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Dick knocks on the door. "Tim?"
Something close to a whine answers. Dick laughs under his breath, then pushes the door open.
A lump of blankets, which Dick assumes contain Tim, rests in the middle of the giant nest on top of the Alaskan king bed.
Bruce had converted one of the spare rooms in the family wing into a pack nest when Damian had arrived about three months ago.
Bruce, still reeling from Jason's recent death, had begged Dick to move back into the manor. The Alpha suddenly had a six-year-old pup to raise, and their thirteen-year-old neighbor Tim Drake was moving in full-time after Alfred had realized the older pup was home alone for months at a time.
Dick conceded, but with a few ultimatums—one being a pack nest. The mere thought of Jason makes his chest ache. They had to be better, do better.
And it was needed more now than ever, as Tim had started presenting as an Omega just after his fourteenth birthday. Like most Omegas, the first few years of heats were more about acclimating the body to the physical and hormonal changes—like fevers, body aches and inflammation, and slick production. They were also more sporadic and random, not settling into a more routine schedule until the sexual symptoms came later.
When Dick had gone down to the kitchen for breakfast this morning, Alfred informed him that the young Omega was home from school and had sequestered himself to the nest.
Dick smiles softly at the lump and makes his way over to the closet. One of the nest rules is approved fabrics only. Dick didn't like throwing Bruce's money around, but his Omega sure did—all of the clothing and bedding were made from the most expensive cashmere, silk, and wool available.
Dick quickly changes into a pair of sweatpants and a loose tank top. So far, Tim had craved skin-to-skin contact during his heats, and Dick was happy to oblige, making sure his scent glands were exposed.
"Do you need anything?" Dick asks the room, knowing Tim can hear him. A kitchenette had been installed, complete with a small fridge and freezer, a tea kettle, and a microwave.
He grabs two water bottles from the fridge and a granola bar for Tim. He also stops at the medical cart and counts out a few ibuprofen. He doubts Tim has taken any yet.
He walks over to the side of the bed and sets the waters down on the nightstand.
"I'm coming in," Dick says, hopping onto the bed. "I have something for you."
A hand shoots out from the blanket lump, palm up.
Dick lightly deposits the granola bar and medicine into the palm. The hand disappears back under. "I have water, too, when you're ready."
Dick settles into his own blankets, near but not touching the younger Omega. He flicks through his phone for a while, and is about to open an ebook when a mop of messy black hair finally pokes out.
Tim turns to face Dick, his cheeks and forehead flush with sweat. "Water, please."
Dick hands the plastic bottle over and helps Tim scoot up into a sitting position against the headboard. Rose and raspberry, Tim's definitive Omega scent, fills the room.
"Everything hurts," Tim groans as he sips the water.
Dick reaches up to Tim's neck and feels the swollen scent gland. Tim winces at the touch, but soon melts into the pressure.
"Any slick yet?" Dick asks, mentally counting from Tim's last heat.
"No, thank God!" Tim whines petulantly. "This is so embarrassing!"
"Some of it is, at first," Dick replies. "But Alphas also have weird bodily functions during their ruts, too."
"Sure."
"Just please tell me when it does, okay?" Dick continues. "I promise, you'll want the wicking underwear."
Dick spends the day with Tim in the nest, alternating between cuddling while snoozing and watching reality television on the giant flat screen across from the bed.
They're curled up flicking through channels and munching on popcorn when there's a knock on the door.
The door opens, revealing Damian still wearing his school uniform.
Dick immediately notices the small scowl on the younger boy's face.
"Hey, sweetheart," Dick says as Damian shuts the door behind him. "Rough day at school?"
The pup nods and heads for the closet to change.
Dick looks over at Tim. "Do you mind if I feed him here?"
Tim raises his wrist and reaches out. "Nah, I'm gonna pass out again."
They scent each other, sandalwood and vanilla mixing with rose and raspberry.
Tim sets the popcorn bowl on the nightstand, then slides down the bed and curls up against Dick's leg, head resting against his thigh.
He's already asleep when Damian climbs onto the bed.
"Dami," Dick coos at the pup, reaching his arms out to pull Damian against his other thigh.
Soon after Dick moved back into the manor, his body had started to produce milk. Not nearly enough to raise a baby, but enough to feed Damian once a day. It had become part of their daily routine when Damian got home from school.
"You wanna talk about it?" Dick asks as he yanks his tank top off and pulls down one of the straps of his bralette.
Damian shakes his head. He leans into Dick's neck, scenting him.
Damian had started second grade last month, and the pup was still struggling with so many changes in his life—which was to be completely expected. Dick hums, thinking back to his first time attending a traditional school and having to speak and understand English all day.
"I'm so proud of you, Habibi," Dick whispers into the young pup's hair, purrs erupting from deep within his chest.
Damian chirps back, then leans down to latch onto the exposed nipple.
Dick can't believe how much has changed in the last year for him, too—losing one brother and gaining two more. He can't help but notice how much space there is left in the nest, and who should occupy that space.
But in these quiet moments, surrounded by his new, younger pack members, he also cherishes what's right in front of him.