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Damian really, really hates gala parties. Of all the new experiences that being Batman's son has given him, that should be among the most unpleasant. And he had already been killed twice. So that meant something.
But nothing compared to this gathering of strange and offensive smells. And also the total lack of education of all these self-proclaimed members of high society. They were full of fingers, hands and cooing. Talking to him as if Damian was nothing more than a dumb baby or a naïve, silly, easily impressed puppy.
Unfortunately his father was quick to learn from his mistakes and Damian had no knife around this time to retaliate when a man approached, fingers at his side, ready to mess up his hair or, more likely, pinch his cheek just because it was soft or something.
He understood why, it wasn't that those men and women were really sympathizing with him, they were all hungry looking to score points with Bruce Wayne or one of his sons, even the one who was different. Usually Damian could dodge that when he was around any brother or sister, and it was disrespectful on every level that they considered his siblings a hindrance and not him per se, but it guaranteed him a safe place from strange hands.
Except that today Dick had very predictably and dishonorably, Damian would let him know, been lured in by a brazen flirtation of some model or actress or whatever. Jason had certainly skulked away with Duke and Stephanie. And Cass wasn't in town.
There was Tim too. Tim like most of his brothers was an Alpha. And he guessed that if he really tried, he might find him, since Drake was the one with the most responsibilities within this kind of event thanks to his position in the Wayne company, so he had no way of getting away from it like the others.
But Damian almost let himself roll his eyes at the thought. Drake was the most compassionate and least composed alpha he had ever met. Even if he bothered to go near his older brother (not that Damian was recognizing him as such, it was just- It was just a matter of logic) he highly doubted it would be enough to ward off the uncomfortable presences.
So instead, he accepted his fate as some idiot's new temporary squeeze toy. It couldn't take more than a few minutes, right?
Wrong.
It took approximately half an hour before Damian realized with growing dread that the people around him were increasing. After the first person noticed that he was without any of his siblings around and grabbed that chance to spoil him with unwanted attention, a second, third, fourth and fifth person were also desperate for the opportunity.
And it didn't look like it would stop anytime soon. Damian could no longer even force polite or ironic responses out all he could do was shrink back and nod his head at whatever they were talking about while another hand ran through his hair, or fingers gripped his cheek and suspended his chin so they could get a better look at him.
And all those smells. Smells of alphas and betas and omegas that were not of his pack. If he were anything other than Batman's pup, Bruce Wayne's heir, Talia's perfect son, or the heir to the League of Assassins, Damian might be a very, very intimidated pup right now.
But he was the holder of all those titles, so he wasn't going to get carried away by weak, childish feelings like 'I want my pack' or anything like that. He wouldn't.
Damian was fully confident of the fact that he could overcome his useless instincts that begged him to go near someone trustworthy when one of the older men, a smug-looking alpha who tried to mask it with a playful facade, crossed a line he didn't even know he had.
The alpha approached, put both heavy hands on his shoulders, brought his face close, and smelled him.
In all his arduous, bloody, and almost always literally torturous twelve-year-old life, this was the first time he had ever yelped. The sound of the cry was low, muffled, and automatic. He didn't even know he could do that. But all that existed in his mind for a single second was how much that person in front of him was not part of his family. And there were people in his family who had never smelled him.
Barbara never got close enough for that. Duke, who lived with him in the mansion, only did so a few times. Of course, none of this was a good enough excuse for this shameful behavior and Damian could already feel the blood rising to his face, but turning red and embarrassed in front of other people was also dishonorable, but-
"What's going on here?" The voice came so cold and dangerous that for an instant, besides not recognizing it, Damian almost moved into a defensive posture. Only then the smell hit him, being delayed by the fragrance of all the other people around him, but it was still perfectly recognizable and he would never admit even to himself his almost painful urge to run to the source of the familiar smell.
He had to turn his face a little to actually see him, but without a doubt this was Timothy. Standing behind him with narrowed eyes fixed on the man he finally turned away, but a hand remained on his shoulder. Damian bit his lower lip, a little unsure of what was happening.
All the people around him were suddenly taking a step back and looking at each other with what could only be fear, he would recognize that anywhere. All those people so sure of their own importance were suddenly afraid.
"So, nobody is going to answer me?" His brother (that was just the technical term, there was no real brotherly feeling about it, okay?!) asked once more, a smile opening sideways on his face, but it wasn't the same smile patented by the Wayne's, not the charming, playful, idiotic one that would make anyone believe his words. It was a calculated smile, cold in its length and dangerous around the edges. It was kind of scary and Damian wanted Tim to teach him how to do that.
Drake approached, and as he walked, people moved aside, making way for him to pass e- Okay, Damian had never seen this happen before. Of course, no one wanted to bump into a Wayne, but almost everyone grabbed the chance they had to 'charmingly' stumble upon one. (Dick loved this, but Jason hated it with all his might. A memory of the older man telling him that while he was still a teenager and attending these parties, he would sidestep everyone who tried and especially enjoyed seeing the frustrated girls trying to trip him up again and again to start a love story).
"You... You must be Max, right?"
"Maxell Kolben, actually, Mr.Wayne." The man who had a persistent hand on his shoulder and a scent that was souring fast, corrected. Tim's smile broadened. The hand on his shoulder squeezed lightly. He was nervous.
"Yes, of course. So, Max," Tim continued with what surely amounted to blatant disrespect. Not only refusing to acknowledge the man by his family name, but also calling him by a nickname in front of everyone. Damian had to keep his mouth from opening in astonishment because there was no way he was going to imitate the outraged women around him."What are you doing with my puppy?"
Damian blinked. Me? Your brain screamed-whispered, in equal parts disbelief and indignation. Your puppy?! ME?!
"I was just introducing myself to the younger Wayne, of course." But his voice lacked any hint of certainty. As if he suddenly didn't even know what he was doing at the party to begin with. His hand still rested on Damian's shoulder and if he wasn't too busy being incredulous at Drake claiming him as his own, he would surely make a move to shake off the touch.
"I see. But understand Max, my puppy doesn't look the most comfortable right now." There was the beginnings of a growl in Drake's sentence, the barely contained kind that anticipated an attack and it was enough. In the same second the man moved away and Damian felt like he could breathe again. Not only had that meddlesome alpha gone far away, but everyone who had previously surrounded him as well was further and further away, forming a small wheel between them and
Oh, his father would surely complain about that. It was a scene they were causing, wasn't it?
Tim moved closer again and ignored all the people who were still staring at him with bated breath, as if they were waiting for more to happen. And when he was close enough, he dropped to one knee the threatening expression from before had faded to something that-
Worried. Tim was worried about him. And Damian only then realized that somehow he could hear his yelp and instead of laughing at him or reporting him to his father, he was worried.
Damian wanted to laugh and make fun of it.
But for some reason all he did was approach the short distance between them and put his arms around his brother's neck ( That- Oh, right, he was running out of excuses for the nomenclature after so many years.). It was hard as hell to ignore the 'aw' that came from someone in the audience, but he needed the hug to get close enough to Tim's ear that he could whisper without anyone else knowing:
"I hate that guy. Don't let him do it again."
Why did he trust Tim to push the man away? Damian didn't know. Maybe something in the way Tim didn't even have to show his teeth, or use a command, or even approach or threaten or man to get him to back off. Maybe just because Tim had claimed him, treated him as if Damian was his, and Alphas always protected what they saw as theirs.
Or, and it was the dumbest answer and least likely to be right, Tim was his older brother. (But he wasn't. Because- for a good reason Damian would rationalize later, when he wasn't feeling so well being protected.)
But it all went to hell because in a move Damian didn't anticipate, like a total idiot, Tim had him in his arms, carrying him. Right in the middle of a formal event. With dozens of photographers and journalists. He felt his anger begin to bubble up inside his body, he would not tolerate being treated like a baby or a harmless child for another second, not even by one of his stupid alphas!
Only before he could rebel, Tim was speaking again, his voice loud and clear to everyone around them who for some reason had not yet dissipated.
"Damian is Bruce's son and the only pup of the Wayne family, and while we all understand and appreciate your intentions in welcoming him, he is still a pup, touches and smells from outside the pack may bother him. So I ask that you all use the good manners you have had and avoid overwhelming him with you presence." And it was back, the cold, cutting tone that dared anyone to contradict him.
Even his anger that was a force to be reckoned with by anyone paused at the threat behind Tim's voice.
"Also, for everyone's sake and safety, I especially advise avoiding unauthorized touching." Damian swallowed hard at that, that was a very clear verbal threat. He didn't want Drake in trouble with his father because of him (not these days, not really) it had been uncomfortable, but nothing that warranted a scene like that, right?
Tim walked a few steps and he could sigh, forgetting that he was in an unwanted position, being carried, thinking it was over, but then there was another pause and the proximity brought the smell of the strange alpha that started it all.
Drake leaned in close to his ear, not making a point of being discreet about it, and whispered in a growl that was sure to give the man nightmares for the rest of the year, at least:
"If you ever let me lay eyes on you again, especially anywhere near my puppy I will rip your fucking throat out with my teeth."
He turned away and turned his back to the now pale and trembling alpha. Damian certainly had his mouth slightly open now. Death threats were nothing new in his life, but this? That was-
"Don't worry, bat baby, he'll never do that again."
That was an alpha protecting his puppy. And that was the scariest thing anyone could ever witness.
Damian didn't even bother to get upset about the nickname. All he did was relax in Tim's arms (who could pretend he didn't, but Damian felt it when he let out a tiny sigh of surprise. That was a victory) and let himself purr just a little bit. Just because Dick always seemed so happy when Damian did that, as if it was proof that the alpha had done something right.
After that episode, Damian never again had to worry about strangers trying to approach him or touch him without his explicit permission. But anyway, just because he didn't want another scene to happen and for that reason alone, whenever the parties took place, he couldn't be found anywhere else but next to his... To his older brother.