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“N–Nowhere.” Jason avoided Dick’s eyes to the best of his ability. Obviously he knew that lie wouldn’t work, he wasn’t even trying, but he figured he could squeeze a few more minutes of peace out of this interaction if he dragged it out well enough. Especially since Dick, a beta, currently had no idea he was covered in pheromones. That would change in a minute when he asked one of the goddamn blood hounds on either side of him to report a scent check, but for the moment Jason was safe.

“Cass! Report!” 

Oh boy. 

Cass cleared her throat softly and raised her hand: “Alpha, sir! Strong! All over him, the clothes too, mint, pine, ozone. Not familiar.”

“Just one alpha?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, Tim? Anything to report?”

“Like Cass said, singular unknown alpha pheromones all over him. His own scent is subdued now, but it was sweeter than normal when he walked in.”

“This is so creepy you guys.” Jason slumped back into the couch as Dick considered the reports, pacing.

“Hmm, uh-huh, I see.” Dick, ever one for drama, laid out the facts, “so: you were out all night, with a strange alpha, and came back late into the morning, wearing a stranger’s clothes and reeking of said unknown alpha, while your own scent has changed? …What do you have to say for yourself?” 

The odds so far were not in Jason’s favor. The evidence was heavily stacked against him. 

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” He said defiantly, still trying to drag it out. Dick’s disappointed look told him he wouldn’t be holding out much longer.

“Jay…don't tell me you…got pollened? Or drugged?! Kidnapped?!?”

“What? No! None of those, I didn’t even patrol yesterday…” 

“Then was it a— a date? An actual date? With an alpha?! Aww little wing!”

“Nah come on Dick, it was probably just a hook up, you know Jason.” 

Logically Jason knew he was being baited into telling the truth, and that Tim was just saying that to get him to spit it out and defend himself, but something about the way he said it, like Jason couldn’t have possibly gotten an actual date with an actual alpha, completely ticked him off.

“No, it was a date, an actual date, with an alpha.” He said, slumping further into the couch to try and hide his blush.

Based on the way Tim and Cass grinned and looked at each other, Jason had walked right into the trap. Obviously Tim didn’t think of him like that. They’d had conversations about that kind of thing enough times for Tim to know that was an insecurity, which was exactly why he’d used it to poke an admission out of him. The little brat. 

Dick gasped softly, “Really? It was a date? Oh my gosh Jay that’s great! You have to tell us about it! And about them! Was the date fun? Are they nice? How’d you meet?”

“Slow down Dickhead, sit down, I’m done being interrogated" he grumbled, shaking Cass and Tim off of him but not making to leave. He could do this. He could have a normal conversation with people he cared about, about someone else he was starting to care about. Dick settled in the arm chair and Jason took a breath.

“His name is Danny, we sat next to each other on my flight home a few weeks ago. He helped me not freak out on the flight and we talked and stuff on the plane, he asked me for my number and if he could take me on a date, and we’ve been texting. Last night was the first time we were both free so we went out.”

“Aww meet cute! And? How was the date?”

“Uhh it was— it was good…really good. He paid, took me out to dinner, and we got gelato. Then we went back to his place and watched a movie andI fell asleep on the couch, so he put me to bed and I ended up staying the night…”

Tim and Cass exchanged a look again, “Is that all that happened?” Cass drawled and Jason sighed, hiding his face with his hands.

“We may have made out a little bit…” 

A series of teasing ooh’s went around before Tim prompted him further with an eyebrow raised, “and?”

“And nothing, he asked about boundaries and I said I didn’t feel comfortable going too far, especially since we were going to see each other more, so we just made out and watched a movie.”

“Holy communication.” 

“Yeah, uh, it caught me off guard a few times, he seems very good at communication and boundaries.” Unlike everyone else in their family, clearly.

“But it was good? You had fun? You felt good?” Always trust Dick to be worried.

“I…I think last night was the best I’ve ever felt with anyone, ever. He made me feel so…I don’t know, me? Like every time I got even a little insecure he just knew? And immediately made it go away and I just– I think I really like him guys.” Jason admitted, feeling good enough to feel like being vulnerable with his family, even as he embarrassedly sank further into the couch. It’s insane what Danny was doing to him. Why was he suddenly a real person after getting some dick? Not even. After getting some kisses? Some– some affection? That's all it took? Really? 

Ridiculous.

Before he could come back from his thoughts there were arms around him. Dick had gotten up from the arm chair and wrapped his stupid octopus arms around all three of them. There was no escape

“That's great Little Wing. You look really happy, I’m glad you found someone who’s doing that for you and making you feel safe, you deserve it.”

Wow. Maybe he really did just need some affection. Jason usually doesn’t enjoy unexpected hugs; ever since he was a kid they bothered him, when he’d be expected to hug someone, or if someone touched him without asking. Sometimes it really made his skin crawl, especially after—you know—dying, not to mention the lazarus side effects too. But this was nice, and Dick sounded so genuinely happy for him it was hard to believe. God this family was terrible about being open and sincere.

“...does that mean you guys won’t be creepy and investigate him?” Jason asked hopefully. All three of them laughed.

“Hahaha oh Jason. Not even a little bit, that alpha’s getting vetted like he just applied to join the Justice League.”

“We’re gonna look into him more thoroughly than any up and coming rogue” Tim tacked on helpfully.

“He’s getting followed home.” Great. Thank you Cass. God forbid anyone have a partner in this family.

“...I hate you all” they laughed again and released him. Dick stood and headed for the kitchen, announcing he was making coffee as he waved a hand in Jason’s direction. “Jason, make us breakfast, we’ve been here all morning waiting for you.” Like they hadn’t chosen to be here waiting instead of eating breakfast at home.

“Ooh yess. I’m starving, Dick will you make me a mug too?” Heh, maybe Alfred had put a coffee ban on Tim again. Not that Tim usually drank coffee, but when he was desperate and out of energy drinks he'd take just about anything.

“On it, what should we have for breakfast? Or brunch now? Brunch?” Dick called, already heading for the kitchen.

“French toast! French toast!”

“Ooh yeah, good idea Cass, Jason, do you have fruit to put on top? You do, right? And whipped cream?”

The attack force got up and started raiding the kitchen, Jason sighed as he started obeying their demands. If princess Cassandra wants french toast, french toast she will get.

“Will you guys at least go easy on a shovel talk if you ever meet him?” He tried one last effort to protect Danny, desperate, hopeful that french toast would bring out the compassion in their hearts. They blinked in response.

“Why would we do that? Some strange alpha is putting his hands on my baby brother and you expect me not to shovel talk him? Impossible”

“Inconcievable”

“I’ll bring the shovel personally.”