Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jason can tell that Dick is in heat when he comes home. 

Dick’s bright omega scent is the first thing that hits his nose as he walks through the front door of the manor. Dick prefers to spend his heats with the pack, which is why he’s here in the first place. Otherwise, Jason wouldn’t see him again until he decided to visit from Bludhaven or they needed Nightwing’s help on patrol. 

Jason doesn’t think he’ll be doing much patrolling for a few more days yet. 

Jason creeps up the stairs toward the family wing, the heat scent getting stronger as he approaches their bedrooms. He has to admit, he’s a little nervous about Dick’s reaction. 

Sure, he and Dick have kindled a much better relationship than they had upon first meeting, and soon they settled into somewhat of a real sibling relationship. Jason won’t admit this to anyone—definitely not to Dick—but he’s always wanted a brother. He doesn’t even find it that annoying when Dick’s omega obsesses over him. 

Maybe that’s part of why he’s so nervous. 

Dick gladly welcomed Jason into his nest during his heats, his omega demanding he dote on the pup, but Jason has presented since his last heat. He’s now an Alpha. 

Sure, Jason is still a pup; he will be until he turns 18, so he still has that puppyish milky smell to his scent, but that’s no longer the main note. Jason smells undoubtedly like an Alpha and wonders if that’ll mean Dick won’t want him in the nest anymore. 

The thought makes his stomach churn unhappily, but he’d rather be a little unhappy than make Dick uncomfortable. 

Jason is doing everything in his power not to become the alphas he feared when out on the streets. He strives to be protective but respectful and would rather kill himself than be around an omega without their permission. 

He can’t lie and say that he’s not glad he’s an alpha—presenting as an omega was a long-time worst fear of his—but that means he has to do a good job of proving to the omegas of the world that alphas can be trusted. 

He supposed that he had Bruce as a good role model for that, even if he had been kicked out of the nests the past couple of times Dick was in heat because the omega wanted his puppy all to himself. 

Jason steels himself as he passes by Dick’s room. He has to pass Dick’s room to get to his own, and Jason has homework to do, but there’s no way he’s not going to at least peek in at him. Hopefully, Dick is just sleeping, and Jason can reassure himself at the sight of his older brother safe and well before moving on. 

He shakes his head, like doing so will clear the overpowering heat smell that’s making him anxious. Normally, it’d be soothing, and a part of him still finds it to be so, but it sets the growing alpha instinct inside him on edge.

He knows that Dick can take care of himself—he’s Nightwing, for crying out loud, the first Robin—but his alpha inside him twists nervously, pacing restlessly in his chest, like something bad will happen if he’s not there to stop it. 

Huh. Being an alpha is weird. 

The door to Dick’s bedroom is cracked open, probably for the air flow since omegas tend to run hot during their heat. He’s sure that Dick would prefer to keep it shut, for privacy and security, but no one wants to be trapped in a stifling, still-air room. 

Jason peeks carefully inside, making sure not to bump the door. For a rich person's mansion, the doors are oddly squeaky. Dick is sitting in his nest, fiddling with some of the blankets. He looks tired, and Jason wonders if he’ll be able to get any rest. 

The puppy part of Jason wants to curl up with him, knowing that a pup’s milky scent would relax any omega, and Dick could probably use the break. But Jason doesn’t want to just invite himself in anymore. It’s different now that he’s presented. 

Jason’s alpha seems content now that he’s confirmed Dick is okay, so he takes a step back, planning on heading to his room to study. Dick will ask for him if he wants him. 

As if able to read his thoughts, Dick’s head whips around to look at him, and they lock eyes through the gap in the door. Immediately, Dick holds out a hand, letting out a gentle croon. Jason’s back straightens, and he takes a step forward on instinct, letting his backpack fall onto the floor by the door as he approaches the nest on Dick’s bed.  

“Are you sure, Dickie?” Jason asks hesitantly. Sure, Dick knows that Jason presented, but in a heat-filled haze like this, his omega might not. He doesn’t want to get swept into the nest by an omega who is expecting a pup, only to get a nose full of alpha instead. 

“Pup.” Dick says simply, making a grabbing motion like he’s upset Jason is just out of reach. 

Jason holds out his wrist for Dick to smell, just in case, but instead Dick just sweeps him up into the nest, bundling him up in his lap and sticking his nose in his hair. Jason tenses, waiting for the fallout, but Dick just purrs, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head. 

“Pup.” He confirms again before nosing at his hair once more. 

Jason rolls his eyes. So, pretty typical behavior for Dick in heat then. The omega somehow always seems to forget that Jason is not his pup and spends the whole time doting on him like he’s his dam. He might be more embarrassed about it if Dick wasn’t also as affectionate outside of his heat—if not less vocal about claiming him as his own. 

Jason lets himself relax against Dick as the omega scents him, purring happily all the while. Eventually, when Jason is so saturated in Dick’s smell that he can barely make out his own scent, Dick lies down, dragging Jason down with him. This is arguably the best part of spending a pack heat with an omega: the naps. 

Dick curls himself around Jason, Jason snuggling deeper into his brother’s side. It’s a shame Dick didn’t give him time to change into some comfier clothes, but maybe once they wake up again, Jason can squirm away fast enough to change his school clothes into something more nest appropriate. For now, he just closes his eyes and lets the sleepy pheromones Dick is giving off pull him under. 

Jason isn’t sure how long he was asleep, but it doesn’t matter because his alpha has registered a threat. 

He flies up into a sitting position, Dick shifting to adjust his new stance, still asleep. It makes sense, given how tough an omega’s heat is on them, often sleeping for hours at a time, even in the middle of the day. There’s usually only enough time for a quick meal, some scenting, and a little bit of fussing over pups before an omega sleeps again. With Dick out of commission, that leaves Jason in charge of his well-being. His alpha demands it. 

Jason’s still too far down in the haze of Dick’s comforting scent to think clearly, but his alpha knows one thing for sure. 

Jason growls. 

He tries to heighten his scent, making it larger than life, to get the smell of an angry, protective alpha to fill the room. It should be enough to chase off the intruding alpha and cover the allure of Dick’s heat scent. Sure, an alpha pup’s scent is not as potent as a full-grown alpha’s, but Jason will be damned if he doesn’t at least try.  

Worst-case scenario, he’ll actually have to leave the nest and reveal himself to the intruder in order to fight them off. If he’s lucky, a sensible alpha will leave at the smell and sounds of Jason’s threat, and they won’t try to challenge his claim upon finding he’s a pup.

There’s a small sound, which Jason’s alpha thinks might be laughter, and the alpha speaks. “Okay, Jaylad, I won’t come any closer. I was just trying to check on your brother, but you seem to have things under control.” 

The voice sounds fond and proud but amused, and Jason’s too caught up in his own instincts to understand what was said. The other alpha didn’t sound like he was taking Jason’s threat seriously, so he growls again, hoping it’ll prompt him to leave. Just about the time Jason was starting to get worried, the other alpha backed off, disappearing out of sight. 

Jason stares at the doorway for a little while longer, just to make sure that he was gone for good. When the stranger doesn’t try to return after a few minutes pass, Jason starts to relax. He turns to look down at Dick, hoping that the alpha posturing hadn’t disturbed him. Luckily, Dick still seems relatively out of it, like he might not have noticed anything happened at all. 

“Jay-Puppy?” Dick asks, blinking blearily up at him as if trying to figure out what’s wrong. Jason doesn’t say anything, instead lying back down and shoving his face into Dick’s neck, getting a noseful of content omega. 

Jason’s alpha rumbles approvingly as Dick tugs him closer, and his eyes fall back shut again. He did it; he protected his omega. He was on the right path to becoming a good alpha after all.

Chapter Text

Jason shouldn’t even give a fuck about his older brother. 

Dick obviously doesn’t care about him, so he’s not sure why he should care about him in return. But Bruce had to mention something about Dick being in heat when he was taunting Batman earlier, and now Jason’s alpha is all upset. 

Dick is his omega, damn it. It doesn’t matter if that hasn’t been true for years now; Jason can feel their pack bonds in his chest now, and the thought of Dick suffering through heat alone makes his alpha nervous. Jason was always the one he cuddled with, who protected him. Who had been looking after him while he was gone? 

Jason snarls, torn between the pit’s rage and his alpha’s worry. 

Fine. He’ll go check on Dick. He’ll break into Wayne Manor and make sure Dick is alright, but then he’s leaving. He can’t even use this as an opportunity to mess with Bruce or threaten the replacement. He may be pissed, but he’s not going back on his promise to be a good alpha. No matter how much Dick’s failed him. 

He scales the manor's wall, hops into the hallway of the family wing through one of the windows, and sneaks down the hall to where Dick’s room always was. Even if he didn’t remember, Dick’s heat scent is as prominent as ever, leading him straight there. There’s something oddly nostalgic about it, even as it sours in his stomach. It’s such a shame that Jason’s good memories of cuddling in the nest with his older brother are tainted by the fact that he doesn’t care about him. 

He always felt so loved, so taken care of. Jason hates to think it was all fake. 

He shakes his head, his alpha prodding him into motion, and he slips in through Dick’s open bedroom door, eyes landing on the figures in Dick’s nest bed. The pit surges green, jealousy flowing through his system at the sight of the replacement on the bed, Dick curled around him, fast asleep. 

That was supposed to be him. Not only was he so easily replaced as Robin, but he was also replaced as a pup to nest with.

Jason gets lost in his rage and despair for a moment, his alpha whining, so he doesn’t notice Tim has woken up until the alpha pup growls at him. 

The situation is so startlingly similar that it shocks Jason into stillness for a moment. He remembers, clear as day, the first heat he spent with Dick after presenting. The replacement must have recently presented as well. A little late for a presentation, but he’s a freshly presented alpha all the same. 

But Jason isn’t scared by the pup’s threat, and it’s too late for him to sneak away now. Not without it seeming like the scrawny runt of an alpha chased him off. Some part of him knew that his alpha would find it hard pressed to leave even if he hadn’t been caught, but he came anyway. 

Dick sits up as well, disturbed from his sleep by Tim’s anger. 

Jason’s alpha cowers a little at having disturbed the omega, and an even larger part of him braces for the impact. This is where Dick throws him out, tells him to leave, and confirms he never cared about or loved Jason. 

Instead, Dick croons, an omega calling for its pup. 

It’s so startling that even Tim stops growling, his alpha scent dying down. 

The pit, which had been starting to stir with distress and rage, flares with curiosity. How far in the haze of heat is Dick to think he’s a helpless pup? Jason is fully an adult now, with no note of milkiness in his scent. All the same, Dick stretches out his arm, making a grabbing motion with his hand. 

It’s startingly familiar, and confusion is the only thing keeping him from diving headfirst into the nest with his older brother. Certainly, something is wrong. There’s no way, after everything, that Dick wants him.

Dick tilts his head, like he can’t understand why nothing has happened. “Jay-Puppy?” He asks softly, and Jason starts to feel tears in his eyes. The pit, now in accordance with his alpha, pushes him to take a step forward, and Jason holds out a shaky wrist for Dick to smell. 

Tim seems to have taken a step back, letting Dick handle this, and makes no move to growl at him as he approaches the nest. Like Jason had hoped, like the pup deep down inside of him had expected and yet feared not happening, Dick pulls him into the nest. 

It’s a little different since Jason is taller now, but Dick tucks him against his chest and noses at his hair. 

“My pup.” Dick says with a purr, and Jason revels in how amazing it is that Dick’s scent only seems to get happier. “Both my pups.” He reaches out and drags Tim closer. “Different, not the same. Not replace.” 

Jason doesn’t even care that Tim is tucked up next to him, not when Dick is treating him like this, the omega falling into the familiar habit of claiming him as his own. The green in his chest purrs contentedly, almost like a pup itself, happy to be treated in such a way. 

Jason wiggles free for a moment, shucks off his jacket, and drops his boots on the floor, unloading his weaponry carefully beside them, and then relaxes fully into Dick’s embrace. For how much he growled at Jason earlier, Tim doesn’t seem to mind another alpha being there. Maybe it’s because Dick established him as another pup, despite Jason not actually being one. Pups don’t tend to mind sharing with other pups. 

Dick runs gentle fingers through Jason’s hair, and for the first time in what feels like years, Jason feels like he can relax again. He wonders if Dick also felt like nesting was never the same without him, like something was permanently lost. It’ll be good if he can get some rest now, especially since Jason disturbed them earlier. 

“Replacement,” Jason grunts quietly. “You’re on alpha duty.” He says. The alpha pup is likely too far under to really understand Jason’s words, but the intent is clear in his scent. Jason wants to snuggle up with his older brother and finally get some good fucking sleep without having to worry about covering his own ass. He doesn’t know what either of them will be like outside of Dick’s heat, but for now, he’s going to enjoy himself. 

His older brother still loves him, and that’s all he needs for now.

Chapter Text

Jason can tell how much has changed because it just takes a text from Tim to get him to the manor. 

Dick is in heat.

It’s the first one since Dami presented.

Jason grins. He supposes it’s the brat's turn to be a protective little shit. Damian has taken to being an alpha like a duck to water. Jason could tell what the kid’s designation would be just by their first interaction, and it’s obvious with how protective he is of Dick normally. 

The poor kid’s instincts must be going haywire. 

Jason parks his bike in the cave and makes a quick stop to change into his spare pair of clothes before heading up towards Dick’s room. Jason isn’t sure what state he’ll find his brother in, but if Dick is far enough along to be incoherent, he’ll pull Jason into his nest without any regard for his dirty outside clothes, even though he’ll complain about it later. It's better to change now to avoid the drama altogether, just in case. 

As it is, he exits the cave in a pair of sweatpants and a soft, well-worn t-shirt. Under his arm, he has a well-scented hoodie, because he’ll Dick will either want to add something with his scent to his nest or wear it. Dick’s clothing during his heat is usually some combination of things he’s stolen from his family, so Jason is not surprised to see Dick wearing one of Bruce’s shirts, obviously too large for his lithe frame. 

“Jay!” Dick greets cheerfully, looking up from where he’s arranging his nest. 

Jason grins, “You must not be too far along yet if you’re not calling me your puppy.” He teases. 

“You’re always my puppy.” Dick rebuts, and Jason just tosses the hoodie at his face. Dick catches it and immediately sets to work adding it to his nest. 

“Todd.” Damian’s voice comes from the doorway, and Jason turns to see the young alpha puppy standing there, looking annoyed. 

“How are you feeling?” Jason asks, though he has a feeling he already knows the answer. 

“Insane,” Damian replies curtly. “How do you handle this?” He huffs, sounding frustrated.

“It’s worse for you because you recently presented. It gets easier.” Jason promises. “But you likely will be a little out of it this time around. That’s why me and Tim are here to help out.” 

“You’re here, so Richard doesn’t needlessly smother me the entire time.” Damian rebuts.

“That too.” Jason agrees. “Where is Tim anyway?” 

“Making sure we don’t starve,” Tim interjects, holding a tray with food, bottles of water, and some electrolyte drinks. 

“Good,” Jason says as Tim sets the tray down on the bedside table, making sure everything is in reach. “You’ll be in charge of our continued survival, and I’ll take a nap in the nest.”

Tim rolls his eyes. “So you say, and yet every time you hover almost as much as I do.” 

“Do not.” Jason rebuts on instinct, as if his Alpha doesn’t stir in his chest, knowing it’s true. 

Tim raises an eyebrow, calling his bluff. “Sure. Then I guess Dick is my omega, so you can just go back to whatever you were doing and let me handle everything.”

“He was mine first.” Jason can’t help but say, his alpha squirming uncomfortably in his chest at the thought of someone else looking after Dick instead. 

“I am no one’s omega,” Dick’s sharp voice cuts in. “You are my pups. And if you don’t get your bullshit alpha posturing out of here, I won’t let any of you in my nest.” 

“Sorry, Dick,” Tim says, letting the challenge fall from his scent. 

“Yeah, sorry, Dickie,” Jason says with a small whine, his alpha pissed that he upset their omega. 

Dick grins easily, accepting their apologies with no fuss. “C’mon, puppies.” He says, holding out an arm in invitation. “Nesting time.”

Jason goes first, letting Dick scent him before moving on to Tim and Damian. Damian looks the most unsure of himself, like he’s not sure what he’s allowed or supposed to do. Jason doesn’t exactly remember, but he thinks that heats were a private thing in the league. Dick pulls Damian into his lap, cuddling him close and nosing at his hair in reassurance. Jason is content to drape himself across Dick’s back, playfully nosing at his hair as well, and Tim curls up, leaning against Dick’s other side. 

He must fall asleep for a bit because the next time he’s awake, Dick is fully in heat, staring down at him with bleary blue eyes. 

“Jay-Puppy?” Dick croons softly. 

Jason pushes himself into a sitting position—he must have shifted to lie down sometime while he was asleep—and bares his throat so Dick can scent him some more. “Right here, Dickie.” 

“Such a good puppy.” Dick purrs. 

Jason rolls his eyes fondly. “Such a good omega.” He rebuts, nudging their heads together. “What about your other puppies?” 

Jason looks over at Tim meaningfully, who glances up at them in surprise. 

“Tim-Puppy,” Dick smiles, dragging Tim closer and scenting him as well. 

“You know,” Tim says to Jason while Dick’s distracted, “I’m barely still a puppy.” 

Jason laughs. “You don’t ever stop being a puppy. Just look at me.” 

“Yeah, but I just thought Dick treated you like a puppy because he knew you were too stupid to take care of yourself.” 

“Ha ha,” Jason deadpans. “Like you’re any better. This is probably the most sleep you’ve gotten in days.”

“That’s not fair.” Tim protests, still caught in Dick’s grasp. “You know nest naps are the best naps.”

Jason can’t argue with that. Damian squirms a little as Tim is accidentally pulled into his space, making a small, upset sound. 

“Dick,” Tim cuts in to remind him, “Don’t forget about your last puppy.” He says, and he’s able to give them some room as Dick lets go of him to latch onto Damian instead.

“Sweet, cute baby puppy.” Dick agrees, smothering Damian in attention. He relaxes against Dick, letting out a small puppyish warble. 

Jason has to resist the urge to coo. 

“He’s gonna hate that.” Tim points out with a grin. 

“If he remembers it,” Jason says. “I don’t remember much from the first few heats I spent with Dick after I first presented.”

Tim hums consideringly. “It is pretty cute, though.”

“Of course,” Jason agrees. “Damian’s a good pup, even as prickly as he is.” 

Tim nods, eyes straying towards the tray he brought in earlier. “What do you think about lunch?” He questions, looking over to Jason like he's waiting for approval. Despite all their posturing earlier, Tim’s alpha tends to be more anxious, and Jason’s tends to be more protective, so Tim often looks towards him for advice during Dick’s heat.

Jason shrugs. He isn't sure how long they were out for, and he doesn’t care enough to try and find where Dick keeps the clock in his room. 

“Up to you, Timmers. I don’t know what time Dick had breakfast, but I could eat.”

Tim leans over, grabbing a bottle of water and a sandwich off the tray. He hands the sandwich to Jason and then opens the bottle of water. “You eat first, and then we’ll see if we can wrangle some food into Dick. For now, I’m gonna try to get him to drink.” 

Jason eats the sandwich carefully, trying to avoid getting crumbs on the bed, and Tim coaxes Dick into drinking some water. When Jason is done, it only takes a little more cajoling for Dick to take a few bites of food because Dick is insistent on sharing with Damian as well. 

That’s about all his heat-addled body can handle before he’s exhausted again, and they oblige as Dick maneuvers them how he wants in order to fall asleep again. He ends up with his head pillowed on Jason’s legs, curling around Damian and pulling Tim down to settle himself at his back. It doesn’t take long for the three of them to fall asleep. 

Jason leans back against the headboard, watching over all of them, occasionally running a hand through Dick’s hair. His hair is slightly damp with sweat, and Jason makes a note to get some of that electrolyte drink into his system next time he’s awake again. 

Jason himself is almost asleep when the door creaks, startling him out of the calm reprieve. His eyes flash for a moment as his head whips towards the door, only for him to realize it’s just Bruce. The old man refuses to learn, he thinks fondly. Almost on cue, Damian jerks into a sitting position, growling at the perceived threat. Jason huffs out a laugh as Bruce just smiles. 

“It’s okay, Damian,” Jason reassures, reaching out and petting the pup, encouraging him to lie down again. “It’s just Bruce.” 

Damian stops growling but doesn’t relax. 

“It’s funnier watching it happen to someone else,” Jason says to Bruce quietly. 

“I’m glad you find my suffering funny, Jaylad,” Bruce says in return, but his voice is fond and not actually upset. “It’s not as cute as it was the first time.”

“But it’s still cute.” 

“I could never be mad at your brothers for protecting each other. Even if it means I’m not allowed in nests anymore.”

“Sorry, Bruce, you know it’s pups only. No Alphas allowed.” 

Bruce eyes him in obvious amusement. “What does that make you then?”

“A pup, obviously.” 

“You don’t even smell remotely like a pup, Jaylad.”

“Try telling that to Dick. Only an idiot tries to argue with an omega in heat.” 

“Fair enough.” Bruce concedes. “Text me if you need anything, but I’ll leave you to rest for now.”

“Thanks, Dad.” 

Bruce smiles softly at the image of them all gathered there and then slips quietly away. Damian glares at the doorway for a little while longer but is eventually comfortable lying back down again. Jason leans his head back and lets his eyes fall shut, his alpha curling up smugly in his chest at the notion his pack is all safe and together.