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Foolish.
Jason feels so god damn foolish, he wants to tear his hair out and scream. And scream and scream and scream. Until something would give in. His feelings or his throat. Instead he is sitting here, listening to the soft beeping and whirling of the medical machinery. Staring for so long, that his eyes are blurry from overuse. Because he is scared what might happen if he closes them for longer. For long enough to sleep. For long enough to take a break.
He can’t believe that it has not even a day, when the looming talk with Bruce was something that got his heart beating faster. Now he wishes they had this talk. Jason would take a screaming match over this. Jason would take a lot of things over this. But what he got, had been an emergency notice that signaled another Arkham outbreak. All hands on deck.
Bruce had ordered Jason to stay back.
Dick had begged him with a single look.
Jason had watched them all drive out of the cave. Not like this is the first or even the twentieth time the pack had to contain an outbreak and this time Nightwing was with them from the beginning. Something they didn’t usually have. Jason didn’t like it, but if they all thought they wouldn’t need his help, then fine , he would stay the fuck back. While taking a bath, angrily. To help with his anxiety and.. other, overly stretched out parts.
He got just back in the cave, accepting a cup of tea from Alfred, as the Batmobile came in at full speed. And no matter what anyone would have ever to say about it, but Jason knew before he could even see Batman jumping out and taking a lax, blue clothed person from the backseat.
Jason didn’t notice the porcelain of the cup, breaking against the cold stone floor of the cave. He didn’t notice the high-pitched terrified whine that his vocal cords produced. He didn’t notice how he closed the distance between them. But he noticed the stark glistening red, drawing mocking lines over the matte black and striking blue. Steering his attention to the holes. Multiple.
Shot.
His Alpha had been shot.
He starred after Batman, who hurried into their medical bay with the lifelessly looking body in his arms. Jason could make out one of Nightwings arms, hanging down and swaying with each of Batmans steps. His gaze follows the line of the unmoving fingers, down to the ground, seeing the mocking dark red blood drops on it. Following them from the Batmobile. Following from wherever Nightwing had been shot.
Jason blinks and somehow, he is waiting for Alfred and Leslie to finish the operation. He blinks and he holds the crumbled and bloodied suit in his hands, burrowing his fists into it. He blinks and he is looking down at a still sedated Dick, lying in a bed. Hooked up on machines. Looking more dead then alive. Pale and unmoving. Both things that no one ever thought about Richard Grayson.
He ignores every attempt of contact the packs makes with him. They are moving pieces at the edge of his awareness. They are not dangerous to him, so he can let them be. He listens to Leslie, who explains that Dick is expected to make a full recovery, if he makes it through the next twelve hours.
If.
Jason takes a seat, grabs the Alphas hand and presses a soft kiss into the clammy skin. Twelve hours are nothing for Dick Grayson. For Nightwing. For his Alpha. There is nothing in this universe that stands a chance again this mans stubbornness. Dick would never leave his pack behind, as long as there is a fighting chance. Jason can’t believe anything else, so he won't.
He will watch over Dick none the less. He will hold the Alphas hand and beg him silently to come back. To stay strong. To stay alive.
And he will use the time to unchain himself. To let himself fall into the parts of his minds that he had cut off. That he hadn’t even wanted with all that green. Maybe even because of all that green. But now he has seen the red over the black and blue and it is time to make peace with the parts of himself that he will soon need.
To make peace with the League and remember not only their training but also their customs. Customs he hadn’t shown any interest in, because they didn’t make him a better killer of fighter. And it is only now, that he understands some of them. That he understands that sometimes it is good to show the world that a pack doesn’t only exist of Alphas.
He blinks and looks around him. They have left him alone with Dick. He leans forward and gently pulls some of the Alphas dark locks out of his forehead and grabs his phone. Sending a message and sitting back again. Waiting. Being on guard.
It doesn’t take long before Damian appears at his side, starring down at Dick with an unreadable face. “I blocked all recordings from the room.”
Jason nods, accepting that as truth. “I need to ask something of you, as treasured heart.”
If Damian is surprised by that, he doesn’t show it. It’s only his eyes that switch from the unconscious body over to the Omega. “Are you? Treasured? You haven’t shown anything that would suggest it.”
Jason snorts without humor. “There wasn’t any need for it. You know as well as I do, that I know everything that is needed for the Title. Don’t you, little Princeling?”
The little Assassin looks back down. “Acquiesced. What do you plan to do?”
The Omega turns Dicks hand carefully, following his lifeline softly with a finger. “That shouldn’t be a question. Someone hurt my Alpha.”
Damians very soft exhale would have gone unnoticed under all the medical sounds, if Jason hadn’t been listening for it. “You aren’t mated. You are barely courting, if even that.”
“Doesn’t matter. My heart and soul claim him. I claim him. He is mine.”
This time the younger boy can’t help himself, he gives his surprise away with abruptly looking back to Jason. It shows that it would never do to underestimate the intelligence of that boy. No matter the age. With Jasons words he knows exactly what the Omega plans to do. “What do you ask of me then, treasured heart of Batmans pack?”
His free hand grabs Nightwings crumbled suit and hands it over. “Help me, making a statement. Will twelve hours suffice?”
Damian nods, accepting the suit. “I understand and it will be done. I am pleased with that turn of events. While I can accept that there are things in the League that count as unacceptable in this kind of culture, I would like to think that some of our customs would do much good here.”
Jason smiles, showing teeth. “As you say, little Prince. As you say. Make it unmistakable dramatic.”
“How else could it ever be, with a pack like this?”
After that Damian leaves and Jason looks to the clock above the door, before leaning over the bed again. “Eight more hours, Dickie. 480 minutes. Thats nothing for you. I am already doing things you wouldn’t approve, so you better wake up and keep me in line.”
He had eaten some of Alfreds sandwiches to keep his strength for later and isn’t surprised as Bruce finally makes his entry. The other members of the pack did all come and go at some point. Seemingly needing to see Dick breathing just as much as Jason does.
The Pack-Alpha takes the free seat and they both stare silently at Dick. Who is still there. Still fighting. Still alive. Still with him.
“I didn’t realize how close you two grew over that short period of time.” Bruces voice isn't accusing. Nothing like it probably would have been only hours earlier. Jason hasn’t the will left to fight over this anyway.
“Looking back it feels unavoidable”, he murmurs, stroking a thumb over Dicks hand, along the Alphas fingers. “And natural. I woke up from the Pits influence and the moment he accepted me back, he was my safe haven. I trust him more than myself.”
Bruce hums and leans back into the seat. Crossing his feet at his ankles. “So, it was the truth as you told us you sought him out in your last heat, because you were scared what would happen with the Pit?
Jason shrugs. “No reason to lie about that. It wasn’t a sexual heat, if that is your concern.” Not that Jason would care right now either way. He feels numb. If Bruce wants to know about the sex Dick and he had, he will tell him about that too. Jason would sell himself on the street if it would secure Dicks life.
“But that was the point something started?”
He nods, but then shrugs. “Yes and no? I really can’t pinpoint things between us. You are my Pack Alpha and I respect that, but he was my Alpha from the very beginning. With harmless feelings of adoration and hero worship as young kid, with mixed feelings and some fear before he welcomed me back into the pack and with knowing that he was my ultimate safety-net afterwards. I can’t describe it better. All that followed was at least for me only a deepening of everything that was already there.”
He can hear a soft sigh. “And Dick?”
“You will have to ask him about that, Bruce.”
Because Dick will wake up again. He needs to.
“You two should have at least given me the courtesy of telling me about it.” For all possible reprimands, this one is spoken softly and Jason nods. “Yeah, I think it was all such a natural flow that it didn’t even ping as something to do. He wasn’t exactly subtle with his affection here in the Manor either, after my heat.”
Surprisingly Bruce chuckles at that. “Tim called it, after the night you and Dick made up with each other. I think I didn’t want to see it. I just got settled with the idea of having you home again.”
Jason smiles wryly. “And you still did let me leave for Bludhaven.”
“You argue with Dick about something he feels strongly about and tell me how it did go afterwards. I dare you.”
This wrecks something that sounds a lot like a sob out of Jason. “Yeah. Fuck. He is such a stubborn idiot, isn’t he? He always fights his best fights for others.”
He hadn’t even noticed Bruce moving until he finds himself pressed into the strong chest. Jason breaks. “Tim said Dick jumped in front of his back. Right into the line of the bullets. And Tim had the nerve to apologize for it to me. As if that big blue idiot wouldn’t do it a thousand times again for his pack.” The arms around him tighten and for the first time in years and years, Jason finds himself crying into his Dads shoulder.
“He will make it, Jaylad. There is no other possible outcome here.”
No. There really isn’t.
The moment Leslie declared that Dick had made it, felt unreal for Jason. Dick wouldn’t die. Dick would get well again. Jason couldn’t.. He wobbled into his room and into his nest and fell head first into it and slept.
Only to open his eyes four hours later, with Damian standing above him. “It is ready.” Jason nods, allows himself a deep breath and the repeated mantra that Dick would be alright, before standing up and refreshing himself in the bathroom.
As he comes back out, Damian had laid out the costume on the bed and Jason inhales harshly. “Damian, that is...”
He can see how the boy muscles work minuscule to stand a bit taller. A bit prouder. “My packs treasured heart asked me of something this important. Of course I would give it my all.”
Jason gets out of his clothes, down to his underwear and starts with the new pants. Black cargo pants this time. Only the stitching at the side is made in a familiar striking blue.
The top isn’t changed in form, but the bat in front now has Batmans grey color and its outline is also in blue. Making the symbol stand out, even with grey on black.
The Jacket is the real artwork. It’s the same kind of metal polyester in black, but now there is Nightwings iconic bird at its back, with the same blue stripes down the arms. It has two bullet holes in it. Around the big bird, there are smaller birds. One in red-yellow-green, one in red and one in violet. There is also a gleaming black bat, almost not visible and a smaller yellow one and in every other possible free spot, there are bats in all forms. All in Batmans grey and more of a subtle background to bring out the birds more.
Slipping into his gear, including boots that are made like the league would do it, he feels like he is donning his whole pack, with both of his Alphas in prime positions. With showing off his Alpha and pack for the whole world to see.
“This is exceptional”, his voice is rough, he can’t hide his feelings anymore. Damian points to the utility belt. “I had to use the fabricator at Wayne Industries. You will find that suit a lot more durable than the one you used for training.”
Jason equips the belt and grabs the Domino that is lying there. It is black. Turning around to look at himself at the mirror, he takes the escrima sticks Damian holds out to him automatically. “Richard didn’t want them. They have blades that come out in the front and can’t therefore give out the usual maximal electricity he is used to. I think you might appreciate them. The weapons I had designed for you, sadly didn’t finish in time.”
*******
The Omega slowly takes his scent patches off, throws them carelessly in the bin and pulls Damian in a surprisingly intense hug. “You fulfilled my request not only with honor, but with foresight and wisdom. The moment you present, no matter as what dynamic, I will gift you the silver dagger.”
Damians eyes widen at Todds use of the league dialect, but he returns the hug furiously. “I will strike where you point me, treasured heart.” He doesn’t say that he hopes that Todd will have them all pay for what they did to Richard. There is no need. These lowlifes hurt the chosen Alpha of Batmans Pack-Omega. There is no other outcome then blood.
After that night, Gotham will know better.
They don’t exchange more words. They said all that was needed and Damian returns down to the cave. Standing beside Drake, who is still trying to figure out for whom the shooters work for.
He isn’t surprised as an alarm announces the temporarily shutdown of the cave and manor. Todd knows that the others would come after him, the moment they noticed him gone. Such is their training. To anticipate every possible outcome. Only one more sign that he had chosen correctly, with accepting the Omegas self-proclaimed title.
“You don’t seem surprised”, his father points out and that brings the wild discussions around him down to a manageable level. Damian looks up, searching the gaze of his father out. “I am not.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it is what I would have done in Todd’s place.” It is easy to see, how his father puts the little evidence that is there together. The intelligent grey eyes widen for a moment, before sharpening.
“Jason is going after Dicks attackers?”
Damian blinks. “He is going to War. Showing everyone that this pack is blessed by the presence of a treasured heart. They won't forget that lesson anytime soon when he is through with them.”
Drake stares at him, while Brown frowns. “Treasured what now?”
His father rubs tiredly over his head. “Treasured heart. The League title for a highly trained Omega. They are coveted for their aggressive protectiveness. I didn’t know Jason had that title. I thought he was on suppressants the whole time.”
“As far as I know, he was. He also never gained the title officially. He asked me for a favor as such and I granted it.”
“And gave him the title with it”, Bruce murmurs, before turning to Tim. “How long until we can lift the lockdown? Can you work around it? And let Oracle try to get a lock on him.”
“How the heck is Damian just talking casually about some War? Isn’t Jason still in training and not even back to his old self? He might just as well walk into a suicide mission!”
It is Cain that looks at Brown. “He is going out as Batmans Pack-Omega, not as Vigilante.”
“Does that really make so much of a difference?”
Bruce stares at the still black screens, still waiting and hoping that Oracle get something soon. “It might make all the difference. For all the time he spent at the League, he never really showed their skill set.”
Damian nods. “He doesn’t like what he learned but he is following the custom. Todd will be moving very differently. They won't see him until he wants them to see him.”
“Wait..”, Tim looks highly uncomfortable. “If he goes out as this treasure or whatever, doesn’t that mean he doesn’t wear his scent blockers? In Gotham? We still haven’t even gotten everyone back into Arkham.”
“Such is the way of the treasured. You don’t earn that title with looking pretty.”
His father curses. “Tim, I need the lockdown gone, now!”
Damian sighs. He only hopes that Oracle will be able to get some sort of live feed. He really wants to see it happening.
*******
Running and grappling over Gothams roofs is like donning an old, well-loved and worn-out sweater. Even the air feels differently. Hell, Jason feels differently. Dipping back into a skillset that he just as much despises as the Pit. As the Pit-rage. But he can’t deny that it feels good, dropping down behind some goons, bringing them silently and efficiently down. His movement is ruthless. There isn’t a single muscle twitching that isn’t needed. He doesn’t taunt them. Tears his way through them in silence, only letting one of them conscious enough to question him.
Usually, it isn’t hard to find out whoever really hurt a bat. They like to brag about it. Even while in prison. And Jason scares the living daylight out of them. Maybe it is some animal part in their hindbrains, because so far no one even tried to play the big Alpha with him.
Unfortunately, it still takes him three groups of criminal scumbags to get the answer he is looking for. By now the Bats will be out of the cave. By now Oracle will probably have a read on him. Bringing the crackling stick down against temple of the asshole that just gave him his new destination he stops for a moment to catch his breath. Jason is trying to preserve his energy, but he had a long day and an even longer night. Not enough food and sleep either. Which just shows that his body is still unwilling to go back into the kind of modus needed.
But no matter, he is still more then able to do this. Time to visit that little group around one David Massalis. Leader of a small drug gang that seemingly got lucky while Red Robin and Nightwing were busy fighting the real criminals. The problematic ones.
Lucky in shooting Nightwing.
Well, if Jason has anything to say about it, their luck is about to take a real bad turn.
They almost killed Dick. There isn’t a single rule written in Jasons book, that would prevent him from doing what is coming for them.
It doesn’t take long to get to the harbor, because of course it has to be the fucking harbor. They should just start calling it scumbags headquarters and be done with it. Making his way down the roof, into the rafters of the warehouse, he finds himself staring at a lot more people then he expected. Tilting his head, he can hear parts of different conversations. Massalis has not only called his own people but called in favors from others for more manpower.
It seems like Jasons little stampede through Gotham hadn’t stayed unnoticed. Good. One or more of these assholes are the ones that did it. Maybe he should take a page out of Jokers book and just explode the whole thing. Might even be cathartic. But the thought feels too impersonal. There needs to be fear. Isn’t that Batmans whole stick? To have them fear him enough to not do crimes?
Apparently, Batmans plans still work for shit.
Or maybe they just aren’t scared enough.
It’s Jasons turn to try and correct that.
He throws all but one of his smoke grenades.
******
Oww .. Dick hopes sincerely that someone got the plate of the car that hit him.
He knows he is in the caves medbay before even trying to open his eyes. They all know the smell instinctively by now, with how often one of them has to lie here.
Sighing deeply, he recognizes the cotton feeling in his mouth. Sedative. Operation. Probably not a car then. And yes, sometimes he hates his own bad coping mechanisms.
Opening his eyes slowly, in preparation for the light, he is happy enough the find it dimmed down already. Carefully looking around, he can make out Steph who is watching something on a tablet. A part of him is confused by this, insisting that it should be Jason sitting there. That there is no way Jason wouldn’t be sitting there.
He must have made a sound because Steph looks up and starts grinning brightly. Her relieved scent slams into his nose, overpowering the remains of the Omega that seemingly had been here at some point or another. How long had he been out? The girl jumps to her feet, grabbing a glass of water and bringing up his backrest. Holding the straw out to him. Standard protocol for waking up after an operation.
“Damn it, I am so happy you are awake. You really scared us there for a second.” She babbles while he drinks, instantly feeling a bit better as the lukewarm water hits his throat.
“What happened?” And where are the others? Not to sound too clingy, but.. where is the rest of his pack?
Her expression crumbles for a moment. “You were shot. It was touch and go for a moment. We were all so worried. Leslie had to operate you for forever! And then we still had to wait for hours until we knew that you had made it. Damn it..”, her voice breaks and she reaches out to clasp his arm. “Don’t do that ever again. Jason was nearly back to being catatonic.”
Dick blinks, trying to understand. And he would like to reassure the younger Alpha but.. “Where is he? Jason? And B? The others?” Because damn it. They should all be here. He need to see that they are all alive and well.
Steph freezes and maybe another person, freshly awake after an operation and sedatives would have missed it, but Dick is in the business for too long. He sees the short glance to the tablet. Suddenly there is a heavy stone in his stomach. “Steph”, and if there is a bit of his Alpha growl in his voice, he can’t help it. “Show me.”
She whines distressed, but hurt and almost dead or not, Dick is miles above her in the pack. She grabs the device, turns it around and shows him. And at first, he has a hard time understanding what he is seeing, but then it clicks. It’s the footage from Batmans cowl.
Who is just entering a warehouse, throwing the doors open, forgoing stealth completely. And that little thing clues him instantly in. There aren’t many reasons that switch Batman from stealth to pure brute force. The safety of the pack being highest on the list.
Dick can see the remains of smoke and under it bodies. The sound from the tablet is tiny, but they still hear Batman ordering the others to join the fight. The still ongoing fight. The fight that started without Batman and the others there. Because of course it did. And seeing as their pack only has two members with volatile enough tempers to react instantly if a loved one gets hurt and with Dick lying here..
“Jason..”
As if he had summoned him, the Omega appears in Batmans sight. There is no doubt in his mind that it is Jason, no matter what he is wearing.
Dicks bird and colors. His stripes. His.
“God damn. He can move.” Steph murmurs in awe and if Dicks brain weren’t still stuck on the costume, he would agree. Jason is weaving in and out and around. Whirling Escrima-sticks and bringing them down around him as if he never did anything else. Beautiful, his Alpha provides, while Dick has a hard time not noticing in what sort of danger his Omega jumped into. Alone. Until now.
Because the pack is there and whatever it is, but they are following Jason and putting down the law. Hard. He sees Tim cracking his staff down hard on a knee, Damian kicking out the legs of another while Cass stops someone from shooting in Jasons direction.
While Batman stands there and watches Jason.
“What is B doing?!”
Dick has ideas about that, but he, just as Batman, can’t take his eyes from the Omega. Jason. Who just told him two days ago that he is looking for options to take online college courses. Jason, who cried as Tony Stark died as they finally brought him up to speed on all the movies and Dick pretending that he hadn’t noticed. Instead having gone in the kitchen and bringing chocolate-mint ice for both of them. Jason, who couldn’t stop laughing as Dick paused the training to rescue a cat from a tree that hadn’t want to be rescued and was feral enough that it had been Dick that almost fell down.
The Jason he is seeing now could just as well be a complete stranger.
He would bet that Bruce is waiting for his turn, in case Jason turns feral. Dick could have told him to stop worrying about that. He can see it in every little movement. There is nothing feral about Jason. Actually, it is almost too controlled. This is a part of the Omega he hasn’t seen before. It’s inappropriately hot, his Alpha provides, while simultaneously being ashamed of his own weakness. About not being able to be out there and fight on his Omegas side. Another part tells him to be better fucking proud to have someone on his side that is strong enough to deal out punishment. For hurting Dick. That part sounds a lot like Jason.
Honestly, his brain is a decently scrambled place at the moment and he can’t make head or tails about everything he is feeling while watching.
Steph comments some moves from time to time and Dick does his best to fight against the heaviness of his eyelids. It gets harder and harder, and maybe he is already halfway dreaming as he hears Batman asking Jason what the hell he had been thinking. And Jasons answer. “I thought about showing what happens if someone makes your Pack-Omega angry, old man. Keep it in your pants. They are all alive. Well, alive enough to regret a few things, I would guess.”
Dick probably shouldn’t but there is a burning hot feeling of being proud in him, before he finally falls asleep again.
The next time he wakes up, the room is drenched in packscents. As it should have been from the beginning. And he doesn’t even have to open his eyes, to know that Jason is curled around him. Dick nuzzles happily against the Omegas chin, earning a tired but pleased sound.
“You wore my colors. My bird”, he mumbles against the warm and inviting smelling skin, barely above a whisper. The arm around him tightens, letting him feel some of the pain from his wounds, but Dick couldn’t care less as Jason softly huffs. Answering just as quietly. “’Course I did. You are my Alpha.”
Yes, he is. “I will court you.”
“No one is stopping you, Dickie.”
And that is that.