Archive of Our Own ^beta

It surprised Tim whenever he thought about himself being born as an Alpha. He wasn’t very confrontational, wasn’t violent, wasn’t protective or possessive of things that were his. Everyone who knew him thought he would be a Beta, what’s with how nonchalant he was with things.

But there was no doubt – after all, the Drakes did the test once every two years, just to make sure. Even though there was a false positive rate of 0.05% for the test. He really did have alpha blood in him. Tim didn’t know why his parents didn’t believe that, and they had made him do so many tests when he was younger. Maybe it was because they were both Betas, which made Tim being an Alpha quite unlikely. Maybe it was because Tim didn’t seem like those demanding Alpha types.

Honestly though, Tim thought it was because his parents disliked Alphas and Omegas, seeing them as rather uncontrollable beasts. After all, the world was mostly inhabited by the normal Betas, with only a small fraction of humans being Alphas or Omegas. The Drakes looked down on everything related to the secondary genders, and Tim knew that if it weren’t for him being an Alpha, they would have wanted nothing to do with secondary genders at all, preferring to believe that they are myths and therefore not to be trusted.

It may also be the reason why they don’t love him. It’s just speculation though.

It’s not like he was looking for proof.

The empty house and the silent wind were proof enough for him.

--

The thing was.

Tim really didn’t like it when his parents weren’t at home with him.

They would stay when he was a baby, when he was a toddler. But when he learnt to find himself some snacks when he was hungry, and when he was able to bathe on his own. When he memorized which bus number could bring him to school and which could bring him home. When he showed them his report from school, and when his teachers praised him for being a very independent and responsible boy.

When he showed them that he could survive on his own, that’s when the trips started. It started with day trips, then it lasted for days, then weeks, then months. He could cling every time they left the front door, because who knows how long it would be before he would see them again.

He wasn’t completely alone – with a house this big, servants and cleaning crews were coming every now and then. The gardeners would be there once a week to prune the bushes. The housekeeper would drop by every day to make sure the pantry was stocked, and if Tim caught her in her good mood, she would even agree to cook whatever he wanted to eat.

But they weren’t family, they were workers. They don’t treat this house as their home, and they will leave every night, and Tim would be all alone in the house.

It’s not that he’s afraid! He’s already five and three-quarters. He never wet his bed, ate his greens like a good boy, and finished all his homework. He’s a brave boy whose parents thought he could handle being by himself, so he wants to make them proud!

But.

He’s just a little pup. An Alpha, yes. But just a pup. A pup needs its pack to feel safe, to be protected. A pup that is alone is easy prey, and anyone can snatch him away and hurt him. He needed his pack to be there with him, or he could be there with his pack, either way. As long as he is being protected…

But he’s not.

His pack always leave him alone, with strangers. With non-pack. There’s no scent of this pup is protected on him, nor anywhere in the house. No marks warning other people not to harm the pup.

Tim Drake the human knew he was safe – after all, he was always careful not to talk to strangers, to double-check that the bus that he was on was the correct one. He always ensured to get the names of the workers in the house, and kept an eye on them. He made sure all of them left the house every evening. He was safe.

Tim Drake the young Alpha pup didn’t think so.

So yes. Tim really didn’t like it when his parents left him alone in the house, without even scenting him to make sure he was protected, that he was a part of a pack.

But that’s the thing. The second one, actually.

The Drakes are Betas. They do not have the instinct that Alphas and Omegas have, about pack, about scenting and marking, about anything really. That wasn’t on them; Tim understood that it doesn’t come naturally to Betas, to most of the human population.

He understood, but that didn’t mean that it wasn’t trouble.

It would have made things easier if his parents just scent-marked him before they left. Or scent-mark things in the house to make sure it smelled like a pack lived there, instead of just a pup.

And it would be very easy, only taking a few minutes. Rubbing their cheeks together or rubbing their wrist on Tim or any possessions would have been enough. Tim knew – he checked online. There were tons of information like this online. Tim only needed to look for How to Take Care of Your Alpha/Omega Kids, and the method of scent-marking would have been the first on the list. Every time.

Because everyone knew Alpha and Omega pups need that reassurance, even with all-time-present parents. Even just a simple hug would do.

He had experienced that a few rare times. His father wasn’t very touchy, and neither was his mother. But the first time he showed them that he could manage to get himself home without needing an adult to supervise him, his mother hugged him. It had put her scent on him for days. Or that time when he finally beat Harry to be the best-scoring student of the year after getting second place a few times before, he told his parents, and his father proudly ruffled his hair, incidentally rubbing his wrist glands on his head.

Maybe they just didn’t know where to find the information. Or maybe they were just too busy. The company was growing, after all. It needed their attention more than him. He’s perfectly safe.

So yes, Tim may be a little clingy every time they leave the house. But it’s just to cajole them to rub his head or touch him, or even a hug, just to make sure that they have a little of their scent on him. It definitely would be better with an actual, intentional scent marking, but it’s the best he could do without troubling his parents.

Then, they went to see the Grayson’s performance. And Tim

            Saw

                        Them

                                    Fall

He was inconsolable for days. His parents had to cancel a few trips just to make sure he was eating and not making a fuss. He knew he was bringing trouble to his parents, but he couldn’t help it. He was very afraid that that might happen to his parents, too.

Young Dick Grayson lost his parents in just a blink of an eye, after all, and he was always with them! Who’s to say if Tim would see his parents off one day, and he wouldn’t even know that that would be the last time he saw his family!

The Drakes took a few months off from work and travel, sending Tim to all the counselling sessions and every psychiatrist Gotham had to offer. They did all the therapy recommended without making any fuss in front of Tim and the doctors, only to quietly complain to each other about the time lost when they reached the privacy of their home. Tim overheard one of the conversations his parents had, once. It was a few weeks after the incident.

So Tim tried to do better. And he did. His separation anxiety improved with time, and it would have been quicker too, if the doctor didn’t see his trembling hands while his parents went out for some grocery shopping. But Tim learnt to control it, and things were getting better until he didn’t even need therapy and counselling anymore.

But it didn’t really get better. The first time after the incident, when Tim’s parents told him that they would be gone for a day trip, Tim lost it. Another session of therapy, another few weeks of recovery. Then his parents would try again, and Tim would lose it again. Rinse and repeat a few times before Tim’s counsellor finally got frustrated at the seemingly never improving child, and grabbed his parents for a private talk.

Tim didn’t know what the counsellor said to them, but he knew what his father decided to do the next time they wanted to leave for a business trip.

--

Tim knew that his parents were trying for another trip again. He’s seven now, he’s not dumb. He could see the packed luggage. His parents also hadn’t been hiding very well when they were discussing their destination -either Mexico or Canada, they couldn’t decide.

Secretly, Tim was thinking it’d be so much easier if his mom and dad just brought him with them when they went on these trips. He’s a clever boy, and he can catch up on his studies very quickly. He wouldn’t have much trouble if his parents had brought him on every one of their trips.

But unfortunately, he was the kid, the pup, and his parents were the head of the family. He couldn’t control his parents’ actions.

He couldn’t even make them scent-mark him.

So he watched as his parents made plans yet again. Counting down the days from

            Five

                                                                        Three

                                    Four

                                                                                                            Two

And then

‘Are you guys going out?’ Tim asked quietly as his parents collected their luggage to the front hall. His father was in his comfiest suit, while his mother wore a long dress and flats.

He stank of anxiety that he could even smell it on himself. And the whole front hall. And the entire house.

Tim moved to them, and like before, he tried to grab them both by their clothes. ‘Please don’t go.’ He pleaded. He was making wrinkles on their clothes, something that his mother hated.

The first few times, they would still spend time talking to him, comforting him with words and slight touches. Then, as they slowly realized that Tim wasn’t getting better at letting them go, they started to be a bit more firm to their touches, to make Tim release their clothes and let them go. But it would be then, that Tim would burst into tears and be a general nuisance.

Just like the last time this happened, his mother firmly pulled at his fingers so he had no choice but to release her dress, then his father’s suit. ‘Enough, Timothy. Whatever that had scared you, it has been too long. Your parents are busy people who couldn’t just sit at home all day to take care of you. People are expecting us.’

‘You could bring me with you? Then we don’t need to be in different places!’ And if anything happens, I will be there with you!

‘No, behave, Timothy. You know how children can be underfoot and cause us a lot of trouble.’ His mother’s disappointment felt like an actual weight bearing down on his head and shoulders. Behind him, his father’s huff of agreement only made it heavier.

‘Well, I guess it’s time to do what the counsellor had told us to do, huh Janet?’ His father said, while gripping Tim’s shoulder with his right hand. The grip was so tight, Tim knew if he looked at it later tonight, there would be a bruise there.

He watched as his mother rolled her eyes and fussed with the coat she had on her. ‘That idiotic man could have told us earlier if he knew there was a way to fix all this, other than those useless counselling. Go ahead then, Jack. I’ll have the staff bring our luggage. Behave well, Timothy, while we’re gone.’

‘Wait, mother!’ He was about to reach out when the hand on his shoulder shifted to the side of his neck. His father’s wrist glands brushed against his throat, and Tim’s legs suddenly didn’t want to work. Instead, he slumped over his father’s chest as the man reached to grab him.

‘Wow. I didn’t know it would work that well. These stupid Alpha Omega thing doesn’t make much sense, does it.’ His father whispered to himself while he carried Tim back to his bed. He tucked him in and gave one final squeeze at his neck, deliberately brushing his wrist gland over his throat, scent-marking him properly for the first time in Tim’s life.

‘Alright. I’m the head of this family. And I command you to stay here and look after our house while your mother and I go for the trip. I’m your- erm, what was the word he used, your pack leader, so you need to listen to me, Tim. Now go to sleep, look after our house, and we’ll be back in a couple of days.’

Tim went, obediently, to sleep.

That will not be the only time it happened.

--

Unfortunately, to everyone’s surprise, one can slowly develop resistance against this.

“This” was, after Tim woke up that day and went on a rampage trying to figure out what happened, something that all heads of the pack can do to their pack members. The pack leader, usually an Alpha, can make their pack members submit to their will, just by making them submit. It was easily done with a warning bite, but it can also be done through a tight grip on the back of the neck, with a thumb pressing against the scenting glands at the throat.

Alphas can make even the most stubborn of the pack submit with just a bite. In Alpha-less packs, however, the eldest and healthiest Beta would be the leader.

Tim read that it wouldn’t have worked if he was older and had presented. He would be strong enough to resist the urge to submit because he, an Alpha, would overpower his father, who was a Beta. But as of now, he is just a pup, and he will thus be vulnerable to his father.

But this type of forced submission was only supposed to be a last-resort sort of thing. It was only during times of duress, when the head of the pack did not have the time to discuss, or it was a submit-or-you-die situation. It wasn’t meant to be used constantly.

But his father used it constantly, now that he realized how useful it was. Tim wasn’t a bad or disobedient kid, he really wasn’t! But he had his own opinions on things. Homework was too easy that he really didn’t feel like doing it. Sports was too noisy and needed too much effort that wasn’t worth it in Tim’s opinion. He was feeling a little sleepy in the daytime because he was out Bat-Watching at night, so he didn’t mean it when he fell asleep when his father was talking.

And he really didn’t like being left behind in an empty house while the rest of his pack was away.

It slowly graduated from a firm grip at his neck, to fingernails, to kneeling so he’d feel more submissive, to teething at his neck, to actual biting.

Tim didn’t know why he didn’t just listen to his dad when he commanded him in that tone, without actually allowing him to make him submit. Maybe something inside him knew that this was wrong, that the head of the pack shouldn’t be using this power to command him to do small things like this. That there should be an attempt at communication beforehand. That most of the things that his father wanted him to do, he would have done if given a good reason to, which, most of the time, his father could have.

It seemed like his father somehow got addicted to the feeling of control. That it was somehow satisfying for his father to have control over his own son, that he wanted to make Tim do whatever he pleased.

And Tim knew the only way he could fight this was to fight his control over him. Sooner or later, he’s going to present as an adult Alpha, and his father won’t be able to make him do anything.

But for now, he’ll fight his way out of this the only way he can.

--

As Tim grew older and more defiant (according to his father anyway), he collected a number of scars. Mostly at his neck, where his father bit him to make sure he submitted to the pack leader.

Something that Tim found interesting, was that his father was starting to grow fangs, not unlike adult Alphas. Of course, Alphas have those fangs as a form of weapon to protect themselves and their pack. Tim knew his father only had normal Beta teeth before – his first bite left normal imprints and no scars.

Somehow or another, Jack Drake grew fangs sharp enough to draw blood. Tim hypothesized that it could be because his father was exposed to his blood, maybe. Because the growing fangs thing only really started when he was bitten hard enough to draw blood. The exposure to blood probably triggered that abnormal growth.

By this time, their counsellor was already removed from their services – his parents deemed it unnecessary to pay for something useless as the matter was resolved. They could go on their usual trips like before, with their son not causing any problems.

Never mind that Tim was simultaneously taking a shorter and longer time to recover from his father’s forceful demand for submission. He woke up faster after the bite, but it now took him weeks instead of days before he really felt normal again.

Never mind that Tim was slowly but surely becoming lethargic, moody, and uncontrollable. Protests changed from silent grabbing of their coats to verbal snarls, to yelling, to hissing and snarling. His teachers were writing emails and trying to call his parents, because “Young Timothy was starting fights, when he was previously such a gentle boy. There were usually no obvious reasons for the instigation of the fight.”

Never mind that Tim was thin and shorter than other Alphas his age. The housekeeper had noted the increasing amount of food expiring and going to waste in the kitchen, and after a short phone call to the Drakes, the staff decided to reduce the food they buy. No one was eating them anyway. Oh, you meant the young master Drake? No, he probably ate at his school, or before he came home. Young boys eat a lot, after all, and there’s no way he wasn’t eating.

Tim knew things were going wrong in his life. But he couldn’t do anything. There was no one to help him. Before all this, he could at least go out at night for BatWatching. Under the dark skies, he could pretend that everything was fine, and he was watching his heroes. But now he had no energy to do that. He barely had the energy to leave the house.

He knew that he was starting to be short-tempered. The constant headache and aches were distracting him from his classes, as well as his surroundings. He didn’t mean to attack Jacob – the boy was just being a little too loud, and too close to Tim when he laughed at a joke his friend had said. He didn’t mean to hiss at his teacher – she was just wearing her usual perfume, but Tim’s nose was too sensitive.

He also knew that he was getting thinner. At first, he would only eat when his stomach was growling too much. But he started to lose any motivation to make any food. If the kitchen staff had bothered, they would know that the items that could be eaten without any additional processing were mostly finished. Things like fruits, some vegetables, and crackers. But they only noticed that the raw chicken and fish were going bad. Then they reduced the groceries they bought, and now Tim lost the few food items he could force himself to eat.

And after all these, after the pain and aches. The slow days and hours and minutes of him dying. His pack was still not here, protecting him. Leaving here, vulnerable to strangers.  

No, if this continues, he will die before he can even present as an adult Alpha.

He needed to do something.

--

Unfortunately, extensive and careful planning was only good when Tim was in his optimal condition. With him being half-starved, distracted by pain, he could only plan one thing at a time.

The current plan he had for now? Get someone’s attention. And not just anyone. Someone who could actually do something to help him.

He already ruled out the staff in his house. They were here throughout the whole time he was deteriorating, and none of them had even attempted to help.

His teachers were the second group to be ruled out. Some of them did try, but they were working towards the wrong direction. Mrs Liam was more focused on getting the Drakes to come and attend to their son, but if their actual son had a hard time doing that, Tim doubted a mere teacher would be able to do it. Others had just signed him off as a lost cause, just some dumbass teenager trying to get attention.

So there was only someone he could go to, even though that was the hardest, almost impossible really. But he knew how.

To get Batman’s attention, he needed to get Bruce Wayne’s attention. And to get his attention, he needed to get Jason Todd’s attention.

So the only problem was how to do that.

--

A great opportunity appeared right after Tim decided on Jason Todd.

Usually they never meet in school, even though they attended the same one. But Jason was ahead of him by a year or two, and that meant that the classes they needed to go to were as separate as could be. They didn’t even have the same lunch break.

But that day was just full of coincidence. Jason’s class was on their way to the gym. Jason was walking with his buddies, not talking but still participating with the occasional snorts and eye-rolls.

Tim was coming from the opposite direction as he was on the way to his next class. He was late, actually. He fell asleep during his lunch break, and no one bothered to wake him up, thinking (correctly) that he would bite the first person that called him.

(It was self defense – anyone approaching him while he was vulnerable is deemed to be a danger to him. It’s bite first, ask later kind of situation.)

They were walking towards each other, Jason having no idea what was going to happen. Honestly, Tim had no idea what was going to happen. But in his head, in his mind, he knew that this was the chance.

He could either grab it, or die.

He grabbed it.

Stumbling a little, Tim aimed himself so that he would fall and crash into Jason’s shoulder. The other boy flinched a little (Tim faintly noticed that Jason tensed in preparation for a fight) before reaching out to steady him.

‘Wow, hey! Watch out!’

Tim made sure that when he crashed into him, he would be right beside Jason’s ear, so when he whispered, only Jason could hear him.

‘Robin, help me.’

A startled gasp, but Jason wasn’t a Robin without training, so only Tim heard it. The sudden rear of Alpha-protective pheromone was also gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

The grip on Tim’s shoulder tightened so hard Tim winced, but he didn’t fight it off. Using that grip, Jason manhandled Tim, carrying him with both hands.

‘Hey guys, I think he ain’t feeling well, so I’m just gonna bring him to the nurse, yeah. Just let Mr Davis know.’

‘Sure thing, Jason. Ya coming back to class afterwards?’

‘Not sure, cuz I think I’ve seen this kid somewhere before, and we might need to give him a ride home.’

His friends left without asking any more questions because they knew that while Jason may be friends with them, he wasn’t close to them at all, preferring to keep to himself most of the time. Who knows who else he knew in the school besides his own classmates?

Jason turned the opposite way of his friends, still holding the boy in his arms. He could feel that the boy was getting weaker, as most of his weight was now carried by Jason.

‘Don’t you dare faint on me, you little brat. You can’t just drop a bomb on me and pretend nothing happened.’ Jason neither confirmed nor denied it, but they both knew that by acting like this, he was basically confirming it anyway.

Tim would love to ensure Jason that he meant him and Batman no harm, but all of a sudden it’s like his energy bar just dropped to zero. Maybe it was the gleaming hope that he would finally be safe. The fact that he could see that he wouldn’t die now, not like this.

Maybe it was because he was in the arms of Robin, his hero. Nothing can hurt him now.

He could only manage the forced whispers of “Don’t call my parents, please. DON’T tell them I talked to you” before the darkness claimed him. The flash of the nurse’s office, and Jason’s curses were the last thing he noticed.

--

As the nurse checked the boy’s vitals and everything, Jason gave an excuse that he needed to go to the toilet, but instead hid at the stairwell that no one used at this hour. Making sure no one was nearby, he called Bruce on his phone (that he hid on his person because the school rules were that all phones be confiscated, but rules don’t apply to Wayne’s children as they were all liable to kidnapping at all times, and Bruce had made his children swear not to use the phone unless under dire conditions. And honestly, Jason thought this counted as dire).

It took no time for the call to be answered – Jason never called Bruce during school hours, and he could imagine the worry-wart having a near heart attack when he saw Jason’s name on the caller ID.

‘Jason?’

‘Not kidnapped, not hurt, no nothing. So cool your tits, yeah. I’m calling about something else.’

He could hear his pack alpha take a few deep breaths, so he waited until he calmed down.

‘Alright,’ When Bruce finally spoke again, he sounded much calmer. ‘Talk to me, Jason.’

Jason had the boy’s student ID in his hands, looking at the smiling face in the picture. This boy looked nothing like the one that had stopped him in the hallway and asked for his… asked for Robin’s help.

‘Does the name Timothy Drake mean anything to you?’

A pause as his adoptive father thought about it. ‘The Drakes live near to us, and I think their son is named Timothy after Janet Drake’s own grandfather. Why?’

‘He’s asking for help, and that he really didn’t want his parents to know.’

‘Okay…’ Bruce trailed off, obviously waiting for Jason to continue. Jason could tell that Bruce was still confused about how this was an emergency in his books.

‘He asked for Robin’s help.’

The chair shifted and creaked as Bruce sat straight, immediately at attention. ‘Jason.’

There once was a time when the call of his name only made Jason more defensive. Automatically assuming that Bruce was putting the blame on him, thinking that he was the one who spilt the beans. Now though, after a few years under his care (and Dick’s guidebook on how to deal with an emotionally stunted pack alpha) Jason learnt that this was just a call for him to tell him everything that he knew, so the older alpha could make plans to protect their pack.

‘You should come and pick us up. He’s asleep right now, although I think passed out is the better term for it.’

‘You are sure?’ Jason knew Bruce wasn’t asking about the passed-out thing.

‘Yeah, I don’t think he’s aiming for any harm. But just in case, I think we should bring him back home.’

Another pause. ‘Alright, I’ll be there in 10 minutes. I assume that you won’t be staying for the rest of your classes?’

A good thing he met this Drake boy at the time he did – there was only gym, and English with Mr Davis, who knew Jason was ahead of the class and therefore won’t complain too much over the skipped lesson. ‘Yeah, just say I’m feeling unwell or something. Look, I think I better go back before the brat wakes up and like, run away or something.’

‘Of course. 10 minutes, don’t go anywhere else.’

‘Yeah yeah.’

--

By the time Bruce came rushing into the infirmary, Jason was tapping his foot against the ground to pass the time. The boy was still asleep, while the nurse stepped out to his own office to give them some space. He was sitting across Drake, keeping an eye on both the boy and the door. So when it opened and he scented his pack alpha, Jason stood to attention almost immediately.

‘Jason.’ Bruce called out, and Jason answered back. ‘Here!’

The first thing he did was to check Jason out for any injuries, even though he had already told him he was fine. Mother-hen Alpha, Jason rolled his eyes, but still allowed Bruce to do what he wanted. The touching and rubbing had been foreign to him when he first lived with the Wayne’s, but now it was routine.

When he was satisfied, Bruce straightened and finally put his attention on the sleeping boy.

The first thing that he noted was how small the boy was. Sunken cheeks suggested that the boy wasn’t eating enough, and bags under his eyes suggested that he wasn’t sleeping enough. Sleeping late might have been a common thing in teens nowadays, but not eating enough?

Did no one notice? The Drakes?

Last he recall, the Drakes were overseas, as usual. But surely there’s someone to care for young Timothy here?

‘B, quit staring like some weirdo, for fuck’s sake. We can probably go now, but the nurse needs your signature or something.’

‘Language.’ Bruce turned his attention back to his son, who’s tapping his foot with his arms crossed. His son, as usual, only rolled his eyes at the admonishment. ‘Of course. Maybe you can wake the boy up? I’ll talk to the nurse about Timothy here.’

--

Tim woke up to an unfamiliar bedroom, and for a few minutes between sleep and waking up, he dozed in the feeling that he was safe.

But wait, I’m not supposed to feel safe. My pack is not here. My pack is never here.

With a jerk, he sat up on the bed, but groaned when a blinding headache attacked him.

‘Calm yourself, Mister Timothy. You are currently at the Wayne manor.’ A voice spoke with a British accent, from his right. Tim spun to look at the old man who spoke – a butler, from the looks of it, with a suit and all.

Lines started to connect the clues he had gotten – Wayne manor, old British butler. ‘You’re Alfred Pennyworth. I’m in the manor…? I approached Jason.’

‘That you did. And asked for help. Please be patient for a moment; I will let Master Bruce and Master Jason know that you are awake.’

Before Tim could say anything, the man left, closing the door after he left.

Oh my god I did it. I asked Robin for help, and he brought me to Batman.

Shit, why did I do that? They can’t do anything anyway - pack matters and what pack alphas do to their pack members are strictly within the pack, and I’ve broken that rule.

The only good thing right now is that I think Mom and Dad would only come back after a few months – sometime around December? During Christmas, to join some galas here and secure some business.

Stupid, how am I so stupid?

As if giving him an answer, his stomach growled.

Ah yes, because he was starving, and in pain, and in constant lethargy. His brain wasn’t functioning optimally, and so he sort of threatened Jason so that he would be brought to Batman.

Now, he just needed to focus enough to make sure Batman didn’t kill him for knowing their secret.

And thinking of that, the door opened to reveal both Bruce Wayne, and Jason Todd behind him.

‘Timothy Drake?’ Bruce Wayne, Batman asked.

‘Yessir-‘ He wanted to say more, but he was more parched than he thought, and he choked a little. He scrambled a little, trying to see if there’s any water around. A glass of water appeared in front of him, and he went to grab it.

The hand seemed to think he had it and released the glass. But Tim didn’t know he was so weak that he couldn’t even produce any force to grab the stupid thing, and the glass fell onto his lap, instantly wetting everything. It was only a miracle of some sort that it didn’t fall off the bed, but it was enough mess for a guest in someone else’s bed.

‘Sorry sorry sorry-‘ His jaw locked when he saw who handed the glass to him. It was Robin. And Batman himself was also here, looking at him. Watching his failure.

He just embarrassed himself in front of Robin. And Batman. And made a mess. And everyone knew beds are hard to clean up.

And he was in an unknown place, without his pack to protect him. But that’s a moot point, because no matter where he is, his pack is never here to protect him, so he had to protect himself. But he’s just a pup.

And Batman and Robin were safe – they protected young ones and the weak. But he’s not in front of Batman and Robin; he’s in front of Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd in their own home. Because he knew something he shouldn’t have known. The secret.

And they’re going to hurt him for knowing.

--

Bruce took a step closer, frowning.

He was just worried about the temperature of the water, and whether the young boy was hurt. He thought Jason had brought lukewarm water, but young Drake’s reaction didn’t seem like it.

Timothy flinched away, mumbling apologies. Instinctively baring his throat to the Alpha of this household. And that was when he saw it.

The numerous bite scars. Horrible, darkened scars that belied their age.

Bruce saw red, growling as if to physically chase the enemies away. But his enemies were not here.

There was only a small, abused pup.

To his knowledge, the Drakes were famous for having an Alpha pup when they were both Betas. Obviously, this just meant they had some Alpha or Omega blood from their ancestors, which was commonplace for all humans. But the Drakes had been advocates for demeaning Alphas and Omegas, talking about how pack instincts should be a thing of the past, and it’s no reason to act like animals.

Bruce had a burning hatred for them, but as Betas are the majority, he kept his opinions to himself.

To the detriment of their Alpha pup.

A tug at his shirt brought his attention back to the present. Jason was glaring at him, telling him to say something. There were quiet whines from the other pup, who was still baring his throat.

‘It’s alright, pup. I’m not here to hurt you.’ Bruce tried to comfort the Drake pup, but to no avail. The pup had his eyes squeezed shut, trembling as he seemed to be waiting for something.

Waiting for the bite of his pack alpha, Bruce could bet his whole bank account on that. The problem was, both Jack and Janet Drake were Betas. Betas usually don’t have much instinct in them, and definitely not of biting. And the Drakes were oh-so-proud of themselves for not acting like savages or beasts, so they definitely wouldn’t be biting their pup…

Would they?

‘B! Do something!’ He heard his own pup hiss behind him, grabbing his arm and shaking it. Bruce turned his attention back again to the still-trembling pup, who didn’t seem to have heard them.

In his mind, there was only one thing left to do. He didn’t know if it was the correct thing to do, or if it’d just make things worse. But he did it anyway.

--

Tim heard a loud frustrated growl, something that he was starting to get used to, from his pack alpha. Instinctively he tensed, but he knew enough to keep his throat bared. His pack alpha hated it more if he tried to dodge or avoid the bite and would punish him by biting harder.

He thought Batman would be different, but perhaps all alphas and pack alphas do this. It’s alright, Tim admitted to himself that he needed the pain to pull him out of this limbo condition he’s in. His scared and useless condition.

He could feel someone approaching his neck, and he held his breath for the pain-

-which didn’t arrive.

What?

There was a hint of teeth, but it didn’t pierce skin. There wasn’t pain, only pressure. Still, it did the job of rebooting Tim’s system.

He took a breath, then another, slower this time.

The jaws near his throat left, replaced by a warm hand, anchoring him in reality. ‘Timothy? Did you hurt yourself?’

‘Nn- no sir.’ Unlike just now when his jaws were locked, Tim managed to speak this time. ‘Sorry. I’ll clean this up.’ Moving his arms so he could support his weight on them, Tim tried to leave the bed. Someone stopped him, however, with a hand on his chest, gently pushing him back.

‘It’s alright, don’t move. Jason?’

‘Yeah, on it on it.’

Robin- no, Jason stepped closer to hand a cloth over to Tim. ‘Here, grab this while I go and find something else for you.’

‘Thank you…’ He reached for the cloth, which was dropped unceremoniously on his opened palm. Bringing that to his wet clothes, Tim could see Jason leaving the room from the corner of his eyes.

It was a quiet moment while Tim tried to salvage his clothes, and the bedsheets that he also accidentally wetted, and the Wayne’s pack alpha watching him. The staring… unnerved him.

He’s not used to eyes on him. Eyes on him never meant any good.

Thankfully, though, Mr Wayne kept his words to himself until Jason came back, grumbling how he ain’t got any clothes small enough for you, you little runt, but this is like my smallest sized clothes, so hopefully it can fit.

Tim unconsciously rubbed his fingers across the hems of the T-shirt he was given. It felt well-worn, as with the shorts.

‘Thank you.’ Tim repeated, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

‘Are you alright with changing yourself? Or do you need any help? Jason can stay and help you.’ Mr Wayne started to offer, but Tim quickly denied it, saying that he could handle it. With more assurance, the two Wayne pack members finally left the room. Not without making Tim promise to call them when he was done.

When they were gone, Tim took a deep breath, the first one he had since waking up.

Alright, this is happening. Timothy Jackson Drake, this is your only chance. Mess this up, and you’re as good as dead.

The few moments of calm did him good. The foreign feeling at his throat otherwise, he felt more normal, calmer.

Wouldn’t it be better if his own pack alpha bites him like how Mr Wayne does to him? But maybe it’s because Tim’s not in the Wayne pack? He didn’t know. There’re a lot of things he didn’t know.

He hoped that after this, he would live long enough to find out.