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Their relationship had happened sometime after Jason’s return to Gotham. Bruce himself wasn’t sure when Jason had found the time to court Dick, in between being a Crime Boss, taunting Black Mask and plotting the entire Joker plan out-
It was only after Dick and Jason moved back into the manor, after Bludhaven was wiped from the map and Jason had almost bled to death at Bruce’s actions.. It was only then that Bruce realised.
Jason hadn’t courted Dick at all. Dick had done all the work.
It wasn’t remotely traditional or socially acceptable, an Omega claiming an Alpha was a taboo. Not illegal but highly frowned upon. Bruce found he didn’t mind, it almost suited the two, yes Jason was the big bulky Alpha to Dick’s graceful, lithe Omega… and yet it just worked? Jason had a lot of vulnerabilities and doubts for an Alpha and Dick perfectly mirrored an Alpha’s sure-fire confidence. And both of them were happy, his son and his ward. So Bruce was happy. He had them both at home, scents mixed together and so full of content and happiness, Bruce wouldn’t dare challenge the dynamics of their relationship. Not now, when he finally had his family mostly back together.
Tim didn’t seem to mind either, but Bruce supposed it was mostly due to the fact his own parents were both Alpha’s, an unusual partnership, less frowned upon that how Dick and Jason’s worked but still not ‘right.’ If Janet hadn’t fallen pregnant with Tim, it would surely have received more backlash from the elites of Gotham. Luckily for her she had, which was nothing short of a miracle considering Alpha/Alpha pregnancies were severely rare.
And it had given them Tim so Bruce would eternally be grateful because his middle son… he deserved everything Bruce had to give. But yes, Tim didn’t mind, he had gone from feeling like an only child to suddenly having a pseudo Omega-Mother in Dick and an almost older brother relationship with Jason… Okay maybe the pack dynamics were a little messy but Bruce thought it suited them. They were vigilantes, they faced death most days, of course they weren’t going to be normal.
When Damian joined them however… Bruce feared for their almost content relationship they’d all fallen into, Dick as the Pack Omega, who helped Jason keep the Pit under wraps, who cuddled Tim through his presentation, continued to hold him through any following heats, who helped Alfred sometimes around the house, though never in the kitchen- and mostly, who dragged Bruce away from is work when he spent too long on cases…
“Tch. It’s bad enough you have no dignity as an Alpha, Todd, but must you parade around the proof so visibly, you disgrace.” Damian scoffed across the dinner table. Jason had gone with a tank top because it was the height of summer, two very visible red claiming marks on his neck from Dick. Dick narrowed his eyes and Jason rolled his eyes.
“Shut it twerp, you don’t know shit 'bout what you’re talking 'bout.” Jason snapped, Tim had flinched and Bruce had turned to frown at his youngest.
“Damian, apologise.” Bruce ordered. Damian turned his nose up.
“Why should I apologise? It’s hardly my fault Todd is acting like an Omega Whore.” Damian retorted with a purse of his lips. Dick let out a rumbling growl at the words. Damian was his pup (as much as he was also Bruce’s) but the young Alpha Pup was out of line. (He’d already presented before he’d shown up in Gotham and Dick’s heart had broken at that…because surely the League had done something to make the young pup present early…it must have hurt, a lot.) But now, offending his Alpha and using slurs against Omega’s… Dick didn’t care so much about himself but the way Tim curled up and flinched at the words… Tim was Dick’s first pup and no newcomer would make him sad-
“Take that back.” Dick spoke, low, level and demanding. Damian met his eyes and shook his head.
“No.”
“Do it.” Dick snapped, arm holding Jason back who looked borderline feral, pit glowing through so obviously.
“Damian!” Bruce jumped into the argument, “you don’t use those sort of words in this Pack! I don’t know what the League taught you, but in this family we use no such thing. Dick and Tim are valued members of this household.” Bruce raised his voice, composure shot.
“Grandfather taught me Omegas are nothing but whores to be bred. They practically beg for it in heat.” Damian returned his argument. Tim let out a little pained noise that Bruce didn’t want to interpret, before pushing his chair back.
“M-May I be excused?” Tim asked hurriedly.
“Of course Tim, sweetheart.” Bruce softly spoke, Tim’s eyes were already wet and his voice wobbly, clearly affected by Damian’s words. Jason looked murderous. Of course it wasn’t Damian’s fault he’d been raised by a cult and taught by a man whose traditions were 300 years in the past- but still.
Tim bolted instantly. Dick pressed his lips together and then turned to Jason. He needed to calm his Alpha. And then his Pup needed him.
“Jay.” He crooned, Jason’s green eyes snapped to him instantly, muscles tense.
“Dickie.” Jason grunted, fists clenched by his side.
“Would you please look after Timmy for me?” Dick asked. Jason’s eyes widened for a second before he nodded. Dick asked him to care for his pup- he would be honoured.
“Thank you.” Dick smiled, a little thing that was gone as soon as Jason saw it. Jason stumbled onto his feet and after Tim, following the unconcealed scent of a distressed and upset Omega Pup. Bruce almost felt awed by his children, they made him proud everyday. Jason especially, had come so far, had gone from unrestrained anger on poor Tim to the best brother the neglected boy could ask for.
“Tch, look at him. He even follows orders from an Omega. He’s an embarrassment to Alphas everywhere.” Damian rolled his eyes. Dick snarled again.
“Damian. Pup. I’m going to give you one chance to stop talking before I get angry.” Dick spoke, he was of course already angry but the child couldn’t help the way he’d been raised, been taught, and while Dick would very well lose his composure and take it out on Damian, he held his tongue. Damian was his pup too, albeit a newer one who was surly and coarse and Dick had yet to gain such an attachment to like Tim, but a pup nonetheless.
“Why should I-”
“Damian.” Bruce repeated, Voice of the Pack Alpha rumbling out in warning. Damian closed his mouth and frowned. He listened to the Pack Alpha then. Just not the Pack Omega…. Fucking Ra’s.
“Damian, please go to your room.” Bruce continued. Damian frowned, looking as though he wanted to protest but halting when Bruce narrowed his eyes at him. Damian silently complied, grabbing his plate and exiting the table for his room. That left Dick and Bruce.
“I’m sorry.” Bruce spoke softly, bowed his head a little. Dick let a sad smile show that Bruce mirrored.
“It’s not your fault, B. It’s… It’s the League’s fault- I…we’ll teach him properly.” Dick spoke and Bruce nodded.
“But if I’d have found out sooner- if I’d have… I could have saved him, brought him home sooner- we could have raised him right-” Bruce fumbled, he’d only wished Damian had been brought to him younger, before Ra’s had gotten his claws into the bright young mind.
“B… You couldn't have known. You did your best, you brought him here as soon as you could… and honestly if he’d have been here 10 years ago, hell even 5 years ago… we were not exactly a healthy pack for a pup… we’ve only just got our own shit together.” Dick said, speaking the truth, Bruce nodded reluctantly. That was true.
“I just-”
“B. It’s not your fault that Ra’s lives like he’s in the 1800s. Society might not be ready for what me and Jay have yet but they’ve certainly moved beyond O’s just being broodmares. We can start slow, teach him what reality is really like outside of the League..”
“I wish I could do better by you all.” Bruce sighed sadly. Dick scoffed.
“You already do more than enough B. You’ve really stepped up.. I- I’m proud to call you my Pack Alpha.” Dick smiled reassuringly, moving a hand to rest on top of one of Bruce’s. Bruce looked surprised and a little emotional.
“Thank you, Dick.”
“Anytime B.”
