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Jason had known Roy for quite a few years now. They had worked together seamlessly as the Outlaws for long enough that Jason felt he could say definitively that he knew Roy quite well. The red head was dumb enough to get them into trouble and smart enough to get them out of it. He was an engineering nut who just loved to figure out what made something tick. He was strong and capable as far as alphas went. And as far as alphas were concerned? Jason didn't mind Roy one bit. His friend was pretty okay.
That said, what in the hell was Roy thinking?
What had changed in the week Jason had been gone? He hadn't even left for a full week! Just long enough to go check on his side hustle back in Gotham, help his brother on a case, and have tea with Alfred. Apparently that was too long! Jason stared at the mess before him. He'd just set his bag down in his room when he observed a pile of who knows what on his bed. Guns and gadgets were poking out of the pile and Jason felt himself grow increasingly concerned. He knew he shouldn't have left Roy alone for a week while Kory was visiting the Titans…
Hesitantly he approached the pile and observed it as if it was a bomb set to explode if he even dared to look at it wrong. Sure enough, he was correct in his assumption. Both about the guns and the bomb. Though it didn't look set. There were a few guns, all of which looked like they'd been customized. The bomb looked to be some new type of hand grenade hybrid. Clearly some of Roy's best work as of late. There was also a new helmet for Red Hood and some new armor with different designs and uses from what he could tell. And best of all, on his pillow rested a bracelet.
Jason picked it up and inspected it. It was some sort of metal that had been crafted into a bracelet. The shiny metal was twisted into a weaved pattern, branches of metal were bent back into the main ring giving it a bit of a braided effect. It was kinda pretty, though Jason didn't usually have much of an eye for that sort of thing. The thing though was that it didn't seem to have a purpose like the rest of Roy's tech dump. No buttons, hidden weapons, and no technology stowed away within it. It was just- a bracelet. Kinda out of character for Roy, he loved tinkering, but so be it. Jason felt his omega purr as he slipped the jewelry on. It was quite pretty after all, it'd be a waste to just leave it in a drawer in his nightstand…
He decluttered his bed, still trying to wrap his head around why Roy left it for him instead of just showing him the new gear in his workshop. It was nice though, and he was definitely keeping it all. If Roy wanted it back he'd have to fight Jason for it. It was his now. Leave it in his room, his nest, then therefore it was his. Especially that bracelet.
So Jason forgot about it for a bit.
The new gear makes it into his Red Hood outfit and old equipment gets retired. He goes out on patrol and loves it even more, the safety and efficiency of it is practically addictive. Jason really owed Roy for it. This was some topline stuff.
When he approached Roy on the matter, the Alpha just stared at him confused.
“The new gear is awesome, thanks by the way. What do I owe you for it?” Jason asked casually.
Roy looked up from where he'd been working. His hair was plastered to his forehead and sweat made it stick. Grease and dirt smudged his face and he looked like he'd been playing in a fireplace. Jason watched as Roy wiped his dirty hands on an old t-shirt and threw it back onto the nearest surface. He wanted to scent that shirt. It probably smelled just like Roy, something heavy and mechanical. Like grease and whiskey or maybe more woody?
Where had that thought come from?
Roy raised an eyebrow, “It was a gift Jay, no payment needed.”
Jason shook his head, “It's too good, I should at least repay you for it.”
His friend hummed and looked back to whatever contraption he was working on, “It's fine Jay, really.”
He huffed, “Come on man, there's gotta be something I can do! Especially for the bracelet, I haven't stopped wearing it since I found it.”
Roy froze and his eyes shot up to look back at Jason, “Bracelet?”
This time it was Jason's turn to be confused, “Yeah? This bracelet was sitting in with the rest of the pile…”
Roy blushed and ran a hand through his hair making it messy and unkempt, “Oh uh, that wasn't… I didn't mean to leave that there.”
“Well you're not getting it back.” Jason all but snarled.
His friend looked at him with surprise, “Jason, are you sure? It's a courting gift you know…”
Jason paused then felt his face grow hot from embarrassment, “Oh. Uh, sorry, didn't realize you had found an omega you wanted to court.”
Roy burst out laughing, “You didn't know? I've been so obvious about it though!”
Jason rolled his eyes and sneered, “Yeah well I was out of town for a week then find that you've been using my room as a dumping place for your junk including your girlfriend's gifts, sue me for being too pissed about your clutter to miss you giving some girl googly eyes.”
That made Roy laugh harder, “My girlfriend? Really Jay? You're joking right?”
“Fine then, your boyfriend. There, happy?” Jason said with a huff, twisting the bracelet on his wrist.
Roy sighed with a fond smile playing on his lips, “You really didn't realize did you?”
Jason crossed his arms, “Realize what?”
His best friend frowned, “The bracelet is a courting gift. You know that much, yeah?”
He nodded, fed up with the confusion.
Roy continued, “The courting gift that I left on your bed. For you.”
Jason sucked in a breath as it dawned on him.
The new guns, the new gear, the new armor, and the bracelet. All of it in his den. His nest. In his space. It had initially irked him. Knowing that an alpha, even one he was quite fond of, had invaded his den. But he had calmed down considerably when he'd seen the gifts. Plus the second he'd seen the bracelet he had truly become content with the intrusion. He had been enraptured with the piece of metal, and hadn't even taken it off for patrol. His omega had deemed it his too, the possessiveness uncharacteristic of him.
Roy was offering to court him. Of course! How had he missed that? Wait… why him?
As far as omegas went, he was anything but a good one… He was big and broad, not dainty or demure. Most Alphas wanted a pretty omega, one who smiled and nodded. Not… not Jason, who was more than happy to crack a few skulls together to make sure he was heard loud and clear. That and he didn't even do ‘omega things’. Good O's cooked and cleaned, they raised pups, and they took good care of their alphas. Sure, Jason liked to cook, but that was a hobby not a skill he had for the sole purpose of making anyone but himself happy. He knew how to clean, Alfred had made sure, though that didn't mean he wanted to pick up after some slob. Maybe he did want kids someday, but not just ‘cause some alpha said he had to go and get pupped.
Jason didn't want to play house to some self entitled asshole of an alpha.
He wanted to do what he wanted, and if he found someone he loved enough to do all those stupid omega things with, then he would. With his partner, not by himself. Certainly not just to become a live-in maid to some prick either.
But Roy?
Roy wasn't the type of alpha to make him clean up after him. Sure, sometimes Jason had to kick his tools out of the way or occasionally move his bow off of the damn couch, but Roy wasn't one to make a mess and expect others to clean up after him. His best friend couldn't cook to save his life, and so Jason was more than happy to make meals for their team. Happy to get the praise for a good meal too. Roy was also great with kids. Lian spent a lot of time with him these days and it made Jason smile seeing him play with his daughter. Not just with his own pup either, on missions whenever there was a scared pup Arsenal would be the one guarding them and protecting them while Red Hood and Starfire got to unleash their unbridled rage at traffickers.
Roy had always been content to let Jason take the lead.
Jason sighed and rubbed his temples, “You sure you even want an omega like me?”
Roy grinned like the dumbass he was, “Of course. Strong, competent, handsome, beautiful, and the best thighs I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on. What isn't there to love?”
He felt heat rise to his face and felt his throat try to purr without his consent, “You're full of shit.”
The bastard cackled, “It's true! I'd never lie to you Jaybird.”
Jason sighed, “Then you really mean it? You actually want to court me?”
Roy nodded in earnest, “Yes. I'd be honored if you'd allow me to court you.”
This time, Jason didn't stop himself. His purr was low, lower than what most omegan purrs sounded like, but it was a purr. It started slow, stuttering for a few moments before picking up and filling the room. He looked to Roy tentatively and embarrassed, only to see his mouth gaping and cheeks flushed. Slowly his friend came closer until they were in reach of each other.
“May I scent you?” Roy asked softly.
Jason blushed but nodded. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd been properly scented. It… probably wasn't good for him or his omega but there really wasn't anything he could do about it now.
Roy enclosed on his space and ever so gently brushed his wrists against Jason's neck. The feeling was ticklish as it was calming. Jason felt his soft purring get louder and his omega was settled. Jason was able to take in Roy's scent too. It did smell like the grease he used in his projects as well as woody, it also had undertones of some sort of expensive alcohol that Jason had smelled once back when he was with Bruce. Not boozy though, Jason had smelled that before and this was nothing like the stench of an alcoholic. No, this was much warmer, something cozy and safe. It reminded him of warm nights in front of the manor fireplace. Jason knew he was never going to want to rid himself of the scent.
Roy finally pulled back and Jason almost leaned into his retreating touch. He mourned the loss of warmth, the safe feeling, the calm. Jason choked back a whine. Roy raised an eyebrow.
“When was the last time you were scented?”
Jason glared, “None of your business.”
Roy smiled, “Well I guess it'll be up to me to remedy that huh?”
Jason rolled his eyes and began purring again, “Whatever, sometimes I don't know what goes through your head.”
Roy just laughed.