Dick had never been entirely comfortable with his designation.

He always grew up assuming he’d be an alpha — Bruce was. He knew he wasn’t his biological father, but Dick had grown to almost reach his height from a young age, and he built muscle easily.

His scent was never the best, but he chalked that up to the fact he hadn’t presented yet. Sure, Jason came along — oozing alpha energy despite being a kid — and he could sniff things out like a bloodhound, but…. Well, it worked differently for everyone, didn’t it?

When he presented as beta, his whole world turned upside down.

It’s not that he had a problem with betas. He just always thought he was a full-blooded alpha. He took to pretending he was one anyway — his lack of smell could be explained away if he said he used blockers. He already looked and acted like an alpha, it’s not like anyone would be the wiser.

Dick thinks it was the stupidest idea he’s ever had, because now he’s got a steady thing going on with you, and you’re entirely convinced he’s an alpha. Guilt rises in him every time you bring up stuff like bringing him food when he’s in a ‘rut’, or asking if he’d ever let you scent him properly.

He never meant to lead you on. Would you even like him if you really knew?

He feels his head pounding, a frown on his face as he works on the dinner he was cooking for you tonight. Dick has to force himself not to stiffen as he hears the door unlock (maybe if he was the alpha he said he was, he would’ve smelt you coming), doing his best to attempt to act normal.

“Hey,” he says with a tight smile as you step into the kitchen, immediately approaching his side. “You have a good day, sweetheart?”