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Tim blinked as he stepped foot into Red Hood's safehouse. It was… well clearly it belonged to an omega. Maybe Hood was renting it?
See, Jason had been missing for a few days and while that in and of itself wasn't particularly strange, he had been acting… off. Less angry? Er, that wasn't entirely true. He'd been much more agreeable and Tim had noticed how warm the older man looked. So he had come to the conclusion that Jason was likely sick and a good ol' life check wouldn't hurt. Which is how he had come to track down Jason's location then proceed to break into the other vigilante's safehouse in true Bat fashion. Though by the looks of things, it seemed Tim had possibly stumbled into the man's actual home.
Safehouses were kept bare. Necessities only. Somewhere with quick supplies and a safe place to stay for short bursts. This heavily guarded apartment had bookshelves filled and a stocked fridge. Decent furniture and what looked to be a functioning kitchen. Tim tried not to snoop too much though curiosity was a strong foe.
He wandered around till a short hallway led him towards what had to be Jason's bedroom. The door was closed and Tim found himself knocking.
“Jay? You in there? It's me, Tim.” He called out feeling only a little stupid.
A loud whine-growl reverberated from inside the room and Tim felt himself prickle at it. His alpha was restless and nervous. Tim didn't know where Jason was, but there was an omega in that room who was most definitely in distress. Instinctively, he reached for the door handle. But as he sucked in a breath he paused and forced himself to think rationally. Did he really have the right apartment? Logically he did. There was no way the average gothamite had access to the same safety features they all used in their safehouses. Plus, Tim only knew one man who would stock books for more than just decoration. It made sense that Jason would be here. What didn't make sense was the omega in Jason's room.
Tim carefully turned the doorknob but didn't push the door open. The growl only got louder.
“I'm gonna come in but I won't hurt you. I just wanna make sure you're okay. Promise.” Tim said as reassuringly as he could muster.
Under different circumstances he might have taken off his scent blockers. Letting out a calm, soothing scent could help someone calm down. Unfortunately, Tim didn't have enough information to decide if it was safe to do so. He'd have to hope the omega in question was coherent enough to not try and maul him. He had some basic anesthetics on hand, they all carried some form of it, but he'd really rather not. The last thing a distressed omega needed was to be disoriented and drugged by a strange alpha. Even if Tim meant no harm.
Slowly, Tim pushed open the door and heard the growl bleed into a distressed whine. In seconds Tim was hit with the strong scent of omega in heat and he cursed himself for not wearing something to block the scent from reaching him. It wasn't like he was some mindless zombie to an omega in heat but it certainly riled his alpha up and Tim preferred to keep his head as clear as humanely possible. His grip on the door handle tightened as he tried to regain composure. In through the nose… out through the mouth. Deep breaths. Once Tim felt his heartbeat settle and he didn't feel like mauling something, he opened his eyes and sucked in a harsh breath.
There Jason sat on the bed, eyes wide and feral. He wasn't really sitting but he definitely wasn't lying down. The larger man was in a defensive position. Ready to defend if need be. Tim instantly raised his hands in surrender. His eyes scanned for the distressed omega but the only ones in the room were himself and Jason. Tim's eyes raked over Jason and he let out the breath of air he'd been holding at the dawning realization that Jason was the omega in question.
Jason Todd died unpresented. When Red Hood came back, they'd all assumed he was an alpha. Large body, nearly if not bigger than Bruce himself, and built like a brick shithouse leaned towards the idea that Hood was an alpha. Once they learned the truth, that Jason was alive, they had figured that he was maybe a beta and that the Lazarus pit had given him his massive frame. At the worst, Jason stayed unpresented. Though most of the family cringed at the notion. The reminder that death had sunken it's greedy teeth into their pup and left him marred permanently.
Apparently they had all been wrong. Tim felt a little hysterical just thinking about it.
The massive man in front of him was an omega.
An omega in heat.
Tim's alpha practically howled.
He nearly bit his own tongue to stop from saying or doing something stupid. Like rumbling a pleased purr at the good omega. Tim suddenly found himself in a dangerous situation. He still hadn't moved from the doorframe. He stiffly cleared his throat.
“Jay? Are you okay?” Tim asked softly.
The omega, ‘his omega’ Tim's brain supplied unhelpfully, growled softly before it broke into a whine and Jason curled back up in what Tim now realized was a nest. The nest was rather large, though Tim supposed it made some sense considering Jason wasn't a small person. It's edge was made from comforters and pillows, and Tim recognized clothing within it. He tried not to preen as he spotted one of his hoodies. Jason practically whimpered and Tim felt his resolve crumbling.
Here was this omega, in pain and suffering. Without anyone to take care of it. Tim couldn't see neither food nor water near the nest and it seemed insane to have to leave the nest for basic amenities. The omega was obviously missing someone to care for it, to protect and to comfort. Except this wasn't just any omega. This was Jason. Fierce, strong Jason. Jason who was an omega. Jason, who Tim had watched fly through the Gotham skyline and had fallen for. Jason who was alone in heat.
Jason whined again and Tim let go of the door handle.
One step forward had Jason growling again and Tim retreated. His alpha was snarling, pissed as Tim left the bedroom entirely. But Tim had a plan. He always did. He was smart and smart alphas got to stay in Omega's nest. Tim wandered back into the kitchenette and opened the refrigerator door. To avoid getting Jason's wrath, he needed a peace offering. Something to gift to the omega to prove how good of an alpha he was. Tim scanned the fridge and smiled at the bottle water and allowed himself a pleased hum seeing pre-made food. His left the food go though, instead leaving the fridge and snooping through the cabinets. Once he found his prize, a simple protein bar, he made his way back to Jason's room.
The protein bar wasn't much, and to be honest Tim would have preferred Jason to eat an actual meal, but he'd rectify that later after he earned Jason's trust. He stepped into the room once more, still thick with Jason's scent. Leather and something floral… jasmine maybe? Tim would have to dissect it later once Jason's heat was over.
As expected, Jason let out a low warning growl. Tim moved slowly and predictably toward the nest. Jason's growl got louder. Once he was at the edge of the nest he slowly and tentatively placed his offering. But it wasn't right… something was missing. His alpha paced anxiously. What was he missing? Tim hummed as he pulled off his suit's gloves and added them to the food and water. Yes, that was what he was missing. He leaned back and moved to sit farther back from his peace offering. Once he sat he didn't move. Just waited. Jason shifted slowly after a few minutes passed. Ever so slowly the growling omega took the gifts and retreated back into the safety of the nest. Tim watched appreciatively as Jason inspected the items before scenting the gloves. He didn't touch the food or water but he didn't refuse them. Progress.
Tim stayed still. Even when Jason laid back down. The second Jason whined though, Tim moved. He moved towards the edge of the nest but stopped short of entering it. His quick motion had Jason snarling and Tim fought the natural urge to respond in kind. This was a distressed omega, not a threat. This was Jason, not an enemy. Tim waited patiently at the edge of the nest as Jason watched him. Then the dam broke.
Jason whined and looked at Tim, pupils blown. Tim crossed the threshold and instantly lunged towards Jason. Despite the growl that reverberated from Jason's throat through Tim's chest, the bigger man didn't attack. Instead, he laid still as Tim hovered over his large body. His instincts begged him to scent the omega, to mark Jason as his. However rational Tim reminded himself that he had blockers on still and that with blockers on, nobody was being scented. Jason keened brokenly as Tim sat back. It broke his heart seeing the distress and hurt as Tim pulled away but it was only temporary. Hastily he discarded his suit. It was risky to be so bare in front of Jason but he didn't have any clothes to change into. Tim sighed in relief as he peeled away the sticky patches covering his scent glands.
Jason keened again, desperately as Tim's scent hit him. Once again, Tim pounced on Jason. This time, he was able to scent the omega thoroughly. He rubbed his wrists all over the omega and nuzzled his head against the omega's cheek. Tim let out a pleased rumble, the closest thing an alpha had to a real purr, as the omega began to smell more like him. Spices mixed with jasmine and Jason purred. Loud and happy. Tim's nose found its way to Jason's neck and gave a test lick at the scent gland there. The reaction was nearly instant. A gasp and then Jason was arching into Tim. His alpha let out a possessive growl which had the omega responding in kind.
Tim wanted to bite. So, so bad he wanted to claim Jason and make the omega his.
But he didn't. Not yet. There would be time for that later. Instead he shifted till he was curled around Jason protectively. Then he reached for the food and water. Jason whined softly at the loss but Tim soothed with a rumble. He uncapped the water and pushed it towards the omega's lips. Jason drank greedily and Tim worried that he hadn't been eating or drinking all this time. Next came the food and Tim fed him in little bites. Jason purred contentedly as Tim threw the trash out of the nest and scented the omega again. Tim frowned at Jason's high temperature. It seemed high, even for an omega in heat. He'd have to ask Jason about it once the heat was over.
He'd have a lot to ask Jason about once the man's heat was over.
Like if he could help him again next time. Properly.