El gato tieso.

“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.”

It was great. The food was delicious and the restaurant was cozy and surprisingly quiet. Their conversations were light and comfortable. Afterwards they found a dessert shop and got gelato and walked around the small shopping center they were in. (And if Jason had the hand that wasn’t holding Danny’s on his gun for most of the walk that was nobody’s business)

And now, finally, they were back at Danny’s place. A cute little two bedroom apartment that absolutely screamed Danny, despite Jason only catching a glimpse before the alpha’s surprisingly strong hands were pressing him to the wall near the entryway.

Anyway Jason was in heaven.

He kissed back as the pace of the kiss changed and when they broke for air Danny ducked to kiss at Jason’s jaw, and Jason let his hands wander up until he found Danny’s scent blockers, picking at them with a disappointed grunt.

Danny chuckled and peered back up at him with a glimmer in his eye before guiding Jason’s hands away from his neck and leaning up to kiss him again. Danny brought a hand to the back of Jason’s neck and he felt his stomach drop out pleasantly at the implication of getting scruffed again, exactly the way he’d wanted to. 

Would that be considered a kink? Probably.

Unfortunately, Danny just grinned into the kiss and moved his hand away without actually squeezing, and Jason almost whined outright. He barely held it in.

This was probably bad. How was he already reduced to such a state with just a little kissing. I mean, sure it’d been a while since the last time he’d had sex, and he wasn’t exactly used to being the one getting pushed against a wall, that was usually his job. But still.

Danny’s thigh pressed in harder along with his lips and Jason pressed back.

He felt Danny’s tongue slip out of his mouth and opened his own in allowance, a delighted shiver running down his spine when Danny’s tongue slotted into his mouth. He let Danny control it for a minute before he responded, and then they were fully making out against Danny’s wall.

Jason was in heaven.

He found his way back to picking at Danny’s patches and this time he did whine a little when Danny pulled away to chuckle and remove his hands again.

“You enjoying yourself? If I take mine off I want yours off too, fair?”

Jason reached up and peeled his own off easily, watching as Danny grinned and pulled his own off. He plucked Jason’s out of his hand, peeling off one of his wrist patches as he did, and slipped away to put them on the counter, leaving Jason leaning up against a wall with jelly legs and heart eyes.

Yeah this was really bad. but it was so so good too.

“Here give me your coat, we may as well get more comfortable, yeah?”

Jason obediently handed his jacket over and watched as Danny went to hang it up next to his, openly admiring the man’s body.

“Come on, let’s move to the couch. Can I get you anything? Tea? Water? Coffee? Or would you rather just keep making out?”

“…keep making out. Maybe tea later, but definitely keep making out”

Danny laughed brightly and took his hand, guiding him to the living room. Surprisingly Danny sat down first and gestured for Jason to either straddle him or sit beside him. Jason almost just sank to his knees in front of him but chose to carefully settle on his lap instead. 

It was– it was nice, to be honest. Despite Jason being bigger it was comfortable, and made him feel…well, made him feel good yes, but also so much like an omega—a proper omega—it felt strange.

Danny should be sitting on his lap right now. He’s probably crushing him like this. 

But Danny just leaned up and pressed a nose to Jason’s gland, then a kiss, before tilting his head down and kissing him.

“This ok?”

“Yes yeah, it’s…it’s nice, are you ok? I know I’m—“

“Yeah, I’m all good, I’m great Jason”

“Ok. Ok great”

“What do you want? I mean like, out of the whole night? Boundaries, expectations, you know. and for the record I’m not gonna treat this like a hookup, no matter what you want to do or how far we end up going. I’ll still want to see you again later. You owe me a date too”

“I um— I don’t think I want to like, fuck tonight. I mean it’s the first date, and to be honest I have scars and shit that I don’t love people seeing…it might be a while before…not that I don’t want to, I just already feel kind of out of my depth here.”

“Sure ok, that’s fine, we can make out some more and watch a movie or something? And just so you know I have scars too, obviously I respect that boundary and insecurity, but when you do let me see, I promise it won’t be a problem”

“…I believe you. Make out and movie sounds great” 

“Ok good, then let’s get back to kissing, you’re really good at it”

“Mmph” Jason sighed as Danny pulled him back into a kiss, tongues sliding together easily again. Jason shifted on his lap and pressed closer, enjoying the warmth between their bodies, the heat spreading through his skin and stomach, and the tingles Danny’s roaming hands left in their wake.

Danny's hands dropped to his thighs and smoothed up towards his body and Jason felt the heat grow immediately, stomach tensing as his dick twitched and a wash of slick ended up in his boxers, sticky when he shifted. He wanted more.

He pulled back to breath and ducked to take advantage of the missing scent blockers, pressing his nose in before kissing and nipping. He pulled Danny’s shirt collar down so he could drop a hickey on his collarbone and he hummed at the shiver he got out of that. He hummed again when Danny’s hand found his scruff, heavy and warm and perfect. 

This time when he pressed into it eagerly, Danny obliged, scruffing him like he had on the plane only a thousand times better, Jason did purr this time as he nuzzled into his neck, melting into it. Danny’s amused hum and answering rumble settled into his skin, another rush of wet left him and when he shifted his hips he could feel Danny’s hard on pressed against his crotch. 

If it wasn’t a kink before it definitely was now.

Danny released his neck and drew him back up into a kiss, and this time when he slipped their tongues together Jason rocked down, grinding into Danny. Danny grunted softly and grabbed his hips, pulling him closer, strength Jason hadn’t expected once again making an appearance as they made out. The kissing grew faster then, needier, and after a bit longer Danny was rocking his hips into Jason too, grinding and kissing and touching and god it was amazing. Jason hadn’t felt this good in a while, especially when Danny pulled away, grabbed his hips, and ground up hard, bulge brushing not just his omega chub, but putting pleasant pressure on his cunt too as he nibbled at Jason’s jaw and pulse point.

He rocked up until Jason thought he was about to cum in his pants about it, then he slowed down a bit and started kissing him again, a hand on his ass pulled him closer, earning a grunt and a little trilling purr.

Jason squirmed a bit and Danny pulled back with a low chuckle that set Jason’s blood on fire. “You’re not used to this are you? Too used to being in charge hm?”

He nuzzled into Jason's neck and licked a teasing stripe up the side of his throat to his ear. He pressed some open mouth kisses to the spot just below Jason’s earlobe as his hands shifted to his waist, guiding him to grind down properly again. Danny nipped at his scent gland and left hickeys on his collar bone before coming back up for more kisses. They stayed like that for a while, lazy kissing and grinding and touching until they both had enough. The next time Danny scruffed him, Jason came in his jeans, Danny apparently not far behind, the two of them rocking against each other through the ends of their orgasms and laughing softly as they collapsed into each other, like teenagers. Jason wanted to stay there forever, warm and sated in Danny’s lap, but eventually he started getting uncomfortable. Danny kissed him slowly and offered him a shower and a change of clothes, which he happily accepted.

When he came out Danny was back on the couch, also showered and changed, and Jason sat back down beside him with a sigh.

“Hey, feel better?”

“Yeah, thank you, I feel great.”

“Good, I’m glad…ok, option time, it's been a long day, so if you want to just go home, that's fine, or we could still watch a movie”

Jason groaned as he stretched, “mm movie, I don't want to go home yet.”

“Ok! Ok great, what do you want to watch?”

“Uhhh, anything? I don’t know. You pick”

Danny did pick, some random lighthearted animated movie. He went and got them snacks and started the movie, and the longer it played the closer Jason got to Danny, slowly wilting into him. Soon enough Danny was stretched out long ways on the couch, Jason on top of him, pillowed on his chest and wrapped in his arms, scent, and warmth. It was heaven. He didn’t even know when he fell asleep, only that he woke up to Danny settling him into a bed and pulling him close, and then again to sunlight streaming through the blinds, warm arms around him and the best night of sleep he'd had in a while behind him.

Jason made them breakfast and Danny drove him home, dropping him off with a kiss and plans for date two. Jason was a little scared of how amazing the date was, of how amazing Danny was so far. More than anything he was afraid of how good he felt after.

Of course this was immediately dashed by who was sitting in his living room when he got home.

They finally started moving with the taxi, slowly making their way to the runway after an hour of waiting in the most uncomfortable airplane seats Jason has ever had the displeasure of sitting in, and his pulse spikes. Hands shaking. 

It’s so stupid. He shoots and fights people for a living, he risks his life constantly. He does way scarier stuff on the daily without flinching. He should be able to handle airplanes. He should be fine.

It’s not like he even has any trauma or anything. (Regardless of the fact that he took a commercial plane just like this to Ethiopia and hit insane turbulence all the way there. Regardless of the fact the plane lurching made his heart race and his stomach drop the same way the Joker did. It's probably not anything to do with any of his trauma at all). 

The guy across the aisle laughed obnoxiously at something on his phone and Jason’s head throbbed with the noise, adrenaline, and strange scents. His senses had gotten stronger after being in Nanda Parbat, between the lazarus pit and assassin training, which was just another reason planes and airports were his worst enemy.

He was pretty sure they were getting set down on the runway, and he lifted a hand to his neck preemptively. He’s not sure when he figured out he could kind of scruff himself to calm himself down, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to abuse the trick. 

There was a kid with a nasty cough a few rows up that made him wish he’d worn a face mask or something. Someone’s baby was already crying in the back and someone had food that smelled weird.

They finally started moving, speeding up for take off, and Jason ducked his head a little and grasped the back of his neck, letting the weight and pressure of the motion settle him slightly as they pick up speed, the sound of the engines grating and the rumble of the plane—the seat, the floor—rattles through him.

He’d just closed his eyes when he felt fingers brush the hand on his neck and smelled a surprisingly soothing alpha scent. He glanced up to see the man in the middle seat beside him looking at him with a concentrated, but worried furrowed brow as he batted Jason’s hand away from his own scruff. For some reason Jason let him, and after his hand was moved the man took up the job, pinching the back of his neck perfectly and letting Jason go limp into his seat as they shakily lifted into the air and started climbing.

It was so perfect he nearly purred, and the combination of surprise, comfort, and instinct had Jason completely forgetting about his aerophobia for a moment. 

Once they were steadier in the air and flying smoothly the guy let go, and Jason took a breath before looking at him.

“You ok man?” The stranger asked, settling back into his own seat.

“Yeah, uh thanks for that.”

“For sure. I have a friend who’s terrified of flying, like has to be dragged onto the plane, and he always makes me do that kinda thing for him too.” 

Now that Jason’s looking at him with a clear mind, the guy is cute. Like really cute, pretty even, especially for an alpha. He’s not bulky but he is tall, his knees just slightly encroaching on Jason’s space, as usually happens on crowded flights. Slightly muscular, something of a swimmers build, but not a stereotypical alpha, he was fit in a way that Jason liked, not hulking, just enough muscle to get whatever job he does with it done. He had a unique scent too, cool and minty, slightly earthy almost, like a garden after rain. Although Jason couldn’t really smell it anymore, he liked it, it was nice.

Not to mention the scruff? That was hot as fuck, not that he’s had many, but that may be the best scruff Jason’s ever had. His mom did it infrequently, and Bruce only did it when he was either really scared, or really in trouble when he was a teen. Most alphas don’t bother with him because of his build, and the few that do are typically hookups who aren’t really focused on things like scruffing and affection. 

But this random guy just, did it, just like that, cause Jason looked scared.

“I’m Danny by the way”

“Jason,” he held a hand out and the guy took it to shake. His hand was cold and his grip was easy, not crushing or dominating.

“Nice to meet you,” pretty smile: check.

“You too.”

“Are you from Gotham or visiting?” polite and sociable: check.

“I’m from Gotham, coming home from visiting Star, what about you?”

“Oh nice ok, I’m going to school in Gotham. My sister lives in Star though, and I get a longer break than her so I went out there.” Talkative?: check.

“Oh ok, nice, GU?” 

“Yup,” he answered wryly. Funny?: check.

Jason chuckled at his dry tone and face. “You like it?”

“It’s ok, I mean it’s still Gotham, but the campus is nice, and I’m getting a fat scholarship. Plus the program I’m in is pretty good compared to some other schools so, yeah I like it well enough. I’ve never really loved school to begin with though so that makes me biased”

“Ha fair enough, I’ve been considering starting some classes there but I don’t know yet.”

“Oh really? Wait, how old are you?”

“22, a little old I know, but it was always the goal, I just didn’t quite get to it ya know?”

“Oh cool ok, I’m 21, just turned haha. I don’t think that’s too old, I’ve seen people over, like, 40 in some classes and stuff, you’d be fine.”

“You think so?” 

“Yeah, I think if you want to and you have the time and means you may as well.”

“Maybe I’ll look into it some more when I get home…”

Danny smiled brightly and Jason had to fight not to picture him smiling at Jason like that while holding him down and scruffing him. He failed.

“Where are you from originally? Gotham doesn’t get many transplants in it for fun, it takes a certain type.”

“Oh I’m sure. Illinois, middle of nowhere, moved out when my sister got an apartment when I was 17ish.” 

“Damn. Midwest. Interesting,” Jason noted, Illinois was kind of far to end up in Gotham.

“Yup. I like to claim Star as home more though. It feels more like home, well, my sister feels more like home.”

“Yeah I get that. Parents,” Jason sighed sarcastically.

“Parents,” Danny agreed in the same tone. They both laughed. 

They chatted a bit more through the flight, but it shifted when they started hitting turbulence about an hour in. It didn’t start off too bad, just a few bumps, but then it got rough enough the seat belt sign flicked on and someone over the intercom was warning everyone to remain seated and buckled.

Jason flinched at a particularly lurching spot, and suddenly there was a hand on his neck again. He pressed into it, despite the blush that it brought to his face and the heat it shot through him, and released a shaky breath as Danny’s hand pressed into his scruff again.

They spent the rest of the flight like that, Danny easily and instinctively scruffing him, touching him, off and on when they hit rough patches. In between they chatted, every once in a while doing their own thing and falling quiet. Danny was reading a book and at some point Jason had started reading along, Danny easily shifting so he could see. 

Somehow at some point he ended up half asleep with his head on Danny’s shoulder and when he fully came too Danny had his phone in one hand playing a game and his other hand resting against Jason’s neck, fingers idly playing with the ends of his hair. 

He didn’t really want to wake up yet actually. 

The intercom had just come on to tell them they were heading into their final descent when Danny turned to him with a smile, pulling his phone out.

“Can I get your number? Pretty please? I’d like to see you again.”

Jason’s first response was to say ‘yes absolutely’ and snatch the phone to enter his info, but then he remembered who he was, and who he was talking to.

Him, an oversized, built like a brick wall omega, and the most gorgeous alpha he’d ever seen.

“…you should know I’m an omega.”

Danny just laughed, “yes, I gathered from the way you melted the first time. Plus your scent leaked through your patches when you first got super freaked out.”

“Oh.” Jason said like an idiot.

“I’d still like your number, and to see you again. And to clarify when I see you again it will be to take you on a date, hopefully. Assuming that’s ok with you.”

“I— yeah. Ok, yes.”

Danny chuckled as Jason gingerly took his phone and typed into it, entering his number and his name. He watched avidly as Danny took it back, smiled, and added emojis to his contact name.

He scruffed him one last time as they hit the usual Gotham turbulence and Jason let himself fully melt into it again. 

They sat and waited and shuffled off the plane together, and unfortunately they were going different directions when they got out, but Danny took his hand and squeezed before he walked away, leaving Jason with a kiss to his knuckles and an easy “I’ll text you” that left Jason standing like a fool in the middle of the airport for a few minutes.

Apparently he was still blushing when he got in the car because Dick, who had insisted on coming to pick him up, gave him a signature raised brow, teasing smirk combo.

Jason brushed it off. Like hell was he telling his older brother he let a stranger scruff him for half the flight and got his number afterward. He'd get protective and naggy and Dick-y.

Not that Jason would really blame him. This was a potentially dangerous situation. An unknown alpha, touching Jason so casually, Jason letting him for some reason. It was risky. It was weird. People were afraid of Jason. He was big and scarred and mean. People avoided him. It was odd.

And yet, despite the oddity and the risk, Jason found himself thinking that maybe flying wasn’t so bad after all.