard was doing a wonderful job with Jason.

Richard did pause, this time looking up at Bruce. “Though… Alpha, did you want to scent him before bed?”

Richard asked with no fear, being quite used to getting one more dose of scenting from Bruce before bed. However Jason flinched as his scent soured even more. If Jason’s normal scent of rain was any accuracy, he certainly smelt of mold and rot now. 

“Only if he wants to.” Bruce said, keeping eye contact with the little pup instead of Richard. 

He desperately wanted to scent his new pup, just to make him his own. Get rid of the nasty fear, nasty previous Alphas. Bruce had him now and he would be safe and taken care of. 

Richard nodded, absently rubbing his wrist along the pup again. “It’s alright Jason, Alpha likes to scent before bed, and in the mornings, but it’s not sex. He won’t scent anywhere you’re not comfortable with. I prefer him to scent my head, so he only scents my head. Get it?”

Jason still whimpered, but swallowed and nodded, eyes dark with misery. 

Richard looked up once more. “You can come scent me Alpha, but stay on that side of the couch.”

Jason flinched for some reason, his head ducked but his eyes were focused solely on Bruce.  

Bruce nodded and carefully approached from the back of the couch. He made himself behind Richard, so Jason wouldn’t think he was coming into his personal space, and reached for his pup’s head. 

Richard trilled happily as Bruce carded his fingers through his pup's hair, rumbling in return. Jason’s breathing hitched at his closeness but didn’t panic or run away. Bruce would take that as a success.

Bruce soon pulled away and even took a few steps back.

Richard chirped for his pup’s attention, the wide eyed pup snapping from Bruce to Richard. “Just like that, see? No sex, no hurting, just a simple scenting. And, just like Alpha said, you don’t even have to say yes. We can get your new clothes and go right to bed without him touching you at all.”

A long thin whine escaped the younger Omega. He then spoke quickly and quietly despite being very within Bruce’s hearing range. ”Yer tellin’ me all that’s free? Is- is this just a first night kinda deal? I haven’t- I haven’t done anythin’ to earn this yet—“

Richard shook his head. “No, no pup. We don’t have to do anything to earn this. Alpha Matches won’t break our boundaries, at least not knowingly. If you don’t want it, tell him, if you do want it, tell him. The only thing he’s going to say no to is sex and like… stuff that will hurt you.” He rolled his eyes at that part, probably thinking about the time Bruce stopped the pup from giving acrobatic lessons at the park. 

He nearly smiled at the memory, his little pup had been so excited to share his parents skills, however he really didn’t want any pup breaking bones because they thought they could do a quadruple flip after being walked through a summersault. Pups will try anything, but that’s what parents were for to keep them safe while they do so. 

Richard gave Jason a smile, but it was a dangerous one. Bruce suddenly feared what would come out of the boy’s mouth. 

“And if he does touch you, or break a boundary on purpose. I’ll bite him. I’ll tear his throat out where he stands.” Richard looked too happy saying it. But Bruce wouldn’t fault him for it. Bruce was one to talk when it came to trauma giving one violent tendencies. 

Jason gasped, fear scent doubling as he looked to Bruce. “A-Alpha he probably didn’t mean that- he’s just protective and, and stuff. He didn’t mean it-“

Richard only smiled more viciously, lifting his head like a proud posturing Alpha and saying louder. “Oh I mean it. I meant every word.”

Jason scowled at him, pressing against him like his tiny arms would stop the older Omega. “Shhh! I’m tryna get ya not killed ya idiot!” 

Bruce nearly chuckled, he let himself smile though. “It’s alright pups.” Jason’s attention snapped to him as he spoke. “I’m not upset, I’m very glad Richard would decide to fight to protect you. I would never try to harm you, but I give him full permission to get rid of me if I’m making things worse. Just like earlier today when I brought you home.”

Jason’s eyes widened even more, flicking between the very proud Omega and the unnaturally calm Alpha. 

“See?” Richard said, “it’s fine, it may not feel like it at first, but Alpha Matches really does just want to take care of us. Nothing else.”

Jason warbled, something noncommittal. He leaned into Richard though, mumbling something along the lines of; “ya can’t jus’ say that.”

“How about we get you pups off to bed?” Bruce said, it was getting late after all and they probably wouldn’t actually fall asleep too soon considering they had all the new clothes to go through. Not that Bruce would be there, but still, it would take time to find the clothes, and all the toiletries before they properly got into bed to fall asleep. 

Richard nodded as he played with a little bit of Jason’s hair. Jason just huffed.

Bruce stayed in the kitchen as Richard herded Jason back to their bedroom. Bruce waited a few awkward moments before coming to deliver the clothes bag, new nesting materials bag, and toiletries. He set them outside the door and informed Richard they were there and bid them goodnight. 

Richard replied with his thanks and a goodnight, echoed by a younger trembling voice. It was only a few minutes later when the door opened and the bags were tugged inside. 

Bruce really wanted to smother his newest pup, but he knew Richard’s ‘tear out his throat’ threat was not something to be played chicken with. Richard would take care of the pup, Bruce just had to do his job of not having sex with a child. Easy. 

He stayed in the kitchen, taking some time to do some Wayne Enterprises paper work considering his mostly-Matches day. However he found himself distracted, with two pups now Richard’s room had more muffled noise coming from it than usual. It made Bruce think about Jason (not that it was hard). He wished with all his might he could have held his newest pup. Jason was just so… little. The scene of him being dragged around by three Alphas, being kicked and scruffed and almost assaulted replayed in his mind. He was just a pup. 

Bruce so desperately wanted to hug him, hold him, mark him as his own so he knew nobody would do that to him ever again, not while Bruce still had breath. 

He knew, he knew he and Richard had just promised Bruce wouldn’t cross boundaries, however Bruce would certainly be asking if he could scent the pup in the morning. It would drive him insane if the pup went any longer without his scent, and hopefully Jason would allow it. 

Because even then, even if it did drive him insane, Bruce would never touch a hair on his head if Jason didn’t want him to. Jason deserved to be happy, with an Alpha he trusted, not just tolerated. 

Despite how many ‘outs’ he’d given Richard, how many ways and plans he had to get rid of Matches and get him to a proper home and family, with Jason suddenly here Bruce realized something. He wanted to be that Alpha, for both of them. 

They were his pups. 

He’d have to start changing his backup plans tomorrow, shouldn’t be too hard, just a slight tweak on what kind of home the boy s would go to once Matches was busted. He could hear Alfred’s tired sigh. 

Honestly this was a better idea. He would make sure they were safe, and they could have the whole manor to themselves. He and Alfred wouldn’t have to commute to this apartment and the boys could have room to actually run around in. Not to mention the backyard, Richard was fond of the outdoors and always seemed more subdued after coming in like he was expecting to never be let out again. Probably due to his three years history of being stuck in one place. No more of that though. Richard would definitely be happier in the manor, Jason too.

The boys would be able to go to school too, interact with pups their own age and learn and grow. Perhaps they could still go to the park, maybe Bruce should get them a pet, a dog that could protect them and be a playmate. Mm, he’d have to ask Alfred on that one, but it felt like a good idea. Another layer of protection for his pups while giving them joy. He’d probably have to ask if the boys liked dogs first though. A cat maybe? Selina would know-

Suddenly Richard’s door opened. Bruce tried not to startle, he looked up, attentive and confused.