A/N

I forgot to mention that Dick was never Robin in this AU and isn't part of the bat-fam either. So Jason was the first Robin. Oh, and also, everyone is a little closer in age here.

Sorry if the chapters are really short but it's just easier for me to work with smaller segments right now. It's a lot less daunting and will hopefully make updates happen a little bit faster. I actually surprised myself at how quickly I got this chapter done.

Stephanie hated being left out of the loop; especially when it came to her idiot not-quite-boyfriend. (It was hard to tell where they stood in their relationship at the moment.)

Seriously though, why wasn't anybody telling her anything? You'd think that Red Robin and the Brat Wonder being kidnapped by ninja assassins would be important enough to get her a phone call at least! But no! She only finds out days later when ranting at Oracle about Tim not answering his phone.

It'd be kind of hard to answer the phone when you're off being kidnapped by ninjas. (The weirdest part about that sentence is the fact that being kidnapped by ninjas isn't even the strangest thing that's happened to them. When did this become her life?)

Oh but let's not bother to tell poor Steph anything. It's not like she would be sitting at home worrying about the maybe-boyfriend not talking to her, only to find out he was stolen by ninjas and all she was left to do was sit at home and wait powerlessly while the big bad Batman went off to rescue him.

And they couldn't even let her know what was happening or even when everyone made it home!?

It's just ridiculous! She's been to hear something for ages and when she finally gets something out of Barbara it's: "They're already back." For almost a full day too! Unbelievable!

And to make matters worse, Tim really is ignoring her calls now. After making her worry he's not even going to let her know if he's okay! Nope. Not happening.

If a girl wants answers, she's got to get them herself!

Which is how she winds up sneaking around the back of Wayne Manor, hoping the big boss is still down in his cave.

"Good afternoon Miss Brown. May I inquire as to why you are consorting with the hydrangeas?"

"Alfred!" She yelped spinning around to find herself faced with the butler's patented raised eyebrow, "Hi Alfred! Hello, uh…" Okay, maybe this wasn't her best idea.

Alfred remained as nonchalant as always in response to her awkward fumbling, "You are here to see Master Tim I take it?"

"Uh, yes, I am."

"Might I suggest you try the front door next time?"

Stephanie could only manage a nervous laugh as she was led inside through the kitchen entrance.

Being a beta she couldn't read scents the way alphas or omegas could, but even so she'd have to be completely scent blind to miss the smell of distressed omega that lead down the hallway.

Of course, Tim's scent was always very strong with him being a high level omega. Her own scent she knew to be slightly sweeter due to her being a low level beta – meaning she was closer on the spectrum to omega than alpha – but his thick scent always smothered hers. Even now it overpowered Bruce's territorial alpha musk that stuck to the walls of the manor.

"Are Tim and the br—ah, Damian okay?" She asked, wincing at the slip.

It was always hard to tell with Alfred, but he seemed rather tense. "Both of them have sustained minor wounds. Physically, they will be fine."

Just physically fine, huh? "I'm sensing there's a 'but' in there somewhere."

"As if that excuses what he did!"

Stephanie nearly jumped out of her skin at the angry growl. God she hated when they did the ninja thing.

"Master Jason." Alfred sighed, expression somewhere between stern and exasperated.

It was easy to mistake Jason Todd for an alpha, but truth was he's a beta. Not a high level one with more alpha in him then omega, nope, he was mid level beta; like Alfred he stood almost perfectly in the centre of the sexual caste spectrum.

And yet he was probably the most alpha-ish beta she'd ever met. He stood with his shoulders hunched, had a growl in his voice, bared his teeth more often than was necessary. But then again, the most she ever saw of him was out on the streets as Spoiler and the Red Hood, and everyone thought the Red Hood was an alpha anyways.

Maybe he just got so good at playing the part he forgot how to stop.

"So," She started, hoping to steer the conversation back on track, "What's happened with Tim?"

Jason's face darkened and Alfred had that somber look again. "Perhaps it is best if you see How Master Tim is yourself."

"O-okay…" She was definitely missing something here. Ugh, this is why she hates being left out of the loop; the tension was killing her!

Once more Alfred led her down the hall, with Jason following along behind them grumbling under his breath. Even with Tim's heavy scent everywhere she could detect the scent of an unfamiliar alpha.

Belatedly, she realized it must be Damian, who had presented, to absolutely no one's surprise, as a high level alpha only a few months ago. She hadn't met him outside of patrol since then, and all the bats used some pretty heavy duty scent blockers. Except her, though she wasn't sure if she was technically even counted as being part of the "Bat-Clan".

Pretty much everyone knew Spoiler was a beta anyway.

By the time they reached Tim's room Stephanie could practically taste the tension running off the two betas. Dread was beginning to build up in the pit of her stomach. What could be so bad to warrant all this secrecy? A lot of things come to mind actually…

Alfred stepped aside with a nod of encouragement and went on his way. Jason remained leaning up against the wall beside the door.

Hesitantly she knocked, "Hey Tim, it's Steph."

No answer.

After a moment's thought she tested the doorknob. It was unlocked. That was probably a good sign.

"I'm coming in okay?" She waited for Jason to stop her, and when he didn't move she pushed the door open.

Tim was lying on his bed with his back to her. He didn't respond at all to her approach, and she thought he might actually be asleep, if not for the obvious twitch when she sat down on the bed. She leaned over to see his eyes wide open, staring vacantly at the wall.

It was then, as she sucked in a breath to speak that she smelt it. Or rather, she smelt him.

Tim's scent had changed, had lost that strong alluring edge to it, and there was the faint trace of alpha mingling with omega. The same alpha scent she had detected in the hallway.

The dread she'd been feeling before came back full force. Biting her lip she gently grasped the edges of the covers. "Can I see?" She whispered. Once again he didn't respond, but made no move to stop her from pulling back the covers.

The mark on his neck was ugly, purple and swollen; a violent claiming mark.

Tim was bonded. He had a Mate Bond. A bond with...with Damian. God, that's fucked up. Stephanie couldn't tell if she wanted to yell, laugh, or cry.

It seemed their complicated on again off again relationship was about to get even harder to navigate…