Chapter Text
Dick isn’t paying attention to the debrief.
He should care more than he does, but Bruce’s monotone droll fades into the background as Dick kicks his feet against Jason’s under the table. Playing footsie with his mate (because that’s what Jason is to him, even if they haven’t officially bonded) probably shouldn’t be so enthralling at his big age, but Dick finds himself unable to care. Each brush of his foot against Jason’s ankle gets a responding tap, and Dick grins to himself stupidly when his leg is eventually trapped between Jason’s knees, preventing any further movement.
A throat clearing drags him out of his fuzzy haze. To his surprise, the interruption didn’t come from Bruce. Dick and Jason have been going out for a few months now, and the response from the family has been positive as it probably could be given the situation. They haven’t actually officially told anyone in as many words, but they live in a family of detectives- and it was pretty obvious when they’d both shown up sheepishly to patrol with bruises that clearly didn’t come from a fight. Bruce’s response to the whole thing has been decidedly neutral, the only time he deigns to acknowledge his sons’ relationship is when it impacts “the mission”.
Which is why Dick is surprised that the throat clearing came from Damian. The little alpha hasn’t been with their pack long, and it’s been…an adjustment to say the least. Still, Dick tries to give the pup the benefit of the doubt and does his best to make him feel welcome in the family. He slides his leg out from between Jason’s and settles back into his chair, arms crossed over his chest.
“What’s up, Little D?” He tries to smile at the young alpha encouragingly.
Damian sniffs haughtily before he speaks. “I would like to see Charles.”
Dick’s smile freezes in place. He can’t help his mind from instantly jumping to Charlie, his son, the only possible “Charles” he thinks Damian might know. But still- Damian knows about Charlie? That can’t- how? Dick replays the timeline in his head as his brain buzzes with possibilities and he has the dawning realization that Damian would’ve been about eight or nine when Charlie was born. He’d never given it much thought before- he’d known that Damian and Jason had to have interacted while Jason was in the League of Assassins, given their familiarity. But, given Jason’s propensity to secrecy, Dick had assumed he’d hidden Charlie from the League in the same way he’d hidden him from the family. A tendril of hurt twists in his heart to know Jason trusted Damian more than him.
Dick darts his eyes around the room, taking stock of the family’s reactions. Across the table from him, Jason has noticeably stiffened. Tim, Barbara, and Bruce wear expressions of varying degrees of confusion.
“Who?” Dick asks Damian, his smile wavering slightly.
“My nephew, Grayson. I have been here for some time now, and I would like to see him. I’ve proved I’m not a threat so- you can bring him out now.”
Dick’s mouth goes dry and he cuts his eyes between Jason (who is firmly looking at the tabletop with intense interest) and Damian, who seems to grow less sure of himself by the minute.
“Damian-” Tim starts. “I don’t think-”
“Enough!” Damian bristles, anger starting to spark in his mint and cedarwood scent. He turns to Jason, who has started scanning the room for escape routes. “How much longer do you plan on keeping my nephew from me, Todd?”
The room, which was already quiet, goes so exceedingly silent Dick thinks his ears might pop. Everyone turns towards Jason. Bruce, always thinking ahead, presses the button that will seal off the cave exits.
Resigned to his fate, Jason blows out a deep sigh. “They didn’t know, Dami.”
Almost immediately, the room erupts into chaos. Damian points a finger into Jason’s face and starts ranting about his incompetence. Tim and Barbara let out a cry of “you have a kid?!” in almost perfect unison. And when Dick sneaks a look at Bruce, Bruce has seemingly frozen in place, his hand partially lifted and his mouth parted in surprise.
Dick sinks down into his chair, trying to disappear, but that quickly becomes impossible when Barbara snaps her head towards him, the beta fixing him with a knowing look.
“You knew.”
It’s not a question, but Dick still answers it as if it was. “Um. Yes.”
Her eyes narrow and Dick can tell she’s gearing up for a line of questioning, but he’s thankfully saved from an interrogation by Bruce’s rumbling baritone. The pack leader remembering his voice works just in time.
“Enough.”
Everyone in the room stops their bickering, turning wary gazes onto Bruce. Bruce’s eyes slide over to Jason, who straightens up reflexively under that penetrating gaze.
“Jason, explain.”
Jason scoffs and rolls his eyes. He looks back at Bruce defiantly, and their staring contest continues for a few seconds before Jason seemingly crumbles. He kicks a boot at the table and releases an irritated huff.
“Fine. Yes, I have a kid. It’s not a big deal or whatever. I was going to tell you guys one day, maybe. Or never, I don’t know.” Jason glares at Damian then. “And his name is Charlie, not Charles.”
Damian makes a noise under his breath, but otherwise doesn’t speak. Barbara eyes the exchange between the two before her hand shoots in the air.
“I have a question.” Jason looks at her a bit nervously but nods. “How old is he?”
“Five.”
A small murmur of surprise goes around the table at Jason’s admission. Bruce, Dick notices, looks shockingly close to tears.
“Who’s the sire?”
Tim yelps in surprise as he’s kicked under the table.
“Tim, you can’t just ask that-” Barbara pauses. “Is it Roy?”
Dick puffs up a bit in his seat in indignation as Jason groans into his hands. “Why does everyone think that?”
Tim starts speaking again as if Jason never opened his mouth. “No, think about the timeline. If Damian knew about the pup back then, then that means-”
Bruce suddenly makes a strangled noise, causing heads to swivel in his direction. His eyes have the slightest hint of redness to them.
“Son,” Bruce begins delicately. “Did Ra’s ever-”
And really, the insinuation is just too much for Dick.
“The pup isn’t fucking Ra’s.” He spits. “It’s mine.”
The table descends into silence for the second time that night, only broken by Jason’s very colorful swears.
Surprisingly, it’s Damian who speaks next, though his scent has gone carefully neutral. “I suppose Grayson is an adequate sire, yes. You chose well enough, Todd.”
“Thanks, Dami,” is Jason’s weak reply.
Dick should’ve been expecting it but he’s still caught unawares when the family’s focus shifts to him. He squirms in his chair under the intensity of everyone’s gaze.
“Well?” Barbara asks plainly. “How’d you manage to knock him up when five years ago we thought he was dead?”
Next to her, Tim nods solemnly. Bruce just gives him that same thousand-yard stare that’s become stuck to his face.
“Um-” Dick starts. “Well- we-” He risks a glance at Jason, but to his disappointment his mate doesn’t seem inclined to help him out. “Uh- we might’ve shared a heat together back at the manor.”
The revelation seems to breathe some life back into Bruce.
“You were having unprotected sex underage?” His eyes flash dangerously with the fatherly urges he seems to only get when it’s convenient.
Even knowing he was in the wrong, Dick still feels the urge to defend himself. “Hey, it’s not like- I- we were left alone in the manor and his heat triggered my rut. We couldn’t have known he would get knocked up from it.”
Barbara makes an exasperated noise. “And you just forgot about protection?”
“We weren’t exactly thinking rationally at the time.” Dick replies meekly, eyes moving over to Jason as he makes another pained noise. His mate reeks of distress and he urges to go over and comfort him, but even now it’s hard to tell whether his touch would be welcomed or not.
“Oh my god, I had no idea you were such a knot-head alpha.” Barbara throws her hands up in the air, giving him a dirty look.
“Wait,” Tim says slowly. “But that would’ve been before Jason died.”
Jason lets out a low groan as the heads swivel once more to face him, sinking low in his chair. With everyone dressed out of their uniforms, the atmosphere feels more like a daytime courtroom drama than anything else. Dick would probably find the situation amusing if he wasn’t so stressed.
“Elaborate.” Even though Bruce is a beta, the gravel in his tone does not allow for disagreement.
Jason sneers back at him. “Put the pieces together yourself, old man.”
There’s a pause as Bruce thinks it over, and then his expression shifts to mildly horrified as he figures it out. “The Lazarus Pit,” he whispers.
Tim and Barbara wear twin expressions of shock and horror as they reach the same conclusion, though Barbara’s starts melting away into sympathy. Damian looks rightfully awkward at having caused this conversation.
Dick finally gets up and moves to stand next to Jason, resting his hand on his shoulder and rubbing the muscle soothingly. Jason responds by leaning ever so slightly into the touch.
“Can I- can we meet him?” Bruce’s voice is so, so quiet, but it still echoes loudly with the fraught emotion of the room.
By the way Jason tenses beneath his hand, Dick can tell he’s opposed to the idea.
“It’s up to you, sweetheart.” Dick murmurs, continuing to try and comfort his mate. “We’re not doing anything you’re not comfortable with.”
It’s silent for a few moments and then Bruce’s voice rings out again. “I can not be there. If- if that would help.”
Dick looks up at his adoptive father, stunned. He can tell the thought of not meeting his grandson destroys him, but he can’t help but be impressed by Bruce’s willingness to make Jason more comfortable. He’s come a long way.
Eventually, Jason sighs. “No, no it’s okay. I’ll- bring him around. He’d probably like to meet everyone.”
Bruce’s face cracks into a relieved smile as he nods. Tim and Barbara whisper excitedly between themselves, while Damian looks a little miffed at having to share his nephew with the rest of the family. Dick squeezes Jason’s shoulder in encouragement.
“I’m proud of you, Jay.”
Jason just fixes him with a tired look, tension bleeding back into his frame. “Can we leave now? Please?”
Dick nods in return. No sense in hanging around when that would only invite more uncomfortable questions. They steal away quietly up the stairs out of the cave, taking advantage of everyone’s momentary distraction. They’re halfway to the front door when Jason stops.
“Shit,” he swears, and then pivots on his heel to head back into the manor. Dick blinks after him before running behind him.
“Jay? Baby, what’s wrong? Did you want me to pull the car around?”
Jason stops in front of the door to the kitchens, his fingers twitching anxiously next to the handle. “No, it’s okay, I-” He bites his lip. “I just want to be the one to tell Alfred.”
All of Dick’s worries release in a single breath and he smiles in relief. “Did you want me to come in with you, or should I wait outside?”
Jason looks torn, and a little uncertain as he finally mumbles, “Can you wait outside?”
Dick nods easily, knowing how much Alfred means to Jason. He’ll have time to talk to the butler later, and he can understand Jason’s desire for privacy in this moment.
Jason slips inside, and Dick leans against the doorframe as he waits. He hears hushed voices coming from inside, then the shattering of glass. He almost goes inside to check on them, but then he hears a tearful “my dear boy” and what sounds like muffled sobs from Jason. Dick instantly settles, resuming his position as sentry guarding the kitchen door. He makes eye contact with Bruce as he emerges from the cave, and they exchange an acknowledgment before Bruce slinks up the stairs. A little while later, Jason exits the kitchen, his eyes puffy and red-rimmed, but smiling nonetheless.
“Okay,” he says, looking like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. “Let’s go home.”
* * * * *
Two weeks later finds their little family of three bundled into Dick’s car, heading back to the manor. It’s a warm spring day, and they’re dressed casually for the weather. Charlie wears a pair of overalls Dick picked out- Jason had called them hideous, but Dick had caught him snapping a few secret photos when he thought no one was looking- and the pup bounces a little in his carseat as he stares out the window.
Charlie had been excited for days. They’d told him he would be meeting his papa’s family, and that Uncle Dami would be there, and the kid had been practically bouncing off the walls in delight. It’d been a struggle to even buckle him into his carseat. Dick watches his son in the rearview mirror with a fond smile, then places a gentle hand on Jason’s knee.
The omega had been tense the entire drive, and Dick can sense his anxiety getting worse as the manor blossoms into view. The leg beneath Dick’s hand bounces in jitters as they make their way up the driveway, gravel crunching beneath the tires of the sedan. Charlie, on the other hand, lets out an ecstatic squeal, tiny hands coming to pull at his seatbelt as Dick parks.
As soon as Jason unbuckles him, the pup darts from the vehicle. Or- he tries to, at least. Jason’s hand twisted in the back straps of the overalls stops him short before he can get very far.
“Woah, lil monster.” Jason holds tight to the squirming pup. “Cool your jets.”
“But I wanna see Uncle Dami,” Charlie whines, pouting up at his mother.
“He’s inside, monkey.” Dick rounds the side of the sedan after shutting the door. “You’ll see him soon.”
The rest of the family had already gathered in the back of the manor out on the pristinely manicured lawn. Alfred had insisted on decorating and cooking all by himself, of course, but Dick still juggles a carton of sugar cookies Jason had stress-baked the night before as he holds the door for his family to pass through.
Even as a trained vigilante, it’s still mildly disconcerting to see seven heads turn towards them in unison. Bruce and Alfred are the closest to them, lingering by the door to their right. Alfred looks as stoic as ever, put-together and unperturbed by the latecomers’ arrival. Bruce would probably appear the same to the untrained eye, if not for the slight widening of his gaze and the barest hitch of breath.
Barbara, Cass and Stephanie cluster together, huddled in a group further out on the patio, whispering amongst themselves. Well, Barbara and Stephanie seem to be the ones doing most of the whispering (actually- mainly Steph, bent over to accommodate Bab’s chair), Cass just watches Dick’s small party curiously.
Dick had been glad when Jason had suggested inviting Cass, Steph and Duke to their little soiree- to “get it over with in one go” he’d said- but as he notices Jason’s slightly trembling fingers from the corner of his eye, he wonders if it might’ve been a mistake.
His eyes drift over to the remaining members of the family. Duke stands close to Tim near the heavily laden buffet table and only looks up when the former Robin’s elbow sharply nudges him in the side. And Damian is…nowhere to be seen. Great.
Dick feels a slight pressure against his leg and looks down to see Charlie hiding behind him, peering out shyly at the gathered adults. A rush of emotion suddenly starts to churn inside his chest. Charlie has always been a fairly outgoing pup, Dick’s never seen him so timid before. Something about it makes him want to bundle his son close to his chest, get in the car, and drive back home as fast as he can.
At the same time, though, he feels a sick sense of pride that Charlie chose to come to him for support. Usually, the pup goes to Jason for literally everything and Dick is delighted to be able to take an active parent role. He gets to show his pup that he’s safe, that these people are pack.
Dick drops a hand to his son’s shoulder, rubbing the scent gland from his wrist against the pup’s neck, engulfing him in comforting pheromones. He turns to face him, dropping down to the toddler’s level as he meets wide blue eyes.
“It’s okay to feel nervous, I was a little scared the first time I met everyone too.”
Charlie fiddles with his pockets, even as his nose scrunches. “Really?” he asks, seeming not to believe that Dick could’ve ever felt scared before.
“Yep.” Dick squeezes his shoulder reassuringly. “How about this? You don’t have to talk to anyone right away, you can just smile and wave. I’m here for you, and we can go together, okay?”
Charlie nods slowly, though he still looks worried, and Dick gives a relieved smile. “I know you can do it, you’re such a brave boy.”
When Dick goes to draw back, Charlie wraps small arms around his neck and holds tight. Understanding the unspoken plea, Dick hooks an arm under the pup’s knees and hoists him up so that he’s balanced against his hip. The pup turns to hide his face in Dick’s shoulder.
“I got you, monkey, it’s okay. Do you want mama to come with us?” There’s a shuffle of fabric as Charlie nods. “Alrighty, here we go.”
Dick sets the carton of cookies on a side table and reaches out to grasp Jason’s hand, startling the omega out of the vacant stare he’d been giving their gathered family members. Jason’s hand is slightly sweaty- likely from nerves- when he grabs it; Dick gives his palm a brief squeeze in assurance, takes a deep breath, and turns to face the duo closest to them.
Alfred is the easier route by far, so it’s him Dick introduces first. The butler stands at the ready, but there is a distinct wetness framing the corners of his eyes.
“Charlie, this is your Grandpa Alfred, he took care of me and your mama when we were only a little bit older than you are.”
The pup turns his head to peer at the old beta curiously, and Alfred gives him a warm smile in return. “Pleased to meet you, young master Charlie.”
Charlie giggles in response to the butler’s formal language, and Alfred’s loving, rosemary scent swells. He turns to face Jason, pride etched in his features. “He’s beautiful.”
“Thanks, Alfie.” Jason chokes out, and Dick gives his hand another squeeze, not missing the answering wetness in his mate’s eyes.
The next person they face is so much more daunting, despite being the one Dick has known the longest. As Alfred steps back to let Bruce forward, Dick feels Jason tense and he adjusts his grip on both his pup and mate, holding them both a little closer.
“Okay monster,” Dick startles at Jason's voice, not expecting him to speak first. “This is your Grandpa Bastard.”
There’s a cocky drawl to his voice, and his body language is deceptively open and unaffected. Dick notes also the smug pleasure in Jason’s scent when Charlie nods and repeats, “Bassard”.
The exchange earns him a tired wince from Bruce, and a sharp look of disapproval from Alfred. It’s the latter that cowes Jason more than anything, and he hunches his shoulders forward, muttering a quiet “sorry”.
Trying to salvage the situation, Dick bounces Charlie slightly on his hip. “Mama was just kidding. This is Grandpa Bruce. Do you want to try giving him a wave?”
Charlie uncurls one fist from where it’s been clutching Dick’s shirt to wave shyly at Bruce. Bruce’s face looks anguished as his fingers twitch by his sides, hints of the beta’s red wine scent drifting out despite his attempts to control it. He gives a careful wave in return.
“Can I-” Bruce’s voice sounds so uncharacteristically wrecked that it momentarily throws Dick. “Is it alright if I scent him?”
It doesn’t escape Dick that Bruce has directed his plea towards Jason, who just tightens his jaw in response and shrugs. Bruce reaches out a shaking hand towards Charlie, giving the pup ample time to duck away if the touch is unwanted. To Dick’s surprise, Charlie tilts his head to the side, allowing the beta to run his wrist along the underdeveloped scent glands at his neck.
Bruce lets out a rattling exhale as he scents the pup, a ghost of a smile crossing his face. When he finishes, he looks to them both, though his gaze lingers on Jason. “Proud of you, chum.”
Jason gets a weird look on his face, but nods stiffly to acknowledge the praise. When Bruce’s eyes meet Dick’s, he’s overwhelmed by the depth of emotion in them. Something about the moment feels full-circle, Bruce has been Dick’s father for so long and Dick his first son. Now Dick’s here with a son of his own- he can’t imagine everything Bruce might be feeling. Making a mental note, Dick resolves to talk further with Bruce in the future. There’s still a lot to work out between the two of them.
The hand clenched firmly in his gives a little tug, and Dick lets himself be pulled away. When they’ve put some distance between themselves and the oldest members of the pack, Dick allows himself to breathe. In between shuddering breaths, he laughs a bit.
“That went okay, right? I’m proud of you.” He lifts his head to grin at Jason over Charlie’s unruly curls. “Both of you.”
Jason rolls his eyes and scoffs at him, but doesn’t drop his hand, so Dick takes it as a win. Adjusting his grip on Charlie’s legs, he scans the courtyard, deciding who to approach next. He hadn’t fully noticed before, but it really is a lovely day out. The sun hangs high in the sky, only a few clouds breaking up the endless expanse of blue. The light breeze whistling through the trees prevents it from being overbearingly hot, and the sparse gusts cause the ribbons and balloons dotting the space to sway gently against their tethers.
Dick decides to approach Duke and Tim next, figuring that though the group of girls is closer, three people might be a bit too much for Charlie to handle just yet. Sharp fingernails suddenly dig into the tendons at his throat and he winces as the hold on his neck becomes just a tad too tight. He gently prods at Charlie’s hands to get the kid to loosen up a bit. “You want to stand, or should papa keep holding you?”
Charlie looks doubtfully at the ground and tightens his legs around Dick’s torso. Resigned, Dick accepts that he’ll just have to live with a little less oxygen for the time being. It’s fine. Whatever his pup wants.
Having made their way over to the buffet table, Dick points the beta and omega out in turn. “That’s Uncle Duke and Uncle Tim.”
“Hi,” Charlie whispers and Dick coos, pleased that his son is comfortable enough to start speaking.
“Hey, kiddo,” Duke offers Charlie a toothy grin, his citrusy beta scent happy and inviting. “Nice shoes you got there.”
Charlie puffs up in pride at the mention of his light-up dinosaur sneakers. “Thanks.”
Duke leans in to whisper conspiratorially, “Ya know…the big man up there has a dinosaur in his basement.” He points up to where Bruce is standing.
Charlie gasps, his mouth falling open in surprised delight. “Really?” At Duke’s nod, he twists around in Dick’s arms to stare up at him hopefully. “Papa, can I go see?”
Dick stifles a laugh at the awe in his son’s face. “Maybe later, monkey. We have to say hello to everyone first.”
Charlie pouts a bit, but relaxes in his arms as they turn towards where Jason and Tim have been conversing. As they do, Charlie tilts his head in confusion, his nose scrunching slightly.
“You smell like my mama,” he informs Tim matter-of-factly, the pup’s young nose picking up on Tim’s omega designation.
Tim laughs in surprise as Jason scowls and flicks his son’s ear. “Don’t be rude.”
Undeterred, Charlie fixes Tim with an intense look. “You’re pretty, but my mama is prettier. He’s the prettiest in the whole world. You’re maybe second prettiest though.”
Embarrassed, Dick tries to apologize through Duke’s snorting laughter, but Tim just waves him off. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” He smiles at Charlie. “That’s pretty high praise, pup. Thank you.”
Charlie nods seriously, as if his omega rankings were the most important thing in the world. As they bid Tim and Duke goodbye with a wave, Dick notices that the tips of Jason’s ears and the back of his neck are stained scarlet. Amused, he leans in close to his omega’s ear.
“You know, our son was right about one thing,” he whispers.
Jason huffs in response. “Yeah? What’s that?”
Dick lets a cheeky grin slip over his face. “You really are the prettiest in the whole world.”
Dick gets a punch to the shoulder for that, but it’s worth it for the strangled sound Jason makes and the way he flushes impossibly more red.
As they make their way over to the Batgirl cohort, Dick can’t help but notice one person’s continued conspicuous absence. The rest of the family mills about, unconcerned as they talk and mingle amongst themselves, but Dick still has a niggling worry in the back of his mind.
“Any idea about Damian?” He mutters, keeping his voice pitched low enough that Charlie won’t hear.
“Tim said he got caught up with the Teen Titans,” Jason whispers back, matching his tone. Dick feels his shoulders sag slightly with relief. “Should be back soon.”
Dick intentionally lets his shoulder bump against Jason’s, letting him know he heard him despite the difficulty of the motion with their hands still firmly clasped. They draw up short when they reach the girls, and to Dick’s surprise, Jason takes the lead a second time for this introduction.
“Okay, kid, this is Auntie Barbara, Steph, and Cass.” Jason points to each of them as they wave. “They’re way more cool than all the gross dudes we’ve met so far, so if you hang out with anyone, it should be them.”
Charlie looks awed, hanging on to his mama’s every word, while Dick clicks his tongue in exasperation. “Don’t call our family members gross.”
“It’s true, I’ve experienced Tim’s hygiene first hand.” Steph makes an exaggerated face of disgust, the alpha’s antics prompting a giggle from Charlie, who twists in Dick’s arms to see the girls better.
As his pup and Stephanie trade giggles and distorted faces, Dick catches Barbara’s soft gaze. He smiles at her quizzically. “Something on my face?” He tries to joke, growing more confused by the well of emotion in her eyes.
“No,” she shakes her head. “Just- you seem really happy, Dick. I’m glad.” Next to her, Cass nods in agreement.
Dick’s throat suddenly feels thick as he tries to swallow around an unexpected lump. He knew his family would be accepting, that they would welcome his pup with open arms, but it’s another thing entirely to hear it out loud. Jason drops his hand so that he can rub at his shoulder, but before Dick can find the words he wants to say, a loud brash voice rings across the courtyard.
“Charles!”
Dick turns to see Damian, dressed down in civilian clothes- as much as slacks and a button-up could be considered “dressing down”- standing with his arms crossed a few paces from them. Charlie gives a squeal of delight and starts wiggling his way out of Dick’s hold. As soon as he’s set on the grass, he’s tottering off towards Damian, as fast as his short legs can take him.
“Dami!” Charlie lifts his arms expectantly when he reaches Damian, and the older boy lifts him without complaint, holding him out to inspect him while the pup giggles and squirms in his grasp.
“You are still far too small. What has Todd been feeding you?” Damian’s voice reeks of disapproval, but Dick hears the note of softness it carries, one that they’ve worked so hard as a family to get Damian comfortable in expressing.
“I’m not small, you’re just big-” Charlie argues back, cutting off as Damian throws him up in the air and catches him with ease. Dick’s protective instincts skyrocket, but he sees the wide smile on his pup’s face and the lack of reaction from Jason tells him this is likely common behavior between the two.
“He is fine, Damian is very careful.” Cass’s voice draws his attention back to the gathered group, and Dick gives a weak laugh as he shakes himself.
“Yeah,” he says, wrapping an arm around Jason’s waist. “Everything’s fine.”
* * * * *
Time passes languidly, and Dick feels warmed by more than just the rays from the spring sun. He’s gotten more comfortable as time has gone on, and it seems his family has too. Jason stands nearby, discussing Charlie’s plans for starting school in the fall in hushed tones with Alfred. The pup himself seems to be playing some sort of game with Stephanie and Tim, and Dick observes the activity whilst munching on some of Alfred’s homemade snacks.
Bruce had come up beside him some time ago, and they stand shoulder to shoulder silently, watching the idyllic scene that feels more like something out of a Hallmark movie than real life. Dick hears Bruce take a deep breath, and sighs.
“You don’t have to say anything. I know.”
Bruce pauses, having been caught out. “Still- it is something I should tell you more. You are my son, Dick, and I am proud of you.”
When Dick doesn’t say anything, Bruce continues. “You were not much older than him when you joined this family.”
Exhaling softly, Dick nods. “It’s hard to imagine, now. He’s just so…small. Fragile.”
“So were you.”
Dick turns and lifts a hand towards the man who had taken him in when he'd had nowhere else to go. He's not sure if it's meant to comfort Bruce or himself. “Bruce, I-”
Dick cuts off at the sound of a pained pup whimper, and turns in time to see Jason with Charlie snatched up against his chest, snarling low at Stephanie.
The female alpha responds to the threat in kind, growling back as she braces for an altercation. Dick swears under his breath as he rushes forward, prepared to have to step in. Tim beats him to the punch, sliding between the two with his arms raised.
“It’s okay, Jason. Charlie just tripped. He’s fine, see?”
Jason’s snarl cuts off abruptly as he looks down to see his pup unharmed, but as Dick reaches his mate, he can see that he’s trembling.
Jason whirls around to face Dick, his eyes wild and…scared. “Dickie, let’s go home. I can’t- I don’t- this isn’t working, we shouldn’t have come.”
Dick raises his brows as he tries to soothe the omega with pheromones, as well as his words and gestures. “Woah, hey- Jay, it’s okay. We can leave if you really want, but everything’s fine. No one’s upset.” The rest of the family, having gathered around to see what the commotion was, murmurs in agreement.
Jason still looks panicked, his eyes flicking between Dick and the door, and Dick resigns himself to having to leave and pull the car around. Just then, Charlie speaks up, muffled from where Jason still has him pressed tight against his chest. “Mama, I want to stay.”
Jason freezes, and glances down. He hesitates a moment longer, looking torn. “You sure, monster?”
Charlie nods. “I want to play with Auntie Stephie some more.”
Slowly, as if in a daze, Jason lowers the pup back to the ground. Charlie instantly speeds off, announcing a new game of hide and seek. Jason watches him go, his lower lip caught in an anxious bite.
When Dick places a reassuring hand on his back, the omega slumps forward like a puppet whose strings have been cut. “I screwed everything up, didn’t I?” he whispers.
Dick rubs his hand up and down his mate’s back. “No Jay, you didn’t screw anything up. You were just worried. No one’s going to hold that against you.”
Jason releases a shaky sigh as he leans into Dick’s offered support, eyes still following after Charlie with a faraway look. “I promised him I’d never let anything bad happen to him.”
The words knock something loose in Dick’s chest, and he aches as he thinks of all the years unaccounted for, when Jason was the only thing protecting their pup. What sort of dangerous environments they must have been in, the people they were surrounded by- Dick shudders to think of the pressure Jason must’ve felt, taking care of a child all on his own for the most part, and so young himself too.
“You won’t,” he promises. “And I’m here too, now. I got you both.”
* * * * *
The dying light of the sun washes the manor grounds in the fiery hues of orange and crimson, bathing the courtyard in golden ichor. Dick stands next to Jason, watching as Duke and Damian chase Charlie around the garden in a light-hearted game of tag. Everyone seems to have recovered easily from the earlier event, and there is an echo of contentment resonating in each of his family’s scents. Still- there is a hint of longing emanating from Jason, something that grows the longer he watches their son laugh and play with the others.
Dick wraps an arm around Jason’s waist, leaning into him. “This is nice, isn’t it?”
Jason is silent for a few moments, lost to his own thoughts. “Do you ever-” He pauses, then starts again. “Charlie would probably like a sibling…right?”
Dick’s heart leaps to his throat and he struggles to tamper down his scent, not wanting his enthusiastic excitement to betray him before they talk this out. He keeps his voice neutral and careful as he asks, “Is that something you want, Jay?”
Jason looks a bit lost when his eyes meet Dick’s, but the yearning tinge to his scent stays. “I don’t know- yes? Maybe?”
Dick pulls him close, brushing his nose against the gland behind Jason’s ear. “I’d love to have another pup with you, but the choice is yours baby, okay? Let’s think about it first.”
Jason nods, craning his neck to give Dick better access. When he speaks again, his voice is steady and determined. “Spend my next heat with me?”
Dick hides his smile against his neck, nipping gently at the unmarked gland in the ghost of a promise. “Okay,” he breathes. “Anything you want, Jay.” He keeps his head pressed there, in the space between Jason's neck and shoulder that seems to have been created just for Dick Grayson, and watches the sun set as his senses fill with the familiar warmth of vanilla.
There was always something a bit melancholic about early spring days, a sort of budding anticipation for the future tinged with the leftover sadness from a long winter. Still, as Dick stands with his mate held close and looks out at the glowing faces of his pack, he realizes that he feels more at peace than he has in a long time.