Chapter Text
ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ knew how protective his kind could be over their hatchlings. It was natural considering how rare it was for a ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ couple to even conceive much less for the hatchling to emerge from their shells and the battle that is the early stages of their life.
He remembered how fierce his sire and dam were when any perceived threat was near him. His dam had once told him, amusement and fondness escaping her lower maw, of the time his sire had ordered ꋫ꒒ꌺꎡꁄꁕꇛꁄꍈꍈꒄꋃꅂꎡꇞꀟ to remove every trace of an offensive flora not native to their home planet for its heinous crime of startlingꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ when he was a hatchling.
He also remembered their ferocious wills when they had been ambushed by an ill ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ who hadn’t even realized what he had done until after his sire and dam’s cold and lifeless bodies remained. The shrieking sobs of a hatchling snapped the ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ out of his blur, before rushing away.
When he was returned home, he became immensely familiar with ꋫ꒒ꌺꎡꁄꁕꇛꁄꍈꍈꒄꋃꅂꎡꇞꀟ’s protective nature for despite not being at all involved with his conception, ꋫ꒒ꌺꎡꁄꁕꇛꁄꍈꍈꒄꋃꅂꎡꇞꀟ had routinely demonstrated that his instincts cared not. ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ once had a sire and a dam, but he also had a ꋫ꒒ꌺꎡꁄꁕꇛꁄꍈꍈꒄꋃꅂꎡꇞꀟ that stood on equal grounds.
When he decided to join ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈ’s force, he quickly rose through the ranks, in part due to his heritage seeing as his lineage was heavily documented in their heavy influence on ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈ, he felt his instincts spike protectively far too many times. From a ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ hatchling to a ꌅꎡꒄꉣꇞꅂꍈꀧꅔꍈ hatchling to a ꇛꁄꍈꁅ꒦ ꀧꍈ hatchling to even the occasional ꃲꅔꍈꁄ hatchling though often ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ merely led an adult ꃲꅔꍈꁄ over to the hatchling needing aid.
Those particular hatchlings were vulnerable but not weak.
Then he became intimately familiar with the protective instincts when ꓅ꅔ꒒ꀧꅔꋫ꒒ꁍ꒦꒒ and himself were able to conceive their own hatchling.
It was both immensely fulfilling and terrifying.
And ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ had been satisfied with that. ꓅ꅔ꒒ꀧꅔꋫ꒒ꁍ꒦꒒’s sire had not, as he not-so-subtly hinted at the pair to try for more hatchlings. The pair had been fine with just ꄤꅔꉈꀧꅔꍈꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ and while it had been some time since he had hatched, he was still so new to the grand world. If they wanted to conceive again, it would not be in some time.
ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ was satisfied and he couldn’t imagine having to stress about more vulnerable hatchlings and his mate when he was off on missions.
And having to watch as ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄꉖ he once respected highly drool from both of their maws , flexing their claws and even stepping forward a couple of times as if they were new hatchlings. Even then that was an insult, ꄤꅔꉈꀧꅔꍈꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ certainly had more control than these beasts.
Beasts who thought four far too small and squishy and vulnerable hatchlings were prey. As if they didn’t have far better options, options that couldn’t wail and stink of pure terror.
It was unbelievable and it took all of his training for ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ to not jab a few tentacles into their drooling maws, mutilating them. Which if Terrans had been recognized as something to be protected, what all hatchlings were to be, then ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ would be in the right to do so.
However, nothing stopped him from snarling whenever someone became bold and got closer. That was enough to deter them though it wasn’t enough to soothe the instincts that were demanding ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ did more.
Demanding that he settle the fearful looks and shakes that all four wore regardless of how much they tried to pretend they were sleeping. Demanding to show them how they could rely on him, especially the eldest.
He wasn’t a true challenge to ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ but his instincts saw him in some way as one and only a proper scenting, claiming, and an introduction to the rest of his pack would soothe that. The eldest had been his hatchmate’s protector and he was far too young for that based on the male’s size.
“ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ!” A familiar voice called to him and ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ nearly snarled. He was so close to boarding his personal vessel. There would be an entire process to officially label the hatchlings as his “property” and offer them some sort of legal protection which could wait until he was back with his pack. Nest with his mate and now-youngest hatchling while integrating the others.
He did not want to see if ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ would also be reduced to a drooling mess at the sight of his hatchlings. It didn’t matter to him if ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ was not the same species as he. Her kind had descended and had many similar features just with features making her look akin to Earth’s “cat”. She could still have that depravity in her.
꓅ꅔ꒒ꀧꅔꋫ꒒ꁍ꒦꒒ had seen the ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ as quite the formidable ally and regardless of ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ’s past relations with her, she saw her as a fine model for their hatchling.
Though it wouldn’t hurt to discourage ꄤꅔꉈꀧꅔꍈꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ’s growing interest in the small beasts that ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ’ kind had an obsession with. Especially her.
An interest he did not want to discourage by cutting the ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈꀧꇞꁄ out of his close circle entirely. But he would if needed.
“ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ, I know you can hear me even with how loud you’re growling.” ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ chided as he turned to face her, already settling when nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Her posture was relaxed and playful with her lower maw simply upturned.
She glanced at his shaking hatchlings and despite the instinct that spiked to defend, ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ knew that was merely his instincts overreacting. Her glance was inquisitive not malicious nor hungry.
“Surprised you hadn’t taken in some other species’ young earlier” ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ’s lower maw chuckled. “I've seen how you handle even the wiggly ꏸ꒒ꅔꒄꌺꅔꄡꁄ’s pups.”
ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ and ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ both startled when a quiet rumble escaped his lower maw which he tried to smothered as quietly as he could, quick glances to ensure no one heard.
ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ’s maw opened slightly, shocked. “Are you really…?” ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ heard the implied question and while no one had heard him slip, he still had to do damage control.
“That was different, I have my own hatchling. I do not need another species’ hatchling” ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ stood tall as he gestured towards the containment. He smothered the assuring purr that tried to escape when the eldest’s eyes snapped from watching his hatchmates to ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ. “You know how respectable my heritage is, ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ. After everything I have put in for ꁍꅂꇞꀟꅔꉈ, I believe I'm owed a few souvenirs”
ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ’s lower jaw closed and the end of her tail curled. Her armour covered her dark fur but ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ could see the slight bristling of her fur near her maw’s opening, letting him know others were listening and watching now.
While ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ had been unsure of ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄꉖ’ reaction towards his hatchlings, he knew she wasn’t the most avid predator towards the Terrans. While the pair hadn’t fought side by side, due to their assignments, he had heard here and there about her much more kind catch and release where threats were often utilized more though meaningless when others found the spared Terran.
Those watching likely knew this and ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ was the opposite. At least that is how he had changed the numbers to state. They were watching to see how she would react to his heartless proclamation.
Her tail flicked before her lower maw plastered a fake grin with far too many teeth. The eldest’s focused in on them.
“As far as I am, concerned this still counts” Her laugh was too high, her tail still flickered but it was well-practiced, just as ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ’s chuckle was.
“Hardly, ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄ. Now will you be useful unlike these slobs and help me load my new pets? Perhaps teach me some tricks for obedience training” The words tasted sour and even through the container’s walls, the sour smell of fear was strong. Strong enough for others to glance longingly and hungrily at his hatchlings.
“Of course. You’ll likely won’t even need to be as harsh” ꌚꁄ꒒ꀧꍈꅔꌅꒄ꒒ꁄ giggled, high as she turned to gesture for ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ’s to move forward. “They’re not as sturdy as a ꌅꀧꇞꇞꒄꏸꅔꇞ after all” Another high giggle
Finally, once the hatchlings were secured inside, he would have the necessary alone time to fully outline their future. Their future together.
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If the four had been cuddling on their sole dirty mattress, Dick would have laughed at Tim’squiet grumble at how tight Dick was holding him, at how Jason had shoved his face into Tim’s neck, and how Cass clung to Jason with her death grip that could rival his own and could not be all that comfortable.
He would laugh at how they all were pretending to sleep but they weren’t home.
They weren’t even on Earth.
No, instead they were inside a blueish-clear box that flaunted them to all the hungry aliens that were drooling as they passed through. Some even tried to get closer.
At least they tried as their kidnapper snarled and snapped at whenever anyone even glanced over at the four. The possessive kind clearly and if Dick could tense up even more he would, instead his grip tightened and Tim squirmed slightly.
At least he was finally giving Tim all the cuddles and kisses he had promised himself to give the kid before they got taken.
It's his fault, we were discovered. He rang the dinner bell.
Dick instantly tossed the thought away. It wasn’t helpful and he couldn’t stay mad when he could feel Tim’s shaking even as he squirmed to have Dick release him slightly. Rather he should be focusing on whats going on, forget the past.
Another snarl at another drooling alien snapped him in and made him realize something.
God “their” alien was huge. The aliens were already huge but this one was even bigger and based on how it was walking and the other aliens kept their distance, this one was especially not to be messed with.
“You are strictly mine now. Forever and nothing will change that ”
And they were owned by this somehow even more powerful and feared alien.
A fate Dick had never heard of anyone ever facing which to be fair it's not like they could escape back to Earth and warn everyone.
Maybe Dick should be “grateful” he and his siblings weren’t being munched on in gruesome ways but considering there were far worst things than a torturous death on Earth, it scared Dick to his core of what an alien could possibly want that it would resist eating them.
And Dick couldn’t even understand what any of them were saying. They were all clearly talking about them seeing as they kept gesturing and possibly looking at them but they didn’t even have eyes so Dick didn’t know but something instinctively knew they were.
Then a smaller yet huge in comparison to them alien was able to walk up to “their” alien and Dick tried to read them. Sure, Cass was maybe the best in reading body language based on something in her past that she still hadn’t told them about but Dick used to be a performer–
“Mama! Papa!” Dick screeched from far above though he doubted anyone could hear him fron the cacophony of noise. Screams. Wails. Guns blasting that sounded like it was from a show but they were real and they were violent. Crunches. Snaps. Gulps. Bleches—
And unable to drown out his mother’s shriek as she tried to crawl away, her legs had snapped and Dick will remember that sound forever.
Along with the sight of why they cut off as a wide and dark cavern spilled open from the armored beast’s stomach, revealing a sharp and alien tongue that stabbed its way into his mother’s skull—
A small and gentle knock on the box, an unfitting one for the looming alien, snapped Dick out of his memory and let him know that he had not caught anything of the alien that capture them and the smaller alien’s exchange. That smaller alien was gone and with a quick glance about, he realized they were inside what he had to assume was their kidnapper’s ship.
Now said kidnapper wanted their attention as the alien knocked once more before the helmet opened to reveal the smaller but just as deadly maw.
“We have made it inside my ship. We are now free to openly discuss you and your nestmates' arrangements.” The alien spoke and Dick hadn’t noticed early, too terrified as his siblings, stubbornly refused to run away, but the alien was actually speaking English.
It wasn’t crazy seeing as all the other aliens had spoken English when they were mauling their prey but it was robotic, like a translator, this alien was actually speaking it.
“I will be deactivating the containment box. Please awaken your nestmates.” The alien’s voice was calm and gentle, another difference. There was no amusement and it was a sharp contrast to the snarls the lower maw was making earlier.
But they were still in the box, rather the “containment box”.
Would this be their cage?
“Hey, guys” Dick called, looking down to shake specifically Jason who seemed to have begun to actually nod off. The alien, regardless of how gentle it was being, had issued a command and right now, the best option was just to obey. “It's time to wake up, come on”
Cass slowly moved up from her spot and Tim moved his head away from Dick’s chest, in Dick’s personal opinion, beautifully pretending they had been asleep. Pride sparked slightly before he began to shake Jason’s shoulder slightly harder to wake him up.
The preteen grumbled and shoved Cass slightly who had pulled him up with her before Dick saw Jason remember where they were and snapped to attention.
“I believe you Terrans have a saying, “Good afternoon.” Jason scowled before Dick swatted his hand. Then his face shifted to more neutral and a sense of relief went through Dick as the alien’s lower maw, god it was huge and it could easily swallow Dick with ease—
Not the time, focus Richard.
“Now please stand and be ready for slight disorientation. If you feel ill, let me know” The alien explained and Dick was glad that Jason held in the huff of laughter mostly in, just sounding like an intake of air. Jason was smart, he knew he shouldn’t provoke someone who could easily just stab right into Jason’s head and lift and life before crunching on his small head full of knotted greasy curls, drenching him—
Dick stood up and relished the slight and quiet yelp as Tim was dragged up with him. Once Jason,
still alive and as clean as he could be, free of blood
and Cass stood up and readied themselves, the box vanished and there was a slight moment of floating before their feet hit the floor with the slightest thud.
Now they were out in the open. Truly up for grabs.
Dick shuffled closer to his other siblings, Tim in grasp as he noticed a slight wave where the seams concealed the even deadlier lower maw.
“Now please follow me. You must be very tired but it would best to clean yourselves first” The alien turned away from them as he began to walk towards a hallway, clearly expecting them to follow.
And despite Jason’s glances, Dick began to follow. Tim quickly followed given he was still attached to Dick and with a sigh, Jason followed as well, Cass’s hand in his.
The ship wasn’t as bright as he assumed an alien ship would be, the lights dimmed. But regardless of the level of light, it still felt as sterile as a hospital with white floors and light/gray walls. Everything was huge in comparison to them, the ceilings far far away.
The many doors lining the hallway as huge as they were to him, they were shorter than their kidnapper. Another reminder of its power though Dick couldn’t help the amusement that shot through him.
Then the alien stopped by a door with some odd symbols and lines on it.
“ This is the washroom.” A direct explanation and with a quick swipe of one of its claws, the door opened. The alien stepped back and gestured for what Dick assumed for them to enter.
They hesitated.
Reluctantly Dick let go of Tim, pushing him behind. Tim, just as reluctantly let go of Dick but as Dick stepped closer to the open door, he simply clutched Jason’s other free hand.
Dick kept the alien in his view as he slowly peeked into the room. He expected to be shoved into a dark cage or a blender not to see an equally dimmed and sterile-looking room with what Dick assumed to be the alien version of shower heads. A row of them with low walls, well for this alien not much for Dick, it practically was his height, sporting a little space for each showerhead.
In a small corner by the entrance were pristine dark gray jumpsuit-looking outfits. Dick assumed they were for them seeing as they were tiny in comparison to the enormous bench they sat upon. Tiny in comparison to the enormous shiny sage green lockers.
“We...we are allowed to shower?” Dick asked, glancing at the alien. His mama’s words echoed to look into a stranger’s eyes while instincts warned him to not risk angering the beast by provoking them.
The alien’s seams rippled once more.
“ Of course, take your time. I will retrieve you when you have finished, simply ring the small bell here ” Dick flinched as a tentacle emerged from the alien’s back and maneuvered its way around him to point out a small white button. Once again, small compared to the alien but it was bigger than Dick’s hand.
That tentacle was so close and it could easily just swing back and wrap itself around Dick—
The tentacle returned to its owner and Dick swallowed.
“Come on guys, let's… let's shower” Dick took a step back, reaching for anyone’s hand. Relief flooded him with Tim’s small and still soft hand grasped his back. Then they began to walk inside.
Then that damn tentacle stopped Cass and they froze. The three boys were inside and Cass had been gently separated from them.
“What are you doing!?” Jason snapped and though he flinched from his own outburst, he stood as tall as he could. Dick quickly pushed Jason behind him though he resisted.
The alien merely tilted his head, the tentacle replaced with that huge hand, resting on Cass’s small shoulder. She wasn’t shaking but she was too still, her eyes wide.
“Female and Male Terrans do not bathe together. You three will bathe here, I will guide her elsewhere” The alien explained and Dick wanted to just nod. Just let the alien whisk Cass away, it was safer for them all and Cass knew that.
The alien hadn’t hurt them yet, why give it a reason to?
Especially after it did not retaliate against Jason’s outburst.
And Jason clearly began to think the same as his scowl lessened, his shoulders began to hunch and he made himself look smaller, apologetic.
“Uh..Mr.Alien..?” Dick snapped his head towards Tim, who slightly shoved Dick to allow the alien to see him.
The alien glanced down, the tilt still present, the seems rippling once more. Cass couldn’t see it but it was clear she felt it as her eyes glanced to the side.
“ꃲꎡ꒦ꄡꁄꅐꅔꒄꍈꁄ, hatchling. That is my name” The alien spoke and Dick bit his lip. No way, they could pronounce whatever that was. “What is yours?”
Tim, small and thin Tim held himself as he answered. “Tim, Mr…uh…” Then faltered and that damn alien and his head tilt, it already was grating his nerves. As if he was a confused puppy and not their kidnapper.
The seems rippled once more and if his siblings all hadn’t startled in their own way, Dick could have denied that it had opened and a rumble erupted from it.
Cass was too close to those sharp teeth even if they were concealed still. In just one swoop she would be snatched inside, she was so small and she was so thin, bony elbows and legs, and the brute could just snare her inside—
“You and your hatchmates may pick a nickname for me later. Your Terran tongue cannot pronounce my true name. Now your question, Tim” That same rumble erupted once more when the alien pronounced Tim’s name, and the tone surrounding it was possessiveness.
It scared Dick to his core that Tim was being claimed. His baby brother. And he could do nothing as Tim swallowed before speaking again, being so brave.
“You–You said we can’t bathe together” The alien nodded. “But–we’re–we’re hatchmates?” Another nod. “Hatchmates—Hum–Terran hatchmates are allowed to bathe together on Earth”
Dick didn’t know what hatchmates were but Tim had somehow figured it out and now was lying to get Cass to stay with them.
He would need to give his brother all the kisses and cuddles he could for how brave he was, braver than he was and they had an eight-year gap between them.
“Is that true?” The alien questioned and Tim nodded. The alien glanced down at Cass. “ Female Terran, what is your name?” Dick heard Jason suck in a breath. Tim as well but this time before he could answer, Dick took a step forward.
“Her name is Cass, uh sir. She—Cass can’t talk.” He explained that the alien had no eyes, but he knew the alien was staring at him and he couldn’t stop the tremble.
“She can’t talk? Why?” The alien– fucking tilted his head again –asked. Dick swallowed.
“Some humans—” A very quiet “Terrans” whispered “Some Terrans just can’t talk. She's not broken, just—just different” The alien could not be allowed to think Cass was useless, to be discarded. Different yes but just as useful as they could be for whatever the alien wanted.
Another nod. “ What are your two’s name?” Jason went first.
“Ja—Jason sir” A rumble once more.
“Dick” Another rumble then the alien tapped Cass’ shoulder with the very edge of his claw. The girl just stared at Dick.
“ Are you okay to bathe with your hatchmates?” The alien asked and Cass slowly nodded. “ I apologize for the misunderstanding. I will retrieve your suit as you bathe with your hatchmates” The alien instructed and Cass–
Cass was released into Dick’s awaiting arms.
“ Ring the doorbell when you have finished and I will retrieve you four”
The door closed and after a few seconds, Dick lost balance, slamming into the cold sterile floor as Tim and Jason barreled into him and Cass’s loose hug.
Quiet sobs filled the room as they all held on another.