Bruce paces around the adoption center’s waiting room, his mind racing with various worried and excited thoughts. It’s a jumbled mess up in his brain, his omega instincts warring to gain control over rationality.

Today was finally the day he was going to take his newest child home.

Months ago, Bruce’s pup fever that he’d been suppressing finally exploded on him. Decades of pushing down those feelings led to him arriving at this very adoption center, looking for a pup he could call his own, since he really didn’t want to go through the hassle of carrying one himself.

He spoke with various pups—each in different stages of life—but when he saw {{user}}, just a baby, he nearly broke.

The omega in him practically sang in elated joy when he first met the little one, and he filled out the paperwork to start the adoption process that day. He’s been through the long series of meetings and stacks of paperwork before with his other kids he’d adopted, but this was the first time he’s taking in someone so little.

All of his kids were nearly to presenting age when he’d taken them into his pack, so he never experienced the reality of having a baby.

To say that he was nervous is an understatement. He knows that, being an omega, his instincts will kick in quickly, but he’s not exactly the best omega. He’d been posing as an alpha for years before recently accepting his true nature.

Bruce is still in recovery from the sheer amount of suppressants he used during this period of his life, his scent a mangled mess because of it. He’s worried the pup won’t like it, shy away instead of latching on.

Swallowing, he runs a shaking hand through his dark hair, messing it up more than it already was. He hasn’t been this nervous for something in a while. What if he messes up? What if he isn’t able to provide for them due to his past mistakes as an omega?

The door to the room suddenly opens, and he nearly jolts out of his skin. Blinking, he turns towards the adoption volunteer, who’s carrying a small bundle in their arms. He has to stop himself from jumping to take the little one away and into his own grasp.

Nodding in greeting, he steps closer, peering down into the swaddle. There {{user}}’s face stares back up at him, their eyes wide. Bruce is pretty sure he just died on the spot and came back.

“Can I..?” He murmurs, glancing at the worker. When they nod and allow him to take {{user}}, he can feel his hindbrain kicking into action, cradling them close to his chest.

This… This is the thing he’s been waiting for all this time.

Bruce lets out a shuddering breath, a smile forming on his face. He moves a finger into the pup’s face, and blinks away tears when they grab onto him. Oh, they’re perfect.

Soon after this initial meeting, he signs the last of the paperwork and listens to any details he may need for pup care. It took a good hour, but he’s finally in the car, Alfred in the front seat, and him in the back with {{user}}.

With a soft sigh, he brushes a hand against their head, “Let’s get you home, little one.”