Hey, sorry this is late, but I totally decided to do this whole week thing last minute. I have no idea how to link posts, but I come bringing fluff.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Jason held his phone between his cheek and shoulder. He hadnât been able to sleep knowing this call was coming. Damian only managed to call once a month. The family didnât know, and Jason wasnât sure how Damian was keeping it a secret. It didnât matter as long as he kept calling.
Damian chattered away about the dog Bruce had gotten him and other important issues of eleven year olds. Titus was apparently smarter than his classmates, and Tim was sighing just to annoy Damian. His nonstop talking always rolled back around to the dog though.
Arms wrapping around his waist scared Jason more than heâd ever admit. He managed to keep his mouth shut even though Roy deserved to be chewed out. Heâd been very touchy the past couple of weeks. Three missions and four months under the same roof must be when Roy gets comfortable with someone. Jason wasnât fighting it, but he didnât understand. Was it just how Roy was or something more?
âAhki? Is something wrong?â
âIâm still here. I was just trying not to burn breakfast.â
Roy took the spatula out of Jasonâs hands and spun him away from the slightly crisp pancakes. The shooing motion was understood but not followed. Jason couldnât get his brain to move past Roy not wearing a shirt. His scent mixed with the pancakes and bacon was not something Jason wanted to move away from.
The smirk and eyebrow wiggling quickly changed Jasonâs mind. Jason refused to boost Royâs ego. He sat down at the island and only watched Royâs back muscles a little bit. Jason wasnât going to mess up his call just because Roy wanted attention.
âMother said youâve been working with someone.â Damian was good at asking questions without actually asking a question. It had taken Jason a month to teach him to not outright demand answers.
âYeah, I am. Iâm busy when sheâs free and vise versa so she hasnât gotten to meet him yet.â
âI doubt he is worthy of your time.â
Jason rolled his eyes. âWeâve talked about this. You donât get to decide who I hang out with.â
âMother says heâs an alpha. He will pursue you.â
âWhat makes you think that?â
âYou are a qualified omega.â
âYes. You have learned how to manage a household and defend it. You are not unattractive.â
âThatâs so sweet.â Jason bit his lip to keep from laughing.
âIt is the truth. Only the best alpha should have the honor of courting you.â
Jason snorted. âUh huh.â
âI am not being funny.â
âThatâs why Iâm laughing. I love the way you phrase things is all.â
âI donât understand what you find so humorous. Your worth is not a laughing matter.â
âI know, I know. Dami, I know exactly what face your making when you say stuff like that. Itâs really cute.â
Damian huffed. âI am not cute. Pennyworth will be here shortly. I will speak to you soon.â
âBye, stay out of trouble.â
Roy set down a sizable stack of pancakes and two plates. He was still shirtless when he drowned his pancakes his syrup. Jason put a reasonable amount like a normal person and tried to ignore the fact that Roy was using the bars on his stool as a foot rest. Their legs were almost touching.
âSo howâs the pup?â
âHe thinks Iâm a qualified omega.â
Roy choked and laughed at the same time. âOh, yes. Iâve see your qualifications and concur. Smart, gorgeous, a good cook, gorgeous, and a badass.â
âYou said gorgeous twice.â
âBecause youâre extra pretty.â
âShut up.â Jason felt heat rise to his face and tried to hide it.
Roy made a satisfied alpha noise that Jason didnât know how to describe. âSo damn pretty.â
Jason tried to ignore him and go about the rest of his day. Unfortunately, Roy had been turned into a lost puppy overnight and stayed close but strangely quiet. Having someone blatantly stare at him made reading and research difficult. That and Roy still refused to put on a shirt. The house was cool enough so Jason was sure Roy had motives but couldnât figure them out.
âWhy donât you just go see him?â Roy took the laptop out of Jasonâs hands as he finally settled on what he wanted to say.
âI told you I canât. It was the last order he gave me. Iâm sticking to it.â
âWhat if Talia ordered you to check on Damian?â
Jason furrowed his eyebrows. âWhat?â
âYou said Talia was your mom so youâd have to listen to her even if it went against a certain assholeâs orders. It would be an exception that he doesnât even have to know about even though I donât think you should follow something so ridiculous.â
âThatâs a poorly constructed loophole. Not happening.â
âI would. I donât want to do it.â
âJay.â Roy leaned in and held Jasonâs face in his hands. âYou told me you missed Damian so much it hurts. A good alpha would never do something to bring pain to a pack member. He made it clear youâre not in his pack. You donât have to listen to him. Itâs not going to convince him youâre telling the truth.â
Jason couldnât stop his whine as he tried to pull away.
âI know it hurts. You are the most selfless person Iâve met. You can be selfish for once. I hate seeing you suffer over this. I know Talia would be happy to help. We could make him think Damianâs visiting with Talia and maybe surprise Damian at the same time. Thatâd be fun, right babe?â
âYeah, it would be, but it wonât work.â
âIt will. Give me Taliaâs number, and weâll figure it out while you pack.â
Roy nodded. âAs soon as Talia can do it.â
Talia could be in Gotham in a week. Jason trusted Taliaâs planning abilities but was skeptical of Royâs. There had to be something in this for Roy. Just because Jason couldnât figure out what it was didnât mean it didnât exist. There was no way Roy would risk running into Dick without a very good reason.
Roy was not going to be allowed to make hotel reservations ever again. Jason liked the distance from where Talia was staying, but he had concerns about their room. Roy had only gotten one room with one bed. The couch was obnoxiously small and looked uncomfortable. There were no excuses or explanations given. The only curtesy Jason received was Roy agreeing to wear pants.
It wasnât even a king bed. Jason was painfully aware of all two inches that separated him from an alpha who was incredibly pleased with himself. The fact that one of them had to be the adult and it wasnât Roy was the only thing that kept Jason from kicking him.
An hour of restlessness ended with Roy muttering under his breath. Jason lowered his guard to try to understand what Roy was saying and deeply regretted it. Roy wrapped his arms around Jasonâs waist and pulled him against his chest. He threw one leg over Jasonâs and started rumbling. Jason hated how much it worked but slept better than he had in a long time.
Jason left for Taliaâs hotel room mid morning, grateful Roy hadnât mentioned anything from the previous night. Being cuddled into submission was not something Jason had planned. Stupid alphas and their annoying good looks. Jason shook his head. He was there to see Damian not think about how tightly Roy held him. Hopefully, Roy wouldnât get into too much trouble without him.
Talia let him in silently. Damian didnât notice until the door closed. He stopped pulling out things from his backpack and froze for a second. Jason managed to slip off his jacket in time for Damian to practically leap into his arms. Damian smelled like Wayne Pack. Jason set about fixing that quickly.
After a quick greeting, Damian cut straight to the point. âWhy do you let an alpha scent you?â
Jason ignored the pointed look from Talia. âHe didnât scent me. We were just in close quarters recently.â
âWhy would you allow him to come with you?â
Jason didnât have an answer. Roy could have easily stayed in their safehouse. Archers didnât always make sense so Jason hadnât thought much of it. It didnât really matter as long as Roy didnât get into any trouble. Jason just shrugged and steered Damian into talking about what heâd been up to.
The day ended too quickly. It had been fun and well needed. Talia brought only the best of nesting materials, and Damian showed off his artwork. Jason had managed to get Damian smelling like pack if only for a few moments. He couldnât go home like that or Bruce would know or keep Talia away. It might have been overkill, but Jason felt better covering his tracks.
All that was left to do was fall into bed. The room was empty when he made it back before nightfall. Jason hoped Roy hadnât slipped up. If he didnât hear back in an hour, heâd check the closest bars. Roy would definitely sleep on the couch if Jason had to deal with entitled drunken alphas.
Halfway through getting ready for bed, Roy walked back in completely devoid of any scent with a ziplock bag of cookies. âHowâd it go?â
âGood. Whatâd you do?â
âWent to talk with my sponsor.â
Jason cocked his head and leaned against the bathroom door frame. âI didnât know Killer Croc was a baker.â
âBet he only makes frog cakes. No, I needed to do something. Alfred gave them to me.â
Roy sighed and rubbed his face. âNothing that could be possibly linked to you. I didnât trust Dick not to spy on Damian so I distracted him. I donât want to talk about it. I hope the cookies make up for the room thing. I didnât think it would be a problem.â
âYou canât just drop it at that.â
âYou gonna tell me why you really saved me? If you get a secret, I get one to. Iâll tell you when Iâm good and ready. Eat your damn cookies and let me sleep.â
The cookies tasted like home, but Royâs arms felt like home.