Work Text:
When Dick came home from work, the last thing he expected to see was a child at his door.
Said child turned to him with wide eyes. Dick opened his mouth, but before words could spill, the kid burst into tears.
Dick carefully set his grocery bags down. The kid sobbed hysterically as Dick gently touched his shoulder.
“Hey, buddy, are you—” He started.
The kid cut him off, throwing himself into Dick’s arms and crying harder.
“I’mfromanalternateuniverseandI’mstuckheremynameis the kid you’remyfavoritebrotherandI’mreallysad!” He wailed. Dick reeled back. What did he just say? Alternate universe?
Dick pushed the questions aside and kneeled down next to the kid. Pulling the kid closer, Dick hugged him while whispering assurances.
“Everything’s okay, kiddo,” Dick promised. And it would be. He would figure out where this kid was from and get him home. Oh god his alternate universe self must be so worried. “Let’s get you inside.”
The kid rubbed tears away from his face and nodded. Then he bent down and picked up a few grocery bags. A look crossed his face as he glanced inside.
He was probably judging the cereal boxes. Jason had done that too. Clearly both of his siblings had no appreciation for fine delicacies.
Dick turned to his door and began unlocking several locks, keeping an eye on the kid all the while. The kid was ushered inside and grocery bags were set down before Dick turned back to face him.
“Okay, let’s start at the beginning,” Dick said gently. “Where did you come from?”
To his horror, fresh tears began to well up in the kid’s eyes. His hands trembled as he tried to stifle his cries. Dick’s hands wavered in the air, unsure on how to properly soothe the distressed pup.
He should trust his instincts. Other Dick was the kid’s favorite brother so maybe other Dick would do the same thing as him.
the kid reached up to his neck and peeled off layers of scent patches.
Immediately the kitchen was filled with the milky scent of preheat. Dick’s eyes widened. That’s why the kid was so distressed. Here he was, experiencing his heat in a completely different universe. Far from his home and pack.
“Oh. Oh. Okay, right, um—” Dick paused, racking his brain for what to do. “Do you know what—” Blankets. When Jason is in heat he always wants blankets. “How about some blankets, let’s get you some blankets.”
the kid whimpered as Dick brushed past him towards the bedroom. Thankfully the kid followed after him.
Dick quickly began pulling all of the blankets out of his closet. Jason always wanted as many as possible for his nest. Glancing over his shoulder to look at the small boy, Dick asked, “Do you normally nest with Jason?”
The kid’s face paled, eyes trained on the blanket in Dick’s arms. “Yes…” He mumbled. Not looking away.
Dick glanced at the offending object, a bright orange blanket, before shoving it into the back of his closet and closing the door. With the blanket out of sight, the kid immediately relaxed, the tension plucked out of him.
“I’m not great at making nests,” Dick told him, even though the kid probably already knew. Who knows, maybe the kid’s Dick was great at making them. “Do you want my help, or do you want to do it by yourself?”
the kid gnawed on his lip, looking down at the floor. He twisted his shirt before he finally said, “I don’t know how to build a nest.”
“You don’t know how?” Dick’s faltered. “Did Jason never teach you?”
“Huh?” the kid tilted his head, eyes wide with confusion. “Why would Jason…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. Why would Jason teach him to build a nest?
“You said that you nested together,” Dick reminded him, concern seeping into his voice. “Remember?”
the kid swallowed hard, “Was that when the orange blanket was out here?”
Piling blankets onto the bed, Dick chucked sadly. “Yeah, it was. Did that distract you?”
the kid nodded, tears were again starting to fill his eyes. He looked at Dick with guilt. “I’m sorry.”
Dick’s heart panged at the sight.
“It’s no problem at all, the kid. If Jason didn’t nest with you, what did you do for your last heat?” the kid looked away. Guilt now written all over his face. Guilt and confusion. Realization struck through Dick like lightning. “Is this your first heat?!” He asked, voice full of shock.
The kid shrugged and dropped his gaze, refusing to look Dick in the eye. He nodded.
This was worse than Dick thought it was. This pup was experiencing his first heat away from his family. An entire universe away.
“I’m sorry, alpha,” the kid whispered, voice small.
“Sorry—pup, no.” If you listened closely you could hear the sound of Dick’s heart breaking. ‘Sorry alpha’.
Dick walked across the room and swept the kid into a tight hug. All the tension drained out of the kid.
“You haven’t done anything wrong…” Dick trailed off, he didn’t know what to call the kid. “I didn’t quite catch your name earlier. What’s your name, pup?”
“Tim,” The kid (or well Tim) mumbled.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Tim, I just didn’t realize we were both flying blind,” Dick promised, setting Tim down on a pile of blankets. He pulled away and began to build a nest around Tim.
Tim whimpered, scent souring with hurt.
“Just getting you settled,” Dick soothed. “I’m not leaving you, okay?”
Tim nodded sadly as Dick finished the nest. Someone had hurt the pup, if he was so scared of being abandoned. Dick glanced at his attempt at building a nest and internally winced. Hopefully Tim would fix it to his desires.
“Are you thirsty? Hungry?” Dick asked, that was something he could do. He gently pushed Tim’s hair back from his face, lightly covering Tim in his scent. Maybe the scent could cover up the hideous ‘nest’ Tim was sitting in.
Tim shook his head before letting out a small pack call. He probably missed his own pack.
Dick smiled sadly and sat down beside the nest, careful not to get in. Omega nests were sacred things and Dick didn’t want to intrude when Tim clearly wanted his real pack.
Tim slowly inched closer and laid his head on Dick’s leg. His entire body tense with fear. Dick slowly began to run his fingers through Tim’s hair, releasing the scent of comfort and safety.
Tim gave out a stuttery purr before jolting upright, eyes wide in shock.
Dick couldn’t help but grin, “Did you just get scared by your own purr?” Tim looked confused. “You’ll get the hang of it,” Dick reassured him, ruffling his hair.
Tim’s nose wrinkled, but he laid his head back down, this time pillowing his head on Dick’s leg. Dick smiled at how much more comfortable he was. He resumed brushing Tim’s hair. Enjoying how it made the younger boy go boneless.
Tim yawned and closed his eyes.
Dick almost cooed from how cute he was. Pulling out his phone, Dick called Bruce.
“Dick?” He asked, picking up after the first ring.
“So there’s this pup here and apparently he’s from an alternative universe where he is in our pack but I don’t think they’re very nice to him but he showed up to my apartment and he was crying and he was in preheat and apparently this is his first heat and he was so scared and he-”
“Slow down.” Bruce cut in. Dick took a deep breath before re-explaining the situation.
Bruce hummed in consideration. A yawn from the sleepy pup drew Dick’s attention back to Tim. Dick lightly nudged the boy.
Tim whined.
“Say hi to Bruce,” Dick said gently. Tim purred, turning away.
“Okay, baby bird is too sleepy to say hi apparently,” Dick said.
“I’ll be there as soon as I pick up Jason.” Bruce informed him.
“Yeah. Mhmm. Alright, see you in a little bit. Bye.”
Dick hung up and set the phone to the side. “Bruce will be here after he picks up Jason from school.”
Tim yawned again and purred.
Dick smiled, carding his hands through the baby bird’s hair.
There was no way Dick was giving Tim up to his original pack. Tim was theirs now.
Tim gave out one more purr and this time, Dick purred back.