Chapter Text
Gold makes the world go round. That’s what Master Domuz says at least. Gold opened doors with no keys. Gold made ugly things beautiful. Master was full of little idioms like that. Dick thought he was just full of it. Gold didn’t make ugly things beautiful. Seventy-five percent of his master’s wardrobe was painted or embroidered with gold and he still looked like a pig. A big, stinky, disgusting pig, potbelly and all.
Dick disagreed with his master on most things, though he quickly learned to keep those disagreements to himself. Gold didn’t open locked doors. Gold didn’t make the world go round. Iron did. Iron was in everything, cookware, industrial equipment, keys, and locks. Iron was even placed in the foundation of buildings. But mostly, iron was the foundation of Dick’s entire world. It was in the wheels and axels of the wagons that jostled him across back alleys and forgotten country roads. It was in the bars to the cage that he slept in most nights, insufficient at blocking the nights’ cold breezes. It was in the shackles that bound him, chaining him to this wretched existence and to Domuz. No, it wasn’t gold that turned the world. It was iron.
It was that offending metal that clinked and rattled against his bones, rubbing his skin raw and sending sparks of pain shooting down his fingertips. The collar was just as bad, if not worse, sitting heavily on this collar bones and wearing little sores on the skin underneath. The chain connecting them thumped painfully against his chest, no doubt leaving behind yet another dark bruise. Another chain stretched out between him and the auction house attendant guiding him down the large aisle between rows and rows of plush crimson chairs. A single white shawl draped over his head shielded him from the prying eyes of the lords and ladies bidding on items. Bidding on him.
Their whisperings were barely louder than the quiet slap of his bare feet on the hardwood floors. He could feel them all around him. Alphas, betas, even a few omegas. He knew what they were whispering about. He knew he was the crown jewel of tonight’s auction. What everyone had come to see. To buy, if they were lucky.
A tug on the chain pulled him gently up the three steps to the auction’s stage where hands turned him toward the audience. His omega curled tightly inside him, retreating from the suffocating presence of so many alphas pressing in on him. The iron was clinking again, and he clasped his hands together to quiet it. A booming voice made him jump. “Let’s start the bidding at five hundred dollars.”
A roar broke out as the crowd fought for the right to own him and his ears rang from the sound. Closing his eyes, Dick took a deep, subtle breath through his nose and released it slowly. The roar faded into the melodious song of early spring birds. Gone was the musky stench of alphas and burning incense. He could almost imagine himself enveloped in the sweet smell of wild lilac and honeysuckle dancing on the warm breeze. New grass tickled his feet as his raven hair brushed the back of his neck and the tips of his ears. A mid-morning sun warmed his skin and glistened off the smooth surface of a koi pond. Laughter bubbled in his throat as he chased a mischievous fox through the clover fields. In the distance, he could hear the soft voice of his mother calling his name, “Dick…Dick…”
“Five thousand dollars.” A shocked gasp rose from the crowd as Dick was snapped from his daydream. The voice resonated through the air and echoed in his ears. He almost dared to raise his head to search out the owner of such a commanding voice. He kept his head down though, as propriety demanded. The sharp click of dress shoes crackled through the now silent hall, steadily getting louder with each step. Dick fought the instinctual urge to shrink away from the intimidating presence of the approaching high alpha. He could hear the auctioneer beside him swiftly grilling the crowd, looking for another who might dare to bid a higher price. No one spoke.
“Sold!” was shouted in his ear and Dick flinched, rattling the iron weighing him down. Black dress shoes stopped before him and he quietly took them in. The shoes were shined to perfection with just the tiniest amount of wear on the sides. They were the typical shoes of high society and Dick had stared at enough of them to recognize authentic leather from cheap knockoffs. These were the genuine article.
Dick’s eyes roamed up. Dark trousers were pressed and creased in all the right places. A dinner jacket was layered over a dark vest and tailored in such a way that it accented a thin but sturdy waist. A spotless white dress shirt supported a deep red necktie, pinned in place with a black onyx tie pin encased in a ring of silver. Gloved hands held an elegant cane crafted with dark wood and a rounded, polished silver handle. A midnight cloak with a silver and ruby cloak clasp accentuated broad shoulders.
His gaze eventually landed on a chiseled jaw with smooth, creamy skin. The alpha’s thin lips combined with full, dark eyebrows gave him a naturally hard expression. Ebony hair, smoothed back, exposed eyes that drew Dick’s right in. They were dark, much like the rest of the man and grabbed his attention in a way Dick hadn’t expected. There was something there, swirling in their depths, that Dick couldn’t quite fathom.
“Thank you, my lord, for your purchase.” The auctioneer’s voice startled him again and Dick quickly looked down before anyone noticed his serious breach in protocol. Even with his gaze averted, he could still feel those intense eyes boring holes into him, and it was a struggle to resist the urge to glance up again. “If you would follow me, my lord, you’ll be able to inspect the merchandise in one of our back rooms in a moment.”
The iron tugged and Dick obediently followed. The murmurs were back, but they no longer focused on him. The mysterious lord had caught more than his attention and the rumor mill was bound to be buzzing about this for weeks to come. The noise cut off sharply as the stage doors closed behind him. The darkness of the side corridor was a drastic change from the well-lit hall, forcing Dick to blink away black spots. The attendant hurried him down the hallway, nearly causing him to stumble a few times as he attempted to keep up.
Another set of hands dragged him into an inconspicuous room where the shawl was torn from his head. Rough hands tilted his head back and dug a comb through his ruffled hair. There were three loud clicks and he quietly sighed in relief as the shackles and collar clattered to the floor. The sigh morphed into a whimper when the loincloth was torn way, and a strange smelling oil was rubbed into every inch of his skin.
What they covered him with couldn’t really be classified as a skirt. It consisted of two pieces of teal cloth about a yard each sewn to a thinner, gold piece of cloth that they tied around his waist. The teal panels covered his front and back but left his legs, thighs, and hips exposed. The golden ends of the teal panels brushed the tops of his feet and the fabric whispered as he moved. They snapped a thin gold collar around his neck that seemed to weigh more than the iron. Black kohl accented his eyes and oil was smoothed over his lips.
“He’s ready.” The attendant declared, attaching a chain to the collar before shoving Dick through the door. The sound of the “skirt” mingled with the tinkling of the chain and his shallow breathing as he trudged down the endless hallway. The heart drumming in his chest was deafening as it threatened to burst out with a petrified scream. Only the painful lump lodged in his throat kept it from escaping.
A dark, mahogany door loomed before him and Dick could sense the alpha just beyond it, waiting for him. The vise in his chest tightened as he attempted to draw in deep, calming breaths. His heart skipped when the attendant knocked. Dick pulled his omega in even tighter, so much so that it nearly vanished into his soul. The doors swung open. Master Domuz was there, standing next to the mysterious lord. Dick’s lead was dropped, and he just stood there, prey backed into a corner.
“As you can see, my Lord,” Domuz smirked, approaching him with his arms outstretched as if he planned to embrace him. Dick was dead sure he would bolt if the man tried. “He’s quite an exotic beauty; caramel skin, obsidian hair, delicate and pure.” He struggled not to flinch when his master’s stubby fingers trailed over the ends of his hair. He was pretty sure he failed, but the merchant took no notice.
A faint growl had his eyes snapping toward the lord, whose hand twitched at his side. It seems Domuz’s little touch was not appreciated. The merchant caught on and hastily stepped away, allowing Dick to finally take a full breath. Master cleared his throat and placed his pudgy arms behind his back as much as he could. “I would have to say though that his best feature is his eyes. Sapphires, they are. Bluer than any I have ever seen. Imagine your heirs possessing eyes such as these.”
Heirs. Dick’s stomach dropped. He was going to be expected to breed with the lord. To lie with him and… he suddenly felt quite nauseous. A wave of displeasure washed over him, and he quivered, shrinking further and further inward. His eyes locked onto the rug and began tracing its golden pattern. “Clothes,” the word was so simple and yet that deep voice gave it so much power that Dick couldn’t stop himself from looking.
Domuz looked puzzled at the word as if he had never heard it before. “Clothes, my lord?”
The alpha turned his intense gaze to the master, who seemed to be resisting the instinctual need to bare his neck. “His clothes, Domuz. Where are they?”
“He’s…wearing them, my lord.”
The indignation strengthened and the dip in the lord’s brow deepened. The corners of his mouth bowed. “Two yards of cloth on a string does not constitute clothing.”
Domuz started stuttering. “I-I’m sorry, my lord, b-but I do not have clothes that would fit him.”
The alpha leveled a disbelieving look at the merchant. “Very well.” Unclipping the silver chain to his cloak, he pulled it from his shoulders and stepped forward, draping it around Dick’s. Hesitant, Dick grasped the edges and pulled them closed. The material was much lighter than he first thought and smooth to the touch. It felt nice across his bare back.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Those dark eyes softened and the alpha straightened. “I will return tomorrow with the payment. Until then, I believe our business here is concluded.”
Domuz bid him a deep bow…well, as deep of a bow as someone of his size could muster. “Of course, a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Wayne
“Oh, Lord Wayne, what a pleasure to see you out this evening.” Plastering on a perfect plastic smile, Bruce turned to see Margret Jessop smiling sweetly up at him. Her gray-streaked hair was twisted up in a simple knot on top of her head. Her caked-on makeup did nothing to cover the wrinkles forming along her mouth or by her eyes. The red of her dress was a bit bold for a lady of her age and the cut even more so.
“Good evening, Lady Jessop.” He said kindly, not forgetting the etiquette Alfred had drilled into him as a child.
“Oh, please Bruce, how many times have I told you to call me Maggie?”
“Just once more, my lady, and many times after.” He replied cringing silently at her overly girlish giggle.
“Oh, my poor dear. You really are putting on a brave face, aren’t you? Especially after what happened with Lady Beaumont.”
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Bruce allowed his smile to diminish a bit, letting the high society vulture believe it was from the pain of the mentioned incident instead of loss of patience at it being mentioned once again. “Thank you, Lady Jessop, for your concern, but I assure you that I am fine.”
“A brave face indeed! It was just such a traitorous thing to do and for it to come from someone so well thought of in our society. To pretend to be an alpha.” Jessop placed a gloved hand against her chest as if the mere thought of such a deed caused her great pain. “I’d imagine you are quite glad to have discovered her lies before entering into a mating bond with her.”
“Of course.”
Her smile turned into something a little less appropriate and she moved a little closer to him. “You are so strong to keep going after such a deed. Had it been me, I would be devastated at the mere thought of the social repercussions.” Bruce was sure there was supposed to be a compliment in there somewhere.
“Thank you, Lady Jessop. You are too kind.”
“Will you get back into the game, Lord Wayne? Living in that big old house all by yourself, it must get lonely sometimes.” Her hand found its way onto his arm and he had to physically restrain himself from tearing away. She may have only been a beta, but Margret Jessop was effectively irritating his Alpha. He was having a difficult time keeping it from merging and forcing her to back off.
“It may seem that way, my lady, but I am quite happy where I am now. Thank you for your consideration.”
She huffed pleasantly before removing her hand and taking a step back. “Quite brave, indeed. If you’ll excuse me, my Lord, my mate calls for me. It was a pleasure speaking with you.”
“Of course, my lady,” he bowed low and watched her walk away, dropping his smile and letting out a strained huff. If he had to hear one more person give their condolences about Lady Beaumont, he was going to lose his mind. It wasn’t as big a deal as everyone made it out to be. In fact, it hurt Andrea more than it did him. Her family had practically disowned her when they discovered what she had been doing. They had shipped her off to live with distant relatives in order to escape the brunt of the shame. Bruce only felt pity for her. She wasn’t the first to try and escape the limitations of her caste and she certainly wouldn’t be the last. He only wished he could have helped her.
The lines between castes were distinct. Even now, without scent or instinct, one could see the barriers erected between the guests. Alpha’s were always in the front, big and boastful, ready for a challenge. They oozed confidence that was born of blood and conflict. Betas were always to the right of their alpha, a shield guarding their flank. For an unmated alpha, the beta was their balm, keeping them calm in the presence of other alphas. The only beta who broke this mold was James Gordon. Born into his caste as many others, he fought and clawed his way to a position that had previously only been held by alphas. As the head of Gotham’s law enforcement, his beta allowed him to keep a level head while his strength, one that rivaled many of the alpha’s around him, kept the department from falling into utter chaos. He was a kind, yet no-nonsense type of individual who had long ago earned Bruce’s respect. Brown eyes met blue across the room and Bruce sent Gordon a pleasant nod, for which he got a strained smile. Seems his friend was about as excited to be here as he was.
The omega’s position was the lowest of society’s rung while still maintaining a desired position in every pack. They were necessary for breeding, but many were treated as nothing more than property, objects to be used and abused. Alphas were known to climb the social ladder when an omega hung on their arm, and so, everyone scrambled to have one. Many forgot that they were people too.
Bruce’s lip curled in disgust as he watched Aubrey James, head of Gotham’s council, get handsy with the female omega on his arm. She was dressed in the most lurid outfit imaginable with slits up to here and cuts down to there. Her taught body only tensed more when James slipped his hand under one of her dress’s many openings. She did nothing to stop the alpha’s advances, but the scent of her distress was clear, practically begging for someone to intervene. Everyone noticed, but no one seemed to care.
Theo Galavan sauntered by, a female omega draped over each arm while a third, male omega, followed close behind. A chain keeping him tethered to the alpha like a pet. A growl pushed its way past Bruce’s lips before he could stop it. It was barbaric.
The low pitch ring of a gong resonated through the lobby and the guests began to congregate towards the auction house’s main hall. Large painted doors opened to a massive room. Rows and rows of over plush chairs with red velvet covers and long, elegantly curved legs faced the auction stage at the far end of the hall. The two sections were split down the middle, the aisle following the line of three giant crystal chandeliers that hung from the gilded ceiling. Their candles lit despite the glow of natural light drifting in from the high arched windows. Blood red curtains outlined the frames and barely brushed against the oak floors. Unlike the lobby, no paintings or artworks decorated the walls. A tactic no doubt meant to keep one’s attention of the items being auctioned.
Bruce took a seat toward the back, sinking into the cushions and preparing himself for the inevitable boredom that was coming. He had no desire to purchase anything tonight, but appearances required he remain through the event regardless. This was going to be maddening
The crowd settled, and the auction began, starting with a fifteen-century vase that looked more like it belonged in a garbage heap than a luxurious auction house. The swift rambling of the auctioneer was grating against his ears and his eyes caught flashes of raised hands bidding on items.
An hour and a half crept away along with all feeling in his ass. He quelled the urge to shift in his seat when the announcer spoke. “And now, lords and ladies, our final item for this evening.”
The doors to the main lobby opened and every head turned to see what was entering. There was a bit of murmuring at the fanfare as all the previous items had been brought in through side doors near the stage. It seemed this last item was big, and the announcer wanted to put on a show, hype up the guests after such a long event.
And big it was, in anything but size. Bruce’s eyes widened as a figure concealed by a white shawl was shuffled down the aisle towards the stage. The whispers began anew as the little figure moved passed. There was a tinkling of metal and Bruce could see chains that bound thin wrists just before they disappeared under the cover. His nose caught a honey-sweet scent and his jaw nearly dropped. An omega. Bruce wasn’t the only one who made that discovery as the whispers grew loud with excitement.
“My lords and ladies. Alphas of every degree. We have a very special treat up for auction tonight. A breed as rare as an oasis in a scorching desert. A true diamond in the rough, beautiful and pure. An omega.”
The noise only increased at the declaration. Instincts rose and rumbled through the room, pushing and tugging at each other as they all reached for the pure sweetness standing center stage. “Let’s start the bidding at five hundred dollars.” That’s when the shouting began. People forgoing etiquette in an effort to own the delicate flower before them. The idea of a pure omega to own and breed was almost too much for some to fathom as their instincts roared out challenge after challenge.
Bruce’s eyes fixated on the tiny figure that was the catalyst of all this madness. Even from this distance, he could see the figure curled in on itself, trying to escape the oppressive air building amongst the Alphas in the room. The scent had stirred his own alpha in a way that he hadn’t felt before. His instincts threw itself against its cage, trying desperately to reach the omega that was only a few feet away. Six hundred dollars, six-fifty, seven hundred. He was going to lose them. Lose them to a lesser alpha who would no doubt treat the omega as a trophy to fuck and display. His alpha cried out in horror. Don’t allow it. Don’t allow it! Do Not Allow It!
Bruce’s body shot from the chair and his booming voice overtook all the others. “Five thousand dollars.” A shocked gasp rippled through the room and he could feel himself echoing it silently. What the holy hell was he doing?! Determined not to back down, he began moving toward the stage. His alpha rose steadily, filling the dead space and pushing back all the others with ease, daring anyone to try and challenge his claim.
Approaching the omega, he felt them shrink away in fear; his alpha pulled back immediately. Bruce blinked. That was strange. It’s never done that before.
“Sold!” The announcer shouted, and Bruce caught the omega’s subtle flinch. He nearly growled at the man for scaring them, but he restrained himself. It wouldn’t do to frighten them any farther. He watched with bated breath as the hooded head slowly began to rise. The first thing he noticed was the omega was male. A rare find indeed. The second was that the omega was young, seemingly no older than sixteen. How long had this boy been in possession of slavers? A year? Two? His whole life? Bruce’s alpha growled, wanting to reach out and surround the boy, shield him from the lesser alphas that poked and prodded at him. The third thing was his eyes, a deep beautiful blue he had never seen before and couldn’t even begin to describe. There was something else underneath that beauty. Something not quite hidden but guarded and precious.
“Thank you, my lord, for your purchase.” The announcer startled the boy again and broke their tentative gaze, sending those beautiful blues back to his shoes. This time, the annoyed growl slipped through, but luckily it was too quiet for anyone to hear. “If you would please follow me, my lord. You’ll be able to inspect your purchase in one of the back rooms in a moment.” The announcer gestured to a side door as a servant collected the omega and guided him in the opposite direction. It took every ounce of will power Bruce possessed not to just snatch up the boy and leave. It took even more not to growl at the servant for taking him away. Another beta brushed up against him in an attempt to turn his attention away from the retreating omega and that growl escaped him, sending a shock of power through the point of contact. The corners of his mouth twitched in a pleased smirk when the host flinched away from him. The beta stuttered out a command to follow and Bruce only obeyed in an effort to remain civilized.
He was led down a barren corridor and into an empty room. Gold trimmed the walls and ceiling and accented the white carpets. A simple chandelier hung in the center and acted as the main light source in the room. The room was devoid of any windows. There were a few candelabras flickering on the ornate tables around the room and the couches barely looked touched. It was slightly less gaudy than the lobby and main hall, but the color scheme remained the same.
“The owner will be with you shortly to discuss the terms of payment.” The door clicked shut and Bruce was left alone. He took this moment to calm himself. His lack of control was worrying. How was it that a simple omega could drag his instincts to the surface so easily? More importantly, what the hell had he been thinking? He had just bought an omega, a human being, like nothing more than cattle. He was wholeheartedly against everything that things like this stood for and he had gone and done the one thing he had always sworn he would never do. He had allowed his instincts to dictate his actions and, in the process, he was about to become responsible for another life. Completing a few simple breathing techniques, he was back to his cool collected self just in time for the door to open. Another beta entered wearing merchant clothing that seemed to fit in with the theme of the auction house. He was large, pompous, and decorated with so much gold it hurt Bruce’s eyes just to look at him. He stunk of alcohol and cheap cologne. His beard seemed to have been slathered in grease in a failed attempt to tame the wild strands. The beta bowed low.
“My lord, it is an honor.”
“You are the omega’s former owner?” Bruce questioned keeping his voice firm and steady.
The man nodded. “Yes, my lord. I am Japheth Domuz. The boy was well taken care of, well-nourished with no injuries to speak of.”
The door opened once again as the boy was brought in and Bruce almost recoiled. What the hell was he wearing?! Those weren’t clothes! The strips of cloth barely even qualified as a skirt…though he had to admit, the color did bring out the copper of his skin. He silently chastised himself. He shouldn’t even be thinking that. Not only was it not the place to do so, but it was rude and improper. The smell hit him suddenly and he forced himself not to react. It was almost as if they had dipped the boy in artificial pheromones and Bruce had to physically restrain himself as his alpha went wild, nose burning with those harsh and desirous chemicals. The gold chains around his wrists and neck nearly had him losing control again.
“As you can see my lord, he’s quite an exotic beauty; caramel skin, obsidian hair, delicate and pure.” When Domuz’s fingers brushed the ends of the boy’s hair, Bruce didn’t bother to stop the growl that slipped out. He could see the boy flinch and his hands twitched at his side, wanting to shove the beta away from him.
Domuz seemed to take a hint and quickly backed away from the omega. He cleared his throat before continuing. “I would have to say though that his best feature is his eyes. Sapphires, they are. Bluer than any I have ever seen. Imagine your heirs possessing eyes such as these.”
Bruce’s stomach dropped and he clenched his fists. He couldn’t think of that. Wouldn’t think of that. His nose caught the bitter scent of the omega’s distress and he tried to shift the conversation away from…that. “Clothes,” it was the first thing he could think of and was currently the most important thing. He would not have the boy walking out into a room full of alphas dressed like that.
The beta had the audacity to look at him like he had lost his mind. “Clothes, my lord?”
Bruce turned a hard glare on the merchant and Domuz blanched, shifting against the intensity of his gaze. “His clothes, Domuz. Where are they?”
“He’s…wearing them, my lord.”
His eyes narrowed as his frown deepened. This man couldn’t be that stupid. “Two yards of cloth on a string does not constitute clothing.”
“I-I’m sorry, my lord, b-but I do not have clothes that would fit him.” The merchant stuttered, and Bruce was willing to bet his last penny that it was a bald-faced lie. Fine, he would fix this himself.
“Very well,” he released the silver chain holding his cloak and tugged it from his shoulders. He took a step forward, making a conscious effort to seem as non-threatening as possible, and draped it over the boy. He watched, pleased when thin hands tugged the edges closed around him. The boy seemed to stand just a little bit taller now that he was no longer exposed. Warmth filled him from his head to his toes when those blue eyes locked on to his and he received a soft ‘thank you’. Holding back his smile, he turned his attention back to Domuz. “I will return tomorrow with the payment. Until then, I believe our business here is concluded.”
The merchant bowed as low as he could with his protruding belly. “Of course, a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Wayne.”
He started for the exit, passing the boy whose eyes had drifted back to the floor. He paused in the doorway when the boy didn’t move. “Come,” he called softly, and the boy followed him out. He cringed slightly. The boy wasn’t a dog.
The door shut behind them, cutting off the stench of the beta. The man was irritating, and he was glad to be away from the man. No doubt the boy felt the same. Bruce glanced over at him. His head was still down, submissive, his hands clutching tightly at the cloak. Bruce reached for the hood, figuring it would be easier for the boy to be concealed if they were going to make a quick getaway. He froze in place when the boy nearly jumped back in fright.
His heart clenched at the look directed toward him, blue eyes wide and nostrils flared. “It’s alright,” he said softly, hoping to placate the terrified omega before him. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you. I merely wished to raise the hood. I thought it might…make you feel more secure.” Thin hands didn’t hesitate to pull the hood over his head themselves before slipping back under the cloak.
Slightly disappointed, Bruce lowered his hand and cleared his throat. “Come along then,” he mumbled starting off down the corridor. Walking in silence, Bruce could barely hear the soft footfalls of his companion and he resisted the urge to turn and make sure the boy was still following. Muffled voices from the auction house guests grew as they got closer to the lobby doors and so did the bitter scent of distress behind him. “Stay close,” he advised before opening the door,
Entering the lobby, Dick felt the abrasive presence of all the other alphas in the room and, unfortunately, they felt him too. He quickly pulled his omega close as Lord Wayne had done, but it was too late. He had been spotted. Lord Wayne kept going and Dick increased his pace to keep as close to the man as possible. Alphas of all levels were prodding at him, tugging and pulling at his omega in a way that almost hurt. He whimpered quietly, ripping himself away from them.
The cloak was snagged and nearly torn from his grip, forcing him to stop with a startled gasp. He could feel an alpha behind him, instincts slowly crawling over him and pressing down, trying to force him to his knees. He resisted.
A snarl echoed through the suddenly deadly silent chamber as Wayne’s alpha washed over him, cleansing the other alpha from him. The man was suddenly at his side, arm around him, holding him close. Dick gasped as he was pressed into a solid warm side and he peeked out from under the edge of his hood to watch as the other alpha collapsed to his knees, face twisted in a grimace from the force of Wayne’s alpha. There were gasps and cries as the other occupants bared the brunt of Wayne’s displeasure. It was strange though. Dick couldn’t feel it. All he could feel was a comforting warmth that wrapped around him like a blanket.
Struggling to hold back the rage that implored him to tear the other’s throat out, Bruce growled and held the boy tighter. “You dare,” he hissed his voice low but seemed to carry to every ear in the building. “You dare to try and take what is not yours.” The lesser alpha let out a high-pitched whine, begging to be released. Bruce bared down harder, relishing when a thin neck bared to him, submitting without hesitation. “Remove yourself from the cloak, menial.”
The man scrambled away, freeing the cloak and with it the boy. Bruce pulled back his alpha but kept it wrapped securely around his charge, protecting him from the touch of the rest of the crowd and as a warning to any who dared to try after this display. He had been so stupid. He should have done this before entering the lobby and that…little display would have never happened.
They managed to reach the carriage that waited in front of the doors without another incident. Bruce ushered the boy inside, only relaxing once they were well on their way. He gently pulled his alpha from the omega, even though it was reluctant to do so.
Dick watched the tension leak from Wayne’s shoulders and the warmth surrounding him slowly disappeared. He was almost sad to feel it go. This man was truly an enigma. Feeling brave, he reached up and removed the hood, noting when dark eyes followed his movements. Silence lay heavy between them. Dick struggled to keep eye contact with the Alpha, eventually giving up to stare at his lap.
A few moments later Wayne finally spoke. “I’m sorry that happened. It was negligent of me not to shield you from the start.”
Dick shrugged, not meeting his eyes. “It’s alright. It…it wouldn’t be the first time something like that has happened.”
Another threatening growl rumbled from the alpha’s throat and Dick couldn’t help but shrink away from the noise. It stopped almost immediately, and he heard a deep intake of breath. “Sorry… Even so, it shall never happen again.” The smile Dick gave was hesitant, eyes flickering to Wayne’s face and away. “What’s your name?”
Eyes met briefly, and Dick saw a softness that was entirely unlike the hardened alpha he had witnessed only moments before. This man was truly a mystery. “Richard.” The smile that he was graced with pulled his own smile to the surface. A mystery indeed.
“My name is Bruce.”
One that seemed like it may be worth solving.