Chapter Text
“Clark, meet your sons” Bruce makes room for Clark to come closer to see them.
Clark can hear his own heart beat, gods it’s so fast. But these are his pups and they’re so close he can practically feel their warmth.He leans slightly over the two bassinets so he can get a peak at the two boys, “Hello Tim, hello Conner, I’m your dad.”
Tim was pale, not sickly pale, just light skinned, very similar to Bruce’s. He was sleeping and clutching a little blanket with his fist. And Conner…gosh Conner looked so much like him! They had the same skin tone and Conner’s nose was the same shape as his. He wondered if they’d have the same eye color. The only thing wrong was the obvious tube that ran from the boy’s room to a little machine attached to the back of his bassinet.
“They’re perfect” Clark cooed. These were his babies, he’d protect them with everything he had.
Bruce leaned down next to him, “I know.” All his pups were perfect, all five of them. Perfect in their own unique ways, Dick was kind and surprisingly agile, Jason was intelligent and had a wonderful imagination, Cass was incredibly perceptive of those around her but also had a softer side that she didn’t display often. And he couldn’t wait for his youngest too to grow up and show off their own unique personalities.
“What’s the tube for?” Clark gestured to the respiratory tube.
Bruce sighed, “It’s helping him breathe.” Thomas had told him to keep it attached until he’d managed to get Conner’s sire within close range. Only then could he detach it so the pup could inhale all his father’s Alpha pheromones.
“Oh…” right, he’d been suffering for months and these were the final stages. Clark knew it would be bad, but he hadn’t expected that the boy needed assistance in order to breathe. “Okay so how do I?” He had no idea what exactly he was supposed to do. Sure he was here to help Conner, but how exactly did helping out go?
Bruce slowly removed the little blanket Conner was wrapped in, the dark blue blanket he’d picked out while still pregnant. He then took off the tubes from his nose, but a thought stopped him mid-motion and he turned to the Alpha with a questioning gaze, “Have you ever held a baby before?” He had not gone through so many protocols to keep all his children safe just to hand a fragile baby over to someone who didn’t even know how to hold a six month old.
Clark gulped, “Yes but, how do I hold him? I don’t want to…I don’t want to hurt him?” He’d held babies before, of all species actually. But never a sick one with tubes attached to him.
Bruce looked nervously between the baby and Clark, “Well umm actually…”
“What is it Bruce?”
“It’s nothing” he tried to hide a slightly panicked expression but his scent betrayed him completely.
Clark’s face hardened instantly, “Don’t lie to me. This is about our son’s health. Tell me.”
Bruce sighed in defeat, stupid Omega scent signatures. “T-The doctor said that skin to skin contact would work fastest. It would be better for the baby to feel you and actually be able to sniff l directly from your scent gland. The smell would be stronger and enter his system faster.”
Yeah Thomas hadn’t much happier when explaining all of that, he actually looked quite uncomfortable. Which was entirely understandable given the several occasions where he’d help to sneak Bruce out of events where Clark was present over the years.
But Clark didn’t know about any of that. He just adjusted his glasses while muttering, “So, I should take my shirt off?”
Bruce bit the inside of his cheek to avoid screaming. “It would be better for him.” Just what he needed, first he let this Alpha into his nest and now he was telling him to strip. It was a good thing Alfred wasn’t home at the moment.
Clark gulped, “A-Are you comfortable with that?” He would do it, of course he would l, anything to save his baby in front of him. But he’d already crossed so many lines, came into a single Omega’s home, his nest, his pups….he wouldn’t do anything to make Bruce uncomfortable.
Bruce took in a deep breath, “It’s for my baby. Why wouldn’t I be?” He hoped that sounded convincing. He’d seen plenty of men shirtless in his life, it’s just the same as if he saw Clark at the beach. No problem!
“Okay then, I’ll do it…for him.” Clark quickly took off his backpack and placed it on the ground. He then turned his back to Bruce so he could take off his shirt. When he turned back, Bruce’s face looked like a tomato. “Okay, how do I hold him?”
Bruce used all of his self control to not stare at the Alpha’s bare torso. His Omega was whining at him for it, there was a strong and unmated Alpha right next to him, shirtless, and with abs perfectly sculpted by years of farm work!
He picked up Tim before he could do something stupid. “You pick him up like this…” he placed one arm around Tim’s little torso while keeping the other under him, “You need to support his head.”
“Head, got it” Clark bent down to copy Bruce’s motion, praying his hands weren’t sweaty. “Hey buddy, I know you’re not feeling great right now, but I came to help you.” Conner was concerningly light weight, sure human babies don’t weigh as much as newborn cows or pigs, but they weren’t supposed to be this light. His legs and arms were thin too.
Bruce then demonstrated how to place a baby’s head against a scent gland, placing Tim against his chest, with his little head against his shoulder. And like clockwork, Tim began sniffing his dad’s gland.
Clark copied the motion again, slowly closing the gap between his and his son’s body. Little Conner’s body was warm, and once his head was angled to Clark’s scent gland, he placed a little hand over his father’s skin.
“You’re pretty good at this” Bruce said with a gentle smile. The Alpha was safe, he was nurturing. He provided food and now he was helping with the pups!
Clark mirrored his smile, “Thanks.” Oh gods, the smell of leather was stronger now, along with the slight smell of spray paint. “Is it working?” Conner’s face was right up against his gland. Was something supposed to happen?
Bruce tilted his head, “Try releasing more pheromones, he’ll inhale those directly.” They had to try everything at this point.
“Are you sure?” Bruce wanted him to spray his pheromones inside his nesting room. An Alpha only did that if he was mated or at least courting said Omega, and he was neither.
“I’ll be fine” Bruce assured him, a flat out lie.
“Okay….” So very slowly, released a wave of his pheromones into the air, flooding it in the scent of old books and grass. He felt Conner’s little nostrils taking in large breaths of the scent.
Bruce tried to keep his knees from buckling as the room flooded with Clark’s scent. His Omega was going absolutely insane.
Alpha.
An Alpha, his Alpha, no, not his Alpha was here! In his room, in his nest, adding his scent. The room now smelt like him, all his pups, and Alpha. It was perfect!
Bruce told his Omega to shut his trap so he could focus on his son.
Conner let out a happy sound and cuddled closer to his father. His little hands moved up and down against Clark’s skin. After a few more minutes, he shifted entirely and opened his eyes.
Conner stared straight into Clark. His eyes weren’t droopy anymore, they were wide open and alert. But also….they were shining gold. Not their normal bright blue, but gold. The ultimate sign of an Alpha acknowledging another Alpha.
Clark looked down at his son and caught it immediately.
This boy.
His son.
Conner would be an Alpha one day, and he’d recognized Clark as his father. He’d accepted the pheromones in his system.
Clark was so busy staring at his son’s eyes that he didn’t notice Bruce vibrating right beside him.
“Yes, yes, he accepted it” Bruce cried out in relief. He had to tighten his grip on Tim to prevent himself from dropping his son. He was panting, “He finally…he finally did it.” Tears pricked his eyes, six months, he’d watched helplessly for six months as his baby only got sicker and sicker. But he was here, he’d opened his eyes, he’d accepted the Alpha pheromones. His baby would be okay.
Clark gently rocked the baby in his hood. “You okay?” He asked once he saw the tears running down Bruce’s face, though he concluded those had to be happy tears.
Bruce nodded enthusiastically, “I’m just relieved.” He set Tim back on his bassinet, it was for the best. “You have no idea what it’s like to see your baby just get sicker and…” he hiccuped.
“I know…” Clark interrupted gently, “I’m glad I could help.” The smile on Bruce’s face was worth it, looking into his son’s eyes was worth it. This had to be the greatest day of his entire life, he hoped it would never end.
Bruce’s heart clenched, “Clark…”
“Did we get a new dog!” An excited voice yelled from downstairs, followed by barking.
Clark let out a low growl and looked towards the door, an entirely instinctual response to someone interrupting the moment.
Bruce let out an involuntary Omega beep as a response to the Alpha. Shit, so much for not succumbing to his Omega biology. “It’s the kids. We better, umm….” He looked between Tim clutching his blanket again, to the shirtless Alpha in front of him.
Clark schooled his instinct. “Go, I’ll put my shirt on.” He’d be mortified if the first time the older kids saw him was him shirtless.
Bruce nodded, “YES” he shouted. “S-Sorry, I mean, yes please do that..” he patted down his clothes and took in several deep breaths. He kissed the crown of Tim’s head, “Love you baby.” Then he ran out of the door and headed downstairs to the rest of his pups, his heart pounding.
Clark calmly watched him go. Cute, Bruce was so irresistibly cute. He looked back to the pup in his arms, the boy had already shut his eyes, his breathing now much more stable. “Sleep tight Conner, I’ll take care of you now.” He slowly put Conner in his bassinet next to his twin. He decided to scent the boy’s blanket so he’d still have Alpha pheromones while sleeping.
————-
Bruce rushed downstairs and found the kids in the kitchen. They’d come in through the garage door as Alfred brought in many bags of groceries.
Alfred was putting things away in the pantry. Dick was patting Krypto with a happy smile on his face. Jason was getting licked in the face by Ace. And little Cass was hiding behind her elder brother.
“Kids” Bruce cried out as he saw all his pups.
“Master Bruce” Alfred shut the pantry door.
Dick stopped petting the white dog and ran towards his dad, “Daddy!”
Bruce bent down so the boy could jump into his arms. “Hi Dickie.” He took in the happy scent of his eldest pup, calming his racing heart immediately.
Cass walked over after her brother, holding up a bag of strawberry candies. “Alfred let me buy this” he showed him the bag.
Bruce ruffled the top of her hair, “That was kind of him.” His daughter smiled at him.
“Did we get a new dog?” Jason asked as he rubbed his cheek clean with his shirt.
Bruce shook his head, “No baby.” He was a little surprised at how calm Krypto had acted when the kids arrived. He was sniffing him, wagging his tail happily. It could always be a gamble to place dogs who’d come from shelters close to so many small children, but Krypto seemed well adjusted.
“Then why is this dog here?” The little boy pointed an accusatory finger towards the white dog that was currently licking said finger.
“What’s his name?” Dick asked.
“That’s Krypto.”
Jay pouted, “Why can’t we keep him?” He loved animals. He was easily Ace’s favorite person and he loved throwing balls for Ace to chase, even if his little arms couldn’t throw very far yet.
“Because that’s your papa’s dog” the Omega replied, already anticipating the reaction that was coming.
Dick’s jaw dropped, “Papa had a dog?”
“Yes he does.” He could see the wheels turning in the boy’s head.
“Wait…Papa is here?”
“Yes, papa is with Conner right now.” All three kids looked up at him, completely wide eyed.
Jason perked up, “He kissed Conner’s booboos away?”
“Yes sweetheart.”
“So Conner is not gonna be sick anymore” Dick concluded.
“He’s gonna be fine.” He’d be fine, the treatment worked, his baby would live.
“Bruce?” Clark’s voice came from the hallway.
Three little heads turned towards the sound, “Huh?”
Footsteps…
And then…
“Look” Jason pointed again as Clark turned the corner.
Clark Kent stood before the family, wearing his shirt again. Krypto ran towards his owner, jumping on him.
“Oh” this was it. These were his children. They looked like him, but also like Bruce.
Dick stood completely frozen, gripping onto his dad’s arm. Cass hid behind her brother again. And Jason stood with his mouth open, holding onto Ace with one hand.
“Daddy…” Jason’s voice wavered.
Dick shook Bruce’s hand, “Dad, is that…” his voice was broken, like he didn’t truly believe this was real.
Bruce stood back up to his full height, “Kidd, meet your papa” he gestured awkwardly towards Clark.
“Hello” the man waved at them, just as awkwardly.
Dick looked between the two men. This was papa, his papa. “Can we?”
“Go on…” Bruce assured me.
The little boy didn’t have to be told twice. He ran straight towards Clark, “Papa! You're here! You’re actually here” he threw himself at the Alpha.
“Oh….” Clark got down as quickly as he could to catch the boy. Dick immediately wrapped his arms around his neck, “…hello Dick.”
The boy gasped and pulled back, “You know my name?”
Bruce exhaled, “Of course I know your name.” Holy cow, Dick’s eyes were the same blue as his own. But the best part was the scent, Dick smelled like fresh lemons and vanilla.
Jason stood a step forward, but then took a step back, his little mind unsure of what to do.
Bruce sighed, “Go on Jay.” He didn’t want to push, but he still wanted the kids to know their father.
Jason broke into a smile and ran towards Clark and Dick, “Papa, papa!” Dick made room so his little brother could hop into the hug.
Clark ruffled the boy’s jet black, “Hello Jason. You’re such a big boy.” He looked even more like Bruce in real life, but his scent was uniquely him. A sweet scent of newly printed books and ripe apples.
Jason was vibrating in place, “Papa, can I show you my room? And my books? And my toys?” His green eyes sparkled with excitement.
Clark gave him a gentle smile, “I’d love to see everything.” And he meant it. He wanted to see every part of his pup's lives, he wanted to see it all and weave himself into it, so he could be a part of their lives.
Jason squealed, “Yay!”
“You have a dog?” Dick got right to business, asking the real questions.
Clark laughed. Only a child could be introduced to their parents and have that be their first question. “Yes, I love dogs.”
The boy grinned, “Me too! I picked Ace when daddy let me get a dog.”
Clark looked back at Bruce. The Omega was looking at him with a mixture of slight fear, awe, and…something he couldn’t quite place. “That was nice of him.”
Bruce noticed the Alpha looking at him over his children’s head, which went looking away. Instead turning his attention to his daughter, currently gripping the fabric of his pants. “Don’t you want to say hi?”
Cass looked up at him with her big doe eyes, communicating without words.
Bruce had learned to read her cues well by now. “You want me to go with you?” His little girl nodded. So he took her hand and slowly walked her over to Clark. His heart was raising again, his family was here, not the whole family, but his pups were welcoming to the Alpha.
“Hello Cassandra,” Clark said in a low voice when the duo got close enough. Dick and Jason stepped aside so Cass could talk to their papa.
The little girl met her papa’s eyes but remained silent.
Clark didn’t mind, just kept talking. Bruce had mentioned that Cass was non verbal most of the time. “I like your dress, it suits you.”
The little girl blushed and smiled at him. “Hi papa” she whispered quietly.
Jason tugged on his papa’s sleeve, “Did you kiss Conner’s booboos?” His voice was laced with concern for his little brother.
Clark gave a serious look, “Yes. Your brother is doing a lot better.” Of course the other kids would be worried, they’d probably watched Bruce worry over Conner’s health for months and their brother had been to the hospital.
Jason field the information, “Good. So daddy won’t be sad anymore and..”
“Jason!” Bruce cut him off, his face heated. His son had absolutely no filter.
“…won’t smell bad anymore.” Jason finished at the same time. Again, no filter.
But before Bruce could say anything more, Dick suddenly pressed his face closer to Clark’s scent gland, “Wait. Why is ... .your scent, familiar.”
“We’ve met before…” Clark shut his mouth after he heard what he said. Oh no, he hadn’t discussed it with Bruce about that! Abort! Abort!
Dick pulled back and tilted his head, “We did?” He scrunched his brows, thinking of when he could have seen his papa before.
An unsure “…yes?” Was all Clark could offer.
Dick pouted, “Why didn’t you say hi to me then?” He sounded offended.
Abort! Quick, how did he salvage this? “I-I didn’t know I was your father until very recently.”
“Why?” Jason chimed in, “Did you not want to be our papa?” He asked with a frown, his scent turning sad.
The Alpha’s eyebrows went up, and he fought every instinct in his body to prevent his pheromones from spiking. He didn’t want to bombard his kids with his pheromones and potentially scare them away. “What? No, that’s not it at all…”
“Kids..” Bruce cut through the tension, he got back down, “…do you remember what I told you about how an Omega takes a seed from an Alpha when they want to have a baby?”
Jason nodded, “And that daddy eats the seed so it grows in his belly?” He pointed to Bruce’s stomach.
Bruce’s eye twitched, “Something like that ... .Clark gave me his seeds. But he didn’t know that I was the Omega that took it.”
Surprisingly, it was Cass who spoke up this time. “So, you didn’t know you were our papa?” She questioned.
Clark shook his head, “No, I found out recently.”
Dick placed a hand under his chin in deep consideration. “And now that you know…you’re gonna be papa?”
Clark nodded, “Yes. I’d love to be your papa.”
“Good, because I want a papa! I like having daddy and papa.” His siblings agreed. They were all happy to finally meet their papa and have him be here.
And then Jason dropped another bomb, “So, are you and daddy getting married now?”
Bruce and Clark stared at each other. Abort! Neither one was prepared for this question, they barely knew each other. This was a secret. How do you explain this to a child?
“Children, give the poor man some room to breathe would you” an older voice cut through the air, saving both men.
Jason lowered his head, “Sorry Alfred.”
Clark watched their savior, an elderly man, walking towards them. He’d been silently listening in to the conversation as he finished putting the groceries away, but decided to finally intervene. He was wearing a suit with gloves that looked more expensive than any suit Clark had ever owned.
“Hello, you must be Mr Clark Kent” Alfred eyed the man up and down.
Clark nodded, “That’s me, it’s nice to meet you all.” Bruce had given him a little run down about Alfred, the man was a beta and served as the butler and keeper of Wayne Manor.
The butler hummed, “Will you be staying for lunch?”